Common hotel room problems in Egypt and how to deal with them

A guest chose to stay in building 16 in a superior room rather than upgrade. Its bathroom had a short glass shower screen with gaps, so water ran onto the floor and created a slipping hazard. The AC was initially not working and the drain was clogged, but engineers resolved both issues promptly.

It may be best to decline room 2205 immediately: it was reported to have a broken door and a non-draining shower. A move was obtained after about two hours of persistent requests, although the bathroom in the replacement room also flooded.

According to one report, bottled water was supplied to the room only on arrival and was not replenished afterward. A 5-liter bottle could be bought at the hotel shop for about US$2.

Deluxe pool-view rooms 5227 and 5230 in building 5 were reported to have an unbearable sewage odor outside that also enters the rooms. When a move was requested, staff promised a fix but did not resolve it; if assigned this building, it may be best to decline the room and request another one.

There are reports of unreliable cold water in showers: in one case it was available only around 11 pm, and in another it was absent for three days despite repeated reception requests. A TV repair also took six days, so report faults immediately and follow up on the request repeatedly.

Building 20 was reported as a good option in July, with fresh renovation, modern furniture, and a fully refurbished pool behind the rooms. It is among the closest buildings to the sea; the Old Town is about a 23-minute walk away.

A recent guest reported clean rooms with all equipment working, offering a more positive update than the earlier room-condition complaints.

At check-in, a guest with a paid superior room booking was kept for almost 24 hours in a dirty, run-down accessible/disabled room with no proper shower — staff insisted only a standard room was booked despite holding the guest's voucher showing otherwise. A decent room was only given the next day after a confrontation, and even that one had a wall leak with peeling plaster.

For swim-up category rooms, the adjoining pool water is ice cold and doesn't warm up during the day — apparently the hotel skimps on heating. As a result, the pools are nearly empty and the whole point of a swim-up room is lost.

In an old room the toilet tank stopped refilling with water — the guest fixed it herself instead of calling reception. Despite the room's age, bedding was clean and the mattress comfortable: the flat sheet was old and pilling, but the duvet cover and pillowcases were new.

In a standard room (around $8,000, lagoon view) amenities broke down one after another: first the AC stopped working, then the safe, then the door. Guests endured a full day before being moved to another room.

The minibar is normally restocked only once a week. However, if you mention this to staff (for example, at breakfast on the first day), they may start restocking it daily.

Housekeeping complaints: bedding wasn't changed for several days after check-in, and fresh towels were only provided on day three after asking. Before that, staff simply took the wet/used towels off the floor and hung them to dry on the balcony chairs instead of replacing them — reported even by repeat guests of the hotel.

In building 21 one guest reported a very poor bathroom, and the floor cleaner does a sloppy job regardless of whether tipped or not. On the plus side the view is good, it's quiet, gets little direct sun, and the room stays a comfortable temperature.

Reception may claim there are no free pool-view rooms and instead offer a bungalow (around €20/night). One guest who took it found it worn-out with a lawn view, and reported hearing renovation/construction noise around the property.

One room had freshly renovated finishes but old furniture; excellent cleaning still made up for it. A separate complaint was that the air conditioning ran very loudly.

When checking in with a child, the room may lack a children's bedding set and beach towels — these need to be requested separately. Reception staff sometimes write down the wrong Wi-Fi password. Requests to switch to a different building may be denied on arrival day ('everything's full, come back tomorrow').

Buildings 53 and 55 are noisy: there is a towel-distribution booth nearby, a supply vehicle arrives in the morning, and staff talk loudly throughout the day. Not recommended for families with young children.

Insect bites are a serious issue: one guest returned home covered in itchy welts. The source was never identified — possibly bed bugs in the room or insects on the beach. She said she would not return to the hotel even for free.

Room changes at reception are straightforward and free of charge — just ask if you are unhappy with your assigned room.

Late check-in often means getting an old, unpleasant room. A tour guide can help arrange a room change the next day at no extra cost. Staff won't take cash bribes, but small gifts (chocolate, cigarettes, a few dollars) at check-in can help secure a better room upfront. Sea-view rooms should be booked in advance. The building near the beach bar has multiple complaints about sewage smell.

A pool-view room was provided as booked without extra charges. Tipping staff with small gifts after check-in is common practice for better service. Queues are everywhere — for food, sunbeds from 6am. Staff quality varies widely.

Dirty-feeling rooms and barely functioning air conditioning are common complaints. Experienced travelers recommend bringing chlorine tablets to pour down bathroom drains to eliminate odors. Water pooling on the bathroom floor is typical.

Worn-out room decor (old tiles, sealant) doesn't bother everyone if the room is clean. The bigger frustration is food queues and tiny portions — 1–2 pieces per serving, small cups of beer. Some guests stop using the all-inclusive buffet altogether because of the wait times.