Tunisia?

Idiophreak

I went to Tunisia and it was fine...I agree with what other people are saying, there's quite a lot of hassling all over the place, right from the airport, to the resort...even on the beach at the resort occasionally (although staff try to chase off the worse ones).

That said, we had little interest in going outside the resort, we were happy to sit by the pool and on the hotel's bit of beach, so it didn't really bother us much.

ThemeOne

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Complete rubbish

I can assure you that was my experience. Yours seems to have been different.

melanzana

ThemeOne wrote: »

I can assure you that was my experience. Yours seems to have been different.

Every holiday experience is different ðepending on your expectations, or your demeanour.

If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't, no matter WHAT anyone else says they have experienced.

That is what the travelling experience is all about.

stephb34

Shannfie wrote: »

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!

Yes Tunisia is safe for tourists, but if something does happen cancelling is out of your hands. Whilst the foreign office says it is safe to travel you will be expected to by the tour operators, only when they say no to travelling will you get your money back or be able to switch destinations.
As for going to Tunisia it depends what you are going for, ie if its to sit by the pool all day, eat drink and entertainment maybe a trip or 2 a little touristy shopping then in a 4 star hotel you'll have a lovely time. If you want to go walking, experience culture etc then you need to pick carefully the area you stay in. Have you been to any other countries where you can be harassed in the streets to buy their wares or men bothering you ie Turkey, Morrocco, Egypt etc. If you've only been to Spain, the Balearics or Canaries it will be completely different to what you've experienced before.

zoescrims

I booked a trip to tunisia some years ago and five days before flying ,fighting broke out and the tour operators contacted me to cancel the holiday.

I was refunded in full, did try to sell me another holiday but i wanted a refund.

Luckily for me i could change my hols with work and even my travel insurance company refunded me my £30 ish which i wasnt that bothered about.so i wasnt out of pocket.

Try not to worry! hth

zoescrims

just to add: the tour operators would have been advised to cancel the holiday and so you would be entitled to a refund.

But if you cancelled the hol because you thought it would be unsafe then thats a different matter.

does that make sense :rotfl:

PompeyPete

Hello Julie on TA.:rotfl:

Shannfie

Thanks for your replies. Definitely given me something to think about.

PompeyPete

Shannfie wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Definitely given me something to think about.

Honestly. If you've got any concerns about security in the country, either now, before, or when you intend to go, then just choose somewhere else. Simple as that, it ain't worth the worry.

actually_2006

I am another person who has enjoyed both my trips to Tunisia, felt safe and not really been hassled, other than shopkeepers.

We never felt the need to stay in our hotels and only do organised trips. As usual, we only did organised trips to places we couldn't easily get to ourselves.

From Hammamet we got the local minibus to Tunis a couple of times to have a look round - really easy and don't recall any hassle. In Sousse we were quite central and would have a wander round the old town most days, and also got the local bus to Monastir, again no problem.

Quite a bit of hassle in the medinas from stall holders trying to get you to buy things which got a bit annoying but you can can always leave when you have had enough!

As someone above has said, you do need to remember that Tunisia is not Europe and it is not the same as going to, say, Spain or Greece.

With regard to civil unrest, in my experience it will really come down to the FCO (foreign office) advice. If they recommend against travel then a tour operator will generally pull out and give you a refund/exchange. Your travel insurance would generally be invalid if you did go against FCO advice.

If you cancelled because you thought it seemed unsafe but FCO advice said it was OK and the tour operator hadn't cancelled then I can't see that you would get a refund from either the tour operator, or travel insurer.

We were due to go to Mexico a few years ago when there was the swine flu outbreak (or was it bird flu?) We were kept hanging on until the last minute as obviously they don't want to cancel holidays they don't have to, but as the FCO advice was still not to go, first choice cancelled it and we rebooked to go elsewhere.