Golden Beach Resort

Golden Beach Resort is built for a proper resort stay rather than a small, quiet hotel: a private sandy beach, six swimming pools, a water park and a large choice of restaurants and bars. You can keep the day simple, with the sea close by and the garden between you and the main road, or fill it with sport, entertainment and the sort of organised activity that requires no further planning on your part.

Families have plenty to work with, including a kids' club, children's pools, a playground and a water park with slides for different age groups. Couples are not forgotten either, with an adults-only pool, a beach quiet zone, spa treatments and several places for a drink once the sun has gone down.

This is a substantial all-inclusive resort. If you prefer a property where the evening can be as busy or as sociable as you choose, it makes sense; if you are looking for a tiny hideaway with one discreet bar, this is not that animal.

The resort sits directly on a wide sandy beach in Hurghada, in a quiet area northwest of the city. Sun loungers, parasols, showers, changing cabins and beach towels are available on site, with bathing shoes recommended for the beach.

Hurghada city centre is about 9 miles away, while El Gouna is about 6 miles from the resort. That puts the hotel away from the main urban bustle, but not beyond reach of a taxi or organised outing. Saqqala Square in central Hurghada is about 10 miles away by road.

Hurghada International Airport is about 15 miles away, with a journey of roughly 20 minutes by car. The resort also has an airport shuttle service, which you can arrange with the property.

The rooms are arranged around the practical basics for a hot-water, salt-and-sun holiday: air conditioning, a private balcony, contemporary decor, a wardrobe, a television, a kettle and a private bathroom with bath or shower. Sea-view rooms are the obvious choice if opening the balcony door to the Red Sea matters to you; garden- and pool-facing rooms keep the focus on the resort itself.

For two people, the larger Superior sea-view rooms give you more elbow room, particularly useful when bags, dry clothes and the general debris of a diving holiday begin to occupy every available surface. The Deluxe and Standard categories work for couples or small groups, while the triple rooms use a combination of single, sofa and larger beds depending on the category. Check the room layout carefully rather than assuming that “triple” means three conventional beds.

Air conditioning matters here, especially when you return warm, tired and still coated in the day's humidity. Private balconies give you somewhere to sit without having to join the evening programme, and daily housekeeping keeps the room side of the operation straightforward. Some rooms have a bathroom configuration that varies by category, so the exact room description is worth reading before you commit.

The all-inclusive formula covers food, with breakfast served as a buffet and options including continental and halal dishes. The Bouquet is the main international buffet restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with hot dishes, cold cuts, salads, desserts and themed evenings. Grease handles daytime fast food and also serves a continental breakfast, which is useful when a full buffet feels like unnecessary ceremony.

Dinner can move away from the main buffet. Don Vito covers Italian food, Aladdin serves oriental dishes, Fish Mint focuses on seafood, and Bonsai brings an Asian option; these restaurants operate à la carte in the evening and require a reservation. Fish Mint also offers lunch snacks and afternoon snacks, so it is not restricted to the evening meal.

Drinks and smaller appetites have their own circuit. Beer Garden serves soup and pretzels into the evening, The Vikings combines bar service, snacks and ice cream, and the Vitamin Bar makes fresh fruit drinks and smoothies. There are nine named bars, including lobby, pool and beach bars, Bloom Yard for coffee and pastries, and a nightclub running late into the night. The all-inclusive arrangement covers food, but room service is not included, and some drinks or extras sit outside the package.

Six outdoor pools spread the resort's leisure load: a relax pool, an adults-only pool, a separate children's pool and two pools linked by an artificial river. The heated Aqua Park adds twelve slides for different age groups, while the Black Pearl pirate ship includes five slides for adults and three for children. If your idea of recovery is a sun lounger and a book, the beach quiet zone and quiet pool are the less energetic corners of the operation.

The spa covers massages, sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish steam bath, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and waxing. A couples massage is available, as are hairdressing services, so one person can disappear for an hour without turning the afternoon into a logistical exercise. Pool and beach towels, loungers and parasols are available, and a fitness centre offers another option when sitting still begins to feel suspicious.

Away from the water, you can play tennis, mini golf, table tennis, darts, billiards, backgammon, giant chess, checkers and electronic games. Kayaking, snorkelling, kitesurfing, jet-skiing, horse riding and fishing are also available, with some activities carrying an additional charge. Evening entertainment includes live music, DJ music, themed parties, cinema and karaoke; the resort does not quietly close down after dinner.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 22:00, and you need to tell the resort your expected arrival time. Check-out is from 07:00 to 10:30, which is useful to keep in mind if your flight leaves early or your final morning is built around a transfer rather than a leisurely breakfast.

An airport shuttle is available and can be arranged with the resort. Free parking is available nearby, and the property also has a 24-hour reception, an ATM, currency exchange, a minimarket, a souvenir shop, a Gold Shop and a luggage-related concierge area. Car hire, a tour desk and packed lunches are available for days away from the resort.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, with a charge applying. Laundry and ironing services are available, while an on-site infirmary adds a useful practical detail for a large holiday resort. Cash is an accepted payment method, and children of all ages are welcome; cots and extra beds depend on the room category and availability.