A luxury Egyptian escape

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  Luxury - Four Seasons Sharm style

As luxury hotels go, the Four Seasons Sharm el Sheikh has most of the must-haves on anyone’s wishlist. Excellent spa? Check. Great kids club? Check. Comfortable rooms? Check. Great restaurants? Check. And more to the point, its Red Sea location virtually guarantees it year-round sun. Even in February, temperatures were in the late teens and definitely warm enough to hit the hotel’s freeform swimming pool.

Freak storms hit the area this January though, with minor damage to the airport and hotels. The storm had blown over the day before I arrived but not before it had taken a good crack at the Four Seasons, with unseasonably high seas whipping away much of the already small beach and the jetty.

Despite that, the Four Seasons is still the best hotel in Sharm el Sheikh and that large pool and massive expanse of manicured grounds in which the hotel nestles can provide ample beach alternatives for strolls and plenty of spots for basking in the sun, which was back high in the sky where it belonged during my stay.

Abundant palm trees and endless flowers are everywhere you look. You are even given a little botanical leaflet to help identify some of the highlights, such as bauhinia, ficus, bougainvillea, hibiscus, Japanese honeysuckle, frangipani, aloe, yucca and many others – and an hour-long flower tour can also be arranged.

Elsewhere in the resort, the décor is reassuringly Arabesque with delicate fretwork set off by rich fabrics, careful lighting and acres of white fabric on everything from drapes to chairs and umbrellas around the pool. The guestrooms are clustered in little blocks around pretty courtyards and while they contain décor that’s far from contemporary – more pastiche than some of the public areas – it’s inoffensive enough, and rooms are superbly spacious with walk-in closet, large bathroom and terrace.

The resort tumbles its way down to the sea from the magnificent lobby and its vantage-point over the whole resort. It’s easy to see why this place was chosen for the celebration of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak son’s marriage almost three years ago. Who knows who actually got to stay in the Royal Suite - the most luxurious option at the resort, which even comes with a little private beach – but no doubt many of the 34 luxury villas on site also came in useful.

There is a cute little funicular running at the heart of the resort from the lobby down to the pool and the beach. The fact the resort felt the need to put this in tells you a little something about the sheer scale of the place; in fact it was roughly 60 steps from my room up to the lobby, so perhaps not the best of places for those who like to have everything right at hand.

Families will find plenty to keep them amused in a designated family area of the resort. Situated in the top corner of the resort near the lobby and main restaurant, there are many excellent ‘family suites’ collected around the Gezerah Pool and its restaurant and the Kids For All Seasons club. Kids can try the ‘jungle gym’, mini-chef cooking classes or fish talks with the resident marine biologist.

The Promenade leads you on a coastal pathway past the Reef Grill – a very popular al fresco dining spot with great views – and to the Reef Lawns with their ridiculously lush and spongy grass. These spots are often the settings for special events, such as weddings and the fantastic Bedouin-themed night I experienced, complete with mezze, camels, fire-eaters, sheesha and belly dancers.

Divers will be in heaven here too, with the Red Sea one of the best dive spots in the world and able specialists on hand at the resort’s Sinai Blues dive centre. Tennis nuts will also be fine, as there are four courts to play on. The Daniela Steiner Spa, with its twinkling fountains, acres of marble, accomplished therapists and outdoor adults-only lap pool, perfect for shady exercise, will please spa goers.

When it comes to dining, there are piled-high luscious breakfast and dinner buffets in Arabesque; expert Italian food in Il Frantoio, the resort’s fine dining experience; and salads, sandwiches, pasta and much more in Waha, which also features poolside Indian cuisine in the winter.

It’s hard to imagine dragging yourself away from the resort, but a trip amidst the nearby Ras Mohammed National Marine Park – part shore, part sea - is a beautiful day out and for a dose of that ancient history the Egyptians do so well, St Catherine’s Monastery – a Unesco World Heritage Site – is a two-hour excursion away and home to Moses’ Burning Bush.

And there’ll be more to come at the resort in the future, with a golf course planned, another restaurant and more suites on prime beachfront land adjoining the existing resort. More than enough space for a top-secret politico wedding, or just little-old you and the kids.

Even better – British Airways now offers the four-hour hop to the resort in direct scheduled comfort from Gatwick, perfect for those who find EasyJet a little hard to swallow.

www.fourseasons.com

By April Hutchison