I liked Marsa Matrouh, a pleasant and lively locality with its musicians and its pedlars, its food stalls and restaurants with delicious dishes of kofta (well-grilled spicy meatballs on a skewer).
If you like beautiful, white sandy, hot beaches awash with turquoise water, then Marsa Matrouh is the place for you. I recommend Cleopatra beach, to the west of the town. A superb place with a thin strip of land punctuating the bay surrounded by fascinating rock formations. Take the time to go to Ageebah Beach as well and admire the splendid natural spectacle of this little creek that strong waves go through.
To enjoy an undisturbed swim, go about 1 mile east of Ageebah Beach, there you will be able to give yourself over completely to lazing away on a long beach of fine sand with intensely blue calm water.