"This was my first time staying in Hotel Royal Karthago and also my first proper holiday in Djerba rather than a short day visit. I have travelled to Tunisia since I was around six months old and have spent months at a time in mainland Tunisia, so I feel I have a good understanding of the country and its culture.
Tunisia (and Djerba in particular) has so many hidden gems and genuinely kind, welcoming people. It’s important to note that Tunisia is not a polished European destination — and expecting it to be would be unfair. If you come for authenticity, uniqueness, and a more rustic cultural experience, your stay will feel far more rewarding. This is not Benidorm — and that’s a good thing.
🌍 Atmosphere & Guest Mix
The hotel is predominantly French-speaking, which we personally found pleasant. As an English traveller, I actually enjoyed being in a calmer environment — fewer loud or overbearing guests and more relaxed holidaymakers.
Although evening entertainment was mainly in French, the animation team spoke good English, were friendly and approachable, and struck a great balance: they didn’t pressure guests to join in, but made genuine efforts to include us when we showed interest. We never felt excluded.
🎭 Entertainment & Activities
Evening entertainment was fun and varied, held in a lovely disco-style venue. During our stay we had:
Traditional Fakir show
Children’s disco
Evening dances for couples and groups
Entertainment team show (mostly in French but also mime sections with old English comedy- honestly hilarious)
Daytime activities included:
Archery
Dancing
Boules/pétanque (available freely throughout the day)
Tennis courts
Basketball
Plenty of options without feeling overwhelmed.
💆 Spa & Pools
The on-site spa was lovely. I had my nails done and was very happy with the service.
Spa access and treatments are at an additional cost (per day or per treatment), but prices felt reasonable.
Indoor pool: busy at peak times
Outdoor pool: cool at this time of year, but children were still swimming for short periods
🏖️ Beach & Grounds
The private beach was clean, easily accessible, and not crowded during our stay. There was a visible security presence, which felt reassuring without being intrusive. You can walk along the beach to the left, mostly closed hotels due to the season, we enjoyed this for our morning walk, to the right i believe are Tunisian family homes, also walkable. We enjoyed collecting shells with our daughter and watching the fishing boats going out and coming home in the evening. One day the hotel had a horse and camel show on the beach, which was fun; however, we did not join this.
The hotel grounds were well maintained and very pleasant to walk around. There are lovely quiet seating areas around the resort that are perfect for reading or simply relaxing.
The bar had quick service with pleasant, friendly staff. We enjoyed spending time there playing Scrabble, Uno, and Connect 4, which are provided by the hotel and free to use.
We also discovered there is a small bird and turtle area on site, which we hadn’t realised at first — it became a nice little morning routine to go and see them.
🛏️ Rooms & Housekeeping
Rooms are traditional in style, very clean, and cosy. Beds were comfortable and we had zero complaints.
Our room maid was particularly kind, friendly, and thorough.
🧑💼 Reception & Staff
Reception staff were direct and professional. I understand that English tourism in Djerba is still relatively new compared to French tourism, so I viewed their communication style as cultural rather than rude. They were helpful, efficient, and keen to resolve any queries we had.
🍽️ Food & Dining (Outstanding)
The food deserves special praise. As a family, we commented every evening on the sheer availability and variety.
Options included:
Pizza, pasta, fries (for the picky eaters)
Freshly made crêpes
Omelettes and eggs, we loved Tunisian Ojja <3
Salads
Multiple fresh fish, chicken, and red meat options cooked in front of you
Multiple Vegetable dishes
I particularly loved the nightly tagines with different Tunisian dishes, as well as themed nights. Bread made by hand by a lovely Tunisian family whilst being sernanded by the most beatiful Oud was perfect!
Lablabi and Tbikha (i think they were called) may be my new go-to winter dishes!
Valentine’s Day was exceptional:
Hand-cut cheese selection/server
Live music, Delicious themed cakes!
We genuinely struggled to understand how anyone could say there wasn’t something to eat — even very picky eaters would find plenty.
📍 Location & Excursions
There is around a 30-minute walk to the Blue Lagoon and further on to the Crocodile Park (most people may prefer a taxi or organised trip). We felt safe walking outside the hotel as a family with a 12 yeard old daughter (Dressed respectfully).
We used MTS Travel for excursions further afield and had an exceptional experience.
✅ Final Thoughts
A relaxed, friendly hotel with excellent food, a calm atmosphere, clean rooms, and genuinely kind staff. If you appreciate authentic destinations and arrive with realistic expectations, Royal Karthago is a wonderful choice.
Reluctantly 4/5 stars (I wish I could give 5) - only because a little more guidance from reception for English speaking guests on arrival (such as explaining amenities, spa access, activity locations, and general layout of the hotel) would have made the experience even smoother.
Otherwise, we had a very enjoyable stay and would happily return."
