Empire Beach Aqua Park vs Zahabia Resort in Hurghada — which is better for families (beach entry, food)?

The names are easy to mix up. In July 2026 a participant explained that Empire Beach Aqua Park is the notorious 3-star hotel where, in his words, guests are treated appallingly. The 4-star high-rise on the shore is called Royal Star Beach, and the town property is simply Empire Aquapark. The Royal and Beach hotels are on the first line, both with their own beaches.

In July 2026 Zahabia was called clearly the better of the two. Its main advantage is the large beach. There is a lagoon with a sandy entry that suits children and non-swimmers, a decent reef further out, and a snack bar on the beach. In the participant's view, the food at both hotels is about the same.

More detail on Zahabia from another participant (July 2026): French fries for the kids are available every day. The sea entry is a mixed bag — the main beach is shallow, below waist or waist deep. The hotel's highlight is the reef, reached by a ladder; it is on the left, beyond the buoys.