Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh 46619 Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | (888) 399-9863
Attractive
family-friendly resort set in tropical gardens
Sandy beach with
lots of loungers, jetty, and coral reef
Short walk from
bustling Naama Bay nightlife
Spacious rooms
with large furnished balconies and free Wi-Fi
Kids' club,
indoor play areas, and children's menus
Five swimming
pools including kids' pools
Three restaurants and two bars
Around-the-clock
room service
Palm wing guests must cross road for beach access
Some views from
rooms obscured by trees
No real spa
facilities on-site
The 382-room Hotel Novotel Sharm El-Sheikh is an upscale, family-friendly resort located in Sharm El-Sheikh's tourist hub of Naama Bay and a short walk from its buzzing nightlife. Although the complex is bisected by a road, the grounds are lush and attractive with a private beach that's better than most (it's possible to wade into the water from the shore; most beaches in Sharm El-Sheikh have coral right up to the sand). Rooms are spacious and clean with minibars, tea/coffee facilities, and free Wi-Fi (which is unusual for hotels in the area). There's also enough to keep the kids happy, including indoor play areas and a kids' club, and plenty of pools and water sports on-site. Overall, its got a lot more polish than many if its competitors, though some guests may prefer the adjacent and similarly priced Hilton Sharm El Sheikh Fayrouz Resort.
Scene
Large upscale resort set in attractive tropical gardens bisected by road
The Hotel Novotel Sharm El-Sheikh consists of two different wings as its split down the middle by the El Salam (or Peace Road) that runs right through it. The Palm wing sits on the north side and tends to be quieter and more family-oriented with a kids' pool and plenty of open green spaces. South of the road and overlooking the sea is the Beach wing where guests have direct access to the hotel's generous stretch of sand (Palm guests must cross this fairly busy road to get to the beach, but staff members are always on hand to help). The resort's numerous low-rise whitewashed buildings are exceptionally well-maintained and set in attractive tropical gardens scattered with palm trees, scented flowers, and sculpted shrubbery. Special care has also been taken in lighting the grounds whose abundant flora is illuminated by numerous spotlights and lanterns to create a rather magical ambience.
Location
Set in Sharm El Sheikh's Naama Bay, a short walk from its bustling center
The hotel is bisected by the main El Salam highway in the busy tourist hub of Sharm El Sheikh's Naama Bay. The town center with its numerous restaurants, bars, bazaars, and buzzing nightlife is about a 15-minute walk down a pedestrianized road, or a few minutes by cab. The Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is around a 15-minute drive away, while the area's second tourist center, SOHO Square, is about the same distance.
Rooms
Spacious rooms with large furnished balconies and free Wi-Fi
The hotel has 382 rooms, all of which are tastefully decorated in earthy tones with plenty of natural wood and tiled floors. Rooms are spacious, with a small seating area and sliding doors that open up to large furnished balconies or terraces with garden, pool, and sea views (sometimes all three, while other times views are obscured by trees). In-room amenities are better than most, providing free Wi-Fi (atypical of hotels in the area) as well as the usual minibars, tea/coffee facilities, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Bathrooms are on the small side, but clean and well maintained with walk-in showers and wall-mounted hairdryers.
Features
Sandy beach with plenty of loungers, three restaurants, two bars, and five pools
The resort has three restaurants, the main one, Coral, serving breakfast, lunch, and a themed nightly buffet, and the other two offering a la carte menus of French and Italian food (room service is also available around the clock). There are just two bars, which is unusual for a resort of this size; both overlook the sea and one provides live entertainment, music, and cabaret. There are five swimming pools dotted around the complex, with each wing having at least one large pool as well as a kids' pool. There's also a kids' club (for four- to 12-year-olds), indoor play areas, and children's menus as well as baby sitting services (for a fee).
There's a nice stretch of sandy beach that's exclusive to guests and provides plenty of loungers and parasols as well as a floating jetty for snorkelers to explore the coral reef. The beach also has windsurfing facilities, a PADI-certified diving center, and plenty of other water sports such as banana-boat rides and waterskiing. A fairly decent fitness center with a sauna is also available for guests' use, but there are no spa facilities or treatments offered.
All-Inclusive / Food
Optional plan covers local drinks, buffet meals, and one a la carte dinner
The hotel's optional all-inclusive plan covers buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main Coral restaurant, as well as one meal per stay in one of the a la carte eateries. Snacks including ice cream and cakes are also provided in the afternoon at the poolside and beach bars. A range of locally produced alcoholic and soft drinks are also included at the pool bar, though wine is only available at dinner and lunch in the restaurant.