Tunisia offers palatial hotel comforts at motel prices

Tunisia’s main foreign exchange earner is tourism, and this small country of 11 million people welcomed more than 7 million tourists last year, a record number. Many of them will return again and again to enjoy the mild weather, beautiful beaches, and gourmet food.

There are something like a quarter of a million hotel beds in little Tunis, most of them concentrated, of course, in the capital, Tunis. Perhaps the most amazing thing about tourism in Tunisia, however, is that very few of the tourists who visit this charming country are Americans. Of those seven million tourists who visited Tunisia in 2012, only about 25,000 were US citizens, and many of them arrived on a tour boat, stopping only briefly at the port. About one-third of one percent of Tunisia’s guests are Americans, and this has been the norm for years.

Why this is so is a bit of a mystery, and part of it no doubt has to do with the false perception that North Africa is a dangerous place. It is a proven fact that since the riots known as the “Arab Spring” began in 2010, no tourist has been injured, let alone killed, as a result of the political convulsions that began in Tunisia with the Jasmine Revolution. Tourism is the largest industry in Tunisia. A large number of Tunisians are dedicated to making it work, both today and tomorrow. Tourism is, in fact, Tunisia’s most important “export” and the source of most of its euros, yen, dollars and other hard currencies.

There are so many luxury destinations in Tunisia that it is very difficult to concentrate on just one, but a recent favorite of many high-end visitors is The residence, a palatial hotel and resort complex nestled on the edge of a shimmering golden beach on the Mediterranean seafront at Gammarth, next to the ancient ruins of Carthage on the outskirts of Tunis. Carthage, as you may know, was the ancient Roman capital of Africa and the ruins there are intact, unlike the Roman ruins in Rome which have been covered over by 2000 years of modern additions.

The residence it is an oasis of charm and serenity for the tired and jaded right in the middle of one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth on the entire planet. Remember that the history of Tunisia dates back to an era long before the Phoenicians, millennia ago, to the indigenous Berbers. when you are in The residenceyou feel like you’re in one of the cradles of civilisation, a notion strongly reinforced by the creative spirit so evident right next door at the Sidi Bou Said artists’ colony, a stone’s throw away.

It was only after a recent tour of Cartago to once again wander among the captivating ruins that I realized how much The residence It owes its inspiration to the ancient Roman thermal baths, so central to life in ancient Carthage. It was the Romans who developed the use of seawater as a form of therapy, especially seawater that has been heated. Modern doctors still believe that the properties of sea water have a beneficial effect on the skin pores. In The residence there is, I think, the best recreation of a Roman Thalassic spa anywhere in the world, at the heart of which is The Marine Baths of Cartago35,000 square feet in size, surrounded by 30 special guest cabins, an oriental Turkish batha sauna, two relaxation patios between treatments and a majestic dome that covers a recreational seawater pool.

The palatial architecture of The residence It reflects Moorish and Andalusian influences, so close to the sea, while its interiors are all about relaxed elegance with distinctive Tunisian decor, all featuring ivory walls, light wood, Alicante marble, and rich brocades. Sea views are everywhere.

With just 155 rooms and nine luxury suites, The residence it looks palatial when viewed from the outside, but it’s small enough that you’ll never feel lost in a crowd. And you will delight yourself daily with a rich gastronomic palette in the six restaurants that are located within the enclosure, so that at any time you can enjoy fresh fish and seafood, traditional Tunisian and Mediterranean delicacies, authentic Chinese cuisine or, for those moments when want something lighter, you can have dinner outdoor at the Neroli salad bar.

and what will it be The residence will cost? You can have a double room, without discounts, for 215 Euros per night, or $140 per person! You will leave The residence with sadness and the determination to return as soon as possible, and you will enjoy the comfort of Tunis-Carthage International Airport, which is rarely more than 30 minutes away by taxi, even on days with traffic. be sure to check The residence website for current pricing and availability.