AIBU to wonder why holidays to Tunisia are so much cheaper?

For a Muslim country it’s not friendly for women in Hijab. A few Muslims tourists have reported being denied entry to beaches for covering up.

My nephew and his girlfriend went the week before the terrorist attack happened and they stayed at the same hotel. They said it was awful and couldn’t wait to come home.

I wouldn’t go. I’d sooner sit at home in the rain tbh.

I’m 55 and my parents took me and my sister there when I was 20 mths old. Obviously I can’t remember but they still go on about how much of a dump it was, I know it’s probably changed, but obviously the first impression has lasted with them.

Because it's a shithole with awful men
HTH

My friend and his wife went recently and was locked inside a shop with another couple and their kids and told they had to buy things to leave (they did not and forced their way back out)

Tried a local pub and the bar owner next door got into a fight as they both wanted their custom.

Followed by young children selling shells and bracelets on the beach relentlessly.

They said they ended up just staying in the hotel for most of the time but would have liked to explore / shop / eat out, but it just wasn't worth the stress.

Sounded awful tbh

I went about 20 years ago so things may have changed.

Loved loved loved all the historic sites.

Years of rubbish and litter piling up everywhere.

Hated the men. non stop groping even though I was appropriately covered up at all times. At one point I was surrounded by 3 sticking their hands up my top. I stopped to buy something at a shop and the shopkeeper took a firm grasp on my arse. I did not feel safe leaving the hotel after dark and I'm not easily scared. Most (not all, there were a couple of exceptions who were nice to me in a normal way) of the men seemed to really despise western women. I had an ice-cream in a little bowl in a cafe - got to the bottom to find a few pubes delightfully added there for me. I ventured to the beach once and immediately turned tail due to the row of leering men lined up at the edge.

Because it’s like Egypt. But Egypt is starting to attract the big luxury brand hotels now to challenge Turkey like Rixos etc

Couldn't pay me to go back to Sousse

So far I’ve seen far fewer animals than in Morocco.

I haven’t been, but my friend has recently been - on a girls trip for a 40th - and they were absolutely fine.

I am there now! I arrived today on a solo break for the week. I work 7 days, am a single mum (of older teens), and just wanted a few days to myself on the beach.
My first thought on shuttling to my hotel was that they should do away with the blue plastic bags they give away at supermarkets. I assume that’s what they are. They are EVERYWHERE. Not lying around the street but caught up in trees and things. Lots of flytipping, rubble, etc. I know that very few places actually create a good impression en route from the airport, but still …
We passed stray dogs on the beach. What an existence in this heat 😢
And the heat!! I knew it would be hot but I’ve never experienced anything like this. I had thought about doing trips but I’m honestly not sure I could.
I’ve been catching up on sleep today so haven’t done anything so far, but my hotel does seem really lovely. And my sea view is to die for! It came as standard, whereas in many other places you’d pay a lot more. I don’t know what my TripAdvisor review will say at this stage.

Went and loved it (couple of years before the terrorist attack). Got far more hassle off men in Egypt. Would happily go again!

What is the treatment of their horses,donkeys and camels ?

I found Egypt to be horrendous and I;d never go back .

DH and I went around 12/13 years ago, i think only a few weeks before the attack on the beach. Stayed in a 3/4* hotel, did the 2 day trip to stars wars sites etc. It was fine when in the hotels and on the trip, but when venturing out into the town near the hotel we got hassled and I got touched inappropriately

I went to Djerba. Pretty place with nice food. I covered up every time I went out but there are lots of French tourists so lots of bare female heads, legs, shoulders and cleavage. It didn't appear to be a problem. I wasn't expecting to like Tunisia but the people were lovely and I felt a little pang leaving.

My comment may no longer be relevant as my holiday was 1989. I hated it and couldn’t wait to leave. I was 17 though and it was my first holiday abroad. I wanted to go somewhere more exotic. My better travelled friend who was 10 years older took it all in her stride. I couldn’t handle the constant male attention.

My freinds said their daughters were hassled even within the hotel.

It's the Turkey of Africa

Tunisia has been a tourist destination for decades.
It’s ok if you arrive at your all inclusive hotel and don’t leave but be prepared to be hassled if you venture out.
The terrorist attack on the beach has definitely tainted the country for tourists.

Friends of mine were taking a taxi back to their hotel from somewhere and the driver stopped in the middle of nowhere, told them to get out then drove off laughing.

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

I'm keen to go to ancient Carthage before I kick the bucket. But I'll be old and fairly infirm, I travel alone and don't have that much money. Should I ditch this idea for good?

Other historic destinations are available, I just have a bee in my bonnet about this one.

Can you share the hotel please? I've looked at Tunisia a few times but haven't seen a 5 star hotel that actually looks 5 star yet..! Just browsing on the usual sites.

I've been, I loved it, I was 18 and didn't feel at all harassed walking around the towns and markets. We did a 2 day coach trip across the country and into the Sahara, it was great.

But since then there was a terrorist attack on western tourists. Understandably western tourists stopped going after that. I presume the cheap prices are trying to encourage people back.

It's not safe, especially for women? That's going to affect the price.

Friends took their teenage daughters. The DH said it was the most stressful 2 weeks of his life.

It’s unsafe, women will be pestered and harassed by men unless you stay solely in your all inclusive hotel. It’s a cheap country and I would not want to go there on holiday, same as Egypt etc. Also possibility of terrorist attacks and if things kicked off like they did in Dubai earlier this year, you’d have very little chance of getting out quickly. It’s a firm no from me. And I have travelled extensively through other dubious regions like South America and Russia.