TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Africa Anyone been to Tunisia?

I have to go to Tunis for a few days next month on business. Anyone have any guidance on things to see, prices, shopping etc?

Hi there! Rcon here! If you want to know more about Tunisia, a simple search on the Internet will surely answer your question.

Hi Glenn
I hope I am not too late, I just saw your posting....
I stayed in Tunis last year at the Hotel Africa (very nice)..The Souk is a great shopping experience, don't miss it..Try to get to see Hammamet, Sidi Bou Said, a beautiful city all white with blue trim to match the magnificent Medditeranian sea. The colliseum was mesmerizing, the second largest next to the one in Rome..The people were all warm and friendly. Feel free to PM me with any questions. I hope you enjoy it!
Paula

Watch what you eat there. My husband was really sick. Its kinda like Mexico.

I never once got ill while in Tunisia, and also ate a lot of home cooking.

Hello Paula, my wife and I are thinking about going to Tunisia next year. what is the best and next best times to go to enjoy the beaches and site see? What are the best beaches if you know? We would like to drive around as much as possible to see things, so would you recommend a rental car for us or use taxi's? Thanks, Butch

Hi Glenn, there is an excellent book on Tunisia - by Michael Tomkinson - available on Amazon. Gives you history, attractions, a bit of everything. You can find it there as well, but I would like to read it before going. I lived there for many years and was never sick, eating in or out. People supremely friendly. Best beaches probably Hammamet. Delicious food and local wine. But it won't really be bathing suit weather in April I hate to say. For most of us, that is. The Med is not the BVI! Sheryl

ha ha - I just looked at the date on Glenn's posting!!! nevermind would be the only response!

Tunisia - Hmmmn Not that popular ...

Glenn,

Quit traveling and finish that darn boat already.

I have been twice. Tunisia is wildly popular for package deals from Europe. The coast is actually north of Malta.

Anyway, there are all kinds of beach resorts that should have off season rates .

The Souk is incredible. Be warned, you can get lost in there. I bought several hand woven rugs for about $150 each for a 3x4' rug. About half what you might pay in the Mideast. And they are really unique. We bought lots of terra cotta tableware that chipped as all terra cotta does.

The Roman and Lycean ruins are something to be seen. Massive cities that were rebuilt a bit by the French last century. And nobody there. We paid a goatherd $10 to give us a tour. He spoke a little French and no English.
There were no other tourists there. We did see a NG photographer that was trying to catch the sunset as it hit the lionshead above the entrance to the senate ruins.

We also took a couple of horses down to the beach and rode them like we were being chased by the Turks.

As far as safety goes, use your hotel for any taxi or drivers. We drove one day and it was fine but felt better in the city with a local driver.

Have a ball.

I worked in Hammamet and i loved it but this was a few years ago when Yasmine was just being built. All the hotels were very nice when they were brand new (8 years ago). I believe Tunisia is a marmite resort (you either love it or hate it).
Beaches are beautiful and weather really nice from april onwards. :beach:
The medina is a bit crap but it's worth going into the town of Hammamet for a wander. Yasmine is about a 15 minute (cheap) taxi ride away. Don't go on the Bedouin Feast night it's a pile of crap. But if you are feeling adventurous then they do 2 day excursions down to the sahara which I really enjoyed.