Shams Alam Beach Resort

Following a great experience last September, we returned this June – this time for 12 days. We truly enjoyed every single day; everything was just perfect. The room, all the services, the wide variety of food, the beach, the sea, and the peaceful atmosphere... The main reasons we highly recommend this place and plan to return are the friendly, helpful staff and the extraordinary snorkeling. The birthday wishes and cake were the icing on the cake, which we truly appreciated. Jitka & Radek & Milan

The sea was beautifully clean, the snorkeling was excellent, and the food was decent. Unfortunately, that is where most of the positives end. A major disappointment was the tour representative selling excursions. We were repeatedly told that there were no turtles or dugongs in the hotel area and that we would need to book a paid excursion to see them. In reality, this was simply not true. Every day, guests were spotting and filming turtles and even dugongs directly from the hotel beach area. It felt more like a sales tactic than honest information. The worst experience came on the day of departure. Our transfer to the airport was scheduled for 7:20 PM, yet at 12:00 PM our all-inclusive package was immediately terminated. Not only were we no longer allowed food and drinks, but when we wanted to fill a bottle with plain water, we were told we had to pay for it. That is completely unacceptable. To make things even more ridiculous, a receptionist literally ran after us to cut off our wristbands. We travel frequently around the world and this is the first time we have ever experienced something like this. We felt more like a problem than valued guests who had spent their holiday at the hotel, tipped the staff, and caused no issues. What shocked us the most was being told that after check-out we could not even use the hotel toilets. This goes far beyond the limits of reasonable hotel policy. I have never experienced a hotel refusing toilet access to guests who are simply waiting for their airport transfer. This is not about luxury or all-inclusive benefits—it is about basic human decency. On top of that, strong winds from the Sahara were blowing sand everywhere. Being expected to wait outside for several hours without water, without a place to shower, and with restrictions on even using the restroom was simply absurd. In the end, we felt forced to pay extra to extend our stay until 6:00 PM because there was no practical alternative. What disappointed us most was the overall attitude. The hotel appears friendly until your stay ends, and then it feels as if you no longer matter. I cannot understand how a hotel can justify removing all services seven hours before a guest’s departure while being more concerned about cutting off wristbands than showing basic hospitality. The sea and location are beautiful, but because of this experience we will not be returning. After many trips around the world, we have never encountered treatment like this. If you are considering this hotel, make sure you ask in advance how they handle guests on their final day. If your flight is in the evening or at night, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. This is not how guests should be treated, and it certainly is not how customer loyalty is earned. 🏝️🐢😞