El Mouradi Palm Marina Reviews

Have just come back from a week's holiday, AI, staying at this hotel with my husband and two sons (13, 11). We had a fabulous time. The hotel is situated down a private road along with several other more up-market hotels although I have to admit to a moment's panic as the transfer bus turned off the main road to get us here. The first stretch of road is pretty grim but then it turns right and it's all OK.

The hotel front is quite lovely with pretty gardens, fountain and marble steps into the main reception area. The hotel features in the Lonely Planet guide for its spectacular view of the sea behind the reception desk and you can see why. We arrived late (delayed flight) but the room wasn't ready so the manager stuck our AI wrist bands on and directed us to the dining room for lunch; more annoying than something to get stressed about. Room large enough for the 4 of us (really more like 4 adults). It's just as you come to expect in these developing countries though - there's always something you can find to moan about if you search hard enough (e.g. grouting a bit tatty in bathroom) but it depends on how far you want these sorts of things to spoil your holiday.

Food in dining room not bad. Lots of different choices and the vegetable dishes quite delicious. Always fresh pasta made with sauces of your choice; occasional carvery. Not strong on meat but enough of it. Food plentiful and hot. Cakes and deserts fab though they do run out as people hog tons of the stuff at start of the meal!! Breakfast omelettes and pancakes freshly made. Juice not fresh though. The cuisine is geared for the huge range of nationalities that stay here (Polish, Russian, German, Dutch, French, Canadian, Brits. You can spend hours not hearing any English - which we loved actually). The waiters - all men as this is a Muslim nation - vary from the surly and ignorant through to charming and helpful. But hey, what's new?! They operate a strange system for dinner when you are meant to sit at the same table at the same time each evening but no-one apart from the head waiter seems to understand this as so we had loads of fun (as did most people) turning up willy nilly and of course, he couldn't turn us away.

Bars are great and serve fab cocktails - especially in piano bar. If you don't mind drinking their beer and their wine and their spirits you will love this place. If you want your Johnny Walkers and Smirnoff then this isn't the place for you. Drinks are NEVER watered down and there is no quota for how much you can drink.

Place is kept scrupurously clean. The pool, freshwater, is fantastic and better than the sea which is cold and full of sea-weed. Beach is private though with usual seletion of water sports. My boys loved the parachutes but barter the price. They overcharge like mad if they think you're a nube.

As only there for a week did not do excursions but travelled by train to El Jem to see the ampitheatre which is STUNNING!! I've seen the colosseum but this is awesme. Travel to Sousse by taxi (8 dinars - they will overcharge if they can); train to El Jem (they over-book seats so first come first served. Train air-conditioned but we had to stand all the way for the hour and half it took to get there. Return journey by louages (the little mini-buses). Station past the mosque. Just ask.

Port el Kantaoui is about 40 mins walk away. 3 dinar by taxi (more after 9 p.m) but they will try to charge you up to 5 dinar. Just walk away. You always get one who gives in. It's pretty especially at night and some reasonable jewellry shops and fake watches/bags/sun-glassses. Walk around; they all sell the same stuff and then barter with the guy you like most. Boys did scuba diving here at the diving centre which is good.

Would come back to Tunisia and explore more and would stay here. Enjoy!

This hotel is rated 5 star,it isnt, it is extremely 'Tired' andin need of a makeover if it is to retain its 5 star status which would still be questionable. The rooms were large but had many minor faults. the beds were rock hard but the staff cleaned daily and changed all linen and sheets daily.

The food was repetitive but edible, the problem was that the presentation seriously depleted as the evening wore on so if you leave it late some of it doesnt look to good. The pool and it acessories were dated and lacked any style. The gardens were bland with no landscape or colour normally expected in a 5 star hotel.The hotel next door was in abundance of colour and style.

The Kids club was rather unorthodox although the 5-8 year olds really enjoyed it. I wouldnt recommend for younger kids or any older than 8 or 9. Evening entertainment was an experience and had to be seen to be believed, that said everbody seemed to enjoy it and the bar was allways packed to capacity to see what was coming next. The rep was pretty useless and if you had any issues with the hotel as some customers did she was inefective with dealing with the issues. i got the holiday off the net for a considerable reduction, if i had paid full brochure price then a complaint to ABTA about the standard of a supposed 5 star hotel.

I have been on many holidays over the years and have stayed in 5 star hotels so even uin Tunisia certain standards need to be reached. All in all points out of 10 for the holiday 5. The area is ok, the port is as expected touristy but there ia a small amusement park which the kids enjoyed. Crthage was a dissapontment but the Bardo museum was worth a visit. I made a mistake and did not take my driving licence. driving in Tunisia is no worse than London at rush hour.