Mercure Hurghada Hotel — Hotel in Red Sea

Before visiting this hotel, we read a lot of reviews, and they were mostly positive. I will soon record a video review of the hotel with all the details) and also share it on other social media platforms and my blog Let me start with the pros of the hotel: ⦁ It is family-friendly and peaceful. If you are vacationing as a couple, the hotel might feel a bit dull, but it is calm. There is a children's disco and a program for adults, but it is not very vibrant. ⦁ The territory is very clean. ⦁ The rooms are cool, but not cold; the air conditioning works great. ⦁ The pools and beach are very clean, with a wonderful entry into the sea. ⦁ The food selection is 3/5. It is sufficient, but the quality of some dishes leaves much to be desired, but more on that later. I want to note that there is alternative milk (banana and almond), and for yogurt lovers, there are about 5-6 types available. The feta cheese is very tasty, and there are plenty of toppings for the pancakes. ⦁ Room cleaning is good; it is clean and cozy, with very friendly staff. The bed linen and towels were changed 4-5 times during our 11-day stay. Every morning, they bring a bottle of water for each person. ⦁ The bar serves cocktails, and I must mention the main bar at the reception, where the staff is very welcoming. ⦁ There are two à la carte restaurants, but I will add more about them later. The hotel also has its own ranch, but they do not advertise it or promote it to tourists, as if it doesn't exist. ⦁ The internet is fast; if you register with Accor, it only dropped once. The internet works not only at the reception but also on the beach, by the pools, and in the bar

Cons of the hotel Food: According to the reviews, each day of the week was supposed to feature a different cuisine. In reality, only one dish changed at dinner every two days or so. The food is monotonous. For breakfasts there’s a choice between one type of soup, two types of porridge, cereal flakes, boiled egg, fried eggs or omelette (they are tasty but we got tired of eating eggs all the time). There are pancakes sometimes, not always properly cooked (probably due to haste). Cheese quality leaves much to be desired, it's crumbly when cut, sausage slices taste bad as well, same goes for sausages.

For lunch there's just one kind of soup, several main dishes options, and many similar desserts. Dinner offers exactly the same menu.

A major drawback is that almost all hot meals, cold appetizers, salads contain turmeric and cumin. I’m not against these spices in general, but my partner doesn’t like their flavor, making many dishes unpalatable for him. Even feta cheese had turmeric sprinkled on top! It felt like everything was seasoned with rice pilaf.

Swimming ban after 7 PM: Honestly, this is something I've never encountered before. At seven pm pools start cleaning procedures, swimming in the sea is also forbidden. I'm hoping it’s done according to legal regulations.

Room: When checking into our room, we found the toilet seat broken, which was quickly fixed. Walls were extremely thin. Our neighbors woke up early morning, made noise throughout the day, child constantly screamed. We complained multiple times, hotel staff did nothing about it. If you end up next door to noisy guests, expect sleepless nights.

Towels: They’re issued by card, one per guest upon check-in. Tourists steal towels from other tourists right near the pool area. Left mine by the poolside in the morning, came back later—gone. Asked reception for help, security guards said they could watch surveillance cameras but no action followed. Some employees rudely dismissed concerns. Over the course of a week, two towels, three packs of cigarettes, and even shoe straps were stolen.

Mini-markets: Prices are inflated, change daily. Products include basic necessities such as groceries, pharmacy items, souvenirs, cosmetics, jewelry, fake branded bags, local cigarettes of questionable quality.

Entertainment program: Very poor entertainment. There's some activity for kids by the big pool during the day, but...

We stayed at Hotel Mercure for 12 days. The hotel is truly beautiful and I would recommend it to anyone going to Hurghada, especially for the first time. This was our first time in Egypt and Hurghada.

STAFF

I would start with the staff. They were so kind and friendly. They are always smiling and whatever we asked them, they immediately did for us. People in charge of rooms, waiters, cooks, people in charge of the luggage, receptionists,animators. Absolutely everyone. Since we arrived late at night, the reception staff immediately gave us water and lunch packages while we waited to go to the room with our suitcases. The waiters were also very friendly! We also talked to the chefs who really try to make the food good. The animators, with whom we talked the most, are really wonderful young people who try to do their job properly and with a lot of love.

Rating for staff 10/10.

A ROOM

We got a room with a sea view. Although the furniture is a bit older, the bed was very comfortable and the room was clean. They also cleaned our room and left us water every day. The room had a large terrace and the room size was ideal for us. Considering that we spent the least amount of time there, I don't have much to say except that they try to maintain the rooms clear and make the guests' stay as pleasant as possible.

Room rating 9/10

FOOD

Reading the reviews of others about this hotel, one would say that the food is the weak point of this hotel, but I would disagree when it comes to At Der El Andalus restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. All the food we tried was delicious. The chefs care about the guests' opinions and appreciate criticism and suggestions. We really enjoyed the food we ate.

Unfortunately, when it comes to a la carte restaurants, I am not satisfied with them, because there is not so much choice and the food is much tastier at the buffet.

Food rating 7/10

BEACH and HOTEL AMBIENCE

We chose this hotel because of the beach and the ambiance of the hotel itself. The beach is perfect. Gradual entry into the sea, clear water, and in the depth two coral reefs where you can observe fish of various colors and enjoy that wonderful sight. There is always room on the sunbeds on the beach, and the staff will always help you arrange the sunbeds the way they suit you.

The ambiance and cleanliness of the entire resort is at an enviable level. All the greenery is maintained daily and every detail is really taken care of. The buildings are really beautiful.

Although we did not use the pools, I would also say that they are really wonderful. Next to the pool, and on the beach, there are cafes where you can order some snacks and take ice creams and drinks.

The only suggestion would be that these cafes by the pool open a little longer so that guests can have a snack and ice cream.

Beach rating 10/10 Ambient rating 10/10

ACTIVITIES

Every day, the hotel hosts various activities for both children and adults. These activities are led by young animators who are cool. One big shout out to the animators! Sports such as volleyball, water polo, football, yoga during the day, and various shows and parties in the evening. There really is something for everyone.

Activity rating 10/10

HOTEL LOCATION

Although it is a little further from the city center, we went to the city by Uber for only €3, so the location did not play a big role for us. We really liked that it is a little outside the city and is very quiet and not crowded.

Location 9/10

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS

We are very satisfied with the hotel. It met all our expectations and we are happy to recommend it to others.

Overall...

We stayed at Mercure Hurghada for 14 days, and today is our last day.||The first impression was wonderful — the hotel has a large and beautiful territory, and the lobby feels welcoming and spacious.||At check-in, I had originally booked a garden view room for 12 nights, but the reception team kindly upgraded me to a sea view room. I extended my stay for 2 more nights at the same rate, which was a lovely gesture that made me feel truly valued.||The cuisine is outstanding. The chefs were always attentive and caring, and every meal was delicious — from the meat dishes to the desserts. I would like to mention a few of them by name because they made a big difference during our stay:||Mr. Mahmoud (the main chef)||Mr. Ahmed Taha||Mr. Samed||Mr. Ahmed||Mr. Sherif||Mr. Mohammed|||The kitchen is managed by Mr. Hamada, whose leadership ensures everything runs smoothly. This whole team is amazing, very professional and truly works together like a family.||One small suggestion: in the Italian and Arabic restaurants, it would be great to have a bit of background music. It would make the atmosphere warmer and help balance the noise level so guests can enjoy their conversations more comfortably.||The service in the restaurants and bars was also excellent. Special thanks to Mahmoud Walek (restaurant service) and Mohammed Aswany (bar) for their hospitality and kindness.||The swimming pool is wonderful, and the whole hotel is very convenient to move around — everything feels close and well planned.||The beach is absolutely beautiful. It’s clear that it was designed with care: no sharp reefs, soft sandy entrance, and the perfect depth to enjoy swimming freely.||Housekeeping was also fantastic. The room was always spotless and tidy, and we loved the creative towel art that greeted us almost every day — such a thoughtful touch!||Both the beach bar and the pool bar were fantastic places to relax, enjoy tasty snacks, and try cocktails. My personal favorite was the Gin Fizz.||The animation team also did a great job. They are friendly, professional, and never pushy. If you want to join the activities, they welcome you with open arms, but they also give you space if you just want to relax. I especially want to mention Ms. Katya, who is full of charm and energy, and Mr. Amir, the manager of the animation team, who leads with warmth and professionalism.||I would also love to thank a few more amazing people for their excellent service, big smiles, and hospitality:||Mr. Abdulla (chef of rooms)||Ms. Nancy (reception)||Mr. Saif (reception)|||You are the best, and you made our stay feel truly special.||Honestly, I don’t understand why this hotel has only 4 stars. Based on my experience, it truly deserves 5 stars for its service, hospitality, cuisine, beach, and overall guest experience.||This hotel not only met but exceeded our expectations, and we are leaving with wonderful memories.|||Oleksandra Vasylieva, |Room 1914, |Heartist and Accor employee, from...