LUXURY BY THE RED SEA

Egypt.. the land of the pharaohs, home of one of the seven wonders of the world, and a rich culture grew on the shores of the incredible Nile river. But, believe it or not, the beauty of this middle eastern jewel is beyond the historical greatness.

Between the Mediterranean and the red sea, Egypt owns some of the most amazing beaches in the region. Setting the goal to Hurghada, the search took off looking for the best hotel in the area. Soon the decision was easily made; The Sheraton Soma Bay Resort. It was the first time I even hear of such a place! Soma Bay is a fairly new destination located about an hour ride from the city of Hurghada. Think of it as a compound of five stars hotels and resorts; totally safe, totally isolated, totally charming. We chose to experience a road trip all the way from Alexandria, but, if you are not into this kind of adventure, you can fly to Hurghada and then take a car, that can be easily arranged by your hotel.

At 2 pm we were happy to enter the majestic property. A structure that takes you back in time to the Pharaonic temples; giant poles holding a high ceiling, all white, decorated with carvings that matched the prints on the fabric that covered simple furnishings. It is the lotus flower in its full glory. Few minutes was all it took for us to complete a smooth check in. A nice staff with the friendliest smile shows us the way to our suite. A couple of minutes walk from the lobby amidst a well maintained garden. You cannot miss it while walking through.. under or next to each and every plant or tree, a small garden plaque carries the name of the person who planted it. I thought, that’s nice!

The suite is vast, nothing less than the anticipated; a spacious living area furnished with a sofa set and coffee tables, a desk that I do believe anyone should be using for more that writing a post card, a small dining table, and a flat screen television. To the right hand side of the entrance door, a kitchenette with a small fridge, sink, kettle, and a double burner electric stove. A big sliding door opens on the left side of the living room to a big bedroom with a small walking closet another television and yet another fridge/mini bar. Tea and instant coffee sachet are at your disposal and small mineral water bottles are complimentary as well. Our welcome message on the other hand came on a shape of a chocolate cake. Oh yeah!

By 4 pm I unpack all and, not feeling sleepy, I could not resist stripping onto my swimsuit to go discover the pool area with my 11 year old daughter.

يلاوح .ةعفرو توربجب ةينوعرفلا دباعملا تخمش ثيح نمزلا ربع مكب رفاست ةبيهم

ستوللا ةرهز شوقن ،يغاطلا وه ضيبلأا نوللا

The main pool is big enough to avoid an uncomfortable crowd, and even though it closes at 6:30 pm (quite early if you want my opinion), we weren’t bothered, the evening offers a different kind of fun. Youngest fellows can equally enjoy the kids pool in the same area.

Around the pool, you find all of the resort’s dining establishments. Al Farafra Oasis Pool Bar will quenches your thirst with refreshing juices and cocktails. Facing the hotel, on either side of the pool you can choose your dinner discovery at L’Abydos Brasserie, the resort’s main restaurant serving international breakfast and dinner buffets. We were lucky to try the Lebanese buffet one night. On the other side, L’Emporio offers the best of the Italian cuisine, for lunch at the beach side with wood fire pizza, or a la carte dinner menu for a complete and authentic experience.

A daily entertainment program kicks off every night at exactly 9:30 pm offering an variety of shows, from traditional Egyptian shows featuring Tannoora and Belly Dancing, to African Acrobats and modern light dances.

Our day was automatically organized; breakfast followed by one of the many water activities with the help of the resort’s Water Sports Centre. So many exciting choices such as parasailing, kite surfing, fishing trips, snorkeling, catamaran, sailing, or glass boat trips that allows you to marvel at the coral reefs extraordinaire from the safety of a the boat, or maybe couples would try the romantic boat to renew a successful relationship. Other on land activities such as saffari trips can be arranged as well.

The property offers fitness enthusiast a gym but in the middle of all the action, gym is not going to be needed, at least not for me! however, if you are a golfer, Soma Bay may just won the title of your ideal vacation destination with a fantastic golf course at your disposal.

The resort also offers all guests especially the young adventurers great fun at Soma Splash Water Park.

Licensed divers will feel like a pure soul descended in heaven. Orca Dive Club is a five minutes walk from the hotel’s beach. A professional gate to the underwater wonders. Taste the charm of the house reef with a trial or go for a full diving course within few days. You can rent diving and snorkeling equipments and for as long as you want, forget about the land and immerse in the beauty of a virgin sea. I was really lucky to be offered a first dive experience. As much as t is hard to put it in words, this is what I told my daughter: “do you know the underwater TV shows you see on national geographic? well, once you are down there, surrounded by the

ةهكافلا كلذكو تلابقملاو تاطلسلل .يديلقتلا بطحلا نرف يف ةيوشملا ازتيلا اهنمض نم تارايتخلاا ةعساو ةمئاق امدقم ةليل لك فصنلاو ةعساتلا ةعاسلا مامت يف أدبي يموي يليل يهيفرت جمانرب ،يقرشلا صقرلاو ةرونتلا ةصقرك يرصملا يديلقتلا اهنم ،ةفلتخم تاهكنب اًضورع .ةرواجم ةيقيرفأ لود نم مداقلا بيرغلا اهنمو ،ةرينملا بيبانلأاب صقرلاك ثيدحلا اهنمو ةيئاملا تاضايرلاو تاطاشنلا فلتخم مث روطفلا ؛يئاقلت لكشب اًمظنم انموي ناك ةيسامحلاو ةريثملا تارايخلا نم ريثكلا .قدنفلاب صاخلا ةيئاملا باعللأا زكرم ةدعاسمب نم يجاجزلا براقلا تلاحر ،صوغلا ،ديصلا تلاحر ،يئاوهلا جلزتلا ،جاوملأا بوكر لثم براقلا“ ةبرجتب جاوزلأا بغري امبر وأ ،براقلا ىلع نم ةيناجرملا بعشلاو كامسلأا ةيؤر لجأ ىلع ىرخأ تاطاشن رفوتت blue magic, you feel like you have entered the screen and became a part of that show. it takes your breath away!”.

I know what you are thinking right now. A vacation will not be complete without self time at the SPA right? why not! a stop by the front desk is enough to arrange a luxurious SPA experience at the nearby Cascade SPA & Thalasso. Did I mention that you do not need to carry cash around with you? here is the bonus: you require a service at any Soma Bay hotel, you can charge it at your hotel room.. simple and great!

At the Marina, a medical centre, pharmacy, and a small supermarket provide all the other bits and pieces to make your trip a one extra convenient. Sheraton Soma Bay Resort, I shall come back soon!

As we transition from the warm summer months into the crisp nature of autumn, Hackett London introduces the first trend story; Classics Reinvented. A collection of essential items designed to be layered and which confidently juxtapose texture, colour and warm fabrics in preparation as the days get shorter and colder. Giving ease to everyday dressing, our second trend story, Country Per Suits, is a complementary range with an edited selection of rugged and handsome casually tailored pieces that celebrate a classic British winter nodding to a country escape. Classics Reinvented takes familiar elements and reworks them to create a wardrobe of essentials that are easy to wear and are core outfit builders. Celebrating 35 years since Hackett opened it’s first store in Parson’s Green, our design team took to Jeremy Hackett’s archive of favourites which evolved to become synonymous to the Hackett brand name.

Fabrics are core to this delivery as pieces show playfulness in layering, clashing and combining all the classic British essentials for an elegantly desirable outfit. Micro wale corduroys, tartan and shaved velvets are rich yet sporty when combined with our new knit effect textures making for a relaxed elegant, yet sartorial combination, exploring the idea of taking dressy elements and reworking them for the everyday. Classics Reinvented creates the unexpected out of the expected and reaffirms Hackett London’s quintessential charm as a one-stop destination for a wardrobe to rely on.