Calimera Habiba Reviews

Having just returned from a week at the calimera habiba, i would like you to know
The hotel was very good and spotlessly clean,the only 2 down sides to our holiday were the food which in our opinion was very bland with very little choice and was aimed more at our german friends.And the entertainment was very poor,They do seen to have a shortage of Cups,plates and cutelry,because every night somebody was having to wait ,so they could have there meal.The good thing was is was very relaxing and the weather was fantastic.

I dont think i would ever use Thomas Cook again as they do not compere with Longwood and Thompson for holidays in Egypt.

Just returned 31/01/07 from a fantastic week at the Calimera Habiba. As we expected, the complex is in the middle of nowhere but we were just looking for a lazy week of sunshine by the sea. The resort is enormous. The accommodation is in either in single or duplex bungalows which I could only describe as Flintstone like. Well equipped and spacious and kept immaculate by the cleaning staff. All the buildings have high domed ceilings with exposed bricks, lovely to look at.

The resort has 2 pools. There is a large freeform pool. This is the active pool by reception where all the games are played. It is large enough to have a permanent water polo, vollyball and basketball section. Only trouble was it was so cold nobody would venture in. The other pool near the restaurant, the relaxing pool,is heated. This is where people swim and take part in water aerobics. Can be a little exposed to the wind when it's blowing. The beach is just down from there. The sun beds on the beach have very strong bamboo wind breaks round them. All the beds have thick mattresses which one of the staff bring together with a large beach towel so don't bother packing one. Just give him a US dollar and he is happy. Don't bother with local currancy dollars are best exchange rate although they will take Euros and pound Stirling.

The food is excellent and you can eat from breakfast to supper time if you want, neither of us suffered with a upset stomach, just a swollen one. The bars seemed to have a good selection of drinks although I did here that if you did go out drinks were very expensive.

There were plenty of excursions if you wanted them, camel riding, quad bike riding in the desert and a visit to a Bedowin camp where you get fed and entertained and watch the stars in total darkness and then drive back in the dark.The trip to Luxor was expensive and apparently 6 hours by bus. Watch out for the mossies, my wife was badly bitten on the lower leg on the first night by a dozen or so but I got none and I usually attract them. I blame the transfer bus because you are usually unprotected but maybe I'm wrong. Finally to the staff. Paul, the rep, was fantastic, very knowledgeable, always there when he was supposed to be and willing to help. He even offered to take us to the chemist in his car for the mossie cream, a 20 min walk. The Egyptian staff were brilliant, always eager to please and love to talk without being pushy. They don't expect a tip but what's a Dollar to us.

The complex was only 25% full at a guess so it was hard work for the amimation team getting people to get off their sun beds but they were brilliant, all 7 of them. We only went to one of the shows in the theatre but they were excellent in the Lord of the Dance. They were always organising quizzes or daft games around the pool. One bit of advise I would give is if you are a couple and you don't make friend easily join in as many of the activities as you can, beach vollyball, water aerobics, table tennis, French boules. If thats too energetic just go along and heckle. Once the animation team get to know you they treat you more like friends than clients. They are always happy to sit and drink with you once their duties are over. On a couple of occasions they took a group out to a disco and restaurant in the nearby town, not as a money making exercise, just to give people a break from the resort.

Checking in was a little unusual. You get an envelope on the bus and this has your room number on it. When you get to the complex leave your cases outside and take your letter and passports to reception. They will give you the key, go and write your room number on your cases and they will be taken to your room. If you arrive in the dark like we did, the complex is lit with low level lighting for effect. If you are trying to find the restaurant just keep following the WIDE paths to the far left corner, it takes some finding on the first occasion.

Hope these ramblings helps you and have a great time.

Resort - new and still in early stages of development so don't go expecting rows of shops and bars! But that's what made it so great!

It's very hotel based which is great for a relaxing holiday - very safe for two young women.

Food was great, you can eat all day and night. Choice of deserts excellent.

More German than english but still great atmosphere. Entertainment not great in the evenings but effort is 110%!

Sometimes bar ran out of red wine which was a shame as the white wine was a bit like petrol! Aprt from that it's great.

Private beach with free towels and loungers. Great for snorkelling, lovely coral and lots of colourful fish.

Staff very friendly, will do anything to help.

Buildings and gardens emmaculate.

Rooms lovely, bunaglow style, large and spacious. Very clean.
Can book many trips, jeep safari and star gazing was a bit of a waste of money but other trips where good. Lots of people saw dolphins on the dolphin trip.

Great hotel, relaxing, sit-on-beach-and-read-a-book in the sun type of holiday.
so if that's what you want just book it!

p.s Massages - optional extra £10 - worth every penny!