Cleopatra Luxury Resort Sharm El Sheikh

The road leading to the Cleopatra Luxury Resort -- a wide driveway lined with international flags and palm trees -- certainly reflects the grandeur of the hotel's name. Interiors are a mix of the straightforward, and more contemporary, and the simple lobby is spacious, but spartan. Recent arrivals to the hotel are greeted with cold face towels and a glass of cold juice, helping to create the warm welcome for which the hotel is noted. Restaurants and bars range from the swish Waves Club to the more standard The Market, and there are several places to sit outside and enjoy the warm weather. The large property comprises of a series of low-rise buildings centered around swimming pool terraces and well-tended tropical gardens that slope down towards the hotel's sandy beach. The resort is most popular with couples including British and Russian tourists, as well as a fair share of families, many of whom are return visitors. 

The resort is located in the newly developed area of Sharm El Sheikh called Nabq Bay -- part of the popular stretch of resorts on the southern end of the Sinai peninsula overlooking the Red Sea. Surrounded almost exclusively by other similar hotel complexes, the property 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 a five-minute drive of the resort, most of the action is still in the main part of Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay) and about 25 minutes away by car. 

While the 324 rooms here don't quite make the hotel's self-professed luxury grade, they are clean and mostly modern, with smart contemporary furnishings, polished tile floors, and pleasant splashes of color. Standard features include flat-screen TVs, electric kettles for coffee and tea, MP3 docks, and minibars with free bottled water, but there's no Wi-Fi -- wired Internet is available free of charge. All rooms open to furnished balconies or terraces, with either garden, pool, or sea views, while Family Suites also include lounges, dining areas, and full kitchens. Bathrooms are clean and generally well-maintained, with granite vanities, walk-in showers, and wall-mounted hairdryers, while Superior Rooms also provide bathrobes and slippers. Not every room is as nice as the others, and there are some less stylish accents like overstuffed couches or cheap looking light wood veneer furniture in some rooms. We also noticed a bit of wear on some furniture. 

The hotel has everything to be expected from an upscale resort, from plenty of pools -- including options with an infinity-edge or a swim-up bar -- to a wide range of activities and entertainment. Most of the meals are served at the main restaurant, The Market, which can get crowded during peak times and the buffet offerings can be repetitive. There are just two a la carte eateries -- seafood and Italian -- as well as a beach grill, five bars (including a 24-hour lobby bar), and a nightclub.

The hotel is a solid choice for families, with two separate children's pools, swimming and snorkeling lessons, and a mini-club for kids aged 4 to 12. The main restaurant also has a nanny-supervised kids' section in the main restaurant so parents can enjoy a meal in peace. While the beach is fine golden sand, lots of sharp coral means that entry to the water is only advised via the pier, which also provides direct access to the superb reef. There's a dive school on-site as well as a tennis court (lessons are available). Wi-Fi is available in common areas, but coverage is limited and often slow. Massages and beauty treatments are also provided on-site, though pushy sales around pools can be annoying and the spa is lackluster.  

The hotel's all-inclusive plan covers buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main restaurant, as well as two dinners per stay in one of the a la carte eateries. Snacks including ice-cream are also provided at select times between meals. A range of locally-produced alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are also included, as well as tea, coffee, and bottled water. An "Ultra" all-inclusive plan offers three a la carte meals per stay and some premium-brand alcohol.