Jaz Mirabel Beach

While arrival at Jaz Mirabel Beach -- with its plain low-rise facade and intermittently-working fountain -- is rather underwhelming, once inside, things take a turn for the better. The lobby is a pleasantly bright and stately affair, with graceful Arabian arches, plush traditional furnishings, and an elegant wrought-iron centerpiece chandelier hanging above swaths of polished marble. The extensive grounds are similarly handsome, with manicured lawns fringed by tall palm trees and tiled footpaths that wind down to the hotel's coarse but sandy beach. Guest rooms are spread over a collection of three-floor buildings centered around a huge pool terrace, while the property is part of a larger complex that includes sister hotels Jaz Mirabel Club and Jaz Mirabel Park. Although certainly a family-friendly resort, the majority of clientele are vacationing couples, and the hotel is also popular with package tours.

The resort is located at the north end of the newly developed area of Nabq Bay -- part of the popular Sharm El Sheikh stretch of resorts on the southeastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula with a protected reef offshore. Surrounded almost exclusively by other similar hotel complexes, it sits just off the El-Salam highway that connects to the Sharm El Sheikh Airport in under 15 minutes. While the Royal Nabq Center shopping mall and entertainment hub is within walking distance, most of the action is still in the main Naama Bay part of Sharm El Sheikh and about 25 minutes away by car.

The hotel has a whopping 645 rooms spread across four categories -- Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Executive Suite -- the main difference being the size, even though all are spacious and start at 25 square meters (269 square feet). Decor is traditional and simple, with modern wood furnishings and generic wall art. There's little local flavor that would let anyone know they are staying in a hotel on the shores of the Sinai Peninsula, and although rooms are well-maintained in general, there are some signs of wear and tear on furniture. Marble furniture tops do add a classy touch, and rooms have pops of red in the soft furnishings to brighten up the mood. Amenities across all rooms include air-conditioning, electric kettles for coffee or tea, and free minibars (stocked once per stay), as well as flat-screen TVs with a few satellite channels. Like many neighboring hotels, there's no in-room Wi-Fi. All rooms also have furnished terraces or balconies, while higher-end rooms also feature sea views. Tan tile bathrooms are spacious and clean with wall-mounted hair-dryers and walk-in showers.

To be expected from a resort hotel of this size, there's no shortage of on-site eating, drinking, and activities. There are five restaurants: two all-day buffets, and three a la carte eateries including Italian, Lebanese, and Asian cuisines -- reviews for all are relatively good, and adults-only dining is also available. The pool and beach bars serve food and drinks throughout the day, and drink service is also available around the pool. There are six outdoor pools, including two for children and a small aqua park with waterslides, as well as a coarse-sand beach with plenty of lounge chairs, a long pier, and water sports. A kids' club (for children ages 4 to 12) and two playgrounds help keep the little ones amused, while animation teams and evening entertainment also cater to adults. A disco is open until late and decent spa facilities include a sauna, steam room, and hot tub, as well as a selection of massage treatments. Typical for these resorts, Wi-Fi is very limited, slow, and only free for a short period. Guests can also upgrade their package for access to all facilities across the three Jaz Mirabel hotels.

The hotel's all-inclusive plan covers buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the buffet restaurants, as well as one dinner per stay in one of the a la carte eateries. Snacks including ice-cream are also provided at select times between meals. A range of locally-produced alcoholic and soft drinks are included until midnight (drinks in disco are charged). Minibars are stocked with bottled water daily and soft drinks once per stay.