Marhaba Club Sousse: Your Tunisian Paradise Awaits!
Marhaba Club Sousse: My Chaotic, Sun-Kissed Adventure (and the Honesty You Crave!)
Alright, friends, buckle up, because I just got back from Marhaba Club Sousse, and trust me, it was an experience. They call it a "Tunisian Paradise," and well… sometimes paradise has a few (charming!) wrinkles. Let's dive in, warts and all, ‘cause that’s how we roll, right?
First Impression: Getting There & Settling In… A Mixed Bag (But Mostly Good!)
Accessibility? Nope, and yes and no, maybe? They claim "Facilities for disabled guests," and I saw an elevator, which is HUGE. But specific wheelchair accessibility – like, really navigating the pool area or getting into the buffet – feels… questionable. (Accessibility: A mixed bag - check with them directly if crucial!)
Getting there was a breeze. The Airport transfer was a lifesaver after the flight, and the Check-in/out [express] option saved me a ton of time. Score! Though the Front desk [24-hour] staff were, as expected, mostly friendly enough. But “efficient and ready to roll” not so much. There was one lovely lady who clearly knew her stuff, and made a quick booking from outside the hotel. The rest weren't as attentive. Also, I got a room that "smelled fresh." More on that later.
Rooms! The Good, the Okay, and the "Oh, That's Interesting"
My room? (Available in all rooms: Alarm clock, Air conditioning, Blackout curtains, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Mini bar, Non-smoking, Private bathroom, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Shower, Slippers, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.) Okay, so it had the basics! Air conditioning was a MUST (Tunisia is HOT!), and the blackout curtains were a blessing for sleeping in. The Wi-Fi [free] worked… sometimes. Let's be honest – it was patchy. And that "fresh" smell? Turns out, the "fresh" was a slightly overpowering air freshener. Over time it mellowed. The mini bar was stocked (expensive!), the bed was comfy, and the soundproofing was pretty decent considering how much partying went on outside my door. I did not use the coffee/tea maker, or the complimentary tea as I was told to buy my own coffee sachets. I did, however, use the Ironing facilities as I was late for meal with the lovely hotel staff.
Cleanliness & Safety: A Little Obsessive, a Little Reassuring
Okay, this is where they truly excel. (Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment). I felt weirdly safe. Loads of hand sanitizer everywhere. Daily disinfection in common areas. The staff was masked all the time, and I noticed them constantly cleaning. It was…a calming effect. They take the cashless payment service seriously, too. I was actually thankful for this level of vigilance right now, especially with my travelling experience, that was a huge relief!
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: Food, Glorious Food (Mostly!)
Ah, the food! (Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant). The breakfast [buffet] was a must. I'm talking mountains of pastries, omelet stations, and enough fruit to keep you going all day. Okay, maybe I’m biased. I love breakfast and I love a full breakfast, so I took full advantage of the Western breakfast. But let me tell you, the Happy hour at the Poolside bar? Pure bliss.
I tried the Restaurants. One was a Vegetarian restaurant, and frankly it was… underwhelming. I didn't love the Asian cuisine in restaurant, but the International cuisine in restaurant and the Western cuisine in restaurant, were pretty darn good. The Snack bar kept me going between meals (fries, anyone?). The Coffee/tea in restaurant I was told to buy my own instead.
Pro-Tip: The Bottle of water is expensive when you don't have them at your table, so stock up from the Convenience store.
Ways to Relax: Poolside Bliss (and a Massage That Made Me Sob!)
The Swimming pool [outdoor] with the Pool with view? Stunning. Seriously, Instagrammable. The water was cool, the sun was warm, and I spent hours lounging. (Ways to relax: Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]).
The Massage at the Spa… okay, this deserves its own section. I’m not a spa person. But I needed some serious relaxation. I opted for a deep-tissue massage, and the masseuse, a tiny, unassuming woman, nearly broke me. She worked out knots I didn’t even know I had. It was… intense. Then, she got to those knots down my back, and I just… sobbed. Not tears of pain, but of pure, unadulterated release. It was the best, and the worst, massage of my life. A complete, cathartic experience. So, yeah, that was the highlight. (Spa/sauna)
Other facilities that I didn't try: the Sauna and Steamroom which makes the experience more "professional". (Fitness center, Gym/fitness)
Things To Do: Sousse & Beyond (and a Bit of Boredom)
Things to do: The hotel is a bit isolated. You can spend days lounging by the pool, and you should. Sousse itself is interesting, with its medina and coastal sights, I didn't go. (Things to do: Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Luggage storage, Meetings, On-site event hosting, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events).
Services & Conveniences: The Good, The Bad, and the Questionable
Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center The Concierge was helpful with booking taxis. The Cash withdrawal machine came in handy. The Currency exchange rates were okay. The Invoice provided was helpful. Dry cleaning, Laundry service, and Ironing service were all available, but I didn't use them. Food delivery was available, but with the amount of food on offer, why would you bother? The Gift/souvenir shop has overpriced tat, but I got some postcards. Smoking area as advertised and easy to find.
For the Kids:
I did not use these. (For the kids: Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal)
Getting Around:
Easy! (Getting around: Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking)
Final Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Honestly? Yes, I would. Despite the minor quirks (that patchy Wi-Fi, the slightly underwhelming vegetarian food), the amazing pool, the incredible massage, a friendly staff, and the feeling of safety more than made up for it. It's not perfect, but that's part of its charm. The Marhaba Club
Fairfield Inn & Suites Van Vleck, TX: Your Texas Getaway Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! You're about to get a REAL itinerary for the Marhaba Club in Sousse, Tunisia. Forget the glossy brochure – this is the gritty, sun-kissed, sometimes-burnt-by-the-sun version. Prepare for a roller coaster. It's gonna be a beautiful mess.
Project: Sousse Surprise! (Marhaba Club Mayhem)
Date: Uh… let’s just say “next time I escape the kids/work/life… again.”
Day 1: Arrival and Immediate Disappointment… Er, I Mean, Anticipation
Morning (That’s My First Mistake): Touchdown at Monastir Airport. Already sweating – the air conditioning in the plane was not my friend. The airport… well, let's say charm needs a bit of a… tune-up. Finding the shuttle was an Olympic sport. My luggage, unsurprisingly, looked like it had already seen action.
(Immediate Emotional Response): Okay, okay, deep breaths. Tunisia! Exotic! Adventure! Sighs… Hopefully, the hotel is better than this airport.
Afternoon: Check-in at the Marhaba Club. Oh, sweet lord, the lobby! Marble! Huge! The air conditioning… still a struggle. The staff… well, let’s just say charmingly… indifferent. My room… well, it has a balcony! And a view of… the pool! (More on that later). Note to self: Tip early, often… and big.
Quirky Observation: The key card is a relic of the 90s. I half expected to see a floppy drive bay.
Evening (Dinner Debacle): First dinner at the hotel. The buffet. Oh. My. God. Food overload. I grabbed everything, piled it on my plate like a toddler, and proceeded to realize I didn't actually like most of it. The couscous was…clumpy. The chicken… suspect. Found some decent bread though. Silver lining! The entertainment was… something. A belly dancer who looked slightly bored. But hey, she tried.
(Emotional Reaction): Food: 4/10. Ambience: 7/10 (because the view out the window was kinda nice). Overall: This could go one of two ways… Either absolute bliss or a spectacular train wreck. I'm leaning towards the latter.
(Messy Structure): Okay, maybe I should have eaten lighter. I swear I saw someone put a whole plate of fries in a bread bowl. Regrets, I have a few… mostly involving the mysterious "meat" that definitely wasn't chicken.
Day 2: The Pool, The People, and The Panic
Morning (Sun, Sand, and Suffering): The pool! Yes! Paradise, right? WRONG. It was crowded. Loungers were claimed by sunbathers who looked like they were born on them. I finally snuggled into a spot, slathered on the SPF 50 (because my skin is basically see-through), and prepared to bask. Then a flock of screaming kids descended.
(Rambles): There was something about the pool, you know? It wasn't just the chlorine or the screaming kids. No, it was something deeper. The way the sun hit the water, how it sparkled, how the laughter was layered with the sounds of splashing. Ah, the joy of a pool day…
Afternoon (The Hammam Experiment): Okay, this was actually good. Booked a hammam at the hotel. Pure bliss. Scrubbed down like a prize pig, massaged with argan oil, and feeling like a new human. I emerged feeling refreshed and smelling faintly of roses. Worth every single penny.
(Doubling Down on Experience) : That hammam, man. That's all I want to say. If you like to scrub dead skin off your body, you'll love their service. It's an entirely new way of self appreciation. The staff were professional and nice. If I could, I would visit again and again and again.
Quirky Observation: I swear, the scrub lady could have taken the flesh off a statue with that mitt.
Evening: Dinner again. Tried to be smarter this time. Seafood night! Actually…pretty good. The grilled fish was delicious. Wine was… well, let's just say it flowed freely.
(Emotional Reaction): The afternoon was a resounding success! This is what vacations are made of.
Day 3: Culture Shock and Shopping Spree (Or, The One Where I Got Lost)
Morning (The Souk): Taxi to the Medina! The souk! Prepare to be assaulted by a sensory overload. Smells of spices, insistent vendors, the constant murmur of Arabic… it was chaotic, beautiful, and utterly disorienting. I got lost. Three times. Bought a rug I probably didn't need and a bunch of spices I'll never use.
(Opinionated Language): Shopping in the souk is a contact sport. They will try to sell you everything. Learn to say "La shukran" (no, thank you) with conviction. And haggle! It's expected.
Afternoon (Carthage, kinda): Day trip to Carthage? Nope, that's too far. I thought about the history. The Carthaginian Empire was built on the shoulders of traders and merchants. I thought about the old ways, and how people traveled the world. I guess it's like that, but, in Sousse, it feels a little off. The views were not worth the journey.
(Messy Structure): Okay, so maybe Carthage was a mistake. Should have stayed at the pool.
Evening: Back to the hotel, exhausted and slightly sunburnt. Dinner. Sleep. Repeat.
Day 4: The Beach (and Possibly an Existential Crisis)
Morning (Beach bum) : Beach Day! Finally. The sand was pristine, the water was crystal clear. I relaxed on the sunbed, then took a dip in the ocean. It was perfect.
Afternoon: I'm not a beach person, but I came to peace with it. I think I finally understood why people rave about beach days.
(Stronger Emotional Reaction): As I sat there, the waves crashing, the sun warming my skin, I felt… content. Possibly even happy. For the first time, this whole trip felt like a break.
Day 5: Departure and a Few Regrets (and a promise to go back!)
Morning (Packing Panic): Packing. Always the worst. Trying to squeeze everything into a suitcase that now weighs a metric ton. Said a fond farewell to the staff at the Marhaba Club.
Afternoon: Airport chaos. Goodbye Tunisia. I'm tired, sunburnt, slightly broke, and already missing it.
(Emotional Reaction): It wasn't perfect. It was messy. It was loud. But it was real. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
(Final Rambling Thoughts): So, would I recommend the Marhaba Club? With caveats, yes. Go. Embrace the chaos. The food might be hit or miss, the staff might be… well, let's say "charming." But the sun, the sand, the culture… It's worth it. And maybe, just maybe, I'll see you there next time. Don’t forget to say hi if you see the haggard woman with the SPF 50 screaming at some kids in the pool. That's probably me.
Marhaba Club Sousse: Your Tunisian Paradise... Kinda! (A Messy FAQ)
So, what *is* the Marhaba Club Sousse, anyway? Is it actually paradise? (Spoiler alert: maybe not entirely...)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. The Marhaba Club in Sousse, Tunisia, is basically a sprawling hotel complex. Think multiple buildings, pools galore, beaches (sort of – more on *that* later…), restaurants, bars… the whole shebang. It *tries* to be paradise. And, you know, in certain fleeting moments – like, sunsetting over the Med sipping a suspiciously cheap cocktail – it *kinda* succeeds. But it's also a bit… well, let's just say it's *characterful*.
Characterful meaning, you know, a bit rough around the edges. Like that time I found a rogue chicken wandering between the sunbeds. Yes, a chicken. Don’t ask.
Okay, the beaches. Sell them to me. Are they… beachy?
Right. The beaches… the beaches are a mixed bag, to put it mildly. The sand *is* gloriously golden. The water *is* the Mediterranean – beautiful, warm, and swimmable. But… and this is a BIG but… They're also often plagued by seaweed. Like, *a lot* of seaweed. Sometimes it's cleared, sometimes it's not. It’s a gamble. One day you're frolicking in crystal clear water, the next you're wading through a seaweed swamp, fighting off rogue fish. And the hawkers? Oh, the hawkers. Prepare to be relentlessly offered everything from “genuine” Rolexes (they’re not) to camel rides (tempting, but maybe after a few piña coladas…).
I swear, one day I saw a guy trying to sell a seashell to a seagull. And the seagull looked unimpressed. It was the highlight of my trip, honestly.
What’s the food situation like? Gonna get food poisoning? Should I pack Pepto-Bismol?
The food… ah, the culinary adventure that is all-inclusive dining. Look, you won't starve. There's a lot of it. Think buffet, buffet, and more buffet. Lots of variations, to be fair. Pasta stations, grilled meats, salads galore… You'll probably find something you like, even if you're a fussy eater like me (I basically lived on French fries and bread for a week).
Food poisoning? Well… let’s just say pack the Pepto. I had one minor… incident. (Let's leave it at that, okay?) Stick to cooked food, watch out for ice in drinks (that water quality can be suspect), and don't be afraid to embrace the local cuisine. The tagine is fantastic. The couscous… less so, in my experience. But try everything, you might be surprised.
Is it family-friendly? Will my kids be bored?
Oh, yeah, it's *definitely* family-friendly. Like, *very* family-friendly. Tons of kids. Lots of screaming, splashing, pool-side chaos. If you have kids, they'll love it. If you *don't* have kids… well, bring earplugs. And maybe a good book to hide behind.
There's a kids' club, activities, and pools specifically for the little ones. They're basically entertainment factories. My observation? If you're a parent, this place is a lifesaver. If you're not, well, it's a... experience. The constant noise is a little much for my liking, can't lie. They truly ran wild. One kid built a whole sandcastle on the dance floor!
What about the rooms? Are they clean? Are they even… habitable?
Okay, the rooms… this is where things get a little… variable. Some are newly renovated and lovely. Others… let's just say they have a certain *charm*. Think slightly dated decor, possibly a leaky tap, and the occasional mysterious stain on the carpet. Cleanliness is generally okay, but don't expect spotless. Bring some anti-bacterial wipes, just in case. And maybe a small, portable air freshener. You know, to freshen up the… ambiance.
My first room? Let's just say it smelled like decades of cigarette smoke and regret. They moved me. Eventually. Persistence is key, folks! I got a great view though- totally worth the hassle.
Can you drink the water?
Okay, this is important. Short answer: no. Don't even *consider* it. Stick to bottled water. Use bottled water for brushing your teeth. Use bottled water to make ice cubes (if you can be bothered). The tap water… let’s just say it’s not exactly known for its pristine purity. It’s part of the adventure-- and part of the reason you'll have the Pepto!
Is there anything *actually* good about the Marhaba Club? Anything that makes it worth booking?
Yes! Absolutely! Despite my somewhat cynical ramblings, I *did* enjoy my time there. The staff, for the most part, are lovely and incredibly friendly. They work *hard*. And they're genuinely trying to make your stay enjoyable, even when you’re complaining about the seaweed or the rogue chickens.
The location is great. You can easily walk into Sousse and explore the Medina (the old town), which is a total sensory explosion. The pools are actually pretty great. The price is usually pretty decent. The sunsets from the beach (when you can see the beach!) are breathtaking. The fact that I am still thinking about it means it probably wasn't that bad.
And the fact that I'm still talking about it *years* later means it made an impression, even if it was a slightly battered one. It's an experience, folks. Embrace the chaos.
What about the entertainment? Is it, you know, *entertaining*?
Entertainment… okay, brace yourselves. The entertainment is classic all-inclusive hotel entertainment. Think cheesy dance routines, questionable karaoke, and the occasional belly-dancing show. It's… something. It's a world away from the Vegas spectacle. The animation team works really hard. Sometimes they are great. One night the performers were great, the music had everyone dancing. Other times, well, let's just say you might prefer an early night with a book. But hey, it’s all part of the fun (or the horror, depending on your perspective).
