Stella Gardens vs Beach Albatros Hurghada: An Honest Egyptian Review 2026
Stella Gardens Makadi vs Beach Albatros Hurghada: Honest 2026 Review
I was really worried because of all the mixed reviews online about these two hotels, especially Stella Gardens. So I decided to stay at both and give you the real, unfiltered experience. Here’s everything you need to know before you book.
Stella Gardens Makadi – The Full Review
Room: Family Room – Pool View upgrade
First Impressions & Hotel Vibe
The hotel is extremely elegant and impressively clean. The reception area has a beautiful Pharaonic theme that immediately catches your eye.
Staff: The Friendliest I’ve Met
This is one of the friendliest places I’ve ever stayed at. Staff members would show up to help before I even asked. Everyone was respectful and incredibly polite. We arrived at 9:30 AM, they gave us wristbands and told us to catch breakfast while the room was being prepared. We got our room around 11:30 AM.
Pro tip: Your wristband is also your room key, which is super convenient. Plus, you get 2 electricity cards for the room - a huge bonus.
The Room
Spacious, clean, and not outdated at all. We booked a Garden View but they upgraded us to a Pool View for free.
Food: Good Variety, Decent Taste
The main restaurant has a huge variety and massive quantities. Even if you show up late, nothing runs out. Tuesday is seafood night. Some dishes were “wow,” others were just average, but nothing was bad. The only minor issue is that some flavors weren’t very strong.
Snacks
I only tried the ones at the Aqua Park, and they were all great. They rotate between hot dog, chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and beef burgers - not all available every day. Pizza, ice cream, and fries are available daily. The ice cream was especially delicious.
The Beach
There’s a shuttle bus every 15 minutes to the beach. However, the beach itself isn’t the best due to strong tides. I couldn’t judge it fully from the marina because it was very windy during our stay. There’s a spot in the middle of the marina where you can get into the sea, and it’s pretty good. But if you’re coming for snorkeling, this isn’t the place.
Animation Team
One night the shows were amazing, the next night was just okay. So I can’t judge them completely, especially since I didn’t explore the whole resort.
The Verdict for Stella Gardens
We had an amazing time. If you want an elegant, super clean hotel with a stress-free aqua park, you should feel confident booking Stella. You’ll love it.
Why Snorkelers & Aqua Park Fans Will Love Stella Gardens
If you're into snorkeling or diving, the beach here is a hidden gem. The house reef starts just 20 meters from the jetty. I saw clownfish, parrotfish, and even a moray eel. No boat trip needed.
But the real surprise is the Aqua Park. It's brand new and the only heated aqua park in Egypt. Yes, you can ride the slides in December or March without freezing.
They use tech I haven't seen anywhere else in Hurghada. There's a conveyor belt system that lifts you with your tube directly from the lazy river to the top floor of the slides. Zero effort. No climbing stairs with a heavy tube. I've been to Neverland and Rixos Seagate, and they don't have this level of comfort.
There's also an elevator for all the major slides. So your kids or parents won't get tired.
Honestly, Neverland has more slides in total. But Stella Gardens' aqua park wins on technology and comfort. The heated water + conveyor + elevator combo makes it perfect for winter trips and families. It's less crowded, newer, and way more relaxing than the mega parks.
The Downsides: Not Dealbreakers, But Worth Knowing
To be honest, there aren't many negatives. I wouldn't even call them "cons" - more like things that could use a small tweak.
The one thing that annoyed me and my kids: the sand around the pool.
They built a sandy beach area right next to the main pool to give you that "beach vibe" without going to the sea. Nice idea. But the problem is, sand gets dragged into the pool water.
So when you're swimming, you constantly feel sand under your feet on the pool floor. For adults it's just annoying. For small kids who play on the pool floor, it gets in their eyes and swimsuits.
It's not a reason to skip the hotel. But if management just added a foot-wash station between the sand and pool, this issue would be solved 100%.
Beach Albatros – The Full Review
Room: Triple Room – Superior Pool View upgrade
First Impressions & Hotel Vibe
Extremely elegant. The first thing that struck me was the hotel’s scent - it always smells incredible. The bathrooms too. They both constantly have a signature fragrance, similar to what you get on airplanes.
Staff
Very polite and respectful. We did run into a couple of unfriendly staff members, but overall, everyone was great. We arrived at 12:30 PM, got our wristbands, and they told us to have lunch while the room was prepared. We received it around 2:00 PM or even earlier. You also get 2 electricity cards here, which is fantastic.
The Room
Not small at all. We booked a Standard room and they upgraded us to a Superior Pool View because we were 3 adults. It was gorgeous and very stylish.
Food: Incredible Variety & Flavor
The food variety is insane. There’s the Main Restaurant, an Asian Restaurant, an Italian & International Restaurant, and Culina - a reservation-only Seafood & Italian restaurant with no extra charge. Here, the flavors are strong and distinct. I genuinely enjoyed every meal. The baked goods are a must-try.
Snacks
At the beach: chicken burgers, beef burgers, fries, onion rings, and chicken pane. At the aqua park: pizza, chicken burgers, sambousek, fries, and fruit.
The Beach: Absolutely Stunning
The beach is magnificent. A true paradise. The snorkeling there is incredible. If you’re a sea person, this is your hotel.
Animation Team
Very active all day long. There’s always something happening.
Aqua Park
It’s nice. If you haven’t been to many aqua parks, you’ll definitely enjoy it. It’s not bad at all, but for us, it wasn’t a “wow.” It’s still good, though. Hours: 10 AM - 1 PM and 3 PM - 6 PM. Surfing: 11 AM - 12 PM and 3 PM - 4 PM.
Extra Perks
The hotel is beautiful at night. The lighting is perfect - not too dark, not too bright. Also, coffee is complimentary, not an extra charge.
The Verdict for Beach Albatros
We had an amazing time, Alhamdulillah. The hotel feels luxurious from the moment you walk in.
Final Verdict: Which Hotel Should You Choose
Your choice depends entirely on your priorities.
Choose Stella Gardens Makadi if you want:
Aqua park fun with ZERO hassle thanks to the elevators, plus a very elegant and extremely clean hotel.
Choose Beach Albatros if you want:
An incredible beach with amazing snorkeling, powerful and flavorful food, and a truly luxurious hotel experience.
Got questions? Drop them in the comments - I’m happy to help.
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Have you stayed at Stella Gardens or Beach Albatros? Share your experience in the comments below to help other travelers!
