The beach, like the entire coastline of Mahdia, is truly beautiful — soft sand, clear sea, and a peaceful atmosphere. It was windy during our stay, and there were some jellyfish, but that’s out of anyone’s control. Unfortunately, the beach furniture (sunbeds) is very old, dirty, and uncomfortable due to being worn out. There are not enough chairs or side tables. Still, the beach was the most enjoyable part of the vacation.
The hotel itself is outdated and poorly maintained, with hygiene being the biggest issue. Non-renovated rooms have old furniture, but surprisingly good mattresses and pillows — we slept well. Our room attendant was extremely polite, always smiling, and truly dedicated. Thanks to him, our room was always clean and fresh-smelling. He earned and deserved every tip we gave him.
However, the rest of the hotel fails to meet basic standards. Public areas and restrooms are consistently dirty. Housekeeping uniforms were visibly unclean, and cleaning equipment looked like it hadn’t been replaced in decades — dirty mops and rags were used, which explains the poor hygiene.
Food selection is limited and monotonous. Many dishes are fried or breaded. There are no proper labels, especially for allergens. Breakfast is extremely weak: almost no fruit — just dates and prunes. Lunch and dinner include some fruit (melon, watermelon, peaches, occasionally grapes). Snacks during the day are mostly fried (chips, donuts, pancakes), with no fruit offered. Fresh orange juice is available only at breakfast, squeezed by hand by one person, causing long queues every morning.
The attitude of the staff is another major issue. In the outdoor snack area, staff are unapproachable and uninterested — some act as if guests are bothering them. I even had a cook rudely throw a potato onto my plate, which fell apart in front of me. It was embarrassing. On a positive note, one waiter — a kind man with glasses — was friendly and respectful to everyone. The rest of the restaurant staff were okay. The restaurant manager (with a mustache) doesn’t speak English and showed no interest in helping when I asked about allergens. Despite signs advising guests to speak to the manager for dietary needs, no real support is provided. If you have gluten intolerance or allergies, know that no alternative bread or pastry options exist.
Reception was generally fine, but on our last day — despite having a night flight, traveling with a toddler under the age of three, and offering to pay for late check-out — our request was refused. I know for a fact the rooms were empty (including ours and the one next door), as I returned hours later to pick up a forgotten toy. A bit of flexibility and kindness here would’ve made a big difference. If they had allowed us to stay a few more hours, it could have softened our overall impression — but instead, it left a worse one.
To be clear — this didn’t ruin our holiday. But would we return? Probably not. Would we recommend it to others? No. The issue isn’t the queues for food or the lack of variety. The real problem is the attitude toward guests and the lack of care for even the basics. Many guests we met shared the same opinion.
This hotel has huge potential due to its perfect beachfront location — but without serious investment in hygiene, training, and guest service, that potential is completely wasted.
It’s a shame that only positive reviews get a response, while the negative ones are ignored—as if nothing was written. Management/owners, all of that did happen… and rest assured, with that kind of attitude, you’re losing guests.