Sindbad Club

The Sindbad Aqua Hotel & Spa one of three resorts within the Sindbad Club, a massive beachfront property home to a water park, several pools, dozens of dining and drinking options, a kids’ club, a spa, and a fitness center. Each hotel has its own lobby, hundreds of rooms, at least one restaurant, several bars, and a big pool. The Sindbad Aqua Hotel & Spa has a quieter vibe than the other two resorts -- there is no loud entertainment here, no water slides, no beach, and only one large pool with a kiddy section, which means most kids spend their days at the other properties.

The lobby is light and appealing, if not exactly contemporary, with cream-colored floors featuring brown geometric designs here and there, large windows overlooking the grounds, and a few plants. Off to the sides of the main lobby are long wings with seating and elevators. Some of the seating areas offer tables where guests can be seen on their laptops or phones, as Wi-Fi is strongest here. The main pool deck is spacious and appealing, with large straw umbrellas, padded loungers, and plants. Despite this being the more relaxed of the property's hotels, this spot still mostly draws families.

The hotel is located right in the heart of Hurghada's promenade, a wide street lined with shops and fast food eateries. A private beach at sister property Sindbad Beach Resort, located right across the street, can be reached on foot in less than five minutes. There guests can find dozens of loungers, straw umbrellas, and a diving center with lessons and day trips. Otherwise, little else of interest can be found within easy walking distance, but proximity to El-Nasr Street and the promenade offer easy access to attractions such as the Hurghada Marina, the Old Town, and the Grand Aquarium, all within a 15-minute drive of the hotel. It takes less than 10 minutes to drive to the airport. 

The hotel has 610 rooms, and all but a few Standard units have furnished balconies overlooking the grounds. Decor is plain and dated throughout, with simple oak furniture, cream-colored walls, and generic soft-hued artwork. Gleaming beige floors and a few burgundy or yellow accents give things just a bit of personality, but the overall feel is a little basic and old-fashioned -- particularly the green marble surfaces on certain tables. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, empty mini-fridges, safes, and individually controlled air-conditioning. All but Standard Rooms also have robes, slippers and electric kettles, and Junior Suites have soft drinks and water in the fridge (replenished daily) and DVD players with free movies. Most bathrooms are in need of an update, with basic showers, older wall-mounted hairdryers, granite counters, drop-tile ceilings, and traces of shoddy repairs. 

As part of a larger resort development, there are a number of features available at this hotel. The Aqua hotel itself has one large pool complete with a kiddy section, lots of big straw umbrellas, dozens of padded loungers, and access to a bar serving drinks and a few snacks. There is no entertainment here, but a kids’ club with daily activities and a playground keeps children busy. Guests also get free access to all of the amenities found at neighboring sister properties, including several other pools, a water park with slides and water features for kids, and a private beach with a diving center. The spa has several treatment rooms, three types of hammams, a hot tub, and a sauna, and the fitness center offers an array of up-to-date cardio and strength-training machines. Those who prefer to work out outdoors can book several clay tennis courts (there is a fee for floodlights), or play volleyball or table tennis. There are over a dozen dining and drinking options throughout the development, ranging from international buffet restaurants to burger joints and bakeries, but food generally gets mixed reviews. All-inclusive and other meal plans are available. While Wi-Fi is technically free throughout the property, it doesn't always work in certain parts of the resort.