Pickalbatros Laguna Vista Hotel

Had a really enjoyable holiday but some elements at times made this a difficult hotel to enjoy whereas other parts where amazing so settled on 4/5 but for a few great bits I'd of possibly gone to a 3. Easier to review as pros and cons:

Pros:

Close to airport

Huge room (we had a 2 bed Family room and it was massive!)

Huge hotel layout

Numerous big pools

Multiple free sunbeds all day

On the beach

Staff in lobby bay brilliant all day and night (a small tip got amazing service)

Hotel grounds immaculate

Close to shops and restaurants if you want to go out.

Surf machine experience

Room provided for 1 hour for showers and change free of charge due to late flight

Big(ISH) water park - see cons

A la carte was easy to book. We booked both at guest relations very easy. Food was ok in both and a welcome distraction from the canteen! Technically we were allowed to use 1 a la carte but we booked both (at separate times) without being questioned or charged.

Cons:

Inconsistent staff (one minute happy, next minute slam your drink down on the bar)

Food very repetitive

Restaurants packed and I mean packed (go closer to 9pm for your sanity)

Occasionally undercooked chicken on the BBQ so be careful

Drinks quality was meh at best (including soft drinks)

Behaviour of some nationalities was a shock (and it's not Russians, they were no trouble at all). Piling food high, zero manners, playing knock a door run etc etc.

Trip sellers in hotel get very grumpy if you don't use them and gave us grief one day (top tip, use NABQ tours. Superb!)

Only water in mini bar

Snack bar at beach bar and pool bar very average and the hotel lacks a lunchtime restaurant where u can order from a menu in my opinion

Water park was rammed, chaotic and you need to stand your ground in a queue and not be shy. It's open till 5:30 and we found last 30/45 minutes quieter so visited little and often.

Overall:

The good balanced the bad and we had a very good holiday but if you have done Turkey you will be disappointed with the food and drink but it's a great alternative for size, space and layout so depends if u value luxury over space and sunbeds freedom even in school holidays?

A few tips from us.....

If you drink alcohol take a bottles of spirits for your room at night. (You can get a bottle of Schweppes tonic behind the bar if you ask nicely!)

Ask at bars for bottles of coke and Sprite as the machine stuff is average.

Use NABQ tours for trips. Snorkeling and quad biking are unreal.

Stick your elbows out. Queues don't matter in this hotel!! Be brave, get stuck in and you'll be fine 😂

Tip the lads in the lobby bar a little amount each day and you'll get waited on hand and foot (I tipped about 100 Egyptian pounds per day)

Cash is king. English, US Dollars, Egypt pounds. Anything goes!

You get get cash exchange in hotel lobby for literally pence of a transaction fee and better rate than UK.

If all else fails McDonald's is across the road 😎

What an amazing holiday we had and all thank you to this amazing resort. I usually love to go off and explore on holidays but the resort was that incredible with so much to do we barely left!!! The food, the bar staff, cleanliness and the entire vibe and energy of this resort is incredible but I especially want to give a huge shout out to the animation team especially maarcelo and panno- they made so much effort with us all has a family especially our young children. Always remembering our name, joking and playing with the kids and getting us all involved in some amazing entertainment both day and night. Their high energy, smiles and love for what they do is clear. We especially loved the pink pool party and Hard Rock Cafe with panno. A brilliant night where they got together other English holidaymakers from various resorts for karaoke and unlimited cocktails.

I never return to the same destination never mind hotel but I would return back here 100-%

Lovely and clean! Lots of pools to choose from and ample sun loungers. Food is nice but like most all-inclusive gets a bit samey. Plenty of space and always tables. Room was big and cleaned every day by our lovely housekeeper. Although the bathroom is a bit outdated for a 5*. Entertainment is great. Always something to do. Panoo and the team were really friendly, happy to have a chat and make you feel welcome. Always approached with a smile. Biggest shout out to Ahmed, the life guard. What a lovely, lovely guy. We sat at his pool daily. He would chat with us, go above and beyond to help us if needed. He’s such a credit to the hotel. All staff were friendly and helpful. Apart from quite a few rude guests (which is not the hotels fault) we had a great stay.