I haven't seen a dedicated thread to this relatively new property (opened 1.5yrs ago) with the exception of one thread that was closed after a single reply :) so thought I'd contribute my thoughts!
We booked through a FSPP and my husband and I traveled with nine other friends (11 people total across six rooms, though we all booked through our various preferred programs - ex some booked their rooms through Amex FHR). We stayed a few weeks ago - late July 2019. Our motivation to book was the fact that (1) I do enjoy FS properties and this was on my radar after I received emails on the listserv about it opening, (2) it is pretty inexpensive compared to what we typically expect to pay at a FS property - this property's rates are along the lines of a FS Mexico City rate (aka cheap! at least relative to FS properties around the world - though as expected, definitely a fair bit more expensive than comparable properties in Tunis or Mexico City), and (3) we had various friends doing different European summer trips at the same time (as we were), and we thought it would be cool for all of us to meet up somewhere none of us had been - so this property was the perfect suggestion.
We paid ~US$360/night incl taxes for the category we booked (Deluxe Sea-View Room). Friends who booked closer to the date, about two months out (we booked about five months out) paid more for the same room - I think around US$450/night.
We booked the hotel's Mercedes C-class car service to pick us up at the airport and take us to the property at 240 TND. The ride back to the airport at the end via a cab the property called for us was less than 1/10th the price at 20 TND.
The property was stunning and felt very new. The details were really well thought out and our room - a one-category upgrade from our booked Deluxe Sea-View Room to the Premier Room - was great. It had two main balconies at a 90 degree angle from one another, one facing the sea and one facing the pool, and since it was one of the rooms closest to the water (the hotel is in a U-shape, with the tails being closer to the water), our sea view wasn't obstructed by any parts of the property which was beautiful. If I returned, I'd try to request this particular room location again. I didn't end up going to see any of the deluxe sea-view rooms my friends were in (what we booked), but I did hear from my friends that our room was a definite step up from their rooms (except one who had actually booked a lower category that the rest of us, who lucked out with a two category upgrade to the same room as ours, just across the pool on the other side of the property!).
One service inconsistency was that my friends received a welcome amenity (some fruit and macarons) and letter from the GM in their rooms upon arrival, whereas we didn't, which I was surprised by. That's obviously super minor and didn't impact our stay at all, but I did find it interesting and inconsistent.
The spa was beautiful - I only had one treatment, but wish I had spent more time there. The area that you don't see until they walk you to your treatment room was exquisite - I wish I had gotten photos of it.
The food wasn't great and the service in the F&B outlets was definitely lacking, but I'd hope over time both (or at least the latter) may improve. Breakfast was truly nothing to write home about - I found that the spread physically looked large and varied, but it wasn't actually if that makes sense - I found the selection rather limited in actuality and ate pretty strangely for those few days given it wasn't the most appealing breakfast spread.
The concierge made some good local recommendations that allowed us to explore some F&B outside of the property - a particular memory was The Cliff in Sidi Bou Said, which also didn't have the most outstanding food but the location and views at sunset were really special. Cabs that the hotel called were 10 TND to go there, and 20 TND to come back (I guess the price increases after a certain hour - we probably returned around 10pm).
I did have one pretty significant issue, not in terms of money lost (it was only ~US$60) but in terms of experience given this has literally never happened to me at any hotel in all my travels - money was stolen from my bag while we weren't in the room. I had taken out 2000 TND from the ATM to pay for a tour I booked for our group, and counted to make sure I had the right amount since the ATM gave me the withdrawal in 20 TND bills over three transactions given the max limit per transaction, so I was very careful to check that I got exactly 2000 TND from the ATM when we got to the hotel. The next day 160 TND was missing from my stack that I had stored in a zippered compartment in my bag (aka just small enough of an amount that I'm assuming whoever took it thought I wouldn't notice, except that I needed exactly what I had withdrawn so I did notice). I called to let the reception manager know immediately, and the GM of the property - Marie, I believe? - ended up getting in contact with me later in the day and was very upfront and honest about the fact that they had issues with this at the start, but not recently, but they have hired "casuals" (as she called them) recently that she would suspect. I appreciated the effort Marie made and the work culture she has established at the property was evident in the sense that the front desk manager didn't hesitate to escalate the issue up the ranks immediately, and this reflected well on the property despite the circumstances.
We also had a strange knock on our door at 8:30am (aka way too early to be acceptable) on our last morning and it wasn't housekeeping, but rather a floor cleaner from the lobby area, which was jarring and very strange. I let Marie know and she agreed that the floor cleaners should not be down knocking on guest room doors, and that confirmed to me that there are definitely security concerns here.
I would've expected an offer for some sort of small compensation (ex comping one of our meals, or something) as a result of this experience and wasn't proactively offered any, but I requested they credit the 160 TND against our room charges and they obliged.
The rest of the group didn't have any similar issues and enjoyed their stays.
Overall, I would (and already have) recommend the property and Tunisia to friends, as I found the property stunning and the country enchanting, even in our short (four day) stay there. In recommending the Four Seasons, I would include the caveat to not have the highest expectations around F&B and to definitely use the safe for valuables, but especially given how beautiful and new of property it is and given it's very inexpensive compared to the rates European luxury Mediterranean properties command this time of year, it's absolutely worth a visit.
Once I get around to creating the travel-specific Instagram I keep telling myself I'll make, I'll share my pictures there and edit this post to include a link :)
We booked through a FSPP and my husband and I traveled with nine other friends (11 people total across six rooms, though we all booked through our various preferred programs - ex some booked their rooms through Amex FHR). We stayed a few weeks ago - late July 2019. Our motivation to book was the fact that (1) I do enjoy FS properties and this was on my radar after I received emails on the listserv about it opening, (2) it is pretty inexpensive compared to what we typically expect to pay at a FS property - this property's rates are along the lines of a FS Mexico City rate (aka cheap! at least relative to FS properties around the world - though as expected, definitely a fair bit more expensive than comparable properties in Tunis or Mexico City), and (3) we had various friends doing different European summer trips at the same time (as we were), and we thought it would be cool for all of us to meet up somewhere none of us had been - so this property was the perfect suggestion.
We paid ~US$360/night incl taxes for the category we booked (Deluxe Sea-View Room). Friends who booked closer to the date, about two months out (we booked about five months out) paid more for the same room - I think around US$450/night.
We booked the hotel's Mercedes C-class car service to pick us up at the airport and take us to the property at 240 TND. The ride back to the airport at the end via a cab the property called for us was less than 1/10th the price at 20 TND.
The property was stunning and felt very new. The details were really well thought out and our room - a one-category upgrade from our booked Deluxe Sea-View Room to the Premier Room - was great. It had two main balconies at a 90 degree angle from one another, one facing the sea and one facing the pool, and since it was one of the rooms closest to the water (the hotel is in a U-shape, with the tails being closer to the water), our sea view wasn't obstructed by any parts of the property which was beautiful. If I returned, I'd try to request this particular room location again. I didn't end up going to see any of the deluxe sea-view rooms my friends were in (what we booked), but I did hear from my friends that our room was a definite step up from their rooms (except one who had actually booked a lower category that the rest of us, who lucked out with a two category upgrade to the same room as ours, just across the pool on the other side of the property!).
One service inconsistency was that my friends received a welcome amenity (some fruit and macarons) and letter from the GM in their rooms upon arrival, whereas we didn't, which I was surprised by. That's obviously super minor and didn't impact our stay at all, but I did find it interesting and inconsistent.
The spa was beautiful - I only had one treatment, but wish I had spent more time there. The area that you don't see until they walk you to your treatment room was exquisite - I wish I had gotten photos of it.
The food wasn't great and the service in the F&B outlets was definitely lacking, but I'd hope over time both (or at least the latter) may improve. Breakfast was truly nothing to write home about - I found that the spread physically looked large and varied, but it wasn't actually if that makes sense - I found the selection rather limited in actuality and ate pretty strangely for those few days given it wasn't the most appealing breakfast spread.
The concierge made some good local recommendations that allowed us to explore some F&B outside of the property - a particular memory was The Cliff in Sidi Bou Said, which also didn't have the most outstanding food but the location and views at sunset were really special. Cabs that the hotel called were 10 TND to go there, and 20 TND to come back (I guess the price increases after a certain hour - we probably returned around 10pm).
I did have one pretty significant issue, not in terms of money lost (it was only ~US$60) but in terms of experience given this has literally never happened to me at any hotel in all my travels - money was stolen from my bag while we weren't in the room. I had taken out 2000 TND from the ATM to pay for a tour I booked for our group, and counted to make sure I had the right amount since the ATM gave me the withdrawal in 20 TND bills over three transactions given the max limit per transaction, so I was very careful to check that I got exactly 2000 TND from the ATM when we got to the hotel. The next day 160 TND was missing from my stack that I had stored in a zippered compartment in my bag (aka just small enough of an amount that I'm assuming whoever took it thought I wouldn't notice, except that I needed exactly what I had withdrawn so I did notice). I called to let the reception manager know immediately, and the GM of the property - Marie, I believe? - ended up getting in contact with me later in the day and was very upfront and honest about the fact that they had issues with this at the start, but not recently, but they have hired "casuals" (as she called them) recently that she would suspect. I appreciated the effort Marie made and the work culture she has established at the property was evident in the sense that the front desk manager didn't hesitate to escalate the issue up the ranks immediately, and this reflected well on the property despite the circumstances.
We also had a strange knock on our door at 8:30am (aka way too early to be acceptable) on our last morning and it wasn't housekeeping, but rather a floor cleaner from the lobby area, which was jarring and very strange. I let Marie know and she agreed that the floor cleaners should not be down knocking on guest room doors, and that confirmed to me that there are definitely security concerns here.
I would've expected an offer for some sort of small compensation (ex comping one of our meals, or something) as a result of this experience and wasn't proactively offered any, but I requested they credit the 160 TND against our room charges and they obliged.
The rest of the group didn't have any similar issues and enjoyed their stays.
Overall, I would (and already have) recommend the property and Tunisia to friends, as I found the property stunning and the country enchanting, even in our short (four day) stay there. In recommending the Four Seasons, I would include the caveat to not have the highest expectations around F&B and to definitely use the safe for valuables, but especially given how beautiful and new of property it is and given it's very inexpensive compared to the rates European luxury Mediterranean properties command this time of year, it's absolutely worth a visit.
Once I get around to creating the travel-specific Instagram I keep telling myself I'll make, I'll share my pictures there and edit this post to include a link :)