Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort

From the outside, the Hurghada Marriott Red Sea looks more like a mall than a hotel, and while the hotel is a pleasant enough seaside stay, the architecture is a clue to the generic ambience here. Inside, the lobby is a bit more impressive, with gleaming floors and walls, high ceilings, and several couches in blue hues with white throw pillows. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of a small patio with a few tables and lots of plants where guests can be seen in the evening with a drink or smoking a shisha. While not lush or particularly stunning, the outdoors are pleasant, especially the beach area, which has a walkway connecting the hotel to a small artificial island with additional loungers and a massage hut. The pool area is a little plain, though, with just a concrete deck with a few palm trees, a kiddy section, and plastic loungers under straw umbrellas. Overall, the resort doesn't exactly live up to some of the brand's higher standards -- interiors and style are verging on dated throughout -- but it's a fine enough pick with a solid location. The Marriott Red Sea is a popular pick among families, but the atmosphere is generally relaxing. 

The hotel is located on a sandy beach on the northern edge of the resort area in Hurghada. There are a a few shops and restaurants within a 15-minute walk of the hotel, but most buildings around it are other resorts. While there isn’t much within an easy walk of the hotel, this location offers easy driving access to more shopping and dining options a little north, in the area closer to the Hurghada Marina. Hurghada Grand Aquarium and the Old City -- home to bars, restaurants, and a couple of tourist attractions -- are each less than 20 minutes away by car. There are water parks in the area, handy entertainment for those traveling with kids. Jungle Aqua Park is a 20-minute drive away, and it will take 30 minutes by car to reach Makadi Bay Water World. The Hurghada International Airport is about a 10-minute drive away.

The hotel has 281 air-conditioned rooms, all offering at least partial sea views, and some with full beach views. Rooms are simply styled, with a traditional look that includes older beige floor tiles, more contemporary -- if generic -- dark wood headboards with clean lines, and mid-tone wood tables with old-fashioned granite counters. Soft rugs with turquoise and navy patterns add some style, but the overall look lacks any pizzazz. In fact, some rooms have outdated seating with oak-hued paneling, like the Neptune Suite that we visited, which doesn't make for the freshest look overall. These upgraded rooms do have white marble surfaces, though, and marble floors, giving them a nominal touch of elegance. All rooms are spacious, with even entry level rooms offering 344-square-foot floor plans (32 square meters), though this does include the terrace. Each unit is equipped with a flat-screen TV, a minibar, an electric kettle with a small selection of teas, and an electronic safe. In-room Wi-Fi is available for a fee, and turndown service is offered daily on request. Bathrooms are clean and spacious, but the granite counters, basic shower/tub combos, and wall-mounted hairdryers could use an update.

Of course, the main attraction at this hotel is its beach, a private stretch of sand, offering free towel service and dozens of loungers and straw umbrellas. A small artificial island connected to the hotel via a long footpath offers additional loungers and umbrellas, as well as a small hut for outdoor massages. Indoor treatment cabins, a sauna, a whirlpool, and a steam bath are available at the spa. The hotel’s heated pool features a separate kiddy section and a bar offering snacks and drinks throughout the day. There are four other bars here, some with outdoor seating, and one with panoramic sea views. Of the three on-site restaurants, Tuscany, serving Italian food in a large dining room decorated in a classic style, is the one that gets the best reviews. The rest are just average according to most guests. All-inclusive meal plans are available, and the breakfast buffet gets solid marks, even if it's not included with all rooms rates.

Located in a separate area across the street from the main building, the fitness center offers an array of cardio and strength-training equipment. Adjacent are the tennis and squash courts, which guests can use free of charge. The Marriott Red Sea also offers a kids’ club with daily activities, a full entertainment program for all ages, and almost 5,000 square feet of meeting space. Parking is free on-site. Wi-Fi is only free in the lobby, and subject to fees elsewhere in the hotel.