Djerba Aqua Resort

The pool was absolutely Baltic, and the aqua park doesn't open until around June. Not all websites mention that, so keep it in mind if, like me, you were planning to use it. The hotel also has a serious mosquito problem. I tried a plug-in, wristband and repellent spray, but still got bitten badly over the seven days. They don't seem to do anything to control them. The rooms are dated and falling apart, the beds feel like plywood, and a sewage smell in the middle of the night was bad enough to wake me. There were mosquitoes all over the ceiling when we first got to the bedroom. Check-in took 30 to 40 minutes, with one staff member handling about five families. And if you're not French, don't expect the staff to give you much time. The food was hit and miss. The pancakes were lovely and the pizza was some of the best I've had, but on some days there was hardly any choice. Be careful with the chicken. On my last day, the chef served me lemon chicken that was basically raw. I didn't eat it, since it could have made me seriously ill, though I didn't report it because what's the point? Drinks were inconsistent too. Each bartender made the same cocktail differently. All the entertainment is in French, so if you don't understand it, it becomes a headache. They play the same music at the disco every night, which gets very repetitive. Every English person I spoke with felt the same and said they wouldn't return, so it wasn't just me being fussy. Don't book activities through the reps, since you'll pay double, if not triple. I paid around £50 for myself and one child to visit the crocodile park, with the cost worked out in euros. A woman told me afterward that she'd booked directly for 20 Euros for one adult and one child, and the return taxi was around 5 euros. Skip the horse and camel trip too. You walk through some 3rd world looking alleys, then go to the beach, where the guide leaves you to walk back to your hotel. Be careful if you exchange pounds for Dinars, since they can be awkward about changing the money back. Before leaving, I tried to change 80 dinar back to pounds and was told to return in an hour. When I did, another staff member said money could only be changed back at the airport. The first person intervened and wrote an invoice to show I'd changed the dinars at that hotel, but the name on it said Chris something. My name isn't Chris, so the airport wouldn't exchange it. I had to spend the money at the airport because it's a closed currency that can't be taken out of the country. Just avoid it and save yourself the hassle. Pay a bit more and go to Turkey.

The crocodile farm was good, and the marina was nice with good food at the restaurant there. A few things would be useful to know before coming, especially with kids. There are lots of steps around the hotel and only a few ramps. The lift wasn't working, and there are no baby changing facilities. There's one disabled toilet with room for a pram but no changing table, and its flush didn't work during our two-week stay. The toilets are only by the restaurant, which is inconvenient from the pool, and the women's side has just three toilets for such a large hotel. We paid extra for a duplex but were put in a one-floor family room. Reception said it was because our baby didn't need a bed, but we'd paid for the duplex and should have had it. We had requested a cot, but were told none was available for the next day and our baby would have nowhere to sleep. When it arrived the following day, there was a huge screw in it, so we couldn't use it. Our fridge didn't work but was replaced quickly; the safe wasn't fixed despite repeated requests, so we gave up. We heard that safes in other rooms had the same issue. There was no kettle. Bins were emptied, towels changed and beds made daily. The rooms were clean enough, but the hotel is mostly French guests, and a staff member told us that was normal, with few English visitors. All entertainment is in French, so we couldn't follow poolside or evening activities. Staff were very kind to French guests, but not always to English ones. Some bar staff serving us didn't speak or smile, we got smaller food portions than French guests, and reception staff were abrupt. At the bar, it felt petty that you only got a glass instead of a plastic cup when you tipped, and apparently you had to tip every time. The restaurant could feel uncomfortable too, with waiters seeking tips, asking daily when we were leaving and reminding us of their 'good service'. Sometimes there wasn't a table ready when we arrived, and it seemed the waiters waited to set one up so they could show their service and get a tip. Food choice was good for a shorter stay, so it wasn't too repetitive. There was always pizza and pasta at lunch and dinner, cereal, pancakes and omelettes in the morning, and pancakes and cakes during the one-hour snack time. Chips were usually only at lunch, sometimes dinner. The kids disco was at 20:45, which felt late, and lasted just 15 minutes. Deena and raffat put in a lot of effort and were great, but it wasn't the same when they weren't there because the others didn't have the same energy. Adult entertainment started at 21:30 and was good. Lifeguards didn't interact at all, and the shallow end was used for volleyball, water polo and aerobics, leaving less space for kids and a good chance of getting hit by a ball. The hotel shop overcharged us, with the women making up prices. There's a shop a short walk away and another near the lighthouse. On the beach, the camel sellers were very pushy. We sat on the camels and suddenly found ourselves on a ride, with them demanding over £100 for a 10-minute trip we hadn't asked for.

We were moved here from the neighboring hotel in the same chain, and that property had been a disaster, so the change didn't do much to improve things. This feels like a very budget hotel, and the disengaged, unmotivated staff only added to the disappointment. Our suite was spacious, but late-night bar noise made it hard to sleep. The WiFi was unreliable, and oddly the strongest signal was in the bathroom. Meals were poor across breakfast, lunch and dinner. There was food available, but it was rarely hot and had little flavor. Allergy information was supposed to be displayed above every dish, but I never saw it. Staff had trouble understanding my questions when I tried to ask about it.

The worst part of the stay was the food. After trying all-inclusive resorts around the world, I'd put the quality here below average. There was usually something to eat, but the variety and cooking standard were disappointing, and raw turkey was served one evening. The room was spacious, very clean and comfortable, though it could use a little TLC. We were moved to Djerba Aqua Resort after problems at our original hotel, and it made a good base for the holiday. Just note that our room was on the third floor and there are no lifts. The pool area was clean and relaxed, with no morning rush for sunbeds, but many loungers were damaged and needed searching through. Some pool tiles were broken or uneven, which could be a problem if you're unsteady on your feet. The bar areas and reception were tidy too. Ramps are available around the resort for wheelchairs or reduced mobility, but they're extremely steep and have no rails, making them dangerous to use. Bar service was quick, with professional and approachable staff and enough drink choices. Some glasses were still dirty when served, though. Entertainment during the day and evening was a highlight, and joining in was entirely up to you, so you could relax if you preferred. Djerba Aqua Resort is a good three-star hotel with clean rooms, pleasant service and enjoyable entertainment. Food and poolside facilities let it down. With some maintenance and a serious look at dining standards, it could offer a much better stay.