Amwaj Oyoun Hotel & Resort

Stepping into the bright and spacious lobby of the Amwaj Oyoun Hotel & Resort, guests are greeted with swathes of polished marble, numerous crisp-white antique-style furnishings, and a grand double staircase that create an upscale vibe. This all-inclusive vacation resort is set amongst acres of sprawling tropical gardens with plenty of manicured lawns skirted by sculpted hedges and dotted with palm trees. A mixture of Russian, German, and British vacationers congregate on sun terraces around the central freeform swimming pool, while paths meander past colorful tropical flowers to a wide sandy beach complete with a private jetty stretching to the edge of this coast's beautiful coral reef. 

The resort is located in the newly developed area of Nabq Bay -- a protected area and part of the popular Sharm El Sheikh stretch of resorts on the southern end of the Sinai peninsula. Surrounded almost exclusively by other similar hotel complexes, it sits just off the El-Salam highway that connects to the Sharm El Sheikh Airport in under 15 minutes. While there's a shopping mall and a few restaurants, including McDonald's and Hard Rock Cafe, within walking distance, most of the action is still in the main part of Sharm El Sheikh and about 25 minutes away by car. 

The resort's 453 rooms are spacious and feature tasteful, if dated, decor and sliding doors that open to furnished terraces or balconies with pool or garden views. All rooms have flat-screen TVs with 25 satellite channels, mini-fridges, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and air conditioning, though no in-room Wi-Fi; Superior Rooms have the same amenities, but are larger and feature better views. Mosaic-tiled bathrooms have marble vanities with wall-mounted hairdryers and walk-in showers, though some are in need of renovation. While rooms are generally clean and well-maintained, some guests report inconsistent housekeeping and temperamental air conditioning. Rooms by the pool can also get noisy. 

The resort has a total of five restaurants and five bars on-site, though most of the dining takes place at the Oyoun Restaurant buffet, which can get very busy at peak times and food quality can be poor. There is, however, a decent a la carte Italian restaurant that requires pre-booking as well as a poolside BBQ and seafood restaurant. There are a range of swimming pools to choose from including an activity pool, two pools for kids, and aqua parks with water slides. A private sandy beach provides loungers and day beds as well as a jetty from which snorkelers can have direct access to the lovely coral reef. Although guests can receive plenty of attention from ambulating sales people, the resort provides red flags you can display to communicate to vendors "do not disturb." 

There's also plenty in the way of activities and entertainment, with dedicated animation teams for both Russian and English-speaking guests, as well as a flood-lit tennis court and kids' club. An on-site spa provides massage treatments and a whirlpool tub and sauna, though facilities and ambience are lackluster. While free Wi-Fi is advertised in the lobby and a couple of the bars, the connection can be spotty. 

The all-inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Oyoun restaurant, which is served buffet-style and isn't always top-quality food. A range of mid-morning and afternoon snacks and light meals are also available at the pool-side bar. Local alcoholic drinks, a range of soft drinks, and hot refreshments also fall under the plan, though these are often limited and run out -- quality drinks including drinkable wine and top-shelf spirits must be purchased. The a la carte restaurants are also not included in the plan and incur extra charges.