Novotel Sharm El Sheikh — Hotel in South Sinai

I recently had the misfortune of staying at the Novotel hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, and I must say that it was one of the worst experiences I've ever had while traveling. This hotel has single-handedly tarnished the reputation of Sharm El Sheikh as an accommodating tourist destination.

Let's start with the customer service, or rather, the lack thereof. The reception staff were unbelievably unhelpful and dismissive. They couldn't be bothered to assist with even the most basic questions about getting around the city. It's as if they had no knowledge or interest in their own surroundings.

But the real kicker was when I tried to order some drinks through room service. Can you believe that they actually had the audacity to tell me to go get the drinks myself? I was absolutely shocked and appalled. Isn't it their job to provide service to the guests?

To make matters worse, the reception staff had the attention span of a goldfish. Mid-conversation, they would turn away and answer the phone, leaving me standing there like a fool for a good 10 minutes. And this wasn't just one or two individuals; it seemed to be a widespread issue among all the staff members. The only saving grace were the pool lifeguard and housekeeping staff, who were actually helpful and friendly.

The only time the reception desk paid any attention to me was when they accused me of stealing towels during the checkout process. Of course, when they finally bothered to check the room, they found the towels sitting right there on the bathroom floor. How embarrassing for them.

Now, let's talk about the rooms. While they were relatively clean, they were plagued with an array of mechanical issues. The shower drains didn't function properly, the doors didn't close properly, the switches didn't work, and there were missing plugs. It's clear that the hotel management doesn't prioritize maintenance and upkeep.

And don't even get me started on the food. I had the unfortunate experience of trying their breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even their beachside restaurant. Each time, the food was absolutely dreadful. In fact, myself and other guests I spoke to during my visit agreed that it was some of the worst food we've ever encountered, not just in Egypt, but across the entire globe. It was distasteful and left a lingering unpleasant taste in the mouth.

I've traveled throughout Egypt for the second time, and my overall experience has been fantastic. However, the rude and apathetic service provided by the Novotel hotel and its staff completely ruined that for me. As an Accor Gold traveler, I used to hold the Novotel name in high regard, but this stay has shattered that image. Especially considering that my past experiences at other hotels in Sharm El Sheikh were significantly more pleasant.

All this feedback was provided to the staff we encountered, including on the first day of check in. Nothing changed.

In conclusion, I strongly advise all travelers to steer clear of the Novotel hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. Save yourself the headache and disappointment. On my next visit, I will not be returning to this "Novo-hell" of a hotel. It's a shame that such a renowned hotel chain has let itself down so miserably in terms of service, staff attitude, and overall quality.

Do yourself a favor and find alternative accommodations that will actually enhance your stay in this beautiful city. You deserve better than the Novotel's subpar treatment and lackluster facilities. Trust me, there are plenty of other fish in the sea of hotels in Sharm El Sheikh, and I'll be sure to explore those options on my next visit.

Remember, "No-votel"...

We spent a couple of weeks here as a family of 4 over Xmas/New Year 22-23. The hotel is divided into two wings- 'Beach', as the name implies, is located closer to the beach whilst 'Palm', where we stayed, is the quieter wing on the far side across quite a busy main road- though I wasn't aware of this nuance at the time of booking, we'd probably stay again in the Palm Wing if we had to choose between the two in the future.

In rating our stay so highly, I wouldn't want to gloss over the many obvious flaws of the property which have been highlighted by other reviewers. In particular, the room interiors are quite dated and you'd be very disappointed if you arrive expecting the same level of finish or decor associated with 5 star properties in Europe, Dubai or the Far East. In terms of the aesthetic, it'd be hard to rate this property as any more than 4* if that, although I understand major renovations are planned for the the beginning of 2023. Checking reviews for other premier hotels in SES, poor upkeep is a recurrent theme with older properties so I wouldn't hold it against Novotel particularly.

Those staying in either section have access to facilities across both wings, with the exception of restaurants. Having eaten in both, we personally preferred the La Palma Restaurant in the Palm Wing. The food itself was average but varied and, as vegetarians, we were never hungry as staff went to great lengths to ensure we had something suitable at every meal. The shared Kids club is located in the Palm Wing and Saeed 'Bazooka' there was an absolute blast.

We had teething issues with hot water, unpleasant odours emanating from the plumbing etc during our stay but the management made efforts to put them right once reported and none of these detracted from the overall positive assessment of our stay. The highlights for us were Novotel's superb location, sheltered from the wind and close to shops and Naama Bay market a mere 10 min walk down the promenade, the hotel's private sandy beach with a lengthy shallow section and colourful reef terming with life just metres away from the shore, it's friendly and hardworking staff who always served us with a smile and the excellent animation team that toiled all day to keep both adults and kids entertained.

Though the Google reviews may give the impression of the hotel being a Russian holiday camp of sorts, we found the clientele to be quite international and, whilst dominated by Russian speakers given Sharm's popularity in that country, there were quite a number of Italians, Saudis, a smattering of Brits, Canadians etc. We never felt excluded during our stay nor encounter any inter guest tensions described in some of the frankly Russophobic reviews by Brits visiting SES over the years.

Unlike our past experience of Egypt, we did not feel pressured for tips by staff but we tipped generously for any good service and these were gratefully accepted. Judging from earlier reviews, this is particularly relevant to housekeeping where we found the occasional small tip was met with great service and amazing pieces of towel origami as marks of appreciation.

We enjoyed our stay so much we intend to return to Novotel at some point but may wait until renovations are complete as, in its current state and price point, there is perhaps better value to be had in other mid haul destinations...

I had high expectations for Novotel Resort in Sharm El Sheikh, but unfortunately, it fell far short in almost every aspect.

Staff & Service: The staff appeared poorly trained and lacked any proactivity to ensure guests felt welcomed or valued. From check-in to check-out, there was no attention to detail or effort to go above and beyond. What’s worse, managers at the hotel visibly received better service than guests. While sitting in the same area, we watched as managers were given table-side service, glass cups, water pitchers, and food delivered from unknown sources—while guests were left with paper cups and subpar service. It’s insulting and unacceptable for paying guests to be treated like second-class citizens.

The checkout process was particularly unpleasant—being told we could only stay an extra hour and could only have water seemed cheap and dismissive, especially after paying a significant New Year surcharge. Late checkout was only offered at an hourly charge, which further highlighted the hotel’s “cost-cutting above all” mentality.

Food & Beverages: The food was mediocre at best, with many items recycled from breakfast to lunch to dinner. If the chicken was dry during lunch, you could expect it again at dinner—fried this time. As soft all-inclusive guests, we could only access soft drinks and juice outside the main restaurant, with nothing creative or memorable on offer. The beach snack area was poorly executed, and drinks served in paper cups only added to the underwhelming experience. Hygiene was also a concern, as stray cats roamed the outdoor dining area, even jumping on tables, compromising the integrity of the dining experience.

Room Quality: While the room was generally clean, it lacked the attention to detail you’d expect at this level. Dust under the table, watermarks on surfaces, a crack in the ceiling paint, and even hand soap in the lotion dispenser gave the impression of a low-quality operation. On top of that, our sink clogged during our stay, adding to the frustration.

Amenities & Activities: The resort lacked liveliness and entertainment. The so-called animation team was practically invisible—we wouldn’t have even known they existed if not for two women offering yoga and stretching classes. Even these activities were executed with little enthusiasm or charisma. Basic facilities like steam rooms, saunas, and jacuzzis, which are typically complementary at other 5-star resorts like Rixos and Steigenberger, came with an additional charge of $30 here.

Overall Experience: I’ve visited many resorts in Egypt, including Sunrise, Jaz, Rixos, and Steigenberger, and they are all in a completely different league compared to Novotel. It’s baffling that this resort carries a 5-star rating—it feels more like a low 4-star. The service and quality don’t match the Accor name, which makes me question the authenticity of the ratings.

In summary, Novotel Resort might be acceptable for guests with minimal expectations, but for those accustomed to true 5-star resorts, it’s a letdown. Its prime location deserves much better management and standards. Until significant improvements are made, I can’t recommend this resort, especially considering the excellent alternatives...