Following all the bad reviews I have read on this site - I felt I should return and write up my experiance from this hotel. We traveled out on Sunday 23rd March and returned 30th March - myself and wife and our 2 kids (boys 14 & 10) and my in-laws.

The hotel is not a 4 star and if you read any of the books on Tunisia you will know that the start rating is really just for show - in my opinion it was a 3.

The reception was different but in the keeping of the area (Tunisia and not New York) - we had a double room for the kids (it had an upstairs) and the it was clean and tidy same with the in-law's room.

The food was excellent with no bad tummies - it is heavly covered in olive oil so as the rep warned '...it does grease the sys' - my youngest is one of the most fussiest eaters going - and he was full everynight. The local beer was a bit strange and sweet but you can soon get use to it. Even the Tuniisa food was nice and tasy - it had everything.

There was reports on sites that the beach was covered in camel 'muck' - it is in fact a mediteraean sea-weed and the beach was claen and tidy.

The worst thing we had was the rep - basically telling us '....don't do this - don't do that...' - which truned out to be a load of rubish - we hired a 10seater mini-bus (and he was insured - outside hotel white Hyundai) for a whole day and went to ElJam (were they filmed Gladiator)and Sousse and it cost us £90 for 7 hours and he still wanted to take us to other places - book a white tourist taxi and not a orange local taxi. My eldest and me went quad biking - for £20 quid each and it was 1 hour 45 mins of fun - okay the weather was poor but we had a laugh.

The locals were out to get money off you all the time - even in the fixed shops nothing was fixed - I bought a drum - he started off at £30 and we finished off at £7 - they can be a bit agressive and in your face so be warned - do not get into conversation - just say 'NO Thanks' - and nothing else - otherwise they will talk and try and drag you in.

Tipping in the hotel is a must - these guys get paid peanuts - we had a table for 6 - we tipped the waiter £2 and everynight / dinner time we had a bottle of wine ready for us and he paid us attention and cleaned our plates away - same with in the bar - tip £2 and you get table service rarther than walk to the bar (lazy sod!!!)

The rooms were cleaned everyday along with fresh towels etc. the pillows were hard - I have stayed in many places all over the world - no different - claen bed / sleep / get up.

Couple of tips - if you go out buying - spread your money about and have plenty of change - don't buy something for 12 dinar and give them 15 dinar as they never have change! - everyone works in your hotel 'remember me I am your waiter' - and we got done in Sousse - we got talking to a woman who then decided to show us the Madina (market) - it cost me 50p - but she showed us the old town with the rooms for the 4 wives and the fancy doors etc - so to me it was worth 50pence.

The currency is closed - however the hotel had a better rate than the airport - change a £10 in the airport for tipping then the rest at the hotel - then keep your Dinar to a minimum - the exchange rate back to £ is poor and keep all your exchange receipts - they are happy to change just £10 in the hotel. Hire a safe at £1 a day as you are then fully insured through the hotel.

The front was noisy at night - we were in the back (in-laws in front).

This hotel is in a beautiful position but unfortunately when we arrived the indoor pool was out of action with promises that it would be up and running the next day - no such thing and a week later we were told was still not in use. There appeatred to be very little facilities up and running at the time of our very BRIEF STAY The Hotel was empty of guests apart from a small handful of people and people that had been there had been transferred to another Hotel, which we swiftly did likewise the next day. What a shame!! Not recommended unless management get it right.

We arrived late in the evening hungry and tired. Staff were brilliant did all they could to please but were limited to this. We were told a snack was waiting for us. We went into the restaurant and was presented with salad, which was not fresh, probably from early evening dinner, and some dips, rolls and some soup which did not taste that good. Later that evening asked if we could order some rolls or sandwiches and the staff tried to obliged but the kitchen had been shut and no food was available.

There was No entertainment whatsoever and in fact not even music, extremely boring.

The room and bathrrom was very nicely decorated and view to the sea front was fantastic.

The following morning we asked to be moved which was agreed .

This is 5th time I have stayed this property... past experiences were satisfactory, but this time, very few guest and hotel entertainment non-existent... no indoor pool usage as it was not available... updating I think
The all-inclusive plan was a too limited food selection and drinks very dull.
The hotel room service personnel very professional and greeted with a smile... The day I checked out approximately 10 hotel guest present...
Hotel has not less than 200 rooms maybe...
I have no plan to return there

First impressions of the hotel were that the decor was a bit quirky - dark and cavenous in places. The man on reception was very welcoming immediately directed us to the dining room so that we would not miss lunch, telling us that our luggage would be looked after. The dining room decor is also unusual to say the least, but the lunch was excellent - something for all tastes. I noted that vegetarians were well catered for without the need for a seperate vegetarian counter. After lunch we shown to our rooms. The rooms were spotlessly clean, large with lovely views of the sea. We found the seperate toilet and bathroom very useful. We had booked 2 twin and 1 single room for 'uncle Paddy' and were pleased that Paddys room was also in fact a twin (one advantage of booking in low season).
By evening, we had acclimatised to the decor and started to admire the hotel - especially the reception hall which comes into its own in the evening thanks to the atmospheric lighting and beautiful folliage.
The staff make the place - they are all lovely and really welcoming and friendly. Nothing is too much trouble.
The all inclusive bar was a bit limited (something to do with being off peak) but we loved the red tunisian wine which was of a better than other all inclusive wines we have sampled. The beer was affectionately called 'gnats' but we still drank gallons of it!
The animation team were running on skeleton staff, but they were lovely - but their shows were so bad they were good. The hotel provided visiting entertainment for 2 nights of the week, and they were good.
Some guests including 2 of our party went on the Sahara 2 day trip which they said was fantastic. They said on their return that it made them appreciate the hotel decor as they visited the Trogglodite people (cave dwellers) and that the hotel was obviously based on that theme.
Yasmin Hammamet is a lovely well thought out resort (if maybe a little Disneylandish ) with something for everyone.
We all said we would return to the hotel - although probably in peak season as there wasn't a lot going at this time of the year..
P.S. Have plenty of dinars in your purse/wallet for tips....GNH