Vincci El Kantaoui Aparthotel

I firstly want to say how my holiday experience was a good one and then I'll put my views across as to the comments on the other reviews. Although there were negatives to the holiday (which if everyone is honest there are always some things we would change about every holiday) it was a very enjoyable experience which myself and partner are definitely going to do again. People on these reviews mention the poor flights etc, yes the flights aren’t first class quality but it in the day and age where everyone goes on cheap last minute bargain deals you cant expect luxury on the flights etc but I honestly felt the flights were fine. I'll highlight that I went on this holiday with my partner (both in 20's) for somewhere to chill out and catch some sun with the odd excursion. We arrived in the hotel at about half past midnight and had our bags carried in by the porter, there were 4-5 groups of people checking in with us yet it was all done in about 5 mins and we were shown to our room (again suitcases carried by the porter who chatted all the way to our room, very friendly, although we are aware staff look to receive tips it was very welcoming and seemed very genuine). After travelling we were obviously hungry and thirsty and were able to get food from the pizzeria even at 1am, the food was very nice and not overpriced. The next morning we had no problems getting our safe key and had our welcome meeting which we informed about in the pack we received the night before, this meeting was informative and helpful, there was also a notice board giving times etc for when our rep was in our hotel and contact numbers for when she wasn’t. As to the shops in the hotel of which someone has moaned about, not all hotels have shops other than an amenities type shop so look at them as a bonus, ok not the best bonus but you didn’t have to purchase from these shops, the layout of the hotel is quite complex but you didn’t need to use all of it, most of it was for the different sections of rooms, the main areas for the pool and bar etc were very straight forward, some points that people are moaning about are very petty! I agree the hotel 'super market' was very pricey, some things were 2-3 times the price of things elsewhere but for about £1.50 in a taxi we went to a big supermarket (called Hawaii for those interested) where everything was very cheap, plus there are ones within walking distance. The staff in the hotel were excellent, very friendly and helpful, everyone from the cleaners to shop assistants to receptionists would say good morning or hello whenever you went past them, often starting conversations with you out of politeness and friendliness, even at the beach as soon as you stepped onto the sand someone would come to find you a sunbed to lie on, and if none were free they would seat you at the snack bar and keep looking for one, the beach was very clean and the sand was lovely, very soft and white (and always raked by the staff to keep it tidy), the sea was again clean and a lovely turquoise colour. Yes the snack bar didn’t have the most extensive choice but it is a 'snack bar' where you buy 'snacks', I do wish people would not pick at the slightest of things in these reviews. Back to the hotel, the hotel was very clean and in excellent condition, the facilities were very good, indoor (with jacuzzi chairs) and outdoor pools (with snack bar) with shower areas for cooling off both with plenty of sunloungers, a gym, games areas with pool and air hockey etc, spa areas for massages etc, 5 bar/restaurant areas, all of which were tidy and of great standard. Our room was lovely, very spacious, a king sized bed, hot water on demand, ok the views weren’t the best but again we paid for a cheap last minute bargain holiday so these things are expected, our room was cleaned everyday and again the maids were very friendly and polite. To respond to the short change issue, yes this did happen sometimes but the amount that you were being 'short changed' by was the equivalent to 10-20 pence, it’s the kind of money you find down the back of your sofa. The food for breakfast and dinner was about the only thing I wasn’t totally ecstatic about but at the same time I wasn’t unhappy about, slightly repetitive and probably aimed more at German holiday makers but still enough to keep you fed. I have to agree that the hotel and resort is probably not the best for children although the hotel did have the 2 pools and games area and the resort did have a water park and small theme park (both of which we never used). I'll move onto the resort itself, very strange place but in a good way, Tunisians have their own way of life which does vary a bit from ours, the first day or two leaves you thinking what on earth is this place all about but after that you find it quite quirky, it certainly has a lot of character. Yes when you walk around the resort you get hassle but you soon realise it is harmless, these people are simply trying to make money, they ask if you want to look in their shop or buy their goods, you say no and 99 times out of 100 they leave you alone, the 1 time they don’t they simply ask you again, we never got manhandled or followed. More often than not as the holiday goes by they get to know faces and start having a bit of friendly banter with you and it all just becomes a bit of a game, we found it funny in the end and often gave back as good as we got with everyone taking it in good spirit, make sure you barter though, they know how the game works as much as you do, you will get most goods for half the price they first offer. There was various excursions to go on, these include, 2 day trip to the Sahara dessert, camel riding, quad bikes riding, horse riding, various night time events and shows, lots of water sports including jet ski, water ski, banana boat and rubber ring rides, scuba diving, parasailing plus various sea activities such as glass bottom boats etc, the list is quite long! There are lots of ways to get around the resort such as the normal taxi (of which you get within 10 seconds of holding your hand up), 'tuk tuk' taxi's and horse & carriage all of which are very cheap. All in all we found it a very good holiday with very few negatives aspects, probably not suitable for families with young children but teenage children would enjoy it. If you are looking for a holiday which is relaxed and chilled out with hot weather Port el Kantaoui is definitely a place to visit.

Ok, firstly, I feel that I must put a point straight. If you take the time to read through all the reviews, you will see half the people saying they enjoyed their holiday at the Vincci. However, the other half didn't. If 50% of the people have actually taken the time to write about their bad experience in detail, then their must have been a problem/concerns. Unfortunately, despite what I would deem an OK holiday, I am with the people that have written against this hotel. Bar the terrible flight, service and food on the flight out, we arrived in the small hours at the hotel. Check in was quick enough, which was good as we just wanted to get to bed. Next morning however, we went to get the keys for our in room safe, only to find out that the keys for our safe had gone missing and we would not have use of it, which everyone will agree is far from ideal. We were offered another room that was half the size with a poor view, which we declined. Our room itself was fine. Nice size, lovely curtains, nice balcony with a pool and sea view as well as a view of Sousse in the distance. I think we got one of the best rooms in the place personally, 3111, worth asking when you check in.. As a result of the lack of safe, we found ourselves hiding our essentials in a book in the suitcase...but not to worry. Rooms were cleaned everyday if you wanted and cleanliness was definately a strong point of the hotel. Hotel itself is quite nice, big, clean and lots of places to sit and relax/have a drink. Looks posh, but it isnt really. Finding your way about can be a struggle as the hotel is quite large and there are lots of different corridors to get to different sections; the layout isnt great. The shops inside were poor, selling leather goods and fake designer t shirts/polos/football shirts. At £10 for a fake Nike polo, and I mean a very poor fake, dont bother with your shopping in the hotel. This can also be extended the the whole resort of Port El Kantaoui. If you like your shopping for fake designer clothes, bags etc, go to Turkey, where you can get a fake Nike polo for £2 and a very very good quality and fit fake 'designer brand' polo for £5... As for the newsagents at the hotel, AVOID. You always stock up first day on the essentials, but we found that they were at least double the price of the newsagent towards the marina. I'm talking £1.80 for a large bag of crisps, £1.50 for 2 apples, £2 for a litre bottle of coke. You get the idea...The newsagents at the entrance to the marina, just off the roundabout was excellent value and the people in there were possibly the nicest people we met... Watch the bars to, they can vary wildly in price and I think it might of had something to do with how tanned you were if you get my drift. The piano bar robbed us of 9.5 dinar (over £4) for half a coke and half an orange juice. Needless to say we never went back there. The pool bar was OK. We ate their most lunchtimes as the food/drink was quite nice and very reasonable. Moorish bar is a nice place to chill. Very Tunisian, comfy, drinks reasonable and the flavoured tobacco bong is worth a go (at £2.50) With regards to changing money, be very careful. They do have a habit of short changing you. Alot of people we spoke to expressed a concern. Its the usual thing if you say something, they turn from being able to speak English to pretending to not understand you so that you go away... The main bar was quite expensive, and in all fairness, the entertainment was poor. The cabaret put on by the 'animation' team I would deem eurotrash. We are young, but this was dire and no fun. Bingo in 4 languages with cheesy music, men strutting about dressed as prostituites and a drunk German having the night of his life...No thanks. And definately not kiddy friendly. On which note, we do not have kids, but I would say that this hotel is not very child orientated. No grass, park, slides etc to keep them entertained. Food. We went on half board. Food was perfectly OK, breakfast was a good selection of cereals, fruits, bread, and hot stuff. But lets just say its not English. Sausages were dire, baked beans were in a tomato sauce with peppers etc, no toaster etc. nice for the first few days but it got monotonous. We slept most mornings and went straight into lunch... Dinners were pretty much the same. Lots of choice of bland food. Perfectly edible but far from gourmet, and some of the thinks look plain wrong! Ate out one night at the Italian in reception. Best meal of the hol. Very reasonable, meal was excellent, but got a bit hacked off with the stray cats that were mingling about the eating area outside and pestering you. The walk to the beach is about 5 minutes down a road that can only be described as third world. Derelict land and buildings on the way. Hardly beautiful. Beach was OK, but the food up there wasnt up to much. When you reach the beach, you will be hounded by one of the Ali Baba boat trip reps who will not take no for an answer, and will pester you everytime you go to the beach. Avoid buying drinks from the beach, again overpriced and they have a habit of not giving you the change. With regards to drinks generally, on the beach, marina, hotel, make sure you see a price list, otherwise they will just make up the prices as they go along and rob you... Beach and sea is clean enough, even if the whole beach does waft of rotting seaweed that smells like sewerage. The port itself. Well, dont expect much. Its very nice and quaint, with things to see, but can be done in a couple of hours. There isnt much in the way of bars, music, bars with TV and music etc, very traditional and frankly boring. Shop keepers are terrible for trying to drag you into their shops, even if you say no they physically manhandle you, and we saw couples with pushchairs being dragged in against their will. Once you are in, they will not let you leave unless you buy something. They do not understand the concept of browsing, and in all fairness virtually every shop is full of tat, very bad fake goods that are very overpriced. Dont bother. Honestly. And one last point. The hotel caters for many nationalities. This includes Germans, French and Spanish, who get up to their usual tricks on holiday if you get my drift. Overall, and despite all the above, it wasnt a bad holiday, but was very misdescribed to us, wasnt what we expected or wanted, and we certainly wouldnt go back. The attitude of the Tunisian people generally is poor, the minority of friendly people are let down by the number of blaggers and rude people, those who wont leave you alone when you say no, which sours the impression you get of Tunisia. Considering it is a country whose main income may be tourism, they are doing themselves littlefavours. Maybe it is a lovely country, but we didnt think Port El Kantaoui was nor Hotel Vincci, and that has unfortuanely meant that we will not be returning to Tunisia in the future.

Just returned from a week in the vincci, port el kantaoui and first choice should be ashamed of themselves sending familys to this hell hole of a place. We took our daughter who is 15 months old to this so called "4 star" family frendly hotel. There is not one blade of grass for children to play on or even a swing or slide anywhere to be found on the entire complex. There are no grounds at all even the out door pool is on the roof! The staff throughout the place from waiters to chefs barmen to reception are very short with you and are ripping you off left right and center by short changing you when changing money, not bringing change back just taking it instead of waiting to be tipped. This was particulary bad when visiting the very small and over crowded beach area. If you decide to go self catering as we did you only have two hob rings one of which every time we turned it on it shorted all electric in the room! not easy when you have a small child with you, there wasn't even a kettle in the room to simply boil water! Restuarants with in the hotel claim four star food but it was no where near four star food, service or surroundings. With stray cats walking in and out of restaurants underneath your table, in fact the stray cats were everywhere inside the building even round the roof top pool!! The only thing we can comend was the indoor pool it was lovely and warm suitable for young babies/children but the jaccuzzi areas were not always working and being made out of plastic they were all cracked and had some sharp edges on them. Evening entertainment was something to desire from playing four language bingo which took over an hour for one game to watching entertainment staff dressing up as women crawling on all fours sniffing each others bums! During the day around the pool area when all you wanted to do was relax the staff were very pushy trying to get you to play darts!! even going as far to get microphones out so you definatly knew they were there. Childrens evening entertaint consisted of half an hour of party songs and dancing in the reception area this was the same every night when they could be bothered to do it, depending on how many children there were. Anyway on to the resort area of port el Kantaoui. It is a very nice harbour and fountain area but very small we managed to walk round it very slow in a matter of a few hours. The shop keepers are forever hounding you even after you have said 'no' this was sometimes very intimadating and annoying, they even go as far as chasing you down the road. All in all we would not recommend this place to our worst enemy let alone our families and friends. Finally we must give special mention to our first choice rep who could only ever be found when there was a football game on in the bar area. He sold us an exursion telling us it was suitable for young children when we arrived to our evening out there was free beer and plenty of it but we were also told that there was plenty of food for children, there was not! and the coach journey home turned into a very loud drunken kareoke session, we did not arrive back untill gone eleven thirty, not what we would call a family evening out! No apologies were made for this as we never saw the rep again untill we came home. We could go on and on but we think you may have the message by now. The hotel vincci, you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave!!!!!

We originally enquired into going to Spain and gave them all our requirements which were as follows- •Relaxing family holiday •Hotel evening entertainment (with having a 1 year old daughter) •Child friendly facilities and activities during the day and night •Interesting places for families and children The travel agent looked on the computer and said that Tunisia would be more suited to us as we have a 1yr old daughter. They said there were plenty of things to meet our requirements e.g.- •A lovely resort •Great beaches •Activities and clubs for children •Great adult clubs •Lovely 4* hotels with everything on site •Good food •Great entertainment day & night We weren’t sure as we planed to go to Spain but we decided to go as it sounded great & and was supposed to have everything we asked for, so booked to go on the Wednesday 26th April 2006 We arrived at the Vincci El Kantaoui hotel late Wednesday tea time only to find we were not booked in and had no room. After waiting several hours we were finally given a room which was far from 4* more like 2*. We were so late getting a room we missed dinner so we didn’t get a meal as the restaurant was closed. We went to our room only to find a cot homemade with nails protruding from all angles no action take when reported, just told a new cot would be brought to us soon which never arrived Next morning we went for breakfast only to find that it was a mixture of what looked like cabbage & watery scrambled egg, which was inedible After breakfast we decided to hire the safe in our room, only to find it not screwed down in the wardrobe which smelt like mould and damp We were unable to unpack our cases as our clothes would have smelt We then decided to bath our 1yr daughter only to find there was no hot water which we complained about several times through out our stay but no action was taken to rectify this problem. Lunch was no better and they charged for Tea, Coffee, Orange juice. There wasn’t even any fruit or food suitable for my daughter. The so called resort was terrible with nothing at all to do apart from the marina which we got sick of after 4-5 visits due to the hassle from shop keepers which we were not warned about. Over the course of the holiday we found many problems which we felt were missold to us such as- •Not booked in hotel •Very poor rooms •Views from room were a petrol station, factories, derelict buildings, main road •Very poor food •Warned not to go out at night as it may not be safe •Charging 15 Dinar for entertainment and not allowing people in bar if not paid. •Entertainment very poor (men dresser as prostitutes betting against each other & man stripping down to Y fronts.(and you call this family entertainment) •A lot of steps not suitable for a pushchair •Shop keepers pestering and physically pulling the pushchair into shops if we refused to go in. •No children’s facilities or play areas •No reps available at any time, when we did find one he said there was nothing he could do to help • Nothing round the hotel and nothing but waist land in either direction for at least 2 miles •Safe in our room was not fixed down and could have easily have been removed. •Wardrobes and cupboards smelt foul and we were unable to unpack our cases. •Exchanged 100.00 British pounds and got 233 Dinar, Changes 400.00 British pounds and only got 800.00 Dinar instead of 932.00. Also refused a receipt of exchange as printer was supposedly broke. •We booked a trip costing 87.00 Dinar which was cancelled without warning so we were sat for over 1hr waiting to be picked up before reception finally phoned to find out where they were. •Hotel smelt of damp and rotten eggs •Wet marble floors which were very slippery By Friday we were so fed up with the whole situation that I rang my mother to get her to ring Going places for a flight home. Going places sent a rep to our hotel who arranged to move us to another hotel; he said we didn’t have to explain our problems as he already knew how bad the hotel was. He claimed to have had many dealings with the hotel in the past. On arrival at the new hotel the surroundings looked better. The manager took us to our room where we noticed there was no cot. Upon request we were told they didn’t have any and they preferred children to sleep in there own bed. Due to this my husband and I had to take shifts throughout the night to make sure our daughter didn’t fall out of bed. Although the food was edible in this hotel there were still no amenities for children and no entertainment except the occasional piano player. By this time we were more fed up and getting tired due to lack of sleep. We spent the rest of our holiday playing cards in the hotel as there was no where to go. We have never had cause to complain at any of our previous holidays but this was not a holiday it was an endurance test and a nightmare certainly not suitable for families with children. We could mention much more

I just returned from an allocation on arrival holiday in the Vincci. Overall, I was very pleased with the hotel. Our room was clean and well presented, and the level of housekeeping was excellent. The food standards seemed to vary - breakfast was always superb, but dinner on some nights had a poor selection, especially for a family travelling with a 1 year old and a vegetarian. It was still too cool outside to use the outdoor pool, but the indoor pool was lovely. Yes, it's a bit slippery underfoot, but we were careful and there were no problems. The hotel is a bit dark in places - I think it's actually intentional. They light candles in the bars and parts of reception at night, I think they're trying to add to the "moorish" atmosphere. As for the previous reviews which said that there was a smell of damp as they entered reception, well yes, there is. This is because the entire front window of the hotel is planted with trees and plants, and the damp smell is the soil. No more, no less. There was no damp smell anywhere else in the hotel, the lifts worked all the time (minimal waiting!), and we also used the cash machine in the foyer with no problems whatsoever. I wouldn't go back to Tunisia - there's just not enough to see and do within a reasonable distance to keep my young family occupied. However, I would have no hesitation in recommending the Vincci to people who are looking for excellent value for money.

My wife and I arrived at the Vincci Hotel early hours on Sunday (12.03.06) morning and were warmly greeted by receiption staff and the night porter took us to our room and even came back with a requested bottle of water. The rest of the week the staff were very courteous and the room service and cleanliness was to be complimented. There was only one problem, the food just seemed to be cold. It would have helped if the plates were left over a warmer, otherwise the food was O/K. The hotel is very close to a lovely beach and also a nice stroll to the port and shops. Taxies are cheap and english is spoken. The cultural trails and excursions are not to be missed as the country is teaming with old roman history. We felt safe at night even in areas slighly of the tourist track. By all means vist the Medina in Sousse but do not buy anything and that may teach them to let you browse without any hassle. They are not aggressive merchants but constantly in your space. Alcohol is sold in the bars and hotels but is not purchased in mini markets. We had a lovely time but our holiday was cut short due to my father's death. Everyone from hotel staff to airline rep were helpful in our repatriation journey home to Ireland.

We stayed for one week at this hotel with our 3 young children (8, 6 and 20 months). The staff went out of their way to be friendly and helpful, especially in the Restaurants. The rooms were thoroughly cleaned daily. The hotel is well positioned, being close to the Aquapark (great for families) and the beach a 10 minute stroll away. The hotel itself is in need of refurbishment. Corridors are very dark and kitchenette is extremely basic. The shower temperature fluctuates dramatically. The swimming pool is too small for the number of guests, and is poorly positioned with very little sun. There is no childrens pool, just a tiny splash pool (freezing also!). The indoor pool is more spacious but cold. There were very limited facilities for children given the overall size of hotel and available space.

I stayed at the Vinnci for a week during half term in October 2005. Can't remember the exact dates. Just wanted to relax in the sun for a week as I had the week off college. The hotel is of a very good standard, especially the entrance hall. The indoor pool is nice but cold, the outdoor pool is also good but I only used it once as I prefer the beach, and there was rarely any space by the pool. I stayed half board. The food was buffet style and there was nothing wrong with it. Most of the Restaurant staff are friendly, but the odd few let the rest down. I agree that in some parts of the hotel there needs to be more lighting, but it wasn't a problem where I was on the 2nd floor. Rooms are cleaned on a daily basis, and bedding is changed every day. Port el Kantaoui is nice if all you want to do is sit on the beach in the sun all day, or do some water sports, however I would not recommend it to young people as I found that there was no night life at all. The evening entertainment in one of the bars in the hotel is a bit boring as they mainly showed Mr Bean films, and football was only on during the day, whos going to want to stay at the hotel during the day??? I would have used the gym but it was never open in the evenings. If you have ever been to Turkey and had a Turkish bath, don't have one in Tunisia as they are nothing like the ones in turkey. In fact you are just left to sit in a steam room. Some of the staff in the hotel are rude but others are ok. Always agree a price before you order anything in Tunisia, and don'rt buy anything in the hotel shop as it is much cheaper in a shop five minutes walk away from the hotel. Go out of the main hotel entrance, turn left and walk along the path until you see a shop on the other side of the road. Very good prices. Flew from Exeter and it only took 2 and a half hours. Wouldn't go back to Tunisia again as there isn't enough to do at night. Sousse is a bit more lively. You can reach Sousse by taxi for about £3.00 maximum. One final point, if you go to Tunisia in October you will need to leave the beach at about 4pm as there is no strength in the sun after that time. Weather was very good for the whole week. Don't check the forecast before you go as it is often no where near as good as the weather that you actually get.

Air-Tours wanted £5 per person for an in-flight meal, [we brought sandwiches] but the carrier [Nouvelair] provided one free [returning as well] For what we got, £5 would have been outrageous, but for free, it would be hard to complain. The hotel, the Vincci, was four star, its rating apparently determined by its extensive lobby, [impossible to keep warm during the very cold weather we experienced during our stay] and not by the rooms, which were rather austere. The lighting was extremely poor [was the candle they provided meant to supplement the very low wattage light bulbs?] It could take 15 minutes to get the hot water up to our 3rd floor room. If there was an English language news service on television I was never able to find it, but only the one in French [though there were few French guest about]. Regarding the food [we had been here before, and stayed at Sol Hotel, which was only 3-star, where, at that time at least, the food was absolutely fantastic] at the Vincci, there was variety, but mediocrity. The Tunisian dishes could be quite good, but the attempts at international cooking did not succeed very well. The shop in the hotel selling leather-ware has some coats and jackets of reasonable quality, but pay strict attention to the exchange rates, particularly those of the proprietor, and the way he calculates them. While the place isn’t the souk, he will come down in price if he thinks he could lose you. If after the sale, he beams with excessive happiness, you haven’t done too well. But if he looks glum, you have. As a parting shot, the individual, dressed in official uniform, manning the [security] X-ray machine, asked me to give him money.

my self and my husband travelled to the vinci hotel in tunisia,in april 05 with our 9 year old daughter but would not stay at this hotel again.the food was cold and not labelled so you didnt know what you was eating. on 2 occasions the night befores meals was reheated for breakfast. the hotel its self was painted bright orange but nolights were on and there was a lot of wasted space in the hotel,ie more shops or little water fountains would have been decorative.the staff hardly spoke any english and were hard to find should you need anything.the indoor pool was nice but the changing area floor and the floor around the pool was very slippery,and in the changing rooms the floors were so wet and cold you couldnt get dry. you was lucky if you didnt have have to wait more than 5 mins for the lifts of which we only saw 1 working the whole time of our holiday. not just in the hotel but in the resort its self there was nothing at all for children and my daughter was bored the whole week.when we did go out for a browse or to shop we were hassled by every shop keeper outside there shops, to come and browse they say, but, when you get in the shop they wont let you leave until you purchase something.(in one shop i asked to try on a necklace but the shop keeper wouldnt let me take it off, insisting i buy the jewellery, until my husband intervened).port el kantoui is not a place for women or children to walk around without a male to ward off the tunisian guys,twice i was on the beach whilst my husband went for a drink in the cafe on the beach,and on both occasions as soon as my husbands back was turned tunisian guys came from nowhere hassling me. i would not go to tunisia again, and this is a shame as tunisia has a nice feel about it,especially the medina in sousse.it was april 05 when we went.