Houda Golf & Beach Club Hotel

1 reader found this review helpful

Got back today from this holiday. Had a great time and was pleasantly surprised. We read the reviews on here before we went and felt quite apprehensive about going.
I think that maybe some of these reviews were a bit harsh. Here are my thoughts.
On arriving in Monastir airport the airport is quite small but very busy. This is due to Sunday being the main day for flights and they all arrive in close proximity to each other.
There was a lot of queuing at passport control while the passports are slowly inspected and stamped. You also have to fill in a small registration Visa. Once outside the airport had slight troubles finding our coach but once onboard it was a nice air conditioned coach and only a short ride to hotel.
Hotel looks very nice and you leave your bags at reception and go straight into bar for welcome drink. Eventually somebody comes round and tells you your room number. You then check whiteboard to see if your room is ready. A porter helps with your cases and accompanies you to your room. He will require a small tip so make sure you have change.
It’s a good idea to keep lots of change as everyone is after a tip an it is the "done thing.”
The rooms are very basic but also very clean. All the essentials are there. A/C, toilet, bath, shower, bed, desk, wardrobe. We had a nice view of sea and swimming pool from our room.
There is some building and update work going on in the hotel but it was other side to us and we saw or heard none of it.
The dinner and lunch time is split into two sittings and you keep the same table for whole duration of stay. Waiters are great and can’t do enough for you. We left the tipping to the end of the week and our waiter seemed very happy with that.
The food on offer was not very good. The selection was ok but none of it looked very appetising and didn’t taste great. It was however edible and there were variations on what was on offer on different days. There are a few items which are made in front of you at your request such as fried eggs, omelettes, crepes. These were very nice as they were freshly made. The chips on offer look brown and horrible but are actually quite tasty.
There is a snack bar by the pool which has things like pizza, chips, Panini’s on offer when restaurant closed in daytime. This was not bad food. Drinks readily available although the machines for fizzy drinks a bit temperamental. You get a token for meal in the onsite Italian and Tunisian restaurants. We tried the Italian and it was the worst service ever experienced by myself and food not great. Didn’t bother with Tunisian.
Welcome meeting with rep enjoyable and some valuable info. Rep Issam seemed a good guy and happy to help. I would highly recommend the 2 day Desert Safari excursion with camel ride. This made the holiday for us. Was 2 long days but well worth it and extremely good value for money.
Hotel you stay in is very nice also. It was £70 well spent for this trip. 10 out of 10. Itinery consists of Coliseum visit, Sahara desert camel ride, visit to troglodyte homes and Star Wars set, train ride through Atlas Mountains, visit to salt pans, oasis visit, and few other stops. I have probably missed lots of what I wanted to include in this review. To sum up
-Take the reviews on here with a pinch of salt
-Remember this is Africa not Spain so standards are different
-Food not great but edible. Unfortunately although every item of food has tongs provided there are quite a few people who don’t understand hygiene and just dig their hands in. I think this is what causes the stomach upsets people talking about
-Hotel clean and staff great
-Rooms basic but all you need is there
-1 Dinar only worth about 40p so 2 dinar tip not much money to us, but makes the locals happy
-A firm "No Thanks" normally does trick with hassling salesmen
-Pools very nice
-Great hotel let down by food
Thanks for great holiday Jen. Look forward to next one.

Just back after a week away and it was amazing. I highly recommend this hotel if you want a relaxing holiday in the sun. If it is a family holiday, there are plenty of activities for the kids which include water polo, beach volleyball and archery.
These activities are set up and co-ordinated by the animation team who were excellent. There are also water slides at the front of the hotel along with tennis courts and a football pitch.
Great choice of food from a buffet style kitchen and everyone goes home knowing the moves to la sexy boomba dance. Rooms and pool cleaned daily to a suffice standard. Staff helpful and speak many languages.

1 reader found this review helpful

I and my family have been back from this so called holiday a week now and still got the diarrhoea. I took my mum, sister her boyfriend and my family altogether there was 5 adults 2 children and a baby of 18 months.
When we arrived it was fine for the first couple of hours, but then we were waiting and waiting for our rooms as we arrived at 11.30am and you couldn't get the keys until 2pm we were still waiting until 3.30pm until I actually asked and even then the room wasn’t ready but I made a big fuss as having 3 kids that were all hot and bothered I needed the room, they then gave us the key.
And guess what 2 flights of stairs brilliant when you have a pushchair. Didn’t know there wasn't a lift for the so called 516 rooms which is actually 1001.
When we did get our room I had to then ask for a cot, as we didn’t have one in the room.
Came down for dinner which you have to book which is 12.30 - 1.30 for lunch then you have to have dinner at 6.30 or you could have your lunch at 1.30 - 2.30 but then you have to have your dinner at 7.45 but what a waste of time when the kids meal is between 5.30-6.30. As we found too early for lunch but then it was too late for dinner. They have too many people in the hotel to cope with and they can't cater for them all as we found whilst having to queue for your lunch, dinner, drinks and even the snacks.
The entertainment in the day was good but the night time was totally rubbish so take your books or travel games.
The all inclusive was rubbish as you were giving the smallest glass in the world so by the time you queued for the first drink you would have drunk it waiting for the next. The bar staff were nice and the waiters for your table but the reception staff were just plain rude. As if they couldn't be bothered.
I would definitely not be returning to this hotel as we were all ill and my mum spent 10 out of 14 days in the room frightened of leaving in case she didn't make it to the toilet.
Also if you want a hot shower you will have to have one before 6pm as out of the 14 days and nights I was there I had a cold one 12 times.

1 reader found this review helpful

Please read all the reviews on this hotel & times the bad by ten.
The food was awful you need a stomach of iron (if you want to lose weight perfect holiday) goes in at the top & never stops at the bottom.
The manager & night reception staff are awful, I asked for lights above phones to be put on & it seemed to be too much trouble( got the I don’t care attitude).
The evening entertainment pathetic (take loads of travel games you will need them) if you was to put an act together before you go, it would be more entertaining.
The day time entertainment great, if you want a camel ride go with fritz you will love it, plenty on beach, go with the pirate for the boat trip great stuff, the pools are great, the staff are great loved them all (apart from those mentioned).....loved Tunisia move there tomorrow especially Sousse ,hotel should be rated as a 2star.

We have been to Tunisia 3 times before and this is the first time all inclusive.
The Houda hotel is very clean on the inside. Pool area clean but the food is so boring we where there for 2 weeks and Turkey was on the menu for at least 10 days.
Wanted breakfast at 6.30 am when restaurant was open but could only get cereals and coffee until 7am.
The hotel has its own water park which we tried one morning. Only the once, we went in at 10 am when it open and saw rats near the sun loungers. Did not go back in there reported it to the reps she said they knew and had put poison down. Would not return here.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just returned from our "supposed to be relaxing" holiday away with our 2 young children, but we're feeling like we need another holiday to get over this one.
On arrival, we were shown to our room, quite basic, with 2 single beds and bunk beds for the children (son is 5, daughter is 2). Although the top bunk had a rail, it wasn't the longest rail for a fidgety 5 year old and the bottom bunk had no rail at all, so we didn't even attempt to let our children sleep in them. Luckily the twin beds that we had were pushed together, as a double, so they slept in with us for two weeks. Our balcony overlooked the tennis court, which we were woken up by some mornings at 6:30/7am by other holiday makers playing tennis outside the window. Shouldn't the hotel have a time limit on sports starting, like 9am??
The cleaner was lovely, replaced the towels every other day, and changed the bed linen every 4th day (I think). No problem with the air conditioning, it always worked, but very every now and again it had a smell of sulphur (eggs), which was disgusting.
There is one large pool on the beach side of the hotel, and 2 pools on the other side of the hotel, a baby pool with mini water slide and the largest has 4 water slides, which the kids and the husband loved (this was the best thing about the hotel/holiday), the pool surround and sunbathing area were spotlessly clean and the cleaners washed it down every other morning.
The tiles around the pool were very slippery though (not non slip like at home) we saw loads of adults and children fall over and hurt themselves, so be careful around the pool. Although it was clean, the amount of flies everywhere was so annoying, and although they just sit and fly about most of the day, at about 5pm, they actually start to bite!
The food seemed fine at first, but then we gradually realised that it was the same old food brought out over and over again, mainly turkey and chips, which became increasingly darker with over cooking.
There were also tons of flies in the dining hall, morning, noon and night, which is very annoying when you're trying to eat your dinner.
I had an ear infection the first week and 30 mozzy bites which were infected, although neither of these things are reflections on the hotel, the cost of the doctor and pharmacy was in excess of £90.00, even with my holiday insurance, I'll only get £40.00 back after paying the excess.
My son started to feel ill at the end of the first week, being sick and having diorreah, then my daughter had it and then my husband, so from the end of the first week until we returned back home, my husband and two children have had upset stomach's.
The hand dryers didn't work in the public toilets, and some of the reception staff were arrogant.
The ice cream for the children had to be bought (although it was free in the dining hall), which is strange in an all inclusive hotel, and the drinks are all served in small wine glasses, not even quarter of a pint, and you can only get 2 drinks per person. So you have to get two drinks, take them to your table, and go back and queue up again for another two drinks.
Tea was disgusting, but there was hot chocolate and coffee on tap by the bar. They also have a smoking room, where people can go and smoke "bongs", which although initially people kept to the smoking room, eventually, they started to bring them out into the bar area and outside, and smoking all over the place, which wasn't very nice. OK, I know it's their tradition, but it just looked like a foreign drugs den!!!!
The main reason for going to Houda Hotel, was because it was approx £1000.00 cheaper than an all inclusive hotel in Spain or Majorca, but we won't be going back again next year, I think we'll be going to somewhere in England, somewhere we know and trust, like staying at home and having days out on Tesco clubcard points...!

We had two weeks all inclusive at this resort it was fantastic. There were nine of us we had a large apartment facing the beach. The place was really clean and the staff were amazing so helpful and friendly.
We had 2nd sitting for tea and lunch which was great as it gave you longer at pools. You get you’re own waiter we had Monear he was really funny and the kids loved him please tip staff where possible as there wages are very poor and they really appreciate it.
The food was nice but not much choice for those who only like English food. But we managed ok didn’t spoil holiday at all.
The beach was lovely but do beware my daughter got stung by jelly fish but staff soon put ice on it and she was fine. The pools were excellent especially slide pool and lifeguards really friendly.
Entertainment was available but we found after t it was bout 9ish so there was plenty of seating areas just to chill out. The camel excursion was really great for all ages but the pirate boat trip was not so good for faint hearted we nearly all felt sick and couldn’t wait to get off, not for younger children at all.
The holiday was so enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone we would definitely go back again.

1 reader found this review helpful

We went to the Houda golf and Diarrhoea club.
Firstly I would like to say that I have never had the need to complain about a hotel before till I visited this one!
We arrived at 2am and first impressions of the hotel were that it looked beautiful. This soon ended.
We got put into what I can only describe as a squat. It had no daylight, no balcony and had wires hanging out of the walls were plug sockets, wall lights and air con switch used to be. It had an view of the hallway when you opened the window.
The room hadn’t even been cleaned. There was dirty wet towels on the bathroom floor. Human soil on the bed covers and a nice big damp patch on the ceiling.
The day after we waited in reception all day for 2 rooms with a balcony which we had booked a year ago. My advice is if you have to change your room. Do not leave reception till you have have the room or they will give it to someone else.
Bad rooms and room swapping seemed to be a common problem with English guests. The air con in all rooms smells like raw sewerage coming through. So you can’t use this either. A common complaint of many guests.
The pool area:-
The pool area doesn’t get cleaned very often. We were there 2 wks and only seen it being cleaned twice. They let people use the pool of a night hence the ashtrays, glasses, and chair we found on occasions the next day. If you look at the palm tree islands in the pool, you will see people’s names written into the scum marks around them. Hence ear infections are rife. I am 34 years of age and have never had ear infection till I came here.
The restaurant:-
Not a very nice place at all. It is extremely crowded with people and flies. We actually stopped using it because of the extreme heat (no air con) flies and undercooked food.
The food:-
Be very careful. When we were there. 90% of the hotel had sick and diarrhoea. All 4 of us were ill. You could guarantee that everyone you spoke to, 3 out of 4 of their family was or had been ill. The rep tried to say it was a virus! Which was a load of rubbish.
When we actually looked at what we were eating you seen that the food was undercooked. Pink chicken etc, even in the Tunisian restaurant.
The rep:-
What a waste of a job, don’t listen to her. She is useless; especially don’t believe that her trips are any good. We managed to book a Monastir boat trip. (The first time out of the hotel in 11 days, due to sick and diarrhoea).
The boat takes you right out to sea then you cruise the coastline from about 5 miles away! The boat stops for something to eat. Meanwhile you are still out in deep water. This is for about half hour then it takes you back. That’s it! Oh and it empties the toilet at the side of the boat whilst you are eating. This trip cost us £60 for a family of 4.
Trust me you will have a better time taking a packed lunch on a pedelo. Cheaper anyway.
We complained to the rep ha ha ha. And cancelled the other trip we had booked for our last night costing £88 for 4 of us. All she did was write this down, not much use to us.
The trip was called African experience, and whilst we were cancelling it another couple said we had made the right decision, as it was a load of rubbish. They said the hotel animation team are much better.
Another thing that really bugs me is that every brochure that I have looked in, the hotel is advertised at having 516 rooms, in this years and next year’s brochures. The hotel actually has over 1000 rooms (confirmed by the rep). This to me is false advertising.
I believe that this is why the hotel restaurant cannot cope with this amount of people and is why the food is rushed and undercooked.
The sea:-
Beware! It is full of jellyfish, seaweed and is brown. When we went for a walk along the coast line, we saw a lot of washed up dead fish and crabs on the sand. There are also a couple of derelict hotels further down from this one.
I seriously believe that there is something really wrong with this area of Tunisia, especially with the abnormal amount of flies.
The only decent thing about this hotel was the animation and bar staff. They are a credit to the hotel and deserve a huge pay rise from the £30 a week that they earn.
My advice is doing go to this hotel. And if you do, don’t use the hotel millionaire doctor!
He will charge you a small fortune just for the privilege of seeing him, then more money for the magic needle that cures the food poisoning and ear infections! Amongst other things.
Use a taxi to take you to the chemist which will be far cheaper and this includes the medication that you buy.
Everything that I have written here is the absolute truth. And I'd wished I'd read reviews before I had booked this worthless holiday. It has put me off booking all inclusive on future holidays. I won’t ever return to this hotel or area again.

The hotel was lovely and was still being part built so there is loads more to come from this resort.
The hotel staff were lovely and the Animation Team and entertainment crew were really friendly and helpful plus a great laugh.
The weather was spectacular but a little hot for the likes of young children. mind you I did go in August which is prob the hottest time to go.
the swimming pools were clean and were regularly cleaned out and chlorine was added every night. There is a bar called Safari just down the road where they have large teles so you can watch English television, including sky sports which I was really pleased about as I love my footie.
They also have plenty of trips to go on and the hotel have activities for all ages during the day and shows of a night which are different every day so you never get to watch the same thing.
I would definitely go back there as I made loads of friends with the entertainment crew.
Planning on going in Feb 08.

1 reader found this review helpful

This was our second stay at the Houda that was a completely difference experience from when we first went in low season last year. We went back for the facilities on the beach and the water park.
This time 2 of us had upset stomachs and we had to see the doctor. We saw our rep who told us that other guests had also been ill and that it was probably due to the drinks being watered down with tap water.
We had problems with the cleaner coming into the room early in the morning to collect the towels. On occasions it was noisy at night. We would not recommend going in high season as the staff seem to struggle to cope with the increased numbers of guests, however it is fine in low season.