Tunisian money/language question

ClaireLR

I have read somewhere that the exchange rate for dinar is approximately 2.5 to the pound. Can anyone confirm if this is correct? Thick question as well but what's the equivalent of "pence" over there (not sure if I've explained that to well - I mean you get pounds and pence here, you get dinar and ???? in Tunisia)

Also I wonder if anyone can point me in the direction of any websites where I could learn a bit of basic Arabic to get me through - hello, please, thank you that kind of thing. I mentioned to one of my neighbours that I was off to Tunisia and he said that it helps if you know how to politely (but firmly) tell the unwanted salesmen to b****r off in their own language!! :rotfl:

Has anyone been to Tunisia recently? What's the weather like? I'm off to Hammamet next Sunday I can't wait!! :j[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HOME/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

pennylane99

take Euros...

you cant take tunisian currency in or out of the country

kb36

A bit of French goes a long way too if you know any seeing as it's an ex protectorate!

ClaireLR

Oooh I do know a bit French - not to much mind!!

I'd be happy if I could just say hello, goodbye, please and thank you and also tell the salesmen no in a firm manner.

Really looking forward to going now!!

dzug

Why take euros? You will pay to get them and again when you change them for dinars.

kb36

If you want help with the French let me know..... Have a great time!

h007

i went to tunisia in november and had a great time. stayed in port el kantaoui which was a very nice area but also heard good things about hammet.

personally i took euro travellers cheques with me. i know i paid to get them changed twice but it is safer than taking cash.

tunisians are really friendly and the ones in resort areas speak good english - even swear words and phrases like lovely jubbly! i booked last minute and didnt have time to learn arabic but got on fine

would recommend the 2 day trip to the sahara. watching the sunset on a camel in the sahara is amazing!!

[Deleted User]

ClaireLR wrote: »

I have read somewhere that the exchange rate for dinar is approximately 2.5 to the pound. Can anyone confirm if this is correct? Thick question as well but what's the equivalent of "pence" over there (not sure if I've explained that to well - I mean you get pounds and pence here, you get dinar and ???? in Tunisia)

Go to www.oanda.com and click on FXconverter

cbdynamo

Claire, thought I'd give you a link for exchange rates .. Tunisian dinar is down the page a bit, and the rate will be present day. http://www.exchange-rates.org/currentRates/F/GBP

It's dinar and millem. Bring pounds or Euros; your call. Rates change every day, and it's easy to find places to exchange money.

We have been to Tunisa 3 times in 1 1/2 years (we love it!) and have met locals just from wandering around the Medina in Sousse. We were on a Thomson holiday and booked a hotel with them as well. We stayed at Tour Khalef, with a huge (cold) pool and a stones throw from downtown, but far enough out that it was quiet. Great staff, incredible food and on a beautiful stretch of beach.

weather: http://weather.yahoo.com/regional/TSXX.html

Train travel is REALLY easy, and cheap, despite getting loads of wrong answers from the hotel staff. We went to Mahdia (fab .. go to the hamam or 'Turkish' baths) El Jem colliseum (you HAVE to see it .. The town hasn't much to offer, but the collisseum and museum nearby are AMAZING) and also to Tozeur (7 hours!!) by train. Tried to see the Lizeard Rouge, but with 2 small children, it was just too much.
Get your hands on the Lonely Planet guide, which can point you out in the right direction for accomodation and good tips (like, WOMEN COVER THEIR ARMS and generally don't show much skin ..)
The vendors at the medina (market) can be pretty full-on, but having got to know many of them, I found if you beat them to it and say hello, how are you, just looking, they are dis-armed and leave you to it.
Oh, one more thing, do not pay more than 250 millem for mint tea. If you get charged more, you are being robbed. Make sure they tell you the price first. If it comes in a pot, it will be more expensive, but the locals pay no more than 250 for a glass...

Have a ball!

Idiophreak

I went to Hammamet for a week last summer...I don't speak much in the way of foreign languages, but I managed just fine. Granted, I didn't really leave the resort/beach that much (why would you leave the beach!!? ), but the bulk of guys we spoke to were wandering up and down the beach speaking english, french, italian and russian...

Fairly sure that anyone out there will understand "NO" anyway

puffinmuffin

Arabic for thank you is "shukran" I spoke mostly french but always said this at the end ( No, thank you is "laa shukran" for the salesmen!)
El Jem is fab, especially if you get there early or late after the buses have gone, we had it to ourselves!