Just returned from hotel thalassa in Mahdia. Clean hotel, good variety of food (lovely salads and desserts). Lovely beach - white clean sand - sea lovely to swim in. Most of the staff were very friendly and helpful particularly the animation team and they never insisted that we take part in anything if we didn't want to. Reception staff a bit unfriendly at times. Not too much for our teenage children to do at night - no games room or billiard tables so that was a bit dissapointing but great for small kids as there is a mini-club. I recommend this hotel for anyone wanting a quiet relaxing holiday but just watch out for being talked into going on town visits with a guide as you'll end up in carpet and jewellery shops (unless that's what you want). About deck chairs at the pool - well don't worry about all those "6am chair reservers" who reserve their chair and then go off to the beach for the day and only return at 5pm!! We just asked the lifeguard to bring us chairs and we didn't have a problem.

During a 7 day trip in Tunis we stayed here 2 nights. It is a very good hotel, new, clean, confortable.

The food is good and the restaurant is not overcrowded. The bar is ok.

It has direct access to beach and some thalasso options.

The room was large, the terrace had direct sights to sea and the bathroom was ok.

It is a good option to visit Mahdia, el jem and other places near and also have some quality tiem for you in the hotel.

Tunisia 3rd trip........ Skanes and P E K....... thgis was a disappointment.

The good points: Lovely hotel, right on the beach, good pools, good food, clean, tidy, helpful but not english speaking staff.

Entertainment................ The rep (Thomson) does not visit, you have to phone for an appointment. Other than 2 day excurtions to the desert etc (did that last year, none offfered. Was offered the "reps" cabaret, some enjoyed it, i didn't the first time, not professional and the "drag show did nothing for me.
The Hotel entertainment is like something put on by school 6th formers.............. I nearly died of embarrassment when they did the Cletic irish dance night................ Irish Bricklayers could have dome better with their wellies on............. OK I had just seen Riverdance at cardiff but honestly, i was embarrassed by it all........... the topping was when a young girl did the tin whisle bit to Lord of the dance, through the sound system came Abide with me on highland bagpipes.... we were laughing so much we left as the germans and italians were more amused by us than the stage show...................

OK The place........... middle of knowhere like a building / bomb site. To get anywhere a taxi gets you to mahdia (fishing port and Madina (fair) 3 dinar.............. Train ride to Monastir 7 dinar ~ excellent and worth a walk about. Don't take a taxi to the train station walk to the main road, turn right (sign) walk 300 yards and rirectly oposite a 5 star hotel with flags outside you see a blue and white rain station.......... striaght to Monasit/Sousse/Tunis.

Only three shops......... 100 yards from the hotel, supermarket, pharmacy and gift shop (and a small cafe), there's a better gift shop near the rail station.

I wanted to see El Jem again, the rep didn't have a clue how to get there. This worked............. took a taxi to the main railway station in Madhia, bus station next door ~ but to El Jem ( 1 hour 9 dinar) great................

Keep Friday clear ~ market day (outdoors) in Mahdia over 500 stalls selling everything. agood place for gifts ~ haggling obligatory!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warning............ it's full of Germans, italians (who have no volume control when they speak (non stop) and the french. Hotel staff have very little english, but they can certainly serve good food..............

The beach was great, I swam on three days, a bit cold but OK. The beaxh is clean, water clear, watched a new sewerage pipe being layed out to the deep bits of the beach, very entertaining, especially when a joint failed and the sea lost i'ts charm. Nice little cafe to the right (white and blue (don't use their toilets) smaller cafe to the left like a green tent, good capachino.

A good day is to take a taxi to madhia, see the fortress and walk back to the hotel using the sea front road and beach, does the tan good............ about 2 miles one way..........

I think that's all, If I can be of help - dafudd@gmail.com -plus- 500 photos on a kodak web site, open to view to anyone, just email me and ask...................

In brief,,,,,,, Madia is the last tourist spot in Tunisia and it shows............. I intend to return next year but to Skanes or Monastir.................. Hope you enjoy your trip and I haven't put you off.

Cofio'n Gorau (Best wishes) Dai

Absolutely fantastic hotel. The place was very clean and very friendly, staff speak most languages, french is the second language of tunisia however I dont feel that it was hard to communicate with any of the staff. The rooms were lovely and cleaned every day, the maids even took the time to place your pjs in a pattern on your bed. The waiting staff were very friendly and very attentive, the food was wonderful. There was a plethora of activites incl, the diving shack, the bannana boat, the rings, and the animation team provide other activities such as waterpolo and archery to name a few. They are very vivacious and work hard and are wonderful with the children. All the staff take time to get to know you by asking your name, where you from etc and will always say hello!

Thomson also provide tons of activities all of which are very good, the rep Emma was very helpful and very friendly and very helpful when my little sister got an ear infection. The hotel infirmary was also very helpful and looked after her instantly.

I would highly recommend this hotel, and this country. Yes the Medinas are very hectic and not some peoples cup of tea as you will get hassaled but enjoy it is part of the culture and really is good fun.

I can't wait until next year!!!