Serenity Alpha Beach - Ex Serenity Makadi Beach

Set on the Red Sea, Serenity Makadi is a large resort with a Moroccan-style identity, direct access to a sandy beach and the sort of facilities that make a diving holiday work for couples as well as mixed groups. The mood is adults-friendly, with an adults-only atmosphere on the beach and a dedicated adults-only retreat pool. Children are welcome too, and there is a splash zone and outdoor play equipment for younger guests.

The practical appeal is easy to understand. You can return from the water to air-conditioned rooms, several pools, a spa, a fitness centre and four restaurants without having to turn the evening into a logistical exercise. There is also a swim-up room option reserved for guests aged 16 and over, which is a fairly clear signal about the resort's preferred pace: less running around, more sitting down with something cold.

The address is in Hurghada, Egypt, in the Red Sea Governorate, at Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada 1. The resort sits directly on the coast, with a private beach area, golden sand and loungers waiting by the water. You are not booking a hotel behind the beach and hoping for a path through the neighbour's garden; the shoreline is part of the property.

Sahl Hasheesh Old Town promenade is a short walk away, giving you somewhere to stretch your legs when the resort begins to feel like a self-contained island. Other beaches and the Madinat Makadi area are within driving distance, while the Madinat Makadi Golf Course is about 0.3 miles away. Hurghada International Airport is roughly 22 miles from the resort, so the final transfer is manageable rather than heroic.

The room choice is mainly about the view and the arrangement of the beds. Couples can look towards the garden, pool or sea, with the side-sea-view and sea-view categories making more sense if the Red Sea is part of what you want to wake up to. The Executive Sea View room offers the most generous layout in the range, while the honeymoon and couples-only options keep the focus firmly on two people rather than a family timetable.

For three divers sharing, the triple categories give you either three single beds or a king bed with one single bed. That distinction matters more than another photograph of a cushion: decide whether you want separate sleeping space or one larger bed before booking. Family rooms are also available.

Every room has a terrace or large balcony with a garden, pool or sea view, plus air conditioning, satellite television, tea- and coffee-making facilities, a kettle, seating space, a desk and a wardrobe. A private bathroom includes a shower or bath, towels, slippers, a bathrobe, toiletries and a hairdryer. Daily housekeeping is available, and the room service option means you can keep the evening deliberately unsociable when the day's salt, sun and boat motion have done their work.

All-inclusive is the operating formula, with buffet breakfast and premium beverages included within the resort's dining set-up. There are four restaurants, so dinner does not have to mean repeating the same plate every night. Ravello takes the Italian route, KŌMI works with Asian fusion, Star Fish concentrates on seafood, and Zad serves Oriental dishes rooted in local traditions.

The range is useful after diving because it gives you different levels of effort. You can go for familiar European flavours, follow the seafood line, or choose stronger Asian and Middle Eastern seasoning when your appetite has returned properly. The all-inclusive dining also includes premium buffet meals and beverages, while special diet menus can be arranged on request.

For drinks, the Sunset Lobby Bar is the place for a pre-dinner pause as the light changes over the coast. Food Court is positioned for the end of the afternoon, with Red Sea views and a bar-like role before dinner. There is also a snack bar, plus a minibar and tea- and coffee-making facilities in the rooms. The useful detail is not the number of glasses in the brochure; it is having somewhere to sit down before deciding whether you have the energy for dinner.

The pool line-up covers several moods. A heated outdoor pool is there for a cooler afternoon, the adults-only retreat pool offers a quieter setting, and the swim-up pool gives adults aged 16 and over a room category with direct pool access. Families have a separate splash zone and a children's pool. Sun loungers, umbrellas and pool or beach towels are available, so the post-dive routine can be as ambitious as moving from one shaded chair to another.

The beach itself is directly accessible, with golden sand and loungers. Snorkelling and boat excursions are available from the resort, giving non-divers or surface intervals something more purposeful than watching the clock. For land-based movement, there is a fitness centre, aerobics, table tennis, darts and billiards. Tennis is played on a flood-lit court, with tennis equipment and court use subject to an additional charge.

The spa offers massages, and the wellness programme is tailored to individual guests. That is the sensible option for a day when your shoulders have had enough of carrying kit and your knees have had enough of ladders. For a couple, the combination of beach, adults-only pool, massage and several dinner choices gives you plenty to do without turning every afternoon into an organised activity.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 19:30 and check-out from 07:30 to 12:00. Early check-in and late check-out are available on request. There is no age requirement for check-in, and children of any age are welcome; extra beds and cots depend on the accommodation selected and availability. Guests travelling with children need a valid identity document and a birth certificate at check-in.

Airport transfers are available by shuttle and can be arranged with the hotel. Free private parking is available on site without reservation, and the front desk operates around the clock. Concierge service, an on-site cash machine, daily housekeeping, laundry and ironing services are also available. Cash is an accepted payment method.

Wi-Fi is free, and the resort has air conditioning throughout the rooms and common areas. Lift access reaches the upper floors for some rooms, while accessible rooms are available in the Superior Room Garden View category. Pets are not allowed. For the honeymoon package, the wedding must have taken place within the previous six months, and the swim-up room category is reserved for adults aged 16 and over.