Sataya Resort

We chose to stay for 14 days during Christmas at the Sataya Hotel in Marsa Alam. We have already been very satisfied with our holidays in Egypt 12 times (Sharm el Sheikh & Hurghada), and this was our first time in Marsa Alam. We have a lot of experience with traveling, we have done round trips in America and also have experience with Greece, Spain, and so on, so we know the standards in hotels." We chose the family room with a swim-up pool. The room was decently finished, but the paintwork was poor, and the seals of the shower had black stains. However, in general, the room was spacious enough and clean. The resort is said to be only 4 years old, but as you walk around, you can see that many areas already need some refreshing work. The signs with building numbers have completely faded due to the sun (replacing these would improve the overall look). The grounds are well-maintained, and the lawns and flowers contribute to a very pleasant atmosphere during your stay. The order and cleanliness throughout the resort are very good. The beach is also fine, and there is a pier with a nice spot for snorkeling, plus it’s a plus that you can borrow a life jacket there. Service: During our 14-day stay, we were served at the table for drinks only three times. This is a 5-star hotel where you pay a lot of money, and it was the first time in Egypt that we sometimes doubted whether drink service at the table was included. Italians and locals were served, but when we left a tip, we were served at the table three times, which was very poor. The cocktail bar at the heated pool had no menu, and you couldn’t see a variety of cocktails. So, I had to ask the other guests what they were drinking to be able to order the same. When you ordered certain cocktails, you got an unhappy look from the bartender (with glasses) and audible sighs — he would deserve an award for rudeness! The food was, in our opinion, good, though with little variation. However, the desserts were always very good, the best we’ve had so far in Egypt. Cola & Fanta are watered-down syrup, not drinkable, and this was a complaint we heard from many people. The Christmas dinner was excellent, with a lot of variety, and the dessert was incredible! The downside was that you had to stand in line for at least 30 to 40 minutes to get food because everyone was in the hall at the same time. The animation was okay, but they spoke a lot of Italian, which made it less inviting for children from other countries to join in. Fortunately, there were animators like TIA who made an effort for other nationalities. At one point, my son got up with an eye infection, and the hotel doctor quickly referred him to the hospital, resulting in a bill of 400€. After eating shrimp, I had severe stomach discomfort that I couldn’t hold, so I went to the hotel doctor, who gave me a Baxter and assisted me further. However, the bill for two Baxter treatments and medication was 800€, which we found shocking, especially considering