| Holiday-Truth Readers Reports |
lynn from sheffield travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomsons
on a family holiday.
There were 4 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 04 2008 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness |  | | Location |  | | Staff | | | Food |  | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: We stayed at the Tropicana Grand Oasis on a all inclusive basis.
The food was not fantastic but it was always hot and we nver went hungry. The freshly baked breads with Lurpak butter was very nice. French fries were served most lunch times but you have to queue for quite a while.
The cleanliness of the hotel was second to none as the staff never stop cleaning it.
The pool area was fantastic and the pool boys saved our beds every morning for us. (Thank you Ashraf and Ibrahim)
The location was fine with a shuttle bus running to Naarma bay.
Entertainment was just for the Italians and Russians although they did ask us to join.
I would certainly visit this hotel again but I do like to see other parts of the world.
Click here for more information on this hotel, resort and region
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kelly from newark travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
portland
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2007 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: The "tropicana grand oasis" was always very clean and tidy, with the cleaning staff working all day.
our room was cleaned everyday, with clean towels and bedding.
There were four restaurants within the complex, an oriental, fish, italian and the main restaurant.
The oriental, fish and italian were all very nice although you had to book a day in advance, in the main restaurant there was always alot of choice but the food hygiene was something else!! There were birds flying around and landing on the food, the chiefs were using the same utensils for both raw and cooked meats, I had chicken on one occassion that was raw...
The location of hotel was quite remote, there were a few shops that were about a 15 minute walk but nothing special, however the hotel does have a free shuttle bus that runs into Naama Bay which you also have to book...
All of the hotel staff were really friendly, the bar staff were great we never had an empty glass all holiday, the pool guys were equally as nice nothing was too much trouble for them - I can honestly say they are some of the nicest people we have ever met.
The entertainment was very all for the italians!
The weather was fantastic for the full 2 weeks always in the 40's so make sure that you use a high factor sun tan lotion or be prepared to get seriously burnt!
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John from Notts travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomson
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2007 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: Just returned from a week in the Tropicana Grand Oasis, weather was great low to mid 40's in the day and mid 30's at night.
Thomson rate this hotel 4 star but I would say its more like a 5 star and definitely one of the best I have stayed in.
We found the hotel to be almost spotless, with staff cleaning all the time.
Room always cleaned properly and they even arrange anything you leave lying around (we returned to the room while the maid was cleaning one day to find the maid on the floor cleaning it, it was clean anyway and didn't need it).
Clean towels twice a day.
The room maids are men but dont let this put you off, they clean to a very high standard.
Food is much better than I expected after reading other reviews, always a good selection and I am very fussy. In addition to the main restaurant there are three others on site, Fish, Oriental and Italian but have to be booked at reception. We tried them all and was very impressed.
Location wise the hotel is at Sharks bay which is a bit remote as it mainly just hotels in this area other than half a dozen shops ten minutes walk away. There is a free shuttle bus that runs to Nama bay though several times a day. So if you looking for a relaxing holiday in the sun this is the place.
Hotel staff are very friendly and we didn't meet a rude one all week, and there is a lot off staff here.
Bar staff are great and we never had an empty glass, after a couple of days it was that good that the bar staff saw use coming and our drinks were on the table when we got there that's service.
Entertainment is a big let down though as its all aimed towards Italians, but at least there something on every night.
Beach at this hotel is quite good as its on site and for this hotel use only as no access from other hotels. Like all the hotels in this area the sea is entered by a pontoon due to corals and the snorkeling area is OK but we found it a bit small and had to swim past the barriers to see more, but most were happy within the barriers.
We would definitely return to this hotel again, if we return to sharm again.
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John D from Chelmsford travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomsons
on a singles holiday.
There were 1 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2007 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: I have just returned from a week staying at the Tropicana Grand Oasis. The weather has been generally great - about 27c day max and 18c night min and mostly sunny, but a little cloud some days and even rain for a few minutes on one day, which is rare!
Overall I have had a good holiday. The hotel is kept spotlessly clean with constant cleaning in progress. I went on my own but had a large room with 2 beds and a balcony and I was was pleasantly surprised.
The staff are generally very friendly and helpful and do appreciate a small tip every now and again. They seem to like the Brits best - there were mostly Italians and Russians whilst I was there, but a fair few Brits too.
The food was a bit better than I was expecting having read previous reviews, but not great. Quite a good choice, but in the main buffet restaurant it's not very inspiring. I had a nice meal in the Italian restaurant (Mamma Mia) and would recommend this as it's no extra cost, but you need to book in advance. 2 good main pools - large one not heated so it was a bit chilly as only March, but bearable -and refreshing!
One important thing to mention about the pool area is the frequent very loud music being blasted out by the (ludicrous) Italian animation team. This drove a lot of Brits mad and when people complained and tried to get the music turned down, they didn't take much notice.
It upset a lot of the British guests, especially the more mature ones, so until/unless this problem is sorted, if you don't like almost constant loud music by the pool and prefer peace and quiet to read/relax etc, this will not be the place for you. It's a shame and maybe it will be sorted as generally the hotel is quite good, but for now it is best to warn everyone.
The entertainment in the evening is pretty hopeless and limited and needs considerable improvement, but you can go into Naama Bay - taxis about £4 or £5 - but make sure you agree a price first.
Hotel is very close to airport but surprisingly little aircraft noise.
All inclusive drinks ie locally produced alcohol - beer was ok, if a bit gassy and red wine quite nice. Spirits not much like real thing but not too bad considering.
Would I go back to this hotel? Maybe yes, as overall I have enjoyed myself but they MUST sort out the obtrusive poolside loud music, should improve the evening entertainment and also try to improve the food in the main buffet/poolside snack bar.
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Chris from Sheffield travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Portland
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 12 2006 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: This was our third visit to Sharm for Christmas and New Year. This was the worst hotel we have stayed in. Although you cannot fault the cleanliness of the hotel or its staff - its the shabbiness that lets it down - we had cracked tiles on our room floor which had to be covered with rugs to stop us cutting our feet. We also had to make sure the plugs were in in the bathroom because of the awful smell coming from the drains and we were woken every morning at 6am by the vast ovens being started - it could be heard all over the main hotel building.
The entertainment was totally geared towards the Italians which came in by their 100's Christmas Eve and we noticed that the entertainment announcements stopped being announced in English after that day.
The food looked nice on the outside but all the meat dishes were as "tough as old boots". We tried the Italian al la carte (a joke!) and the food was luke warm and the starters were lined up in the open air kitchen waiting to be served and there was only us in the restaurant. Needless to say we didn't eat the food as were frightened of being ill.
With it being winter the only bar open in the evening was the Lobby Bar which is in the reception area and total lacks any kind of atmosphere. We spent most nights out in Naama Bay after trying it for a couple of nights.
There are far far better hotels in Sharm to spend your money on afterall this hotel is not cheap in price to visit just cheap in appearance.
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Sooz from Southsea travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomson
on a friends holiday.
There were 5 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2006 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Have just returned from a brilliant holiday at a great hotel.
We were all amazed at how little we spent. The hotel is cash free so everything apart from purchases from the shops in the lobby goes on your room bill.
The hotel and its grounds were spotless and the gardens well attended to. Our room was cleaned and tidied immaculately every day.
Excellent choice in the buffet, although we couldn't work out where the hords of people appeared from at lunchtime because generally everywhere around the hotel was very quiet.
Would definitely recommend trying the speciality restaurants which are included as all inclusive but need to be prebooked 24 hours in advance.
Hotel is set in a quiet area of Sharm but only a short bus or taxi ride from resort centre. Transfer from airport only 10 mins but surprisingly little aircraft noise.
All the staff were faultless, very friendly and efficient. After 2 days the pool boys came to meet us as we entered the pool area with the correct number of towels and proceded to arrange our sunbeds and towels for us.
We have to mention our bar waiter Abdullah - second to none! Next round of drinks always waiting for us - thoroughly deserved his tip at the end of the week!
Agree with other reviews that entertainment was pretty dire although on accasions so bad it was good! Music at the pool was at times pretty loud but only at set times.
Would definitely recommend this hotel and are already planning our return.
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Tracy from Braintree travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Portland direct
on a family holiday.
There were 4 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2006 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: This was our second year at the Tropicana Grand Oasis and were made to feel like old friends. We were given the same roon as last year right by the pool and we had fresh baskets of fruit put in our rooms every few days to say welcome back.
The rooms were as normal spotless and always cleaned to a high standard. Water put in our fridge daily, towels changed daily.
The food is great at all the eateries do not Know how anyone could moan great choice and served by friendly people. The waiters in the dinner hall will just keep bring you drinks whilst you are eating so if you have had enough tell them so. The men at all the bars are also always giving you a new drink before you have finished the last one so very easy to drink to much lol.
The entertainment is not up to much but the shows from outside are great.
Just remember everyone at this hotel works very hard for not alot of money so if you have a few ponds spare let them have it. They will also like a small gift like a pair of sunglasses ect as these are very expensive out there.
All in all I have to say this hotel is like a little piece of heaven and I can not wait to go back in June this year(just 1 week away) I know we will be returning for many years yet.
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Graham A Wilson from Chesterfield travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomson
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2006 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Sharm El Sheikh 2006
Tropicana Grand Oasis -Sharks Bay
As per norm for a beach hotel in Sharm it is on a slope, with four blocks of rooms, there are also some villas nearest the beach.
There is the Pool bar, Sand Beach Bar, and a soft drink's bar on the beach, as well as the Lobby bar. The bar staff are friendly. The drinks do not appear to be of as good a quality as those last year at the Hilton, but measures quite large and new drinks appear before the first is half drunk. The staff is very caring for their customers and special alternate drinks appear when you have Egyptian tummy.
Food
There are three dining areas;
The main dining room,
The Italian restaurant (Mamma Mia), /Snack bar (The Dolphin),
The Beach restaurant which is the Oriental & Fisherman restaurant at night
All have one big hygiene problem birds. Which the staff are aware of but do nothing about, and allow them to eat the food at the serveries.
Breakfast
Sausages not bad, Omelettes/pancakes freshly cooked, Cereals - good choice, Filter coffee/tea free, fair choice of other foods large cake selection
Snacks
Pasta, Meatballs, Salad, Mini pizza,
Lunch
Good choice of meats and vegetables
Plenty of fruit, Freshly cooked pasta, Filter coffee/tea free
Dinner
Ice cream is extra to AI!, as is fresh juices, espresso and cappuccino.
Good choice of meats roasts and in sauces and pies are excellent vegetables not many on offer but well presented, freshly cooked pasta and a Large cake selection
Drink
Espresso and cappuccino extra
Imported spirits expensive as expected
Measures of local spirits very generous but don't taste right, Rum is best local spirit
Beer served in glasses from draught and is very gassy.
All inclusive different for different countries
Italian -no alcohol
Russian/Polish /Czech no wine in bars but with meal
UK/German no ice cream
Pools
Freeform pools + kiddies pool clean but not heated colder than the sea
Gymnasium
Basic 2000 equip + free weights, Equipment tired
Personal trainer an ex Mr Egypt friendly and helpful
Sea
Usual entry via pontoon. A very alive reef, lots of fish. Variable current normally left to right, but does change. Reef has pinnacles on both sides of the pontoon, the one on left has marker buoy as top is about half a metre underwater.
Usual problem of people walking on the coralline shelf
Diving
Werner Lau school on site very friendly and relaxed quite a family atmosphere
Dive courses available at very good rates
Excursions
Local hotel based organiser cheaper than Thomson reps
Thomson support
"Welcome meeting " as usual hard sell of dearest trips. Still have Dolphinella on list despite all complaints for last few years. No local information given except for presence of a few shops 10-minute walk away and about the public beach near the jetty at Sharks Bay, Nothing said about tummy upsets just a passing reference to the "Health and Safety " leaflets. Some information about taxis regarding cost but not taxi safety.
Naama Bay
Accessible by free hotel bus service that is free all day. Yet, Naama Bay doesn't seem as busy this year shopkeepers still trying hard to get you to buy but not as hard as last year, and prices not as cheap.
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Sandra Hedges from Essex travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomson
on a couples holiday.
There were 6 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2006 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: My husband and myself have just returned from a 14 night stay at the Tropicana Grand Oasis in Sharm El Sheikh. Although only graded as a 3 star it is easily a 4 and with a bit of a tidy up in the rooms in could be a 5. We travelled with another two couples and all six of us would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel to anyone. The staff were some of the most courteous we have met. Bar staff in particular were excellent, especially Mohammed, Mohammed Said, Ozi to name just a few. I had read on previous review to tip the odd £1 (10 Egyptian) which we did on our first night. From then on we had to actually stop them bringing drinks, they all remembered our order and the next one was on the table before the first was completely finished. Same with the beach bar, everyone just so friendly. This goes for all the Egyptians we met inside and outside of the hotel.
No problem with getting sunbeds, if they weren’t together the towel man would soon arrange them so they were, again gave these the odd £1 here and there. Gave proper tips out at the end of the holiday to those we thought deserved, which was just about everyone.
Our room attendant was equally excellent, towels changed every day and was happy to get whatever we asked for.
The pool were great, the heated one was the more used and is where they do the games but although the other is not heated, the weather was so hot that we were glad to use that one and it never got crowded.
With the exception of breakfast the food was excellent with a vast choice, especially good was the pasta station. Unfortunately there was no egg station where you were supposed to get egg fried, scrambled, or omelettes etc., as due to bird flu the only eggs were hardboiled, therefore breakfast was limited to continental with a dubious sausage and various pastries. I stuck to toast and bought a jar of marmalade. Not too keen on the cereals. Although they did not seem to mind the birds that flew into the restaurant in the mornings and landed on the pastries, thought this strange bearing in mind their worries on the bird flu.
5 our of our group of 6 got Egyptian tummy but we took the necessary medication with us as we had been prewarned so it was soon sorted. Water is given out by the bottle with no problem so it is easy to keep hydrated.
Snorkelling is simply fantastic, the fish are amazing and all via the jetty from the hotels private beach, no need to go anywhere else.
Unfortunately the only downside is the entertainment and as with other reviews I have to agree that this is geared toward the Italians, who I must say could take a few lessons from the Egyptians and of course the British in manners. Found it best to ignore them. They did have an English duo twice a week who were entertaining but when you have seen them once, three more times is a bit too much.
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Joan & Howard Pockett from Cardiff travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Portland
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 12 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We had a great time at this hotel. Cleanliness, staff, food and location were great. The beach was not as I imagined but was fine. House reef and fish fantasic. Entertainment average although daytime activities a bit repetative.
Spent many an enjoyable evening in the bar. Service was fantasic. Realy enjoyed Kay's birthday when the staff supplied a terrific birthday cake.
Have booked again for March when we will be taking our daugheter, son-in-law and grand son.
Can't wait.
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jim &kay martin from briton ferry travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
thomson
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 12 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: The hotel staff from toilet cleaner to general manager were always friendly, they could never do enough for you, there seemed to be a army of staff either cleaning, serving drinks, putting more food out they were always helpful.
The food was not always hot enough but a quick word with the chef and manager it improved immediately.
The choice was great there were at least10/12 different main courses to choose from i have no complaints at all.
the location was a little bit away from the main resort but 15 min free bus ride there and back you were in Naama bay.
Entertainment was not to my liking and I knew this before I went there so I was't bothered by it I did go to the night shows a few times but didn't stay long. We met up with a few people in the lobby bar and we had great times with them.
Go to the same hotel? Definitely well recommended.
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Nicke from Abingdon travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomson online
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Me and my boyfriend went to Tropicana in October of 2005, whilst the reports of recent terriost attacks would put some people off, I did as much research as I could into going to Sharm, as had heard great things. I choose the Tropicana because of its location and great reviews from here!
Well what can I say.....it was amazing! The hotel looked far too classy for a 23/22 year old, but we had a great time.
The staff were brilliant, making sure your drinks were well stocked, and you never had to lift a finger. The food was brilliant with loads of choice, with many different sections, english, egyption, pasta station, all were fantastic. There was also an Italian restaurant, and although you do have to book in advance for a table, was well worth it as the pizzas were lush! There is also a beach-front restaurant which serves up local dishes, and is a must, just to experience the food!
Entertainment was pretty much non-existence, but we didnt come here for that. If you have small children it could be a problem though, as there was little here to keep them occupied.
Getting into the town itself was very easy, and very safe. The hotel will book return taxi's for you, and they will tell you where the best places are to go. We even found the Hard-rock cafe, which was a great laugh with the pink cadilac from Grease.....The town was very clean, with loads of bars, clubs etc if you do want to venture out of your hotel.
The pools were very clean, and they were the perfect way too cool off after lying in the sun all day!
The rooms were brilliant, air-con, big beds and clean everywhere! Maids came in daily to clean, and even did a little tidy round for us! So we didnt mind tipping them at all!
Overall i would say that the Tropicana was a brilliant holiday, amazing hotel and very friendly staff, would recomend this 10 times over! We also paid a bargain price for it, which made it even better, 450 for the week!
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Alan & Carol from Sunderland travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Portland Direct
on a friends holiday.
There were 4 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: This is the first all inclusive holiday we have had and did have some nagging doubts as to both the quality of the hotel and the food. On arrival at the hotel all our doubts quickly disappeared. The service at the reception was very quick and friendly, we were in our rooms within ten minutes of arrival.
The rooms were pleasant, light, airy and spotlessly clean. Bedding and towels were changed daily and the room and balcony thoroughly cleaned. Air conditioning which was a god-send, television with live premier league football, another god-send.
We did have a problem with the shower, however a word with reception saw this resolved the same day. The room staff were all very friendly and efficient.
Our concerns over the quality of the food were also quickly dispelled. The main restaurant was large enough to cater for all residents at the time we were there. We did not have to queue and were promptly shown to a table. One niggle was the no smoking areas, these were not policed very well by the staff and some people ignored the signs, however when it was brought to the staffs attention the problem was resolved quickly.
At breakfast there is a choice of cereals, eggs cooked any way you wish, fried, omelette's, pancakes etc, plus numerous choices of pre cooked foods, bread, toast (toaster does take some time) croissants etc.etc.
The choice of food at both lunch and dinner is vast there are several areas serving pasta, English food, different freshly prepared food on the open air balcony every evening, ranging from fish, Chinese, kebabs. All in all with choices available there was no need to eat the same meal twice throughout the duration of our holiday.
Outside of the restaurant opening times there is a snack bar by the pool serving salads, pizzas, fish, meats, bread etc.
There are also three other restaurants on the complex where reservations are required: Mama Mia Italian, Fish restaurant and the oriental.
The swimming pool is spotlessly clean, we did not have a problem getting beds and did not have to be up a the crack of dawn. Give the pool staff your towel cards and you will get beds together. The pool bar is open all day and serves beer, wines, spirits, soft drinks, coffee etc.
The hotel operates a taxi service directly from the hotel. A taxi to Naama Bay for four people with a pre arrange pick up time for the return journey cost £10.00 sterling.
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Tom King from Cheshire travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Med Hotels
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We returned on Sunday from this fantastic place and thought we would be wrong not to relay our feelings after reading and worrying so much before we went.
The food is very good, always well presented and generally hot.
The pool is spotlessley clean and we didnt have to be up at the crack of dawn to get four beds together.
The beach is good with amazing snorkelling.
The rooms are big enough, are cleaned everday, fresh towels daily.
We were all inclusive and could get more than enough of everything that we required whenever we wanted it.
The staff are truly lovely people who will bend over backwards to help you if they possibly can. Tipping is at your discretion but little (20LE / £2 ish) and often (every three or four days) will be very gratefully appreciated.
The entertainment is tends to be geared up for Italians and is not to English tastes. It is not intrusive however and we met new friends and made our own entertainment.
I must mention the lads who come around the pool and beach area selling excursions. We were very wary but after using them for parascending, banana boating, an all day boat trip to Tiran Island, camel riding and shopping expeditions can now tell you that they are great lads who do look after you and give you exactly what they promise.
They accompany you and make sure your family are safe and enjoy their trip.
All in all a great holiday and we would certainly go back
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Marsh from Bridgwater travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Panorama
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We had read earlier reviews, and flew out not long after bombings, so were very anxious that we had made the right decision to go.
We were so glad we did though, this hotel is spotless, our room over looked the 3 pools and the entertainment area, with spectacular views from the balcony over to the sea.
The food was delicious, though I must say at the end of our two week stay, I was getting a bit bored of beef, normally I love it, the only down side I would say is that the children's corner had the same 4 items every night, although they could eat anything, they liked to be able to help themselves and the childrens area is set on lower tables to enable them to do that, so we did have to sort the kids, before we sorted ourselves.
Having said that the waiters get to know you if you sit in the same area each night (which you do not have to) they have your drinks waiting for you on the table. The only regret I have is that there should be bigger non smoking area in the restaurant only about 20 tables in total.
The location is perfect for a quiet relaxing holiday, and is all quiet by midnight(if not earlier).
The only down side I have to say is that the animation team responsible for all the entertainment are Italian based and come from either Italy or parts of Russia, so entertainment and humour is based on what they find funny ( not to our tastes at all).
Top Tip
If you see cabaret back drop up, give it a miss, it is the animation team, but if you see the egyptian looking background, don't miss it, it is one of the visiting teams, that show different things from their culture, Brilliant
Caution
If you are staying here for two weeks, you will find that entertaiment is done on a weekly routine not fortnightly, so the second week can be boring as far as entertainment goes.
If you want to get out and about there is a free bus to naama bay from hotel, that runs during the day and in the evening if you want to carry on the party it takes you to it's sister hotel the rosetta where you can party till 3am, and I have to say I never heard any rowdy revellers returning.
The Hotel staff are always very curteous, and happy to help, have to say can not praise them up enough, and if you tip the mustafa 10 L.E (around £1) on your first day he will find you a shade without being asked for the rest of your stay.
Having said that would love to go back to this hotel, and someone has told me there is a British holiday company that will do all inclusive for children up to the age of 14, so am off to see whether I can find them!!
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paul from southport travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
airtours
on a family holiday.
There were 5 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: I can only confirm other recent reviews about this hotel...it's one of the best we've stayed at. The hotel is spotless, the rooms are light, cool & spacious, there's a great range of food but best of all are the staff - they make the holiday.
The entertainment is very average, but there's no pressure to join in so you can pretty much ignore it.
The location of the hotel was ideal for us, as it's quiet and relaxing but near enough to Naama Bay (by hotel courtesy bus it's about 15minutes)to get the hustle & bustle of the main resort if you want it.
Snorkelling just off the hotel beach is fantastic.
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Tony & Michelle from Warrington travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Imperial Travel
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We’ve just returned back from Tropicana Grand Oasis resort following a 2 week holiday for myself, my wife and two children (8 & 12)
We read a lot of reviews on the forums after we booked and were horrified at some of the stories about the food and being admitted to hospital for food poisoning etc.
I can only say that these must be extreme cases because we all had one fantastic holiday at this resort!
Allow me to share my experience systematically for you and hopefully dispel some of the rumours:
Security
We visited the resort exactly one week after the 3 bombs went off in the area just 5 miles from the complex. I have to say, I have never felt so secure on a holiday in my life! All vehicles coming to the hotel have to go over speed humps before reaching the gate lodge, manned with security. At this point, the vehicle is checked, the barrier is raised and a spiked stinger is moved out of the way. The vehicle can then go to the front of the hotel and drop off the passengers. Each person then has to go through security and a metal detector, bags are searched and then you can enter the hotel.
Our agents
We booked through Imperial Travel, I will never use these people ever again and will not recommend them to anyone. They are rude people who haven’t got a clue how to treat customers. They never return your calls and are the most unhelpful people I have ever had the misfortune to deal with. We had 6 groups of people at the hotel reception one morning, ALL of them had issues with Imperial Travel. They wrecked the first 2 days of my holiday.
Staff
The only thing I can say about the hotel staff is that they were absolutely superb. Mohammed Ali being our favourite waiter. We had very few issues with the hotel; those which we did have were addressed immediately. We decided have the laundry department wash some of our clothes so we rang them up and no sooner had we put the phone down there was a knock at the door, fantastic service. A fuse blew in our room, we went to reception to report it and went straight back to our room, by the time we got back the fuse was replaced and the guy was just locking our door!
Food
Don’t expect to go 4000 miles from home and expect the same food! Our kids are the fussiest eaters alive and they found something every day, whether it was chips or a barm cake they ate something! However, we did visit McDonald's and KFC (cheap) in Naama Bay a few times, god it tastes good! There are birds flying around in the hotel, this is inevitable, they’re hungry and there’s nothing outside but sand. I never personally saw them on the food. There are four restaurants at the hotel, the main hall which is upstairs, the Italian (need to book) which is outside at poolside, the fish and the oriental restaurants (need to book) which are down at the beach. My favourite was the Italian, the pizzas were as close to home as you can get J Ice cream has to be paid for at about 60p a scoop, why this isn’t part of the all-inclusive is anybody’s guess.
Drink
As a lager drinker, I soon learnt to appreciate British beer. It took me about 4 days to get used to the lager, occasionally I got a vinegary one which made me decide to go on the shorts. Tip the barman at the beginning of your holiday and he’ll make sure you get good measures. Because of the small glasses, you find yourselves constantly at the bar ready for the next drink.
Transport
There is a courtesy bus (needs booking in advance) which takes you within walking distance of Naama bay ( To the Rosetta Hotel ) every couple of hours, if you ask the driver nicely, he will drop you off at the bay. Return times from the Rosetta are on a notice at the Tropicana Grand Oasis hotel. If you don’t fancy a bus you can take a taxi, don’t pay any more than £5 to Naama bay or £7 to the Old Market or £5 from the Airport to the hotel if you haven’t paid for transfers. You have to haggle with the drivers but this becomes a way of life in Sharm. Taxis usually have no carpets or door panels because the heat has melted them, a ride in a taxi will give you whiter knuckles that the big one at Blackpool J
Pharaohs Revenge
This is the local name for the runs, expect to get them! Most people will, all of us did and everyone I spoke to did too! There are several beliefs as to why this happens; I personally think it’s a combination of a sudden change of eating habits, the sun and the local water. Don’t drink the water from the taps or the pool. Drink loads of bottled water and don’t spend too much time in the sun. This was my approach and I still got it J but it wasn’t too bad so it worked for me I suppose. I know a few people (women) who confessed to me that they got Pharaohs Revenge on purpose as it was a sure way to shed a few pounds J
Entertainment
I thought the entertainment was mostly rubbish! I’m talking from a British point of view, but everything seems to be geared up for Italians and their sense of humour, well, it’s not the same as ours shall we say! Acts are rotated weekly so if you are going for two weeks you will see most acts twice. The animation team (hotel entertainers) do their best and are funny (at times). Don’t let this deter you from sitting outside though, the entertainment starts at 10pm and the skies are really clear and full of stars, the air is warm. I found myself looking up several times and catching shooting stars.
Shopping
If going to Naama Bay, be ready for a shopping experience like never before J The locals in Sharm are very proud of their shops, they engage you in conversation outside (“Are you English? Where do you come from? Let me give you my business card”) along with other lines. Once inside their shop they are determined to sell you something! If they don’t manage to sell you something in their shop, they will take you (by the hand) into their friends shop and hand you over to the shopkeeper who is just as determined to sell you something. Be prepared to barter for goods, a good piece of advice is to aim for about one third of the price they ask for, if they say 300, you say 50 and allow them to barter you up to 100. You need to be strong to get your bargain! I found that there was nothing in the hotel, which wasn’t cheaper in Naama Bay. Eg: snorkels and a face mask were 180 L.E. in the hotel, I paid 60 L.E. in Naama Bay. An underwater camera was 250 L.E in the hotel, I paid 90 in Naama Bay. Even things like the glass bottom boat and quad biking in the Sinai desert were cheaper in the bay! From Naama Bay you can get a taxi to the Old Market for about £2, you can spend a couple or three hours here shopping.
Wristbands
There was some confusion about the colour of wristbands and what they meant. We were given pink wristbands, this meant all-inclusive with any alcohol at any bar. Red armbands were given to Italians, this apparently meant all-inclusive but no wine. Blue armbands were given to Russians which meant no alcohol accept with meals. All bands have to pay for Ice cream (60p a scoop) and fruit juices at meal times.
Hotel facilities
Pool, balls and cues need signing for by an adult, cost is about £1.50 for half hour. Internet is the same (2 computers) Table tennis is free. Kids club is free. Treat yourself to a massage, I paid £75 for my whole family to have steam room, jacuzzi, sauna, mud bath and full body massage. I was told to do this early in the holiday as it helps to prepare you for a nice tan. Aquarobics in the circular pool is free twice a day. Scuba diving can be tried in the pool for free, if you want to go a few meters down in the coral at the sea, you can go with an instructor for about £35.
Visas
We planned to stay in Sharm El Sheikh and not go to Cairo or Luxor or any of the distant excursions so a visa was not necessary. We met a couple who took US dollars and paid $15 each for theirs, they went to Cairo by plane and paid £130 each for the pleasure. Well worth it they said!
Rooms
The rooms were very clean, I never saw any insects whatsoever unlike several continental hotels we’ve stayed in. There is a hot and cold shower, you don’t have to touch the tap and it goes hot and cold J A free safety deposit box is supplied in the wardrobe which is very convenient. Large TV in every room, 3 watchable channels for English people, CNN ch5, music ch 20, films ch’s 21 & 22. A/C in every room (tip) remove your key from the fob and leave the A/C on while you’re out, you’ll appreciate the cool when you return. Small fridge in every room (tip) keep fridge filled with bottled water. Our room was poolside with its own balcony on the ground floor. If your room is down by the private beach, you have a bit of a climb up a long hill to get to the pool and the dining room.
Beach
The private beach is amazing, take your towel cards down with you and get a bed, you must try snorkeling off the pier, the fish are incredible. There is a bar serving drinks throughout the day and into the night. Shisha pipes (flavoured tobacco) can be tried in a little corner near the beach area. You’ll need beach shoes, the sand is very gritty and will wreck your feet.
Pool
We had no difficulty getting a bed around the pool in the first week, as this was only one week after the bomb, the Italians stayed away and it was quiet. The second week we were over run with Italians who claimed their beds early. Just give your towel cards to the towel guys and ask them for a bed, they always find some for you but they may not be exactly where you want them. There are three pools, one main one, one for small children and one for games (pool volley and Aquarobics) There is a bar serving drinks all day and into the night, shutting around midnight ish. Take sandals, the floor can burn the hell out of your feet!
SUMMARY
You may detect one or two moans in the above review, this isn’t our intention. This place is one step away from paradise; we loved it here and plan to return in a few years. The local culture is very different to that of England, embrace this place with an open mind. Our little girl is 8 years old, she got plenty of attention from the local men who wanted to take her picture all the time for some reason with their mobiles. One shop keeper offered us £400 and 5 camels for her, I tried for 6 but he wouldn’t have it, our daughter was mortified at the thought J The heat in August was unbearable after an hour or so, shade is a blessing where you can find it and the fast food restaurants A/C units are very welcome indeed. I’d give the hotel 4.5 stars, I don’t think it needs that much work to give it 5! I recommend quad biking in the desert, you get dirty and it’s a top boys toy! I took about 450 pictures and will be happy to share them with you on request. If you have any questions on this hotel or Sharm itself. We loved it!
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l livingston from plymouth travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
fleetway travel
on a singles holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We found the hotel to be lovely, it was better than we expected to have.
The staff were absolutely brilliant. They couldn’t do enough for us.
It was a little climb from the beach area to the hotel but it did not put us of as we already knew it was there, as it stated it in the brochure. The fish around the reef at the hotel were amazing. We went to have a snorkling holiday and that’s what we got. We couldn’t have been more pleased with where we were, it was like swimming in an aquarium eveyday.we enjoyed it that much we are looking to go again in january06.
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gwen james from aberystwyth travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
odyssey
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: The staff were excellent couldn't do enough for you. Ahmed, Mohammed, Islam, and Machmed in the bar were a right laugh and were very quick in bringing a drink to you. In the restaurant Ibrahim the drinks waiter was very efficient he got to know where we sat and what we drank, we didn't have to order a drink it was waiting on the table for us when we sat down.
Go and see Mahmood in the perfume shop what a lovely bloke he is, beautiful perfumes and a free hand and neck massage, can't be bad.
The entertainment is abysmal unless you are Italian, because that’s all there is. Mostly Italians at the hotel and not very polite at that.
The weather was superb. The only blight on our stay was when the bombs went off in Naama bay, but the security was tight at the hotel within hours.
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Amy from Walsall travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Airtours
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 06 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Me and my boyfriend has only heard good things about Sharm El Sheikh so when this holiday came up we decided to give it a try. When we first got there we were greatful of the short didtance from the airport as after my longest flight to date did not want to be stuck on a coach for 50 minutes.
When we arrived our bags were carried in by porters and apart from the initial rush at the recption to fill in the information cards, the service was very impressive. We left our bags in the porters capable hands and were shown to our room personally. Our bags arrived within 15 minutes.
We then went straight to the restaurant and were given a table within 2 minutes and our waiter had the drinks on the table within another 2.
We were amazed at the choice of food as me being a very picky eater was worried i might have to live on chip butties for a week.
There was well over 30 dishes everynight and these ranged from basic english food such as steak and chips to some very typical Egyptian food. There was a table full of different types of bread and there was even danish butter. The puddings were also amazing. I have never seen so much choice.
We went for a walk to the supermarket which was about a 20 minute walk away but that was really it as far as anything outside of the resort. If you fancied a change from the local drinks available at the all inclusive bar then you were welcomed at any of the nearby hotels and you were only a 10 minute drive away from Naama bay.
The staff in the hotel were as friendly as they needed to be and were there to help if you needed it.
The entertainment wasnt really up to much but it was nice as a background while you were drinking the night away.
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Elaine & Steve Meers from Burntwood travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Sunset
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We can honestly say this is the best holiday we have ever had. The hotel was immaculate the staff( all men! ) never stopped cleaning.
The choice of food was excellent.
The location was great because we don't like busy places but it was nice to be able to get in a taxi for a 10 minute ride o Nama Bay if we wanted to.
The entertainment wasn't very good but then after a hard day relaxing on a comfy sunbed(towels provided) who wants to do anything other than have a chat and a drink and enjoy the company of the other guests.
We went on the day trip to Cairo which was totally amazing to visit the pyramids and go and see Tutankamuns treasures. When we got back there was a lovely little note to welcome us back from our rep Danielle, I thought that was a very nice touch.
How anyone could have anything bad to say about this holiday is beyond me but then there are always people who will find something to moan about.
We would definitely love to go back. PS go snorkeling it is fantastic!
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Karin Bateman from Newcastle travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomas Cook
on a friends holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We were very worried having read extremely bad reviews on other websites but when we arrived at the hotel we realised that there was nothing to worry about.
This hotel is beautiful spotlessly clean with staff that will do anything for you.
The gardens are tended daily.
Rooms are cleaned to a very high standard and beds and towel changed every day.
There is no difficulty in getting sunbeds or parasols just give Ibrahiem your towel card and he will look after you. However if you try to reserve beds using your own towels they will be removed - so see the pool lads and you will get excellent service.
The food was great with a different themed buffet every night in the main restaurant and 3 other restaurants to choose from. You would have to be a very picky eater not to find something you like - but just in case you are there are chefs who will cook a fresh pasta or omlette for you.
The drinks on the all inclusive are fine none of our party had any complaints beer, whisky, vodka and ouzo were all quite drinkable and Ahmed the waiter could not do enough for us (a true gentleman).
Ladies if you like that pampered feeling go and see Mahmood in the bottle shop his hand and face massages are free and his perfumes will make you smell wonderful.
The man in the papyrus shop has a wonderful sense of humour and will give you a very good deal.
Alex who comes round the pool can also offer you trips that your rep cannot these are very professional and well run and good value for money.
Our rep Danielle was extremely helpful she obviously enjoys her job and her enthusiasm for Sharm is infectious. Some reps we were told were not as helpful. She even wrote us a note welcoming us back to Sharm on Egyptian paper after we has been to Cairo!
This for us was a holiday of a lifetime we are trying to go back next year unfortunately we cannot find this hotel in next years brochures but we will keep trying.
Go to this hotel you won't be disappointed
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Colin Berry from Hartlepool travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomas Cook
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Absolutely fantastic holiday, the best weve ever had. Must say we were very concerned about previous posts but we can assure you that this hotel is excellent.
From the moment you check in to the day you leave you will feel like youve had a relaxing holiday.
The location is great, out of the way (15 mins by taxi,(No more than £3)or use courtesy bus)
Food again excellent with loads of different choices every day and i should know im a chef!!
We got Egypt tummy as most people did we spoke to but just got some pills from pharmacy and was sorted in a day.
Bar staff are very helpful as they like the British. Try to tip them 10 Egypt pounds(£1) every day and they will run around all day for you. Ahmed in particular is brilliant, really made your stay a pleasure.
The pool is really good and so is the beach although the sea is a bit choppy for snorrkling, Nama Bay is much better for this.
Excursions are really worth the money. We did Cairo trip, jeep safari and Egyptian nights.
Weather was extremel hot 40-45 c every day and we never saw a cloud (put loads of sun cream in your cases!)
All in all an excellent holiday and we would definately consider a return visit!
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Susan and John from Berwick on Tweed travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Mytravel
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 05 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: This holiday was one of the best holidays we have had. Read the reviews before we left and wondered.
The staff are very friendly and will bend over backwards for you. I have never seen such hard working people before they really did work dawn till dusk.
The hotel is spotless. Our room had king size bed and linen was changed every day and clean towels too. TV too and small fridge. Hairdrier in bathroom also safety deposit box.
The food we found was very good something for everyone. Could not believe the moaners from the uk.
Entertainment team very friendly and if you did not want to take part in team games not a problem. At least it was nice to be asked.
The bar staff very friendly and are very busy .. have patience they will get to you...Overall the holiday was first class.. Poolside slippy when wet.. TAKE CARE..
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Jane Gill from Sheffield travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Airtours
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 04 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: For the price you pay, this is an excellent hotel. The food was great, as long as you dont expect chips & egg! you have to bear in mind that this hotel is full of all nationalities and all have to be catered for.
We ate everyday with lots of options and was very satisfied.
The cleanliness of the hotel was spot on. The rooms were of an excellent standard and size, great to have a fridge for your water (which was laready in there when we arrived!)
The position of the hotel was great, close enough to get to centre if needs be, but nice and quiet.
Didn't stay by pool in day, the beach was far nicer, bit of a hike, but worked off all that beer and food!!
Do the cairo by flight, quad bikes and boat trips, seem little exp at first, but well worth it in long run.
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Janine from near Reading travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Thomas Cook
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We had the most amazing time!!
Hotel cleanliness can not be faulted - the staff are constantly cleaning! Our room was cleaned every morning - clean towels and bed linen (and shower curtain!) everyday. The place was spotless!
The hotel food we thought was very good - especially breakfast! Very wide range to choose from! The service in the restaurant was great, we befriended the majority of the staff! They were all really good fun! We found that as soon as we took the last sip of our drinks, a new one would appear!
The hotel's location was great - it wasn’t overlooked, the beach was great and the corals were beautiful. Out of the front of the hotel was desert and then hills - gorgeous sunsets to watch out there!
The hotel staff were fantastic and very efficient! We had many chats with them! There’s a very nice man in the papyrus shop! The only staff I didn’t like - they weren’t hotel staff, they were the "animation" staff - Italians who seemed to treat the place like it was an 18-30s. There were a few occasions where I had to explain that I didn’t want to play darts through my legs.... my advice is to avoid eye contact with them - you can’t miss them - they have "fabulous" written on their bottoms!
We didn’t really bother with the entertainment, we found that there was enough to do to entertain ourselves!
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carole from perth travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
thomas cook
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: The hotel was absolutely excellent and very clean and in a good location, although what lets it down is the 'all-inclusive' facility. You cannot get another drink while you still have some sitting in your glass, and even when the staff do take your order it seems to take 'forever' to arrive. Ice cream also had to be paid for, as was fresh orange juice in the morning which was 1 pound.(sterling ) per glass. The alcohol all tasted like whisky and there was not an option to pay for branded spirits.
Ther service in the hotel bar at night was disgraceful!
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ron from armes travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
portland direct (thomson)
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 02 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Found this Hotel to be excellent and would go back again tomorrow.
Was not sure what to expect after reading quite a number of negative reports about the hotel but things must have improved considerably as everywhere was spotless and the staff very friendly.
You could always find something nice to eat as the options were very varied. Maybe the only moan is the service for drinks on the night when waiting for 15 mins for the waiter to bring the drinks was almost the norm and the beer was only served in 1/2 pint size glasses if that, and maybe larger glasses would be better.
We stayed in a room near to the manmade beach and you could always get a sunbed without any problem before 10 am after that and when the sister hotels guests arrived by shuttle bus it got to be a bit of a struggle.
The snorkelling off the jetty was fantastic and to cap it all on the second week of our holiday every day we would see a group of dolphins swimming by.
Entertainment was abysmal and the animation staff, all Italian but friendly, which is more than can be said about the Italian holiday makers who must have made up about 70% of the residents - Loud ignorant are 2 words to describe them and a total disregard to any quests for service's as they just barged they way to the front on many occasions. At least most of the staff would put them in their place and tell them to wait.
Naam Bay was just a 15 min shuttle bus away and had many restaurants and shops to visit although the 2 restaurants we visited were only mediocre in my view but other people we chatted to found a few very good, and a steak meal was only around 4 pound.
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mary from wirral travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
direct holidays
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 02 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Just come back from Tropicana Grand Oasis hotel 10 - 24th Feb. Had a fantastic time.
Lots of choice in the restaurant which was very clean and good service.
Our room in the main block and clean towels and bed linen every day. Large room which was kept spotlessly clean. The cleaner worked so hard that I left a smaller tip every few days. (Equivalent to 2 English pounds)
Initially allocated a lovely room near the sea but water not hot and as it was chilly in the evenings early Feb. needed hot showers this would not be a problem in the summer though.
International hotel Italian, Russian, German, French, Belgium and quite a few English guests. Everyone seemed to rub along nicely together.
Hard working animation team who organise various activities at the pool and on the beach. I only joined in with the stretching classes and aqua aerobics towards the end and wish I had joined in sooner. Panicked to shed the excess weight gained by the gorgeous deserts and Danish pastries.
Comfortable sunbeds with mattress and towels provided. The pool or beach guys who give the towels will get you settled and give good service. They do this irrespective of tipping but are very appreciative of tips.
All the staff are men with the exception the hotel guest advisor and animation team.
Snorkelling brilliant. You can hire wet suits or equipment from the hotel dive shop if you intend to snorkel or dive. We had our own and contacted our travel operator prior to going for extra baggage allowance. Most people found the sea warm enough but we usually stay in the water for a long time so felt the benefit of a suit.
No bank or ATM in the hotel but the four season’s hotel next door (very plush and expensive worth going for a look) has banking facilities. Reception will however change sterling into Egyptian pounds.
Main tips are
1. If you have any problem let reception know they are eager to please and will do their utmost to resolve any problems.
2. They will let you in to the dining room approx. 15 minutes before the officially advertised time which is better in terms of sitting where you want and accessing the food before everyone else messes it up. Look at all the food available first and when you are clear what you want go for it. It will still be hot then. Lots of choice, lovely salads (safe to eat washed in mineral water) lovely bread and vegetables. Chips every night if you want them. We had no tummy problems.
3. Book hotel courtesy bus for the nights you want to go to Namma bay well in advance. You can always cancel if you change your mind. This service is in great demand.
4. Use the shared taxi (blue minibuses) where possible they are much cheaper and more fun to share the white knuckle ride with others (usually local people who all move around to ensure you get a comfy seat it can be scary and fun but I hasten to add that I did not see any collisions)
Taxis outside the hotel will ask for 50 Egyptian pounds because not much competition. You can usually haggle this price down but will be stuck if they don’t agree. Might be worth walking down to the main road where there will be more taxis passing. Easier getting back from Naama and sharm because of the amount of taxis competing with each other gives a better deal.
5. I do not drink alcohol but my husband said beer was o.k. but wine was drinkable but a little sharp. I had diet drinks or tea and coffee. I would imagine that if you want good service with the drinks it would be wise to get to know the waiters in the lobby bar and tips would probably assure attentive service. You can go to the bar for your own and not big queues.
6. Snacks only available around the pool area so if you want to be at the beach area we used to wrap a few Danish pastries at breakfast to eat at around 11. Similarly take some fruit at other mealtimes for snacks in the afternoon or evenings. Officially it is not allowed to take food out of the dining room but there are no signs to this effect and I saw others do it although I felt a little awkward at first. Take a bag into the dining room with you if you want to be more discreet.
6. If you do the trip to Cairo by bus the rep. will advise you to take a pillow from the hotel. Do this but remember to hide it in a bag because the reception staff are instructed to stop people walking out of the hotel with towels or pillows and by putting it in a bag will spare you any problems. They will not search your bag.
7. Prices in shops located in the hotel can be reduced with some negotiation. You definitely need to do this outside where ever you go and you will get good deals. Always agree price prior to getting into any taxi or ordering in cafes.
Safe deposit boxes free and a few English channels showing news and movies. (E.g. Titanic, Thelma and Louise, Blues brothers)
Evening entertainment downstairs from the lobby but we did not go or hear feedback. We were content enough to have a few drinks in the lobby watching people come and go. The different fashions are very interesting! Easy to spot the English.
Be prepared for cultural differences. Other nationalities can appear more direct but do not intend to be rude or offensive. Louts can be found in all nationalities although I did not see this here at the hotel or in the resort. We did hear people returning to their rooms at night passing our room and conversations at times were quite loud. Not everyone thinks to remember that others are asleep. If this will be a problem for you take ear plugs or ask for a room out of the main block but remember there are advantages to being in the main block.
We had brilliant weather and came back with great tans.
The Regal Dive folio is worth a read and you will find this at the end of the reception desk with some others. Very informative.
The departure from Sharm airport can be chaotic small airport processing increasing amount of travellers. Plans for an extension in 2006 I heard. Take water and snacks in case of delay. Sometimes long queues to get into the airport and for the departure gates which would be a problem for older or people who cannot stand for very long. Be as prepared as you can.
We had a really good laugh with other travellers which helped. It can be great opportunity to swap info. About hotels and holiday experiences. We would definitely go back to Sharm and this hotel.
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Kate & Mikey from Cornwall travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Can't remember!
on a family holiday.
There were more than 6 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 01 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: I have to say, the photos of this hotel were a lot more impressive than it actually was.
I cannot fault the cleanliness at all, the grounds are lovely and the food is very good for an all inclusive. We went over New Years eve and the effort they made was brilliant, left invites on papyrus on your bed and set up a marquee with walkways with "statues" of the sphinx etc to give the Egyptian feel. The waiters were dressed like ancient Egyptians too, which was very effective.
Entertainment aside from that night though was pretty poor.
The location of the hotel meant that you stayed on-site, the entertainment they had was downstairs in a room with plastic chairs lined up - and very poor singers. Most people did not use this room as it was pretty bad and stayed up in the "bar" area, which is in the main area of the hotel, next to the shops. There was not enough seats for even a 1/3 of the hotel guests and many times, we gave up waiting and returned to our rooms to sit on our patios - remember that this was not even in full season! the service in the "bar" was extremely slow and often they forgot about your order. They frowned upon you approaching the bar yourself and sent you away telling you to get a waiter - which was annoying!
The beach was a bit tricky for access - not at all suitable for disabled people (infact the whole place is not good for disabled people). The snorkeling is fantastic there but aside from that, the beach was not much good - more like something carved out of the rock!
The main pool looked lovely, but everyone there stuck to the smaller one as the large one was not heated and ice cold, which was a shame as it meant that the pool became overcrowded - which didn't stop the entertainment team from starting a waterpolo match - which in turn meant my 7 year old daughter was being crushed by giant Russian men grappling for the ball! Not impressed, needless to say!
They had a lovely kids club which my daughter was enthusiastic about. The girl in charge seemed lovely - my only gripe with that was that it was a bit far out from the main area of the hotel and I could never relax knowing that she was a trek away and not a couple of mins like most kids clubs are.
The free bus into Sharm...the driver took us to the outskirts, nowhere near the shops etc and announced this is as far as he goes...if we wanted to actually get into the real Sharm, we would have to pay him. I am sure this was not the rules, but what can you do?! So watch out for that - ask at the reception desk so you know if that's right or not.
This review probably makes me sound dead miserable and moany!! but overall, I had an ok time there. It will never be a place I go to again because Sharm and the hotel were not what I thought. I enjoyed the snorkeling and break but I was expecting a grand 4* hotel, which this was not. If you can get this cheap, then go for it, but it is not worth paying full whack for. Before you do book for Sharm, be sure to check out resort write ups because Sharm was not at all what I expected and I was very disappointed.
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michael & sheila lamb from blackburn travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
panarama
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 01 2005 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: After reading many negative reports regards the hotel & services on offer, both of us was a little apprehensive about taking this holiday, but we need not have worried, we had a great 2 weeks.
The hotel, staff, food could not be faulted.
The staff (from management to cleaners)could not do enough to make sure that you enjoyed your stay.
There was something to suit everyone’s diet in the restaurant which was very busy but well managed.
The pool and garden areas were well maintained and plenty of sunbeds were to be had.
Overall a good holiday was had by both of us and by the way....we have already booked to holiday at The Tropicana in January 2006...see you there..!
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heath from newcastle travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
sunset
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 12 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Forget the bad reviews on this hotel.
The staff, cleanliness and food were better than expected due to the poor reviews. If you are looking for fish fingers and chips then by all means don’t visit here. However I have a fussy 10 yr old daughter who wouldn’t stop eating whilst staying here.
The entertainment isn’t Butlins and the staff is Italian but are pleasant and do their best to accommodate.
The downstairs bar where all the shows are held is well run by Ahmed tip him well he deserves it.
The location is quiet but is central by means of bus or taxi. You can walk to Sharks bay or the other end of bay where there are new complexes under way.
Best place to eat in Namma is Seagulls near the seafront but don’t buy a bottle of wine it costs 15 UK pounds!
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Natalie from Manchester travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Panarama
on a 18-30s holiday.
There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We stayed at the Grand Tropicana in November, I was ill after a couple of days in the sun but brought myself out of it. From arriving at the hotel I felt like a princess the reception was very impressive the room was extremely clean and staff extremely helpful.
The location is positioned to ensure a relaxing holiday although should you want to go to Naama a free shuttle bus provided by the hotel is readily available.
The night life can be found by the entertainment team who cater for all nationalities, and are extremely helpful and friendly.
I didn’t find that the food was of excellent standard although you are never going to find English food in a foreign country and nothing ever tastes the same. Please remember that it is a Muslim country therefore all meat coming from a pig is not on the menu. (You end up craving a bacon butty on Warburtons bread at the end of the 2 weeks)
The restaurants were a great change and the Italian restaurant was particularly good for Pizza.
I fully enjoyed my holiday and really wish I was still there it is a totally different world that makes you feel extremely special.
Don’t hesitate in going because of bad reports, this place was the best holiday I have ever had.
A big thank you to the Animation team - Carlo, Marco, Sergy, Steve, and the rest of the gang all who will be there for Christmas will be very lucky the entertainment and nights out are all done by them! Please show your appreciation to them for their hard work.
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Harrison from manchester travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
airtours
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 11 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Excellent hotel, staff were very friendly and helpful.
Variety of food available suiting everyone in our family. Fish and oriental restaurants were very good and we highly recommend these.
Rooms were cleaned every day without fail and to an excellent standard.
The entertainment was multilingual and tried to involve the range of nationalities staying at the hotel.
Free shuttle bus to Naama bay if wanted saved on taxi fares.
We had a great time
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paul sue and claire bordoli from leicestershire travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
jmc
on a family holiday.
There were 3 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 10 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: As all inclusive goes we found the food to be very good in the main restaurant, with a good choice. You would have to be a fussy eater not to find something to your liking a little under staffed at busy times so order your drinks straight away
Snacks by the pool were adequate
Evenings you could also eat at Mamma Mias Italian (which was very good for pizzas) Oriental restaurant at the beach was also very good, set meal. Fish restaurant at the beach was the worse meal of the holiday one to be missed!
Our room was kept very clean as was the rest of the hotel(tipping was expected) with the gardens being a real feature in the desert landscape.
The beach was well set out with tiered areas leading down to the sea with a floating jetty across the reef to deep water only. Snorkeling was brilliant and a must for all.
Free sunbeds, mattresses and towels. We had no problems getting sunbeds although everybody gets up early over there (7.00) the pool staff will do their best to find you a bed and a brolly is a must, you only have to ask.
The location is isolated with no walks out, free bus to Naama bay, taxi £4, driving like formula one!
Entertainment poor by British standards but early starts mean early to bed anyway
Diving is a real must at any Red sea resort, dive centre at hotel good
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Malcolm & Jill from EXETER travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
JMC
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We returned from the Tropiciana Grand Oasis at Sharks Bay last week. The food in the main restaurant improved over the two weeks although repetitive. We tried the Italian restaurant one night and it took 45 mins for us to be served with our starter, the service was very slow. We did complain to the restaurant Manager who said he would investigate, we did not try the Italian again. The staff in the main restaurant were quite helpful but thin on the ground. The shower water was brown and we had to swap rooms the second week as the water turned to sludge one evening, even the towels after we tried showering turned from white to brown, we complained and our room was swapped without a problem.
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Baker from Sheffield travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Longwoods
on a family holiday.
There were 4 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food |  | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: The hotel is very impressive when you first enter,but thats just about where it ends.
The restaurant service is terrible..I had to order the same round of drinks from 3 different waiters and it took 45mins to arrive...Terrible service.
The entertainment was certainly not aimed at English..Every night of the two weeks we stayed had entertainment in other than English languages and totally not understandable.
The rooms on the other hand where kept very very well indeed as were the grounds...The male maid was excellent in keeping the rooms clean and tidy, can't praise him enough.
Won't be going back to this hotel...The restaurant service and terrible entertainment has spoiled our holiday.
Also the Longwood rep was terrible...Basically at the welcome meeting..he handed out a map of the place which was in acurate and then asked if we had any questions !!
Longwood...get your act together
Sharm is worth a visit but please avoid this hotel.
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Baker from Sheffield travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Longwoods
on a family holiday.
There were 4 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 09 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: The hotel is very impressive when you first enter,but thats just about where it ends.
The resturant service is terrible..i had to order the same round of drinks from 3 different waiters and it took 45mins to arrive...terrible service.
The entertainment was certainly not aimed at english..every night of the two weeks we stayed had entertainment in other then english languages and totally not understandable.
The rooms on the otehr hand where kept very very well in deed as where the grounds...the male maid was excellent in keeping the rooms clean and tidy, cant praise him enough.
Wont be going back to this hotel...the resturant service and terrible entertainment has spoiled our holiday.
Also the Longwood rep was terrible...bascially at the welcome meeting..he handed out a map of the place which was in acurate and then asked if we had any questions !!
Longwood...get your act together
Sharm is worth a visit but please avoid this hotel.
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stewart roe from leamington spa travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
panorama
on a family holiday.
There were 3 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: A very nice, exceptionally clean Hotel. I was somewhat sceptical when we arrived as I really didn't realise how big it was until we got there. Having said this the queues at mealtimes weren't that bad.
The food was nice in the main restaurant, but got a bit repetive after a while. There were other restaurants which required pre-booking but you needed to be quick off the mark. Once you realised the pace of things you just had to keep up with the Jones's or you missed out. This was a little tedious, especially with the sunbeds!!!
The poolside was lovely and the private beachfront spectacular.
The hotel staff were somewhat stretched, to say the least, around the bars and restaurants, although the room attendants were extremely attentive and did there utmost to please.
The entertainment was a bit naff, the kids were a little bit lost as to what was going on,especially from a translation point of view. It is predominantly an Italian hotel so it was a bit hard on them as they don't speak Italian.
The hotel boasted a number of onsite shops which were quite reasonable in price so long as you used your bartering skills to good effect.
The Hotel had a free shuttle bus which took you to and from Naami bay. This had all the usual shops, bars and restaurants. The kids loved the McDonalds.
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pryce from cardiff travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
med hotels
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 3 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: 4.5 star it is not 3 star at a push. In need of refurbishment. Broken floor tiles, broken chairs rusty, broken slippery steps into water. This hotel says 5 restuarants do not be fooled 1 restuarant acts a 3, with no toilets unless you use the one from the "beach". The beach is not what you think, just a cut out of the rocks then layered with concrete and chippings. No where to walk unless you go back up the hill and that is another story. Grey towels in rooms, ripped and dirty beach towels and sun beds thats if you can get one.
Hotel was clean although we had towels rails hanging of the wall, split bath and dirty toilets. Hotel food very repatitive no good looking for the Al a carte restuarant it doesn't exist. Hotel staff need to be bought. The entertainment was poor and nothing else to do if you didn't want to watch it.
Never again we ledt this hotel after 1 week and would have left after 1 day had we been able to.
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Wilson from Hull travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
Airtours
on a singles holiday.
There were 2 adults and 1 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 08 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Very Nice Hotel, it's 4 stars are about right.
Food was good, unless you are a picky eater, there is always something in the main restaurant to eat. In a morning it is typical cereal, cheeses, meats, pastries and a fresh omlette / eggs part. Lunch and dinner are much the same. Although there are different sections to eat from, Fresh cooked pasta, B/Q, fish and lots of different dishes. If you are a lover of cakes, you will love the puddings, approx 10 different cakes each night, aswell as fresh fruit.The restaurant nees to be better organised, you can easily get a table and food, but sometimes have to wait for a drink. Tip the waiter (10 EP, approx £1), they will then remember you quicker.
Pool area very nice, although you do have to get up before 7.30am to get a bed, you do need to get a brolley, as temps reached 50 degrees + after 12.00pm. Tip the pool boys, who will get you one.
Rooms clean and spacious, cleaned every day. Air conditioning is a god send.
No beach, just a rocky out crop. The snorkelling from this area is fantastic, you will be amazed by the variety of fish you see.
A short Taxi ride to Naama Bay (Approx £4), a nice little town. The shopkeepers are very smart at getting you into the shops, just walk away and say no politely. Hard Rock cafe is brill, at least 50% cheaper than UK, there is also KFC, Pizza Hut and Macdonalds, so you won't go hungry.
Entertainment at Hotel on a night is poor, it is aimed at the Italians, who are about 70% in the Hotel.
Nice Hotel, Egyptian people very nice, food good, Hotel and Pool Area, very nice, entertainment poor and Italians very rude and ignorant.
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Sophie from Brentwood travelled to Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel with
excel
on a family holiday.
There were 6 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 07 2004 |
rated the Tropicana Grand Oasis Hotel as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |
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Sunny Says there
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