Andy Mossack stays at Jaz Casa Del Mar Beach in Hurghada Egypt, and enjoys an ultra-all-inclusive experience.
The chinking of cocktail glasses and the casual murmur of chit chat were all I needed to find Jaz Casa del Mar Beach’s management and guest get together on the outside terrace. A three-times-a-week early evening schmooze with canapes and cocktails for guests to enjoy a chin wag with the senior management including General Manager Khalid and head chef Mohammed.
It’s a genuine opportunity for Khalid and his team to demonstrate the importance of knowing about their guests’ experience during their stay. I really like that, because it’s rare to find a hotel team so willing to put themselves in the firing line so to speak.
Mind you, they are already starting off from a pretty high podium place.
Jaz Casa del Mar Beach is a spectacular and spotless 5 ***** property sitting on acres of prime Red Sea coastline at the end of Hurghada’s tourist promenade. With just 210 guestrooms, it has a boutique feel to it even though there are six pools, four restaurants (the main buffet Palmira, and three a la carte: Aqua, Pomodoro and the Oscar Grill), six bars, manicured gardens and a large private beach that wraps itself around a cosy shallow bay.
For families there’s a supervised kids club from 4 to 12 years and two kids pools and a playground. So with the kids taken care of its off to the adults-only pool area in a fancy cabana, or just a laze on the beach with bar service delivered to your own sun bed area.
There are organised activities by the in-house entertainment team throughout the day from water aerobics to yoga, to nightly shows.
The concept of all-inclusive is not a new one, but one which I’ve long said has often been misleading with many limitations attached. So the term Ultra All Inclusive was born, suggesting this formula came with no limits to eating and drinking. But often even this has certain caveats, albeit fairly reasonable ones. In Jaz Casa del Mar Beach’s case it is limited to good local beers, wines, spirits, cocktails, and hot drinks by the glass and one visit each week to one of the la carte restaurants.
That said, there was never a chance hunger would be an issue at any time of the day or night. Palmira kicked off the day with a huge breakfast spread, then lunch and themed dinners followed by a late-night buffet from 10pm to 2am. In between, snacks and drinks were available from various bars and the beach, delivered direct to your sunbed whenever needed.
It’s an impressive star-studded production, but did the performance match the line up?
Well that was exactly what I was there to find out.
After a five-hour flight from London and the usual immigration shambles at Hurghada airport, we fell into serenity at the hotel. With a warm welcome from Front Office Manager Amr and a grateful cocktail, we were faced with a dilemma. “Mr. Andy, it’s quite late so we’ve prepared some cold cuts and drinks in your room, but there is still time for dinner in our buffet if you wish.”
Not much of a debate was needed, it was up to the room for some food and a freshen up. The ‘cold cuts’ turned out to be a feast fit for a pharaoh. Not just meats but smoked salmon, cheeses, salads and fruit and wine.
Our room was equally impressive. Airy contemporary pastel tones with a sea view and balcony. A queen size double bed with luxury Egyptian linen dominated the centre with USB ports on each side, while a comfy couch and table sat patiently to the side in a tidy alcove. A large flat screen TV on the wall, plenty of wardrobe space and a free mini bar topped up every day. Perfect. The bathroom had a walk-in rainforest shower, robes and slippers, hair dryer and some very decent toiletries.
Pretty good start I would say.
We spent our first morning on the beach after an epic breakfast buffet at Palmira. Food stations laden with everything from traditional middle eastern to western and even far eastern favourites. Plus, an egg chef ready and willing to create any egg dish of your choice. “Any chance of an avocado on toast with a poached egg?” I asked, and within minutes it materialised over at my table sliced and diced and ready.
The private beach was a pleasant surprise. Individual sun bed areas, each protected by a wind shield (there’s mostly always a breeze) and a thatched parasol with a small table for drinks and snacks delivered by the beach team. Beach lodges were also available to rent by the day or week if you want some private indulgence. Just a few steps from the sea, you get couches and beds, a platter of fresh fruit and an ice cooler full of drinks to start you off, and a team member on hand to top you up.
Diving and Dolphins
The Red Sea is a haven for exotic marine life, so snorkelling and scuba diving is a must here. An excellent dive and water sports centre is on site to provide equipment and take you out on dives with qualified instructors who know all the right areas for delivering the best fish spotting experiences.
We booked a private speedboat tour around the bay to discover a little more about the region and spot some sea life. Mustapha and Saed were excellent guides, a couple of likely lads who knew this patch of Red Sea like the back of their hands. Just ten minutes out and we got our first Attenborough moment – a pod of six dolphins entertaining us with a spot of synchronised breaching. Beautiful. Just a few minutes of playful teasing and they were gone. Mustapha – “we’ll find some more- don’t worry I know a place.”
Then, after some white-knuckle wave jumping we came to a remote sandbar in the middle of the sea with just one other boat for company. “Welcome to Abanuger”. A stunning serene place with soft white sand and warm ankle-deep turquoise water.
This could just as easily have been a Caribbean castaway moment.
Eventually we reluctantly left our Red Sea haven but, as a parting gesture from Mother Nature, another pod of dolphins joined us – seven this time – for a breaching frolic around the swells. A quick spin around Hurghada’s busy port area and we were delivered back in time for lunch, still buzzed about our dolphin encounters.
A la Carte Champions League
Naturally we tried out all the a la carte restaurants. I always try to bring some competitiveness in all-inclusive resorts and pitch the restaurants against each other. We tried the Italian resto Pomodoro first, with my first subtle hint to the head waiter as he brought us the menu. “You know you’re first up, so here’s your chance to set the bar high.” I got a wide grin and a confident promise of a home win. And it didn’t disappoint. Fresh pasta and some very tasty seafood.
By the time we go to the Oscar Grill on our last night, word had obviously gotten around and as we took our seats on the outside terrace the head waiter whispered, “you are in for a treat this evening Mr. Andy, our head chef is here personally to ensure we win!”
And they did. All the big guns were out and it was no contest. After some tantalizing appetizers delivered by Mohammed himself, a fabulous spread of beef tagliata and sea bass brought out on sizzling hot plates. They pulled out all the stops and it was an absolute triumph.
A little bit of cosmic energy balancing
No holiday would be complete without a relaxing spa session and MividaSpa, Jaz Casa del Mar Beach’s in-house wellness centre is well worth a visit or two with a full menu of treatments. My Thai therapist Nana delivered a relaxing classic full body massage that managed to rebalance my yinyang cosmos back into perfect alignment following my week’s nightly excesses. There’s also a hammam, jacuzzi, steam bath and a beauty salon.
Golf at the Madinat Makadi Golf Resort
Jaz Hotels is the biggest hotel group in Egypt and here in Hurghada there are numerous properties including the Madinat Makadi Golf Resort further up the coast, a 20-minute ride away from Jaz Casa del Mar Beach. It is without doubt one of Egypt’s best courses, a fantastic 18-hole desert links that is so good I’ve devoted a separate feature all about it. If you are a golfer who loves a challenge, take it from me, you will love this course.
So did the performance match the line up?
I found Jaz Casa del Mar Beach to be an honest reflection of GM Khalid’s guest promise. It’s a spectacular hotel in a beautiful position which is a huge plus of course, and backed up in the most part by a willing well-prepped team who make each guest feel special. The food is excellent, the place is spotless and the private beach an absolute haven for seaside drop and flop lovers. Most importantly, the ultra all inclusive formula does what it says on the tin and offers great value for money.
I’m giving Jaz Casa del Mar Beach a standing ovation.
All images (C) Andy Mossack
Tell me more about Jaz Casa del Mar Beach in Hurghada.
Jaz Casa del Mar Beach,Touristic Promenade, Hurghada 1, Red Sea Governorate 84517, Egypt.
T: +20 65 3465243 E: info@jazhotels.com
Entry level rate for Casa Del Mar ( in Dec/Jan) is £1018 pp for an All Inclusive stay. This can be reduced to £814 by booking through the Jaz website and using the promocode jaztt20pct when choosing dates. Please also go to the Jaz website for other packages.
easyJet and TUI run regular direct flights to Hurghada.
Getting to London Gatwick
Fast, frequent train services are provided to Gatwick Airport by Gatwick Express and Southern from London Victoria, and by Thameslink from London St Pancras, through central London via Blackfriars and London Bridge. Single fares start at £11.90 (weekends on Thameslink); a Thameslink Anytime Return is £25.70.
