Hotel Preferred di Hurghada

Just returned home having spent 10 days in this hotel - had a great time, weather was perfect and the hotel was spotlessly clean. Staff were very pleasant and always willing to go out of their way for you. Personally, I wouldn't class this as a 5* hotel as it was lacking some of the qualities you would expect - for me it was nearer a 4*. On the plus side: Very clean Staff very friendly On the beach Buffet restaurant was excellent with great choices The negatives: Check-in was a shambles - we hadn't been allocated a room before we arrived and was 'offered' one which was unacceptable. We didn't get into a room until after 2am in the morning (2 hours after arriving) and then had to move again at 5pm the following day...so couldn't unpack etc. A-la-carte restaurants were poor - little choice unless you were willing to pay a surcharge (that is not my idea of an All Inclusive hotel). Entertainment is zilch...again, unless you want to pay for it that is (20 euros per night!). Very little to do in the evening other than make your own entertainment. Activities on the beach were not very well publicised (we only found out at the back end of the holiday) and are on a rota. One day snorkelling, next kayaking etc. and only available at set times. You are limited to one towel per day. Not a big problem UNLESS like we did you are one once of the boat excursions (from the hotel) and need a dry towel to take with you...they need to think about how to overcome this. Drinks package is pretty limited - again you have to pay for certain options. They didn't even have beer on tap other than at the beach bar so it was poured from a bottle which was at best lightly chilled but not what I would call cold. None of the spirits are strong at all. Service (particularly at the Dar bar) is very slow...lots of waiters just stood around talking whilst people were waiting for drinks...we often had to get up and walk over to the drinks counter to get someone's attention. Lighting around the whole hotel is very very poor - you often only have candle light to see by when sat at your table. I understand they may be trying to add to the ambience but there is a limit. Pathways and hotel corridors are also poorly lit. There appear to be loads of negatives (above) but most are things which could be rectified quite easily. We didn't let it spoil our holiday.