Неплохой отель для спокойного отдыха Good hotel for a relaxing holiday

Rested in this hotel from 8 to 15 May. I took the tour from Join Up (so far, no other tour operators take to this hotel).
Let's start with flights. Join, as always, felt strange. I originally booked from 10 to 17 May. Shortly before departure, a representative of the travel agency called and said that there would be no direct flight for these dates (only through Hurghada), offered a direct flight either on the 8th or 12th. Well, instead of Zhulyan, the flight was moved from Boryspil. Since I was not tied to specific dates, I took it on the 8th. Knowing the reputation of Join Up in this regard, I was ready for such turns of events. The return flight was scheduled for 6.30, then moved to 8.40, then, apparently, to 14.40, and finally to 16.30. If only not earlier. And so it turns out that they gave us another half day of rest. Departure to the airport was at 13.00. And although the check-out at this hotel is at 12.00, the bracelets were not cut off, so we still managed to have lunch and could use the bar.
Now about the hotel itself. If earlier there were only a few compatriots here, now this hotel is gaining more and more popularity among our people. There were twenty people with me. The reason is the optimal price-quality ratio, and, of course, direct flights to Marsa Alam. So, a double for 7 nights can be taken for 15.000 UAH, a single for less than 9.500 UAH. (Now I look at the site it was 9200 UAH. ). I don’t know if it’s possible to buy a tour to a normal hotel in Marsa Alam for the same price, I think it’s unlikely. I took an early booking in March (I thought that for the May holidays you need to take it in advance so that it is cheaper, but in fact I made a mistake, overpaid significantly). Therefore, early booking is an ambiguous issue.

The hotel is simple, without frills, but there is some kind of homeliness in it, as some members of the forum have already written. I fully support them. Quiet, calm environment, clean well-groomed area, a minimum of people, just right for relaxation. The staff is friendly and unobtrusive. They come up, offer excursions, massages, etc. , and if you refuse, they don’t bother you anymore.
As for food: the choice is not very large, but since I am not a gourmet and do not like to overeat, everything was tasty and enough for me. All dishes are standard for Egyptian hotels, only the assortment is smaller.
Beach: coral slippers are not desirable, but mandatory if you want to feel comfortable, and not go into the water like a minefield. Near the beach, everything is trampled and broken, so to see normal corals you need to swim further to the end of the bay and if there is no wind, swim along the coast. Interesting specimens come across in the bay: I once saw a manta and two turtles at once. I wanted to swim to the opposite shore to the Palace, but the guards (bastards) did not let me in, they whistled and turned back.
Weather: the first day there was a very strong wind, it was impossible to swim even in the bay. For two days it gradually subsided and it was possible to swim comfortably. Therefore, the seasonality of the winds in Mars is a relative concept: in winter it can be completely calm for a week, and in summer it can blow strongly (you can’t guess here).
Marsa Mubarak Bay (another reason for the popularity of this hotel): everything is unchanged, go through the Three Corners, at the entrance and exit, tell the guards that you are from the Marina Lodge and pass without any problems. Turtles are not always found. During my four visits to the bay, I once saw as many as five pieces, the rest of the times - not a single one. Didn't see a dugong either. But my fellow travelers (a guy and a girl) were lucky: they saw him from the shore, immediately into the water, and swam with him. Another fellow traveler of mine saw it when he was on a tour boat. They say that it is more likely to meet him either early in the morning or in the evening, because he does not like heat.

What else: between the Palace Port Ghalib hotel and a private villa there is a small cove - civilization has not yet reached there (luxurious coral gardens, many fish, I even saw a reef shark). Those who like not to sit still for a long time can take a water taxi to Port Ghalib, walk a little and enjoy the beauty of the untouched underwater world. Well, for a change, you can take a walk in Port Ghalib itself (I went there twice along the bay).
Conclusion: lovers of a relaxing holiday, snorkeling / diving, who have a limited budget - can safely go to this hotel.