Anyone been to Tunisia recently?

[BibiThree]

I'm going there on Wednesday (standing in for a friend's ex) and know nothing about it really. We're staying in the Sahara Beach Hotel in Skanes, which I've had mixed reviews of some good, some absolutely awful.

Just wondered if any of you would care to offer an opinion/observations/useful things to know about Tunusia?

I've googled it but a lot of the chat forums tend to weigh heavily on the bad points.

Thank you

bump?

I did but not in the same place you are going. Our experience was very positive, hotel (appartments) was very clean, people very nice. Child friendly. The only thing that can get ennoying is the merchants insisting to sell you things you do not want, some do take a long time to realise they are not going to change your mind!

Some of the things offered for tourists (jetski, ... can be quite expensive as well)

I hope you will have a fab time!

I haven't been recently but I went with my mum about 10 years ago and I have also been by myself.

Me and mum had a great time. We made it our mission to go out exploring everyday and we had to go out of our comfort zone. I can't remember the name of the hotel we were in but we got a map and picked a place to visit the following day and decided how we were going to get there. (By train, by taxi, walk whatever) we had fun.

When I went by myself i really enjoyed it. i relaxed on the balcony in the hotel for a while, I went eating in restaurants by myself with no problem.

It was a very nice place and I'm hoping to go back.

I went years ago (Tunis and Nabeul) and loved it - Tunis medina is fabulous. Also remember going up into the mountains and meeting Berbers.

There was a lot of selling of trinkets on the beach but it doesn't really matter, imo. They are only selling you tourist crap (unlike the beach vendors in Barbados who try and flog you cocaine along with some aloe vera. Most shocked at that at the age of 13, I can tell you).

I really like Tunisia and would recommend it to anyone. Just go a bit away from the overdeveloped touristy areas and explore a bit, it's fantastic.

We stayed at the Sahara Beach last May and the DC's are still asking if we can go back again some time.

Agree, in a small way, with the mixed opinions as the hotel itself is like stepping back into the 1950's and, fortunately, so is the service.

Food was abslutely fab & there are so many lovely swimming pools too. Try and find the one that is raised up, way over to the right of the hotel - lovely pool bar and tended to be the quietest & best place to sunbathe too.

Be aware that the waiters depend heavily on any tips as a major part of their income & we found that tipping early in the hols guaranteed the best tables & service.

Definitely worth making the effort to get out & about. The local town had streets that resembled something from an Indiana Jones set. The camel rides are worth it too.

Have a lovely holiday, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Thank you all so much, I am much calmer about going now. And the tip about tipping and the quieter pool will come in handy I'm sure!

Tess, did you find you had to cover arms and legs in the local town? I am taking some maxi dresses and shawls anyway, but would be handy to know how respectful of the culture to be, even in a tourist area.
Thanks

Bibithree
I made the mistake of having my arms uncovered when I went into Tunis and felt so uncomfortable. However round the resorts and tourist areas I was ok.

Dh & I have been a couple of times (to Sousse and Djerba). It's our favourite holiday destination.

I would say that it's not like going to typical holiday destinations (e.g. Spain/Majorca, etc.) but that's what we love about it.

You have to accept that it's not got the same level of service, you might find your table at dinner is missing various items of cutlery and you have to ask for them and stuff. I definitely agree with tipping well early on (we did this and the waiter would save us the same table every night and have our drinks ready when he saw us coming into the restaurant).

In the towns, yes, I would definitely cover your arms and wear long skirts/dresses. Although you won't get comments/abuse if you don't, you get a much better reception if you do . As an example, we went to look round one historical place and the women in front of us in the queue had strappy tops and shorts on, the bloke basically took their money and after they'd gone in muttered to the other guy on the entrance. We then paid and they chatted to us for quite a while, complimented me on what I was wearing (and offered dh 200 camels and a ferrari )

I'm back and had a fab time! Thanks for the advice.