Holiday Advice for Trips to Tunisia

[TLB]

Hello,

I have just booked to go to Tunisia in Sept 04. I was wondering if people could add advice and tips on Holiday experiences in Tunisia. The stuff i am looking for is: thing to watch out for (taxis, haggling etc.), Good restaurants, fun bars, etiquette (tipping, clothing and customs/laws) and general need to know things.

I am going to Port El Kantaoui, and i look forward to your replies. I'll try and remember to post a review when i get back.

[polly]

hello TLB, we just got back from Kantaoui on Sunday 16th May. This was our twelth holiday in Tunisia but we usually stay in Monastir. Weather is fantastic at the moment - about 31 degs but does get breezy around 3pm.
We stayed at Sol El Mouradi and have to say the food was 5* in a 3* somewhat shabby hotel. Kantaoui used to be a lovely resort a little bit more up market with a few really unusual shops in amongst the tat shops. have to say we were disappointed this time as all the shops now seem to be tat!! There are plenty of bars and restaurants around the marina where you can sit out and have a drink - most unusual because usually you can only get alcohol in the hotels as it is a fairly strict Moslem country. It also helps if you can speak a little French - especially if you go off on your own into the medina at Sousse - which is a must. Saffron is an excellent buy - they call it Zaffran (for cooking and very expensive here).

don't know if you're male or female but the waiters do tend to make a beeline for available girls ! General protocol is if they offer you a drink in a shop they expect you to buy - always haggle start at around a third and pay around half to three quarters - you can always walk away and if they really want to sell to you and are happy with the price(although they never admit it) they will call you back and do the deal. If they don't come after you you can always try another shop and there are hundreds all selling the same things. There are also fixed price shops where you pay the advertised price but haggling is fun and you always come away feeling you've got a bargain. Be careful of the leather - if it smells really strong it's usually camel hide and when you're in bed sleeping next to that pair of slippers the smell can be quite overpowering. Be polite and have a joke with them - we have never had any problems and we were also there just after the 1st gulf war and were warned that some holidaymakers had been verbally abused, but have to say we never experienced it.

If you go to any mosques you should be reasonably dressed and they like the women to cover their arms. Cds are very cheap - about �2.50 - they may or may not be rip offs but we've found them to all be ok. If you have time do go on the trip to the Sahara - it's very tiring but worth it. The exchange rate is very good at the moment - 2 Tunisian Dinars to the � but you are not supposed to bring it out of the country as it is a restricted currency. Don't change too much money at the end of your holiday as although you can change it back at the airport you lose approx. 30%. You can use dinars in the cafe in the departure lounge but not in the duty free or shops. There are also horrendous queues in the airport - first when you arrive going through passport controla and the same back out and through the body scanners - the Tunisians seem to have adopted the Spanish manyana attitude.

We have made good friends there and are still in touch with them now and go to their homes for dinner - an experience in itself. There is usually plenty of nightlife in the hotels - discos / bingo / cabaret and drag shows. And don't forget to have the obligatory camel ride - I'm sure you'll love it there. You will see horse and carts as standard on the roads, old men in biblical type clothes riding side saddle on donkeys and herds of sheep being driven along main roads in the towns and many of the older women still wear traditional Tunisian costume - it is a fantastic place and a wonderful mix of ancient and modern. Bon Voyage.

[Trisha2657]

Hello

I am just trying to find out all I can as well regarding a holiday in Tunisia. I am thinking of going to the same resort you have booked in at the beginning of July. Which hotel have you chosen for your trip? Just really wanted you to have the URL of this very good site which gives lots of reviews of hotels in that area. Here it is; hope it helps. If I find anything else out will post a message. www.holidaywatchdog.com Have a good holiday!

[superscouse]

:bom:

HOTEL : SOL EL MOURADI PORT EL KANTOUI

Panorama charters LBT*** are Nouvellair a tunisian charter airline. On the way out the seats were so tight I couldnt even get the table fully down. My wife had a baby in her arms so that was even worse. Very bad start.

Got to Monastir and reps directed us to prebooked cab at 23 euro return which was waiting ready to go. Perfect at 5am in the morning with a 13 month old baby. Check in easy as we had beat the crowd and a few hours sleep before breakfast.

Room was average size and functional. Very clean but wardrobe space limited. Bathroom clean but needed to be refurbished. TV had BBC World and NBC2 movie channel with subtitles in Arabic. After a while you dont even notice the subtitles along the bottom. Then there was all the french / german channels as well.

Staying half board the food was fine although a little repetitive. It is self service so repeat trips are no problem. I saw no evidence of people "dipping their fingers in" as reported previously on some sites although that would not be the hotels fault. Bottled water at 2 dinar each for 1.5l can be got from the waiters which were popular but the supermarket had the same for 500 millimes. There are 2 large pools and 2 kids pools with loads of space and sun loungers although you pay 1 dinar for a mattress.

There is a sign outside to say food and drink cannot be brought in but everyone does it. Go out the front gate and turn right. There is a supermarket 2 mins walk and they supply black plastic carrier bags for discretion. Dont flaunt your purchases and there should not be a problem. Watch out for the beer in the S/market though. I bought some stella cans and later found them to be non - alcoholic !! The cabs are really cheap - about 2, or 3 dinars at night to the marina. Very posh but I had an icecream sundae from a cafe and on the right next to the fountain. I WAS IN BED FOR 3 DAYS WITH FOOD POISIONING. Thank you Mr Walid for helping my wife get to a chemist. If you need anything in this hotel, he is helpful and to the point.

The panorama trips are ok. Can really recommend the SHAKA night. Lots of food and soft drinks included with a good show followed by disco.

Down by the harbour you have a pub called the Golf Brau house which is very good for food and drink. Across from that is an aqua park but I didnt go in so cannot comment.

The shops get boring though, all the same goods in every shop and they start prices way to high. It is a game. I manage a shop at home and they annoyed me more than anything. They will follow you down the street to offer you ever increasing discounts. I did get a great 3/4 length coat for 190 euros. All leather is what to buy from shoes to belts etc, etc.

Port El Kantoui is perfect for a chill holiday. There is nothing there only a great beach and big hotels. Lots of watersports available plus archery, darts, volleyball etc, etc, but leave your hotel and there is NOTHING !!

On the way back, at check in, some new friends we made were checked in for the Gatwick flight instead of the Dublin flight. The dopey clerk had a row of people for Gatwick so never checked their tickets. Our friends noticed and they had to retrieve the bags from the london bound plane!!!

Finally, the dutyfree at monastir is very good. They take Euro and Sterling. I got 1L Jameson whiskey for 15.50 Euro - it was 18 in Dublin.
200 Benson and H for 18 Euro (25 in Dub)
200 Marlboro Lights for 20 Euro (25 in Dub)

The plane Novellair was the same if not cheaper.

All in all, it was nice for quiet holiday. Not a place to go for action.

Just ask yourself what you want.