Pickalbatros Citadel Resort Sahl Hasheesh

Pickalbatros Citadel Resort Sahl Hasheesh is a large beachfront resort in Hurghada, built around sea views, a private beach and enough on-site life to keep a non-diving day occupied. The all-inclusive setup, several restaurants, pools, a spa and evening entertainment make it a practical choice when your idea of a holiday includes both early starts and the occasional day spent doing absolutely nothing useful.

The resort's website is available in English, Arabic, French and German, which is helpful when you are checking the details before booking. The hotel itself has a 24-hour reception, concierge service, luggage storage, currency exchange and an on-site cash machine. In other words, the essentials are close at hand, even if the resort is deliberately set apart from central Hurghada.

Couples can choose between sea-view rooms, the adults-only Marina Room and larger suites, while families have dedicated room categories and a kids' club for children aged 4 to 12. The place is not pretending to be a quiet little hideaway; it is a fully equipped Red Sea base with a private shoreline and plenty happening around it.

The address is in Hurghada, Egypt, in the Sahl Hasheesh area. The resort sits directly on the seafront, with a private beach and a marina. Its own shoreline stretches for 1.6 km, so you can walk beside the water without needing to leave the property or negotiate a road first.

The nearest listed external beach is The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh Beach, about 2 miles away by road. Sahl Hasheesh Beach itself is about 4 miles away by road, and Hurghada's centre is about 12 miles from the resort. This is a resort location rather than a town-centre address: you get space, sea access and on-site facilities, but you will need transport for a proper town outing.

Hurghada International Airport is about 9 miles away by road. The resort also has a private beach area with loungers, parasols, showers, changing rooms and a beach bar. That saves the familiar post-dive question of where to put yourself next: somewhere by the water is already built into the plan.

Sea views are the common thread across the room categories, with a balcony or terrace attached to every room. That matters when the day's kit is no longer on your back and you want somewhere to sit with a drink, watch the light go out over the Red Sea and avoid another conversation about buoyancy control. Air conditioning, a minibar, a safe, a work desk, a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi cover the practical side of the night.

For two, the Deluxe Room Sea View is the straightforward choice if you want space and a super-king bed without moving into suite territory. The Marina Room is smaller and reserved for two adults, while the Executive Swim Up Room gives direct access to a pool. For a more generous stay, the Junior Suite has sea views, and the Royal Jacuzzi Suite adds two bathrooms and a private jacuzzi. The Honeymoon Room keeps the choice simple for couples travelling for a particular reason.

Families have room categories accommodating four guests, including the Quadruple Family Sea View and Deluxe Family Room. The family layouts combine a large bed with additional single beds, so you can keep the sleeping arrangements practical rather than attempting a nightly negotiation worthy of a dive-boat briefing. Cots are available according to the selected room, but extra beds are not available.

Soundproof rooms are available, and daily housekeeping keeps the return from the beach or the boat uncomplicated. Bathrooms include a bath or shower, towels, slippers, toiletries and a hairdryer. A kettle is also provided, while the minibar gives you something cold without requiring a walk across the resort in damp clothes.

The all-inclusive formula is built around six restaurants, with the choice extending beyond a single buffet room. Breakfast covers Continental, Italian, Full English and Irish, vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, Asian and American options, served buffet-style. That is useful for a diving party whose appetites rarely move in formation; one person wants eggs, another wants something light, and somebody else is already planning lunch.

The Asian Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with international cuisine. The resort also has a Bavarian Bar, a coffee house, a snack bar and a beach bar, plus a general bar service. A snack bar and room service are useful details when your meal schedule has been rearranged by an early departure or a late return.

The resort runs themed dinner nights and has an outdoor fireplace, picnic area, outdoor furniture and barbecue facilities. Special-diet menus can be arranged on request. Wine and champagne are available, with charges applying to those items, so the all-inclusive label does not mean every drink or extra is automatically folded into the same arrangement.

Four outdoor pools give you alternatives to the sea, including an infinity pool facing the Red Sea and a dedicated children's pool. Three pools are for adults and one is for children; two pools are heated during winter. Sun loungers, parasols and pool or beach towels are available, which leaves you free to choose between a proper swim and the more demanding sport of staying horizontal.

The spa offers massage, facials, a hammam, sauna, jacuzzi, mud bath and body wraps. There is also a modern gym with cardiovascular equipment, plus fitness and spa changing rooms. After several days in the water, the spa is the obvious place for a slower afternoon; the gym is there if your legs have somehow decided they have not done enough work already.

On land, you can play tennis, use the golf facilities or take part in cycling activities. Canoeing, table tennis, billiards and darts provide less strenuous options, while the resort's entertainment team organises daily activities, evening entertainment and a nightclub with DJ. Families have a kids' club, children's entertainment, a games room and outdoor play equipment. Selected water sports, tennis equipment, fishing and off-site snorkelling carry additional charges, so check the arrangement before treating the activity list as one large included package.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. There is no minimum age for check-in, and children of all ages are welcome. Children aged 12 and over are treated as adults for the accommodation arrangements. A birth certificate is required for children at check-in, so keep the paperwork with the passports rather than burying it at the bottom of the luggage.

An airport shuttle is available, and car hire can be arranged. The resort is about 9 miles from Hurghada International Airport by road. Free private parking is available on site, with a reservation required. A 24-hour front desk, express check-in and check-out, concierge service, luggage storage and a tour desk cover the useful moments around arrival, departure and days away from the resort.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and rooms have free wired internet as well. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available. The resort also has a minimarket, vending machines for snacks and drinks, a shared lounge with TV, a lift and facilities for disabled guests.

Pets are not allowed, and payment is accepted in cash. Room categories reserved for Egyptian nationals and residents have their own eligibility rules. Honeymoon arrangements apply within three months of the wedding date, and bookings covering several rooms can follow different conditions, so read the terms attached to your chosen room rather than relying on the headline description.