The Chedi El Gouna — Hotel in Gamsha

After a flawless and memorable stay at their sister property in Switzerland, I was very excited to try The Chedi El Gouna. While there are several positive aspects to this resort, overall the experience was a big disappointment. Allow me to elaborate: ||Starting with my arrival, the driver the hotel sent to the airport did not come to the correct terminal to pick me up, I had to wait outside over 30 minutes until we finally found each other. We packed up and left and at the exit of the airport, he started an argument with the toll booth operator, which got so heated he pulled the car over on the side of the road, got out, and started yelling at the guy, leaving me sitting in the backseat helpless with no idea what was going on. When we finally got to the hotel, I paid the fare and he asked 4 times for a tip... in no way is a tip justified after that experience. ||Next let's discuss the rooms. I was granted an upgrade to a beachfront room which was appreciated, however despite the view, these rooms don't function well. Upon entering, you get a smell of sewage that never went away. They use the plug in scent diffusers to try and mask it, but with my allergies the chemicals made it worse and I unplugged it opting to go with sewer gas over cancer-causing chemicals. The aircon in my room did not function, over 3 hours the room did not cool below 25, had to have two different people come and look at it, the first said to just "open the door"... yeah right, open the door when its 35 degrees out and let all the bugs in, brilliant response. An engineer finally came, took apart the unit in the ceiling, and got it to work, the room was finally cooled to 20 (I would have preferred 18) around 10pm. ||The rooms are really small, only fitting a bed and a tiny desk that so loaded with boxes and snacks that you can't use it, there is no comfortable chair or really any place to sit inside, you have to sit outside, which leaves you to be eaten alive by mosquitos and harassed by flies, and if you get unlucky like me and have smokers next door, you have the added benefit of inhaling second hand smoke. There is one outlet on the patio but of course mine was broken. An engineer came to try and fix it, he was ultimately unsuccessful and just said "push hard" when trying to plug in my charger... I opted not to do this for fear of electrocution or starting a fire. ||The showers have double rain heads which is a real luxury, however the design here is flawed, as having two shower heads with one valve cuts the water pressure in half, the flow is so weak you have to turn them off and use the wand to properly rinse, totally defeating the purpose of this shower design. Another disappointment. ||Next let's discuss the facilities. The biggest annoyance for the duration of the trip was the unstable, low bandwidth wifi connection. The signal constantly drops (every 10-15 minutes like clockwork) which makes doing any semblance of work impossible, and there are several dead zones across the property, incredibly frustrating. The pool area is small and very crowded, if you sleep in past 9am, you won't have a chair, and will have to choose one by the hot tub or on the beach. The lounger I was able to get one day was also broken, the components were rusted in place so they couldn't get it to adjust or lay flat. There is also no service around the pool, you have to walk to the bar, put in your order, and then ask them to bring it to you. ||The "beach" is a bit of a misnomer as well, as it is totally eroded away with no sand and littered with garbage, including discarded building materials (bricks, broken tiles, broken glass, quite dangerous to step on) not to mention hundreds of jellyfish, including in the netted off swimming area. Hard to call this a beach resort if the beach is hazardous and totally unusable. ||Next, the food. The breakfast spread is nice and typical of other resorts of this caliber, however don't order the shakshuka, the tomatoes and sauce come from a can and it is very unappetizing, both tables next to me also ordered it and we all sent it back. The breakfast was included in my rate but the servers still present a "bill" with a zero balance that you have to sign, their way of asking for a tip. Didn't like this. ||I had one of the best Japanese meals ever at The Chedi Andermatt and was so excited to have repeat experience, but the outpost here is shockingly awful. Very limited basic menu, half of the items not available, and the dishes are so incredibly salty I couldn't eat them (the chef clearly seasoned the sauces prior to reducing them, a rookie mistake in Asian cuisine), I ended up just paying my bill and going to the bar and having some late night tapas to hold me over. The next night in The Restaurant, I had a similar experience, they offer a Pistachio Mousse but it had been premade and frozen (NEVER freeze a mousse! The liquids and fats separate and the texture is ruined), the outside was soup and the inside frozen rock solid. They need to send their culinary team to Switzerland ASAP to learn how to properly prepare these basic items if they are to remain a part of the brand's identity. ||Another shocking discovery, The Shop on property blatantly sells counterfeit designer merchandise (a la Dior, Chanel, Gucci, etc.), this is crime that should not be tolerated anywhere, let alone at a 5 star establishment. I took pictures and sent to my friends in Paris, I hope some enforcement action is taken as I cannot believe The Chedi would condone this kind of activity. Really low rent. ||Lastly the service. The waitstaff are the most attentive and well trained I have encountered in El Gouna, and room attendants do good work, though the rooms should be swept twice daily to get the sand out, otherwise you track it into bed which isn't ideal. The WhatsApp service however is really slow the respond and they never actually answer questions, they always just say "you can go there and ask" or "download the app"... well I don't want to download the app (nor could I with the spotty wifi). Just answer simple questions when they're asked and take the initiative to communicate when there is special programming... like one night, there was a middle eastern show during dinner that I would have loved to see, but no one told me about it, so I had to hear about it the next day from other guests. ||Is that everything? Probably not, but I think it illustrates why I feel the way I do about this hotel and why staying here is not a luxury experience. It was really shocking to me after having had such a great time in Switzerland, but unfortunately I would not return here, nor would I seek out staying at another Chedi property...

From the moment I arrived at The Chedi El Gouna, I was captivated by the hospitality and warmth that greeted me at the gate. Hamada, with his welcoming smile, set the tone for what was to be a truly remarkable stay.

Upon my arrival, Shenouda escorted me to the reception for a seamless check-in. His attentiveness continued as he later drove me to my fabulous room via golf cart, offering not just a ride but a personalized introduction to the property and its surroundings. His patience and politeness in accommodating my requests were exceptional.

As I explored the hotel, I was met with nothing but smiles from the staff, perfectly manicured landscapes, immaculate design, and a spotless property. After a long overnight flight, I immediately felt at ease. Makrious and the check-in team made the process quick and enjoyable, offering me refreshments and sweet canapés while they walked me through what to expect during my stay.

My room exceeded expectations—clean, well-equipped, and with a comfortable bed. It was here that I met Mahmood and Hamada from housekeeping, who attentively noted my preferences and ensured a spotless stay throughout. Their attention to detail was impeccable.

The food was another highlight of my stay. Fresh ingredients and top-quality dishes were consistently served. Chef Nady, along with Chef Mahmood and Chef Fatima, were always present, making sure my culinary desires were fulfilled with recommendations that went above and beyond. Islam and Abanoub provided exceptional service, understanding guests’ needs without intrusion, and were quick to attend to details such as clearing plates and refilling drinks.

The beach and pool area were equally delightful, though I regret not remembering the names of the staff who made that experience special.

A special mention goes to Maria, a true pillar of customer relations. Her presence was felt throughout the property as she moved through the restaurants, pool, and reception areas, ensuring every guest was well taken care of. She has a gift for knowing when to approach guests without interrupting their enjoyment. I enjoyed chatting about art, awareness of the red sea area.

Lastly, Mr. Bahaa and management, I cannot thank you enough for leading such a dedicated and guest-focused team. Your commitment to service excellence truly shines through in every aspect of The Chedi.

Two weeks after my initial stay, I found myself flying back to relive the same distinguished experience. To the entire team at The Chedi, thank you for an unforgettable stay and for accommodating my every need...

I’ve recently returned from a week at The Chedi El Gouna and it was quite simply the best holiday I have ever been on: I’m already planning my return and cannot recommend it enough to anyone else who may be considering a stay there. I’ve travelled solo as a woman to many places over the years and I’ve never felt so welcomed and safe as I did at The Chedi, or El Gouna. From the moment I arrived at midnight (after a long journey from the USA via the UK) and was greeted with sparkling wine and petit four, I knew I was in for an indulgent week and was not disappointed. The whole staff were so kind and attentive, and really went over and above to ensure that I had everything I needed and more throughout my stay. From the guest relations team (including Mario who led a great boat trip round El Gouna) to the restaurant team (including the lovely Milanya who I so enjoyed talking with each day), the bar team (including Mohamed who many times made my favourite cocktail for me off-menu), the spa team (including Christina and Magda), the lifeguards and waiting staff (who were so kind and helpful in indulging my early stages of learning Arabic and helping me with it), and housekeeping (who arranged fresh flowers on my bed each day), nothing was too much trouble. For example, when I remarked that I had very much enjoyed the koshari at dinner one evening but was too full to finish it, I returned to my room afterwards to find that staff had set up my remaining portion for me to enjoy later. I booked half board and was very impressed by the excellent menu of food and drinks on offer at breakfast and dinner. There was always a traditional Egyptian menu choice which I very much appreciated. The produce on offer was very fresh and of the highest quality, cooked with great skill and served by attentive and friendly staff. I enjoyed two treatments at the beautiful spa with Magda who had a lovely calm energy. Her skilled work really helped me to recover from the 13 hours of flights I’d undertaken to get there. The attention to detail at The Chedi is exemplary. It is a great environment maintained to the highest standards and set on a beautiful beach with easy access to El Gouna’s marinas. If you are considering booking a holiday here: you must! Thank you to all at The Chedi for your efforts in making last week one of the best of my life. I hope to see...