"Pickalbatros Aqua Park Resort, Hurghada – One of the Best Family Holidays We've Ever Had
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After spending countless hours researching hotels in Hurghada, reading hundreds of reviews and comparing different resorts, we finally chose Pickalbatros Aqua Park Resort. Originally, we had booked another all-inclusive resort further south, but after continuing our research, we decided to cancel that booking and stay here instead. Looking back, it was undoubtedly one of the best travel decisions we've ever made.
This was our first visit to Egypt, so we weren't entirely sure what to expect. Having previously stayed at Pickalbatros resorts in Marrakech, we already knew the brand had an excellent reputation, but this resort still managed to exceed our expectations.
We travelled during late December and were blessed with glorious sunshine every day. The weather was perfect for swimming, relaxing and making full use of the outdoor facilities. Combined with the festive atmosphere around the resort, it created one of the most enjoyable family holidays we have ever experienced.
First Impressions
From the moment we arrived, everything was extremely well organised. Check-in was efficient and professional, and we received a genuinely warm welcome. The reception staff explained everything clearly, and within a short time we were settled comfortably into our room.
The first thing that struck us was just how immaculate the entire resort was. Every area, from the gardens and pathways to the restaurants, swimming pools and public areas, was spotlessly clean and exceptionally well maintained. Throughout the day you could constantly see staff cleaning, gardening, painting and carrying out maintenance. It genuinely felt like a resort where management pays close attention to every detail and takes great pride in maintaining high standards.
The Staff
Without doubt, the greatest asset of this hotel is its people.
Every member of staff we encountered worked incredibly hard and greeted guests with genuine warmth and a smile. Whether it was reception, restaurant staff, housekeeping, gardeners, lifeguards, maintenance teams or the animation staff, everyone seemed committed to ensuring guests had a wonderful holiday.
The restaurant staff were particularly impressive. Empty plates disappeared almost instantly, drinks were served quickly and tables were constantly cleaned. Despite the hotel being busy, service rarely felt slow or rushed.
Housekeeping also deserves special recognition. Our room was cleaned to an exceptionally high standard every day, fresh towels were provided, bottled water replenished and everything remained spotless throughout our stay. One lovely surprise was returning to our room to find towels creatively folded into swans and even crocodiles. It's small touches like these that make a holiday memorable.
Unlike some resorts where staff can appear to expect tips before providing good service, we found the service consistently excellent regardless. That said, Egyptian hospitality workers are generally not paid the same as those in many Western countries. If you're able to leave a small tip, please do. They genuinely deserve it and work incredibly hard.
The Food
One of our biggest concerns before travelling was the food, as we've all heard mixed stories about all-inclusive holidays in Egypt. Thankfully, those concerns disappeared within the first day. The variety was honestly outstanding.
There are numerous restaurants offering different cuisines, meaning every meal feels different. During our stay, we enjoyed Egyptian, Mediterranean, Italian, Indian and Chinese dishes, alongside grilled meats, seafood, pizzas, pasta, fresh salads and plenty of international favourites.
Breakfast offered an excellent selection including freshly cooked omelettes, pancakes, waffles, pastries, cereals, fresh fruit, cheeses, cold meats and traditional cooked breakfast items.
Lunch and dinner offered so much choice that it would be impossible to sample everything during a single holiday. We often found ourselves eating lunch beside the Pirate Pool, where there was an enormous selection available every day. The live cooking stations were particularly impressive, with chefs preparing food fresh in front of guests throughout the day.
The desserts deserve a special mention. Every day there was an incredible selection of cakes, pastries, oriental sweets and fresh fruit, all beautifully presented. The café itself looked more like an elegant high-end coffee shop than part of an all-inclusive resort. Everything looked freshly made rather than mass-produced, which really impressed us.
Families with children certainly won't struggle either. There was always pizza, chicken nuggets, burgers, chips, pasta and plenty of other child-friendly options available.
The drinks selection was equally extensive, with unlimited soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee and local alcoholic beverages served throughout the day. As we don't drink alcohol ourselves, we can't comment on its quality, but we certainly didn't hear any complaints from other guests. You will never need to queue up for a table or food like some other resorts.
Aqua Park & Swimming Pools
The water park is absolutely fantastic and is undoubtedly one of the resort's biggest attractions.
There are slides suitable for every age group, from gentle splash areas for younger children to thrilling rides for older children, teenagers and adults. Everything felt extremely safe, with attentive lifeguards stationed throughout the water park.
The pools were clean, beautifully maintained and never felt overcrowded. Children could happily spend the entire day moving between the various pools and slides without ever becoming bored.
Several pools were heated, which was greatly appreciated during December. The only improvement I would personally suggest would be to heat the Pirate Pool during the winter months. Although the weather was sunny every day, the water was noticeably colder than the heated pools. It certainly wouldn't stop us returning, but it would make an already excellent experience even better.
One pleasant surprise was discovering that guests staying at Aqua Park, Aqua Blu and Aqua Vista can enjoy the shared facilities across all three resorts. Think of them as three separate hotels with individual reception areas, but once inside they effectively become one enormous resort.
The sheer number of swimming pools was incredible. Whether you wanted a lively atmosphere with music and activities or somewhere peaceful to relax, there was always a perfect spot. Finding sunbeds was far easier than we expected, and the famous foam pool party was great fun for both adults and children.
The beautifully landscaped gardens, palm trees and colourful flowers create a lovely tropical atmosphere throughout the resort, making everything feel spacious rather than overcrowded.
Entertainment
The animation team worked tirelessly from morning until night.
There were pool games, fitness sessions, sports activities, children's entertainment and evening shows every day. The atmosphere was always lively without becoming intrusive. The nightly children's mini disco was hugely popular, and our children also absolutely loved the impressive VR gaming centre. The only problem is that if you stay for more than one week, the evening entertainment is repeated, so they should consider a 14-day cycle of repeated programmes.
Perfect for Families
This resort has clearly been designed with families in mind.
There is so much for children to do that parents can genuinely relax knowing everyone is enjoying themselves. Whether it's the water slides, pools, entertainment, playgrounds or games, children are never short of things to keep them occupied. It's easy to understand why so many families return year after year.
Beach Access
Although the hotel itself isn't located directly on the beach, this really wasn't an issue.
Guests can either take the complimentary shuttle bus or enjoy a pleasant 15-minute walk to the Pickalbatros beach. There's also a beach bar serving drinks and light snacks, so you're never left hungry or thirsty.
The beach itself was clean, well organised and another lovely place to spend a few relaxing hours. The crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea are stunning and perfect for swimming or snorkelling.
Incredible Value for Money
Perhaps what impressed us most was the exceptional value for money. When you consider the quality of the accommodation, albeit a bit dated at Aqua Park, in comparison to Aqua Blu and Aqua Vista, the enormous choice of food, unlimited drinks, extensive water park, countless swimming pools, entertainment programme and outstanding service, it represents remarkable value.
I've stayed in hotels costing considerably more that didn't come close to offering this level of facilities or overall experience.
The only area where I feel there is room for improvement relates to the Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve supplements. We don't drink alcohol, yet during these festive evenings every table received unlimited bottles of spirits as part of the celebration. The festive decorations, entertainment and gala buffet were absolutely spectacular and clearly involved a huge amount of work.
However, as non-drinkers paying almost three times the normal nightly room rate, it did feel as though we were subsidising alcohol that we wouldn't use. Perhaps in future the hotel could consider offering a reduced-priced package for guests who choose not to consume alcohol. I think many families would appreciate having that option.
Final Thoughts
No hotel is ever absolutely perfect, but Pickalbatros Aqua Park Resort comes remarkably close.
The management clearly takes enormous pride in maintaining exceptionally high standards, and it shows in every aspect of the resort. It's clean, safe, professionally managed, family-friendly, offers outstanding food, first-class facilities and, above all, employs an incredible team of hardworking staff who truly make the holiday special.
The staff are a tremendous asset to the Pickalbatros brand and deserve enormous credit. Without their dedication, warmth and professionalism, the hotel simply wouldn't be the same.
If you're considering a holiday in Hurghada, especially if it's your first visit to Egypt, I honestly wouldn't hesitate to recommend this resort. Changing our original booking was unquestionably the right decision, and we would make exactly the same choice again.
Without question, this has become one of our favourite family holidays, and we fully intend to return. In fact, we're already hoping to come back next December.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Pickalbatros Aqua Park Resort for making our stay so enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you all again very soon."
