Bel Azur Hotel

2 readers found this review helpful

We have just got back from our honeymoon in Tunisia and we had a great time... we wanted to let other people know about what to expect so they can be better prepared for everything.
The Bel Azur is a nice, very basic hotel. There is a main hotel building and there also are chalets on the beach. Tour operators are allocated the main building rooms and other guests get the chalets.
The chalets are very nice and if you fancy one of these, it is best to fax the hotel directly and ask to have one of the chalets on the beachfront. These are very secure, lovely rooms and it means you can sit out front, overlooking the beach of an evening I you don’t fancy going out.
We paid an extra £4 a day to have a sea view, which turned out to be mainly trees and a very tiny glimpse of blue above that. If you fancy something that little bit extra, do the faxing thing and ask them for a chalet. The sea views aren’t worth the money. I know it’s only £4 but we were on a budget honeymoon and we could have put that to a few more drinks or something!!! *prioritise*
The wake up calls at the hotel are crap. You get them when you least expect them and not when you ask for them which can be really unhelpful...especially when you have to be up and out of the door for 6am on a desert excursion.
We forgot to take out mobile phone charger (so we can use the alarm on the mobile) so we had to rely on the front desk and it didn’t happen, which nearly ruined our honeymoon. So please don’t forget your phone charger and an adapter!
The food is a self service buffet style thing. There is something for everyone but mainly for eastern European people i.e.: sour kraut (the dish) and aubergines stuffed with cheese, creamed spinach, rabbit dishes etc. BE prepared for different food types, European people jumping the food queue.
Breakfast is much the same, but the hot food counter serves fried eggs or cheese omelettes.... which if you ask to be well cooked, can be quite nice. The Tunisians have a tendency to lightly cook there eggs which can be a be much for delicate tummies.
There are two types of water in Tunisia, Garci (fizzy water), and Safia (still). Both can be quite cheap and the Garci is really nice in the hot weather. You only have to pay for drinks at tea-time, which a waiter gets for you. They are very helpful, almost like concierges.
If you need anything, just ask. We were lucky, as an obviously honeymooning couple, we got seated at a two seater table but others had to tack on the end of another table, which wasn’t always cool.
The excursions were great except the three day 4x4 desert safari. You have the option to do a 2-day one in an air conditioned coach or a 3 day one in a 4x4 vehicle. Both trips have the same itinery for days one and two. The coach party goes home on the second day and the 3-dayers go onto another hotel.
Be warned: there is only one other excursion on day three and apart from that you are left to explore the crap town of tozeur (or tosser, as we came to call it) on your own. The hotel we were meant to stay at on the second night was awful: almost of a hostel standard. The couples on the trip were not impressed and after a very crap buffet lunch at the hotel, we decided we would like to return home that night other than stay in the borstal style hotel.
The guides were very helpful, professional, friendly, and considerate. My husband had an allergic reaction to sun cream out on safari and it blistered his whole back acutely. Our guide Ali not only came back to the hotel from an excursion with another group, he was able to liaise for a doctor to come and give a shot of anti-histamine to my bloke who was in total agony.
His English was excellent and was out translator during the whole event. We were completely impressed. Ali was not in charge of the itinery, and was very gutted when we said we wanted to go back to our nice comfy resort hotels 500km away. We all signed a group letter saying it wasn’t his fault or the drivers (Safid) so his bosses couldn’t give him any grief over it. Our recommendations is to go on the 2-day coach trip. You don’t get any extra value for the 3-day trip and you can do it in comfort.
There were six participants in a 4x4 vehicle meant for 4x passengers at the most. It was very very cramped and extremely uncomfortable sitting on a wheel arch for 150k at a time. We all took turns to do it but it wasn’t on. The tour operator who run the 4x4 didn’t think it was cost effective to run another 4x4 so we could travel in comfort and leisure that the price tag for this trip suggested we would receive.
The 2 day safari is worth going on though.... the camel ride in the desert was amazing.... dressing up as Lawrence of Arabia and riding on a camel for an hour was so fantastic! Others have the choice of riding in a horse & buggy if a camel isn’t your thing. Although there were some very early starts... watching the sun rise over a salt lake and the Sahara was the most beautiful sights I have ever witnessed.
The Red Lizard train was so cool, riding through the gorges where The English Patient was filmed. Spectacular. In addition, the excursion to El Djem coliseum was cool, although shorter than we imagined it would be. When you go underground to where the prisoners were kept, it has the most awful eerie feeling still, thousands of years from when the atrocities actually happened.... I can’t believe people were ever kept in conditions like that. You hear on programmes like most haunted that when you see little bubbles of light in photographs, it indicates a spirit.
Well, a couple of the photos we took down there have loads of these flecks on it... and some don’t. It wasn’t very dusty, either. Imagination working overtime or just a camera fault??? Weird stuff.....
Anyway, the markets were fantastic, lots of people on cons "hi, remember me, I’m your waiter from the hotel, I show you round the medina for £20 dinar", lots of very pushy sellers in the market place. The French people seemed to have it down to a fine art; they just waved the sellers away and ignored them totally.
Tunisians can spot a Brit from 100 paces... we are mostly mannered, smiling and extremely pale. They will offer to henna tattoo your name in Arabic somewhere noticeable on your body THIS IS A MISTAKE because it is a tool for other market sellers to bond with you and to get your attention. They will be crying out your name to get you to come to their shop "just look, no hassle" "very cheap, asda price". Be strong, be confident and slightly arrogant... and you will get away with it. Just say no. You won’t offend them but some people can’t do it, like my husband, who thinks that prices should be fixed and couldn’t deal with haggling, unlike me, who drove a really hard bargain every time. Ha-ha. Lots of fun.
I think the best bit about our holiday was the fact that we spent two days in the thalassotherapy centre on site at the Bel Azur. For £8, for the whole day, we were able to laze in open-air Jacuzzis and steam baths and whirlpools and jet streams that massaged any tensions we had into oblivion. So totally chilled out.
They also offer massages and algae applications, a hair salon, and just about any beauty service you require. Take lots of condition because the Ph of the water in the spa just turns your hair to straw. Also the hairdryer in the room is meant for blow drying your privates..... There is a whole bidet culture in Tunisia where you don’t wipe your bottom. In public loos they have a small hosepipe and no paper, so it is really important to take wipes with you!!!
If you want to get out and about, with a mish mash of different cultures (African, European, Russian) with a great basic hotel which the cleaners keep very clean, somewhere hot and not too far away to get to then Tunisia is you destination of choice. Very cheap, very chilled out, very very memorable.

1 reader found this review helpful

This hotel had received good feedback on this and other holiday advice sites but we found the hotel to be very dated.
The hotel is not really geared up for the British tourist, more for the Russian. The people at reception re very laid back and no information is available on anything, you have to ask all the time.
The food was not very good, buffet food, it was basically the same every night with a different sauce. The queues for the food was like feeding time at eh zoo with people pushing and shoving with no manners - I hated this time of day.
We went to breakfast early just to avoid this where if you were lucky you might get an omelette for breakfast, otherwise it would be the rolls from the day before.
Our room was very basic although on arrival we did get a fruit basket (4 apples and some plums). The towels were threadbare and for the first week we didn't even have hand towels. The bathroom smelled as well.
Seeing as we didn't pay very much for this hotel we were not too surprised but a lot of people had paid double what we had.
We were disappointed in the hotel and would not go back. When we were leaving it had changed to high season in Tunisia so the maintenance people were out painting and decorating and getting rooms fixed - including our smelly sink! If only they had done this before we had arrived!

1 reader found this review helpful

Weather was fantastic, hotel excursions were excellent and you could use any of the other two sister hotels (Sol and Royal Azur) facilities (pools and entertainment). All staff were very friendly.
Few negative points to raise, bedrooms are basic but not very clean. Marks on the bedroom walls, dirt on the bed frames and scruffy bathroom interior.
I also experienced delays in waiting for crockery at meal times as well as people pushing in the queues while waiting to dine.
Yasmine Hammamet was very intimidating especially inside the bazaar.
Taxi's very cheap.
Holiday overall was excellent value for money.

I have just come home from staying at the Bel Azur for 5 nights with my friends. I thought the hotel complex itself was quite nice with a good size pool and terrace area.
I never found being round the pool too crowded, however, like most hotels, we had to reserve sun beds whilst we went to breakfast.
All of our three rooms that we had were of good standard and fairly clean as the maid attended them every day. Entertainment around the hotel was available as the 'Animation Team' offered a range of activities during both night and day.
Just be warned that when you are sunbathing around the pool you may be approached a few times to either go on a boat trip or ride a camel.
We went half board which was ok as there was plenty of food to choose from, however being a buffet, it did feel at times it was like watching a herd of cattle moving around.
Also during breakfast time, the tablecloths from the dinner before hadn’t been replaced which wasn’t the most attractive site to look at. For the price of eating out, I would highly suggest doing so. My and friends and I had meals out a few times and the price was about half the price we would of paid at home.
The location of the hotel was really good, as it was situated right on top of the beach and near a few shops. The medina was only a 15 minute walk away which was handy and is definitely worth a visit.
Also, we found taxi's around the hotel quite often so it was easy to travel outside the main complex. We took a taxi to Yasmine Hammamet which again, is worth the visit with many restaurants and shops/markets. (Side note: be prepared for taxi drivers to argue among each other as they all want your custom.)
All in all, the service at the hotel was good and the weather was beautiful so I would definitely consider going back.

The hotel is very tired and could desperately do with upgrading or even a lick of paint, but was reasonably clean. The majority of the staff were helpful and polite with the exception of the entertainment staff.

Came back on Sunday 10th June 2007 staying at the Bel Azur. The service was good and the staff were very friendly.
The only down side was Lack of cups and Plates and soup bowls. We was waiting for 20 mins for crockery in the evening. The restaurant was unable to cope there was lots of pushing in at meal times.
There was cats running about in the restaurant and the guest where feeding them from the table.

The hotel is 3 star but is on a complex with a 4 star and a 5 star and you are allowed to use the facilities of all three. Right on the beach and a 20 min walk from the resort centre.
The service is fantastic, the bar staff regularly come to the beach and bring drinks on request. The hotel is clean and comfortable, nothing is too much trouble for them, from welcome drinks on arrival to fruit platters in the rooms, its all done for you.
The food is buffet style and can get a bit samey night after night, but there is plenty of choice to suit all tastes. The reps were fantastic, very helpful and knowledgeable. There wasn't a question that they didn't have the answer to.
The only slightly negative comment I would make is that the bathrooms didn't quite match the standard of everything else. They were clean, but a bit shabby. Not a huge problem, just a surprising slip in standards.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this hotel (and the resort) as a good base to relax and explore Tunisia.

I feel I have to defend this hotel against the ridiculous comments made. I had a fantastic time here and loved every minute. I intend to return to this hotel when I next return to Tunisia. The rooms were always spotless and the cleaning staff were both friendly and trustworthy - I left an ipod and cash on the bedside table several times and they were always there on my return to the room. All the other staff were friendly and helpful too. Receptionists always knew the answer to questions or at least where you could find the answer. The chefs were great and if you asked nicely they'd make whatever they could for you. The food itself was very good. So it wasn't British fare but you are in Tunisia! Although if you crave a good cup of tea and some British snacks then go right out of the main complex gates and on the left after about 25 metres is a cafe where the owner's wife is British.
The hotel provides you with entertainment every night and this ranges from fakirs and snake charmers to bands. There is always something going on in the day also. My personal favourite was the aqua aerobics.
There is a spa attached to the complex and for approx. £10 you get entry and free use of all facilities in there.
A taxi to main Hammamet cost about 80p and the excursions offered are fantastic.

Came back on Sunday 10th September 2006 staying at the Bel Azur, this was our second year here. Service still as good, particularly, if one to two dinars are involved.
The only down side to this years holiday was the lack of cups, saucers, etc,
Breakfast time, everything was just so short of things and mix match of crockery and the evening meals were just the same waiting for clean plates, and soup bowls.
Last year 2005 we went in July, and this problem did not occur then, so what has happened.
Plenty of food, beautiful cakes etc. Bar staff just great, and even the beach service was just brilliant, this also did not happened last year.
Still in love with Tunisa, excellent value for money, and look forward to next year.

I've stayed at the Bel Azur five times now, for a sum total of two months (with my partner, parents and children on different occasions). I've already booked another week next May (2007). You'll appreciate, I'm sure, that I think the hotel (and complex), is fantastic! Everything everyone else has said about food, staff, entertainment, environment and facilities (you can use all the facilities of three excellent adjoining Azur hotels, 5 pools, 2 great beaches, etc.), being terrific is all absolutely true.
However, we've just come back from two weeks in August and, for the first time, I have some gripes. These all boil down to one factor which hasn't been the case on any previous visit. In a nutshell, Tunisia is feeling the effect of global (in)security on people travelling to Muslim countries, despite being one of the most tolerant and safe Muslim states. This leads to hotel bookings being down so, understandably, they try to fill space somehow.
The Azur complex has previously been almost exclusively international, so anyone looking 'local' tends to either work there, or on a rare occasion has wandered along the beach (and gets turfed out quietly and efficiently). This Summer the hotels (quite understandably under the circumstances), opened the doors to Tunisians, which is fine in itself, but clouded things somewhat. In our first week this year, apparently 100 Tunisians were staying there. The complex is plenty big enough to cope with this, but many obviously brought friends and family, and other Tunisians wandered along the beach to use the facilities, essentially because they now had 'cover'. Alas, despite its best efforts, the complex simply could not cope with the influx and international guests became second place at times. The pools and beaches were almost exclusively 'local' for much of the day, and the noise levels were unbelievable. Animation teams seemed to almost give up trying to cope, and the poor staff did their best but were clearly frustrated (and angry at times).
Unfortunately, there were other knock-on effects. To put this in perspective, my mum is not easy to please on cleanliness, but she stayed two years ago and still describes it as 'spotless and clean everywhere'. With the shear numbers of Tunisians on site this year (and possibly less ownership by those not staying there), the loos were foul, often with excrement smeared around. The hotel was simply unable to cope. There was also lots of pushing in at meal times in the restaurant (which is normally happy and orderly), and many staff were clearly stressed at times.
I love this place, but my affinity for it was severely tested this year. If my first stay at the hotel (6 years ago), had been like the majority of our days there this August, I would never have returned. Thankfully, five days of our second week were much better, probably because the number of locals staying was significantly less (reducing the impacts mentioned above). I'm really looking forward to going with my family next May, but if the complex is not up to the usual extremely high standard, I doubt we will give it another chance.