It’s not every day you wake up in an oasis of luxury, wellness and exclusivity where you can savor exotic atmospheres and the Middle Eastern charm of a land like Egypt with a touch of Italian style. Yet, at the Domina Coral Bay of Sharm El Sheik, the first feeling is precisely that of being transported to another world, to a small Italian-Egyptian city that stretches a million square meters between the rocky desert and the Red Sea, facing one of the most important coral reefs on the planet.
Domina Coral Bay, the resort that “invented” Sharm
The genesis of this village also has the contours of legend, beginning as a dream and ending as reality. From bet to international success. When in the late 1990s Ernesto Preatoni purchased a piece of desert from the governor of South Sinai (incredulous that anyone would venture into such a crazy venture!), the Milanese entrepreneur’s seemed to most like a flight into the unknown.
“Do whatever you want, it’s deserted anyway,” the governor told Preatoni, thinking he was faced with the whimsical request of an eccentric and over-the-top character. And instead – ça va sans dire – that dream became reality: Preatoni gave life to a unique and magical place, creating in his image and likeness a village that would become over the years unrepeatable and iconic, in which to live among relaxation, luxury and lots of fun.
The first opening was in 1994.
Since then, the Domina Coral Bay has come a long way, establishing itself as a prestigious resort and as one of the landmarks of the entire area. Indeed, more appropriately as “the resort,” the one that invented Sharm as a tourist destination of excellence.
And anyone who crosses its threshold cannot help but be fascinated by it, experiencing its many souls.
A real city, to be toured by “taf taf”
The term “resort” after all is really reductive here: with 8 hotels, 6 a la carte restaurants, 3 buffet restaurants, and 3 beach restaurants perhaps we should talk about a real village. Then again, there is a medina, a supermarket, a medical center, a large spa, a gymnasium, a Casino, dozens of bars, even a shopping street…
And it is so large that there are even five Taf Taf lines (characteristic minibuses that travel it from end to end 24 hours a day, uninterrupted and free of charge) and zero-emission electric cars inside it for guests to use.
Lots of sports can be practiced: padel, beach volleyball, beach soccer, tennis, golf, and of course water sports, starting with diving. Thanks to the beauty of a nearly 2 km-long private beach kissed by one of the most beautiful seabeds in the world, the Coral is a paradise for diving enthusiasts. In fact, the facility houses the Domina Sheikh Coast, since 1994 the most exclusive and comfortable diving center in Sharm El Sheikh, the only one with a private dock and private boats.
But that’s not all: in addition to the 8 pools (from the exclusive Floating Pool that allows access to the sea beyond the reef ensuring the integrity and preservation of the marine flora, to the more mundane Main Pool where you can experience all kinds of group activities-such as muscle awakening, yoga activities, and water games-to the more private and exclusive Elisir and Prestige Pools where you can find total tranquility), the real highlight of the Coral is the famous Salt Lake. A stretch of crystal-clear, swimmable seawater available to guests at Domina King’s Lake and Domina Prestige: a fascinating and unique second private beach recreated within the resort.
Different shows and performances every night
It is when the sun goes down, however, that the Domina Coral Bay fully demonstrates its “social village” soul, starting with the numerous shows that enliven each evening. We are not talking about the usual mundane entertainment, but real theatrical and musical shows designed and created exclusively by an international staff and composed of 12 professional dancers, selected from the best dance schools and academies around the world. Shows that can provide top-notch entertainment through music, costumes, sets and choreography with attention to detail.
One can thus experience the Michael Jackson Tribute, the Domina Coral Bay’s latest major artistic production in honor of “The King of Pop,” through an explosive musical featuring unforgettable songs and sweeping choreography; for lovers of rock and the energy of boogie-woogie or the sensuality of Latin American dancing, the Dance Fever show is the ultimate in an evening of rhythm.
Or again, for a more international touch, the Spectacular show: a splendid tribute to New York’s Radio City Hall and its famous dancers, the fabulous Rockettes, famed for the perfect synchronicity of their movements and the incredible geometric figures drawn by their fantastic legs.
And for lovers of nightlife and nightlife, a night at the disco or a visit to the famous Casino is certainly not to be missed.
Disco and Casino for night lovers
Domina Coral Bay’s Stargate Disco Club has been a landmark within the resort for years, a place to fully enter Domina Coral Bay’s nightlife, with a bar dedicated to international spirits and a high-end VIP area. Each year the club hosts nightlife-related events including “Le Club Billionaire” (Porto Cervo, Italy) or “Club Paradise Tour” (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russia) in an international search for the coolest and most fashionable evenings to be lived intensely until 4 a.m.
However, for those who want to experience the thrill of feeling like Brad Pitt or George Clooney in the Ocean saga, among roulette, poker tables and black jack, theAladin Casino, also within the Domina Coral Bay resort is the “place to be.”
Welcoming players is a bright and colorful environment where they can try their luck at the green tables or slot machines while sipping a drink. The Aladin is the only facility in Egypt where you can play in euros, challenging yourself or other people in the poker room, which hosts tournaments, cash games and international events. And there is even a restaurant inside the casino to provide the ultimate experience thanks to typical Italian cuisine that can accompany guests between games.
Unique excursions and experiences
However, the “Domina Coral Bay experience” is not only limited to the area where the resort is located, but is also a varied range of excursions to rediscover the pleasure of travel and discovery.
Col Domina Safari in Nabq National Park, for example, you get into a mini-jeep and set off on an adventure to discover the Golden Valley: spectacular scenery made up of silence, basalt rocks and solitary trees where you can make sandboarding on the dunes, walk on dromedaries accompanied by Bedouins, and have a relaxing lunch in the desert lagoon.
And to admire the Red Sea in its true essence, the Ras Mohamed Marine Park is a magical place to surround yourself with the thousands of colors of the reef and the thousands of fish that inhabit it.
A wonderful experience to share with the whole family (one that not only the little ones will enjoy, I guarantee!) is the Dolphin Show, a trip that involves two hours in the company of dolphins exploring a theme park.
However, there is also no shortage of hikes for backpackers, such as the one to the St. Catherine’s Monastery, a crossroads of cultures, history and traditions, which represents the oldest symbolic site of Christianity in the East and stands at the foot of Mount Sinai, home to the marvelous basilica founded by Justinian in 527 A.D., the library (second only to that of the Vatican), and the Byzantine chapel.
Perhaps combine it with an afternoon at the traditional market in Dahab, where you can be infected by the typical atmosphere of that place, or breathing in the essence of the old city of Sharm inside the Souk discovering bazaars, boutiques, typical little stores with local handicrafts, bars and cafes to relax smoking hookah before returning to the Domina Coral Bay.
Or, again, experience the thrill of sunrise on the sacred mountain of Sinai, leaving in the evening from the resort: walk to the summit of Gebel Moussa, 2,284 meters and wait for the beauty of the sunrise of a new day.
In the Sinai Desert, a place of suggestion, under a starry canopy and surrounded by the mountains of the Valley of the Gods, it is finally possible to experience an unforgettable evening thanks to a dinner characterized by excellent traditional and international cuisine cheered by local folklore with the show offered by “Gold Stars“, one of the most famous groups in Sinai.
Next, you can watch the most anticipated Musical of the Year: Cleopatra, making your mind travel to distant times and fully experience Egyptian culture.
The Elisir Spa, a wellness oasis at Domina Coral Bay
And after all these experiences, soul and body find their balance in the Elisir SPA, being transported to an almost timeless setting where they enjoy wonderful pools, jacuzzis, waterfalls and exclusive treatments.
The Domina Coral Bay is a picturesque place, a landing place for tourists from all over the world, an oasis of luxury, well-being taken by storm by VIPs and television “celebrities” who find the perfect setting in which to spend their leisure time.
From music stars to famous actors to entrepreneurs and sportsmen, the resort has distinguished itself over the years as a landmark for all of Egypt. A Middle Eastern El Dorado that finds another of its highest expressions in thegastronomic offerings on offer, thanks in part to Ernesto’s Farm where the foods that are served in the restaurants are produced, grown in an oasis in the middle of the desert.
The gastronomic offerings of the Domina Coral Bay
Dining at Domina Coral Bay is also generally of a high standard and satisfies all palates: in the three open buffet restaurants, the Coral, the Spices , and Il Giardino, but especially in the other eight a la carte restaurants (including an Italian trattoria, the renowned Petrus steakhouse, and a sushi restaurant), at the heart of every dish is the pursuit of excellence in an ideal of cuisine that embraces art. This is the mission of starred Creative Executive Chef Ingo Möller who has been entrusted with managing the gastronomic offerings of the Domina Coral Bay.
Möller’s is an innovative approach, making the relationship with his guests a pivotal point around which to center his culinary talents, giving his dishes a constant surprise effect in step with the times and exceeding all expectations. So it is not unexpected to find great leaders and actors who appreciate his work, such as Angela Merkel, Ivanka Trump, George Clooney, Salma Hayek, Stanley Tucci, Novak Djokovic, and Oliver Stone.
The Beach, exclusive VIP beach club among champagne, sushi and nightlife
Finally, do not miss the experience at The Beach, an exclusive and luxurious beach club dedicated to D-Club members, but also accessible for a fee to other Domina Coral Bay guests. During the day, tents, cots and canopies welcome guests in a setting of absolute relaxation and privacy, but as evening falls, The Beach transforms into a trendy venue where you can enjoy an aperitif with a DJ set, dine in the Italian restaurant or at the sushi and Thai bar, and enjoy music and shows late into the night right on the beach.
