Having been to Egypt 5 times in the last 2 years and loved every minute I was really expecting an amazing holiday.
Im the sort of person that would have fun anywhere but based on the fact I had paid considerably more for this holiday I really had high hopes.
Bottom line is you pay for the name, a tiny beach and the worst food choices Ive encountered in Egypt.
I love to snorkel but this was the major dissapointment-there are speedboats pulling up right next to the jetty chucking out fuel-I could taste it!! Go there quick while the coral is still alive-still managed to see a giant moray and spotted ray just off the jetty tho!
I have never bothered to write a review before but felt compelled to as it was these reviews which made me choose this hotel.
I honestly dont understand the people who keep going back-you can get much better for much less!!
If you can get a cheap deal you cant go wrong as it has all the basic needs for a decent break but dont do what I did and pay xtra thinking that means better!(Lesson learned)
happy hols!

Firstly, thanks to all reviewers of the Hilton Sharks Bay - We're with all the positives and now find it hard to understand the occasional negative comment. Each to his own I suppose.

Our plan was to relax and 'chill out' for a week. We had some concerns before going about the heat in June. Temperatures were up to 40 degrees and hot 24/7. Need not to have worried we found the weather sensational. The breeze and low humidity meant we were always comfortable. Not the place to go though if you don't like mega-heat! Little children would need protection. The loungers and parasols all sufficient [if you're up at 7am!] and pool great to cool off.

We had a sea view, double room overlooking the main pool. Fantastic outlook day and night although there is a part constructed hotel next door - little work going on there at the moment and heard no plant noise. Depending on when you go, I'd ask about it as at some point it must have been really noisy and dusty.

Room very comfortable. You come back every day and find your fresh towels crumpled up on the bed - in spectacular shapes! We made an effort to leave our damp towels arranged but don't have the same patience or flair!

All inclusive the way to go - continuous supply of water and drinks. Some reviewers must have very discerning tastes as we found the quality and range very good, all be it non-branded.

Food varied and appetising - as with the whole hotel very clean in all restaurant areas. We did find that the mousse desserts all tasted the same, differing only in colour and presentation. Not a problem for us, we found this amusing. Quantities in Mahfouz as much as you want - we didn't encounter any Russians gorging themselves! In fact occasionally we felt we'd been very generous with our own choices!

Set meals in Il Rustico were nice but typically small restaurant portions. Again you have choice in what/were you eat.

Breakfasts great - chefs on hand to cook your choice; omlettes, pancakes, fried etc, etc.

Waiters all charming, friendly and helpful. Permanent grins!

No pressure to tip anyone at all. We did as advised and tipped those who had particularly attended to us at the end of the week. EL500 seems typical.

Unfortunately many people seemed to have stomach problems. Amazed as we are about how British like to talk about their toilet problems we can say we had no problems at all. We ate and drank exactly what we liked but did take the precaution of using anti-bacterial gel regularly, particularly when around anyone saying they had stomach problems! Egyptian cash notes notoriously dirty. Be sure to use the free supply of bottled water. Even the locals drink bottled water as the tap water is unpurified [but clear] de-salinated Red Sea. My tip for what it's worth is to start your day with a yogurt before whatever else you have for breakfast. It worked for me anyway!

We saw 1 mosquito all week in Il Rustico! The mosquito man was around smoking them out 3 times in the week. Similarly there's a man who does for any ants or any other crawlies. As such we heard only one lonely cricket and saw only one very hungry lizard. Still worth taking repellant though as that one mosquito did get me once on the arm!

The coral reef has real Wow factor. Sensational. Snorkelling quite sufficient for us but can see why this place attracts divers. We took our own snorkelling stuff but plenty good quality gear available to hire or buy. Take [or buy there] a waterproof camera; you'll need it as there's so much to see.

The reef is the star of the place but the staff come close. You don't need lift a finger - your energy's can go entirely into snorkelling and swimming.

Entertainment charming and very camp! The heat of the night never failed to amaze us while watching the shows or having a drink in the sunset bar or at the pool. The 'whirling dervish' was a most impressive and colourful talent.

You can e mail the Hilton for their in house taxi service to collect from the airport [£6/EL600]. We found our transfer bus fine - to and from hotel in 10 mins. The transfer bus was free.

Sharm airport was fine - toilets no different to facilities in UK airports for cleanliness. Through security and customs very efficiently. Remember to fill out the card given to you at check in on departure to hand to passport control. Use the complimentary pen you'll have taken from your room!

Anyway - hope this has been helpful. We'll go back some day confident that the Hilton provides everything you need for a great holiday - to relax like us [with occaisonal bursts of high energy!] or for the more adventurous, this seems to include going to Naama Bay!

Have a great time - We'll look forward to reading of your experience!

I am a 21 year old girl who went to Sharm with my parents and my 19 year old brother for 5 nights after having gone to Cairo.

On arrival at approximately 2pm we were taken to our rooms (a twin room and a double room) which both had beautiful sea views! The rooms were clean light and airy! Generally the rooms were kept clean, towels replaced and even towel sculptures made on the made!

The resort itself is located near the beach in Sharm el Sheikh which is purely a tourist resort and we were told very few people live in the area. It is huge with over 1000 rooms and has several bars, near the beach or the pool etc. It also has tennis golf etc which is offsite across the road. There are 4 pools, one having a water slide for kids, another 2 smaller ones by resident areas and a large main pool. There are several sunbeds around the pools and on the beach and you can reserve them by getting your pool towel and placing on the sunbed early in the morning but be warned the attendants can remove them if you leave them unoccupied for a long time!

The food is varied and there are two restaurants which serve different foods. Each night there is a different theme e.g. oriental, international, indian and the other restaurant is an italian restaurant which makes lovely fresh pizzas and grilled chicken.

Generally the service was excellent with the waiters attending to your every need, and the animation team providing entertainment every night!

There are two places to visit in Sharm; the old market and Naama Bay. To go to the old markert the hotel was chargin 160LE (£16) for 4 of us there and back but outside the hotel there are many blue and white taxis which area reliable and only charged 100LE. The old market is well worth going if you want to shop for souvenirs. The shops onsite at the hotel are very expensive in comparison. At the old market I managed to buy mugs for 25LE, papyrus paintings for 40LE, a complete quality shisha set for 150LE and perfume for 1LE per ml.

We went to Naama Bay at night as it has a lively nightlife with shisha outdoors, shops still open and bars and restaurants! We took the shuttle bus from the hotel for 120LE return for 4 of us.

Be warned that Sharm is much hotter than Cairo at 38 degrees and peak at around 2-4pm.

Overall this holiday resort is a comfortable, clean, great resort to holiday at and provides great service!

We stayed at this hotel for the 4th time from may9th -may 24th and we are returning Sept 2008 for another two weeks so does that not say it all. This will be our 5th time! Anybody can go on holiday and moan about something, some im sure go on holiday to moan you always meet one! We can honestly say we would recommend this hotel the staff are 5* and rooms are very nice, the food does become a bit repetitive but is always fresh anyway its so reasonable to eat out and its nice to go nama bay. We have never had a problem getting a sunbed so dont know what others mean by that. Best of all you can guarantee the sun and a great tan,