Coral Sea Holiday Village

As the name suggests, the Coral Sea Holiday Village is a self-contained vacation resort comprising an abundance of facilities spread throughout its extensive complex. The architecture is mostly low-rise Andalusian-style structures in earthy tones set amongst lush tropical gardens awash with palm trees, colorful flowers, and bristling cacti together with rolling manicured lawns and sculpted shrubbery. Pathways meander past numerous pools, restaurants, bars -- and Bobby, the resort's camel -- down to the hotel's sandy beach that overlooks the Red Sea. The resort is well-maintained with a smart, polished reception and lobby lounge, while some areas have the playful feel of a theme park. Clientele are predominantly families with kids while also being popular with vacationing couples on package holidays. 

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 easy walking distance, most of the action is still in the main part of Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay) and about 25 minutes by car. 

The resort has a whopping 484 rooms spread around numerous low-rise buildings, all of which extend to furnished balconies or terraces with sea, pool, or garden views. Decor is simple and modern, if forgettable, with tiled floors and contemporary furnishings as well as standard amenities that include air-conditioning, minibars, telephones, and flat-screen TVs (with a couple of English channels), plus extras like tea- and coffee-making facilities, DVD players, and bathrobes in Select Rooms and Suites. There are also rooms with bunk beds, bean bags, and gaming consoles for kids, and others with direct access to private pools. Travelers should note that there are no elevators in these three-story buildings.

The resort has a good range of restaurants serving everything from pan-Asian and Italian, to Mexican and Indian, to the Stonegrill restaurant which uses hot stones for cooking. The main Dine Around restaurant provides a buffet service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (which can get busy at peak times), while numerous bars serve drinks and snacks throughout the day -- one favorite is the Bedouin tent offering Arabian tea, Turkish coffee, and flavored Egyptian shisha pipes. There are also an impressive 11 swimming pools, including one with waterslides, a children's pool, and activity pool, though they aren't heated and can be a little chilly. (Poolside towel service is available.)

The hotel also overlooks a pleasant stretch of sandy (albeit fairly coarse) beach with plenty of daybeds and loungers, as well as a long jetty, volleyball court, and pirate ship climbing frame. A dive shop can also arrange scuba and snorkeling trips. Entertainment and activities include a kids' club for the little ones, live performances, and a weekly beach party for adults  (which can get a little noisy and runs late). The on-site Health Club & Spa provides a sauna, whirlpool tub, and steam bath as well as a range of massage treatments -- which can also be enjoyed on the beach. There's an on-site clinic that's available around the clock.

The all-inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the buffet restaurant, as well as one meal per week in an a la carte restaurant. A range of mid-morning and afternoon snacks are also available including ice-cream. Unlimited local alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, and spirits), a range of soft drinks, and hot refreshments are also part of the plan and served in the restaurant during mealtimes and most of the bars until midnight.