Continental Plaza Beach Resort — Hotel in South Sinai

My wife and I spent 11 wonderful nights at the Continental Plaza Beach Resort in Sharm el Sheik. ||||This hotel is looking to brand as a Holiday Inn Resort and at the time of our stay planning a programme of renovation in preparation. Having stayed at 2 other Holiday Inn Resort properties in the past 12 months (in Bali and Thailand), in our opinion the Continental Plaza Beach Resort is in a different league being much grander than others operating under this brand. ||||The majority of the other guests were from Russia followed by Ukraine seemingly on package holidays with smaller contingents from Italy and Moldova. My wife and I had booked independently and were initially concerned that we would be given second rate treatment but we needn't have worried. ||||So what did we like about our stay?||||Excellent hospitality: we were made to feel very welcome from check in to check out and this included every time we went to eat at the main restaurant, every time we went to the front desk with a query and every time we went to the beach. Our thanks to Mohab Ayman (Front Office Manager), Ashry (Main Restaurant Manager) and Arafa (Beach Manager) for obviously taking measures to ensure that everything went smoothly and that our stay was as enjoyable as possible. We don't often receive such a high level of hospitality but we can say hand on heart that it enhanced our stay.||||A well managed hotel: we know from experience that stays at well managed hotels are invariably far more enjoyable than those which are badly managed. We also know from experience that hotels where the managers are visible and hands-on come across as being better managed than those where managers are invisible. We saw Mohab Ayman, Ashry and Arafa most if not every day and Khaled Zaki, the General Manager, found time to stop by for a chat. ||||Lovely room: we had booked a one bedroom beachfront suite and were delighted to be allocated one which overlooked the amphitheatre which gave us an excellent view of the evening entertainment from the balcony. The balcony also provided seaviews to the south and views of the hills to the west and was an excellent suntrap for those cooler days when we didn't want to sit by the beach. While it is true that the suite was furnished in a 20th century style, the furniture was good quality and still in very good condition. There was plenty of drawers and cupboards but I suspect it will only be a matter of time before it is refurbished in the not too distant future. || ||Enjoyable evening meals: we dined in the hotel's buffet restaurant every evening and we can honestly say we enjoyed every dinner we had there. Each evening had a different theme to reflect the type of cuisine on offer for example Egyptian night, Italian night, Oriental night, German night, Seafood night, Barbeque night and this provided a bit of variety. Dishes included fish and prawns as well as roast and meat stews (koftas, lamb, beef, turkey and chicken). The cooked vegetables were particularly good and tasted as if freshly picked rom the ground.||||Good breakfasts: we were impressed with the variety of breads and pastries available at breakfast including doughnuts and Egyptian bread freshly made. Cooked meals included eggs prepared to order in a variety of styles, 2 varieties of continental style (mini frankfurter type) sausages and bean & lentil stew.||||Entertainment: while some shows (namely karaoke, talent shows) were clearly geared towards a Russian speaking audience, the remainder (namely the fire show, belly dancing, whirling dervish and acrobatics) transcend the language barrier. All entertainment seemed slick and professional.||||Plenty of sunloungers around the pool: we tend to go out to lie in the sun around lunchtime and we had no difficulty finding sunloungers around the pool. There is another swimming pool in the area above the Italian Restaurant that is far quieter than the main pool.||||Beautiful gardens: The hotel accommodation is set on a large plot in beautifully maintained gardens. ||||Lovely beach: the hotel has a nice sandy beach with plenty of loungers many of which were well sheltered from the breeze which at the time of our stay came mainly from the north. Like at all resorts, the loungers are taken early in the day and our thanks to Mahmoud and Arafa for finding us spare ones in good locations.||||Wifi: wifi was generally OK both indoors and out though there were periods of downtime when the hotel was especially busy.||||Location: the hotel is situated in a quiet location with the shops, restaurants and bars of Naama Bay about an hour's walk away. For those seeking a change of diet, the nearest McDonalds is about a 40 minute walk away in a small parade of shops that includes a pharmacy.||||Proximity to airport: Sharm el Sheik's airport was less than a 20 minute cab ride away but despite its proximity, we didn't find the aircraft noise intrusive.||||What could have been better?||||Limited payment options: the hotel didn't accept American Express cards at the time of our stay despite their website stating that American Express was accepted. We understand that the hotel is in the process of obtaining American Express facilities soon but nonetheless it was inconvenient having to use a card from a different provider to settle our bill as we use American Express for virtually all our household expenditure.||||Queues at dinner: we prefer to dine early (the buffet restaurant opens at 18:30) but so it seems do most of the other guests. While queues for food were long, they were generally civilised with most people standing patiently in line. The first few days of our stay, the restaurant was extremely busy made worse, we understand, by the hotel taking in passengers from delayed flights on a couple of evenings. On these occasions, tables were in short supply and cutlery and crockery ran out. Fussy eaters and those wanting to eat in relative peaceful surroundings can make arrangements to eat in the two a la carte hotels in the hotel. ||||Limited English language skills: some staff, particularly in the restaurant and in housekeeping, spoke little to no English which led to some confusion between us. They seemed however to be able to speak some Russian and Italian which is how they tried to communicate with us.||||Would we recommend the Continental Plaza Beach Resort hotel?||||The answer is a resounding yes. Put simply, the hotel has a lot to offer and the cost of our suite represented excellent value compared to other hotels in...

I recently had the unfortunate experience of staying at the Continental Plaza Beach Resort, and I feel compelled to share my feedback to help others make informed decisions about their accommodation choices. My stay was marred by numerous issues that significantly impacted the quality of my stay. First and foremost, the room cleaning was very bad. Upon arrival, I noticed several cleanliness issues, such as dusty surfaces and uncleaned floors. It was clear that proper attention to detail was lacking, and this greatly affected my comfort during my stay. Moreover, the internet connection in the hotel was extremely slow. As a traveler in the digital age, having reliable and fast internet access is essential for various purposes, but unfortunately, this was not the case at Continental Plaza Beach Resort. The attitude of the hotel personnel was another major disappointment. Throughout my stay, I encountered rudeness and unprofessional behavior from some staff members, which left a negative impression on me. The condition of the restrooms was also unsatisfactory. They appeared poorly maintained and lacked proper hygiene, which was unacceptable for a hotel claiming to be a reputable resort. Adding to the list of grievances, the air conditioning in my room did not work properly. This made my stay uncomfortable, especially during hot days, as the room remained uncomfortably warm. Additionally, the rooms themselves appeared dated and in need of renovation. Outdated furnishings and fixtures did not match the expectations of a resort that markets itself as a premium destination. The early closure of the pools was another letdown. Many guests, including myself, look forward to relaxing in the pool after a long day of activities, but the pools closed before 6 pm, limiting our opportunities to enjoy this amenity fully. Furthermore, I was disappointed to find that drinks were served in plastic cups. Considering the environmental concerns surrounding single-use plastics, I expected a more eco-friendly approach from a hotel of this caliber. In conclusion, my experience at the Continental Plaza Beach Resort was far from satisfactory. The issues with room cleaning, slow internet, rude personnel, poor restrooms, malfunctioning AC, dated rooms, early pool closures, and the use of plastic cups for drinks left a lasting negative impression. I hope that by sharing this feedback, the hotel management can take the necessary steps to address these problems and improve the overall guest experience for future visitors. As travelers, we deserve to have a comfortable and enjoyable stay, and I hope my feedback helps others in making more informed decisions when choosing their...

The sea is beautiful, with colorful fish visible even close to the shore — perfect for those who don’t swim or prefer to stay near the beach. However, the beach area is quite small, with a limited section open for swimming and not enough umbrellas for all guests. Lifeguards are on duty all day, but please note that swimming after sunset is not allowed by local law.

The reception staff is very kind and helpful. On the beach there’s an all-inclusive bar and a diving center with departures directly from the resort pier. The internal clinic service is excellent, with professional doctors available 24/7.

The food quality is acceptable, and there’s a wide variety of options — rice, vegetables, pizza, meat and cakes are all good. However, ingredients are not labeled, so it’s hard to recognize spicy dishes just by sight. There are no restaurants within walking distance, but taxis to Sharm city are inexpensive.

The resort itself is large and very beautiful, with lush gardens and several pools. Rooms, however, are a bit outdated and could be cleaner. Air conditioning and a fridge are provided, and basic toiletries are included. There are no mosquito nets, so it’s better to keep windows closed after sunset, even though pest control is done regularly.

Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in Sharm. Bottled water (2–3 liters per room per day) is provided, and beverages are available throughout the resort. I recommend bringing anti-diarrhea medication and probiotics — they might save your vacation!

Staff and animation teams are young, friendly, and multilingual. Reception service is excellent and always attentive to guests’ needs. Excursions and experiences are well organized, either by the resort or external agencies, though prices can vary.

The on-site spa is very good, offering relaxing massages, sauna, jacuzzi, and other treatments at reasonable prices. Outside the resort, there’s not much to do — taxis are a must (about 15 minutes to Soho Square, 25 to Old Sharm). The nearby airport doesn’t cause any disturbance.

Most guests are Russian, not always very polite. Expect early morning noise (children running in the corridors, people shouting across rooms, and doors slamming). Some guests tend to skip the buffet line or argue over beach chairs.

Tips are not mandatory but appreciated (1–2 € is enough).

All in all, it’s a good resort with great potential — wonderful sea, friendly staff, and many services — but with some aspects that guests should be ready to accept as part of the...