Не обошлось без ложки дёгтя Not without a fly in the ointment

Of course, the main thing on which rest depends is a positive attitude, and we had it. But still, there were nuances that spoiled this very mood a little. So let's get started:
1. Settlement. After providing a voucher for accommodation and filling out hotel cards, we were ready to settle. We were ready, but the receptionist named Buba (whom we later called “bouba in the head”) was not. He walked back and forth with a concerned face, scratched his head, consulted with other receptionists, but did not check in anyone. An hour later, finally began to issue the keys. And that's where it started. . . We hadn't had time to take our key yet, as the first settlers were already running back to change their number. When we saw our room, we understood what was happening: firstly, the room was too small for our family (the 3rd bed for the child would have to be placed right next to our bed), and secondly, despite the fact that already it was about 7 pm, and the rooms are rented until 12.00, our room was not cleaned (dirty and wet towels were lying in the bathroom, garbage was in the bins, I didn’t even want to check the bed). Another proposed room was large (2 rooms), but the "cleanliness" was just intimidating - there were cigarette butts on the floor, dirty shorts, etc. It was frivolous to expect that all this would be cleaned up for us before nightfall, so we preferred to check into a tiny, but still clean room (cleanliness was immediately determined by the smell of bleach). Oh yes, the AC didn't work in all 3 rooms. The next day, during a meeting with the hotel guide, it turned out that absolutely everyone has similar problems with the room. Moreover, someone didn’t give anything when checking in, someone gave $ 20, someone $ 30, my husband, after reading tips on the net, presented a bottle of vodka. But the result was the same for everyone. And here it is worth paying tribute to the hotel guide (Aymen / TUI tour operator), who, together with us, came to the reception, after which everyone was given normal rooms.
2. Another unpleasant moment. While staying at the hotel, our child just had a birthday. The day before, we went to the reception, agreed on everything, the receptionist (still the same Buba) beautifully wrote down everything: the room number, the name of the child, at what time and in which restaurant to congratulate. But the next day, when we came to the restaurant, for some reason our table was occupied, and they also somehow forgot about the promised cake. Such a disregard was very unpleasant, especially in comparison with how a year ago they organized a holiday for us in an Egyptian hotel.

Well, everything, the fly in the ointment is over, then just in order.
3. Service in restaurants, meals. Breakfast, lunch - buffet. You can also use the dining room of the Ribat building (we personally felt more comfortable there). Dinner - 3 restaurants to choose from: Tunisian, Italian and international. In each you will be offered a 3-course menu - a bit boring, but by alternating restaurants, you get a normal variety in food. We liked Tunisian better. There, the decoration is more pleasant, and the waiters are friendly and efficient. There are no complaints about the variety, quantity and quality of food - everything was enough, everything was delicious, no frills with spices. I especially liked how the meat is cooked - it turns out very tender and tasty. From alcoholic drinks I liked wines (especially pink) and nutmeg with ice and sprite (local drink, given at the bar at the reception). We also tried local vodka (bukha), did not like it.
4. Housekeeping and cleanliness of the hotel in general. After an unpleasant misunderstanding with the settlement, the cleaning of the room unexpectedly pleased. The girl who cleaned our room turned out to be very conscientious, she cleaned every day, changed the bedding and towels, for which we gladly left her a tip. But the hotel itself, like the country as a whole, is dirty. The carpeting in the hallways smells like a pack of dogs have spent the night on it. Among the waiters in restaurants, it is common to clean the tables, brushing the dirt with your hand on the floor, and then wipe your hands on your pants : ).
5. Beach. Own, but on the territory of the city, i. e. at sea everyone is equal. Therefore, if anyone is embarrassed by the presence of the local population, then it will not be comfortable on the beach - local children of 10-13 years old are constantly staring at women in bathing suits (you can understand them, because for them it’s like naked for them), but no one dissolves their hands. Older guys are trying to get acquainted, well, it’s a personal matter for every woman, to get acquainted or not. And in general, Tunisians are friendly people, they have never encountered rudeness.

The sea during our vacation was different: at first calm and very clean, then stormy and, quite logically, dirty. But it was fun to splash on the waves.
Almost all the time, a rather cool piercing wind blew from the sea, so before 9-10 in the morning and after 5 in the evening you don’t really buy.
6. Animation, entertainment. As they like to write in reviews: “Darling animators are trying their best! ”. If you are a fan of animation, then you will like it here, we have never met such a large animation team in any hotel - 12 people. Starting from 10.00, continuous aqua aerobics, water polo, games, competitions, dance lessons. In the evening - a show of invited artists, or your own (karaoke, miss hotel, etc. ).
Water slides are turned on by the hour (in the morning after 10, in the afternoon - I don’t know when, the morning session was enough for us). For some reason, the Yellow Hill was never turned on during our vacation.
Disco "7th Heaven" (in the basement) - well, this is sheer melancholy. There is not enough space, there are even fewer people, the music is backward (it is 2 years behind the commercials). Starts at 12 at night, drinks - for a fee.
7. Location. Very good (at least for us) - in the very center of the city. Near all the sights: Ribat fortress, it is clearly visible directly from the beach (open until 19.00, entrance 7 dinars); mosque and museum/mausoleum of the 1st President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba (the museum is open until 16.00, admission is free); medina (after sunset, all the shops are closed, you can only just wander through the streets). There is also a museum of national clothes, but we did not go to it. But we liked the local fish market (only it's better to go there in the morning, it stinks a lot in the afternoon).
In general, the hotel is not bad and there are definitely more pluses. For the general development of Tunisia, of course, it is worth visiting, and for getting to know the country in general and the city in particular, this hotel is perfect. But it is far from the level of Egyptian hotels (I am already silent about Turkey) of the same stardom.