Rixos Premium Magawish Bay View

All is great. Mobark Khalefa the best one!

That was an amaizing experience! Chef Mohamad Ali prepered a one of my best diners in my life. I would like to recomand brasilian restaurant in 100%!

Overview We stayed at Rixos Premium Magawish Suites & Villas for two weeks as a family of three adults. Overall, we had a very enjoyable holiday. Our accommodation was outstanding, cleanliness was excellent, the grounds and facilities were impressive, several à la carte restaurants were superb, and some employees delivered memorable service. However, I would rate the hotel overall as four-star. Our room and housekeeping were of five-star quality, and some staff and restaurants were exceptional, but those standards were not consistent across everyday service, communication, buffet food, wine and the adult pool bar. The price was not far removed from luxury holidays we have previously enjoyed in Dubai. At broadly comparable cost, we have generally experienced better food, drinks, communication and consistency there. Nevertheless, Rixos Premium Magawish has considerable strengths, and its exceptional people deserve recognition. Accommodation and Housekeeping, 5 out of 5 Our accommodation in the Magawish Bay View area was outstanding. The amount of space was excellent for three adults. My wife and I shared a bedroom that was separate from the living room, where our son slept on a very comfortable sofa bed. At our request, the sofa bed was converted back into a sofa each morning and made up as a bed again each evening. This arrangement worked brilliantly, giving us privacy and a comfortable living area to enjoy during the day. There were also two toilets, very good shower facilities and all the usual amenities expected from a five-star resort. The balcony had two chairs, ample space to sit comfortably and a separate area for drying swimming clothes. We were conveniently close to the restaurants, pools, beach and Magawish Stage, a real advantage at such a large resort. A special thank you to our housekeeper, Abdel Aziz. He was professional, courteous and conscientious, maintained our accommodation beautifully and clearly took pride in his work. His English was limited, although better than my Egyptian, but he used his phone’s translation facility so we could communicate properly. He found a practical solution himself and is a credit to housekeeping. In-Room Technology and Technical Assistance I wanted to connect my iPhone and MacBook to the room television to watch my own Netflix account. Initially told this should be possible, I called the hotel’s 777 service line. Nobody arrived after an hour, so I had to chase. Assistance eventually came close to two hours after my original request. I was then told the television could mirror Android devices but not an iPhone. A USB-C-to-HDMI cable was suggested, but the hotel could not provide the cable or adapter, leaving no working solution. I appreciate that compatibility varies. My disappointment was the initial reassurance, the delay and the absence of an alternative. Connecting devices has generally been easier during our Dubai stays. A premium hotel should ideally offer reliable casting or keep suitable cables and adapters for guests to borrow. Cleanliness and Resort Presentation, 5 out of 5 Cleanliness was excellent in our room and throughout the public areas. Over two weeks, we saw the resort at busy times and after extensive use, yet its general presentation remained impressive. The housekeeping, cleaning, maintenance and grounds teams deserve considerable credit for caring for such a large property. Adult Pool and Khaled Hussein Khaled Hussein, our pool attendant, deserves a special mention. He was extremely polite, hardworking and attentive to the small details. When we requested a sunbed, he arranged it, collected the towels and laid everything out properly. On another occasion, a different attendant simply left the towels for me to arrange. There was nothing fundamentally wrong with that, but it highlighted Khaled’s extra care. His willingness to complete the service properly made a real difference. Adult Pool Bar and Service Consistency, 3 out of 5 Service at the adult pool bar was mixed. Azza Sayed served me well on one occasion, but on another I struggled to attract her attention and felt overlooked. I cannot say whether this was deliberate or simply because the bar was busy. More concerning were occasions when I felt that white or lighter-skinned guests arriving after us were served first. The most uncomfortable example involved a member of the drinks team on roller skates. I called him several times but felt ignored while he continued approaching and serving others. I cannot know his motivation and cannot state that racial discrimination occurred. Poor awareness, familiarity with other guests, tipping patterns or something else may have played a part. Nevertheless, the experience left me uncomfortable and, frankly, humiliated. I normally tip towards the end of a holiday, once I have experienced the service. Whether tipping affected what happened, I cannot say. In a premium All Inclusive resort, no guest should be left wondering whether attention depends on skin colour or whether they have already tipped. There were also excellent employees. One male bartender whose name I unfortunately did not record listened carefully, was consistently attentive and made very good drinks. On our final day, Mahmoud Ahmed, who had apparently just returned from leave, was courteous, friendly and a pleasure to deal with. The challenge is achieving that standard throughout the team. Buggy Service, Security and Genuine Acts of Kindness Sona from Armenia was memorable for her warmth, friendliness and consistently cheerful welcome. She stopped for our family whenever she could assist. Her excellent English made communication easy, and she seemed pleased to help. Mohammed Abo Zied also deserves special recognition. My wife has severe plantar fasciitis and can struggle to walk, particularly in the evening. Mohammed once passed with other guests in his buggy, stopped and promised to return in approximately two minutes after dropping them off. He did exactly that. He was friendly, considerate and never made my wife feel that her difficulty walking was an inconvenience. Mohammed Abo Zied is a star and the sort of employee guests remember. An unnamed security colleague also helped. He correctly explained that his buggy was reserved for security duties, but invited my wife and me to sit and wait in it while he arranged another vehicle. This simple kindness meant a great deal. On another evening, staff helped me obtain medicine and showed real concern. These thoughtful acts can leave a stronger impression than expensive facilities. Entertainment, 4 out of 5 Entertainment was generally very good, particularly at Magawish Stage, and created a lively atmosphere after dinner. For a week’s stay, the programme would probably feel varied. Over two weeks, however, the repetition became noticeable. The WhatsApp Band was the weakest part for our family. Entertainment is subjective, and others may have enjoyed them more, but we found other performances considerably stronger. More variety would improve the experience for guests staying ten to fourteen nights. Turquoise and the Everyday Food Offering, 3 out of 5 Turquoise was our main buffet restaurant and an important part of the everyday experience. The choice was extensive and finding something to eat was never difficult. The weaknesses were consistency, preparation and quality. Breakfast Despite “over easy” being advertised at the egg station, my fried eggs were repeatedly overcooked. I eventually received them correctly only after explaining the process step by step, briefly turning the egg while keeping the yolk runny. A chef should understand a preparation advertised at the station. I was also surprised to find neither baked beans nor hash browns. Their absence alone would not determine my opinion, but in more than twenty years of family holidays I cannot recall another large international resort buffet offering neither. For a hotel serving British and international guests, it felt an odd omission. Meat and Live Cooking Stations Much of the meat was overcooked, dry or chewy, even when I requested it freshly prepared. A live station should be able to respond to a straightforward preference about cooking level. The roast turkey was particularly disappointing. It was severely overcooked and dry, with no carving knife available. Only tongs were provided, forcing guests to pull pieces away from the joint. This was awkward, untidy and below the presentation expected at this price. At the Chinese station, a chef prepared noodles to my preference one day and they were excellent. The next day he refused the same request, saying he only cooked noodles in bulk, although I could see cooking taking place for other guests. The inconsistency was frustrating. The pasta itself was good and the chef worked quickly, but his manner was rude and abrupt. He stood out because almost everyone else we encountered was polite. A live-station chef needs customer-service skills as well as cooking ability. Kitchen Supervision and Station Presentation Many chefs appeared to be present and walking between stations, yet I saw little evidence of active quality checking. Overcooked food, inconsistent preparation and poor presentation were not being corrected. Some stations were dirty and untidy, with dropped food around the serving areas not cleared promptly. With so many culinary staff present, the issue seemed less about numbers and more about supervision and ownership of food quality and station cleanliness. Indian Food The Indian selection was the weakest part of the buffet for us. We are very familiar with Indian cuisine and found the quality and authenticity disappointing. A dish labelled Chicken Tikka Masala used chicken wings, an unusual interpretation that did not work well. An okra curry was very wet and gravy-based. In our experience, the type of bhindi dish being attempted would normally be considerably drier. We found it unpleasant. The contrast with Rasa was striking. Its very good Indian food showed what the resort could achieve. I would recommend a specialist review of Turquoise’s Indian dishes, including ingredients, textures, seasoning and presentation. Desserts The cakes looked attractive but often tasted less impressive than their presentation suggested. The selection felt closer to a standard three- or four-star buffet than a premium five-star offering. Baklava was the enjoyable exception. Turquoise provided quantity and variety, but the overall quality and consistency did not justify more than 3 out of 5. Drinks and Wine, 3 out of 5 Some cocktails were excellent, particularly Rasa’s imaginative selection, and we met several very capable bartenders and drinks waiters. However, the sparkling wine, white wine and rosé tasted basic and lacked the quality I would expect from a premium five-star All Inclusive resort. Wine forms a significant part of that package, particularly over two weeks. At similarly priced Dubai hotels, we have generally experienced better wines and beverage presentation. Despite some excellent individual drinks, I would rate the overall offering 3 out of 5. À La Carte Restaurants I intend to publish individual restaurant reviews, but several experiences deserve recognition here. Rasa was a highlight for authentic, enjoyable food and creative cocktails. Hedra Nageh was knowledgeable, warm, attentive and helpful, understanding both the menu and how to make guests feel looked after. People’s Restaurant was another winner, with very good food and attractive surroundings. Mostafa Gamil was courteous, efficient and attentive without being intrusive. La Churrascaria was our strongest restaurant experience, a 10 out of 10 evening. Chef Mohamed Ali’s Wagyu tenderloin was among the finest beef I have tasted. Hassan Fathy’s warmth and attentiveness made us feel welcome, while Ahmed Shehata provided excellent drinks service. I would also like to recognise Hassan Shams, Outlet Manager, who appeared to oversee both La Churrascaria and Casa Fiesta. Following a disappointing experience at Casa Fiesta, he showed genuine concern and went out of his way to ensure that our subsequent evening at La Churrascaria was memorable. He demonstrated excellent customer recovery and appeared to have a positive and professional relationship with his team. The best restaurants demonstrate the resort’s potential. The challenge is achieving comparable standards across the everyday operation. Front-Line Service and Communication, 4 out of 5 Most employees were polite, friendly and willing to help. However, some front-line staff, particularly waiters, struggled with the practical English needed for an international luxury resort. Simple requests were sometimes misunderstood and the misunderstanding passed between employees, requiring repeated explanations. This was frustrating and wasted time for everyone. I do not expect perfect English. Staff dealing continually with international guests should, however, be able to understand and confirm a straightforward request, take an accurate order and pass it to another department. Focused hospitality-English training would help. Sona demonstrated how much easier and warmer interactions can be when communication is clear. My service score remains 4 out of 5 because some employees were excellent. Inconsistency prevents a higher rating. Value for Money and Overall Standard, 3 out of 5 The room, cleanliness, best employees and strongest restaurants were excellent. However, a five-star experience should be dependable across departments, rather than varying with the individual waiter, chef or bartender. Our holiday cost was not dramatically below comparable luxury stays in Dubai, where we have generally experienced better food, wine, communication and consistency. Rixos offers impressive facilities and an extensive All Inclusive package, but I cannot describe it as strong value at the price we paid. It was a very enjoyable holiday, but my assessment remains four-star overall, with five-star accommodation. Management and Team Recognition The defining strength of the resort was its best employees. I would therefore like to record the people who made a particular contribution to our stay: Abdel Aziz from housekeeping, Khaled Hussein at the adult pool, Mahmoud Ahmed at the adult pool bar, Sona and Mohammed Abo Zied from the buggy team, the unnamed security colleague who helped my wife, Hedra Nageh at Rasa, Mostafa Gamil at People’s, Chef Mohamed Ali, Hassan Fathy and Ahmed Shehata at La Churrascaria, and Hassan Shams, Outlet Manager. There were also many other courteous and hardworking employees whose names we unfortunately did not manage to record. The individuals named above illustrate why the resort has such significant potential: when Rixos Premium Magawish is at its best, the hospitality is personal, warm and memorable. Natalie, the Operational Nucleus of the Resort I have deliberately saved my most significant individual acknowledgement until last. An enormous thank you must go to Natalie from Operations. If I had to identify the operational nucleus of Rixos Premium Magawish during our stay, it would be Natalie. You see her everywhere, and that observation is more significant than simply saying that a manager is visible. At a resort of this scale, somebody in a senior operational role could easily spend most of the day behind the scenes dealing with reports, staffing and administration. Natalie appeared to be actively present within the operation. She engaged with guests, observed what was happening, listened to feedback and made herself readily available. Just as importantly, she was approachable, warm and friendly. We gave Natalie both positive comments and constructive observations during our stay, and she appeared equally interested in both. That is an important quality. A manager who wants only compliments learns very little. A manager who actively wants to understand where standards can improve has the opportunity to make a genuine difference. Natalie clearly has many operational challenges. The property is large and complex, with numerous restaurants, bars, pools, accommodation areas, entertainment programmes, transport services, security functions and a substantial workforce. Our own observations demonstrate some of those challenges: inconsistent practical English, variation in front-line service, the adult pool-bar experience, uneven food quality and the difficulty of maintaining the same standard across every employee and department. Those challenges make Natalie’s visibility more impressive rather than less. My impression was of somebody who genuinely cared about the resort, wanted to improve standards and was constantly trying to ensure that the teams around her operated effectively and productively. She did not simply acknowledge concerns, she took an interest in resolving them. Natalie was professional without being distant, senior without being unapproachable, and friendly without losing sight of operational standards. She deserves enormous recognition. My thanks also go to the wider senior management team, because a resort employing so many outstanding individuals does not reach that position by accident. Nevertheless, Natalie was the senior operational presence we encountered most frequently and the person our family most strongly associated with management throughout the holiday. Natalie, thank you sincerely for the interest you took in our family and our stay. Conclusion We had a very enjoyable family holiday, outstanding accommodation and some excellent meals, and met wonderful people. The resort is attractive, clean and well maintained. The everyday buffet food, wine, communication and inconsistent service, particularly at the adult pool bar, kept my overall assessment at four-star. At a similar price, the best Dubai resorts we have visited have offered a more consistently polished experience. Rixos Premium Magawish has considerable potential. Its strongest employees show what it can achieve, and the challenge is extending those standards to every guest and department. Luxury hotels can build impressive rooms, swimming pools, restaurants and entertainment venues. Genuine hospitality must still come from people. Rixos Premium Magawish has some very special people indeed. Thank you. Ratings. Overall 4.0, Value 3.0, Location 5.0, Service 4.0, Rooms 5.0, Cleanliness 5.0, Sleep Quality 5.0, Food 3.0, Drinks 3.0, Entertainment 4.0

Rixos / Magawish Bay View, Hurghada – Our Honest Review Overall, we had a fantastic holiday and would happily return to Hurghada. We stayed for one week and didn’t leave the resort at all, as there was more than enough to keep us occupied. Bay View is a stunning complex with beautifully maintained grounds, excellent facilities and enormous potential. We were also lucky enough to receive an upgrade to a Premium Suite, which was a lovely surprise. There were some niggles along the way, and a few things that could definitely be improved, but none of them ruined our holiday. The positives outweighed the negatives, and we came home with some wonderful memories. 🌴 The grounds and resort The grounds were, without doubt, the highlight of our stay. They are absolutely stunning, beautifully landscaped and exceptionally well maintained. The resort is massive, with plenty of space to explore, and everywhere felt clean and cared for. The cleanliness throughout the complex was excellent. Drinks fridges dotted around the resort were a great touch, and we never struggled to find sunbeds or towels at the beach or pools. The shuttle buses run regularly around the complex, although we personally didn’t feel the need to use them. We were blessed with glorious weather throughout our stay, although we did witness an uncharacteristic thunderstorm one evening. It was incredible to watch! The storm caused the electricity to trip a few times, but the team quickly got everything back up and running. 🏨 Our Premium Suite We were pleasantly surprised with an upgrade to a Premium Suite, complete with two bathrooms and butler service. This was a lovely start to the holiday and made our stay feel special. The room had some excellent features: * An enormous, comfortable bed with gorgeous linens and extra pillows available. * Excellent shower pressure, with a shower that was easy and safe to use. * Robes and slippers provided. * A Nespresso machine and pods. * Plenty of USB charging points. * Automatic curtains. * Scales provided in the room. * A minibar restocked daily with Coke, Sprite, juice, Heineken, wine, Twix and crisps. The minibar was a particularly nice touch, and we appreciated having drinks and snacks readily available. There were, however, a few details worth knowing about. The coffee supplies were Coffee-mate rather than milk sachets or fresh milk, so if you like a proper cup of tea, you may want to bring your own preferred milk option. The robes appeared to be one size only. Mine was too small, and although I requested a larger one, this wasn’t provided. The iron in our room also leaked, although the replacement was great. The automatic curtains didn’t meet properly in the middle and were slightly too long, so they dragged on the floor. We also found a missing drawer, bathroom cupboards without bases and empty shelving where we would have expected some finishing touches. Individually, these are small issues, but together they made the suite feel unfinished. Had we paid the full price for the suite, we would have been disappointed with the standard of finish. The television had a limited selection of English-language channels. We couldn’t work out how to access YouTube or get screen mirroring to work either, which was a shame when relaxing in the room during the evenings. Clearer instructions or easier access to streaming services would be a welcome improvement. 🔊 Noise and building work We had specifically requested a quiet room. Although the upgrade was a welcome surprise, our suite was very close to the Arena Pavilion. Normally, this might not have been a major issue, but one evening there was an awards event. The music continued past midnight, so I called reception and was told it could continue for another one to two hours. It was so loud that our front door was vibrating. The same repetitive tune, reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean, was played for each award announcement, making it particularly noticeable. The biggest disappointment was the lack of warning and the absence of any real acknowledgement of the disruption. We would have appreciated being informed in advance, especially given our request for a quiet room. There was also loud daytime construction work on the neighbouring plot. It didn’t have a major impact on our particular room location, but it could be much more of an issue for guests staying in the blocks closest to the work. We hadn’t seen this mentioned when researching the resort, so it’s worth future guests knowing about it. A huge new children’s area is also being built on the suites side. This appeared to be well away from Bay View itself, but it’s worth being aware of if you’re considering booking that part of the wider complex. 🍳 Breakfast Breakfast was a little mixed for us. If you enjoy a traditional British cooked breakfast, be aware that some familiar items weren’t available. There were no baked beans, hash browns or mushrooms, and the hot breakfast selection was more limited than we would normally expect. We appreciate that local food culture differs and that pork isn’t commonly eaten in Egypt, so the absence of traditional pork products is understandable. However, a few more familiar cooked breakfast options would have been welcome. The omelette stations were good, although queues could build up. There was a good selection of cereals, breads, fresh fruit and yoghurts, so there were still plenty of alternatives. We were slightly surprised by the amount of mashed potato, vegetables and salads available at breakfast, which wasn’t quite what we’d typically choose first thing in the morning! The drinks service was confusing, too. It wasn’t immediately clear whether we should order from a member of staff, collect drinks ourselves or where to order from. A little more guidance would make the experience much smoother. 🍽️ Restaurants and food Generally, the food in the restaurants was good, and the ability to book restaurants through the resort’s app was convenient. The food at the infinity pool was particularly excellent and a real highlight of our stay. However, we felt the overall food offering was geared more towards the Russian market than British guests. We’d have liked more familiar options and a greater variety of casual daytime snacks. Restaurant service was inconsistent. Starters and mains sometimes arrived together, while on other occasions there were lengthy waits between courses. The food itself was generally good, but the service didn’t always match its quality. One small improvement would be the restaurant lighting. We found it quite bright across all the restaurants, and dimmer lighting in the evenings would create a much more intimate, relaxed dining atmosphere. Snacks hub and toastie station There is a dedicated snacks hub and a toastie station, so the facilities are there. Unfortunately, the staff at these outlets were often disorganised, and we sometimes felt as though we were an inconvenience rather than welcome guests. This is a real shame because, with better organisation and staff training, these facilities could be a fantastic addition to the all-inclusive offering. A well-run snacks hub and toastie station would provide a convenient alternative for lunch and help take pressure off the main restaurants. We also felt the choice of casual snacks could be improved, particularly with ice lollies and better grab-and-go options. For a resort of this size, we expected the daytime snack offering to be a little more polished. The issue isn’t a lack of facilities; it’s making the existing facilities work properly and ensuring guests feel welcome when using them. 🏖️ The adult beach The adult beach was a great addition and provided a lovely option for guests wanting a more peaceful environment. Showers were still being installed during our stay, so this area wasn’t quite finished. There are a few simple improvements that would make the experience even better: * Drinks service: The QR-code drinks ordering system used at the infinity pool would be a fantastic addition to the adult beach. Drinks service on the beach wasn’t consistent enough, and walking to the bar wasn’t always convenient. * Complimentary water: Providing bottles of water alongside beach towels would be a thoughtful touch, as we’ve experienced at other resorts. * Used-towel collection: A designated drop box for used towels would be really useful. We felt uncomfortable leaving our used towels on sunbeds when we’d finished, particularly as someone else might want to use the beds. A collection point would help keep the beach tidy and make it easier for staff to identify which sunbeds had been vacated. The adult beach has great potential, and these relatively straightforward changes would make it more convenient and polished. 👥 Staff and service Staff were one of the most mixed aspects of our stay. Some were absolutely fantastic, friendly and attentive, while others appeared undertrained or disorganised. One real positive was that we could communicate in English throughout the resort, which was fantastic. Even members of the housekeeping team used Google Translate to make sure we could understand one another. We really appreciated the effort and felt it demonstrated a genuine willingness to help. Sam on the beach and the lady in the Panoramic Bar deserve a special mention. Both were really great and contributed positively to our holiday. Although tipping is described as optional, we found that a small daily tip of around £1–£2, or the equivalent in dollars, for waiters and housekeeping was appreciated and beneficial to the service we received. An uncomfortable experience with a beach bag We were presented with two beach bags. When we returned to our room, we discovered that one had been removed. We appreciate that we may have been given two by mistake, but finding that an item had been taken from our room without any explanation was unnerving. A quick conversation to explain the error would have avoided this entirely. Even a small incident like this can affect a guest’s sense of comfort and trust, so better communication would have made all the difference. Pressure to leave Google reviews We also felt pressured to leave Google reviews, which was off-putting. Guests should feel free to leave honest feedback in their own time rather than feeling encouraged or pressured to do so during their holiday. 📱 Practical things worth knowing * Restaurant bookings can be made through the resort’s app. * There are plenty of USB charging points in the rooms. * The minibar is restocked daily with drinks and snacks. * English is widely usable throughout the resort, and staff make efforts to communicate. * Shuttle buses run regularly, although we didn’t need to use them. * If you prefer a quiet room, specifically request accommodation away from the Arena Pavilion and ask whether any events are planned during your stay. * Be aware of the neighbouring daytime construction work, particularly if booking a block close to it. ⭐ Final verdict – Would we return? Absolutely! We had a great holiday overall and would happily return to Hurghada. Bay View is a stunning resort, and the beautifully maintained grounds were the highlight for us. The cleanliness, facilities, comfortable suite, excellent infinity pool food and the staff members who went out of their way to help all contributed to a brilliant week away. The issues we’ve highlighted are mostly niggles rather than major frustrations. Better organisation at the snack outlets, more consistent restaurant service, clearer drinks ordering, attention to room snags and better communication about noise and building work would all improve the experience. We were delighted with our upgrade, although we would have appreciated more consideration of our request for a quiet room. The late-night awards event was the biggest disappointment, but it didn’t define the holiday. Bay View has all the ingredients to be an exceptional resort. Some areas are still finding their feet, but the positives far outweighed the negatives for us. We came home relaxed, happy and full of wonderful memories. We would return, and we’d simply go with a better understanding of what to expect. A beautiful resort with spectacular grounds, lots to offer and a few operational niggles to iron out. We had a fantastic holiday.

Rixos has been such an amazing luxury experience. The service is incredible, the food is delicious, with so many options, there is something for everyone. The rooms are impeccable, modern design and kept to a high standard. The sushi at the Asian restaurant was so delicious! And I was served by a lovely lady Rawan. The Indian restaurant was OK, I think the lamb and chicken were slightly overcooked and the service was slower, but other than that, a good experience. Would definitely consider coming back as there's still so much to explore!