Yasmin Magdouch
My experience was really good. The food was nice and the drinks were good too. I had lots of fun at the swimming pools and played with friendly cats. The animation team was really friendly. Sam the tunisian guy was very kind, funny, welcoming, helpful, amazing and entertaining. He lighted up our whole experience with his big smile. The hotel was very friendly and welcoming. Samah was very helpful and kind. I really recommend this hotel for families.
Christina Johnsen
The food was average. Room service Kept leaving 2 towels when there was 3 of us, gym opened at 10am, booze was awful paid all inclusive spent more on alcohol in the other bar, pestered every day 4/5 times for massage etc, no night time entertainment except y Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, entertainment staff did morning Dane one and afternoon one looked bored, nothing for teens. Staff were lovely. Will not be returning.
Steven Jolliffe
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Review text
We spent a wonderful week at El Karma Aqua Beach Resort in Hurghada over the winter season, and overall it was a fantastic family holiday with guaranteed sunshine, plenty of activities for the kids, and a beautiful beachfront location.
The good stuff:
The resort is kept very clean and tidy throughout – rooms were serviced daily, everything felt fresh, and the pools (there are several) were spotless. The pool closest to the hotel is heated, which was a lifesaver in the cooler evenings. The water slides were an absolute highlight – crazy fun and the kids couldn't get enough of them; no long waits either. The private beach is stunning with soft sand and crystal-clear water right off the pier. Walking out on the pier in the morning was magical – the sea was so transparent it felt like glass. Rooms are spacious, beds super comfy, hot water reliable every day, and no annoying sales pressure ( but make sure at the towel station you get a red flag or you will be disrupted time and time again )
The juice bar by the pool was a nice touch – we got a bundle of 10 drinks for about £20, perfect for refreshing breaks. The animation team did a good job with what they had (though it felt a bit limited – maybe due to off-peak season). Food in the main restaurant was lovely – varied enough that you didn't go hungry, even if it repeated somewhat day-to-day. The à la carte restaurant option (one free meal included) was a welcome change, though drinks there cost extra.
The downsides:
At around 12 years old, the resort could use a refresh in the rooms – they're functional and clean but feel a bit dated (nothing major, just more modern updates would elevate it).
Beer is the local bottled "Five Star" variety with a slight odd aftertaste that took a few days to get used to; soft drinks like Coke tasted fine (not sure if fully local). Evening entertainment started quite late – mini disco and shows were past typical family bedtime for young kids.
Sunbed situation can get competitive, especially with some guests (Russians in our experience) reserving spots early or crowding – we had a couple of minor disagreements but nothing too bad. Snorkeling off the pier was disappointing – not as much fish life as we'd hoped, so it was hit-or-miss.
Things to be aware of:
Avoid using Uber/taxis to town – drivers often ask you to cancel the app ride on arrival, demand cash, and leave you uninsured. Better to refuse and report it.
Small tips (£5 equivalent) to your room cleaner and waiter go a long way – we found it helped secure better pool seats and extra attention on room cleaning.
All in all, this is a great family hotel if you're after sun, sea, slides, and relaxation without breaking the bank. The staff were okay – some smiling and helpful, others more neutral – but nothing ruined the vibe. A little more friendliness across the team and a room update would make it even better, but we had a brilliant time and would happily return for another dose of Red Sea sunshine.
Would recommend for families with kids who love pools and beach time! 🌴🏊♂️
Yasmin Parekh
Very disappointing stay – would not return.
This hotel is not as shown in the pictures and feels more like a one-star hotel. It’s very isolated, around 40 minutes from Hurghada, with nothing nearby. Cleanliness was a major issue: rooms were dusty on arrival, sheets not changed daily, bathrooms dirty with bad smells, tubs not cleaned, drains smelling, and public toilets were disgusting. We booked two rooms and both had the same problems.
Staff were aware of the issues but nothing was properly fixed, even after two weeks of complaints. Communication was poor and management did not seem to care. My daughter has asthma and immediately started coughing due to dust; the hotel showed no concern. Mosquitoes everywhere. Swimming pool was dirty and not maintained.
“All inclusive” is misleading – you have to pay for water bottles and Wi-Fi ($12 per week). Food choices were very limited, bland, and queues were long. Several restaurants were closed, and facilities felt segregated. Sea-view rooms have no lift and are far from the restaurant, unsuitable for anyone with disabilities; we were forced to downgrade our room.
Overall, unsafe, unhygienic, poorly managed, and not worth the money. I would not recommend this hotel.
Tolga Cakar
In general; i have enjoyed my time in there but would definitely like to highlight
PROS:
-Have many different pools (for adults and kids)
-Beach is good
-Enough place for everyone
-Food is okay and many variants
-"Employees are not too much disturbing" and always helping if you ask for smt
CONS:
-Hotel needs a big maintanance for rooms (AC is not enough strong, windows are not really closing properly, laundry is not very clean...)
-They have to find a solution for bad smelling at the some part of the restaurant and floors
As I said, we really enjoyed our time even though somethings are not okay for a 4star hotel. I can understand "the desert" conditions but cleaning is important.
My Booking
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