Tunisia Advice Please!!!!

AlexMac

If you haven't already bought overpriced insurance from your travel agent, you'll save by going to an independent web-insurer; look here on this website http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance for companies like traveldirect
And the good thing about North Africa is that many insurers include Tunisia on their 'European' cover so you don't need more expensive 'Worldwide' .
Friends just back from a similar holiday near Sousse or Hammamet were surprised by the large numbers of other tourists and the variety of nationalities in the self-catering resort; including many Germans, Poles Russians (who were nothing like as rude to us as their reputation- altho' they were a bit high-handed with the resort staff).

Try to get out of the resort too- and not just on expensive organised trips. I went travelling independently, alone in Tunisia over 20 years ago (easier if you have a few words of French- the old colonial language) and was amazed at exotic souks (markets) and comfortable, cheap, air-conditioned long-distance buses which took me to amazing places like the Roman amphitheatre at El-Jem and one of the oldest mosques in the world at Kairouan on the edge of the desert...

Maybe best to drink bottled water and drinks and stick to fresh-cooked food and avoid salads (which might be washed in tap-water) to avoid the trots. I was fine travelling up-country except for the one time I got desperate, couldn't find a cafe or shop and drank from a tap!

Or you can just lie in the sun and lash into the free booze!

AlexMac

PS to the last post
Sorry- I meant Gafsa on the edge of the desert- Kairouan's much more accessible and further north! Bon Voyage!

interstellaflyer

AlexMac wrote: »

Try to get out of the resort too- and not just on expensive organised trips. I went travelling independently, alone in Tunisia over 20 years ago (easier if you have a few words of French- the old colonial language) and was amazed at exotic souks (markets) and comfortable, cheap, air-conditioned long-distance buses which took me to amazing places like the Roman amphitheatre at El-Jem and one of the oldest mosques in the world at Kairouan on the edge of the desert...

As much as I agree about getting out of the hotel, I just need to pick you up on one thing, Kairouan is not on the edge of the desert, it is only about 50km west of Sousse, you need to travel at least 200km south of Sousse to Douz to be at the edge of the desert.

interstellaflyer

AlexMac wrote: »

PS to the last post
Sorry- I meant Gafsa on the edge of the desert- Kairouan's much more accessible and further north! Bon Voyage!

Sorry, one of the big problems of posting while working, hadn't realised you posted a correction.

MrMoo_2

I loved Tunisia when I went last April, stayed in a lovely resort called Les Orangers in Hammamet.

What I would say is that as soon as we got off the plane and was about to leave for our transfer to the resort our suitcase was grabbed by a local man, he quickly walked a few meters to our bus and then demanded money off us.

As Tunisia is a closed currency we only had £20 notes that we were going to change at the hotel and he wasn't getting that!
So I would just hold on to your luggage and respectfully decline any assistance.

As for injections I didn't have any when I left we got a last minute deal flew within days of booking, my pharmacist friend told me I didn't need to & I was fine.

interstellaflyer

MrMoo wrote: »

What I would say is that as soon as we got off the plane and was about to leave for our transfer to the resort our suitcase was grabbed by a local man, he quickly walked a few meters to our bus and then demanded money off us.

As Tunisia is a closed currency we only had £20 notes that we were going to change at the hotel and he wasn't getting that!
So I would just hold on to your luggage and respectfully decline any assistance.

Yep, beware the porters, I've not flown to the new airport at Enfidha, however, Monistir used to be a nightmare, also beware the women who gather outside the toilets waiting for tips.

Cookiepops

wow! thank you all for your replies and useful information! Im wondering what to do now with the currency situation - should I take travellers cheques, cash, debit card? is it easy to exchange money?

brightonman123

and be polite byt FIRM with beach traders.. i am sure they signal each other, to wear tourists down as you wander along!

interstellaflyer

brightonman123 wrote: »

and be polite byt FIRM with beach traders.. i am sure they signal each other, to wear tourists down as you wander along!

Thankfully there are not many at that end of Skannes, however, beware, don't buy cigarettes from the beach traders or any street traders, they will be fake and avoid taking photos of men (often dressed in traditional Arab clothing) riding horses on the beach, they seem friendly and willing, however their motive is money and they demand lots of it.