Hotel Royal Thalassa Monastir

We came for Christmas and are leaving on 28 December. The hotel is clean but worn, and the gym costs extra per day. The food selection is small and much the same each day, with long waits for pancakes and grilled food. I was disappointed by the choices. There's nothing within walking distance outside the resort, which feels in the middle of nowhere. Service is okay, but speaking French helps a lot, and English speakers may struggle. There are no shop or arcade on site. The entertainment is cringe-worthy, awful, and goes on late. I'd rather have none than sit through it, and people walked out during the acts. The beach is limited and littered on both sides of the hotel, making it unpleasant to walk along. All-inclusive drinks come from a single bar, so it gets busy, and water costs extra. You get two bottles a day if you're lucky, then a 900 ml glass bottle costs around £2 or 7 TDN. There are better places to stay for the money.

For a restful trip with training and pampering, this place worked really well for me and my 15-year-old son. The spa was excellent, the food was great, the gym suited me for training after a long run, and the hotel was a clean, comfortable place to unwind. Our room and the hotel were both very clean. I've travelled all over the world and thought this was fantastic for a holiday where you can train, eat and sleep well. We'll definitely be back. When we were there, workers were painting the outside of the building for the new season, and it looked great. Weather can affect the hotel in the off-season, but they had addressed issues mentioned in another review. I read reviews too, and honestly some people just like to moan.

We paid under £500 per person for ten all-inclusive nights, so for a cheap and cheerful break it was well worth it. The staff were amazing and the food was good quality with plenty of choice. Drinks were the standard range, and the rooms were clean with comfortable beds. It's a Tunisian five-star, which feels more like a three-star by English standards. The hotel is around 20 years old and dated, but clean.

After 12 nights here, we only have good things to say about the staff. Everyone was friendly and willing to help, and the customer service woman was particularly helpful. The pool attendant did everything for you and never let you move anything yourself. Poolside was immaculate, our rooms were very clean, and we got fresh towels every day. There was always lots of good food to choose from. We had an amazing stay, would definitely recommend it, and will be back soon.