Hilton Marsa Alam Nubian Resort

Hilton Marsa Alam Nubian Resort gives you the full resort treatment without putting you inland: a beachfront setting, gardens, balconies and several places to eat once your kit is put away. The layout is designed like a small village around four outdoor pools, so you have more than a room and a reception desk to return to.

It suits you if diving is the main reason for travelling, but not the only thing on the programme. You can spend the quiet hours by the water, use the fitness centre, book a massage or let the evening move towards music, themed dinners and the bar. Families are catered for too, with a kids’ club, play areas and babysitting.

You are in Abu Dabab, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, rather than in the town of Marsa Alam itself. The resort is directly on the beachfront and has a private beach area, with the sea forming the obvious reference point for the whole stay.

The setting is fairly self-contained. Shisha Corner is around 2 miles away by road, while El Bedouin Arabian Tent is around 6 miles away. Further restaurants include Divino Restaurant at around 14 miles, with Sofra and Ninos Italian Cuisine at around 19 miles. In practical terms, the three restaurants on site will do most of the heavy lifting unless you specifically want to go out.

Marsa Alam International Airport is around 15 miles from the resort. The listed driving distance is 17 miles, with a journey time of about 17 minutes.

The rooms are set up for a straightforward recovery routine: air conditioning for the return from hot, salty water, a balcony for a bit of open air, and a flat-screen television when the legs have had enough. A minibar and tea- and coffee-making facilities cover the basic return-to-room requirements, while daily housekeeping keeps the sand and dive-day debris from taking over.

Couples can choose a king room when a large bed matters more than separate sleeping arrangements. Sea-view rooms give you the Red Sea from the balcony; pool and garden views trade that horizon for a closer look at the resort grounds. Twin rooms work for dive partners who prefer their own beds, and the deluxe versions give you more room to spread out after a full day outside.

For families, the one-bedroom suites are the useful step up: a separate bedroom gives you more breathing space than a single room, while connecting rooms keep the group together without putting everyone in the same sleeping area. The bathrooms combine showers or baths with mosaic finishes, and selected room categories have frameless showers and a bathroom included in the room layout.

Three restaurants give you a choice without requiring an expedition across the coast. Breakfast is served as a buffet, which is the sensible format when you have an early start or simply want to build a plate before heading towards the water. Room service is also available for the evenings when the balcony looks more appealing than another walk across the resort.

The food has a broad resort-style mix, with oven-baked pizzas and a dessert buffet in the main restaurant. At the poolside bar, you can order salads and grilled kebabs rather than relying entirely on a formal meal. There is also a snack bar, a coffee house and a minibar in the accommodation.

The most distinctive evening option is the Bedouin-themed café, with shisha and belly dancing. Live music, themed dinner nights and evening entertainment add a bit of movement after dark. Dinner comes with a smart-casual dress code, so beachwear, gym clothes, hats and unsuitable footwear stay out of the restaurant. The poolside may forgive a lot; the dining room does not.

Four outdoor pools give you an easy alternative to the beach when you want water without a mask, fins or a timetable. Sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas, a sun terrace and garden areas make it possible to settle in with a book and remain there until the strongest argument for moving is food. Pool and beach towels are available.

For a little movement, there are aerobics, table tennis, darts and billiards. Snorkelling is also available, while the fitness centre is open around the clock for anyone who prefers a treadmill to a second afternoon horizontal. The children’s pool, outdoor playground, indoor play area and kids’ club give younger travellers their own circuit, with babysitting available when adults need an uninterrupted meal.

The wellness offering covers massage from head and neck work through to back, foot and full-body treatments. Body scrubs, wraps, facials, light therapy, manicures and pedicures are also available, alongside hair and beauty services. Later, you can choose live music, a performance, an evening event or the nightclub and DJ rather than pretending that every holiday evening needs to end early.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 23:30, and check-out from 06:00 to 12:00. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Children of all ages are welcome, with cots and extra beds available according to the accommodation selected; children aged 18 and over are treated as adults.

An airport shuttle is available between Marsa Alam International Airport and the resort, either as a private transfer or a shared shuttle arranged with the hotel. Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed. A 24-hour reception, concierge, luggage storage, tour desk, currency exchange and an on-site cash machine keep the practical side reasonably contained.

Wi-Fi is free in the public areas, while the resort also has a minimarket, laundry and dry-cleaning services, a barber and beauty shop, packed lunches and room service. Payment is by card, as cash is not accepted. The resort also provides wheelchair-accessible facilities, including adapted bathroom features and key access around the property.