I chose this hotel because I was looking for an affordable hotel in Djerba with a swimming pool and breakfast included. On paper, Dar Salem seemed to match what I was looking for.
However, the hotel has clearly seen better days and, in my opinion, needs significantly more maintenance. The staff were friendly and did their best, but most of them only spoke French, which made communication somewhat difficult. There was one staff member, probably the hotel manager, who spoke English and was helpful.
Breakfast was simple but decent. The biggest downside was cleanliness and maintenance. The pool area felt dirty, and I even noticed broken glass around the pool, which felt unsafe. Overall, the hotel appeared quite worn down.
What really improved the experience, however, was the beach area. The hotel is only about a three-minute walk from the beach and has its own private section for guests with sunbeds and straw umbrellas. That was a big plus for us. It was also possible to buy ice cream and drinks there, which we really appreciated. I would give the beach top marks — it was beautiful and one of the highlights of our stay.
To be completely honest, I still probably would not choose this hotel again.
