Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay, Soma Bay

Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay architecture takes its cue from the old Moorish fortresses, with arches, colonnades and watered courtyards, and the resort runs down through gardens and canals to its own 400 metre stretch of golden sand on the Soma Bay peninsula. It is a large resort of 325 rooms and suites, but the buildings are kept low and spread out, so it feels calm and spacious rather than busy. The service is European in its polish and Egyptian in its warmth, and that combination is the reason guests come back.

Soma Bay is one of the Red Sea's best-known bases for diving, wingfoiling and kitesurfing, and the Kempinski puts you close to both. Dive centres operate from the peninsula, there is coral to explore along the shoreline in front of the hotel, and the boat dives to the offshore reefs leave from the nearby jetty. Kitesurfers have the peninsula's kite centres a short walk or shuttle away, which means you can be rigged and on the water soon after breakfast and back at the pool for a late lunch. For anyone who wants serious time on the water and a genuinely five-star stay to come home to, it is a very strong combination.

Rather than a single block of water, the pools form a lagoon landscape that winds through the gardens, with waterfalls, palms, Moorish arcades and a lazy river, so there is always a quiet corner to be found. The beach is laid out with loungers and bean bags facing west, which makes it the natural place to be for the long Red Sea sunsets.

Dining covers a good range without leaving the resort. The View is the main restaurant, serving breakfast and dinner buffets on a terrace overlooking the sea, with Egyptian dishes alongside international favourites. Bamboo Shoot is the à la carte Asian restaurant, bringing together Japanese, Chinese and Thai cooking. Al Mar serves Mediterranean dishes and cocktails by the pool from 10:00 to 19:00, the Beachcomber Bar looks after the beach with chilled drinks, snacks and sweet treats, and the newly renovated Sultan Bar is the evening spot for signature cocktails and cigars, open from 13:00 until midnight. Room service runs around the clock.

The Laguna Club is a hotel within a hotel for guests aged 13 and over staying in Laguna Club rooms and all suites. Its private lounge serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and a late evening selection of chocolates and cordials, with tea, coffee, soft drinks and local alcoholic drinks available from 07:00 to 22:30. Club guests also receive complimentary pressing, upgraded toiletries and bathrobes, an hour of tennis or squash per stay and unlimited use of the health club.

For wellness, a complimentary shuttle connects the hotel with the Cascades Spa and Thalasso, one of the largest thalassotherapy centres in the region, with seawater pools, marine wraps and full treatment programmes. Within the hotel itself there is a fitness centre with a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms, as well as tennis and squash courts.

All rooms and suites are designed in an authentic Moorish style and open onto a private balcony or terrace with sea, side sea or resort views. Every room has air conditioning, a bathroom with both a bathtub and a separate shower, a smart TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a safe and complimentary Wi-Fi. The 39 m² rooms have sitting areas with sofas or armchairs and a desk, and families are well served, as the Resort View, Side Sea View and Sea View rooms offer extensive connecting and adjoining options. The suites add a walk-in wardrobe, a large marble bathroom with premium toiletries, a complimentary daily minibar and Laguna Club access. Please note that Laguna Club rooms and all suites are reserved for guests aged 13 and over.

Resort View Room Size: 39 m² · Sleeps up to 3 One king or two twin beds. Mostly on the ground floor for easy access to the gardens, with a terrace or balcony overlooking the water features and greenery. Connecting rooms, extra beds and baby cots available.

Side Sea View Room Size: 39 m² · Sleeps up to 3 One king or two twin beds. Terrace or balcony with views across the gardens and a partial view of the Red Sea. Connecting rooms and baby cots available.

Sea View Room Size: 39 m² · Sleeps up to 3 One king or two twin beds. Terrace or balcony with an uninterrupted view over the Red Sea. Connecting rooms, extra beds and baby cots available.

Laguna Club Room with Lounge Access Size: 39 m² · Sleeps up to 3 (ages 13 and over) One king or two twin beds. Sea view from a terrace or balcony, with full Laguna Club Lounge privileges. Connecting rooms and extra beds available.

Junior Suite Side Sea View Size: 55 m² · Sleeps up to 3 (ages 13 and over) One king or two twin beds. Living area opening onto a private balcony with views of the beach, the gardens and the water features. Marble bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, complimentary minibar and Laguna Club access. Can connect to a second suite or a Resort View room.

Junior Suite Sea View Size: 55 m² · Sleeps up to 3 (ages 13 and over) One king bed. Living area opening onto a private balcony with a panoramic view of the Red Sea. Marble bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, complimentary minibar and Laguna Club access.

Deluxe Suite Size: 75 m² · Sleeps up to 3 (ages 13 and over) One king bed. Separate bedroom and living room, with a spacious private balcony looking over the side sea view, gardens and water features. Marble bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, complimentary minibar and Laguna Club access.

Presidential Suite Size: 120 m² · Sleeps up to 3 (ages 13 and over) One king bed. On the highest floors of the main building, with a master bedroom, living room, dining area and a private office with its own guest toilet, opening onto a wide terrace with sun loungers and the resort's most open view of the Red Sea. Complimentary minibar and Laguna Club access. Can connect to a Junior Suite Side Sea View or a Sea View room.