Marsa El Sedid, Sharm El Sheikh 8765013 Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | (888) 399-9863
Family-friendly,
all-inclusive resort set in pleasant and well-tended gardens
Walking distance
to Soho Square entertainment
Three-pool
complex with swim-up bar
Clean rooms open
to furnished balconies
Floodlit clay
tennis courts
Fitness center and spa
Attentive and friendly staff
Rooms and
amenities are dated
No on-site beach
Expensive Wi-Fi
The 295-room Island Garden Resort is a mid-range, all-inclusive complex located in Shark's Bay, a 10-minute drive from Sharm El Sheikh's main tourist hub. While it's set in attractive gardens with three swimming pools, other facilities like the spa and fitness center can feel a little tired. Rooms are simple, if bland, with dated furnishings and amenities like old tube-style TVs, though the spaces are clean and have furnished balconies or terraces with pool or garden views. There are three restaurants on-site, as well as bars including poolside and swim-up, plus guests have access to a nearby beach. All-in-all, it's a cheap and cheerful option, though travelers seeking something with a beach might want to consider the sister property, Island View Resort, instead.
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Scene
Small, low-rise, all-inclusive resort with attractive gardens, but some dated aspects
It's evident upon arrival at the Island Garden Resort that this is one of the more dated and slightly less polished of Sharm El Sheikh's all-inclusive vacation complexes, and also not as expansive as many. The grounds are well-tended and dotted with palm trees, tropical plants, and meandering paths lined with colorful flowers. The relatively small resort comprises around a dozen white-washed, low-rise buildings focused around the hotel's three interconnected swimming pools lined with spacious sun terraces with a central "island." Set away from the sea, there's no beach on-site or ocean views -- though guests do have access to one nearby. Clientele tends to be an even mix of couples and families with kids on package deals, with a leaning towards Russian and British holiday-makers.
Location
Within walking distance of Shark's Bay beach and Soho Square
The hotel is part of a stretch of Sharm El Sheikh resorts in the Shark’s Bay area on the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula. Although there's no beach on-site, guests do have access to the sandy shoreline of the adjacent Island View Resort, which is about a 10-minute walk away (free shuttle service is also available). Also a short walk away is the Soho Square, a buzzing and modern center full of dining and nightlife. For more action, Naama Bay -- the central tourist hub of Sharm El Sheikh -- is about a 10-minute drive from the resort, and Sharm El Sheikh International Airport takes about the same time.
Rooms
Clean though tired-looking rooms with old-fashioned amenities
The hotel has 295 rooms, all of which are decorated in simple styling with dark wood furnishings and tiled floors. The overall feel is a little tired with a few signs of wear and tear, but rooms are generally clean, with sliding doors that open onto furnished terraces or balconies with pool or garden views. Amenities are also dated, with no Wi-Fi and old tube-style TVs, while mini-fridges are not stocked with drinks. Although equipped with wall-mounted hairdryers and telephones, bathrooms are generally poorly maintained.
Features
Three interconnecting pools with kids' area and swim-up bar, plus three restaurants, and access to nearby beach
There are a few dining options on-site, though most meals are provided at the main Gardens restaurant which serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. An a la carte eatery serves an Italian menu and poolside barbecue is offered several times a week (both must be booked in advance). Three connected outdoor swimming pools are pleasant with plenty of loungers and include a children's pool and swim-up bar. There's a decent fitness center on-site, as well as a spa, though it lacks ambience.
Although there's no beach, guests have access to the beach at the nearby Island View Resort, which is a 10-minute walk or a free shuttle service away. An animation team provides daytime activities and evening entertainment -- though quality can vary and most of it is in Russian -- and staff and service in general are great. Sports facilities include a clay tennis court and a dive center offering scuba lessons and trips. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby for a fee, and while there are plenty of shops on-site, most of the merchandise is a bit tacky.
All-Inclusive / Food
Buffet restaurant and unlimited local drinks
The all-inclusive rate covers buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main restaurant as well as an a la carte option once per stay, and while food can get repetitive, it's generally good quality. Snacks including cookies and sandwiches are served at selected times around the pool, while unlimited local and alcoholic drinks are served at the lobby bar until midnight. Guests also have drinks covered on the beach of the Sunrise Island View hotel.
