JAZ Aquaviva

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed at my share of Red Sea resorts, but JAZ Aquaviva actually surprised me – and that’s saying something after you’ve seen a dozen cookie-cutter places along this coast. The thing is, Makadi Bay itself is sort of this protected inlet about 30 kilometers south of Hurghada proper, which means you’re getting that postcard-perfect turquoise water without the chaos of the main tourist strip. When you first pull up (and yeah, parking is handled by the resort, so don’t stress about that), the property feels… well, substantial. Not flashy-substantial, but like someone actually thought about how a hotel should work instead of just throwing palm trees at concrete and calling it a day.

What really got me was how they’ve managed the whole beachfront situation. You know how some places have those tiny slivers of sand that disappear at high tide? Not here. The beach stretches out properly, and honestly, the house reef is maybe 50 meters from shore – I mean, you can literally walk out and snorkel without getting on a boat, which is rare these days. The coral’s actually healthy too, not like some of the bleached-out stuff you see closer to the main ports. I spent most mornings out there before the afternoon winds picked up (pro tip: the Red Sea gets choppy around 2 PM, so plan accordingly). The pools are generous without being overwhelming – there’s this infinity edge one that faces the water, and it’s never felt crowded even when the resort was pretty full. I was there in March, which is sort of the sweet spot before European summer holidays kick in.

Service-wise, it’s what you’d expect from a proper 5-star setup, but without that overly formal vibe that makes you feel like you need to dress up for breakfast. Check-in was smooth, rooms are spacious (I had a sea view on the third floor – worth the upgrade), and the AC actually works, which… well, you’d be surprised how often that’s not a given in this climate. The food surprised me too – there’s obviously the big buffet restaurant, but the à la carte spots are actually worth booking. That 9.2 rating isn’t inflated; this place just does the basics really well and then adds enough extras to make it feel special. If you’re debating between this and some of the flashier names up the coast, honestly? Save yourself the headache and book here. Makadi Bay’s got better snorkeling anyway, and you’re still only a 20-minute taxi ride from Hurghada if you want to hit the markets or grab dinner somewhere different.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $109. Superior Queen or Twin Garden View with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $115. Deluxe Queen or Twin Garden View with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $121. Family Queen or Twin Garden View with 2 × 2 sofa beds, 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $121. Superior Queen or Twin Pool View with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $121. Deluxe Queen or Twin Pool View with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $128. Family Queen or Twin Pool View with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $152. Family Queen or twin Room – Swim up with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $264. Suite Queen with Pool View with 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Righwaanah from United Kingdom – 19 June 2025 (8/10)

  Great team and food selections. Lovely water park and clean environment.
  
  What could be improved: Showers are slightly dated could do with rainfall overhead attachment. Toilet bidet difficulty would do better with a sprayer. The room could do with privacy walls when using the swim up room as people are constantly walking past.

• Mahmoud from Egypt – 19 June 2025 (9/10)

  Aquapark
  
  What could be improved: Filtered water

• Ahmed from Saudi Arabia – 18 June 2025 (9/10)

  Neat , soo clean
  Staff is so friendly & literally everywhere
  Everything available
  So nice beach activities
  Fancy aqua park for all ages
  Sure will come again inshallah
  
  What could be improved: No Dental Kit

• Ahmed from Egypt – 18 June 2025 (9/10)

  Everything was perfect, loved my holiday, won't be the last time.

• Ahmed from Egypt – 18 June 2025 (9/10)

  Everything is more than expectations, food is good and very clean very organised
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Elhawary from Egypt – 15 June 2025 (9/10)

  Family friendly
  Good vibes
  
  What could be improved: Missing some tool kits in rooms
  For self care like dental kits and body care kits etc

• Minaj🍾 from Hungary – 13 June 2025 (8/10)

  Rooms are spacious and modern. The kitchen has a lot of food variations. Staff are so friendly and helpful, starting from reception till housekeeping. The hotel is clean, and the staff are doing their best to make your stay comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: Beach is not in the hotel, a bit stony but as per se, better than most European stony beaches.
  Lunch at the beach isn't the best in comparison to what's offered at the hotel. We were not allowed to consume from any bar at the beach, just specific ones.
  We were a family, and 2 of us had gastroenteritis (diarrhoea, fever 🤒) during our stay in the hotel ( I am one of them). You always need to go to the reception to request Wi-Fi access, even though I have tried to access it myself, providing the requested information, which I feel is a hassle. Pillows are a bit high and firm for the soff mattresses in the rooms, I would suggest a proper firmness, especially for the sensitive necks like me.
  The young lady (Sarah) was her name which is greeting the guest at the entrance to the restaurant, I just felt it is is a torture for a human being to be standing there for 3 hours, in a non-sense job, hopefully the hotel manager would reconsider her role.
  The gym was small, with no towels in the towel rack. You need to wait until one of the staff appears, and you can ask for a towel. ( not coming there frequently).
  Kids' activities and programs were very limited.
  I would definitely reconsider if I am booking here again.

• Merna from Egypt – 11 June 2025 (9/10)

  Very good and neat
  
  What could be improved: Nothing
  Good time for the vacation

• Marwan from Egypt – 10 June 2025 (9/10)

  The hospitality of all the staff, cleanliness of the facilities and The food was excellent and they are very generous
  
  What could be improved: Really nothing

• Kathryn from United Kingdom – 10 June 2025 (9/10)

  We loved every aspect of our stay. The hotel is beautiful and the staff keep it spotless. The staff are welcoming and friendly. The food is good with loads of options. The waterpark is amazing – so well built, great choice of slides, always spotless. It was so nice to have the option to get on the shuttle bus to the beach. The beach was lovely with some great snorkelling. Thanks for a fantastic holiday!
  
  What could be improved: We liked everything

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities