Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
The Oberoi at Sahl Hasheesh is a luxurious, all-suite resort on Egypt's Red Sea coast.
Set in 48 acres of palm-filled grounds about 6 miles south of Hurghada, the hotel's design is inspired by traditional Arabian architecture, with shady marble colonnades and domed pavilions.
The suites are located in bungalows scattered around the grounds. All are spacious and have private courtyard-gardens and luxurious bathrooms, while the superior suites also have their own pools. The resort's large main swimming pool overlooks the sea and a long stretch of private sandy beach. The excellent Banyan Tree spa offers a range of massages, treatments and beauty therapies, plus a sauna and steam room. There is also a state-of-the-art gym, a tennis court, a kids' club featuring bowling, slides and mini-basketball, and a golf course 20 miles away.
Other activities include desert safaris and full-day excursions to ancient Coptic monasteries or to Luxor. Fine Mediterranean and Oriental cuisine is served at the main restaurant, which has views of the sea. There is also an Indian restaurant, an al fresco poolside restaurant, and a bar.
Why We Love It
There is an in-house dive centre operating snorkelling and diving trips to the world famous coral reefs of the Red Sea.
Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh
Located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, the Four Seasons Resort at Sharm el Sheikh provides luxurious accommodation and a first class range of facilities.
The hotel consists of a cluster of whitewashed villas set on a hillside overlooking the Red Sea. There are 136 guestrooms and 64 suites, all of which have a private balcony or terrace, and the hotel is extremely family-friendly, with good facilities for children. There is also a 100-metre stretch of private, white sand beach.
A Daniela Steiner Spa offers a comprehensive range of all-natural treatments and massages, as well as a sauna, steam room, and gym. Several restaurants offer a choice of Middle Eastern and Italian cuisine. An excellent dive centre provides diving instruction and daily visits to multiple dive sites, including the beautiful underwater world of the Ras Mohamed Marine National Park. A variety of other water sports are also available, while on land activities include volleyball and tennis on four floodlit courts. There is also a golf course nearby, and the hotel can organise a variety of excursions around the Sinai Peninsula, from camel rides in the desert to day-trips to St Catherine's Monastery.
Why We Love It
The snorkelling at the hotel is superb, and if you're lucky you might see George, an enormous Napoleon fish who makes the occasional appearance.
Mena House
Mena House is the great, colonial era hotel of Cairo, with an incomparable setting in the shadow of the pyramids at Giza, 10 miles from the city centre.
Built in the mid-19th century, this historic building was originally the hunting lodge of the Khedive of Egypt. Today's hotel, set in 40 acres of landscaped gardens, retains an air of old-world grandeur. The interiors are decorated in traditional style, with arabesque design and furnishings. Most of the rooms are housed in the Palace and Garden wings, those with views of the pyramids obviously being in strongest demand.
Facilities include a large outdoor pool, tennis courts, a gym and an 18-hole golf course right on the doorstep. Horse and camel riding is available at the stables, and the entrance to the Great Pyramids - the only surviving wonder of the ancient world - is just a few hundred metres away. A choice of several dining options includes garden and poolside restaurants and an excellent Indian restaurant open in the evenings. There are also two bars and a nightclub.
Why We Love It
The Moghul Room is an outstanding Indian restaurant, and extremely popular as a result, so ask us to reserve you a table before you arrive.
Four Seasons Nile Plaza
Set on the banks of the Nile, the Four Seasons at Nile Plaza is a stylish and contemporary hotel.
All of the rooms and suites are spacious and offer panoramic views across the Nile to the island of Zamalek and beyond, or towards the 12th-century Citadel. An extensive outdoor terrace features three heated swimming pools, while the spa offers a comprehensive range of massages and all-natural spa treatments, as well as a sauna, steam room, whirlpool and indoor pool. There is also a 24-hour health club with state-of-the-art fitness equipment. Four restaurants offer a choice of cuisines, from Mediterranean to sushi and regional Middle Eastern specialities. Cairo's main attractions are within easy reach, and Nile cruises or visits to the pyramids can be arranged.
Why We Love It
The hotel's spa is the biggest in Cairo.
Kempinski Soma Bay
Built to resemble a Moorish fortress, and promising “European hospitality with an Egyptian flavour”, the Soma Bay resort from the tried-and-tested Kempinski group is an excellent Red Sea option for families.
Facilities are extensive, as you would expect from a slick chain hotel of this size, with four restaurants, three bars, a large health club and spa, four tennis and two squash courts, and a large natural sandy beach. All bedrooms have a private balcony, flat screen television, and air conditioning.
Whether eating inside or al fresco at the hotel's main restaurant, diners have spectacular views of the Red Sea and the mountain range beyond. Snacks and informal meals during the day can be taken at the pool or beach bars or restaurant.
Why We Love It
Soma Bay is a superb location away from the height of the tourist hubbub in Sharm or Hurghada - yet still offering, like its better-known near neighbours, world-class diving, a great climate, and easy accessibility.