Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort & Spa

You come here for a resort holiday with the practical bits already close at hand: a private beach, several pools, a water park, a spa and an ultra all-inclusive formula. Blue Reef Resort is built for couples, families and divers who would rather spend the evening eating, swimming or doing absolutely nothing than organising another taxi.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Arabic, German and Italian. That matters when you are checking a meal arrangement, asking about a room or trying to explain that the day’s most important piece of equipment is currently drying somewhere it should not be. The atmosphere is lively rather than minimalist, with entertainment, a nightclub and a children’s club for younger guests.

You are in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, at Marine Sports Street in Hadbet Um El Sied. The resort sits directly on the seafront, with its own beach area, sun loungers and parasols, so the sea is part of the property rather than a destination requiring another transfer.

Gardens Bay Beach is about 0.3 miles away, while Naama Bay Beach is around 1.6 miles away. Naama Bay itself is roughly 4.3 miles from the resort by road, putting restaurants, bars and the town’s evening bustle within reach when you fancy leaving the all-inclusive perimeter. Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport is about 6 miles away by road.

You can choose between rooms designed for couples, larger family accommodation and suites for guests who want more separation between sleeping and sitting space. The Executive Double Room gives two people a large bed, while the family accommodation is the sensible option when four guests and their luggage need to coexist without turning the room into a gear-recovery exercise.

Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom with a shower and hairdryer, a wardrobe, linen, a balcony and a kettle. A minibar is also available, useful for keeping water cold when you return warm, salty and ready to collapse. The Executive Suite and Infinity Suite each have a separate living area and one bathroom; the larger Infinity Suite is intended for two people who prefer room around them rather than extra beds.

A flat-screen television, telephone and Wi-Fi throughout the resort cover the less glamorous parts of the evening. Room service runs around the clock, with an additional charge, so you can still eat privately when the idea of getting dressed for dinner has lost its appeal.

The all-inclusive formula carries the main workload. Mo’s Restaurant serves an international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with oriental specialities and weekly themed evenings. La Citadel focuses on grilled food, while La Terrazza and La Gioconda bring Italian options into the rotation. Breakfast covers continental, Italian, vegetarian, vegan, halal and American choices, all served buffet-style.

Dinner gives you more reasons to vary the route back from the beach. Kebabgy Grill Restaurant serves traditional Middle Eastern grills, Maharaja Indian offers Indian dishes, and Ginza Asian brings sushi, dim sum and teppanyaki. Moonlight Sea Food concentrates on fish and classical seafood dishes. Some à la carte restaurants carry an additional charge, so check the arrangement before treating the menu like an all-inclusive treasure hunt.

Drinks and lighter food are spread around the property. The Beach Bar serves drinks from the morning until sunset and food during the day; Cactus Bar, Rama Bar, Colobmo Bar and Aqua Bar cover the pool and water-park areas. Piazza Bar stays open around the clock, and the Oasis Cafe runs into the evening with shisha and Turkish coffee as an extra-charge option.

Three different post-dive moods are available here: slide into the water park, claim a sun lounger by the beach or head for the spa. The resort has outdoor pools, an infinity pool area, a leisure pool with a Jacuzzi and water slides, a children’s pool and three Jacuzzis by the beach. Pool and beach towels, umbrellas and loungers keep the logistics mercifully simple.

For a slower afternoon, the spa offers massage, beauty services, a steam room, sauna and wellness facilities. The fitness centre is there if you still have energy to spend, while tennis, table tennis, darts and billiards offer less strenuous ways to remain upright. Tennis court use and billiards carry an additional charge.

Families have a kids’ club for children aged four to twelve, a playground and evening entertainment. You can also find organised entertainment, a nightclub with DJ and on-site water sports, although some activities have an additional charge. The resort’s free shuttle runs every five minutes, with golf carts available for special services such as luggage delivery.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 15:00 and check-out is until 12:00. The reception is open around the clock, with private check-in and check-out, concierge service, luggage storage, an on-site cash machine and a safety deposit box at reception. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

An airport shuttle is available, and the hotel also operates a shuttle service around the property. Car hire, laundry and dry cleaning are available, while ironing carries an additional charge. Cash is accepted for payment. Children of any age are welcome, but cots and extra beds are not available, so the room configuration matters when you book for a family.

The resort accommodates families and couples. Pets are not allowed, and bookings covering more than two rooms may follow different policies. The private beach, pools, restaurants and water park keep most daily needs on site; Naama Bay remains close enough for an occasional change of scenery rather than a compulsory part of every evening.