Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort

Just returned from a holiday at Sunrise Diamond Beach, and I’ve come home with genuinely mixed feelings.

First of all, I arrived late because of a delayed flight (obviously not the hotel's fault), checked in, went straight to bed, and didn't really see much until the following morning. My room was sold as a "sea view," although I'd have needed the neck of a giraffe to properly enjoy it! It wasn't a dealbreaker, just a little disappointing. I checked for upgrades on the first day but nothing was available.

I spent my first full day getting my bearings. This resort is huge—and I mean huge. Thank goodness for the shuttle bus because walking everywhere in the Egyptian heat isn't for the faint-hearted. The shaded pool bar quickly became one of my favourite spots.

Restaurants

The resort offers:

Main buffet Mongolian Grill – excellent Indian – okay, but nothing special Italian – decent Camila (Egyptian restaurant) – my absolute favourite, especially as it opens for dinner.

On day two, I managed to upgrade to a swim-up room... and now I've completely spoiled myself. I genuinely don't think I'll ever book another holiday without one!

Rather than go through each day, here's what really stood out.

The positives

The biggest strength of this hotel is, without question, the staff.

From the reception team, especially Khaled, to the bar staff (including Ibrahim—the Newcastle supporter who had me laughing with his Geordie phrases), everyone went out of their way to make guests feel welcome.

The restaurant staff, particularly Mo and the buffet team, worked incredibly hard despite how busy it became. Nothing ever seemed like too much trouble.

The concierge team, buggy drivers and shuttle drivers also deserve a mention. As someone with mobility issues, their kindness and willingness to help me get around the resort made a real difference.

Sarah from Guest Relations and Senior Manager Mr. Arafat (apologies if I've misspelled your name) were also fantastic. Friendly, approachable and genuinely interested in resolving problems rather than brushing them aside.

The downsides

Sadly, the hotel itself often felt like it was struggling with the sheer number of guests.

The lobby was regularly chaotic. Children were running around, playing ball games and generally creating an environment that felt more stressful than relaxing. On several occasions I nearly tripped over children running in front of me while using my crutches, and one incident even escalated into an argument between guests that almost became physical. I don't blame the children entirely, but I do think management needs to be firmer in keeping shared areas safe and enjoyable for everyone.

The buffet was another mixed experience.

The food selection was excellent (although I'm still not convinced I'll ever get used to beef bacon!), but meal times often felt overwhelming. People pushing in, barging past each other and little regard for personal space made eating far less enjoyable than it should have been.

That said, I really appreciated the staff stepping in when they saw me struggling to reach the food because of my mobility. Even one of the chefs politely asked other guests to wait while I served myself, which was a thoughtful gesture I genuinely appreciated.

The à la carte restaurants were a much calmer, more enjoyable experience and I'd happily recommend those over the buffet whenever possible.

Bars

The lobby bar and upstairs bar were both excellent.

Service was quick, the QR code drinks menu worked really well, and there was a brilliant selection of mocktails.

My favourite was the Aqua Joy—after a couple of visits the staff already knew what I wanted before I even asked, which was a lovely personal touch.

The difficult part

Unfortunately, there was one incident involving some money going missing.

I can't prove what happened, and equally the hotel couldn't disprove it, so I'm not making accusations. It was disappointing, but what impressed me was how management responded afterwards. They extended my checkout free of charge and covered the cost of my dry cleaning as a goodwill gesture, which I genuinely appreciated.

For me, that's where the matter ends. I'll certainly make sure everything goes into the safe next time—even if I'm arriving at 3am.

There was also an issue with guests staying in the "Posh Club" rooms upstairs. One child repeatedly sprayed water from a water gun onto our swim-up terrace and loungers. Reception was contacted several times before a manager became involved, which was frustrating.

However, once management did step in, they acted quickly, took the complaint seriously and completely resolved the situation. We had no further issues for the remainder of our stay, so credit where it's due.

Accessibility

This is probably my biggest practical criticism.

As someone with limited mobility, I wouldn't describe the resort as particularly disability-friendly. There are ramps in many places, but there are still areas where stairs are unavoidable. That's more of a design issue than a staff issue, but it's something anyone with accessibility needs should consider before booking.

Overall

For me, the biggest issue wasn't the staff—it was the atmosphere.

The lobby, buffet and main pool area often felt overcrowded, noisy and chaotic. It wasn't the relaxing holiday environment I'd hoped for, and unfortunately too many guests showed very little consideration for those around them.

That said, the staff worked incredibly hard every single day and deserve enormous credit. They genuinely did everything they could to make my stay enjoyable.

I loved the swim-up room.

I loved the amazing views you get from the resort, looking out on to the sea with an Aqua joy in your hands whilst eating your evening meal is living the high life that is for sure.

I loved many of the people who worked there.

I still love the Sunrise hotel group and I absolutely love Sharm El Sheikh.

But despite all of that, I don't think I'd return to Sunrise Diamond Beach.

That's probably the biggest disappointment of all, because I really wanted to love this hotel. Instead, I leave with mixed feelings—grateful for the amazing staff, but feeling the resort itself needs to better manage the crowds and overall guest experience.

Our recent stay at Posh Club Sunrise Diamond was exceptional. As repeated guests 8 times at Sunrise Diamond Beach, we thought we already knew what to expect, but our most recent stay at the Posh Club completely blew us away! Comparing this visit to our previous stays, the progress and transformation of the Posh Club are simply remarkable and highly significant.

​There is a visible, stunning improvement in absolutely everything from the top-tier quality of the service to the genuine friendliness of the entire team, and the flawless attention to detail that made us feel like true royalty.

​This time we met Mr. Mohamed Fadl, the new Posh Club Manager. His outstanding leadership and passion shine through his team Ahmed Reda, Mark, Islam and Amr.
The staff is more attentive and friendly than ever before, anticipating our needs before we even had to ask.
​The entire atmosphere has been polished to perfection. From the moment we arrived until our departure, it was an absolutely amazing experience. ​Thank you to Mohamed and the entire extraordinary team for making our return stay our best one yet. We cannot wait to come back!