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Location: Port El Kantoui Duration: 7 nights Cost £275 per person
I love northern Africa for a start, so this may be a little biased. The hotel was a remarkable place, modern air conditioned as you would imagine, huge to the point that it has its own mini shopping centre, 2 swimming pools, health spa, games floor, 3 restaurants as well as the fully inclusive restaurant, 3 bars, and a mint tea/hubbly bubbly room. Mosaics on the floor, and plenty of Arabian authenticity.
Our room was an adequately sized mini suite, bedroom and sitting room, however no TV, not that is a problem and beach facing balcony. This was our second room as the first overlooked the wonderful refuse area, and in a warm climate that’s not ideal.
The resort is a little quiet, more family orientated, however the main area of Sousse with the 1500 year old medina/walled city with Arabian market. Complete with cows heads and spice/fabric shops and dodgy corner of the street Arab salesmen, is only 10 minutes away in a taxi if you want a bit more life. Locally there is a water amusement park, a quayside market and a marina. The beaches are a 5 minute walk away and there’s plenty of restaurants nearby.
Firstly this is the first time I have been to this area of Tunisia, I was disappointed at the narrowness of the beaches, 5/6m wide, but still long and sandy. However they are amongst the dirtiest beaches I have ever had the pleasure of laying on, on 1 day I actually came home grubby after spending all day in the sea. Be prepared to pay for a sun lounger in this area and get there early. The beaches are so narrow there just enough space to walk along in the very gentle surf, but not much more, and the sandy areas have sun loungers so there’s not much space to lay a towel. Most of the better areas of the beach are cordoned off by the hotels, and there’s a security guard presence to ensure on the guests of the hotel get the loungers. Our hotel area was quite small, and on holidays in the sun I never get up early. This often meant a fair trek up the beach to find a towel space/lounger.
The food was ok every other day, I found it more of a aesthetic spectacle than a feast. Fresh spreads were prepared on alternate days, and after a day in the heat not so appetising. Hence my "every other day" description. Be aware all inclusive means different things in different hotels, and the waiters will try a few shenanigans to get you to part with extra cash to line their pockets. You have to pay for water. In our hotel there was "basic bottled water" 2 dinars, and "superior bottled water" 5 dinars. If you don’t check or specify the waiters charge 5 dinars regardless, and they are not overly forthcoming with your change. I had to chase nearly every day for change. Other than that they have a cheerful and helpful disposition (probably due to the extra cash from unsuspecting tourists who pay 10 dinars for a bottle of water, approx £8).
As we were on an anniversary we ate out more than in the hotel, 10 mins walk away was a very scenic marina with lovely restaurants all reasonably priced, and all selling the same fare. 50/60 dinars (£50) will get you a nice 3 course meal for 2 with a reasonable wine. It’s a nice change from the hotel. And a lovely evening walk.
**If you don’t like aggressive salesmen don’t go is my only advice**
In the main tourist areas you will accosted no less that 40/50 times on an average evening, sometimes you have to be somewhat abrasive to get away, and if you allow it they will physically drag you into shops and boutiques. Although funnily enough there is no feeling of danger or malice. Also Arabs love white women, and if you are protective of your wife/girlfriend/partner over ogling men with their tongues hanging out don't go to Tunisia, period.
On the whole Tunisia is a lovely and interesting place to visit, do all the stuff they recommend, however all the "away days" sold by the reps can easily be obtained locally at half the price, and as the country relies on 90% of their revenue from tourism almost everyone speaks English, which to a well travelled Brit I found a littler embarrassing, however a basic command of the French language will get you by coupled with English, I call it"Franglais".
Be advised also Tunisia is a closed currency country, you can only get Dinars there, and you can’t take them out when you leave. The people in front of me in the airport security queue lost over 100 dinars (£95) to a security guard, you don't get an exchange rate from them, as far as they're concerned its fair game cash as it’s an offence to remove the currency from the Country. So spend what you take, as in the airport firstly there are no pounds, so you have to convert to Euros, and then to pounds when you get back all at your cost. In the airport 2 Mars bars and a bottle of water cost me the equivalent of £10 so manage this side of your holiday carefully.
Otherwise Tunisia is a wonderful place to visit, but do your research on the hotel you chose and also the resort, some areas are better than others, and some are cheaper as you would expect. In Tunisia All inclusive is the way to go, that way you have everything that you would need, and as you have paid upfront treats can be every day at a low cost.
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