Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir

Beautifull place with friendly people. Nour, the best bartender I've ever meet.

Upon arrival, I had to purchase a visa. An employee from an Egyptian travel agency partnering with Dertour.DE approached me and asked for my passport. I thought he was simply checking passengers, but he affixed a visa to my passport and demanded 33 euros instead of 30 dollars—a higher rate than the one offered by a bank just a few steps away. We even argued about my passport. There was a line behind me, so I had to pay and step aside. I told him he deceived, robbed, and scammed me, because the dollar isn't equal to the euro—30 dollars is 26.10 euros, not the 33 euros he was demanding. It was all to no avail. The next day, I mentioned it to the travel agency representative during a meeting, but he also shouted at me and declared that it was none of his business. Be careful: do not let your passport out of your hands, and buy your visa at a bank. There, you won't be cheated the way unscrupulous representatives of an Egyptian travel agency might cheat you.

The hotel grounds are beautiful—clean and well-maintained. The hotel description highlights the saltwater lagoon, yet touching the water is prohibited. So why is it touted as a major attraction? Just for looking at? We go to the seaside for the sea itself. This hotel doesn't have a sea. The sea contains a large amount of old, dead coral—rocky formations that are off-limits for walking. On the beach, you can sit in water that is approximately 10 cm deep (20 cm at high tide). During my visit, the waves were so strong that I was tossed back and forth and pushed against the rocks, which was painful. That is why I decided to try the other lagoon. I nearly smashed my head against a large, protruding rock there, pushed against it by the water. For the adventurous, there is an option to swim near the pier, where the water is deep and the structure creates undercurrents. However, a red flag was often flying there, so I didn't even go near it.

The hotel consists of various buildings and villas. They are impeccably clean, just like all the other areas, including the bar and restaurant. The furniture is in a style that doesn't appeal to me—worn, scratched, and featuring iron fittings. All the rooms have this same worn look. It is something one can get used to. There shouldn't be a torn curtain on the window.

The employee responsible for hazardous items in the rooms should take note of dangerous, exposed electrical cords on the desk lamp. The hotel's waste pipes should be cleared so that wastewater from the toilet doesn't back up through the drain into the shower.

Food. The food tasted excellent. The selection was rather poor. It was the same every day of the week. An all-inclusive arrangement calls for a bit more variety.

Sweets. I only ate one piece of cake, so I really can't form a definitive opinion. They looked tempting, though.

The "Tea Time" program. I went to see what it was. Nothing. It’s very strange that you can only have tea for one hour a day, from 4 to 5 p.m.

The "hot snack" program. Since I was already there—at the poolside bar—I took a look at what was on offer. Apples, "dry" pieces of cake without filling. I saw they had pizza, so I asked for some. The cook didn't want to give it to me. I was taken aback, so I insisted on my request until I finally got it. Very strange.

Staff – activities team. Very pleasant and entertaining.

Staff – reception. Very professional approach.

The staff—specifically the waiters—really ought to work on their behavior. They kept taking issue with where I was sitting and pointing at me. They would have happily banished me to the basement—even though there were plenty of empty tables around me. I have no idea what the problem was. On the surface, the staff seems friendly; they smile at the guests. But the moment a guest turns away, they point and laugh behind their back. It probably never even occurs to them that other guests see this and instantly realize the smile is fake—just a trick to wheedle a tip out of the customer. Although, perhaps there are exceptions?!

It wasn't until the end of my stay that I realized I was seeing the same waiter from breakfast through to dinner, every single day. By then, I didn't have time to observe whether this was the standard practice for everyone. I also saw the cleaning staff working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. As a safety specialist, I tend to notice these kinds of things; hotel management really ought to step in here to ensure employees have time for their personal lives.