Для непритязательных туристов For unpretentious tourists

Solymar Sea Star Taba. Operator Turtess.
We rested for 2 weeks, from 20.04. 08 to 04.05. 08, three of us, with a child. We flew a direct flight to Taba airport, otherwise we would not have dared: a 4-hour transfer from Sharm did not attract. It's only 25 minutes from Taba, but the airport is something. . . Things were shamelessly cleaned, locks broken both on arrival and departure. For a "free for guests of Sinai" visa, as indicated by all the announcements at the airport, the guides shamelessly ripped off 17 ye. Moreover, they did it not at customs, but on a bus (haha) with the air conditioner turned off, with threats and other "hospitality". However, what to expect if seats on boarding passes were also set for money: do you want a good seat? - 10 ye. So get ready.
Actually, Solymar. Located one of the closest to Taba, very secluded, among the rocks. To the left and right for several kilometers there is nothing else but a gas compressor station. Therefore, do not count on promenades, shopping and parties. The landscape around is amazing

but the sea is far away - 2nd line. For sea view (officially) they require an additional payment of 20 euros per day - it's not worth it (photo): the sea view will be very conditional, but the wasteland, construction sites and the road in front of the hotel will be perfectly visible. Almost all other rooms overlook the pool. The number of rooms is a little old, with a "smell", but the room is quite spacious, the plumbing is working, good, the air conditioner works even with the balcony open, there is a hairdryer and a refrigerator. But there are no Russian-speaking TV channels, and the prices in the mini-bar are outrageous. The room has a password-protected Wi-Fi, the price of the issue is 8 ye half an hour. We could not find French beds, I suspect that they are not, but the most "cool" is an extra bed (see photo). Lego made of three different-sized pillows, on the floor (very dirty, by the way), right in front of the air conditioner - this is the place for the child....After talking with the guide, it was replaced with a folding bed with an absolutely failed mattress... The child complained that his back hurt . The mattress has been changed again. But,
apparently, they are all like that there... The hotel is generally not designed for children: apart from the children's section of the pool and a small mini-disco, there are no other entertainments and conditions - the mini-club has not even opened in two weeks... Yes, there are not many of them - the contingent is mainly pensioners, there are not a lot of young people either...
By the way, there are several pools, of different depths (from 50 cm to 180 cm), they are cleaned regularly, the sun loungers are new, comfortable, in sufficient quantity - there are always free ones. True, we practically did not use the pools - we went to the sea, therefore we spent all the time on the beach. The hotel is on the 2nd line, 600 meters from the beach, but the road does not bring any pleasure - you chapa along the highway, along the asphalt, past the same gas compressor station, under the scorching sun... There is a shuttle bass, but sometimes you can walk to Taba come sooner than he arrives. The beach is large, spacious, sunbeds are worse, of course, but also enough. Sand there is 60 percent, the rest is gravel.
It is fabulously beautiful around: rocks, blue-turquoise clear water, sailboats, Jordan opposite....Very few people, there is no feeling of a can of sardines - and these are the main trump cards of the hotel. But the infrastructure on the beach is not very good: the only toilet will not please you with hygiene, sometimes there is no water in the shower, towels have also seen Israeli territory (however, like those in the room))), and also, I would be pleased with the music, but it is not. . . Water activities are presented: banana, catamaran, diving, etc. , quite expensive. On the right there is a small reef inhabited by cute and dangerous living creatures, but, of course, it is far from the beauties of Naama Bay. Drinks are poured in the bar from 10 to 17, around 11 they bring a plate of buns and a plate of puffs. And, in principle, in addition to eating in a restaurant, this is almost the entire snack during the day - sometimes ice cream by the pool after dinner, and a saucer (I'm not kidding! ) cupcakes for an afternoon snack... We never got it - they scatter it instantly, but bring not accepted yet)))) In general,

the concept of all inclusive has been reduced, in fact, to full board: Breakfast 7-10, lunch 13-15 and dinner 19-22 + the indicated "snacks"... Who cares, but I constantly want to eat something at sea: fruits, sweets, etc. - the appetite is not dormant by the water, but there is nothing to eat....In general, the number of bars-restaurants indicated in the description of the hotel needs to be clarified. In fact, there is only one restaurant (hm), the rest are a la carte, in which for 15 days not only visitors, but also service personnel have never been noticed....even the lights are often not on... Bars: the main one is open near the lobby, from 10 to 23; on the beach and pool from 10 to 17 (they will refuse ice cream to the child, because it is already 17:04 on his watch), and from 21 to 24 at the disco. Usyo. All other cafe-bars exist only in the imagination of tour managers. There is a cooler near the bar in the lobby, you can get some water, stock up on a bottle)))) I can’t say anything about the quality of alcohol - I didn’t drink it. Now for the most painful part: food. She is. . .
And even the illusion of choice is present... Of course, no one expected Turkish abundance, but! It's hard without mezim... Really tasty: rice, fish fillet, steamed vegetables and buns. Chicken dominance. Burnt kebab. Even sweets, which are usually beyond praise in Egi, resemble the products of a seedy bakery... But the most difficult thing is to feed a child. There are never any juices. And everything was poured so greedily, it was supposed to....I didn’t come running first, didn’t push the Polish pensioners aside - I was left without fruit, without fish, with one side dish... But are there plates with crumbs? So it WAS! You need to be faster... I already wrote - it’s not accepted YET)))) Ah, sorry, but the yogurt is already over at 8 in the morning... it will be tomorrow, yyyy... The restaurant does not have a summer terrace, it’s not supposed to . The waiters are welcoming and friendly, smiling, as are the reception staff. The weak link is the bartenders, moreover, in all bars... Apparently, this is because he gives out towels and cleans the pool,
and sprite pours - everything is thought out))) Room cleaning is almost daily, tips do not affect its quality in any way. Change of linen is carried out by replacing the upper sheet with the lower one. The floor has not been washed once in 2 weeks, despite requests, notes and tips. Insect control is carried out by fumigating with diesel fuel from the exhaust pipe.
Entertainment.

We clearly imagined where we were going, and wanted relaxation and solitude, but even then, sometimes there was a feeling of Robinsons, cut off from the world. And how those who were counting on a fun vacation missed, I can’t even imagine....Animation is present: it is "Voo-lei-boool! Voo-lei-boool! " Once a week, a "show program" arrives: a belly dancer. BUT! And a disco. So everyone is on tour. For which, by the way, it is a strategically convenient place to start - it is closer and more convenient to go to Israel, Jordan, and Cairo than anywhere else. True, the price is the same as from Sharm,
that from Taba.
There are several shops on the territory of the hotel, but the prices there are 2 times higher than Sharmovsky ones. Packaging of tobacco, for example, 10 ye. At the airport, it will cost 4 ye. You can order a hookah smoke from the seller ($ 4), because the declared hookah (oriental cafe) is adapted for billiards)))
Taking a deep breath, taking into account the words of the guide that 5 in Taba is 4 in Sharm (I'm afraid to assume further progression), and also, imbued with the surrounding nature and beauty, we had a good rest for these 2 weeks. I can’t say that we ate fruit or got better (on the contrary, rather), and we were sooo happy to finally return home, but I liked Taba herself. We’ll just choose a different hotel next time)))) I can only advise Solymar as a budget option for fans of excursions and pensioners.