Have just returned from a week at the Kahramana and for a first experience of Sharm was pleasantly surprised.

The hotel is really well situated in the heart of Naama Bay - its not far to anywhere in the town centre. A mix of Brits, Egyptians, Russians and some other nationalities which made for a good mix and a chilled atmosphere. Don't go there expecting ultra modern decor and facilities, but it is well kept and quite Egyptian in style in the public areas.

On checking in, my friend and I were offered a choice of two rooms - a ground floor pool room, or a first floor room. The difference between them being the noise level. Having read other reviews on TripAdvisor about the poolside music, we opted for the quieter room on the assumption that we'd not be spending too much time in it anyway to worry about the view. More about the music later...

The room was clean, well furnished, bright and airy and had air con. The mini fridge didn't work, but we didn't mind - nothing to keep in it anyway!

The shower was pretty pathetic, but our cleaner had a fiddle with it and managed to improve it a bit. Still, it wasn't a problem and we managed to get clean.

Safety deposit boxes available at 5 Euro a week.

We were just B&B but soon discovered that the hotel buffet lunch was very good value at 45 Egyptian Pounds (£4.50) and we didn't have to go very far from the pool. People we met who were all inclusive said that they wished they'd just done half board. Not that the food was bad, it was just very samey each night and there is a huge choice out in town.

The quality and quantity of food on offer was very good at both breakfast and lunch.

The pool was lovely, plenty of sunloungers and towels available and umbrellas to shade you from the 45 degree sunshine, however, the pool cleanliness wasn't 100% and the poolside area got a bit dirty during the week. Mostly cigarette butts, which I hate!

There are 2 DJs who take it in turns during the day and the evening. Both are very likeable characters and they play a good selection of music, but it sometimes it got a bit loud, often distorted with way too much bass, but on the whole, not too bad.

At night they move up to the rooftop bar - a lovely space with sofas and a circular bar and the music! Which was very loud for part of the nights but quietened down later on. We had no trouble sleeping, the double glazed windows and air con helped.

The DJs also organise activities like water polo, aqua aerobics and a weekly pool party billed on the notice board as a "Pikini Party". We didn't go in the water that night but there was a good atmosphere round the pool bar and a very energetic game of water polo that got quite physical and was referred to as "Fight Night" afterwards...

The staff were really friendly, very hard working and were very accommodating all the week. Can't fault them at all.

As residents you can have free access to a private beach called Viva. It's a short walk away and you get sunloungers and towels. It's OK, nothing spectacular. We preferred the pool. There is a diving school right behind it if you want to do that. At night the Viva is a restaurant and it was pretty good. I had a great fillet steak for £6.80.

Check out time is 12 Midday but we weren't leaving till 3pm. We asked if we could keep our room till then, and we could at a charge of £20 (English). We said we didn't want to do that, and were offered a "shower room" for free. Basically another room that had been cleaned and you can use it before you leave.

All in all a great experience, very relaxing. If I was returning to Sharm I would stay here again and hope the pool cleaning regime had improved.

Just returned from Kahramana in Sharm El Sheik.

HOtel has got excellent location. 5 mins walk to the beach and the main street. First nite we stayed in room (balcony facing the pool area) we did not get any sleep as the noise was really bad. Also the hotel was full of Russians. They gathered infront of our door at 3 am drinking and singing like there is no tomorrow. We asked the reception to be moved which really helped. Staff at the reception was really helpfull. Barman very arogant. They expecting you to give them tips. if you dont they are not very nice. Overall the hotel was nice and clean. On the beach - VIVA - there is a guy called Jimy who is the "capo" of Viva beach :-) he will hold you the best seats for small tip every day. I gave him 5 EGP every time.

We did loads of diving with Camel dive centre (situated on the main street) very professioal service and good diving sites. Just watch out for the food on the boat when diving. We have experienced stomach problems afterwards as they do not store the food in the fridge. Try to take all medicine you can from home. They will try to rip you off in local pharmacies. you have to haggle for evertything! We took a taxi to Old Sharm market. Dont pay more than 25 Egyptian pounds for it!! Also we did trips to Sinai Desert. Beduins and camel ride, Dahab, Catherine Monastery. All of those were really good and worth it. Expect to give tips everywhere. The guide, driver, person who is leading your camel...so take plenty of change with you. We usually tipped 3 egyptian pounds.

Food in Kahramana was ok. we only had bead and brakfast. You betther go out and enjoy local restaurants. Mexican restaurant on the top of main street is excellent. There is also sharm museum. Entrance Fee 150 egyptian pounds, museum very small but worth it. The guide was really good there. He has got replicas of all items that were found in Tutanchamon thomb.

Location was great, 5 mins walk from good private beach (ViVA). You don't have to walk past too many people trying to sell you things to get to the beach. Hotel pool area looked great. Noise levels from pool bar, nightclub and nearby Pasha nightclub not good - only earplugs will do! Room 3404 and nearby rooms balcony overlooked dumping ground for the local area (hotel?) - not impressed. We did ask to be moved with little success from generally unhelpful front desk staff. However, following noise from pool were glad to be away from it-though the bass reverberates through the entire hotel. Room was small, but relatively clean - though A/C system was noisy. Breakfast choice and quality was good, though the dinner buffets sitting outside in 30C plus heat did not appeal. Seemed to be only one, fairly miserable bar staff - running a tiny bar. They don't have a secure or organised system for storing passports - as they're kept in pigeon holes behind reception - checking out at 6am for a 07.50 flight with the staff not able to find our passports was not unstressful!
The 5 - 10 min walk from the main road to the hotel with heavy cases and with the heat was not ideal.
In summary, if you take ear plugs, eat out and are not choosy about your room location- the Hotel is in one of the best locations in Na'ama Bay.

I have just returned from The Kharamana Hotel Sharm El Sheikh which I booked as an all inclusive holiday, the all incusive means you can get a drink from the pool side bar but not any where else in the hotel the only other bar being up three flights of stairs on the roof, there you will have to pay regardless if you have booked all inclusive, their private beach is very nice but once again if you go to the beach you will have to pay for any drinks, the choice of food in the restaurant is very very limited and after only 2 days you find yourself having the same meal again, even the soup I failed to see the difference between noodle soup and Minestrone soup. Also the people at the hotel were mainly Russian so if you want a hotel with mainly British this hotel wont be for you.