Last month’s edition was all about the festive feels, but we’re back to fighting the seasonal scaries with our fresh destination that’s just landed from Tunisia – enter, Djerba Island. This trending pick’s perfect for sun lovers, history nerds and sci-fi fans, and – surprise, surprise – it also happens to be warmer than the UK rn…
Ofc, it wouldn’t be Just Landed without some juicy new stays to go with it. From boho and beachy to boujie, we’ve picked out four hotels you’ll love… chem them out.
Djerba Island
Djerba’s giving mega beach babe. It’s North Africa’s second largest island but it’s been pretty underrated as a tourist destination until everyone found out about its 125 kilometres of pure cliché coastline. The sand is white, the waters are blue and it’s one of the best spots in the Med for snorkelling and scuba diving. The windsurfing and kitesurfing scene is major here, too. On the northeast coast, Sidi Mahres is THE beach – it’s split up between all the big hotels in the Zone Touristique, so you’ll find loungers, thatched parasols and beach bars ready and waiting for you. If you prefer a more natural set-up, the secluded coves over on the west shore are all yours.
Head inland from the sea and it’s all village vibes with Berber settlements, fig orchards and white-washed riads – no built-up skyline scenes here. The pace is set to island time and things move much slower even in the bigger towns like Midoun. There’s a weekly market every Friday, plus a handful of shops and family-run restaurants where you can try traditional Tunisian cuisine – you’ve never had shakshuka like it…
The closest thing to a city is Houmt Souk, AKA Djerba’s capital. It’s got that classic North African aesthetic with buzzy bazaars, antique dens and elaborate funduqs – or traditional inns – lining narrow, cobbled alleys. It’s well worth spending a day here to soak up the sights, check out the Medieval fortress and sit in sunny squares sipping on fresh mint tea.
Film fan? Don’t freak out, but Djerba Ajim is seriously sacred ground for Star Wars geeks… The port town on the southwest coast had its Hollywood moment as Mos Eisley in Episode IV – A New Hope. The ruins of a Berber bakery were turned into the Mos Eisley Cantina, and Ben Kenobi’s house is still sitting on a sand track just north of the town. You’ve basically met Luke Skywalker…
Cesar Thalasso and Convention
Cesar Thalasso and Convention’s got a private spot on Sidi Mahres’ sand, so it’s all about living your best beachy life here. You’ve got watersports like surfing, canoeing and catamaran sailing to try, or grab a lounger and watch everyone else while you’re horizontal – it’s hard work but someone’s gotta do it. If you’re not into salt water, there are two freshwater pools back at the hotel – a main one and another that’s more peaceful – and a heated indoor pool in the spa. Kids get their own pool, too, with mini slides just for little ones. Plus, there’s a poolside bar right there for your All Inclusive cocktails.
When you’re not in the water, you can feel the burn in a fitness class, show off your serve on the tennis court or practise your swing on the golf course over the road. Or, get a different kind of sweat on in the spa’s sauna and steam room – there’s a hot tub and treatment rooms in here, too. Other features you’ll love include lush gardens, a traditional Tunisian café for tea and coffee, and three restaurants. Once the sun’s gone down, it’s over to the stage for some evening entertainment, or if you’re feeling lucky, the casino.
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Djerba Aqua Resort
It’s a similar story at this stay, as it’s right next to Cesar Thalasso. It even shares some of its facilities, like its spa, but Djerba Aqua Resort’s more geared towards families. We’re talking an epic waterpark with flumes and racer slides, a smaller kids’ pool that’s perfect for toddlers and a kids’ club where they can do fun activities and make friends – all while you’re having a massage. There are two more outdoor pools, plus it’s got that prime beachfront position, so the watersports and loungers are all yours, too.
The resort’s got more of a villagey feel than a supersized hotel block. It’s got that traditional North African architecture – low-rise, sand-coloured buildings with domed roofs – and open courtyards filled with leafy plants. You’ve got three restaurants here that serve a mix of international and local dishes, but you’re only about 10 minutes’ drive from Midoun, so you can easily see what local life is and spice things up with a meal in a family-run taverna, too.
Royal Garden Palace
Whoever named this spot wasn’t lying. The grand arches at the entrance, the ornate decor and marble floors, the 35 acres of immaculate gardens… Royal Garden Palace is next-level luxe. The facilities here scream five-star – there’s a whole shell-shaped pool situation with a fountain in the centre and a bar on the side, then the path just beyond it leads straight to the beach. Comfy loungers and parasols are already set out for your sunbathing sesh, and a beach bar with swings is where you want to be for margs at sunset. There’s also a huge two-storey spa with an indoor pool, a hot tub, hammam, massage cabins and a herbal tearoom. And yes, there is a hotel-run kids’ club… you’re welcome.
Even the activities are fit for VIPs. Book a catamaran cruise, play on floodlit tennis courts, take a windsurfing lesson or head to the 27-hole golf club next door. You already know how good the food is going to be here, too… Watch the chefs at the buffet’s show-cooking stations, order a big bowl of pasta in the Italian à la carte and try the local cuisine in the Tunisian one. After dinner, it’s over to the Mascara Bar for a classy cocktail and chilled beats.
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Seabel Rym Beach
Settings don’t get more zen than Seabel Rym Beach. It’s serving tropical oasis in 11 hectares of palm groves, it’s right on the beach and the whole place is covered in green plants and climbing bougainvillea. There’s a lovely lagoon-style pool right in the centre, a smaller spot just for kids and a heated one in the spa. Treat yourself to a body wrap, facial or bamboo massage while you’re in there… this pick is all about self-care, so it would rude not to.
Your belly is in for special treatment, too. You’ll be staying here All Inclusive and there are seven bars and restaurants for you to make the most of. There’s the main buffet restaurant that’s open for brekkie, lunch and dinner, then you’ve also got a Spanish tapas bar, an à la carte, and a pizzeria and barbecue place on the sand. Whether you pick pool or beach, there’s a bar at both, plus one in the main lobby where everyone heads in the evenings. And you wouldn’t be in Tunisia if there wasn’t a café serving tea and coffee all day long, too.
Like the sound of one of these, or want to check out our full range? Head to our Just Landed deals page for more new arrivals
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Author: Daisy Colley
Last updated: 18/11/2024
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