Need info on Tunisia

Hen88

Myself and my boyfriend (in our 20's) are going to Tunisia for a 2 week package hol in May.
We dont know of anyone thats been there before and have seen mixed reviews on the internet about it..
we'd love to hear about other peoples experiences and also a big issue is bank cards.. I seen on a travel website that laser/cirrus cards dont work over there? Has anyone had experiences of this???:D

adamski8

Went on a package hol there about 8 years ago. Food was suprsingly good, weather was nice and local staff in hotel were nice.
If your not planning on leaving the resort id recommend it but I really didnt like the town we visited. Local traders just hassle you and want your money. They pretty much physically stopped me leaving shops and was quite unpleasent.

ScouseMouse

Some years ago I went to Port El Kantoui.

The hotels were half and full board as there was not a lot there outside the hotels themselves. Went for an icecream at a cafe at the fountain at the marina in port el kantoui. Got food poisioning and spent two days in the loo.

Muslim country, but not to strict. Some bars. I bought becks cans in the local supermarket and only afterwards noticed they were alcohol free !!! Tourism is a massive part of the economy so they try to look after us.

My AIB drinklink card worked fine in the ATM's. It had maestro on it which seemed to work fine. The hawkers were a real pain in the ass. One even offered to help me as he recognised me from my hotel. I asked him which one and he got it wrong ! Hawkers talk crap like "lubbly jubbly" (del boy), references to ASDA in case you are english.

They ask you where you are from. Irish pays one price, english another, and then yanks pay top notch.

The jameson litre was cheaper in monastir airport than in dublin duty free. Its outside of europe so you can get duty free.


You cannot take the currency out of the country. On leaving I gave my last couple of coins to a cleaner. They are useless here and cannot be banked. There are exchange facilities in all the hotels.

Thats all I can think of right now.

adamski8

superscouse wrote: »

Some years ago I went to Port El Kantoui.

Yeah thats where i stayed and had the same experience. I dont see the point in going there really, nothing to see.
Only experience I got was going parasailing which was a dissapointment.

cairnrua

Like the other commentators had similar experiences. Friendly people but to the point of harassment. Also fell for the one of getting you cigs, cheaper, and money gone. (not too much!!) You're likely flying into Monaster. The resort mentioned is like a tourist trap specially made, and totally false. We got a taxi to nearest town with a more normal scene. But it's here you also get hassle too! Enquire about the Island north of Monaster, supposed to be lovely and well worth a stay. With two weeks you have time to go visit the Capital. You can change money at hotels, cards I seemed to recall worked. Would unlikely go back, unless trip to Tunis was part of deal. Who knows - hope you have a good time.

CJhaughey

We went a while ago, and had a good time, it is different being an Arab country but the best thing to do is not make eye contact with the street sellers in the bazaars and just keep your mouth shut. Most of the salesmen know at least 5 languages and will try them all out on you. Some even had Gaelic!
Ignore them and don't handle or express interest in anything unless you really want to haggle for it.
Thats their job and they are good at it.
Things to do are the tours that take you into the northern part of the Sahara desert, salt lakes and oases. not to mention the trogodyte city. They filmed Star-wars there. Hammamet has some cool sights, Rommels villa is still there and well preserved.Well worth it.
Bring some Imodium and be prepared for a dose, it happens to most people and is almost unavoidable.