Steigenberger Hotel Golf Resort

Didn't realize I even had to bother considering this question, but if you decide to stay in the five star Steigenberger in El Gouna and you don't like to sleep in a room that smells like a smoking room, you will have to comment you want a non-smoking room. Might be it makes sense for you to also add that you want a quiet room.

After a short description of what happened in our vacations, you will find a short list of important recommendation for your vacation, if you decide to stay with Steigenberger.
Below a short version of what happened in our vacation:
After traveling the whole we were nicely welcomed in the Steigenberger Golf Resort. We booked a superior room, and our first room looked very nice, were it not for the VERY strong smell of old, settled smoke. We asked immediately to get a non smoking room. At the reception we were told that since they didn't get any special request for non-smoking room they put us in a smoking room (can this really be standard at five star Steigenberger?) Since the hotel was fully booked, they offered us another room, but this one was smaller and also a smoking room, so we reverted back to the original since they helped us ventilating and sprayed some room deodorant in the first room. In lack of alternatives and since after the spraying and ventilation the smell was not too intense any more, so we decided to settle for this room. Unfortunately the night proved us that the smell was really disgusting. We kept waking up in the night, as with the closed doors the hard settled cold cigarette smell deviled its full flavor. To give you an idea, this was like sleeping next to an ashtray. After the long trip with lack of sleep, you can imagine that we were not happy about it. The next day I had a long discussion with the receptionist. He explained me again that there was nothing he could do to change the room, since the hotel was booked out. It was only after a really long discussion and my assurance that we were not staying another night in the ashtray room, that he found us an alternative. The room was much smaller and at the second, instead of top floor. Also it was not a non-smoking room, it was less disgusting than the first one and definitely of newer construction than the first one, so we changed it. Again the night was not very relaxing, since the carpet, bed, sofa, all kept the intense smell of the smoke. The next day we tried again to get a non-smoking room, but there was really nothing to do about it. They though offered to take out and ventilate all the furniture, which improved a lot. Only for day 5 of the 10 day staying they offered us a non smoking room. Since the smell was now acceptable, our vacation was half over and we were tired of changing the room for the 4th time, we decided to refuse the offer and stay there.

I read earlier comments from people complaining about a bad room in vain, but decided that given the other fantastic reviews I would not have to worry. Looks like this sad situation hit me too.

For the above mentioned reasons I decided I could not recommend this hotel with a pure conscience to fellow travelers. This unhappy situation, which in my eyes is not worth to a five star hotel, should nevertheless not diminish the rest of the hotel facilities, with the fantastic hotel staff, food, location, proximity to the golf this could be a very nice and relaxing place to be.

At the end a couple of important recommendations if you are opting for this hotel:
DO write that you don't want to get a smoking room and possibly that you want a quiet room
If nevertheless you get a crappy room, insist on changing it. If you spend time with the receptionist you will (sooner or later) be accommodated at their best possibilities.
Avoid, if possible, block 4, since the construction is old. I.e. all rooms starting with 4000. Block 8 was of much more recent construction.
If you play golf, book your flights ahead of time! Mid November the only flights available were between 6-8 a.m.
With Dine Around you have the option to eat outside, we can recommend the Oriental at Sheraton

I hope that this review was helpful to you! I wish you a very nice and relaxing vacation, hopefully free of such unpleasant events as we had to endure.

Björn