Hotel Marhala – Matmata

05 October 2011 | 0 Comments

How often can you claim that you spent the night in a troglodyte cave…comfortably, and with (albeit fake) flower petals scattered around you?  For most, the answer is “never.”  When passing through Matmata, instead of merely visiting the region’s famous troglodyte abodes, why not actually stay in one?  Hotel Marhala provides this exciting option, and in a more hospitable setting than the town’s more famous Hotel Sidi Driss (whose claim to fame comes from being the setting of Luke Skywalker’s house in George Lucas’s famous Star Wars series).

Naturally, lodging in a cavern underground, furnished only with beds and a sole light source, does not promise a night full of creature comforts.  But for the adventurous traveler, there is something magical about waking up underground, surrounded only by rock and travel companions, and stepping out in the morning into a courtyard resembling another world.

Thus, Hotel Marhala is worth a try – at least for one night.  When you first pull open the huge wooden door and enter the vaulted reception area, you will instantly feel transported to a simpler time.  Although the dim lighting and stone benches — rather than the traditional reception area plush armchairs — may appear ominous, the staff’s exceedingly friendly nature and helpfulness will soothe any apprehensions that you may feel concerning your stay.

When the hotel’s owner promises to do anything to make your experience more comfortable, he certainly is not lying.  Rather expectedly, there is no Internet connection in the hotel, but the owner will gladly accompany you to the local youth club, where one dinar pays for an hour of Internet service.  Moreover, if as in our case, the sole electrical outlet in your cave bedroom does not fit your plugs, the owner will allow you to stay up until after 1 a.m. with your computer plugged into the outlet in the hotel’s office area.  Hotel Marhala truly is the epitome of hospitality and welcoming, as compared to the more frosty reception that one receives at the famous Hotel Sidi Driss.

Moreover, the price of staying in Hotel Marhala is more than affordable – it is a downright steal.  While the fixed price is originally 20 dinars per person, per night, the hotel owner gladly lowered our price to 15 dinars per person, per night when we asked.  The price includes dinner and breakfast, and the dinner itself was worth the price of the entire stay.  After several courses of salata tunsiya, bread, brik, couscous with chicken and vegetables, and fruit for dessert, you will walk away from the cave dining room with stuffed stomachs.  Breakfast consists of yogurt, bread and jam, cheese, coffee, and hard boiled eggs, all of which are included in the 15 dinar price.

The only drawbacks to spending the night in Hotel Marhala are to be expected when lodging in an ancient cave with only basic amenities.  While the lack of cell phone and Internet service is somewhat inconvenient, it is also refreshing to be cut off from the rest of society, even for just a short period of time.  Moreover, the youth club is a two-minute drive from the hotel if it is necessary that you have Internet access, and cell phones receive coverage as soon as you exit the hotel and emerge above ground.

The individual rooms also lack bathrooms, so be prepared to share with other “cave dwellers.”  Still, the community bathrooms are well-maintained and located in a central location.  One downside is if you find yourself needing the restroom in the middle of the night and are forced to pull open the mammoth-sized wooden door of your cave in order to exit, an act which produces a scraping noise against the rock floor that is sure to wake any fellow travelers in your room.  Mosquitoes are vicious, so bug spray is highly recommended.

On the whole, however, Hotel Marhala promises an experience that you cannot find elsewhere, and at a price that pays for itself through dinner alone, it is highly recommended (that is, if you can stand to put down your electronics and isolate yourself from the rest of the world for a night).  So stop by and explore your pre-historic roots.

 

Official Rates (per person, per night for a double or a single; try to haggle for less): 20 dinars (includes dinner and breakfast)

Location: 62 km from Gabes and a 5 minute drive from Matmata Gabes Airport

Website: http://www.hotel-marhala-matmata.webs.com/

Check-in: 12 pm

Check-out: 12 pm

Payment: Cash or check (no credit)