Just wondering if anyone who has been before can give me a bit of advice. We are going All Inclusive, allocation on arrival so not sure of resort yet. Just wondering if theres anywhere we should go & what to watch out for, also what will the weather be like then?
2007-01-10 07:43:50 · 6 answers · asked by Loz 1 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Tunisia
I am an American living in Tunisia and I love Tunisia very much! The country is so full of history (has been under the rule of Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Berbers, Ottomans, Beys, and French; played a significant part in WWII, was the center of the ancient world with Carthage as the capitol, etc) and it has so many beautiful places to visit! It is unlike any other Arab country in that is has a lot of greenery. There are also many historical ruins in just about every part of the country you go to.
The mountain region is breathtaking! There are fantastic views and an the atmosphere is reminiscent of an old town in Switzerland. Absolutely gorgeous! The coast is marvelous. The Sea is clear and picturesque. The midland and south are terrific because they offer you the chance to peek into a forgetten society - one that holds fast to tradition. I have been all over Tunisia and have visited most cities and have loved everyone because they each have their own special charm.
The people are so warm and hospitable. They instantly welcome you as one of their own and treat you like family. Tunisia is also a very safe place. There are not many places in this world where a women can walk the streets alone in the middle of the night without fear. Yet I often take late night walks and have never had any problems and have never felt fearful.
Tunisia on a whole is a very safe country. I have lived in Tunis and Monastir and have visited other parts of the country without any problem. I do advise normal safety rules that are applicatable elsewhere, such as not dressing provocatively and to be aware of your surroundings.
This year the winter has been pretty mild. We haven't had many cold days or too much rains. That average temperature lately has been between 61-65°F (16-18°C). I suggest bringing some long sleeved shirts (not too hot), some pants, a sweater or a light jacket, and an umbrella. The nights are chilly due to the humidity which makes the cold go straight to the bone and makes it feel colder than it really is, so I suggest bringing something warm to sleep in at nights.
Depending on what city you go to will depend on what you will be able to do. Three of the most common cities for tourists are Hammamet, Sousse, and Tunis.
Hammamet is a great touristic town that is divided into two parts: The old city, and the new touristic city (called Yassmine Hammamet). The old city has it's charm because it has a nice medina and the city itself is wonderful to explore. But for vacation purposes, Yassmine Hammamet would be the place to go. That is where the major hotels are located, and there is an amusement park, resteraunts and golf courses there as well. Here is a website that you may find useful: http://www.yasmine.com.tn/anglais/Welcome.html
There are many fascinating places in Tunis. There is:
THE BARDO MUSEUM. 4 km/2.5mi west of Tunis is the suburb of Le Bardo, famed for the Bardo National Museum, which has the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics and other antiquities of interest from Ancient Greece, Carthage and from the Arab period, and it ranks with the Egyptian Museum in Cairo as one of the two great museums of North Africa.
CARTHAGE. It is the famed capitol of the ancient world and is located on the eastern side of Lake Tunis across from the center of modern Tunis. Now there is a museum there where you can view the ruins and ancient artifacts.
SIDI BOU SAID. The town is a tourist attraction because it is known for the extensive use of blue and white colors (the traditional colors of Tunisia) all over the town. All kinds of souvenirs can be bought in the main street. There is the traditional High Coffee there which is worth a look. My favorite is a coffee that overlooks the marina. It has fantastic views and a wonderful ambiance.
THE MEDINA. Just going there you can feel the history come to life. The streets are buzzing with shoppers and sellers. The medina itself contains around 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains dating from the Almohads and the Hafsids periods.
DAR BEN ABDALLAH. A small but interesting museum within an 18th-century palace in the medina, covering the everyday life of a rich merchant in the Ottoman era.
ZITOUNA MOSQUE. The largest mosque in Tunisia. This Aghlabite mosque dates back to the 9th century. Modest dress is essential, and non-Muslims can only enter the courtyard, not the mosque itself.
PORT DE FRANCE. It is comprised of architecture and decoration from many different styles and periods and is believed to stand on the remains of a Roman theatre as well as the tenth century palace of Ziadib-Allah II al Aghlab.
CATHEDRAL OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. It is located in downtown Tunis. It is a grand church situated in between shops and coffees.
DOWNTOWN TUNIS ITSELF. Here you can see the French infuence on Tunisia as many of these old buildings are built in French style. It also is home to a beautiful giant clock tower that is illuminated at night.
LA MARSA. It is a coastal town not far from Tunis. It is a popular vacation spot for many middle class Tunisians, being one of the only accessable beaches in the capitol.
BIZERTE. I know it's not in Tunis, but it's only about a 45 minutes to an hours ddrive away, and it is gorgeous! This is where many of the residents of Tunis come for their summer escape to the beach. It is the northern most point of Africa and because of that, the majority of the city is boardered by the Sea. The beaches are pristine, and it offers some great resteraunts and peaceful moments.
Sousse is one of the older cities in Tunisia, and possesses an authentic medina, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
GREAT MOSQUE. It is a surprisingly tranquil place despite its location in the middle of the city. Built around 850 AD, the mosque is simple and done in the Aghlabite style; no decoration whatsoever aside from a string of angular Arabic and curved arches. Even the prayer room is covered in reed mats instead of the usual carpet. You must be properly dressed to enter, but green wraps can be rented for a token fee to cover up.
MOSAIC MUSEUM. Located in the gently crumbling old kasbah on the edge of the medina.
THE TRADITIONAL TUNISIAN HOUSE. This charming little museum is located within the old city walls some 200 yards north of the main bus terminal is the home of a long standing Tunisian family that has now become a museum with the passing of the last family member. The property centers on a open courtyard from which access to all the rooms can be gained, including bedrooms for the first and second wife and, in turn, to the children's rooms. All are delightfully fully furnished, with some curtains dating back 200 years, and with German clocks imported from the 1800's. The house is complete with a tower, orginally used to watch the stars fror the onset of Ramadan, from which views over Sousse can be gained.
PORT EL KANTAOUI is a tourist complex 10 kilometers north od Sousse. it is home to a modern marina equipped for over 300 boats and several golf courses, as well and a full array of other sporting activities from water skiing to paragliding. The 36-hole PGA approved championship course makes Port El Kantaoui a popular destination for golfing. The architecture, although modern and dazzlingly white, has been modelled on the more traditional buildings in Tunisia, complete with narrow streets and arches. The hotels that line the beachfront extend from Sousse itself along miles of sparkling clean sea to Port El Kantaoui.
HANNIBAL PARK. It's an amusement park that has a famous roller coaster and has many souviner shops.
HERGLA KARTING PARK. It is another amusement pak and offers lots of fun. There is one ride on there that is extremely fun, but not for the faint of heart! I've been on it - it takes you high in the air, and turns you every which way, and even stops and let you dangle for a bit.
CATACOMBS. Nice to visit if you like history. I do, so I found them very interesting and enjoyed them very much.
Sousse also has great nightlife with many resteraunt, discos, cafés, and plenty of shopping! The coast has good beaches and a clear turquoise sea - perfect for swimming, although the weather is getting cold now and that probably won't be advisable. You can also take carriage rides throught the city which is always a fun way to sight-see!
That's just to name a few of the highlights. Once you get to the city yourself I'm sure that you will find many things that fascinate you. Tunisia is a land filled with much culture and history. And keep in mind that what interests one person, may not interest another, so everyone gains a different experience.
If you have any more questions, or need further assistance, please feel free to contact me!
2007-01-11 18:26:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Tunisia is beautiful, they speak French there - I went to Tunisia last year in July with my family and it was too hot - in the late 30's, so I think the weather will be good in February. In Monastir the temperature is around 18 degrees just now so it might be in the 20's by the time February crops round. We also went all inclusive and it was good, if you end up in the hotel we were in then you may not like it at first because the culture is so different to what we are used to but you will get used to it. I hope you have a fantastic time, I really do cos it is an amazing place. Sousse is very nice and there are a lot of good fun things to do, camel rides, pirate ship excursion and also the quad bikes are great fun! Watch out for pick pockets. Other than that it's a nice place and I certainly felt safe and had no problems. Have fun!
2007-01-10 16:16:08 · answer #2 · answered by DikiDoo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've been to Tunisia 3 times, and looking forward to go again this summer, its a wonderful place and would recommend it to every one lol , i went to port El kantaoui , the weather was lovely and the people are so polite
go on sites these site to get ideas on what you can do there:
http://www.virtualtourist.com
www.worldtravelguide.net/country/283/top_things_to_see/Africa/Tunisia
2007-01-11 09:53:00 · answer #3 · answered by sparkle_fairy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hi
I'm tunisian and I advice you to visit Hammamet , Eind Draham , Djerba ,Tozeur,Tabarka, Sousse and in Tunis (the capital) I advice you to visit Sidi Abou Said and Gammarth .
The weather is warm in general .
Take care.
2007-01-11 08:29:30 · answer #4 · answered by Dejla 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi Loz, hi every body !...
First of all, may I thank you for choosing Tunisia for your next holidays.I hope you'll enjoy it you'll be welcome,& so w'll be your boy friend.
Thanks to Hassen for her informativ tips and "words of mouth"
To be very concise i do recommend you to visit the folowing web sites, they might be helpfull to have an idea about the contry you are visiting.
<< www.tourismtunisia.com >>
<< www.tunisiaonline.com >>
Have a nice journey.
If you ever need any other practical informations,you can e-mail me.
2007-01-12 07:49:31 · answer #5 · answered by Mohamed Tahar b 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i went to tunisia many times and my advice to u to go in sprin session or summer
2007-01-11 06:08:00 · answer #6 · answered by Adel 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋