Just returned from a lovely weeks stay at the Iberotel Grand Sharm. Would agree with other reviewers that this is a good 4 star hotel but not 5 star.

We were very concerned about all inclusive food before we went but was very happy with the standard and variety of the food each day, although it would become repetitive if you were there for 2 weeks.

As other reviewers have said the majority of the guests were Russian and German and I would think that in peak season you might struggle to get a sunbed if you are any later than 8 o clock, 50% of the sunbeds were taken by 7.45 but we didnt have any problems finding a bed by the small pool where our room was. The pool itself was heated to 28 deg which proved to be a bit too warm on some occasions and you needed to go to the big pool to cool off but if like my partner you dont like cold water it was perfecf!!!

The evening entertainment was a bit amateurish, the same singer every night with the same songs, she would be ideal for Eurovision Song Contest as my partner pointed out one night!!!

This was our first time in Sharm El Sheikh and we booked for a relaxing holiday with guaranteed weather and thats what we got. Would recommend the romantic dinner on the beach although you do have to pay extra for this even if you are all inclusive (there should be a reduction in the price for AI guests) but make sure you spray yourself with mosquito repellant as I got 30 bites!!! Would also recommend the sunset cruise, very relaxing, beautiful sunset and we saw loads of dolphins.

All in all a lovely holiday and would definately go back to Egypt.

Great hotel - staff were really friendly and helped to make our stay. The hotel was of a good standard and maintained immacuately. Beds were comfy, food was fine (all inclusive is never going to be 5* food but it very pleasant, fresh, hot and there was lots of it no matter when you went) - lots of fresh salads, fresh pasta and something cooked in front of you every evening. (no free water before 10am though or on arrival so be sure to stock up the evening before!).

The beach is a man made one - but was very nice and peaceful and we spent everyday there (although not suitable for children wanting to build sandcastles or play in the sea). Saw many many fantastic fish from the hotel jetty which was easy to reach. There were two swimming pools - one was heated and then a very large cooler one with a pool bar.

We were the only English people there (mainly Russian and German) which was fantastic as no one intruded on us all week - although if that puts you off I was told a bus of English were arriving next week.

The only negative thing was the hotel next door had very loud music until 11pm - after that it was silent.

There was entertainment available every night. However if you want to get out and about its less than £5 in a taxi to the main bits of Sharm (which we were really glad we were nowhere near - there is a very busy main road that splits a lot of the hotels from the beach and people were constantly hasseling us when we went for a look around).

We stayed at the Iberotel Grand Sharm from 9-16 March. It was our 2nd trip to Sharm and we wanted a cheap week in the sun. We had a nice week but the Grand Sharm would be better named the Looking a Bit Dated Now Sharm.

We booked with Longwood and paid just over £600 each for a week's All Inclusive. Longwood use Monarch airlines who are rubbish. Not suprisingly we were delayed for 3hrs going out. Coming back there were no delays but the entertainment system didn't work so no films etc.

We paid for a Deluxe room with King size bed which according to Longwood entitled us to a sea view (a fact we later checked with the rep on site). On arrival we were given a twin room as apparently Longwood hadn't specified that we wanted a double?! We told them straight away and were moved to a double room. However this overlooked the pool. By this time it was 11pm, so the next morning, after being woken up by people in the pool before 7am, and after checking that we couldn't see the sea, we complained again and were told to return at 12pm to change rooms. We returned at 12pm to be told the room wouldnt be available until 5pm. This wasn't good enough so we were shown a room that would be available in an hour. However this was directly under the restaurant/entertainment terrace. So we waited until 5pm when we finally got to our room with a sea view. We had to wait for nearly 15 mins for the room to be 'ready' when we'd just been and viewed it and caught the cleaner watching the football on the telly! Although the hotel did move us it was a frustrating process and they tried to palm us off with a non-deluxe room after we'd paid a supplement, when they knew damn well it wasn't a deluxe room.

The rooms are a little dated from a decor point of view. Our safe didn't work properly. Also after flushing the toilet the water continued to run on unless you tapped the flush button gently for a second time. However as it had taken us 24 hrs to get in the room and unpack we couldn't be bothered to complain. We did experience evening noise from the hotel next door but this stopped at 11pm on the dot.

The food is good, quite a bit of choice i.e. meat, salad, potatoes, pasta 'how you liking' etc., but it does get a bit repetitive. The huge array of cakes looks great on the first day but these don't change - so even the most avid cake eater would get bored. You can either eat inside or out on the terrace. If you go down at the busy times you're unlikely to get a seat outside on the terrace.

The All Inclusive works ok once you get the hang of which bars to go to at certain times. We felt sure they would try to add things onto our bill at the end but when it came to it there was only one orange juice added in error and it was removed straight away. We drank beer and wine and it was fine.

The pools are nice although its a shame they only heat the smaller pool, which is where most of the children play and they do things such as aqua aerobics.

The garden/flower borders are very pretty.

We snorkelled from the end of the jetty. We took our own snorkelling gear. The sea was a bit rough some days so negoitating the jetty was not for the faint hearted!

The staff continually come round all day and ask if you want a massage, or want to dive, or want to do aerobics etc etc, especially if they can see you've only just arrived. After a while you learn to pretend to be asleep when you see them coming! Another trick is to tell them you're leaving later that day - then they just go straight away as they know they can't sell you anything. They also come round and spray water on you - not something I was keen on but luckily after a few times they knew not to bother me. A few times they came round handing out strawberries, and another time they went round cleaning sunglasses, which just seemed like another interruption and waste of time. Could they not have put the money into heating a 2nd pool instead?

The beach area is man made and isn't really a proper beach. There are lots of sunbeds on different levels and we didn't have a problem getting a bed. Most people come out early and put towels down.

We both had upset tums during the week but that was all and we didn't feel desperately ill or anything.

Overall we enjoyed our week but the Iberotel IS NOT a 5* resort. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency previously and its much better. However we wanted a cheap week in the sun and that was what we got.

Just arrived back from a weeks holiday at the Grand Sharm.
I'm pretty fussy having stayed at some amazing hotels but this one grew on me as the week passed by.

I certainly wouldn't call it a 5 * by any stretch of the imagination, more 3/4.

The room was good, big and clean with large comfy bed and we had paid for a sea view. There was no bath which I was disappointed about and the shower could have done with a good grout although it was powerful. Also, not many of the little touches you would expect in a 5*.
However, housekeeping placed a little gift on your bed each day which was sweet.

We had opted for the all inclusive which was ok, good for my partner as it was unlimited beer. However, soft drinks were disappointing and were pepsi, water, 7 Up or really cheap nasty OJ, apple juice etc. No fresh fruit juices at all and when I requested one I had to pay for it.

The food was pretty fair but after a week you got a bit tired of buffet each day. Good selection of breakfast but dinner I really would have liked to have sampled more Egyptian food rather than Greek night, Italian night etc. Best to avoid rush hour at feeding time and to avoid extremely rude Russians barging in front of you in the queue. I recommend the Italian restaurant La Seppia for a nice meal, shame no Egyptian restaurants though.

Service varied from very friendly to downright rude. Best to get friendly with a waiter, tip him a couple of quid at the start of the week and then he will look after you.

I agree with other reviews that you get hassled on the beach by the staff to go and get a massage or go on a trip and they don't like no for an answer. I found the guy in the gift shop round the corner of the hotel to be really pushy and as a result wouldn't buy from him.

Be warned that it is a man made beach and there is only a little stretch which is real beach and even then you can't swim in it as it's reef. You have to walk down the wobbly jetty and then you can swim in the sea and see some amazing fish and some nice coral.

English are definitely a minority at the hotel and it is over run with the Russians who as I mentioned before are rude, grumpy and seem very unhappy with their lot. The average age is 50 and so I wouldn't really recommend it for youngsters. There is average nightly entertainment which tried to stick to Egyptian themes which I liked but it is dead by 10.30 with only a dodgy disco downstairs to contend with.

Overall, not a bad experience but a few things needed to sharpen it up if they want a 5* rating.

To recommend things to do:
we went to Old Sharm market, a bit touristy and they all see dollar signs when they see you but a good place to get presents and souveniers,
Trip to Cairo by plane...don't book through your rep, you can get it about £50 cheaper through an excursion in Naama Bay. We paid £110 each.
Naama Bay is loud and crazy and you will get hassled to buy all sorts.
I recommend a day boat trip to Tiran Islands...amazing coral and fish.

Hope this helps!