Pickalbatros Citadel Resort - Sahl Hasheesh

"The Albatros Citadel Resort is truly stunning. Its coral‑stone architecture gives the feeling of a charming Southern French port, wrapped around a beautiful marina that feels like a small Mediterranean village. Every room has spectacular sea views, and the whole setting is incredibly relaxing. We loved the food, especially the bakery (open until 1am) and the café with its great selection of cakes. The pizzeria and marina ice cream stand are lovely touches, and all bars serve excellent coffees. However, only two cocktails — pina colada and mojito — are included in the all‑inclusive package. A wider choice is only available at the Golden Booda Disco, which is extra charge and only open three nights a week from 23:00. The three main pools are heated freshwater and very enjoyable, but the swim‑up rooms have unheated pools that are extremely cold. Rooms are comfortable with well‑stocked minibars, and Wi‑Fi is free throughout. The resort offers plenty to do: boccia, billiards, table tennis, tennis courts, beach volleyball, paddle boats, jacuzzis, a gym, diving centre and more. The beach lagoons are safe, though footwear is needed. There is an incredible range of fish, snorkelling would be amazing! There’s also a spa, beauty salon, pharmacy and shops. The resort is built on a hill, and access to the lower levels, beach and marina can be challenging for guests with mobility needs or prams. The single glass lift doesn’t reach the ground level and only works properly if both sets of doors are closed by previous users. Ramps don’t extend to the lower areas, so the shuttle bus (every 15 minutes) and buggy carts are very helpful. The location is also remote, so transport is needed to go off‑site. Our only real disappointment was the complete lack of a TUI representative on site, which would have been helpful for a mid‑haul destination. Despite this, we absolutely loved our holiday. The resort is beautiful, the service is warm, and we would definitely return."

"We stayed at Pickalbatros Citadel over Christmas and New Year and had an excellent winter sun break. The journey from the airport was straightforward; we used a private taxi both ways and the transfer was smooth and efficient. Beach & Sea The beach is one of the resort’s strongest assets. There is a mile of sandy beach on both sides of the marina, and you can walk straight into the sea with no jetty required. The water is pristine and ideal for snorkelling, with plenty of marine life visible directly from the shoreline. Facilities along the beach are exceptionally well planned. Toilets on both sides were fully accessible, immaculately clean, and consistently well stocked — a real advantage given the size of the resort. Sun beds were new and extremely comfortable, and towels were in excellent condition throughout our stay. Resort Layout & Accessibility On arrival we were slightly concerned about the size of the resort and the number of slopes and stairs, but this was quickly resolved. There are numerous shortcuts and walkways connecting all areas, and despite my limited mobility I found it easy to navigate. Golf style buggies run frequently and will take you anywhere if you prefer not to walk. Pools, Safety & Activities There is a large quiet pool for guests seeking a relaxed atmosphere, and a separate activity pool where the animation team work tirelessly throughout the day. Their evening shows were also very professional. The pools were warm, clean, and well maintained. Importantly, the pool floors and surrounding surfaces were not slippery, which added to the overall sense of safety. The lifeguards deserve recognition. They were proactive, attentive, and took their roles seriously — politely addressing excessive noise in the quiet pool, monitoring activities, ensuring children were supervised, and assisting with loungers when needed. Their presence was reassuring throughout. Wi-Fi WiFi coverage was strong across the entire resort and never failed during our stay — impressive for a property of this scale. Bars Bar service was excellent: friendly, efficient, and consistent. There isn’t a printed cocktail menu, so it helps to know what you want, but staff were happy to make any cocktail by name. The local lager, beer and spirits were all very drinkable, which isn’t always the case in all inclusive resorts and was a pleasant surprise. Housekeeping Housekeeping was exceptional. Toiletries were replenished daily, the fridge was restocked with water and drinks, and the room was maintained to a high standard. No staff member chased tips, though they were genuinely appreciative when given. Guest Relations & Buffet Guest Relations were approachable, well informed, and a pleasure to speak with each day. We only used the main buffet restaurant twice, so cannot comment on long term variety. Our initial experience raised a minor concern, but after speaking with Chef Yassar and Chef Mahmoud it was resolved immediately. They continued to check in with us for the remainder of the holiday, and Mr Rashid also followed up regularly. The level of customer service was exceptional. A la Carte Restaurants The à la carte restaurants were superb. Rocks Italian became our favourite for evening meals, offering consistently excellent dishes and a relaxed atmosphere. Alfredo was our preferred lunch spot, where the daily BBQ was exceptional — fresh, well prepared, and a welcome alternative to the buffet. Chef Yassar and Chef Mahmoud were regularly present, speaking with diners to check on the quality and enjoyment of the food, and even asking if there was anything guests would like to see added to the menus. Their involvement made the dining experience feel personal and very professionally managed. Evening Entertainment Evening entertainment was good and enjoyable, providing a relaxed end to the day without being intrusive or overly loud. Spa The spa was excellent. The packages offered were excellent value, the massages were genuinely exceptional, and the facilities were pristine. The manager was extremely helpful throughout. Rooms Rooms were spacious and clean. Some areas feel slightly dated, but everything was comfortable and fully functional. Transport & Hurghada Marina Hurghada Marina is around a 15 minute taxi ride from the hotel and is well worth visiting in the evenings. It’s a wonderful place for live music, excellent food and very reasonably priced drinks — a refreshing change from staying in the hotel every night. The bars and restaurants in the Marina are very European in style, clean, and relaxed, with outdoor seating overlooking the boats and the sea. Most of the live music was in English, and the atmosphere was lively without being chaotic. Winter Weather During our stay the days were warm and sunny, with cooler evenings typical of the season. Wind varied by day but never interfered with swimming or comfort on the beach. Overall The beach, sea access, cleanliness, strong safety standards, and exceptional customer service set this hotel apart. This was our first stay at a Pickalbatros property and based on our experience at the Citadel we have already booked again for May in Hurghada. We will happily return."

"The hotel itself is beautiful. Made out of rocks and frankly an amazing design. Huge, need a golf cart which is available here and a mini bus that picks you up. 4 pools. An infinity pool nice and warm for February weather which is very windy but very sunny. Mostafa at the desk is very nice and helpful. Gave me and my family a great room and upgrade and late check out. Very clean. 5 restaurants. The Rock lounge is the best but must book in advance. The sea is amazing and lots of safari and boat rides to do. Be careful because you need to tip everyone is whatever the price is include some more money for tipping everyone. One annoying thing is that everyone wants to sell you a trip or something g but after a few days they know you and will stop. Also it’s a great hotel but people don’t dress up for some reason. I highly recommend"