23 Best Hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh and Red Sea Coast, Egypt

The first boutique, all-suites property along the Red Sea Coast is still the tops, featuring Moorish-style bungalows, each with a living room area, private courtyard, and luxurious bathrooms that have a sunken tub and glass-sided shower opening onto a second, smaller courtyard. Grand suites have their own private, heated pools. The public areas give the impression of a 19th-century gentlemen's club with their dark wood and brass, but they are enhanced by 21st-century necessities that include a spa and spacious infinity pool. Service is discreet yet attentive. Although the hotel attracts a lot of families, accommodations are spread out across 48 acres, so solo travelers and couples are unlikely to be bothered by young children.

El Gouna's oldest resort—it opened in 1995—has its longest beachfront, plus such a range of amenities that it might be tempting not to leave the resort and explore the rest of the town. It's a large hotel, but accommodations are set in well-spaced clusters around four swimming pools (plus three kids' pools). The spacious rooms have a contemporary feel, with stone, mustard, and terracotta decor accented by cotton Bedouin rugs. All the on-site restaurants are no-smoking, which is not especially common in Egypt. Accessible rooms are available for travelers with disabilities, as are extensive family rooms and facilities for groups with young children.

The relaxed luxury of the cathedral-like reception-area atrium—off which are restaurants and the Thalasso Spa—continues in the rooms, which are large and have expansive balconies. Water is a major feature of the grounds—not just the oceanfront but also the massive free-form pool with waterfalls and a lazy river ride and the lagoon that forms the major feature of the golf course.

Families love this resort's water-park-like selection of outdoor pools, couples and singles are drawn to it for its location near all the action, and everyone appreciates its clean beach and rates that are more affordable than other properties in the same category.

At this simple but clean hotel, you'll find the headquarters of Reef 2000, one of the best dive centers in Dahab. Some rooms have fridges, air-conditioning, and balconies, but not all have these features, so ask when you book; however, at this writing there were plans to add air conditioners to all rooms by 2011. You'll stay here for the international client mix, mostly gregarious divers who are repeat customers, and for the pool area, which is excellent for hotels of this standard in the Sinai. The hotel has a resident yoga instructor and offers classes twice daily.

Designed along the lines of a grand Arabian family living complex, the shady courtyard with its cooling fountain that greets your arrival at El Wekala draws you into its Moorish appeal while the decorated domes, curved arches, wooden fretwork, and traditional Cairene tiled floors in the rooms add to the atmosphere. In "Old Town" Taba Heights, the hotel's rooms intertwine with the rest of the village, with balconies overlooking verdant squares, restaurants, and cafés that fill with guests in the evenings. An expansive terrace with panoramic views over the rest of Taba Heights surrounds the main pool.

Across the boardwalk from the largest stretch of beachfront on Na'ama Bay, this hotel's whitewashed, low-rise bungalows sit amid mature gardens. It's one of the oldest resorts in town and provides a full range of water sports and a robust program of land-based activities and excursions that attract families and couples of all ages (though there are fewer singles here than at other resorts in this party town). The beach area has a volleyball court and an elaborate children's playground.

The largest resort in Dahab, this Nubian-style, whitewashed adobe village is set dramatically against the reddish hues of the Sinai Mountains. Saltwater lagoons and palm trees create a pleasant oasis feel. Rooms are airy and modern and have balconies or terraces. Waterskiing and snorkeling trips can be arranged, and the Club Mistral has a team of windsurfing experts here that teaches all levels.

This Hilton is only a five-minute taxi ride from Nuweiba's port, so it's ideally situated for trips into the Sinai interior as well as to Jordan, which stands directly across the Gulf of Aqaba. The Hilton's whitewashed exterior is just about the brightest thing in Nuweiba. Rooms are spacious and clean, decorated with marine themes including underwater photographs. The clientele is a mixture of resort vacationers (predominately European and Eastern European) and short-stay tour groups. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available, too.

Looking as if Dr. Seuss had designed it, the strong colors and off-the-wall lines and curves that characterize the neo-Nubian architecture of this resort do set the scene for vacation fun. Rooms with generous balconies or terraces line a seawater lagoon or overlook the golden beach. An immense pool fit for Olympic trainees as well as a spa offer other opportunities for relaxation. Although removed from the other resorts but still within Taba Heights, the Hyatt Regency gives you access to an excellent range of sports and activities for all ability levels.

This luxury resort designed by French architect and designer Alain Jaouen offers a 21st-century oasis in the Sinai. The public areas have a simple, spacious feel right out of the late 1960s that are reminiscent of interiors from films like The Thomas Crown Affair or Goldfinger (minus the evil technological gadgets). Pale colors and straight lines dominate from the pool areas to the restaurants. The rooms line up side by side on two terraces below the main building allowing everyone a full view of the ocean. There's a contemporary cottage feel to the decor, and rooms open out onto spacious private balconies or patios. The resort's new spa opened in late 2010.

On the shores of Lake Timsah, the Mercure has a peaceful setting and a solid list of amenities. The lawns and beach add a leisured air, but lacquered wood furniture and floral-print bedding give a decidedly 1980s feel. Most rooms face the lake and have private balconies.

The stunning setting of this hotel is awe-inspiring—the peaks of the Sinai range that are reflected throughout the day in the waters of the on-site swimming pool surround it. The rooms, which are set around the pool, were completed in the late 1990s, but the interiors haven't fared as well as the exterior spaces, exhibiting careworn fittings and accessories. The Bedouin marketplace on-site has some atmosphere, selling a variety of local handicrafts as well as mass-produced souvenirs.

This is one of the more tranquil settings on the Red Sea Coast—even the buildings blend with the surrounding environment. One of Egypt's more prominent architects, Ramy Dahan, used the granite of the nearby mountains to create a Nubian-style village—and to give the bungalows the same rose tint found in the surrounding area. The resort is considered to be a green hotel development.

On the waterfront side of Peace Road, this hotel offers comfortable, no-frills accommodations and good facilities. Although its sister property, Na'ama Bay Promenade Mountainside Resort across the street, is slightly cheaper, it's worth paying a few extra books to be close to the beach and boardwalk. The playground and large pool area attract a lot of families, but couples and groups of friends like this hotel, too. Other on-site amenities include a restaurant and laundry facilities.

This small, laid-back dive resort is on a wonderful, sandy stretch of beach. Older rooms are spacious, while the newest wing (Nakhil Dreams) is made up of cute wooden bungalows, each with a mezzanine bedroom area. Both room categories have a contemporary style not found in other hotels at this price point along the coast. All have sea views, but you can also enjoy the views day or evening from Bedouin-style seating areas on the beach. The atmosphere is rather like a beachside country club. Owner Samer Aly is an underwater photographer, raconteur, and a great source of knowledge about the area.

On the sea with a beautiful private beach, the Palmera sprawls amid lush gardens and attracts families and expat workers from Cairo. The Egyptian food is good here; try the Pergola poolside restaurant for barbecue with a view of the sea. You can also smoke a shisha (water pipe) in the Arabic coffee shop.

The modern decor lacks charm, and the boxy form fails to win any plaudits despite its jaunty yellow accents; nevertheless, this hotel is pleasant, and the sea, the canal, and the city center are all a stone's throw away. Indeed, on the Corniche of the Suez Canal and surrounded by shopping arcades, the Sonesta is the best hotel in Bur Sa‘id.

Rooms here are spacious, with water-view balconies, and the beach has a water-sports facility. The surrounding area has little of interest, but if you plan to spend most of your time scuba diving or sunbathing by the pool or on the shore, then this hotel is a great pick.

High on the escarpment between Na'ama Bay and downtown Sharm El-Sheikh, this family-friendly hotel is highly regarded by the British visitors who frequent it. The kitchens cater to special dietary needs such as dishes for diabetics. Rooms are simply furnished but spacious enough to store the extra equipment (strollers, etc.) that families might be toting. There are always organized activities around the busy pool, but the hotel balances this with a separate quiet pool. Enjoy the fully equipped gym and five-room spa. A shuttle bus provides access to the hotel's beach.

This large hotel is on the mountainside off Peace Road, offering comfortable accommodation and good facilities without the frills—or price tag—of the typical four- or five-star Sharm resort. Budget-minded travelers will appreciate the three discrete pool areas (ask for a room at the very top of the resort for views across the largest pool). The dive center is one of the most respected in Na'ama Bay, and clients include dive trainees and dive aficionados in addition to couples and families with older children of many nationalities. It's a three- to five-minute walk to the nearest public beach.

The Downtown location suits young singles, couples, and anyone else who wants to be one step from shops, restaurants, and nightspots. The five-story, horseshoe-shaped building backs up against a hill, so most rooms, which are bright though somewhat dated, have excellent sea views. There's an on-site, free-form pool, though to reach the hotel's beach you must cross the Na'ama Bay boardwalk and go through the Na'ama Bay Casino (a couple of minutes' walk). 

Usually booked up by the diving and kitesurfing crowd, Turtles Inn offers unpretentious accommodation in the heart of El Gouna marina. The hotel acts as a meeting place as the day finishes, with the roof bar being a popular place for a few beers. Rooms are modern and brightly but simply decorated, though not all have balconies. The on-site restaurant is very good, and the hotel is also walking distance from many other good restaurants. To check into the hotel, head to the neighboring Captain's Inn.