Safir Sharm Waterfalls Resort — Hotel in South Sinai

2 British people, we stayed for 8 nights, after spending 10 nights between Cairo and a Nile cruise before arriving in Sharm.

Would I stay here again? Yes, 100% Would I recommend it to friends/family? Yes, 100%

We had a lot of not so positive experiences in Egypt before Sharm, and we arrived after two stressful internal flights. So we arrived stressed. The summary is, that this stress was alleviated by staff and management. They really do go above and beyond and it's by far the best run business we encountered in Egypt

The price we paid via booking, we considered to be good value, and the communication and information in advance was more than fine.

Pros The staff, honestly, the best and kindest service we received throughout the whole country, in every business (read my other Google reviews to see I'm being honest). Special call out to the management, who would try and move heaven and earth to make sure things were good. Also, the level of English spoken was the best we encountered all over Egypt. All the front desk, management and waiters/bar staff were fluent.

We had an initial small issue with our room and wanted a change. The manager was so incredibly helpful to change our room for us. For me, there will always be the possibility of a small issue. But it's how you fix it that shows quality

Rooms. We had a deluxe room. It was very spacious, the fridge kept things actually cold, which is good for the 2l bottled water per person you get. There was lots of cupboard space, good safe/security box, spacious bathroom, good water pressure and a large balcony with an outstanding view. The air con worked well and was quiet enough, it would get the room down to 20 degrees if wanted. The photos on booking.com are a fair reflection of the rooms, potentially, it makes them look smaller

Organisation. The hotel is organised by good European standards. The management run it well and the staff are efficient. After 10 days elsewhere in Egypt, including an expensive Nile cruise this was the most well run business we'd encountered. Even the Nile cruise wasn't as efficient! They have a WhatsApp number you can message to ask questions, requests, report issues etc. And they answered it quickly

General ambience. The various pools were all very nice, very clean, towels were included (you have a towel deposit card per person). The beachfront was also clean, lots of shade etc. The bars around the pools also nice.

The food is good, lots of choices at all meals. For dinner, on top of a strong range of choices, there is always a BBQ option and another special option (both changed nightly). These were our food highlights. We didn't try the snacks, but they were available. It was a mix of international, with some Egyptian sections.

Laundry was very reasonably priced. We wished we hadn't done it earlier in our trip

Entertainment. We were out early for scuba each day, so didn't partake much. But from what we saw, it looked good, and was catered to adults and kids. There's a Roman amphitheatre style venue on site they use for it. Which was very nice.

WiFi. Strong signal, and good speeds. You have to sign in again each day, but it's a very simple process. And no restrictions etc. We had local data, they also worked well, but wasn't needed on site

Cons I genuinely don't really have any complaints. The hotel is on a hill, which gives lovely views. But you may have to walk up stairs to get to the main restaurant. There is a funicular to save the walk and a shuttle bus that runs around resort. The staff will move your bags by golf cart for you though. It's a very minor issue and they prioritise people...

Hotel Safir Sharm Waterfall - A Total Disappointment

This hotel is a perfect example of how to ruin a vacation. Mediocrity is the norm here. At lunch, no one bothered to ask if we wanted something to drink, and in the evening, when we ordered two glasses of red wine, we got something that tasted more like vinegar. Unacceptable!

The food is tediously repetitive. Rice, eggplant, potatoes, meat with sauces, and a few salads, all tasteless. The fish sometimes smelled bad, clearly not cleaned properly. Breakfast? A joke! No butter, only cheap margarine. Omelets, boiled eggs, tomatoes, and cold cuts that taste like they’ve been washed with fabric softener. The fried eggs were undercooked. Absolutely disgusting!

We requested an à la carte dinner and were denied because it was Old Christmas. An absurd excuse for a hotel that boasts 5 stars. The atmosphere is suffocating, full of Russian tourists reminiscent of USSR times. Most of them are rude and lack basic manners.

The incident at the pool was downright appalling. A lifeguard fell into the water while trying to help a group of Russians, injuring his leg badly and needing medical attention. Instead of helping him out, they laughed at him. A complete lack of humanity!

The drinks are of questionable quality. The only drinkable options are beer and two bland cocktails. The rooms are extremely old, and the bathroom is a total disaster. I found hair in the bathtub drain, the tub was cracked and felt like it was made of cardboard. Dust was everywhere in the room and bathroom.

We came with JoinUp tour operators, another disappointment. They promise all-inclusive excursions, but in reality, you get just one meal and Cola or Sprite. We paid €190 for an excursion where we were treated with disdain. In the hotel, there are only 2-3 guys who do their job properly, and we tipped them out of appreciation, but the rest of the staff expect tips without doing anything for it.

How can this hotel be promoted as a 5-star one? In reality, it barely deserves 2 stars with indulgence. I do not recommend this hotel at all. It’s a complete scam. I don’t understand how it gets so many stars on Google. I would give it a maximum of 2 stars. It seems some people accept this mess because they haven’t traveled to other places. Avoid this place...

We had a wonderful stay at this all-inclusive hotel and would definitely recommend it—especially for families with kids. We arrived late at night with our children, and the check-in process was smooth and quick thanks to Qassem at the front desk and manager Islam. They were professional, friendly, and made sure we settled in without stress. Our room was clean, and although we had a few minor issues at first, the front desk team took care of everything right away, which we really appreciated.

The overall hotel is clean and well maintained, with nicely landscaped gardens and public areas that give it a relaxing, resort-like feel. We're also looking forward to seeing the final result after the ongoing renovations and construction are completed—there’s a lot of potential for an even better guest experience.

The ENTERTAINMENT team deserves a special mention. I counted four members (2 males, 2 females), and they were outstanding. Kimo in particular stood out—his positive energy, friendliness, and communication skills really enhanced our experience. The shows were fun, engaging, and gave us many laughs. Kimo also made time to chat with us and played with our kids, always keeping us updated on activities. One tip for management: Please consider adding a mobile app or a clearly visible activity board. The entertainment team did their best to keep everyone informed, but a schedule board would make it much easier for guests to plan their day and join in.

The food was plentiful with a good variety, and the dishes changed daily. There's still some room for improvement in food taste elevation and world cuisine options, but overall it was satisfying. Special shoutout to the table-clearing staff, who were incredibly hardworking and efficient. The pool areas were great, even though the main pool was under renovation during our stay. A suggestion for the future would be to add some small slides for younger kids—it would be a fantastic addition.

The beach is nearby with a beautiful coral reef, and you can literally see colorful fish swimming between your feet—an amazing experience for both kids and adults alike.

Overall, a safe, family-friendly hotel with a welcoming atmosphere. We had a great time and will...