Caves Beach Resort Hurghada

The Caves Beach Resort is at kilometre 10 of the El Ahyaa Road, in the Al Ahyaa district, the stretch of coast that runs north of Hurghada towards El Gouna. It is around eighteen kilometres from the international airport and seventeen from the New Marina: it is not a position for an evening stroll, it is a position for a closed resort, with the sea in front and the desert behind. The altitude is that of the shoreline, five metres above sea level.

The signature of the house is its architecture. The whole property is built as a village of caves: walls of shaped rock, low rounded ceilings, warm lights set into the stone, furniture in rough wood. The rooms are all called caves, from the Standard Garden View to the Deluxe Sea View and on to the Royal Cave Swim Up, which has direct access to the pool; on the portal the studio and the villa with a private pool also appear. It is a theatrical choice that divides: anyone looking for light and glass walls will not find them here, anyone looking for shade and coolness will.

On age it is best to proceed in order, because the official website does not help: it speaks of rooms, of the spa and of services, but does not write from what age you are admitted. The figure therefore comes from the booking portal, which is the fallback source. In its conditions the portal states that children are not allowed and sets 18 as the age for check-in, which is the rule on who puts the booking in their name; in the information supplied by the property, though, it writes that the minimum age required by the hotel for check-in is 16. This entry keeps sixteen, which is the admission threshold declared by the house, and warns that whoever presents themselves at reception must in any case be of full age. In every case minors are not admitted in any area.

The pools declared by the website are three, all outdoors: two freshwater basins and a heated activity pool, the one where the games and the entertainment are concentrated. The heating of one basin is the fact that counts from December to February, when the north wind cools standing water. The portal confirms one outdoor pool open all year round. No indoor pool is on record. The beach is private and sandy, with loungers, parasols and towels included.

The wellness area is paid for and includes a sauna, a whirlpool, a relaxation room, massages and treatments; the gym, also carved out of a cave with a view of the greenery, is fitted out and available to guests. The steam bath is not explicitly declared and nor is the rule on swimwear in the sauna, as happens almost everywhere on the Red Sea: they have to be asked at reception. The catering is all inclusive, with the main buffet devoted to the cave theme and three à la carte restaurants.

The picture is completed by free parking, free wifi in the common areas, the diving centre with snorkelling and windsurfing, billiards, a games room, table tennis, darts, horse riding, a paid shopping area, daytime entertainment and evening shows. Pets are not allowed.