LOCATION  On the seaside, along the beach of Mahdia, 4 miles from the town centre. The closest airport is the one in Monastir, 28 miles away. Expect a 1 hour trip. ACCOMMODATION  As many as 550, the rooms are spacious, (377 ft²) and they have equipment to accommodate at least three people (1 double bed and 1 sofa-bed). The majority of the rooms have a view over the swimming pool, and the sea, from the side of the front. The other rooms, located on the back, overlook the gardens of the entrance. There are soberly furnished with clear wood furniture with contemporary style. On the beige walls, there are two watercolours representing scenes from traditional life. The balcony is equipped with plastic armchairs and table. No feature is missing to assure a good level of comfort: air conditioning, mini-bar, satellite television, direct telephone line, and bathroom with bathtub and hair dryer. Be careful, the service for safe is located at the reception. In the suites, the water closet is separated from the bathroom and the guests can have robes. OVERVIEW  Built in 2002, the Vincci Nour Palace is an elegant hotel, set in a four-storey building whose yellowish brown colour reminds of the ground of the region. Its lobby, spacious, has a bar-space in the middle, along the glass bay window overlooking the swimming pool and the sea in the background. Sober but neat decor: light marble, honey colour beamed ceiling, candelabra with unpolished glass. Outside, a big swimming pool occupies the centre of the relaxation spaces. Landscaped (curbs, wood footbridge, and island of vegetation), it allows to do strokes over an olympic length (165 ft). A terrace tiled with bricks or lawns to set yourself on one of the lounge chairs shaded under a sunshade. Unfortunately, because palm trees are a bit bare, you will prefer to look at the grass and the bushes with flowers. The plus of the hotel out of season: a 66 ft long covered swimming pool with a view of the gardens. FOOD AND DRINK  With variety and well presented, the buffets of the main restaurant put you in appetite. No need to rush as soon as they open, dishes are renewed until the closing. In the morning, a cook prepares eggs and crepes in show-cooking. Brioches and cakes are homemade. A space is specially reserved for Tunisian specialities: this way you can taste semolina with dry raisins or bacissa (wheat paste with olive oil and sugar). At lunch and in the evening, the options of the buffet are pizzas, pastas, grilled foods prepared in front of the clients, a vegetarian plate, and meat and fish in sauce. A Tunisian evening with folkloric show is organised once a week. Do not forget to keep room for dessert, so that you can enjoy fruit mousse, cream puffs, and mini tarts with dates. For a change, an à la carte restaurant, with terrace overlooking the beach, offers beef with olives and rack of lamb crusted with pistachios. BEACH  The portion of beach which is equipped stretches over 655 ft in length and 165 ft in width. Features include sunshades and lounge chairs. Bath towels are available against deposit. Water sports offered by an independent management than the hotel, can be practised with supplement. The water, turquoise, makes you want to jump in the water right away and the slope, low, is great for children. ]]>