Hadabet Om El Seed, Om El Seid hill, Sharm El sheikh, south Sinai, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | (888) 708-2081
Set in
European-style shopping and entertainment promenade
Elegantly finished
reception area with neoclassic styling
Bright
air-conditioned rooms with satellite TV and bathrobes
Three swimming
pools, including one with panoramic views
Choice of three
on-site restaurants and two bars; all-inclusive option available
Spa with
traditional hammam, sauna, and hot tub
Free shuttle to
reserved section of beach
No in-room Wi-Fi
(and slow in lobby)
Some rooms are away
from main building
No beach on-site
Some pushy spa
sales
Iberotel Il
Mercato is an upscale, 318-room resort located in the center of Sharm El
Sheikh's Il Mercato retail
and entertainment promenade. While the location means there's no beach on-site (instead there is a free shuttle to one), there is an abundance of bars, shops, and eateries in the immediate surrounds. Bright and spacious rooms have air-conditioning, satellite TV, and most have private balconies. Three
outdoor pools, a decent spa, and a choice of restaurants are on offer, though the hotel can't compete with the facilities of some of the larger
resorts in the area, like the Hilton Sharm Waterfalls Resort nearby (which is only slightly pricier and has a private beach).
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Upscale chain hotel awash with neoclassic touches and rooftop terraces
Integrated neatly
into the surrounding purpose-built promenade, the Iberotel Il Mercato is a
flamboyant blend of neoclassic flourishes where ornate wrought ironwork and
polished marble floors meet painted coffered ceilings and velvet-cushioned, antique-style furnishings. While the result can look a little Renaissance-themed,
the overall effect is high-end and well presented with a bright spacious
reception and a pleasant, polished finish throughout. Unlike most area resorts, there's nothing in the way of gardens or a private beach on-site, though
there's plenty of both sunny and shaded space for pools and terraces on the
hotel's rooftop (guests also have exclusive access to a sandy beach nearby).
Most guests are vacationing couples, making for a generally more
peaceful ambience, and tend to be a mix of European and Russian holiday makers.
Location
Set in the middle of Il Mercato Promenade in southern Sharm El Sheikh
The hotel is
located in the Om El Seed area of southern Sharm El
Sheikh and right in the center
of Il Mercato Promenade -- a European-style shopping and entertainment area that's home to numerous retail outlets, coffee shops, and restaurants. Naama Bay --
the central tourist hub of Sharm El Sheikh that's full of restaurants, bars, and
buzzing nightlife -- is about a 15-minute drive from the resort. It's one of
the more distant hotels from Sharm El Sheikh's International Airport at around
25 minutes driving time.
Rooms
Bright, well-maintained rooms with fluffy bathrobes and satellite TV
The hotel's 318
rooms are bright and spacious with fresh neutral tones and a mix of
traditionally styled and modern furnishings. In-room amenities include
adjustable air-conditioning, tea/coffee facilities, minibars, and flat-screen
TVs with satellite channels, though there's no in-room Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are
generally well-maintained with shower/tub combos, wall-mounted hairdryers, and fluffy bathrobes. While most rooms extend to furnished
balconies, some lack this feature, and guests should also note that Promo Rooms are
located a few minutes' walk away from the main building in the Il Mercato
shopping mall.
Features
Three swimming pools, rooftop massages, and traditional stone hammam
The hotel has
three swimming pools, two of which are fairly small but have separate kids'
sections. Two of the three are heated during winter months, but only one gets
the sun for the whole day (as well as views of the surrounding area), so it tends to be the most popular. If pools get busy, there's a free shuttle bus to a
section of a nearby sandy beach -- the Golden Beach -- with a reserved area for
guests and water sports facilities. The hotel also features one of the better hotel
spas in the area (though with some persistent poolside sales), which includes
a traditional stone hammam, sauna, and hot tub as well as the option of rooftop
massages. There are several
dining options on-site, the main restaurant, Il Giardino, serving breakfast,
lunch, and dinner buffet-style, while two a la carte options provide international
and Italian menus -- there's also abundant dining options in the hotel's
immediate surrounds. A poolside bar also serves drinks and snacks throughout
the day, while the lobby bar is 24-hour.
All-Inclusive / Food
Covers meals, drinks, and snacks, but not bottled water
The hotel's
optional all-inclusive plan covers buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner in
the Il Giardino restaurant, as well as dinner in an a la carte restaurant. Snacks
and cakes are provided in the afternoon at the poolside bar, while a range of
locally produced alcoholic and soft drinks are also included and available
around the clock at the lobby bar. Half- and full-board options are also
available. Minibar items and bottled
water are not included in plans.
