Рождество в Pensee Royal Garden, январь 2022 Christmas at Pensee Royal Garden, January 2022

We have already been in Egypt many times and in different regions, but in Marsa Alam - for the first time. As we saw a direct flight, and what is happening at the airports of Hurghada and Sharm during the Christmas and New Year holidays, we chose Marsa. Prices, of course, are overpriced during this period, the weather is cool, but at least without rain and snow, and the wind did not knock down, as in March in Hurghada, they chose a budget option. At first we wanted to Utopia Beach Club 4 *, but the hotel became a stop, when it appeared later, we already took Pensee Royal Garden 4 *. Hotels of one owner, you can use the infrastructure of both hotels.
The airport in Marsa Alam is small, everything went quickly, visas were taken from the bank for 25 USD. e.
And so, we drove to the hotel for about an hour, arrived almost at lunchtime, took the documents, filled out the questionnaires, and we were sent to dine at a restaurant on the beach. After lunch, we came to the reception and they were immediately ready to settle us in the bungalow that we had booked.

We said that we would first go and see without suitcases, knowing that the bungalow there, to put it mildly, was not very good. They brought us to No. 108, everything in it turned out to be sad and dull, and we refused, they said that they were ready to pay extra for the standard. We were escorted to a double standard No. 324 on the 1st floor, and we were 2 + 1, I asked where the child was - they said they would bring a bed, but then there would be no turning around at all, they asked for a bigger room. We were offered a room on the second floor in a turret opposite the main restaurant No. 463. The room turned out to be spacious, 3 full beds, a sofa, a table and 2 chairs, a bath and a bidet. If not for the pot-bellied TV, in general, everything would be fine. And most importantly, a stunning view through the panoramic windows of the pool with a bar and the sea could be seen in the distance, like in a restaurant on disposable plate coasters (placemats). Surcharge for 7 nights was 28 c. u. e. , they asked how much it would be for a family room - 70 c. u. e. , (a family with 2 children was offered for 80 c. u.
), we decided to stick with the big standard. When booking a bungalow, you should not hope for a comfortable and bright room, and then write a review that only camels can live in it ...Either take the standard right away or pay extra on the spot and everything will be ok.
They asked for a Wi-Fi password - the hotel does not provide it, but a Vodafone representative connects it for free, you can use it in the reception area. It was enough for us to use Viber and Facebook, photos / videos were uploaded, youtube was also uploaded by the child, when it flew off, I again went to the Vodafone counter and they entered me in a new way, it began to work generally fine.
The beach - since there was a breeze, we chose sunbeds in the 3rd row from the sea - you could always find a free one, we came by 10 in the morning. As soon as we approached, a beach worker appeared, who brought mattresses and handed out towels. When the breeze blew, it was necessary to lie down on a sun lounger and it became more comfortable to be on the beach.
They rode a camel along the beach for 15 USD. e. in 30 minutes and 40 c. u. e. per hour. They offered quad bikes 1 for 20 c. u. e. /hour, children free of charge. There is a diving center.
Didn't see dolphins or turtles. But we saw a lot of beautiful fish. After lunch, the sea left, the corals were exposed, and of course our people tried to go through them, and for this a fine was immediately whistled by the guard, as and when they swam over the reef. In the first week of January, the sea and air were +25-26.

Animation - it was, but unobtrusive, they called only for volleyball, everything else was quiet. The mats were laid out for charging, if no one comes up, they are collected back. It was the same with darts - they hung it out, but they didn’t invite them to play, whoever wanted to came and played himself, the same in bocha. There is also a large tennis court on the beach, in the play area behind the reception there is billiards and a small tennis court. Several times curly Lucas took the children to the mini club, where they painted, inflated balloons and played hide and seek in the amphitheater.
In Utopia, there are animators our compatriots, perhaps that's why it's more fun there.
There were shows in the evening, but either the contingent of vacationers got caught, or the reason was in the show and animators, but there were very few people who wanted to watch or participate. Even at the mini disco, sometimes there were 2 children (. If the show was in front of the entrance to the reception, then there were at least a few people, but there were very few in the room. On such days we went to have fun in Utopia, there was a disco and karaoke.
Food - I was pleased that with a small selection, everything was deliciously cooked. For the first time we were not hungry, but we didn’t gain extra pounds either)). The child didn’t have enough fries and ice cream (. On the day when there was fish for dinner, there was nothing to feed at all, except pasta with cucumbers (. They gave squid several times. Coffee for breakfast is terrible, if you take it at 7 in the morning, it still looks like coffee , and at 9 - water with water. From fruits - once strawberries, and so melon, guava, dates, tangerines.
Sweets for lunch are also more for everyone. There was a good choice when there were oriental sweets at dinner - everything was delicious. And sometimes the cakes are interesting, we took more jelly.
The snack was at the pool bar only pancakes, tastier than at breakfast, we didn’t see anything else, because we were by the sea until 16-30, then we came to the indoor pool. Immediately there was a water temperature of +31, and then they made +38 ...it was too much, but this did not stop us, they left the door open to make it at least a little easier to breathe). In the outdoor pools the water was cold - no one was swimming.

The staff is polite. In bars, I ordered 3-4 brandies without any problems, they poured that much. Yes, in plastic cups, but once I saw an unwashed spoon, I thought that it was better than they would give in a dirty glass). Beer was poured from glass bottles, they made a milkshake - milk + syrup, we liked it. The bar at the reception was open until zero hours.
There were no huge queues anywhere, only somehow a lot of people gathered at the grill for Christmas. By the way, there was no Christmas dinner, in Utopia there was, and we had a regular one, and in the evening a dance performance of a swirling skirt.

At lunch, the beach was somehow not organized, the line started from pasta to the bar, in the middle there was pizza, but in order for the child to take it, it was necessary to defend it also for stewed vegetables, side dishes, etc. , there was no other way (. And fresh cucumbers with tomatoes were placed inside so inconveniently that there was always a queue. In order to have a larger assortment of dishes, you need to come to the beginning of the meal, after 40 minutes half was removed. Yes, and be careful, the restaurant has a stand with fruits and freshly squeezed juices - they paid, were at 3 c. u. This was not written anywhere, the newcomers did not know, the seller with the vitamin inscription was not always in place, people unknowingly took juices, and then he demanded payment from them.
There were no sanitizers on the tables in the restaurant, as in Utopia. Everything except meat dishes, you can take yourself, the staff is all without masks.
There are a number of shops in front of the hotel, the prices are too high, but if you take a few goods, they make a good discount, there is also a cafe, there are also Bedouin cafes on the beach, fruits and juices are sold nearby, and a kiosk with tunics and scarves, their shop is and in front of the hotel. Near the reception there are also 2 shops, one with bags, the other with souvenirs. There is also a stall near the pool, there are chips, slippers, masks, air mattresses, etc. There is a pharmacy on the territory, but everything is 3 times more expensive than in Hurghada and Sharm. They bring medicines to order.

The territory is well-groomed, the cleaning of the rooms is not very good, like the bed - it is all in spools, it is not very pleasant to sleep on it. Soap is added to two dispensers, paper is brought, tea / coffee / sugar is replenished and water is 0.6 per person.
Summing up, we had a good rest on the Red Sea as a family, got tanned, and did not overeat)).
Knowing that the price of the tour was low compared to other hotels, we did not expect a luxury holiday, everything was within the limits. There were never any annoying factors. Do not forget that this is the Egyptian four. Thanks to my husband for the wonderful winter holidays and the beginning of the year.