Hammamet was a last minute booking, and a trip that didn’t entail much beyond the confines of our hotel, but these winter breaks to recharge your batteries can be invigorating. It was both Amy and my first time in Tunisia, and we had initially began looking at day trips to Carthage and El Jem, before opting to just stay closer to our resort and relax.
I don’t normally review the accommodation I stay in, unless it’s something special, but what we booked fit the bill of what we were looking for, and was very affordable. We stayed at the Bel Azur Thalassa, which had the most attentive, friendly staff, and great facilities, with all food/drink included within our booking, located right on the beach. And it was just a 20 minute walk from Hammamet town.
Hammamet is a charming little seaside town, with a bustling market next to the old fort… and that’s about it. The rest of the town is tourist resorts, and restaurants, but it was nice to spend an afternoon exploring it, and stopping for mint tea.
We firstly stopped into the market for a bit of light souvenir shopping to add to the magnet collection, prior to entering the fort. The fort itself could be more interactive, as you mainly pay in to get views of the town/harbour – there were some billboards, but only in French/Arabic, and whilst translating these (via google), I felt there was so much more information they should be sharing.
After climbing down the steps in the castle, we went to a nearby Cafe: Sidi Bou Hdid, and it felt like something from Aladin.
Here, I had the most fresh glass of strawberry juice, and some Maghrebi mint tea, which I first tried in Marrakech (it’s delicious, try it if you’re ever in North Africa)
And that’s about it. Tunisia left a very positive impact on both Amy and I, and we’ve discussed returning for some winter sun in the future, where we will actually do the excursions to Carthage and El Jem. But for an affordable getaway, please consider Tunisia, the hospitality and sun makes you feel like you’re a royal.
And a special note at the end for cat lovers: I don’t know if this is something throughout all Tunisia, but the recurring theme in Hammamet was that there are cats everywhere, from our hotel grounds, to any seating areas outdoors, to the old market and castle. Hammamet is a cat haven.
