Stella Di Mare Beach Hotel & Spa

It's immediately obvious upon first setting foot in the Stella Di Mare Beach Hotel that it's one of Sharm El Sheikh's more distinguished hotels. The lobby is striking with its elegant blend of polished marble, cherrywood columns, and smart Art Deco vibe that continues throughout the main building. A pair of pod-like elevators ferry guests up the lofty central atrium above a pond brimming with koi carp and towards a dazzling domed ceiling. The grounds are no less impressive, with meticulously tended gardens dotted with royal palm trees, bright pink bougainvillea, and neatly trimmed shrubbery. Spacious sun terraces with rock waterfalls are lined with impeccably manicured lawns and meandering paths that wind down to the low cliff-edged beach and coral reef. Levels of service are also high contributing to the high-end ambience, and there tend to be more couples than families, meaning that the vibe is more peaceful. 

The hotel is perched on a low cliff close to the southwest entrance to Naama Bay -- Sharm El Sheikh's central tourist hub full of restaurants, shops, and buzzing nightlife. The bustling town center is just about within walking distance, though the hotel offers a fast and free shuttle service. The Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is about a 20-minute drive (guests can be picked up for an extra fee) while the area's second entertainment and nightlife center, Soho Square, is around the same distance away. 

The hotel has almost 300 rooms, all of which are traditionally styled, if a bit bland, with dark wood furnishings, plaid bedding accents, and Art Deco touches. Tile floors extend to furnished terraces or balconies -- many with lovely sea views -- while bathrooms are clean and spacious with granite-topped vanities and shower/tub combos. Amenities include tea/coffee facilities, minibars with soft drinks, bathrobes, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Although rooms have free wired Internet access, there's no in-room Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms have the same amenities only tend to be larger with better views -- especially those on higher floors.

The elegant La Terraza is the hotel's main restaurant, located on the third floor and serving buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a superb sea-view terrace. There are two a la carte restaurants, one offering Mediterranean fare and the other Asian cooking with an impressive cliff-top deck. A selection of bars offer everything from beachside cocktails to an adult-only lounge, while an Italian-style gelateria serves homemade ice-cream until sunset. Nightly entertainment is put on for guests -- usually live music -- but quality can be inconsistent.

The hotel has two main pools, one with a swim-up bar and sea views, and the other featuring a rock waterfall. There's also a small splash pool for kids. While the Stella di Mare lacks the water parks found at some more family-focused resorts in the area (such as the Sea Club Aqua Park), it does offer a kids' club and games room. There's an artificial sandy beach with steps down to two jetties (one fixed, one floating) to help snorkelers explore the coral reef just offshore, as well as a dive center for those wanting to scuba. A large spa provides pampering opportunities with massage treatments, hot tub, and sauna, and there's a fitness center as well. There's free (intermittent) Wi-Fi in the lobby, which also extends to parts of the pool areas. A tennis course can be found on-site as well as a nine-hole golf course right next to the hotel (though with steep green fees).

An optional all-inclusive plan covers buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main restaurant, though a la carte eateries can incur an extra charge and must be booked in advance. Unlimited locally produced alcoholic and soft drinks are included with premium and imported brands costing extra. Snacks are also made available at set times during the day.