Ancient Sands Golf Resort and Residences — Hotel in Gamsha

Sharing the kind of review I’d like to have found, so hope it’s useful to others when booking.

HOTEL For the price we paid in off-season, no complaints Rooms clean, well serviced, sizeable Staff very friendly We particularly liked Magdy in the Mint Bar - a true gentleman bartender In general, staff’s spoken English was only OK, with some staff very challenged if you went off-script but a few do speak it well. It might be their German is better, reflecting the higher proportion of German guests, but that’s only a guess The pools are lovely and two of the five are heated in the colder months - a perfect temperature The poolside vibe was lovely, relaxed holiday tunes in the background Another review said you couldn’t do proper swimming in their pools but I’d say it was perfectly possible to do lengths (roughly 20 metres) and a combination of the temperature and the infinity pool made this a real delight - swam every day There is a shop onsite, well-stocked with the kinds of things you need on holiday (very reasonably priced sunglasses - for the likes of me who forgot his)

SETTING Many security checkpoints at the hotel and around El Gouna. I guess this is reassuring but felt bit weird - perhaps because of the nature of our arrival - see below Ancient Sands is set back quite some way from the seafront and some parts of the environs feel a bit under constructionand isolated . Fortunately, and hugely to their credit, there is an hourly (and half-hourly at peak) shuttle to take you to the marina and downtown. Tuk tuks and taxis can be ordered and very inexpensive (not much more than £1 GBP one-way) The hotel has its own private beach where you can hang out, hire towels, get food and drinks (“snack jars” are healthier and far tastier than they sound!)

FOOD/DRINKS The food was fair to good without ever being sensational - however no complaints at the price point It was very easy to eat healthily at every meal if you want to (not always the case with hotel buffets) For variety I recommend their “Dine around” offer which allows you to transfer for an evening meal to other hotels in El Gouna, in some cases at no extra charge, or otherwise for a discount. We went twice to Sheraton Miramar which (with no disrespect to Ancient Sands) was a step up. It was so quick and easy to get there and back it felt as easy as being shuttled to and from a restaurant within a large hotel complex. Also recommend visiting other restaurants outside the hotel even if not on that deal - very reasonable and high quality food. Added variety to the trip. If on all-inclusive you can get upgrades on wine/beer etc but they all seemed a bit caught off-guard if you requested it. The beer and wine are slightly better and worth the mild upgrade there is a cafe onsite (Crumbs) which does good coffee (better than at breakfast) but it only seemed to be partially open / had to get someone from a different bar to serve us - this may just be because it’s off-season

Kudos to the entertainments guys - Tito, Aladdin, Zee - I imagine their job is a bit thankless trying to sign people up to activities constantly and very occasionally they could be a bit much but by the end of the trip we realised how much they contributed to a fun atmosphere The live entertainment is low key compared to some holidays we’ve been on - e.g. just a solo singer with a backing track - but good quality, and one night there was a 4-person dance act of tangos that was seriously impressive.

EL GOUNA A strange kind of made-up town (look up the history) but it’s very safe and you don’t get bothered in the same way you might in other cities (as I think things are somewhat more under tight control)

AIRPORT/VISAS/TRANSFER I'm out of word count so in brief, the hotel's own sub-contracted transfer service tried to overcharge us for our visas. Get them from the official kiosk, and have some Egyptian money in advance (ATMs unreliable). Don't buy in advance because apparently the authorities force you to buy one on...

We recently stayed at Ancient Sands as part of a wedding party, and we had a fantastic experience.

From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. They were proactive, always ready to help before we even had to ask, and genuinely warm and friendly. You can also contact reception via WhatsApp. A special thank you to our Experience Ambassador Ahmed, Henrietta, Mohammad (all of them!) and the reception team, as well as the restaurant staff, porters, and housekeeping, who made our stay so enjoyable. Their excellent English and attentive service made everything effortless and we looked forward to seeing them each day. We would return to this hotel just for the staff alone!.

Our junior suite was exactly what we needed- spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed with a separate bedroom and sofa bed in the living area. However, we felt the hotel could advertise these rooms better online (we booked via TUI), as there weren’t many photos available, and we weren’t sure if it would be large enough. In the end, it was perfect. On our first night, we did have to call housekeeping for extra bathrobes and amenities (the shower cap box was empty), but room service responded quickly and generously, ensuring we had everything we needed.

The food was the only aspect that didn’t quite suit our tastes. There was plenty on offer to suit most guests, but overall we found the flavours to be quite “safe”. That said, the hotel offers complimentary “Dine Around” vouchers, allowing guests to have dinner at partner hotels such as Sheraton, Mövenpick, and Steigenberger. This was a fantastic option, and we loved the opportunity to explore different restaurants and dining experiences.

One of the highlights of our stay was the golf experience. The golf reception team was fantastic, always welcoming and incredibly helpful. I was passing through one day and they mentioned the hotel offers introductory golf lessons for just €10, which I would highly recommend to beginners and those interested in the game. I enjoyed it so much that I ended up taking additional private lessons with Captain Hassan, and his expertise significantly improved my game. His coaching style was patient, clear, and incredibly effective, making the lessons enjoyable and easy to follow. The golf facilities were well-maintained, and the entire experience was outstanding. The caddies and were great too, providing excellent guidance and ensuring a great experience on the course.

As the hotel is situated a little further out, getting around was also incredibly convenient. The hotel runs a shuttle bus once an hour to a beautiful private beach, which is just a five-minute drive away. Tuk-tuks are readily available throughout all of Gouna, and reception can arrange one for you at a flat fee of 50 Egyptian pounds to anywhere in El Gouna, making transport easy and affordable. We would recommend Ancient Sands to anyone who doesn’t mind being a bit further out away from the marina and beach.

The on-site spa is separately operated but offers good value for money. We paid $170 for two people, which included private access to the spa facilities (steam room, sauna, jacuzzi) plus a full body Turkish bath and a full-body massage. The massage therapists, Magda and Noor, were fantastic, and we would highly recommend their services.

However, the on-site salon did not run as smoothly. We booked a blow-dry on the morning of the wedding, but the appointment started late, the stylists were slow, and the fuse kept tripping as they were using three hairdryers at once. Despite this, they did a good job and styled our hair nicely. If you plan to use the salon, it’s best to allow plenty of extra time.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Ancient Sands Hotel, thanks to the exceptional service, the fabulous golf facilities, spacious and clean rooms, and thoughtful amenities. While the food and salon could have been better, these were minor issues in what was otherwise a fantastic stay. Thank you...

We had an amazing time at this hotel and couldn’t be more thankful for the experience. From the moment we arrived, we were truly impressed — not only by the beauty of El Gouna itself, but by how well the hotel fits into its surroundings, both architecturally and atmospherically.

The entire property is stunning — the lobby, pools, restaurants, and the overall layout of the main building make it very easy to navigate between different amenities. The room was absolutely perfect: spacious, beautifully designed, and incredibly comfortable. The private pool was clean and maintained daily, and thoughtful touches like the blade that continuously clears palm residue from the water truly set this hotel apart. And the staff member cleans the private pool at the villa, every other day.

What really made our stay extraordinary, though, was the incredible staff. Everyone was kind, polite, helpful, and always had a smile on their face. Their warmth and professionalism far exceeded what we experienced in another hotel in Hurghada. A special shoutout to Sami, the golf cart driver — so helpful and friendly. Also to Ahmad, the beach lifeguard, whose smile lit up the beach. He was amazing with our kids and managed his job with so much energy and kindness. The pool bar lifeguard was also great (unfortunately we didn’t catch his name).

In the restaurant, service was top-notch — Mina and Medhat stood out, but every server was fantastic. The cleaning staff also deserve huge praise. They were incredibly respectful, always mindful if our baby was sleeping, and cleaned the room thoroughly every single time. We’ve never stayed at a hotel where the room was cleaned with such care — every surface wiped, floors mopped, kitchen cleaned, dishes washed, bathrooms spotless, terrace and stairs mopped. That level of cleanliness is a huge part of what made our stay feel so luxurious and comfortable.

We also want to highlight the spa experience — the hammam was beautifully done and the massages were relaxing. The women working at the spa were kind, professional, and welcoming.

An additional note: not one of us had any stomach issues during our stay, which says a lot about the hotel’s hygiene standards. In Egypt, that’s not always easy to achieve, and it speaks volumes about how well the pools, food, and water are maintained. And there are many pools. There are so much pools that you can find an empty one and enjoy. But it’s generally also very peaceful in the reaort.

The food is great. Always something delicious to enjoy. Also the sweets,...