Anyone been Club Med to Tunisia

[Lilliput]

I really am getting a pita asking for holiday advice but Club Med to Tunisia was recommened by Avant Garde Travel. Any thoughts?

Anyone?

I've literally just got back from Hamament in Tunisia. It was my first time on a package holiday and club med.

But boy did we have a great time. still cant believe we back and definitely miss it. so many great things and would definitely make this too long a post ... what are your questions/concerns....??

I've literally just got back from Hamament in Tunisia. It was my first time on a package holiday and club med.

But boy did we have a great time. still cant believe we back and definitely miss it. so many great things and would definitely make this too long a post ... what are your questions/concerns....??

Slightly worried about how much is going to cost and if it is worth the money. Ds will be 20 months and dd will be 3.5 years when we go so I am slightly dreading the flight so I really want our ONE week holiday a year to be a good one. My dh is a chef and food is v important to him, so what was the food like? Did you use the childcare? Was there more to do than lie on the beach?

We really like the food, mostly freshly cooked and the range was huge. it is filled with the french who are very picky about their food. Dh loved it.

there are lots of water activites, a trapeze, tennis, quadbiking... so there loads u can do in one week other than lying by the pool or beach.

DD1 is 4 yrs and DD2 is 11 months. i have to admit, the 3-4yr kids club is not very interesting and the 4-7yr old club is much better - more activities and for insurance reasons, they are very stricit about these age ranges - no switching clubs. Also whereas the 4yr+ clubs are included in the package, the 4mths and up to 4 yrs is NOT free and you have to pay about £200 for 1 week. could workd out quite expensives, but there are a few companies that can get you cheaper deals - when i was researching, the club med sales rep said it was the same product regardless who you book with.

the flight was fine with our girls and both slept on the way there and back. the village is also about 45mins-1hr away from the airport.

although it was initially difficult for DD2 to settle, she did settle really well...

there is also a baby restuarant with purees, good pasta bakes and food. your can also hire strollers and buggies.

i can honesty say that ALL of us had a great time. i only stayed one week, but still managed to get brown, spend a few times by the pool, beach, quadbiking and sailing ... as well as spend loads of time with my DDs ... it really was fantastic.

Been to Nabuel twice and going to Hammamet later this year. Can only echo what blossom2 has said. Ds was almost 3 then almost 4, dd 10 then 11. Everyone had a great time. We are in the midst of getting major work done on the house right now, so it was to be a no holiday year EXCEPT for the week in Tunisia- I would have given everything else up but not that!!!(managed to sneak a few weeks in France in since)That's how good it is for my family. I've booked with Avant Garde this year for the first time- before done it myself, but they were cheaper.

However there is one VERY BIG downside to our holiday and that was at the airport on the way back. we flew into Tunis and it was fine but flying out of Tunis was a REAL nightmare. checking in was okay, but then you have to go through passport control before x-ray machine and that took about 45 mins. we were still there with about 20 mins to go, just queuing. then we had to queue to get onto the flight and then there was further security before we boarded... it was a bloodly nightmare and has really put us off going to Tunis again. There was more security going out of the country then there was getting into it ....

sammac, did you enjoy your trip to Hammamet, how did it compare to Nabuel. We are trying to think of somewhere to go in October half term.

sammac, or anyone?!

Hi there sorry about delay - had no internet for nearly 3 weeks thanks to BT.

Easy answer is- we're going back to Hammamet in October again.

The reasons being
-accomodation was much nicer- we had a detached 2 bedroom, 2 bath bungalow, which was way better than Nabuel.
-the circus school ie the trapeze was moved to Hammamet(I know it's a weird reason, but they all do it bar me!)
-it's much more modern- only opened last year after refurbishing. Nabuel is 'tired' in comparism.
-indoor theatre for night time entertainment
-larger choice of food
-more pools
-more things for dd(12) to do
-more staff spoke English

No difference with flights/times. Although this time we flew from gatwick which arrives around lunch time. Before we went from heathrow and didn't arrive till around 10, so missed first day. Flights home- there's only an hour difference between them. bearing in mind we're flying from Glasgow and need flights down too. Avant garde saved us our overnight hotel costs and I've used them again this year- dealing with Mel who is very helpful. She managed to get our flights in with our CM booking so it's costing only £80 for 4 of us return from Glasgow to gatwick.

Hope that helps but ask away!

Sammac, THANKS so much for finding this and replying.

Amazingly helpful, it's the little things that mke the difference isn't it. How old are your children? Mine will be 7 and 11.

Are the pools heated? We went to Egypt one year and the pool wasn't heated at October half term and it was SO cold, not fun for children.

What did your children remember most of all, what made it a great holiday for you all?

Am now going to dig out the brochure that arrived this week.

You're very welcome

There are 3 pools, 2 of which are heated- the kiddie pool and the main pool. The third pool is not heated but still okay(apparently! -fromm dd- I never ventured in)
I know what you mean about unheated pools- one of the reasons we travel a bit further. We went to Menorca at the same time for 2 years and it was torture for the kids not to be able to go in the pools- people in them were literally blue.

DD is now 13 and ds is 5. It suits both. Dd makes friends easily and soon had some girls to do stuff with. We hardly saw her- she would check in with us every so often. There are organised activities for them but often the GO's do what the kids want them to. It is very safe.

Ds sometimes went to the clubs- he made a wee friend so we tried to tie up with his parents when the boys would go- and again depending on what activities are on. The clubs are available in the evenings as well.

Just asked dd- she said the watersports- she can windsurf now, and the trapeze, and she took part in a couple of shows. She loved the freedom, the fact that you don't pay for anything- partic the "cocktails" which she enjoyed. Also making friends with girls from other countries. Ds likes the swimming and the sand.

What we enjoy is having a wee bit of time to be adults- an hour reading is all I ask. The Obviously not having to do anything- even your pool towels are supplied(altho' we always take our own) Having a massage is lovely, that's my treat for the week. The great selection of food, the really interesting people you meet from all over the world, the fact that it's not British- people chatting nearby at the pool, in French goes over my head so I take no notice. How everyone is really friendly throughout from the gardeners to the club staff, a chance to practice my very rusty French, a chance to dress up(slightly) at night, no bugs to eat me alive. We noticed a lot of familiar faces on our second year, and some had obviously done the same as us and moved to Hammamet this year.

If I could afford it I would go in the summer hols to a Club Med holiday- but too darn expensive. Hope that helps(possibly my longest ever posting!)

Thank you for your long posting!! great information. Is the weather warm enough in October half term. And did you find that the team are slowing down as they know they are closing in another weeks time. Or are they still upbeat and giving you a great holiday.

I remember going to a Club Med village when I was young, straw huts in Italy, in the woods next to a beach. But have never done it with our boys. But think it could be the time.

Hi bluesky
The weather is normally lovely, you can sunbathe every day, I think in the low 80s, high 70s. You can do the activities quite comfortably without being tired out by the heat. Even at night was nice, maybe a cardi a few nights. I think this year we had an afternoon with a short shower but that's the first time in 3 years!

The Gos still seemed upbeat, this year they were getting word of their next placing so it was interesting to chat to them about what they were up to in the next few weeks(compared to me- home/work/shopping etc)Much rather hear about the Maldives. The kids reps were great and were genuinely interested in keeping ds happy.

The evening shows were quite professional, with some outside artists coming in. In the dance show there was a group of break dancers who were amazing. I got called up by the snake charmer and had to sit on the stage shaking with fear when he put a snake round my neck.!!! Haha it was a belt!! I'm still living it down!!

Keep them coming!