Resort review: Club Med Djerba la Douce

Location: The Tunisian village of Djerba La Douce is actually a beautifully independent island set in a large bay, 25 kilometres from the city of Djerba, Hount Souk. Dotted with palm and date trees, the village is inspired by Tunisian architecture but is heavily dominated by holiday accommodation.

Getting there: The country is best reached by air. Club Med holidays are offered as packages and this is the easiest way to book a trip here, with all flights and airport transfers included. The majority of flights that come into the country are charter flights. However, Tunis Air does offer some scheduled flights from destinations across Europe. If arriving independently, Djerba airport is 30 kilometres from the resort and bus transfers are available for 5-10 euros each way. To reduce your carbon footprint, driving is still an option. If you have the time on your hands, take the drive down through Europe and cross the Mediterranean by ferry into Morocco.

Tennis facilities: Djerba is one of four resorts in Europe and North Africa where Club Med has established its own Tennis Academy. All 14 clay courts are free to use for all guests at the resort.

Coaching: Although there is free instruction for everyone staying at the club, the Academy programmes are far more comprehensive. They have been designed in collaboration with Serge Autexier, a technical and physical coach for Davis and Fed Cup players, and Thierry Champion, an international coach and former French Davis Cup player. The courses are fairly intense but will help all standards of player. These are an optional extra and are best to arrange at time of booking.

Eating: Club Med is an all-inclusive resort with a number of restaurants serving mainly buffet-style meals with an international flavour. There is also a Tunisian speciality restaurant, La Gargoulette, on the edge of the beach, which must be booked in advance. Tunisian cuisine is a diverse blend of European, Oriental and African traditions but is characteristically hot. Some typical local dishes are Djerban rice, cous cous and tasty tagines to be enjoyed in La Gargoulette. Outside of the resort, eateries are very limited. The surrounds are stunning to explore, but maybe not in terms of cuisine.

Drinking: All bar drinks on site are included in the Club Med package, which means you can not only eat whenever you want but drink throughout the day and evening too. This would not be recommended mid-training programme, though, of course!

Sleeping: The resort has an impressive 646 rooms all directly on the seashore. They are divided between two hotels and bungalows. The Aziza Hotel is located in the heart of the resort close to all activities. For something a little more peaceful, the Calypso hotel has a tranquil setting, with its own pool and restaurant. The bungalows give you a little more independence, out on the island of Djerba and grouped around patios, making them great for families.

What else: Tunisia enjoys temperate conditions year round and the three outdoor pools ensure you can cool off in the daytime sun. There is also a heated indoor pool for use later into the evening. Club Med also offers a fully-equipped Fitness Academy as well as a Kitesurfing and Sailing Academy operating directly off the beach beside the hotel. These activities are included in the Club Med package so what better time than to give something new a try? A Discovery desk is also on hand to book a number of excursions from one-day boat trips to overnight tours of the Sahara. The local area has so much more to offer than the usual package holiday allowing an intense tennis experience as well as a taste of the North African culture.