Tunisia as a single parent?

[Queencat]

I'm booked to go to Tunisia with my children. I'm a single parent and have taken them on lots of holidays before.

When I told a colleague where we are going she pulled a shocked face and said 'is that wise being a single mum, you know it's mainly a Muslim country right?!'

What does this mean? Apart from being staggeringly racist? The children are well behaved and we are always respectful of local traditions. I think it's good for them to experience other cultures, but now in paranoid I've made a mistake!

Sounds like jealousy to me.. If you are blonde mind or you have a daughter that is, be prepared to be bothered to the end of the world if you venture away from the airport or hotel.
Otherwise enjoy yourself and well done taking the kids away. They will love it.
Trips arranged by the reps are fine as well.

I have two young dd's but they are with me all the time so hoping that's not going to be an issue?

It sounds like ignorance to me! You are going to a holiday resort, why would it be a problem being a single parent? If you get any men hassling you just tell them you have a husband back at the hotel that should stop them bothering you.

Don't worry about what people say, just go and enjoy yourselves, Tunisia is lovely, I can still remember going when I was a young child and I went as an adult too and loved it

She was basically inferring that I would be frowned upon!

I went a few years ago on my own with my 3 sons (early teens at the time). It wasn't one of my favourite holidays but that was nothing to do with being a single woman.

Where are you going?

No-one is going to do that. I bet your friend has never been to a Muslim country to know how people react has she? All kinds of people go on holiday and if the people working in the resorts behaved badly to those who didn't conform to their way of thinking they would be frowning at everyone; those who drink, unmarried couples, women in bikinis etc. and they don't do that at all.

So ignore ignorant comments form those who don't know anything and go and have a great time

Going to djerba was really looking forward to it!

Are you staying in a resort complex? It will be absolutely fine.

One of my children went recently with their partner (unwed -shock, horror) and they had the best time. One of the things they remember enjoying the most was an hour spent chatting with a local lad who wanted to practice his English (which was amazing apparently) and learn all about how we live here.

Not once did my offspring say he felt judged. Not once did he experience discrimination or prejudice even though he was sharing a room with an unmarried girl and travelling with her.

So I think you will be fine. I travelled there in the early 80's and again, had no issues and the world was a lot less cosmopolitan then. I had to wear a wedding ring in some Arabic countries to discourage some men trying their luck and cover myself but the latter was simple respect.

Tunisia wasn't one of my favourite holidays either.

I don't think your colleague was being racist. From my experience I would have felt pretty uncomfortable wandering around where we stayed (Sousse) with just DD. We were bothered and pestered as soon as we set foot outside the hotel. We never saw any local women wandering around, only men. And there was no way I would have left the hotel in the evenings unless I had a male companion.

I didn't much like Tunisia to be honest. I have travelled a bit and it was probably the only place I ever felt unsafe and hassled ( and I'm no supermodel believe me).
If you are staying in a hotel resort then you should be ok but just be cautious, as you would anywhere else really.

Hi
We had a fab holiday in Tunisia and are going again this summer.
The pestering is far worse in the Canary islands and Turkey.
Tunisians are a friendly bunch with a good sense of humour,they love kids too.
I took my teenage daughter to the medina and yes the men were very flirty with both of us but it was more harmless banter and certainly not sleezy.
I felt far safer out and about in the resort than I have in other countries.
Statistics show crimes against Brits in Tunisia are very low.Top of the list for crimes are Spain and Turkey.
You will have a great time and so will your children :)

Ive not been long back from there and I wandered around with my baby and without dh. Im blonde,.blue eyed as well and its only like going out on a night in England and not at all scary.

I doubt you will be judged if anything all the single mums out there were shagging the animation team!

That's really helpful thanks. Really have no intention of shagging anyone but good to know I may have the opportunity!

I went with my mum a few years ago, we got hassled to death in the markets (and I've been to Thailand and Mexico), and there was nothing to do in the evening outside of the hotel complex, but the beaches were nice and we did some good day trips, like going out into the desert riding camels.

I wouldn't go again, but if you're going with kids and planning daytime activities you'll be fine :) not that I think there'd be a problem in the evening, but we just found there wasn't much to do

I went as a single parent with my son and it is my least favourite holiday.

I did like the country and saw lots of interesting things, went to interesting places, and really enjoyed it for that.

I didn't like the constant hassle and it is the only place I've ever felt uncomfortable and wary. I tried going out in the evening once - walking a short distance to the sister hotel, and didn't do it again.

the main problem was the amount of groping. I am no supermodel. I wore appropriate clothing with my arms and legs and shoulders etc covered. I had men pinching and rubbing my bottom, rubbing their groins against me, stroking my body, and in one incident 3 men surrounding me and putting their hands up my top and stroking my stomach/ribs.

And they'll do it with a big friendly smile and hello comment, I'm sure they really thought I'd welcome it. they have some strange attitudes and beliefs about Western women.

It took me a couple of days to twig how to shut this down. The Arabic word for no is la. The second a man turned towards me, or approached me, I'd glare at him fiercly and snap out 'LA!' and he'd back off. I probably did it to a few innocent men as well, and looked like a bitch, but I didn't get groped any more.

It was ok in the actual hotel and when I went out on group trips.

I hated not feeling safe exploring on my own.