Anyone been to Tunisia?

[gwendolyn]

While looking for possible honeymoon locations, I''ve come across a few great looking all-inclusive resorts not too far from Carthage, which would combine my desire for a mostly stressless holiday (with very little budgeting and no cooking or cleaning up required!), and J''s desire to travel somewhere that has historical significance and cool things to see. Plus, the price just can''t be beat, especially for 4 and 5 star inclusive resorts--so we are both VERY tempted to just go ahead and book before the prices rise! But, that''s against my research-til-I-drop side of my personality, so I thought I''d ask around to see if anyone here has been and what they thought, if they''d go back, etc.

I don''t mind being a bit adventurous and booking it without any personal recommendations, but am curious to know if anyone''s been before because it''s not the sort of place many people go, from what I can tell. But it looks really fun to me! Let me know if you''ve been and if you''re recommend it to others, please!

Thanks!

 

[Lynn B]

Ooooh, never been, but will be following this thread with much interest, because it sounds like a VERY cool place to go!!!

 

[gwendolyn]

Thanks, Lynn!!

The Roman ruins in Carthage look very interesting to both of us, and we'd like some history mixed in with our relaxation, good food and lovely beaches.

I looked up some travel info on Carthage, and the photos show some very interesting ruins there, which is really exciting because most all-inclusive resorts I've found (in our budget, anyway) are way far away from anything historic.

In case anyone is interested, the is this one on the top of the list, methinks: click here and then put "Tunisia" and put it on the first hotel in the Hammamet area (the IB Averroes) to see what's probably my favourite one, although there are a few that look good to me.

Yay! Honeymoon planning is fun.

 

[mousey]

I didn''t know if I should respond to this, as I hate raining on other people''s parade, and it was only MY experience, and the plan of seeing the ruins and staying in a really lovely hotel sounds very good, but.... now bear in mind I was there 12 years ago, and also I have friends who have been there since and said it was really great, but when I went I had a terrible time. I was 15, and was with my Mother. The Hotel was lovely (but even there I was subject to a lot of sexual innuendo by the waiters), but once we stepped outside, we were basically hounded. It was really really unpleasant. I had one guy tell me and my mother that he wanted to pluck my eyes from my head, put them in a glass jar, and keep them by his bed. After the first couple of days, my Mom and I gave up and did nt leave the hotel. My friends that have gone there since tell me it was because we both women, and that if there was a man present none of this would have happened. But, it just totally put me off the whole thing.
Apart from that, I found the beaches BEAUTIFUL. And, I have an interest in Roman history, so I can see the draw, and the hotel was lovely, and the food good. But I just thought I d tell you my experience.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 9/6/2009 10:08:09 AM
Author: mousey
I didn''t know if I should respond to this, as I hate raining on other people''s parade, and it was only MY experience, and the plan of seeing the ruins and staying in a really lovely hotel sounds very good, but.... now bear in mind I was there 12 years ago, and also I have friends who have been there since and said it was really great, but when I went I had a terrible time. I was 15, and was with my Mother. The Hotel was lovely (but even there I was subject to a lot of sexual innuendo by the waiters), but once we stepped outside, we were basically hounded. It was really really unpleasant. I had one guy tell me and my mother that he wanted to pluck my eyes from my head, put them in a glass jar, and keep them by his bed. After the first couple of days, my Mom and I gave up and did nt leave the hotel. My friends that have gone there since tell me it was because we both women, and that if there was a man present none of this would have happened. But, it just totally put me off the whole thing.

Apart from that, I found the beaches BEAUTIFUL. And, I have an interest in Roman history, so I can see the draw, and the hotel was lovely, and the food good. But I just thought I d tell you my experience.

No, no, mousey, I was looking for information of any types--positive or negative--so thank you very much for telling your experience! Ugh, sorry it wasn''t pleasant--how awful that someone spoke to a young girl the way people spoke to you. No wonder you have (at best) mixed feeling about your time there!

A friend of mine works in the travel industry and this is the sort of info I would like to ask her about, to see if she has had any similar reports recently. So I appreciate your post--thank you.

 

[Pandora II]

I went about 7 years ago with an ex-bf and had a great time - we also did an all-inclusive 5* thing that I booked for a ridiculously cheap price a week before.

Had a fantastic time - lots to see and do and the hotel was amazing.

Worth remembering that this is a Muslim country - albeit fairly liberal. On the hotel beach you can wear a bikin etc as there are guards, but elsewhere you should dress modestly - I wore mainly wide-legged linen trousers with a dress over the top. A girl staying in the same hotel complained she was harassed - but then she went out in hotpants and a halter top

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 9/6/2009 2:26:52 PM
Author: Pandora II
I went about 7 years ago with an ex-bf and had a great time - we also did an all-inclusive 5* thing that I booked for a ridiculously cheap price a week before.


Had a fantastic time - lots to see and do and the hotel was amazing.


Worth remembering that this is a Muslim country - albeit fairly liberal. On the hotel beach you can wear a bikin etc as there are guards, but elsewhere you should dress modestly - I wore mainly wide-legged linen trousers with a dress over the top. A girl staying in the same hotel complained she was harassed - but then she went out in hotpants and a halter top

Thanks for the info, Pandora! Yeah, the price is insanely cheap but still looks leaps and bounds nicer than most of the other stuff in our price range. Glad you had a good experience! I worry sometimes when prices are so low...but it''s a good worry, if that makes sense.

Oh, and no worries about the bikini/modesty thing--no one, as long as I live, will ever, EVER catch me wearing anything skimpy out in public.

 

[swimmer]

Gwen, Like Pandora I had a fantastic time. We were at a less than 4 star place, but that meant we had lots of interactions with locals. I was there for research and while I got curious looks from folks, but wearing a long white linen shirt and loose linen pants and sandals ensured that I got no comments. I do cover my hair in the Muslim world, it is both a secondary sexual characteristic, and black hair gets hot in the beating sun. Just a little cheap scarf from Egypt does the trick every trip. Also good if out on a trek and the dust picks up and you don't want it in your nose. I would also suggest picking up a bit of standard Arabic, even though Tunisian Arabic is the lingua franca.

Have fun and do post photos if you choose to go there.

(Also check out the Sinai for awesome deals if you are still looking for locations. I love Egypt and always wanted to go for honeymoon. There are threads here on there.) When do you plan on going? Do check the Muslim calendar.

 

[Pandora II]

Word of warning...camels bite!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 9/6/2009 3:46:39 PM
Author: swimmer
Gwen, Like Pandora I had a fantastic time. We were at a less than 4 star place, but that meant we had lots of interactions with locals. I was there for research and while I got curious looks from folks, but wearing a long white linen shirt and loose linen pants and sandals ensured that I got no comments. I do cover my hair in the Muslim world, it is both a secondary sexual characteristic, and black hair gets hot in the beating sun. Just a little cheap scarf from Egypt does the trick every trip. Also good if out on a trek and the dust picks up and you don''t want it in your nose. I would also suggest picking up a bit of standard Arabic, even though Tunisian Arabic is the lingua franca.


Have fun and do post photos if you choose to go there.


(Also check out the Sinai for awesome deals if you are still looking for locations. I love Egypt and always wanted to go for honeymoon. There are threads here on there.) When do you plan on going? Do check the Muslim calendar.

Thank you for the info, swimmer! Those are some good tips. We are looking at going sometime in the first half of April, probably just for one week. That looks ok, right?

I also have wanted to go to Egypt for a very long time, but I am not sure we will have the funds to do Eygpt this time. I plan on keeping a few options open, to see if J has a clear preference, but financially, Tunisia may make the most sense, if everything else lines up. Maybe Egypt could be a future anniversary trip?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 9/6/2009 4:42:28 PM
Author: Pandora II
Word of warning...camels bite!

Hahaha! Thanks, will be careful.

PS: And is it totally weird that your comment here makes me want to go even more now?

 

[Pandora II]

LOL!

Actually I think for a week that Tunisia would be better than Eygpt as you could do a lot of the major sites in that time. Most of the big hotels offer ''excursions'' so you can go to historical sites just for the day or camel riding in the desert at dawn etc

The baklava is to die for as well...

Lots of fun things to buy - I came back with a huge hookah which we still use occasionally now on summer evenings with strawberry or apple tobacco. I got mine in a saucepan shop of all places and it was way better than any of the tourist ones and a lot cheaper!

The bazaars are somewhat intimidating, but they do take no for an answer unlike Morrocco. The stall-holders all seem to speak about 10 languages as I tried the ''speaking Italian and not understanding English'' trick and it didn''t work!

For a cheap but exotic-ish holiday that isn''t just beach (I don''t do beach as I just burn and get bored) I don''t think you can do much better than Tunisia - I would definitely choose to go back. Oh, I stayed between Monastir and Sousse - Sousse is quite a nice place. The sea is great for swimming and the water is lovely and warm - unlike the UK!

 

[swimmer]

Oh Pandora that brings back so many memories! We didn''t want to speak Hebrew or Arabic as our accents are straight up Israeli and were tired of the vendors being so inquisitive so I had to try to pull up my Dutch to speak Afrikaans with my friends. Seriously, the street vendors are insane language geniuses. They all know a ton of languages and complement women in order to lure you into the shops Gwen. Not that you would be lured on your honeymoon! Get an inlaid chess set! -I didn''t get a nargila (hookah) but it is true, avoid the tourist shops. You can of course get awesome kilim purses and pillows (unstuffed) and I love the nougats. mmmm, pistachios! I did get a belly dancing skirt, very fun and occasionally useful.

So my thinking in suggesting Egypt was really just Sinai, not the pyramids or Nile. Cheap, history, snorkeling, easy access, did I say cheap? The all inclusive resort I stayed at a few years ago was less than 45usd a night. Very chill if you are not wanting to do much and just chill. The camels on the way up Mt. Sinai are pretty nasty, but you climb up in the pitch dark in order to see the sun rise...it is a pretty amazing site. Less souk action than Tunis or Marakesh...have you thought about Morocco? Oh, such a wonderful options! Ryanair?

me=jealous

 

[gwendolyn]

Oooh, will definitely check out Sinai as well--thanks for the tip! I am really excited to do something like this for our honeymoon, and J seems to be excited too (well, as excited as he gets about anything

). Wooo!

 

[drk]

First - I saw the photos of you in your dress - you look great, and i LOVE the sleeves!

My then BF, now DH, and I went to Tunisia twice on package holidays. The first was up north, 5* with amazing food, great rooms etc. We had a rental car and drove around a lot to see more of the country. He got an iffy tummy for a couple days, I was fine. We liked it so much we went back again, this time to some small island (and worse quality resort) on the East coast. Still rented a car for a couple days, and I think we had a couple overnight stays in different towns that we booked separately in order to see more stuff. We got harassed once on a beach at the resort by someone who I think was trying to get us to go horseback riding, but other than that I don''t remember much in the way of hassles. Morocco was much worse when we were there last year.

I love the food, the warm weather, and there seemed to be a lot to see and do. I''ve never been to Egypt, but I''d love to go there sometime too. And prices were very reasonable.