Reviews of Golden Soviva Hotel, Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia

Ten of us went on this holiday,...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss M Reilly

Comments:

Ten of us went on this holiday, there were 4 rooms booked when we arrived at 2am, after travelling all day only one of us was actually booked in. The guy on reception hadn't a care in the world and told us to go have a drink he'd sort it when he was ready.



Couldn’t fault the rooms they were lovely



The food was the same food for the two weeks it was dreadful and re-heated it also said it had a kids menu...non-existent



Golden Soviva is a 4 star but everything in the hotel like the food and "entertainment “was all in the 3 star so we paid for a 4 star but ate in the 3 star



The entertainment was awful. The same thing over and over again.



The American bar in the hotel you had to pay for all your drinks if u stayed there as it’s a night club type thing. There is a disco in the hotel but no-one goes to it as it’s terrible



I would not recommend this hotel at all to anyone and especially not people travelling with young kids. It was an absolute disgrace.

If this will help anyone else...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

 R Brennan

Comments:

If this will help anyone else make up their mind on not visiting this appalling hotel, my job will be done.



Where do I start?



On the first morning we arrived our flight was delayed some hours therefore we were unable to exchange any money seeing as it was 5am and the exchange didn’t open till 9am. Not a problem, although it certainly was to the guy carrying our luggage onto the lift and wheeling it out again after I told him I had no money he threw me a look that could cut ice.



The holiday continued in this way. For three nights running we watched the same waiter at our hotel try to swindle different people out of their change when they ordered drink(always newcomers to the resort might I add trying to get used to the Dinars).



Everything was catered for the German or French right down to Satellite TV in the rooms where we made do with Sky news and CNN for the week.



We couldn’t walk into the local grocery store without getting harassed with ornaments or shoes or hats that locals were wishing to sell. No outlet for alcohol available near hand and those that were available at our hotel bar, were watered down so much that you could have spent 100 pounds in one night and had no effect.



We couldn’t carry drinks from the bar in fear of the waitress catching us and insisting she did it for her usual commission of course, but once the tips stopped so did the service.



Will never be back. My only saviour was that we booked for a week and not two. This has by no means been my first holiday abroad but will be my last in Tunisia.

We have just returned from the...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2007

Tour Operator:

MyTravelairtours

Submitted By:

Miss Sian Kennedy

Comments:

We have just returned from the Soviva Resort in Port El Kantaoui Tunisia and I would strongly recommend not going.



The food was plenty but it was the same food heated for a week and not very nice the beer in my opinion, was non alcoholic. (I'm a 5.4 female of a medium build drank it all day and did not got drunk) If you wanted an alcoholic beer you had to pay for it.



The entertainment was non existent. The pools were closed so there was nothing.



It is quite a long walk into the marina which is nice scenery but the hassle is shocking, so you tend to avoid it for a bit of peace.



We went into Marhaba hotels and you felt ashamed to say where you were stopping as the decor is spotless and had entertainment too.



So if you have already booked just hope you have friendly holiday makers there, like we did and make the most of a bad situation.

Myself, husband and 2 children...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2005

Tour Operator:

Panorama

Submitted By:

Mrs L Graham

Comments:

Myself, husband and 2 children stayed at the golden Soviva with 13 other family and friends on an all exclusive package. We had a brill time the pool area is great for kids as well as adults there were slides galore, with plenty of life-guards on hand.



The rooms were ok for the amount of time you spend in them really. there was plenty of choice on the food front the only complaint I would have really was the service on the bar, they only had one beer pump at the main bar to serve everyone and you had to queue for ever, the local vodka and Bacardi were putrid but you could buy it, it one of the bars but who wants to buy drink on an all inclusive holiday.



We went quad biking that was fun and took a trip to Sousse there was plenty to see in the medinas. I would not recommend a trip to the water park as the hotel pool and slides are just as good if not better.



P.s you cannot go to the supermarket to buy alcohol to take to your room as they only sell non alcoholic beer and they check your shopping on the way in. We all had a brill time for a reasonable priced holiday, not recommended if you want to get drunk a lot it is almost impossible have fun!

We were in the Golden Soviva...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2006

Tour Operator:

Med Hotels

Submitted By:

basielux

Comments:

We were in the Golden Soviva which is 4 star rather than 3 star like the Club Soviva. The Golden Soviva is just like a regular hotel, with very pleasant rooms and superior sized balconies. You are away from the main pool with the slide and activities, but depending on why you have chosen to go on holiday this is either a blessing or a hindrance.



The food in the Restaurant is the same whether you are AI or HB. Breakfast is a bit sparse as they don’t have breakfast cereals like we do in the UK. But other wise if you were late rises like we were on occasions we managed a freshly prepared pizza at 10am to set us up for the day. We found the staff at the hotel excellent and couldn’t fault them at all, very friendly and do a marvellous job considering they earn a quarter of any salary their British counterpart might take home.



The hotel entertainment isn’t for everyone – but if you have kids they will be entertained for you so you can enjoy a relaxing drink each evening. The bars in the hotels are very different – You have the Golden Bar, which is nice and relaxing. The Lobby Bar which is just like a really bad British Legion. There is the American Bar, where you can enjoy music, with a DJ on some nights joined by two go-go dancers. There is also a Discotheque next to the hotel, which is still part of your entertainment and does an African Evening at a small cost.



The beach itself is a short walk away, where you will find sun beds and carousals and a Beach Bar, which serves, soft and alcoholic drinks, snacks and ice creams all day.



All in all we enjoyed our holiday, all I can say with any AI, don’t expect five star treatment or marvellous food, as we here in the UK are spoilt when it comes to things like fruit – our local supermarkets and only sell us the best fruits and foods, but over there, you will find that the fruit comes to you ripe, ready to eat.



So enjoy and take the Sahara trip to the south of Tunisia as it was well worth the 8 hour bus journey, and if you get chance do go for a ride on a camel, as that was so funny and I never thought I’d do it, never will again, but worth trying once.



Last tip for your holiday – make sure you say NO to the young boys trying to sell you, jewellery, stones, gems and anything else on the street. Best to buy in fixed priced shops in Port El Kantoui. Beware bellboys at the hotel will expect a tip – if you have Dinars, 1 or half a dinar is fine. We gave our driver for a 4x4 excursion 20 Dinars (£8) and I think it was a bit too much as he couldn’t stop smiling.