Tunisia - Hammamet

[Adam]

Heading to Tunisia in August for a week. Just wanted somewhere that was roasting that I could lie about doing very little whilst getting a decent tan.

 

Would like to try and get to a water park one day, see from reviews that there are a few nearby to where we are staying. Also, would a trip to Tunis one day be advisable?

[Richey Edwards]

I honestly wouldn't bother going to Tunisia. Worst place I've ever visited.

[Richey Edwards]

I stayed in Sousse. Food was awful, streets were stinking and full of rubbish and everywhere I went people were trying to sell me shite or trying to get me to give them money for performing some minor task like holding a door open for me and got aggressive when told to GTF.

Oh, and my two sisters and brother (who is gay and quite effeminate) got harassed and insulted every time they went out.

However, I hope you have a much better experience than I did and enjoy your holiday.

[welshbairn]

15 hours ago, Adam said:

 

Heading to Tunisia in August for a week. Just wanted somewhere that was roasting that I could lie about doing very little whilst getting a decent tan.

 

Would like to try and get to a water park one day, see from reviews that there are a few nearby to where we are staying. Also, would a trip to Tunis one day be advisable?

 

Haven't been but an escorted day trip to Tunis would be fine I'd have thought. Get taken round the sights without the risk of wandering into a dodgy area.

[heedthebaa]

Stayed at les orangers resort at hammamet a few years ago, nice enough holiday, the bazaars were mental though, they’re worse than the Turks for being pain in the arses 

[Boghead ranter]

If you measure after-travel complaints v amount of travellers who visit, my work get more than double the 2nd worst for Tunisia.  The biggest generator of complaints by far. 

It's a shithole.

[Adam]

On 14/04/2018 at 22:30, heedthebaa said:

Stayed at les orangers resort at hammamet a few years ago, nice enough holiday, the bazaars were mental though, they’re worse than the Turks for being pain in the arses 

This is where we are booked in to stay, the reviews on TripAdvisor have all been fairly good.   I see there are a few waterparks nearby, did you happen to visit any of them when you stayed here?

My girlfriend is absolutely murder for shopping, so I fully expect to have a high number of dealings with the hawkers and the likes in the markets.

[Jute]

On 10/04/2018 at 22:22, Adam said:

 

Heading to Tunisia in August for a week. Just wanted somewhere that was roasting that I could lie about doing very little whilst getting a decent tan.

 

Would like to try and get to a water park one day, see from reviews that there are a few nearby to where we are staying. Also, would a trip to Tunis one day be advisable?

 

We did trip up to Tunis that we booked through hotel and it was pretty good. Our hotel also did on off road trip into surrounding country side which was decent.

[heedthebaa]

9 hours ago, Adam said:

This is where we are booked in to stay, the reviews on TripAdvisor have all been fairly good.   I see there are a few waterparks nearby, did you happen to visit any of them when you stayed here?

My girlfriend is absolutely murder for shopping, so I fully expect to have a high number of dealings with the hawkers and the likes in the markets.

While ago now Adam, just remember it for having a full scale argument over paying for a beach camel ride, buying a lovely leather jacket and the maid doing some nice shit with a towel and Rose petals on the bed. Never ventured to any water parks. Hotel itself was fine but not memorable. Have a good one 

[tree house tam]

Been 3 times, Hammamet, Skanes(Monastir) and Sousse. Done the Sahara trek and El Djem too. As people say it's poor as f**k, locals will scam you if they can. Weird sights are all the tyres being burned at night because there's no streetlights(suburbs mostly) and goats up trees.

[tree house tam]

Oh aye, and that place in star wars, done that shite too.

Wouldn't go back now, was cheap as f**k for 4/5 star compared to Europe, that's why I was drawn to the place.

[Boghead ranter]

9 hours ago, tree house tam said:

Oh aye, and that place in star wars, done that shite too.

Wouldn't go back now, was cheap as f**k for 4/5 star compared to Europe, that's why I was drawn to the place.

And yet, that's also the cause of so many of its' issues.  5 star in Tunisia is 5 star by Tunisian standards, as opposed to 5 star worldwide.  So many people do online research and think "oh, there's a 5 star in Tunisia for the same price as that 3 star in Majorca.  Let's book the Tunisia one, that's a great deal".  Well guess what, the reason they're the same price is that you're actually getting the same standard at both.

And your beach in Majorca won't also be the town's unofficial rubbish tip, unlike in Tunisia.

[tree house tam]

44 minutes ago, Boghead ranter said:

And yet, that's also the cause of so many of its' issues.  5 star in Tunisia is 5 star by Tunisian standards, as opposed to 5 star worldwide.  So many people do online research and think "oh, there's a 5 star in Tunisia for the same price as that 3 star in Majorca.  Let's book the Tunisia one, that's a great deal".  Well guess what, the reason they're the same price is that you're actually getting the same standard at both.

And your beach in Majorca won't also be the town's unofficial rubbish tip, unlike in Tunisia.

Whilst this is certainly true in a lot of cases,  the 5 stars I've been in in Tunisia are a fair bit above the 3 stars in Majorca and I've been in a fair amount to judge, I've also lived in Majorca. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't rush back to Tunisia but it's a typical North African country, they live a bit different to us. Also I found the beaches in Tunisia to be decent, if you're into that sort of thing, which I can take or leave tbh.

[Scary Bear]

On 15/04/2018 at 08:13, Boghead ranter said:

If you measure after-travel complaints v amount of travellers who visit, my work get more than double the 2nd worst for Tunisia.  The biggest generator of complaints by far. 

It's a shithole.

 

On 16/04/2018 at 22:00, Jute said:

We did trip up to Tunis that we booked through hotel and it was pretty good. Our hotel also did on off road trip into surrounding country side which was decent.

 

On 18/04/2018 at 22:45, tree house tam said:

Been 3 times, Hammamet, Skanes(Monastir) and Sousse. Done the Sahara trek and El Djem too. As people say it's poor as f**k, locals will scam you if they can. Weird sights are all the tyres being burned at night because there's no streetlights(suburbs mostly) and goats up trees.

 

On 18/04/2018 at 22:47, tree house tam said:

Oh aye, and that place in star wars, done that shite too.

Wouldn't go back now, was cheap as f**k for 4/5 star compared to Europe, that's why I was drawn to the place.

 

On 19/04/2018 at 08:02, Boghead ranter said:

And yet, that's also the cause of so many of its' issues.  5 star in Tunisia is 5 star by Tunisian standards, as opposed to 5 star worldwide.  So many people do online research and think "oh, there's a 5 star in Tunisia for the same price as that 3 star in Majorca.  Let's book the Tunisia one, that's a great deal".  Well guess what, the reason they're the same price is that you're actually getting the same standard at both.

And your beach in Majorca won't also be the town's unofficial rubbish tip, unlike in Tunisia.

 

On 19/04/2018 at 08:54, tree house tam said:

Whilst this is certainly true in a lot of cases,  the 5 stars I've been in in Tunisia are a fair bit above the 3 stars in Majorca and I've been in a fair amount to judge, I've also lived in Majorca. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't rush back to Tunisia but it's a typical North African country, they live a bit different to us. Also I found the beaches in Tunisia to be decent, if you're into that sort of thing, which I can take or leave tbh.

Great stuff. We just booked some place in Skanes, Tunisia. The main thing that pops into my head when thinking of a holiday in Tunisia, is the possibility of being shot on the beach by a terrorist. Anyway, it’s a winner for folk who want to spend under £3k on an all inclusive family for five. I may be displaying a cavalier attitude to family safety, but what can you do. It looks okay and the wife liked it. I can blame her if we all get shot.
 

[Scary Bear]

On 10/04/2018 at 22:22, Adam said:

 

Heading to Tunisia in August for a week. Just wanted somewhere that was roasting that I could lie about doing very little whilst getting a decent tan.

 

Would like to try and get to a water park one day, see from reviews that there are a few nearby to where we are staying. Also, would a trip to Tunis one day be advisable?

Was it a shithole, excellent or somewhere in between?

I’ve been to Bodrum in Turkey in 1993. That place was mental and a shithole. From the comments in this thread I’m sensing similarities. Ah well, sure it’ll be fine.

[tree house tam]

3 hours ago, Scary Bear said:

Was it a shithole, excellent or somewhere in between?

I’ve been to Bodrum in Turkey in 1993. That place was mental and a shithole. From the comments in this thread I’m sensing similarities. Ah well, sure it’ll be fine.

There's not much to skanes tbh, beach for miles with hotel complexes and derelict hotels lining it. The beach is shallow as f**k for what seems ages as well, great for kids to play in, as long as no rogue gunmen come walking along. f**k all transfer time either.

[Scary Bear]

On 14/04/2022 at 13:55, tree house tam said:

There's not much to skanes tbh, beach for miles with hotel complexes and derelict hotels lining it. The beach is shallow as f**k for what seems ages as well, great for kids to play in, as long as no rogue gunmen come walking along. f**k all transfer time either.

I arrived today. The Skanes Family Resort is nice enough. Everyone is friendly. Got done by the random at the airport who took my cases to the bus for a tip. Shrugged my shoulders. Place is nice. Trip in was an eye opener. Like Turkey in the early ‘90s, in terms of the view from the transfer bus - utter hellhole - but this hotel seems the business. As you say not much to Skanes but the beach is nice, loads of pools and pool bars around this hotel and it’s ideal for a young family. Could definitely have been worse. One of the hotels - aquapark or the likes - had a tyre fire raging while folk were in the pool next door and some disgruntled teenager was giving our bus the Vickies. Lovely. Looked an absolute shitehole.

I think Skanes will do. As the English schools aren’t off yet, there’s a few English folk and us. Most folk are. Arabic with a few other random Europeans thrown in, but so far I’m a fan.

[Scary Bear]

On 19/04/2018 at 08:54, tree house tam said:

Whilst this is certainly true in a lot of cases,  the 5 stars I've been in in Tunisia are a fair bit above the 3 stars in Majorca and I've been in a fair amount to judge, I've also lived in Majorca. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't rush back to Tunisia but it's a typical North African country, they live a bit different to us. Also I found the beaches in Tunisia to be decent, if you're into that sort of thing, which I can take or leave tbh.

I’d go with you on this. You should be on trip advisor.