Hotel Riu el Mansour

Hotel Riu el Mansour details

With a beachside location, a first-class pool scene and elegant interiors, this place impresses from the off.

There’s just a ribbon of sand dunes separating the Hotel Riu El Mansour from the beach, so it’s no surprise the fabulous sea views are the real talking point here. What’s more, the beach itself is one of the best in the area. It’s a huge stretch of white sand and blue waters that leads all the way to the centre of Mahdia, five kilometres away. And it’s great for watersports.

From the outside, the hotel is a sleek, contemporary structure. But, head inside and there’s a traditional twist. Take the lobby, for instance. A central flight of smooth marble stairs is teamed with Arabic-style arched windows and a domed roof. Elsewhere, the bedrooms continue the elegant feel. Crisp white walls are offset with sea-blues and jade-greens, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors lead out onto private balconies or terraces. Modern must-haves like air-conditioning and satellite TVs provide the trimmings.

Step outside, and you’re spoilt for choice on the swimming and sunbathing front. As well as the beach, there’s a huge pool just footsteps from the sand. It’s shaped like a four-leaf clover and is big enough to have two miniature islands in the middle. Plus, there are wide sun terraces and neat lawns on all sides, and a bar at one end. Come evening, the pool provides the setting for cabaret-style shows, live music and local folk dancing.

When it comes to dining, this place does All Inclusive eats with aplomb. You’ve got a buffet restaurant where show-cooking demos and international theme nights top the bill. Then there’s El Fatimi, an authentic Tunisian à la carte and the Italian trattoria.

Rounding things off is the thalassotherapy centre – a smart space, dressed in wooden floors, white walls and spotlit ceilings. Offering up a great range of traditional and more forward-thinking therapies, it’s the perfect place to indulge.