Forget tombs and pyramids: This newly renovated Four Seasons will have you planning an Egypt beach vacation
Egypt is a dream destination I've been waiting for a special time to visit. And if there's ever been a time, I think it's pretty soon considering that Egypt is open to tourists and on the forefront of an incredible hotel boom with a ton of great projects in the works.
While Egypt has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, like visiting the Pyramids, taking a felucca boat down the Nile and marveling at the wonders of Luxor, you might be shocked to hear that Egypt is also home to a pretty incredible resort scene with beautiful beaches and diving. And now, one of the most luxurious hotels in the country, the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, just wrapped up a major renovation.
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Located on the Sinai Peninsula on a hill overlooking the Red Sea, the Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh just doubled in size compared to when it opened 20 years ago. Stretching across a kilometer-long private coastline, the resort is an ode to nature, with lush, palm-filled gardens complimented by bougainvillea framing the mountains, desert and nearby sea. (Not exactly the dusty desert landscape many people think when their mind drifts to Egypt.)
As part of the resort's renovations, Four Seasons added 115 brand-new guest rooms and suites in two-story "hideaways" that face the Red Sea. Available in one- and two-bedroom layouts, including some with private pools, this new addition is the largest and most expansive area of the resort and perfect for families or groups. Inspired by the golden sand and blue waters of the beach below, guests can easily move between the nature-inspired rooms out onto large balconies to see the vision for the room in real life. Combine that with modern takes on Arabian designs and Arabesque details, such as arched windows, and you might never want to leave.
Or, if you really want to take your Egyptian beach vacation to the next level, reserve The Palace, a three-bedroom standalone beachfront residence that was "designed to host royalty, international figures and the world's elite."
At more than 6,000 square feet, The Palace has a private fitness room, spa treatment room, dressing room, office and more. This little slice of Egyptian paradise has its own garden and terrace with outdoor seating for eight, not one but two swimming pools and a private beach.
The one not-inconsequential caveat is that a space designed for the rich and famous comes with an equally rich price tag and easily costs more than $10,000 a night. But don't fret, standard rooms here can be found for a little over $400 a night.
But while the rooms — especially ones with private pools — are incredible, it's what you experience outside of them and around the resort that's really why you'll want to head to this part of Egypt.
First, you'll want to book it to the resort's dive center, which has a dedicated training pool and classroom to help visitors get certified so they can explore the resort's beautiful house reef. With clear water that's warm all year long, this is the perfect place to experience the biodiversity found in the Red Sea.
Or, if going underwater isn't quite your style, guests can charter a private yacht to sail around Tiran Island, directly across the resort, or head out on a sunset sail searching for dolphins. Kayaking, parasailing and stand-up paddleboarding are also on offer.
For visitors who just want to just kick back and relax, take the funicular down to the beach to soak up the sun. There are also five different pools to unwind by and a beautiful spa offering the "Egyptian Masterpiece" package that combines a milk bath with a brown sugar scrub, massage and hydrating hair treatment.
And don't worry about going hungry: executive chef Sebastiano Spriveri, who has been with Four Seasons for 27 years, is leading an impressive culinary team serving up meals at a handful of restaurants (Asian street food-inspired dishes at Yatai; authentic Arabic at Zitouni; Latin American snacks at Luna and more).
It's safe to say that whatever you want out of a trip to Egypt, you can get that and more at Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh. The only question now: When will Four Seasons finally get a loyalty program so die-hard fans of the brand can earn and burn points while checking out this exciting hotel renovation?
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
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3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees