An abode of Tranquility: The Residence Tunis

The entrance to The Residence Tunis

The experiences which leave the most lasting impressions on us often do so by their uniqueness. This can apply to a memorable birthday, a graduation, a wedding and yes even a spectacular hotel stay. While many hotels both good and bad can fade from our memories over time, there are some should we be lucky enough that will impress us for years to come. Finding a hotel of such a caliber can be a rare thing, that’s why we’ve decided to highlight The Residence Tunis, a truly marvelous hotel experience all around that sits in the forefront of our minds when we think of excellent hotel stays. This hotel is easily the best in Tunisia and ranks highly among North Africa’s top choices. The Residence chain is in construction of its fourth site from the original which began at this property. The focus of the hotel is aimed at relaxation, comfort, style and well being. If you are looking to have an essential spa and relaxation experience this is the place to be. In fact it is inscribed in the motto of the hotel chain itself: “Take Refuge from the Norm.” The hotel’s entire aura is one which inspires calm and rest.  This is evident from the moment one enters the lobby with sounds of flowing water, soft , natural lighting and the scent of floral perfume throughout the building.  The flooring, walls and furniture are set in various shades of white and cream which showcase the cleanliness of the hotel and inspire a sense of coolness. The building itself is a perfect addition to the typical white colored houses of Tunis. From the moment one enters the hotel the sense of service, friendliness and attentiveness is apparent. The check in desk staff is particularly alert and assists in any and all needs. The concierge is knowledgeable and can answer any questions or arrange for transport in a timely manner. The interactions with staff and supervisors leave you feeling appreciated and their attention to detail is readily apparent.

A particular organizational concept which makes this hotel appealing is the fact that all services, the restaurants, bars, pool area, lobby, spa, shops etc. are located on the ground floor. In fact the building is much wider than it is high. This means that one doesn’t have to guess which floor this or that place is located. The spread is used optimally because the rooms face the beautiful beach and the indigo blue seas of the Mediterranean. Some side rooms it must be noted only take in a garden view.  The ground floor and its amenities are spacious enough to host all the guests of the hotel’s 155 rooms and 9 suites, but everything is arranged in such an intimate manner you might feel like you have the place to yourself, a key ingredient in relaxation.  For instance the lobby is a wide a spacious place to relax whether you are checking in or heading out. The room itself is large and soothing and the seating areas are set up in such a way as to give a sense of privacy in such an open hall.  There is a selection of shops near the lobby which offer a well displayed array of typical goods one would find in the local medina in downtown Tunis. This area is adjacent to the hotel’s own Tunisian restaurant where one can dine in local ambiance and sample the many tasty dishes that this region is known for. The typical Tunisian bread products are particularly savory the local style is known as Mlaoui. There are six restaurants in total and some of the other options include Chinese, Mediterranean, an al-fresco health restaurant and a poolside grill. The pool and lobby offer two fantastic bars for whichever setting your mood strike you. The healthy eating restaurant called Neroli is particularly unique as it is adjacent to the spa and is a great compliment to the mentality of healthy eating and bodily rejuvenation.

The plush comforts of The Residence

This hotel in itself is a leader in worldwide standards as we’ve seen so far, but where it really shows the brilliance of its valor is in the spa. The spa is so essential to the milieu of the hotel that it occupies almost half of the entire ground floor. Only a short walk from the lobby, guests are encouraged to enter already in bathrobe and slippers directly from their rooms, showing that the notion of relaxation prevails in the whole idea of the hotel. The spa and its amenities are included for guests and outsiders can have access for the day with the purchase of a treatment. There are a vast number of treatments available and over thirty private rooms offer one the ability to escape from daily stresses. There are rooms for all sorts of hydrotherapy; there are private rooms where one may select personalized music and color themes for massages and relaxation. These rooms include a private bath and a dreamy garden view. The entire spa is founded on the ancient Roman ideals of a place for comfort and serenity through water, oils and scents. The spa area includes a picturesque indoor pool which offers floor to ceiling glass walls with a great view of the beach while the ceiling is a series of cupolas supported by ancient looking pillars. The pool is a unique design with corners set up for massage jets and circular whirlpool functions. There is a spacious hammam in that will inspire thoughts of ancient grandeur and an excellent sauna for a good sweat. Included are relaxation areas where one can sit comfortably and enjoy complementary tea and coffee. The products used in the spa are produced by The Residence chain itself and Darphin for an optimal sensory experience.

All the comforts of home in a place far away

While having a public space to relax is important, even more so is the living space. The rooms maintain the theme of white in its various shades using lots of marble and fabric. The complement to all of this is an elegant use of wood and light toned colors. Each standard room will greet the expectant guest with a complementary bowl of fruits and water. The attention to detail is evident as one can select which pillow size he or she would prefer. There is also the possibility of selecting a heavy or light weight bathrobe. Every room has a private balcony with either a sea, garden or pool view. Instead of taking up space with a couch, each room has a sofa corner majestically perched into the wall space. The bathrooms and closets are spacious and the theme shifts to a red and black stone motif which is very polished. The bathroom contains toiletries which are featured in the spa, products made by the Residence itself. One may choose to have the complimentary breakfast on the balcony in the room itself or head down to the L’Oliver restaurant for a buffet of impressive variety. If the standard rooms are impressive, even statelier are the suites. These abodes offer a similar design but with an extra living space, a walk in closet, two bathrooms and fruit provided daily. The rooms are impeccably designed and offer a great place from which to enjoy your stay.

While this is certainly a place to relax and take refuge, by no means does that exclude business. The hotel puts a new take on business meetups and features what one could call business retreat. The hotel is fully equipped with three ultramodern meeting facilities and a business center to handle all possible needs. Thus for those seeking to meet in a more relaxed atmosphere this is the place to do it. Don’t forget the world class golf course owned by the hotel which is just a short trip down the road as well. It should be noted as well that the hotel is not located in Tunis but in a small town just outside the city called La Marsa. The drive to the airport and the city center as well as many other nearby costal sights with great panoramas is not far and taxi fare is at a very good rate. The Residence is a place that strives to impress, it is a place that will leave lasting memories, a place where you can simply exist an feel yourself breathe.

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This is the Editorial Board of The Joys of Traveling. We are passionate travel writers who seek to provide objective and accurate accounts of travel experiences by means of written articles, photos and videos.