Hotel Jugurtha Palace

We got food poisoning from dinner and were too unwell to eat the breakfast we’d paid for. The food was a disaster. The rooms were awful too: old, dark, smelly, damp and dirty. Don’t be fooled by the renovations outside. If zero stars were an option, that would reflect this place. It isn’t worth a penny and is nowhere near a four-star hotel.

I’d recommend seeing the gardens and pools if you get the chance. The building is a bizarre spectacle, fascinating and wildly over the top, like it was put together by someone off their head. I wish I could have seen it in its heyday. Imagine a Tunisian film set for The Shining. But don’t expect comfort or a good night’s sleep. The hotel is very run down, and even the cheap rate is hard to justify. My room had no heating at all. For much of the night I was kept awake by someone smoking and vomiting in the next room, and I hate the smell of smoke. The food was awful, with lots of it but none of it edible. As other reviews mention, the waiters come after you for payment before you’ve finished. At checkout, reception asked about my room. I pointed out the problems and got, “well, next time”. Jokers!

It feels more like an old museum that’s been shut down than somewhere to stay. I wouldn’t give it another chance, and I can’t recommend it as it is now. I think it could be a great hotel if, and only if, it were properly looked after.

We were told the high price was because this was a five-star hotel. Maybe it was when it was first built, but there’s been very little maintenance since, and the decor and furniture haven’t been updated. Things were coming apart, and the cleanliness left a lot to be desired. It’s definitely not worth the money, and the one-star rating we gave it feels right.