In anticipation of a long-awaited vacation, tired of the gray cold weekdays, people increasingly dream of the sea. If the summer is still far away, and you certainly want a bright sun and a gentle sea, the choice is great enough.
It can be Egypt, Emirates, Goa, Sri Lanka and more distant exotic countries and places. Most often, the choice falls on Egypt. The popularity of this country is explained by the perfect combination of conditions for a comfortable beach holiday with a rich excursion program, a short comfortable flight and good infrastructure that has developed in the resorts of the Red Sea. The cost of the tour to Egypt is quite comparable with the cost of rest at the famous Russian resorts, and it can be much lower with a sufficiently high-quality service.
If you are going to visit Egypt for the first time, the natural question arises: where to relax? In Hurghada, at fairly affordable prices, the quality of service and the cleanliness of the streets are worse than in Sharm El Sheikh. The underwater world of Sharm is much richer, and the beaches are cleaner. However, not all hotels, even five-star ones, are located on the first line of the sea and far from all can offer a convenient sandy entrance to the water.
Therefore, if you are not completely confident in the water or small children will go with you, even when you are in a luxury hotel in Sharm, you will not be able to swim from the pontoon. On the contrary, Hurghada, hotels of 3-5 stars which most often have good sandy beaches with convenient access and are located on the first line of the sea, will suit you much more.
The best sandy beaches of Hurghada are located in remote areas such as Soma Bay, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh and Safaga. Within the city you can also find hotels with good beaches.
Recommendations for choosing a vacation spot in Hurghada
The choice of a hotel in Hurghada will depend on your preferences, the company with which you are going to relax, and, of course, on the budget of the trip. If the funds allow, you can safely choose any of the five-star hotels that you like in the catalogs and have good recommendations and reviews from tourists who have been there before.
It should be borne in mind that the cost of a tour to Egypt includes flight, transfer, insurance for the entire trip, accommodation in a room of the selected category and meals in the hotel according to the selected system. By choosing the all-inclusive meal concept, you won’t worry about how much money to bring along for drinks and food.
A certain category of tourists, having first arrived in the country, wants to visit the largest possible number of new places, to go on all excursions, to taste national cuisine. Such travelers should not overpay for the hotel and the All inclusive system, since they will rarely be in the hotel, only in between trips.
These tourists are invited to consider options for simple three-star hotels with a good beach, a cozy area, the necessary range of services at the hotel and adequate food. One of the budget and worthy accommodation options can be the original oriental-style hotel Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort Hurghada.
The designation "Mashrabiya"
The concept of "Mashrabiya" comes from the Arabic word "Sharab", which means "drink." In the conditions of the dry hot climate of Egypt, water jugs were placed behind carved wooden shutters, which define the concept of mashrabiya, which is a carved wooden window lattice made using national motifs in the ornament.
In desert oases, there is still a custom to leave a vessel with water in mashrabiyas for random travelers who could open the sashes and drink. Such shutters, thanks to natural ventilation, allowed them to pass through and cool the hot air well and to observe the events on the street, while remaining unnoticed. According to Sharia law, a woman should not expose her beauty to the public, therefore, oriental beauties often hid behind such windows.
Almost the entire front side of the main building of Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort is made using the mashrabiya technique: it is covered with elegant wood carvings of expensive varieties and creates a light twilight and coolness. It is this feature that gave the name to the hotel. In the central part of Sakkala there is also a popular cafe, which is decorated in the same style and bears the same name.
Location
Hotel Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort 3 * is located at the beginning of the tourist promenade, in the area of hotels. To the old center of Dahar - only seven kilometers to the international airport of Hurghada - four. To the new city center, Sakkale, you can walk along the promenade on foot or take a taxi for 5-10 pounds. Several times a day, the hotel provides a free shuttle service to Down Town (the old city center).
Hotels nearby
On one side of the hotel, at a distance of two hundred meters, is the Dessole Marlin Inn Beach Resort 4 *, on the other, at a distance of less than one kilometer towards Sakkala - apart-hotel Elysees 4 *. In the same direction is the bungalow complex with the largest public sandy beach of Hurghada - Old Vic.
Hotel Features
Previously, the hotel belonged to the Sinbad chain, so guests of Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort could use the water park and infrastructure of these hotels. A few years ago, “Mashrabiya” changed the owners, so now this opportunity is not provided.
Hotel Description
The main three-story building of the hotel is made in a typical Arabic style, with carved elements. A beautiful green area with lush vegetation surrounds one- and two-story cottages. On the territory there is a small pool equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers.
A tour desk offers a varied program. There is a health center with a gym, Turkish bath and Finnish sauna, a beauty salon and spa. The complex also has a diving center.
For business meetings and special occasions the hotel offers to use any of the six conference rooms equipped with air conditioning and all the necessary accessories.
Hotel rooms
Hotel Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort 3 * offers rooms in two-story cottages or in the main building with a rather modest decor, decorated in a traditional style. Each room has a balcony or terrace, air conditioning, cable TV, telephone and minibar, the use of which is paid. The bathroom is equipped with a shower and has all the necessary toiletries. It is possible to make tea or coffee in the room. You can use the safe in the room or at the reception (for a fee).
Beach
Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort is located on the first line of the sea and has a nice sandy beach with a clean entrance to the sea. The absence of corals and sea urchins off the coast makes it convenient for vacationers with young children and people who cannot swim.
The use of sunbeds, mattresses, umbrellas and beach towels is free of charge. Hotel guests have the opportunity to watch the heron that lives on the beach.
Pets are allowed
Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort does not allow pets.
Nutrition
The main restaurant serves Arabic and European dishes. A feature of Egyptian cuisine is the lack of pork, a variety of ways to cook rice and beans, a large number of steamed and baked dishes, a variety of vegetables, fruits and sweet pastries.
By choosing the half board system, you will be provided with two meals a day and soft drinks at breakfast. Lunch and drinks for the rest of the time you will have to pay.
Guests with a voucher indicating the All inclusive meal plan will be able to get breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main restaurant, snacks in the beach bars and in the hotel lobby, as well as tea, coffee and drinks, except imported ones, in restaurants and bars in the territory hotel.
On the beach in the bar you can order freshly squeezed juices, ice cream and fruits (for an additional fee).
Friendly cocktails and signature cocktails are available at the cocktail bar. The national cafe will offer a large selection of hookahs with different tastes of tobacco, Oriental and European drinks and snacks. You can also play backgammon.
At an early departure for an excursion, having warned the reception staff in advance, you will receive a travel option for a breakfast cereal packed in a convenient box.
Entertainment and sports
The hotel has a strong international animation team. Every evening shows and contests with a diverse program are organized. You can play beach volleyball, basketball and soccer. Dancing, yoga and water aerobics classes are organized. The hotel has a disco with a DJ.
Paid services include billiards and table tennis, diving and windsurfing classes, mask rental and fins. You can ride a banana, a boat and a catamaran, as well as go fishing in a small boat.
Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort has a beautiful spa where you can take relaxing and healing baths, undergo a course of traditional and Egyptian massage with aromatic or healing oils. Possible access to the sauna, Turkish bath and jacuzzi. Thalassotherapy services are offered.
Conditions for relaxing with children
For vacationers with children there is a playground and a room where they will play with their peers and animator. In the evenings, after dinner, a mini-disco is organized for them.
Excursion program offered at the hotel
The hotel will offer you fascinating and informative trips to Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria and other historical places, a visit to the dolphinarium, a show of "singing fountains" and "1001 nights", a variety of sea trips to the coral islands, a visit to El Gouna, motorcycle safari, acquaintance with the life of the Bedouin villages.
You can ride on a yacht, swim in a submarine and see the fish through the glass bottom, as well as visit the water park and aquarium.
Interesting places near the hotel
A tourist alley starts right from Mashrabia, passing along which along the sea, you will find yourself in the new center of the city with its lively life. If you go the other way, you will find yourself in the area of hotels with many cafes and shops, children's attractions.
Not far from the hotel there are famous discos and clubs: Hard Rock, Little Budda, Kalipso. Be sure to visit the cafe "Romantic", where you can taste delicious dishes and high-quality fragrant hookah, swinging on a swing.
Holiday Category
The hotel is intended for unassuming tourists who want to live in the central part of the city and prefer a sandy beach.
Guest reviews
Sometimes tourists are interested in how many stars the hotel actually has. On the sites of some tour operators and now you can find the designation Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort 4 *. Experts say that this information is incorrect. In fact, the hotel deserves a solid three.
Hotel guests note that the territory and beach of the hotel are worthy of a good rating. The rooms are rather small, insufficiently lit, with a modest decor, which is not surprising for the old three-star hotel.
Food also does not imply much abundance. This is especially true for meat dishes. But no one has remained hungry, especially since there are a variety of pastries, vegetables and fruits.
All guests note the ideal location of the hotel, the proximity of shops with fixed prices, a large number of quality cafes and places for entertainment.
If you settle in the complex Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort, Hurghada will be much closer and more understandable to you. This area is much cleaner and calmer than in Sakkal and Dahar, and more civilization than in distant hotels, lonely stretched on the seashore.
Older and middle-aged people most value a cozy green area, a beautiful sandy beach and the opportunity to stroll along the promenade before going to bed.
Equally important is the proximity of a duty-free shop where you can get quality alcohol in the first two days after arriving in Egypt.
Young people are enthusiastic about the work of the animation team, daily sports games, contests and discos, as well as the proximity of many popular entertainment venues and clubs in Hurghada. Excellent feedback was received by the diving center and the work of surf instructors.
Fans of diving, all day long disappearing into the sea, note the convenient location of Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort. Reviews of divers say about the quiet and peaceful rooms, the availability of basic amenities, beautiful green areas, an excellent beach and the ability to relax after a swim.
Adherents of a healthy lifestyle note good conditions for sports, a good sauna, Turkish bath, excellent wellness massage and a variety of procedures to maintain good health.
Women highly appreciate the benefits of thalassotherapy sessions and the professionalism of beauty salon workers. Regular guests of the hotel recommend trying thread depilation of eyebrows and the comprehensive program "Kleopatra".
At travel forums they write that if you want to know Egypt better, Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort is perfect for your vacation. Due to its convenient location, you can choose any of the city travel agencies to organize excursions, offering a more varied and cheaper program than the guides at the hotel.
You yourself can go to Down Town, visit the port, Egyptian bazaars, national cafes, try sweet juice from fresh cane, freshly squeezed juices and real Egyptian dishes in small national restaurants.
You yourself can visit any of the city's water parks, go to El Gouna to see Egyptian Venice, and visit the dolphinarium. Shopping enthusiasts will find in this area many shops with souvenirs, leather, jewelry, perfumes and clothes to bring a memorable gift to every household.
And Egyptian black cumin oil, which treats “all diseases except death,” as the Egyptians and Russian residents of the city claim, will help you increase immunity after returning home. Argan oil and jojoba oil will preserve your feminine beauty and prevent premature skin aging. The aroma of Egyptian spirits will constantly remind you of relaxation.
Frequent guests of the hotel note the friendliness of the staff, good command of the Russian language, attentive attitude to children, and special - to regular guests of the hotel.
Families with small children celebrate silence, beautiful grounds, a clean beach with a gentle entrance, and a good entertainment program for the whole family.
The proximity of shops with fixed prices and pharmacies makes it possible to purchase baby food, diapers and medicines.
Near the hotel you can find swings and other children's entertainment. The good work of animators in organizing children's activities is noted.
Choosing a place for your holiday hotel Al Mashrabiya Beach Resort, you must remember that this is a "three stars" hotel, you should not expect from it something supernatural. For the best quality of service and chic rooms with dainties in restaurants, you need to go to five-star hotels.
In Mashrabia, people who are in love with Egypt and the Red Sea have a good rest!