Anyone been to Tunisia??

[esmed]

I'm off on my holidays to Tunisia in two weeks time and can't wait. We're staying half way between Port El Kantaoui and Sousse.

Has anyone been and if so can you recommend some nice places to go or must-see places.

I've read loads about the medina which we will definitely be doing but all you ever seem to hear about is the medina! I really want to spend a week enjoying someone else culture so would love some suggestions!

Thanks in advance!!

[HeyWayne]

I've never been, but isn't it Tunisia where Star Wars was filmed?

[esmed]

I've never been, but isn't it Tunisia where Star Wars was filmed?

Yeh i think it was filmed in El Jem or somewhere like that which is about 4 hours away from where we're staying I think so we might do that on one of the days.

[kirsty b]

My dad went last year and said it was lovely. He was mainly on a chill-out holiday though. Lounger/pool/beer

He did come back raving about the price of gold, and bought himself a new wedding ring while there, was not so chuffed when his finger went green...

[Glutton4...]

My Sister went once. To get away from the dreadful English weather.

Their Hotel room got flooded and they had to be moved!

I never holiday with my Sister!

[esmed]

My dad went last year and said it was lovely. He was mainly on a chill-out holiday though. Lounger/pool/beer

He did come back raving about the price of gold, and bought himself a new wedding ring while there, was not so chuffed when his finger went green...

I'll be alternating my days between chilling out and exploring! Will avoid the gold by the sounds of it!!

My Sister went once. To get away from the dreadful English weather.

Their Hotel room got flooded and they had to be moved!

I never holiday with my Sister!

Blimey! That doesn't sound much like a holiday!!

[mrdinkle]

My sister went there, her friend got offered a camel in exchange. Unfortunately the deal fell through and she came back

[Glutton4...]

...Blimey! That doesn't sound much like a holiday!!

She gets bad weather wherever she goes. She moved to Spain a few years ago, to get away from our weather. It has rained there every day this year so far, bar about three!

Now you know why I don't holiday with my Sister!

[esmed]

My sister went there, her friend got offered a camel in exchange. Unfortunately the deal fell through and she came back

Ha ha.....brilliant!!

She gets bad weather wherever she goes. She moved to Spain a few years ago, to get away from our weather. It has rained there every day this year so far, bar about three!

Now you know why I don't holiday with my Sister!

She's not going to Tunisia in two weeks is she?!? I might rearrange if she is!!

[Rhona]

We went years ago - stayed between Sousse and Hammamet. Very interesting place but do go to Carthage if you can. Food was brilliant too, lots of influences that result in some wonderful dishes.

Have a great trip!

[bobleponge]

Alors, I am sitting in my office, and on the other desk sits .... a Tunisian.
He has told me the following:

Taburka and Ain Draham is absolutely to see, but a bit long, around 300km from Sousse
Mountains and sea, touristy but beautiful.

Koirouan >> 60kms from Sousse
Hammamet >> 80kms from Sousse, both older towns, very pretty.

Sidi Bousaid, named after a saint, very touristy but pretty 180km from Sousse

El Jem as has been said
And Sbeitla (Sefutula in Roman) home of the Roman King Gregoire, all his palace and paraphenalia is still in place.

Enjoy.

[Alison]

We stayed in Sousse a few years ago and had a lovely time (apart from the time we accidently wandered into the red light district in the medina...........). We did a few trips out, El Jem was good as already said, as was Hammamet. Think we went to Sidi Busaid also. Didn't like Tunis, too many sleasy men in the medina there trying to split me and OH apart to sell us stuff separately. We also did a two day trip down to the Sahara which was great, loads of different scenary and a surprisinly un-tacky camel ride in the desert at sunset. Did get a bit fed up with people wanting to stroke my hair as it was blonde (even the maid) and in the touristy areas they all make swapping you for camel jokes which can get tedius.

[ChrisB]

When holidaying we like to get in amongst the locals and see their way of life. So when we went to Tunisia, obvouldy we did the Medina, but found it very tourist - not sruprising really as we were in a tourist area.

I would recommend using local transport. There is the Tuk-tuk. They have a taxi system whereby at a central point taxis depart for there destinations, but only when they are full. You could wait 5 or 45 minutes for the taxi to leave, but it is an experience and very cheap. Use the local bus service to get to other towns and their trains are good too.

Hope you have a great time

[esmed]

We went years ago - stayed between Sousse and Hammamet. Very interesting place but do go to Carthage if you can. Food was brilliant too, lots of influences that result in some wonderful dishes.

Have a great trip!

Will have a look into Carthage, i think i've read about it and i liked the look of it so will do some more research tonight. The food is the one thing i look forwrd to most about a holiday - I love trying new foods and trying to pick up recipe idea's that i can try at home.

Alors, I am sitting in my office, and on the other desk sits .... a Tunisian.
He has told me the following:

Taburka and Ain Draham is absolutely to see, but a bit long, around 300km from Sousse
Mountains and sea, touristy but beautiful.

Koirouan >> 60kms from Sousse
Hammamet >> 80kms from Sousse, both older towns, very pretty.

Sidi Bousaid, named after a saint, very touristy but pretty 180km from Sousse

El Jem as has been said
And Sbeitla (Sefutula in Roman) home of the Roman King Gregoire, all his palace and paraphenalia is still in place.

Enjoy.

Thanks to you and your colleague for the hints - have added to my research list. The ancient style towns sound fab!

We stayed in Sousse a few years ago and had a lovely time (apart from the time we accidently wandered into the red light district in the medina...........). We did a few trips out, El Jem was good as already said, as was Hammamet. Think we went to Sidi Busaid also. Didn't like Tunis, too many sleasy men in the medina there trying to split me and OH apart to sell us stuff separately. We also did a two day trip down to the Sahara which was great, loads of different scenary and a surprisinly un-tacky camel ride in the desert at sunset. Did get a bit fed up with people wanting to stroke my hair as it was blonde (even the maid) and in the touristy areas they all make swapping you for camel jokes which can get tedius.

I've got very dark brown nearly black hair so hopefully i won't have too much trouble there! If I can swap my boyfriend for a camel though i'd be chuffed!!

When holidaying we like to get in amongst the locals and see their way of life. So when we went to Tunisia, obvouldy we did the Medina, but found it very tourist - not sruprising really as we were in a tourist area.

I would recommend using local transport. There is the Tuk-tuk. They have a taxi system whereby at a central point taxis depart for there destinations, but only when they are full. You could wait 5 or 45 minutes for the taxi to leave, but it is an experience and very cheap. Use the local bus service to get to other towns and their trains are good too.

Hope you have a great time

I've seen pictures of the tuk-tuk's and can't wait to go in one of those!! I'm also doing some research on useful phrases in arabic so i'm can speak a bit of the lingo. It's been three years since i went abroad and i've really missed it so can't wait for this holiday.