Magic Life Africana

“Amazing holiday”

We had a great time at this hotel. The reception staff, barmen and guest relations are the best. Nothing is too much trouble. Hedi is a very good guy and helped us book into the Al a carte restaurant. The cleaners do an amazing job and everyone works so hard. Lots of watersports available on the b… more

We had a great time at this hotel. The reception staff, barmen and guest relations are the best. Nothing is too much trouble. Hedi is a very good guy and helped us book into the Al a carte restaurant. The cleaners do an amazing job and everyone works so hard. Lots of watersports available on the beach...omar, mouldi and bassem are very knowledgeable. The animation team work really hard and there are always activities on offer...Rico, Mario, Akrum and all the dancing team are amazing. Thank you for a great stay.

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“The magic was in the air”

Arrived on an early morning flight and had a private transfer from Tunisia transfers and excursions, it was well worth the money and highly recommended. Check in at Magic Life was very straightforward and we had a lovely welcome from guest relations manager Hedi. Hotel lobby is very spacious with c… more

Arrived on an early morning flight and had a private transfer from Tunisia transfers and excursions, it was well worth the money and highly recommended. Check in at Magic Life was very straightforward and we had a lovely welcome from guest relations manager Hedi. Hotel lobby is very spacious with comfy seating, and overlooks the piano bar. Most evenings there is a pianist who we thought was excellent. We had a family room with 2 twin beds and 2 sofas which would sleep an adult albeit a bit hard. We were lucky enough to have memory foam mattress toppers. The room was huge with a small fridge in a cupboard, kettle and tea/coffee. Fridge had water,coke and Fanta. Trolley comes each morning to top up. Tip - take a small bottle to fill with fresh milk from breakfast. There were also 2 charging sockets. Bathroom had bath with shower over - elderly or disabled person may find difficult to get in or out as bath quite deep. Room was kept spotless by our very friendly cleaner who was so lovely and cheerful every day. Food on the whole was good, never left feeling hungry. Pool was gorgeous we sat at the main one as we like to have a bit of music and entertainment. Never a problem with beds as it was probably a bit quieter in September. Entertainment team were amazing so much to do if you wanted to join in and respectful if just wanted to chill, water sports at the beach was also included. The sea was lovely and clean when we were there. Evening entertainment was in my opinion brilliant, the shows were great, fantastic dancers and live singing in the amphitheater, at 10pm in the captains bar all the team came and danced and chatted with us and really created a great party atmosphere. The team were either English or spoke perfect English so it was all very easy. After midnight there is an on-site disco. The staff/team couldn’t have made us feel more welcome, and we were treated respectfully and made to feel so special we will definitely be returning.

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“Not a short review, but an honest one...”

My daughter and I visited here from 27th Sept - 4th Oct for my birthday (28th Sept). I don't do short reviews, but I do honest ones... So, let's start at the very beginning... After joining the relevant Facebook page for Tui Magic Life Africana, my daughter contacted Riadh Ben Cheikh who also ha… more

My daughter and I visited here from 27th Sept - 4th Oct for my birthday (28th Sept). I don't do short reviews, but I do honest ones... So, let's start at the very beginning... After joining the relevant Facebook page for Tui Magic Life Africana, my daughter contacted Riadh Ben Cheikh who also has his own Facebook page - 'My Holiday in Tunisia'. He came and picked us up from Enfidha Airport and presented me with a bunch of roses, an embossed and personalised brass plate, a bottle of cold, freshly juiced strawberry drink and two cups, and two fresh cakes (all arranged/agreed with my daughter beforehand) - because it was my birthday. It took approx 30 mins to reach the hotel, but Riadh was very chatty and informative. We arranged to contact him within a few days for him to take us on an afternoon tour of Medina of Tunis, Carthage and Sidi BouSaid. More about that later. Tunisia, even at the end of September, is HOT!! Temps averaged about 29c - back home in Scotland, it was a mere 13c. We were melting, but hey - the sunshine, blue skies and rest is what we had booked for!! Just pant quietly by the pool or the beach. Pools - there are many of them (6) within the complex. A pool for everyone. Quiet adult-only ones; babies/toddlers pools; activity pool; slide pool etc. We never had a problem finding sunbeds. The parasols are fixed into the ground, so they can't be moved as the sun moves, however, you can move the beds into the shade if you need to. One day, the husband of a couple was getting a bit angry with a family, as the husband accused the family of moving their towels etc. It took a little while to point out to the guy that he had placed his towels on the beds of those that were specifically for the 'less able-bodied' - we pointed to the sign that was on the parasol. So, be aware of certain areas which are designated for adults/children/quiet/disabled. Don't be that guy! You are only a few minutes walk from the beach. My daughter and I tried several times during the week to find a couple of available sunbeds on the beach, but I swear certain people must sleep on theirs all night to ensure having one the next day. Towels are provided in the rooms and you can collect/exchange blue pool/beach towels at the towel hut behind the pool bar. The room that we were in was, I feel, a standard room with a small garden terrace. (On check-in, the paperwork said we were in room 614, I believe, which was on a higher level, but then it was changed to 411. We have no idea why it was changed unless it was to keep nationalities together?) It was changed to 411 after mentioning my birthday, and when we, eventually, went into the room, there were pretty designs made out of leaves and flowers on the beds and a swan made from towels. Housekeeping was good. We always found a good selection of foods at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some of it was the same, but then again - no big deal as the hotel is trying to cater for all tastes and there are, of course, some people who ONLY like to eat plain foods or pizza/chips/chicken nuggets etc. But there are always local dishes as well as European including various meats, fresh fruits, pasta, chicken, fish, potatoes cooked in many different ways, soups, fresh bread/rolls, loads of salads and desserts. On my birthday, the waiters went all out to decorate our table for dinner. Every day, they remembered our drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and saved a table for us. You can book each of the speciality restaurants once during your stay. There is the 'Downtown' - which we never went to as it was always fully booked. Then there's the 'Trattoria' - Italian. And finally the 'Levante' - Local cuisine. We enjoyed the food in the speciality restaurants. The service was even more personal and the food arrived very hot - something that you rarely get in restaurants back home. Book into one or all of them - everyone's tastes and expectations are different. Try them out for yourself. My daughter and I took a package deal in the spa. It was important to me that they could provide a pregnancy massage for my daughter, which they were able to do. The massages were so good - we had one every other day (3 each). Oh boy, did I need mine - even the massage therapist was shocked at how knotted my shoulders/back were. On our first visit, we were taken into the couples' room and as the door opened, all of the therapists were there with two small cakes with candles and singing 'Happy Birthday' to me. You can find the Spa near the Tui Rep/Nurses office - just past the washroom. You need to book an appointment 1 day in advance. As I said earlier, we arranged for Riadh to take us on an afternoon tour of Medina of Tunis, Carthage and Sidi BouSaid. He truly is a consummate professional and speaks English well. When we went into the Medina in Tunis, he took us to the Mosque. Be aware that women will be required to cover their heads and shoulders but you will be provided with the relevant outfit before you enter. The Mosque is absolutely beautiful. Riadh took us to a rooftop cafe with amazing views and explained everything about what we could see. The lemonade was very refreshing. Goods in the Medina are cheaper than in Yasmine. He was able to haggle on my daughter's behalf as she wanted to buy several pairs of trainers. Here, you must learn to say "no" - and mean it. Keep walking unless you want to stop. But if you do stop, be prepared for the pressure to buy. And if you do intend to buy, then be sure to haggle. If you have a fear of cats, the Medina is not for you as there are a great many of them roaming about. We were supposed to have also gone to Carthage, but we spent way too long at the Medina (easily done, lol) and arrived there with just 10 minutes to closing time. So, we decided to just head to Sidi BouSaid. What a beautiful place! Blue and white buildings blending perfectly with the blue of the sea and sky. Totally instagrammable. Just as anywhere, the shopkeepers will badger you for business but again, a firm "no" will stop them. The views are breathtaking. There are plenty of restaurants here as well as hotels. I won't mention the steep roads though - oh, I just did. They are steep - if you have mobility issues, well, you've been warned. After this, and on the way back to the hotel, Riadh took us to a huge shopping centre. It was impressive (though I can't remember the name of it) but by now, we were really tired and didn't stay long. We can wholeheartedly recommend Riadh though - not just for the trip we did on the day, but he does so much more. He's not a scammer and his prices are competitive. Look him up on Facebook - Riadh Ben Cheikh - 'My Holiday in Tunisia' EXTRAS/HINTS/TIPS: MONEY: We took £sterling and changed it to Dinars (TLD) at hotel reception. Only change up what you need for a few days at a time though. Be sure to keep your exchange receipts though as you cannot change dinars back to £s (or your own currency) without it. Remember that it is illegal to take Tunisian dinar out of the country. I also used ATMs both in Yasmine (by the marina) and in Tunis. They charge approx 10TLD. Shops etc will allow you to pay using bank cards. You can't use your bank card in the hotel to exchange money. As far as I'm aware, there is no bank machine/ATM at the hotel, which, to be honest, I find very strange. I'm sure there must be a reason for that, though. TIPS: We left 3 dinars almost daily on our pillows in the room for the maid. Every day we had lovely designs in flowers on the beds. Tip your servers and waiters. The waiters, we left tips of between 5-10 dinars, although not daily - every few days. The service was good. At the bars - between 3-5 dinars. Remember, yours are NOT the only tips they receive. We were happy to tip though as their wages aren't great and 10 dinar = £2.50 (approx 4 dinar - £1). The sewage system in Tunisia is different to our own, we think. Yes, the room/shower may smell bad sometimes, but mainly when it's peak time for showers. The system is overloaded with water. Deal with it - open the patio/balcony doors. The smell will soon go. Better still - don't shower at peak times, lol. If you go out of the hotel, cover your wristband. You'll discover that just about every guy you meet will be 'a chef at your hotel'. Don't enter into conversation, walk with purpose past the shops and learn to say a firm "NO!" Want to go on the pirate ship? It's fun and the crew really do work hard and put on a great show. But ladies - OMG - just be very VERY aware of the guys (not crew) that start chatting you up. They appear to be 'tourists' but know the crew very well. They want your Facebook/WhatsApp etc. They'll be about 20 years younger than you and try their best to flatter you. Beware the Algerian called 'Moon' (in English) who is on the trip with his female 'friend'. Nevertheless - enjoy the trip and the swim in the sea. Also, be aware of SOME of the hotel staff who are looking for a girlfriend and who thought nothing of trying to get my PREGNANT daughter's Insta/WhatsApp etc - even asking me to ask her for her details for them and wanting to know if she had a partner. Please, have some respect - she was so very obviously pregnant. It wasn't just a case of 1 or 2 guys, it was every single day for a week, several times a day - be it as she was trying to get food at lunch/dinner, walking past the slides pool, going to the washroom by the snack bar etc. It got incredibly annoying very quickly! Perhaps management could speak to all staff about the flirting and how it can be inappropriate at times. The Animation Team were amazing. All languages are spoken so no one would be left out. They organised many games for everyone, including water polo, archery, darts, running on water, water aerobics and so much more, not to mention the evening activities they put on too. We did have an enjoyable time though, and are sure that you will, too! I'll add photos later...

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