Tunisia can be frenetic, with bustling souks, dusty roads, and hot weather. If you are looking for a place to relax and be pampered, treat yourself to a stay in a VIP Suite at the Royal Thalassa Monastir.
After travelling around Tunisia for 10 days, I was ready for some relaxation and luxury. I was invited to stay at the Royal Thalassa Monastir in one of the VIP Suites and experience the Royal Elyssa Spa.
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The Royal Thalassa Monastir is a five-star hotel, sitting in beautiful gardens on Skanes Beach about 5 km outside Monastir. With 280 balconied rooms including 20 VIP Suites, pools, activities, and a private beach, it is the perfect place to relax.
The rooms are split into 3 levels and have a view of the sea or overlooking the swimming pools or gardens.
The VIP Hotel Suites
Where are the VIP Suites?
The VIP Suites are located on the first floor on the left-hand side of the hotel. You can access the area by means of two sets of lifts. One set is next to the gym and are available all day. The other set of lifts is just after the Spa reception. When the Spa is shut, these are not in use.
The VIP Suites
Opening the door to the VIP Suite, I was struck by how light and airy the room is. Fully-length, room-wide windows let the sunlight flood in.
The room’s colour scheme of soft blues and greys is calming and restful. There are two seating areas; a plush velvet armchair with footstool, a toning sofa and two armchairs. There was plenty of space for the luxurious comfortable super king size bed with plump pillows and soft cool cotton sheets.
The bathroom has double sinks under a large mirror. A lovely large walk-in shower is to the right. If you love to have a bath, the freestanding one was deep, comfortable and filled very quickly. Next to it was a glass wall looking into the bedroom. If you are feeling modest, there are blinds that lower for privacy to anyone else in the suite.
Each VIP Suite has a balcony with a sea view. The balcony is large enough to lie out on one of the sunbeds or sit in one of the comfortable chairs for a morning cup of tea or coffee or a nightcap in the evening.
Ten of the VIP suites also have a hot tub. You can relax in the hot tub while you watch the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea in the privacy of your own balcony.
Other perks for VIP Suite Guests
If you prefer to swim or sunbathe in a quieter area, there is a pool terrace just for the VIP Suite Guests. The lifts take you directly to the Spa reception area and the indoor pool.
The Royal Elyssa Thalasso Spa
One of the big draws for the hotel is the Royal Elyssa Thalasso Spa. Offering luxurious spa treatments, a indoor saltwater pool, a hammam, steam rooms all in beautiful serene surroundings.
At the Spa reception you get the opportunity to chat about what treatments and therapies you would like, before going through to the changing rooms with your complimentary dressing gown and slippers.
The large indoor pool is a saltwater pool – it is okay, it is filtered! – great for doing lengths. You can also use the various jets to massage your shoulders, back, legs or any other part of your body.
The hammam is deliciously hot, and you can sit in one of the alcoves, on the hot stones in the middle, or go into the steam saunas.
There are private rooms for treatments like the full body scrub I enjoyed. Just outside the hammam is a comfortable seating area where you can cool down, have a refreshing drink or just chill.
To the other side of the hammam is the massage rooms, tranquil rooms where you can choose from a selection of massages. The girls are well trained and take into consideration any tender areas you have. I have an issue with my neck and arm and my therapist was very gentle with this area. Although my massage was a firmer one, I still managed to fall asleep it was so relaxing!
Throughout the spa area there are beautiful touches like the soft cushions, artwork, candles and incense.
Inside The Royal Thalassa Hotel
The Reception
The large bright and airy reception has an inlaid floor and amazing chandeliers. There is plenty of seating in the reception area if you are waiting for your transport or just want to relax.
The Royal Thalassa Hotel Restaurants
The hotel has a range of restaurants catering for all kinds of tastes. They also have room service if you want to have a private meal.
Chief’s Market Restaurant
The Chief’s Market Restaurant is a buffet-style with strong Tunisian, Italian and Japanese influences, the food is varied and imaginative. The restaurant is on the lower ground floor and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There is a selection of freshly prepared hot food, made-to-order like omelettes at breakfast, and pastas and pizzas at lunch. Market fresh fish, meat and vegetables all feature and the breads are cooked on-site.
The cold buffet has something for everyone. Salads, cold meats and cheeses, breads and pastries, yoghurts and deserts as well as teas, coffees and freshly squeezed fruit juices were all delicious. There was plenty for vegetarians and other dietary requirements were catered for.
Guests can eat in the restaurant or on the large spacious terrace outside. Alcoholic drinks can be ordered from the many waiters, though outside drinks tend to come in plastic glasses in case you take them to the pool with you.
Opening hours: Daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 am for breakfast; lunch is from 12.30 pm to 2:00 pm and dinner is from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
Mona Restaurant
Also on the lower ground floor is the Mona restaurant. The menu is a mixture of contemporary dishes and traditional Tunisian cuisine like Couscous Bedaoui or Meditteranean Fillet Mignon.
Tables need to be reserved at the Mona Restaurant and it is a quieter place to dine and perfect for celebration or romantic dinner a deux.
Opening hours: from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm for lunch and 7:00 pm to midnight for dinner.
The Rendez-vous Bar
On the left hand side of the Reception is the Rendez-vous Bar. There are deep plush blue sofas, grey or blue armchairs around tables or sit on the covered terrace to enjoy the warm evenings. Every evening there is live music to enjoy.
Open from early until midnight.
The Pool Bar
You can sit at the Pool Bar from 10 am until midnight from April to October. Enjoy a drink under one of the parasols in the cane sofas.
Activities at The Royal Thalassa Hotel
You can be as busy or chilled as you like at the Royal Thalassa. You can enjoy a dip in the sea and then lie out one of the sunbeds on the private beach.
Take your choice of the three swimming pools. The large outdoor pool has big curves for a lazy swim. There is a children’s pool nearby for younger kids and the heated indoor pool.
The Animation Team arranges activities to keep children occupied while you relax.
Spread around he sides of the pools are plenty of sunbeds for you to catch some sun, or pop up the umbrella if it gets too intense.
If you do want to keep up your fitness regime while you are on holiday, the gym is fully equipped with machines to walk, cycle, row or run on.
In the evenings there is live entertainment with different themes each night.
If it is your thing, there is a shisha lounge. You choose your flavour and sit back in the comfortable velvet seating enjoying your hookah.
Getting to The Royal Thalassa Hotel in Monastir
Arriving at The Royal Thalassa Hotel by Car
It is about a 2 hours drive from Tunis to the Royal Thalassa Hotel. It is quite an easy journey down the A1. From the centre of Monsatir is is only about a 10 minute drive.
The Hotel has a private guarded entrance so your car will be safe.
When you drive up to the main entrance, you will be met by a valet. They will take your cases into the lobby for you. While you check-in, the valet will park your car in the on-premises car park and return your keys to you.
When you are checking out, the valet will bring your car back to the front of the hotel and load your bags.
Arriving at The Royal Thalassa Hotel by Plane
If you are flying into Monastir, you are only 2kms away from the hotel. If you have booked with a travel agent, these should have arranged transport for you, otherwise there will be taxis at the airport.
The Royal Thalassa, Monastir – Essential Information
Address: 75 Route Touristique Skanes B.P Monastir، 5060, Tunisia
Book the Royal Thalassa here
Disclosure: My stay at The Royal Thalassa, Monastir was arranged by Discover Tunisia however, all views, opinions and photos are my own and remain the copyright of The Silver Nomad.
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