Your stay — Desert Inn
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The Property — Desert Inn
The Desert Inn is a functional, no-nonsense 3-star hotel aimed squarely at value-conscious divers and families who want a clean room near the marina without frills. The lobby has tired leather sofas, a small reception desk with a slow fan, and the faint smell of pool chlorine. The USP is location: a short walk to the main dive shops and the Marina Boulevard restaurants. This place suits someone who treats the hotel as a base, not a destination.
Chronicles of Hurghada
Hurghada began as a small fishing village in the early 20th century, then boomed after the 1980s when the Egyptian government promoted Red Sea tourism. Its architecture is a haphazard mix of low-rise resort blocks, half-finished villas, and glass-fronted malls built along the coastal strip. Culturally, it's a transient city: expat dive instructors, Russian package tourists, and local Bedouin staff rub shoulders along the corniche. Contemporary identity revolves almost entirely around the sea — diving, windsurfing, and boat trips to Giftun Island define the place.
Best Time to Visit
Full Hurghada guide →Best months
May–June and September–October: water temps hit 25–27°C, air dry and hot but not brutal, crowds thin before European school holidays.
Peak / festival surge
December–January and August: December sees crowds escaping European winter, while August is a peak for families. Hotel prices double, and the marina fills with tour groups. The main driver is Christmas/New Year holiday traffic and summer school break from Gulf states and Russia.
Budget shoulder season
April and November: 20–28°C air, water still swimmable, rooms often 30–40% cheaper than peak. Fewer divers mean quieter boat trips.
Weather & packing
July in Hurghada is dry furnace heat — expect 35–40°C daytime and 25°C at night. Pack: proper UV-blocking swim shirt (not just sunscreen), a thin scarf for dust, and a light long-sleeve for evenings.
Live City Briefing — Hurghada
- New direct flight from Manchester to Hurghada airport started in March 2026, operated by TUI, boosting UK visitor numbers.
- The Hurghada Marina promenade renovation finished in April 2026, with new pedestrian-only zones and a sunshade canopy.
- Sea conditions alert: July 2026 has seen unusual sargassum seaweed build-up on public beaches; many boats now offer a free 'seaweed bypass' route to Giftun Island.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Desert Inn, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing the courtyard or pool (away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough to use stairs if the lift is slow.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception, restaurant, or pool bar – they get early morning noise and foot traffic. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor.
Best views
Courtyard or pool view – if available, these are more peaceful than the street-facing side, which looks onto Hurghada's main road and possibly a construction site.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 tend to be quietest, especially if set back from the main road.
🔊 Noise notes
Hurghada's coastal road can be busy with taxis, scooters, and tour buses until late evening. The hotel's own bar or entertainment may carry sound until midnight. Ask for a room away from the main stairwell and lift.
Insider tips
1) Check in after 3pm to request a courtyard-facing room – morning staff are less flexible. 2) Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the 3-star standard means thin walls and doors that don't fully seal.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Desert Inn
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and rooms (2 Mbps); premium tier at EGP 50/day (10 Mbps). No login constraints
One lift serves all 4 main floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary print copies of Al-Ahram at reception
Check-in from 14:00, early bag drop available at no charge; late check-out until 18:00 costs EGP 350
Free left-luggage room; open 07:00-22:00
Step-free entrance and lift access to all guest floors; no special bathroom grab rails or visual alarms
On-site pay parking EGP 100 per night; nearest public car park 200 m south on Al-Mustafa Street (EGP 50/night); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: EGP 15 per person per night (collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: EGP 500 per room advance deposit via credit card; EGP 200 incidental hold on arrival
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: المسجد (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 281 m · ~4 min walk
ماركت أبو عشرة — 690 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Egyptian Pound, EGP
Exchange at local banks or official exchange offices for fair rates; airport and hotel bureaux typically give poor rates, so change only a small amount on arrival.
Cards accepted at hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets; smaller shops and taxis prefer cash, contactless is limited but growing in chain stores.
Tip 10-15% in restaurants if service not included; 5-10 EGP for short taxi rides; 20-50 EGP for hotel staff per service (e.g. porter/cleaner).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side kiosks or local cafés serve strong Turkish-style coffee for 15-25 EGP.
Falafel or shawarma sandwich plus a drink from a local cafeteria costs 40-60 EGP.
A simple main like grilled fish or koshari at an informal restaurant runs 70-100 EGP.
Corners near the fish market or the downtown Sheraton Road strip have koshari stalls and shawarma carts; dinners under 50 EGP.
Budget chains like Metro Market and Kheir Zaman are common around Hurghada's main areas.
For cheap clothes, check the area around Ed-Dahar market, especially the textile souq streets.
Microbuses (shared minibuses) run fixed routes within town for 5-10 EGP per ride; from Hurghada airport, catch a local bus into town for about 10-15 EGP instead of a taxi (which is 150-250 EGP).
Buy bottled water and snacks from supermarkets, not hotel shops. Eat lunch at local koshari joints or falafel stands. Haggle politely in markets, but keep it respectful and expect to pay around half the initial price.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Hurghada, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Desert Inn
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 281 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Downtown Hurghada (El Dahar stop) → El Arusa Hotel (Sheraton Road)
💡 Flag one down on the main road—tell the driver 'El Arusa' or 'EL Geish'. They have fixed routes; pay 5 EGP when you get off. Crowded but dirt cheap. Avoid at night.
El Arusa Hotel → Hurghada city centre / Marina
💡 Always agree a price before getting in—locals pay about 10–20 EGP per short trip. For El Arusa (near the Sheraton Road area), a fair fare to the marina is 15–20 EGP.
Hurghada International Airport → El Arusa Hotel
💡 Pre-arrange with the hotel or use a ride-hailing app like Uber/Careem for airport pickup. Taxis at the terminal often charge double (15–20 USD) if not pre-booked.
El Arusa Hotel → Makadi Bay / Sahl Hasheesh
💡 Use Careem—it works reliably in Hurghada and prices are fixed. Avoid surge pricing by checking both apps. For longer trips to Makadi or Sahl Hasheesh, it's cheaper than a private taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Desert Inn?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing the courtyard or pool (away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough to use stairs if the lift is slow.
Which rooms should I avoid at Desert Inn?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception, restaurant, or pool bar – they get early morning noise and foot traffic. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor.
Is Desert Inn noisy?
Hurghada's coastal road can be busy with taxis, scooters, and tour buses until late evening. The hotel's own bar or entertainment may carry sound until midnight. Ask for a room away from the main stairwell and lift.
Which rooms have the best views at Desert Inn?
Courtyard or pool view – if available, these are more peaceful than the street-facing side, which looks onto Hurghada's main road and possibly a construction site.
What are insider tips for staying at Desert Inn?
1) Check in after 3pm to request a courtyard-facing room – morning staff are less flexible. 2) Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the 3-star standard means thin walls and doors that don't fully seal.
What time is check-in at Desert Inn?
Check-in at Desert Inn is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Desert Inn have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and rooms (2 Mbps); premium tier at EGP 50/day (10 Mbps). No login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Desert Inn?
EGP 15 per person per night (collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Desert Inn?
Falafel or shawarma sandwich plus a drink from a local cafeteria costs 40-60 EGP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Desert Inn?
Microbuses (shared minibuses) run fixed routes within town for 5-10 EGP per ride; from Hurghada airport, catch a local bus into town for about 10-15 EGP instead of a taxi (which is 150-250 EGP).
When is the best time to visit Hurghada?
May–June and September–October: water temps hit 25–27°C, air dry and hot but not brutal, crowds thin before European school holidays.
Top Attractions in Hurghada
💡 Go in the early evening when it's cooler and the market is buzzing. Haggle politely but firmly for souvenirs.
💡 Remove shoes and cover shoulders/knees. The guard may offer a free guided tour if you ask politely. Best visited mid-morning.
💡 Come at sunset for the best light and quieter crowds. Bring a bottle of water from a kiosk—café prices are steep.
💡 Head north of the marina to the small public access points. The water quality is fine but busier on Fridays. Arrive by 9am to get a decent spot.
💡 Pay the extra £1 for the audio guide—it adds context to the displays. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Cash only.