Pickalbatros Aqua Park Resort - Sharm El Sheikh — Hotel in South Sinai

As a seasoned traveller who take travelling a serious hobby that spans decades, I have developed a discerning eye for what separates a good resort from a truly exceptional one. It is with this critical lens that I recently embarked on an eight-day, seven-night sojourn at the Pickalbatros Aqua Park Resort in Sharm El Sheikh with my family, including my wife and our eight-and-a-half-year-old daughter. I am pleased to report that this establishment largely surpassed our expectations, setting a high benchmark for all-inclusive family vacations in the region.

From the outset, the resort’s master planning is evident. The aquatic facilities are nothing short of superlative. What impressed me most was not merely the quantity of pools and slides, but the intelligent distribution and thoughtful gradation of their difficulty levels. The resort has masterfully engineered an aquatic landscape where toddlers, energetic children, and adults can all find their perfect niche without encroaching on each other's space. The slides range from gentle, winding rivers to thrilling drops, a strategic design that ensures universal appeal and eliminates the common frustration of limited suitable options for any age group.

The all-inclusive offering is robust and aligns well with the resort’s five-star designation, though with a minor point for refinement. The dining experience, particularly the engaging culinary theatre of the live cooking stations, is a highlight. The chefs and bar staff perform with remarkable dexterity and genuine warmth, providing service that is both attentive and unobtrusive. However, for a stay of our duration, we noted that the variety of food and beverages, while consistent, began to feel somewhat repetitive. The culinary journey fell slightly short of its global promise, and an infusion of more diverse international cuisines would be a welcome enhancement. Furthermore, on several occasions, grilled items—particularly meats—would have benefited from a longer marination time to achieve a more profound depth of flavour.

Beyond the pools and plates, the resort’s entertainment programme is a well-orchestrated production. The nightly "Neverland" show is a spectacular feat of performance art that had our daughter utterly captivated. Yet, the programming extends far beyond this headline act. A meticulously planned roster of activities—from lively dance sessions and engaging mini-games to light-hearted sporting competitions—ensures that the energy is maintained throughout the day, successfully fostering a vibrant and inclusive community atmosphere.

Perhaps the most commendable aspect of the Pickalbatros Aqua Park Resort is its impeccably choreographed ambiance. The staff across all departments perform their roles with a seamless, quiet efficiency. Service is prompt and anticipatory, yet you are never made to feel hurried or intruded upon. This extends to the resort's upkeep; the cleanliness is exemplary, with attendants continuously and meticulously wiping down even the exterior surfaces of the water slides—a detail that speaks volumes about their commitment to standards.

A note on a critique I had encountered prior to my visit: an isolated review suggested service was contingent upon gratuities. I must state, unequivocally, that our experience directly contradicted this. The warmth and professionalism of the staff were unwavering and appeared to be a deeply ingrained part of the resort's culture, not a transaction.

In an industry where "family-friendly" is often a euphemism for crowded and chaotic, this resort is a revelation. Despite operating at near-full capacity during our stay, the expansive layout of the grounds masterfully absorbs the guest population, creating an overwhelming sense of space and serenity. There was never a fight for a sun lounger or a sense of crowding at...

This hotel is a textbook example of style over substance, and without hesitation, the worst so-called “luxury” hotel I’ve ever had the misfortune of enduring… At first glance, the sprawling grounds, glitzy waterslides, and numerous facilities give an illusion of grandeur - but don’t be fooled. Beneath the surface lies a hollow shell of mediocrity that barely scrapes by as a 2-star establishment!

Pros: • Water park potential: The slides seemed promising for families with children, though we couldn’t enjoy them because the pools were ice-cold! It’s baffling that a resort claiming to cater to families would overlook something as basic as heating their pools during colder months. The water park was practically unusable, leaving families stranded with bored and restless children and no alternatives to keep them entertained. • Cleanliness and staff demeanour: The hotel was reasonably clean, and the staff, while polite, seemed like they were trying to make up for the resort’s endless shortcomings. However, even their best efforts couldn’t overcome the overall inadequacy of the place. A polished floor and a friendly face only go so far when everything else is a disaster.

Cons: Abysmal dining experience: The food was an insult to taste buds - bland, cold, and as uninspired as the rest of the resort. Stale bread and recycled pastries made the rounds daily, accompanied by ultra-processed, cafeteria-quality meals. For the price, this is utterly diabolical and unacceptable. The lack of variety was equally appalling; dishes were repeated so often it felt like we’d stumbled into a nightmare culinary version of Groundhog Day, doomed to endure the same dull, tasteless meals on a never-ending loop! It’s astonishing that a resort charging premium rates can’t manage to serve fresh, flavourful meals or at least pretend to care about the dining experience. Unreliable Wi-Fi: The internet was spotty and barely functional, rendering it useless for work or even casual streaming. It’s 2025 - basic connectivity shouldn’t feel like a luxury. Whether it was the lobby, the rooms, or the outdoor areas, the Wi-Fi was a consistent headache. For a resort of this scale, one would expect a network that can handle its guests’ needs, but instead, we were stuck playing connectivity roulette, hoping for a signal that rarely came through. Entertainment void: The “evening entertainment” was laughable, consisting of a handful of lifeless events that left the hotel feeling more like a retirement home than a vibrant resort. To make matters worse, advertised events like the “White Party” and “Afrobeats Party” never even happened - a shameless display of false advertising. The lack of energy was palpable, and the so-called entertainment felt like a last-minute afterthought rather than an intentional effort to engage guests. This isn’t just disappointing, it’s an outright failure for a resort that claims to provide a lively, luxurious experience. Disastrous spa experience: The spa was a complete joke. A freezing pool and tepid jacuzzi greeted us, and when we tried to cancel a treatment, we were subjected to a bureaucratic nightmare lasting over 48 hours just to reclaim our money! Unbearable discomfort: The pillows were lumpy disasters, ensuring sleepless nights. Add to that the lack of outdoor heaters, and you’re left shivering through chilly evenings. Dreadful TV selection: The TV options were shockingly poor, with just one English-language movie channel and a single news channel. This resort is an overpriced bait-and-switch masquerading as a 5-star retreat. In reality, it’s an underwhelming, mismanaged money grab that delivers none of the personal touches or attention to detail expected at this price point. If this is what Pickalbatross considers luxury, I’ll gladly pass. Don’t...

Let me start with a comparison:

Aqua blue ( across the road, part of the same chain)

4star

Better range of rides

Rides that pre teens through to adults can enjoy.

If your a family with kids from 4+ this is the park for you.

Better sun beds… the sun beds at aqua blue have a shade canopy attached so you can cover your face or push it behind you to use as an arm rest when lying on your front.

Aqua park

5 star

Great park for just adults or babies/ toddlers

No mid range suitable rides really

If your a family with very young kids or children 12+ this is the water park for you

Now let’s move on to my experience….

Asked for a shower hat from the day i checked in daily… finally got it on the 5th day.

I was served raw fish on our 8th day. The item I put on my plate was grilled fish covered in a sauce. I had eaten some of it before realising I was struggling to cut the centre. Then I had to go on a water fast in order to flush it out and pray that it wouldn’t mess me up in the coming days as I’d spent a large amount of money on an upcoming excursion to Cairo. The kitchen staff did apologise but the damage had been done.

I can’t speak for the entertainment at aqua blu but the aqua park was a little disheveled. Most days the listings would say one movie would be playing ie: Madagascar and we would go just to find lion king on.

Even on Xmas eve they had the ‘lunch with animation team’ listed as taking part at the food court… it was not. It was at the main restaurant ‘soprano’ and even then it was a normal lunch. They didn’t sit with the kids, there wasn’t one big table for all the kids, nothing. Just the same as usual… people eating individually at their tables.

I don’t blame them for it however because on speaking to them even they seemed a little confused about where and when things were happening.

The music at aqua park was god awful. Repeated Xmas songs non stop and to make matters worse there was a time delay between speakers so it was like an echo between them. One song would be done on the right speaker to you but on the speaker on the left of you it would finish in three seconds.

Both have big double/ king poster beds with shade on the tops which cannot be moved.

People constantly harassing you and trying to sell you excursions & treatments etc

Imo if this is something they are hell bent on allowing then it should be something only the 4 star hotel guests have to endure. The 5 star experience is constantly being ruined by this practice. It takes away from the luxurious feeling you expect to pay for at a 5 star hotel. More so some of these staff are using the salesman role as an entry way to hit on you constantly!

Another idea would be to provide guests with signs given on entry to prop up that say interested or uninterested on either side so these people know whether you are actively seeking quotes or wanting to be left undisturbed.

Additionally a wristband would work in the same way with certain colours based on your willingness to speak to them.

Side note; the day after the staff member was inappropriate with my child, (the 5th day of our stay) having the ‘salesmen’ constantly hound me was giving me anxiety and royally p’ing me off. I told them to spread it around that I didn’t want to be bothered and they were ruining my holiday with constant harrassment and that I didn’t pay for this, I paid for peace….. they took note and for the most part it stopped and the majority of them left me alone. I think they work in shifts, so a few that didn’t know had to be told by me towards the end of the day once more.

Both outdoor dining areas are excessively plagued with flies. For god sake would you please invest in some citronella tea light candles please or spray essential...