Tunisia in December

[proximalhumerous]

Has anyone been to Tunisia? (I realise I'm obviously not the first person ever to visit!)

a) Is it worth going (I'm thinking probably Sousse rather than Hammamet as it seems more cultural)?
b) Is it safe for a single female (not planning to travel widely, but don't want to be entirely restricted to the hotel complex)?
c) What is the quality of all-inclusive food like generally - or is it so varied that it's impossible to generalise? Looking at 4/5 star.
d) Is it pleasant in December (seems to be around 18 degrees)?
e) Is a 5-star hotel in Tunisia actually what you'd recognise as a 5-star hotel?

I'm thinking of a TUI package as they seem to be ridiculously cheap (c.£500). The one I've found could be either all-inclusive or half board.

I rather like the idea of food and drink on tap (although not planning to drink a lot of alcohol) and just lounging around with a book, interspersed with trips to some museums.

Additional question:

Does anyone know whether you can walk from the Gatwick Travelodge to the airport? It says it's a mile which is fine in terms of distance, but not sure whether it's accessible by foot. They don't appear to pick up the phone.

We were there in years ago with a toddler dd. It was absolutely awful, the worst holiday we’ve ever had. Felt unsafe if we left the hotel. We just stayed put with all the other holiday makers who felt the same. Had a terrifying experience in a taxi one night, I thought my dd would be taken and we’d be killed. I shit you not. It was that bad! I thought we’d never get home. Seems by the above replies I’m not alone.

Hello, I’ve been to morocco, Egypt, turkey and Tunisia (as well as lots of other countries) and like PPs Tunisia is the one I would not choose to go back to.

in Morocco, Egypt, turkey yes you get hassled, but they are just trying to sell their wares and I find you can generally have a laugh and joke with them. Tunisia felt more threatening, and as a woman felt very vulnerable.
I was with my husband but still found the men would stare at me and make me very uncomfortable- no jokey atmosphere here! This was even the hotel staff, which I’ve never experienced elsewhere.

based on my own experience I wouldn’t recommend a woman travels there on their own. That’s only my own personal experience so I’d say don’t go only on my word, but it seems the majority of comments here feel the same.

We’ve been to Tunisia many many times and it’s a lovely country, and one where I’ve always felt completely safe. I suppose it depends where you go but I much prefer towns in the south like Sfax, Zarzis and Gabes because they are far less touristy than Sousse and Hammamet. Djerba is lovely, and Bizerte in the north is nice too. It’s an easy country to travel round - the trains are really good and the standard of driving isn’t too bad if you hire a car, which is what we usually do.

Tunisian food can be wonderful and I think it’s very under rated, but I can’t comment on what it would be like in an all inclusive as we always book b&b and eat out. In general I don’t think a 5 star Tunisian hotel would be the same standard as in many European countries but we’ve found some delightful small boutique hotels in quieter areas, and I think my favourite hotel out of any we’ve ever stayed in was a little hotel just outside Zarzis.

I’ve never been to Tunisia as late in the year as December, but have been to Malta at that time of year several times, which is fairly close, and the weather has been pleasant but not really warm enough for all day sunbathing.

I woukd always recommend that people to to Tunisia with an open mind, and very importantly, remember that it is a Muslim country and dress respectfully.

I went half-board each time and stayed in 2 or 3⭐.
I'm a vegetarian.
The places I stayed in were low-key and not geared towards AI and families.
The culture is quite different to European resorts, so haggling in markets is to be expected.
Do not get a guide or go in a pony and trap, unless organised via the hotel/rep.

Just to add, thst I’ve been to Morocco and Egypt many times, and the amount of harassment in Tunisia is way way less than Egypt. I would walk around on my own in Tunisia late at night, whereas I wouldn’t walk to my local shops after dark in the area of south London where I live .

I would check for what is actually included and or limited within the package. Some AI only includes alcohol between certain times etc. additionally check whether there are multiple restaurants on site or just the one. The buffets can be great and give wide choice but generally all the food is better in the hotels where they have at least a couple of à la carte restaurants too. (Usually you’ll be limited to one meal per week at each à la carte restaurant)

if yiu are booking a package holiday who are you planning on booking with? I would recommend not taking taxis by yourself (because he roads can be terrifying rather than a threat from the driver), booking excursions with your tour operator would be good although I’m not sure how many will be running in December.

remember though that you can always make a friend or two in the hotel (if you want).

the amount of harassment in Tunisia is way way less than Egypt. Agree.

I wouldn’t walk to my local shops after dark in the area of south London where I live . I do, but have been asked if I'm looking for business more than once.

Genuinely the only place you couldn’t pay me to go back to. Absolutely no chance.

Thanks. I think all the hotels I've looked at have had multiple restaurants. Although I am now rather going off the idea!!

@proximalhumerous , look at Djerba. It's got an airport and is popular with Germans. Kerkennah is also nice but there's not much there and the ferry is grim. Go in the spring.

For a December holiday I'd be looking at the Canaries.

I really love the Kerkennah islands. It’s so quiet and peaceful. We’ve been going there on and off for over 40 years and it’s still not much different from the first time we went.

@Growlybear83 , I loved it. So peaceful. Would definitely go again. Also Djerba.

I have been to Tunisia twice, once 20 years ago under Ben Ali and again this summer!

The country has been through a lot in the last 20 years, but it very much feels like things are now improving (There was several years of the country being ruled by a conservative minority government, was overthrown by peaceful demonstrations and by the ballot box)

I would say that Tunisia is more liberal and safe for women than Egypt and Morocco- women’s equal rights were enshrined in the constitution when it became a republic from France about 60 years ago.

No issue with wearing shorts etc…

We stayed in Yasmine Hammamet (the hotel set around a medina) which was noisy at night because people (mostly Tunisias) were partying until late in the night!

The food both in the hotel and outside was really good!

There is so much history in the country, and we visited Tunis, Carthage, Sidi bou saiid, El Jem, Karouan and the old town of Hammamet. We stayed in Skanes last time, and spent a lot of time in Monstair and Sousse -so didn’t feel the need to repeat them (They filmed the life of Brian in the Rabat there) so well worth a visit’

The weather can be a bit hit and miss in December, but warm compared to the UK.

To be honest, I am surprised by the negative comments on the thread.

I used to be cabin crew, flew to Tunisia hundreds of times, based on the sad faces and smelly toilets on the way home it's not somewhere I'd choose.

Not somewhere I would return to.