Is Swissotel Hurghada worth the price? Honest guest review

A recent guest says Swissotel’s rates have risen substantially, but the experience falls short of the advertised Ultra All Inclusive level: it feels more like a standard four-star hotel, with very limited entertainment.

The hotel has no pier. According to a guest, a small surcharge may only secure a room-category upgrade; a separate second room has to be purchased through a tour operator.

Posh Club category rooms are sold via tour operators only when available — swim-up rooms sell out very fast. A 'cascade' sea-view room, despite the name, isn't considered truly luxury. In high season Posh Club can be fully booked, making relocation there impossible even on request.

The West building is 16+ only (adults-only). Room categories are priced in ascending order: comfort, premium, deluxe. If only deluxe rooms are listed as available, it means the cheaper categories are already sold out. The hotel reports around 80% repeat guests.

For families with a child: a Superior room with a sofa bed costs the same as a room with a bunk bed, but the Superior is in a newer building. On-site, you can pay extra to switch room category.

The hotel has only 2 water slides. Newer rooms are available but cost more; travellers prioritising a water park could consider the neighbouring Albatros Aqua Blu, although reviews there also mention food-quality concerns.

The hotel isn't overcrowded: sunbeds on the beach are usually available, and lunch queues are short.

A guest compared Swissotel to nearby similar-level hotels — Sunrise Garden or Mamlouk: similar check-in experience but a livelier atmosphere; downside — no bottled beer.

Check-in at Swissotel can be a lottery even at this price point: guests have been offered rooms in a different building or lower category than booked. Refusing typically results in the correct room being provided, but it requires persistence. Tip: don't accept the first room offered, especially after a night flight — ask to see several options before settling in. Guest relations and front desk staff have been criticised by multiple guests for poor attitude.

The hotel has 4 pools, 3 restaurants open for lunch and 6 for dinner, spread across the grounds. Guests travelling with children note that Swissotel is one of the few viable options in this segment — nearby alternatives such as Kaisol or Premier Le Reve do not accept children.

Corner rooms in building 2, ground floor are a good option for families. Family rooms are available for an extra charge — lower surcharge in buildings 1 and 6, higher in buildings 2 and 3. At 100% occupancy there is still a chance to switch rooms; at 120% it becomes unrealistic.

Club rooms in the renovated older building are more spacious and rated higher by guests than standard rooms in the newer buildings. Standard bookings are typically assigned to the new buildings.

The Thai restaurant at Swissotel is not included and requires an extra charge — disappointing given the hotel's premium price. Recent 2026 reviews are generally mixed.

Multiple guests report cleanliness issues at the hotel — not just cigarette butts but general untidiness noted by several independent reviewers.

A second-row room away from the main entrance and dining area turned out to be quiet and spacious. Even with music playing elsewhere in the hotel, there was no noise at night — a pleasant surprise.

The beach (first row) is a 15–20 minute walk from the hotel, or reachable by buggy which runs frequently. The dining area is 5–7 minutes from the far rooms — guests consider this a plus after a big buffet.

The buffet food is varied and tasty — fish, crab, meat, grill, pasta. Specialty restaurants require booking 2 days in advance; by the day before, they're fully booked. One guest managed to visit only 2 restaurants in 7 days.

In-room Wi-Fi is weak and unreliable — the hotel has installed signal boosters in some rooms, but not all rooms have them.