Reef Oasis Beach Resort

I knew what to expect: the hotel is located at possibly the most accessible exquisite stretch of coral reef in the whole area of Sharm. It is suffering from the temperature shift of the water, the colours are a bit less luxurious then they used to be, but it is still a yearly experience I look forward to every time! I have stayed at this hotel several times over. And as to the quality of its infrastructure, the years of continuous use are showing: broken plinths, signs of usure at the furnishings, in fact: use by wear. But the gardens still look perfect, the rooms are well maintained, the restaurant is well stocked. And the staff is eager to please ( although now and again, some individual members make it clear that they behave that way in expectation of the bakshish at the end of the stay!) And I must say the public has improved! A few years ago the whole area seemed to have been taken over by Russia. With its consequences: showers of wodka and alcohol, plates filled to overloading ( with the result that - if you came late - the remaining choice was restricted, whereas the food left untouched on the tables was repulsive!). Now there seems to have been a shift towards Ukrainian guests, with improved manners resulting! And a new public is about to make its presence: an important Italian company has got a big foothold in the hotel, (and the staff is already speaking Italian!!!)

I am fully aware that large buffets are nothing akin to culinary excellence, but some things only need to be assessed to result in immediate improvements. The wobbly tables in the seaside restaurant are a sore: you touch the table and the drink in your glass risks overspilling! (Instead of 4 dots under the table, make it 3 equidistant, and the tables will stand as a rock!!!) And as for the drinks: the - thick, because heavily challenged! - glasses are clean - they go through a dishwasher - but they come out warm, and then you ask for a cold drink and worse still - a white wine! No big quality wine, understandable in a muslim country where everything alcohol is shunned! But getting a very moderate white wine in a warm recipient... I'm afraid in Europe this would mean a shutdown!

The well designed resort, best food ever.

Check in was bad. They were trying to give out the smelly blocks to people who check in through booking.com. Resort was basically for italians and ukranians only in terms of entertainments.... Running gasoline shuttles to transfer the people was a surprise. They could use battery charged cars instead of those ones to have a clean place for tourists to relax. Only one egg station for breakfast made the line up so crazy...