Places similar to Tunisia and Egypt

[nappyaddict]

I really want to go to Gambia, Tunisia and Egypt but DP isn't keen.

I like the idea of Slovenia, Romania, Albania, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Oman and Israel too.

Or possibly Cape Verde, Montenegro, Croatia or Malta? I think DP may be happier somewhere like this. I want somewhere with nice beaches, bars and restaurants but also somewhere with some culture.

Has anyone been to any of these places on holiday?

Actually I'm not even sure if I've seen Algeria, Syria or Albania advertised in travel agents.

I have been to Albania and wasn't hugely impressed. Bit of a dump really, with loads of people begging money from us. Found Romania to be similar.

Cape Verde is amazing - totally unspoilt, but to see the best of it, do a bit of Island hopping. You can fly between some of the islands and others you can do by boat. Malta and Croatia are also nice, but you need to be quick with Croatia as things will start to go up in price with them wanting to become part of the Euro zone.

I am off to Montenegro later on this yer, so can't comment on that.

Israel is a beautiful country.

Croatia is beautiful, especially some of the smaller Islands off the coast.

"I want somewhere with nice beaches, bars and restaurants but also somewhere with some culture."
Then forget romania the beaches are awful (I live there).

Also you won't be well received if you go on the beach in your bikinis or drink in Tunisia and Egypt, Albania, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Oman and probably even Israel.
With the recent uprise I would avoid those country for a while, most of them are probably not safe, the tunisian rebellion might expend in the whole region too.
(already some riots in algeria). (I have only been in algeria though before it got shut for tourism)
You can get tourist resorts in some of those country, if you like than kind of isolation from the general population.

croatia, montenegro are really beautiful, beaches restaurant and culture. Malta is nice too.

don't know about cap verde.
Albania is still developing, worse than romania, if you like adventure and meeting people. They are suppose to have really nice beaches, but most of their culture has been destroyed by years of communism. I would guess bars and restaurants are not really well developed.

sorry a bit missing, should read "it might be nice" if you like adventure and meeting people

Yes that's why DP won't go because of the riotting.

I thought it was OK to go on the resort beaches and drink in the hotels in Tunisia and Egypt, Albania, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Oman, Israel etc

Cape Verde

"Also you won't be well received if you go on the beach in your bikinis or drink in Tunisia"

When I went to Tunisia everyone was in their bikini on the beach and there was no problem with drinking either. I wouldn't recommend Tunisia at the moment though!

Have you thought about Turkey? You will get nice beaches, bars and restaurants, plenty of culture plus that eastern feel to it that you have in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco etc.

nappyaddict have a quick glance at the fco.gov.uk website for Middle East and North Africa travel advice from The Foreign & Commonwealth Office?s (FCO). Many of the paces you mention "could have developments in the region which may trigger public unrest" or there is "an underlying threat from terrorism" many places have been updated by the FCO since 16 Jan 2011, even Morocco.

Your travel insurance will not be valid if you travel to a country that the FCO has issued advise against travel to.

I'd avoid Northern Africa for a while.

It's perfectly fine to wear a bikini and drink alchol in Israel.

Algeria isn't really a touristy place, I once stayed there for three months and didn't see another foreigner apart from a few Chinese construction workers! I haven't checked the FCO advice but up until recently it wasn't recommended to travel there at all. You can't drink in public (especially as a woman) & you def couldn't wear a swimming costume without risking severe harrassment!

In most of the touristy countries in North Africa / Middle East you can't really drink / wear skimpy clothes in normal towns but it's absolutely fine in some beach resorts.

Turkey sounds like a good idea!

It looks like only Tunisia is off limits according to FCO? It says only essential travel there should be carried out. It says no to parts of Albania and also Turkey!

algeria and israel too are on the list

The only parts of Turkey they don't advise travel to is the eastern areas near to the Iraqi borders. The tourist areas area all in the west, about 1,000 miles from the other parts!

Possibly the situation in Tunisa will improve, unsure - but there has been an repatriation of all UK holiday makers hitting the new this last week ukintunisia.fco.gov.uk/en/

Events here over the last few days have come as a surprise to everyone.

mamaloco Where I can't see them?

on your linked list: avoid all travel to part of: 19th down is israel
advise against all but essentials travel: Algeria 3rd down.

I've been to Israel, Turkey, Syria and Jordan (used to live in Egypt and Turkey and was hoping to go to Tunisia at Easter but I guess not ).

For easy going bear/bars with culture you can't beat SW Turkey - quite reasonably priced too.

With Egypt, the beaches (which are great - but use the private beaches e.g. hotels for swimwear - or the bedouin villages e.g. on the Sinai coast - or you will be hassled to death) are quite a trek from the culture.

Never went to the beach in Syria, Jordan or Israel so not much help there. Culture there is fab but I would not think of them for beach holidays. Might put in at a beach resort for a day or 2 but not a long stay.

Dh went to Malta on business and thinks we should all go back for a holiday. I've been looking at Cape Verde too.

There's also Crete - great archaeological sites as well as beach resorts.

Personally I wouldn't dream of going to Algeria for a beach holiday.

Had friends living in Oman and that looks good too - but quite pricey as tourism is more limited.

If your primary interest is the beach with cultural day trips within a reasonable distance I would go for Turkey or Greece.

I think there are resort hotels in/around Aqaba (Jordan) which would put you within easy reach of Petra - one of the finest sites in the region. Jordan is relatively easy-going - still better use the private beaches though.

We are lucky because we very nearly booked a holiday to Tunisia the day before it all kicked off.

We were going to book that week - very disappointed .