Tunisia?

Shannfie

Just after a bit of advice, I'm looking at tunisia for a holiday next may. I'm a bit worried about what would happen if there is political unrest again or if there is military action against Syria (although I know they're not close geographically an a lot can happen between now and may).

I would be going to one of the main tourist areas (sousse probably).is tunisia generally a safe place for tourists?

If I booked it, and something did occur would happen re cancelling it?

Sorry to ask so many questions, I'm just a bit of a worrier!

mcfisco

Tunisia is okay ish at the moment but he whole area is volatile, it's impossible to say what will happen in the future.
Book a full package from a TA for better protection in the event of some sort of unrest.

ThemeOne

On a general note I visited Tunisia once and didn't really enjoy it. If you're happy to stay in your hotel compound and just go on organised tours it'll probably be fine, but I found if you venture off the tourist trail you can be subjected to a fair bit of hassle with people pestering you for money, or spinning you stories in the hope of a "donation".

Just something to be prepared for.

budgetflyer

I never experienced any of that. We were not in any compound. Just a small hotel in a not very touristy part of Hammamet. Out and about every day, hassle free.

poet123

My son went a couple of years ago and hated it. Also friends went as a family and felt the same way. If you don't have a pressing reason for going I personally would look elsewhere.

balletshoes

poet123 wrote: »

My son went a couple of years ago and hated it. Also friends went as a family and felt the same way. If you don't have a pressing reason for going I personally would look elsewhere.

I agree, and normally I'm all for trying stuff for myself, but my friends have just returned from their first trip to Tunisia, and it will be their last. They were AI, hotel was okay, pool was good, food was not good, and they didn't feel comfortable at all going outside the hotel boundary, the surrounding area was dirty and basically a building site, strewn with rubbish on the way down to the beach etc.

melanzana

Hi, sorry, I don't know the answers to your questions about what would happen IF...

But I do know that I did not like Tunisia. Now I do realise that many people DO love it and enjoy it, but I thought I would never get home.

It is a personal thing, admittedly, and we all have expectations of how our holiday venues will be.

To me, it is a totally manufactured holiday place. At least in other holiday countries you can venture out and see things yourself. I tried, but was hassled so much that I gave up. Everything seems to be sewn up with those in the know.

Then there is the poverty, or manufactured poverty, I don't know. Every one we met was looking for something. In your face. My mother is dying, my dad needs cataract op, my sister needs...etc. these are people we met in restaurants in Port El Kantaoui.

A nice place, but I felt uncomfortable. Men were always hassling, even when OH was there. In shops, cafes, and on the street, hustling.

I know others love it, but I didn't.

Each to their own though.

ThemeOne

I think it's easy to assume Tunisia is just the same as the European side of the Mediterranean, but it's not - it's a third world country.

interstellaflyer

ThemeOne wrote: »

On a general note I visited Tunisia once and didn't really enjoy it. If you're happy to stay in your hotel compound and just go on organised tours it'll probably be fine, but I found if you venture off the tourist trail you can be subjected to a fair bit of hassle with people pestering you for money, or spinning you stories in the hope of a "donation".

Just something to be prepared for.

Complete rubbish, I've been to Tunisia lots of times, even on my own when I was single, never once did I feel unsafe, ok I've not been since the troubles, however prior to that it was perfectly safe to use public transport Sousse up to Tunis, Sidi Bou Said etc or south to Monastir, El Jem etc or to Kairoaun, yes, there is some mild pestering but just ignore it and be firm but not rude. Off the beaten track, why would you want to go off the beaten track? everything worth seeing in Tunisia is on the tourist tracks, if you head into areas of towns and cities that don't normally see tourists then perhaps you will be asking for trouble, but rarely violent crime and to put it into perspetive, there are areas of cities in western countries that you wouldn't dare go as a stranger, Miami for one.

PompeyPete

Tunis gets discussed fairly regularly on this forum. Here's the links to recent threads which are worth reading...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4693961

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4682845

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4576051

supermum4

I've been to tunisia several times and never felt unsafe, out and about you do get a bit of hassle with people trying to get you into their shops to buy stuff but a firm no thank you and a smile and keep walking on your way, never had anyone begging, enjoy your holiday and stop worrying