The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt

The Oberoi in Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt is one of the top 3 best hotels in Egypt (along with the Sofitel Cataract Aswan and the Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh). As an Egyptian, I find the service at the hotel to be on par with any five-star resort found anywhere around the world and by far the best in the country. I stayed at the property at the end of May/beginning of June of 2016 for 4 nights.

I had initially booked a Super Deluxe Suite but upon check-in decided to upgrade to the Royal Suite for a modest additional cost per night. The Royal Suite was absolutely stunning! It covers 2420 sq. ft. (225 m2), has a king-size bedroom, an en-suite marble bathroom, a powder room, a spacious living room and a kitchen/pantry. In addition, it offers a 20 ft. (6m) private pool with a gondola area for dining, the pool is accessed through the full glass doors of the living room. The Royal Suite is very luxurious, offers exceptional privacy and gives off a homey, cozy ambiance.

The entire property is gorgeous with a regal entrance, beautiful Arabic architecture and palm trees scattered across its sandy setting. Its energy, helped by the Red Sea, is peaceful, positive and puts you in a comfortable zen mode. I visited the beach on several occasions, the reef is beautiful and ideal for snorkeling and patches of the beach are ideal for swimming (those which are not rocky and part of the reef). I visited the swimming pool and ordered food from the Pergola restaurant, the food was fresh, delicious and service was quick. In general, the service at the hotel was exceptional and was on point on all fronts, from the room, pool and the beach.

The highlight at the hotel, hands down, was its Indian cuisine at the Zaafran diving room. I’m an avid traveler and have traveled extensively around the world savoring cuisines from different countries and without doubt the Indian food at the hotel is the best Indian food I’ve ever had outside of India (that includes the US, UK, Mauritius and East Africa). WOW! The Indian chef dazzled with his culinary techniques making mouth-savoring, authentic Tandoori, Biryani and various curries. The experience was surreal, the food tasted so good it did not feel that I was still in Egypt but felt like I was in the chef’s home town in India.

During the 4 day stay, I took a boat ride to nearby Mahmya Island for the day. I highly recommend it! You should ask the concierge to arrange for transportation to nearby Hurghada to board the boat to Mahmya. Mahyma is a Red Sea protectorate that offers spectacular beaches, pristine, turquoise waters and views for miles. A delicious buffet lunch is offered on the island and an additional food and drink menu is available at the bar.

Overall, the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh not only makes it to my top 3 list of hotels in Egypt but also to my top 10 list of hotels globally. The setting, service, exceptional Indian food, the luxurious Royal Suite accommodations and of course its location in the Red Sea make the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh a must visit!

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