Tunisia...

[scirocco265]

Thinking about going to Tunisia at the end of May for a couple of weeks. Anyone been/got any advice they can share, i.e. where to go/where to avoid, things to do etc... ?

[Bec]

Spent 3 weeks there travelling around (not a package trip). What kind of holiday do you want - beach, experiencing souks etc, roman ruins, all of the above?

[ferkle]

its a fantastic country to visit. We travelled around most of the country in our two weeks there, but missed a few things. Again it depends on what you are after.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Has it improved in recent years? I went about 15 years ago and thought it was the worst sthole ever - the whole country seamed to exists soley to rip off tourists, with the most blatant application of 'foreign bd tax' I have ever experienced...

[rhinochopig]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Has it improved in recent years? I went about 15 years ago and thought it was the worst sthole ever - the whole country seamed to exists soley to rip off tourists, with the most blatant application of 'foreign bd tax' I have ever experienced...

That was my experience too. A holiday shouldn't be about having to threaten physical violence to people who will not let you walk past them - literally moving in front of you when you try to step around them blocking your path. It's like being mugged politely

I'm guessing if you avoid the tourist areas things are much better though.

[Gaffer]

Come next door, we have better weather, better cars (some actually have doors that shut..!) and no nasty people mugging you. If you say NO, then they respect it.

[drillfield47]

Have been twice............both times were the same as others have said, tourist trap and the beer was pretty ropey!!

Too much hard work hagglin for cheap tourist rubbish so never ended up bringing anything back!!

[scirocco265]

Hmmm... bit of a mixed lot then... was thinking about going somewhere 'a bit different' this year (i.e. not the usual Spain, Greece, Egypt etc). Anyone able to recommend an alternative (short haul) destination? Morocco??

[Gaffer]

Ahem

[bazking69]

If you want any form of nightlife forget Port El Kantaoui. We had to get a 15 minute taxi ride everytime we wanted something remotely lively.

[Bill]

scirocco265 said:

Hmmm... bit of a mixed lot then... was thinking about going somewhere 'a bit different' this year (i.e. not the usual Spain, Greece, Egypt etc). Anyone able to recommend an alternative (short haul) destination? Morocco??

It depends what you want. I really like Tunisia as the less touristy bits are less touristy than Morocco IYSWIM. There's the desert, the ksours (fortified villages), Roman ruins, salt plains, Star Wars film sets and Sfax which has one of the least touristy souks I've visited.

The coastal resorts are truly dire though.

Or as Gaffer says, there's always Libya...

[tuffer]

I've just come back from a couple of weeks in Morocco, that was pretty good. I have never heard a good word about Tunisia (except what is in a few posts above).

[Amateurish]

Gaffer said:

Come next door, we have better weather, better cars (some actually have doors that shut..!) and no nasty people mugging you. If you say NO, then they respect it.

Sorry for the off-topic - what is Libya like for independent travel? I'm sure I remeber reading that you have to have an official government "guide" with you at all times. I've been meaning to read up on Libya for a while but wasn't sure whether it welcomes independent travellers yet.

[Granville]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Has it improved in recent years? I went about 15 years ago and thought it was the worst sthole ever - the whole country seamed to exists soley to rip off tourists, with the most blatant application of 'foreign bd tax' I have ever experienced...

Same here, dreadful place, got really bad food poisoning, hotel was meant to be 5* but was the biggest sthole out. Even tried to get flights back home after a few days of being there, but all the flights were booked as others had the same idea.

Unless it has changed drastically then I'd never go again.

[bazking69]

Went in 2006 and it wasn't worth recommendation then...

[Gaffer]

Amateurish said:

Gaffer said:

Come next door, we have better weather, better cars (some actually have doors that shut..!) and no nasty people mugging you. If you say NO, then they respect it.

Sorry for the off-topic - what is Libya like for independent travel? I'm sure I remeber reading that you have to have an official government "guide" with you at all times. I've been meaning to read up on Libya for a while but wasn't sure whether it welcomes independent travellers yet.

Not really met any tourists myself (tend not to go where they would be). A lot of people still come in groups, and go on tours to Sabratha/Leptis/Ghadames as is easier in a group. People come out to visit family/friends and stay in hotels - Radisson Blu has just opened - so I guess you can come on your own.

I can hunt round for you if you want..?

Claire

[Soir]

went 5* all incl couple of years ago (I know you could be anywhere with these) food was awful.

gambled with our lives venturing out into the local town (bagdadi I kid you not)for a meal

[Bill]

Granville said:

Same here, dreadful place, got really bad food poisoning, hotel was meant to be 5* but was the biggest sthole out. Even tried to get flights back home after a few days of being there, but all the flights were booked as others had the same idea.

Unless it has changed drastically then I'd never go again.

You should have done what we did and hired a car

Amateurish said:

an official government "guide"

It's not what you fear - they're not the secret police (or whatever) but they're also not really a guide (unless you get lucky). The "guide" system was started after some tourists trashed some prehistoric rock art while trying to take a cast of it. Ours was quite surprised to be expected to camp in the desert with us

They are quite helpful in negotiating the numerous police roadblocks (and organising the multiple pieces of paper required).

[SwanJack]

We went a few years back and had an awful time as well. The Hotel Staff were constantly trying to rip us off, the food was shocking and I caught something that after having giving me the sh*ts for twelve hours, knocked me out so much that I slept for another eighteen. The only saving grace of the holiday was visting El Gem and a traditional meal close to the Sahara of baby camel. When my Accountant went he had money stolen from his hotel room. The local Police arrested his eighteen year old son and locked him up as they preferred to think that he had done it, rather than a local. They let him go when his dad decided not to push matters.

Edited by SwanJack on Tuesday 23 March 15:20

[LuS1fer]

scirocco265 said:

Hmmm... bit of a mixed lot then... was thinking about going somewhere 'a bit different' this year (i.e. not the usual Spain, Greece, Egypt etc). Anyone able to recommend an alternative (short haul) destination? Morocco??

It's pretty damning to write off an entire country. If you go to somewhere less developed in Spain, like Almeria, you have the choice of fabulous natural scenery and you can do a day trip to Africa.

If you're more experimental and would consider long haul, I would highly recommend Kerala in southern India. Fabulous country, cheap as chips when you're there and very hospuitable and very different. We went twice but it's too far with young kids (10-12 hours).