Hotel is excellent. No, it's not a 4* in the way you'd expect it to be a four-star in Britain but it's certainly a very good three-star hotel.

I'm surprised as to what people actually have said in other reviews as it occurred to us that Tunisia might not be the bells-and-whistles four-star you might get somewhere else. Hotels are designed differently here anyway because of the heat, so your balcony traps all the sunlight and heat and leaves your tiled-floor and cold-wall room cool. Anyway, it was all clean and nice and the air-conditioning worked fabulously (so much so that we were occasionally turning it off, complaining of being 'too cold' whilst the outside temperature was 49C!)

Bizarre mentions of cockroaches in other reviews. We only saw one in the whole two weeks! And only then cos it ran across our feet outside on the grass (whilst watching the cabaret) and then we looked across and had to search in the dark for this bumbling comedian of vermin trying to negotiate grass (not as quick on that particular surface, are you?)

Food at breakfast and dinner (half-board) was nice and bearable for about a week before you start getting sick of it (due to repetition rather than it being inedible). This is understandable as if you ate any of the same sort of food for two weeks you'd start to get a bit sick of it. It seems to be catered more for the German/East European market as that seemed to be where the majority of guests were from.

Take your towels down and fling them on a couple of sunloungers before going into breakfast and then go back to bed afterwards to keep your places. Places by the doors will be VERY LOUD whilst music is on. Music here is a bad thing. I have a problem with the awfulness that is "gangsta-rap" anyway, without the same rubbish being played in the same order day-after-day-after-day. In the periods where it isn't blaring out, a constant, repeating Celine Dion is screeching like a pained cat from the bar/restaurant areas which starts to mess with your head after the first week. I almost cried with happiness when I managed to drown everything out on a personal CD player with The Shining's 'Quicksilver'. If you're overlooking the pool, the music will start about 10am-ish and the waterpark will provide extra background noise music too.

'Animation' team were all very nice and tried to get and keep activities going around the pool: 'gymnastics' in the morning (more of a keep-fit warm-up), aquarobics (good fun), water polo (not good fun if you're not a particularly strong swimmer) and dancing by the pool. Terri was completely bonkers and very nice with it -- she blames her hyperactivity on the extremely strong morning coffee from the restaurant. Guy with long hair kept everyone entertained. One bloke (with a Fun Lovin' Criminals half-moustache) seems to run the evening entertainment and not appear during the day-time but he is certainly a born entertainer. And there was one lightweight bloke who didn't seem to do anything all holiday except lead the clapping.

Crepes by the pool are fab! Waiters are all nice and you can order food from the Bistro and brought to you in your sun loungers. Don't forget to tip. In fact, we never met anyone of the serving staff who was less than nice and/or polite. The reception staff seem a bit sulky at times but were never rude. Avoid 'Manuel' (watch the way he walks and you'll see what I mean) in the red hat because he couldn't understand my Yorkshire accent and kept bringing me 'cheese' instead of 'chicken'.

Doesn't mention anywhere, in any guidebooks about topless sunbathing but this didn't seem to cause a problem at all. Didn't even seem to cause any unnecessary leching from other blokes around the area.

Pool has *lots* of chlorine in it, which keeps it clean but does make your nose and throat burn if you take a lot in accidentally. We originally thought it was the cause of our tummy trouble but that was probably more due to dehydration/heatstroke.

Both experienced stomach problems and diarrhoea over the course of two weeks. Stomach cramps were quite acute and did require a swift exit to the toilet on numerous occasions. Mine lasted over a week but may have been to do with not drinking enough water as by the end of the first week you're totally sick of the taste and don't want any more. Drank bottled water all the time and not the tap water. Was informed later that the stomach cramps may just be from drinking chilled water too quickly which apparently can cause your stomach to cramp suddenly (understandably).

Marie (the hotel rep) was very nice but seemed to be preoccupied and distracted when you spoke to her. She was never impolite though and always helpful.

This hotel overlooks the only waterpark in Tunisia, so we spent a day there. Though both getting sunburned, it was an excellent day out. The slides are fab (three: a wide blue one, white wobbly one and helter skelter one) and an additional one that only runs at certain times (we think to raise the water levels in the pools again) where you get a rubber ring and then propel yourself down from pool to pool to pool. MAKE SURE YOU QUEUE UP for a while for this, as one of the most entertaining things about it is watching the balding, mustachioed hulk of a man who propels people into the air out of their rubber rings a split-second after they've landed if they've not fallen out already! Worth the entrance money (12.5 dinar) alone.

There is a big swimming-pool with an awesome wave machine (try swimming down the waves as they come do you -- great fun). Get there early though as later on when the wave machine comes on there are about 100,000 people in the pool and more or less no room left so they early runs (about 9/10-ish) are the most fun. Only problem is that a lot of the area are covered in marble which is EXTREMELY slippy. I fell off my feet and came down really hard on my bum, comedy-style. Still hurts a bit a week later! Health and Safety in Tunisia is not the same so you won't be able to sue anybody!

This hotel is a disgrace to be called 4* a rubber hose from the taps for a shower, dirty towels, no bidet, bath needing changing. When someone flushes to toilet all the guests are wakened. No drawers in rooms curtains and bedcover needing cleaning. The Flintstones would have liked the concrete beds, no hairdryer, no tissues, no chair, no fridge unless you hire it.

The noise from the pool area and the Aqua Park horrendous all day ever day same records - give us a break.

The reception staff needing interpersonal skills course carpets in corridors filthy.

Restaurant a joke, cauliflower cheese for breakfast a cat in restaurant not on.

I have read some comments and I must have higher standards or others are easy pleased.

Having been to this hotel for the 4th time now I must say that the food has improved greatly but the price of drinks have increased by a great amount since october 2004.

There are alot of problems around the pool that need adressing like the cracked and broken tiles and the shower needs pulling down and rebuilding.

I must say that we had a very pleasant stay in this hotel.

The hotel was very clean sheets and towels were changed regularly and there was an enjoyable smell.

The food was great and was very happy that it also catered for vegetarians.

Was also satisfied by the staff, would appreciate refurbishment of the rooms.

The entertainment was excellent, we were never bored neither daytime neither in the evening. All the animations were brilliant.

Would definitely visit this hotel again hopefully in the near future.

Having visited Tunisia twice before both on a 3* basis, this hotel is not of 4* quality - in need of redecoration and some refurbishment.

Good location as only 5 minute walk to marina.

Restaurant - good layout, friendly staff -food absolutely awful - poor quality, repetitive and some strange variations - OK if you enjoy rice pudding, carrots and potatoes for breakfast otherwise it's scrambled egg every day. Dinner poor - soups and salads edible but main course, particularly meat can be scary!!

Rooms, whilst mainly clean, are basic. 3* we have stayed in had table/chairs, fridge as standard.

Hotel staff mainly friendly - usual round the pool day time activities.

We found this hotel very pleasant.

There were cleaners constantly working around the hotel daily and the bedrooms were cleaned regularly every day.

The hotel was of a very good standard although we didn

We stayed at the Hounduri Palace Hotel for two weeks commencing 21st February 2005.
We found that this hotel was far below the normal standards of a 4 star rating.
We found that the matresses and pillows were badly stained under the clean sheets and pillowcases.
The toilet was also badly stained.
The noise in the hotel was really bad both from other guests and the very busy road outside. We hardly had any sleep during the lengh of our holiday.
The food was of a very poor standard and the resteraunt was a chaotic free for all.
Staff were very friendly.
Entertainment was virtually non existant.
Pools looked very clean.

I booked this hotel for our honeymoon. What a plonker!

The reception area looks great ... then you get into the lift, a lovely glass job, the smell was indescribable, what I thought it was, it couldn't be, as nobody would do that in a glass lift. {would they?}.

Then we came to our room, I have seen better 4* cattery"s. Basic, dirty,and the bathroom was a disgrace. If i had flip flops, I would have worn them in the shower.

Bed was like concrete. We only stayed for a week [thank god],and went on safari for two days, so we never actually saw a maid.

Food, I lost a stone, bread and butter was all I could bring myself to eat, there were so many people with upset stomachs, all rushing to their rooms, yes via the lifts{thats what the smell was!!!}.

By the way, don't take your partner if she is blonde, to Tunisia. The locals go wild and won't stop offering you a couple of camels and their sister for her. She could dye her hair of course!

To sum up, don't go to this hotel, its a hole, and don't go to Tunisia.

Safari was good though.

Cleanliness excellent.

Food very good and varied though could have been warmer somtimes.

Location perfect.

Staff great.

Entertainment non existant but it could be due to time of year.

Having read lots of bad reviews, this hotel is not nearly as bad as it has been made out. The bedding and towels were changed regularly and the room was well cleaned every day.

The pools are very good and the staff are friendly.

The food was a buffet style and the dining room a bit disorganised though the food is fine although maybe not very exciting. Towards the end of the week we ate out more, there are some excellent restaurants round the marina, try the Neptune floating restaurant for excellent steak.

The hotel could do with a bit of refurbishment, some of the carpets in the corridoors are stained and old, but most of the floors are tiled or marble anyway. There was a lot of painting and decorating going on at the hotel when we were there so I assume things are improving.

Overall this hotel is fine and we got a good last minute deal. It is not 4 star by UK standards but is in a very good location and the rooms are clean and there are good facilities.