TUI BLUE Crystal Bay in Hurghada: All you need to know

In December, just before Christmas, I spent a week’s holiday at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay in Hurghada. Find out what awaits you at the hotel and, of course, one or two “insider tips”.

Pros & Cons

Who is the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay suitable for?

I saw families, couples, older and younger guests, those seeking peace and quiet, sporty guests… and the nationalities are also a colourful mix. According to guest relations manager Laura, the hotel is popular with guests travelling alone and same-sex couples.

Pool area and beach at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay

I’ve already been to Egypt in December. You can’t expect really warm weather for swimming. The sea is cool and so are the hotel pools. Unless they are heated. At the last hotel, a “heated pool” was advertised, but it wasn’t heated and was just for decoration because of the temperature. It was different at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay: The pool was 28 degrees, which was higher than the outside temperature. It was more cosy in the water than outside, where the wind blew quite cool when the sun was hiding. There’s even a swim-up bar where drinks are served half-sitting in the water.

One part of the pool area is a relaxation area and also has a large whirlpool (which was not heated), the other part is for children and aqua fitness.

The beach is a cosy bay with a gently sloping sandy beach. The swing in the water is a great photo motif to show off on social media. The sun loungers with parasols and wind protection are grouped around the bay, some of which can be used free of charge as daybeds on a jetty, where the adults’ area is also located. There is Wi-Fi everywhere, which sometimes works more, sometimes less well. Every day, a “delegation” from the hotel comes round and asks the guests how they like it and whether they have any suggestions for improvement. I found this very guest-orientated. One evening there was even a “guest evening” in the lobby with the hotel manager and the guest relations managers. I thought it was great! I got rid of my criticism of the constant “Rudolph the red nosed reindeer” music. Better Christmas music was promised for next Christmas. You are welcome to comment below this post to let me know whether this is really the case.

As for the sunbed situation: The hotel was not fully booked, but even if it is, there will be enough free sunbeds. If not, someone will come running straight away and get you a sunbed. So you don’t have to get up at 6 am to reserve your lounger German-style 😉

Tip: If you don’t want to be approached by masseurs, henna ladies, excursion touts and the like, pick up a red flag at the towel counter and place it next to your lounger. This is the sign for “I want to be left alone” and it works! The only person to approach you will be the waiter and cater to your every whim. All hotels in Egypt should offer this!

All Inclusive at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay

Almost all hotels in Hurghada offer all-inclusive catering. What is special about the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay? In my opinion, the biggest differences between the cheaper and more expensive hotels are obvious when it comes to catering. Are there à la carte restaurants and are they included? And if so, how often? Is there a selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes beyond the salad bar? Which drinks are included? These are the criteria you should look for when choosing a hotel on the Red Sea (and not only).

At the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay, we never got bored with the food during our week. The main restaurant offers a wide range of Egyptian and international specialities at the three main meals.

Be sure to try:

• The homemade Egyptian flatbread
• Add Baba Ghannoush (aubergine cream) and Tahini (sesame paste) as a dip
• The fresh juices and smoothies
• Oriental pastries with nuts

There is a corner with gluten-free dishes, low-fat food, vegetarian, vegan, barbecue corner, pasta station, dessert buffet, fruit…

Even better is the selection of à la carte restaurants for dinner, which, with the exception of Felucca, you can use as often as you like by prior reservation:

• Yades (Greek-Mediterranean breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Elia (Italian-Mediterranean)
• Manohar (Indian)
• Mangal (Turkish BBQ restaurant)
• Dalila (Egyptian)
• Felucca (seafood; extra charge)

You will be redirected to the online reservation via the BLUE App, which takes place on a different platform. Unfortunately, this means that it is not possible to access the reservation afterwards. It’s best to take a screenshot of the confirmation! We once forgot the booked time and asked at reception.

Laura from Guest Services emphasised that the kitchen can cater for food intolerances if you let them know in advance. The chef then conjures up something individual, e.g. gluten-free in the à la carte restaurant.

In addition to the standard drinks such as Cuba Libre, the 10 (!) bars offer specially created signature cocktails that combine local ingredients creatively and deliciously – with and without alcohol. The imported alcohol is for a fee, as are the drinks in the shisha bar (which looks really cosy).

Rooms at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay: My room tip

On a guided tour of the hotel with the guest relations manager Laura, I was shown all the room types. There are 2 accessible rooms and all public areas are wheelchair-accessible. Just call reception and someone will come to you in a golf cart if you are not able to walk well.

The highlights among the rooms are the 100 m² Jacuzzi Suite with whirlpool on the roof terrace and the Villa with private pool for up to 4 people. These room types are part of the “Posh Club” with their own section of beach and private day beds as well as their own bar on the beach and private transfer.

The ultimate experience is a “Floating Breakfast” in the pool for all those who have their own pool access. It couldn’t be more decadent! Find out more in the BLUE app.

The long swim-up pool looks inviting and even has a small separate paddling pool for small children. Please note: In winter, the sun barely shines on the side of the swim-up rooms and you may be disappointed as it is cooler than expected.

We had a superior room with a side sea view and a view over the pool area from the balcony, which we really liked. The only thing that reliably woke me up every night was the call to prayer from the neighbouring mosque. The hotel is only 5 km from Hurghada airport, which means short transfer times but also aircraft noise. If you are a light sleeper, earplugs are a good idea.

Secret tip for the best room: Number 719 is the jacuzzi suite with the best view

Entertainment at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay

One of the hotel’s strongest points is the entertainment programme. Those who get bored dozing on the beach and by the pool will find it hard to decide when looking at the daily programme: Would you rather take part in the Egyptian cooking class or learn how to mix cocktails? Play shuffleboard or darts? We joined in the Egyptian cooking class and were surprised at the simple means the Egyptians use to prepare up a delicious dessert. “Umm Ali” (a dessert made from croissants and milk) is very easy to make at home. I’ll reveal the recipe another time.

During the day, the entertainment team is always walking around the grounds looking for “victims” who want to join in the dancing. But you’re left alone if that’s not for you. Once there was a spontaneous foam party on the beach. Many people liked it and danced along wildly, others didn’t. Anything goes, nothing is a must.

Haven’t played billiards in a long time? In a normal bar out there in the world, we hesitate to play billiards because we’re so bad. Do you feel that? In the hotel’s sports bar you can practise for as long as you like without feeling ashamed 😉

Every evening there is live music, dancing, fire shows, acrobatics or other performances that always involve the audience and, late at night, a disco. If you’re a limelight hog, this is your opportunity! If not, find a cosy sofa next to the lobby bar and sip your cocktail in peace.

Aqua park and snorkelling jetty at the neighbouring hotels

Do you have children with you or are you still a child yourself? A few minutes’ walk across the grounds to the neighbouring hotel (the connection between the two hotels is always open) and you’ve arrived at the huge slide park. With or without an inflatable coaster, you can go down the sometimes relaxing, sometimes exciting slides. The huge “halfpipe” is only for the brave, the funnel is not as bad as you might think and the blue and white slide is completely dark inside – amazing! You can also get drinks at the bar right next to the slides (included!)

One hotel further on, you come to the very long jetty, which extends far out into the shallow water. At the very end, you enter the sea and marvel at the amazing variety of fish while snorkelling. Snorkelling equipment is available to hire for a fee at the water sports station or to buy in the hotel shops. Even in December, it was still possible to snorkel in the sea – albeit not for long.

Tip: Come to the jetty at sunset. What a spectacle!

Sports and spa at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay

First of all, download the BLUE app. You can check the daily programme and make plans before you arrive. I was amazed when I looked at the fitness programme: there were several sports classes to choose from, from yoga and Pilates to dancing and stretching. All you have to do is book them in the app and go. The shaded fitness platform is centrally located next to the pool area. The BLUEf!t instructors knew their stuff and corrected misalignments during the exercises, for example.

There are also several sports fields, including for football and tennis, as well as a gym for individual equipment training, which was always busy. The water sports centre in the neighbouring hotel offers all the usual water sports.

Tip for joggers: Running outside the hotel grounds along the main road is no fun at all. On the other hand, you can jog several kilometres on the hotel grounds without having to run the same route twice. The TUI BLUE Crystal Bay always has open access to the two neighbouring Sunrise hotels. You can jog out to the jetty on the sea, past the aqua park and back to your room. Best at sunset time, when the sun sets glowing red behind the 2000 metre high mountains in the hinterland.

The BLUE Spa has two saunas (free of charge; prior reservation), which are popular in the cooler months. Here is also your opportunity to enjoy an oriental massage or a hamam treatment (for a fee). You can take a shower in the spa before you leave, after you have already checked out, and use the last day of your holiday as another beach day.

Childcare at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay

You can have your children aged 3 and over looked after for several hours a day at the Kids Club at TUI BLUE Crystal Bay. For younger children, there is a babysitting service for a fee. The playground and a playroom are available to let off steam and for the tireless there is a mini-disco in the evening. You can find out more details about childcare in the BLUE App.

Surroundings of the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay

There’s not really much to see directly outside the hotel grounds – and this applies to all hotels in the hotel zone in Hurghada. There are several rows of shops within walking distance of the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay, some with the logos of well-known supermarket chains and witty slogans such as “Cheaper than Aldi” and “Better than Lidl”. Souvenirs and excursions are sold there. You can look at everything in peace without being approached in the Senzo Mall, a shopping centre just a few minutes’ walk from the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay.

You can get to the centre of Hurghada either adventurously by minibus, which can be stopped on the main road, or for little money by taxi. Tip: An Uber is cheaper than a taxi stopped on the street and there is no haggling.

The snorkelling trips to the offshore islands and, of course, diving in the Red Sea are certainly the most interesting. You can find out all about organised excursions, including to the pyramids, in the BLUE App and from the tour guide in the Welcome Lounge. Laura’s tip is a snorkelling trip to “Mahmiya Paradise Island”.

Would I book the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay again?

Definitely! Especially if you have very divergent interests and one of you prefers to read a book all day and the other needs action, you’re in good hands at the TUI BLUE Crystal Bay. The all-inclusive offer with the many à la carte restaurants really leaves nothing to be desired. A great option for a short break from the European winter!

Book your holiday at TUI BLUE Crystal Bay