tunisia

[MADMAZ]

what is tunisia like in march. ok for two ladies travelling alone

[lyndunnpoet]

I think it depends where in tunisa your going. I went there in may 1 year ago with my 11 yr old daughter me being a single woman. now its a place thats very very poor and it can be very intimadating out there. Be warned where ever you go to shop or buy something you have to have your wits about you and be prepared to haggle alot. If your told a price for something like 20 dinars for a belt say a ck belt its only worth 2. Everywhere is the same some shops have price's already on things which you will find very very cheap. Food is very cheap and so is mostly everything. Be careful with jewllery they have hallmarks in them but most are put there any turns out you bought nickle or such like. We stayed in hamamet there isn't much there and the beach was pretty shabby but its an eye opener. If you go to a restuarant you normally get very good service and always get a rose with the bill. Only tip 1/2 to 1 dinars. And for a 10 15 min taxi is about 3 dinars. Dont ever stray off the beaten track and toilets are disgusting outside your hotel be warned!!! Its not like you will expect but we thought sod it we are here we will make the most of it and we did. We got taxis everywhere and took a train to diferent places. dont where gold and always keep your hand on your bag. Crime is not such a problem because the punishment is very extreme but there is always someone willing to try it on. I would say stay in groups and make sure there is a man in your group. stay in the hotel much as possible if you want to know more just ask hope it helps. lyn

[campbellking]

Was fine other than most of the bars etc were shut as it wasn't tourist season! Didn't get hassled at all (we were two girls together), but it was very strange not to see local women out in the streets at all.

[jodys]

I went with my husband and 2 teenagers for a last minute holiday 3 years ago - never again. Hammaret was just hotel after hotel. We only left the hotel 3 times as we got hassled so much - me in particular. A shopkeeper tried to pull me into his shop on one occasion when my family was out of sight. I have travelled to all kinds of places - remote and also all over USA - all alone and never felt as hassled as I did in Tunisia. It wasn't that I felt scared or unsafe - just frustrated I couldn't relax and wander and browse like i wanted to. We read about typical scams in the guidebooks which was useful as they were all tried on us. We got a taxi into the next town and as my husband was paying a local asked the driver which hotel we'd come from. He then approached usand said 'Hi, I'm your waiter from Hotel ... Remember me?'. At this point we were supposed to pretend we did remember him and follow him for a tour into some dodgy area with money involved. Needless to say we didn't. There really wasn't much to see or do anyway - we hired a car for one day which was better as we could get out of the tourist bits. Try Istanbul - fantastic! Loads to do and all within walking distance.

[lyndunnpoet]

I couldn't agree more, I didn't want to say to much but I would not go there again. And yes all you get is im the waiter from your hotel i will show you some nice places to go and eat but hey be prepared to be robed or have to pass money, oh that is everyone there to they will try it on big time. I still think stay at the hotel and dont leave anything in the hotels either I had my medication stolen whilst there and that was room service who took it. But so did lots of other people have theres and other things taken as well. Oh one more point be prepared to see lots and lots of animal crueilty at its worst. I would go for getting my money back

[fayelc123]

I went to Tunisia in oct 2004, & i'm sorry to say that i did not enjoy it all.

I would definately not go outside the hotel very much, me & my friend had lots of trouble with men out there & one time we walked across the rd to a shop, then we had men following us back to the hotel & waiting around all the time.It was very creepy & i would not recommend tunisia at alll to anybody. I thought that the beach was dirty & even there you could not get away frome the men.

I was also nearly over charged for most items in shops, even a bag of crisps with a price on!

[kerwality]

tunisia is great but be sensible. go to either port el kantaoui or Hammamet yasmine. Both these resorts are purpose built, and the locals only work there BUT do not live there. Note Hammamet Yasmine is a diferent place to Hammamet. The locals are not allowede to harrass you, you will probably be asked once to buy something etc, and a firm and friendly NO is good enough. they will lose thier licence to work or trade otherwise. Took my girlfriend to hammemet Yasmine last July and she had a good holiday. bear in mind not that much nightlife though. Go with a well established company with experienced reps on location, eg Panorama Holidays, etc good luck - paul

[moodyblue]

Dont go my husband got mugged in a market place, he was pushed to the ground and he felt hands all over him, they took his wallet, money, jewellery etc. The only way they did not get his wedding ring was because he kept his fist clinched. They even ripped a thick chain off of his neck. Our insurance company was wonderful and got us home within 2 days - we were actually booked to stay for 6 weeks honeymoon. Stay away.