Hotel La Residence Hammamet in Hammamet

We booked this hotel for our family of 5 at a very reasonable price, so we didn’t expect luxury, but we did hope for the basics to be in place. On the negative side, the room we were given was quite outdated, something from the 80s, and not very well maintained. There was only one socket in the entire room, and it was occupied by the TV, so charging electronic devices was always a challenge, especially with a family of 5. This led to constant queues for the one available socket. The toilet, shower, and kitchenette were all extremely old, to the point where we didn’t even use the kitchenette, but of course, we had to rely on the toilet and shower facilities. Cleaning also didn’t seem to be a priority. The lighting, storage, wardrobes, and windows were all very old and in desperate need of an upgrade. Breakfast was decent enough, especially considering the price we paid. On the positive side, there was a reasonably well-kept rooftop swimming pool with stunning views of the trees and the beach/sea in the background. The hotel also had a nice courtyard with plenty of greenery and seating, perfect for relaxing. The reception area was welcoming, and the hammam (spa) on the ground floor offered good service at a very reasonable price. We also had the pleasure of meeting Chawki, a very helpful person who sat by the entrance to the courtyard during the day. He offered us a Quad package at a very reasonable price, far cheaper than any quotes we had gotten from other sources. He is also a very good source of information on anything you need, and one of very few people who speaks English well enough to have a good conversation. The staff were generally helpful, although interactions were somewhat limited since I don't speak French or Arabic, and English isn’t widely spoken in Tunisia. The best feature of the hotel is its location. You’re not in Yasmine Hammamet, which is shiny, busy, and full of tourist traps with overzealous shopkeepers and taxi drivers who think it’s acceptable to charge 5 times the regular fare. Instead, you’re in the old Hammamet, or as the locals call it, the real Hammamet, not the touristy version. Right outside the hotel to your left, you'll find plenty of food stalls, coffee shops, and juice bars offering fresh, tasty food at prices geared toward locals. If you prefer a restaurant experience, there are plenty of good options nearby. The old fort and old medina are just a 5-minute walk away, and the public beach is about a 2-minute walk. While you might need to walk a little further to find a cleaner spot, it’s not much of a hassle. Near the fort, there’s also an MG City supermarket, where you can pick up all your daily essentials. There’s a taxi stand very near the supermarket. While the taxi stand marshal made it clear that the drivers will not use meters as they are only for Tunisians, we were given a fixed price for our ride to Yasmine Hammamet (10 Dinars). This now seems like a reasonable fare, especially compared to the m

The hotel facilities are old and the location is great