Hi,

Have been to Hammamet several times and stayed at the Bel Azur twice. It's a nice hotel, but rather dated now and could do with a revamp. I believe this is on the cards, but then it's been on the cards for a while! That said it's a friendly hotel, and very popular with lots of it's guests returning time after time. It also has nice gardens and lots of terrace area around the pool for sunbathing. It's been a while since I last stayed there, but I remember the staff in general being friendly and helpful, the atmosphere relaxed, and the food good, with plenty of choice. Maybe someone who's been more recently could advise if these standards are the same.

As a guest at the Bel, you'll also be able to use the facilities in the other, neighbouring, Azur hotels - the Royal and the Sol. This includes an indoor pool with a sun terrace, a Thalassotherapy centre and a beauty centre at the Royal Azur and a casino at the Sol. You'll also be able to use the bureau de change at these hotels if the one in the Bel is closed. There's an ATM just outside the entrance to the Bel.

What sort of information are you looking for regarding Hammamet? If you let us know what you're interested in / what you want out of a holiday we can make more relevant suggestions. (Eg, shopping, bars and clubs, restaurants etc etc)

Hi Sunstruck, thanks for your reply. It is just basic info really re the Hammamet area is like, is there local shops and bars close by ? My son is 17, so way to young for clubs, yipppeeee lol, and with there just being the 2 of us, clubbing will not really be my scene, I can go clubbing at home lol.
Is there any trips that you would recommend ?
Is quad biking local ? as I know my son would love to go quad biking again, me not so sure if I want to go on the qauds again, unless son lets me get on the back of his quad lol.
We both enjoy watching shows, (if you knew anywere else that had shows on, that would be great to hear) I have read there is entertainment at the Bel Azur, and the beach is right on the door step, which is what appeals to me and perhaps any local bars that would appeal to a late 30yr old female with her nearly adult son hahaha.
Can you remeber if the hotel had air con and what it was like ?
Would you say Hammament is a lively area ?
I think I read re internet access at one of the other hotels, or are there any internet cafes ? (thats for my son, cause I know if he gets bored he will want to toddle of to go on the internet, the joys of being 17 lol.
And lastly for the last question I can think of at this time, are there tobacconist shops close by ?
Thanks again

Roo

Hi,

There are a few shops opposite the entrance to the Bel, which sell souvenirs, water, snacks and cigarettes etc. Although for proper shopping you would need to go into Hammamet. This is walkable (about half an hour I've been told), or it's a cheap taxi ride - about 2TND to the centre of Hammamet.

I've never done the quad biking myself, but have seen groups of quad bikers out in Hammamet. If you ask at the hotel they should be able to advise you. For excursions, I enjoyed the Carthage /Sidi Bou Said /Bardo Museum trip (and I don't usually much like museums!). The Garden of Hammamet trip involves spending most of the day on the bus, so wouldn't recommend it unless there's something on the route you really, really want to see. At the Bel you will see trips advertised, run by TWS. This is owned by the same people who own the hotel group. Ask around the other guests to see if they would recommend them - unless they've got their act together more since I used them (years ago now) I wouldn't. If not check with your rep what they can offer, or look into diy.

The beach is indeed right on the doorstep, and if you can't find a spot on the Bel's beach, you can walk along to the Royal or Sol's section.

There is nightly entertainment, but don't expect too much! Having said that, as you've been to Tunisia before you pobably have a fairly good idea of what's on offer! If things haven't changed, there's nightly bingo, followed by a show. I found the best shows to be the snake charmer and the fakir show. Most entertainment is hotel based, and while you can go to other hotels for their entertainment, in general it's pretty much the same everywhere. The only hotel I can think of where it seemed a bit more polished on occasion, with a slighly different programme was the Fourati (of the ones I visited). I seem to remember they had a foreign dance group in sometimes - but this will depend very much on the night. The Fourati is on the other side of Hammamet to the Bel so you'd need a taxi to go there. They have sometimes been a bit funny about letting non guests in, but I think this applies more to locals (I'm often taken for Tunisian!! )

Hammamet can be lively (if you're not expecting Magalluf type lively!) and it can be fairly dead. Outside of August it's pot luck (though personally I find August too crowded). As for bars, they seem to come and go and move around regularly. My favourite is Havana (again you'll need a taxi). It's billed as a club but is more a late night bar, with the club El Pacha next door (same owners). The bar doesn't start filling up till quite late though.

The Bel does have aircon, and as far as I remember it was fine. It did break down for a couple of days, in the entertainment room, but they just moved the entertainment outside. I'm sure there are internet cafés in Hammamet, but am not sure where. Internet access is definitely available at the Royal (stayed there last year)- I think it was 5TND for an hour. If you can find somewhere outside the hotel it will be cheaper.

Enjoy your hols!

A.

Hi Sunstruck, Thank You so very muchly for your post.
Would you say Hammamet is on the scale of Port el kantaoui? I must admit, I enjoyed sitting out in the open square with the fountains, there, when we were last in Tunisia Have you heard of the Buggie Bonanza ? picked tickets up this morning, and its in the booklet, never heard of it though Can you remember if the safety deposits boxes are in the room, or in reception ?

Thanks Again

Hi,

When I stayed at the Bel, they definitely had safety deposit boxes at reception. I can't remember if they also had safes in the room - I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

I've never heard of the Buggie Bonanza. Though I'm intrigued! What does the booklet say about it?

I've only been to PEK once, so it's hard to give a proper comparison. Hammamet is unlike PEK in that the tourism side has grown up around an existing town, whereas PEK was purpose built for tourism (in the 70s I think). There is a square with a fountain in the centre of Hammamet. The restaurants and cafés change periodically, but ones that seem to have been there a while are the Brauhaus and Le Pêcheur. The latter is a local style restaurant - no alcohol, but decent and cheap local food. You might also like the café Sidi Bou Hdid - very popular with locals and tourists to sit with a mint tea or coffee and /or chicha and watch the sunset. It's on the seafront by the medina walls.

If you like PEK you may also like the medina in Yasmine Hammamet - this will probably be about 6 or so TND in a taxi. Yasmine like PEK is purpose built, but is newer and on a grander scale than PEK. Although I do find it can be a bit soulless as a result, the medina has been done quite well. There's a big open space in the middle of it and in high season they have entertainment there in the evenings. I'm not sure it will have started when you go, but your rep or the hotel should be able to tell you. If so, you pay a small amount to go into the medina, but the ticket entitles you to a free drink (unless they've changed this system recently). Because Yasmine is purpose built for tourists the prices in cafés and for souvenirs etc tend to be higher there than in 'original' Hammamet.

Hope this is of some help.

A.

Hello again lol, Thank You again for your reply, your postings are a great help What it says in the booklet, about the Buggie Bonanza is

Explore the great outdoors latest adventure to hit Tunisia. The fun buggies offers an exhilarating journey around the hotspot of Hammamet, rally through the olive groves, and venture through Yasmine Hammamet, the Monte Carlo of Tunisia, in open top mini buggies. An amazing insight to traditional Tunisia visit the newest resort of the country. What better way to see the African landscape with the added fun and adventure of your very own buggie. The alternative route to discover North Africa. Return to the pit stop at the infamous Eurobar, centered in the nightlife capatil of Tunisia, were you will find the best music and lively atmostphere 7nights a week, in the height of the summer. Your chance to unwind to occasional live music, karaoke and the opportunity to wine and dine, Hammamet the holiday hotspot for all.

I have googled them and although I couldn't find anything about them in Tunisia, there was some for other holiday places, they remind me of what is used on a golf course, like a driveable type buggie thing, lol.

Thanks again Sunstuck

Ah! So that's the Buggie Bonanza! Didn't see any out and about last October, so am guessing they're new for this season. And gosh - the Eurobar is still going?! That was around when I first went to Tunisia 9 years ago. It is indeed infamous. Never been there myself, but I've heard it's a bit of a meatmarket!!

One more thing before I forget... You were asking about tobacconist shops. Although you can get cigs in the shops opposite the hotel, if they don't have what you want, or you're looking to buy a box of 200, there's a shop in the centre of Hammamet you could try. It's a little hard to explain where it is but - if you standing in the 'square' with your back to the medina and the sea, there's a road to your left. Walk up it away from the sea and it's a small shop on the left, a few doors up from the Magasin Generale.

Have a great holiday!

A.

Just added review, re the Bel Azur, had an excellant, relaxing time, and really enjoyed the holiday. Met up with a great, fab bunch of people, Thanks Guys, and will be a holiday I will remeber for a long long time, just so wished we were back there, I seriously could have stayed a lot longer then the 2weeks we stayed. Just now trying to get motivation back, now back at home, but it ain't working lol.
Sunstruck, I got ciggies, from shop across the road from the hotel, but tobacco, was non existant, but then the ciggies, were cheap enough.
Thanks again for you info

Hi,

Glad you had such a great holiday! Sounds as if you may be going back sometime?!

By the way, how was the buggie bonanza?

A.

It was the cheapest and one of the most memorable holidays that I have had, We didn't find the buggie bonanza, in all honesty, I completly forgot about it :whoops.
Perosnally for me, I have fell in love with Tunisia, and the way of life it is over there, and suits me down to the ground, if only money was no objest, I would book to go back again this year, but looks like I will have to wait until next years hols, boohoo, lol.

Roo

Glad you enjoyed your trip so much Roo