Tej Marharba Hotel

My boyfriend and I have just returned from a week in Sousse staying at the Tej Marhaba Hotel.  It is a lovely hotel – very big and part of a larger complex which includes a few restaurants and a shopping centre.  You don’t really feel invaded by the complex as it all lies behind the main part of the hotel.  The staff are excellent – always on hand to help or get you a drink. The hotel do charge 5 DT to hire a safety deposit box and ask for a 10DT returnable deposit as well; it is worth using as you can access the box at any time without disturbing the staff.  The room was great – very clean, with nice bathroom and a balcony.  The maid comes every day and creates an amazing design with the blankets on the beds!  The hotel has a lovely pool area (and indoor pool) and all sun-beds/parasols are free.  There is also a private beach (across a busy main road) where sun-beds are also free.  The bar area /reception is very large and open all day.  The evening entertainment is rather cheesy and included a band who played covers followed by bingo and then a show put on by the entertainment staff.  We went out a few times to eat and escape the waltzing on the dance floor and can highly recommend the Cristal Restaurant on the main square by the Medina and The Lido Restaurant on the sea front a little bit further down the front. Try the fish which was excellent in both places and really fresh. A main course will cost approx £7-10 per person.  We stayed half board and got a buffet style breakfast and evening meal.  The food was your usual buffet fare – various English dishes and a few Tunisian ones but there was loads of choice – we always found something good and every night was a different menu.  The breakfast was ok but not amazing – there was a chef who would cook fried eggs or omelettes on demand and there was also a full salad bar (!), yoghurts, cereal or if you are feeling brave there is a Tunisian option.  There was no fruit available apart from oranges or dates which was rather disappointing but you could pay for a glass of freshly squeezed OJ.  Drinks are not included with the meals, apart from tea/coffee with breakfast so you do have to pay if you want anything else.  We had a fantastic week at the Tej Marhaba and after doing a tour of other hotels (whilst picking up tourists on our excursions) we thought our hotel looked the best and was in the best location being in Sousse itself with the beach 5 mins away and the medina/centre only a 20 minute walk or 2 dinar taxi ride away.  We would definitely go back and stay at the hotel again.