"Rixos Radamis Beach, Sharm El Sheikh – A Beautiful Resort, but a Huge Disappointment in Service, Organization, and Overall Quality!
I am writing this review with great disappointment because I honestly never expected such an experience from a hotel belonging to the Rixos brand.
We visited the Rixos Radamis complex approximately a year and a half ago, when we stayed at Rixos Radamis Tirana. After that, we also stayed at Rixos Premium Seagate. We therefore have a genuine basis for comparison and know very well the level of quality and service that this hotel chain is capable of providing.
This time, I was the one who initiated and organized our holiday, convincing three other families to choose Rixos Radamis Beach precisely because of our previous positive experiences. We were a group of 13 people staying in four rooms.
Unfortunately, the disappointments began right from the start and continued until the very last moment of our stay.
Arrival and Check-In
Our airport transfer was organized through Emerald.
Our plane landed at 10:30 AM, but we did not arrive at the hotel until 1:30 PM. The organization was extremely slow and inefficient.
We had paid for a Deluxe room, but we were initially accommodated in a different room that did not correspond to the room category we had booked.
That same evening, I had to deal with changing rooms instead of enjoying the beginning of our holiday.
Room 15401 and Housekeeping
We stayed in room 15401, overlooking Club Privé.
The room was extremely noisy. There was constant wind outside, and a terrible howling noise could be heard inside the room throughout the night. It was very difficult to sleep peacefully.
The other families were staying in rooms facing the swimming pool, and they did not experience this problem.
Housekeeping was extremely superficial. Basic supplies such as bottled water, toilet paper, drinks, and other essentials were regularly not replenished.
On one occasion, I happened to meet the housekeeper outside our room and had to personally explain that there were four people staying in the room and that we needed sufficient water and basic supplies.
Even though we left tips, the quality of service did not improve. It simply felt as though the staff could not be bothered.
Meanwhile, everything was perfectly fine in our friends’ rooms. Not only were their rooms properly stocked, but the housekeeping staff even prepared beautiful decorations for them.
This clearly shows how inconsistent the level of service can be within the very same hotel.
On our last evening, we returned from the beach at 5:15 PM, only to find that our room was just about to be cleaned!
Initially, we were told that there was no time to prepare a room decoration and that it could be done the following day. I explained that we were leaving the following morning.
At that point, the staff genuinely made a great effort and prepared a lovely surprise for our children.
I sincerely want to thank them for that! I truly appreciate their effort, but it is unfortunate that we only received this kind of attention on our very last evening.
Main Restaurant at Beach Side – A Positive Experience
I would also like to highlight one of the positive aspects of our stay.
The food at the main restaurant in the Beach Side area was very good, with a wide variety of delicious dishes to choose from.
The fresh mango juice was absolutely amazing and definitely one of our favorites!
We also had a favorite waiter who always took great care of us. He was attentive, kind, and made sure we had everything we needed.
His friendly attitude and excellent service made our dining experience much more enjoyable. A special thank you to him! 😊
À La Carte Restaurants – A Significant Decline in Quality
Since our group was staying in four rooms, we managed to make reservations at three à la carte restaurants.
1. The Turkish Restaurant
The food was not bad, and the service was good.
However, the quality was definitely not the same as we remembered from our previous visit.
2. Mangal – Our Biggest Restaurant Disappointment
We had very high expectations for this restaurant because we had visited it before, and the experience back then was completely different.
This time, the chef arrived, quickly grilled the meat, and that was it.
There was no interaction with the guests, no playful engagement with the children, no entertainment, and no special attention whatsoever.
Everything felt rushed and impersonal.
The waiter’s service was absolutely unacceptable.
He came, took our order, got almost everything wrong, and then simply disappeared.
He never returned to ask whether we needed anything, whether we wanted more drinks, or even to clear the empty plates from our table.
We had to go to the bar ourselves twice just to ask for things we needed.
This is absolutely ridiculous for an à la carte restaurant in a hotel of this category!
The menu was also considerably more limited.
We were served one mixed salad and a few dips with bread. During our previous visit, there had been much more variety, including a wider selection of items on the meat platter.
We left the restaurant extremely disappointed.
This was definitely not the Mangal restaurant we remembered.
3. T-Bon
The food was nothing special, and once again, we noticed a decline in quality.
The most disappointing part is that you no longer feel as though you are dining in a special à la carte restaurant.
Everything is served in a hurry, leaving you with the impression that the staff expect you to finish your meal within 30 minutes and leave the table.
The atmosphere is missing. The special attention is missing. The entire experience is missing.
Service Throughout the Hotel – Constantly Feeling Ignored
Unfortunately, the poor service was not limited to the à la carte restaurants.
In many areas, there seemed to be too few staff members for the enormous number of guests.
Waiters constantly misunderstood orders, brought incorrect items, or simply did not pay enough attention.
Let me give you a very simple example.
There is a small coffee bar on the beach. One of the employees working there was extremely unfriendly and constantly looked irritated.
I ordered a double short espresso with cold milk.
Instead, he gave me two enormous Americano coffees.
I understand that the staff deal with a huge number of guests and may be tired of dealing with constant requests and complaints.
But we are not talking about unreasonable demands here.
We are talking about basic things – listening to the customer, understanding a simple order, and treating people politely.
During our previous visits to the complex, staff members would approach us, ask whether everything was fine, and check whether we were enjoying our stay.
In the à la carte restaurants, they would even provide QR codes, encourage us to leave reviews, and ask us to upload photos of our dining experience.
This time, that kind of attention was missing.
You simply feel like another guest among thousands, someone nobody particularly cares about.
Beach, Swimming Pools, and Internal Transportation
There was a constant shortage of beach towels!
You arrive at the beach or swimming pool, and there are no towels available.
You wait, search around, and ask the staff.
You cannot even settle down comfortably on a sunbed.
Another major issue is the internal transportation system.
The distances within the resort are enormous, and when you are traveling with children, walking everywhere is not always easy.
Getting onto the shuttle buses often turned into a real struggle among the guests.
For a hotel covering such a large area and accommodating so many people, the transportation system is clearly insufficient and urgently needs improvement.
Kids’ Clubs, Rixy Club, and Children’s Activities
Here, I would also like to mention several positive aspects.
We genuinely liked the new kids’ club in the Beach Side area.
The staff there were extremely kind, friendly, and welcoming towards the children. This was definitely one of the highlights of our stay.
There is also a lovely children’s playground on the beach, which is a great addition for families.
The activities at Rixy Club are interesting and enjoyable for children.
They even organized a fashion show where the children wore dresses, which was a lovely experience.
The fire truck activity and go-karting are also great attractions for children.
Unfortunately, securing reservations for these activities is quite difficult, which can be frustrating when the children are excited to participate.
The new water park is also very nice, and the children had a wonderful time there.
However, the water in the swimming pools was extremely cold, which was quite unpleasant, especially for the children.
Unfortunately, the kids’ club on the beach itself did not impress us at all.
I honestly could not understand what its purpose was or what activities it actually offered, as we did not see anything particularly interesting happening there.
We also had an unpleasant experience with a tennis lesson.
We booked a tennis lesson for our child, and the kids’ club staff provided us only with the time and location.
Nobody informed us of any specific requirements.
When we arrived for the lesson, we were turned away because our child was wearing sandals with socks instead of trainers.
Of course, I completely understand that appropriate footwear is required for sports.
But why did nobody inform us in advance?
The only response we received was that we could complain to the manager of the kids’ club.
And that was it. No assistance, no alternative, and no attempt to resolve the situation.
Organizing a Child’s Birthday Celebration
Upon arriving at the hotel, we informed the staff that one of our children would be celebrating a birthday and that we wanted to organize something special at the kids’ club – a decorated table and a small celebration.
We were assured that everything had been arranged.
However, when we arrived at the children’s restaurant in Rixy Club at 8:30, the staff had absolutely no idea what we were talking about!
They immediately started arranging the table and decorations on the spot.
Fortunately, the employees there really made an effort, and everything turned out nicely in the end.
I am grateful for their help, but once again, why does everything have to be organized at the very last minute when it has already been arranged in advance?
Oktoberfest and Children’s Entertainment – Some of the Positive Highlights
I would particularly like to mention that Oktoberfest was very well organized!
The hotel arranged enjoyable events over two days, and we genuinely liked them.
There was a kite party for the children, as well as characters appearing in boats.
These were lovely and entertaining moments that created a wonderful atmosphere.
Events like these show that the hotel is perfectly capable of organizing interesting activities and offering memorable experiences.
Unfortunately, the evening shows on the main stage were not of the same standard.
They were rather dull and not particularly interesting compared to what we expected.
Serious Health Problems During Our Stay
This was by far the most unpleasant and worrying part of our entire holiday.
On the third day, members of our group began falling ill one after another, experiencing symptoms of a gastrointestinal virus – vomiting, fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and severe discomfort.
Out of the 13 people in our group, 7 became ill!
The symptoms lasted for at least three days.
A large part of our group spent several days of the holiday sick in their rooms.
For me, this was an absolute nightmare.
Instead of enjoying my holiday, I was constantly worried about who would be the next person to fall ill.
What made the situation even more concerning was that almost every time I went to the restroom, I could hear other hotel guests who seemed to be experiencing similar symptoms and feeling just as unwell.
This gave me the impression that our group was not the only one affected.
I cannot say where the illness originated or what exactly caused it.
However, when so many people fall ill during the same holiday, it is perfectly reasonable to expect concern and an appropriate response from the hotel management.
Instead, when we spoke with senior staff members, they tried to convince us that we had probably consumed too much alcohol!
This response was extremely inappropriate and insulting, considering the symptoms and the number of people affected.
They offered to prepare some special food for us, but that was practically the extent of their assistance.
We had to go to the hotel opposite ours to purchase medication.
We also sought assistance from the medical center, but a doctor never came.
We received no actual medical assistance.
For a hotel of this standard, such a lack of response and concern is extremely disappointing.
The saddest part is that instead of creating wonderful family holiday memories, we spent our time worrying, being ill, and searching for medication.
Mosquitoes – Another Serious Problem
There were terrible numbers of mosquitoes throughout the resort.
Both the children and adults were severely bitten.
The situation became so bad that we once again had to visit a pharmacy to purchase special medication and treatments for the bites.
We certainly did not expect such a problem at a hotel of this standard.
One Final Disappointment – The Organization on Departure Day
The evening before our departure, I personally went to reception to request packed breakfasts for the following morning.
The staff wrote down our room numbers, and we agreed on a specific collection time – 8:30 AM.
The next morning, I was already at reception at 8:20 AM to settle the payment and prepare for our departure.
It turned out that absolutely nothing had been prepared!
Only then did the staff start making phone calls and arranging for the food packages to be prepared.
I then spoke with Guest Relations, who assured me that everything would be ready within 15–20 minutes.
By 9:00 AM, we still had not received anything!
Had we known that our request would not be fulfilled, we could at least have taken some bottled water and a croissant for each of the children ourselves.
This was yet another example of poor organization and a complete lack of communication between the hotel’s departments.
Even while I was waiting at reception to settle the payment and leave, the employee in front of me did not even look at me.
He simply continued printing documents as though I was not standing there at all.
This small detail actually sums up our entire experience – you constantly feel ignored.
Final Thoughts – Rixos, Please Pay Attention. You Are Losing Customers!
Throughout the entire holiday, I genuinely tried to remain positive, overlook the unpleasant situations, and enjoy spending time with my family and friends.
I appreciate the positive aspects – the beautiful resort, the good and varied food at the main Beach Side restaurant, the wonderful fresh mango juice, our attentive waiter, the well-organized Oktoberfest, the children’s entertainment, the activities at Rixy Club, the fashion show, the fire truck activity, go-karting, the new water park, the new kids’ club in Beach Side, the lovely playground on the beach, and the kindness shown by certain members of staff.
There were genuinely enjoyable moments, and I want to acknowledge them.
However, when problems keep piling up one after another, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore them.
And the fact that more than half of our group became ill and spent a significant part of the holiday in their rooms completely overshadowed the entire experience.
Our biggest disappointment is that we know what the standards used to be, and we can clearly see how much they have changed.
One of the other families had also visited this hotel before, and throughout our holiday, we repeatedly discussed the noticeable differences compared to our previous experience.
We are not talking about one isolated incident or excessively high expectations.
We are talking about problems with check-in, housekeeping, restaurant quality, customer service, internal transportation, children’s activities, communication between departments, and even the organization of the most basic requests.
The hotel is undoubtedly beautiful, enormous, and visually impressive.
But luxurious surroundings alone are not enough to deliver a genuine five-star experience.
I have the impression that the focus is now primarily on the appearance of the resort and accommodating huge numbers of guests, while the actual quality of service is gradually declining.
Rixos should not simply mean a luxurious building. Rixos should stand for quality, genuine hospitality, attention to detail, and an exceptional guest experience.
In the past, we felt like valued guests.
This time, we constantly felt ignored, as though we were somehow inconveniencing the staff simply by having perfectly reasonable expectations.
Of course, there were employees who genuinely made an effort and deserve recognition and thanks.
I sincerely appreciate their work.
But a few positive moments cannot compensate for all the problems we experienced.
What makes this especially disappointing for me is that I personally organized this holiday and convinced three other families to join us, confident that we would receive the same wonderful experience we remembered from our previous visits.
Unfortunately, we were left with many disappointments, and we discussed among ourselves that we would not return to this hotel.
The management of Rixos Radamis Beach seriously needs to address these issues.
When returning guests, who have already experienced your hospitality and trusted your brand enough to choose you again, begin noticing such a significant decline in quality and service, you are not simply receiving negative reviews.
You are losing their trust, and ultimately, you are losing them as customers.
I never expected to have an experience like this at a Rixos hotel.
Please pay attention – you are losing customers!"