This is not sponsored or an ad in any way. We just finally got to have the experience of staying at a Four Seasons Hotel and I’d like to write about it. As someone who has never really stayed in any true luxury hotels, I always wonder if the experience is worthwhile. So I wanted to write a post for others who may wondering like me! Or may be teetering on the edge of their first stay.
I should start by providing a little context. We are not budget travelers, but we’re definitely not in the luxury category. The normal “high end” of a hotel budget for us is about $250 per night and the hotel needs to be an amazing experience for me to pay that. I am not the type to spend much time in a hotel room in general. So I often wonder about the value of expensive places.
Although I am not a luxury hotel traveler, I am well traveled. I’ve been to over 40 countries and stayed in all kinds of places all over the world. I do believe I have a strong sense of what adds value to an accommodation.
It is also worth noting that this is the first and only time I have stayed in a Four Seasons Hotel. It was during the “off season” in Tunisia. Therefore, we weren’t paying any type of premium prices. For example, we payed about $1000 USD for 2 nights. In peak season, somewhere like Italy, you could pay 5,000 for 2 nights in a Four Seasons Hotel or even more. We could have had a cheaper room, but we went ahead and got the room with an ocean view. There were also rooms that were FAR more expensive than ours. So it’s important to understand that there is also a range within the hotel.
Now that I think we have some context, here we go with my thoughts on my first time in a Four Seasons Hotel.
Arriving at the Four Seasons Hotel
We did hire a car through the Four Seasons Hotel to collect us from the airport in Tunis. The experience was seamless. The car was very nice and the driver was kind and professional. When we pulled into the Four Seasons Hotel Complex the car was searched outside, underneath, and in the trunk. This is an extra layer of safety that I am not sure was needed but provides comfort. It also made me wonder what kind of fancy people were staying here!
When we got out of the car the staff took our bags right away (despite our best efforts to say we could carry them). They first put them through a security scanner, much like at the airport. We had never experienced this before. I am not sure if this is common practice at all Four Seasons Hotels or if it was this specific one. Either way, I am never bothered by an extra sense of security. We were able to check in bag free. Our bags were already in our room when we got there. I could get used to that.
At check in we were also offered concierge services and a welcome drink. We declined the welcome drink because we wanted to get out and start sightseeing. But they mentioned it was a fruit juice type of drink. I do think a welcome drink is a nice touch.
The Room
Upon walking into the room we were very impressed with how large it was. There was a full sofa, a little dining table, and a king bed in the main area. There was a small terrace with two cozy chairs outside. The bathroom was fantastic. It had a huge tub with a view of the ocean from the window. The shower was beautiful and the toilet was in it’s own small little side room. The best feature of this bathroom were the heated floors. We were so impressed and excited as we had never had them in a hotel room before.
When we entered the room we were met with a bowl of fruit and some small treats. I immediately texted my Aunt (who stays at the Four Seasons Hotel regularly) and asked if we were allowed to eat it! I live in fear of being charged $50 to eat an orange. Luckily she said it was their signature move and we could enjoy! The fruit was fresh and delicious and quite a nice touch.
What really stood out to me here was the comfort of the bed. The mattress and pillows were excellent and I do believe that elevates the whole experience. It was also so lovely to be able to see the ocean from our bed. We could see the sunrise over the ocean when we woke up!
The Food
I have to be honest, we are not usually the type of people to eat at our hotel. In the rare case we do, it is because the hotel is remote, or is known for the foodie experience. However, in Tunisia we really gave the food at the Four Seasons Hotel a fair shot. We had two dinners, breakfast, and some snacks here throughout our stay.
We ate at the fancier restaurant called “The Creek Bistro” on our first night and had a very nice experience. The food was great value for money and we liked everything we tried. We started with a foie gras to share and it was one of the best I have had. I had a seafood risotto and my husband had a steak. We shared a desert to finish the meal. I also had lovely glass of Tunisian red wine with my meal. Overall we loved this spot.
The following night we went down to eat at the more casual restaurant down by the water. It was supposed to serve Mediterranean fare, but when we arrived the entire menu was pizza. We didn’t want to be rude so we figured we would have a pizza and then head back up to the nicer restaurant. The joke was on us, it was truly one of our favorite pizzas we’ve ever had anywhere in the world. We ended up staying and ordering another. Honestly, we could have eaten three!
As far as breakfast, we didn’t pay for it in our room rate, it was 30 per person per day. That cost is just wasted on me, I barely eat breakfast. My husband went twice and he found the offering to be impressive. However, personally, I do not believe in a 30 dollar breakfast, not even at a Four Seasons Hotel.
The service
The service in a Four Seasons Hotel may be what is the big difference maker for so many. The service throughout every area of the hotel was impressive. Anything we needed they tried to help. Anytime we had a question they were quick to answer. Everything was incredibly clean and well maintained. Our turn-down services blew our minds. I had no idea that staff folded and put away clothes for you in hotels! Honestly, if I had known I would have cleaned up a little better myself in preparation.
The over the top willingness to do anything to be make our stay better was honestly really special. I wish we knew better what kinds of things you can ask for at a Four Seasons Hotel. I feel there are probably a number of things we could have done or asked for that we still have no idea about!
The Location
In this specific Four Seasons Hotel the location was on the beach outside of the main city of Tunis, Tunisia. This location was extremely peaceful and allowed for the hotel complex to be extremely large. The downside to this was that there was nothing to do outside of the resort. You had to get into a car to go anywhere. There was nothing that was really within walking distance to the resort. For some this may not be an issue at all, but it is something to note. I would prefer a Four Seasons Hotel location that was closer to a city center if we were to stay again.
The value
This is a hard one to answer for all Four Seasons Hotels. I do feel that for our experience the value for money was PERFECT. With that said, I am not sure how much more special they could make it. If we were paying more than 500 per night, I don’t know if I would have found it worth the money. I also personally believe that if you’re paying more than 500 a night to stay anywhere, that breakfast should be included.
I can’t imagine what a property or room could be like to make it worth paying thousands per night. However, to be fair, I don’t have that kind of money. So I guess in the end the value can only really be determined by each individual.
Personally, I would not pay more than 500 per night to stay in a Four Seasons Hotel. I wouldn’t stay in a Four Seasons Hotel again unless the whole hotel really felt like part of the experience. This was a very enjoyable one and done for us!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, my review of the first time at the Four Seasons Hotel. I am not sure if this is helpful at all. But, it can’t hurt!
If you’re Visiting Tunisia
If you’re visiting Tunisia and are looking for a hotel that is more reasonable, I recommend Dar El Jeld in the Medina of Tunis. This hotel is upscale, lovely, has great food, and is in a perfect location to walk to everything you’d want to see in Tunis.
If you’re interested in some hotels we’ve enjoyed around the world
You can check out some of my posts here:
Where to Stay in Paris by Arrondissement
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