Gemma Resort

Gemma Beach Resort is a large beachfront resort in Dorry Bay, built around the practical pleasures of a diving holiday: somewhere to eat, somewhere to swim, a private beach for the lazy hours and enough space to avoid feeling penned in. The Red Sea is part of the view, not just the reason for the booking.

You can make the stay as sociable or as quiet as the day requires. There are several restaurants and bars, nine pools, a spa, sports facilities and evening entertainment, while the gardens, terraces and sun terrace give you places to sit without having to spend every waking hour in the animation programme.

Families are catered for with family rooms, a children's pool and outdoor play equipment. Couples have the private beach, poolside bars and the Maia Bar, where shisha becomes part of the evening routine. It is a resort rather than a small hideaway, which is useful when you want choice after diving and less useful if you prefer a tiny guesthouse with everyone eating at the same table.

You are in Dorry Bay, within Marsa Alam City, Egypt, with the resort directly on its own private beach. The beach has white sand, sun loungers and parasols, and looks across the lagoon. That direct access makes the shoreline part of the daily routine rather than a separate outing.

Marsa Alam is about 16 miles away, so this is a coastal resort base rather than a town-centre address. The nearest listed restaurant outside the resort, Momo Asian Restaurant, is about 14 miles by road, while El Bedouin Arabian Tent is about 30 miles away by road. In plain terms, the resort is set up for staying on site, with four restaurants, several bars and its own shops.

Marsa Alam International Airport is about 54 miles away by road, with a driving time of around 1 hour 10 minutes. The resort also has free private parking nearby, with valet parking available.

The rooms are made for recovering properly rather than merely storing a suitcase. Air conditioning deals with the heat after a saltwater day, while a flat-screen satellite television gives you the option of switching off without leaving the room. Private bathrooms include complimentary toiletries and a hairdryer, and most accommodation has either a balcony or terrace.

For two people, the Deluxe Room is the straightforward choice, with a king-size bed and no need to negotiate who gets which single bed. The Superior rooms bring two single beds and sofa beds, making them more adaptable for a small group. If three people are sharing, the Family Room has two single beds alongside a king-size bed, which is a more useful arrangement than pretending everyone enjoys sharing.

The resort also offers Junior Suites, including a bathroom, and family rooms are part of the accommodation mix. Room service runs around the clock, handy when an early start, a late return or simple post-dive laziness makes the restaurant feel several corridors too far away. Non-smoking rooms and allergy-free rooms are available, with accessible rooms also offered.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are centred on Terra d’Oriente, the main buffet restaurant. Breakfast runs from 7:30 to 10:00, lunch from 12:30 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:30 to 21:30, with themed dinners added to the evening rotation. The early breakfast start matters if you are heading towards the water rather than planning to admire it from a sun lounger.

La Mia Africa changes the format with an à la carte evening restaurant and themed menus built around ethnic culinary itineraries. Across the resort, four restaurants give you more than one dining room to choose from, while breakfast in the room and a snack bar cover the moments when a full meal is not what your stomach has ordered.

There are four named bars. The Pool Bar serves hot and cold drinks, cocktails made with local spirits, beer and wine beside the Animation Pool. The Beach Bar adds soft drinks, light cocktails and snacks until sunset. Maia Bar serves hot drinks, soft drinks and fruit cocktails near the pool waterfall, then becomes an evening shisha meeting point. Club House combines drinks with billiards, television, a library, live music and seasonal evening entertainment.

Nine pools give you a choice of water without requiring a return to the sea. The resort has indoor and outdoor pools, including a heated pool, as well as a children's pool. Add the private sandy beach, sun loungers, parasols, gardens, terraces and a sun terrace, and the recovery plan can be as undemanding as sitting still and waiting for dinner.

La Siesta is the more deliberate answer to tired legs and shoulders. The spa includes massage, a sauna, steam room, scrub room, indoor pool with Jacuzzi, beauty treatments and a hairdresser. There is also a fitness centre with fitness classes, plus a public bath for those who prefer their relaxation without a treatment menu.

When sitting still loses its appeal, you can use the tennis court, tennis equipment, table tennis, darts, the games room and billiards. Horse riding, canoeing, snorkelling and water sports are available on site, while excursions can take you towards historical and archaeological sites. Evenings may bring live music, film nights, themed dinners, comedy, karaoke or other entertainment, depending on the programme.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at arrival, and the resort asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. The front desk operates around the clock, with express and private check-in and check-out available, as well as luggage storage, currency exchange, an ATM and concierge service.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort, and private parking is free nearby. Car hire, laundry, pressing and ironing services are available, while an in-house doctor and a pharmacy on site are useful practical additions in a fairly remote resort setting. The shops also include souvenirs, perfume and oils, jewellery, a bazaar and an excursions centre.

Children of all ages are welcome. Cots can be requested for children aged from birth to three years, subject to the selected accommodation, while extra beds are not available. Pets are not allowed. The resort accepts cash, and the rooms and facilities include provisions for disabled guests; the electrical supply is 220 volts.