Definitely not 5, there are questions and there are a lot of them

Written: 13 august 2020
Travel time: 30 july — 5 august 2020
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Quarantine and Covid have made their changes and changed plans for holidays and vacations around the world. This year, recreation is available and not possible for all people and countries, so you have to choose from what is, what is real and what is without question. That is why the choice fell on Egypt - the "green zone" without tests and observations (we are from Ukraine). And then the planes flew in July, and flew from Kyiv, and there are not many of them, since in Egypt not all hotels have opened yet.
Time was running out, the vacation was ending - we chose a hotel in two days (we were afraid in advance, the situation is changing quickly). How did you choose? By reviews. It seems that before the quarantine everything was buzzing, normal reviews, there were no fresh ones, good food, etc. We chose between several hotels, in this case the price was good, and the reviews, and even the five of the type... type.
We ourselves are from Nikolaev, it is easier, faster and more familiar for us to fly from Odessa, but there were no flights from Odessa yet, and the price is higher for this hotel by 100-200 bucks. We flew from Boryspil for the first time.

We arrived in the evening, quickly took the transfer to the hotels. In Pharaoh from around the bus - two couples. We and a couple of Kievans... At the reception they quickly settled in, since it was already late. We had a standard room reserved in the main building, but since there were not many people, the hotel was not full, we were given a bungalow, even without money, surcharges and tearful requests. And it cost more than the standard.
At the reception, they didn’t ask for money, they gave an envelope with a map of the territory, since it is large, a memo and two electronic keys. The reception is English-speaking, do not expect that they will understand you in Russian, and even in Ukrainian, but there were some! But knowledge of English from the second grade already allows you to explain in an elementary way and understand everything that is being said. From the reception, we were loaded with suitcases into a golf cart and taken to our accommodation. The territory is large, therefore, especially the lazy ones and those with suitcases are carried on cars.
Two-room bungalow: a corridor with a kitchenette (they leave a kettle, coffee, tea, cream, sugar and two bottles of water a day), a sink, a refrigerator, which smoothly flows into a living room with sofas and a TV. Like our kitchen studio. Separate bedroom. A bathroom and a large terrace with chairs and a table where you can have coffee in the morning while admiring the lake. This is lyric.
There are many such one-story bungalows on the territory, there were also 5 two-story VIP bungalows for large companies and families. Everything in the house is simple, clean and no frills. The first time I honestly was in the top five, I understand that this is Egypt, I don’t need to fantasize anything, before that we always lived in fours, and in the Emirates even in the top three. Well, so... there are no slippers and bathrobes (I assumed this), cosmetics in miniatures and shampoos too (in Turkey they were even in 4-ke). Only shower gel in the dispenser and liquid soap near the sink. Well, at least there was toilet paper. Already good! Our five from any Egyptian 4 was no different, except for the territory is larger. The hotel is not new, it's from the 90s, they maintain the state, but there is no new gloss and modernity in it for a long time. But everything is well-groomed, everything is whole, everything works. We didn't have any complaints. There were trempels in the closet, a safe, the furniture was intact, the bed was normal, linen and towels were white, intact. TV - LCD. In general, the norms, but in the Emirates in the top three it was cooler.

The hotel is on the first line, 150-200 meters from our house to the beach. You need to pass near the lake with a fountain, which has only an aesthetic function and collects mosquitoes. And for such a huge hotel there is only one outdoor pool, when the hotel is fully loaded, it is not enough. On the site of this lake, it is quite possible to make another pool and it will not be superfluous. From the main building to the beach - 500 meters, you can drive up by car, as the "speck" in August exhausts and sucks out all the strength and energy.
Beach own, large, fenced off from other hotels, a lot of sunbeds. When there were a lot of people in the hotel, maybe there was not enough on the beach, but you quickly find a beach worker looking for an umbrella, dragging sunbeds and dragging mattresses from somewhere. There was no such thing that we came and there was nowhere at all.
Since Covid is now raging in the world, the hotel is taking all the necessary measures: sunbeds are sprayed with antibacterial compounds, employees are wearing masks, antiseptics are everywhere, cutlery in disposable bags, and food is served by kitchen workers (you don’t row yourself, as before... don’t as usual)
The sea... the sea... the sea seems to be there, but when you go out in the morning - it's gone. I understand that this is Hurghada, there are ebbs and flows and all that. But I didn’t think that it was every day without exceptions. The sea leaves in the morning and returns at 16:0, and at 17-18:0 it is no longer possible to swim, a red flag is hung out. There is no normal entry (I’ll add a photo of the sea and the coast), without slippers it’s also bad. Bottom in stones and corals. Water departs 100-200 meters from the shore (as when), because such long pontoons. Two pontoons at the hotel. The one that is longer, it is also a berth for boats (they carry on sea excursions). The pontoons are stationary, metal, already quite in a deplorable state. Entry into the sea along the ladders. Of which two were open, and even one, queues formed. The remaining entrances are blocked with tape - emergency. It doesn't look romantic at all. There are few places for swimming, there is a half-dead reef and it is fenced with buoys, as you can run into it with your stomach. At low tide, rocks rise above the water. People crowd on the "patch" between the pontoons, often the boats smoke with gasoline and water with garbage (bottles, papers, packages of chips, etc. ). I didn't like the sea and the sunset at all. The pontoons need to be repaired, everything is rotten and rusty.

Reef. There is a reef, but it is poor and half-dead. This is not Charm for you. It is clear that Hurghada does not promise a better underwater world... There are not many fish, they are fed so that tourists have something to watch. To see the fish - you need to sail a little from the pontoon. But if you want to see beautiful, colorful corals, then only a sea excursion will help. Snorkeling near the hotel is not very good.
Excursions. They had restrictions. Closed Luxor, Cairo. We planned to go to Luxor, but, alas, no way. Dinners with Bedouins are also on pause, all the same quarantine... Boat trips, quadrics (not far from the hotel) and a sightseeing tour of Hurghada by bus are available. The choice is not great. We went to Hurghada ourselves on a local minibus. It's still an adventure. The Egyptians were hungry for quarantine and the lack of tourists. Everyone pesters, offers taxis, yells, lures, deceives at prices. It's very intrusive. Already had a headache. The words "No!!! ", "Don't!!! " do not understand. The crisis has also hit their economy: most of the hotels have not opened, many shops are closed and sealed with newspapers, malls do not work. Excursions are not ordered. The streets outside the hotel are deserted.
Food. I didn't like the restaurant, it looks like the dining room of the Luch boarding house. Very noisy, crowded, queues . . Breakfast and dinner at the main restaurant "Karnak". Lunch is served only on the beach. There is food, but not much, it seemed to me... maybe it was better before quarantine? Five main dishes, Arabic sausage, sliced ​ ​ cheese, which no one eats, with salads sadness (all that you didn’t eat yesterday is from that salad, even french fries are used . . and beets and melons together... well, that’s it, for an amateur, for a gourmet). Vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, Beijing cabbage, peppers. Fruit - two or three varieties per meal. For example: bananas (sometimes cut into pieces) and orange slices. So really guys? It's a five! For a week there were: green melons, watermelon, bananas, oranges, grapes and dates. Dessert selection is disappointing. There are few of them, they are all the same type and not tasty. What they ate for breakfast: an omelet that the chef makes in the hall in front of you, like Belgian waffles, they also make it in front of you, but the dough is not shortbread, but like pancakes and yogurt with muesli. The rest is not tasty. Meals for a trio. Not varied, not very tasty and beautiful. Such. There was also local cuisine, such as: falafel, ful, some kind of "muhuhuy", sorry. Also not appreciated. And drinks: juices ala yupi (mango, pineapple, orange), cola, mirinda, 7ap from the bottles we are used to, tea, coffee from the machine (but you don’t pour it yourself, they give it out on request). There were rolls and bread, but not as many as I wanted. There were no croissants or cakes. Maybe the quarantine has made adjustments, or maybe it has always been like this. But three types of hot meat were served every meal. No soy! ! For example: beef, chicken and turkey. Or goose. Well, fish, such as pangasius (not very good, it will spread like a piece of fat) and a small mackerel on the grill.
The most delicious meal is lunch on the beach. There is music, though Arabic, and a view of the sea, but Zharkov, of course. For lunch they made pizza (on your order, but only vegetable). Pasta with different sauces, fries, once they gave nuggets, as in McDuck. But there are queues, queues, queues everywhere. And if you're not an Arab, then wait! And you can have a smaller piece! To their own - a different attitude. Kitchen workers do not understand Russian, and some even English. You have to point your fingers. Seafood and other delights are not. Everything is monotonous, but you will not go hungry.

A la carte restaurants are a different story. For the entire race, you can visit once for free, but since there are few people, they were allowed at least every day. There were once 5 restaurants on the territory of the hotel, but only three are open during quarantine. Of these, fish - paid. Were in Italian and Oriental. Well, it's just one name. They take food from the main restaurant and name it in Italian style and voila! ! As a result, minestrone soup with pasta, potatoes and carrots. My grandmother used to cook this for me as a child and gave it to me in the garden. Nothing is tasty. After such restaurants, we went to the main one. And they still asked - Tasty?? ? If none of the four ate anything, then everything is clear. And believe me, we are not spoiled at all. They just don't try.
Alcohol. Like in Egypt. Pico from cans, local alcohol: wine, whiskey, gin, brandy, rum, vodka, etc. No limit in quantity, they make cocktails they know (but this is not Turkey) Most bartenders do not know what Baileys is at all. There were three bars on the working territory: in the lobby, on the beach and near the pool. Warm beer often came in, and what could be worse in forty-degree heat! There are plastic dishes on the beach and near the bass, glass in the lobby. The bartenders speak English. He understood and spoke a little Russian - one, Mohamed. Hello to you! Balalaika Bunny!
There are no snacks between three meals, as in Turkey. Only from 15:0 to 17:0 on the beach they make vegetable pizza and ice cream from the machine (more like frozen juice or ice)
Animation. She is. Several people. But so sluggishly and in Egyptian. Animation near the pool and on the beach in parallel. Starts at 9 am. Yoga, bocha, darts, volleyball. . . in the evening there is a cultural program like local dances, karaoke and Arabic disco. There is no foreign stage, especially Russian. Here, try dancing to these khabibis. Although... why twist the Arabic, they don’t dance, they just sit on chairs and watch. And the people from the CIS do not know, stupidly do not know how to dance belly dance to their motives, and also sit. The DJ sees that the disco is not in charge, but does nothing! And so it will! Guys don't show up. Thanks to one animation guy Salah from Alexandria! ! You made our holiday. We miss you! ! I did yoga, played darts, taught me to play bocha! You are the best. It is obvious that he tried. Super!
Territory. It is big, but somehow not organized. Especially, except for houses and palm trees, there is nothing. Some of the entertainment facilities were closed. For example, the amphitheater for animation was not working, all the shows were at tables on the terrace. Often there were not enough chairs and tables. Shops are not all open, restaurants too.
Translated automatically from Russian. View original