Just 28 days opened, the El Sokhna Movenpick, is positioning itself to take a hefty share of Cairo's domestic tourist market, as it faces off with the Stella Di Mare, the established heavyweight resort on the Gulf of Suez. Ein Sokhna offers Cairenes the easiest escape. Even from 6th of October City, it took only two hours and 10 minutes to arrive at the Movenpick and that was in rush hour on a weekday morning. These two properties are ideal for weekend breaks, but they do differ in a number of significant ways. Not the least being the way they spell their respective strip of coast. The Stella Di Mare writes it is Ain Soukhna and the Movenpick, Ein El Sokhna. Ma'lesh, as the American study abroad students at AUC love to say. The Movenpick has adopted a similar horseshoe design to that of the Stella Di Mare, except that they have a garden with a lawn and rivulet water feature, instead of the large rock pool and waterfall. An infinity pool is the Movenpick's key feature, which is pushed out some way from the coast on a man made point that offers swimmers a great view of the dolphins when they pass or a refreshing cocktail from the sunken bar. The rustic rouge of the Movenpick sits well with the towering battlements that rise along the coastal fringe and together with the ocean and the Al Azhar Park style gardens; the hotel has achieved an aesthetic balance, which is not a usual hotel trademark. The Stella Di Mare is charging LE 670 compared to the Movenpick's LE 750 for a double room per night and half-board, for Egyptians and foreign residents, at this time of year. In essence both properties are resort hotels and are geared up for groups, which is where I believe the Stella Di Mare has the edge over its competitors. The Stella is go go go, from sun up to sun down. Banana boats, beach volleyball, water aerobics. But following the evening buffet feeding frenzy it is bed time. I have danced the night away at the Stella, but usually it is a weekend of tennis, golf and swimming. On the other hand, the Movenpick does offer the family package too, but it is also catering for the Cairene professional without children. I am expecting the Movenpick to pick-up the expatriate crowd who love Moon Beach, but hanker for a little more sophistication once in awhile. The class of the Movenpick is most obvious in its rooms. These have a boutique feel with fine linen and plush furnishings. The bathroom sink is a yawning glass bowl and the furniture and fittings are an ash colored dark grained wood, with silver handles. When the love affair with your room is over, you will find the gym below the lobby in the main building. It is a top class room with a blond wooden floor; US made Tuff Stuff circuit training machines, free weights and a sauna and steam room for recovering. All of which is included for guests, plus the use of the personal trainer. In comparison, the Stella Di Mare has the gorgeous spa and the outdoor/indoor thermal pool, but access and treatments all cost extra. Possibly of no importance to many, but a must for some; each room in the Movenpick has a kettle for tea and coffee, and a bar fridge with beer and soft drinks. Chipsie and mineral water are complimentary. A further edge the Movenpick enjoys, is the well thought out bar, with its 'great' sofas and modern furniture grouped around large artistic coffee tables. As long as you get past the name, Zen Lounge, boisterous and disorderly evenings are not difficult to imagine here. Having done a creative job reinventing the Egyptian resort hotel, Movenpick has also taken on the sacred ritual of high tea and replaced scones and cucumber sandwiches at 4:30 pm, with tempura prawns, sambosas, satay and cocktails. It was the breakfast and evening buffet which friends would complain about at the Stella Di Mare, though I feel the quality of the Movenpick smorgasbord with its wok bar and outdoor dining, will keep the food critiques at bay. Families are well catered for on the left and right bank of the Suez, but the Movenpick has created a new product. Intentionally or not, they couldn't tell me, but it could well become a hub for those without children, especially given that the trendsetting Australian Embassy have given up their villa in Agamy, for one at the Movenpick. Peter Carrigan paid for his own stay at the Movenpick, as he does for all his adventures and forays. [email protected]
