tunisia 2011, please help!!!

mandy<3

Hi all,
I am hoping someone could help me.
I am taking my family on holiday in oct 2011. First family holiday EVER!
I really don't have a clue as to saving money on package deals and what the best way to go around things are.
It will be 4 adults travelling, a 17 year old and a 5 year old.
I was thinking Tunisia as it avoids the euro and prefer all inclusive to save the hassle when there.
Are there any tricks or tips I should know of before booking? Is it better to book early or late and who seems to be the best to book with for Tunisia?
Any help would be so appreciated.
Thank you

Freebyman

Hi we went to Tunisia two years ago in July and it was hot!!! But in October it may be cooler. We stayed in Port El Kantaoui (think thats what it was called) and it is a small purpose built resort with the city of Sousse closeby.

However to be honest I wouldnt recommend anyone to go as it is constant hassle from leaving your hotel grounds, from taxis, shops etc. Remember it is how things are done there and to be quite honest was a total put off for us. Glad to see you are going all inclusive though so that should get rid of most that problem. Prices are generally reasonable also.

We booked late and got a 5 star half board for £310 each for a week, but obviously you never know your luck. We went with Thomsons who were ok, no better or worse than any others we have been with all over.

Hope this helps.

wallbash

Any idea of your budget.
Why the opposition to the Euro ?
Has it got to be Tunisia ( and if so why)

book early or late

Depends how flexible you can be. I have booked my 2011 today!!!!
But it was I required to fly from one airport, sensible times to one hotel and limited to school hols
add all that I booked and paid my deposit , then make it a rule not to look at any prices again.

Hope you have a wonderful time.

shudd1967

We had a lovely couple of family holidays in Tunisia. Stayed in Port El Kantaoui at the Melia El Mouradi Palace. Not all inc then but so cheap to eat out it wasn't a problem.

Beaches are clean and lovely, great entertainment for kids, cheap. Yes get a bit of "Chatter" when you leave the hotels and go into markets etc but thats their culture, so no and they leave you alone.

Would go package to be honest, if its first hyoliday it will be far less stressfull.

Pollycat

It's over 20 years since we went to Tunisia but we loved it, others hated it.

If you're going all-inclusive, why are you trying to avoid the €?
You're eliminating lots of places (although they may not be as hot as Tunisia in October) like Spain & Greece.

You could also consider Turkey.

miamoo

I would go to Turkey rather than Tunisia All inclusive. I think you get much better value for money, and Turkey generally do AI very well.
Tunisia is really getting pushed 2011 by the Travel agents, eveyone I know has been recommended Djerba by the TA. I'm not sure why as there is nothing there!

mandy<3

Hi thanks so much for all getting back to me.
I was told to avoid the euro because it is so expensive just now. My budget is about 500 per person. Not sure on average you should pay for a good deal, all inc for that time of year. I was also worried about my daughters school letting her off for a week in Oct out of school hols but it is the only week my hubby can get off due to his work.

miamoo

My kids school authorise 2weeks holidays, so speak to the school and see what the policy is.
If you feel confident enough I would have a look at the prices of flights on Easyjet, October 2011 will be pretty cheap at the moment look at Turkey as a starting point.
Seriously I would avoid Tunisia, its was our first family holiday abroad and its not a good starting point, I spent most of my holiday being hassled/perved over I hated it. (The kids loved it as they had a great kids club, and had chocolate pancakes!)
Also look at Lanzarote, and maybe Egypt. I havent been to Egypt yet (going end of month) but its got some great all inclusives that are dirt cheap.

firesidemaid

i have also stayed in port el kantoui twice and thoroughly enjoyed it.

plenty of trips to see some very interesting/historical places.

i went alone as a female on a) my first ever trip abroad and b) it was in 1993 and 1997.

i don't know how much it has changed since then, but as long as you are polite, firm and respectful to the culture then the hassle wasn't a problem

Foofighter

I love Tunisia, looking forard to going back someday. If thats where you're set on going two places I can recommend are Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel & ClubHotel Riu Bellevue Park Hotel next door to each other just outside Port El Kantaoui, All Inclusive and lovely hotels. We always go in and out the other hotels in the area to have a drink and a nose around We go through http://www.thomson.co.uk for booking you can check flights on there and play around with different dates to get the best price. If you get any "hassle" in Tunisia like people wanting to sell things like everyone says just a polite but firm no and they back off. It's the same in Turkey or Egypt.

PursuitOfHappiness

I went Tunisia in September. Really liked it.
Me and my fiancee paid £500 each and this was for 2 weeks AI.
Was 30 degrees plus each day from the beginning of September till the end of the month, however it did start to become cooler when we were leaving.
We stayed in Skanes, the Saraha beach hotel, and it was an ok hotel.
The people who work over there do rely on tips, and they make you aware of this.
If your going to be going all inclusive then your going to stick around the resort so make sure your hotel that your staying at is a decent hotel and the food has got a good reputation, otherwise you may not enjoy it.
The currency is dinah and it is 2.2 dinah to the £.
Things to do there...
Port el kantoui is a nice place. A harbour town just outside Sousse (main city in this part of Tunisia).
Quite a few yachts in the harbour, a little fair, and a few shops to buy the replica watches haha.
We also went to El Gem to see the colliseum. From where we were staying it was an hours drive. We spent one hour at the colliseum and it then took one hour back. So all in all it wasn't worth going to El Gem I thought.
Any more questions feel free.