On WiFi:||||As of June 2025, no internet issues detected. The entire hotel, including the beach and even the pier, is perfectly blanketed with signal. The internet is responsive and fast — Reels, YouTube, Telegram load in a flash. I feel confident enough to state that this is one of the best WiFi setups I’ve ever encountered in a hotel of this size and guest volume. You won’t need a local SIM — you’ll be online everywhere within the resort.||||Each room features a dedicated access point from HPE Aruba’s enterprise-grade solution — your WiFi is in good hands.||||On the Beach:||||The promotional photos of the shoreline were misleading. Turns out, the entire beachfront along the hotel and sunbeds is permanently off-limits for swimming. Not temporarily — permanently. The shore area isn’t fit for swimming: it’s shallow, filled with sharp rocks and micro-mussels, and this side of the bay is technically a protected reserve. During low tide — which, in early June, happened daily — the receding water reveals a Mars-like landscape. Definitely not the time for Instagram photos — the view is bleak.||||So, no post-volleyball dives into the sea — you’ll be running for several minutes to the other side of the bay or to the pier, and then walking another 200 meters over the protected area just to get to swimmable water.||||Your alternative: a single shower column with four heads, awkwardly located in the middle of the beach. For 200 umbrellas = 400 loungers — one shower is laughably insufficient and poorly placed. Same goes for the only available toilet, also centrally located in the beachfront restaurant. To be fair, though — it’s impeccably clean and always smells fresh. That toilet alone earns a solid five stars.||||I actually liked the umbrellas: huge, low, thatched structures with tables and hooks for bags and clothes. On-demand, the helpful staff will bring soft cushions for your loungers — and drinks, all day long.||||Towel exchange is refreshingly hassle-free: you toss used ones in a basket at your door, and the next morning a fresh set appears in a bag on the handle. Downside: you have to carry the towels to and from the beach yourself.||||Overall? A major disappointment not having direct or quick access from beach to water. And that’s true for all hotels on this side of the bay. Probably the deal-breaker that’ll keep us from coming back.||||On Water and Reef:||||Early June: surface and depths up to 10 meters were at +26°C in the mornings — refreshing at first, then quickly comfortable for extended swims. As the day progresses, water above the reef hits +28°C, and over the shallow sandy entry — up to +30°C.||||If you’re into gentle sandy entries, the beach near Steigenberger is ideal. Kids will love it. Just like in northern Italy, you’ll be wading 100 meters in knee-deep water before it gets anywhere near swimmable.||||The pier takes you to the reef edge, where the drop is immediate — around 10 meters deep. On a good-visibility day, you’ll see the bottom. When clarity drops, light doesn’t reflect from the floor and everything gets dim.||||Pro tip: bring tempered-glass masks — plastic just doesn’t cut it here. Fins are also a must — distances are long.||||The reef is diver-grade, not snorkeler-friendly. Floating above it isn’t really an option — 90% of the time you’ll be looking from the side, thanks to the buoys and ever-vigilant whistling guards.||||One positive: the pier ends in a shaded gazebo with shelves for your gear and benches to help get fins on — nice touch.||||From the sandy side, there’s a submerged platform about 4 meters deep, marked by a lone white buoy. Highly recommend checking it out — we spotted crocodile fish, lionfish, and rays there multiple times.||||Food & Dining:||||Standard 4-star fare. Though the evening grill station at the main restaurant is a pleasant surprise — something you’d usually only get at 5-star places, and often for extra charge.||||Loved the mango juice and cocktails — Egypt has its own mango varieties. Just don’t expect fresh mango in dessert trays — June isn’t the season. It’s melon and watermelon time — both were available and tasty.||||Hygiene was solid: I don’t drink, so I’d be the first to react to anything suspicious — no issues.||||Staff are friendly and efficient, but lack the polished restraint of true 5-star service. They often breach personal space, cracking jokes and trying to banter — lots of emotional noise, which is exactly what some of us are trying to escape on vacation. Then again, retirees seem to enjoy the attention — makes them feel noticed and appreciated.||||Overall vibe: more like a well-run, family-owned 3-star hotel. That said, staff are reliable — orders taken and delivered accurately, dirty plates cleared fast.||||Rooms:||||The hotel is split into two- and three-story blocks, mostly grouped around the pool area. The farthest block from reception is the closest to the sea and faces the bay. That’s where we stayed — we’d booked a Deluxe Family Queen Bed Sea View.||||Room 2264, second floor — balcony facing west toward Sunrise Cape, the bay entrance, and open sea. Probably the best view in the entire resort, especially from that floor. First floor would have a blocked view; third would be wider, but the hotel has no elevators — so second floor is the sweet spot.||||The room itself has seen better days (the hotel is 20 years old). It’s what they call “well-rested.” Size-wise — no complaints. But the floor tiles are cracked and squeaky in places; doors are heavy, old-school, misaligned; bathroom grout is patched multiple times and showing mold in spots; water pressure is weak, showerhead is handheld only — no overhead; the shower partition doesn’t drain properly, so water leaks under the sink; the toilet is comically low, seat thin and loose; the safe is ultra-tiny — fits an iPad mini and a couple passports at best; limited shelving — barely enough for 1.5 people; decent hanging space with lots of hangers.||||We managed to lay out three suitcases on the available tables and built-in shelves along the walls — surprisingly convenient.||||Air conditioner is strong, no smells, individually controlled. Curtains are triple-layered, but the rails are fighting for their lives — closing them fully was almost impossible.||||By the way, the difference between Deluxe and Superior rooms is layout: Deluxe has hallway → kids’ room → door → main bedroom → balcony; Superior goes hallway → main bedroom → curtain → kids’ corner → balcony.||||Overall? Feels clean enough, but definitely not more than a 3-star room.||||Water Park:||||Bring your towels. No need to bring food or water — all available onsite. In fact, the snack selection is better than on the beach stalls.||||19 different slides. The fastest ones (from the 5th floor) are for inflatables or mats only — no skin burn or swimsuit damage.||||Rule of thumb: grab your tube before going up. Not the other way around. 😉||||Sunglasses aren’t allowed — consider swimming goggles instead.||||Entertainment:||||Every night: stage shows. Not just by the hotel’s animation crew, but also by external groups — different ones every evening. Quality is “advanced amateur” — performers have some baseline dance training, which is more than enough for a hotel crowd. Youth and toned bodies don’t hurt the aesthetic, either.||||Guests:||||International crowd. First week of June was mostly Germans and Poles. Some Russian-speaking Europeans. A few Italians and Ukrainians.||||Grounds:||||Well-kept lawns, regularly watered and trimmed flowers.||||The sand heats up like crazy — you’ll need flip-flops even for short walks. Playing barefoot on it (e.g. volleyball) is brutally hot. Sometimes the animators try to cool the court with a bucket of water — mildly funny and ultimately useless. No hose, of course (well, rumor has it there’s a hose, but no adapter to hook it up).||||The volleyball ball has seen some things — frayed panels and all — a poetic final touch to this generally well-shaped but clearly “experienced” resort.||||To be fair to management, though — value for money?...
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