Hotel Royal Grand Sharm

The Royal Grand Sharm sits right on the edge of the Ras Um Sid cliffs in Hadaba, the furthest tourist zone form the airport, which is situated around 13 miles from the hotel. No need then to travel to the beach by shuttle bus as the private beach is literally on your doorstep. Naama Bay, the zone next to Hadaba is just 5 miles away and can be reached with the hotel's shuttle bus.

The hotel welcomes a range of nationalities including Germans, Russians and Scandinavians too, although the British perhaps make up the largest group. If you fancy having dinner at the rather impressive La Seppia à la carte restaurant and you are staying at the hotel on an all-inclusive basis, remember to make the staff aware of this to receive your 25EGP discount.

The overwhelming majority of the 350 rooms at the Royal Grand Sharm are standard ones, with either a twin setup or a king size bed. The remaining 12 rooms are suites, four of which are presidential. The rooms are simply but well-appointed with marble-topped furniture and matching striped bed linen and curtains. There is not a whole lot of room to move around the room given its setup but they have the advantage of being spotless and many have a sea view, a prized characteristic of any Sharm hotel room. In-room facilities include air conditioning, minibar and safe. The bathrooms are equally clean and while not huge, do feature a decent size walk-in shower, bidet, hairdryer and toiletries. All rooms of course have either a terrace or balcony and are strictly non-smoking. The suites offer a different level of comfort with living rooms equipped with flatscreen televisions and DVD players, kitchenettes and dining rooms and balconies with sweeping views of the sea. You will of course find little extra touches such as flowers and plants, bathrobes and slippers and fruit bowls.

The façade of the Royal Grand Sharm doesn't really do justice to what lies the other side, with the exception of the beautifully kept lawns and greenery. The lobby is everything a lobby should be; grand, welcoming and telling of the standard of the hotel. Impeccable marble flooring is mirrored by a wonderful central atrium on the ceiling with windows allowing light to rush in and illuminate the fountain in the middle of the hall, adorned at each corner with healthy looking plants. Within such a context, the ample and inviting seating is calling out for a cocktail to be taken. Guests have a choice of three swimming pools, the main one having a kids pool attached to it and the other two, both smaller, are heated during winter. All, as you would expect at such a hotel, are in perfect condition, with plenty of sun beds provided without being on top of each other. The palm trees which frame each pool provide a perfect backdrop for lazy days of lounging and sipping drinks from the bar. The river which flows from one pool to another, as well as the bridges that cross them, is very quaint. The hotel's wellness centre, which is perhaps a little low key for a hotel on this scale, boasts a great gym with top-of-the-range machines and free weights, sauna (with plunge pool for later), steam room, jacuzzi, four massage rooms, a beauty salon and an aerobics room. Scented candles around the facility release a wonderful aroma, to be taken in perhaps while reading a book from the centre's collection. The team of five animators (all English-speaking), keep the kids occupied all day whether it be in the kids club room, the playground, the pool or with sports activities. They have their own mini disco every night and babysitting can be arranged upon request for 20? per hour. There are also fun and games for adults in the form of shows (Pharaonic, dance), karaoke and quizzes. In the shaded Shisha bar, featuring traditional fabrics on the columns and tables, one can also enjoy a drink, but which must be bought from the on-site bar. Shops selling perfume, books, souvenirs, shisha and jewellery can all be found within the grounds and for your financial needs there is a bank and cash machine. The grounds of the hotel are immaculately maintained with well-looked after plants giving the place wonderful bursts of colour. The hotel has a great position looking out to sea gifting it magnificent views, which probably explains why all the staff are all so helpful and enthusiastic.

Caravanserai is the hotel's main restaurant and serves an international buffet with a revolving theme cycle. There is a terrace with 160 covers meaning you can take your dinner while looking out on to the Red Sea. La Seppia (dinner only) is an à la carte restaurant with an extensive Italian menu. The setting couldn't be better. The room itself, accessed by descending a few steps, opens out into marvelous space lit by a natural light piercing the two sides of floor-to-ceiling windows, framed by swooping curtains. The tables are beautifully laid with glimmering crockery and squeaky clean wine glasses and are surrounded by smart dining chairs. The restaurant's terrace enjoys a stunning sea view with the mountains as a backdrop to the boats sailing past. The pool bar, whose tables are placed under huge wicker parasols, serves a late breakfast as well as lunch, including seafood, and then snacks for the rest for the day. For drinks you have the Fun Pub (evening entertainment, dancing, darts etc) and the Lobby Bar (24 hours). The beach has its own outlet serving drinks and snacks all day long. The hotel does have another two restaurants, but these only open for special events.

The Royal Grand Sharm has its own 750ft private beach at the back of the property. The upper part, where guests can lie back and soak up the sun, is perfectly flat and has clean, good quality sand. There is plenty of space between the transats and ample shade for all. The beach bar and snack restaurant is situated just behind this area. Due to the rocks and coral at the entrance to the sea, access to the water is via two lengthly jetties. There is of course a diving centre (the oldest in Sharm el Sheikh) as well as a water sports centre, offering the complete range of activities as well as excursions to water parks and to take such spectacles as dolphin shows.