When I arrived at the Tunis hotel I had booked for the night, the receptionist told me it had been closed that very morning because of the Coronavirus emergency. (Perhaps a guest had fallen ill?) He had started to call other hotels in the vicinity when I whipped out my Lonely Planet guide and saw its sterling recommendation for La Maison Blanche, which is likewise to the north and east of the center of Tunis. It had rooms available, I drove over to it, and from the moment I walked through the door I thanked my lucky stars that I had come here.||||As its name asserts, La Maison Blanche is themed in white, with large, airy spaces both in the lobby area and in the guest rooms. In addition to a 4-post bed, my spacious room features a seemingly antique writing desk and chair, antique chest (concealing, I assume, a mini-bar), a separate round-top breakfast table for two, and an upholstered couch with matching chairs around a seemingly antique coffee table. The bathroom (with bath as well as a separate shower) is elegantly titled. ||||The staff is attentive and communicative. Given the closure of restaurants during the virus emergency, I had to take dinner in the hotel -- the only guest there, as best as I could tell. The food (grilled dourade) was more than acceptable.||||The hotel is more conveniently located for the airport than for the old medina, but to my mind it's at the top of its class -- distinct and particular, not cookie-cutter international-hotel-chain. To my mind, good value for money (currently...
Read moreA little nervous about a first time visit to an Islamic, Arabic-French speaking Kingdom? Worried about where to go first in Morocco? Concerned about a guide and a driver with knowledge of the country? Looking for a culturally “immersive” experience, one that will allow you to understand and appreciate the many layers of goodness that exists in this misunderstood (at least to most Americans, including yours truly) and unknown land? Ever seen the movie classic “Casablanca” and would like to breathe some of the mystery surrounding this movie?| Put the wonderfully welcoming city of Tangier on your agenda. Contact Mr. Azziz. Professional tour guide of many years, owner of a meticulously decorated boutique style “Riyad” hotel in the very center of the ancient yet thriving “Medina-Casbah” of Tangier, speaker of 6 languages, the center of a travel network that extends throughout every place of interest within Morocco , a lover of culture and food, a man interested in teaching the uninitiated about the love and beauty within his country.| Breakfast service fit for royalty, a staff infused with the welcoming , loving spirit of Mr. Assiz, an immersive experience in the unique and wonderful fusion of Moroccan-French interior design, my experience at Madison Blanche renewed my hope for the future of our world in these frightening years of hatred and misunderstanding. This is not just your average hotel. An experience I can...
Read moreIt’s a wonder how they’re rated 5 stars! If you still insist to stay at the hotel, then you should know the following: There is a disco which opens at 11:00 pm until 5:00am at the 2nd floor and they did awful job in sound proofing. The dry clean brought me someone else’s socks and took mine, and only at the last day of my stay, which was 5 days until they brought mine back. The shower and the sink were clogged and when they brought the repairman, the smell of sewer was all over. Nevertheless, the ironing was horrible. The AC was broken, I asked for it to either be repaired or to move me to another room, the receptionist’s reply was “The weather is nice these days, you can manage without it” A friend of mine walked with me to the hotel the other day, he asked if he can use the restroom, but surprisingly the receptionist didn’t allow him to go up. After more than 5 minutes talk, the receptionist allowed him to go up but only for 5 minutes and after copying his passport. And yes, they don’t have a toilet at the lobby. The service elevator was very loud. The breakfast buffet options are too little, repetitive, and I’m not sure how...
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