Solymar Naama Bay

We’ve just returned from 11 nights at Jaz Neo Naama Bay, and while the hotel itself sits comfortably in the “good 3” category, the staff take that 3 and polish it so hard it practically glows. If you’re the sort of traveller who values people over paintwork, this place is a gem.

We stayed in a Superior Family Room, which was absolutely enormous — a living room, two bathrooms, two bedrooms, and enough floor space for the kids to perform full Olympic‑level cartwheels. Yes, the décor is a little dated, and we didn't have a balcony, just a large window overlooking the pool. But honestly, it’s somewhere to sleep at the end of the day, and the sheer size more than made up for the lack of terrace space for dramatic sunset posing.

This hotel’s secret weapon is its people. They’re the kind of staff who make you feel like you’ve accidentally wandered into a family reunion — but the nice kind, where everyone actually likes each other.

• Housekeeping team
  These legends produced towel art so good we started rating it like Strictly Come Dancing. They always stopped to check we were OK, and their friendliness felt completely genuine — not the “I’ve been told to smile at guests” kind, but the “I actually hope you’re having a cracking holiday” kind.

• Restaurant staff — especially Ahmed
  Ahmed is a man on a mission: to ensure you never pour your own drink again. Breakfast, lunch, dinner — as soon as he spotted us, he’d appear like a hospitality ninja with water, tea and coffee in the mornings, beers later in the day, plus juices or cokes. I’m convinced he has some sort of sixth sense for empty glasses.

• Pool bar team — Ahmed & Fares
  These two are absolute heroes. You don’t even need to ask for your drink. You simply wander over (or swim over, if you’re feeling dramatic), and your beverage magically appears. They remembered everyone’s favourites, and honestly, if they’d started finishing my sentences too, I wouldn’t have been surprised.

• Animation team — Chloe, Yulia, Karina, Alyssia & Mimmo
  Always encouraging you to join in, but never in a pushy “I will make you do aquagym” way. They were just as happy to stop for a chat, check how your day was going, and generally make the place feel lively without being overwhelming.

• Tony — the trip guy
  Tony is, quite simply, one of the nicest blokes I’ve ever met. We only booked one excursion through him, but he chatted with us every time he passed — football, life in Egypt, even teaching my daughters bits of Arabic.
  We booked the Ras Mohammed & White Island boat trip, which was brilliantly organised. We upgraded to scuba diving — more than we’d planned to spend, but worth every penny. Not many people can say their first ever scuba experience was on a coral reef in the Red Sea, seeing all kinds of fish, including a large scorpion fish and even a turtle. I’m still telling people about it like I’m Jacques Cousteau.

• Lifeguard team
  Lifeguards who reserve sunbeds for you. Yes, really. They quickly learn where you like to sit and put towels out so you don’t have to join the 7am “sunbed Olympics”. Mahmoud was a gentleman — on days we’d been out in the morning, he always found us beds when we returned, even when the pool looked busier than a Saturday at IKEA.

The food was tasty, hot, and although a little repetitive, genuinely some of the best all‑inclusive buffet food we’ve had. There was always something good to eat, and nothing ever felt lukewarm or neglected. If you’ve done AI holidays before, you’ll know that’s practically Michelin‑star territory.

The hotel itself could use a refresh, but the staff — with their “nothing is too much trouble” attitude — make this place special. If you value great service, friendly faces, and a warm atmosphere, Jaz Neo Naama Bay is a fantastic choice.

I recently stayed at this lovely small hotel and had a fantastic experience overall. DONT PANIC when you turn off the immaculate boulevard down a badly paved side street the hotel and its grounds are pristine. Just the road leading to it is a bit neglected. The small size (for sharm) gives it a really welcoming feel, and the service throughout my stay was excellent. The staff genuinely couldn’t have been better — friendly, attentive, and always willing to help.

A special mention goes to the restaurant manager, who went above and beyond to make sure every meal was the best it could be. The food was consistently good quality, with plenty of variety and always something new to try. Although they frequently mislabel the foods country of origin(chilli con carne credited as Chinese cuisine and lasagne labelled as Egyptian cuisine did make me giggle. Drinks at both bars were great as well, with fantastic cocktails at the main bar the sekhmet fire was spicy fruity and very strong. No tiny measures here — just properly made, generous drinks.

The pool area is the one part that feels a bit limited. The pool itself is quite small and shallow, and in July it gets very hot. The sunbeds are packed in tightly, which can make the space feel a little crowded. That said, it’s still a nice spot to relax if you don’t mind a busier poolside.

Rooms were comfortable with very comfy beds, though the décor does feel a little dated. Nothing that put me off, but worth noting if you prefer a more modern style.

One of the highlights was the free shuttle to the private beach area. It’s a lovely spot with a small coral reef that’s perfect for snorkelling. Tony, the excursion guy, is brilliant — friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what he does. I highly recommend both the scuba and snorkelling trips he offers.

Oh and make sure to download InDrive app. Think Egyptian uber. It suggests the rate to where you want to go and drivers bid to take you and its tracked and you can see their reviews and journeys etc so no awkward haggling. So sharks bay beach was 200 Egyptian pounds rather than the hotel taxi at 4x the price and so was soho square.

Oh i nearly forgot. The gardens. Really well kept and they have their own veg garden growing all the herbs and chillies etc. Nice for a wander after dinner once the sun has finally gone.

Overall, this hotel delivers great service, great food, and a genuinely enjoyable stay. A few areas could be improved, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. I’d happily return.

I want to thank everyone working there especially Mr Emad supervisor for restaurant and all his staff and Chef Mohamed for best food tasting and service he is so friendly and Mr Rezk supervisor for par and House keeper Alaa and Ahmed he is working on swimming pool and Mahmoud also I need to thank everyone by his name but really really I love this place for service and this fourth time for me there