Occidental Grand Monastir Reviews

We have just returned from the Occidental Grand - Skanes (June 07). Worthwhile making your own way to hotel as it is directly across from airport, saves waiting 45 minutes for transfer!!! First impressions of the hotel when we entered was very impressive. Gentleman on reception was very welcoming. Room was very clean and adequate with a queen bed! Balcony overlooked the pool. You could see the sea from your room. Food was very good. There was a good choice at dinner time, yet lunch time sometimes was a little disappointing. The beach cafe was very good if you ordered food to be cooked in front of you. The local beer was bearable and the cocktails were very nice. Bar staff in main bar were fantastic, they were very friendly and worked from early in the morning until the end of the night (2.00am).

The animation team were good with the kids they did ask everyone to get involved in activities, sometimes abit annoying if you were after a quiet relax around the pool, we spent most days on the beach, no hassle!!! THE animation team also put on the shows for the evening entertainment. This am afraid to say was extremely disappointing, not sure what to make of it, felt abit surreal that we were actual sat watching it!!! Wasn't much else on in the evening. The disco was very disappointing. Wasn't many people there when we arrived, mainly from foreign countries i.e.Germany, France, Austria etc., Wouldn't recommend teenagers to go at this time of year. The night time would be realy boring for them. Airport noise did not bother us at all. Beware of little Tunisian man who will offer you a trip to Sousse, not good idea to go with him!! The guys promoting the Quad bike trip were really annoying, asked us every day!! Went for a massage, was very very relaxing and would reccomemd it.

Beach lovely, sea very warm, 2 minutes walk from front of hotel. Sun beds are plentiful, They had just opened a play pool for kiddies with a big snake and waterfall was very good, also waterslides were being finalised. Service 10/10, Food 7/10, location 8/10, Hotel comfort 10/10. Was a very relaxing holiday, just went for 1 week which was enough for us. Weather was very hot. The staff all work extremely long hours and are being monitored constantly by management, sometimes found this was a little unfair on the staff, as they worked non stop, deco was very nice.
Would not go back, prefer resort where you can go out and visit bars and clubs.

We stayed at this hotel for 1 week from 16th September 06. I would recommend not waiting for your coach to transfer you as you are literally ";over the road"; from the Airport. Noise from aircraft flying over is bearable through the day but extremely noisy at night. This hotel is listed as a 4* - but does not meet this rating at all.

First impressions on entering the hotel's grand entrance are good, but only deteriorate once you have checked in. The rooms are basic and kept clean, however the common areas i.e. corridors etc are in desperate need of an overhaul. The pool area is nice and the animation team work very hard and are genuinely nice and enthusiastic. However this can become a little annoying if you are wanting to chill out and relax as you are constantly prompted to join in whatever is going on i.e. aqua gym, yoga etc - one week was definitely enough for me. The food was a bit disappointing and you have to come to terms with the amount of flies hovering over prepared food especially in the restaurant by the beach.

I would not recommend going to this hotel in low season as there were never more than 3 people in the disco - that includes myself and my friend!! The evening entertainment is not brilliant, silly games etc is not to everyones taste and the constant requirement to be told to ";keep clapping"; can become annoying. We made the best of it and thankfully the weather was fab - but i wont be going there again. I must repeat though that the annimation team and all the staff were very friendly and helpful and this made it more bearable.