Steigenberger Aqua Magic

"Beautiful Hotel, Great Facilities, but Sadly Our Experience of Racism Overshadowed Our Stay I want to start by saying that the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada has some fantastic facilities. The food is excellent, the swimming pools are lovely, and the hotel is well located with plenty of amenities nearby. The rooms are perfectly fine, the beds are comfortable, and everything is cleaned regularly. In terms of the hotel itself, there is very little to complain about. However, I want to make something very clear, particularly for people of colour who may be considering staying here. We visited as a group of people of colour, and unfortunately, our experience was overshadowed by what we felt was racism and discriminatory treatment. Throughout our stay, we experienced uncomfortable looks and behaviour that made us feel unwelcome. I want to be fair and acknowledge that the majority of staff were lovely, friendly and helpful. However, there were also members of staff who appeared to go out of their way not to acknowledge us, making little or no effort to engage with us. One particular experience that really stood out was when we checked out. The member of staff dealing with us was completely stone-faced. There was no smile, no asking whether we had enjoyed our holiday, no asking how our stay had been, just a very cold interaction. What made this particularly upsetting was that we had just witnessed the same individual being extremely friendly, welcoming and engaging with a German couple immediately before us. The difference in treatment was noticeable, and we genuinely felt that the colour of our skin played a part in how we were treated. I am not someone who makes accusations of racism lightly, but I also refuse to ignore behaviour that makes people feel uncomfortable or unwelcome because of their skin colour. When you pay good money to go on holiday, you expect to be treated with the same basic courtesy, dignity and respect as every other guest, regardless of your nationality or skin colour. It is a real shame because this hotel has so much going for it. The facilities, food and overall environment are excellent, but none of that makes up for feeling that you are being treated differently. I think it is only fair to share our experience so that other people of colour considering this hotel can make an informed decision. Everyone deserves to enjoy their holiday without feeling judged, ignored or treated differently because of the colour of their skin. I sincerely hope the hotel management takes experiences like ours seriously and ensures that every guest receives the same level of hospitality and respect."

"Service good, rooms very clean"

"Wunderbar. Hotel sehr gut organisiert und sauber. Great Facility for family with kids. Staff very friendly and helpful"