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

[DallazMajor]

To wonder why holidays to Tunisia are substantially cheaper than other places.

I was thinking of booking but when I’ve mentioned it to people they have said they wouldn’t go.

Am I missing something ?

Is it cheaper because it’s considered unsafe or something.

I went 13 years ago, I can't remember what part.
I hated it, we did two day trips organised by our rep (don't have those anymore!) and they advised us to only book trips via them as it wasn't safe to leave the resort otherwise. The one booked trip was the most dangerous taxi ride, there are several abandoned or half built then abandoned hotels for every functioning one.
The hotel next to ours was abandoned, I was very keen to explore it but wasn't brave enough to get a gun pointed at me by the armed police.
You are harassed at every shop door, you don't enter a shop unless you buy (anything! It's what we were advised) and you have to tip the resort workers constantly.
I didn't actually mind the tipping because they get such poor wages and if you stay on the resort it's fine. They are extremely helpful (because they want tips) and there's an invisible border down the beach where the 'sellers' aren't allowed to come past so again, don't wander too far down and they can't harass you.
Go past the invisible line and you'll have purchased several necklace/brackets/hats/materials before you've even got to the sea edge.
I also went as part of a large group, more men and young children. I would dread to think what it would be like as female only travellers.

We went in 1985. I would never go back. The dirt, the cockroaches and the hassle every time we left the hotel spoiled it for us.

We went shortly before the terrorist attacks to the same area. I really didn't like Tunisia. I wasn't hassled but I did see other people being hassled.

I just found it really boring tbh. It didn't help that it was over 40 degrees when we went and it was too hot to do anything.

The IRA attacks were just an example and the Harrods bombing was one that was close to home because my mother in law was in Harrods when the bomb went off. But if course there have been more recent incidents hwre - the British authorities didnt do too well in countering the Manchester arena attack,, did they? I think thst is a very fair comparison.

Absolutely not. Went there as a teen, was harassed and groped by the waiters. Horrible experience.

I went once as a poor twenty something in 2006. There was delightful moments but also grotty bits. We stayed in awful budget places for nothing. BUT the Bardo museum (where the terrorists struct in 2015) was incredible. We saw huge stunning Roman mosaics. Better than Naples museum. Following candles through the medina at night to reach a lovely restaurant was also a highlight, visiting Carthage, but I remember coming home saying I wouldn’t go back.

Morocco is far, far better.

We don’t know how well they did because we don’t know how many attacks were foiled.

For me the difference is that I believe the British authorities are extremely determined to stop terror attacks whereas I don’t believe the Tunisians are particularly bothered about what might happen to despised Western tourists. Their economy might depend on tourism - I don’t know - but the behaviour and attitudes of most Tunisians would seem to imply that they don’t like tourists and are not prepared to modify their dislike for the sake of their economy.

I’m here right now. Best holiday I’ve had in a while. Hotel is fantastic.

Oh and no harassment of women. The staff are very polite and respectful. Although I haven’t left the resort and don’t intend to or need to as it sits right on the beach.

I guess the more important question is, why would you WANT to go to Tunisia?

If it's because it's cheap, then knock yourself out.

I personally don't wish to visit and thus fund countries where VAWG and corruption are rife.

When we went about 4 years ago, as a blonde haired blue eyed woman I was continually hissed at, spat at, and other odd things. This was whilst with my husband and child. Beach was patrolled by armed men. Huge assault rifles whilst sunbathing are not the one! Ended up just staying in the confinement of the hotel in the end.

It's not because they are Muslim countries 🙄 it's because they are unsafe.

Other Muslim countries that are safer have tourists.

It’s because of the risk of terror attacks…

Trigger warning- assault I have travelled solo twice to Tunisia and stayed both times at the Royal Kenz Hotel and Spa.
the first time was lovely, I met some amazing fellow holiday makers, went on several trips and yes did get some hassle from Tunisian Men and at times it felt relentless especially in the Markets.
the second time, it was horrendous, the constant unwanted attention and when in the tourist shops near the resort the ment would try and persuade you to go in their car to their other shop.
Also, in the Hotel Spa, despite having female staff on reception, hairdressers and nail salon - it was male staff in the actual spa. I did not know this until I got in there. I was the only person in there and was assaulted (I froze). The moment he left me to get something I was able to leave.
i was too scared to pursue it further as he and the other male staff would walk past my room at the end of their shift laughing (ground floor room). Plus. I also knew deep down I wouldn’t be believed if I tried to.

I went over 20 years ago and it was absolutely stunning. A beautiful place with lots of culture and history. However, I went on honeymoon and even with my husband by my side I found the level of harrassment I got from the local men to be far too much and quite intimidating in its relentlessness. It really spoilt the holiday for me and I would not want to go back solely for this reason. I do appreciate that it was a long time ago though and things may have improved

And we also don’t know how many terrorist attacks have been foiled by the Tunisian authorities.

I first went to Tunisia as a little girl in the 1960s and have been back very regularly since going there for my honeymoon in 1980, and have never felt in the slightest bit ‘despised’ as a tourist. Of course Ive been harassed at times, but this has never been remotely threatening, whether Ive been on my own or with my husband or daughter, but overall, Ive found Tunisians to be among the most welcoming, generous, and friendly people Ive ever met. We’ve had some truly humbling experiences with how we’ve been treated when we’ve been invited into people’s homes, which we’ve never forgotten.

I think it’s such a shame that people really think it’s not safe to leave their hotels. Living in south London, I feel far far safer anywhere Ive visited in Tunisia than I do at home. Our best holidays in Tunisia have been when Weve just booked flights, hired a car, and driven round the country. We’ve travelled quite extensively and have been fortunate to have stayed at some really good hotels over the years, particularly in the far east, but by far the most memorable hotel I’ve ever been to is a little boutique hotel on the outskirts of Zarzis in the south of the country where we were made to feel like royalty in the most picturesque setting. We aren’t able to travel at the moment, but when we can, Tunisia will be the first place we will go back to.

I think people who buy a package to a resort come away disappointed, but if you’ve been a backpacker in Asia etc you’ll be better equipped to deal with Tunisia.

We go because we love the country - the people, the food, the sights, the culture, the beaches, the weather, and some excellent hotels. The price doesnt really affect our choice - while flights and hotels are relatively cheap, this is outweighed to an extent by the high cost of car hire.

I went to Tunisia 20 years ago with family(all adult group). Our hotel was in Port El-Kantaoui. We were there in winter and it was cold but sunny. Loved the trips out to historic sites. Sunrise on the salt flats was one of the best experiences of my life. Hotel was good. Out and about, we had a lot of hassle to buy things, but nothing that felt unsafe. We were always out together as a group of 5 (3 men and two women) whether this may have helped I don’t know—maybe it was just luck that we weren’t spat on etc.
Overall I enjoyed the holiday. Would I go back there now? No.
I get what pp are saying about the risk of terror attacks being just as high on a visit to London. I agree, they probably are. But I would still feel safer there than I would going back to Tunisia, after what happened in Sousse. And to enjoy a holiday I would need to feel safe. Any kind of attack is horrific, wherever it occurs, but if an attack were to happen whilst I was in London, (assuming I wasn’t killed or seriously injured) I have the means to get out of the situation and get home, much easier than I would do if I was abroad. This is why, for me, it is an acceptable risk in London, but not in Tunisia.

The culture of VAWAG?

I know people who go either here or Egypt but never leave the all inclusive resort. To me that’s a total waste of time, holidays should be about experiencing another culture and exploring. I guess it has a bad reputation hence the comments here. I don’t fancy it either as a woman, I like to feel safe and like I can walk around alone without fearing assault.

This could have been answered with 30 seconds on Google. Poor, civil unrest, terrorism threats and the chance you could be shot on the beach.
I've travelled as far East and West as you can go, grew up in Africa and lived in 5 different countries.
I would never go to an Arab country...they would have to prise my money out of my cold stiff fingers.

Is there any other holiday destination where you have to describe what you look like to give 'context' to how safe you are going to feel (Egypt). Post after post has felt it necessary to state what they look like to contextualise if they were harassed or not. These descriptions of harassment aren't a few comments as you walk by. They are being physically gropped and restrictions on leaving hotels or organised tours. How cheap does it have to be to have to experience that shit.

It’s one of only two places I’d never ever go back to. Pay more, it won’t be a holiday. When I was a travel agent 99% of people who went came back to lodge a complaint of some sort.

@Growlybear83

Your experience sounds great but I think you’re in a lucky minority. Reading the posts here is very depressing and my sister and her partner actually left their holiday after 3 days due to unpleasant experiences. They weren’t the type to be happy in just the hotel and set off with high hopes to explore but it was just horrible and they got shouted at and insulted.