SENTIDO Mamlouk Palace Resort

The decor of SENTIDO Mamlouk Palace is best described as Old Arabian -- especially fitting as “Mamlouk” means just that. With that in mind, the hotel has a traditional palace exterior of white stucco and mauve patterns; columns and extensive luscious-green landscaped grounds focus centrally on the pool terrace. The lobby is lovely with polished marble floors, stone walls, Moroccan patterns, and floral ceiling designs. Many areas also feature curved entryways that blend well with hanging metal chandeliers and dark wooden furniture or wall elements that have a slight antique feel. All in all, this is a mega-resort and it feels like one with a main clientele of families and couples. Expect long waits and little area to move about in some public spaces, as well as frustrating a la carte restaurant reservations, strict towel rules, and difficulty obtaining loungers.   

SENTIDO Mamlouk Palace is set in the popular Hurghada resort area, just a 25-minute drive south of Hurghada. It’s surrounded by other resorts on its beachfront location and sits just in front of Senzo Mall, a 19-minute walk away. A variety of fast food restaurants (like KFC and Hard Rock Cafe Hurghada) and sit-down restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are about a 20-minute walk from the resort. Hurghada Grand Aquarium takes nine minutes to reach by car, which could make for a great outing for families. It’s a 17-minute drive to Hurghada International Airport. 

The hotel has 530 rooms, all of which were renovated in 2014. Despite the renovation, the rooms are pretty simple in design. They’re decorated in cream tones and tiled floors with carved blond-wooden furniture. The beds are white with printed bed runners that complement the striped rugs and floral curtains. Though it’s a contemporary design, it feels a bit lacking and simple, especially with dated aspects like tube-stye TVs or small beds that appear stuffed in corners. There are some nice aspects to the rooms like furnished balconies, some with ocean views. Amenities include air-conditioning, safes, kettles, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are simple with blue and cream tiles, toiletries, hairdryers, and showers. 

The major draw at this resort is direct access to the beach, though like many areas of the property, it’s crowded with lots of loungers and a beach bar. The central pool is large (and heated in the winter) and surrounded by cabanas and loungers. It's serviced by a swim-up bar and pool bar. It can be difficult to grab a lounger around the pool and beach. There are children’s pools on-site, and an aqua park that kids can enjoy at the sister hotel. Outdoor entertainment is generally focused around the pool during the day and nightclub at night. Sports courts, like volleyball and tennis, keep guests active, as does the cardio and weight equipment in the fitness center. The spa allows guests to relax with services and facilities like massages, sauna, hot tub, steam room, and an indoor pool. There are two bars and eight restaurants with cuisine that ranges from Egyptian to Mexican to Italian. With an all-inclusive meal plan, guests start the day with a diverse free breakfast of local and international options. Guests must make reservations for the a la carte restaurants, but doing so can take up to an hour in the mornings. Take note that the all-inclusive meal plan has some time restrictions on availability of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and room service charges a fee. There have been complaints of poor food quality in the restaurants, long queues for meals and drinks, and slow waiter service. Other amenities include a few conference rooms and a business center, free Wi-Fi and parking, and a kids’ club and children’s playground.