Holiday to Tunisia Advice

ScottyUK

Hi,
Me and my girlfriend have booked our first holiday to Hotel Royal Kenz, Port El Kantaoui.
I've been through LOADS of reviews and on the whole it looks like an alrite place for a relaxing week (which is what we are after).
However as this is the first time i have travelled abroad i have a few questions i was looking for help with:

1- The currency there is Dinar and this is a closed currency, i have read lots about exchanging travellers cheques for Dinar but what about exchanging back? I don't want to exchange £200 to Dinar to find myself left with £100 of Dinar which is useless. Would i be better taking a few travelleres cheques (£100, £50, £25, £25)?

2- Also i have read alcohol is quite expensive. Would you advise buying from duty free if we want a drink in our room at night?? How much are we allowed to buy?

3- Is there any way my girlfriend should dress (as its a muslim country). Obvioulsy she won't be going about in a bikini but will a dress or tshirts be ok?

4- Lastly has anyone been here before? Any advice? I've read the locals can be quite "pushy" so i've been practicing my stern "no" voice haha

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Thanks

Scott B

bcl999

Never been to Tunisia but the 2 Arabic words I know are "La" which means "No" and "Shukran" which means "Thank you". After you have experienced the hustlers you get in these North African countries, you'll understand why I've never learnt Arabiic for "Yes"!

Pinky15

Hi - not sure about the currency sorry.
As for dress code - you can wear obviously whatever around pool and in hotel, however upon visiting ruins, sight etc it was suggested women take a sarong to cover up or wear perhaps a long dress.
Also it may be worth costing an upgrade to all inclusive. At least this way all your drink would be included? HTH

MissyKay

Hi ScottyUK

I have been to Sousse in Tunisia. I took small denominations of travellers cheques and tried not change too much money, only what I thought was required, we fell abit short so I withdrew a small amount from the cash machine. Wherever I travel, I normally try and use up all the currency as know you often don't get back good value for money when changing back.

Regarding alcohol, I found it worked out about the same as London in clubs. At the British pub it wasn't too bad but not much of a difference. I think it should be fine to purchase a bottle or 2 from duty free but not sure what the limit is.

Dress wise they are not that strict but when you go to religious site etc as Pinky15 stated to dress sensible even when she is out and about.

Shopping wise you have to barter start low and come to an agreed price, in the medina they have shop which is fixed price so you can go there. Some people can be pushy and rude so we just used to ignore them as if you spoke to them they start chatting to you and will get stuck with them and not even get the alleys.

We booked ourselves on two day tour which included camel ride through Sahara dessert. salt lake, Matmata (where Star Wars was filmed ) another place where the film English Patient was filmed, ride on the Lizzard Train through the mountains. Another place to go is Carthage, Hammemet, Monastir where they have a nice fort so surreal we took the louage (car share) but prob be better to take taxi which is not that expensive but agree a price before you get in, as they can rip you off we took a taxi to the zoo he knew it was closed yet took us there and the meter was running so fast we had to pay so much money we got annoyed and just told him to drop us off on a main road as not gona pay him anymore money. This happened in Hammemet but met some tourist who another taxi driver drover round and round then charged them.

In March/April they can get high winds and dark grey clouds, if you are planning to go around then, make sure you carry something warm as sumtimes it can get abit nippy in the evening .

I went 2 years ago so alot could have changed.

hope this helps, if you have anymore questions please let me kw.

Missy

pinkcandyflossprincess

bcl999 wrote: »

Never been to Tunisia but the 2 Arabic words I know are "La" which means "No" and "Shukran" which means "Thank you". After you have experienced the hustlers you get in these North African countries, you'll understand why I've never learnt Arabiic for "Yes"!

haha that is all you need to know-honestly it works a treat in Tunisia. that sums up my arabic too!
I have been a fair few times and im going back in jan so can give some advise if needed, just pm.
basically currency- change as needed ,its a lot cheaper than europe so you wont need as much anyway.
if your poor girlfriend wants to avoid too much male attention then she may wish to wear linen pants and a top thats not a vest type if you are outside the beach area? ie going into a souk etc.
my main advise is for her to avoid any eye contact, and really let you assert yourself as the main man;)
im used to the ways myself and dont get harrassed as cover up. dont go looking for souvinears or fall for their weird and wonderfull scams but if they get too irrating the local police are very usefull and usually on hand. if they try to trick you into handing over cash , just think what you would do at home? if a man for instance lifted your girlfriend onto a donkey against her will and said you now owe me 20 quid, most of us would tell him to do one so just remember you dont have to be nervous or bullied abroad either!. if in doubt just plaster a smile on your face and stroll on blanking them entirely.
xx

PompeyPete

Agree with "La Shukran!". A bit of basic French comes in handy too.

Top tips:
Go on the Trip Advisor forum for Tunisia, and search out all the answers to your questions.
Get hold of a copy of Lonely Planet or Rough Guide from your local library.

martindow

Regarding changing currency, in Morocco which also has closed currency, you can change back cash on leaving provided you can show paperwork from when you first got it. As has been said it is best to try to use it up so you are not left with much as you leave.

PompeyPete

We had 120 Dinars left when we flew out of Tunis-Carthage last month.
There are loads of money changing kiosks at the airport.
It was Euros or nowt!
We took them.

moorhen_2

I'm sure you'll have a great time. Husband & I went to Tunisia last Nov & absolutely loved it.

The locals were 99.9% great. You do need to be firm saying "No", but they get it, even in the bazaars. We rented a car for 5 days and made up our own tour down south & west and it really could not have gone better. Much less hassle outside the tourist areas.

I (female) had no trouble but always had my shoulders & upper legs covered out in public, except when out for a run when I still got no grief (but a few stunned stares!). As a couple we were yelled at by one passing car (out of 100s in 2 weeks) and all we could put it down to was that we were holding hands while waiting to cross the road, ...but then they could have been shouting anything for all we know! I saw some solo western women being walked alongside of, talked at, and even having their photos taken by locals on the beach. I really felt for them, but I gather that - unpleasant as it is - loudly telling them to go away should work.

We bought some very nice Tunisian wine at a good price in an alcohol shop in Hammamet. And drank it sneakily on the beach nearby at sunset, which is illegal so I can't possibly recommend it!

A few words of arabic (hello, please, yes & no) go a LONG way.

I can't wait to go back there. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

bcl999

moorhen wrote: »

A few words of arabic (hello, please, yes & no) go a LONG way.

Just as a matter of interest, what is the Arabic for "Yes"?

moorhen_2

bcl999 wrote: »

Just as a matter of interest, what is the Arabic for "Yes"?

sorry I don't remember!