Royal Azur Thalassa

“Lovely!”

We have just stayed as a couple from Scotland for a week & had a fabulous time! One thing that stood out to us before we even arrived is the kindness of the staff in this hotel. Before we arrived, we were offered a complimentary dinner in the Italian restaurant as part of our anniversary celebrati… more

We have just stayed as a couple from Scotland for a week & had a fabulous time! One thing that stood out to us before we even arrived is the kindness of the staff in this hotel. Before we arrived, we were offered a complimentary dinner in the Italian restaurant as part of our anniversary celebrations which was so kind & the meal was lovely! Staff were so attentive & nothing was too much for them, they were constantly refilling our drinks, checking in on us & just having overall friendly conversations about our stay. Tipping due to the cost of living and wage pay in Tunisia is appreciated but not compulsory to receive such a kind service. Shoutout to Zaineb who made sure that we had everything we needed during our stay! Rooms were beautiful, upon arrival we got upgraded to a sea view room with our own patio area with private sun loungers as our smaller room was not ready which was lovely at no extra cost. Rooms were cleaned every day to a high standard, restaurant, bars and pool areas were also exceptionally clean along with the beach. It was also very easy to get a sunbed, it’s surprising to see other reviews disputing this there are plenty of sunbeds & lifeguards are keen to find you one if this isn’t the case. The only issue we had was our fridge didn’t work which during the heat was quite hard to keep water cool however staff are quick to fill up reusable bottles for us with ice which was amazing. The food in the restaurant is good however when all inclusive it does get a bit repetitive. I think there are some afternoon snacks lacking for example toasties etc which you might find in other destinations as dinner & lunch can be the same dishes. Some of the dishes also are not very clear what they are so it might be hard for people with dietary requirements. We ended up eating out one night in Yasmine which is not far in a taxi and nice for a break from all inclusive foods. There are also small shops & restaurants just outside the hotel it’s very safe to walk around & everyone is very friendly. We also ate lunch at the beach grill which is an extra charge but is similar food to the buffet just on a menu. Before we came we also struggled to find any info on all inclusive drinks, there is plenty of drinks included such as teas/coffees & iced coffees, soft drinks, large 1L bottles of water, plenty of alcoholic drinks & a range of cocktails such as mojitos, daiquiris & margaritas. The drinks are also not watered down to the point that we had to ask for the drinks not to be strong every single time 🤣 There is lots to do around the hotel only a short journey away in taxis, we did jet skis, parasailing and attempted horse riding. The only thing to note from this is the horse riding along the beach looks very appealing on social media like TikTok however we paid 170TD each expecting horse riding on the beach at sunset and when we got there we were informed it was going to be in the mountains not the beach, there was no health and safety for example helmets we were just expected to jump on the horse and ride through the roads passing transport along the way so I ended up not taking part which was a waste of money. If you want to book something like this I would maybe go through get your guide instead of the hotel. Overall we had a fantastic stay & would definitely return! We overheard a lot of other guests complaining over small things during our stay, with some saying this is more a 3 star than 5 star hotel. I think this is unfair as our stay was so relaxing and just what we needed. The kindness of the staff is really what made it for us and it’s a shame that this isn’t appreciated by other guests. It is true that in other holiday destinations that there are 5 star hotels which are outstanding but I think people need to keep in mind that a 5 star in Tunisia is very different from elsewhere however with that said does not mean this hotel does not deserve its 5 stars! Don’t let the bad reviews put you off. Thank you for a lovely stay!

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“The perfect relaxing holiday ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

We’ve just returned from an amazing stay and honestly had such a lovely holiday. The biggest highlight was the staff. Every single member of staff we met was friendly, welcoming and genuinely wanted to make sure you had a great time. Tipping really does go a long way here. As the local currency st… more

We’ve just returned from an amazing stay and honestly had such a lovely holiday. The biggest highlight was the staff. Every single member of staff we met was friendly, welcoming and genuinely wanted to make sure you had a great time. Tipping really does go a long way here. As the local currency stretches so much, a small tip makes a huge difference. We had drinks brought straight to our sunbeds, didn’t have to queue at the bar, had our orders taken for us, and they even made sure we had seats to watch the World Cup in the evenings. A special mention has to go to the young, tall member of the bar team who supported Spain (we’re so sorry we never got your name!). You genuinely made our holiday so memorable with your kindness and humour. We’d also like to thank Walid in the restaurant, who looked after us every breakfast and lunch. He always had a table ready for us and made sure our drinks were constantly topped up. The food was excellent throughout our stay. There were always reliable favourites alongside something different to try each day, so it never became repetitive. The Italian à la carte restaurant was absolutely delicious and is definitely worth booking. The hotel itself was spotless. Staff were constantly cleaning the grounds, and our room was immaculate when we arrived. The hotel feels modern, well-maintained and very relaxing. We also never struggled to find sunbeds or evening seating. We’d go for breakfast before heading to the pool and there were always plenty of sunbeds available, which made for a much more relaxing experience. If you’re thinking about doing excursions, we found booking our boat trip through GetYourGuide was cheaper than booking through the hotel’s excursion desk, so it’s worth comparing prices. The spa is beautiful and I’d definitely recommend treating yourself to a treatment. You also get access to the stunning salt pools, which made the experience even better. A few tips for future guests: * Bring plenty of your own suncream. We couldn’t find any well-known brands in the local shops, and the alternatives we bought unfortunately left us burnt. * If you have an early arrival flight, be aware that rooms aren’t usually available until around 2–3pm. Pack swimwear and any essentials in your hand luggage so you can enjoy the facilities while you wait. * We originally booked when the hotel was advertised as adults only, but it later changed to “adults focused”. It was still an incredibly peaceful and relaxing holiday, but there were some young children around, so just bear that in mind if you’re specifically looking for a child-free resort. * If you’re after lots of entertainment, the neighbouring hotel seemed to have more going on in the evenings. If you’ve booked through TUI, your all-inclusive package also allows you to use the facilities there. Overall, people will always find something to complain about, we certainly overheard plenty of it while we were there, but for us this hotel was beautiful, clean, peaceful and exactly what we wanted. The staff made our holiday unforgettable, the food was fantastic, and we left feeling completely relaxed. We’d happily return and would recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway.

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“Disappointing stay with some positives, but not a hotel we'd return to”

We recently stayed at the Royal Azure Thalasso in Hammamet. On arrival we received a warm welcome at reception, and our first impression of the hotel was very positive. The lobby and public areas are beautiful, clean and well maintained. Unfortunately, our stay quickly went downhill and, overall, w… more

We recently stayed at the Royal Azure Thalasso in Hammamet. On arrival we received a warm welcome at reception, and our first impression of the hotel was very positive. The lobby and public areas are beautiful, clean and well maintained. Unfortunately, our stay quickly went downhill and, overall, we left feeling very disappointed. On our first day, we discovered just before going to dinner that our room door would not lock (room 2429). We reported this to reception three separate times over the course of around two and a half hours. After our second visit, someone came to inspect the door but was clearly not a maintenance technician. We were repeatedly told it was perfectly safe to leave our room unlocked because there were CCTV cameras in the hallway. This was completely unacceptable. We insisted that either the lock be repaired immediately or that we be moved to another room. Eventually, around 30 minutes later, the door was repaired by resetting the lock so it would catch properly. By this point we had completely missed dinner service and had to leave the hotel to buy food elsewhere. Despite knowing exactly what had happened, the hotel made no effort to keep any food aside for us or offer any alternative. The food throughout the week was another disappointment. While the salad bar looked colourful and plentiful, many of the salads were not labelled, and several contained seafood. For anyone with a seafood allergy, this could be a serious issue. The hot food was very repetitive, with much the same selection available day after day. Our best experience in the restaurant was with Walid Ben Abdallah, who was a wonderful host through our visit and took great care of us. The pool areas are pleasant, but the service is stretched far too thin. There are three pools, but only one bartender at the upper pool bar and two waiters covering the entire pool complex. They worked incredibly hard, but because there simply weren't enough staff, it was often easier to fetch drinks yourself rather than wait for table service. One of the attractions advertised is the saltwater pool, which is accessed through the spa for an additional €15. Unfortunately, it was out of service for two days during our stay. The beach itself is attractive, but the beach bar is not included in the all-inclusive package and costs extra. The beach slopes towards the sea, and there are a number of rocks in the water, so swimmers should take care. Access also involves several flights of stairs, although there is a lift for part of the journey. The infinity pool with views across the Med is only a partial view as there are several plants and trees masking the view, not a big deal but certainly not what is advertised. Evening entertainment was almost non-existent. Most evenings guests simply sat around looking bored. We later learned that entertainment may be available at the neighbouring hotel, but this was never explained to us, so we didn't make use of it. Our experience with requesting a late check-out was equally frustrating. We first asked on Wednesday and were told to come back the following day. On Thursday, depending on what time we asked, we were either told to return after 10am or to come back the next day. When we asked again on Friday morning, the receptionist spoke to us quite dismissively, explaining that because it was peak July there were no rooms available and there hadn't been all week. If that was always the case, it's difficult to understand why we were repeatedly told to keep coming back to ask. We were eventually allowed to check out at 1pm, but our transfer wasn't until 4pm, and we would happily have paid for a later check-out had it been available. Outside the hotel there isn't a great deal within easy walking distance. During our stay the temperatures and humidity were extremely high, making it uncomfortable to venture far from the hotel in the evenings. Overall, while the hotel is attractive and the staff we encountered generally worked hard, there were too many issues with organisation, communication and customer service for us to overlook. Sadly, this wasn't the relaxing all-inclusive holiday we had hoped for, and we wouldn't choose to stay here again.

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“It's a Nooooooo !”

Royal Azur – More Fawlty Towers Than Five Star Bear with me, because after spending 10 days at the Royal Azur, this is going to be a detailed review. Unfortunately, from the moment we arrived it became clear that this was not going to be the five-star experience advertised. Reception was chaotic,… more

Royal Azur – More Fawlty Towers Than Five Star Bear with me, because after spending 10 days at the Royal Azur, this is going to be a detailed review. Unfortunately, from the moment we arrived it became clear that this was not going to be the five-star experience advertised. Reception was chaotic, and after checking in we waited over two hours for our luggage with very little communication or apology. It certainly wasn’t the welcoming start you’d expect after a long journey. The dining experience was equally disappointing. The buffet at Eden quickly became repetitive, with the same dishes reappearing day after day in slightly different forms. Variety was minimal, and by the end of the holiday it felt more like a game of “spot yesterday’s leftovers” than enjoying an all-inclusive dining experience. The Italian à la carte restaurant was another let-down. Food arrived lukewarm at best, and the service was just as cold. Ordering drinks often required asking three or four times, with staff frequently behaving as though serving guests was an inconvenience rather than their job. The pool bar perfectly summed up the overall experience. Requests were regularly met with “No beer,” “No ice,” or “Go inside for water.” It left us wondering what the actual purpose of the pool bar was, as it rarely seemed equipped to serve the basics. Every morning brought the now familiar “6:30am Sunbed Olympics.” Prime loungers appeared to be unofficially reserved before most guests were even awake, only to become available later under rather questionable circumstances. Whether that was coincidence or not, I’ll leave others to decide, but it certainly didn’t feel like a fair system. The towel policy was perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of the stay. Used towels appeared to be collected, hung out to dry, folded and redistributed throughout the day. If you arrived later in the afternoon hoping for a fresh towel, there was every chance you’d receive one that had already seen plenty of use by another guest. In a hotel claiming to be five-star, that simply isn’t acceptable. There was also an unfortunate trend where parasols seemed to disappear from one guest and magically appear beside another. Again, whether this was linked to tipping or simply poor management, it created an unnecessary sense of frustration around the pool. The indoor bar was probably the most consistent venue in the hotel, although one bartender in particular stood out for all the wrong reasons. His attitude towards guests was openly dismissive, and on more than one occasion he appeared to mock female guests while laughing with colleagues. Regardless of the language being spoken, body language is universal, and it reflected very poorly on the hotel’s standards of customer service. To be fair, there were some genuinely friendly, hardworking members of staff who clearly cared about providing good service. Unfortunately, their efforts were overshadowed by several colleagues whose attitude was consistently rude, indifferent and unwelcoming. Overall, this is simply not a five-star hotel. The facilities themselves have potential, but poor organisation, inconsistent service, repetitive food and disappointing standards mean the experience falls well below expectations. I have stayed in far better three-star hotels. Would I return? Sadly not. I’d rather spend my holiday queuing for a drink at the pool bar—and based on this trip, I’d probably still be waiting.

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