Palm Royale Resort

I have stayed at this beautiful hotel for years now, and every time it feels like coming home. The hotel is absolutely beautiful, the beach is stunning, and the people are simply wonderful... warm, kind, and genuinely welcoming. There is something about the atmosphere here that makes me feel completely at home, like I'm visiting my second home rather than going on holiday. I have made so many wonderful memories here, and I already know l'll be coming back again.❤️ Special thanks to Abo 😊 I want to thank him here as well for the most delicious mangos I have ever tasted!😊 Special thanks also to Mohamed and Mustafa at the Towel Center, and to my friend at the souvenir stand on the beach, who makes the most beautiful bracelets for me every year - by now, it has become a tradition.😄❤️ I also truly appreciate all the other beach staff. They do their jobs wonderfully and make everything look and feel absolutely perfect.❤️

What are my impressions of our stay at Palm Royale, which we have just returned from? An absolutely wonderful experience! My husband and I returned to Egypt after 11 years, and our second visit exceeded our expectations in many ways. We were impressed from the moment we arrived. The enormous lobby feels like a palace, both in terms of its size and décor, and you will constantly find yourself looking up and admiring all the paintings and decorative details. Upon request, we were able to get our room a few hours earlier than the official check-in time, which we really appreciated after several hours of flying and the airport transfer. A member of staff kindly showed us all the way to our room, and our luggage arrived shortly afterwards. The room was spacious and cosy. Although the furnishings are somewhat dated, everything was still in good condition. The bed and pillows were very comfortable, and we slept wonderfully. The only minor issues were a rather stiff shower tap and a sink that drained a little slowly, but neither of these affected our stay in any meaningful way. The water pressure in the shower was perfectly fine. We hardly used the large balcony with its lovely side view. I would have appreciated a small drying rack for our swimsuits. It was quite windy in Soma Bay during the first few days of our stay, so we were worried that swimsuits left to dry on the chairs might blow away. Housekeeping was carried out regularly every day without any problems, including replenishing the minibar and replacing the towels. The only thing I noticed upon arrival was that the floor felt as though it was covered with a very fine layer of sand, so perhaps it could have been mopped a little more thoroughly. The room was very well soundproofed and had effective blackout curtains. They were a little difficult to open and close, so they need to be handled carefully. We hardly used the TV. Setting up the safe was very straightforward – we often struggle with hotel safes, so it was nice that everything worked perfectly on the first try this time. The Wi-Fi requires a password, which you receive together with your room cards upon arrival, and it worked reliably throughout our stay in the room, around the hotel, by the pool and even all the way down to the beach. I really appreciated that despite its size, the resort has plenty of shortcuts and passageways that make it easy to move between the buildings, beach and swimming pools. The pools are large and deep enough for proper swimming, and if you want to escape the sun for a while, there is even an artificial cave where you can comfortably relax in the water – or perhaps play a game of table tennis. We used the most often the swim-up bar. Service there could occasionally be a little slow, and sometimes we had to wait for supplies to be replenished, so this is one area where there is still some room for improvement. During our stay in early August, we had no trouble finding sun loungers by the pool. Those by the sea filled up more quickly, but it was still perfectly possible to find a free spot. Access to the sea is excellent, with no coral reefs or rocks – just fine sand, so there is no need for water shoes. The sea was clean and beautifully turquoise-blue. Occasionally there were small pieces of seaweed floating around, but nothing bothersome. On the final day of our stay, the tide went out quite far, but swimming in the bay was still perfectly possible. At the edge of the bay, the low tide revealed a lovely shallow area with white sand, which is great for taking photos. You can easily walk there by foot, so there is no need to pay for an excursion just to visit a similar-looking place. Luxor can be reached from the hotel in approximately four hours. If you want to go shopping, you can take a taxi to nearby Safaga, which takes around 10–15 minutes. There is also a small shopping arcade inside the hotel, although prices are understandably higher and the selection is more limited. The hotel is approximately 45 minutes from the airport. We were happy with the food included in the all-inclusive package. There are four à la carte restaurants at the hotel which need to be booked in advance. We did not use this option, as there was always plenty to choose from at the extensive buffet in the main Stella Café restaurant. My favourite part of the day was the themed evening buffet, which is prepared outdoors and can also be enjoyed outside with a beautiful view of the resort gardens. A different cuisine was served every evening – Egyptian, Oriental, Spanish, seafood and even European. This meant that my husband could taste a schnitzel for dinner 3,000 kilometres away from home! From time to time, we had lunch at Azur Bar, halfway between the beach and the hotel. There is a fairly good selection of food there, although almost every dish comes with French fries. I particularly enjoyed the self-service soft-serve ice cream machine – the ice cream tasted almost like Italian gelato. We did not have a single digestive problem during our entire stay. Overall, my husband and I were extremely happy with our choice. Although Palm Royale is not the newest or most modern resort and there are a few minor details that could be improved, we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of our holiday. It is a fantastic choice for people who do not like sterile resorts with little or no greenery – there is an abundance of lush vegetation here, and it really adds to the overall atmosphere and experience. My husband and I are already thinking about when we could come back. One week was definitely not enough!

This was our third stay at Palm Royale Soma Bay, so we have a good basis for comparison with our previous visits. We have always enjoyed this hotel and were therefore happy to return, but this time we noticed several changes that we feel are worth mentioning. On the positive side, it is great to see that the hotel continues to invest in renovations. The area around the swimming pool and the pool itself have clearly been improved and look fresh and well maintained. The beach remains beautiful and is still one of the hotel's greatest assets. We would also like to give special praise to the Animation Team. They are friendly, energetic and genuinely make an effort to involve guests and create a pleasant atmosphere throughout the day. We were particularly impressed with the evening entertainment programme, which has improved tremendously compared with our previous stays. This is definitely a big positive change and something the hotel should be proud of. The Aquatic Centre team also deserves special praise. They are enthusiastic, friendly and genuinely make an effort to provide guests with a good variety of activities. However, there are also some aspects that have unfortunately gone backwards. The biggest difference we noticed was the food selection. While the quality of the food remains very good, the choice and variety are clearly more limited than during our previous stays. As returning guests, this was particularly noticeable to us. The selection used to be much more diverse, with greater variety from day to day, whereas this time the offer felt more repetitive and limited. To be clear, the quality of the food has not declined – it is still tasty and well prepared. Our criticism is specifically about the reduced selection and lack of variety, which becomes especially noticeable during a longer stay. We were also disappointed by the condition of the Beach Bar, which looks considerably more worn and in need of renovation compared with the rest of the hotel. While significant effort has clearly been made to improve the pool area, the Beach Bar appears to have been overlooked and would definitely benefit from refurbishment. Another issue is the reduction in staff, not only in the restaurant but also at the pool and beach bars. It is quite rare to see a waiter walking along the beach, so if you want to order a drink, you often have to make your way to the bar yourself and also spend a lot of time waiting for your turn. For a resort of this category, we feel that beach service should be much more readily available. Again, we want to emphasize that this is not a criticism of the staff themselves. The employees we encountered were friendly and doing their best. The problem seems to be that there are simply not enough of them to provide the level of service guests would reasonably expect. Overall, we still enjoyed our holiday and there are many things we love about Palm Royale Soma Bay – the beautiful beach, good-quality food, improved evening entertainment, great Animation Team and excellent Aquatic Centre team. However, as returning guests for the third time, we cannot ignore the differences we noticed compared with our previous stays. We sincerely hope that the management will take these comments seriously. The hotel has a fantastic location and a lot of potential, but maintaining the quality of the guest experience requires not only investment in renovations, but also sufficient staff, good service and a food selection that lives up to the standard we remember from our earlier visits. We still love Palm Royale Soma Bay, but this time we definitely noticed a step backwards in some important areas – alongside some very welcome improvements.

On our late arrival a buffet was provided in the main dining area which was appreciative. A cheery Mr Moustafa Talat, one of the bellmen, kindly upgraded our room so that it was suitable for my 84 year old dad, with a location close to the atrium. We were so grateful for his help. This thoughtfulness continued by him suggesting that we travel in the buggy to the beach and the various restaurants, aiding my dad's lack of sturdiness. He made sure that he was available, although he was busy transporting luggage and working hard. Dad enjoyed Ahmed Mohamed's conversations as he transported dad around the hotel. The whole team including: Hisham Hagag, Moustafa, Ahmed, Abo El Kasseen and Abd Alla Mohamed, were eager to help and greeted us with huge smiles. We were also welcomed daily at the front reception by Ahmed (Glasses Man). Relaxing at "Calm Bay", on the beach, enabled us to view the beauty of the long sandy beach and shimmering clear sea. Mohamood Zidan (the lifeguard), was so considerate and attentive, meeting us from the buggy, taking dad to a suitable lounger, making him comfortable and checking that he was cool. He also placed cream onto my dads sore leg. He arranged for a buggy to return us back to the hotel. Bubbly Galal also arranged our daily lounger towels and provided dad with shaded seating, near the towel booth, while awaiting the buggy. David the beach waiter, anticipated our drinks orders and always had a smile on his face. Hany Fakhry, at the beach bar, looked pleased to see us and made the best iced coffee and creamy Piña Colada. While Visiting the pool Fathy Elmoby (Crocodile) and Ahmed Mohamed quickly arranged parasols, fresh towels and ice cold water. We loved cocktails at the swim up bar and swimming around the pool. The shaded seating overhead offered beautiful views of the lush gardens. After a busy day the tranquility pool was a delight. The helpful spa team, especially Hesham, was always there to offer assistance. We loved relaxing in the hot tub and steam room. The showers were refreshing and spotless. The lively evening entertainment of singers and music at Johnny's Bar, allowed the audience to sing along and dance. Charming Tadros, organised seating and re-arranged tables to accommodate us. He suggested to try a creative cocktail. Georges speedy service of drinks and polite manner allowed us to enjoy the shows. When entering the stage shows, the magical entrance area was alight with bright beams, and a cart of ice-cream and popcorn was served by outgoing Hanna. There was also pre show entertainment, which added to the excitement. The professional shows of magic and dancing had colourful costumes and elaborate garments, they were astonishing! The disco felt incredibly vibrant, with glow-in-the-dark Egyptian hieroglyphs lining the walls. It stayed open until 1am, keeping us dancing to a fantastic mix of music from the DJ. We were lucky to be invited to the glamorous evening of cocktails and music, for the opening of the paddle board courts. A buggy ride to the venue, cocktails, a light show, music by the DJ and dancing by the animation team, followed with paddle board game that kept the energy high and the fun going well into the night. My husband Mark thoroughly enjoyed taking part. This was a great experience for the whole family. The Atrium was a quiet place where we could sit, talk and relax, watch the Koi and listen to the pianist in the evening. Hardworking Saber, served us drinks during the day and consciences Hanna brought creamy coffees or drinks in the evening. We were eagerly awaiting the exclusive cocktail reception hosted by the hotel management, at the 'La Terrace', which was a sociable occasion celebrating the hotel's culinary awards. The sumptuous appetisers crafted by head chef Mr Oliver Rillof, Sizzling Scallops, shrimp, salmon and various showpieces, plus the colourful display of cocktails were a treat. Vip breakfast at ‘la Terrace’ must be experienced. Mr Mostafa Ahmed’s professionalism yet friendly service was exceptional. Chefs poached eggs were done to perfection, and garnished with cucumber hearts. The ambience of the restaurant is created by location, setting and staff. The whole team are respectful and hardworking. One of our servers, humorous Ibrahim Ramadan, made us all laugh. Cafe Stella served delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner, with various meals for all ages. Mohamed Rabea and Hany Adel were attentive locating seating, serving and aiding my dad. Ramy Raafait's drink service was speedy. Mr Nishanta's happy spirit, kind nature and willingness to help us was warming. The evening meals in Cafe Stella were spectacular. We sat outside enjoying the themed evenings with music as we eat. We were immersed in the atmosphere by viewing the chefs steaming and cooking of the skewered kebabs and sizzling, jumbo mouthwatering shrimp. Inside the tables were laden with fruit and delicious deserts. Mr Alaza Elazy busily organised tables, helped us with seating and was very thoughtful helping dad with his plate. All of the À La Carte restaurants served delicious tempting menus. We sat outside in the Asian restaurant enjoying Ranjit's special duck and dahl. Mr Mostafa was the perfect host and organised our buggy to the hotel. The Taverna managed by enthusiastic Ahmed Mohamadian was so eager to please and Gamal Haman provided an excellent service. We enjoyed chilli pasta and steak in the Italian Restaurant. Mr Mostafa Ahmed and Mr Ahmed Mohamadian were very courteous and the fresh food was served quickly. The Lebanese team were always welcoming, suggesting and serving various dishes. We enjoyed the spicy chicken livers and lentil soup. Mohamed Youssef, wanted to make sure we had everything we wanted and Mohamed Nabil aided dad to our table, brought drinks and meals laughing with us. Daily we were offered fresh baked bread by the lady outside the Lebanese restaurant. She was always smiling, happy to see us and enquired about our wellbeing. The rooms were immaculately, with fresh towels and a well stocked bar. It was also cleaned thoroughly by Samir Mahmoud, who also provided extra hangers. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the hotel management and staff for making our holiday experience so wonderful and for helping us create such special and lasting memories. We are especially grateful for the kindness, care and consideration you showed towards my beloved 85-year-old dad during our stay. Your warmth and thoughtfulness meant so much to us, and we will always remember it with great appreciation. This September, we will be returning to the hotel once again, but this time with a very special purpose — to commemorate and honour my dad and the wonderful memories we shared with him. It will be a particularly meaningful visit for us, and we feel comforted knowing that we will be returning to a place where he was treated with such genuine kindness and respect. Thank you for being part of our cherished memories and for helping make our time together so special. Although my dad has sadly passed away, his memory will live on in our hearts, and we look forward to celebrating his life and remembering him during our return this September. From Genevive Hurrell, Mark Hurrell, Aran Hurrell and the late Michael Kissoon

Always happy to come back to Palm Royale. This was my third stay, and once again, I had such a wonderful experience. I truly love the atmosphere, the rooms, the cleanliness, the excellent service, and especially how kind and welcoming the staff are. Every time I come back, I feel just as comfortable and happy as the first time. The night show was also very nice and entertaining, and the animation team was so friendly, energetic, and welcoming. They really added a lot of fun to our evenings. A special thank you to Mr. Malak from the restaurant, who always goes above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need and tries his best to accommodate all our requests. Palm Royale has definitely become one of those places I always look forward to returning to, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit! 🩷