Movenpick Resort Sharm el Sheikh

We had a really enjoyable stay at Mövenpick Sharm El Sheikh, and there were definitely some highlights that stood out.

The hotel staff were wonderful. They were genuinely friendly, chatty and attentive, and several of them went out of their way to remember us and our usual orders. The gentleman at the main reception bar and the head chef at Siwa Restaurant were particular standouts, both were incredibly friendly, funny and made us feel very welcome. The event staff were also lovely, and it was great to see them getting involved themselves, including doing a Zumba session in one of the bars.

The beaches are beautiful, and despite the size of the resort, we never had an issue finding somewhere around the pool or on the beach. There was plenty of space throughout our stay.

I was initially quite nervous about eating buffet food while abroad, but I had absolutely no issues during the whole trip. The chefs are clearly very good, and the quality of the food was excellent. As someone who needs to be careful with gluten, I was also really impressed with the allergen labelling. There was gluten-free food available and the allergen information was better than what I often see in the UK. Everything was clearly labelled, which made eating much less stressful.

I'd also seen several reviews mentioning that only 1.5L of water per day was provided in the rooms. While this may be true for the initial room allocation, water was very freely available throughout the resort if you asked for it, so we never found this to be an issue.

Areas that could be improved

The biggest concern for me was hotel security. At the bottom of the hill there is a security checkpoint, but guards use what appear to be fake bomb-detection devices (often referred to as "golf ball finders"), alongside metal detectors walk through gates. However, the metal detectors could easily be avoided, and when the alarm went off, we didn't see security staff investigate. I'm sure there are other security measures that guests don't see, but from a visitor's perspective, the entrance did not feel particularly secure. Given the current security concerns many tourists have when travelling, I think this is an area the hotel could significantly improve.

The other major negative was the external activity and entertainment staff. This was particularly frustrating because the actual Mövenpick employees were fantastic, but the people from outside the hotel offering activities gave a very different impression.

They would regularly walk around the sun loungers trying to sell photo packages, massages and other activities and were extremely persistent. There were signs on the sun loungers indicating whether guests wanted to be approached or left alone, but these were frequently ignored. On some days, we'd have three different people approaching us within an hour. When you're trying to relax by the pool or on the beach, this became quite distracting and was probably the biggest annoyance of the holiday.

I also felt the hotel's own activities were a little lacking, particularly compared with other hotels nearby. We had friends staying at other resorts in the area and they seemed to have a much better range of activities. Mövenpick had one pool party a week for a couple of hours, which was by far the best activity we experienced, but other hotels were offering things such as foam parties and dance classes. A lot of the Mövenpick activities also seemed geared towards children, despite there not being particularly many children around during our stay. There were also occasions where an activity was advertised as one thing but turned out to be something different when we arrived, which was disappointing.

The drinks were also inconsistent. The bar staff themselves were lovely, but the quality and taste of drinks varied considerably depending on where and when you ordered them. I could have the same drink one day and it would be excellent, then order it again from the same bar another day and it would taste completely different.

Finally, as many other reviews have mentioned, the all-inclusive offering isn't really all-inclusive. There are certain drinks and foods that aren't included, and some bars charge extra for drinks that appear to be the exact same drinks available for free elsewhere in the resort, simply because those bars are closer to the sea. I don't mind there being premium options, but it wasn't always particularly clear what was included and what wasn't.

Overall, we had a really good holiday and I would definitely say the positives outweighed the negatives. The food, beaches, cleanliness and especially the actual Mövenpick staff were excellent, and the hotel itself is beautiful.

The biggest improvements I'd like to see would be better security at the entrance, less aggressive external activity sales, more varied adult activities, and greater consistency and transparency around the all-inclusive drinks and food offering

The hotel has a lot going for it, and with a few changes, I think it could be an exceptional resort.

The Indian restaurant at Mövenpick Sharm is absolutely marvelous at night, offering a beautiful view overlooking Naama Bay.

Sara, Hani, and Chef Mohamed went above and beyond to make our dinner truly special. Their warm welcome, attentive service, and genuine hospitality made us feel comfortable and well cared for throughout the evening. Chef Mohamed prepared delicious Indian dishes with rich, authentic flavors, and every plate was beautifully presented.

The restaurant’s elegant atmosphere, relaxing ambiance, and stunning nighttime view created the perfect setting for a memorable dining experience. We especially appreciated the staff’s attention to detail and their willingness to ensure that everything was perfect.

A wonderful place to enjoy authentic Indian cuisine with excellent service and a breathtaking view. Highly recommended! 🌟🇮🇳