First: I like this hotel have been before in the sister hotel Golden Beach , the atmosphere is nice, sophisticated, oriental and there is many people working, who seem to be honestly nice.
So I don't say that my vacation was terrible, I am experienced traveller and I know how to keeo positive mood even if there is some people in the staff who try to spoil your holiday ;- Especially we enjoyed our lunches and dinners, we had many interesting discussions with the staff and the young cooks were relly helpfull and friendly - WITHOUT tipping!!!
But: If in the all inclusive hotel tipping is really SO important, there is no idea at all to call it 'all inclusive'. If there is absolutely no service without tipping, like was the situation especially by the pool! The waiters were very friendly and sweet and helpful in the beginnng of the holiday. But after a couple of days the service stopped completely!! Especially the handsome eagle nosed waiter who knew his pride, that's ok was watching everybody like cheap sausages - meaning the people who did not constantly give him money.
I also saw him changing euros regularly with some dealer on the beach, so he obviously got tips, just nothing was enough?? That kind of behaviour makes the guests feel really uncomfortable, and even if many other people in the staff were geniunly friendly, these arrogant guys spoiled the atmosphere. And if you didn't pay he kept shouting 'ironically' after you every day, like INSULTED : I have been in Egypt several times and I have not experienced similar arrogancy before, I really like the country and the people.
And even I have met many taxi drivers who are not greedy and who are really interested to talk with the customers. Of course there is the big difference between living standard in Egypt and in EU. We are not all millionares who come from Europe. And we would like to be treated as humans, as persons - not as the potential customers of 'service prostitutes'. By the way: The Finnish ladies told that there were also real, professional male prostitutes in these Shedwan hotels.
