Looking for a good vacation spot.?

Question

I'm looking for a place to go on vacation in about 4 to 6 months and was hoping for some good suggestions. Here are some general ideas of what I'm looking for.
- I will be traveling with a recovering alcoholic, so places with a lot of drinking are a bad idea
- I'm thinking maybe about a 2000 dollar budget for two people, 3 days to a week, but I'm flexible
- Lots to do in the historical, arts, outdoors or nature areas would be lots of fun for us
- Some place romantic would also be fun for us
- I'm not opposed to visiting a city, but I like the idea of going to more of a small town type area too
- Some place different and uncommon would be more fun for us than a really touristy area. No resorts.
- Learning about, participating in and visiting different cultures would also be fun. I dont think I should have to leave the US for this, there is a lot of cultural variation in this country, but I like the idea of another country as well

What would you suggest?

Answer 1

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 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.

Depending on what city you go to will depend on what you will be able to do. But fear not - no matter where you go, you will stay way under your $2000 budget.

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.

PORT EL KANTAOUI http://www.portelkantaoui.com.tn/english/index.html a tourist complex 10 kilometers north of 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. http://www.kantaouigolfcourse.com.tn/ 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.

AQUA PALACE. There is a new water has many different types of water rides and fun things to enjoy. There are green spaces, beaches, pizzerias, a restaurant, a buffet restaurant, coffee, bars, solarium, shady spots, a children's paddling area with water games, and a relaxing jacuzzi on top of all the exciting rides.
http://acquapalace.com/

HANNIBAL PARK. It's an amusement park that has a famous roller coaster and has many souvenir shops. Fairground rides set in a fairy tale landscaped park including a merry go-round, trampolines, walk ways, bouncy castle and swings.

HERGLA KARTING PARK. It is another amusement park 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. It also has a mini zoo down by the race tracks.

OASIS PARC BOTANIQUE. A botanic park with over 25,00 aromatic and medicinal plants and birds including ostriches, parrots and various rare chickens, and a bird style circus with clowns and magicians.

FRIGUIA SAFARI PARK. The Park runs a breeding program for threatened species and you can take a drive to see the lions, giraffes and elephants and various other African wildlife that now live there.

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.

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 restaurants, discos, cafés, and plenty of shopping! The coast has good beaches and a clear turquoise sea - perfect for swimming. You can also take carriage rides throughout 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 I can be of any more help, please feel free to contact me. I've also included links to my pictures so you can see a little bit of what Tunisia looks like.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jamie_hassen/albums/
http://flickr.com/photos/jamie_hassen/