Phenicia Hotel — Hotel in Maghreb

We just checked out, we stayed in room 4020 and overall we had a pleasant holiday Pros Customer service is great, since we checked in the reception manager Mohamad Besuif(pls forgive my spelling mistakes) was great in accommodating us even though we requested to change our room due to poor cleaning in the bathroom, being quite outdated and poor view. He went above and beyond along with Karim and show us a few other rooms and we settled for 4020 which I understand is one of top range rooms that we haven’t paid for but was the only one decent from the ones available at the time and we highly appreciated his support Our waiter at buffet Beliel is a star, all of them work so hard for long hours and are always there for all your needs with a smile on and always remembering your favourite drink over dinner The food is very tasty, also they have a reasonable selection at the buffet The animation team is great working long hours and delivering top shows during the evening and along the day entertainment Around the hotel is clean and people are constantly working hard The beach is clean and wide with plenty sun beds The massage is great, really worth it

Cons There is not so much attention on details when is coming to cleaning the rooms and bathrooms hence the reason of changing the room. After 7 days our shower tap has never been cleaned or polished, was full of stains and limescale even though the rooms were “cleaned” daily. The soap dispenser had mould on it, therefore not exactly pleasant. With 10 min extra cleaning work all this could have been sorted. Not sure if is due to being stretched or why this important details are ignored. The bathrooms are quite outdated but if properly cleaned wouldn’t be an issue. The housekeeping is not clearing the room of empty water bottles or dirty glasses. We had them left in the room for 3 days until we take it down The pillows are not exactly the type of pillows you are looking forward when in hotels There is a family of cats on the resort (3 kittens and their parents) and they don’t get feed or watered unless the tourist are thinking of it which most of them aren’t and they just stop to pet them. There is a lot food waste here being an all inclusive resort, therefore is an easy way to feed them but they don’t do it. Is a shame and a big question mark. There is a dog around who is constantly feed but they are deliberately ignoring the poor kittens and their mother. I was one of the people getting a decent amount of fish or meat every evening and feeding them and they’ve always eaten all the food which proofs no one feeds them enough otherwise wouldn’t be able to eat that much considering are only kitten. Their parents don’t get so much food from tourists or attention as is they are scared and don’t stay to pet them, also are very thin😞2 days before leaving I spoke with Mohamad the manager mentioned above and basically begged him to give drinking water and food to the cats and he promised he will do it but until we left wasn’t any change and poor souls were still relying on tourists. I am extremely disappointed and didn’t expect them do behave in such way considering their kindness towards the customers. I hope the cats will be safe after this message and will be looked after as Mohamad promised he will. For all of you who read this and care please look out for them, feed them and give them drinking water NOT tap water. People are wasting a lot of food instead of having more trips to the buffet, therefore a kind message should be around all restaurants that food is not to be waste as is plenty for everyone The beach is quite, without animation and no music, is not alive and is a shame The drinks selection is quite basic

Therefore I only give 4 stars because the cleaning should always overrun the comfort and I can’t turn my head when I see waste and so little consideration for animals. Is imperative to look and take care of other souls in need, no matter if...

This is our 1st ever all inclusive holiday with our 2 children. We wanted a relaxing holiday and that is what we got. I spent a long time researching different hotels in the area and it paid off.

When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by someone at reception. We were given a refreshing lemon drink and relaxed in the lobby during the check-in process. A great start after a long and tiring journey.

Rooms - We booked an interconnecting room as we have 2 children with us aged 5 and 10. The rooms were very big and comfortable but the bathrooms were a bit basic and could do with being updated to match the rest of the room. Not a problem for us.

Food - Breakfast was lovely. A good selection of pastries, crepes, omelettes or fried egg, cold meats, cheese, cereal and fruit including fresh orange juice.

Lunch was even better. There was the option of eating in the main restaurant (buffet) or by the BBQ area near the pool, both part of the all inclusive offer. We opted to eat there as it was outdoors and by the beach. The meat wraps with harissa sauce were so delicious as well as the bbq meat and fish options. The staff worked incredibly hard to deliver such amazing food everyday. Again this has been mentioned by lots of people previously which is one of the main reasons why I booked this hotel. Snacks - quite limited but always includes chocolate crepes, so that kept the kids happy. Perhaps some sandwiches as dinner doesn't start till 6.30.

Dinner was also impressive and there was always a fresh pasta and pizza station everyday as well as local tasty dishes. Pudding was also amazing.

Drink options were quite limited. Wine was OK and there were basic spirits like gin, rum, vodka and beer. Cocktails at the bar were unfortunately not great. I guess you would need to pay for the premium stuff at the other bar. The bar staff always made an effort to remember what you drank and service was always with a smile!

Animation team - what an incredible team! This is what sold this hotel to me. The great reviews of them. There was so much to do from yoga, pilates, darts, archery, football, volleyball, mini club, foam party, aqua aerobics and the evening entertainment was also great. There was even a circus team one night as well as Miss Phenicia which I got roped into doing which was so much fun but scary at the same time. All of them were so friendly and my daughter really enjoyed mini club with Shahed. She was so good with my daughter and really looked after her the whole week. All of the activities are included as part of the all inclusive offer including mini club! The kids also loved Spiderman who always ended up doing a double backward flip into the pool!

Pool - There are so many pools to choose from. There is a pool which is quiet and half of it is covered. Then there is a large main pool, a small pool by the bar and another small pool for young kids round the back. You need to leave a deposit in the shop to get a beach towel which can be swapped 3 times a week. I would also recommend bringing water shoes as the bottom of the pool can be rough which is to stop people from slipping but it ended up hurting the kids feet. There are so many deck chairs and we always found a place to sit near the pool. There were 2 lovely older gentlemen who always made sure you had a cushion. (A small tip to thank them makes such a difference)

Tipping is advised and greatly appreciated by the team. They all work incredibly hard everyday and deserve to be recognised.

Beach - lovely and clean and lots of sun loungers. The beach bar has a lovely seating area so you can relax and enjoy the view. Lots of water sports on offer at a reasonable price. They were so friendly and also organised a camel ride for me the next day.

Thank you once again to all the staff at the Phenicia hotel for an amazing holiday. I only wish I could have stayed longer. Hopefully we will go back again next year! 5 star service from...

Response to reply: Your reply to my review is a complete contradiction. Firstly, the tattoos are promoted as Natural Henna Tattoos NOT Harkous Tattoos. Secondly, Harkous ink IS BLACK HENNA AND CONTAINS PPD! There is absolutely no way that a natural product could cause burns and permanent scarring. The lies you have told in relation to this are beyond disgraceful! You have shown zero empathy and taken zero accountability! I urge anyone considering travelling to this hotel or Tunisia to do so with great caution if something goes wrong you'll have zero protection!

I genuinely wanted this to be a 5-star review — the hotel has so much potential — but due to two horrific incidents during our stay, I feel a responsibility to warn future guests.

Black Henna Tattoo – A Serious Health Hazard

At the poolside, my 9-year-old son was offered what was advertised as a “Natural Henna Tattoo.” I requested a patch test beforehand. However, the artist applied a thick black dye to his arm, which I now know was Black Henna containing p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) — a highly dangerous chemical banned in many countries due to the risk of life-threatening allergic reactions.

Within hours, my son's arm began to swell, burn, and cause him pain. Two days later, the dye began to peel off along with layers of his skin. He required urgent medical treatment and has been left with a permanent scar and a lifelong allergy to PPD.

Shockingly, the patch test dye and the actual tattoo dye were not the same.

While the hotel ambassador was cooperative at the time and showed concern, she has not responded to any of my communications since we returned home. I also contacted DERTOUR Group, who own the hotel, but they too have failed to respond — despite having published articles warning of the dangers of Black Henna tattoos abroad!

Dangerous Quad Bike Excursion – Not as Advertised

A few days later, my two kids and I went on a quad bike trip (which was supposed to include a camel ride) booked through the hotel’s official reps. We were picked up in an unmarked minivan and driven to an unfamiliar rural location. After a rushed and inadequate briefing by the van driver, we were given ill-fitting helmets and taken off-road by a guide who spoke very little English.

We were led onto a main road driving against traffic before veering onto extremely rough terrain with dangerous hills, muddy ditches, large cacti, and even bulls. It was blisteringly hot, with no water, no phone signal, and no other people around. Just 15 minutes in, the guide tried to lead us up a steep mountainside. At that point, I had to shout at him to stop and take us back — I was terrified, especially since my quad bike had malfunctioning brakes, and my 9-year-old was riding with me!

To top it off, there was no camel ride — just a quick photo on one. I also want to inform you that UK travel insurance does not cover quad biking. I dread to think what could have happened had we continued for the remaining 1 hour and 15 minutes.

When I returned to the hotel furious about the danger we were placed in, the three reps refused to refund me. Instead, they tried to intimidate me and eventually offered £30 out of the £120 (400 dinars) I paid — which I absolutely refused. This was not the quad bike trip originally sold to me!

Positives – Credit Where It’s Due

Despite everything, I must say that the hotel facilities, cleanliness, entertainment, beach, water sports, and food were excellent. The restaurant staff, in particular, are outstanding and deserve 5 stars — they are the heart of the hotel and a true credit to its operation.

However, the lack of accountability and concern from hotel management regarding guest safety is deeply troubling. Due to these two serious incidents — and the way they were handled — I will never return and strongly urge others to be very cautious, especially if traveling...