Diar El Barbar

We came on a tour for one night. The cave room was much too hot, so the staff quickly moved us to a regular room with air conditioning. The room was worn and shabby, but the aircon worked, which was what we needed. The hotel was nearly empty, and eating in the huge, vacant dining room from a fixed menu felt eerie, as though time had passed it by. Breakfast was very basic the next morning, though that’s understandable with so few guests. When we wanted to buy a bottle of water, there wasn’t one in the room, and we had to track down what seemed to be the only staff member, who was alone managing the restaurant and bar on another floor. Tourism in southern Tunisia is clearly having a hard time recovering, and the hotels have felt the knock-on effect. Without guests there’s no profit to invest, so hopefully things improve for the region in the next few years. Tunisia is a stunning country and well worth a visit.

The room was clean, comfortable, and practical, while breakfast was average but did the job. Staff were prompt and went out of their way to make our visit enjoyable. The hotel is in a pleasant, central spot, with transport connections and amenities nearby, and the area isn’t especially noisy or busy. It works well for a short trip, and we’d definitely stay again.

The staff were pleasant, but the place needs restoration and urgent maintenance. Food was average, with unfortunately very little choice. It’s probably the best hotel in Matmata, but it needs attention as soon as possible.

I left my jacket in the room and called reception a few hours later, but they couldn’t find it. I called back several times, and they still hadn’t found it. The room was locked when I left, so the person responsible should know which employee cleaned it. Be careful with your belongings.