Riu Palace Hammamet Marhaba

Stumbled across this hotel through Tunisia First (via lastminute.com) and really happy to find both. As solo female traveller looking for an impromptu escape from London, I was really pleased with this no hassle peaceful retreat. I'm not one for package style trips but this hotel really fits the bill if you want to opt in or out of entertainment. Rooms are large, well presented and clean. The staff are friendly and the hotel is literally right on the beach front. The spa is amazing and one of the best I've been to. (word of caution,... more

From the moment we walked into the hotel we were made to feel most welcome and special. Our room was huge and spotlessly clean. The food has been very good with lots of choices for any diet or tastes. The entertainment staff try very hard to involve you in all their programmes. In total a very nice week and we would recommend it. A couple of improvements would be a microwave (s) in the dining room to reheat food because quuite often it is not hot enough. Also, shower caps, shoeshine kits and body lotion would be nice additions... more

Recently we spent a superb week at the Riu Palace Hammamet Marhaba. We have previously stayed at 2 other Riu hotels in Malta and on Lanzarote but this was the best Riu hotel so far. Apparently this hotel was supposed to be open for the summer after being rebuilt from an old Sheraton hotel but wasn’t ready in time. Even when we were there, the large spa complex wasn’t due to open till the end of Nov.09 and work is still discretely being completed all around the place. However, none of this negatively impacted on our experience.<br... more

We had a wonderful week in Riu Palace Marhaba. We have been to several all inclusive hotels over the years but never to one like this.

The hotel was built by Sheraton over 40 years ago, sited on the best beach in Hammamet and created to provide a relaxed holiday for holidaymakers to the new resort of Tunisia. The low main building housed the restaurant and bars while all the bedrooms were housed in the gardens in garden or seaside view "bungalows". . . Move on to 2009 and under the mighty Riu group this hotel has undergone extensive renovation. The original hotel has been replaced by a 3-storey "Palace" and returning to Hammamet this year our first glimpse of the old... more

We stayed in the Riu Palace hotel for 10 nights and returned today. We booked a seaview bungalow A, but at arrival such a bungalow was not available and the receptionist (that only spoke French and German) tried to put us in a non-seaview bungalow, which are less expensive. When we complained about the location of the bungalow - the travel agency confirmed us that seaview did not mean seaview, but basically meant one of the bungalows closest to the sea - the receptionist tried to put us in a bungalow in the same building as the first one but... more

We set pretty high standards and this hotel matched them in most areas. The vast majority of staff are very friendly and efficient. The manager and his assistant are the highest profile we have seen and are constantly keeping an eye on the operation of the hotel. We had a sea view room on the second floor - not sure that the first floor room would have such a good view. Rooms are a good size, all the fixtures brand new and in excellent condition, and reasonably well equipped. Food is primarily buffet style with two part-service restaurants... more

Rooms - The rooms are large and very clean. Meals - Buffet style with a good selection. Breakfast just ok, Dinner very good. Italian great. Beach - The beach is the best part of this hotel, best in Hammamet, and you stay very close to the sea which is warm. Staff - Are very friendly and trying to help. Pools-very nice and warm with the swim up bar. Drinks are poor. Animation -is poor Spa-was not open yet, gym nice Overall, I reccomend this hotel and you can not find better in Hammamet.

Me and my wife had a very good time in this hotel. Very good room: clean, large, well decorated, comfortable bed, good view. Excellent resort facilities: good and beautiful pools, plenty of chairs (also in beach), beautiful garden, good animation and one of the best beaches in Hammamet. Very good food: Plenty of good stuff to choose from (I was not expecting so many good fish!). No complaint from the main restaurant, italian restaurant, beach, pool and resort bars. Drawbacks: Minor construction work taking place, SPA... more

Rooms - The rooms are large and very clean. Meals - Buffet style with a good selection. Beach - The beach is good, but sometimes very dirty! Staff - Are very friendly and trying to help.