Sea, Sun and a Blue Lagoon

It took four and a half years, $130 million and stretches hundreds of acres. It's called the Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa and Spa, exclusively Tunisian in color and design and newly opened 8 months ago on the island of Djerba.

Talk about luxury, the attentive staff literally roll out the red carpet for you. You enter through a grand foyer with pillars dressed like palm trees and servants at your ever beck and call. Don't dare reach for a door or your luggage, that's their job.

Inside the reception area we were greeted with hot washcloths to refresh our faces, a long stem rose and homemade lemonade in champagne flutes. The manager introduced himself and his hotel while we stretched out on multicolored couches.

Let the tour begin I thought to myself.

The guest rooms aren't rooms at all, they are instead penthouse suites, even the junior models. My room included several 'firsts like the first with heated mosaic tiles in the bathroom to warm my toes. The first with a cavernous stand-up shower crafted of etched marble, even the seats. The first with a pillared balcony with 2 cushy chairs and a jaw-dropping view of the blue lagoon. And finally, the first suite with a walk-in closet dressed top to bottom in pine with shoe space, drawers and hangers.

I didn't dare mess it up with my stuff.

Then came a tour of the 3 indoor sea water pools, spa and hydro-massage cabins, exercise room and private hammam. Pictures paint a better description than I can so I'll let my photos take over from here.