Tej Marhaba Hotel

We - my husband and I stayed at the Tej Marhaba in September for two glorious weeks. Having read some of the earlier reviews, we did wonder what we would encounter.
We have been to Tunisia before, staying in Kerkennah and Port el Kantaoui. We are also reasonably well travelled so we had a good idea of what to expect from a North African country. As one other reviewer said if you want 5* Caribbean luxury, go to the Caribbean, don't expect to get it in North Africa. You get what you pay for, we wanted a hot, cheap(ish) lie down, and that's exactly what we got.
We booked independently on the Web, no frills flight and no transfer, which were all great and worked wonderfully well. The taxi rides to and from the airport were an absolute hoot and we got there safe and sound.
The Tej Marhaba hotel does look grand if a little dated at first sight, and some of the public areas, corridors to bedrooms for example could do with new carpets. We had a lovely room with plenty of storage, and balcony with a good sea view, the bed was absolutely enormous and very comfortable.
We found the staff to be helpful, kind and fun. It's amazing what a smile and a chat can do. If you take the time to be friendly you reap such rewards. We received a bowl of fruit and a bottle of water sent up from reception one evening during our second week, and when we asked why, the staff on reception said it was because we had been so nice to them. Not all guests are apparently!
The food in the hotel restaurant was extremely good, hugely varied and there was plenty of it at all times, and I'm particularly picky about what I eat and about cleanliness. We loved the pancakes at breakfast and the eggs cooked anyway you wanted them. The head chef comes out into the restaurant regularly during dinner to see how things are going, especially on change over days.
In our experience the staff could not do enough for guests, this goes for the housekeeping maids who are so sweet, and as has been said before, work from morning to night, the waiters and chefs in the restaurant, and the boys on the hotel beach who drag the sunbeds around and position you under a parasol.
We found the beach beautifully clean and ruled with a rod of iron by an enormous man who did not allow guests to be hassled by hawkers, unless they wanted to be, by buying food from them, although this could also be bought from the little kiosk there. There was constant entertainment on the beach, usually provided unwittingly by the 'beach master' and his staff of boys. This is the first time we have ever seen fishing -think trawlers - from a pedalo in a rough sea! They even got guests involved in hauling the net ashore.
The outdoor pool area was clean and tidy and again the sunbed man was always on alert to get sunbeds ready for guests. The indoor pool was gorgeous and usually empty, the gym, sauna, changing and shower area were beautifully kept and cleaned daily. I also had an excellent manicure and pedicure at the adjacent beauty salon, for half the price I would have paid in the UK.
The issue (and moaning) about tipping is one that you have to get over. The Tunisians earn peanuts working in hotels like Tej Marhaba and are all happy with a tip of 1 or 2 dinar whenever they provide a service.
There were the usual contingent of German guests who are out early in the morning to put their towels on the sunbeds by the pool. We found the Russian guests to be the new Germans but not nearly so nice!
All in all we had a fabulous time at the Tej Marahaba and would recommend it to others.

The hotel was very clean I really liked sitting by the pool it was relaxing the hotel was good. But basicly the peaple there will give you any sad story to get a diner of you? I thought the beach was to crowed and the carpet was really dirty. The waiters were really good but the hotel shop was to exspencef. The peaple would ask you stupid prices for cheap things. Wile walking in the town peaple would littrally drag you into the shops. The things you buy there were kinda cheap but would start of ad stupid prices untill you bargained.
The water park there is fun I recemend you go to that while your in Sousse the kids enjoyed it but out of 10 I would give the country of Tunisia 4 it needs to upgrade its life style.

This hotel is amazing. The people can be a little pushy but just say no then they leave you alone. The entertainment was awesome with lots of laughs. The food was great with a wide range for me as I am a vegetarian. The waiters can’t do enough for you and the entertainment people are brilliant.
Loved the holiday, second time in Sousse at this hotel. Definately going back again next year.

We have just returned from a week's holiday at The Tej Marhaba, in Sousse. Never again.
My back was up for the whole trip, from the minute we arrived the staff were looking for tips, one maid wanted money for her unborn baby. You really had to check the prices well and agree everything beforehand otherwise they would try and fiddle you out of extra dinars.
The only times we were fully relaxed was by the pool or eating in the restaurant.
Please do not book the pirate boat ship from the (very sweet) conman on the beach, Habit. He told us chicken and chips and free drinks, showed us pictures of tourist kids swimming with dolphins, the reality was buy your own drinks, you eat sardines , salad and two bits of stale bread and if you get sea sick like myself and one of my daughters, you run to the loo which is just a toilet bowl (free standing)with a piece of waste pipe sticking out of it going over the side of the ship and a plastic bottle of water to sluice it through when you have finished.
This for me just about summed up the resort of Sousse; the people would feed you any story to get a dinar, the leered and made sexual remarks to myself and daughters (this was during the day, not even dark).
The food at the hotel was fine and the pool was very relaxing, even though we never saw it cleaned once.
The Zulu/Zoo trip was a lovely evening out. If you have booked and you are all set to go, please attend the welcome meeting as the rep Nabil is amazing, very thorough and informative, anytime I wanted to go out I would ask him first how much I should be paying for a taxi, because they will try to charge double or treble.
For me Tunisia was a new experience and although it was a lovely place, beautiful beach and hotel, it make still take another 20 years before it catches up with the rest of Europe, in attitude and how you treat tourists.
I felt unable to relax outside of the complex and I did not go on holiday to be constantly vigilant.

My first trip to Tunisia and never again. Whilst the hotel was quite nice the staff on reception were rude and unhelpful. When we arrived having booked and paid for 2 rooms we were given 1 room and basically told to get on with it. Couldn’t leave the hotel as the hassle was unbearable and on a few occasions very aggressive.
Unfortunately inside the hotel there was nothing to do if you don’t like doing nothing!
Entertainment was third rate although the team tried really hard and knew it was bad. Best they could do with the resources they were given.
The food was boring and not very well cooked or presented, either raw or burnt. Lots of the vegetarian dishes had chicken or ham in them. Whilst we were quite happy to tip the waiters, staff etc with their hands constantly out became irritating.
The porters bordered on threatening. When we arrived we had not been able to change money and he refused to leave the room until my husband got quite firm with him and virtually threw him out. Don’t go here if you have children as they are not catered for at all despite being advertised as a family hotel.

This was not a good holiday for me, when got there we had paid for 2 rooms and were put in one 4 adults one child- as they had over booked, so still trying to get our money back.
The porter would not leave the room and we couldn’t tip him as we had arrived at midnight and had no money as foreign exchange closed.
The entertainment was dreadful same band every night with same songs in same order, nothing for children to do despite being advertised as a family resort, food was bland and in edible.
The resort was like a back street slum lots of building and noise, hassle the moment your foot left the hotel entrance. Locals very aggressive. No where to eat if you were fed up with hotel food ventured out one day to find used syringes all over the ground, all the men thought they had a right to hassle grope and aggravate all women, horrible area would not recommend to my worst enemy.

The hotel Tej Marhaba is the best hotel I have ever stayed at. The staff are really kind, give them a little tip and they are your best friend for the rest of the holiday.
We had a waited named Rochdi, we had him the first night we got there and we had him every night for the rest of the holiday. When we come down for dinner he would wait for us by the lifts and ask us where we would be sitting and he would go and put some drinks out for us so nobody would take our seating.
We were in a party of 10, 8 adults 2 kids so there were not enough seats for us so he would move the furniture around for us, we also met allot of people there and they would come and sit with us so all in all we would have about 20 seats for everybody and Rochdi moved all the seats for us.
The food there is a bit limited. All I had to eat there was spaghetti Bolognese; then again I am a picky eater.
Breakfast was at 6-10 and Dinner was at 7-9. Your first view of the hotel is brilliant, looks like something of the movies; red carpet on your entrance. When we first got to the hotel we had to wait until 4 O’clock to get our rooms we arrived at 2 O’clock.
We got the rooms and on your entrance the bathroom is on the right with a bath shower and sink in one room and behind the door is the toilet and the budai which is a hose (very handy).
There are wardrobes on the left of your entrance and you carry on you can see the balcony and double beds to your right and TV and a side to your left. Our view was brilliant we all had a sea view could also see the pool, if you have a pool/sea view you will be really impressed get allot of sun in your room also before I forget the air conditioning is brilliant!
We took the electric card off the key and left it in our room and just carried the key round with us so the air conditioning is left on constantly.
The maid is brilliant! Came in every day change your towels make your bed etc...
You see them at midnight still cleaning the lobby downstairs.
They are at the hotel constantly. The hotel is spotless! Just be careful when going to the toilet and a maid is in there, they don’t tend to move which is kind of funny.
The lifts I think are pretty dodgy they have sensors on the inside and if the sensor hasn’t gone off in 5 seconds or so they will close even when you are walking in.
The pool is nice and refreshing after a long sunbath but not very clean if you get a pair of goggles and look at the floor you'll find all sorts of stuff. I never once saw them clean the pool. Everybody in our party has got an ear infection from the pool, so if you plan on going in the pool buy some ear plugs!
Their is a man who goes round asking if you would like a mattress on your sun lounger, if you have one then a tip is required and if you sit where you are for the holiday he will always bring one over to you.
We went to the Medina centre, very nice there on a first glance but once you get into there its very crowded and hot not a very nice place to be, you get hassled really bad you just have to keep your eyes in front of you and don’t look into there shop.
We also went to Port el Kantaoui, very nice, well looked after. You could go here and not have a problem.
We met a couple who never went off site until there last day and as soon as they stepped off site they got robbed, passports, money, phones, and receipts everything was gone. They had a problem getting home after staying another 3 nights.
Be careful going off site with young kids especially if they are blonde or have blue eyes.
I only did the quadding threw the people on site. Well worth it! 35 dinar for 2 hours on a quad following their rep round a dirt track they also pay for your travel but not your drinks so take some money if you do this. One of the families we met did the Sahara Desert and they said it was one hell of a experience, the pictures looked very good.
Also you have to try a Tuk Tuk 2 dinar a person well worth the experience absolutely brilliant.
To be honest I can’t think of anything else I need to tell you besides the hotel is absolutely brilliant!! Would definitely go back!
Have a great time at this hotel if you are going.

Just returned from a week in Tunisia, never been before so went with an open mind.
After a 6 hour delay from Manchester we just wanted to get there, when we arrived we were pleasantly surprised.
The hotel was really nice maybe not a 4 star as stated but overall the rooms were clean spacious, our room was on the 5th floor overlooking a busy road not what we would have liked but it did give us an idea of how busy the city of Sousse was.
You couldn't fault the service the staff were pleasant from the reception staff, waiters, cleaners, who worked very hard and long hours even down to the man who looked after the sun beds.
The 2 pools one outdoor and one indoor were well maintained and you had no shortage of sun beds round the pool, you had waiter service and everything you needed was within the complex.
There was the hotel bar, the piano bar located in the hotel lobby which was open till 2am very relaxing, on site there was an English bar the rose and crown, which had karaoke 2 nights a week, a bistro bar which didn’t close until you had had enough, pizza cafes, souvenir shops and a shopping complex which was well laid out.
The hotel did try with their entertainment there was the resident band and the bingo which was ok if you was over 60 apart from that little else was going on in the hotel.
Overall we had a lovely relaxing week, but we were informed by other guests not to venture out at night outside the hotel as other people had commented that they didn't feel very safe we took the advice and stayed within the complex.
Just a word of warning On the day of departure we put our cases in the storage room and as we weren’t getting picked up till later decided to walk across the road to a souvenir shop we were out only 10 minutes.
In that 10 minutes our holiday turned into a nightmare we were mugged in broad daylight on a busy street by a youth who snatched my handbag from behind and then jumped on the back of a motor cycle waiting around the corner.
Everything was in that handbag passports, all our English money, plane tickets, 2 mobile phones, digital camera, and other things. We were stranded in Tunisia with nothing.
You always think it can’t happen to you, so just beware it does happen. Sousse is not a nice city obviously unsafe even during the day, maybe I was just unlucky, but I wouldn't like anyone else to go through the ordeal that we went through.
If the hotel and complex were in a different place maybe Port El Kantoui then it would be different but we definitely won’t be going back.
Apparently this sort of crime is common but no-one is informed about the dangers apparently as it’s not good for the tourist industry.
I hope this has been helpful just be extra vigilant when outside the hotel grounds.

This hotel had some mixed reviews, but we found it to be excellent.
I agree with the positive comments of more recent reviews - the cleanliness was fine, staff were extremely friendly, efficient, and helpful.
The buffet was good, but a bit repetitive after 2 weeks.
The beach was superb and the staff there kept all of the touts away from their guests allowing only a few regulars onto the beach that accepted a "no thanks" and didn't hassle you. You can even have pizzas, sandwiches, and snacks brought over from the hotel to your lounger. Well worth the 1 or 2 dinar tip.
Sousse has a lot to offer - take care in the medina though. If you show the slightest interest in anything you will be shown everything in the shop! A polite and firm no and walking on is the best bet.
Try the Soula centre by the Medina entrance for fixed prices and air conditioning. There is another fixed price shop in the Medina, but the name escapes me. Sorry.
I had my mobile phone pinched (pick pocket) at the Sunday market - but that was the only negative of the holiday.
A great holiday - we would definitely go back to Tunisia and the Tej Marhaba.
The My Travel Rep was first class and we were very well looked after during the delay caused by the Glasgow Airport incident.

2 readers found this review helpful

I've just returned from the best holiday I've ever had.
The hotel itself was very well presented and rather grand inside. We stayed in the Aparthotel at the rear of the hotel and whilst it wasn't as grand as the Tej Marhaba itself, we had so much more room.
Each apartment consists of a large bedroom, lounge with sofa and dining table, small kitchen area with 2 x hobs and a large fridge with small freezer compartment, basic pots, plates and glasses and a bathroom with bath and shower.
We also had a balcony with table and chairs for two with a fantastic sea view - the Aparthotel views are probably better than those of the main hotel itself as the Aparthotel is closer to the sea. There was very little English TV to watch, but who comes on holiday to watch TV anyway?
Staying at the Aparthotel you can opt to eat at the main hotel and we went half board.
There was a fair variety of food, all served in buffet style. At breakfast you had the choice of pastries, salad or some hot options including pancakes, boiled, scrambled, or fried eggs, and tomatoes and on some day’s sausages or cold meat and cheese.
Be warned that the fruit drinks are incredibly sugary and we couldn't work out if they were made with local tap water or not but both of us succumbed to the dodgy tums we were trying to avoid at the end of the week.
The main meal was large and varied - soups and salads to start, then a choice of main courses - several meats, rice, pasta, potatoes or couscous, fresh olives, bread rolls etc. and for dessert many small cakes, watermelon or a hot dish with custard each day.
Be warned that after a week the choice began to get a bit 'samey' but I really can't knock the food given the prices.
If you're self catering, there's a small supermarket on the road behind the Aparthotel, and if you carry on 500 yards towards the town centre there's a government-run supermarket which is about the only place you can buy alcohol to drink in your room.
The same went for the hotel's entertainment. Most nights the house band play in the Paradise Bar (main reception), with other treats being thrown in - namely bingo each evening (we didn't partake, although the bingo caller's English accent is hilarious), a fashion show, a Tunisian culture night, karaoke, and a belly dancing act.
You also have the choice of several other bars and a nightclub. The English Pub is very dark but offered a great late-night karaoke on Friday night. The Saloon Bar next to the Aparthotel is a good laugh - a Wild West theme pub with disco attached, offering great steak, and live music.
The pools were lovely. It wasn't easy getting a sun-lounger with shade, but once you laid your hands on some you were brought cushions straight away and we left our stuff unattended whilst we swam and had no problems. The outdoor pool was cool, well kept and also ran water aerobics and water polo during the day.
The indoor pool was the well-kept secret though. We spent an hour in there with no other swimmers! It's unheated but that's a great relief when temperatures outdoors are over 30 degrees. There also seemed to be a good gym and Turkish bath/massage service down there too although I didn't try this out.
The hotel beach is fantastic - clear blue water and golden sands. Again, it's not easy to get a sunlounger unless you're down there early, but once you lay your hands on some you'll be given cushions and made welcome.
One thing to beware - there are many many beach sellers trying to make you buy fruits, doughnuts, outings, henna tattoos - some are very persistent to the point of being annoying so if in doubt never put your hands out as someone will put something in to them. Don't think that these people are trying to give you a gift as they'll come back and try to extort dinar later!
The same goes for the hotel shop. The guys who ran it were lovely but we went in to buy an English newspaper and they had a conversation with us about how to write our names in Arabic. Before we knew it they'd marched us to a colleague's jewellery shop and did a very hard sell for us to buy personalised necklaces at inflated prices - beware what you say yes to, no matter how rude it seems to say no.
Things to do? We booked the 2-day safari and I have to say that you'd be mad not to do it. Yes, you spend a vast amount of time on a coach, and yes, you get up at 4.30am on the second day, but I'll never forget watching the sun rise over Chott El Jerid salt lake, riding the Red Lizard train through the Atlas Mountains, exploring the El Djem roman coliseum and best of all, being driven across the Sahara on a horse and cart.
It really is an amazing experience and one I'd recommend to all adults going out there (kids might not like the long journey).
We also enjoyed an afternoon out at Friguia zoo and the Zulu and Bedouin show and meal that took place afterwards. Other trips on offer (we ran out of time!) included a trip on a 'pirate ship' along the coast which looked like fun. You could head into the Medina although I heard mixed reviews about how safe people felt there and it put us off.
Reports of Port El Kantoui were very good though - apparently it's great for a day trip, has nice restaurants and a good beach, and the fountains there have music, and lights show at night. A 'noddy train' runs between Sousse and El Kantoui until late at night so it's easy and cheap to get to.
In all, a really amazing experience of a new continent, culture, cuisine... and I got a fantastic suntan too.