Imperial Shams Abu Soma — Hotel in Red Sea

Honest Review of Imperial Shams Abu Soma (Stayed: [August/2025])

I recently stayed at Imperial Shams Abu Soma, which is one of three hotels under the same group: Shams Prestige, Imperial Shams, and Shams Safaga Resort. Unfortunately, my experience was largely disappointing, especially when compared to my extensive history staying at hotels both in Egypt and abroad (Turkey, Greece, UK,Kuwait, etc.). I’m writing this to share both the positives and negatives transparently.

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👎 What went wrong:

Reception Staff – Unprofessional & Disrespectful: The reception was by far the worst I’ve encountered in 15+ years of travel. We had requested early check-in in advance, but Mr. Mostafa at reception gave us our room extremely late (around 2:45 PM) and handled the situation with an unprofessional, almost dismissive attitude. Instead of offering a sincere apology or any assistance, his words were, “Go have lunch until your room is ready,” in a tone that was unnecessarily rude.

Discrimination Towards Egyptians: As an Egyptian, I felt strongly that Egyptian guests were treated with less respect compared to foreign tourists, especially white Europeans. My younger brother was dismissed rudely when simply asking for ping pong equipment. Meanwhile, the animation team exclusively engaged white women for activities and avoided interacting with Egyptian guests. When I tried to join a volleyball game, I was told it was “full,” yet they were rotating players with foreign tourists. This clear bias was disappointing and unwelcoming.

Limited Amenities (Not as Advertised): • Wi-Fi is paid if you want access outside the lobby café, and even there, the signal is poor. • Mobile signal is weak throughout most of the hotel, making it difficult to use your own data. • The billiards room is closed in Imperial; you must go to Shams Safaga to play—and even then, you have to collect the equipment from their lobby. • The pub is also closed, with no notice.

• Ping pong is available, but again, you have to collect everything yourself from reception.

The Beach & Environment: • The beach has no bridge or pier, so you’ll need to swim out quite far before you can stand. • Lack of coral or underwater attractions. • At night, the area is filled with mosquitoes, clearly indicating that the garden and plant areas are not being treated properly.

Check-Out Experience: During check-out, another receptionist, Mr. Mahmoud, demanded that we cut our hotel wristbands. This request felt childish and extremely unprofessional—especially since many travelers like to keep them as souvenirs. The manner in which he asked was also blunt and disrespectful.

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👍 What was good:

Outstanding Restaurant Staff & Cleanliness: • The restaurant team exceeded expectations. Special thanks to Mr. Wael, Mr. Ayman, and Chef Ahmad Ebeid, who went above and beyond to ensure fresh food was always available, even up to the last minute before closing. • While the food variety could be better, the quality and service were excellent.

Beach Bar Staff: • A big thank you to Mr. Mahmoud at the main Imperial beach bar for outstanding, professional, and friendly service throughout our stay.

Room Quality: • The rooms were spacious and extremely clean, which was one of the few highlights of the stay.

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⭐ Final Verdict:

Despite being labeled as a 4-star hotel, my experience was closer to a 3-star stay—and that’s generous. A hotel is not just about facilities, but about the people who run it, and the experience they provide for all guests, regardless of nationality.

I hope this review helps fellow Egyptian travelers and others make an informed decision. If the hotel wishes to truly compete on an international level, serious improvements are needed, especially in terms of hospitality, professionalism, and...

If I could have rated this hotel as zero stars I would’ve but it’s unfortunate just as our stay with family at Imperial Shams. I don’t know where to begin but as visitors from Canada it was a shameful regret choosing Imperial Shams over any hotel in the country and I’m even more sorry to have my family’s time and summer vacation wasted at this horrible godforsaken place. You can tell it by just entering the lobby from no Air Conditioning, the lovely urine aroma, and old furniture. But it gets worse in the open buffet… you could call it closed buffet if you please. It’s painful we paid money for the all-inclusive and instead of getting all-you-can-eat, we got all-they-can-afford and all-you-cannot-eat!! The buffet was so small and the food options were very limited and not even that, everything was either tasteless or horrible that you wouldn’t even want to eat it ever again! And please for goodness’ sake don’t get tricked by the different cuisines each day of the week. They only change a couple dishes and keep repeating the rest of their terrible dishes. Imagine eating the same food every single day for a whole week and it doesn’t even taste good… talk about PTSD and nightmares! Staff are even worse… I could have sworn they look for greed and hostility when hiring… what a joke… they don’t want to give you anything (food, toiletries, towels, etc.) it’s like you’re asking to take from their own blood! The guy cooking their so-called burger/kofta on the grill outside asked me how many pieces I would like and after telling him 4, he said “why 4? Let’s make it 2 instead”… how can you be seriously negotiating? It’s also ridiculously apparent that they use leftovers to be more economic… we would find bits of food from the previous day in different dishes… I hope they’re at least from the pots and not people’s plates but I honestly wouldn’t be surprised! You would think the pool bar would at least have some good food but all they have are fries and shawarma but the depressed chef only puts you very little fries and the shawarma is 90% vegetables and you would be lucky to find the chicken pieces. My mother asked the housekeeping guy for a tissue box and he told her he already gave her one yesterday. Yes, he’s right… we apologize… how dare we ask for another box! Even the pool we couldn’t enjoy… from not even being able to get in and out of the smaller one… to getting Urinary Tract Infection. And yes in order to be able to use the main stairs/steps into the pool you either have to be a couple metres tall or have interest in breaking a bone because you go down one step and then the second is at least a metre away from the ground. WHAT ON EARTH? They either forgot to put the third step or they love seniors (my grandmother spent 15 mins trying to get out of the pool, but we were fine with wasting time because the hotel was boring anyways and we wanted time to pass and leave). But honestly, one of my top favourite parts were the mosquitoes… they harass you like they’re trained or something. My sister’s skin rash killed her from the amount if bites she got and one of our rooms had around 30-40 mosquitoes blow in your face as soon as you open the door as if you’re opening the door of your tomb!!! And sprays aren’t even doing anything! We finished a whole bottle I think it helps the mosquitoes grow and get healthy. I’m not even going to waste time talking about how rude and hostile the staff were, treating you like prisoners and only getting you something after asking them multiple times like we have to beg them. Save yourself money, time, and peace of mind and don’t come anywhere near this place. Do better Imperial Shams!! I’m still wondering how you’re keeping up those...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Unforgettable Experience at Shams Imperial, Safaga

If you’re looking for an exceptional getaway, Shams Imperial in Safaga is the place to be. From the moment I arrived, I was amazed by the outstanding service and incredible attention to detail. The staff – from housekeeping to reception, the restaurant, and the kitchen – were all friendly, professional, and committed to making every moment of my stay unforgettable.

One of the highlights of Shams Imperial is the multilingual team. Many of them speak Arabic, English, German, and even Russian or Czech! It’s truly remarkable and ensures that every guest feels welcome, no matter where they come from.

But the experience didn’t stop there. The animation team added a special touch by playing children’s songs from my homeland, Argentina – a heartwarming and unexpected surprise. And the restaurant, named “La Bombonera,” resonated deeply with me as an Argentinian. It’s the name of the famous Boca Juniors football stadium where Maradona began his career. These little connections made my stay even more memorable.

One of the unique aspects of the Shams Resorts in Safaga is that it’s very difficult to choose which one to stay at – all three are excellent! If you’re traveling with kids, I’d recommend the family-friendly Shams Safaga. For adults looking for a slightly more sophisticated atmosphere, Shams Imperial is a great choice. And for those who prefer a quieter, more secluded environment, the Shams Prestige next door is perfect. The best part? Guests can move freely between the resorts as if they were one large hotel, offering unparalleled flexibility.

Safety is a top priority here, with lifeguards and well-maintained facilities ensuring peace of mind for everyone. There’s absolutely nothing negative to say – everything exceeded expectations.

To the entire Shams team, thank you for an incredible stay! You’ve created a paradise that I’ll be recommending to everyone I know. I can’t wait to return and experience this amazing place again. If you’re thinking about visiting, don’t hesitate – it’s a decision you...