Date of review:1 Nov 2011
Resort and hotel were exactly as descibed in the brocure. Rooms were clean and bed comfortable. Hotel staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Wide range of good q
uality food was available. Expecially appreciated the access to canned and bottled drinks in the room and at the beach and pool bars.
Plenty of room on the beach which was well furnished with comfortable sunbeds and parasols. The sea area at the resort was like swimming in an aquarium. A real treat.
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Date of review:1 Nov 2011
we stayed at the Fort Arabesque in November this year for a week. The general layout of the hotel was very good, we stayed on the ground floor and overlooking the po
ol and gardens which were kept in a tidy and clean manner.It was a short stroll through the pretty gardens to get to the beach which again was kept tidy as staff made sure it was clean first thing in the morning and then they emptied the rubbish bins by the loungers often during the course of the day. There are signs around the hotel that loungers on the beach are not to be reserved but we found people were leaving towels on them and then going back to the hotel for breakfast. So if you arrived on the beach after breakfast you would be lucky to find a lounger without a towel on. The staff in the hotel were very good especially Meena who worked at the bar, but the staff in the Beach bar were at times unfriendly. The restaurant was more like a canteen and the food was repettitive,the food was cold by the time you got back to your table due to the queuesaround the serving area. The hotel does not cater for the non smoker as they were allowed to smoke virtually everywhere. This was quite frustrating as you would sit down for either a drink or to eat and then somebody would sit close to you and then light up.As there are two seating areas for the restuarant then surely one of them could be set up for non smokers.
Overall we did enjoy the holiday but as I have said what spolit it for us was the food and the smokers.
Craig our holiday rep at the hotel was very helpful as he did manage to sort out a couple of minor problems considering he was only 19 ( looked 14) and had only been in Egypt a few weeks.
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Date of review:1 Nov 2011
We have been to this hotel in March 2011 and as it was so good we decided to try it again and it did not disappoint us in any way. Met several couples and most had b
een before which is a testament to a good hotel. The food was excellent and there is a beach to die for and we can't wait go visit again.
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Date of review:1 Aug 2011
Ignored the fake Thomas cook reps in the arrival hall and went straight to the bank on the left and then straight through to immigration desk, On arrival we were sho
wn 2 rooms the one for the 3 teenage boys only had 2 beds so were moved to other rooms which were very old and dated but by this time too tired to argue so just made do. However next morning complained about rooms and were then offered 2 lovely rooms on the new side, it would appear that Thomas Cook travellers get the old rooms!!!!!!
Complex is large and very well kept. The beach is fabulous and we always managed to get beds by the pool, Brilliant help yourself to drinks, fridges dotted around with good choice. Meals at main restuarant although you can eat at the Saga block but a bit of a trek from our room. Food very average and some really weird combinations roast beef and baked beans?? McDonalds in Hurghada excellent. Staff are reallt friendly and always willing to help. Only 70% full at the hotel. Evening entertainment is in Italian as the majority of guests are Italian. Singer at the bar is dire... All in all a relaxing holiday, would deffo recommend the beauty parlour, Excellent value for money and very good. Great Thomas Cook rep 5 stars.
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Date of review:1 Jul 2011
second time at this hotel - again it did'nt disappoint - staff are friendly and efficient. beach is beautiful with ample sunbeds/ shades and really good accessible s
norkelling! we'll definitely go back!
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Date of review:1 Jul 2011
Brilliant Hotel . Italian owned .All Inclusive Brilliant and No cheap substitutes. Walk up Beer / Soft cabinets fully stocked all day. No shortage of Sunbeds on the
Beach although the Main Pool was Towelled up early . No worries Two more Pools to choose from ! Dive Centre was also First Class and Good Diving.
Only downside was the Flight courtesy of Thomas Cook Airlines. Seats and Legroom absolutely appalling and Extra legroom purchased for late night flight back but seats not comfortable. If you want to go to this great location you have to put up with it. I can Honestly say that the 'Orange' airline has better seats and legroom.
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Date of review:1 May 2011
WOW!!! What a fantastic holiday. Would definately go back. The Egyptian people are so pleasant and cant' do enough for you. The food was very good and always warm wi
th plenty of variety to choose from for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We paid for the ala-carte in the beach bar restaurant on the Wednesday night as this was our 15th wedding anniversary so fancied something a bit different, A 5 course meal with the main being 'stake and shrimps' it was excellent well worth the £32 for both of us plus all the wine (by the botltle) we could drink! We spent most days on the beach - lovely and clean with plenty of space between sunbeds, and well worth taking some snorkles to see the fish. I've been on all-inclusive holidays before but non where you actually go and help yourself to the drinks, in cans, in the fridge. My husband was well impressed that he could just help himself to cans of stella!! The mini fridge in the room was refreshing too, and it was stocked up with water, juice and fizzy drinks everyday (no stella unfortunately) We travelled from 29th April to 6th May and it was very quite, Hammed the barman told us it had been a very quiet season due to all the trouble that had been, but we weren't complaining as we preferred it like that, spent one day by the pool and more or less had the pool to ourselves - lovely!!. Do try the Masseur too! My husband went and thought the young woman was excellent! We did venture out of the hotel complex along the front/beach one day but didn't manage to go far as there were people haggling you to go to their shop and try and sell you things you don't want!!! We don't like to be hassled so we turned back. If you're looking for a laid-back, realaxing, well looked after, value for money holiday then the Fort Arabesque is for you.
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Date of review:1 May 2011
My partner and I have just returned from 2 weeks in Fort Arabesque (May 17 - 31). This was our first visit to Egypt, and for my partner, his first experience at an a
ll-inclusive resort. Having read previous holidaymaker's reviews I was aware of the procedure at Hurghadar airport - ignore people wanting to push your luggage (they will expect to be paid) and only talk to Thomas Cook rep's who have to stay outside the terminal building. The transfer experience was satisfactory, with Fort Arabesque being the 2nd and final drop off. The transfer took about 40 minutes. As we drove down the approach road it looked like a building site! However, once inside the building that illusion was shattered. Bell boys took control of our luggage from reception to our room on the 4th floor. The reception area was well laid out and spotless, as it proved, all the hotel was. As we arrived about 4.30pm local time, we were advised that dinner would be available that evening. That in itself was an experience. So much food, and something for everyone, including vegetarians. The staff went out of their way to be as helpful as possible, all smartly dressed and smiling. And that is how it continued for the duration. Allinclusive drinks were available from 10.00am till midnight. The hotel was set in weel kempt gardens, surrounding the swimming pools, which then led to the wonderful beach. All sun loungers are free as well as towels for the beach. A bar is also located on the beach which provides snacks min-morning and late afternoon. The sea was very clear, with lots of coral reef, populated with lots of fish, which a non-swimmer can walk out to, and the temperature ranged between 30 and 40 degrees! The only down side to our holiday was the animation team. They are Italian and seemed to ignore all the British people. I guess if you speak Italian it would be OK. But that aside, it was a brilliant holiday and we look forward to going back next year.
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Date of review:1 Apr 2011
I would strongly recommend staying at the Fort Arabesque, excellent location, snorkelling straight from the beach, very good accomodation and a large selection at al
l meal times. The only negative point I would make is that there really is very little do to during the evenings - the entertainment is run by the Italian animation team and is extremely poor, to the extent where you see a large number of people playing cards in the hotel lobby most evenings.
Fort Arabesque has by far the best location on Makadi Bay, with plenty of room and sunbeds on the beach and the staff were all extremely helpful, friendly and welcoming.
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Date of review:1 Apr 2011
back from a great family holiday to makadi bay in egypt.
first time visiting egypt and was aprehesive due to some bad reviews (of egypt in general) but no worry's wi
th this hotel.
for a standard room it was more than adequate with two double beds, a single bed, two wardrobes and still enough space for a couch, table minibar and tv.
staff at the hotel atre great and not pushy asking for tipes all the time (same can't be said fo egyptians in Hurghada and the airport) and the food and drink were plentiful and of good quality.
we did go snorkelling on a boat trip which was good but later in the week i managed to get to the beach (the first week was spent in the heated pool with a swim up bar - great) and the snorkelling here was just as good.
would recommend this hotel to anybody (except those moaners where any hotel that doesn't sever english beer or food isn't good enough).
will probably go back next year as weather was great for the time of year (80º to 100º)
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Date of review:1 Apr 2011
We booked with Thomas cook for a week at Easter at the Fort Arabesque, we flew from manchester which, this time, was quite stressfull , in my opinion its quite a con
fusing place for the unaquainted! and on top of that I realised at the check in desk that we only had 15kg of baggage allowance (when did that change?), anyway the flight was the usual cramped affair and no entertainment because of a policy change?! come on Thomas Cook, its a 5 hour plus flight. The Fort Arabesque is a good hotel, its clear that it has been around for a few years and is a bit jaded in places lets just say. We were allocate a room and the bell boys duly transported our luggage to it...room 154 , please avoid it ! it was very old, dirty, plaster coming off the walls, bathroom was smelly and rickety in every way, I wouldnt even give this room 2 stars, so...back to reception and without quibble we were allocated room 2209 in the newer block, perfect! this was an excellent room to a standard you would expect. Im not sure but it looks like all of the rooms to the left of reception are in the old block. The staff at the hotel are freindly and welcoming, the food is good and a good variety, although in my opinion, not as good variety as we have had before in egypt. They have certainly 'cracked ' the all inclusive drinks thing- you are not required to queue at the bar , they have canned cold drinks in fridges in the bar areas for you to take as you wish, these are branded soft drinks and local beer which is very good. The hotel pools are good and we never had to search around for sun loungers either by the pool or beach. The beach is great, plenty of space etc, the snorkelling is the best I have ever seen, you need to wade out about 20 feet from the shore then the coral reef drops off about a 6 foot drop, the fish are amazing- don’t miss this. The holiday was good in general , in so far as tour operators go, I would probably stick to Thomsons as opposed to Thomas COOK who seem to want to do everything on the absolute cheap, I wont be travelling with them again.
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Date of review:1 Mar 2011
Holiday? Loved it, loved it, loved it! This was my 3rd trip to the gorgeous Fort Arabesque and I'm off again in Septemebr. I really can't fault it, beautiful gardens
, warm calm sea, clean beach, lovely friendly and helpful staff, I could go on and on. I know there are lots of other lovley places out there in the big wide world, but holidays are a major expenditure for me and I want to know I am going somewhere I will love and where there will be a warm and friendly greeting waiting for me. I usually holiday with my mother as my husband does not enjoy sun holidays (although this time I went with a friend) and they really look after us like old friends. We don't usually go off complex but we really don't need to, everything is there within a gentle strolling distance. My friend learnt to dive in Sydney but she reckons there isn't anywhere to compare with the 2 dives she made here, right in the bay. Andreas the instructor was so calm and patient and all the staff at the dive centre are so nice.
You can't beat the boys in the beach bar, they are always attentive and remember exactly how you take your drinks, especially Mohammed, Malak, Ramadam, Mahmoud and Ashraf!
Hassan from the idive centre is also very helpful and comes for a chat even if you don't buy any trips!
The waiters in the restaurant are very very busy and ruled with a firm hand, so yes, they do take your plate away rather quickly but there are plenty more! No need for tips before the end of your holiday, a friendly smile and a please and thank you are more than enough.
The fight? awful! The staff were lovely and very efficient but no films on a 6 hour flight either way? No explanation was given but I suspect Thomas Cook want everyone to hire a PSP for their in flight entertainment and I refuse, it's dear enough as it is.
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Date of review:1 Mar 2011
After being let down by Thompsons at the last minute, we decided to go back to Fort Arabesque - we'd been 2 years ago and loved it. It's still as great as before - t
he hotel is very comfortable, rooms clean and spaceous and very comfy beds. The food was excellent - cannot imagine why anyone would complain about it - I am a fussy eater and never had a problem finding plenty I liked to eat there.
There are 4 or 5 pools in the complex, 2 of which are heated although we only used the pool once when it was too windy to be on the beach but we found the pool to be lovely and warm on that occasion. The hotel staff, the bell boys, reception staff, waiters, bar staff, room cleaners etc. all of them are lovely and friendly always have a smile and a greeting. The beach is wonderful, one of the best we've been to in the Red Sea. Plenty of room, sun beds etc. and the sea is easily accessed direct from the beach and you can see plenty of beautiful fish in just waist deep water.
The only criticism I would make of the hotel is the bar singer - he truly is dreadful - I dont think I've ever heard anyone mutilate songs quite like he did! The flight home was the only fly in the ointment of the holiday. Having to disembark at East Midlands at midnight was a nightmare. We had already been delayed at Hurghada for 2 hours and by the time we got back to Newcastle airport we had been out of our hotel room for 13 hours so were completely shattered. I heard that Thomas Cook were discontinuing the flights from Newcastle to Hurghada which I think would be real shame because now the trouble in Egypt has been resolved, I'm sure there would be many who would like to travel this route.
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Date of review:1 Mar 2011
A slightly older style hotel compared to others locally but very clean and with excellent service.
Food is good but a little boring. As it was not very busy the Chef
s were a bit slack in bringing out more food.
Entertainment is awful - like a sixth form concert.
Pool area is good and the beach is stright in front of he hotel. Probably the best section of beach in the bay. Swimming is excellent and the coral and fish stunning.
This is an ideal hotel for just chilling out by the pool or on the beach.
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Date of review:1 Mar 2011
This was our our first all inclusive holiday to egypt & with the revolution going on we were a bit apprehensive about going.
There was no need to be though - the hot
el was fantastic, the staff were friendly, the food was great, the beach & snorkelling were the best - and as an added bonus the place was quiet due to the troubles - of which we saw none.
Best bit was the day trip to luxor where we were the only tour bus & had the place to ourselves.
Looking forward to going again next year.
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Date of review:1 Feb 2011
Third year at this hotel. Very reliable and would describe it as "Rustic almost 4 star".Very quiet which is what we like at this time of year.No pop music,but would
no doubt be noisier in Summer.our only criticism is that after dark(530 pm) there is little to occupy the average drinking adult.shows are very amateurish and rarely on time,so some arranged entertainment would be welcome(film night/Quiz night/card schools etc) great beach and snorkelling.Will probably return next year and have recommended the hotel to several friends.The new hotel spa is a great addition and prices for massages etc are very reasonable compared with UK rates.Don't miss out,and give this a try!
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Date of review:1 Feb 2011
Hotel really good,one of the best locations in Makidi Bay.Good choice of food,friendly staff.Thomas Cook flight not good,departed 9.15am pre paid for meal, they even
tually served breakfast around 11.30am on return journey of nearly 6 hours no video etc provided.Thomas Cook rep in resort only interested in hard selling over priced excursions,turned up at welcome meeting 25 minutes late, no apology! If you need any information about the Hotel suggest you find the Saga rep who actually showed her guests around.
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Date of review:1 Feb 2011
Lovely Weather, plenty of room on the beach, helpful staff. Food could have been hotter.
Date of review:1 Jan 2011
fabulous location ,staff and facilities. On some days the sea was so calm and clear that you could paddle out to the reefs and wait for the fish to find you - magica
l!
Loved the fact that you can go to the Beach Bar/Restaurant and help youself to cans of drink and ice lollies and the fact that the Minibar in room is restocked,free of charge,daily.
After 2 weeks food got slightly "samey" and somedays there was a bit of a free for all at the buffet but nothing very serious.
Will definately go again.
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Date of review:1 Dec 2010
could not fault this hotel ,second visit still has the same standards.All staff are excellant and are ready and willing to help.Rooms are a little bit tired and coul
d do with a refurb,but all have a good sea view.Good variety of food something for every one if you leave hungry its your own fault.Location is not to every ones taste but there is a shuttle bus into hurghada.All in all excellant holiday.But there is allways a down side and that is THOMAS COOK AIRLINES if you are under five feet tall brilliant if over this forget it legroom on these flights are minimum,so if you want to sit with your knees under you chin go ahead and book,personally until the legroom is sorted out i will not use this airline again for so called short haul flights.Last but not least the in flight meals absolutley disgusting £7-50 per meal i dont know what profit is made on these meals but i would say at least £6 pounds.In my opinion Thomas Cook certainly put profit before customer comfort.
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Date of review:1 Dec 2010
Fort Arabesque is a nice hotel, with a fabulous location on a really lovely beach.
The room was really big and although looking a bit tired in places, it was comfort
able and, because it was towards the end of the block, it had a front lawned area that led almost directly onto the beach - gorgeous!
The pool bar is a good spot for catching the sun if you want to avoid the beach and the waiter is very attentive with a basic bar service and tea/coffee.
The food on offer on All Inclusive board was varied and kept fresh at every meal, but if you're looking for an English Breakfast and chips, it is not for you! Fresh pasta and rice, varied meat dishes, all sorts of veg and salad and a pizza are all on offer each evening, so you'll probably find something to eat.
The evening bar choice (or lack of) and the AI drinks package were the main 'bug-bear' with us - in the evening, each of the hotel sites (there are 2) has a bar open. The beach bar is closed (unless you book the extra cost meal served there) and that's it. In the new site there was a cabaret singer in the bar, not our scene, and in the older bar there was very little entertainment/music and it was a bit 'flat'. In other resorts we've been to in Egypt there have been cocktail bars and a variety of music on different nights to cater for different tastes...
So that leads me to the drinks - whilst the local drinks and a host of mixers are all included (as normal) there were no cocktails included at all. The local beer was fine, even the local wine was drinkable, but it was really disappointing that if you wanted a cocktail (made with those same local spirits and mixers!) you had to pay extra. This was not the end of the world, but it was a 'minus' mark compared to other resorts we've been to.
On the whole, we had a great holiday and the hotel, staff, food etc were all fine for a 4 star at the price we paid. We would go back to Fort Arabesque, but it would not our first choice if we had other options at a similar price.
Finally, a special mention to the Thomas Cook rep, Lynn, who was brilliant, helpful and knowledgeable.
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Date of review:1 Dec 2010
After reading reports that Thomas Cook flights were very uncomfortable i was pleased to say we did not find that at all. Had a wonderful holiday at the Fort with the
addition of a spa and gym.( Payable at 20 euros a week for the gym- shame its not free but i was happy to pay for the facility)
The food was excellent as well as all the staff and we knew what to expect in the way of tipping for the luggage boy,and communal box for tips on reception at the end of the holiday. This gets split up for all the staff-including the ones behind the scences which i think is a great idea.
Lynn our rep was brilliant and nothing was to much for her, she has a swap bag that contains other guests left over sun creams, insect repellant etc. and you can help yourself to anything you need or leave any unwanted bits and pieces for the next holiday makers. WHAT A GREAT IDEA. It was also nice to have a uk rep who gives you their personal advise on prices and the area etc.
The entertainment is low key and italian but it is not bad.
Would recomend this hotel for the food staff and lovely beach, great for snorkeling. You can see the fish just standing at the waters edge. Would recomed this hotel for couples, older people and families with young children. Teenagers may fnd not enough to do on the entertainment side in the evening.
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Date of review:1 Nov 2010
Although this is the 8th time we have been to this Hotel I was bitterly disappointed with the service but more than that with the accommodation.
My husband and I st
op for one month (through Saga) and book our daughters accommodation through you. There have been problems with the allocation of rooms on arrival. Some people from other Tour Operators were put into other accommodation because of overbooking. I enquired from the Rep. for this Hotel if this applied to Thomas Cook and she said no. On arrival my Daughters were put in a sub-standard room (which was supposed to be a 2 bedded suite). I bed was put in the sitting room and the room had mice running around plus there had been no attempt to clean it. I asked for them to be moved and after sometime my Daughter and Husband were found accommodation (could do better) and my other daughter was put into staff quarters. After complaining to the Management, Sarah was finally put into the accommodation that she was entitled to. This meant she moved twice in a weeks holiday. My daughter was given some recompense but not enough in my opinion.
We have always enjoyed our visits to this Hotel and called it our second home but it will take some persuading to return. If we are guaranteed this would not happen again I might consider it. Please make sure you check before booking.
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Date of review:1 Nov 2010
We have spent a week in Fort Arabesque, which was amazing. We are frequent travellers and this was one of our favourite resorts so far. The beach is fantastic, and t
he snorkelling 20ft from the beach is out of this world. We took an afternoon boat trip for snorkelling which was good but we saw the same fish just off our beach. I would definitley recommend the horse riding which is to the right of the beach. 2 of our party aren't riders which didn't matter, it was fab, riding along a deserted beach, then up into the desert and to the farm. the hotel food is lovely, plenty of selection even for our children. None of us had tummy trouble of any sort. The hotel staff which are all male, are very friendly, but not at all letchy! we will definitley be returning next year.
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Date of review:1 Nov 2010
This was our third trip to the Hurghada area but the first to Fort Arabesque. The holiday fully lived-up to our expectations. The holiday was very inexpensive and ex
cellent value for money. The room was large and comfortable, the balcony looked over the bay, it was cleaned efficiently daily.
The yoghurt, fruit and bread at breakfast was excellent. I always think it is good when a hotel has someone frying eggs and omlettes. I have had bad coffee in more expensive hotels, the compensation here was that the bar and beach bar served ground coffee.
Lunch and dinner offered a wide variety, it was a buffet but hot and constantly being replenished. The food was very European with little local food available, but I know some people would regard this as a plus.
The beach was large, particularly compared with the resorts on either side and the swimming, with lots of coral, iinteresting.
Both the Thomas Cook rep and the hotel staff were helpful and friendly.
Hurghada airport was chaotic. I initially blamed the Egyptians but the U.K. holiday companies had scheduled six departures within half-an-hour so the problem was of their making.
Leg-room is limited for a six hour flight but I assume Thomas Cook have concluded that people are unwilling to pay more for extra comfort.
We will go again.
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Date of review:1 Nov 2010
TC Airlines kneeroom worst in world. Hotel situated on pleasant beach, with good easy snorkelling. Sunbeds under some pressure. Took advice of other travellers, who
warned that snorkelling excursions often no better than off beach. Hotel generally compared favourably with those other hotels within walking distance. Good pools, but limited shade. Room facilities good, and very clean. Ambience of New Wing restaurant barn-like, but main restaurant much more congenial. Food choice fair, and fish on the whole good, but not all dishes replenished during last 45mlns of meal times. Choice of drinks on all-inclusive limited, and it sometimes took quite a while to get wine glasses refilled. Other than one or two highspots, the entertainment in the "Arena" was dire. But overall, considering the price, good value for money. Would go again. Rep helpful. TC Airlines made fairly good job of a very difficult situation caused by snow chaos on return-better than Easy...... or BA.
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Date of review:1 Nov 2010
Overall, the holiday was very good. The a la carte restaurant food was excellent and had two very pleasant evenings there. The beach was beautiful, the coral excepti
onal colours and easily accessible, the variety and colours of the fish beautiful. I must say however my wife and I found the flight the most uncomfortable we have ever been on to Egypt. Very cramped and service poor. The staff at Fort Arabesque were lovely, especially Ashraf, Abdul and Mohammed. We did not use the services of the rep, however she seemed very professional and more than adequately desribed trips/tours available and arrangements for return flights etc.
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Date of review:1 Oct 2010
Best A.I. you can have, basically help yourself all food and all drinks free till midnight and mini bar free as well
Location is good if you only look for a doing no
thing holiday and getting relax, not good if you like clubbing and night life. Entertainment is ok. You will get a different show every night around an hour but that’s it .nothing else
Holiday overall is a very good value for many
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Date of review:1 Oct 2010
We went with friends on a first visit to Fort Arabesque in Makadi Bay. It was dark when we arrived and we were unable to see any of the surrounding area, so when we
woke the next morning we had a very pleasant surprise. The view from our room was stunning. We were on the third floor overlooking the pool, the beautiful grounds and the beach.
The rooms are quite large with two queen size beds and the balcony was plenty big enough with a rail to hang out washing etc and patio table with two chairs leaving more than enough room to move around. The bathroom, I felt, needed a bit of cosmetic work around the shower where damp had discoloured the grouting around the tiles but other than that it was perfectly fine.
The food is very good and varied and the waiters are very pleasant and helpful. Once they had got to know us, they rushed around to find us a table for four and made sure we had everything we needed with a smile.
The beach is beautiful and the sea is lovely and warm. Beach towels are provided using a card which you hand over to the towel man every morning on enterance to the beach. Be prepared to get up early if you want a beach based sun bed as they are in high demand. Snorkling is a must around the coral areas where you will see an abundance of beautifully coloured fish. If you use the pool then be prepared to be frozen and suffer cramp, which happened to one of our party. The pools are not heated and despite the heat from the sun are very cold.
We didn't go and see any of the entertainment in the evenings as we were perfectly happy to sit in the bar chatting so can't comment on that.
All in all we had a fantastic holiday and will definately be returning to Fort Arabesque.
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Date of review:1 Sep 2010
Fort Arabeque is an excellent hotel.
The location on the beach is perfect, the rooms were spacious, clean and look great. Almost all the staff were friendly, courteo
us and couldn't do enough to help. The room staff and restaurant waiters really deserve praise as they are excellent and work so hard. The food in the all inclusive restaurants had something different everyday, catering to all types of taste.
I would recommend this hotel to people who are looking for a relaxing holiday and do not want to be disturbed by noisy, rude tourists. Not for people who enjoy a big party atmosphere.
It was the perfect holiday for a week to unwind on the beach, eat well and explore a little of the surrounding area in the evening.
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Date of review:1 Aug 2010
It may have been the hottest time of the year for a Nile cruise but neverthless visiting tjhe tourist sites when they are probably only having 20% of their peak time
tourists more than compensated. Our three teenage daughters, who only a few years ago would have hated this part of the holiday, thought it was great. Following the highly active experience of The Nile cruise with a week chilling out at Fort Arabesque, on The Red Sea, was a great combination. We had the benefit that both the flight and every single pick-up and tour was to the minute -- leaving us to enjoy every available minute of the holiday.
The only annoyance was being pulled out of the USD15 visa queue, at Luxor airport, by the Thomas Cook's representative and then subsequently being charged £14 for them on the coach. When paying for 5 this £20 rip-off got the holiday off to a very poor start - why oh why do you do it?
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Date of review:1 Jul 2010
The transfer from airport to resort was max of 40 mins, in air conditioned mini bus which was well needed. Staff at the resort were exceptionally friendly, attentive
to your every need. Bell boys took your luggage to your room and also collected upon leaving which was a welcomed treat.
The resort resembles a mini village with everything you need in walking distance. 'Tattoo Bob' gives you fresh beach towels daily and there were plenty of sun loungers so no need to do the 'german thing' and get up early to reserve one. Temperatures do sore and we would advise to take footware for the beach as the sand does get sooo hot it can burn soles of the feet.
Resort is right on the beach, which took your breath away on seeing it first hand. The water is clear and as soon as you step out into it, you are in another world filled with tropical fish that appear so used to human contact that they swim with you.
Snorkling is a MUST! Advise you to take your own as the resort does not provide you with equipment and Thomas Cook charge £10 a snorkle wich is reasonable.
Dream holiday, dream location would definatly return. Lyn out Thomas Cook representative looked after us well.
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Date of review:1 Jul 2010
My daughter Vicky suggested going snorkelling in the Red Sea as we normally go to Turkey for our holidays. So, I started looking into the idea and realised that with
our love of the water, Egypt was indeed the place to go.
Thomas cook offered the best rate for the high-quality hotel we wanted - a present to my daughter for passing her University exams - and I had no hesitation in booking as the flights were also on the day I wanted and with great times.
When we stepped off the plane I almost blown backwards by the heat! The transfer to the Fort Arabesque was only about 40 minutes. And what an entrance, a long gated avenue with palm trees leading to an elegant Italo/Arabic group of buildings boasting a high tower. A fort indeed!
We were astounded by the dining area - a gigantic display of all sorts of foods of the Mediterranean food catering for the largely Italian guests. The quality was of the highest standard with chefs on hand to serve and delight us. There were surely 10 mains to choose from, umpteen salads, soups, fresh pasta and Italian pizza at every meal. Then it was the dessert buffet. Oh my God!! I loved the fresh dates, water melon and all the different cakes and pastries! I'm afraid I had to try everything and this is talking to someone who has recently achieved goal weight on a slimming programme!
The real purpose, however it may seem, was not the food but the snorkelling. I knew that the Fort Arabesque had a reef on its own beach. The beautiful beach area had large wicker parasols shading the loungers and after a quick run over the hot sand it was into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea with the mask and snorkels to discover the wonders of the reef. Amazing - we did 2 boat trip excursions but the best snorkelling experience we had was right there in front of our hotel about 30 metres in and in shallow water. If you have seen Nemo then you know what I am talking about.
All the fish were literally just hanging there in the water around their colourful coral reefs, usually in pairs. It seemed that each species had it own character - the grumpy ones, the timid ones, the inquisitive ones and even that furtive master of camouflage, the octopus! We swam for hours from reef to reef admiring the colours and array of tropical fish.
During our visit we met many Egyptians (all men, not a single woman) who were intent on making our stay as happy and enjoyable as they could. If we had stayed longer we would certainly have taken a trip on the Nile to visit some of the wonders of Egypt.
Overall our holiday exceeded my expectations and having visited the nearby hotels I was grateful that we were staying at the Fort Arabesque. It was by far the superior hotel!
It's so sad that people pick the brittle coral leaving 'bleeding' stumps. Please don't touch the reef!!
Would I go again? Definitely!
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Date of review:1 Jul 2010
When we arrived at Hurghada Airport it took ages to get through Immigration and officials just shouted at people and it was not the best experience, indeed we almost
missed our coach. We had a great hotel though and it was a lovely resort, but a little isolated from Hurghada. Arrived after 10.00pm but we were ushered straight into the Dining Room for a late dinner before checking in. One Pound coins made useful and acceptable tips. Both our rooms had lovely sea views from the balconies.
Swim up pool bar was a nice feature and the sandy beach was excellent, though you need to watch the coral in places so as not to cut your feet which we did! The Reef starts yards off the beach and the variety and quantity of fish were just amazing. We saw a Blue Spotted Stingray, a Lionfish and on the last day we swam with a large turtle only 50 yards off the beach in the mid afternoon. We didn't bother to go Diving as the Snorkelling was so good. Luxor and Cairo trips were fantastic and great value, though very early starts and long days travelling. Hotel staff were mostly friendly though some of the waiters were a bit sour. Shows in the Arena were good, though very Italian orientated. The Arena itself was very hot in the evening, and we were bitten by Mosquitos early in the holiday. Later on the hotel fumagated the grounds on a frequent basis. The All Inclusive package was a little disappointing and did not include Cocktails, however they offered a range of these in the Bar each evening for 40 Egyptian Pounds.
The Thai Spa is very smart and new and provides a great massage! The Pharmacy was useful too. Most of our party had stomach problems during the holiday despite precautions. The shop doesn't price anything and just tell you how much things are when you ask, though we think we bought things for reasonable prices.
Hard Rock Cafe was fun in Hurghada on the Shop and Rock excursion, though we only got an hour's shopping after picking up people from other hotels. The Sea Quest Hydrofoil ride was great fun, and the boat trip to Mahmya Island was good too, though do not buy Ice Cream from the boats. We were ripped off and had to pay £4.00 each! The Island was very busy with visitors when we arrived.
The Sand Buggies in the desert are also great fun. Would we go again? Absolutely! Temperatures ranged from about 33c to 38c at the resort, not cooling down much at all at night. Luxor and Valley of the Kings was 45c but unmissable. Finally,full marks to our Tour Guide Lynn! Very helpful and friendly lady.
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Date of review:1 Jun 2010
the hotel was excellant for families and couples, although 15-17 would struggle in the evenings. The food was of a very high quality and always hot.
the rooms were v
ery large and kept spotlessly clean as was the whole of the hotel.
the staff are very helpful and genuienly friendly.
the beach was perfect you could swim straight from the beach unlike other hotels we have been to in egypt, and the fish come right inshore, it was like swimming in a tropical fish tank, so take snorkeling kit.
the bar staff at all the bars are so efficient it is easy to get tiddly i had to tell them to stop bringing drinks otherwise they see your glass nearly empty and just arrive with another..
the choice of drinks is limited only locally produced spirits & beers availiable if you want branded spirits they were nearly £6 a go.
I will be returning to this hotel as it was nearly perfect, the only problem was there was no where to go for walks apart from round the other hotels,
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Date of review:1 Jun 2010
After being in Sharm last year, we took the chance to meet freinds out in Makari Bay in June & left on 22nd June. Good journey, arriving 1/2hr early & breezed thru g
etting visa's & immigration, only to wait 40mins for luggage, but no prob otherwise. We went straight to dinner which was in the main area, food was good. We discovered the next day the delights of the new wing (Saga end) of the hotel, which had it's own restaurant, which was much quieter & easier to get a table. The staff at the hotel were all very helpfull & very wellcoming. Lot's of room on the beach & sun beds very confortable. We would definately go back to this hotel, although not in the summer months, as extremely hot, only going down to 32* at night. Only thing that bought a great holiday to an abrupt end, was the problem at the airport. We had paid 4 extra leg room & others like ourselves had been given the wrong seats, with others being given our seats without asking 4 them. Crew on board flight sorted prob straight away, So well done to them. Local check in staff at airport, should be given training on how to use the comp system properly, so that this problem does not blight anybody's holiday.
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Date of review:1 Jun 2010
Our second stay at Fort Arabesque with our 5 year old son. We rebooked after a fantastic holiday last September and have to say that the hotel was even better second
time around. I think if you're after a hotel that is lavish and grand this is probably not for you, if however you want great service and a good all round honest value for money hotel you won't be disappointed. The service is excellent, the hotel spotless and the rooms are huge. The hotel grounds are stunning and the beach/pool areas really clean. We seemed to spend a lot of our time eating as the food is so good! My partner and I are both vegetarian but there was no shortage of food for us to enjoy. As All-Inclusives go this offers good variety and our picky son always found something he enjoyed. We had no problems with stomach bugs on either trip which was a welcome bonus. We will definately be booking again in the very near future.
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Date of review:1 Jun 2010
Stayed at the Fort Arabesque in June 2010 & was pleased that we had taken the advice of reviews on Trip Advisor. The resort, although accomodating a fair number of p
eople, you didn't feel like you were hemmed in & there was certainly enough room for everybody, especially on the beach, with enough room between parasols. The food was very good, with loads of choice at every sitting. Staff were very wellcoming & after your 1st day there, they would recognise you & show you to a excellent table. Tips alway's go along way to getting the best service. I would definately go back to this hotel. Our Thomas Cook rep, Linda, was lovely & was there if needed, thankfully.
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Date of review:1 May 2010
We arrived about 9pm at night after a two hour delay on the flight, and were whisked off to our room in the 'Saga Wing' - this seemed to be catering more for Seniors
(as its name would suggest!) and couples who were *cough* more mature - ie in their 40's and above who were there with no kids, the main wing seems to occupy the more family/younger oriented groups.
The room.....well what can I say about the room?Two huge super-kingsize beds, leather sofas and chairs, walk in wardrobe, huge bath, 42'' LCD TV, Mini-bar, glass walk in shower and a basket of fruit on arrival.....and the room was kept spotless throughout, with an array of towel creations left every other day, including swans, crocodiles, rabbits etc and a lovely balcony overlooking the pool and sea.
The restaurant was clean, cool and although it got a little hectic at times, was very efficiently run, the food (buffet style) had plenty of choice, from 3 soups at every mealtime, a carvery, pasta station, salad bar, dessert table and of course your mains....and the food was always piping hot, and being constantly replenished. After a day or two, the waiting staff knew what you wanted to drink and would just check to be sure before bringing it.
The Sunset Bar is expertly run, always a smiling face, and even one night an impromtu dance by Abdul which drew huge cheers from everyone! The singer in the bar must have gone to the same vocal coach as Margarita Pracatan, but gave us plenty of laughs and entertainment in our few weeks. BTW there are fridges filled with beers, water, soft drinks and fruit juices for you just to help your self to!
Entertainment there is always something going on, be it in the beach or sunset bars, or in the main ampitheatre with Fakirs and Belly Dancing.....were they any good? I have no idea as we were quite happy to sip G&Ts and listen to the croonings of Mohammad Pracatan.
The beach was immaculate, with cleaners going around at least twice a day, emptying bins etc, and making sure everything was spit-spot, along with the towel guys who would wander around, having a laugh with you and chasing visitors from other hotels telling them they can't leave their gear on the beach whilst snorkelling - the Fort has the longest and best beach in Makadi Bay at 1km long with amazing reefs and snorkelling a matter of a few yards off the shoreline, we saw Stingrays, Lionfish and even an octopus having a fight with another one, chasing each other through the water and zooming a matter of inches away from me.
Now the bad point....at breakfast , It would be so much nicer to as if you wanted tea of coffee and give you a pot of tea, of a cafettiere of coffee instead of sachets!
We both agreed it was the best holiday we'd ever had, and we usually head to more exotic places like the Maldives or Carribean, and can't wait to go back.....and one thing we did notice, the bar and restaurant staff were constantly welcoming back return guests. Now that's a pretty good sign!
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Date of review:1 May 2010
Great resort we all had a fab weeks holiday in the sun. Second visit to Egypt and will return in the future to Fort Arabesque without a doubt. 1st time we went to Sh
arm and stayed at the Oriental which at the time we thought was good but we now know the difference between good and fantastic.
The all inclusive drinks etc was the best I have seen ever, all drinks are canned e.g Pepsi, Egypt Stella.
Much more hygenic served this way. I have never eaten so much in 1 week, I normally have trouble finding food I like when abroad but not this time, Beef, Veal, lamb, Pasta, Pizza, Salad which was safe to eat, my two teengage fussy girls were also pleased with the food.
Only one issue was the flights, 5 hour delay out of Gatwick Thomas Cook need to work on communication with delayed passengers, totally kept in the dark sorry not good enough.
On the return flight delayed yet again and we all ended up flying back with Monarch??
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Date of review:1 May 2010
The holiday was fantastic from start to finish. Our room was one of the nicest I have ever stayed in, very large and modern even a 42" plasma (nice) The hotel ground
s are beatiful and well kept. The beach was fab - the house reef was the best ive ever seen. Pool area was also good so alternated beach & pool area throughout the day. Staff were really friendly and both food and drinks were excellent. There was a wide range of food from fish to lamb along with pizza and pasta's, everygthing we ate was delicious. We had no stomach problems whatsoever. The only thing I would advise anyone going to take and use mosquito repelants, my friend was badly bitten on the first night and I saw quite a few people with bitten legs. My friend and I have never been to Egypt before and have heard some terrible reviews, but we both were pleasantly suprised. My friend was concerned for safety, but we both felt quite secure in the hotel and beach area. I am returning in September with my husband so he can sample Egypt.
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Date of review:1 May 2010
When looking for a holiday,we wanted something relaxing,hot,with good food .This holiday certainly delivered,When we arrived at Hurghada airport we were driven throu
gh desert land with nothing but sand and dunes until we came to what looked like a long fort like wall with a door in in,We looked at each other wondering where we were staying,When we went through the door,It was like entering paradise,Beautiful marble luxurious surroundings with views to die for,We couldnt fault the hotel in any way,The rooms were massive with beautiful views over an oasis of gardens,which led down to the sea.The food was wonderful,with a massive range of choice,both savoury and sweet.The staff couldnt do enough for us.The pools were lovely and not to full,and the beach was lovely and clean,with great reefs to snorkel round just walking distance from the beach.Evening entertainment was plentiful.with shows at the arena for adults and children,or just relaxing at the bars with there resident singer.Who was very proffesional,The thomas cook reps were helpful and there were lots of trips to surrounding areas ,we just did the evening shopping trip to Hurghada to stock up on gifts for home.the dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, good value for money and very enjoyable.We loved our trip to Fort Arabesque and hope to go back one day, SOON ! Thank you Thomas cooks for a wonderful holiday.
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Date of review:1 May 2010
Great venue for an all inclusive holiday that I would strongly recommend. the hotel was very clean and welcoming and the room spacious and also very clean and well k
ept. grounds, gardens and beach were immaculate and was great to spend time by the pool or on the beach, which we ended up preferring. food was of a high standard and pretty varied. although if you just want british food go somewhere else, this is an opportunity to try some, italian, egyptian and european cuisine, which was well cooked and presented. service could be a little slow form waiters re setting table and drinks at times but tips tend to sort this. always managed to find beds although getting up early which we do secured a prominent spot, typical venue where germans get up very eearly and get the towels out. resort was mostly italians and germans with only about 20% british, which was a positive from our perspective! the entertainment people were good fun trying to get you involved during the day and even though we didn't they were very friendly and entertaining, do not be put off by other criticising the fact they are italian, they were great fun. all in all a very positive holida review and if you red negative review then they must be very british and not prepared to try other food or have such high expectations they should be going to a 7 start in Dubai!!!
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Date of review:1 May 2010
It was a great holiday. Makadi Bay is a quiet, beautiful resort. Our hotel had very good location - beautiful coral reef just at the beach and 15 minutes walk to the
town center. The food was delicious and everybody could find something for himself. The staff was always friendly and helpful. There was a lot of animations during the day, so you couldn't be bored. I would recommend this hotel to everybody, who wants to relax in a quiet place.
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Date of review:1 Apr 2010
I have been to Egypt a few times and this hotel was the best one for us, the rooms are lovely and spacious we had a superior room on the fourth level with excellent
views of the bay,there is tea/coffee facilites, there is entertainment every night in the bars, also the arena had some fantastic shows, We went on a snorkelling trip which was worth it to see the sea life of the red sea, Meal times were quiet and relaxed not like the free for all we have experienced, the food is excellent with a good choice to suit all, the staff at fort arabesque are so friendly and helpful and put their selfs out we were well pleased,
There are three pools which are so quiet compared to some, we had an area to our selfs and soaked up the sun most days
The beach is not cramped like most of them with good space inbetween the brollies.
There are some shops on site and a chemist if you need anything.
We found this an excellent all inclusive hotel and we are definatley going back the beers you helped your self out of the fridges as well as bar service, we tipped as it was well worth it , Just take some repellant for the evenings so you dont get bitten we did but this did not put us off, I would recommend this hotel to a friend , I have done so but they are fully booked till November so what does that tell you.
We stayed in the new block side all the bars were good, lovely areas good waiter service.
My husband said this was a excellent hotel and would return here.
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Date of review:1 Jan 2010
the complex is great and lynn the rep is fantastic knowlegible friendly nothing too much trouble.the bad points the unrefurbished rooms are just ok i had emailed for
an upgrade was told to ask on arrival on arrival was told shoud have emailed as it was a special occasion i was disappointed luckily we didnt spend much time in room.the dinning room was a joke the waiters were reserving tables for people who had tipped heavily and were not all that friendly.on the plus side the beach is superb the bar staff are great and the reefs are out of this world which is why i would go back.
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Date of review:1 Jan 2010
i should have written this before i have put one on tripadvisor. this hotel is lovely, ther rooms are so big two king-size beds and a settee, your mini- bar is fille
d up each day with water, cans and juice no charge. there is good channels on the tv should you need them! the gardens are lovely, the beach is gorgeous so much room between loungers and you can walk into the sea and snorkel which was amazing. rooms were cleaned very well no hassles for tips at the end of your stay you are given an envelope to put into box at reception to tip everyone. there is a pharmacy there only used it for toothpaste! all inclusive right uptil time you leave for plane, we only had a stndard room can upgrade dont really need to ! but is is cheaper to do it there. reception very good if you go on trip can have a breakfast box and early drinks three heated pools, what more can i say this is a lovely hotel especially for couples, really lovely honestly. there is quiet pools where you can sit and read. enjoy
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Date of review:1 Jul 2009
Start off we had a great holiday.
Airport - Chaos just about covers it... arrived, lots of people pointing you in the right direction, all of them different.
Then o
nto passport control This wasn’t a cue it was a bit of a free for all but found it best to go to the far right as this seemed to have a cue and seemed to move.
Collecting luggage was the same as any airport.
Then to the coaches which was well organised with Thomas Cook, other than the driver not wanting to put cases on The coach until we had tipped him 3 times because we had 3 cases.
Arrived at Hotel and checking was great and cases taken to the room and a couple of $s tip.
Room was maybe the biggest in the whole hotel on 2 floors, 2 bathrooms, 2 fridges (topped up free everyday), 2 bedrooms, 2 balcony’s and walk-in wardrobe.
It also looked the biggest balcony and could have easy had its own sun beds and brolly. Room was kept clean by Hammed and team we left him a few tips and he left us a full size Crocodile, flower, boat on water and a swan all made of bed sheets and towels. The view out or the bay was great.
Food - Well I will agree with others, they do seem a bit rude in the main restaurant but they did serve us, on day 3 we went to the new block and never went back to the main one again, it was like been in a different hotel and they did everything for you and you didn’t get the hassle like in the main one. Food was OK had something to eat every day. Don't miss the pancakes and whatever they put on them (Starter Main and pudding next time I go) Beach bar had good food all day as well and one evening the whole thing was moved outside with a great atmos.
Entertainment - We didn't go to it much, the 2 nights I did go I really enjoyed it and they did talk English (as well as other languages) The team always said hello while passing and would help if you had any questions.
Didn't use the pools more the 3 times never did get a chair near the pool in the day, used the swim up bar once just to say we did it.
On the beach we got chairs close the Beach bar everyday and didn't have to get up at stupid O'clock to put out the free beach towels. No problems with wasps or any bugs that get you in Spain. Unless you find the right place to get out into the sea you will hurt your feet, but as soon as you can float face down with your mask and snorkel do so as it's so much easier. The Sea temp was 30c and only dropped to 28c 18 meters down. Out the water was 39-42 in the shade, but it didn’t feel that hot not muggy it was just right. help yourself to drinks in the fridge all top makes like coke and fanta, water fountains around as well makes a change to pop.
The reason I went to Egypt was to go Scuba diving, I had done my Padi OW back home and this was the first trip out in the sea. The fish are fantastic took about 1000 photos underwater most just snorkelling. I used I-Dive the onsite Padi school every day.
Great holiday and would go back.
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Date of review:1 Jun 2009
We had a amazing time at the Fort and hope to return again next year. The sea is to die for and is so clear, the fish are fantastic. The drinks are on a help yoursel
f bases during the day at the beach bar, just help yourself to cans from the well stocked fridges. The food is the only downside to this hotel its not that there is anything wrong with it, but it is aimed towards the Italians. There is pizza and pasta dishes and salads and nice cakes and fruit, but after two weeks the food becomes very boring. If we go next year we will try to go to Hurgada a couple of times aweek to try something different. There is a hard rock cafe there aswell as your McDonalds,KFC, pizza hut and a curry house. The entertainment at the hotel is again for the Italians, but there is singers in the 3 bars at night. We enjoyed the bar at the new wing and had a lovely waiter who keeped us suplied with cocktails(these are not included in the all inclusive)but are not expensive. The singer in the bar had us singing along and laughing at some of his renditions aswell. We especially loved his Eagles classic" welcome to the hotel Fort Arabesque".
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