Stella Garden Resort & Spa (ex. Stella Di Mare Garden Resort & Spa)

Not a 5-star hotel. We came home feeling completely ripped off. I am writing this review in the hope that it saves another family the heartbreak of spending their hard-earned holiday savings on the experience we had. We paid around £1,000 per person believing we were booking a 5-star all-inclusive resort. In our experience, this was much closer to a 2 or 3-star hotel, and certainly not the standard we believed we had paid for. We are a family of four. On arrival we were checked in, given our all-inclusive wristbands and taken to a room at one of the furthest points from reception and the restaurant. When we opened the door, we discovered one double bed for four people. We immediately asked for two additional beds and went for dinner. After dinner, we asked reception again because they still hadn't arrived. When we returned to the room, only one extra bed had been delivered. We asked for a third time. By now it was around 9:30-10pm and we had been travelling since 4:30am. Eventually another bed arrived, but without a pillow and with only a sheet. When I asked for a pillow for our son, I was told to take one from the double bed. The staff then grunted at us, laughed, turned their backs and left without providing another one. We had to ask again the following day. To fit four people into the room, furniture had to be moved onto the balcony. The extra beds left only around 40cm between the beds to walk through the room. The beds themselves had dirty, broken wheels protruding from the ends. Our children's pillows would fall onto these filthy wheels and they were painful if you accidentally walked into them. See photos. Unfortunately, this set the tone for the room. There was chewing gum stuck to the bathroom towel rail, which was not ours and remained there for the entire week. The fridge was filthy and barely worked. Milk curdled overnight and there was a smell from the cabinet that suggested the fridge motor was struggling. See photos. The shower could only either be pointed at the wall, meaning you practically had to press yourself against the wall to shower, or towards the shower screen, which caused water to leak out and flood the bathroom. There was also not enough hot water for four people, so most days two of us had cold showers. We had ants continually walking along the bathroom grout, a mouldy suitcase stand, badly worn furniture and electrical fittings coming away from the wall. See photos. Cleaning was also poor. The dust in front of the television remained there all week, while considerably more effort seemed to go into making towel decorations. We had one balcony chair between four people, and even that was broken. The ashtray on the balcony had not been emptied after the previous guests. Our initial drinking water allowance was just two small bottles between four people, despite needing water for drinking, brushing our teeth and making tea. This improved after we asked the cleaner, but we were still generally provided with only one bottle per person. We ended up refilling bottles at the bar and restaurant. Again, this is not what we expected from a 5-star all-inclusive resort. The food was the biggest disappointment All four of us suffered from diarrhoea during the holiday. My husband was so unwell that he spent two days in bed and missed our planned Valley of the Kings trip. I obviously cannot say definitively what caused our illness, but the experience made us extremely cautious about what we ate. A local pharmacist advised us to avoid the hotel's salad and fruit, which restricted our options even further. The food was particularly poor if you are vegetarian. Our children ended up eating chips for lunch and dinner virtually every day because there was so little they wanted to eat. On two occasions I politely asked whether a vegetarian pizza could be made, once at the beach snack bar and once in the main restaurant at lunchtime. Both times I found the staff's response incredibly rude. They turned their backs on me and refused to make a pizza without meat. At the beach bar this effectively left me with chips. The à la carte restaurants did not offer much improvement for vegetarians, although the Lebanese restaurant was the exception. We enjoyed the food there and the staff were lovely. Breakfast regularly involved a queue of 20+ people just to get pancakes. We also saw broken chairs still being used in the restaurant. See photos. Drinks were another disappointment. Wine was sometimes served warm, including white wine. The coffee tasted like very strong instant coffee with sweet powdered milk. The so-called fruit juice appeared to be squash rather than juice, and this same squash was used in cocktails, which made them unpleasant to drink. Drinks were also served in extremely soft plastic cups that distorted when you tried to carry them. Again, these might be things we could overlook in a budget 2-star hotel, but not when paying around £1,000 per person for what was sold to us as a 5-star holiday. The whole hotel needs maintenance and a thorough clean This wasn't limited to our room. The window ledge in the corridor outside our room was thick with black dust. Walls were damaged and needed repairing. Tiles were cracked or sticking up. The gardens contained some beautiful plants, but cigarette ends underneath the hedges remained there throughout our stay. All photographed. Service was inconsistent too. On several occasions when I approached the bar alone, I felt I was ignored, while if my husband came with me, he was served. We also saw staff sitting behind pool bars smoking and using their phones while guests were waiting for service. One positive The water park was excellent and was easily the highlight for our family. There were also individual members of staff who were lovely, particularly in the Lebanese restaurant. Unfortunately, those positives could not make up for everything else. Overall We saved throughout the year for this holiday and came home genuinely gutted that we had spent so much money on something that, in our experience, fell so far below what had been advertised. This wasn't about expecting perfection. It was about expecting the basic standards that should come with an expensive holiday advertised as 5-star: a suitable bed for every person booked into the room, decent cleanliness, functioning facilities, edible and inclusive food choices, basic maintenance and consistently good service. Had this been advertised and priced as a basic 2 or 3-star hotel, our expectations would obviously have been different. But that isn't what we believed we were buying. My biggest regret is that I saw some of the negative reviews before we travelled and convinced myself they couldn't possibly be representative. I wish we had listened to them. Please look carefully at the photos and recent reviews before spending your money. I genuinely hope sharing our experience prevents another family from returning home feeling as disappointed and ripped off as we did. Unable to upload photos, will work out how to do this after

everything is good food is good animation is good roon is good

the general manager did not handle our complaints. We raised serious concerns regarding the food quality and the excessive noise from the music, and we were assured that action would be taken to resolve these issues. Unfortunately, despite the promises, absolutely nothing changed. What makes the experience even more frustrating is the impression that management is more concerned about guests booking through Booking.com than about the actual satisfaction of guests staying at the hotel. I also noticed that guests' bracelets were being changed to gold bracelets free of charge so they could enjoy the facilities at the sister hotel. This raises questions about the consistency of the hotel's guest policies and priorities. The general manager should listen to guests, take complaints seriously, and, most importantly, follow through on promises. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. Promises without action are meaningless. Guest satisfaction should be the priority, not simply securing bookings. Very disappointing management and an experience that I would think twice about repeating.

Very good food love the atmosphere very kind staff don't hassle you good for activities and all sorts

Ultimately, the hotel experience was terrible—largely due to the staff, who were rude, and the overwhelming overcrowding that management failed to control. Hygiene was non-existent; glasses and plates were not properly cleaned, and there was a foul odor in the lobby, restaurant, and lobby bar. The only redeeming feature was the water park, where the staff were actually polite. However, the overall experience was so miserable that it made me regret the trip entirely. If you want to travel somewhere just to get annoyed or upset, then I recommend this hotel; otherwise, you certainly won't enjoy yourself or have a good time.

They are not professional and the staff is leaking experience of hospitality and tourism The food is horrible The staff at reception are not friendly It’s waste of money

Food quality is bad that 2 of my friend got food poisoning, and the variety is nonexistent literally we ate the same assortment of food every day for 4 nights. Staff is not professional at all and the treatment is the worst ever. I tried to talk with the management to sort things out but they didn't take any actions. The level of cleanliness of the utensils, plates and cups is disgusting, had to drink in plastic cups all the stay. The 1 star is for the aqua park and the sea.

pros: The beach was enjoyable, and the water park was one of the few positive aspects of the resort. cons: However, the overall experience was extremely disappointing. The resort requires an excessive amount of walking to move between facilities, making it very inconvenient. The food quality was exceptionally poor and did not meet the standard expected even from a three-star hotel, let alone a five-star resort. Transportation within the resort was also poorly organized. To reach the beach from the hotel, guests are required to take two shuttle buses, getting off the first and waiting for the second, which is often delayed or does not arrive at all. As a result, walking becomes the only reliable option. The staff's attitude and level of service were unsatisfactory. In many cases, guests are expected to serve themselves, whether in the restaurant or other areas of the resort. Additionally, the drinking cups were frequently unclean, raising concerns about hygiene. There were also multiple reported cases of guests experiencing stomach pain and vomiting, which appeared to be related to the poor food quality and inadequate hygiene standards. The towel policy was also unreasonable. Guests are provided with only one towel per day, and it cannot be exchanged. If a guest returns the towel, they must wait until 5:00 PM before receiving another one, leaving no option for immediate replacement. Furthermore, the resort offers very limited entertainment. The animation team is almost nonexistent, and there are very few recreational activities available for guests. Overall, it is difficult to understand how this resort received a five-star rating. The facilities, food, service, cleanliness, and overall guest experience fall well below the expected standard. This was a highly disappointing stay, and it is not an experience I would choose to repeat under any circumstances.

Location good Atmosphere was awesome Rooms is clean & room service Value is good Parista called abdulla in the pool bar is harrestmnet Animation team is really funny

The place has literally everything!

We had a wonderful stay at this hotel, and the entertainment team truly made our vacation unforgettable! They were incredibly friendly, energetic, they feel like family. Especially Karin and Justin. There were plenty of fun activities throughout the day and entertaining shows every evening, with something for both adults and children. Their enthusiasm created such a great atmosphere! A huge thank you to the entire entertainment team for making our holiday so enjoyable. We would definitely love to come back!

Very good experience overall nice helpful staff but the food can be better especially lunch and dinner

We are really happy to be in this hotel we wish we come back in this place in one day again

Good evening. My name is John Farag, guest in room 1662. Can you imagine that I arrived at the hotel at 10:30 AM and didn't get my room until 5:15 PM? All of this was due to the terrible lack of organization at the reception. Consequently, a whole day was wasted for the 7 rooms that are with me. I also have a major issue with the lack of variety in the food. Furthermore, it is a complete lie when they tell you that the swimming pool is open 24 hours; it closes at 6:00 PM sharp. However, to be fair, all the staff members here are very cooperative and try their best to please you in any way possible. But honestly, this is an experience I would never want to go through again.""Note: I am still here and have 5 days left. I was planning to cancel the rest of my stay, but unfortunately, I would have lost the cost of 3 days." مساء الخير انا اسمي چون فرج نزيل غرفه رقم ١٦٦٢ لك ان تتخيل ان انا اوصل الفندق الساعه ١٠.٣٠ صباحا واستلم الغرفه الساعه ٥.١٥ مساء وكل ده بسبب سوء التنظيم في الريسيبشن وطبعا كده يوم ضاع على ال سبعة غرف اللي معايا وعندي كمان مشكله كبيره في عدم تنوع الاكل وكمان كذب اللي يقولك ان حمام السباحه ٢٤ ساعه هو اخره الساعه ٦ مساءً بالتمام لكن شهادة حق العاملين بالمكان كلهم متعاونين جدا وبيحاول يراضيك بأي طريقه لكن صريحه تجربه مش هحب اخوضها تاني وملحوظه انا لسه هناك ومعايا ٥ ايام وكنت ناوي الغي الايام بس للأسف كانو هيخسروني ثلاثة ايام

Best hotel we have spend a good holiday and nice view also good food and service also nice animation team nice atmosphere good place for familys

Stella Gardens Resort&Spa is absolutely amazing. But their greatest asset is the people who work for them! Huge super team, I've never seen one like this before. I enjoyed watching them interacting with people and helping them to get their minds off things and fully recharge. And it's incredible how kind and involved they all are. Especially the guys from the animation team, and all of the lifeguards and personnel from the aqua park, and totally everyone from the food&drinks service section, and a beautiful habibti with a true gift for the best foot massage ever! Wishing you all the best! With love from Ukraine!

My husband (40), myself (38), and our two daughters (12 and 10) have just returned from a 14-night stay at Stella Gardens Resort in Makadi Bay, booked through EasyJet Holidays, flying from Bristol to Hurghada. Overall, we absolutely loved this holiday and would return in a heartbeat. Before travelling, we read countless reviews and, if I'm honest, some of them made us quite anxious. Looking back now, we really didn't need to worry. Transfer After arriving in Hurghada, we quickly found our EasyJet transfer and were on our way within minutes. The transfer was a small, air-conditioned minibus with only one drop-off before our hotel. The guide onboard was lovely, informative, and welcoming – a great start to the holiday. Check-In & Room The hotel staff were warm and welcoming from the moment we arrived. As it was after 10pm, they encouraged us to grab some food before checking into our room. After a late dinner, we were taken to our room (3573) by golf buggy, while our luggage was carried up to the second floor. We had booked a two-bedroom mega room, although I believe we may have been allocated a different room type. However, it honestly wasn't an issue for us. The room's huge private balcony overlooked the pool, was positioned at the end of the building, and became one of our favourite features. We did require an additional bed, but this was provided quickly and without any fuss. The room was immaculate and fully stocked with plenty of bottled water upon arrival. Hotel Grounds I'm genuinely not sure why some reviews criticise the cleanliness or condition of the grounds. The entire resort was spotless and incredibly well maintained. Gardeners worked tirelessly every day, and the grounds looked beautiful throughout our stay. The layout of the hotel is also excellent – spacious enough to feel like a resort, but not so large that you feel lost. Staff Every single member of staff we encountered was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely seemed to care about guests having a good holiday. A smile and a "good morning" go a long way, and we found that when we engaged with staff respectfully, they always responded with warmth and kindness. The staff constantly remembered our children, spoke to them by name, and made them feel incredibly comfortable. They loved being called "habibi" and were always excited when staff greeted them. Our drinks orders were remembered, certain chefs and waiters knew my daughters' favourite foods, and often had them ready when they saw them queuing. What stood out most was how many staff genuinely took the time to get to know us, asking about where we were from, how we were enjoying Egypt, and whether there was anything they could do to help. By the end of the holiday, it felt like we had made some genuine connections. Food & Restaurants Before travelling, I was told, "You don't go to Egypt for the food." Food seems to be one of the biggest complaints in many reviews, but personally, I don't really understand the criticism. Did I love every dish? No. Were there things I wouldn't try? Absolutely. Did I find something enjoyable to eat every single day? Without question. At home, most people don't eat five, six, or seven different cuisines in one sitting, yet some guests seem to expect exactly that on holiday. There was always plenty of choice, and we never struggled to find meals we enjoyed. Sometimes I think people are too hesitant to try something new and, much like my 10-year-old, eat with their eyes first! You're on holiday – be adventurous and give something different a try. What was disappointing, however, was the amount of food waste we witnessed every evening. Some guests piled plates high only to leave most of it untouched. It felt unnecessary and quite sad to see. We also tried all of the à la carte restaurants. My personal ranking would be: Lebanese Indian Italian Chinese Evening Entertainment The animation team were fantastic – enthusiastic, energetic, and always creating a fun atmosphere. We didn't attend much of the evening entertainment simply because we were often exhausted after busy days in the sun, but the shows we did watch were enjoyable. The Michael Jackson show was absolutely incredible and honestly something I would happily pay to watch again. Water Park 10,000/10. I would genuinely return to this hotel for the water park alone. As EasyJet guests, we had full access, and it was one of the highlights of the holiday. The lifeguards were brilliant – attentive, professional, funny, and fantastic with children. They quickly got to know our daughters, joked with them, and helped create such a fun atmosphere around the pools. One day, my daughter cut her foot in the pool. It was very minor, but the response was immediate. Staff cleaned and dressed the wound, offered a doctor, and ensured she was comfortable. We declined medical assistance as she was absolutely fine, but what impressed us was the follow-up. Every day afterwards, the lifeguards checked how she was doing. That evening, guest services even called our room to make sure she was okay and to offer medical assistance if needed. The following day, we received a fruit basket, cakes, desserts, and soft drinks as a goodwill gesture. The level of care and customer service was exceptional. Stella Beach & Snorkelling One of the biggest bonuses of staying at Stella Gardens is the access to Stella Beach. The snorkelling was absolutely incredible and far exceeded our expectations. In fact, many of the fish we saw during a paid snorkelling excursion could also be seen directly from the beach. During our stay, other guests reported sightings of turtles, dolphins and baby rays, although unfortunately we weren't lucky enough to see them ourselves. What we did see, however, was stunning. The colourful fish and coral reefs were absolutely breathtaking and became one of the highlights of our holiday. If you enjoy snorkelling, don't overlook the beach access – it adds huge value to your stay. On-Site Sellers The only real negative we found with the hotel itself was the on-site sellers. During the first few days, they felt quite overwhelming, especially when they realised we were new arrivals. Unfortunately, a combination of their persistence and my inability to be rude resulted in me booking a £100 spa package that I later regretted and couldn't get out of. To be fair, they are polite and are simply doing their jobs, but some can be very persistent and don't always accept "no" straight away. My advice would be to tell them you've already booked everything or that you're leaving soon. They usually move on fairly quickly after that. None of them were rude or intimidating, but I do wish I'd been firmer from the start, as I definitely feel I overpaid at the spa. Live and learn! Other Guests One negative that had nothing to do with the hotel itself, but unfortunately impacted parts of our holiday, was the behaviour of some guests. Interestingly, every British family we spoke to seemed to share the same opinion. Queue etiquette appeared to be completely non-existent for some guests. Adults and children alike would often be pushed aside, with people simply walking straight to the front without any concern for who was already waiting. The restaurant between 8pm and 9pm could feel particularly chaotic and, at times, resembled feeding time at the zoo. On a few occasions, the atmosphere became so overwhelming that we actually chose not to eat and returned later instead. This isn't really a criticism of the hotel, as they can only control so much, but I do think the dining experience could benefit from a timed booking system or allocated dining slots during peak periods. It would help spread guests out more evenly and create a much more relaxed atmosphere. I also witnessed some guests speaking quite rudely to members of staff, which was disappointing to see, especially given how hard the staff work and how genuinely kind and helpful they are. Excursions & Useful Tips We booked a boat trip through Get Your Guide and saved ourselves well over £100 compared with some of the excursions being sold through other companies and on-site sellers. We also visited Senzo Mall a couple of times. If you're looking for snacks, drinks, toiletries or other essentials, head to Spinneys supermarket. You'll save a significant amount of money compared with the shops on site, which can be considerably more expensive. Final Thoughts Despite a few minor negatives, particularly with some of the other guests and the persistence of some on-site sellers, this holiday exceeded our expectations in almost every way. The hotel is beautiful and well maintained, the staff are exceptional, the water park is outstanding, the snorkelling is incredible, and our daughters had the most amazing time. If you're reading reviews and feeling nervous, as we were before travelling, don't be. Everyone's experience is different, but for our family, Stella Gardens Resort delivered a fantastic holiday from start to finish. We would return in a heartbeat.

Despite some negative online reviews, our stay from June 8th to 14th in Room 555 was absolutely great value for money. The Positives: The Brand New Nonya Aqua Park Incredible, modern, and a massive highlight for the trip. The smart Wristband Access: The coolest and most convenient feature your room key is integrated into your bracelet, it’s photo attached. Excellent Room & Service: Our room was recently renovated, fresh, and very comfortable. The room service was consistently good throughout our stay.( thank you Mohamed the housekeeper) Food Variety: There was a great selection and variety of food at every meal. Special Thanks: A very special thank you to Mr. Ahmed Khames, the Hotel Reception Manager. His outstanding hospitality, professionalism, and helpfulness made our stay truly excellent. The Negatives: The Beach & Sea: For 4 days of our trip, the beach experienced an extremely low tide. Swimming directly from the shore was completely impossible, not just hard. The only available solution to swim in the sea was walking all the way to the end of the marina. Guest Etiquette & Rules: The hotel needs to enforce its policies much more strictly. Many guests did not respect the restaurant dress code, and others were entering the pools and aqua park wearing regular cotton shirts instead of proper swimwear. Crowds: The resort was crowded, though this wasn't a major issue for us. Overall, it was a memorable vacation and we highly recommend it

This was perfect time we spend together in this hotel nice view and service and also food very good we also love how the atmosphere was everywhere first time pharaonic design also it was a very nice atmosphere animation email had a lot of fun with them in the show in the morning they are very very very active. We like the time with them and thanks for this wonderful holiday. We will come back this year especially for spending good time in this beautiful hotel.

This hotel is definitely not 5*! We found it extremely hard to eat here! The shop is so expensive for snacks and drinks every day was over £40 spent! We had complained and got an upgrade on our bands so we could eat at Stella beach, food was a little better. We eat quite a bit at the marina and Senzo mall! If the food could change then definitely 4*! I honestly can’t fault the staff they were amazing massive shout out to abdola and beshoy these guys are worth their weight in gold! Couldn’t do enough for us! If you tip they will look after you, the towel guy made sure we had beds every morning! Small tip off 200 Egyptian is like half of what they make in a hour! We made the most amazing friends here, the entertainment team are fantastic always getting you up to do something! My 3 year old loved the mini disco in the water park. We would 100% go back nothing put us off the food was a problem but the staff made up for it! Hope they change the food situation! We will be back next year!

I had a wonderful stay at Stella Garden Resort. The resort offers a relaxing atmosphere, friendly staff, and enjoyable activities for guests. One of the highlights of my stay was the animation team. In particular, "Kerlous Wageeh"was professional, energetic, friendly, and always made guests feel welcome. His enthusiasm and positive attitude added a lot to the holiday experience. Also I like Jasmin, Julia - from kids club - so kind, energy, professional. Animation Karin an wonderful woman, very positive!! Justin good dancer and positive too!! Thank DG for wonderful disco party!! All animation team every time smiling, kind for me and my family!! The sports and entertainment activities were enjoyable and well organized. That's why it was surprising to learn that animation staff are not allowed to use the fitness room. For a sports animator, staying fit is an important part of the job, and allowing them access to the gym would benefit both the staff and the guests. Thank kitchen team!! Overall, I enjoyed my stay and would recommend Stella Garden Resort to anyone looking for a pleasant holiday experience.

Since we arrive here everything was perfect and also food and service was great and we spend a good time in aqua park and our kids they have fun and the they enjoyed them time we also want to recommend that animation team was so kind and friendly thanks for this perfect holiday special thanks to animator omar for this good time best animatior ever