Stella Gardens Resort & Spa, Makadi Bay

Chose this hotel through easyJet for our first time stay in Egypt. We’ve stayed in a fair few 5* resorts around the globe, but to us, sadly this didn’t measure for us. First impressions are a little underwhelming when you’re taken to the back door reception (only due to the building works at the main reception at top and entrance being closed, though it is still open to use and very presentable, the building works are NOT A PROBLEM btw) So, the room was nice, cleaned daily with a few towel animals, bathroom could do with an upgrade in my opinion, although the shower was really good. Fridge was useful in the room, there is a free to use safe, tv, kettle with coffee/tea/sugar/creamer. Hairdryer in bathroom. No iron or board, this is requested through reception and bought to your room. (Iron only) Swimming pools are good, we used the heated pool with swim up bar outside the rear reception, this gets really busy and is sometimes difficult to get a sun lounger. We also used the wave pool one day which also has a bar at hand. The other main pool is the slide pool which also has a pool bar, we never used this. The animation does a cracking job every day keeping kids and adults entertained throughout the day. We never sat out for the evening entertainment, but it’s the usual, kids mini disco start, sometimes karaoke, various quizzes, theme nights, odd night of dance routines. We opted for sitting in the top reception most nights where the free WiFi is available, premier league football on tv and the AI drinks from the lobby bar (keep a lookout for Ginge, a ginger/white cat that lounges on the chairs, I’m not a cat person, but he’s okay ) The restaurant is a decent size with plenty variety of food at all servings, the beef stews was our favorite. It’s also open for late night arrivals and snacks from 1030-midnight. The AI drinks from the bars are local brands and not bad tbf, only downside is it finishes at 11pm and costs €3 a drink thereafter till bedtime, the disco is open 11-1 for €3drinks as well, Fortunately you can tab these to the room and pay on checkout. There is a gym and shisha downstairs from top reception The beach (which has a beautiful sunset against the mountains) is around a 10 minute walk or a shuttle bus ride (which run frequently all day from rear reception) only went once, there is a jetty with an area off the end for swimming or snorkeling with the fish, rays, etc. Drinks and snacks are available on your AI wristband. Tipping is encouraged, we took a few US dollars, but you can use English, euros or EGPs Only tried 1 speciality restaurant, the Italian in the sister hotel, a la carte but very nice (be sure and get any restaurants booked on arrival, the booking computer is by main restaurant at top reception) The weather this time of year was 25* to start and 30+* by time we left, (over a 10day stay) a little cooler at night but soon warmed up before leaving, clear blue skies every day. Paradise island boat trip and snorkeling is wel

My wife and I enjoyed two weeks stay in early March in Stella Gardens, Makadi Bay. It was my first time in Egypt and I was not sure if I would enjoy it, or how good it would be as the holiday was really inexpensive…. My concerns were blown away! Although there is currently extensive building work at the entrance as there’s a water park being built, the site is not disrupted or overwhelmed by noise or anything. I imagine when it’s finished it’ll be a massive plus to the site. The site itself is big and open with lots of well maintained and beautiful gardens. Everything is clean and tidy with staff always on hand and working hard. The pool areas are all looked after and there’s plenty of room so you don’t have to get up super early to stand a chance of a seat or sun lounger. The gym is fairly quiet and I’ve seen far worse facilities in hotels. Only issue I had was being 189cm tall mean I’m a bit big for some machines but not a huge issue. There were always staff about too. We had used the spa on site as well and had a full massage, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, hammam treatment and 3 more 1 hour massages as well while we stayed! We paid about £100 each for the whole thing which was great value compared to what you would pay in the UK. Plus the treatments were excellent! Food was decent and varied. We always found something tasty to eat and there was a decent variety of most stuff. I would say our youngest would’ve starved though as it wasn’t chicken nuggets and pizza every meal… this isn’t a criticism as it meant there was proper food all the time. The on-site Chinese and Lebanese restaurants are also great with a few things to try out. Our room was huge and really well maintained. Lots of room, a huge bed, big bathroom with shower and separate bath. Safe in room and air con was free and all worked as it should. House keeping were great too; Omar kept us stocked with fresh towels and bottled water too. The entertainment could be cheesy but was good fun. The guys and girls really worked hard and I’ve got to say did a brilliant job of getting people involved. Shout out to Mo who was a firm favourite amongst us all. The staff were excellent; so helpful and friendly that you felt special. I’m not being cheesy saying it but we felt like VIPs and to a person no one was anything but amazing. They all deserve a pay rise! The hotel is about 5 minutes walk to the beach at its sister hotel Stella Beach but if you don’t or can’t walk there’s a shuttle bus free of charge. The beach is clean and tidy with lots of chairs and sun loungers with entertainment going on as well. I’m not saying we enjoyed it but the day we got home we were in the travel agents booking to go back!

Our room was on the ground floor overlooking one of the pools and was beautiful. It was clean with a good bathroom and very comfortable beds. The cleaning team were outstanding. The food was good and there was always something freshly cooked on the menu, the little cakes for desert were too good. We enjoyed the food in the main restaurant more than the fare in the themed restaurants as they were a fixed menu. The wifi is in reception only and there are some niggly rules like one pool towel per day and only from one place and extra charges for some drinks but the staff are so nice and helpful it makes up for these. The hotel is not quite as polished as a 5 star but it is a comfortable 4.

First 3 days was amazing at the pool bar served by Abdallah , Omar , Samuel 🍹👍🏼 another 4 days to come . And we will visit once again next year ! Weather was perfect in May . Not too cold, not too warm. Amazing food and big hotel with many pools. Service 5/5 🤩

Second visit to this hotel enjoyed both visits Fares at the in pool bar is the friendliest and most helpful bar tender you could find, always making sure everyone around the pool has drinks and a smile, lots of pools to choose from two with bars in them and a few quieter ones food is ok no upset tummy’s for us (I brush teeth with bottled water) while in Egypt you can get bus to beach or walk though sister hotel ps if u need chemist that’s at the beach too . They go round every event with smoke thing to keep moscatos away. Went to Senzo mall one night to duty free shop (don’t forget passports if going duty free during holiday) and Pizza Hut 2 medium pizzas and big bottle of Pepsi £9 , they also McDonalds and kfc there too plus a supermarket, kids arcade and clothes shops worth a visit while in Hurghada thank you all there I will return again