В гостях у Посейдона Visiting Poseidon

In advance, we planned an autumn trip to Turkey, to the region of the Aegean coast, where we have not yet been. But, having started the selection of a hotel, they hit a dead end. We tried to find a hotel with the appropriate level and according to our requirements, comparing them with the hotels of the Albatros chain in Egypt. Options that more or less corresponded were killed by the price. Looking through new hotels, we came across a video review of the Albatros Citadel hotel, which immediately interested us. In Egypt for the seventh time and all in Albatrosses. Were in Sharm in Aqua Blue and Aqua Park 5, in Albatros Sia World Marsa Alam. After reading the reviews about the Citadel, we could not accurately rate the hotel. Many old reviews, when he was still Azurovsky, many contradictory. little information on the forums. But, we decided to check the Citadel hotel, which is new for us and Albatross. Here's what happened in our review.

The journey started with Tui's company, which once again did not let us down. All in notes and minutes.

From Hurghada airport we got to the hotel within an hour, stopping at five more hotels along the way. Hurghada ends, around the desert, mountains and the sea. The huge inscription made of Albatros Citadel stones is amazing. We pass through the barrier and after two kilometers we enter the hotel territory . . First impressions go off scale. A huge fortress of stones lined with corals, tall palm trees and the sea, which is everywhere. As the bus guide said, there is no such view in any hotel in Hurghada . . And here we are in the hotel lobby. We settle down on the couch, fill out the documents, the usual procedure. The waiter brings soft drinks, wear bracelets. Everything is like in all Albatrosses. We contacted the hotel in advance and asked, if possible, to provide a room according to our wishes, since my wife underwent knee surgery, steep descents and ascents are not desirable, and the hotel buildings are located on terraces.
We received an answer that all our requests will be taken into account, since we are VIP clients.

About forty minutes later we were informed that they had given us a room in the farthest eighth building. We flatly refused. For seven trips, this is the first hotel where you immediately feel the difference in serving Germans and Russian speakers. Despite the fact that we arrived at the hotel in the afternoon, the check-in was very slow, and the Germans who arrived after us were immediately settled, offering several options to choose from. If the boys at the reception were friendly and sociable, then the manager who led them clearly did not fit into the Albatross management concept. Tried to talk to us on you, obviously rude. The solution to all problems was the requirement to stop unnecessary dialogue and call the hotel management.
Many thanks to Ahmed Al-Ghoneimi and Russian-speaking guesthouse Ksenia, who not only helped to resolve the issue with our excellent accommodation, but also did not leave us without attention for all 12 days. More for all the days of rest at the reception, I was not, because everything was fine and there were no questions. Even a week later they brought a gift from the hotel to the room in the form of a fruit basket.

The hotel is made in cascades descending to the sea and from almost every room you can see the sea, it is everywhere and beautiful. We have not seen a better view. You open your eyes in the morning in bed and in front of you are palm trees and the sea and you can see how the sun rises. We had a room in building 5, I think that this is the best building in terms of location, room 5201. The room is very large. Immediately in the hallway of the room is a large dressing room with a bunch of shelves and hangers, with a safe. Very comfortable to change into. Large bathroom and shower all in marble. and even from the shower through the window you can see the sea.

The room has a large double bed, a sofa, a large table, all kinds of bedside tables, a large TV, tea accessories, a huge balcony of 50 sq. m. there is a table chair. The bar is constantly replenished with water, pepsi, sprite, tea, coffee, cream. Room cleaning was excellent. Cleaned always before 12 am.

Everything was replenished and drinks and shampoos, gels. For such a service, I do not feel sorry for the tips that we always left. Internet in the hotel is very, very weak even at the reception. But the room has wired internet, you can take a router at the hotel, but it is paid 7 dollars. We took our router, its connection is free, the speed is normal. The main sea, for which we eat in Egypt . . The beach area stretches from the huge sculpture of Poseidon to the Amphitheater. The lagoons are separated by boulders and there are practically no waves in them. I consider the royal lagoon to be the most convenient.
A beautiful sandy beach with a smooth sandy entry, gradually turning into the depth, which is defined by the sign. You go into the water and immediately flocks of colorful fish. The lagoon is even inhabited by stingray, moray eels, lionfish and 30 species of different fish. You can not use corals.

There are practically no waves and currents, everything is fenced with stones. You will not see live corals in the lagoon, you need to swim out to a large reef, but it is not necessary to do this from the lagoon through the stones, as many advise. On the first day I saw several brave men with bloodied hands and feet. It's amazing that people who spend their holidays in a hotel don't know that there is a wonderful and safe access to a large coral reef. Before leaving the marina, where yachts enter, there is a lifeguard tower with a green buoy, in front of it there are concrete steps and a concrete platform with metal handrails . . You can safely sit down and put on flippers and then swim.
The coral reef strikes with its beauty especially towards the Amphitheater. Corals are very diverse in different colors, alive, although the behavior of many tourists who break off corals is outraged.


I can authoritatively state that the reef is superior to what I have seen in Sharm and Marsa Alam. The underwater world is also very rich. I not only saw, but also photographed many species of fish, some I had not seen before. On all beaches there are towel dispensers, a bar, a shower, a toilet. Separately, I would like to note the beach bars. Let's start with 5 types of packaged natural juices that never run out, stand in containers with ice. They are poured into glass if you take them at tables or in reusable plastic glasses. As much as you want and not half a cup. Mango, pineapple, guava, apple, tomato. Almost always canned Luxor beer, various cocktails, tea, coffee, constantly chilled bottled water, Pepsi, Fanta Sprite. Waiters walk along the beach.
very good-natured smiling guys. Service is fast, without queues and rudeness. Many leave tips. After all, there is a reason. Beer is served even in large glass mugs of 0.5 liters. Paradise for kids from 2 to 5 years old, older ones are no longer interested.

The hotel has three swimming pools, two infinity and one with a place for a water floor. Everywhere points of issue of towels and bars, shower toilets. Excellent beds. There is a platform with six jacuzzis. On the territory there are playgrounds with swings and a kids club. The hotel is quite party-oriented. Animation is visible during the day at the pools and playgrounds, and especially in the evening. There is a night disco until 3 o'clock. really paid. There are several ala carte restaurants. But having the experience of a Moroccan restaurant in Aqua Park 5, we did not go to them. The hotel has several buffet restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We started our acquaintance with restaurants from the main restaurant Citadel, but it seemed to us very crowded and noisy and we chose the nearby International. He is a little more calm. When writing a review, I constantly compared everything with the hotels we have been before, there are pros and cons. In the first place Albatros Sia World Marsa Alam, then Sharmovsky Aqua Park 5, then the Citadel and closes Aqua Blue in Sharm. The food is varied, tasty, there is a lot of it, but there is something to compare with.

And so in order. For many who write the main thing is the sea and fish, and then the food, but we are used to getting service in everything. I liked the breakfasts, everything seems to be the same everywhere, but there are differences. There were constantly fresh juices, orange, melon, lime, not diluted at all, prepared in front of you. I was very pleased with the constant presence of natural smoked meat, sliced ​ ​ meat, such as balyk, edible ham and 5 varieties of cheese, which is also not bad.

Surprised by the lack of milk soups. Delicious croissants, fresh halva and small pancakes with nutella. Several types of boxed yoghurts and jams. Very tasty apple pie. The rest of the baked goods are dry. The rest is like everywhere else, eggs, omelettes, delicious mashed potatoes, various salads and vegetables. Coffee can also be taken from the machine, and it is better from the boys of the waiters who carry brewed coffee in jugs and hot milk.

Lunch is also not bad, but always only one kind of soup. Constantly fish, beef, chicken. they also cook on the grill, but there is no expert on the grill. All burnt. You involuntarily remember the professionals from the Aqua Park. Delicious cakes that are baked in front of you. A lot of side dishes and salads, cook pasta. There are many fruits for lunch and dinner. Oranges, bananas, apples, rushes, guava, plums, dates, melons, delicious chilled watermelons, but you can eat it at home, but there is no such delicious figs and pink grapes at home.
Therefore, it was eaten at lunch and dinner and every day. Very tasty. There was no mango, although now it is in season and there are five different varieties in stores from 14 to 28 pounds per kg. Last year in the autumn in Albatros Sia World Marsa Alam mango was postal. Dinners were also not bad. Turkey, duck chicken, quail, lamb, mutton ribs, lumpy beef, Tuna, trout, red fish, crabs, shrimp, squid. For skeptics, I am attaching a photo. From alcohol good red dry and beer. Didn't like the white wine. There was no Irish whiskey or champagne. Dishes and furniture are good, the hall is clean, excellent ventilation and no staff in the restaurant.

There are a lot of guys, they are clean and well dressed, but somehow exhausted, there is no smile and a complete lack of knowledge of languages. Neither German nor English, I am silent about Russian. The Germans were in shrk and tried to explain on the fingers. You ask to bring tea, you explain in English, he carries napkins.

There seems to be a senior restaurant manager and he seems to be absent, he stands on the sidelines, there is zero initiative. I have never seen the chef go out into the hall, as in other hotels. The cooks at the distribution are also sad and cut off such small pieces and watch that you do not leave and add more. This is the first time. Waiters in a rush can clean up a whole plate of cakes along with dirty dishes while you choose dessert. The first time we saved on a tip in a restaurant. The hand didn't go up. Foreigners were also unimpressed. Pay don't pay, nothing changes. There is a completely different attitude in bars, in a coffee shop, especially in a pastry shop on the embankment. All cheerful, excellent coffee, various cakes, cocktails, instant service are very fond of children, they are regular guests with them.

After lunch, we went to the confectionery on the embankment to eat delicious ice cream of four types, and drink delicious cappuccino with apple strudel.
Paradox in the restaurant cakes and desserts are very beautiful, but not tasty. I have a sweet tooth and understand a little. In the evening, there is live music on the embankment, all in different lights, there is a paid hookah bar for lovers. In general, the rtel resembles a small port town in the south of France. Everything here is natural. Albatros bought the hotel from Azur in 2018 and the renovation is now in full swing. In the morning, more than a hundred builders arrive, but the work does not interfere with rest, everything is planned quickly, the danger zone is cordoned off, everything is taken away and removed immediately after work, no noise. There were witnesses when, in front of the entrance to the hotel, six huge 30-meter palm trees were dug up and replanted in a few hours in order to expand the entrance of tourist buses, and the next day everything was asphalted. The hotel has a few shops, but the prices...

There is no alternative to Hurghada 10 km.
At the reception they promise to take you, but it’s only in words that the familiar vacationers waited 40 minutes until after the scandal and for an additional fee the owner of the hotel taxi took them to the barrier. And the counter was ticking, but how back? We traveled by hotel taxi, having agreed with another married couple, the cost there and back for the car was 18 dollars. $9 per family We were picked up from the hotel at the set time in a comfortable car and after the agreed time, we asked for four hours, we were picked up at the place where they brought us and delivered to the hotel. Everything is fine and perfect. I think $9 is the safest and best option. The grandchildren received delicious mangoes and other gifts.


In general, our vacation in this beautiful hotel can be considered excellent and we will definitely return to visit Poseidon, from which our acquaintance with the hotel began, where it is impossible without the sea and not in vain Poseidon is an iconic figure and the mascot of the hotel.
And the management of the chain should strictly reconsider the management of the hotel and its middle link. Much has been inherited from Azur, but clients and credibility can be lost. But, I hope that the Citadel and its wonderful team will cope with all the temporary difficulties. Special thanks to Diana Siladi for her constant help during our holiday. For advice and support. Sorry for the long and detailed review, but I wanted to objectively help tourists choosing a hotel. Personally, I lacked such information. There will be specific questions, write.