The latest addition to the TUI BLUE family is the TUI BLUE Manar in Tunisia. It was (partially) renovated in winter and will reopen as a TUI BLUE hotel in May 2024. We were there in November 2023 (before the renovation) and took a look around. Find out everything you need to know about the TUI BLUE Manar in Hammamet and for whom the holiday is worthwhile!
Table of contents
What I liked:
- Spacious, park-like grounds
- Very nice wide sandy beach
- High ropes course and aquapark
What can be improved:
- Pools in the spa could be warmer
- Dining area in the buffet restaurant could be made more inviting (may still happen through remodelling)
Where is the TUI BLUE Manar located?
The 5-star hotel TUI BLUE Manar is located a few kilometres north of the centre of Hammamet, directly on the wide sandy beach. There’s a lot to see in Hammamet, as I’ve summarised in this article.
The hotel complex is very green and spacious. In the photos, the hotel looks like a block planted in the landscape. In reality, it is much nicer than it looks in the photos. Even after days, you always discover an unknown corner of the well-kept park-like hotel grounds. There are several pools, from the Olympic pool to the children’s pool and aqua park.
You can get to the centre of Hammamet either by public transport or by taxi. It is also possible to hire a car if the driver is not put off by the adventurous traffic.
Who is the TUI BLUE Manar suitable for?
The TUI BLUE Manar is particularly well-suited for families. From a kids’ club, to a water park, a dedicated climbing park/high ropes course, family rooms all the way to free cots, high chairs, child-friendly dining options… Your kids will fall into bed exhausted after a day full of adventures, and you can enjoy a lovely evening at the hotel bar 😉
The childcare in different age groups takes place 6 times a week. You can find out more on the TUI BLUE website or in the BLUE App.
What you definitely have to do in the aquapark: The slide on the left can be ridden with an inflatable donut. If you hit the surface of the water at the end of the slide, you will roll over with the donut. Make sure you take a video from the side, it looks hilarious!
What is the food like at the TUI BLUE Manar?
Families’ eyes light up when they hear ‘all-inclusive’. Everyone can take from the buffet whatever suits their personal taste and as many sweets as they want (when neither of the parents is looking). At the TUI BLUE Manar, you have a choice of the best of Tunisian and international specialities at 3 restaurants. Be sure to try the couscous! And leave room for the desserts – they all looked good enough to eat! My favourite was the à la carte restaurant on the beach. Excellent food and the location does the rest to create that perfect holiday feeling.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, there is a great selection available. For gluten-free diets, please inquire before arrival so the hotel can prepare accordingly.
What room types does the TUI BLUE Manar have and which room is the best?
Broadly speaking, there is the main building and adjacent buildings, which are situated between the beach and the main building. The advantage of the main building is that you have a great view over the resort and the sea (from the upper floors). This is where most of the double rooms are located, which look fresh and inviting after a partial renovation.
The family rooms with a bedroom plus living room with sleeping arrangements for the children are available with or without a swim-up pool, with garden or sea view.
My tip are the family rooms right at the front just before the beach and with a swim-up pool.
Wellness at the TUI BLUE Manar
We were there in November and it was a bit too cool to use the water park, but we couldn’t resist! Afterwards, we took refuge in the spa and warmed up in the hot tub. For my taste, the water could have been a few degrees warmer, but it’s also not a thermal bath. Besides the hot tub, there is another heated pool and a sauna. Massages and treatments, e.g. hammam, are available for a fee.
Entertainment and sport at the TUI BLUE Manar
Just take a look at the daily programme in the BLUE App. Fitness classes, family activities, tennis courts, beach volleyball, darts, boccia… For sporty guests and active families, there is a wide selection of edutainment, daytime and evening entertainment, and of course a fitness room for individual training.
How sustainable is the TUI BLUE Manar?
The hotel continues to implement its sustainability strategy. Here are a few selected points:
- The hotel has its own spices garden, which supplies the kitchen (and can also be visited).
- Most of the food comes from the region.
- The electricity comes from 100 % renewable energies.
- Cosmetic products in the bathroom come from dispensers
- Waste separation
- No disposable crockery/disposable plastic bottles
- Change of linen on guest request
- Activities such as beach cleaning (in which guests can also participate)
- Cooperation with local charitable and educational organisations
All measures are included in the publicly accessible annual sustainability report.
When is the best time to go on holiday to TUI BLUE Manar?
The best seasons are those in which it is still or again too cool in Europe: spring and autumn. Especially in September/October outside the school holidays, you can enjoy many sunny days with swimming in the warm Mediterranean. Even at the beginning of November, there are still days with plenty of sunshine and temperatures above 20 degrees in Tunisia. Thanks to the BLUE Spa, there is a pool alternative for cooler weather. Those sensitive to heat should avoid the height of summer with temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees.
Conclusion on our visit to the TUI BLUE Manar
As a family, you will have a relaxing, exciting and restful time together here. The many pools, the great beach and the all-inclusive catering are virtually a guarantee. Tunisia is the new star destination for the 2024 summer season thanks to its excellent value for money.