GO TO TUNISIA!
The hotel Le Royal Hammamet was superb for our golf break.
It is built in the shape a huge horse shoe where the sides are broken in different pavilions and in its centre a round swimming pool. Around there are terraces and trees of all shape, and lots of birds singing.
There is a huge entrance lobby with a sunken fountain and grey marble staircase and a magnificent decorated ceiling. The garden designed to look like a Persian miniature of Paradise with swimming pools well integrated and lots of space. A lovely walk (maximum 5 minutes) along a small canal with running water to an outside restaurant and another swimming pool, then the wide beach with chairs and umbrella. The sea was on the cool side of warm and I swam happily for half an hour. However there are a lot of sea weeds blown on this part of the coast that are daily taken away. It did not deter me at all. There was also another restaurant with another wide swimming pool but this restaurant was not yet opened.
I loved the food with a wide choice croissant, pain au chocolate, pain aux raisins, cheese, eggs, pancake, tomatoes, rice, breads, fruit juice ( fresh fruit juice available with a supplement) Tunisian delicacies (halwa, dates and sweet meats) all for breakfast. Dinner was varied with soups, many salads, fresh vegetables in particular stuffed vegetable - tomatoes, courgette, cabbage, aubergine, courgette and aubergine fritters, roast turkey , rabbit, beef and the Tunisian version of north -African couscous. A most delicious desert called "Banboussa" with orange flower water, a wonderful speciality. The bedroom was on the nice side of standard hotel room. The hotel was not full and that made for a great rest. The waiters were efficient and courteous and very welcoming with personal attention to details. It was very good value for money.
The Golf: We played the Yasmin golf club, the La Foret course at the citrus club. We did not play "Les Oliviers" as we were told it was easier than the other courses. Transfers from the hotel were efficient, a maximum of 20 minutes door to door. Both golf courses were very beautiful, in excellent condition with fast greens. We played in the afternoon after a morning on the beach and were always alone on the course. We enjoyed it a lot even if our golf was not up to scratch! Both clubs had pleasant restaurant and snacks, my husband said the Tunisian beer was very good and prices are 50 % cheaper than London. We were conveniently allowed to leave our bags at the clubs.
The weather:We went from 19 to 30th May. The temperature was pleasant with the sun quite hot and a cooling sea breeze. The breeze dies in the evening. We played golf in the afternoon and it was not too hot. It was warm in the evening.
Political situation:The Tunisian are proud of their revolution and the country was quiet while we were there. The Tunisian are looking forward to tourist coming back and they need us!
If you have never been to Tunisia do not miss the Bardo Museum: it has the most beautiful Mosaics of the Roman world.
Voila! I also have to add that all Tunisian speak French as a second language and many add a third or fourth language.
To conclude I am looking forward to my next trip same country, same hotel, same golf in October.