Before flying to Egypt and in particular to the PANORAMA BUNGALOWS RESORT EL GOUNA 4 * hotel, I read all the reviews about the hotel not only on this site, but also on others. And to be honest, almost many of the claims in the reviews were confirmed. I decided to write a review, maybe it will be useful to someone. Itself a tourist with experience and in Egypt is not the first time. Rested as a couple from 14 to 28 June 2013. They flew from Moscow and back Transaero, a huge Boeing 747-400 airliner - for 522 seats. Accommodation. The tour operator Biblio-Globus, the meeting party of the ALS Tour, worked perfectly, there were no overlaps, everything was clear, excellent. When we arrived at Hurghada airport, we were quickly seated on buses, we got a small minibus, in which 2 more people rode with us - Svetlana and Polina (girls - Hello! )) The journey took 30-40 minutes! We arrived at 21.30. We quickly settled everyone in a bungalow and we went for dinner. In the morning it turned out that we were not living in a bungalow overlooking the lagoon, but a bungalow in a pond. On the advice of tourists from previous reviews, we turned to ALS Tour guide Mukhamed for help. He solved our problem for free and we were upgraded to a lagoon view bungalow with stairs from the balcony. The numbers of all bungalows start with the number 5. Beach bungalows from 501 to 526. Garden bungalows from 527 to 537. Inner lagoon bungalows - starting from 550. The girls stayed to live on the pond! And we moved to 517! )) I’ll say right away that the staff didn’t extort money from us, we only gave tips when we wanted to thank us ourselves, if they didn’t, they would do everything according to the standard, as expected, so if they gave a tip, then the staff will not remain in debt, they will do everything for you at the highest level. They took cigarettes with them as a present - made in Belarus - 15 rubles per pack, and chocolates "Alenka" (medium size for 18 rubles 50 gr). Instead of money (tips), they left, alternating either cigarettes or chocolate. The service is delighted. Followed us and asked next time not to forget and encourage them with cigarettes. They repaired the taps, brought additional hangers, and naturally twisted all sorts of figures out of towels. Cleaning was done in the morning, 10-11 hours, right after breakfast, when we went to the beach. Very comfortable, a clean room came from the sea, clean towels, took a shower and for lunch! The room is large with one huge bed, 2 bedside tables, a table, 2 chairs, a TV (plasma) - 2 Russian channels, wardrobes, a laundry bag (laundry) , refrigerator, safe, soap accessories, hair dryer, individual air conditioning, the floor is really ceramic tiles. There are 2 sunbeds on the balcony. At first, especially after dinner, we sunbathed on the balcony, it was very convenient, we swam in the lagoon (so as not to burn ourselves). We did not use the safe, the suitcases are locked, so the problem with theft was solved by ourselves, no matter what. I always throw towels on the floor before leaving, so they are replaced with clean ones. Linen is snow-white, towels, unlike beach ones, are just gorgeous. Free WIFI at the reception. Nutrition. I’ll warn you right away: freshly squeezed juices cost $ 3 or 20 pounds, plastic dishes, glasses too. They were satisfied with the food. In the morning: scrambled eggs, pancakes, fruit salad, yogurt, pastries, salads. Lunch: meat, potatoes, pasta, steamed vegetables. Fish is just delicious, squid. Dinner: a must, something on the grill, different vegetable boats, snacks. Puree soups are just great. Olives, olives, lots of greens. It's strange when some tourists pick up full plates of food, overeat, and then complain that there was nothing to eat!!!! ! I really liked the fact that food can be taken to the room. We took pastries with us and drank coffee (brought with us) and tea before bed. If you are a coffee gourmet, take your favorite coffee with you. There is Nescafe. As they write, there are not very many fruits, mostly bananas, oranges and tangerines, melon and watermelon five times. We took fish food in the morning (a couple of hard-boiled eggs, bread, sausage and cheese). No one made a remark, everyone smiled sweetly. They took alcohol with them from Duty Free. Every evening they came to the restaurant with their own alcohol and for a long time could not explain that they would bring us empty glasses, they laughed for a long time when they brought full ones with vodka. Then they remembered, but still wanted to please something. Beach. If you want to go to the sea, no questions asked - five minutes on a boat, and you are on a hotel beach with your own bar. From 9 am and every hour until 5 pm and back from 9.10 am to 5.10 pm every hour, respectively. The transfer is free. To the depth you have to go along the bridge, 400 meters. Or on foot through the villas, when leaving the hotel, turn left, go across the bridge, then the sundial, walk to the villas, there is a checkpoint, go straight through the villas, then again across the bridge to the left and you are already walking in orderly rows near the shops where you they call with special zeal! We know how to swim, so we didn’t lie on the beach, we were always on the bridge, we swam with masks. They fed the fish. And if you lie down, then in a bungalow on the balcony, on your sunbeds. Entertainment. A young man named Jimi (animator), if it weren't for him, you could die of longing and boredom. HE led water aerobics, volleyball, entertained children, by the way, for children in the hotel there is nothing but a town, and he led evening shows, various competitions, and raised everyone to dances. Once every three days there were shows with invited artists, and a disco. BUT the hotel does not do anything for a good evening, only the efforts of Jimi. Tours. I liked the town of Down Town itself, visited the aquarium - 45 pounds per person. Despite the unpresentable appearance, there are a lot of different turtle fish and crocodiles in it, you can take pictures for free. On Friday (do not miss it) you can go from the hotel to the port of Marina for free. They take you back on free minibuses or return with the same bus with an attendant. Opposite the hotel there are very beautiful golf courses, there is also a free observation tower, you can admire the whole El Gouna. We walked barefoot on the golf courses. We looked at the turtle house. Interesting. Around - beauty! Cacti, bushes, birds, houses, paths, feng shui pebbles, canals, boats, unforgettable landscapes. A little to the left along the road, the Movenpick Hotel with a very beautiful area. In general, you can enter the territory of any hotel, no one will say anything for a walk - everyone just greeted us nicely. If you leave the hotel and go to the right, Down Town begins. Do not be too lazy to go around it all, it is small. There are many cafes and restaurants, reminiscent of a European town, quiet and with live music. MAP If you have not downloaded the map to the navigator on your phone, you can take it on paper in the diving center at the hotel (building 1). Very detailed with enlarged areas of Down Town and Marina. We took 3 excursions from the tour operator: Luxor, ALS-journey, One Thousand and One Nights. Luxor. This is a visit to three temples: the Karnak temple complex, the palace of the queen-goddess Hathor-Nefertari, and the palace of Ramses 3, near which colossal statues rise on the banks of the Nile - these are the colossi of Memnon. Of course, they brought us to visit the banana island - they treated us with bananas and tea. departure at 3.40 in the morning, returned at 22.00. We were tired, but we liked everything very much, a lot of interesting and unusual things. The cheapest souvenirs in Luxor, but you have to bargain a lot. ALS-journey takes place on a yacht all the way through the day. We were taken to Paradise Island with a good beach. They gave out masks, but there is nothing to see there, because there are few corals. Then there were two stops at sea for 45 minutes each, where we dived with masks and flippers to our heart's content and saw enough of fish, sea urchins and corals. It was also fun to dive from a yacht with Arab guides. Lunch is quite edible. Fishing - completed the program. But when compared with living creatures in Marsa Alam, I liked snorkeling there more. Thousand and One Nights. at 19.00 we were picked up from the hotel and taken to Hurghada to a huge restaurant and entertainment complex "Thousand and One Nights". The hotel is stylized as an oriental palace - two-story buildings form several courtyards with a swimming pool and a garden. The entrance to the hotel is from the main gallery of the complex, where a lively life is in full swing in the evenings. Visiting a museum, street animation, watching a theatrical show. We returned home at 22.30. All the guides of ALC Tours (Biblio-Globus) left a good impression. On the first day, we were given a discount of $ 5 per person from each excursion - this is now a common practice among tour operators) - the price of ALC Tours is lower than that of other tour operators. The shops. The hotel has a souvenir shop. If you decide to buy something there, then feel free to bargain. Especially with Mimo, the oil salesman. He drives prices up a lot. And there are kiosks on the beach, there is also a perfume shop, the seller Joseph gave me a sampler, took a promise to buy something from him. On the last day, we went in and bought 3 x 50 mm. for 10$. He was very pleased with our purchase and gave us a bunch more samples. The T-shirt sells for more than $10 (£.50), and haggling can bring the price down to $4. . . Rafatka - for $3. I especially want to highlight two places, they are located on the territory of the hotel, namely to the right of the restaurant, this is a tea shop where everything is run by a wonderful person, a master of his craft, and only he has the most delicious tea and the most normal prices without markups (take my word for it in Hurghada prices are aching) his name is simply Misha, he speaks wonderful Russian, and this good-natured man will help in everything, just ask for help, he will not refuse. Once I treated him to tea called Tamarin, such a delicious drink, they took it as a gift to friends, they were delighted. I highly recommend trying Mango tea. The second place that I advise you to visit is a souvenir shop (located next to Misha's tea shop), Michael runs everything there, is it worth repeating that the prices will also please you very much, but here Michael can be persuaded and he loves to bargain for a lower price. Every day Michael treated me to a hookah, with amazing tobacco, I have never tried such a hookah. Money exchange. Money was changed in Down Town`e, there is an Arab bank in the center (there is Western Union right next to it in this building), there is a normal rate of 1 $ = 8 L. E. (local pounds). In stores, the exchange rate is less than 5.5 pounds, as well as at the reception, so it’s better not to be too lazy and go to change at the bank. ADVICE TO THOSE WHO PLANNING TO VISIT THIS HOTEL OR EGYPT: 1. Never pay money for a good room, because your hotel guide will do everything absolutely free. If the guide comes the next day, it is better to endure in a bad room, well, or call him on a cell phone that works around the clock - a room in the lobby. 2. If you plan to buy something, then bargain with everyone, because the prices are very high, sometimes you can throw off 50% or more. 3. Before agreeing to a room, check the hot and cold water, the operation of the air conditioner. 4. If you get into cold nights, then ask for a blanket or blanket, or a heater, which will be given to you for free, well, or free of charge through a guide. 5. Alcohol only from Duty Free! Tea, local coffee is also an amateur! 6. Remember "LA" - NO! useful on excursions, markets and in the city. 7. . . and the last tip: who plans to return to this hotel, do not forget to ask the reception to write you a VOUCHER when you check out. Valid for 2 years, we were issued for 50 euros. When you return, you can spend this money to pay for juices, and receive paid procedures at this hotel. We were leaving at 17.00, the room had to be vacated at 12.00. They offered a surcharge of $ 25. We refused. Will definitely use this service next time! P. S:... We liked this hotel. It is for a quiet relaxing romantic getaway with family and loved ones. . You can talk a lot about El Gouna, we will definitely return here, because El Gouna itself is a landmark of Egypt ! ! Excellent sea, few vacationers, life in a bungalow. And for this you can go back there more than once! Egypt remained for me a fabulous country with its enchanting smell. . .
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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