LOCATION  On the seaside, along the beach of Mahdia, 2 miles from the town centre. The closest airport is the one in Monastir, 28 miles away. Expect a trip of 1 hour. ACCOMMODATION  The 300 rooms have the advantage of not being located on the back of the building. Therefore, no view over the parking, and an orientation towards the parking and the sea for 85% of them. The rest of the rooms have view of the garden. As for comfort, prefer this new wing to enjoy the minibar and hair dryer. Other features are identical: balcony with plastic table and armchairs, air conditioning, satellite television, safe (with fee), telephone connected to an operator, bathroom with bathtub. The decor, simple and sober, is in Tunisian colours: blue furniture in painted wood and white walls. A watercolour above the headboard represent a stylised marine scenery. OVERVIEW  Built in 1969, the El Mehdi hotel is the first to have opened in the touristic zone of Mahdia. It has been modified and enlarged in 2006. Its infrastructures are spread in a 2-storey building (where you can find the oldest rooms) and a new wing having 100 new accommodations with superior comfort. The lobby, with marble floor and sofas in imitation leather, is only a passing zone. It is better to loaf outside, where two swimming pools (one with slide) is waiting for the holidaymakers. The best is the one overlooking the beach. But a more spacious pool (98 ft x 33 ft) is off centrered, in the gardens. 2 small swimming pools for children are also available. Don't forget your beach towel so that you don't need to rent one. The relaxation zone include tiled terraces and lawns planted with palm trees. FOOD AND DRINK  The advantage of the all inclusive formula is that you can eat all the time (from 6 am to 11 pm) and not only pizza and pastries. Good new for the late risers: a continental breakfast buffet is prepared at the snack-bar from 10 am to 11:30 am. Another thing to remember: the dinners included in the à la carte restaurants (one per restaurant over the stay). Fisherman menu (with choice of first course, main course and desserts) at the panoramic restaurant overlooking the beach and the Tunisian menu in a room overlooking the swimming pool and the slide. Included drinks during and in between meals are water, wine, beer and Tunisian sodas, cocktails with fig or date alcohol. BEACH  The El Mehdi is the hotel in the touristic zone which is the closest to the centre of Mahdia. Expect a 20 to 30 minute walking on the seashore. Spacious, the portion of the beach which is furnished stretches all along the hotel (1,640 ft) and over 330 feet wide. Straw sunshades are set in a regular pattern on the sand. Lounge chairs are at your disposal. Since you have to pay for towels, do not forget to bring your own. The turquoise water is very nice for swimming. On the other hand, water sports are offered by an independent club and are available for a fee. ]]>