This is too late for the original poster but wanted to leave my impressions of the Bel Air. We stayed there in late March 2003, a half-board deal through First Choice flying from Birmingham. We landed in Monastir during a spectacular thunderstorm which fairly woke us up. Transfer to hotel took about an hour. The rep (Carol) was great throughout the holiday, a really nice girl. We booked a couple of excursions through her (one to the Sahara, one a night out to a casino in Port El Khantoui). The hotel Bel Air had seen better days but the room was clean and comfortable. The staff were faultlessly friendly and helpful. The management, however, were complete b*st*rds showing an equal contempt for their staff and guests alike. I have never met such arrogant and nasty people, before or since. We were told by some of the staff that the hotel was owned by a group of businessmen in Tunis who sent their wives and children to the hotel in the off season. These wives and their spawn swanned around as if they owned the place - which they did of course. They were rude to the staff and the guests and always demanded attention ahead of any queue.

The food in the hotel was good with the occasionally spectacular surprise - like the night they served a prawn salad that was out of this world. They didn't cater to the British palate - no piles of chips available. It was good local produce carefully prepared and there was always a wide choice available. Breakfast centred round boiled eggs but if you asked, the chefs would happily scramble or fry for a change. Being a Muslim country, there was no bacon or sausages on offer. Plenty of bread, croissants, cereals, beans, tomatoes, cold meats, cheeses and so on. We never went hungry and between breakfast and evening meal, we only ever needed a snack during the day. Lots of little local snack bars/grills if you get off the tourist trail where you could have a really tasty local dish for a few dinars.

We aren't into the laid-on hotel entertainment which was just as well because at the Bel Air it was amateurish in the extreme. We used to go into the Cheers bar and watch the developing invasion of Iraq on Sky TV News and hide our heads in shame.

Our package deal cost £330 for the two of us for two weeks half board so I can't complain too much. As I said, the hotel was clean and basic, the staff were nice. Ignore the management and don't look for too much in the way of in-house entertainment.

Had a great time at the Bel Air in July 2004, so much so we are going back there this July and are really looking forward to it. Sorry to hear about the trouble had with the Management, I think the folk who run it are forgetting how much they depend on the My Travel Group for their income and without it the Hotel would collapse. Remind them of this if you get any problems, and make sure your Rep knows - they will pass it on. I was a Rep in years gone by and complain if you need to, it's the only way to get results. We got to the Bel Air at 9.10 pm on the 18th, meaning we missed Dinner by 10 minutes - the Receptionist advised us we would get a free lunch during our stay, which we did. I wasn't totally keen on the food but it filled a gap! Best place to eat, The Strand bar (out of the entrance to the Bel Air, turn left, end of the road go left and it's a 100 yards on your left) was VERY cheap but BRILLIANT!!!!! Lunchtime prices are a must A+++++ Entertaiment was really good, well, Mimi (who has now left) and Sam put everything into it, they were there from around 10 am right through to midnight. Water Polo, Aerobics in the water, and at night get involved with the Cabaret - it's a laugh. Bar prices could do with a re-jig, bit expensive apart from the Cheers bar where a jug of beer at 8 dinars was well worth buying. Special mention for Said the pool lifeguard, and his able assistant Billy. This year a tot went motionless in the water, Said did his job and brought the wee one back to life - felt so good at seeing him work his magic. Maids were really good for us, must've been a bad one you got. The beach is but 10 minutes walk, mind avoid the shop at the corner as you turn off the road to go towards the beach - the guys will attempt to lure you to the restaurant about 50 yards further on which seemd a tad pricey. Lots of seaweed on the beach but worth going to, not over-crowded but could do with a regular clean. When we left, Sam and Mimi, amongst others, came to reception to see us off - they were genuine and really were there when they didn't have to be. Monastir Airport is great for the 'plane enthusiast, great view of the runway! Can't wait to go this year, we found out we can go to a Catholic service in Hammamet itself. I'd recommend the Bel Air, never got any problems - apart from re-discovering I didn't look good in tights (remembered from my Rep days)!!!!!!!

They have a web-site............

http://www.hotel-belair.com/anglais/hotel.htm

Not bad at all

Hiya, does anybody out there have any idea why I cannot find hotel Belair in Hammamet in any of the guide books/maps I have picked up so far? Is it new? did it have a name change? ( if so why! ) Is it any good? Hope to hear from you all soon
Thanks
Lisa ( ankesenamun )

Try the Hotel Review section of this forum!

Hiya Dorra,
I have checked out the hotel reviews on the forum and the hotel looks good but I still cant find it in the guide books which is why I was wondering if there was any other background with it. When I checked out maps the hotel isnt shown in any of the streets.
Thanks for your help so far tho.
Lisa aka ankesenamun

Hiya everyone,

I would be glad if someone could advise me what tour operater does cheap deals to the Belair Hotel in HAMMAMET? , Is this a child friendly/safe hotel ? ( for a 14 year old ! )also what month of the year would you recommend a asthmatic in the party to go ?

thanks in advance

hi fiona,
iam going to the hotel belair for the 4th time, i fly from newcastle on july 17th 2005 it is a brilliant hotel the staff are very friendly the entertainment staff are fantastic with kids and adults its so much fun.the food is ok i cant think of anything bad to say about this hotel my daughter is 12years old and her friend who also comes with he is 12 they cant wait to get there.

I travel on the 23rd July to the same Hotel. Checked out the website a few months back and it looks good. For anyone that is interested, you can hire a fridge for your room as a cost of 5 Dinar per night, something which I contacted the management about LOL

Lucy, you might see me running around the pool, look out for a big irish guy with an arabic tattoo on his right forearm

hello all im off to the belair hotel in hammemet in july with my two sisters and 5 children how much entertainment if there at the hotel for the children do they arrange activities for the kids ?is there a kids club here ? also is it safe top go out on a night time i have different reviews on this. . thanks

hi donna,i have been to this hotel 6 times and it is brill loads of entertainment for the kids in daytime and mini disco at night for them.there is no kids club. i go on holiday with my 13year old daughter and her 13yr friend and i feel very safe when i go out at night,when are you going in july as i am going then,i fly from newcastle on july 2nd cant wait i am counting the days already.

hi anyone going to the belair hammamet august 5th i fly from manchester on the 5th i live in newcastle but direct holidays does'nt fly from there in summer.this is my 8th time at this hotel it has just been refurbished and was closed from the end of october and has just opened april and i have been told it is lovely also cheers bar is open again.i can't wait

I stayed at this hotel last year, have been to tunsia a few times before and have a lot of different hotels. we did obviously visit this quite a lot as this is where the only night life was and decent food in the day! I did hear cheers got closed down, do you know who's re opened it? Maybe worth going back to see at some point, am looking at going to Skanes this year, but a day trip could be arranged!

We did a pick up and drop off at the Belair last week, it looked very nice from the outside, talked to a few people that had stayed there and they were pretty impressed.
Ellie

just found out for anyone who has been to this hotel before and has been in cheers bar, the previous owner who was english has now opnened a new bar in yasmine hammamet called the view

Bel Air hasn't changed much since last year, had a paint job and reception has changed a little but bathrooms haven't been done in rooms.

Cheers Bar is open now, not sure who is running it but some of same people working there. Had a major facelift though!

Hi

Could anyone advise me of Travel agents in the U.K selling holidays to the BELAIR HOTEL in Hammamet, The only one I can find is MY TRAVEL.COM

Surely there are other companies selling this hotel. I would like to go there 3rd week april 2008 for a week
any help would be appreicated, I have looked at the hotel reveiws

Thanks

hi fiona, http://www.aspro.co.uk do the bel air and also direct holidays.co.uk.hope this helps, i am going 5th august and i can't wait it is my 8th time there.

to all that are going to the bel air. if you go looking for the cheers bar and looking for kate she as moved to yasmine hammamet. her new bar is called the view and is situated between el moradi and menza hotel. it is the same type as the cheers bars selling the same english food. also around the corner from the cheers bar there is a bar called the fun pub which is also run by kate. it opened just a few weeks ago so if you are in the bel air pop in for a drink or two.