Rixos Premium Magawish Bay View is a new five-star all-inclusive resort in Hurghada, Egypt, offering a slick, understated luxury experience with nine pools, a spa, and staff on rollerblades. The resort opened its doors just a few months ago and is already averaging 90% capacity.
First impressions
The reviewer arrived at the resort after a week-long scuba diving liveaboard in the Red Sea, where they had been diving with oceanic white-tip sharks. The Superior Suite was spacious, full of natural light, and came with fresh, comfy bedding, his-and-hers sinks, a separate living room area, and a view of the pools. High-tech touches included curtains that open automatically when you enter, and drinking water came in plant-based cartons instead of single-use plastic.
Losing yourself in luxury
Beyond the rooms, there are nine expansive pools, back-to-back activities, and service to match the five-star rating: bubbles on arrival, live violin musicians, and staff catering to every whim. Bay View is adjoined to Rixos' other offering, the Magawish Suites & Villas, and guests can enjoy both locations interchangeably, plus 1km of sandy private beach.
Bay View feels grander than its sister property, with a dial turned up on luxury. Frequent buggies zip round the resort to help guests get around in the heat.
Vitamin bars and private cabanas
For those less in the market for fly and flop, there are Padel courts, yoga, boutiques, and fitness classes including tabata, step aerobics, and HIIT. The Anjana Spa has a free sauna, steam, jacuzzi, and vitamin bar, and the reviewer recommends treating yourself to a one-hour massage with a skilled therapist from Thailand.
The vast adults-only infinity pool is the pièce de résistance, free from the stresses of children doing cannonballs. Poolside bar staff waiting on you in rollerblades was random, but quite a nice touch. Guests can pay to access even more luxurious spots, such as private, seafront, wait-service cabanas, one of which appeared to have its own jacuzzi beside the sand. Floating breakfasts are also available for those after something Instagrammable.
All-inclusive menus done right
The resort has abundant food and drink, including the main buffet, almost a dozen à la carte restaurants with flavours from around the world, and snack bars. Unlike most competitors that cater to hundreds of guests, the food quality rarely slips. The à la carte is what you should go for: oceanfront seafood at Salt, Mexican street food, and Turkish mezze. Reservations should be made at the start of your stay, as they're in demand and often fully booked.
Panorama Bar is a stunning cocktail bar at the heart of the resort where you can watch kite surfers and boats float across the sea. After dinner, there's beachside music and performances, but by 11 there was a respectful silence across the resort.
The verdict
The resort is already averaging 90% capacity, but Bay View is so expansive that you rarely feel that. The landscaping work and a new buffet restaurant didn't distract during the visit. The reviewer came to Rixos Bay View salty and tired, and left feeling recharged. Rooms start from around £345 per night. Direct return flights to Hurghada from London start from as little as £200 with easyJet, with a flight time of roughly six hours and a 15-minute drive from the airport to the hotel.
