Nabeul Club Med

One of my best holiday places to go and relax. Good food, beautiful setting, and very good service

Having visited Nabeul Club Med in Tunisia three times, I feel that I know it reasonably well, and indeed, recognised some of the very friendly waiting staff from a previous visit. The resort is relatively small, with just one restaurant, so it's very easy to get around, if that's a priority; staying with my young daughter, I found this an easy place to negotiate. It is a relaxing location on the Mediterranean coast. For those who like to shop, there are ample opportunities, and a market selling lots of Tunisian produce, from spices to wall tiles, comes to the club, to make it easy for those who don't want to budge from the swimming pool.

I have never tried the club rooms, preferring to stay in the little un-renovated villas, which are set off from the main resort amid the bougainvilleas and palms, some overlooking the sea. I have found these simple, but perfectly adequate, though I prefer the ones set further off, as I find this resort, like all the Club Med resorts I have visited, somewhat noisy. Nabeul was noticeably noisier this year (2007) than it was previously. The early morning call to prayer seemed more intrusive than it had been in previous years, there was noise from other nearby resorts in the small-hours of the morning which is a new and unwelcome addition on top of the late-night noise of overenthusiastic GO's conducting the usual Club Med entertainments!

The beach is a public beach, with a fair amount of 'through traffic' as Tunisians like to walk by the sea. It therefore feels less 'exclusive' than some of the other Club Med resorts. I have had several interesting conversations with local people, who stopped to chat in French, but I have never been hassled by people trying to sell things there. I like Tunisia and Tunisians and am perfectly happy to share the beach with the locals.

The spot is not ideal for inexperienced wind surfers as there is no lagoon or lake protected from the waves which would be ideal for beginners. The sailing was good, and, as usual, the instruction ranged from excellent to inept. The roller-blading was led by extremely patient and friendly instructors. The food was, as always, very good, with the Club Med entertainments which are pretty similar from location to location.

This is still, despite my reservations about the amount of noise, a good family holiday destination.