Esther & Mike’s 10-Year Love Story with Fort Arabesque
It began with a single swim — and a single eagle ray.
In December 2015, while staying at a neighboring hotel, Esther and Mike Linke wandered onto Fort Arabesque’s beach for a bit of snorkeling. Beneath the surface, they spotted their first eagle ray. Above it, something else quietly clicked. The water, the view, the feeling — all unforgettable.
That short visit was all it took to plant the seed. The decision was made: next time, it had to be Fort.
By March 2016, they were back — this time as guests. Room 326 became their family’s first true Fort home. Their youngest daughter was just eight months old, already falling in love with the beach. Later that year, Esther came alone to prepare for her psychotherapy exam. She found both peace and clarity — and passed.
From then on, Fort Arabesque became their destination for every kind of life moment: rest, celebration, reconnection. A baby moon in 2017. Their grandmother’s 80th birthday in Villa 11. And, in December 2021, a beachfront vow renewal under golden skies. Esther walked down the aisle in a white-and-gold galabeya, hand-in-hand with Mr. Ayman Eleshenawy. Her husband waited in a suit and flip flops, his best man beside him. The Fort team stood in as friends and witnesses. “I felt like an Egyptian princess,” she remembers.
When the pandemic hit, their connection didn’t fade. After two cancelled holidays, Esther booked the first flight she could find and became the first European guest to return after lockdown. The resort was quiet — only 20 guests. But the moment she stepped into her villa, she could finally breathe. “The stress melted. I called it Fort Therapy.”
In December 2020, the whole family returned once again. With occupancy still low, they were offered something special: Duplex Villa 14, just for them. Mornings in the sand, breakfast at Club 159, two peaceful weeks during a chaotic time — a memory they still treasure.
And the story continued. Most recently, they danced into 2024 at the New Year Africa Party under the tent behind the Jungle Pool — an evening they’ll never forget.
They’ve already added more stays in 2024 and 2025, with another family trip planned for December. But their answer to the very first question?
“After 21 stays at Fort, I can definitely say: yes, you can fall in love with a hotel. Fort Arabesque is our second home. And we can’t wait to return.”