I had a look at the reports on Trip Advsor and indeed some of them are very negative but I find it difficult to believe that things could have deteriorated so much since we were there. I wouldn't dream of implying that reviewers on TA are not always honest in their reports, but you may remember that they had some extremely bad publicity a little while ago regarding reviews suspected of being posted by people who had a vested interest in either praising or damning an hotel.

You have stayed there recently, as have I, so I would just go and enjoy it, whilst taking all possible precautions. I've never bothered with a safe or a safety deposit box but this may be the time to consider having one if you are concerned.

Best of luck and do let us have a report when you get back. Incidentally the weather is getting very hot there now.
PS: Graham, I have worded this carefully but if you think it could cause problems feel free to 'edit' as hard as you like.

Yes Aslemma- maybe you are right. I could not believe it had allegedly gone down hill so rapidly. I did take the liberty to personally email the writers of those bad reviews and they confirmed it did happen. One even gave me the 'system' that they allegedly operate- or suspects they allegedly operate.

They also allegedly had big issues with the Thomas Cook re as well.

Anyway, we will take 'precautions' when we go next week. Our daughter is tagging along this time as well. It is such a pity to go with this sort of thing on my mind though. I just wonder if it is happening at other hotels as well?

PS: Graham, I have worded this carefully but if you think it could cause problems feel free to 'edit' as hard as you like.

No its fine with me

I also had a look at the reviews on TA, I did notice some where from those so called one post wonders, they come on and moan then disappear, having said that it is not very good news and something worth watching :queoa

Graham,

Yes, you are right to point that out. I thought about that as well. I would have taken much more notice if the 'complainees' had submitted many reviews and then one could get some sort of 'balance' about the writer.

The best of luck anyway and I hope you enjoy your holiday. We must all be aware of course that things are still very difficult for the local people and unfortunately we may find some of them less honest than in the past and take appropriate precautions. That said, I still find Sousse far safer than many places in the UK and hope to get back there again later in the year.

Hi

I am looking at booking to go to this hotel in Aug with my family, after reading your post became very concerned and have put of booking. Could you please let me know how your second visit was and if there are still simular concerns?

Many Thanks in Advance

Hello All

Sooo excited have now just booked our all inclusive holiday to the Salem Royal Hotel and just a few questions

Does the hotel supply towels for by the pool?
Is there an extra charge for the mini bar?
Is the all inclusive package 24hrs?

This is our second time to Tunisa, last time about five years ago. When we did many excursions so this time just after some relaxation and family time.

Can't help with A/I as I always go H/B but I'm pretty sure they don't supply towels for round the pool. Pedrogooner is there at the moment and no doubt he will be able to give you more advice when he returns.

Hi,
Just got back from Royal Salem. Stayed a week and the weather was pretty awful at times. Having said that, I don't want that to cloud(if that's the right word to use!)my judgement.

All those recent awful reviews I found suprising. Other than the weather we had a great time. In fact, since we last went in March- things had improved, especially the bar staff. They actually waited on us at our tables in the bar area which did not happen before. Of course, if you preferred you could go up to the bar and order yourself. Now and again but not every time, I would give a dinar to the waiter. Wouldn't we do that in a normal hotel bar if we paid for drinks?

I heard or saw no evidence of thefts from rooms or fighting etc. Having said that, I did use the safety boxes at 2 dinar per day- I would recommend that. Why take a chance anyway?

Food was very very good as were the restaurant waiters. We had a particularly good and friendly one. We always used table 104. We , of course, tipped him now and again. About 2 dinar or so but not every night!

The building work was still on-going though. Not really as intrusive as the reviews stated- in my opinion. The beach snack bar was being built and will open in about 2 to 3 weeks is my guess. It will look very good indeed when finished.

I was surprised how much food was on the go throughout the day! Seemed constant. Even about 11pm at night bags of chips with some pizza were available in the snack bar.
They have a good Maure Cafe but not many people seemed to use it though which was a pity. It was in there where you could get a shisha pipe for 5 dinar to use. We liked that.

The entertainment was Ok but not brillaint but Ok for us. Changed every night. When you go in August it will be outside by the pool and the noise inside the hotel will not be an issue.
All in all I would definitely NOT put anyone off booking with Royal salem. It is a bit further out than others. About 4 dinar , no more by taxi to the Medina.

Forgot to mention. I can get by in French which hels but during the bad weather one of the animation team (alex) ran arabic classes. Only very very basic but it really helped me so much and was good fun as well. Most people will appreciate the effort.

Thanks so much for up-dating us and I'm glad that you had a good holiday, despite the weather, which I heard about from ex-pats living there. Some previous reports had been worrying but it appears all is still well at the hotel and I hope to get back later in the year. A good idea of Alex to give basic Arabic classes as the locals do appreciate us attempting to speak the language, though obviously they prefer us to say 'Naam, min fahdlek' rather than 'La, ghali barcha'!

Aslema,
Those two phrases I used a lot!!! The bar staff loved it when I could say "a bottle of water please! and then my room number in Arabic. How I would write it in English is Atini dabooza may min fathlek and the room number Aarba wahad khamsa 415!! Even knowing the numbers up to 10 is useful. saying too expenise like ghali barsha and then offer 4 dinar, aarba for the taxi fare always worked!! Also saying Aslemma and then sashna walek and the labes hamdoola. All good fun and well worth the effort.

In the Medina "Lay Shukran" always helped and they backed off.

A little French also helped. Especially when those people around entrance to Medina approached who said if I remembered him as he was a waiter in my hotel. I always said - Oui, je vous rapelle. Vous me devez quatre vingts dinars! He soon scurried away every time! Bascially I told him that I remembered him and that he owed me 80 dinars!!

I've heard that one before Pete regarding them owing you money! My problem is always that I'm notoriously bad at remembering people and as I've been so many times quite a few of them genuinely remember me, so I have to be careful to whom I give the brush off! In a hotel one evening one of the staff said he had spoken to me earlier in the Medina and I'd ignored him so I had to apologize profusely. He did however laugh as he knew the reputation many of them have.

Thanks Pedrogooner for giving me the feedback.
Soo glad you had a good holiday and must say am really assured things are OK. We will still use the safes but always do anyway just a precaution.
Found your phases funny as I am sat here trying to say them aloud and probably getting it totally wrong. Hope they still give the arabic lessons when I am there.

Glad to have been of help. re the Arabic lessons. When you are there just ask Alex of the animation team and I am sure he will gladly help. It is well worth the effort!

If you have any other questions then just ask- and I will give you as honest a reply and opinion as I can.

Hi

I have been reading the forams but there does not appear to be a clear answer to this and just wondering if anyone can help me.

Are there towels supplied at the Marhaba Royal Salem Hotel for the pool/beach??? As they are rather heavy in the luggage!!

Not long now....anyone just returned wanting to share their experience??

Have emailed the hotel and NO they don't have beach/pool towels if anyone else wants to know.

Sorry I've only just seen this or I could have saved you an e-mail as I've stayed there a couple of times. It might be cheaper to pick up a couple of towels locally rather than have the extra weight as they are quite cheap. Hope you have a lovely time and wish I was going with you.

We have just booked a last minute get away to the Marhaba Royal Salem on the 12th Feb for a week.
Can anyone give me some information about the hotel/area please - firstly is it Sousse or PEK!! Are pool towels provided, and what time does the all inclusive end?
Also, what sort of weather should we expect this time of year - I'm not expecting it to be hot, but should it be sunny and what sort of temperatures are there in the evenings?
Is there any evening enetertainment?
Are there any trips organised this time of year?

Sorry for all the questions, usually I look into all this before I book, but was just in need of a break, so didn't really research!!

Thanks for any information.
Jane