Hotel Diar El Andalous Reviews

This was our 2nd trip to Tunisia but first visit to Diar el Andalous. We booked last minute allocated on arrival, we were not disappointed. The hotel was spotless and staff very friendly and welcoming. Mixed nationalities lots of Italians, French, German and British staying there. It was late when we arrived but next morning we had a fabulous view of gardens and the sea. The grounds were very well kept and the pool area was very clean and well maintained. We were half board and although initially there looked to be lots of choice it was actually very repetitive and not 5* standard, although it must be said we never went hungry. The restaurant was very clean and staff very helpful. The piano bar was a very pleasant way to end the day sipping cocktails in nice peaceful surroundings.

Activities were plenty with water aerobics, volleyball, paragliding to name a few, we chose to just soak up the sun on one of the many sun beds (free of course) around the pool. The snack bars were very popular and the food was good even supplying chips to the British! Please note though spirits can be expensive as they are all imported and some drinks cannot be obtained (Jack Daniels, Malibu etc) so buy some duty free and take your own with you. Water is a lot cheaper to buy at the Supermarket which is about a 15 min walk away (go after breakfast or evening when it is a bit cooler to walk). The hotel has its own disco/nightclub and even has a six lane bowling alley as well as an indoor pool. I would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants a care free relaxing holiday but not to anyone who wants an 18-30 type holiday if that is what you want stick to Tenerife or Benidorm.

All in all a fabulous time, made some great friends and would definitely go back

we booked our holiday as a late deal and was allocated hotel on arrival. We were guaranteed a 5* hotel half board and thats exactly what we got, we arrived at 3am due to a slight flight delay. The reception was spacious, clean and impressive. Porters took our cases too our room (who you have to tip). the room was clean and a good size for us however I would not say 5* but it was worth more then what we had paid.

WEATHER
As we travelled half way through october i was a bit wary of what the weather was going to be like, however I was very pleased 30 degrees each day and no rain it was perfect and came back with a lovely tan.

FOOD
I was very happy with the food. Buffet breakfast, plenty to go around, loads of eggs though fried egg scrambled egg boiled egg omelette, fruit, cakes, youghurts, toast etc was very delicious.
lunchtime we ate in the ";Rimmel"; which is next to the pool. good selection burger and chips lasagne, pizza, salads etc and was very nice. Dinner was in the al e carte restuarant, waiter service buffet starter and dessert and every other day main meal but then set menu for the other days which was impressive aswell. A good thing that I found was that as we were half board if you wanted to go out for your evening meal, so you would not miss out on a meal you could go and have your lunch for free instead.
Drink
If you want alcohol then take your own. drinks were weak and we searched everywhere to buy our own and we only found one place and they wanted £40 for a bottle of cheap vodka. So I just stuck with the wine for the week which was good enough.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
first night we were a bit lost what to do. However the hotel does offer a lot. The piano bar which is nice, chica cafe but you cant drink in there, there is a nightclub in the hotel which we sat in however because not peak time we were only ones in there most of the time. you can sit out on the terrace or there is a tent outside tunisian style which is nice, one night there was tunisian dancing and music, another night we had the ";fakir show"; where they lie on the bed of nails which was a funnight as they get the audience particiapting.
SWIMMING POOL/BEACH
swimming pool was very nice and big and clean a bit cold but you soon got used to it. they also had an inside pool which would have been handy if it had rained. lifeguard for the outdoor pool at all times which is good.
beach I was a bit disappointed with the beach, white sand but a lot of seaweed, which made the sea look a bit dirty in some places.

PORT EL KANTOUI
we walked a few times to the marina, i suggest you buy the water from the supermarket here as it is a lot cheaper then the hotel. the marina was quite nice and the people were friendly. one night we went there for a meal which was at a very reasonable price. only 25mins away and you can walk a long the beach.
SOUSSE
we booked a guided tour through our rep which I suggest you do because you might get lost if you go on your own. it was a bit hussly and bustly but I found it interesting. If you don't want to buy anything from the people that come up to you just say no thank you and they will leave you alone. Tunisian people are very nice.

Overall if you want a nice relaxing holiday which is what we wanted then this is the place for you if you want a clubbing holiday then I would not recommend it. I would definatly recommend the hotel ( it even had its own bowling alley) the staff were friendly and always helpful. I would definatly go back again and would suggest this hotel to anyone thinking of going to tunisia.

This was my fourth time to Tunisia but first to Port El Kantaoui. It was a much more commercial resort but still kept the feel of Tunisia.

The hotel was classed as a 5 star but we felt the rooms did not match the rating. The service however we could not fault. Please note that as this is a 5 star hotel, long trousers must be worn in the A'La Carte restaurant. There are also dress codes for the other areas of the hotel but most are common sense.

The outside pool was lovely and the attendants were willing to arrange your sun lounger with cushion as you wish. The pool bar is open until 6.00ish, which was a shame as some evenings it would have been nice to watch the sun set with a gin and tonic!

The outside cafe had a good selection for lunch and the service is excellent.

The piano bar looked a little dated but the service again was excellent.

The hotel is right on the beach and has sun beds free of charge. You may get hassled to take a parachute ride or ski jet, but if you are blunt with them and say no they tend to leave you alone.

The port was a short taxi ride from the hotel and cost 3 dinar, (£1.50). You can walk but it's not great scenery! Once there you will get asked to eat restaurants by the waiters, if you really don't want to go in just say no thank you! There are a few shops selling similar items but be prepared to haggle. There is one shop which has a fixed price if you don't want the hassle.

Our favourite places to eat were the Meditterano and the Neptune boat. The wine is fine if bought by the half bottle and beers are bottles either Tunisian or Lowenbrau.

We wouldn't hesitate in returning to this resort and hotel and we highly recommend others to stay.

First time in Tunisia and we were very excited but also curious. When we arrived at the hotel it was nightime sowe couldnt see much, WE entered the reception and found the most spacios, relaxing, clean reception. Every one was very helpfull and even at 2 in the morning people were offering to help carry luggage, etc. WE arrived in our room and found a room with a double bed and a camp bed at the side of it. no use to us, having a 14 year old daughter with us. WE imediatly went down stairs to ask for a bigger room, and luckily were given a much bigger 2 bedded room, which also had a bigger balcony and more relaxing space. The next morning we woke up to 42";c of heat! THe breakfast was buffet and was of great quality. we found our way out of the hotel and were amazed at the cleanliness and space of the grounds.

The hotel is right on the beach, which is clean, white and the sea is very warm. The pool is gorgeous, warmer than the indoor one. WE booked a few trips with the rep. (folklore evenimg and camel caravan ) which were both great.WE also went para-gliding which is amazing, something not to be missed. The hotel itself is not shown in the broshure, from the outside it does not look too great, but every thing inside is of great quality and extremley well kept.The staff are always bright and cheery and will never go without a smile!Te hotel is of mixed nationalities but all the British we met were all happy with the hotel and every word said was praise!

When we were in Tunisia the temperature reached 48";c!!!! Which was just too hot so we were all pleased that there was entertainment ready at our hands.POrt EL Kantaoui was a 25 minute walk from the hotel, which was just nice, you wouldnt want to be to close. It was not busy in the daytime , all the shops sell the same stuff and everyone has surely learnt to haggle and not to buy until well under the first asking price! Sousse was not half as nice as Port El Kantaoui, The streets smelt of Urine and you could not walk 2 minutes without being bothered, you almost felt sorry for the poor men begging you to come into their shops.

The food at the hotel is great you eat as much as you like, and is of a set menu as main meal, but buffet starter and pudding, it works out nice! Our room was very spacious and had 2 seperate bedrooms, unlike some parties of 3 who were squashed into a double room, with a single bed placed alongside the double, This sounded very small and not enough room for 3 people sharing.Overall the Hotel is fabulous, the setting and grounds are more than you could ever wish for. Its just beutiful, the pool and just how its all set out! You couldnt really wish for much more.I couldnt find anything wrong with Diar EL Andalous, and i would think i was along with many others!!!