Sol Y Mar Paradise Beach

First, the positives: The facility is very beautifully designed, the staff is very friendly, and the food was sufficient and good. The beach was very nice, and we saw turtles in the sea. But when we arrived, we were told that we would only get the sea view room tomorrow because everything was full, and we had to spend one night in a back room, which was very poor. The next day we got the sea view room on the first floor, but it was also outdated, though it was acceptable. The worst part was at the beach, as the first three rows were fully occupied in the morning, but luckily a family checked out, and we quickly got the loungers in the quiet area in the second row. We also had to leave our towels up overnight, otherwise, our spot would be gone in the morning. We have never experienced anything like this in Egypt, as everyone leaves their towels and beach bags lying around all the time, and if you arrive new, you are out of luck until someone checks out. Furthermore, we registered with the small restaurant manager for the new restaurant, and when asked if we needed a voucher, he said just to say the name, and promptly we had no reservation that evening and had to leave again. The cocktails tasted terrible; the best were the beer and ouzo, and the animation team was also underwhelming with no real shows, and when they did, the animator always shouted about clubbing and other chatter, mostly just techno music. I would not book this facility again.

The hotel is fine we have no complaints about that. The animation team at the hotel think they are in Ibiza, the volume of music was abnormally loud you could not listen to your own music and most of the guests are over 50 years old. This was the only downside of the hotel.

When we booked this holiday, I hadn’t read many reviews. Only after booking the hotel did I start reading them, and honestly, I became a bit worried and even wanted to cancel. However, I’m so happy that we didn’t. The hotel and atmosphere are very nice. The rooms are always clean, and the staff are genuinely kind — you don’t need to tip them for them to be nice to you. They are making improvements every single day, such as changing beach beds and updating things in the rooms and bathrooms. The entertainment team is really impressive. They have great communication skills, are friendly, and always happy to have small talks if you want to chat. The shows performed by the entertainment team are really enjoyable. I especially loved the dances they did at 10am and 3pm — it was so fun and energetic! Regarding the food, breakfast is usually the same every day, but there are plenty of options. There is a chef making eggs fresh for you, and you can ask for an omelette, baked eggs, or scrambled eggs — completely up to you. Lunch and dinner are always different. For those who have allergies or cannot eat certain foods, please note that there are no signs explaining what ingredients are included in the dishes. You will need to inform the reception team or the chefs, and they will be more than happy to help you. Just to add, during our two-week stay we did not experience any food poisoning or stomach issues. Also, there are people walking around the beach trying to sell horse rides, camel rides, and other activities. They can be a bit annoying at times, but it’s their job, and sometimes they don’t take “no” for an answer and may ask multiple times a day. The rooms are very close to the beach, and there are signs along the walkways so you won’t get lost. If you ever need help, you can always ask the hotel staff — they are always happy to assist. One negative thing I noticed (which is not the hotel’s fault) is that many guests reserve beach beds with towels early in the morning and then don’t come back until much later, sometimes after lunch. That can be quite frustrating. During our first days, we were introduced to a company called MDS (I believe that was the name). They help with booking excursions, but please note that their prices are higher. You can find the same excursions cheaper elsewhere — we used getyourguide.com⁠�. As a “welcome gift,” they offered two free supermarket trips, but please note that these are not actually supermarkets. One is a souvenir shop and the other is a perfume shop. We believe they may be connected to friends or partners of the company, but we can’t say for sure. Overall, I truly recommend this hotel. It is budget-friendly, and you will definitely have a lovely holiday here. If you are booking this hotel, I wish you a wonderful stay — don’t forget to bring a smile and lots of sunscreen!