Hotel Iberotel Club Fanara and Fanara Residence

The Iberotel Fanara is a 10 minute drive from the city centre and 14 mi from the airport. Its location in the Ras Om El Seid region means it enjoys wonderful views of the Red Sea on one side and the park on the other.

Originally a holiday club, the Columbus group has been running this hotel since December 2008. Most of the guests are Italian and French (the hotel can also be booked through Thomas Cook).

The Iberotel is a bright, stylish building, with harmoniously designed and well proportioned spaces. It is perfect if you are looking for peace and quiet coupled with attentive service. In addition to the facilities, we were impressed by the waste sorting system (this was one of the few hotels we visited to do so), the activity-free beach (the owners disapprove, and the silence - bar the sound of the sea - is such a pleasure), and the gentle slope down to the water's edge. This section of beach has no need for a pontoon because the coral reef is far enough out to sea, so diving enthusiasts will have to take a boat out if they want to dive.

The open-air theatre in sepia coloured stone looks directly over the sea, in the manner of a Greek theatre. Some of the entertainment is French, the rest international. If you enjoy musicals, dances and shows, and entertainment of all kinds (all put on by the two main teams), you will be in your element. If sports are more your thing, try out the beach volleyball, archery, petanque or tennis to keep in shape. You won't need to worry about your children, because up to the age of 12 you can leave them having fun in the mini-club!

The hotel also offers various bus trips, so you will have the opportunity to visit Cairo (a 6 hour drive), the pyramids, and Petra in Jordan. On the other hand, if you would prefer to keep things local, a shuttle, which is free by day and charged at certain times of night, can take you to Naama Bay (10 minutes away) and the old town of Sharm (5 minutes away). Transport can also be organised to and from the airport, which is a half-hour journey.

The hotel has 378 guest rooms in which you can drop off your suitcases and bags before giving in to the urge to dive into the Red Sea!

The establishment is split into different distinct areas, the first of which is at the entrance of the hotel (far from the sea and therefore lacking sea views) and that houses the standard and family rooms, while the inner area is reserved for the superior and deluxe rooms, which have views of the sea or garden. The rooms are spacious and can accommodate an extra guest if necessary, for an additional charge. Large families are also looked after here, as the family rooms can accommodate up to 5 guests! Two fresh water swimming pools (one large, one smaller) are available for adults and children to bathe in, and a Bedouin tent has been specially built for guests to sample a hookah pipe, if they so wish.

The Iberotel's restaurants can comfortably cater for the many guests staying at the hotel. 'El Medina' has seating for 350 diners and 'La Gazelle' enough for 180, and there is also a large terrace with a breathtaking view at the 'Temple Pool'. The dishes are varied and there is no shortage of specialities. The 'Temple' is the only restaurant open at lunchtime, but it also keeps its doors open for guests to enjoy a drink and get some fresh air on the terrace. During the daytime, it is the ideal place to find a snack to keep you going between meals.

'El Medina' and 'La Gazelle' serve breakfast and dinner as a buffet, not to mention the themed evenings that are sure to tantalise your taste buds with the variety of special flavours on offer. For an additional 25 pounds per person, 'La Gazelle' will prepare a lobster dinner perfect for a date with your significant other (or someone else), and this twice a week, including table service). The location of this restaurant has been very well thought out, slightly set back from the centre of the village but close to the newest rooms. This is a good way to encourage guests to explore a bit rather than always sitting at the same table...

Organised activities are forbidden on the beach, making it a particularly relaxing place to spend time filling your lungs with the sea air and drifting off to the lulling sound of the waves. The coastline at Fanara is perfect for children, as there are no dangerous rocks and the beach slopes gently into the water without suddenly dropping off at any point. The coral reef does not come in as far as the beach, so there is no need to walk out on a pontoon in order to preserve the coral, as seen so often in Sharm's hotels.