Sierra Resort Nabq pictures / info and updates

[Robin&Jane]

Hi All

Betty - We've just returned to the UK after the handover of our two apartments. We use Abbas and took the original copy of our signed contract with us to Sharm and gave it to him at his office and he will now get it notarised. He also double checked the contract and found an error in the Arabic wording which we obviously hadn't seen and is getting that sorted.

Iain - We checked your apartment for you and they are still doing quite a bit of work in there which you presumably know? Took lots of photos but probably by the time you read this you'll see for yourself so we won't bother uploading them for now but let us know if you want any. Pool still full of mosquito infested water plus loads of rubbish and chaos reigns in our circle/zone, although we were notified the whole zone would be finished by now it's still a long way off, logic doesn't seem to apply to the sequence of building works!

Darren - it was lovely to meet you - hopefully it'll be for longer next time and hope you and your wife had a good holiday.

Alison - still lots of dangerous holes in the roads, don't think they've put any covers on so far.

Fee & Wayne - didn't seem to much development on the pool front, we'll send some photos when we can.

On a more positive note the developers have now employed a lovely lady called Jill to market the hotel and she is acting as go between the clients, developers and SRE so hopefullywill be able to get some of the frustrating problems ironed out for future handovers as ours wasn't particularly smooth, also met another couple who have been over twice already for handover but their apartment still wasn't completed although they were told it was ready last June!

If anyone wants their air conditioning units on the back of the apartments rather than on their balconies this can be arranged at an extra cost and they look much neater out of the way.

The development is certainly taking shape and once whole zones are finished and the pools filled it will look so much better just needs more landscaping and cleaning up and it will be transformed - can't wait!!

R&J

[queenie40something]

Hi R&J welcome home. So was your apartment all ready and furnished and were you able to stay in it at all?

Did they say if Marriott are going to manage the hotel?

Any sign of TGI Fridays be open? I heard Burgerking opened. Hope you had a fab time xx

I asked the developer about the internet and if it was free and was told yes ' for the time being' and hopefully they will connect mine when I take the laptop with me - hoping to get one of the small ones that you have Iain as they weigh around the same as a bag of sugar!

[iain]

Well I'll be out there this time tomorrow. Handover organised for Sat so we'll see what happens. Will do my best to upload pics or use an album like last time.

I should be picking up messages and emails whilst out there but a bit hit and miss I guess.

Don't worry I'm sure it will all be alright "the day after tomorrow" iain

[Robin&Jane]

Hi Alison - body is here but mind still in sunny Sharm! We hadn't intended to stay in the apartments this time as wanted to make sure we snagged them both before Mostafa went in but the air conditioning was being fitted as we were leaving and both apartments will be furnished in time for our son and his girlfriend to stay there on 4th December and check if the outstanding list of items have been completed but I don't think they'll be relaxing by our pool as we'd hoped unless they want to get bitten alive by the mozzies!

No sign of TGI being opened at the moment but yes Burger King is now open. Loved the Metro - what a brilliant selection of food etc!

Apparently the Hilton & Marriott have shown interest but haven't signed on the dotted line yet. There is now talk of us being charged to use the hotel pool and beach + internet but don't know if that's true or just speculation but we'll have to watch this space. Wouldn't it be lovely if there was a computer with internet access in the residential area??

Also were told that all building developments have to be completed by 2010 and nothing else will be allowed after that so let's hope that's true.

R&J

[Robin&Jane]

Good luck Iain - be prepared - their idea of completed/finished is very different to ours. If you want us to email you a couple of photos private email us and we'll attach a couple. They might have done a mass splurge on your apartment as they tend to do so it will probably be a lot better than when we saw it!

R&J

[queenie40something]

Thanks Jane - from the offset we were told we couldnt use the hotel pool and that although we had free shuttle bus to the beach via the hotel we had to pay to use the beach at around 5le each per visit. No doubt these costs etc will be thrashed out in the deal. The resort is being sold as Wifi so how can they then start charging?
Still dont know how the phones will be billed. I imagine this is more for owners / tenants on site full time. If we have to pay a line rental then probably not worth it for the amount of times we will use it. I will just leave a mobile there for people to use.

Did you meet up with Clare and Mohammed?? Had an email from her today saying she has just returned from the UK.

[samui13]

Hi Robin and Jane, handover sounded a little crazy but glad you managed to see the bigger picture and how nice it will all be in the end.

Also look forward to seeing the pics on progress of wayne and fees pool cause we will be sharing it with them.

Good luck Ian, we all have everything crossed that yours will be done when you get there!

Lou

[in2tense]

Hi Robin & Jane

It was lovely to meet you both and I look forward to our next meeting in Sierra.

I'm abit worried about the hotel (complex) charging for internet access because they seem to charge a fortune - Jaz mirabel was 20 Euros for 1 hour or 45 Euro for 24 hours.

If this happens it might be worth a few of us getting together to pay for an internet connection then sharing wireless access between ourselves (keeping it security enabled so not everybody could jump on).

Iain - sorry I missed your going away and I hope you have a great time, if you get this then can you just take a quick photo of block 62 ?? just one of the outside will do anytime your passing - Thanks.

[iain]

Hi all. in starbucks just round the corner from Sierra may walk uo to Sierra, but my snagging is tomorrow. robin and jane have pre warned me of all the horribles so Im hoping it won't be as bad as all that!

I'll report back soon as I can.

Yes I'll look at 62 no prob.

Battled with Mozzies in Shams Suites last night didnt get much sleep as a result but piriton did the trick and no marks from the bites today. building work going on next to the hotel forced them to be closed last week but open again now. Woken at 7 am by mechanical diggers and concrete breakers next door so work still going on, but I'm just using it as a base. If you want a holiday there it's not the best place to be at moment - there's me and a guy from Essex, a Czech lady living in Scotland who is interested in buying but hubby's not and a couple of others. well I'll report back in next day or so,

Oh and the wetaher is sun/light cloud and quite windy, about 26-28 C

Iain

[iain]

OK First day pics can be found here Picasa Web Albums - iain - Nabq 21 Nov 08

they are not labeled but inside pics are of my place. The nice zone is Alisons - though still need work. The pool has been dug in the zone adjacent to us, our zone is a mess and I do wish that our toilets and showers were not used for workers playtime. Generall not too bad but some things like the toilets REALLY ANNOY ME! Somebody had even used our front doorstep for the same thing UUGH.

Anyway enjoys the pics, they stop abruptly at the camel cos at that point I was thrown out of magic life hote l when I tried to walk back though to the road, unbelievable, I was dressed properly had my passport etc but they decided I was undesireable 9good taste you may say..)

My favorite is the Camel, i bet he doesn't S*** of peoples doorsteps.

calmed down with a Stella E£2 at the St George's bar,