From US$500 all inclusive
– Extremely helpful front desk staff.
– Stick to the in-room dining or speciality restaurants rather than the buffet restaurant.
The Mediterranean is an unusual colour off Tunisia, almost a Caribbean blue rather than the deeper blue when looking upon it from the European side. With the soft white sand of the beach at Les Orangers sparkling next to it, it looks even prettier.
I’m stretched out on my chaise longue in front of my beachfront bungalow at Les Orangers, gazing at the sea. But I realise I’m not in the Caribbean when a camel walks by the beach. Yes, you can ride a camel (well, technically a dromedary — one hump, not two) here! You can also fulfil the more common dream of riding a horse on the beach.
This is an all-inclusive beach resort, one of the original resorts in Hammamet. It caters largely to young couples, families with young children and older couples from the UK and Germany. There’s an indoor pool and an outdoor one, sauna, hammam, gym, tennis and many other sports, plus a kids club and kids activities.
The luxe option here is the bungalows, where you’ll be treated like a VIP. Just let your butler know what you’d like to eat and drink at your next meal, and it will be brought right to you. Choose to dine on your terrace overlooking the sea or in the dining area of your massive bungalow. Your butler will subtlely check in on you several times a day to make sure your every need is addressed.
The bungalows are in their own area near the edge of the property, offering more privacy from the somewhat crowded rest of the resort. Each bungalow is a large room with separate areas for your king size bed, for dining, and for relaxing on your couch beside the wood-burning fireplace. There’s a small desk, fridge, and amenities including a music player, large TV and a Nespresso machine. The bathroom has one of the biggest bathtubs I’ve ever seen.
The shaded and curtained terrace has a dining table and two chaise longues which you can move into the sun, as well as a hammock built for two. Big windows let you admire the sea view from everywhere.
An even more exclusive choice — villas — is coming in 2016. Sister resorts nearby (all have Azur in their name) are another luxe option.
There are times in your life when you want a holiday when the most difficult thing to decide is what to have for dinner. Les Orangers delivers.
