Marhaba Palace Hotel

My wife and I booked a week at the Marhaba Palace hotel for a cheap, relaxing break in the sun. The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful, our room was quite a nice size with en-suite and bath and separate toilet. The room was always kept very clean and although we did not have a sea view, we were on the top floor (7th) the view inland was quite nice, particularly at night. There was a fridge in the room, but no kettle if you like tea/coffee in your room. Room service is pretty cheap.
The food was pretty good - not overly exciting, but for a week it was fine. You could get fresh omlettes, crepes and fried eggs cooked while you waited at breakfast, as well as croissants, toast, etc. The evening meals are buffet style, and there was always a reasonable choice.
A bottle of lager was 3 dinar ( about £1.20), with most other drinks under 6 dinar (about £2.50). If you want a coffee, we found the 'large' cappuccino (3 dinar) much nicer than the standard one.
There is a bar near the outdoor pool, with waiters that will come and serve you at your sun bed.
There is also a snack bar on the beach. The pool was very clean, and there were plenty of sun beds. You can also get cushions to go on the sun beds which cost 1 dinar (about 40p) per day. We did have to start playing the 'lets get up early and reserve a sun bed in the shade' game, but if you were not too bothered about shade there always seemed to be plenty of sun beds around. The indoor pool is nice and like swimming in a hot bath! There are tennis courts, a football pitch and a gym.
The only downside with the hotel was the lack of evening entertainment. There was a karaoke evening (although most songs seemed to be from the 60s!), and a 'Fakir Show' which was worth going to. There is a big, separate disco (but there was never anyone in it - probably due to the rubbish music the DJ was playing!) The American Bar was a bit dark and lifeless (hey Marhaba Palace, just turn the lights up a bit and put some slightly more lively music on and it would be fine).
I think that the hotel would suit older people more than younger ones and children may find it a little boring.
The Marina at Port El Kantaoui is a 5 minute walk up the road. At the supermarket there you can buy 1.5 Litre bottled water (about 40p) and there is a 'take away' where you can get sandwiches/paninis for about 2 dinar (£1). There are a few shops selling souvenirs and loads of fake designer gear. You WILL get hassled to 'come and look' as you go past each shop. You WILL be expected to haggle.
Taxi to Sousse will cost between 5 - 8 dinar. There is not much in Sousse itself, the medina (old town) is just a hive of little shops all selling much the same sort of stuff, but worth a look. The 'Camel Market' (there are no camels as such, it's just a big flea market) is on a Sunday morning. For no hassle shopping in Sousse, try the Slim Centre.
All in all, it was a nice relaxing break. We probably would not race back there, but we could not fault the Marhaba Palace.

This Hotel was absolutely EXCELLENT no other word for it. Everyone was so friendly and my kids had a fabulous time.
Food was not too bad. And staff are most helpful. Great atmosphere and a real sense of relaxation. The marina a few minutes walk away and lots of shops. Taxis are pretty cheap and you can bargain with them if you feel the prices are very high.
Marhaba Palace was a GRAND hotel. It has a 25ft Chandelier which is beautiful. 2 golf courses near by.

There are certain things you expect with any package holiday: flights rammed with chavs, suspect food and service tailored to the herd, not the individual.
With these things in mind, all we really wanted out of this holiday was some guaranteed February heat in pleasant surroundings and within easy flying time of England.
We arrived late on a Sunday night, following the seemingly inevitable transfer delays, and settled down in a modest room in anticipation of a much-needed night’s sleep. But at 6.30am we were awoken by the sound of gushing water in the corridor outside out room. Much of the second floor was flooded, including our room. Staff rushed around outside our room trying to mop up the deluge with noisy vacuum cleaners. No assistance was forthcoming. We had to gather our sopping possessions and make our way reception where staff eventually agreed to provide a replacement room [here the plumbing was sound, but the electrics haywire], but refused to offer any apology.
Not wanting to have our holiday spoiled by a shabby hotel, we got on with things, avoided the chavs and had a remarkably pleasant holiday. In particular, we enjoyed a two-day trip taking in the Sahara - and not only because this meant a night away from the Marhaba ‘Palace’.
Back at the Palace, eager as we were to put the day one wash out behind us, it was difficult not to notice that almost every aspect of the hotel was not up to scratch.
In particular, the food, even by package holiday standards, was at best repetitive and arguably bland and even unhealthy—hardly what you want from a week of relaxation in a location where the local Mediterranean catch is second to none. What made the eating experience worse were the Communist-style waiting arrangements. Hoards of dickie-bowed and frankly rather gormless ‘waiters’ seemed incapable of clearing plates, setting tables and fetching drinks, their only tasks in this self-service establishment.
At breakfast, one man was assigned the task of clearing teapots, another charged with doling out coffee and another still with dishing out the napkins. A novel system of running a restaurant and probably one which I would not have noticed had it worked. The plain truth is that it did not work. If you asked the napkin man for a fork, he would agree to get you one and then carry on regardless with his paper distribution. Meanwhile the fork man was nowhere to be seen. Yes, such niggles may seem small, but they cropped up at every turn – with reception staff, in the bar, the gym and by the pool - and as such grated.
There was a constant sense that the Palace over-promised and under-delivered. Had the hotel been described as 3 Star and not an implausible 4, we may have tempered our expectations accordingly. In the absence of such candour, I feel unable to rely on Thomson ratings again. We didn’t expect much, but we got significantly less than we expected. Avoid.

Stayed at the Marhaba Hotel in February this year, food was first class, service was buffet style, and waiters very friendly.
Hotel very clean and maid service daily. Lovely walks to marina and beach 5 min from hotel. Entertainment low key, but would be busier in the summer months. for children over 6 years of age Port El Kantaoui would not have enough attractions.
Overall a very relaxing holiday.

Fab hotel- staff are really friendly especially the waiters in the reception area. I came for a week at the beginning of December to see my boyfriend who lives in Hammamet - Sousse and really enjoyed it.
The food was great and tasty! There was something for everyone there.
Rooms were nice especially if you had a sea view. It was nice to watch the sun rise over the horizon on a morning.
THANKS FOR A GREAT WEEK!! :D

I came to the Marhaba Palace for 1 week and what a fantastic time me & my fella had here. As you walk into the hotel there is a gorgeous chandelier hanging from the ceiling as well as stunning decor and marble flooring all around. The sea view room was fantastic, as well as the beds being made really nice everyday, the maids always fanned your quilt covers & also my nightwear which looked great.
We went on half board basis which was great, the food was really nice and catered for all tastes with lots of variety. It was good too because if you ever wanted to go out in the evening for a meal you can have your half board meal at lunchtime instead so your not missing out or having to pay for your lunch.
I really enjoyed my time here, I especially enjoyed the perfect service from all the staff at the hotel & the reps Ian & Joe were great too. I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking for luxury with good service.

1 reader found this review helpful

Me and my girlfriend came here for one week in December. It was a lovely hotel and there are very nice rooms too.
Food was great at the hotel too, we were on half board and there was an excellent selection of foods to choose from.
The area was very nice too but not many places to go out to at night. You would have to go to Sousse for more choice on restaurants etc.

1 reader found this review helpful

We had a fantastic week at this beautiful hotel, it was clean bright and spacious, and the staff were friendly and attentive, the breakfast was lovely, you could choose from a great range of food and have fresh omelettes cooked while you waited.
The pool was lovely and in an excellent position, a short walk through the hotel grounds and you were on the beach. A short stroll away and you were at the marina with its many shops and nice restaurants. We would highly recommend this hotel!!