Baron Palace Sahl Hashesh

Having heard good things about this hotel from various people we thought that it sounded perfect for us. For the first time ever, anywhere in the world, in the whole of the ten days we were not able to obtain a sunbeam once, by 05;00 they all had towels on them and very many of them remained unoccupied till the afternoon. The pool attendants did nothing. We were advised by the “in crowd” that if we wanted one we had to be down by the pool before 05:00 or tip the staff 50USD in exchange for them placing towels on beds to reserve them for us. Our normal time to go to a hotel pool is around 09:30, by this time every sunbed and even the sofas and chairs at the Infinity bar was completely covered in towels with about 10% occupancy. There were many good things about this hotel but failure by the management and staff to address this key part of most people’s reason for going to Egypt means that my family and I will never go back and certainly never recommend it, even to our worst enemies. Very, very angry and disappointed. The most expensive and disappointing holiday of our lives.

We recently returned from a stay at Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh and, whilst the resort itself is undeniably beautiful, there are several areas where the experience falls considerably short of what we would expect from a luxury five-star hotel.

Arrival and Check-In – A Shocking First Impression

After a long day travelling, we arrived at approximately 11:45pm, tired and looking forward to settling into our room.

Despite reception being empty when we initially approached, we were directed to sit in the lobby, where we were effectively forgotten about for around 20 minutes. It was only when we returned to reception that we discovered other guests were being checked in.

Eventually, we were escorted to our room, only to discover that it did not have the sea view we had specifically booked and paid for.

Back to the lobby we went, where we dealt with the Night Manager, who unfortunately proved to be of very little assistance. We requested to speak with the Hotel Manager, who was unavailable, although the Night Manager eventually contacted him by telephone.

Following yet another lengthy wait, we were finally shown to a room on the top floor with the sea view we had originally booked.

By the time we were settled, it was approximately 2:30am – almost three hours after arriving at the hotel.

An appalling introduction to what is marketed as a luxury five-star experience, with little apparent urgency, ownership or understanding of the inconvenience caused.

Pool and Beach Sunbeds – An Absolute Shambles

This was undoubtedly one of the most frustrating aspects of our holiday and something hotel management urgently needs to address.

The sunbed situation around both the swimming pools and beach was, quite frankly, desperate.

Guests were reserving sunbeds from as early as 6am, with towels and belongings being used to secure prime positions long before many people actually intended to use them.

Even more frustrating was the apparent practice of guests reserving sunbeds at both the pool and on the beach simultaneously. Clearly, nobody can occupy both locations at once, yet this behaviour appeared to be allowed to continue unchecked, leaving other guests struggling to find somewhere suitable to relax.

The situation was made worse by the sheer number of sunbeds crammed into the available space. They were positioned so tightly together that it often felt like being packed in like sardines, with very little personal space or privacy.

There were also insufficient umbrellas and side tables to accommodate all the sunbeds. Consequently, even when you managed to secure a bed, there was no guarantee of adequate shade or somewhere to put your drinks and belongings.

What made this particularly disappointing was the apparent lack of intervention from hotel staff.

After complaining on multiple occasions to the pool and towel attendants, the hotel eventually displayed a framed notice outlining its sunbed policy.

However, this appeared to be a reactive measure rather than something management had been proactively addressing.

The framed notice was repeatedly blown over by the wind, hardly an effective way of communicating or enforcing a policy.

We also witnessed other guests becoming visibly unhappy and, on occasions, quite irate about the restrictions.

Unfortunately, simply putting up a notice is not the same as actively managing the situation. What was needed was a consistent, fair and properly enforced approach, supported by staff who were empowered to deal with sunbed reservations and ensure everyone had a reasonable opportunity to enjoy the facilities.

Guests should not have to repeatedly complain before basic rules are communicated, nor should they feel compelled to get up at 6am to compete for sunbeds at a supposed luxury five-star resort.

This is a management issue, not simply a guest behaviour issue.

The hotel needs to take proper ownership of the situation by preventing multiple reservations, enforcing reasonable time limits on unattended beds, providing sufficient umbrellas and tables, and reconsidering the overcrowded layout.

A resort of this calibre should offer a relaxing, comfortable pool and beach experience. Unfortunately, the reality was far removed from that expectation.

Poolside Drinks and Lunch Service – Almost Non-Existent

Unfortunately, the problems around the pools extended well beyond the sunbeds.

Drinks service around the pool was practically non-existent. It was rare to see staff circulating and taking orders, meaning guests frequently had to leave their sunbeds and visit the bars themselves.

At a five-star all-inclusive resort, regular and attentive poolside drinks service should be a basic expectation, not an occasional luxury.

One simple improvement would be the introduction of QR codes at sunbeds, allowing guests to order drinks directly. This could significantly improve service efficiency and reduce the need for guests to constantly seek out staff.

Lunchtime was another source of frustration, with very long waits at the pool bars for food. What should have been a straightforward and enjoyable lunch often involved excessive waiting.

The impression was that the facilities were simply unable to cope with the number of guests using them.

When you combine the overcrowded sunbed areas, lack of umbrellas and tables, almost non-existent drinks service and lengthy lunch queues, the entire poolside experience falls well below what should be expected from a resort positioning itself in the luxury market.

Staffing Levels – Priorities Need Reviewing

Our overriding impression was that the hotel simply does not have sufficient guest-facing staff to deliver the service expected, particularly when operating at high occupancy.

The resort felt overcrowded at times, and service levels frequently struggled to meet demand.

Lobby drinks service was particularly slow, with lengthy waits to place and receive orders.

What made this more frustrating was the apparent imbalance in how staff were deployed.

On arrival, we witnessed staff polishing brass stair handrails, and at approximately 2am there were around five employees cleaning and polishing the marble floor outside the buffet restaurant.

Whilst the immaculate presentation of the hotel is commendable, surely greater emphasis should be placed on ensuring guests receive prompt and attentive service?

The grounds and public areas are exceptionally well maintained, but a beautifully polished hotel means little if guests are left waiting for basic service.

Rooms – Comfortable, but Attention to Detail Lacking

Our eventual room had a lovely sea view and was generally comfortable. However, several improvements would make a significant difference:

More conveniently positioned electrical sockets and USB charging ports.

Soft-close toilet seats.

A separate walk-in shower rather than a shower over the bath, which feels rather dated for a hotel of this standard.

Better room inspections and maintenance checks before guests arrive.

During our stay, the electrics in our room failed on a couple of occasions, and a balcony light bulb needed replacing.

Individually these may seem minor, but collectively they demonstrate a lack of attention to detail that should not be evident in a luxury hotel.

À La Carte Restaurants – Good Dining, Frustrating Booking System

The à la carte restaurants themselves were good, and we generally enjoyed our dining experiences. As Deluxe Club guests, we were also fortunate enough to secure two bookings at the Teppanyaki restaurant, which was a positive.

However, the restaurant booking system left a great deal to be desired.

During our welcome meeting, we were advised that the hotel was experiencing difficulties with its systems and that 3pm each day was the best time to access the app to secure restaurant reservations.

For a luxury all-inclusive resort, this seems an unnecessarily frustrating arrangement. Guests should not have to organise their afternoons around a daily scramble for restaurant availability.

To make matters worse, Wi-Fi reception around several pool areas was extremely poor, meaning we often had to physically leave our sunbeds and walk around the resort to find somewhere with a sufficient signal simply to access the booking app.

Having to interrupt your afternoon by the pool, find a Wi-Fi signal and then compete for restaurant reservations at 3pm is hardly the relaxing five-star experience we had anticipated.

A more reliable booking system, supported by consistent Wi-Fi coverage throughout the resort, would make an enormous difference to the overall guest experience.

We would also like to give particular recognition to Hassan in the Egyptian restaurant, whose excellent service, attentiveness and professionalism really stood out.

Beach Club Lounge – Room for Improvement

The Beach Club Lounge is a pleasant additional facility, although the selection of snacks could be improved. Even something as simple as offering crisps and a better variety of light refreshments would enhance the experience.

Wi-Fi – Poor Coverage That Impacts the Guest Experience

Wi-Fi coverage across the resort was inconsistent and particularly poor in some of the pool areas, including the sunbeds near the adults-only pool.

This was not simply an inconvenience for browsing the internet. Given the hotel's reliance on its app for restaurant reservations, reliable Wi-Fi is essential.

The combination of poor connectivity and a booking system that required guests to log on at a particular time each afternoon created completely unnecessary frustration.

For a resort of this standard, investment in better Wi-Fi infrastructure and a more dependable restaurant reservation system should be a priority.

Overall – Five-Star Surroundings, but Not Five-Star Service

Baron Palace is undoubtedly an impressive property. The architecture, landscaped gardens, swimming pools and general cleanliness are excellent, and considerable effort clearly goes into maintaining its appearance.

However, there is a significant difference between maintaining a five-star property and delivering a five-star guest experience.

The hotel appears to prioritise presentation and cleanliness, both of which are excellent, but insufficient attention is given to staffing, service efficiency, guest comfort and the smaller details that make a luxury holiday genuinely special.

The sunbed situation was particularly disappointing. Having guests reserving beds at both the beach and pool, sunbeds crammed together with inadequate umbrellas and tables, and almost no poolside drinks service is simply not what we expected from a resort of this calibre.

Whilst we enjoyed the à la carte dining and appreciated the additional benefits of our Deluxe Club accommodation, too much of our holiday involved unnecessary effort – whether that was trying to secure sunbeds, waiting for poolside food and drinks, or walking around searching for Wi-Fi simply to book dinner.

A luxury holiday should feel effortless, and unfortunately Baron Palace did not consistently deliver that experience.

Our dreadful arrival experience only compounded these frustrations.

There are clearly some excellent individuals working at Baron Palace, Hassan being a prime example, but the overall service needs to be far more consistent.

Would We Return? Absolutely Not.

Despite the beautiful surroundings, good à la carte restaurants and some excellent individual members of staff, we would categorically not return to Baron Palace.

The combination of our dreadful arrival experience, chaotic sunbed arrangements, overcrowded pool and beach areas, inadequate staffing, almost non-existent poolside drinks service and frustrating restaurant booking system detracted significantly from what should have been a relaxing luxury holiday.

We paid for a five-star Deluxe Club experience, yet far too much of our time was spent dealing with problems that simply should not exist at a resort positioning itself at this level.

Whilst the hotel clearly invests considerable effort in maintaining its impressive appearance, it needs to devote the same attention to guest comfort, service standards and the overall holiday experience.

Ultimately, Baron Palace looks and feels like a five-star resort in terms of its surroundings, but the service and guest experience fall well short.

There are many excellent luxury resorts in Egypt, and based on our experience, we would choose to spend our money elsewhere.

A beautiful hotel, but unfortunately not a luxury experience we would recommend or repeat.