Just returned from Melia Sinai.

My husband and I arrived at the hotel at about 10pm and were asked to take a seat in reception. We waited for about 10 minutes and then someone came to tell us the 'good news', "sorry we've overbooked and we have no room for you, however we can offer you a room in one of our other hotels" ,Sol Cyrene which is a 4 star hotel.

After debating with them for a while telling them that the room had been booked since January they told us that they would have a room available for us on the fourth night, we would have to spend three nights at the Sol Cyrene. What should have been a sea view room was replaced with a view of a white wall at the back of the hotel, with no safe or hairdryer. Then we checked the bed and found that the sheets had been slept in (creased and with airs on them) we had to trek back to reception who quickly got someone to change the sheets, eventually at about midnight the room was ready.

After we spent 3 nights in the Sol Cyrene, no one bothered to tell us anything, so we went to reception and asked them to call the Melia. Surprise, surprise there was a problem with the phone and couldn't get through, my husband then used his mobile phone and got through. While in reception at the Cyrene we met another young couple who had the same problem, and they had booked even earlier than us. We demanded that they send a taxi to take us to the Melia. We managed to get a room with a nice sea view which is what we had paid for but felt that the day was wasted packing and unpacking. All in all a very bad experience, I felt that our holiday was spoilt as we could not settle in one place or the other and by the time we started to enjoy our holiday it was time to leave.

I booked this hotel because of the good reviews, but turned out to be a great disappointment.

Got back from Melia Sinai 13th April.
Hotel is set on the beach and when building work is completed this is going to be a very large 5 star resort.
Accomodation
We had a twin room with balcony which was adapted with a small fold up bed for our 13yr old daughter (lucky she's small). The room was kept spotless throughout our stay and the staff are always cleaning some area of the hotel. Occasionally the shower water seemed to run dry, probably because everyone was taking showers at the same time around 5PM.
Entertainment
There is an animation team who do their best with activities throughout the day -volleyball, water aerobics, darts, dance class,yoga. beware when playing volleyball that just below the sand surface is concrete they need more sand here,if you want to play put your trainers on. If your playing water polo,its best to keep small children away from the goals they could get hurt.
Diving Snorkelling
There is a dive centre here and plenty of courses for those willing. Snorkelling is brilliant just off the end of the jetty,be careful of the jelly fish,it's the small ones that get you apparently! You cannot walk out to the coral from the beach and you'll soon be told if you do.
During the day you'll find that the hairdresser,and the physiotherapist offering massage will be touting for business. They do not hassle you and are very friendly mind you I was a little worried on our first day when the hairdresser bent down to my daughter who was in the pool and offered her a sweetie!
Food
Well this is a difficult one. You must remember that food here is bound to be a little different to home or Benidorm. There is plenty of choice although some of it can be a bit repetitive and boring ( same bloke dishing up pasta with a tomato sauce at lunch and dinner) The deserts look fantastic however to me they all tasted the same. The chefs outside need to prepare whatever they are going to cook for the evening a little earlier as they never seemed to be ready when the guests descended on them at a minute after 7PM.
General comment
Be aware that if you decide to take travellers cheques,you can't cash them at this hotel,indeed we asked reception and they didn't even know what a travellers cheque was.We walked down the beach to the Baron resort where they have a Bank.
The staff are all freindly
The pools are kept clean
Accomodation and generally around the hotel is very clean
Food is average although people we met said it was fantastic and others said it was disgusting.
Lastly a word about the Russians. There are a lot of Russians stay at this hotel and they are the rudest people. Be aware when your queueing up for your omlette at breakfast and you think your next you are probably 6th because they are getting omlettes for their whole family

After just returning from a very enjoyable stay at this hotel I was really surprised to read a number of the recent reviews.

I booked the trip on a hotel comparison site and got a really good half-board deal with you-travel and flights with XL. We booked a taxi from the hotel to meet us at the airport and I would recommend it (a bus transfer was the last thing I needed after a long flight!) On arrival we were greeted warmly and shown to our room which was next to the pool and overlooking the beautiful beach. The bed was huge and the bathroom came complete with two fluffy robes. We also had a complimentary fruit bowl which was a nice touch. The room included a fridge, electronic safe, good wardrobe space, and a televison (showing BBC World and a decent movie channel).

Each day the room was cleaned brilliantly and sheets were changed (yes there was the odd bobble but really get a life!) We had two very amusing towel sculptures from Ibrahim the cleaner and he was only to pleased to help with any requests or problems.

The hotel is based in the middle of a Sharks Bay - the resort is clearly still being built but suited us perfectly as it was quiet and away from the all the hussle and bustle of Naama Bay. If you want nightlife just jump in a taxi it's only a short ride away.

As for the food we ate three meals a day at the hotel and thoroughly enjoyed them. If you only eat traditional English food go to Tenerife or Spain. Also if you are not willing to try new things why bother travelling?? Breakfast included omelettes, pancakes and eggs cooked to order as well as freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice (it may taste a little different from tescos but hey this is a different continent!) For dinner the Pergola restaurant serves fresh fish every day. The portions are big and it wasn't very expensive at all. In the evening there was a different theme each night in the main restaurant. The waiters were very helpful and keen to know if you were enjoying your meal. We had one miscalculation on our bill on the first night and they were literally mortfied!! I had a complimentary beer delivered to my room that night and another with my meal the next day! Some of the dishes on the hot plates are repeated throughout the week but there is still plenty of variety. Don't forget to go outside and see what they are cooking on the grill - the kebabs were delicious.

We went to the beach each day but there are a number of pools in the complex to chose from. Yes you cannot walk across the coral but then I don't expect to go to a nature reserve and stamp through the long grass! The beach is clean and very quiet with comfortable sunbeds and complimentary towels. I didn't go diving but did swim at the end of the hotel slipway which was like an aquarium. One morning I walked to the edge and saw a group of five dolphins whizzing yards from my feet!

On the last day we had a late flight but as I had joined the hotel club online (it's free) we were able to check out at 4pm. It's worth a few minutes hassle as you don't have to rush packing!

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and will recommend the hotel to our friends. I think some of the comments below are ridiculous. If you are worried about birds hopping onto your table at breakfast then stay at home!

We have just returned from our second stay at this hotel and it was just as good this year as it was last - we enjoyed ourselves again.

The staff are the best ever - nothing is too much trouble for them and the food is very good - some may say that it is a bit 'samey' but this isn't a British hotel and one should go abroad willing to try what is on offer in a foreign country - not expect the same old British food.

The hotel is spotlessly clean - there are people cleaning all the public places all the time and the bedrooms are serviced every day, with towels left in all sorts of 'sculptures' and flowers left.

We took friends with us this year and they were as pleased as we were with the hotel and have decided they will definitely come with us again next year - we now just have to wait for the dates to be made available and we'll be booking.

One of the lovely things that happened was, on our first visit to the restaurant, one of the waiters who had served us last year saw us and came and greeted us like old friends and welcomed us back. How often does that happen?

I cannot sing the praises of this hotel enough and wonder what the people who leave less than great reviews want from a hotel in Egypt.