Baron Resort Sharm El Sheikh

Sea-facing, family-friendly and set up on a private beach, Baron Resort is built for days that move between water, food and a proper sit-down. You can choose a conventional room or go further with a suite, including adults-only accommodation in the Lagoon Wing for guests aged over 16.

English, German and Russian are the languages used for the hotel's website, so the property is clearly set up for those international visitors. The tone is more full resort than small hideaway: several places to eat and drink, evening shows, pools, a spa and enough land-based activity to keep a non-diving companion occupied while you are thinking about the next descent.

You are in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, directly on the coast with a private white-sand beach. The resort has 600 metres of beachfront and a 145-metre platform extending over the water, giving the shoreline a practical role rather than leaving it as background scenery. Ras Nasrani Beach is about 500 metres away, while Adrenaline Beach is roughly 1 mile from the resort.

The airport is close by at around 5 miles. Soho Square is about 2 miles away, with an evening shuttle available from the resort, and Naama Bay is around 9 miles away. For a quieter day on land, the beach and gardens keep you on site; for a change of scene, the main resort areas are within straightforward driving distance.

The standard rooms are a sensible choice for a couple who want a comfortable base rather than a private pool and several bathrooms. The Superior Sea View Room suits anyone who would rather open the curtains onto the Red Sea than onto the garden, while the Superior Classic Room keeps things simpler with a double bed. Both give you floor-to-ceiling windows and a furnished balcony, useful places to leave the day behind with a drink and a view.

If three people are sharing, or if you simply prefer more room around your luggage, the Executive suites are the more convincing option. The two-bedroom sea-view suite works for a family or a small group, while the one-bedroom suite offers a step up in space without turning the holiday into a private-compound exercise. The two Royal Suites add a private pool, for guests who want to go straight from their room into the water without negotiating the main pool area.

The Lagoon Wing changes the brief. Its Premium Pool View Rooms and Swim-Up Suites are reserved for adults over 16, making them the natural choice for couples seeking a more grown-up setting. Air conditioning matters when you return warm, salty and slightly overcooked, and the rooms also have Egyptian cotton bedding, a pillow menu, satellite television, bathrobes and slippers. Soundproof rooms are available, and room service lets you keep the evening uncomplicated when a restaurant feels like one decision too many.

Breakfast is served as a buffet, giving you the useful freedom to eat lightly before an early start or build a more serious plate before a full day outside. Room service is available, as is a snack bar, so a post-water appetite does not have to wait for a formal meal.

The resort's dining line-up covers international cooking, local Egyptian flavours and seafood. Taj Mahal Restaurant brings Indian specialities, while the Egyptian Restaurant focuses on local cuisine. Sinai Restaurant and Bella Vista Restaurant add further choices, and Oasis BBQ & Seafood Restaurant and Bar deals in seafood with live entertainment attached. Special-diet menus can be requested, including vegetarian and vegan choices.

There are seven named bars, from the beachfront Palm Beach Bar to the Panorama Lobby Bar & Piano Lounge, plus Khan El Khalili Oriental Café, The Niche Bar, Billiard Bar, The Oasis Bar and Now & Zen Dance Bar. Now & Zen is the livelier option, with evening music and cocktails; Baron Pastry handles handmade desserts, including its signature Mille-Feuille. In short, you can finish dinner quietly, or let the evening acquire a soundtrack.

The pool arrangement gives you several ways to spend a surface interval that has accidentally become an afternoon. There is a lagoon-style pool, an Olympic-size freshwater pool heated in winter, a relaxing pool and a partly covered seawater whirlpool with jets. A children's pool and a supervised kids' club with a sleeping area make the resort workable for families, while the adults-only Lagoon Wing gives couples a separate accommodation choice.

The spa and health club cover the obvious recovery work: Egyptian massages, algae wraps, facial treatments, a hammam, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and beauty services. There is also a fitness centre, yoga classes, aerobics, a jogging and cycling track by the sea, and bicycle rental. That is enough to stretch tired legs without pretending that every diver needs an athletic second shift.

For a more active day, you can play tennis, beach volleyball, beach soccer, table tennis, darts or billiards. Water sports include windsurfing, kitesurfing, water skiing, tube rides, banana-boat excursions, parasailing, wakeboarding and a glass boat. Evening entertainment takes place in the Roman Theatre, with live music and shows, while the kids have a mini-disco. The resort can also arrange excursions to Ras Mohammed National Park, reached by boat in around 1.5 hours.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. A 24-hour reception, concierge service, tour desk, currency exchange, on-site cash machine and luggage storage keep the practical side fairly manageable, especially when flights and boat days refuse to line up neatly. Private and express check-in and check-out are available.

An airport shuttle can be arranged through the hotel, and the resort also offers shuttle services for getting around. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, while private on-site parking is free and does not require a reservation. Car hire is available on site, and daily housekeeping, laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services cover the less glamorous parts of a longer stay.

Children of any age are welcome, with extra beds and cots available according to the accommodation selected. The Lagoon Wing's Premium Pool View Rooms and Swim-Up Suites are for adults over 16. Pets are not allowed, and cash is accepted for payment. If your booking falls over the festive period, check the gala-dinner arrangements carefully before confirming: the Christmas dinner is optional, while the New Year's dinner is obligatory.