Shereen Shabnam
Staying recently at the Four Seasons Hotel Tunis on the Mediterranean shore of Tunis was a heartwarming experience. Located twenty minutes from the airport in the heart of the vibrant and exotic capital city, it is a short drive from the ancient Roman ruins of Carthage and the traditional village of Sidi Bou Said,
.
The Four Seasons Hotel Tunis is a modern Mediterranean oasis that offers a calm, laid-back beachfront escape that I enjoyed staying at as my room was a sanctuary of modern luxury and style that opened up to a terrace facing a lush garden and the sea.
The hillside and seaside hotel features contemporary Arabesque architecture and design details that includes mashrabiya latticework screens and is in close proximity to several Unesco World Heritage Sites, the city, Medina and artisan souks.
The palatial hotel buildings that make up the hotel are connected via arched walkways and surrounded by pools, fountains and gardens beneath swaying palms before giving way to a sandy beach edging the Mediterranean beneath a bright blue sky.
The food and beverage options at the hotel were delightful and my favourite was the Azur for breakfast with possibly the friendliest and most engaging staff I have come across during my travels across all continents. For the first time, I left a country knowing so much about their traditional food and different ways to eat it. The CREEK Bistro Chic for evening dining features coastal cuisine from Italy, France and Spain and is great for dinners.
Another close favourite is the Salon Alyssa, the lobby lounge, for a lively social scene, cocktails, mint tea with pine nuts, light snacks and Afternoon Tea. The outdoor area has the most gorgeous view of the courtyard and the sea and is the ideal setting for casual meetings and light refreshments in a chic and cosy atmosphere.
Four Seasons Hotel Tunis has a Roman-inspired Spa, infused by the country’s historic sites and traditions. It has 11 treatment rooms opening to terraces with sea views plus a hammam, sauna, steam rooms, lap pool and relaxation area. There is also a Fitness Centre and two tennis courts, three pools and access to the beach. The ‘Kids For All Seasons’ activities and Teen Centre is great for family holidays.
The hotel is ideal for business meetings, social events and weddings, crafted with Four Seasons expertise. We attended a car launch and the set up was perfect. The hotel has a Mediterranean-view ballroom, seven meeting rooms and a boardroom, plus a large seaside terrace. There is a 24-hour Business Centre, including several workstations and two meeting rooms.
With an unrivalled beachfront experience, Four Seasons Tunis combines luxurious relaxation with smooth efficiency for business – all I want is to get back there again to experience more of the spa at the hotel and write to my heart’s content sitting on the terrace of Salon Alyssa as I enjoy the view of the azure blue sea and drink traditional Tunisian tea with pine nuts while I work.
