Coral Beach Resort

English and German are spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the practicalities of your stay without resorting to underwater sign language at reception. Coral Beach Resort is a large Hurghada resort with family rooms, sea or garden views and the sort of facilities that let you stay put when the day's diving, sun and salt have taken their toll.

Two outdoor pools, a direct private beach, several places to eat and a 24-hour front desk give the resort a straightforward rhythm. You can have breakfast, head towards the Red Sea, return to air conditioning and room service, then decide whether the evening deserves dinner out or simply another seat by the water. There is enough here for families, couples and divers who prefer their accommodation to do more than provide a bed.

You are on the Red Sea coast in Hurghada, Egypt, with the resort directly beside its private golden-sand beach. The beach stretches for around 1.2 km and has sun loungers and parasols, so getting to the sea does not require a shuttle, a taxi or a heroic walk in full heat.

The address is outside the centre of Hurghada rather than in the middle of town. Sand City Hurghada is around 4 miles away, while Hurghada Grand Aquarium is about 6 miles away. Hurghada International Airport is roughly 7 miles from the resort, making the arrival fairly manageable once your luggage has survived the flight.

For food and drink beyond the resort, Al Zaeem Cafe is around 750 feet away on foot. Restaurants such as Corallo, Makai Tukai and Amaya are about 2 miles away, with the journey more practical by car than in dive gear and sandals.

The room choice is mainly about how much space you want around the people and bags sharing it. A Standard Double Room suits a couple who want the simple option, while the Superior Double Room gives you more room to spread out after a day of diving. The Deluxe Room works better when three people need separate sleeping arrangements, with single beds and a sofa bed rather than one large sleeping surface.

For a family or a group who would rather not negotiate every fin bag and wet towel across one sleeping area, the Family Suite is the sensible step up. The Junior Suite is the largest option, making it the one to consider when room to move matters more than keeping the booking uncomplicated.

Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom, free WiFi, a wardrobe, towels, toiletries, a hairdryer and a shower. A minibar and electric kettle cover the basics when you return thirsty, while the flat-screen TV with satellite channels gives you something to watch when the evening has run out of energy. Room service operates around the clock, which is useful when your appetite follows a boat schedule rather than the clock.

Mermaid Restaurant is the main dining room, serving a daily international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The spread draws on Middle Eastern, European and Asian dishes, with appetisers, main courses and desserts arranged for the useful situation in which different members of the same group want different things. Breakfast is buffet-style.

For seafood, Atlantes serves lunch and dinner, with Red Sea fish, prawns, calamari and lobster on the menu. Dinner runs from 6pm to 11pm, and the sea view gives the evening a rather more convincing setting than a plate eaten in front of the television.

La Pergola sits by the pool and covers the in-between moments: salads, sandwiches, burgers and grilled meats, plus drinks and cocktails. Blue Moon Bar & Restaurant takes the Italian route at lunch and dinner, with pizza, pasta and risotto. There is also a bar and a minibar in the rooms, so you have options when the sensible plan is food first, shower second and decisions later.

The direct beach is the obvious place to put your feet up, with loungers, parasols and enough shoreline to make a short stroll feel like a proper outing. Two outdoor pools offer a change from the sea, while pool and beach towels are available for the practical business of moving between water and sun without turning your room into a laundry room.

When you want to do something more deliberate, the resort has a fitness centre and tennis. Ping-pong, billiards and beach volleyball provide lower-ceremony alternatives, and horseback riding or camel riding take you away from the pool without requiring a full excursion plan. Snorkelling and boat excursions are also available for days when you want water time without putting on a cylinder.

The spa and wellness centre offers another way to spend an afternoon, while the kids' club and children's pool give younger travellers their own space. Laundry facilities are useful for longer stays, particularly when repeated contact with salt water has made the contents of your suitcase look like a small experiment.

Check-in runs from 2pm to 11pm, and check-out is from midnight to noon. The 24-hour front desk and wake-up service are handy when arrival or departure falls outside the comfortable middle of the day. An airport shuttle is available and can be arranged with the hotel.

Free public parking is available on site, and WiFi is free throughout the property. Room service runs 24 hours, while a safety deposit box is available for valuables. A business centre and one meeting room cover the occasional piece of work that refuses to wait until the holiday is over.

Children of any age are welcome, but cots and extra beds are not available, so choose the room layout with the actual occupants in mind rather than hoping to add sleeping space later. Pets are not allowed, and parties or events are not permitted. The hotel accepts Visa and MasterCard as well as cash.