Fodor's Expert Review Palmera Resort

On the sea with a beautiful private beach, the Palmera sprawls out into lush gardens. The rather boxy architecture and colorful tropical accents, including sunshine-yellow walls in the rooms, reveal the hotel's age as decidedly late 20th century. However, styling aside, the resort has a good variety of facilities that attract families and expat workers from Cairo. The Egyptian food is good here; try the Pergola poolside restaurant for barbecue with a view of the sea. You can also smoke a shisha in the Arabic coffee shop.