I have fucked up holiday

[Youagain2025]

I booked a holiday in tunisa. I have never been abroad before as an adult. I did not know tunisa is not a safe place to go. I didn't even know you could look it up. I just thought that if its not safe that all flights to that area stop . But that's not the case . I tried changing it but they told me I can't because airline operator do not go to the area I want . Its with tunisa airlines so basically it only gos to tunisa? . So i can't go change to a different destination. But unless I pay a load of money I can't cancel either.

Just to add . I do have learning difficulties. Which is probably why I did not realise all of this . I'm so pissed of

So if I go to the beach I would have to wear leggings and a t-shirt ?
Well you could if you want but most people wear shorts, sundresses and normal beach wear.

Normal clothes for a hotel, assuming you dress nicely
You can still wear su.mer clothes in the cities but I wear a thin cardigan to keep my arms covered.

You don't not have to be confined to the resort like a caged animal unless you are a pool lounger. It's great to explore.

You are getting yourself unnecessarily worked up.
Have you been to Turkey, Egypt, Morocco or similar?

swimwear fine at pool and on resort.

If out of resort best to keep shoulders, elbows and knees covered so loose top with long sleeves and light trousers. nothing tight or see through. I've been to egypt a lot cairo etc. it's really jusyt being respectful and avoiding unwanted attention - not just from men but women. Women may hiss at you if you are dressed in beachwear in the street.

And I feel like I would have to get changed every time we want to eat . I wanted to travel light to. I was just expecting . Vest tops /t shirts / shorts . Type thing . I'm thinking if I was say near the pool in shorts and a top I would then have to go get changed just to eat lunch/dinner . It just feels like hassle.

What on earth are you on about? You are making this way bigger than it is!

I think most people would spend the day in beach wear eg shorts vest tops etc and then get showered and changed in the evening for their meal either in the resort or off site whether they were in Tunisia or Spain!

I did miss that. Apologies Op.

As a woman who solo travelled all over Tunisia by public transport for a couple of weeks and staying in little locally owned guesthouses, I’m saddened by lots of these comments.

The people were so kind and generous and curious about foreigners, and the local food was very nice. The sights (El Jem, Dougga, Rabat, Sidi Bou Said, Tunis, Mosaic museums) are world-class. It felt much easier and calmer than Morocco or Turkey.

I don’t know why everyone says it’s so dangerous. It didn’t feel remotely scary to be there. I know there were terror attacks in the past, but that’s unfortunately common in a lot of countries now.

I just wore trousers / long skirt and a t-shirt and sunglasses. There are plenty of local women dressed like that.

OP: you can wear a bikini on the beach in tourist areas.
It's normal.

Just don't wear really skimpy clothing in shops etc.

No offence OP but you have Google!

Rather than relying on what people say here, it's best to do some research of your own.

There will be websites full of advice for visiting Muslim countries and advice on where is safe in Tunisia.

Have you even looked at Tripadvisor for that hotel?

On the resort you'd be fine in that. Maybe take a cover-up in case you start to feel cooler later in the day. If you're going to be going off the resort, a longer skirt/trousers and a long-sleeved top will be fine for most places.

I hope you don't take this the wrong way, because it's not meant unkindly, but it comes across as you've booked this holiday without looking into Tunisia or holiday booking processes very much, and I wonder if that's making this feel scarier because it's a lot of money being spent on an unknown.

Earlier, you mentioned learning difficulties and that this is the first time you've booked something like this - do you think your difficulties have impacted upon your decision-making? If so, is there someone you trust who you can ask for advice and help? They could look at what you've managed to book, give you their opinion on it, and help you sort any things out that need sorted.

If your difficulties mean that you may have not been able to understand what you were booking and the terms and conditions, then your doctor may be able to help you by writing a letter to the holiday booking company to explain this, if you decide not to go.

You mentioned on another thread that your adult DS was going with you, OP. Can he help with looking things up?

The place where you are going is a tourist resort, it’s as safe as anywhere. Tunisia is lovely, it’s clean and the food and staff were outstanding in the place we were last year.
re dress, in the resort/ beach just wear what you would wear if you were going to Spain or anywhere else hot. Bikini, shorts vest top by the pool and beach is fine. I think the point of people mentioning dress code is not to be wearing bra tops and hot pants if you went on a trip into more local, less touristy towns. It’s not extreme in the sense you have to be fully covered.
hotel restaurant may have a more respectful request in terms of dress code but so does everywhere, you’ll be doing well to find anywhere in Europe or even the Uk that don’t have a ‘no beach wear’ or ‘smart shorts/ trousers’ policy.

It says in your screenshot that you would get about £500 back of the £1,200 you've paid btw. You won't owe them.

OP in the nicest possible way you’re being a bit daft about the clothing thing. You wear what you’d wear to Spain or Greece, but be mindful it’s a different religion and culture and the women there tend to cover up more than Europeans do. Honestly, a lightweight cardigan or sarong to chuck over your shoulders is more than adequate. You’re winding yourself up and there’s no need, especially as you’re going with another adult. Stop flapping, please!

Agree with this, It's been a long time since I went but in my 20s I didn't get harassed at all. Different story in Morocco. I found Tunisians to be very friendly. You have to try Tunisian Bric ( sort of a a crispy pancake with filling)!!

Dear god OP. Its just like any other resort. Just wear your normal swimsuit or bikini. Even out of the resort (I was a woman on my own) i wore shorts and a vest top and it was perfectly fine. You're absolutely overreacting

OP, check out all the photos of your hotel on tripadvisor. People post their holiday snaps on there and you will see that people are wearing whatever they want on the beach, by the pool, in the restaurant.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g11789307-d482429-Reviews-or50-El_Mouradi_El_Menzah-Yasmine_Hammamet_Hammamet_Nabeul_Governorate.html#/media/482429/?albumid=101&type=ALL_INCLUDING_RESTRICTED&category=101

Just don't wear really skimpy clothing in shops etc.
To be fair, you shouldn't be doing that any where, not just in Tunisia. It's not great etiquette!

This.

Everywhere has an element of risk these days.

My Dad swears by a certain resort in Egypt. Very nice and very expensive but they have an armed guard to get them to and from the airport.

Sounds scary on paper but they have had incredible holidays there, as tens of thousands of people do every year.

No i have not been abroad as an adult. I would not.

I think its a mix of i read it,wasn't safe . Then worrying about what I can and can't wear . And then the fact I have never been away .

The woman I go to to have my nails done, went to Tunisia last year. She absolutely loved it and booked to go back within days of returning home. DH’s colleague it’s going this year, he loves it there, too.

I don’t think you should cancel, you’ll be fine.

Hi, I've not read all the messages but went to Tunisa with my 15 year old last year for half term. Fantastic weather and the women were all wearing shorter shorts then I'd allow my daughter to wear! 😂

Honestly I hardly looked i litterly looked at the pictures . And was looking for pretty much the cheapest I could find. That had a pool with some slides for the kids. Then I was worried the price coukd change. Then it gave me 30 mind to book it . Which is mot long for me. So I kind of done it in a panic.

I didn't think I needed help with it. Not at first anyway. My mind litterly said pool , slide beach. I did not think further than that . I definitely didn't think about clothing covering up etc .

Reception at the hotel will be happy to help with any questions you have when you are there. You can ask them about where it's safe for you to go outside the resort, if there are any restrictions on type of clothing, help organise safe outings and will either speak good English or getsomeone who does.

Aa you have never been abroad there will be things you aren't sure about. But reception will help. Don't trust other random people

As you become a more experienced traveller you will learn more about how to find things out and who to trust but for this trip I would stick to talking to reception.

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

No i have not been abroad as an adult. I would not.
I think its a mix of i read it,wasn't safe Then worrying about what I can and can't wear . And then the fact I have never been away*

OK, well enjoy your holiday.
You are going to a popular resort and the hotel looks lovely. Don't let worry spoil your first time away. Start planning about what you can do in the resort and what it's like nearby. Look forward to it!
Once you get there you'll see other people relaxing and enjoying themselves so hopefully you will feel better.

Great suggestion.

You don’t HAVE to cover up in the hotel restaurant or bar but it is polite to do it. No one will do or say anything but it’s a bit like a bloke going to the pub topless or a woman wearing Daisy Dukes and a bikini top in the supermarket. A bit 🙄 Most people change before they go to dinner or the bar anyway, they don’t go in their beach clothes. You probably don’t want to be wearing shorts and a vest top in an air conditioned restaurant either.

If you are going out shopping or sightseeing, don’t wear shorts, wear jeans, leggings or a skirt/dress that is below the knee. Don’t wear a crop top or anything with too much cleavage. Avoid vest tops, wear something that covers your shoulders with short sleeves, like a t shirt. It’s not that different from the UK.

Even if you were planning on taking only vest tops and shorts, you would just need to add a cardigan or shirt, to throw over the vest top and a long skirt or pair of jeans/trousers/leggings to put on at dinner or for sightseeing. It’s not very complicated, I promise 😁 I have a multipurpose sarong that works as a beach blanket, skirt, wrap and head scarf.

You’ll have a great time!