Reviews of Sol Club Selima Hotel, Port El Kantaoui

Stayed at Club Selima the week dating the 9th of August! The hotel was lovely! and the weather was to die for! But other than that absolutely discraceful! Food Poisoning! Allergic reactions! waiters taking you to dodgy clubs! I would not put anything past this hotel!
Fistly told them I was allergic to nuts they stated that any food with nuts in would be labelled! or you would be able to see them! Ok fair enough if they did this! anyone with nut allergys be very careful!!
Had to get the emergency doctor out and have 2 injection not the most pleasant experience, was given a supply of anti- biotics and creams aswel! cant fault the doctors they were superb!
But then the hotel claimed there were no nuts...well deh even the doctor treated me for that!
As for food poisonin had a bad stomach all holiday, but when to that al a carte last night and both me and my partner was so ill when we got home!
Just be very careful if anyone is going here!

first things first the weather was fantastic and i think this helped towards the enjoyment of the holiday. me and my boyfriend booked this hotel fairly cheap (though 425 each including transfers was the top of our budget).



upon arrival we found our room small and very basic with no balcony or terrace which we had expected. when asking at the reception the guy told us we had a very good room as we were close to the pool, restaurant etc. however we would of preferred to walk a little further and have somewhere to sit at night especially as the entertainment is geared towards germans. at times all i wanted to do was to go and sit on a balcony with a glass of wine, though this in itself would of had to be snuck back to the room as they dont really like you taking drinks back.. the receptionist told us to come back the next day to see if anything was available. the next day there were rooms but we would have to pay an extra 4 dina (just less than £2) each extra per person per night.



we decided to stay put in the end partly due to stories we'd had from others about their rooms (ie leaky showers, mouldy baths) and you did get used to the lack of space.



the beach is lovely though crowded as is the pool and we only managed to get a sunbed for about 2 hours one afternoon because they tend to get reserved (they can sit there all day with nobody on them!).



the food on occasion is ok although we did eat out 3 times at night while we were there and a couple of times in the day, be up early for breakfast unless you just want cheese and bread! get in early to book the a la carte which your entitled to once. we missed out but a couple we met said it was lovely as you get a steak (i.e proper meat than whats served). drinks are just about ok though the fizzy drinks arent diet, the wines not really really bad and the spirits are as youd expect.

only specialist supermarkets sell alcohol and we didnt find any but you can make do with whats on offer. the waiters are very friendly and do give you attention, you tend to have one in the bar area who looks after you and one in the restaurant. just beware that when the others know you are going home they hover round to and try to bring you drinks as they want the tips, just say your ok for now and tip the one who you've been looked after by all holiday. brilliant service, our waiter even seemed offended when we went to get our own drinks one night because he looked busy!

when it comes to haggling, shop around to get an idea of the prices you want to pay and dont budge! the sellers will keep dropping their prices and you can end up with a bargain. if people act like they are giving you something be careful as nothing comes for free. we had a kid who persuaded us to give him a dinar (only 50p) for a flower, we didnt have change but he did only he short changed us and ran off and we ended up paying about 2.50 for a flower we later found to be quite popular around the hotels entrance! funny experience though!

all in all we wouldnt come here again but this is partly because we wouldnt do all inclusive again.

i feel my rating is fair and honest and i'm sorry for having a little rant! i was just a little disappointed, glad we didnt go for 2 weeks although i do miss the weather! hope this helps you make a clearer decision about your holiday and i'm sorry if anyones already booked, it really wasnt that bad.

Nice hotel,

there are many things to do in and arround the hotel. Good animation but the staff can be 'touchy' they'll won't keep their hands to themselve. NEVER BUY jewelry in the hotel

go to the harbor and things get 300% CHEAPER!! If you have any problem just use the word 'police' and they will back off. But inside the hotel everything is SUPERsafe.

Club Selima is more than good for a good price.

Waiter Sassi is the most experienced i believe

*****SALMONELLA***** *****SALMONELLA***** whilst staying in club selima (9/8/08-16/08/09) me and my partner both contracted salmonella. I am going back to work on Friday 12th a mere three weeks after the holiday finished and my partner is still symptomatic with the effects of salmonella......so becareful what you eat, or of the pool, as aparently you can catch it from pool water too...

i went on holiday with my family at club selima and thouhgt it was absouletly amazing the views and the resort was stunningly breathtaking and would advise anyone to go there, as i am going again after my 3rd time.

The El Mouradi Club Selima is an excellent choice for couples, families and groups alike.

Room

The accomodation is in small 10 room blocks which are away from the noise of the hotel along a floral lined avenue. The accomodation is basic but spotlessly clean and there is a TV and brand new airconditioning units (payable extra) in the rooms. All rooms have a balcony or terrace with a towel drying rail. Complimentary toiletries shower gel and shampoo are provided.

Food - Buffet

The food is good even though the restaurant can get busy at peak times. If you go early or late for meals then you still get the same food as it is replenished very efficiently by the kitchen staff and a more relaxed atmosphere. If you tip the waiters (1-2 Dinars £0.50 - £1) then they will reserve you a table. If not then you will get a table but maybe not first choice of locations. The standard of lunch and dinner is good with a huge fresh salad bar and several dishes to choose from. If you are a fussy eater then there is usually some plain meat and chips or rice or you can get pizza, pasta and chips from the snack bar. The highlights for us were the pastry desserts, the fresh bread salads and pasta. Soft drinks, water and wine is available during lunch and dinner and you are given the bottle which is a nice touch for an all inclusive.

Beverages

The pool bar serves soft drinks and the beach bar serves beer and coffee in addition to soft drinks throughout the day. There are 2 bars inside the hotel and I'd recommend the one upstairs near reception for friendly service. Both inside bars serve soft drinks, beer, coffee, wine and cocktails all day and until 11pm. The cocktails are Vodka based and can be really strong. We recommend the Rose wine but not the red or white. The beer is good and the soft drinks are fine but judging by the colours are laced with E numbers. There are no diet soft drinks but you're on holiday so who cares! The only spirits available are Vodka, Muscat Liqour and Cedratine which is a local eau de vie and will put hairs on your chest. As my wife likes a bacardi and coke in the evening we took a bottle of duty free and she decanted this into a small water bottle in her handbag and topped up her cola from the bar. Alcohol is available to buy from the Nightclub but we never made it there so can't comment.

Facilities

The hotel has 2 pools and it's own beach with plenty of sunbeds although the best spots are taken early so get there just after breakfast to ensure a good choice. There are signs around the pool stating that you cannot reserve sunloungers but this wasn't enforced during our stay. Your best bet is to hire a mattress for 2 dinars (£1) which reserves your lounger all day as the pool attendants tke the money for these. Some people didn't bother but at the end of the day it's only a pound and they are comfortable. The large pool overlooks the sea and is split into 3 lanes for swimming. Occasionally the scuba diving team use one lane for demonstrations. The other pool is used throughout the day for water polo and swim aerobics (my wife's favourite and mine too if I'm honest!) all run by the 'animation' (events) team. There are changing booths, toilets and showers all around the pools.

There is a covered games area with 3 pool tables, 2 air hockey tables, table football and pinball machines. The attendant is very friendly and will return any money if the machine doesn't work.

There are free watersports on the beach, 8 tennis courts, archery, mini golf, petanque, aerobics, dance lessons, arabic lessons.

Entertainment

The 'animation' team have bucket loads of energy and run events and sports all day with a mini club for the kids which was always well subscribed with parents waiting at the door for the mini club to open! The team clearly adore children and they have a mini disco each night after dinner with various kids songs and there appropriate dance moves - The birdy song in french is a must! Following this is the main event which really isn't worth hanging around for. This may sound harsh as the team put their all into choreographing dance routines etc but sadly their talent does not match their efforts and the 'shows' are a massive anti climax. A really good way to spend your evening would be strolling around the Marina which is a short taxi ride away.

Locally

The Marina is excellent and well worth a visit. Built using Saudi Arabian money the Marina is a smart and chic area. You will see well off locals as well as the yacht owners in the bars and shops. The shops are pretty hassle free which is a stark contrast to the Medina at Sousse. You can join boat trips, fishing trips and the 'pirate ships' from here. The pirate ships offer a trip out to sea with swimming from one side, fishing from the other and freshly grilled sardines and soft drinks.

In Sousse which is the 2nd largest city in Tunisia there is a Medina or Market that really shows you a taste of Tunisia. Not for the faint hearted the small alleyways are populated with local sellers trying to get you into their shops. It's great fun but not relaxing as they can be persistent and their prices are massively elevated. Always haggle and don't be afraid to walk away or say no. One tip is to visit the Soula centre at the entrance to the market first. This government run shop has prices which give you an indication of what you should be paying in the Market. Find a price then try to haggle in the Market and see what sort of deal you can get.

Monastir doesn't really offer much except for a good diving school called S.A.A.M.. Diving in Tunisia is a bit hit and miss but we can recommend this one as you get good equipment and the instructors and guides are hot on safety if not skills. If you email or call them in advance they will pick you up from your hotel in their van (again not for the faint hearted). Van aside, the diving is worth the trip and costs around 55 dinars (£25-30) per dive.

Overall

This hotel is great. It is a good 3 star hotel and beacuse the El Mouradi group is mainly 4 star hotels the management will probably push this hotel to get 4 star status which can only benefit the guests. The staff are great and cannot help you enough. Take some coins with you to dinner and lunch in the first couple of days and the service gets much better. The facilities are great just a shame about the evening entertainment. A walk along the beach to the Marina is recommended. The hotel is very multinational with Germans, French, Italians, Belgians, Dutch, Russians, Poles, Swedes and even a few English. The mix seems to work well and no nationality dominates. The staff are all multilingual and english and french is understood by everyone.

You hear horror stories about Tunisia and although all areas are not for everyone you can't really go wrong with Port El Kantaoui. It is relaxed, cosmopolitan and friendly.

The El Mouradi Club Selima is an excellent 3 star hotel right on the beach in mature landscaped gardens. Accommodation is in small blocks in the gardens, rooms are not luxurious but comfortable and spotlessly clean. Food was of a good standard, hot and plenty of choice - lots of salad, pasta, meat, fish etc. The buffet was busy but the staff worked hard to replenish everything. The majority of guests are German, Russian and French and the food is catered accordingly, if you are looking for traditional British food or have fussy children the food may not suit!!! I thought the food was better than many 4 star hotels I have been to in Spain and Greece, and we all enjoyed it - including the 11 and 3 year olds.

There were plenty of sun beds on the beach and on the 2 pool terraces but you did have to be up early for the best ones! For an extra 2 TD you could have a soft matress for the day but not many people seemed to bother.

The entertainment was good fun and the mini disco was a big hit everynight - the children really enjoyed the mini club. Plenty of bars around and even at busy times service was good, even better after the occassional tip!!

The complex is split level and has lots of steps and no lift - there are a few ramps which are more suited to pushchairs than wheelchairs as they are rather steep and are a bit out of the way! We had our 8 month baby with us and we soon found out the easiest way to get around with the buggy!!

There are a good selection of shops close to the hotel if you need to buy anything - you can get large bottles of still and fizzy water from the bar to take back to your room.

Air conditioning was available (payable locally) but we didn't need it. Fridges were available to hire for 7 TD per day. The only English TV was BBC Word.



Great hotel for a family beach holiday with a lovely atmosphere - we would happily return.

I have just returned from my first trip to this hotel... and country..

I went with my 14 years old daughter for just a week and it wasnt long enough for us we really enjoyed ourselfs and wanted to stay...

The hotel, food, room and entertainment was great.. The Staff Were very friendly

We didnt get bored once... The only thing was gettin to the pool early to get a sunbed

to laze on... or the beach for that matter... Otherwise u had'nt got a chance of getting a sun bed at all.... lol

Dispite that we plan to go back very soon but for a longer period of time.. lol

I arrived back from the Club Selima today and we have had a brilliant time. I took my elderly mother with me and the staff could not do enough for us. All the staff were very friendly and courteous to us.



Plenty of food to choose from each meal time. Waiter kept our table for us in dining room every day with drink waiting on the table. I even had a coffee table in the bar decorated for me with fresh flowers from one of the bar staff and he brought us coffee or drinks every time we walked in this area, was lovely. They did not have English tea but Mohammed in reception soon had people out buying them for us.



Amenities very good. When we arrived there were only 6 english people there but that didn’t ruin any part of the holiday. The entertainment was suitable for any nationality and most of the music was english songs anyway and right on the beach.



What more could anyone ask for? Will definitely be visiting this complex again.

Selima Club was good, the food was catered for Germans if you are into fish and different sorts of meat it is good, there was one swimming pool but no indoor pool.



There is one thing bad about this hotel and that is you have to pay for the sun beds. The entertainers were fabulous and very good entertainment.



The hotel was not far from the marina, it was opposite the Horse and Cart and near the shops where you can get prezzies for people in your family, but in sousse you can haggle very much!

Loved our holiday, off to bad start with a grotty room, got a much better room, no problem.



Good points were; staff very friendly, food nice bit repetitive, but you get that in Tunisia.



Loved the idea of eating outside overlooking the sea, kids will love the pizza and chips that`s served at meal times also for snacks mid afternoon, and bout 9.00 in evening.



The drink is flowing all day, such a selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Yes it is all inclusive.



The beach is private so you don`t get many sellers on the beach, and what a beach, perfect and the sea was so clear, will warn you about the medusa jelly fish which I got stung by. Very common and the good thing is that there is a clinic on site open every day. Loads of watersports right on your door step.



Now the only downfall was that it was full of Germans and all the entertainment was in German and French, there is a disco on site but never got to it, we just danced upstairs on the balcony, could recognise some English music, hooray!



Certainly value for money. If Germans don`t bother you, then I recommend it.



Can`t be that bad as we are going back in September for 2 weeks, so come on you English, get out here.

We are a family of three who recently visited Club Selima.



Our first opinion was that the hotel looked a bit tired and starting to show its age. However, during our visit our opinions changed for the beautiful setting (right on the beach) and the lovely friendly people soon overshadowed any doubts that we had.



We have been to many different countries for our holidays and the last was to a five star hotel in Turkey so you can imagine our initial dismay. The lovely friendly staff at Club Selima more than made up for the holiday and if you get friendly (offering the odd tip here and there) you are treated like VIP guests which was very nice. We had drinks brought to us round the pool and our own table saved for us in the restaurant each evening.



My husband likes to do his Elvis impersonations and they were happy to oblige by offering him little slots on the stage. I myself do not normally join in but because of the very happy nature of the hotel, it was easy to be swept along with it all and the stage did not seem such a daunting place! Honestly, I have never laughed so much on a holiday.



The restaurant is a slight drawback for there are many different people from all countries eating and the British are in their minority (there was a time when there were only two British families in the hotel) as we British like to queue, we were soon trampled on by the stampede to get the food. Feeding time at the zoo came into mind. However, when we had battled to get our food the reward was worth the effort for we could not fault the food and the variation and quality of the food would be difficult to complain about.



Generally, we loved this hotel and I recommend that you are not put off by some negative comments for it does not deserve it. Please give it a try and we might see you next year for we are definitely going back and we have never done that yet on a holiday.

My daughter (9) and I traveled on an AOA, and were put into the Selima, on arrival we were greeted by reception and taken to the room by a porter. Rooms are small but adequate. We totally enjoyed this holiday!



The food was excellent with a variety to suit all tastes every night, bottles on water available from all bars, and bottles of coke, Fanta placed on your table once the waiters know what you drink! They are the most helpful and attentive people I have met and I have traveled! The Rep was useless but it did not affect our enjoyment.



There was sailing lessons and pedalos free every day for the children a well run kids club for most nationalities, and evening entertainment every night, this was the usual type of games, cabaret, but the team of 9 did a fabulous job! In all I would love to go back. The currency is Dinar and only available once in Tunisia, exchange is fine but take plenty of Sterling to change as I didn't see many cash points.



The weather was a bit bad so we didn't get out much, but like I say for 6 nights holiday this was great! Enjoy it!

This is the second year we have gone to this hotel as we enjoyed the first so much. This year we had a main building room with balcony which was much better than bungalows.



It was very clean with beds made every day, it had loads of wardrobe space for the four of us, and the fridge was ideal. The bathroom was quite big with clean towels every day. The food isn’t bad with lots of choice but after the second week you get a bit fed up, it is also a huge dining room so it gets very busy with a lot of pushing in! The staff are very friendly and they love children (especially blonde).



The Panorama Kids Club had shut down this year which was a great shame, the hotel had there own club but it didn’t feel very safe and children could wonder off anytime. Port El Kantaoui is a newish development and very clean, but you do get hassled to go into shops to take a look, and it can wear you down sometimes. But this is their culture and Tunisia is lovely!