3 Best Hotels in Dahab, Sharm el-Sheikh and Red Sea Coast

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.

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 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.