Шикарная квартира в Мадинате: 2 спальни, мечта сбылась!
Шикарная квартира в Мадинате: 2 спальни, мечта сбылась! - A Real Review (with Some Rambling)
Alright, friends, let's talk about "Шикарная квартира в Мадинате: 2 спальни, мечта сбылась!" (Luxury Apartment in Madinate: 2 Bedrooms, Dream Come True!). Because, you know, мечты сбываются… hopefully. I've been through a few hotels in my life (and believe me, some I’d rather forget!), and this one… well, let's just say it's got some seriously good things going on, and a couple of things that made me raise an eyebrow. So, here's the lowdown, honest and unfiltered, as only a Russian can provide!
Accessibility (Доступность):
Okay, first things first: This place is supposedly set up for accessibility. They say they have facilities for disabled guests. But, I didn't personally scope that out, because, you know, my legs work just fine. However, they have an elevator, which is always a plus. So, at least you won't be stuck hauling luggage up five flights of stairs. Just, maybe, double-check their specifics if full accessibility is a must. Don't rely on just my word.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges (Доступные рестораны/бары на территории):
I didn't really dive deep on this. I saw restaurants, but I didn't scrutinize the accessibility of each one. Shrugs.
Wheelchair accessible (Доступность для инвалидных колясок):
See above! The presence of an elevator is a good sign, but always confirm specifics.
Internet (Интернет):
Ah, the bane of modern existence: internet. They claim free Wi-Fi in all rooms! And it was mostly decent. Mostly. Remember my stream-of-consciousness thing? Well, there were moments where the connection felt like trying to download a movie on dial-up, but after a minute or two, it was fine. They also provide "Internet [LAN]". I didn't even bother with that. Who uses LAN in 2024? Grandpa Sergey, perhaps? I was too busy scrolling through Instagram to bother with wired connections, ha-ha.
Things to do (Чем заняться):
Okay, this is where things get interesting. They have everything. And by everything, I mean:
- Swimming pool: YES. Outdoor, beautiful, exactly what you'd expect. Jumped right in, and it was pure bliss.
- Fitness center: Gym/fitness center, you name it. I went in there a few times, and… let's just say my usual workout routine is more "reaching for the remote" than "pushing weights". But hey, at least they have one!
- Spa/sauna/steamroom: The whole shebang! I’m a sucker for a good spa, however my attempt to get the body wrap done came off as if I'm a mummy. I was slightly claustrophobic. The pool with a view was fantastic though, especially after the steamroom.
- Massage: Oh, yes, and the massage was divine. I’m not gonna lie, I almost fell asleep. It was worth it. Highly recommend. The type of place, you just sink into, you know?
Body scrub/Body wrap/Foot bath:
I did the things, but I'm honestly too lazy to describe. They are great for relaxing, but I was focusing on the main things.
Cleanliness and Safety (Чистота и безопасность):
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good, right? We love this stuff.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Yes. They were on it.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: I didn’t opt out. I wanted clean.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Seems legit.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: I could see it.
- First aid kit, Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
Safety/security feature/CCTV in common areas/outside property/Fire extinguisher/Smoke alarms/Security [24-hour]:
I felt secure. There were cameras, security guards, all the usual stuff. No dodgy vibes at all.
Dining, drinking, and snacking (Еда и напитки):
This is another area where this place shines!
- Restaurants: Several, with different cuisines.
- A la carte in restaurant/Buffet in restaurant. Their buffet breakfast was amazing! (More on that in a minute).
- Coffee/tea in restaurant/Coffee shop: Essential. Needed my black coffee every morning.
- Poolside bar: Sipping a cocktail by the pool? Yes, please!
- Room service [24-hour]: Oh, yes, especially after a long day. Very convenient.
- Snack bar: Handy for a quick bite. I wasn't constantly hungry, but it's there.
- Desserts in restaurant: YES!! I had one that was like an explosion of chocolate and happiness.
Breakfast [buffet]:
THIS is where the magic happened. The Asian breakfast was incredible. There was an Asian cuisine in restaurant option. The Western breakfast was very good; I ate a LOT. Everything was there: fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, bacon…everything. The breakfast service was flawless. The Vegetarian restaurant was awesome. I'm not vegetarian, but the options were superb, and well, I gave it a shot. I felt like a king every morning. I'd go back just for the breakfast!
Services and conveniences (Услуги и удобства):
- Concierge: Helpful!
- Daily housekeeping: My room was always spotless.
- Laundry service/ Ironing service/Dry cleaning: All available and really convenient.
- Cash withdrawal: Useful.
- Currency exchange: Always a plus for travelers.
- Doorman: Felt fancy for five seconds.
- Elevator: Thank God (see accessibility).
- Gift/souvenir shop: Good for last-minute presents.
Available in all rooms (Доступно во всех комнатах):
- Air conditioning: Essential. It was HOT
- Alarm clock, bathrobes, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, closet, coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea, desk, extra long bed… Basically, all the standard stuff you expect in a decent hotel. Rooms are well-equipped.
- Free bottled water: Always a welcome touch.
- Hair dryer: Important for my hair.
- Mini bar: Filled with goodies (and temptations!).
- Non-smoking rooms: Good for everyone.
- Private bathroom: Yes!
- Refrigerator: Useful.
- Satellite/cable channels: Fine.
- Seating area: Comfy.
- Shower, Slippers, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free]: All present and correct. Good.
- Window that opens: Fresh air is good, right?
For the kids (Для детей):
- Family/child friendly: Yes, I saw a few families with kids.
- Babysitting service: Good to know if you need it!
- Kids meal: They had it.
Getting around (Как добраться):
- Airport transfer: Convenient. Made arriving and leaving a breeze.
- Car park [free of charge]: Always a bonus, especially in a city.
Now, for the "Meh" and "Hmm…" moments:
- The "proposal spot": (I’m guessing a romantic corner somewhere). I didn’t see it, but then again, I wasn’t looking to propose.
- Meeting/banquet facilities/Business facilities/Audio-visual equipment for special events (Для бизнес-встреч): I wasn’t there for business, but they seem to have it all.
- Additional toilet: Not in my room, apparently. But hey, maybe in other rooms?
- "Happy Hour": I don’t know if I took advantage of this or not, honestly.
Overall Impression (Общее впечатление):
Look, "Шикарная квартира в Мадинате: 2 спальни, мечта сбылась!" is pretty darn good. It's luxurious, well-equipped, and has a fantastic breakfast (seriously, I'm still dreaming of it). The staff were generally helpful and friendly. It's not perfect, as it never is, but it’s definitely a place I would recommend, and a place I would happily return to.
**My final verdict: 8.5 out of 10 stars. Or, as we say in Russia – “Отлично! (
Бунгало №14, Индия: Райское Убежище, Которое Вы Не Забудете!
Madinaty Madness: A Trip to Remember (Or Maybe Forget Parts Of)
Day 1: Arrival and "OMG, This Apartment Is HUGE!" Moment
- 13:00 (ish) - Arrival in Cairo, Egypt. Honestly, the flight was a blur of airplane peanuts, questionable in-flight entertainment, and me trying (and failing) to sleep. The Cairo traffic… well, let's just say it's an experience. I swear our taxi driver invented lane changes. He’d probably be a Formula 1 champion if he wasn’t dodging donkeys. But hey, we made it!
- 15:00 - Check-in at the Stylish 2-Bedroom Apartment in Madinaty. The pictures online didn’t do it justice. When I tell you this place is massive, I mean it could comfortably house a small herd of… actually, maybe a whole camel caravan! Two bedrooms! Two bathrooms! A giant balcony! My inner princess squealed. My inner klutz immediately started plotting how to trip over the furniture.
- 15:30 - The Great Luggage Unpacking Debacle. Okay, so maybe I overpacked. Who needs seven pairs of shoes in Egypt? (Me, apparently!). Unpacking was a chaotic spectacle involving me wrestling with a suitcase that clearly had a grudge against me and my friend, Anya, trying (and failing) to fold my sheer lace top. We both ended up collapsing on the sofa, laughing until our sides hurt. It was a good start.
- 16:30 - Grocery Shopping Adventure (and Minor Disaster). Armed with a hastily scribbled shopping list (and questionable Arabic pronunciation), we ventured into the local supermarket. The sheer variety of dates was overwhelming. And the olives! So many olives! I may have accidentally bought an entire kilo. Anya also acquired a bag of what she confidently declared were "spicy chips." They were, in fact, so spicy, they made us hallucinate pyramids. (Might have been the Egyptian heat, too).
- 18:00 - Sunset on the Balcony & Verdict: Heaven. The sun setting over Madinaty was stunning. The air was warm, the breeze gentle, and the view… perfect (although, I will admit, the view of the apartment block opposite ours wasn't quite as picturesque). We munched on some baba ghanoush, sipped on mint tea, and felt… blissfully, gloriously lazy. This is what vacation is all about.
- 19:00 - Dinner Disaster (aka, My Cooking Skills Fail). I attempted to make pasta. I burned the sauce. Anya tried to save it. The fire alarm went off. Let's just say we ended up ordering takeaway. At least the falafel was delicious.
Day 2: Giza Pyramids & Tourist Traps (and a Little Bit of My Soul)
- 07:00 - Alarm, Already? Yep. We had to beat the crowds, they said. I swear I only managed a solid 3 hours of sleep.
- 08:00 - Getting the Driver to Giza. Let's just say, getting a taxi in Cairo is another adventure, not always the most pleasant one.
- 09:00 - Pyramids! Seriously, they’re massive. Like, so unbelievably huge that it’s mind-boggling. I mean, I’d seen pictures, obviously, but standing there, looking up at this… I felt this wave of awe wash over me. And a little bit of existential dread. The scale is just unbelievable. The craftsmanship is insane. It’s a giant, ancient puzzle.
- 09:30 - The Camel Ride… of Regret. Tourist trap alert! I haggled for a camel ride. The camel's name was Kareem. Kareem did not cooperate. I was bounced around like a ragdoll, sweating profusely, and desperately trying not to look like a total tourist idiot. Anya, meanwhile, was positively glowing with smug enjoyment.
- 10:30 - The Sphinx. That Stoic Face. The Sphinx is a little more… underwhelming than you expect. Still, it’s ancient, it’s cool, and I’m glad I saw it. Took a lot of photos.
- 11:30 - The Perfume Shop & the Hard Sell. Another tourist trap! This time, it was a perfume shop. "My friend! You smell like Cleopatra herself!" the shop owner boomed. I ended up buying something that smelled vaguely of jasmine and regret. Anya, ever the pragmatist, walked out with a bottle of frankincense and a steely look in her eyes.
- 13:00 - Lunch with a View of the Pyramids! We found a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a decent view and devoured some koshari. (Who knew lentils and rice could be so delicious?) I made a friend with a stray cat that was adorable.
- 16:00 - Back to Madinaty, Exhausted but Transformed. The Pyramids… they do something to you. It's a deep, humbling, spiritual feeling. And you realize that, yes, you are just a tiny speck in the vastness of time. Or, you just exhausted from dodging aggressive vendors. Both can be true.
Day 3: Madinaty Exploration & the Quest for Authentic Knafeh
- 09:00 - Sleep! Glorious sleep! Because, you know, the Pyramids.
- 11:00 - Wandering Around Madinaty. Madinaty itself is fascinating – a planned community with everything from shops to parks and pools. We even manage to find a cafe with a decent coffee. It's like a little city within the city - a little too organized for my taste, but still cool.
- 12:00 - The Knafeh Hunt. Knafeh is a traditional Egyptian dessert, and I'm on a mission to find the perfect slice (or, you know, a slice that doesn't make me regret everything). Several attempts and questionable pastries later… we finally find a place that makes the real deal. Melted cheese, sweet syrup, and crunchy filo pastry – pure, delicious, artery-clogging bliss.
- 14:00 - Pool Day (Or, My Attempt to Relax). The apartment has a swimming pool. Anya happily dives in with no second thoughts. I, however, am terrified of getting my hair wet. After an hour of tiptoeing around the edge, I eventually succumb, because, hey, I’m on holiday.
- 17:00 - Market visit. We got ourselves to a local market, where the people were vibrant, the spices were fragrant, and my haggling skills were put to the test. It was all a little hectic, the smells and colors were intoxicating. It was glorious.
- 19:00 - Dinner and Planning. We ate at a local restaurant and made plans for the next few days. We figured out the best route for some of the days to come.
- 20:00 - Reflections on the Day. I spent ages reflecting on the day. The past few days have been transformative, in a way. The pyramids were amazing, the local food was incredible, and the culture was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
Day 4: Random Ramblings & Airport Chaos
- 07:00 - Packing (aka, a frantic scramble to fit everything back in the suitcases).
- 08:00 - Last-Minute Souvenir Shopping (more dates, a questionable scarf).
- 09:00 - Farewells to Madinaty. I'm sad to leave the apartment and the comfort of having a home base, but I’m also excited to see what adventures await.
- 11:00 - Airport transport.
- 12:00 - Check-in & the Security Gauntlet. Airport security is a form of torture. I swear, they made me take off my shoes at least three times. Anya's bag, of course, got flagged for suspicious items.
- 14:00- The Flight Home…
Final Thoughts:
Egypt is… well, it's a lot. It's chaotic, it's beautiful, it's exhausting, and it's utterly unforgettable. I'm going home with sand in my shoes, dates in my luggage, and a head full of memories. And maybe, just maybe, I'll learn to cook pasta properly next time. Shukran Egypt, for the adventure! (And apologies to anyone who had to listen to my terrible Arabic.) It was truly a trip of a lifetime!
Апартаменты в Стратфорде, Великобритания: Сказка на Темзе!
Шикарная квартира в Мадинате: FAQ – Мои нервы, моя мечта, и немного хаоса!
Ну, и насколько "шикарная" эта квартира, вообще? Преувеличения, наверное, да?
Ох, ну, шикарная – это как, знаешь, когда тебя спрашивают, "Как дела?" и ты отвечаешь… ну, по-разному. В рекламе, конечно, все блестит как начищенный самовар. Когда первый раз зашла... сначала глаза разбежались! Панорамные окна! Вид на море – красота неописуемая! (Правда, в первый день я чуть с ума не сошла, пытаясь понять, как работают эти шторы-роллеты. Чуть не сломала, честное слово. А потом еще и интернет отказывался подключаться! Вот тогда я, наверное, и поняла, что шикарность шикарностью, но… жизнь есть жизнь.) Но вот, например, полы – да, классный мрамор, но на нем даже пылинки видно! Приходится чуть ли не каждый день натирать, иначе начинается "эффект грязной кошки" – все видно, все бесит! В общем… Шикарная, да! Но не без приколов, как и любая нормальная жизнь.
Две спальни – это много или мало? Вот реально, для кого такая планировка?
Две спальни… эээх. Это как… как два мороженых. С одной стороны, круто – есть выбор! С другой стороны… Одной (в моей жизни, по крайней мере!) часто хватает. Я себе представляла так: одна спальня – для меня, святая святых, диванчик, где можно валяться с книжкой... Вторая – для гостей! (Ага, мечтай дальше! Гости планируют приехать, уже несколько месяцев, но их все нет. Зато в гостевой сейчас… пылесос, гладильная доска и коробка с новогодними игрушками. Ну а что делать? Жизнь!) Так что, для кого? Для тех, у кого гостей много, или кто хочет себе… пространство! И готов за это пространство платить. Я вот заплатила. Иногда жалею. Иногда радуюсь. В общем, как всегда.
А что там с видами из окон? Реально красиво, как на картинках?
Виды... О, виды – это отдельная песня! На картинках, конечно, все идеально. Небо голубое, солнце светит… Реальность… Ну, во-первых, надо учитывать, что утреннее солнце шпарит прямо в окна, и если ты не успел закрыть шторы… просыпаешься как вампир, поджаренный солнцем. Но вечером… Вечером, когда солнце садится, и море играет всеми красками… Вот тогда да! Тогда забываешь про все свои проблемы, про счета за коммуналку, про то, что опять закончился шампунь. Это просто… захватывает дух. (А потом, конечно, приходит осознание, что это всего лишь вид, а не ипотека оплачена! Но это потом.) Кстати, один раз я видела, как по морю проплывали дельфины! Вот это была магия, ребята. Я чуть не заплакала от счастья. Жаль, телефон под рукой не оказался… Но, в общем, виды – это реально круто! Ради них можно терпеть и утренние солнцепеки, и счета за… все, что только можно.
Как тебе сам Мадинат? Район, инфраструктура, соседи...
Мадинат… Ну, знаете, это как… первый раз в Диснейленде. Вроде все красиво, все блестит, все улыбаются… Но через пару дней понимаешь, что ты там, как в золотой клетке. Инфраструктура – да, все есть. Магазины, кафешки, фитнес-клубы, детские площадки (даже для взрослых – я видела!). Соседи… Соседи, в основном, иностранцы и богатые русские. Иногда складывается ощущение, что все живут своей жизнью, как в фильме. И все такие… немного отстраненные. Как будто боятся с тобой заговорить! Но, с другой стороны, никто не мешает. Тишина, покой… (По крайней мере, до тех пор, пока сверху не начнут делать ремонт.) В целом, прикольно. Но иногда хочется… просто пойти в обычный магазин, встретить соседку Тётю Валю и поболтать за жизнь. Вот этого, пожалуй, не хватает.
Что с ремонтом? Все было идеально, или где-то накосячили?
О, ремонт – это отдельная, кровавая история! Сначала все было красиво, как в сказке. Дизайнер, все дела, сметы... (Хотя я с самого начала подозревала, что всё пойдет не так. Интуиция, понимаете ли.) Сначала обещали закончить за три месяца. В итоге… это превратилось в восемь месяцев ада! Рабочие… ну, они были разные. Одни – просто золото! Другие… даже страшно вспоминать. То плитку криво положат, то розетки не туда поставят, то… Один раз забыли сливное отверстие в ванной! Представляете? И потом пришлось все переделывать, ломать стены… И вот тогда я поняла, что такое настоящий стресс. А еще они постоянно опаздывали, переносили сроки, и врали в глаза! В общем, ремонт – это как роды. Больно, тяжело, но когда видишь результат… вроде и ничего, можно жить. (Хотя осадочек остался, это точно.) И да, до сих пор нахожу какие-то косяки. Вот сейчас, например, потолок в спальне немного треснул. Надо вызывать мастеров. Опять. Ну, и ладно. Привыкла уже.
Стоила ли мечта того, чтобы её осуществить?
Стоила ли… Вот это вопрос, который я себе задаю почти каждый день! После всех этих нервов, проблем с ремонтом, счетами… Иногда думаю: "Черт побери, ну зачем это все было нужно?!" Но, знаешь, когда вечером садишься на балкон, пьешь чай, смотришь на море… Или когда просыпаешься утром, а в окно светит солнце… Или когда просто осознаешь, что это – твой дом, твоя крепость… Тогда понимаешь… Да! Стоила! Да, это было тяжело, да, много потрачено сил и нервов, но… Это моя мечта.Otel Russia
