Tunisia?

LolaLemon

Looking to book a holiday to Tunisia in October.
What are peoples experiences of Tuisia?
It will just be me and my then 7 year old son. For our first holiday abroad together. Going all inclusive. It is costing us, well me, just under £900.
Can you tell me if it is expensive for trips? what kind of trips? what is the food like? we are not too fussy with our food, and do try anything at least once so i dont see it being a major issue, but would be good to know what kind of things are served.

How much spending money would you think would be a reasonable amount to take for 1 week for 2 people.
How much do you tip?

Anything else I should know about tunisia?

cubegame

I can think of nicer places to go than Tunisia for your first holiday overseas. You get a lot of hassle from people. Not bad if you're used to it but it can be intimidating if you're not.

crazycatlady1984

I agree with the above comment; you do get a lot of hassle.

I went a few years ago and whilst the resort was lovely (very clean, nice staff, good food), we felt sort of trapped, as it is very difficult and a lot of hassle going outwith the resort.

We were warned before we went about the hassling for tips etc, but I had no idea it would be so bad - we got off the plane and a guy (porter kinda guy) took our bags and wheeled them to a coach we were getting on. He was very pleasant, then put his hand out for a tip. I explained that we had *just* landed so didn't have any Tunisian currency yet. He basically said I was lying, my partner opened his wallet to show him all he had a £20 note; the guy said he would take that! when we said no he started trying to push us to a cash machine to take out money for him!!! This was within minutes of getting off the place and to be honest, it was like that for the rest of the week.

People start talking to you in the street and basically drag you to their shops (don't fall for the whole "government shop" spiel!), I was totally unprepared for how forceful they were.

A lot of the day trips are quite ropey; some of them are awful and there is pretty much no set price, they will take what they can off you, so you can easily get ripped off.

Although it doesn't sound like it, we did have a nice time in Tunisia (although would never go back) but I don't think its a good idea for a holiday for you and your young son.

Is there anywhere else you are considering? Maybe the Algarve or Spain or something?

Katiehound

I went to Tunisia quite some years ago and I also remember a lot of hassle. I haven't been back!
I would have thought there were a lot more places that were more pleasant with reasonable weather at that time. What about the Canaries?

Personally I like Turkey (think Dalyan) but it depends on the time of the month. Early October would be fine but the seaon ends that month and there is a distinct change in the weather.

mum2one

I love Tunisia U have been for many years and it was the 1st place I took my daughter when she was 6 yrs ols, shes been back 4 times and loves it.

Which part of Tunisia are you staying it.

I'll send a message later with hints and tips etc xx

LolaLemon

I was looking at this hotel. http://www.thomascook.com/product/?brandCode=AIR1&searchId=1389697861981&trail=62010%3ATunisia_-_Any%3A19002%3AAI%3A19010%3AfacetGroup_1900020_0%3A19006%3AfacetGroup_2100010_0%3A19008%3A10082014-10142014_10112014&tcSearchResultId=AIRHOL_A%402194036-&sortOrder=ASC&journey=normal&srpTrail=62010%3ATunisia_-_Any%3A19002%3AAI%3A19010%3AfacetGroup_1900020_0%3A19006%3AfacetGroup_2100010_0%3A19008%3A10082014-10142014_10112014&productId=H0001973&sortingBy=PRICE&resultsCount=37&pageNum=1&searchType=tc&roomCodes=N04H06_rc_TWIN02_bbc_1%40&dd=10102014&accomIndex=6

it was the one the travel agent suggested.
I am expecting to not actually go out, as much as i have always been a lets go explore kind of girl on holiday.
It basically has everything we are going to want/need for a 7 year old - water park, right on the beach... all inclusive.
Would this change your opinions of it being our first holiday abroad?
I have no desire to go shopping in markets (i actually do, but im aware of the hassel from outside the resort and dont want to put my son in a state of fear when out) Only thinkg i would be looking at is a safari trip possibly and something else similar if anything... but its not a necessity.

Looking for somewhere that sort of almost guarentees sunny, lets go swimming in the sea weather.

LolaLemon

p.s. i have no Thanks button to say thanks
thank you everyone, hints and tips would be great

Browntoa

if its all inclusive then you won't get hassled if you are staying "on site" all the time

ignore anyone offering to take your luggage at the airport and you will be fine

susan42

I love Tunisia and they do hassle you but I found if you don't say anything just smile they can't work out what nationality you are and leave you alone.

I got my kids to speak a bit if welsh to each other. I don't speak welsh . They were totally confused and gave up

mum2one

LolaLemon wrote: »

I was looking at this hotel. http://www.thomascook.com/product/?brandCode=AIR1&searchId=1389697861981&trail=62010%3ATunisia_-_Any%3A19002%3AAI%3A19010%3AfacetGroup_1900020_0%3A19006%3AfacetGroup_2100010_0%3A19008%3A10082014-10142014_10112014&tcSearchResultId=AIRHOL_A%402194036-&sortOrder=ASC&journey=normal&srpTrail=62010%3ATunisia_-_Any%3A19002%3AAI%3A19010%3AfacetGroup_1900020_0%3A19006%3AfacetGroup_2100010_0%3A19008%3A10082014-10142014_10112014&productId=H0001973&sortingBy=PRICE&resultsCount=37&pageNum=1&searchType=tc&roomCodes=N04H06_rc_TWIN02_bbc_1%40&dd=10102014&accomIndex=6

it was the one the travel agent suggested. -


I am expecting to not actually go out, as much as i have always been a lets go explore kind of girl on holiday.

-There is plenty to explore as well as staying at the hotel, its

It basically has everything we are going to want/need for a 7 year old - water park, right on the beach... all inclusive.

The Phenicia - All inclusice, indoor pooloutdoor pool, outdoor pool, right on the beach. The hotel has a kids club and theres activites say and evening

Would this change your opinions of it being our first holiday abroad?

Tunisia was the 1st place I went on holiday (I was 28 but by myself, not this hotel, I found that after, it was the 1st place took DD to, (she was 6, loved it. They have riding stables in the grounds of the hotel, you can go and see the horses anytime.

I have no desire to go shopping in markets (i actually do, but im aware of the hassel from outside the resort and dont want to put my son in a state of fear when out) In hammamet there is 2 markets, the old medina which is ok, a firm no and your ok, and the medina in Yassmine Hammamet - purpose built about 8 years ago, by the Yassmine Medina there are some fixed price shops, I get all my stuff from those, as well as a nice restaurant.

There is a main tourist market on a Friday at neubal, it does get busy, so I would say the 1st time away with your son, avoid it, it might be too busy for him.

Only thinkg i would be looking at is a safari trip possibly and something else similar if anything... but its not a necessity.


You can do a 2 day safari from hotel - works out about £150 for the 2 of u, you go from where you are right down to the Sahara desert,get all meals included, - optional extras - camel, horse and carriage or horse ride into desert (highly recommend) - and you see so many sights, - day 1 u could be picked up about 6am, get to hotel about 5pm but your on the coach for more than 1 1/2 without stopping to see something, then day 2 early start - where your see the sunrise over salt lakes, work back up, at hotel about 6pm ish.

Recommend the day trip to the Zoo - Frigai Park - its brilliant how it has been created as you walk around a horse shoe path and at one stage your walking above the lions. You can get a taxi which will wait at the park for you - we did that last time I went with DD and another couple came with us, it worked out at £40 all in.


Looking for somewhere that sort of almost guarentees sunny, lets go swimming in the sea weather.

I haven't stayed in Skanes, - I have always stayed in hammamet, I've stayed in about 6 different hotels over the years and this is my absolute favourite, we stayed there the last 2 years on the run, - stayed here about 6 times in total.

http://www.thomascook.com/ota/accommodation?position=1&departureDate=2014-10-04&maxTotalResponses=11&accommUrl=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50aG9tYXNjb29rLmNvbS9wYXBpL2Mtc29sci8yLjEvb2ZmZXIvcGFja2FnZS9IMDAwMjQwNy9kZXRhaWxzP2NvbnRlbnRJZD1hZWM1ZTQ3M2Q0MWY4ZWY0NTZlM2M1NGZhYjRhZDczM2QxNDYyYTUyYjM2OGQ3NTUmc3RhcnREYXRlPTIwMTQtMTAtMDEmZW5kRGF0ZT0yMDE0LTEwLTMxJmRlcEFpcnBvcnQ9TUFOJmR1cmF0aW9uPTcmYm9hcmRUeXBlPTEmYnJhbmQ9VENVMSZyb29tPVRXSU4wMiUyQzImc2Vhc29uQ29kZT1TMTQmZnJlZUNoaWxkRmxhZz1Obw==&packageId=&children=&hotelId=H0002407&returnDate=&lastFacetClicked=&prodBookCod=&tourOp=TCU1&passengers=2_&hotelOnly=N&boardBasis=&maxResponses=10&papiDepartureDate=20141010&packagesNumberOfPages=2&tabCode=HOME&brchName=TC+Style+Collection&prevCacheKey=TCH_02_10-Oct-2014HOME10hammamet-tunisiaRelevancy_ASC&hotelCode=H0002407&orderType=&departure=MAN&numberOfRooms=1&papiDeparture=Manchester&productId=&durationCattParamsWorkAround=&papiUrl=http://api.thomascook.com/papi/s-routed/1.1/offer/package/route{?resortCode,depAirport,occupation*,departureDate,context,duration,boardType*,sort,stars}&papiDestination=hammamet-tunisia&papiFlexible=true&duration=&cacheKey=TCH_02_10-Oct-2014HOME10hammamet-tunisiaRelevancy_ASC&season=&displayType=detailedView&packagesCurrentPage=0&destinationDisplay=Hammamet, Tunisia&papiDuration=&back2SrpUrl=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50aG9tYXNjb29rLmNvbS9wYXBpL2Mtc29sci8yLjEvb2ZmZXIvcGFja2FnZT9zb3J0PXJlY29tbWVuZGF0aW9uX2FzYyZzdGFydD0wJmVuZD05Jm9jY3VwYXRpb249MiZkZXBhcnR1cmVEYXRlPTIwMTQxMDAzJTJDMjAxNDEwMTcmZGVwQWlycG9ydD1NQU4mcmVzb3J0Q2F0ZWdvcnk9SGFtbWFtZXQ=&lastRoomIndex=0&papiDepartureCode=MAN&contentURICode=&

it is also available through First Choice - sentindo Phenicia

I've popped a few experiences from my trips at your thoughts to help.

Children are really welcome, everywhere they go the children are treated well, its not a case of seen and not heard, in the markets they do try to get you to buy something, but a firm no thank you does the trick.

Money wise - It is cheap out there.
A taxi from Phencia into Hammamet or Yassmine is around 5 dinars £2.

---xx

PompeyPete

The pros and cons about a holiday in Tunisia are often discussed on this forum.

The following is an excellent thread, and contains other useful very useful links...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4758772

LolaLemon, you've done the right thing in asking questions before committing your cash.

There are a few low-level scams that you should be aware of but doing a bit of homework beforehand will allow you to easily spot and avoid them.

People who get caught out with porters at airports obviously haven't done any homework before travelling.

Go to your local library and borrow a copy of Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for Tunisia. There's lots of v.useful stuff in the books and sufficient info about common scams and annoyances.

Have a look on the Tunisia forum on Trip Advisor too. Every question that you can think off gets regularly asked and answered.

If all you want is what's on offfer at or close to the hotel then choose a hotel in either Port el Kantenoui or Yasmine Hammamet. Both are only about a 40-50 minute transfer. Don't choose the cheapest hotels either, as generally you get what you pay for!

I find beaches in Tunisia to be little more than average. You get a lot of inshore seaweed which seems to keep very close to the shoreline. Quite a lot of debris and litter on the beaches, but good hotels will keep their 'private' patch clean.

Jelly fish aren't uncommon either, and whether they're around or nor not depends on prevailing sea and weather conditions.

Also with beaches, the Mediterranean is barely tidal, so anything that goes into the sea from outfall pipes has to go somewhere, and with barely any tide it stays inshore. Consequently a lot of people who moan about dodgy tummies blame the food, but it could easily be something they've swallowed in the sea. A lot of hotels strung along a relatively short length of coastline in a poor country probably means that there'll be stuff in the sea that you'd rather not think about!

And don't forget Tunisia is where the Arab Spring started, and although that was 3 years ago, all isn't well in Tunisia. There are Dark Forces at large and it could easily 'hit the fan' - nobody knows!