Your rating of this hotel:
9.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
9.0
Service:
8.0
Cleanliness:
8.0
Food:
9.0
Amenities:
9.0
And again the Red Sea!
The Red Sea, like a gracious drug, has incredible gravity, once you taste its delights, you become a slave for life to the extraordinary beauty of its underwater world, the healing properties of water, amazing landscape design and architectural forms of coastal hotels.
So I, who first visited the Red Sea ten years ago, remained faithful to him and in the last two years visited twelve hotels on its shores. And, more importantly, every time I enter this world of unearthly joy not only for the body but also for the Soul, I feel an extraordinary elevation of creative inspiration, which uncontrollably, as from the Horn of Plenty, is thrown out of nowhere and becomes real. the pictures in my essays are a reflection of the feelings I feel on the Red Sea.
Almost in its original form, illustrating dozens and hundreds of photos, I transferred them to my Facebook page and recalled the idea in Top hotels.
And when a sufficient number is selected, I publish a book… This is how my first book “Red Sea: A Corner of Earthly Paradise. Travel notes from Egypt. - Kyiv: Publishing House "SIM & HAM", - 2017. - 535p. , Ill. ISBN 966-8802-17-9 in twelve hotels in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada: "Savoy" 5 *, "Grand Rotana Resort & Spa" 5 *, "Sunerise Arabian Beach Resort" 5 *, "Sunerise Diamond Resort" 5 *, Royal Grand Sharm5 *, Grand Oasis by Look Hotels 4 *, Le Mirage New Tower 4 *, Poinciana Sharm Resort 4 * (Sharm El Sheikh); Sea Gull Beach Resort & Club 4 *, Mirage New Hawaii 4 *, Sand Beach Hotel 3 *, El Samaka Beach 3 * (Hurghada),
And here is my new hotel Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 *, Sharm el-Sheikh launches a new book!
Afterwards, a dozen more hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada will succinctly fit into the format of the forthcoming book to delight the reader with their candid impressions of the miracle of the Red Darkness and unforgettable charms of original architectural forms, garden design and oriental hospitality.
"REEF OASIS BLUE BAY" 5 * Sharm El Sheikh
HOTEL WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS ON THE RED SEA
Location «Reef Oasis Blue Bay» 5 *
Hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay" 5 * belongs to the group of hotels "Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts": "Reef Oasis Beach Resort 5 *", "Reef Oasis Royal Majestic Resort 5 *" Reef Oasis Suakin Resort 5 *, Sentido Reef Oasis Senses Resort 5 * (all hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh).
Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * is located in a resort in El Basha Bay (Gardens Bay), directly on the Red Sea, 5 km from Naama Bay and 11 km from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport. The hotel is within easy reach of St. Catherine’s Monastery, the Colorful Canyon, Mount Sinai and Pharaoh’s Island.
On the left is the Sheraton Sharm Hotel & Villas 5 *, on the right is the Sharm Plaza 4 * & Sharm Resort 5 *.
The hotel area is 22.000 square meters. m. (22ha).
The hotel was built in 2007. The area and the surrounding area are ideal for a variety of activities, including diving and snorkelling. An ideal place for both families and young people.
The hotel has Russian-speaking staff.
On the eve of departure. "Addict"
Late evening.
Seven hours left before the meeting with Egypt.
And I feel some excitement like before dating my girlfriend. But, of course, this is a feeling of a completely different order, more spiritual than physical.
I am less in anticipation of comfortable conditions for my perishable body (although I know in advance from advertising and reviews that this five-star hotel, but the rating is one of the best in Sharm el-Sheikh), but my second spiritual essence the thrill of the upcoming holidays of life for my creative Soul! But, as I noticed from my previous visits to hotels in Egypt, these two criteria are usually paired and depend, of course, on the amount you pay for the tour. And so I refused the offer of my friends to celebrate my birthday (November 21) at the hotel "Domina" 5 *, which in some positions caused me doubts, although it was much cheaper. And my friends were tempted ...But about this in the course of the story ...
These seven hours in ordinary life are so fleeting, there were so many of them and they have left almost no trace in my life, that they quietly disappeared and from today's standpoint they seem to me in an instant.
And now the next seven hours seem to me an infinity of anticipation, already knowing, unusual in my daily, bustling life. Although for a short time - only eight days. And that's why I feel every second of these seven hours with my whole physical being and, moreover, I even feel some pleasure from every second that comes right away - milestones on my way to the goal. After all, not hours and minutes, but seconds in time with the beats of my heart bring me closer to the meeting with Egypt and the Red Sea!
Egypt, the Red Sea, luxury hotels on the first shore line have already become a vital need for me ...Because I have developed a spiritual and physical need to "inject" another "dose" of the Red Sea! And I spend the last free money (and a lot) on the next "dose" (
23:30. One and a half hours left before check-in. I'm in the subway. An electric train approached.
And the pace of approaching the Red Sea has increased many times - to a speed of hundreds of kilometers per hour. But what is it?
- A trifle, compared to the future speed of the airliner at a thousand kilometers per hour, when I get on the plane in three and a half hours and he, incredibly accelerating his desire for the African continent, roars like a beast, pushes me into a chair and all his. multi-ton carcass moves into the pre-dawn sky.
Then, after overcoming an uncomfortable and dangerous twenty minutes, he will hum evenly and monotonously for three hours in a seemingly almost motionless state - until the next twenty minutes, but landing at Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
Flight. Airport.
Arrival at the hotel. Lobby. Reception
Three hours with little - for a flight from Europe to Africa - is a trifle, compared to the qualitative changes that these three hours make in our lives.
Only a little anxiety during takeoff and landing, as well as on air ducks - turbulence. And only.
But what immeasurable happiness you experience when your foot steps on Egyptian soil, leaving the airport! And a joyful anticipation of the heavenly life of body and soul - and it's only for a few hundred dollars! ..
Our hotel "Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts" is located in close proximity to the airport and so after a while after landing, passport and customs formalities and after arrival in other, closer to the airport hotel and unloading guests, our bus is already entering the main gate. . Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts hotels. We drove almost the entire hotel, approaching the main building from the reception. The original feature of this hotel is that the main building is located deep in the hotel, almost by the sea, and not immediately at the entrance, as in other hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh.
And this is due to the peculiarity of the rocky shore, which was not developed by bulldozers, arranging multi-level terraces, as in other hotels, but left almost in its original form. And here are the beach cliffs rise to the height of a sixteen-story building! And then there is the flat part of the hotel, eight hundred meters.
And we drove those eight hundred meters by transfer bus. And at the same time admired the beautiful and well-groomed area and at the very end, before the reception (reception) - a cactus grove. This was our first tour of the hotel. But this contemplation took place in passing, and our mood was in the second perspective: to achieve the main goal as soon as possible - the reception service and to settle down. And we will get acquainted with the territory of the hotel a little later in a detailed and thorough way.
Suitcases and bags were unloaded from the bus and dumped in a pile under a canopy near the entrance to the main building (a judge at an empty stand at the end of this open space used to have a bar). You don't have to worry about saving things - several people are watching him at once: here are the security guards at the entrance to the carrier (he is also the driver of the car).
This is the case in all hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh. However, it is better to keep your passport and money with you at all times, even when you move them to the safe. And all of us (and we are twenty people) easily go to the reception service at the settlement.
We are greeted with smiles by the receptionist, including three (! ) Russian-speaking girls Guest Relations. We hand over passports with vouchers, fill out questionnaires. Everyone is given wet cool towels, rolled into a roll - nicely refreshing face off the road.
For some reason, there are no soft drinks now.
But everyone immediately hangs bracelets and we go for breakfast to the main restaurant "Bay View". This is a pleasant surprise, because it is the courtesy of the hotel and according to the rules no breakfasts, snacks, drinks, beer, etc. until 14:00 (time of official check-in) does not belong. We are promised to be accommodated in the rooms as soon as possible: as soon as the rooms are vacated and they will be cleaned.
It is impossible to check in immediately, because with a 90% occupancy of the hotel and the set time of check-out at 12:00 it is almost impossible. And so, almost all of us, after breakfast, disguised in beach ensembles, go to sea: sunbathe and swim: why waste such precious morning time?
A few words about the lobby. He is grand!
All in mirror-shiny marble with a high dome-ceiling, and in the center - a fountain with a pool of bright blue water from the color of the lights and tiles laid on the bottom and walls of the pool.
And in the center of the pool - a marble rack with a huge glass vase, which, taking into account all the requirements of ikebana exhibited amazing beauty and size of fresh flowers.
If the theater begins with the cloakroom, the hotel begins with the lobby and, of course, with the receptionist.
The first impression of the hotel "Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts" meets all our expectations: a cozy, comfortable hotel with hospitable hosts. So, the next 7-14 days of rest (and no longer worth taking, primarily because of the need to pay a visa of $ 25), will be a glory!
The only thing that confuses this settlement after 14 hours at an early arrival. But confuses and inconveniences only beginners who are for the first time in a foreign resort.
As well as spoiled by winter visits to hotels in Egypt, when, due to the tourist crisis, hotels are half empty and it is possible to check in such hotels earlier than usual and even in a superior room, compared to those in the voucher. Some hotels even mention this as an additional benefit in their online advertising. But now, with a 90% occupancy rate, this is not to be expected.
I'm just wondering how the cleaning staff manage to get in the rooms before 14:00, that is, two hours after the mass eviction at 12:00 due to departure?
And sometimes it happens that a person by nature always unreasonably wants to get much more than what he paid. My uncle, one of the newcomers of solid size, was indignant: how could he (naturally with his wife / mistress, I think, no less solid in size) fit into the 12-meter Economy Room (Promo room) category?
But who are you, uncle, doctor? “Did your eyes see what you were taking? . .
"(I mean I will not give up my heart ... )
In the lobby, in addition to the 24-hour check-in / check-out desk, there is also luggage storage, tour desk, currency exchange, a table of Russian-language goods, which can be contacted at any time and solve problems. Guest Relations also book an all-inclusive all-inclusive restaurant (free of charge).
Registration is held on the day of visiting the restaurant from 14:00 to 17:30 to 19:30 (the restaurant is open until 20:00). I would advise you to come earlier and take the turn, because I know from my bitter experience that half an hour after the start of the recording is the most inconvenient time to visit the restaurant - before it closes. And in time, coming first and taking the turn, as I did, is not a guarantee that you will be first on the lists: you will already have a dozen "privileged" guests.
I am not a scandalous person by nature, but defending my rights on the first ("first wedding night") with an attempt to photograph the process, led to house arrest and a call to the police…
There are also several tables in the lobby for tour operators, including sightseeing tours (but actually shopping) and a concierge who registers for SOHO Square (morning to day) and order a taxi.
I was surprised by the monopoly right of the tour operator's representatives, in particular, "Josn up", to excursion service of hotel guests: there is almost a queue and only the rustle of "green" banknotes. And all because there is a golden bottom for the representative of the tour operator in this regard, because the hotel "Reef Oasis" is far from "civilization" and nearby, within five kilometers, there are no competitors and not only for tour services but also for souvenirs . vegetables / fruits and more.
And soon I was surrounded by a delegation of hotel officials with claims of unauthorized trade, with an invitation to go to the senior administrator of the hotel. I quickly realized that the fines, already real, and not like yesterday, fake, handed me over to the police for violating Egyptian law. I quickly packed the books and asked, “Are there any more problems?
"Judging by the insistence of local" law enforcement officers "to go with them to the reception, not for a reward for advertising Egyptian hotels among my compatriots (by the way, we must pay tribute to the Ukrainians - they stood behind me! "
), and for flogging with fines, I told the "guards" that my day costs $ 80 and no desire to spend them on trifles, offered the "chief" himself to come here, and he took a camera, mask with a tube and went to the reef. shooting corals for your upcoming book.
Here, in the lobby there is an electronic map of the hotel, where you can use the cursor to find out the most extensive information about any object of the hotel infrastructure. It was interesting for me to learn about the location of my room and everything around: swimming pools, recreation areas, the nearest stop of the local bus "Taf-taf", and, of course, all the restaurants and bars. offer.
This visual perception of the hotel is a significant addition to the information provided at the reception to each guest at check-in.
By 14:00 we were all accommodated in rooms and we began a quiet life, making the most of all the opportunities provided by the hotel. And for such opportunities a lot. (I was resettled except me. I waited until eight o'clock in the evening to receive, as I wrote in a letter a week before the arrival of the sea: Corner of Earthly Paradise-2. Edition cost me $ 1.000) I donated to the hotel library read it.
spirituality and creativity are not very valued now…
Hotel area
How does Egypt attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world?
Service and luxury of hotels? Excellent food and gourmet food? - Of course not!
Because all these criteria are inherent only in individual, tens (out of thousands) hotels of the highest category, which on these indicators can compete with the best hotels in Europe and America. And most of the other hotels, I would call "folk" - for holidaymakers of medium material security. And the average price of tours in a hotel in Egypt in the season - no more than $ 1.000 for two for seven nights.
The main wealth that attracts thousands of tourists around the world, and what Egypt has, is a natural gift - the Red Sea, with its unique coral reefs and colorful "aquarium" fish in the natural environment.
Therefore, it would be logical for each hotel to show its guests the Red Sea in all its best angles and the greatest possible point of view.
And the talent of the designer of the hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay" has reached the highest level of skill in this regard: from almost anywhere in the lounge area of the hotel offers a magnificent view of the sea from a height of twenty meters.
On the first day of arrival at the hotel, I had a few free hours before check-in and decided to spend this time exploring the hotel in the lounge area and saw this miracle. For example, I was pleasantly shocked to see this as I stepped out of the lobby of the main building, walked along a long marble fountain, and found myself near a glass fence between The Pub and Caribbean Bar.
In front of me was a magical view of the Red Sea, like fairy tales and mythological stories of the Hanging Gardens of the Semiramis of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II - so I was introduced to the hotel "Reef Oasis", which opened a magical view of the Red Sea.
By the way, this outdoor area between two bars, with exposed tables and chairs, is very cozy and always filled with vacationers who spend time chatting over a cup of coffee or a glass of cocktail prepared right there in one of the bars. And, thanks to a low glass fence at the edge of the site above the cliff, a panoramic view of the sea opens from anywhere on this site.
But an even more chic view of the Red Sea can be seen from The Pub, if you take one of the tables by the wide window to the floor.
Imagine: the dimness of an elegantly furnished mahogany bar and the bright blue-turquoise color of the Red Sea water in front of you. This is exactly the impression of a hanging bar, high above the sea.
Then you go down the concrete stairs below, three meters, to a wide area, where almost all the restaurants and bars are located in the lounge area of the hotel and a long, winding snake around the main building, the pool. From here, from anywhere: from the sun lounger by the pool, at the edge of the pool in front of the cliff, from the windows of the main restaurant "Bay View", and especially from its outdoor terrace with tables, as well as from any other restaurant or bar kind of Red. sea. I was especially impressed by the view of the sea from the edge of the pool near the cliff.
It seems that this pool hung in the air, and you fly over the sea at a height of twenty meters… And these impressions are breathtaking, the soul is filled with joy and bliss, and the mind of a mortal body begins to protest that there are no miracles in our world! In fact, our world does not love miracles and destroys them in its infancy, even before the birth of God!
Going down the elevator a little lower, in the Sea Breeze restaurant, which is at a height of about ten meters above the beach, in front of you again, from any table offers a panoramic view of the Red Sea. And the semicircular shape of the restaurant enhances this effect. For the sake of such views at sea, I often had breakfast and lunch at this restaurant. It is also freely available through the All Inclusive Power System.
A few days later (or rather, on the fourth day of my vacation), I opened a new hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay" - its flat part! I walked all over the plain of the hotel, of course with a photo camera.
I reviewed all the buildings, from the first to the most distant - the seventh. I expected, as in my previous visits to hotels, that these buildings would be run and messy. But he was pleasantly impressed by the perfect cleanliness and well-groomed not only inside the building, but also the surrounding area.
Inside many buildings there are even courtyards with tropical plants such as a winter garden. All this, as well as the comfort and perfect cleanliness of the renovated rooms (I had the honor to live in one of them), eliminates some inconvenience due to the distance from the sea. And everyone was satisfied, especially those who live in the sixth building overlooking the pool with water park.
I confess, what a sin to hide, before leaving for Egypt, studying the plan of the hotel, I carelessly called it a hotel with sleeping areas on the second shoreline.
And when he saw for himself the saturation of this part of the hotel with various recreational facilities: swimming pools, fountains, streams with waterfalls and wooden bridges with the same cozy gazebos on their shores, as well as numerous bars separated by stone gazebos in the east style with soft sofas. inner contemplation and meditation, I really fell in love with this hotel.
This is where my new opening of the Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel took place!
Just imagine, on 22 thousand square meters of the hotel - no free square meters that "walks": everything is filled with maximum rationality and expediency, and each such square meter is under constant supervision of numerous gardeners and other workers.
The main objects of relatively quiet recreation on this flat part are located along the entire length between the second and third buildings.
It begins with a wide beam, and in it - shops made in a single architectural style with a predominance of wooden structures the color of moron oak and under their color - black copper lamps. Next - a bar for lovers of hookah and aromatic tea "Oriental caf? "(By the way, works until midnight). This bar is located in a cave - under a wide bridge that connects the second and third buildings. Soft niches with pillows and tables are arranged in niches, as in caves. Each such small room is fenced off from the rest by latticed wooden structures and creates a cozy individual climate - all in oriental style!
I often went to this cozy cafe to drink tea (I do not indulge in hookah), although of the fragrant aromatic teas here were only black and green, which was served by the owner of this cafe Mustafa in original glass cups and no less original saucers.
Then, behind the hookah is the Arena for evening shows and animation with the bar bar, followed by a waterfall and streams with wooden gazebos. It was these streams and waterfalls and wooden gazebos that radically changed my perception of the Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel. I walked on wooden bridges, watched and listened to the gurgling streams of water, enjoyed the views of natural nature, sat in wooden gazebos on the banks of streams and could not break away from this magic. This naturalness of Nature is so necessary to us, the urbanized inhabitants of megacities, and to which we subconsciously strive, as to our native element.
I have discovered a new world in this small part of the Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel! And all because I am by nature a pagan and madly love Nature! ..
Even greater opportunities for relaxation can be found throughout the third and fourth buildings: first there is a cactus botanical garden, followed by the largest swimming pool at the Relaks Hotel with its impressive grand colonnades at the entrance and exit. Here is the Relaks Pool Bar. Only a small number of hotel guests, mostly foreigners from Western Europe, stay in the Relaks area. Ours prefer active recreation on the beach by the sea.
In general, the hotel consists of the main building (reception, restaurants, bars, SPA center, swimming pool - a lounge area) and a complex of two-storey residential buildings (seven of them). Due to the large length of residential buildings, the hotel, with a frequency of 10-15 minutes, runs the shuttle bus.
The length of its path in a circle - 1300m.
The length of the hotel from the main building (Lobby) to the main gate - 600m.
Evening on the beach
Beach workers are tidying up: removing rubbish and plates with glasses - the remnants of luxury in the afternoon and lunch of those who, without departing from the fertile Red Sea, preferred to do this procedure here; they drag the deckchairs and carefully place them in a row under umbrellas - they prepare places for rest the next day. You are not touched wherever you are with your deck chair: they respect your right to rest and you as a source of your well-being.
According to the "statute", which governs all the beaches of Egypt, they are closed at night to protect tourists from the temptation of night swimming in the Red Sea, where with the onset of darkness, night fear of various predators, not only for health but also for human life. .
Numbers
The room has large wooden beds, bedside tables, floor lamps, sofa with armchair and coffee table with glass top, on the balcony (or terrace) - also comfortable chairs and coffee table ...
And a pleasant coolness, which is provided by a silent air conditioner.
The room has a telephone, LCD TV with a meter diagonal screen, satellite or cable TV (four Russian: "1st Russian", "Russia-24", "RTR-Planet", and one Ukrainian: "1 + 1" - channels: №69-73)
Especially impressive is the large bathroom with shower (as in my room), washbasin with mirrors, hair dryer, set, soap, updated daily, shampoo, gel and body lotion. Next to the toilet with toilet and bidet. There are two sets of towels: a large bath and a medium for the face, one - on the floor in front of the shower. Above the large washbasin mirror are lamps.
The common luminaire under the ceiling is switched on together with the exhaust fan.
The rooms have high ceilings, especially in the rooms on the second floor - cone-shaped - repeats the shape of the roof.
Additional services: fruit on arrival, oriental sweets, 1 voucher for 10 euros per room during the stay for use in restaurants.
Superior room 238 rooms: one-room room, area 35 sq. m. m, 233 rooms with balcony or terrace (table, 2 chairs), 5 rooms without balcony / terrace. Garden / hotel view. The room has one double bed or two single beds, central air conditioning with individual control, safe, mini-bar, telephone (fee), TV, tea accessories (kettle, tea, coffee), floor - tile. The bathroom has a shower with flexible shower, hairdryer, bath accessories. Maximum placement 2 + 1.
The interior is the same as in a standard room, differences: Superior rooms are larger and are located in all buildings except the 5th.
Standard Room
Rooms are located in 5000 buildings. Room area 30 sq. m. Number of rooms - 100. (Everything else - the same as in Superior rooms).
Preferred Room
Rooms are only in the 7000 building. View of the hotel or courtyard. Only king size bed.
Extra space is not allowed. TV (LCD) has Russian-language channels; mini-bar (not filled), replenishment on request for a fee; tea / coffee corner - top up for free.
Room area - 27-30 square meters. m.
Number of rooms - 46.
Economy Room (Promo room): 16 rooms, 12 square meters. m, a small window, balcony - no. The bathroom has a shower, hairdryer. The room has one double bed, TV, safe, minibar, telephone (extra charge), air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities. Maximum occupancy is 2 guests. Rooms are located from the sea.
And only 26 rooms with sea views:
Sea View: area of .30 - 45 square meters.
m, sea view. Maximum placement 2 + 1. One double bed or two single beds. Bath. Balcony or terrace. Interior as in a standard room. Mini-bar. There are tea accessories. Bath accessories, bathrobes, sneakers.
By the way, about sneakers. The floor in the rooms is concrete - very cold, so if your room category does not include sneakers, it is better to bring them with you: health will only be stronger!
The hotel has a total of 698 rooms, including the following types: Preferred Room, Standard Room, Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Executive Room, Family Room, Honeymoon Suite, Executive Suite, Promo Room.
Sea. Beach
Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * has its own beach about 600 m long with a small plastic pontoon 30 m long. On a short coral shoal there are three small lagoons. The entrance to the sea is a coral shoal, so special shoes are recommended.
For easy access to the beach there is an elevator that takes you from the main building and from all inside and around the infrastructure (restaurants, bars, swimming pools, etc. ).
n. ) can be easily and in seconds to get to the sea. There is a serpentine road (to the right of the elevator), but no one uses it, because the four elevator car is quite spacious, new and comfortable, with air conditioning, which is important in the heat, will deliver to the beach any number of vacationers.
The beach at the hotel "Reef Oasis" is located so that the sun from the first seconds of sunrise to the last at sunset, belongs entirely to this beach and all vacationers.
This is a great advantage of the Reef Oasis Hotel. After all, most people come here by sea and the sun, and the extra ten or twenty minutes of a sunny day will not disturb anyone, then pray in the autumn-winter period.
And that's why every vacationer on the beach of the hotel can feel how the Sun, stretching out his hands-rays, as if to say: "I am completely yours and ready to endow you with its light and warmth! . . And so it serves throughout the day.
And in the evening he ends his glorious journey through the mountains of Sinai with the realization of his duty.
Every morning, waking up at dawn, and here, in November, the sun rises from the horizon at about six, I take a beach towel (in a special bag), mask, snorkel and hurry to the beach - take the coolest place - Closer to the pontoon and on the first line of umbrellas from the sea.
This is my main principle of recreation on the beach - as close as possible to the sea, to the corals (and only from the pontoon) and near the beach bar with a restaurant (the latter - for obvious reasons - so that beer is always at hand and a snack).
However, with proximity to the sea - no problem, but the bar with beer, the most delicious shawarma to go (near the pool with slides shawarma without go! ) And french fries rumors more difficult - is far away: in the farthest corner of the beach, left, if you look at the sea .
But the amazing taste of shawarma (from 11:00 to 13:00) covers all the inconveniences of such a remote location.
But if you do not prefer corals and the great depth of the sea, you can settle here, just below the bar about two small lagoons with a sea depth of one meter. The right lagoon is better, because the entrance to it - on the stone stairs and therefore there is always a lot to swim, including with children.
I prefer the small left lagoon, which is away from the lifeguard under an umbrella in the center of the beach.
And all because, tired of swimming and photographing a coral reef with fish, I can safely, without "musical accompaniment" whistle rescuer swim ashore and indulge in shawarma with beer, and then quietly and quickly return to their corals.
At the same time, I do not violate the environmental legislation of Sinais in the prefecture of Egypt: I do not step on coral, but sail over them like a torpedo. But the rescuer sometimes, if he notices, does not understand this, thinking that I still iron his corals with my big belly and therefore raises such an incredible whistle that all vacationers on the beach frost on the skin passes.
The beach is big and there are enough sunbeds: many free until ten o'clock in the morning.
But after waking up lazy and having breakfast (breakfast at the main restaurant ends at ten o'clock), it is already problematic, especially for a large company.
By the way, on the day of arrival after breakfast, at half past ten, I was lucky and I easily found a deck chair, even by the sea, but in the sun without an umbrella and towel (towels are not on the beach, and in the room at check-in).
only to us, the beachgoers, who receive an extra dose of daylight, but also all the animals in the sea, which I will write a little below when I describe the underwater world of the Red Sea.
Underwater world of the Red Sea
From the first day of my immersion with a mask and snorkel in the sea, it surprised me with its rich diversity, especially corals, and to a lesser extent, fish and other inhabitants. I have not seen this in any of the twelve hotels in Egypt in the last two years.
However, ten years ago, when I first arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Red Sea was much more numerous and diverse: it is sad to note that the ecology of the Red Sea is deteriorating every year and the liveliness of the sea reacts sharply to this deterioration.
Corals
The frontal location of the coral reef directly to the South promotes the most effective perception of coral sunlight.
Several times during the eight days of my vacation I walked along the reef to the right and left of the pontoon and I can say that the reef is amazing in both directions - and this is no exaggeration.
The variety of corals is such that I took pictures of them every 20-50 cm. And although the water temperature was 25? C, I froze so much during my continuous stay in the water that I eventually caught a cold. heating! - contributed to this).
Here, near the reef of the Reef Oasis Hotel, I found several species of coral that were not found on the reefs of other hotels.
Particularly noteworthy was the coral in the form of purple ink, which spreads over the second flat coral and penetrates into it.
I saw here a new species of algae in the form of a thick strand of long brown hair, like a mermaid hiding in corals.
Pisces
In all, I counted more than twenty species of small fish up to twenty centimeters in size - almost everything I encountered in other Sharm el-Sheikh hotels. Unfortunately, these fish, compared to corals, are not as interesting to me as in my first meetings with them.
Swimming pool
Hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 *" has 6 swimming pools, including three outdoor swimming pools with fresh water (1 heated pool in winter), diving pool, water park with 3 water slides, 2 swimming pools for children.
Of particular note is the relaxation pool with a peaceful atmosphere for a relaxing holiday and special service from the staff: very few and mostly foreigners from Western Europe.
I also like the long pool around the main building, below the tier, in front of the main restaurant and other a la carte restaurants of the hotel.
This pool is notable not only for its proximity to the "kitchen" and all the bars in the lounge area, but also for the fact that it has a panoramic view of the sea from a height of twenty meters… Impressive! Especially for selfie lovers.
Much lower, already on the beach on the right on a small rock there are also several pools with panoramic views and a jacuzzi. And there are comfortable new plastic sunbeds and sunshades everywhere.
The hotel has a certified diving center (in the far corner of the hotel, near the entrance gate) with a deep pool only for diving and a spa with jacuzzi, two steam and massage rooms (to the right of the reception).
Guests can keep fit with the gym and tennis court.
Question. Restaurants.
Barry
Restaurants
The hotel Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * has six restaurants: two main with a buffet:
Bay View - main restaurant: breakfast, lunch and dinner;
Sea Breeze - This beachfront restaurant serves breakfast and lunch.
One a la carte restaurant by appointment once during the entire holiday period also with a buffet - Sunset Court - Chinese, Indian and Arabic cuisine.
And three a la carte restaurants that are not part of the Super All inclusive food system
», Ie for an additional fee:
Italian Al Dente;
Fisherman Fish;
French La Romantiquue.
The system "Super All inclusive" operates around the clock, includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, tea and cakes between breakfast, lunch and dinner, local alcoholic and soft drinks; Ice cream is served at Bay View Restaurant for lunch and dinner.
The grill menu is available at the Kababgi Restaurant, located by the infinity pool overlooking the sea.
Tuesday
Breakfast at the Reef Oasis Hotel is organized in two buffet restaurants: at the main Bay View Restaurant from 6:00 and from 7:00 at the Sea Breeze Restaurant and the main course is the same as in all Egyptian hotels.
Even in three-star hotels it is not much different from five-star and fashionable, because I have been to those, and in others, and in the third… I emphasize - the main dishes.
The main dishes include:
- omelet in different variations of filling with vegetables, hard cheese, etc. Everything is prepared in front of your eyes and that's why you order your version, but you should be warned: "Mix" if you want with vegetables.
It is not prepared anywhere in advance, only in some low-class hotels I had to see a bunch of omelets, dumped in a distribution container;
But, given that the food here is Super All inclusive, hard cheeses are natural and high quality, often served processed cheese, as well as a large number of other dishes of beans, mashed potatoes and other hot national dishes, as well as all kinds of yogurt, sour cream, cheese masses, etc. For tea - several types of jam, marmalade and honey.
Breakfast, as in a rare hotel, is very long - four hours from 6:00 to 10:00 (until 9:00 in the main restaurant "Bay View" and until 10:00 in the restaurant above the beach "Sea Breeze"). And if you are hungry after the first breakfast at 6:00, then have breakfast for the second time at 10:00, but do not try hard. and juices at Blue Beach Bar, and from 11:00 a sumptuous lunch at Bay View Main Restaurant or from 12:00 at Sea Breeze Restaurant.
Snacking
Snacks between breakfast and lunch in the form of shawarma, burgers, french fries, cucumber and tomato salads are organized in all crowded bars by the pools and on the beach. This compensates for the relatively light breakfast in the buffet restaurants.
Lunch
Lunch on the "Super All inclusive" food system is also organized on the buffet system in two restaurants: in the main restaurant "Bay View" from 11:00 and in the restaurant "Sea Breeze" from 12:00 and lasts three hours.
There is already a place to indulge the imagination of the chef, especially on second courses, because the menu of first courses in all hotels is very modest: milk soup and vegetable soup. But the second course is changed daily. Meat: beef of various preparations, stewed most often in sauce, stuffed beef, meat rolls; chicken: fried and stuffed. Fish of several species and cooked. But more than that I liked the fish fillet cooked in sour cream sauce.
So soft and tender that it melts in your mouth.
And, most importantly, in sufficient quantities every day. I never denied myself a few pieces of it. It could not get bored. Often, for this fillet, I ordered a few glasses of white wine… By the way, the wine, both white and red, which was poured from large tetrapacks, excellent quality.
It is amazing the art with which these cakes are prepared by a chef and how much work and talent is invested in it. When you look at these works of art, you involuntarily realize that deciding to absorb them means becoming a real barbarian!
You can treat yourself to ice cream every day, but only for lunch - three types: chocolate, strawberry and plain white - ice cream, but I thought it was the most delicious.
Birthday
Birthday on the Red Sea - a great idea! And many time their tours to Egypt to this date.
And no sharp objects: their presence is carefully checked by security at the entrance gate and even on the metal detector frame and X-ray conveyor at the entrance to the main hotel building (in reputable hotels). You leave them your passport, which is returned to you at the end of the visit.
That's right, with security features I was let through, but could be unaccompanied by the security of the hotel or residents of this hotel and without their guarantee not to let into the hotel at all. And they would be right, given the increasing number of terrorist attacks in Egypt.
Existing rules for visiting the hotel allow guests to stay in the lobby area (in the lobby) and beyond.
Since I am writing here about the hotel "Reef Oasis", I can only say that the hotel "Domina", compared to my hotel, from the first to the last step, left a rather gloomy impression.
My mistake was also that I brought photos of the room, the territory of the Reef Oasis Hotel and the underwater world near its shores: corals and colorful fish. It was a difficult test for my "friends-friends" for envy… It's a pity that this, in fact, was a provocation on my birthday…
But this is a topic for a separate story.
Dinner with crabs
Tonight, in addition to the usual dishes, crab delicacies were served, and in large quantities: two large and deep distribution containers with a mountain of decent-sized crabs. In addition, in free access - take as much as the Soul wants! I quickly realized that beer was near the restaurant bar, and that there could be a celebration of body (ie stomach) and soul, so I picked up two large plates of these crabs, hoping that throughout the evening they will be constantly replenished and enough for everyone.
In addition, the standing chef did not express any complaints, but only smiled benevolently at our approving shouts and remarks about this delicacy. Once again, you are convinced that it is nice to deal with a solid hotel and hospitable hosts, without sparing an extra hundred dollars for the tour! It is felt even when you are clearly bent… And not only in this case about crabs…
And here I am at the table: Me, Crabs and Beer - everything else is in deep shadow and out of my attention. Therefore, all other dishes on the table, no matter how delicious they are, I do not describe, but automatically absorb. Slowly, knowingly, I begin to gut (develop) crabs. I want to note that crabs are cooked in a special way: with spices and in their original form, served from the refrigerator and therefore have a special taste appeal.
And that's why I was repeatedly glad that I prudently chose a table near the beer bar when I had to restore, and repeatedly, already two glasses of beer (more than two are not released).
So, at first I had problems with claws: they turned out to be very strong.
To tear off a separate phalanx and try to get out more juicy crab meat than in the belly, but it did not work, so I made Solomon's decision: gnawed each segment in half and from there freely blew a delicious place, again, drinking beer.
It lasted at least a long time. But I lost track of time. But does a happy person count minutes and even times of happiness? . . So little does a person need for happiness: a plate full of mountain (and not one! ) Deliciously brewed crabs and beer… Especially on his birthday…
And until tonight I was amazed by this phenomenon: we were fed so well that if you get enough for a light breakfast of shawarma and no less delicious dishes for lunch (until 15:00), it is not that in two hours you will be hungry, but before you will be full in the morning.
But everything became clear half an hour after the opening of the restaurant, when I approached the distribution of food: everyone was eagerly crowded in the place where ice cream was distributed at lunch. Today there were, as I described above - crabs.
I recklessly wrote that the number of crabs in this delicious dish was quite large.
However, he later became convinced that they should have caught a cold. aphorism a few years ago, and now, on crabs, has been tested - a test of truth.
Looking ahead, the next day before the restaurant opened in the evening, I was twenty minutes late and saw a pyramid of many delicacies on two such racks with glass shelves: on the left - cold snacks, on the right - sweet products and natural juices. And, as is the case with the buffet system, each dish in miniature in the form of a sandwich or in the second version is equipped for ease of use, inserted into them toothpicks.
And one of the glass shelves was already empty ...What was on it?
- I found out right away when one of my colleagues, who was late for the distribution of delicacies, asked the chef standing next to him: “Will there still be sushi? … »I did not ask the question again after seeing the chef's negative shaking of his head with an apologetic look… And who is the doctor late for us? - It's your fault that you overslept! ...
In the next five evenings, I "did not give a damn", and one of the first went to a restaurant and went to the cherished place to see, and most importantly? try gourmet dishes, with such skill and art, prepared by the chefs of the Reef Oasis Hotel. And even on one of the last days of my vacation, when I signed up to visit an a la carte restaurant, I still reserved half an hour the day before to curb my curiosity: what kind of surprise did the chef prepare today?
I took all these delicacies in a photo and posted them on my Facebook page, because I don't even know all the names to describe them here.
But let's go back to our sheep, more precisely, not to the sheep themselves, but to the sheep's ribs. The traditional place of serving an evening delicacy (remember, it's behind the counter opposite the soups) is always decorated, as for the New Year: on a huge plate laid out a mountain of lamb ribs in a bright, fire-colored, pink backlight.
The spectacle is pleasant and adds a special chic to the everyday monotony of the dishes!
A solid cook with the same, no less solid, appearance takes another piece of ribs from the vat and with knowledge, knows how to start cutting and, smiling, with a wish of good appetite, puts them on your plate… Just to see the whole process, the cook's smile and I wish you a good appetite, I want to take turns twice more! Here is the service!
On the contrary, where hot dishes are laid out, on a large sheet of hot iron, the chef will fry lamb sausages with you - lyulya-kebab and put them in a distribution container…
Today there are many lamb dishes, probably the hotel bought a whole bunch of sheep (I know, wholesale - cheaper) to saturate the delicacies of almost one and a half thousand guests.
Returning to the pyramid with glass shelves (just diagonally from the chef with lamb ribs), which outlines all sorts of delicacies, which I wrote about above, I thought, why not give such beauty and delicacy. same bright backlight! I do not know how in the Qur'an, but in our Bible on this occasion it is said: And a lighted candle is placed on the table, not hidden under the table.
Al Carte Restaurant Sunset Court
The system of a la carte restaurants is introduced in any hotel in Egypt with the main purpose - to meet the needs of vacationers with money in increased service, quality and range of dishes, compared to conventional restaurants "buffets". And also in order to further replenish the hotel budget, as a la carte restaurants are mostly for an additional fee.
For the rest of the mass of guests in most 5 * hotels and some 4 * introduce one-time study visits to one of these restaurants and less often - each, except fish - this is to show vacationers what and how we can. for advertising purposes and to make guests want to strive for it.
Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel 5 * is no exception, but there are some features.
First of all, it's the excitement of pre-booking a restaurant.
You will approach the beginning of the recording, which is at 14:00, you will see a crowd of at least a hundred people and receive an offer to visit this restaurant half an hour before closing… And who needs it? And will there remain the delicacies that were originally? - I doubt it! . . Nevertheless, I got to this "excited" restaurant for the third time at the end of my race and at the coolest time - at 18:00, although I did not get to the police, but this is the subject of a special story…
Why did I want to go to the restaurant so much?
So because every day, walking from my second building to the beach and always past this restaurant (and there is simply no other way), I always saw VIP clients, even at lunch, freely visit it, feasting there, as I thought, delicious. dishes ...Maybe it's ordinary human curiosity, multiplied by envy? ..
So, in the end, I got into it and here is my opinion about this restaurant.
Quite an ordinary small (for 30 tables) buffet type restaurant (which is unusual for a la carte restaurants). There are not many people in connection with the Guest Relations filter with the list of those who signed up at the entrance: it does not allow outsiders! The difference between the crowded crowd, which sometimes tries to get in line without a queue for a particularly tasty dish, and the very anticipation of the queue - the main difference between an a la carte restaurant and the usual.
And another "exclusive" soup similar to Indonesian products (that evening was dedicated to Indonesian cuisine, and there are Chinese, Indian and Arabic cuisines, but I did not go to them - I cherish my time and nerves). There were no particularly impressive other dishes.
At the main restaurant "Bay View", half an hour before, I visited the "exclusivity" much more. then in hieroglyphic inscriptions ...
Mass vacationers, who feel the desire to "freebie" in unlimited quantities to indulge in sushi and other delicacies, there is nothing to do: his agility will bring down the menu with prices, and you can look at them for free - through the glass: they are locked.
This restaurant mostly serves customers for a fee and that's why I, as a visitor with an introductory mission, felt some coolness in the service. Even the two glasses of white wine I ordered at the end were somehow sold as one, but red.
And I compare all this with the service and dishes in a la carte restaurants of other hotels (Sunerise Diamond Resort 5 *, Sunerise Arabian Beach Resort 5 *, Royal Grand Sharm5 *, and even Sea Gull Beach Resort & Club "4 * (Hurghada) Where I, bearded and overgrown, almost marginal, although outwardly (but not on offshore accounts) and similar to Kolomoisky (see photo), was received and served as a prince of royal blood (maybe wrong? )) ...
Barry
The Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * has an unusually large number of bars, at almost every turn, officially nine of them, except for the bars in each restaurant. For the first time, I was even confused by their names and locations. But the plan-scheme of the hotel helped, which I prepared in advance from home, copied from the Internet, and you can't look at the huge electronic card in the lobby every time and can't put it in your pocket.
The following four bars are the most popular among vacationers:
The Pub: The bar is open 24 hours a day (sandwiches, burgers, french fries, salads, soft drinks and local alcohol free of charge, imported alcoholic beverages - paid).
Caribbean Bar: 24, snacks, burgers are prepared from 17:00.2:00, from 23:00 to 2:00 there is a disco.
Useful to know! Only in these two bars you can order juice from packages. I preferred to drink Ouzo and a hot burger with french fries in these mango juice bars.
Blue Beach Bar: from 10:00 to 16:00, snacks, burgers, shawarma from 10:00 to 13:00.
This beach bar is one of the most popular among vacationers, especially for its location and the dishes prepared here. Some do not even go to a restaurant for lunch, but are satisfied with these dishes. I was most impressed by the hot shawarma and chicken meat, juicy and tasty in pita (drink). And with cold beer! What could be more enjoyable on a hot afternoon beach?
But beer is the strongest alcoholic beverage at the beach bar.
And in the Caribbean Bar there are also concerts of live music, in particular I was lucky enough to listen to a concert of a violinist on an electronic violin.
Less popular, but also visited bars, including paid:
Oriental cafe: This tea is offered from 17:00 to 00:00. Hookah (paid).
Relax Pool Bar (only for adults, children under 16 are not allowed): continental breakfast (hot and cold drinks), snacks from 11:00 to 15:00, cakes from 15:00 to 17:00.
Leisure Pool Bar: open from 10:00 to 17:00, offering light snacks and drinks.
Horizon Bar: opening hours from 10:00 to 18:00, from 11:00 to 17:00 snacks are offered (pizza, panini).
Lobby Piano Lounge (fee): lobby bar, opening hours from 15:00 to 00:00, imported alcoholic beverages and cigars, live music (piano).
Panorama Terrace: open terrace with panoramic sea views, open from 17:00 to 02:00; Light snacks and local drinks are available.
Energy Bar: (paid): vitamin bar in the spa, opening hours from 10:00 to 20:00, fresh fruit and vegetable juices and energy drinks.
In general, I would like to note that for the Russian-speaking public, especially young people from the post-Soviet republics, the Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * is an earthly paradise and a better place to find. More expensive luxury hotels, where I visited, not everyone can afford and there are our compatriots - units; the language at all events and shows is mostly Arabic. Cheaper, even the five-star category - can not provide the range of services and entertainment that can be "distracted" (just not enough money that can be deducted from the price of the tour).
Morning prayer: Arabs and us
4:30.
Through the closed balcony window, covered with thick curtains, suddenly voices were heard, as if one of the vacationers, and not one, decided to give a voice in the middle of the night ...But then in these voices my ear caught some Arabic motif. And, orienting myself in the time that it is no longer night, but early in the morning, I guessed that the voice of a mullah was sounding, calling Muslims to the morning prayer.
And polyphony arose in connection with the laws of physics: the mullah's voice from different sources reaches my ear at different times. And the closest, it seemed to me, from the hotel "Charaton". At the same time, I was so ashamed of my blasphemous thoughts that I could not distinguish the voice of our company, often "cheerful".
But when I was moved by the mullah's voice, despite the fact that our religions are different from those of Muslims, but God is one, I was deeply moved by the religious beliefs of the Arabs, who are steadily advancing the millennial traditions of their people. time, at the beginning of their daily activities. With such daily desire, so little chance remains of the devil's temptations against one's neighbor and against the piety of the world in general.
And I involuntarily compared our "status quo" in this regard.
We, in our mass, only in pre-revolutionary (royal) times, and not every day, as Muslims, but only on Sunday communicated with God through a priest. And now it is rare - only on major church holidays - Holy Sunday, Christmas, Trinity and a few more. And only ...
There are also compliments on the wedding anniversary, the newlyweds and regular guests.
The Red Sea, like a gracious drug, has incredible gravity, once you taste its delights, you become a slave for life to the extraordinary beauty of its underwater world, the healing properties of water, amazing landscape design and architectural forms of coastal hotels.
So I, who first visited the Red Sea ten years ago, remained faithful to him and in the last two years visited twelve hotels on its shores. And, more importantly, every time I enter this world of unearthly joy not only for the body but also for the Soul, I feel an extraordinary elevation of creative inspiration, which uncontrollably, as from the Horn of Plenty, is thrown out of nowhere and becomes real. the pictures in my essays are a reflection of the feelings I feel on the Red Sea.
Almost in its original form, illustrating dozens and hundreds of photos, I transferred them to my Facebook page and recalled the idea in Top hotels.
And when a sufficient number is selected, I publish a book… This is how my first book “Red Sea: A Corner of Earthly Paradise. Travel notes from Egypt. - Kyiv: Publishing House "SIM & HAM", - 2017. - 535p. , Ill. ISBN 966-8802-17-9 in twelve hotels in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada: "Savoy" 5 *, "Grand Rotana Resort & Spa" 5 *, "Sunerise Arabian Beach Resort" 5 *, "Sunerise Diamond Resort" 5 *, Royal Grand Sharm5 *, Grand Oasis by Look Hotels 4 *, Le Mirage New Tower 4 *, Poinciana Sharm Resort 4 * (Sharm El Sheikh); Sea Gull Beach Resort & Club 4 *, Mirage New Hawaii 4 *, Sand Beach Hotel 3 *, El Samaka Beach 3 * (Hurghada),
And here is my new hotel Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 *, Sharm el-Sheikh launches a new book!
Afterwards, a dozen more hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada will succinctly fit into the format of the forthcoming book to delight the reader with their candid impressions of the miracle of the Red Darkness and unforgettable charms of original architectural forms, garden design and oriental hospitality.
"REEF OASIS BLUE BAY" 5 * Sharm El Sheikh
HOTEL WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS ON THE RED SEA
Location «Reef Oasis Blue Bay» 5 *
Hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay" 5 * belongs to the group of hotels "Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts": "Reef Oasis Beach Resort 5 *", "Reef Oasis Royal Majestic Resort 5 *" Reef Oasis Suakin Resort 5 *, Sentido Reef Oasis Senses Resort 5 * (all hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh).
Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * is located in a resort in El Basha Bay (Gardens Bay), directly on the Red Sea, 5 km from Naama Bay and 11 km from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport. The hotel is within easy reach of St. Catherine’s Monastery, the Colorful Canyon, Mount Sinai and Pharaoh’s Island.
On the left is the Sheraton Sharm Hotel & Villas 5 *, on the right is the Sharm Plaza 4 * & Sharm Resort 5 *.
The hotel area is 22.000 square meters. m. (22ha).
The hotel was built in 2007. The area and the surrounding area are ideal for a variety of activities, including diving and snorkelling. An ideal place for both families and young people.
The hotel has Russian-speaking staff.
On the eve of departure. "Addict"
Late evening.
Seven hours left before the meeting with Egypt.
And I feel some excitement like before dating my girlfriend. But, of course, this is a feeling of a completely different order, more spiritual than physical.
I am less in anticipation of comfortable conditions for my perishable body (although I know in advance from advertising and reviews that this five-star hotel, but the rating is one of the best in Sharm el-Sheikh), but my second spiritual essence the thrill of the upcoming holidays of life for my creative Soul! But, as I noticed from my previous visits to hotels in Egypt, these two criteria are usually paired and depend, of course, on the amount you pay for the tour. And so I refused the offer of my friends to celebrate my birthday (November 21) at the hotel "Domina" 5 *, which in some positions caused me doubts, although it was much cheaper. And my friends were tempted ...But about this in the course of the story ...
These seven hours in ordinary life are so fleeting, there were so many of them and they have left almost no trace in my life, that they quietly disappeared and from today's standpoint they seem to me in an instant.
And now the next seven hours seem to me an infinity of anticipation, already knowing, unusual in my daily, bustling life. Although for a short time - only eight days. And that's why I feel every second of these seven hours with my whole physical being and, moreover, I even feel some pleasure from every second that comes right away - milestones on my way to the goal. After all, not hours and minutes, but seconds in time with the beats of my heart bring me closer to the meeting with Egypt and the Red Sea!
Egypt, the Red Sea, luxury hotels on the first shore line have already become a vital need for me ...Because I have developed a spiritual and physical need to "inject" another "dose" of the Red Sea! And I spend the last free money (and a lot) on the next "dose" (
23:30. One and a half hours left before check-in. I'm in the subway. An electric train approached.
And the pace of approaching the Red Sea has increased many times - to a speed of hundreds of kilometers per hour. But what is it?
- A trifle, compared to the future speed of the airliner at a thousand kilometers per hour, when I get on the plane in three and a half hours and he, incredibly accelerating his desire for the African continent, roars like a beast, pushes me into a chair and all his. multi-ton carcass moves into the pre-dawn sky.
Then, after overcoming an uncomfortable and dangerous twenty minutes, he will hum evenly and monotonously for three hours in a seemingly almost motionless state - until the next twenty minutes, but landing at Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
Flight. Airport.
Arrival at the hotel. Lobby. Reception
Three hours with little - for a flight from Europe to Africa - is a trifle, compared to the qualitative changes that these three hours make in our lives.
Only a little anxiety during takeoff and landing, as well as on air ducks - turbulence. And only.
But what immeasurable happiness you experience when your foot steps on Egyptian soil, leaving the airport! And a joyful anticipation of the heavenly life of body and soul - and it's only for a few hundred dollars! ..
Our hotel "Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts" is located in close proximity to the airport and so after a while after landing, passport and customs formalities and after arrival in other, closer to the airport hotel and unloading guests, our bus is already entering the main gate. . Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts hotels. We drove almost the entire hotel, approaching the main building from the reception. The original feature of this hotel is that the main building is located deep in the hotel, almost by the sea, and not immediately at the entrance, as in other hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh.
And this is due to the peculiarity of the rocky shore, which was not developed by bulldozers, arranging multi-level terraces, as in other hotels, but left almost in its original form. And here are the beach cliffs rise to the height of a sixteen-story building! And then there is the flat part of the hotel, eight hundred meters.
And we drove those eight hundred meters by transfer bus. And at the same time admired the beautiful and well-groomed area and at the very end, before the reception (reception) - a cactus grove. This was our first tour of the hotel. But this contemplation took place in passing, and our mood was in the second perspective: to achieve the main goal as soon as possible - the reception service and to settle down. And we will get acquainted with the territory of the hotel a little later in a detailed and thorough way.
Suitcases and bags were unloaded from the bus and dumped in a pile under a canopy near the entrance to the main building (a judge at an empty stand at the end of this open space used to have a bar). You don't have to worry about saving things - several people are watching him at once: here are the security guards at the entrance to the carrier (he is also the driver of the car).
This is the case in all hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh. However, it is better to keep your passport and money with you at all times, even when you move them to the safe. And all of us (and we are twenty people) easily go to the reception service at the settlement.
We are greeted with smiles by the receptionist, including three (! ) Russian-speaking girls Guest Relations. We hand over passports with vouchers, fill out questionnaires. Everyone is given wet cool towels, rolled into a roll - nicely refreshing face off the road.
For some reason, there are no soft drinks now.
But everyone immediately hangs bracelets and we go for breakfast to the main restaurant "Bay View". This is a pleasant surprise, because it is the courtesy of the hotel and according to the rules no breakfasts, snacks, drinks, beer, etc. until 14:00 (time of official check-in) does not belong. We are promised to be accommodated in the rooms as soon as possible: as soon as the rooms are vacated and they will be cleaned.
It is impossible to check in immediately, because with a 90% occupancy of the hotel and the set time of check-out at 12:00 it is almost impossible. And so, almost all of us, after breakfast, disguised in beach ensembles, go to sea: sunbathe and swim: why waste such precious morning time?
A few words about the lobby. He is grand!
All in mirror-shiny marble with a high dome-ceiling, and in the center - a fountain with a pool of bright blue water from the color of the lights and tiles laid on the bottom and walls of the pool.
And in the center of the pool - a marble rack with a huge glass vase, which, taking into account all the requirements of ikebana exhibited amazing beauty and size of fresh flowers.
If the theater begins with the cloakroom, the hotel begins with the lobby and, of course, with the receptionist.
The first impression of the hotel "Reef Oasis Hotels & Resorts" meets all our expectations: a cozy, comfortable hotel with hospitable hosts. So, the next 7-14 days of rest (and no longer worth taking, primarily because of the need to pay a visa of $ 25), will be a glory!
The only thing that confuses this settlement after 14 hours at an early arrival. But confuses and inconveniences only beginners who are for the first time in a foreign resort.
As well as spoiled by winter visits to hotels in Egypt, when, due to the tourist crisis, hotels are half empty and it is possible to check in such hotels earlier than usual and even in a superior room, compared to those in the voucher. Some hotels even mention this as an additional benefit in their online advertising. But now, with a 90% occupancy rate, this is not to be expected.
I'm just wondering how the cleaning staff manage to get in the rooms before 14:00, that is, two hours after the mass eviction at 12:00 due to departure?
And sometimes it happens that a person by nature always unreasonably wants to get much more than what he paid. My uncle, one of the newcomers of solid size, was indignant: how could he (naturally with his wife / mistress, I think, no less solid in size) fit into the 12-meter Economy Room (Promo room) category?
But who are you, uncle, doctor? “Did your eyes see what you were taking? . .
"(I mean I will not give up my heart ... )
In the lobby, in addition to the 24-hour check-in / check-out desk, there is also luggage storage, tour desk, currency exchange, a table of Russian-language goods, which can be contacted at any time and solve problems. Guest Relations also book an all-inclusive all-inclusive restaurant (free of charge).
Registration is held on the day of visiting the restaurant from 14:00 to 17:30 to 19:30 (the restaurant is open until 20:00). I would advise you to come earlier and take the turn, because I know from my bitter experience that half an hour after the start of the recording is the most inconvenient time to visit the restaurant - before it closes. And in time, coming first and taking the turn, as I did, is not a guarantee that you will be first on the lists: you will already have a dozen "privileged" guests.
I am not a scandalous person by nature, but defending my rights on the first ("first wedding night") with an attempt to photograph the process, led to house arrest and a call to the police…
There are also several tables in the lobby for tour operators, including sightseeing tours (but actually shopping) and a concierge who registers for SOHO Square (morning to day) and order a taxi.
I was surprised by the monopoly right of the tour operator's representatives, in particular, "Josn up", to excursion service of hotel guests: there is almost a queue and only the rustle of "green" banknotes. And all because there is a golden bottom for the representative of the tour operator in this regard, because the hotel "Reef Oasis" is far from "civilization" and nearby, within five kilometers, there are no competitors and not only for tour services but also for souvenirs . vegetables / fruits and more.
And soon I was surrounded by a delegation of hotel officials with claims of unauthorized trade, with an invitation to go to the senior administrator of the hotel. I quickly realized that the fines, already real, and not like yesterday, fake, handed me over to the police for violating Egyptian law. I quickly packed the books and asked, “Are there any more problems?
"Judging by the insistence of local" law enforcement officers "to go with them to the reception, not for a reward for advertising Egyptian hotels among my compatriots (by the way, we must pay tribute to the Ukrainians - they stood behind me! "
), and for flogging with fines, I told the "guards" that my day costs $ 80 and no desire to spend them on trifles, offered the "chief" himself to come here, and he took a camera, mask with a tube and went to the reef. shooting corals for your upcoming book.
Here, in the lobby there is an electronic map of the hotel, where you can use the cursor to find out the most extensive information about any object of the hotel infrastructure. It was interesting for me to learn about the location of my room and everything around: swimming pools, recreation areas, the nearest stop of the local bus "Taf-taf", and, of course, all the restaurants and bars. offer.
This visual perception of the hotel is a significant addition to the information provided at the reception to each guest at check-in.
By 14:00 we were all accommodated in rooms and we began a quiet life, making the most of all the opportunities provided by the hotel. And for such opportunities a lot. (I was resettled except me. I waited until eight o'clock in the evening to receive, as I wrote in a letter a week before the arrival of the sea: Corner of Earthly Paradise-2. Edition cost me $ 1.000) I donated to the hotel library read it.
spirituality and creativity are not very valued now…
Hotel area
How does Egypt attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world?
Service and luxury of hotels? Excellent food and gourmet food? - Of course not!
Because all these criteria are inherent only in individual, tens (out of thousands) hotels of the highest category, which on these indicators can compete with the best hotels in Europe and America. And most of the other hotels, I would call "folk" - for holidaymakers of medium material security. And the average price of tours in a hotel in Egypt in the season - no more than $ 1.000 for two for seven nights.
The main wealth that attracts thousands of tourists around the world, and what Egypt has, is a natural gift - the Red Sea, with its unique coral reefs and colorful "aquarium" fish in the natural environment.
Therefore, it would be logical for each hotel to show its guests the Red Sea in all its best angles and the greatest possible point of view.
And the talent of the designer of the hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay" has reached the highest level of skill in this regard: from almost anywhere in the lounge area of the hotel offers a magnificent view of the sea from a height of twenty meters.
On the first day of arrival at the hotel, I had a few free hours before check-in and decided to spend this time exploring the hotel in the lounge area and saw this miracle. For example, I was pleasantly shocked to see this as I stepped out of the lobby of the main building, walked along a long marble fountain, and found myself near a glass fence between The Pub and Caribbean Bar.
In front of me was a magical view of the Red Sea, like fairy tales and mythological stories of the Hanging Gardens of the Semiramis of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II - so I was introduced to the hotel "Reef Oasis", which opened a magical view of the Red Sea.
By the way, this outdoor area between two bars, with exposed tables and chairs, is very cozy and always filled with vacationers who spend time chatting over a cup of coffee or a glass of cocktail prepared right there in one of the bars. And, thanks to a low glass fence at the edge of the site above the cliff, a panoramic view of the sea opens from anywhere on this site.
But an even more chic view of the Red Sea can be seen from The Pub, if you take one of the tables by the wide window to the floor.
Imagine: the dimness of an elegantly furnished mahogany bar and the bright blue-turquoise color of the Red Sea water in front of you. This is exactly the impression of a hanging bar, high above the sea.
Then you go down the concrete stairs below, three meters, to a wide area, where almost all the restaurants and bars are located in the lounge area of the hotel and a long, winding snake around the main building, the pool. From here, from anywhere: from the sun lounger by the pool, at the edge of the pool in front of the cliff, from the windows of the main restaurant "Bay View", and especially from its outdoor terrace with tables, as well as from any other restaurant or bar kind of Red. sea. I was especially impressed by the view of the sea from the edge of the pool near the cliff.
It seems that this pool hung in the air, and you fly over the sea at a height of twenty meters… And these impressions are breathtaking, the soul is filled with joy and bliss, and the mind of a mortal body begins to protest that there are no miracles in our world! In fact, our world does not love miracles and destroys them in its infancy, even before the birth of God!
Going down the elevator a little lower, in the Sea Breeze restaurant, which is at a height of about ten meters above the beach, in front of you again, from any table offers a panoramic view of the Red Sea. And the semicircular shape of the restaurant enhances this effect. For the sake of such views at sea, I often had breakfast and lunch at this restaurant. It is also freely available through the All Inclusive Power System.
A few days later (or rather, on the fourth day of my vacation), I opened a new hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay" - its flat part! I walked all over the plain of the hotel, of course with a photo camera.
I reviewed all the buildings, from the first to the most distant - the seventh. I expected, as in my previous visits to hotels, that these buildings would be run and messy. But he was pleasantly impressed by the perfect cleanliness and well-groomed not only inside the building, but also the surrounding area.
Inside many buildings there are even courtyards with tropical plants such as a winter garden. All this, as well as the comfort and perfect cleanliness of the renovated rooms (I had the honor to live in one of them), eliminates some inconvenience due to the distance from the sea. And everyone was satisfied, especially those who live in the sixth building overlooking the pool with water park.
I confess, what a sin to hide, before leaving for Egypt, studying the plan of the hotel, I carelessly called it a hotel with sleeping areas on the second shoreline.
And when he saw for himself the saturation of this part of the hotel with various recreational facilities: swimming pools, fountains, streams with waterfalls and wooden bridges with the same cozy gazebos on their shores, as well as numerous bars separated by stone gazebos in the east style with soft sofas. inner contemplation and meditation, I really fell in love with this hotel.
This is where my new opening of the Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel took place!
Just imagine, on 22 thousand square meters of the hotel - no free square meters that "walks": everything is filled with maximum rationality and expediency, and each such square meter is under constant supervision of numerous gardeners and other workers.
The main objects of relatively quiet recreation on this flat part are located along the entire length between the second and third buildings.
It begins with a wide beam, and in it - shops made in a single architectural style with a predominance of wooden structures the color of moron oak and under their color - black copper lamps. Next - a bar for lovers of hookah and aromatic tea "Oriental caf? "(By the way, works until midnight). This bar is located in a cave - under a wide bridge that connects the second and third buildings. Soft niches with pillows and tables are arranged in niches, as in caves. Each such small room is fenced off from the rest by latticed wooden structures and creates a cozy individual climate - all in oriental style!
I often went to this cozy cafe to drink tea (I do not indulge in hookah), although of the fragrant aromatic teas here were only black and green, which was served by the owner of this cafe Mustafa in original glass cups and no less original saucers.
Then, behind the hookah is the Arena for evening shows and animation with the bar bar, followed by a waterfall and streams with wooden gazebos. It was these streams and waterfalls and wooden gazebos that radically changed my perception of the Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel. I walked on wooden bridges, watched and listened to the gurgling streams of water, enjoyed the views of natural nature, sat in wooden gazebos on the banks of streams and could not break away from this magic. This naturalness of Nature is so necessary to us, the urbanized inhabitants of megacities, and to which we subconsciously strive, as to our native element.
I have discovered a new world in this small part of the Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel! And all because I am by nature a pagan and madly love Nature! ..
Even greater opportunities for relaxation can be found throughout the third and fourth buildings: first there is a cactus botanical garden, followed by the largest swimming pool at the Relaks Hotel with its impressive grand colonnades at the entrance and exit. Here is the Relaks Pool Bar. Only a small number of hotel guests, mostly foreigners from Western Europe, stay in the Relaks area. Ours prefer active recreation on the beach by the sea.
In general, the hotel consists of the main building (reception, restaurants, bars, SPA center, swimming pool - a lounge area) and a complex of two-storey residential buildings (seven of them). Due to the large length of residential buildings, the hotel, with a frequency of 10-15 minutes, runs the shuttle bus.
The length of its path in a circle - 1300m.
The length of the hotel from the main building (Lobby) to the main gate - 600m.
Evening on the beach
Beach workers are tidying up: removing rubbish and plates with glasses - the remnants of luxury in the afternoon and lunch of those who, without departing from the fertile Red Sea, preferred to do this procedure here; they drag the deckchairs and carefully place them in a row under umbrellas - they prepare places for rest the next day. You are not touched wherever you are with your deck chair: they respect your right to rest and you as a source of your well-being.
According to the "statute", which governs all the beaches of Egypt, they are closed at night to protect tourists from the temptation of night swimming in the Red Sea, where with the onset of darkness, night fear of various predators, not only for health but also for human life. .
Numbers
The room has large wooden beds, bedside tables, floor lamps, sofa with armchair and coffee table with glass top, on the balcony (or terrace) - also comfortable chairs and coffee table ...
And a pleasant coolness, which is provided by a silent air conditioner.
The room has a telephone, LCD TV with a meter diagonal screen, satellite or cable TV (four Russian: "1st Russian", "Russia-24", "RTR-Planet", and one Ukrainian: "1 + 1" - channels: №69-73)
Especially impressive is the large bathroom with shower (as in my room), washbasin with mirrors, hair dryer, set, soap, updated daily, shampoo, gel and body lotion. Next to the toilet with toilet and bidet. There are two sets of towels: a large bath and a medium for the face, one - on the floor in front of the shower. Above the large washbasin mirror are lamps.
The common luminaire under the ceiling is switched on together with the exhaust fan.
The rooms have high ceilings, especially in the rooms on the second floor - cone-shaped - repeats the shape of the roof.
Additional services: fruit on arrival, oriental sweets, 1 voucher for 10 euros per room during the stay for use in restaurants.
Superior room 238 rooms: one-room room, area 35 sq. m. m, 233 rooms with balcony or terrace (table, 2 chairs), 5 rooms without balcony / terrace. Garden / hotel view. The room has one double bed or two single beds, central air conditioning with individual control, safe, mini-bar, telephone (fee), TV, tea accessories (kettle, tea, coffee), floor - tile. The bathroom has a shower with flexible shower, hairdryer, bath accessories. Maximum placement 2 + 1.
The interior is the same as in a standard room, differences: Superior rooms are larger and are located in all buildings except the 5th.
Standard Room
Rooms are located in 5000 buildings. Room area 30 sq. m. Number of rooms - 100. (Everything else - the same as in Superior rooms).
Preferred Room
Rooms are only in the 7000 building. View of the hotel or courtyard. Only king size bed.
Extra space is not allowed. TV (LCD) has Russian-language channels; mini-bar (not filled), replenishment on request for a fee; tea / coffee corner - top up for free.
Room area - 27-30 square meters. m.
Number of rooms - 46.
Economy Room (Promo room): 16 rooms, 12 square meters. m, a small window, balcony - no. The bathroom has a shower, hairdryer. The room has one double bed, TV, safe, minibar, telephone (extra charge), air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities. Maximum occupancy is 2 guests. Rooms are located from the sea.
And only 26 rooms with sea views:
Sea View: area of .30 - 45 square meters.
m, sea view. Maximum placement 2 + 1. One double bed or two single beds. Bath. Balcony or terrace. Interior as in a standard room. Mini-bar. There are tea accessories. Bath accessories, bathrobes, sneakers.
By the way, about sneakers. The floor in the rooms is concrete - very cold, so if your room category does not include sneakers, it is better to bring them with you: health will only be stronger!
The hotel has a total of 698 rooms, including the following types: Preferred Room, Standard Room, Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Executive Room, Family Room, Honeymoon Suite, Executive Suite, Promo Room.
Sea. Beach
Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * has its own beach about 600 m long with a small plastic pontoon 30 m long. On a short coral shoal there are three small lagoons. The entrance to the sea is a coral shoal, so special shoes are recommended.
For easy access to the beach there is an elevator that takes you from the main building and from all inside and around the infrastructure (restaurants, bars, swimming pools, etc. ).
n. ) can be easily and in seconds to get to the sea. There is a serpentine road (to the right of the elevator), but no one uses it, because the four elevator car is quite spacious, new and comfortable, with air conditioning, which is important in the heat, will deliver to the beach any number of vacationers.
The beach at the hotel "Reef Oasis" is located so that the sun from the first seconds of sunrise to the last at sunset, belongs entirely to this beach and all vacationers.
This is a great advantage of the Reef Oasis Hotel. After all, most people come here by sea and the sun, and the extra ten or twenty minutes of a sunny day will not disturb anyone, then pray in the autumn-winter period.
And that's why every vacationer on the beach of the hotel can feel how the Sun, stretching out his hands-rays, as if to say: "I am completely yours and ready to endow you with its light and warmth! . . And so it serves throughout the day.
And in the evening he ends his glorious journey through the mountains of Sinai with the realization of his duty.
Every morning, waking up at dawn, and here, in November, the sun rises from the horizon at about six, I take a beach towel (in a special bag), mask, snorkel and hurry to the beach - take the coolest place - Closer to the pontoon and on the first line of umbrellas from the sea.
This is my main principle of recreation on the beach - as close as possible to the sea, to the corals (and only from the pontoon) and near the beach bar with a restaurant (the latter - for obvious reasons - so that beer is always at hand and a snack).
However, with proximity to the sea - no problem, but the bar with beer, the most delicious shawarma to go (near the pool with slides shawarma without go! ) And french fries rumors more difficult - is far away: in the farthest corner of the beach, left, if you look at the sea .
But the amazing taste of shawarma (from 11:00 to 13:00) covers all the inconveniences of such a remote location.
But if you do not prefer corals and the great depth of the sea, you can settle here, just below the bar about two small lagoons with a sea depth of one meter. The right lagoon is better, because the entrance to it - on the stone stairs and therefore there is always a lot to swim, including with children.
I prefer the small left lagoon, which is away from the lifeguard under an umbrella in the center of the beach.
And all because, tired of swimming and photographing a coral reef with fish, I can safely, without "musical accompaniment" whistle rescuer swim ashore and indulge in shawarma with beer, and then quietly and quickly return to their corals.
At the same time, I do not violate the environmental legislation of Sinais in the prefecture of Egypt: I do not step on coral, but sail over them like a torpedo. But the rescuer sometimes, if he notices, does not understand this, thinking that I still iron his corals with my big belly and therefore raises such an incredible whistle that all vacationers on the beach frost on the skin passes.
The beach is big and there are enough sunbeds: many free until ten o'clock in the morning.
But after waking up lazy and having breakfast (breakfast at the main restaurant ends at ten o'clock), it is already problematic, especially for a large company.
By the way, on the day of arrival after breakfast, at half past ten, I was lucky and I easily found a deck chair, even by the sea, but in the sun without an umbrella and towel (towels are not on the beach, and in the room at check-in).
only to us, the beachgoers, who receive an extra dose of daylight, but also all the animals in the sea, which I will write a little below when I describe the underwater world of the Red Sea.
Underwater world of the Red Sea
From the first day of my immersion with a mask and snorkel in the sea, it surprised me with its rich diversity, especially corals, and to a lesser extent, fish and other inhabitants. I have not seen this in any of the twelve hotels in Egypt in the last two years.
However, ten years ago, when I first arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Red Sea was much more numerous and diverse: it is sad to note that the ecology of the Red Sea is deteriorating every year and the liveliness of the sea reacts sharply to this deterioration.
Corals
The frontal location of the coral reef directly to the South promotes the most effective perception of coral sunlight.
Several times during the eight days of my vacation I walked along the reef to the right and left of the pontoon and I can say that the reef is amazing in both directions - and this is no exaggeration.
The variety of corals is such that I took pictures of them every 20-50 cm. And although the water temperature was 25? C, I froze so much during my continuous stay in the water that I eventually caught a cold. heating! - contributed to this).
Here, near the reef of the Reef Oasis Hotel, I found several species of coral that were not found on the reefs of other hotels.
Particularly noteworthy was the coral in the form of purple ink, which spreads over the second flat coral and penetrates into it.
I saw here a new species of algae in the form of a thick strand of long brown hair, like a mermaid hiding in corals.
Pisces
In all, I counted more than twenty species of small fish up to twenty centimeters in size - almost everything I encountered in other Sharm el-Sheikh hotels. Unfortunately, these fish, compared to corals, are not as interesting to me as in my first meetings with them.
Swimming pool
Hotel "Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 *" has 6 swimming pools, including three outdoor swimming pools with fresh water (1 heated pool in winter), diving pool, water park with 3 water slides, 2 swimming pools for children.
Of particular note is the relaxation pool with a peaceful atmosphere for a relaxing holiday and special service from the staff: very few and mostly foreigners from Western Europe.
I also like the long pool around the main building, below the tier, in front of the main restaurant and other a la carte restaurants of the hotel.
This pool is notable not only for its proximity to the "kitchen" and all the bars in the lounge area, but also for the fact that it has a panoramic view of the sea from a height of twenty meters… Impressive! Especially for selfie lovers.
Much lower, already on the beach on the right on a small rock there are also several pools with panoramic views and a jacuzzi. And there are comfortable new plastic sunbeds and sunshades everywhere.
The hotel has a certified diving center (in the far corner of the hotel, near the entrance gate) with a deep pool only for diving and a spa with jacuzzi, two steam and massage rooms (to the right of the reception).
Guests can keep fit with the gym and tennis court.
Question. Restaurants.
Barry
Restaurants
The hotel Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * has six restaurants: two main with a buffet:
Bay View - main restaurant: breakfast, lunch and dinner;
Sea Breeze - This beachfront restaurant serves breakfast and lunch.
One a la carte restaurant by appointment once during the entire holiday period also with a buffet - Sunset Court - Chinese, Indian and Arabic cuisine.
And three a la carte restaurants that are not part of the Super All inclusive food system
», Ie for an additional fee:
Italian Al Dente;
Fisherman Fish;
French La Romantiquue.
The system "Super All inclusive" operates around the clock, includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, tea and cakes between breakfast, lunch and dinner, local alcoholic and soft drinks; Ice cream is served at Bay View Restaurant for lunch and dinner.
The grill menu is available at the Kababgi Restaurant, located by the infinity pool overlooking the sea.
Tuesday
Breakfast at the Reef Oasis Hotel is organized in two buffet restaurants: at the main Bay View Restaurant from 6:00 and from 7:00 at the Sea Breeze Restaurant and the main course is the same as in all Egyptian hotels.
Even in three-star hotels it is not much different from five-star and fashionable, because I have been to those, and in others, and in the third… I emphasize - the main dishes.
The main dishes include:
- omelet in different variations of filling with vegetables, hard cheese, etc. Everything is prepared in front of your eyes and that's why you order your version, but you should be warned: "Mix" if you want with vegetables.
It is not prepared anywhere in advance, only in some low-class hotels I had to see a bunch of omelets, dumped in a distribution container;
But, given that the food here is Super All inclusive, hard cheeses are natural and high quality, often served processed cheese, as well as a large number of other dishes of beans, mashed potatoes and other hot national dishes, as well as all kinds of yogurt, sour cream, cheese masses, etc. For tea - several types of jam, marmalade and honey.
Breakfast, as in a rare hotel, is very long - four hours from 6:00 to 10:00 (until 9:00 in the main restaurant "Bay View" and until 10:00 in the restaurant above the beach "Sea Breeze"). And if you are hungry after the first breakfast at 6:00, then have breakfast for the second time at 10:00, but do not try hard. and juices at Blue Beach Bar, and from 11:00 a sumptuous lunch at Bay View Main Restaurant or from 12:00 at Sea Breeze Restaurant.
Snacking
Snacks between breakfast and lunch in the form of shawarma, burgers, french fries, cucumber and tomato salads are organized in all crowded bars by the pools and on the beach. This compensates for the relatively light breakfast in the buffet restaurants.
Lunch
Lunch on the "Super All inclusive" food system is also organized on the buffet system in two restaurants: in the main restaurant "Bay View" from 11:00 and in the restaurant "Sea Breeze" from 12:00 and lasts three hours.
There is already a place to indulge the imagination of the chef, especially on second courses, because the menu of first courses in all hotels is very modest: milk soup and vegetable soup. But the second course is changed daily. Meat: beef of various preparations, stewed most often in sauce, stuffed beef, meat rolls; chicken: fried and stuffed. Fish of several species and cooked. But more than that I liked the fish fillet cooked in sour cream sauce.
So soft and tender that it melts in your mouth.
And, most importantly, in sufficient quantities every day. I never denied myself a few pieces of it. It could not get bored. Often, for this fillet, I ordered a few glasses of white wine… By the way, the wine, both white and red, which was poured from large tetrapacks, excellent quality.
It is amazing the art with which these cakes are prepared by a chef and how much work and talent is invested in it. When you look at these works of art, you involuntarily realize that deciding to absorb them means becoming a real barbarian!
You can treat yourself to ice cream every day, but only for lunch - three types: chocolate, strawberry and plain white - ice cream, but I thought it was the most delicious.
Birthday
Birthday on the Red Sea - a great idea! And many time their tours to Egypt to this date.
And no sharp objects: their presence is carefully checked by security at the entrance gate and even on the metal detector frame and X-ray conveyor at the entrance to the main hotel building (in reputable hotels). You leave them your passport, which is returned to you at the end of the visit.
That's right, with security features I was let through, but could be unaccompanied by the security of the hotel or residents of this hotel and without their guarantee not to let into the hotel at all. And they would be right, given the increasing number of terrorist attacks in Egypt.
Existing rules for visiting the hotel allow guests to stay in the lobby area (in the lobby) and beyond.
Since I am writing here about the hotel "Reef Oasis", I can only say that the hotel "Domina", compared to my hotel, from the first to the last step, left a rather gloomy impression.
My mistake was also that I brought photos of the room, the territory of the Reef Oasis Hotel and the underwater world near its shores: corals and colorful fish. It was a difficult test for my "friends-friends" for envy… It's a pity that this, in fact, was a provocation on my birthday…
But this is a topic for a separate story.
Dinner with crabs
Tonight, in addition to the usual dishes, crab delicacies were served, and in large quantities: two large and deep distribution containers with a mountain of decent-sized crabs. In addition, in free access - take as much as the Soul wants! I quickly realized that beer was near the restaurant bar, and that there could be a celebration of body (ie stomach) and soul, so I picked up two large plates of these crabs, hoping that throughout the evening they will be constantly replenished and enough for everyone.
In addition, the standing chef did not express any complaints, but only smiled benevolently at our approving shouts and remarks about this delicacy. Once again, you are convinced that it is nice to deal with a solid hotel and hospitable hosts, without sparing an extra hundred dollars for the tour! It is felt even when you are clearly bent… And not only in this case about crabs…
And here I am at the table: Me, Crabs and Beer - everything else is in deep shadow and out of my attention. Therefore, all other dishes on the table, no matter how delicious they are, I do not describe, but automatically absorb. Slowly, knowingly, I begin to gut (develop) crabs. I want to note that crabs are cooked in a special way: with spices and in their original form, served from the refrigerator and therefore have a special taste appeal.
And that's why I was repeatedly glad that I prudently chose a table near the beer bar when I had to restore, and repeatedly, already two glasses of beer (more than two are not released).
So, at first I had problems with claws: they turned out to be very strong.
To tear off a separate phalanx and try to get out more juicy crab meat than in the belly, but it did not work, so I made Solomon's decision: gnawed each segment in half and from there freely blew a delicious place, again, drinking beer.
It lasted at least a long time. But I lost track of time. But does a happy person count minutes and even times of happiness? . . So little does a person need for happiness: a plate full of mountain (and not one! ) Deliciously brewed crabs and beer… Especially on his birthday…
And until tonight I was amazed by this phenomenon: we were fed so well that if you get enough for a light breakfast of shawarma and no less delicious dishes for lunch (until 15:00), it is not that in two hours you will be hungry, but before you will be full in the morning.
But everything became clear half an hour after the opening of the restaurant, when I approached the distribution of food: everyone was eagerly crowded in the place where ice cream was distributed at lunch. Today there were, as I described above - crabs.
I recklessly wrote that the number of crabs in this delicious dish was quite large.
However, he later became convinced that they should have caught a cold. aphorism a few years ago, and now, on crabs, has been tested - a test of truth.
Looking ahead, the next day before the restaurant opened in the evening, I was twenty minutes late and saw a pyramid of many delicacies on two such racks with glass shelves: on the left - cold snacks, on the right - sweet products and natural juices. And, as is the case with the buffet system, each dish in miniature in the form of a sandwich or in the second version is equipped for ease of use, inserted into them toothpicks.
And one of the glass shelves was already empty ...What was on it?
- I found out right away when one of my colleagues, who was late for the distribution of delicacies, asked the chef standing next to him: “Will there still be sushi? … »I did not ask the question again after seeing the chef's negative shaking of his head with an apologetic look… And who is the doctor late for us? - It's your fault that you overslept! ...
In the next five evenings, I "did not give a damn", and one of the first went to a restaurant and went to the cherished place to see, and most importantly? try gourmet dishes, with such skill and art, prepared by the chefs of the Reef Oasis Hotel. And even on one of the last days of my vacation, when I signed up to visit an a la carte restaurant, I still reserved half an hour the day before to curb my curiosity: what kind of surprise did the chef prepare today?
I took all these delicacies in a photo and posted them on my Facebook page, because I don't even know all the names to describe them here.
But let's go back to our sheep, more precisely, not to the sheep themselves, but to the sheep's ribs. The traditional place of serving an evening delicacy (remember, it's behind the counter opposite the soups) is always decorated, as for the New Year: on a huge plate laid out a mountain of lamb ribs in a bright, fire-colored, pink backlight.
The spectacle is pleasant and adds a special chic to the everyday monotony of the dishes!
A solid cook with the same, no less solid, appearance takes another piece of ribs from the vat and with knowledge, knows how to start cutting and, smiling, with a wish of good appetite, puts them on your plate… Just to see the whole process, the cook's smile and I wish you a good appetite, I want to take turns twice more! Here is the service!
On the contrary, where hot dishes are laid out, on a large sheet of hot iron, the chef will fry lamb sausages with you - lyulya-kebab and put them in a distribution container…
Today there are many lamb dishes, probably the hotel bought a whole bunch of sheep (I know, wholesale - cheaper) to saturate the delicacies of almost one and a half thousand guests.
Returning to the pyramid with glass shelves (just diagonally from the chef with lamb ribs), which outlines all sorts of delicacies, which I wrote about above, I thought, why not give such beauty and delicacy. same bright backlight! I do not know how in the Qur'an, but in our Bible on this occasion it is said: And a lighted candle is placed on the table, not hidden under the table.
Al Carte Restaurant Sunset Court
The system of a la carte restaurants is introduced in any hotel in Egypt with the main purpose - to meet the needs of vacationers with money in increased service, quality and range of dishes, compared to conventional restaurants "buffets". And also in order to further replenish the hotel budget, as a la carte restaurants are mostly for an additional fee.
For the rest of the mass of guests in most 5 * hotels and some 4 * introduce one-time study visits to one of these restaurants and less often - each, except fish - this is to show vacationers what and how we can. for advertising purposes and to make guests want to strive for it.
Reef Oasis Blue Bay Hotel 5 * is no exception, but there are some features.
First of all, it's the excitement of pre-booking a restaurant.
You will approach the beginning of the recording, which is at 14:00, you will see a crowd of at least a hundred people and receive an offer to visit this restaurant half an hour before closing… And who needs it? And will there remain the delicacies that were originally? - I doubt it! . . Nevertheless, I got to this "excited" restaurant for the third time at the end of my race and at the coolest time - at 18:00, although I did not get to the police, but this is the subject of a special story…
Why did I want to go to the restaurant so much?
So because every day, walking from my second building to the beach and always past this restaurant (and there is simply no other way), I always saw VIP clients, even at lunch, freely visit it, feasting there, as I thought, delicious. dishes ...Maybe it's ordinary human curiosity, multiplied by envy? ..
So, in the end, I got into it and here is my opinion about this restaurant.
Quite an ordinary small (for 30 tables) buffet type restaurant (which is unusual for a la carte restaurants). There are not many people in connection with the Guest Relations filter with the list of those who signed up at the entrance: it does not allow outsiders! The difference between the crowded crowd, which sometimes tries to get in line without a queue for a particularly tasty dish, and the very anticipation of the queue - the main difference between an a la carte restaurant and the usual.
And another "exclusive" soup similar to Indonesian products (that evening was dedicated to Indonesian cuisine, and there are Chinese, Indian and Arabic cuisines, but I did not go to them - I cherish my time and nerves). There were no particularly impressive other dishes.
At the main restaurant "Bay View", half an hour before, I visited the "exclusivity" much more. then in hieroglyphic inscriptions ...
Mass vacationers, who feel the desire to "freebie" in unlimited quantities to indulge in sushi and other delicacies, there is nothing to do: his agility will bring down the menu with prices, and you can look at them for free - through the glass: they are locked.
This restaurant mostly serves customers for a fee and that's why I, as a visitor with an introductory mission, felt some coolness in the service. Even the two glasses of white wine I ordered at the end were somehow sold as one, but red.
And I compare all this with the service and dishes in a la carte restaurants of other hotels (Sunerise Diamond Resort 5 *, Sunerise Arabian Beach Resort 5 *, Royal Grand Sharm5 *, and even Sea Gull Beach Resort & Club "4 * (Hurghada) Where I, bearded and overgrown, almost marginal, although outwardly (but not on offshore accounts) and similar to Kolomoisky (see photo), was received and served as a prince of royal blood (maybe wrong? )) ...
Barry
The Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * has an unusually large number of bars, at almost every turn, officially nine of them, except for the bars in each restaurant. For the first time, I was even confused by their names and locations. But the plan-scheme of the hotel helped, which I prepared in advance from home, copied from the Internet, and you can't look at the huge electronic card in the lobby every time and can't put it in your pocket.
The following four bars are the most popular among vacationers:
The Pub: The bar is open 24 hours a day (sandwiches, burgers, french fries, salads, soft drinks and local alcohol free of charge, imported alcoholic beverages - paid).
Caribbean Bar: 24, snacks, burgers are prepared from 17:00.2:00, from 23:00 to 2:00 there is a disco.
Useful to know! Only in these two bars you can order juice from packages. I preferred to drink Ouzo and a hot burger with french fries in these mango juice bars.
Blue Beach Bar: from 10:00 to 16:00, snacks, burgers, shawarma from 10:00 to 13:00.
This beach bar is one of the most popular among vacationers, especially for its location and the dishes prepared here. Some do not even go to a restaurant for lunch, but are satisfied with these dishes. I was most impressed by the hot shawarma and chicken meat, juicy and tasty in pita (drink). And with cold beer! What could be more enjoyable on a hot afternoon beach?
But beer is the strongest alcoholic beverage at the beach bar.
And in the Caribbean Bar there are also concerts of live music, in particular I was lucky enough to listen to a concert of a violinist on an electronic violin.
Less popular, but also visited bars, including paid:
Oriental cafe: This tea is offered from 17:00 to 00:00. Hookah (paid).
Relax Pool Bar (only for adults, children under 16 are not allowed): continental breakfast (hot and cold drinks), snacks from 11:00 to 15:00, cakes from 15:00 to 17:00.
Leisure Pool Bar: open from 10:00 to 17:00, offering light snacks and drinks.
Horizon Bar: opening hours from 10:00 to 18:00, from 11:00 to 17:00 snacks are offered (pizza, panini).
Lobby Piano Lounge (fee): lobby bar, opening hours from 15:00 to 00:00, imported alcoholic beverages and cigars, live music (piano).
Panorama Terrace: open terrace with panoramic sea views, open from 17:00 to 02:00; Light snacks and local drinks are available.
Energy Bar: (paid): vitamin bar in the spa, opening hours from 10:00 to 20:00, fresh fruit and vegetable juices and energy drinks.
In general, I would like to note that for the Russian-speaking public, especially young people from the post-Soviet republics, the Reef Oasis Blue Bay 5 * is an earthly paradise and a better place to find. More expensive luxury hotels, where I visited, not everyone can afford and there are our compatriots - units; the language at all events and shows is mostly Arabic. Cheaper, even the five-star category - can not provide the range of services and entertainment that can be "distracted" (just not enough money that can be deducted from the price of the tour).
Morning prayer: Arabs and us
4:30.
Through the closed balcony window, covered with thick curtains, suddenly voices were heard, as if one of the vacationers, and not one, decided to give a voice in the middle of the night ...But then in these voices my ear caught some Arabic motif. And, orienting myself in the time that it is no longer night, but early in the morning, I guessed that the voice of a mullah was sounding, calling Muslims to the morning prayer.
And polyphony arose in connection with the laws of physics: the mullah's voice from different sources reaches my ear at different times. And the closest, it seemed to me, from the hotel "Charaton". At the same time, I was so ashamed of my blasphemous thoughts that I could not distinguish the voice of our company, often "cheerful".
But when I was moved by the mullah's voice, despite the fact that our religions are different from those of Muslims, but God is one, I was deeply moved by the religious beliefs of the Arabs, who are steadily advancing the millennial traditions of their people. time, at the beginning of their daily activities. With such daily desire, so little chance remains of the devil's temptations against one's neighbor and against the piety of the world in general.
And I involuntarily compared our "status quo" in this regard.
We, in our mass, only in pre-revolutionary (royal) times, and not every day, as Muslims, but only on Sunday communicated with God through a priest. And now it is rare - only on major church holidays - Holy Sunday, Christmas, Trinity and a few more. And only ...
There are also compliments on the wedding anniversary, the newlyweds and regular guests.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
Comments (6)
leave a comment
Show other comments …
OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT THE HOTEL
- The hotel is good. Wi-Fi works well in the rooms, in the main restaurant, and in the lobby bar.
- Wonderful holiday
- Good hotel
- Great hotel! Magic sea and reef!
- Good hotel
SEE ALSO