El Mouradi Hammamet

For the price, this is a good resort for taking it easy in Hammamet. There’s a nice restaurant, several outdoor pools and an indoor one, so you can relax at different times of day. The complex has pretty much everything you need, and you may not feel much need to leave.

It’s in a very good, walkable location, and I mostly enjoyed relaxing by the pool, especially the connected pools with El Manzah. The rooms were comfortable and clean, and the entertainment was okay. Food was fine, though breakfast got repetitive. Some staff were friendly, others less so, and the service seemed better for European guests. A decent stay if the pool is your main priority.

The staff worked hard, and I can’t fault the restaurant team, reception, or bar staff. The animation team also put in a lot of effort. We had a child with special needs who only eats chips, and after we asked reception, they spoke to the chef and arranged a plate for her at lunch and dinner. So do ask if your child has the same need. The food was okay, though there was no butter, only margarine. Snacks were repetitive too, with ice cream, crepes, or the same spicy chopped chicken salad sandwiches each afternoon. There were serious issues with what was available and advertised. Holiday Gems called it five star, while the official website said four, but by European standards I’d put it at three. The website listed an à la carte meal at one of four restaurants each week, but only one restaurant was open, and both indoor pools were closed for repairs. On a rainy day we’d hoped to swim indoors. The site should make seasonal closures clear. If we’d known the restaurant choices and pools were unavailable, we wouldn’t have stayed. All inclusive also didn’t include every alcoholic drink. The hotel looks grand from the front, with a palatial exterior, but behind that it feels dated and worn. Our room looked clean at first, but there was a pin in the carpet and dirt under the bed. The enamel was coming off the bath, the toilet seat had a crack that pinched our skin, tiles were cracked, and parts of the walls were badly damaged. The bathroom repairs looked like poor patch jobs. Staff did replace the seat after we reported it, and brought up a new bath plug after the old one went missing following cleaning. The cleaners came on the days we requested and made the bed. WiFi barely worked outside reception, including by the pool unless you were near reception, and there was no connection in our room. The pool bar had no Coke Zero or even water, only alcohol, coffee, or sugary drinks. Coke Zero was available with meals and at some indoor bars, which matters if you’re diabetic. The site photos also showed restaurants that were closed. The owners may have been through a difficult time with COVID and a lack of tourists, but they should lower the star rating to match the current standard. The shabby areas behind the grand frontage let the whole place down. Don’t expect European four or five star standards.

The beach across from the hotel was my preference over the pools. The sea was calm enough to swim when we were there, though there were medusas to watch out for. The water was shallow, good for kids, and the beach drinks were basic but fine by me. You can walk to the marina, with plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby. The balcony was another plus, with a view of the evening entertainment if you’d rather stay in. From outside, the hotel looks amazing and the lobby is beautiful, but the rooms don’t meet a four star standard, perhaps closer to two by European standards. They need renovation, with stains and old furnishings. The AC didn’t work, but luckily it was warm rather than very hot when we visited. The food was a bit repetitive, but there were fresh options each day. I’m a picky eater and found plenty I liked. The fresh, warm pain au chocolat from the oven was my daily highlight. The restaurant service staff deal with a lot of mess left by guests, so I hope they’re paid well. There were many lovely servers, and they deserve a tip. There was entertainment during the day and every evening. It isn’t a high standard, but at this price it’s probably rare to get this kind of all inclusive.