Tunisia as a lone mother

[theresalwaysguineapigcurry]

I know mumsnet has many horror stories about Tunisia.
I have booked flights as I really want to see the abandoned Star Wars sets with my two kids (5 and 8). I am a lone parent and go all over the world with them, however I am nervous about this one for some reason.
Is it some unconcious islamaphobia or is there really something to be concerned about?
I've been to Morocco as a lone female (pre kids) and it was fine. If it makes any difference I am dark haired and skinned so I'm not sure if that helps. One of my kids looks like me but the other one is pale and has light brown hair. Regardless, we won't pass for Tunisian due to our lack of French or Arabic!
Also, do we go all inclusive (not my usual style but probably cheapest and less stressful) or book somewhere in the city with a kitchen? I think I would feel guilty eating so much when there is so much poverty, but then does tourism help? If I was really that bothered I probably wouldn't go and would donate the money.

It's nothing to do with Islam, it’s cultural not religious

Absolutely, Hoppinggreen, and very well said

I get extremely tired of Islam being blamed for this and that, when a true muslim wouldn't dream of behaving in this manner
Unfortunately, as with all religions - Christianity included - there are some who'll pick and choose bits to suit, enabled by others in their community who appear to consider this the thing to do

I absolutely agree with this poster! I loved Tunisia and found the people warm and friendly

I thought they banned covering up back in 90's !

And the coliseum is epic! As are all the places they mentioned .

I've been to Tunisia and Morocco and wouldn't go back to either due to pestering and aggressive attitudes.

I've travelled to five different continents and wouldn't go back to India either for similar reasons.

I'm not racist, I love travelling and respect other cultures. I have friends who are practising Muslims. I didn't feel safe because I wasn't safe even though I behaved and dressed appropriately.

You might be seen differently as a mother - you might not. Personally, I wouldnt go. You'll likely be safe in an all inc resort, however. If you get a taxi independently, for example, you're likely to be ripped off - what are you going to do with kids in tow?

I've been to Tunisia and Egypt and they're not particularly relaxing. Lots of hassle which is thoroughly annoying.

I've been to the Star Wars caves. They're alright. It's a few years ago so may have changed but it was also an uncomfortable money making thing where we were shown round and there was an elderly lady sitting in one of them and you had to 'tip' her.. for no reason at all really. Honestly at 5 and 8 I think your kids are a bit young and won't really remember it.

Personally I'd take young children elsewhere and then you can relax.

@quikquiknamechange I'm not really a relaxing holiday sort of person.

I've never been but my friend went as a lone traveller maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I have to say my friend is exceptionally beautiful - she gets a lot of hassle even in the UK. Men approach her, beep their horns etc. She gets more male attention here in the UK than anyone else I know.
Anyway, unsurprisingly she got a lot of attention in Tunisia. She's the sort of person who would defiantly not cover up so probably wore hot pants and boob tubes the whole time. I'm NOT blaming her but this is a Muslim country where men are used to women covering up. I think her clothing, her beauty and the fact she was travelling alone meant she got hassled a hell of a lot. One man who worked at the hotel seemed to become obsessed with her and kept turning up at her room which she found pretty scary. They ended up moving her to another room, away from him.
She said she'd never go back. She went to Turkey once alone and got no hassle at all.

I would love to go back to Tunisia, it has much to offer a tourist, beautiful beaches, the Medina, the sahara, el Jem and mat mata. The best thing for me was elJem...just going along a little road and then wow big amphitheatre. I would love to take my children there...but I won't, as it currently stands because of how I was treated as a female last time I went, the worst was in the Medina, peoples hands wandering all over in the packed streets, yuck.

personally i wouldnt, especially with young kids. I got harrassed whilst WITH my husband would be scared to think what would have happened without him

When travelling as a single female you should only need to abide by the following;
Don't look at if they hassle you there. Look at how the police/law enforcement respond to those situations instead.

Any country where the law doesn't protect or respect women is a huge risk. The UK still has some ways to go but in comparison to most countries my god the law does see us at least!

I went to Djerba and I loved it.

I went as a child of <10 and was sexually assaulted, groped, rubbed repeatedly. The AI resort was OK but we went on a couple of organised trips and it was relentless. i have no idea what my parents were thinking.

@theresalwaysguineapigcurry neither am I. When I say relaxing I mean you're not fretting about being harassed. Poor choice of words from me.

You asked opinions and are getting them but seem to be adamant you're going. Crack on.

In the 1960s and 1970s woman would get hassled in Italy.
My aunt had her bum pinched in Rome more than once!
So think Catholics could be just as bad - at least back then.
Even going back to Milan in 1999 she wouldn't go to a bar or restaurant on her own or with her female friend.

I found the men very pushy, in one case literally pushed my son (teenager) into a shop. As for the Star Wars thing you can do that on a Sahara Desert trip, along with camel riding .

So sorry that happened to you! 😥

From her responses the OP clearly isn't going to listen to any negative comments!

My daughter and I went Tunisia when I was in my 40s and her in early 20s. We didn't dare leave the resort and even then were hassled by the waiting staff. We didn't feel relaxed at all. Neither of us would go back.

When we arrived at the airport it was a scramble for bags. Locals would put one hand on your suitcase and the other hand out for money. And when we left it's a closed currency so when the customs officer asked if we had any change left I was happy to dump it on the desk. He told me to ssh and covered it up with a leaflet. It was clearly going straight into his own pocket. I was very relieved to board the plane and end that holiday.

Went as a teen we ended up not leaving our he resort as got non stop hassle if we did. We didn’t mind as the resort was lovely.

Tried North Africa again went in my twenties to Cairo. Big mistake. Not going to North Africa again. Why spend hard earned cash and precious time in countries where I am despised and abused for just existing? Sod that.

Sorry I don't mean to sound dismissive, I am listening and I'm seriously concerned about the amount of negative experiences. Rethinking my trip...

I'm off with my two children to Sousse this summer, doing all inclusive but will venture out. I travelled alone in Morroco and had no issues, also in Sharm in Egypt with no concerns. We will show respect with our clothing when out and about but not worried otherwise frankly.

Western women get hassle. The men seem to think we are all fair game and up for it unfortunately. You end up having to be very rude to them.

I went to Tunisia with my parents when I was 17. It's the angriest/most distressed I've ever seen my dad.

Granted it was a long time ago and I was a blonde teenager, but we couldn't go anywhere or do anything without being hassled and that was with my father with me.

@Deargodletitgo please can you let me know how it goes? Are you going alone?

I went to Tunisia with my husband several years ago. We are both well travelled, particularly around Asia, and are used to the hassle that Western tourists often receive. What we experienced in Tunisia felt completely different - there was an unwelcoming undertone on several occasions, which felt quite threatening. On a day trip to Tunis, we ventured out of the tourist market area - we were told by a local man that we needed to turn back and were not welcome in that area. We found a lovely looking little locals cafe to stop for a drink. While my husband was treated well, I was made to feel very unwelcome. When we asked if there was a toilet we could use there, we were told that there was only a male toilet, and that I shouldn't be out that long. Maybe we were just unlucky, but I'm sad to say that it's the only country we have ever been to that we would never go back to. We had really wanted to love it, and many parts of it were stunningly beautiful.

I went to Tunisia with my parents when I was 17. It's the angriest/most distressed I've ever seen my dad

Same with the dad of the blonde teenager at the airport I mentioned - you could see him getting more and more upset as the security guy slavered over his daughter, but said guy just glared and tapped his gun as if to say "Don't dare f*ck with me"