Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle

An adults-only hotel in the heart of Hurghada

The Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle describes itself as an adults-only boutique hotel made up entirely of suites. It is part of the ALDAU estate, on Youssef Afifi Road along El Mamsha El Seyahi, Hurghada's tourist promenade, 6 km from the airport. Children are not admitted.

It is a lively address. Music is part of the stay: pool parties and an in-house music channel, Pure Beats, playing at the beach club. There are also aerial yoga hammocks.

Our reading: among the adults-only hotels in our selection, the Pure Lifestyle is the one for couples who want to go out, be in central Hurghada and share the atmosphere of a large estate. For golf, the hotel says its all-inclusive package includes unlimited daytime rounds for qualified golfers on its own 9-hole, par-3 course. Those looking for silence should choose the Steigenberger Makadi; those who want a secluded suite in a garden, the Oberoi at Sahl Hasheesh.

The suite makes the stay

Every category is a suite, each with free high-speed Wi-Fi, an espresso machine, a 49-inch flat-screen TV with a built-in media hub and a walk-in shower; most face the beach. The differences in size are large, so the choice matters.

The Standard Suite, onto a courtyard or garden, is the smallest and cheapest: at about 27 m², it is in practice a room. The Golf House Suite has a side view of the sea; the Jacuzzi Suite has its own jacuzzi, and the Swim-up Suite, on the ground floor, opens straight into the pool. The Penthouse Suite is the only one with a private plunge pool, on its terrace facing the sea.

Our advice: for a honeymoon, the Jacuzzi Suite or the Swim-up Suite, the same size; the first for privacy, the second for swimming at the foot of the bed. Those who live outdoors and come back late will find the Standard Suite enough, as long as they know it is less than half the size of a Jacuzzi Suite.

Eating and going out

Times are local.

Gourmet Market serves breakfast from 7 to 11.30 am and, in the evening, an open-kitchen dinner around eight counters: pizza, charcoal grill, seafood and sushi, Indian tandoori, Asian wok, Italian deli and pasta, Japanese teppanyaki (cooked on a hot plate in front of you), and a dessert and ice-cream island. You build your dinner moving from counter to counter, from 6 pm (winter) or 6.30 pm (summer) to 10.30 pm.

During the day, the Pure Chill Bar by the pool serves drinks, snacks and light meals from 9 am to sunset. In the evening, Alex Beach Club, shared with the neighbouring ALDAU Beach, serves fusion cooking from 6.30 to 10.30 pm, and its bar stays open until 11.30 pm. The Pure Lounge in the lobby serves from 7 am to midnight, and room service runs around the clock.

For wellness, the RAA Spa, run with the German brand Avidea, has four treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna, steam bath and beauty salon, open from 9 am to 6 pm.

Sabaro's view

For whom: couples, honeymooners, adult friends who want a lively hotel in central Hurghada.

Strengths: suites with jacuzzi or direct pool access; the El Mamsha promenade and its restaurants on foot; the Gourmet Market dinner; a 9.4/10 rating on Booking.com.

Good to know: the atmosphere is musical, from the pool to the beach; the Standard Suite is small; on-site parking is limited and subject to availability.