Hamma time

Hammamet, Tunisia’s original package

holiday resort, is still going strong. Karl Cushing reports

DESTINATIONS — NORTH AFRICA & THe Red seA

58 • travelweekly.co.uk — 25 April 2013

Hello, remember me? I’m the chef for your hotel and it’s

my day off.” When you hear those words

within hours of arriving in a destination, soon to be followed by all manner of offers, you know you’re in a well‑established resort.

Such was my arrival last month in Hammamet, the resort whose beaches spawned Tunisia’s package tourism industry back in the 1960s – a market that remains remarkably robust despite the turmoil that followed the country’s Jasmine Revolution of 2011 and the protests of this February.

Indeed, analyst GfK reported trade summer bookings up 18.5% to mid‑February, and Thomson’s online bookings to Tunisia are already up by 37% on 2012 levels.

Cosmos Holidays has boosted capacity for 2013 with a new five‑times‑a‑week Heathrow‑Tunis service and a twice‑weekly Manchester‑Tunis service, all with Tunis Air.

“Hammamet is especially suitable for families wanting a good‑value beach holiday,” says

Cosmos product and commercial manager Gemma Carroll.

“Prices are very reasonable for this summer and we are on par with other family‑orientated short‑haul destinations such as Antalya in Turkey and Tenerife.”

Tunisia specialist Just Sunshine has also seen a strong take‑up of its new flights from Glasgow and Newcastle to Enfidha with Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines, and has added a second weekly Gatwick flight starting on May 25 and running until October to satisfy increased demand.

Meanwhile, the Tunisian National Tourist Office is focusing its efforts on growing golf tourism and attracting more travellers over 50.

l SELL: FAMILY-FRIENDLY

VALUE

Hammamet won’t be for everyone. Some will prefer sleepier resorts such as Mahdia or Sousse, with its better beaches and upmarket neighbour Port el Kantaoui. However, if fly‑and‑flop’s the game, family‑friendly Hammamet’s the name.

Aside from the enviable climate and glut of great‑value product, it makes an excellent base for exploring the north. Plus, it’s an easy transfer from Tunis‑Carthage airport, about 40 miles away.

The resort is essentially ‘a game of two halves’. Alongside Hammamet proper, with its traditional whitewashed buildings and old walled medina, is the purpose‑built tourist district of Yasmine, or south, Hammamet, with its modern hotels, restaurants, bars and kitsch reproduction medina.

Deals are especially plentiful outside of the main season, which runs from April to late September, although winter months can be chilly and key attractions closed.

l STAY: ESTABLISHED

CHAINS

Being long‑established, the area is awash with serviceable hotels, including several Riu and Iberostar properties. Top picks for luxury spa stays include Eden Yasmine and the Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa, which has massive suites.

Thomson and First Choice

HIT THE ROAD

The Tunisian National Tourist Office is holding agent roadshow events as follows: May 13: East Midlands May 14: LeedsMay 15: Liverpool May 16: Newcastle June 10: Middlesbrough June 11: Nottingham June 12: Colchester June 13: BelfastFor more details, email info@cometotunisia.co.uk or call 020 7224 5598.

▲

Hotel Riu Palace

Hammamet

Marhaba

60 • travelweekly.co.uk — 25 April 2013

DESTINATIONS — NORTH AFRICA & THe Red seA

are featuring five properties apiece in Hammamet and Yasmine Hammamet for summer 2013, including three Thomson Platinum Resorts – Club Magic Life Africana Imperial, the recently refurbished Riu Palace Oceana Hammamet, and my own base, the Riu Palace Hammamet Marhaba, a solid enough all‑inclusive backed by a thalassotherapy centre.

Top family picks include Holiday Village Manar – a five‑star First Choice Holiday Village with two big pools, Aqua Park and children’s clubs – and Clubhotel Riu Marco Polo, a First Choice Premier Families product. New for 2013 is the 361‑room Khayam Garden Beach & Spa, 10 miles out of town towards Nabeul, with its two outdoor pools and child‑friendly fun area complete with four slides.

Alternatively, the all‑inclusive Club Med Hammamet boasts a decent spa (treatments are extra) and offers club facilities for kids aged from just four months. Another solid all‑inclusive that

SAMPLE PRODUCT

Olympic Holidays offers seven nights in a standard

garden view room at the four‑star Le Sultan Hotel from £439 in May, including flights

from Gatwick and transfers. olympicholidays.com

Cosmos Holidays has a seven‑night all‑inclusive stay at

the three‑diamond‑rated Samira Club from £435, departing

from Manchester on October 2, including transfers.

cosmos.co.uk

Thomson offers a seven‑nights’ half‑board at the Riu Palace Oceana Hammamet from £744, including flights

from Gatwick, on May 26. thomson.co.uk

Just Sunshine offers seven nights’ all‑inclusive at the five‑

star El Mouradi Hammamet from £2,188 in total based

on two adults and two children under 11 sharing a

standard room, and including Gatwick flights on August 2.

justsunshine.com

Yasmine

Golf Club

Port el

Kantaoui

marina

ClubHotel Riu Marco Polo is a four-star all-inclusive

gets consistently good reviews is Les Orangers, which is featured by Thomas Cook.

l SEE: ANCIENT AND

PURPOSE-BUILT

Aside from the parasol‑festooned beaches and watersports, Hammamet’s top draws include the old fort and medina. Stroll down the alleyways and pick up some souvenir bargains. If you’re game, consider a hammam bath and scrub (gommam).

The biggest draw for kids is the sprawling Carthage Land in Yasmine Hammamet’s medina, with its 5D cinema and Aqua Park. Excursions on glass‑bottomed vessels and the Sultan II pirate ship, quad bike tours and now even Segways are well‑publicised.

For adults there are horse and cart rides around Yasmine, two golf courses at Citrus and Roman mosaics at Pupput, with after‑dark options including a flutter at the casino followed by a shimmy at a club such as Cocoon.

Popular side trips include

Friguia park for its zoo, dolphin shows and – rather randomly – themed Zulu entertainment evenings (tickets are sold by operators including Thomson and Thomas Cook). Nabeul, a 20‑minute drive north, is a good spot for buying ceramics, while Hergla, to the south, is an interesting village known for its weaving and nearby beaches.

Farther afield, Thomas Cook and Thomson’s offerings include visits to the impressive Roman ruins at Dougga and El Jem.

Club Med Hammamet’s tour options include day trips to Tunis and Carthage, and to Sidi Bou Said, the must‑see arty centre known for its flower‑draped buildings.

Alternatively, Tui’s options include a two‑day Simply Sahara/Onk Jemal tour. Overnighting on the desert fringes in Douz, this

tour takes in the Roman ruins at El Jem, used in

Gladiator, Star Wars locations and the oasis

town of Chebika (from £84.99/

£44.50). TW

25 April 2013 — travelweekly.co.uk • 61

Facilities abound

at First Choice’s

Hotel Village Manar

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