Houda Yasmine Marina & SPA

DO NOT GOT TO THIS HOTEL. We booked a 10 night break at this hotel we paid an average price to stay here so didn’t expect much. However let me explain my stay, The food was terrible service was shocking rooms were dated and dirty and we got one bath towel to share! There was a football team that came to the hotel and one of the players forced a young girl into a lift and told her she had to have sex with him, after reception was told the young girl was told to point out the person who did this, on what planet is that normal parading a child in front of fully grown men getting her to point out who did it to her, I personally was followed upto my room by one of the waiters luckily nothing happened, After the 4th day of being at this hotel I got very very sick! Nothing and I mean nothing budged it. I got that ill we left are holiday early because I wanted to be treated in a uk hospital. Once back in the uk I was admitted to hospital where I then stayed for a substantive amount of time! I was told I had contracted food poisoning I had all the relevant tests! I was not the only person at the hotel who was sick either my partner got sick and a few other people got sick too. However I was so ill after been at this hotel I ended up with Hyperkalemia and also Hyperglobulinemia both together highly dangerous and life threatening. I’ve stayed in some bad places in my life but this is by far the worst place I have ever been! It’s like faulty towers but worse. This was my first visit to Tunisia and 100% my last. And then to top it off imagine having food poisoning in this hotel and only been allocated 1 toilet roll per day! My parter went to reception to ask for some more and wasn’t allowed any! I know a lot of people are commenting on the animation team been great but I found them irritating and also out dated! Walking round constantly saying meow meow drinking alcohol and generally just annoying. We honestly wish we had stayed home. We will now be getting a solicitor involved because of the severity of my illness. Honestly go somewhere else! Holiday companies should be going and re-viewing this hotel.

We booked this holiday 2 weeks before we went and did not expect it to be fancy because it was cheap. First impression when we arrived was the outside looked dated, but the welcome received was nice. At reception we were told that no rooms were ready for us, even though it was 2pm. We were told to go and have a drink or lunch and the room would be ready. As we had been travelling since early morning we went for lunch. Walked in and went to look at the food, there was a limited choice of food and hardly anything in the trays. What we had was cold and tasteless, we both said it must of been because it was late for lunch. To cut a long story short for the rest of the time we visited the restaurant it is pretty much the same every time we ate in the main restaurant. Some of the food was disgusting and raw. Well back to reception, 30 mins later and the room was ready. Took our bags up to the room and tried to get in. The lock sounded like it was opening but the door was jammed. So with a bit of brut force we go it. The room is a fairly good size but dated and could do with a make over. But when we went in to the bathroom it was horrible. There were broken tiles, peeling sealant and the toilet has seen better day. As we wanted to use the safe I went back down to reception to get the key. While waiting I spoke to somebody, who later I found out was the reception manager and I said we thought the rood was horrible. After a short discussion he showed myself and wife to other rooms to see it they were more suitable. We decided on a different room as the bathroom was slightly better. As we had the afternoon to relax we went to the pool. There were plenty of sunbeds to be found. Tried the pool, wow it was freezing. The sun temperature was 27 deg C and we had been told that it had been very hot for a long time. But it had not warmed the pool up. During the 8 days we were there the pool was hardly ever used as it was too cold. Every time we went to the pool there was always sunbeds available. So no hassle having to get up early to get one. As for the evenings, considering the alcohol was all local brands it was acceptable. A choice of 5 different cocktails were available and I was told they were not too bad. Water was available from the bar, at first we got large bottles, but the last few days there were only small bottles. This is ok as they did not put a limit on how many you could take, Well the entertainment. All I say is there is something, not great but the entertainment team tried their hardest. A secret we found out is that there is a la cart restaurant. I found out this by chatting to one of the restaurant managers and he asked if we would like to come. He promised that the food would be good!! We went and what we had has 1000% better than the main restaurant. 4 courses, Salad, soup, Beef and desert. It was so nice to eat hot food with taste. During the holiday we made friends with another couple told them about this and we were luckily enough to go again with them....happy days. The food is not really for children but if you want a better meal speak to the restaurant manager at breakfast to be able to go. I think his name was Hammad. Outside of the hotel the beach is a 10 min walk, its quite nice there and relaxing. But after October 1st the bar is shut. We also visited the marina. Parts of it was a bit run down but where the resturants are it is very nice and the restaurants were good. What surprised us was how cheap it was. So the nights we could not find anything in the hotel we walked 15 mins to these restaurants and had a nice meal. Around 5 mins a way is a supermarket which I have been told is very good. Sold everything from food, clothes and Tunisian gifts and was very cheap. The shop at the hotel was ok but tiny compared to this super market. We also found walking outside at night ok, the odd person trying to get you into their shop but no pressure was put on that you felt uncomfortable. The pavements are very uneven so you have to watch where you go So I was asked before I left would I come back..........my answer was not a chance. As most of have found on holidays the food in all inclusive hotels could be hit and miss. But you could normally find something even if its chips. But this is the only hotel I have been to where from breakfast to evening meal I found all the food disgusting. Thank the lord I found out about the a la cart restaurant and had enough money to eat out most other days. Yes there are some ok parts to the hotel but something drastic needs to be done with this hotel as if it continues with the quality of food somebody could be very ill. Whoever owns this hotel needs to invest money into it or close it down.

Wonderful welcome. Great experience

I went on this holiday with 2 of my friends. 6 nights all inclusive. We paid a very good price. We would have rated the hotel more of a 3* than 4* the reception area/bar area was beautiful. However the rooms particularly the bathrooms were fairly dated and in need of a refresh. We were upgraded to a 4 person room on the 2nd floor. View was of other side of hotel and carpark/roof but fine by us as room was only for washing and sleeping. The hotel perfectly very close to the beach and new medina. The rooms were cleaned daily and we were also given fresh towels daily. The beds were only changed once but they were made everyday the lovely cleaners even folded any clothes we had left out. It helps to learn a few words in French/ Arabic as some of the cleaning/ restaurant staff don’t speak much English but personally I think that’s just polite when you go away. It was quite noisy by the pool at points in the day time. The entertainment staff were full of energy and did come and chat and try to get you involved in activities but did accept no when you didn’t want to join in, Joe and pepino were particular highlights for us. ‘Picasso’ the doing the Harkous tattoos was lovely and even taught my friend how to do it herself. He even sat and played a card game with us one night. Bar staff were mostly polite but clearly stressed and busy at times they did occasionally run out of glasses but they were replaced quickly and we found that keeping hold of 1 glass and pouring new drinks into ur meant we didn’t have the use plastic. Wally the night manager was lovely and explained everything to us well. The beach was lovely. It was easy to get drinks at the bar and by the pool and they were very generous with the bottled water. Drinks were great no issues for us. Wine was not the best but drinkable and spirits were fine, they gave generous measures. Food was fine, there was a pasta station daily and always something on the grill. It was a bit reparative but there was always something to eat. Only improvement could be that things were better labeled and more veggie options. For the price we paid we had no complaints. The spa was excellent we did the traditional Hamam and a massage and I would recommend that to anyone who stays. It was very well priced and an excellent quality. We stayed in October and had 1 cold day which the indoor pool was perfect for outdoor pool was a bit cold even on hot days.

start with good points first the animation team are amazing and try make your stay fun the hotel it’s self looks clean but it’s not it’s meant to be 4 star i wouldn’t even call it 2 star the cleanliness off rooms toilets and dining room is the worst iv ever experienced even the glasses and cups were filthy that they tried giving you to drink out of the food uncovered flys landing on food dead flys next to coffee and drinks machines i paid for 10 day holiday for myself and parter i ended paying for flight to come home after 6 days because that was worst holiday in my life time