International Green at Spectacular New Development
RIU MARCO POLO, HAMMAMET, TUNISIA
Well friends, we are back from our recent holiday at the RIU Marco Polo which lived up to expectations on first sight. The hotel and grounds are superb and the outdoor pool is one of the best that we have seen. Too cold for most of us to use although one or two hardy souls braved the water over the two week break, but most of us were content to use the indoor heated pool.
The hotel is right on the beach where complimentary sun loungers and parasols are available and also around the pool. Should you feel a little more energetic, a mere stroll along the beach brings you to the cosmopolitan Yasmin marina with its wealth of yachts and apartments. 
There are also numerous restaurants should you feel like a change of diet or simply a night out from the hotel, and of course the shops to keep the ladies happy and the men insolvent.
The Marco Polo offers plenty to do - with the animation team keeping us busy with archery, boules, and darts competitions on a daily basis. Aqua aerobics, table tennis, volleyball and three clay tennis courts. For the golfers, there is the 45 hole Citrus and the 18 hole Yasmine golf courses with complimentary transfers. There was evening entertainment with shows and live music, and as can be seen from the photographs, the Mercian group were happy to join in.
The Bingo evening was hilarious with numbers being called out in at least seven languages and even then one of our group took to the stage to help make things easier for us. (supposedly).
The large bowling green is brand new and built by a British contractor to the highest standard and we were all kept busy every morning bar one when the rain came down. Fortunately we had found a large conference room with an adequate carpet on which we managed to play indoor bowls. The bias on the carpet had to be seen to be believed, but it had all the players in fits of laughter and kept us all amused for the morning. Fortunately we were able to have a runner to keep going to the bar for drinks which always helps to smooth things over! We wouldn't let the bar staff into the room in case they fell over the woods!
The weather was a little inclement for two or three days and we experienced quite a cold wind which necessitated a trip to the fixed price shops in the lovely marina,to stock up on some warm tops which no doubt will be useful back home. Also bought were some very reasonable sudo Rolex and Armani watches.
We were able to run Men and Ladies singles competitions and also Mixed Drawn Pairs and Mixed Drawn Triples as well as different roll-ups every morning. 
We are always amazed at the way bowlers manage to get all the matches played and finals day the sun shone on all the finalists and spectators were rewarded by the sight of 'Rod Stewart' presenting the prizes and certificates.
Once again our trip was over too quickly and early Sunday morning saw us all boarding the coach back to the Airport making sure we were there in good time to do a little more spending in the Duty Free and back to England.
Marco Polo gallery
The hotel has two restaurants, a lobby bar, lounge bar, Arabic style cafe, gift shop and boutique. This is an All Inclusive holiday, therefore, all your meals, snacks and drinks are included in the price!
The inclusive cost of this holiday based on sharing a twin bedded room on an All Inclusive basis, flights, transfers to the hotel and bowling:-
MARCH 2 & 16 2011
PRICE: 7 NTS-£499 14 NTS. £759 PER PERSON,
Single Supplement £4 p.p.p.n.
The above prices are based on flights from London Gatwick, therefore a flight supplement may apply when flying from a regional airport.
Call Mercian on 01562 887 557 for further details or visit their website
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