Houda Yasmine Marina & SPA in Hammamet

This hotel is in a place which is near to shopping malls, various attractions, and the seafront and marinas are within approximately 10 mins walking distance. The nearest beach isn't the best for swimming, but some gentle areas can be found. Please be aware that if you try to use the beach, you will be hounded by camel & horse riders, who will pester you even if you are trying to enjoy a little stroll or quiet time. Upon arrival, the dining room was already closed, but there was a basket of some cheese rolls and fruits in my room, which was a nice gesture. Breakfast the next morning was not inspiring, but by lunch time, the meals seemed to improve. In the bedroom, there was a kettle, and some very weak tea bags, with no milk or sugar. Interestingly, this one set of a few tea bags was not replenished at any stage during my stay. The used cup and saucers etc from my tea drinking on the first day, were not collected from my room. I eventually left them outside my room, after a few days. Apart from this little quirkiness, the room was comfortable and clean. The hotel is clean and functional. There is one bar, which shuts at 11pm, where the staff make you feel like you are asking them for a favour. Service with a smile is a bonus. The restaurant served a lot of local food, which is great for those wanting to try out a different kind of cuisine than they are used to. There seemed to be mostly guests from the surrounding areas / countries, so the food was not geared towards Western dishes. The restaurant opening 3 times a day was the basis of the all inclusive package. There was something that resembled a few slices of pizza, which was seen outside one day in between the dining hours. This fell quite short of the regular 'snack bar' which is common at all inclusive resorts. Service in the restaurant was also a hit and miss affair. I certainly didn't get the impression that the staff were making any effort to engage the guests. The service was functional, and I suppose that is the main thing. On the first morning of my trip, I enquired about the gym (which I noticed was not open). I was told it would be open the following day. It remained shut during my 7 night stay. There was an indoor swimming pool, which some families seemed to enjoy. I didn't see anyone use the outdoor pool during my stay. There was a varied amount of entertainment (including for children), and I could hear the loud music from the disco, in my room until about 11pm each night. Outside of the hotel gates there were people selling trips / excursions. I booked a pirate ship trip, and also a quad bike trip. When I booked these trips, there was no enquiry about my hotel address and room number, or my personal details. Visitors to this hotel should ensure that any trips they book, should have their details linked to any trips, as a safeguarding measure! For the price, the hotel was good value. It was by no means impressive where service is concerned, but people can have a nice li

The best thing about this hotel is the staff. Everyone is so pleasant and willing. The animation team Freddy and Pepito work tirelessly to bring a good atmosphere around the pool. I travelled out of season so it was quiet. The servers are lovely especially Salah and Faisal who are lovely gentleman and work so hard. This hotel may be classed as 4 star here in Tunisia but it would be 3 star at best at home. Food was ok. Lots of choice and I enjoyed it but a lot of English people would be disappointed with the lack of “fast food” especially if travelling with children who want burgers and fries etc. It was repetitive but honestly there were so many options I just tried something different every day. Some of the rooms are very dated. All of them are basic and they turn off the aircon out of season (after 15 September!!! - I never heard of that before!). The sealant around the bathroom was done by a 5 year old. Could have done a better job myself. Had to change room on arrival because my room was dirty. They changed it without hesitation so all was good. Ignore the journey from the airport. That will be an eye opener. Hammamet tourist area is clean-and perfectly safe. Get your bartering hat on and enjoy!!