On November 24th, we left snowy Nuremberg behind. Germany was deep in winter, the streets covered in fresh snow, and we were boarding a five-hour flight with our energetic two-and-a-half-year-old. When we stepped out of the plane in Hurghada, it felt like we had jumped straight into summer.
From the air, the desert below looked endless—dry, empty, and silent. But the moment our transfer bus passed through the gates of our hotel, everything changed: palm trees, lush gardens, blooming flowers. An oasis so green that it felt surreal after the barren landscape outside.
Hotel: Albatros Makadi – huge, green, and genuinely relaxing
Our first surprise came right at the entrance. We tried to drag our luggage ourselves, German-style, but the porter simply waved us off: “Leave it here.” No mention of tips, no pressure.
After check-in the staff sent us straight to lunch. When we returned, a small shuttle was already waiting for us—with our luggage on board. Only then did we realize just how large the resort is. Walking all the way to the far corner with heavy suitcases under the Egyptian sun? Impossible.
The Room
We stayed in a quiet sea-view villa building—spacious, clean, with plenty of wardrobe space, a safe, and a fully stocked minibar. Our toddler immediately turned the room into his personal football field.
Beach & Water – perfect for small kids
The beach is just a short walk from the room. Late November is warm, breezy, and ideal for swimming. The sand is soft, the water shallow and crystal clear—perfect for toddlers.
Our little one found shells, tiny hermit crabs, and schools of small fish. Further out, a long pier leads to deeper waters where you can watch large colorful fish and go snorkeling.
A friendly German couple advised us not to take shells or corals home—Egyptian customs are strict.
Eight days of pure relaxation
Every day brought sunshine and perfect swimming weather. Only on the day we left did the wind pick up.
And the staff? Truly wonderful. Warm, natural, never pushy. Many greeted our son with funny bird sounds or a high-five. Nobody hinted at tips—but their kindness made us happy to leave some.
We promised ourselves we’d return before our son starts school. This place is worth it.
Food & Restaurants at Albatros Makadi
All-inclusive means you will never go hungry. Drinks and snacks are available almost everywhere.
Bars
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Lobby Bar: coffee & drinks all day
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Andiamo Bar (ship-themed beach bar): 10:00–18:30 and 19:00–23:00
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Pool Bar: 10:00 until sunset
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Aqua Park Bar: 10:00 until sunset, ice cream from 12:00
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Galaxy Lounge: 19:00–01:00
Restaurants
Breakfast
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Sidi Ali: 07:00–10:00
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Alfredo: 08:00–11:00
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Culina: 07:00–10:00
Brunch
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Alfredo: 10:00–11:00
Lunch
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Sidi Ali: 12:30–14:30
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Alfredo: 12:30–14:30
Snacks
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Aqua Park Food Court: 12:30–17:00
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Beach Food Court: 12:30–17:00
Dinner
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L’Asiatique (Asian fusion): 18:00–21:00
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Sidi Ali (Oriental cuisine): 18:00–21:30
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Alfredo (Italian): 18:00–21:00
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Culina (Seafood): 18:30–21:00
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Steak House (reservation needed)
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La Paela (international): 18:30–21:00
Our Recommendations
⭐ Top 1: Culina – the seafood restaurant
Go right when it opens! The freshly cooked fish dishes and the Egyptian-style fish stew were fantastic.
⭐ Top 2: Sidi Ali – Asian corner
The freshly stir-fried noodles are incredibly popular. We often grabbed noodles here and then rushed to Culina for grilled shrimp.
❌ Least favorite: Steak House
The only restaurant requiring reservations—and unfortunately the biggest disappointment.
Hotel Facilities & Onsite Entertainment
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Pools: Numerous outdoor pools (rough estimate: ~20).
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Children’s Waterpark: Composed of three pools for different ages; ice-cream bar nearby (serving from 12:00).
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Children’s pool at the Albatros Makadi Hotel 
Kids’ water park at the Albatros Makadi Hotel 
Kids’ water park at the Albatros Makadi Hotel
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Kids Club: Indoor craft/toy area plus outdoor playground with slides and swings.
Kids Club at the Albatros Makadi Hotel -
Mini Disco & Shows: Nightly children’s programs after dinner, face painting, dance, weekend clown shows, and large mascots for photos.
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Mini disco at the Albatros Makadi Hotel 
Mascot/cartoon character at the Albatros Makadi Hotel
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Swan/T pedal boats: Small paddle boat rides that kids love.
Swan boat at the Albatros Makadi Hotel -
Family Bikes: Available approximately 11:00–17:00 — the staff clean seats and often decorate with small flowers when handing them out.
Family bike at the Albatros Makadi Hotel -
Sports & Wellness: Sauna, tennis courts, soccer field, outdoor darts.
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Dining & Other: Several restaurants/bars, a small supermarket and pharmacy within the resort, a stage for shows, and villa-style buildings (three floors, ~12 rooms per building).
Activities / Tours (what we did & suitability)
Underwater Fish Watching (Glass-bottom boat + snorkeling)
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Suitable for: Kids of all ages — highly recommended for families.
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Price: For our group it was €64 for two adults + one child (transfer included).
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What to expect: About a 20-minute drive from the hotel to Makadi Bay. The yellow boat has a lower cabin with glass windows for submarine-like viewing of coral and fish. Egyptian corals are more muted in color compared to places like Australia, but you’ll still see many fish schools. Crew usually offer snorkeling afterwards and commonly provide masks for free.
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Tip: Bring swimwear and a towel if you want to snorkel after the glass-bottom section.
Camel Ride
Project link: https://www.viator.com/de-DE/tours/Hurghada/One-hour-Camel-Ride-At-Amazing-Desert-Hurghada/d800-126413P178
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Suitable for: Generally from age 3 up (our 2.5-year-old got restless and was carried back by Mum).
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Price: The text contains two mentions: we paid €27 for two adults + one child for the ride itself, but transfer costs were high in our case (~€20 per adult one-way). Some nearby hotels include transfer for free.
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What to expect: A guided walk on camels along the seaside sand—typically a half-hour out and back. Great photo ops (but don’t let the handler film everything — you may end up with big fingers in your video!).
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Tip: Apply sunscreen generously and wear long sleeves/loose trousers to avoid sunburn.
One-hour desert camel ride in Hurghada/caption]
Itinerary Guide
Zahlungsmittel / Kleingeld
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Hinweis: Manche lokale Mitarbeiter akzeptieren Euro-Münzen, weil örtliche Banken oft keine Fremdmünzen annehmen. Euro-Münzen sind praktisch für Trinkgelder.
Visum & Einreise
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Visum: Online-Visa möglich; falls nicht vorher erledigt, gibt es vor Ort Möglichkeiten (z. B. bei Ankunft/Agenturen am Flughafen).
Reisezeit & Preis
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Wann: November ist Nebensaison — warm genug zum Schwimmen; ab Dezember kann das Meer kühler werden (bis Februar weniger zum Schwimmen geeignet). März wäre eine gute Alternative für wärmeres Wasser, aber weniger Touristen als Hochsommer.
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Preisbeispiel: Unsere Reise (2 Erwachsene + 1 Kind, 8 Tage, All-Inclusive + Flug + Transfers) kostete insgesamt ~1.400 € — gebucht etwa zwei Monate vorher über Last-Minute-Portale. Preise schwanken tagesaktuell.
- Our booking link
Gepäckregel / Flug
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Bei unserer Buchung (Eurowing/Linie) war jedes Ticket mit einem 23 kg Aufgabegepäck + einem Handgepäckstück ausgestattet. Allerdings konnten manche Handgepäckstücke beim Boarding verlangt werden, ins Aufgabegepäck umgebucht zu werden — darauf achten.
Packing Checklist (Must-haves & Nice-to-haves)
Must-haves
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High SPF sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses
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Mosquito repellent
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Swim aids (floaties, swim diapers) for toddlers
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Child water bottle / sippy cup
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Beach shoes (for walking on coral fragments)
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Lightweight long sleeves/trousers for cooler evenings or temple visits
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Small sand toys for the child
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Basic medications (fever, diarrhea, plasters, wound care)
Highly recommended
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Own snorkel mask (better fit than hire gear)
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Food container / lunch box (to pack fruits/snacks from buffet)
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Quick-dry clothesline for swim wear
Optional
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Waterproof phone pouch
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Extra snacks for the flight/transfer
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Small entertainment toys for the plane
