Siva Golden Bay Makadi - review from personal experience

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AT SIVA GOLDEN BAY MAKADI HOTEL IN EGYPT - 2024

For our first visit to Egypt, we chose Safaga, near Hurghada, as our location. We really wanted to have a coral reef right on the beach of the resort where we would be staying and we had found that this area would be perfect. By choosing the location, we filtered out a lot of resorts, so we were left with a few options, which were later filtered by budget. That's how we ended up choosing Siva Golden Bay Makadi, which is near Makadi, in Safaga and has its own little cove.

The main thing that tipped the scales in choosing this resort was the beach and the sea view. In fact, I couldn't go further with any other option.

Before I start this article, I would like to mention that this review is purely subjective, based on my own preferences, expectations and comparisons with previous experiences in other locations. I will, however, try to present the location in as objective a way as possible, so that this information is useful to you.

HOW TO GET TO SIVA GOLDEN BAY MAKADI - AGENCY OR ON YOUR OWN?

This resort can be booked both through an agency and on your own, through Booking. As for the price, it doesn't differ much, the only difference being that the price on Booking is for two people, while through the agency it is per person.

We opted to come here through an agency and chose this option because we had a flight and transfer to and from the airport included in the package.

THE ROOMS AT SIVA GOLDEN BAY MAKADI

Bearing in mind the photos of the resort on the agency's website, our first contact with the location deflated us a little.

Hoping to get a better room, after we got our room keys, we decided to leave a €5 tip for the receptionist. To make us understand which room we could have gotten without leaving a tip, he gave us two keys, to two rooms, so that we could choose the one we liked. In our case, the difference between the rooms was noticeable. We had initially been given a small room, like twin beds pushed together, instead of a double bed, and the smell of the room was terrible. The room we got later, which we stayed in, was slightly better. There was no more strange smell and it was more spacious.

All rooms have sea views and their own balcony. Those on the ground floor have the balcony transformed into a mini-terrace. They are also equipped with a mini-fridge (I can't say it gets very cold), air conditioning and a safe.

The furniture is quite old, but the bed was comfortable and I slept well. The bathroom has a bathtub, not a shower, and is quite spacious, with a large sink.

A 2L bottle of bottled water is provided per room every day. Beach towels are also provided, separate from those available in the room.

THE FOOD AT SIVA GOLDEN BAY MAKADI

The resort has:

• an open bar restaurant, with an international buffet, where all 3 main meals of the day are served and to which all guests have access without reservation;

• Italian restaurant, where dinner is served, upon prior reservation. The menu is a la carte;

• Mexican restaurant, where dinner is served, by prior reservation. The menu is a la carte;

• Oriental restaurant, where dinner is served, upon prior reservation. The menu is a la carte;

• a bar by the pool, one opposite the reception, one at the exit of the resort, near the small pool and two on the beach, open during the day, where alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are served, as well as snacks and sweets;

The food, unfortunately, was not to our taste. We had no variety in terms of dishes, nor in terms of the food served daily. Somehow, in one form or another, we ate the same thing every day. The food left uneaten was served in another form, at the next meal. For example, the salami not eaten at breakfast was used in the pasta served at lunch. Everything related to steaks, pizza, grilled vegetables, or bread and fries, is served separately and prepared in small quantities, so that if it runs out you have to wait long enough to want to give up.

Being a Muslim country, Egypt does not import alcohol, so alcoholic drinks and cocktails are made with local alcohol, not very good quality. I only tried the local beer, which I did not like at all. In addition to alcohol, the same situation is with non-alcoholic drinks and juices. You will not find well-known brands such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, etc., but you will find other soft drinks that taste quite similar to them. Also, drinks are served by the glass, starting at 10 am, until midnight. After 24:00, they are for a fee.

BEACH AND POOLS AT SIVA GOLDEN BAY MAKADI

The resort has 4 swimming pools: two for adults, one with slides and one for children. The water slides are operational between 10-12 in the morning and 2-4 in the afternoon.

The areas where the pools are located are modernized and have new umbrellas and sun loungers.

The beach area is located at a lower level than the rest of the resort, so it is necessary to go down several steps to reach the sea.

The beaches are divided into several segments. In areas where space allows, the sun loungers are placed in several rows, and near the stairs, they are placed in steps, because the relief is terraced. The sand is fine, and the entrance to the water is smooth. In some areas, access to the water is difficult because of rocks and corals. Being surrounded by relatively high cliffs and being a bay area, the beaches are protected from the wind, so there are no waves.

As I had anticipated when I chose the resort, the water is perfect for snorkeling, so we were able to enjoy all kinds of colorful fish, corals, and crystal clear water.

Both swimming pools and beaches close at 6:00 p.m. According to the law, swimming after this time is prohibited.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SIVA GOLDEN BAY MAKADI:

• there are several playgrounds for kids within the resort, one of them being shaded;

• it is one of the few resorts that are not equipped with ATM;

• the resort has its own pharmacy and medical office;

• the cleaning is superficial, both in the rooms and in the common areas. In addition to this, there is a lot of dust brought from the desert, which is not cleaned very well on the floors;

• internet is not included in the all-inclusive package, so it must be paid separately and credentials must be added each time it is used, it does not stay logged in like a normal wifi;

• there is still construction going on in the areas around the hotel, so the surrounding scenery is not the most pleasant. There is also a bit of noise from the boots and workers;

• the resort has security, so each driver is authenticated when comes to pick up or drop off tourists;

• inside the resort you will find souvenir shops;

• the hotel was not very crowded, at least in March, when we stayed;

• to fill your free time, the resort has a pool table and a ping-pong table;

• at certain times, water gymnastics classes are organized, which all guests can participate in, at no additional cost;

• smoking is not allowed in indoor areas;

• the package for this vacation was purchased with the Der Tour agency, who were very organized and professional. I can only recommend them (it is not sponsored);

  
  

EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN HURGHADA AND SURROUNDINGS

Among the most popular excursions in Hurghada are:

• Boat trip to Giftun Island, Orange Bay, Paradise Island, or Eden Island; reservations here.

• Day trip to Luxor and Valley of the Kings; you can book a day trip here.

• 24-hour trip to the Pyramids and Cairo; trips to Cairo from Hurghada can be quite tiring, but if you really want to, it's probably worth considering, you have the option by plane, or the one by bus.

• ATV ride through the desert; which you can purchase from here.

• Glass bottom boat ride; we were lucky enough to see huge turtles and stingrays on this trip. Details here.

  
  

Excursions can be purchased from several places: through the agency you came to Egypt with (if you opted for an agency), from the hotel, or online. Whichever option you choose, the prices are approximately the same.

OTHER ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN HURGHADA:

Among the best-rated hotels in Hurghada, are included:

• Rixos Premium Magawish Resort 5*, which you can book on your own account through Booking;

• Cook’s Club El Gouna (Adults Only), which you can book on your own account through Booking;

• Serenity Alpha Beach - Ex Serenity Makadi Beach,which you can book on your own account through Booking;

• Sunrise Garden Beach Resort & Spa 5*, which you can book on your own account through Booking;

CONCLUSIONS - IS IT WORTH IT OR NOT TO SPEND YOUR VACATION AT SIVA GOLDEN BAY MAKADI?

As I said at the beginning of the article, I chose this resort only because of the beach and the gorgeous view of the bay. Personally, with the information I have at the moment and the one-week experience at this resort, I can say without a doubt that I would not return and would not stay here again. I realized that there are much more important things than a beautiful beach, which can impact your well-being and make your vacation more enjoyable, or not.

The main reason I wouldn't come back here is the food. Personally, I've never prioritized this aspect, I've always gone on vacation to feel good, not to eat. However, after a few days of eating the same food, besides the fact that I couldn't even look at it, I also ended up with stomach problems, which kept me going for about two weeks after the vacation.

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Read also the complete guide about Hurghada. You can also read about other holiday locations in Albania, such as: Saranda, Ksamil.

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