As this was our first visit to Tunisia we came away not sure if what we experienced was the norm. Im glad the other two reviews help clarify what we also saw! I think if you visited this hotel at a quieter time it was be a different holiday - for us it was too busy and the food disappointing also out of the hotel the area is shocking with litter and rubble everywhere. Sorry Tunisa we would not come back to Mahida but may try another resort - good points are the staff who were friendly the beach,sea and the sunshine.

Please dont listen to previous bad reviews about this hotel ! i dont usually do this but felt compelled to write this reviews as the previous comments from those tehre on the 54th paint an ufair picture.

The staff cannot be more helpful and friendly as they always are at Riu hotels nothing was too much trouble in particular firas,jo and bar man Hamdi made my holiday very memorable and fun they went out of there way to interact with guest and get to know everyone personalLy.

if you are thinking of booking this upgrade to a superior sea view as it is well worth it these rooms have been refurbished.The beach was amazing crystal clear water which was a lovely temperature watersports are great value for money you can haggle to get a ticket for 5 goes on any for a discount rather than paying as you go.The scuba diving is a must great guys and a fab experience even if you dont dive.We went into the medina at night which we loved as it was buzzing never felt threatened or pestered at all not like in egypt.Entertainment staff work really hard all day and night and there is always something on if you want it no pressure if you dont want to join in.The food was good most of the time the italian and the tunisian are well worth booking into really enjoyed these.
Hope this has helped if you go have a great time hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

I couldnt agree more with Big Apple 6. Everything in the previous review was spot on. How sad that RIU staff and management allowed this appalling behaviour to continue for the 4 days that this Tunisian bunch of heathens were present. Whilst I understand fully the decline of interest in Tunisia because of the changes in government and the distance from the new airport, did they really have to stoop so low and advertise special offers that would attract such s**** to their Hotel?Shame on youRIU. I personally got what I expected from the holiday. The closeness to my local airport from home, the price , the sunshine and RIU's generally excellent quality were what attracted me, but I shall think again when choosing RIU in Tunisia. We have stayed in Mahdia before and knew that there was very little outside of the Hotel, this didnt particularly bother us. We were in room 640 which is as far away from Reception, bar and Restaurant as you could get.(be prepared to walk a fair distance to your room). I saw this as a bit of a minus until the wild bunch arrived, I will say that looking back, I am so glad we were out of the way of them. Our room and service were very good, however, the beds were terribly hard and the pillows could do with some upgrade. We met some lovely people at the Hotel, Belgians,Austrian, aTunisian(So there not all animals) and of course English. There was a fair mix of all nationalities, but one thing in common was the Tunisians who were celebrating Ede, they managed to upset everyone. I found the food was of a reasonable standard,but yes it does get a bit samey after the first week, most of the staff were very helpful and extremely polite. Watch out on your last but one day, they will all tell you that the day you are leaving is their day off,so are looking for their tips. My chambermaid knocked us up at 07.20 the day before to say goodbye (for the 2nd time). She wanted the tip in her hand, she wouldnt trust that you would leave it in the room for her to pick up after you'd left. Our waiter told us the same, only to meet him in the Tunisisan Restaurant where very early breakfast is served for the early leavers, he didnt expect to see us there! Ah, I am working extra he said.Spirits are very weak from the bar areas, but if you ask for a double, the waiting staff are only too happy to oblige, the drink then becomes a little more like home.Bell boy was hopeless, he's vety pleasant and full of chat, but he doesnt do suitcases, beprepared to carry your own to the room and again to the coach on your way home, he will however rush out two minutes later to wish you a safe journey and take a tip. Hope this review is useful and that you will enjoy the holiday if you dont expect too much.

Just came back from this hotel this morning so will start with the good points.
We had a fantastic room on the top floor overlooking the Pool and Sea and this was kept absolutely spotless by our very helpful room maid.
The staff throughout the hotel could not do enough to help you and the hotel in general at first was spotlessly clean.
The beach and beach area was again kept tidy and the sea was excellent warm and not to deep for the kids.
Now the not so good bit.
Food was diabolical and repeated every night just the name card being the difference.
Food in the pool bar was really shocking with the only respite being the afternoon pancakes but even these started to go down hill after they ran out of raspberry jam and substituted with some date like purée.
Chips were with everything and became really monotonous especially after the first week.
Real bad news.
The hotel really went to the dogs last Thursday. During the morning it was noticeable that we were being invaded by very large families of Arab personnel. They just took the place over even taking your sunbed if you did not keep an eye on it. Thursday nights meal was horrendous with the Arab men sending out contingents of women to completely strip the buffet of all it's assets. These women did not know the meaning of standing in an orderly line or indeed manners. During the meal time I witnessed two women fighting over the contents of a large container of chips whilst the woman standing next to me waiting for the steak to be cooked pushed me out of the way when the chef put on the serving plate and continued to pick it up by hand and examining each piece rejecting those bits that she did not approve of , throwing it back onto the plate.
Another favourite was for them to sample the sauce dishes using the serving utensil really hygienic. Whilst this was going on a number of the menfolk leaned back in their chairs and lit cigarettes in a no smoking area.
Next day around the pool was no better and at lunch time again in the pool bar the buffet was attacked by the women scurmishers who still had not lost the habit of sampling the offerings using the serving spoons. One family took up residence on the table next to us and I could not help but notice that a young child of 5 had no less than 15 burghers on her plate. After an attempt to eat them she just scraped her plate onto the floor. Some of the women were taking the food out to their husbands on the beds who ceremoniously deposited anything left into the pool.
Friday was also the day that we experienced some entertainment laid on by a group of mothers who encouraged their young male off spring to see who could pee the farthest into the pool with great shrieks of pleasure from the mother who's child won.
It was also on Friday that sinister shapes brown in colour started to appear in the bottom pool. On approaching the manager regarding this at first he appeared not to understand me then after my insistence he said that they were very rich Tunisian families and he could not control the actions of the parents. He also explained at great length that the pools cleaning system could capabilities could adequately cope with now routine of "Mine Laying". Two French families also approached him at the same time and got the same negative reaction that I did.
Saturday did not improve in fact it was on Saturday that much larger (Adult Size) appeared in the top pool.

Yes this holiday started off really good and I would not of hesitated to give this hotel 5* but sorry the hygiene stands slipped beyond bearable and no one among the staff seemed to have the bottle to stand up to these people and point out the problems that they were causing.