Xanadu Makadi Bay — Hotel in Makadi Bay

This was our third trip to Egypt but first stay at Xanadu Makadi Bay hotel and wow we loved it!||Staff - So very welcoming, patient and knowledgeable when we arrived. Would not let us carry a bag and assured we’d find them in our room, bags made it there before we did!|Relations team were very knowledgeable and helpful with any questions we had.|Maintenance teams very friendly and accommodating. |Entertainment team - Make an effort to get to know you and find out what you and your family enjoy, in particular Paulo and Tarzan, great guys and really work to include the kids if they want to join in anything.|Waiting staff - Absolutely fantastic, if you find yourself down at the pool during the day or sky bar at night Karim Mohammed is your guy! This man made us so welcome and treat us like royalty, he was not too much, he made sure our family had everything we needed at all times, thank you Karim!||Rooms - We had an adjoining family room which was perfect for our two teen boys and us, nearby but privacy. We had a 2nd floor room that looked out over the gardens and the beach. It was super clean and well looked after by the staff if we used the call button for it to be turned down each day. |Buttons include “please clean”, “don’t clean” & “do not disturb”.|Bed was kind of hard for me but husband and kids said it was super comfy, extra pillows too if you need.|Aircon which was absolutely needed for the first few days was bliss until we got a bit used to the heat.|Bathroom great size, very clean and lovely waterfall shower, shampoo, soap, conditioner (great to soften your hair after the beach or pool!), manicure set and nice big towels.||I’ve seen some people mention the TVs aren’t great, but we don’t go on holiday to watch tv so not a biggy for us. You can change language to English in settings if you need, not smart TVs if that’s important to you.||Food - Important part 😂 was delicious!! When you normally go all inclusive it can get a bit samey, not at Xanadu! The selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner is fantastic! So much choice you’ll never get bored.|Fresh cheeses, meats, bread (bread is delicious), eggs every kind of way you want, a selection of hot sides that changes each day though some thankfully remain the same as they’re so good you want round 2. Fresh honey lots of different kinds, yogurts, fruits and vegetables that’s just for breakfast!|We found we were too full for 3 full meals a day so would get breakfast then get a snack from the beach bar at lunch, the pizzas, burgers and shawarma were delicious.|Dinner, I’m missing it already! They rotate all of the foods so you’re not eating the same thing on any day, always something different. Everything they make is just so tasty and I’d say more healthy choice than unhealthy, though you can whack a load of chips on your plate if you like! However they cook beef, if only restaurants here could cook it like they do at Xanadu, they have what I think is brisket, melts in your mouth! Lots of chicken and fish dishes available too aswell as a whole sushi bar. If you’re vegetarian the selection of hot and cold veg dishes are lovely! I found I could eat super healthy but really enjoy it (didn’t feel like I was living and breathing salad).|The desserts wow! They are so creative with the desserts they make and so many, my fave though had to be the two stands of baklava, amazing. For kids a huge selection of sweet treats fresh donuts and waffles with all the trimmings. We can’t say enough about how good the food is at Xanadu and how excellent the chefs and waiting staff are, if you can’t find a table they won’t leave you waiting they’ll whip you one up fast as you like and make sure you’re sorted for drinks etc.||Pool & Beach - Lots of pools to choose from, deepest is 2.5 metres and shallower ones for smaller kids. Very clean and plenty of space to enjoy, the pool bar has great food and pumps out drinks all day! Music played throughout the day with the entertainment crew providing activities such as water polo and water aerobics.|The beach, if you normally find yourself by the pool I highly recommend you spend a day at the beach, it’ll change your mind, so clean and beautiful. Again you’ll have waiting staff on hand if you need drinks, also a camel being led around by a great guy. The amazing bit is the snorkelling, as Makadi bay has its own reef you can snorkel and see so many different types of marine life it’s beautiful, we were lucky enough to see a sea turtle! ||Entertainment - This can be a quiet relaxing holiday or packed full of activities if you like, there is a full program in the hotels lobby also on notice boards around the hotel, entertainment staff are great so worth checking out. There is a show in the outdoor forum each night, usually for about 30-45 mins and always good to go to after your evening meal. ||Facilities - There is a great full air conditioned gym, two boys went daily and loved it. The hotel also has a spa, we went for full body massage, facials and husband and boys went for hair and beards sorting (great haircut) and massage was devine! One thing to be very clear about is get a price written down on a receipt before you pay! They change prices, give you deals, but if it’s not written down you’ll pay full price.|There are a few shops in the hotel lobby and more down by the beach, have everything you need from personal care to snorkelling gear.||As it’s not a true review without some sort of feedback, the only thing I did not like at Xanadu was when you get sat down by the pool, lay back close your eyes next minute you’ll have Staff from the spa and the excursion team coming round asking if you want a treatment or go swimming with dolphins etc. I thought this would go away after day 1 but it didn’t even with quite persistent “no thank yous” was quite annoying. However not until our last day did I see that you could get a Do not disturb sign from the towel kiosk, if you put that up on your poolside umbrella they shouldn’t bother you. I appreciate they’re there to sell what they have to offer but no should be enough.||We’ve arrived home and will be booking again for next year, we will be looking at September or October this time, simply due to the blazing heat. You get used to it of course but wow it’s hot! Thank you to all at Xanadu for an amazing holiday and again Karim Mohamed is an asset to your hotel, huge thank you...

Short review: It was one of the best all inclusive resorts I've been to. Great place, food and the most amazing staff ever! I highly recommend it!

Detailed review if you feel like reading, let's just go trough my holiday. The location is great! It has easy access to all the activities like snorkeling at the beach, no need to travel anywhere to try a lot of things and make your holiday thrilling. Not far from the city either and Uber is easily accessible. Absolutely lovely and helpful reception. Everyone was ready to help whenever we needed it, if they didn't know they did everything to help us find the answers. If you have a tiny stray lizard in your room and are scared of it, they send help asap and rescue you! Thank you for being so great! Especially to one of the evening guys, thank you for handling my silliness so kindly! The security is amazing! The security people really lovely and helpful, they genuinely care about the guests safety. The man who has welcomed us was amazing, kind and really helpful when we enquired about the rooms we are getting. The garden looked stunning with the softest grass I've ever stepped on. The gardener's have been working really hard to achieve that! Massive appreciation to them! The rooms were the only place we have had some issues, like the AC not working properly or stock issues but they have fixed everything as soon as we told them about it. In the room there are some little things that could be checked and fixed but I understand that it's a busy season so these things happen and they really weren't much of a coincidence, more the aesthetical things. The housekeeper was such a great guy! Whenever we needed something or had an issue, he was on it. The rooms were spotless every day when we came back and he always did something special to it. Never the same! I had my birthday and he made the beds so pretty for that, specially for me! He made my day everyday! Thank you! The food was amazing! The selection wasn't as big as at other places I went to but it didn't need to be. The variety of food and the flavours were amazing! The beef ragu was great, one of the best mash potatoes I've had and the cakes were delicious. To my experience these type of places have different looking cakes but they taste mostly the same. Well, not here! There was something for everyone and nothing was bland or tasting the same. The waiting staff was amazing, always ready to help, taking care of me, my family and friends (12people) so well! The dining area was spotless! Couldn't have asked for more! Thank you!

And now to the best parts of my vacation, the people behind the bar, the waiters and the animation team. Absolutely amazing people who do their job to a really high standard. Ali, Sherif, Mina and Ahmed are just a few of the people who made my stay so special, making sure I'm never without a drink. They were really kind and always remembered what my go to drink was. Abdul was always ready to make me the next best cocktail of my life and he always put a smile on my face. Such an amazing person and great bartender! Thank you!

The animation team provided with the best entertainment, they were honestly to tear. Toni and Andrei were so fun to be around. The top appreciation goes for Yasmina and Bibo. They made every day so fun and so special. If you like to dance and if you don't, please visit Yasmina's dance activities, she will surely make you love dancing! She is all smiles and she is able to put a smile on everyone's face. Bibo brings the best energy to the place. Always ready to dance, have fun and make the guests feel special. It can be archery, dancing, workouts, he does it all to a really high standard. Joining any of his activities will guarantee you lot of smiles and laughs! Thank you guys, I appreciate all the hard work you put into making my family feel welcomed and special!

Unfortunately I don't remember everyone by name but thank you so much for all the hard work you all have put in! I can not wait to be back and see...

A Warm Escape to the Sun: A Review of Our Stay in Hurghada Seeking a break from London’s dreary February weather, we booked a sunshine-filled getaway to Hurghada—and it did not disappoint. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a comfortable 21°C evening, a welcome contrast to the chilly 2°C we had left behind. Our private shuttle transfer from the airport to the resort was seamless and luxurious, with just the two of us enjoying the spacious minibus. Upon reaching the resort, we were warmly welcomed by the staff and promptly checked in while seated in the lobby. The process was smooth, requiring only our passports, and within minutes, we were escorted to our room. Refreshments were readily available in the lobby, providing a pleasant touch for both arriving and departing guests. Accommodation: Swim-Up Pool Room Our room, a swim-up pool suite, was an excellent choice. While the pool water was slightly cold, taking a dip after a day of travel was refreshing. The room itself was spacious and well-appointed, featuring two comfortable beds with linens changed daily upon request. Additional amenities included a large flat-screen TV, a beautifully designed stone vanity unit, and a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower, toilet with a built-in bidet, and ample storage space. The in-room facilities were thoughtfully arranged, including a built-in fridge replenished throughout our stay, a coffee and tea-making station, and an abundance of bottled water at both chilled and room temperature. The air conditioning system offered a variety of modes—cool, fan, dry, and heat—catering to guests’ preferences. Dining: A Culinary Delight The main buffet restaurant provided an impressive selection of international cuisine, with options ranging from Italian and Turkish to Indian and classic comfort foods. Every meal was delicious, offering something for every palate. The dessert selection was equally extensive, featuring cakes, ice creams, and a variety of sweet treats. In addition to the buffet, the à la carte restaurants offered a more refined dining experience. During our stay, we had the opportunity to try the Italian and Turkish restaurants, both of which exceeded expectations with their flavors and quality. Drinks & Bars The resort boasts an extensive drinks menu, available around the clock. For those looking for 24-hour service, the Lagoon Lounge and Beach Bar, as well as the Lobby Bar, cater to guests at all hours. Additional bars are located throughout the property, with varied opening hours depending on the season. One highlight was the rooftop bar on the second floor, accessible by stairs or elevator, offering a stunning view of the main pool and a relaxed atmosphere. This bar also is open air but has sun coverage so u can visit both during the day or night time and you can smoke up there throught the day and they also offer shisha/nargile for additional fee thats paid at checkout. Shopping & Amenities Conveniently located within the lobby, the resort features several shops selling both local and imported goods, including essential amenities, souvenirs, tobacco, shisha, and vape products. While these are not included in the stay, they provide a convenient option for guests in need of last-minute items or mementos. Final Thoughts Our experience at this resort was exceptional from start to finish. The combination of warm hospitality, luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options, and extensive facilities made for an unforgettable holiday. Whether you're looking for relaxation, adventure, or an all-inclusive experience, this hotel delivers on every front. Highly recommended for those seeking a seamless and...