Went for a week's Christmas break December 2009, was just lucky in escaping Gatwick on the 20th before it closed. Will deal with the positive aspects first, and the not so afterwards.
Having got past the rather gawdy sprayed on Father Xmases on the entrance to the hotel, found an absolutely stunning reception area, beautifully designed, furnished and welcoming. The reception staff were excellent, they could smile and speak to you whilst multitasking at the same time. They should come to the UK to teach reception staff. I had a stunning room with balcony overlooking the swimming pools, palm trees, and beach. The chamber staff was excellent. The food was superb and there was such a choice of different kinds of food and dishes, beautifully cooked vegetables and an array of desserts.
There was a massage parlour where on my first day I had a Jasmine massage at £25. I joined in aerobic sessions some mornings and water aerobics was on offer most days, no extra charge. The holiday rep left a letter with his visiting times, though the main excursions the 2 day Safari, and trip to Tunis and Carthage I had done on previous visits to Sousse.
The shops in the hotel arcade were very good in that they didn't bother you but just let you look and relax.
The Xmas eve dinner 6 courses was wonderful and you could see that people enjoyed it. Tunisian hotels take a great deal of trouble over the Xmas Eve dinner and there is usually the parade of the chefs, amids applause and appreciation by the guests.
Now for the negative points. When you checked into the hotel, a plastic hospital type bracelet was affixed to your wrist, to show whether you were on all inclusive (a light blue wristband) or on half board (a green wristband) or a child (orange). Unfortunately I was only aware of the terms half board or full board, as per my previous stays in Sousse but was not aware of the term "all inclusive" as I enjoy wine with meals, and coffee I was at a distinct disadvantage. Yet "all inclusive" cost very little extra. Furthemore if someone invited you to join them for a coffee, you would then later get told off brusquely and told "don't drink your coffee here". As it was. I took my coffees in nearby coffee bars but as for the wine at mealtimes you had to purchase bottles of not very good and fairly expensive wine, whereas if you were on all -inclusive you were topped up all the time. How on earth will those lovely coffee bars survive with this all-inclusive?
I was not impressed with the entertainment, though the animation team did their best. But I was in Tunisia, and would have liked to see some authentic Tunisian dancing and belly dancing as on previous visits. The entertainment was all western.
Now for the worst part. Some of the guests, German speaking, were extremely rude. For example when you were queing to get your excellent breakfast coffee, they would just utter some impatient remark and push past you all to grab their coffee, and this was also when one kind guest had reordered a fresh supply for us all. I took a photo of one of these obnoxious people, got his room no, and reported him to the hotel manager. I must say the manager did come in at crucial times and watched the goings on.
Worse than this was the stealing of food at breakfast times. It was unbelievable, in spite of a polite notice asking people not to take food out of the dining room. As mentioned the food was plentiful, so there was no need. I saw people with platefuls of food in front of them, more in the middle of their table, as if that wasn't enough they were putting food in their bags, even bringing PLASTIC BOXES and FLASKS into the breakfast room. And no, these were not half board, people, they were on full board wearing the light blue wristband. This greed I found offensive, especially in a country which is poor and where the people are not well paid.
What is astounding is that the staff in the dining room, which was always overmanned did nothing about this massive stealing, but had no problem in telling someone off for being invited to the wrong coffee lounge!. I was also not very impressed with the way dining room male staff, without enough to do, would ask personal questions to ladies on their own, and also wait for the female staff to clear the tables whilst they sauntered up and down with their bow ties.
I mentioned the sumptuous reception area, with all its different sections in which to relax, well they were all smoking. The staff would keep emptying the ashtrays. Even though the German speaking guests would not be permitted to smoke in hotels in their own countries, they had no problem in smoking all over you there. Some of them had emphysema and their smoking was accompanied by really vile coughing, and you couldn't keep moving as there would be no end to it.
Well, of course I would recommend the hotel, having pointed out all aspects plus the good value for moeny. I would hope however that the food theft could be resolved, that smoking could be banned in reception, and a better way could be found to the all inclusive/half board segregation. I would also recommend some authentic Tunisian or Arab music and entertainment.
A final point, there are numerous cats in the hotel grounds, most of them look well looked after. However, they were drinking water from the swimming pool. Any chance of taking over some of those little light plastic supermarket containers to put water in when you go? There was a notice up on the lifts saying that the cats were looked after by SPANA, but the telephone number was not in service and the notice was obviously out of date.
I can recommend the camel caravan trip (includes horses or just a caravan if preferred) purchased from the fellow just outside the swimming pool, and a visit to the museum of modern art, which is quite incredible and novel. Also a ride in a horse and carriage.
