Paradise Inn Mamoura Beach

I attended a conference at Bibliotheca Alexandria for 4 days. The conference would pick me up/drop me off at the Sheraton (5 min. by cab). The hotel for me was a place to sleep cheap. Maamoura beach is a secure area that requires everyone to pass through gates on the entrance road. Paradise Inn is one of the few hotels there, most are summer vacation condos. Security was good in that there was always several staff people in the hotel around, and security people circulating the immediate area. The hotel is next to another Paradise **something** resort that is higher security. The room was a little disheveled, like when you visit your son's dorm room at college: clean but not sparkling. The curtains did not hang right, the sheets had some smudges on it like someone stepped on them with their shoes (they were clean though). The doors and locks were very lightweight (About the same as the push button lock on a typical bathroom door)so I took my camera and laptop with me everywhere. That said, I accidently left $150 in my pants pocket in the closet and it was there when I got back. Not much pass-through traffic here like there would be at Sheraton. The restaurant was good. I had kofta one night, pizza the next and both were good. Straberry juice became my beverage of choice though they did serve alcohol. The ATM machine in the lobby was great (1% service charge, up to $200 Egyptian dollars, about 40 USD.) WiFi worked fine for me in the restaurant area, not in the rooms. They cleaned my room thoroughly after the 2nd day, no linen change, but I did not ask for it. Bathroom was fine. My room adjoined the neighboring room and I accidently opened the door thinking it was the bathroom. Scared some poor lady, and again the locks weren't too heavy duty, so I propped a chair. She locked her side after that. The beach was there (about 50 meters across) but screened off from neighboring land by bamboo curtains, there was a small playground and grassy areas too. Taxis were the real challenge, no meters, so every trip is negotiable. Ask the front desk for an estimate in cost before embarking anywhere. Make sure you have the correct change so that you dont have to ask the driver for any, you won't get it. There were perhaps a couple of parties/weddings when I was there and the disco was kicking at 1:00am. I had a hard time sleeping from the noise. The mornings (6:00-7:00) were very quiet and deserted. Service was very good, everyone was helpful and brought me whatever I wanted or needed. Waiters were prompt, front desk knew what was going on, porters helped with the heavy lifting. Pool looked beautiful, but I did not have time to swim, other guests enjoyed it very much and I think the younger set would find it to be great.