Pickalbatros Villaggio Resort - Portofino Marsa Alam — Hotel in Red Sea

We are in Egypt the 16th time. good parts: -Well staffed. By well I mean I did not see anywhere else as many as here. Staff that actually is proactive and that there are each day the same even if you refused help or drink or whatever 5 days in a row before. They are still asking if you want something -Many restaurants, so many that we did not visited all because they were to many. I think 7 but I may be mistaken -All restaurants open on almost all hours (on rotation). You can not go hungry here -Small things that matter to me.... Fresh mint leaves and cinnamon sticks for tea, fresh juices at each breakfast (not from the machine) We have been vegans for almost 30 years and this type of details matters to us and we did not saw this anywhere else where we stayed in Egypt -many lifeguards. One told me that there were 108 on duty that day -big beach and space to walk. Our watches count around 30000 steps per day (10.000 is 7 to 8km) -many entries safe, from the beach into shallow water for children or people that just want to take a small bath I think I can say even more but this is what I feel now to mention. I will go to the NOT so good parts: -the swimming along the shore line is limited by balloon enclosure at around 100meters and they guard that line with many whistles and a row boat in case you do not listen to the whistles. The lifeguard told me if I want to go out I need to sign a paper to take responsibility and have no claim over the hotel in case anything happens. The issue is that the reception did not want to give the paper to sign it because of government rules. I wrote a one star review regarding this and in 3 or 4 hours they called me to sign the paper and delete the review, which I did. I have no issue with that I just dislike the hustle I had to go through to get at that paperwork. I understand that this is for hotel protection not for tourist protection. They have no issue to go out swimming as long as it is not along the resort shore. -the room that we stayed in did not have furniture except the basic tv and night stand + fridge enclosure. we had to bring in chairs from the balcony... I mentioned this because it was the first room in the line of multiples changed rooms per vacation during the previous 15 visits that we've been in Egypt. This is almost a non issue but the oddness is so big... the same as when we saw the cinnamon sticks near the tea buffet. This is by our own decision the first vacation we decided not to change room no matter what we get. A test to see how we can enjoy. It was not too good. -the shuttle bus is a plus for ppl that do not want to walk 30.000 steps per day but for us a minus because of the diesel exhaust and smell. It goes through the resort and we were near his path. As a suggestion maybe they will think about a battery powered option in the future. We travel as a couple usually but this time we were a group of 5. All of us since the beginning or soon after the vacation we had diarrhea problems. The other 3 ppl eat differently than us, also meat, eggs, fish, in different restaurants. We all took medicine for this and we could manage it. But never stopped while here. On top of that I was hit with the worst case of food poisoning that I never had before (in Egypt or anywhere else)... By this I mean fever, shakes, cramps and diarrhea all in one. We had medicine for this and I got better in 3 days but the first was so much worse that I almost could not stand. During a discussion on a different topic I mentioned this to the hotel guest manager ... I am unsure about the function... someone that seemed in charge of the well-being or demands of the guests. He told me that they have medical help and pills and they could have sent help and that they have food specialists that test each meal and so on and I believe him 100%. I was so sick that I did not have energy to speak and of course I was afraid to leave the 3 meter distance...

We were 2 weeks in Portofino Hotel and that was the best vacation we had ever. Starting with the reception they were friendly and made a fast check in although it was like 2 O’clock am with a breakfast bag already prepared . Room was really nice facing pool and not away from Soprano restaurant or Elkhan restaurant too. We have what we needed in the room and it was cleaned every day as new. Room service and Reception are really helpful when we needed them ( one time forgot the roomcards in and other time forgot the safe password) .Beach is big for all guests and is sandy with some rocks . For snorkelling u have the part near the deep reef for colourful different fish and one spot in the main part of the beach where u find at the border in the deep part (deep but u can still stand on ground) one big rock and fish around it . The Deep reef itself i tried it twice but did not find it a lot better than what i saw in shallow part. The hotel provide suitable playgrounds for who want, like Tennis , football, basketball, volleyball and others. The aqua park is really good for children and also adults as well ;) .we found all pools deep as 120-130 cm except one pool in front of Shell fish restaurant with a deeper part till 160 cm. There are 3 main restaurants : the Mediterranean with variable and new food especially seafood but was not our favourite and was far from us. Soprano which is like Italian and oriental was the biggest and with many stations and fresh natural juices (only there) especially orange. Elkhan Restaurant ist an oriental with real Egyptian delicious food from the really nice and friendly chef Mohamed said and different types of sweets as Konafa or Pasposa form chef Adel who make it really like magic . There is also shellfish restaurant with a set-menu, we don’t recommend going there while the food was tasteless and when we said that there is complain like the fried shrimp some of it wasn’t peeled and fried With the head and others was peeled they said the important is the taste which even wasn’t there (implement some quality control maybe). There is also snacks available near aqua park and on the beach .we tried both , the pizza on beach’s restaurant is very good and the beef shawarma also. The ice-cream is a cheap one without a taste. What we can agree on you will never be hungry on this hotel. From 5 a.m till 12 a.m there is food served in the restaurants. Coffee is found in every Restaurant but from automatic machines and doesn’t taste good , better at the lobby where it taste alot better . We did not need to go to get our drinks by ourselves ; all the time you find someone who come friendly and ask if we need a drink or anything . We want to give also a big Thanks to all supervisors who monitor the food, cleaning and and order in all restaurants they are really making a difference . We wished if there was a dark high spot in the hotel with or without a telescope to watch the starts. We found bright light every where even at the beach. Also a Place for fun as jumping or sliding in the sea would be really great. The hotel is not that big, moving around is easy walking or there is shuttle bus which comes every 15 minutes, also there is quadracycl if you like cycling it would be better if we found bikes for 2 persons too. If you are the are looking for night life Animation Shows, this is not the right hotel. The animations are very weak, they need to have more creative ideas and more preparations and think how to make an entertaining shows. At the end we would like to suggest more quality control on the chefs in the restaurants because there was sometimes undercooked food and the pasta station could be better by cooking the pasta little longer and using...

In October this year, I had the incredible opportunity to spend an unforgettable week at Hotel Pickalbatros Portofino in Marsa Alam, and I must say, it was one of the best vacation experiences of my life. From the moment I arrived at the hotel, I felt right at home thanks to the outstanding service that exceeded my expectations every single day.

From the very beginning, the staff welcomed me with smiles, and the receptionist, Mr. Ahmed, swiftly handled my check-in. When I mentioned my interest in diving, he immediately provided information about the courses offered by the hotel and recommended local diving excursions. The staff were not only polite but incredibly helpful. One day, after returning from the beach with a mild sunburn, the hotel employees kindly offered me an aloe vera gel from the hotel spa, which was a true relief!

The entertainment at the hotel was of a very high standard. Every evening, I had the chance to enjoy various attractions – from dance shows to fun evening activities and even themed pool parties. One event that particularly stood out was a dance show featuring the animators, which was a real treat for anyone interested in Egyptian culture. The morning exercise sessions by the pool, led by the ever-enthusiastic animators, were a fun and energetic way to start the day!

One of the greatest highlights of my stay was the food. The restaurant offered a wide variety of dishes, and the buffet was truly a food lover’s paradise. I was particularly impressed with the local cuisine – the aromatic spices and fresh seafood served at dinner will remain in my memory for a long time. I vividly recall how the waiter, Mohammed, brought me a special portion of perfectly seasoned, grilled shrimp – it was like an explosion of flavors! Fresh, juicy fruit was available every day, which was a refreshing treat after a day full of activities.

Though Marsa Alam is a small town, it offers a wealth of attractions. One of the most important highlights of my trip was the diving course I completed at the Red Sea Diving Center. Instructor Mido was extremely professional, and diving among the stunning coral reefs was a breathtaking experience. The vibrant corals, colorful fish, and even encounters with sea turtles made me fall in love with the underwater world of the Red Sea.

I must also mention the desert safari, which I booked through the hotel. The desert visit was fascinating – meeting Bedouins, riding camels, and watching the sunset over the golden dunes were moments I will never forget. The guides were extremely friendly and ensured that every detail was taken care of, making the entire adventure safe and enjoyable.

The highlight of my stay, however, was swimming with dolphins. I booked the trip through the hotel, and the organizer arranged a boat tour to the nearby reefs where I had the chance to swim alongside these intelligent and friendly creatures. It was one of the most magical moments of my vacation – the feeling of dolphins swimming beside you in their natural environment is simply indescribable.

In conclusion, Hotel Pickalbatros Portofino Marsa Alam is the perfect place for a holiday, full of exciting attractions, delicious food, and exceptionally friendly service. I will definitely return to immerse myself once again in the underwater world, feel the hot desert sand, and savor the local delicacies. These were the kind of vacations I will be talking about for...