Tunisia....

[Davie_GLA]

So as a change we've booked up to go to Tunisia for a couple of weeks at the end of May.

We have a four year old so we thought it best to book into one of the 'Holiday Villages' in Hammamet.

We've never been before and are used to Florida for the past 5 years which is by no means a relaxed holiday.

I'm looking forward to just chilling out for a couple of weeks with the hatchling and doing not a lot.

Current affairs in Libya etc. are worrying but not too much. Yet.

So, who's been? What's the climate like? Anyone been to these holiday village set ups and had a bad time?

D.

[tuffer]

Do you have a cancellation policy or cooling off period?

[Thom987]

Been once, wouldn't rush back. Horrible, lecherous people when you leave the resort, they just will not take NO for an answer. On the plus side the weather was excellent, if a little hot at times and the food was very good.

[Davie_GLA]

Cooling off no, cancellation yes but at a cost.

Porquois?

[tuffer]

It will be a big change from Florida, maybe more than you have bargained for. I have never heard a single person say a good thing about the place. I have traveled quite widely and don't mind a bit of rough and ready but Morocco was pretty crap and Tunisia is a step down.

Edited to add:

I hope you can prove me wrong, I would hate for you to not have a great holiday. I also have to go there and Algeria for work so I would be happy to hear its brilliant with free beer and topless barmaids.

[Davie_GLA]

See when i posted this thread i expected a mix of opinions.

We probably won't leave the resort, i've heard lots about the people that approach you when you're out and about. I'm a bit paranoid about my daughter and wife being pestered to death not to mention being offered anything you can think of on your journeys.

Plan is to take full advantage of the resort and keep within it's walls.

[a311]

Thom987 said:

Been once, wouldn't rush back. Horrible, lecherous people when you leave the resort, they just will not take NO for an answer. On the plus side the weather was excellent, if a little hot at times and the food was very good.

Agree with this accept I'd go back under the right circumstances. We went not long after the dust had settled last April and it was dirt cheap for a week All Inclusive I think we paid something like £500 for both of us in 4* hotel. We'd been stressed out with work etc and just wanted a week by a pool with a book or ten. Weather, food, room everything was spot on and I'd paid 4 times as much a head for the same elsewhere/further afield for the same or poorer standard.

We didn't wander out the grounds, it looked scummy and got hassled every day by a guy trying to sell camel rides but they were just trying to scratch a living when tourist numbers had been low this was no doubt amplified.

If you don't plan to go out the hotel much and choose a good hotel I really don't see how you could have nay issues. Short flight, sunshine. Can't really knock it.

[a311]

tuffer said:

I have never heard a single person say a good thing about the place.

Ah now you can say you have..... OK will try and not to make this NOT sound like a willy wave but I've also travelled a reasonable amount, some cheap holidays, some expensive ones and allot of variety in there (driving holidays, adventure type things, ski allot, and beach holidays). Most expensive beach type holiday was probably the Maldives, obviously given the choice all things being equal I'd go there over the Tunisia but it cost more than 10 times as much.

I enjoyed Tunisia.

[Davie_GLA]

a311 said:

Ah now you can say you have..... OK will try and not to make this NOT sound like a willy wave but I've also travelled a reasonable amount, some cheap holidays, some expensive ones and allot of variety in there (driving holidays, adventure type things, ski allot, and beach holidays). Most expensive beach type holiday was probably the Maldives, obviously given the choice all things being equal I'd go there over the Tunisia but it cast more than 10 times as much.

I enjoyed Tunisia.

Given i know nothing about the place can you give an insight into the general 'feel' of the place. I don't want to land there with a pre-loaded hatred for the place and would really relish the chance to simply spend some time with my wife and daughter.

D

[a311]

Davie_GLA said:

a311 said:

Ah now you can say you have..... OK will try and not to make this NOT sound like a willy wave but I've also travelled a reasonable amount, some cheap holidays, some expensive ones and allot of variety in there (driving holidays, adventure type things, ski allot, and beach holidays). Most expensive beach type holiday was probably the Maldives, obviously given the choice all things being equal I'd go there over the Tunisia but it cast more than 10 times as much.

I enjoyed Tunisia.

Given i know nothing about the place can you give an insight into the general 'feel' of the place. I don't want to land there with a pre-loaded hatred for the place and would really relish the chance to simply spend some time with my wife and daughter.

D

As I said matey I didn’t venture out so my opinions are very narrow but I’ll try my best. The airport isn’t a good intro to the country, long queues at the immigration then when you get outside blokes trying to put your cases on a trolley. Either let them do it and give them a quid or just say no, they weren’t pushy.

Drove through a number of settlements on the way to the hotel, quite interesting seeing dead sheep strung up outside which I assume was a butchers, or just grandma preparing supper…… Like I said looked a bit grotty in places too with piles of rubbish scattered on the side of the road though out the journey. Interesting seeing 2 or sometimes 3 'youths' on mopeds no helmets or shoes most of the time, actually interesting to watch!

Hotel staff were without exception friendly, helpful, and not scrounging for tips. Hotel was very new and actually rather plush in the general areas particulary and was quite grand. Excellent food and no issues with stomach upsets-we stayed in the Iberostar Mansour, it was funny to see some of the English translations, best was some, what I assume to be Turkey sausages called ‘worried turkey’ I would be worried if I ate one…..

If you’re just looking to go and spend a week with your wife and daughter and know the cons of stepping outside the hotel grounds I can’t see how you could be disappointed really.

[Davie_GLA]

Thanks, that's reassuring in a way.

My only gripe is that the hotel is a long way away from the airport, i think it's about 2 hours. I'm hoping the bus has air con and my daughter behaves, otherwise i hope their beer is plentiful.

[Bec]

I travelled around Tunisia (independently) a few years ago. Yes the locals hassle, but not too much, and if you're female you have to be prepared for some attention (even from guys walking along with their wives). However that said, I didn't feel threatened at any point during the trip, even when walking through the souk in the centre of Tunis alone.

Aside from that I had a great time - I went from Djerba, into Matmata, up to Hammamet, Sidi Bou Said, Tunis and then up to Tabarka, before finishing in the Sahara for a couple of nights.

I'm guessing that as the number of tourists have declined there has been an increase in the hassle level. I don't speak any Arabic, but am comfortable in French, which may have helped people get the message. For walking around outside of a hotel complex a pair of dark sun glasses are great as people can't tell where you are looking. I was also careful to dress "respectfully" - i.e. covering my shoulders and making sure I had a knee length skirt/pair of shorts on apart from in Tunis.

I was in Morocco last year, and the difference that covering my shoulders made was unbelievable - from absolutely no hassle covered up to driving me crazy within 3 minutes uncovered. I'm not talking anything major - just sticking to short sleeved tops rather than strappy vests etc.

Hope that helps, and you have a good time

[Project C]

We went a few years ago half board for a week - the hotel was great, the weather was fantastic, staff were perfect, other tourists were a 'mare, locals when out all seemed to work behind the scenes so they "knew me" but i wouldn't have seen them I hated the Souk, Mrs Project thought it was great but if you are staying in the resort it doesn't matter what country you are in really does it?

[dazco]

Awful hole. I have been to many places in this world and would go back to any one of them readily, but I would never go back to this flea pit.

It has nothing going for it whatsoever

[Bill]

dazco said:

Awful hole. I have been to many places in this world and would go back to any one of them readily, but I would never go back to this flea pit.

It has nothing going for it whatsoever

Apart from the roman ruins, the souks (if you avoid the touristy ones), the ksours and the desert and salt plains. And the Star Wars sets.



I like Tunisia, been a couple of times and travelled independently. I don't like beach resorts but the Tunisian ones don't seem any different to the few others I've seen. Out of the resorts covering up helps avoid the hassle and "no thank you" in Arabic ("la shukran" IIRC) is enormously effective.

[zcacogp]

Been once. Would be very happy never to go back. It's a lovely country utterly let down by it's people.

However, if this is the plan:

Davie_GLA said:

We probably won't leave the resort ... Plan is to take full advantage of the resort and keep within it's walls.

... then you are effectively asking how good the hotel is likely to be. The weather will probably be good and if you are really not going outside of the hotel then whether the country is good, bad or indifferent won't make any difference.

If you post the name of the hotel on here then others may well have heard of it and be able to give you the low-down. Apart from that, go and have a good time.

(An aside; Tunisia is a shame, as it has the potential to be a great place. The beaches are good, the weather fantastic and there is a reasonable amount of scenery and culture to be seen. But given that the people all appear to be on a mission to rip you off, steal from you or con you out of money at the least opportunity, leer and letch at any western female and generally make your life unpleasant, it will never be a great place to go.)


Oli.

[andym1603]

We have been to Tunisia seven times, once to Hammamet (Dar Kayam) and the rest at the "Houda" in Skanes. If you have never
been before you may not enjoy it. At first when you get to your hotel you think that looks nice with the security on the front
gate, then the drive to the hotel where the entrance is bordered by pillars which open to a shiny marble clad reception area where
all your details, that you have already filled in on the visa card, are taken again. A porter will carry your bags to your room, where he will expect to be tipped for doing so.
Your room will look like the brochure picture but will not be as clean or decorated. They go for combinations of white and blue gloss.
The hotel staff will work hard and are polite, most will speak to you as English is one of probably nine languages they can speak.
Every hotel will have a core selection of locals selling things like Camel tours, quad biking and safaris. The holiday reps will even give you the hard sell to a caberet night in a local nightclub or a night on the piss. All will cost obviously it is up to you. The food is basic but edible. If you read the comments on Trip Advisor take them with a pinch of salt (sorry). Some of these people expect fine dining, I even read that someone complained that nappies were not supplied,ffs..
Remember that Tunisia is a third world country but it is trying to become a popular tourist destination.
Take out travel insurance,the best you can afford. We were last there in 2010 when we had a medical emergency that involved my wife coming home by air ambulance after an extended stay in a specialist hospital.
That aside we will be going back to visit the friends we have made there.
Do not let this put you off, if you go there with an open mind you will enjoy it. We did.

[kiwifraser]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...