We have just returned from our stay at the Novotel in Sharm el Sheikh which was booked through Thomas Cook. Most aspects of this hotel were very good. The location is excellent, it's a quiet area but only 10 minutes walk into Namma bay. It is a small hotel in comparison to some in the area but this meant you got to know the very friendly staff and received good service. The beach is beautiful with new towels every day and enough sunbeds for everyone. You can see lots of varieties of fish just walking along the jetty without having to scuba or snorkel. The pool area is very pleasant but did get a little noisy during the day time. The gardens are immaculate and constantly being looked after, you can smell the flowers all around the hotel. Our room didn't have the best view as it was overlooking the side street but it was perfectly equipped, large and very clean. The breakfast choice was excellent and the service was generally very good. The only negative point I would have to raise about this hotel is the price of the drinks in the bar. A can of local beer was 35 Egyptian pounds (£3.50) and a can of coke 20 Egyptian pounds (£2), this stopped us from using the hotel bar which was a shame as it was very nice. It's a good job there were plently of places to eat and drink just along the promenade. I would return to this hotel and would definitely recommend it to others.

I've just returned from a week's holiday with my sister at the Novotel Beach. Our booking form just said Novotel, so after reading reviews about there being two Novotels in Sharm, it was a great relief when we arrived at the Novotel Beach. Although we were initially disappointed not to have a sea view, we were shown to a very nice room at the side of the hotel. We were offered another room but it was overlooking a flat roof with loud air-conditioning, so we opted to stay put with our view of palm trees, mountains and a supermarket ! After that, everything was pretty much fantastic. The front desk and all the staff couldn't have been more courteous, helpful and friendly throughout our stay. The hotel's is beside its own clean beach with new comfy sunbeds, by a pretty promenade, great for a ten minute walk into the town/main street which is ablaze with life. A wonderful holiday but beware the Novotel Palm across a fast busy road, not near the beach! We risked life and limb to go and have a look - it's hot, airless and though new and smart , feels concretey and cut-off. Brochure misleading and deliberately vague about the two hotels I feel. Insist on the Novotel Beach before you go.

Myself and a disabled friend have just returned from the Novotel Beach where we had a really lovely time. We found the hotel to be of a very high standard, immaculately clean and perfectly situated. It is an ideal hotel and perfect location for a wheelchair user. Everywhere is accessible by wheelchair and not too far to walk with the aid of crutches.
We were given a perfectly situated room(No 1154) which was ideal for using my friend's wheelchair. The only slight negative was that the room was close to the entertainment area which held a nightly show from 21.30 until 23.30, so it was a little noisy if you wanted to get an early night!! Definitely needed on returning from a day trip to Cairo.
The pool is lovely and the beach which is only a stone's throw away is gorgeous. You get given beach towel tokens when you check in and you just hand them in each day at the kiosk on the beach and get given your towel. Your towel is then placed on your chosen sun lounger and that is yours for the rest of the day whether it be on the beach or at the pool. Waiters are always at hand on the beach to bring drinks whenever you want them.
The staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and helpful, particularly Sofian(restaurant manager) and his staff.
All in all we had a fab time and found the hotel to be extremely good and hope to return next year, this time with my husband and children.
Would thoroughly recommend this hotel especially for the disabled holiday makers.
We found the food at the restaurant to be very good too, plenty
of choice with every taste catered for.

Our stay at this hotel is one of the worst examples of customer service we have witnessed in this industry.

We booked our stay at the Novotel Beach six months prior to our arrival via an external website.

Several weeks prior to arrival I contacted the hotel to enquire re a transfer service as we were not part of a tour group/package deal.
I was advised by the Asst. Front Office Manager that a free transfer service is offered and hence via emails I provided our arrival/flight details to arrange this.

We arrived to find NO transport to collect us and then ran the gauntlet of enthusiastic taxi drivers wishing to start the bidding at £30 GBP for a 10 minute taxi ride! Needless to say we did not pay this much but were still ripped off.
On arrival to the Novotel we were told by staff that our tour operator did not 'organise' the transport although as independent travelers we did not have a tour operator hence my own emails to arrange this !!

At check in we were told that whilst we did have a booking at the Novotel Beach, the hotel was overbooked and hence we were required to stay across the road in The Palm.

Having read the Tripadvisor reviews re The Palm and knowing it's distance from the beach we basically stood our ground and refused to move elsewhere. During this time the Front Desk Supervisor repeatedly attempted to coerce us into walking over to see the Palm whilst not offering any other alternative. Not the situation I imagined would greet us after the 5 hour flight.

During this discussion another party arrived who it transpired had booked via the same website more than six months ago and was being told exactly the same thing (overbooked). We all refused to budge and after several phone calls from the supervisor a room was magically found for both parties at The Beach after some time waiting!

The room we were allocated whilst at least on the beach side was of a fairly poor standard. The light fitting in the centre of the room did not work and was never fixed despite requests. In addition to this the plaster around it was hanging from the ceiling and the plaster was dropping onto the bed.
The room was one of a small number with no balcony and the view from our window was less than inspiring.
The shower had a habit fluctuating temperatures, sending scalding water intermittently.
Additionally the safe did not work and the plug in the bathroom sink was jamming.

We were never offered any information about the hotel most likely due to the way we were checked in (and nil to find in the room) such as basics of how and when to find breakfast. Quite a small thing but all off this does not make a 5 star service.

We used the hotel as a base for scuba diving via an operation close by. Hence our initial interest in booking this hotel at this location. To this end I would say the hotel is well located and had a nice pool and lovely beach area.

Sadly the hotel fails to educate guests at all about the house coral reef and resulting has it's guests walking and stomping all over it, snapping the coral as they go. A simple brochure or a poster in the bathroom re the value of protecting such a unique environment may go a long way to preventing damage and preserving the area for future guests.

As we were scuba diving each day we spent little time at the hotel/beach by day during our stay. On our last day we spent time on the beach which was very nice. We were disappointed to be interrogated by the beach staff (after identifying ourselves as guests and providing our room number) as to why we were choosing to using our own towels rather the hotel beach towels. Very rude staff!
Having said all this we did have great fun snorkeling and watching the beautiful fish on our last day.

On a positive note (there has to be one lol) we were given a late check out at request at no additional cost.

So lots of negatives to report though we still enjoyed our holiday. This stay left us regretting our hotel choice and would cause us to think again before considering a Novotel anywhere! You have been warned!