Horus Paradise Luxury Resort

Very disappointing experience definitely not a 5-star resort

We stayed at Horus Paradise Luxury Resort for five nights and six days, and unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing from beginning to end The problems started at check-in. The staff we met were unfriendly and seemed irritated, and their attitude and responses were often aggressive and unprofessional. We arrived early in the morning and, despite travelling with two small children, we had to wait from around 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. before we could enter our room. Spending almost an entire day waiting in a corridor with two children was extremely uncomfortable The food was another major disappointment. Yes, there was a large variety, but quantity does not compensate for poor quality. A large part of the food was basically fast food, fried food and dishes that appeared to be prepared in a very basic way and simply put out for guests. Much of the food tasted extremely heavy, with too many herbs and strong flavours. Some dishes appeared dry or as though they had been sitting out for a long time. Overall, the quality was far below what we expected from a resort advertised at this level

The desserts were particularly disappointing. There was a pastry area, but the same desserts served at breakfast, lunch and dinner seemed to be repeatedly brought back and presented again. There was very little variety and almost nothing that felt freshly prepared. It gave us the impression that the same desserts were simply being circulated throughout the day rather than offering fresh products to guests

The drinks and cocktails were equally disappointing. We tried several cocktails, but unfortunately they were all of very poor quality. They tasted mainly of extremely sweet, low-quality syrups and cheap soft drinks, rather than properly prepared cocktails. The drinks seemed to be made quickly and without any real attention to quality or presentation. Every time we went to the bar, the experience was similar: drinks made with syrups and served without the level of professionalism we would expect from a resort of this category

The service was also far below what we expected. Many of the waiters did not speak English and communicated mainly in Russian or Turkish. When we needed assistance, it was often very difficult to communicate and get any useful help. We found the staff generally unprofessional and not particularly helpful The situation on our departure day was especially frustrating. We had to leave our room at 12:00 p.m. and then wait approximately eight and a half hours for our airport shuttle. We were travelling with two children, and although there were chairs available, the waiting area was noisy and crowded, making it practically impossible for the children to sleep or rest. Spending such a long time waiting in a corridor with two small children was exhausting The swimming pool was another concern. The water did not look clean or clear, which made us uncomfortable about allowing the children to swim

There were also serious problems with organisation. At meal times, it was often difficult to find a free table. Around the pool, finding a free sun lounger with an umbrella was almost impossible. We frequently had to walk around carrying the children, looking for somewhere to sit in the shade. For a resort of this size and category, this should be managed much better The hotel itself also looks quite old and would benefit from significant renovation and better maintenance Overall, we left very disappointed. We came for a relaxing family holiday, but instead we experienced poor service, poor organisation, low-quality food and drinks, repetitive desserts, concerns about cleanliness, and extremely long waiting times

For us, the biggest problem is that the resort has the appearance and facilities of a large holiday complex, but the quality of the food, beverages, service and organisation simply does not match the level that we expected

Unfortunately, this was one of the worst hotel experiences we have had, especially as we were travelling with two young children. Based on our experience, we would not recommend this resort to families and certainly would not consider staying here again.

The hotel looks absolutely stunning. Visually, it is honestly a 10/10 — beautiful, luxurious, impressive and exactly the kind of place that looks incredible in photos. Unfortunately, that is where the positive part of our experience ends.

The quality of the food and drinks was extremely disappointing, especially considering the appearance and price level of the hotel.

The food was practically the same every single day. There was a huge amount of food, but surprisingly little actual choice. There may have been countless trays and dishes displayed, but finding something that was genuinely appetising, properly cooked and of good quality was another story. A lot of the food seemed undercooked or simply questionable in quality, especially the meat. At times, it honestly looked and tasted more like dog food than food you would expect from a luxury hotel.

One of the biggest problems was that there was hardly ever an option to have a proper, simple meal — for example, a good piece of properly cooked meat with a nice side dish. Instead, there were endless amounts of random dishes, but very little that actually felt like a decent meal.

Even breakfast was disappointing. There were no proper fried eggs or scrambled eggs. The only option was boiled eggs, which seemed to have been sitting there for a long time. For a hotel of this category, this is simply not what we expected.

The room itself was just okay — nothing special, but not terrible either. However, even there we encountered basic maintenance and cleanliness issues. There was a spider web on the ceiling, and the bathroom door could not properly close, which was extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant, especially when sharing the room with another person. These are small things compared to everything else that happened, but they are still unacceptable for a hotel presenting itself as a luxury property.

The cocktails were another major disappointment. Whatever cocktail I ordered, it almost never tasted the way that cocktail is actually supposed to taste. They were genuinely some of the worst cocktails we have ever had at a resort of this level. There was very little consistency, and most of them were simply unpleasant.

The conditions at the outdoor bars were also extremely poor for the staff. It was unbearably hot behind the bars, and alcohol was being stored in those extremely high temperatures. Considering the heat and the way drinks were prepared and stored, the whole setup raised serious concerns about the quality and safety of what was being served.

Unfortunately, this was not just a matter of drinks being bad.

After having one of the cocktails, I became extremely sick and spent the entire night vomiting. At the time, we initially thought it might have been an isolated incident. However, what happened to my boyfriend towards the end of our stay was much more serious.

On the second-to-last day, after dinner, he suddenly developed severe symptoms. He had extremely bad diarrhoea, could not stop vomiting and was barely able to leave the bathroom. He became severely dehydrated and was in a genuinely frightening condition.

We contacted the hotel doctor, who examined him and referred him to a clinic.

Before going to the clinic, I specifically asked the hotel doctor whether we needed to take money with us and whether we would have to pay anything there. I was explicitly told that we had insurance and that the insurance would cover it. Based on that information, we went to the clinic without expecting to have to pay such a huge amount ourselves.

Unfortunately, once we arrived, the situation was completely different.

We were charged €319 just for the doctor’s examination. The examination itself consisted of the doctor physically checking my boyfriend’s stomach several times. After that came an IV infusion and blood tests, and the total cost was approximately €1,000.

What made the situation even worse was that we were told that we had to pay the entire amount immediately and that our insurance was not their concern at that moment — we would supposedly have to deal with the insurance ourselves and get reimbursed after returning to our country.

This is extremely frustrating, especially because we had specifically asked the hotel doctor about the payment situation beforehand and were reassured that our insurance would cover everything.

After such a serious incident, we expected at least some basic concern from the hotel.

The next day, nobody from the hotel contacted us to ask whether he was okay, whether he needed anything, or whether there was anything they could do for us. Not even a simple follow-up. Considering that a hotel doctor had referred one of their guests to a clinic because of severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration, this complete lack of concern was honestly shocking.

And then came our departure.

After everything that had happened, when we returned our room card at reception, the only thing we received was a cold:

“Okay, bye.”

That was it.

Not “Have a safe journey.” Not “We hope you feel better.” Not even a simple “How is he doing now?”

Nothing.

After spending so much money on a luxury resort, experiencing serious illness during our holiday, having to pay approximately €1,000 for medical treatment upfront, and receiving virtually no concern or support from the hotel afterwards, that final interaction said a lot about the level of hospitality.

It is genuinely heartbreaking because the hotel itself is beautiful. The architecture, design and overall appearance are incredible. From the outside, it looks like a dream luxury resort.

But a beautiful building does not make a luxury experience.

Luxury is good-quality food. Luxury is safe and properly prepared meals. Luxury is good drinks. Luxury is professional service. Luxury is taking responsibility when a guest becomes seriously ill. And above all, luxury is basic human concern and hospitality.

Unfortunately, we experienced very little of that here.

The hotel looks like a paradise, but the food, drinks, room, service and overall guest care were nowhere near that standard.

We travelled expecting a luxury holiday and left extremely disappointed, with a very unpleasant experience that we will not forget.

There are plenty of beautiful hotels in the world. For us, this is definitely not one we would ever return to.

Never again.