Grand Rotana Resort & Spa

It's hard not to be impressed by the arrival experience at the Grand Rotana Resort & Spa -- a veritable forest of picture-perfect palm trees have been arranged in neat rows and standing on small islands, leading the way to an imposing desert fortress-style entrance. Inside, pairs of escalators bathed in blue light ferry guests up through chic, contemporary surroundings peppered with modern takes on North African decor. Traditional hanging lamps and tiered multi-colored chandeliers hang from lofty octagonal wooden ceilings and illuminate giant vases, latticework paneling, and polished stone floors. The resort is vast, with nine buildings spread over more than 30 acres of grounds that contain over 2,000 palm trees, waterfalls, and fountains. Lots of steps and footpaths wind through well-tended tropical gardens that slope down to sandy terraces and a quarter mile of rocky coastline that overlooks a superb coral reef just off shore. 

The hotel is located on a gently sloping hillside overlooking the Red Sea and is one of numerous Sharm El Sheikh resorts that line the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. There's very little within walking distance, though Naama Bay -- the central tourist hub of Sharm El Sheikh that's full of restaurants, bars, and buzzing nightlife -- is about 10 minutes by car. The Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is about a 15-minute drive away and the hotel provides a free shuttle service (a limousine for Club guests).

The hotel has 526 rooms and suites, most of which are bright, spacious, and well-maintained, though some of the decor is starting to look a bit dated. All rooms have sliding doors that open out to furnished terraces or balconies with garden, pool, or sea views. In-room amenities include tea/coffee facilities (with free bottled water), well-stocked minibars, and satellite TV, though some TVs are still old-style tube sets. In-room Wi-Fi incurs an extra charge, but not all rooms have Wi-Fi coverage. Bathrooms are clean and have either walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, as well as bathrobes and wall-mounted hairdryers. 

The resort has numerous eating and drinking options, ranging from Italian and Middle Eastern to seafood grills and even a kids' cafe. Most meals, however, take place in the hotel's main restaurant, Ramses, which provides an all-day dining buffet service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with views over the sea. There is also a selection of bars, including a traditionally-styled English pub, poolside bar, and open-air lounge serving shisha and eastern nibbles.

The main focus, however, is the hotel's enormous lagoon-style swimming pool that's roughly the size of three Olympic pools and includes a separate kids' pool and waterslide. Children are generally well catered for with frequent daytime activities and entertainment, as well as a kids' club and playground. While the little ones are being looked after, adults can relax in the Thai-style Zen Spa that offers an extensive list of treatments as well as plunge pool, sauna, and steam room -- though facilities aren't quite up to scratch. There's also no real beach, though sandy terraces are lined with loungers overlooking the gorgeous coral reef and dive and watersports centers provide everything from scuba to windsurfing.

The hotel's optional all-inclusive plan covers buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main restaurant, as well as selected a la carte restaurants for dinner (reservations required). Snacks are also served at select times between meals including ice-cream in the afternoon. A limited range of locally-produced alcoholic and soft drinks are also covered, though drinks taken outside of certain times and in certain locations are an additional charge and can be expensive. However, there is an option to upgrade to premium-brand drinks as well as an "ultra inclusive" plan option that covers the a la carte restaurants for lunch. While room service is also available, it's not included in any plan.