Tunisia Holidays - Advice & Information

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tunisia Holidays...

Most people enjoy beach holidays, and now there are more people than ever enjoying Tunisia holidays. It's no wonder, as this country offers an affordable and truly unforgettable getaway by the sea.

 
This information page focuses mostly on Tunisia holidays and what is required for visitors to get the utmost from a relaxing holiday in Tunisia.
 
 
 
     
 
Tunisia holiday photoTunisia is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for beach holidays, both in the summer and for those looking for some winter sunshine; and rightly so. But what are the attractions of this North African country? Why are Tunisia holidays such a compelling prospect for more and more people?

First and foremost, of course, Tunisia is a Mediterranean country - with over 800 miles of glorious coastline. It is no exaggeration to suggest that some of Tunisia’s beaches could be considered amongst the best in the Mediterranean. Indeed, in September 2008 the beach at Hammamet, overlooked by rugged rocks and a spectacular Genoese castle, was included as one of the world’s best beaches in the Daily Telegraph.

With such a splendid stretch of coast, the varieties of beach found in the country mean that Tunisian holidays can appeal to all kinds of holidaymakers. Whether you’re interested in lounging in the sun all day, keeping your adrenalin pumping with all-action water sports or having a lively family holiday, Tunisia will have exactly what you’re searching for. From secluded, picturesque spots on the northern coasts with beguiling names such as Raf Raf and Sidi Ali El, all the way round to the delightful Isle of Djerba, known as the Polynesia of the Mediterranean with more than 10,000 palms circling the superb sandy beaches, Tunisia has it all.

Tunisia has, for many years, had excellent relations with the European Union but, with the Tunisian Dinar the local currency, it is outside the ‘Euro zone’ and represents excellent value for tourists. It also has a more western outlook than many neighbouring countries - women enjoy equal rights here, for example, and alcohol is generally freely available. It is still an Arab country, however, and so it is best to dress accordingly in the souks and kasbahs, but the atmosphere in the country is always relaxed and friendly.

Traditional markets are still an essential aspect of Tunisian society and will entice visitors to wander through - stopping for the occasional mint tea, of course, and the opportunity to ‘haggle’ for the locally produced crafts. As well as the historic capital city of Tunis - containing the World heritage site of the Medina, the old walled quarter, as well as the remains of the great city of Carthage - it’s also possible to venture on a fascinating Star Wars journey. Many of the films in the series were filmed in Tunisia and the sets remain out in the desert areas where tours regularly take film aficionados.

It is the beaches that attracts most visitors to Tunisia, however. Beach holidays to places such as Tabarka are some of the few in the country with a predominantly southern aspect. Set around an elegant marina, these smooth, child-friendly, immaculately clean sands are also popular with divers who explore the reef just off the shore. Or there is Kelibia, acknowledged as the country’s cleanest town, with a recently restored fortress and some wonderful views. El Haouaria is a ribbon of perfect golden sand beaches, surrounded by sleepy villages next to the crystal clear waters of the Med. There will be opportunities to snorkel, sail, scuba dive and ride a camel along nearly all of Tunisia’s coastline. And, of course, there are now many resort hotels, with wonderful private beaches, that offer the very highest standard of modern amenities.

With a summer season from May through to October, with temperatures nudging 40° generally mitigated by the sea breezes, Tunisia holidays should be high on the agenda of all those people searching for the very best beach holidays, at the very best value.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tunisian holiday sightsWell over 350,000 British holidaymakers now visit Tunisia every year, and that number looks set to increase as more and more people come to realise the value for money and the variety that is on offer. Tunisia holidays can provide some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean as well as giving visitors the opportunity of seeing an historic, fascinating country that is a beguiling mixture of cultures.

For many years, it has been the wonderful beaches along the 800 miles of Mediterranean coast that have been Tunisia’s major fascination for tourists. The major resort areas of Sousse-Monastir-Mahdia, Nabeul-Hammamet and Djerba-Zarzis have capitalised on the superb sandy beaches, the crystal clear southern Mediterranean waters and, more recently, their added affordability by being outside the Euro zone. With family-friendly beaches, excellent water sports facilities and the added bonus of camel rides, Tunisia holidays have provided wonderful breaks for couples and families, whether they have been searching for peace and quiet or a chance to try out a multitude of new and exciting activities.

Wonderful though Tunisian beaches are, though, there is so much more to this country. Situated on the north coast of Africa, but heavily influenced by Europe and the east, Tunisia is one of the most culturally and historically diverse of countries. Although predominantly Arab, it is a country of complete religious tolerance - the Jewish quarter of Jerba, for example, is long established. With nearly a quarter of its politicians being female, women here have a higher status than in most comparable Arab countries. And, although Arabic is the official language, the long relationship with France means that many people speak that language fluently as well. In the tourist areas, it is also common for English to be used.

The capital, Tunis, is truly one of Africa’s great cities, originally developed around the ancient city of Carthage, of which there are some wonderful ruins to the north east of the current site. The Roman amphitheatre, which still hosts concerts, especially during the Carthage Festival, is just one of the fascinating places to explore. The Médina, the historical heart of Tunis, has some incredible mosques, palaces and monuments and tourists can spend hours wandering around the incredible souks such as the 17th century Souk El Birka, with its amazing jewellery and embroidery.

Visitors to Tunis, as well as absorbing the wealth of cultural diversity - reflected in the sumptuous food you can find here - are also helped by the modern transport system that is being developed in the city, especially with the above ground light rail network, Le Metro.

Tunisia, of course, is also a Saharan country, with that mighty desert occupying large parts of the southern territory. This gives visitors ample opportunity to get glimpses of the Berber lifestyle, and to have the opportunity of paragliding, hot air ballooning, camel and horse trekking as well as going for four-wheel drive adventures over the sands. Two of the favourite days out for tourists are an exhilarating journey on the Red Lizard train through some of the country’s weirdest rock formations along the Seldja Gorge and also Star Wars tours. Many famous scenes from these iconic films were shot on location in Tunisia and fans can visit the actual sets of ‘Tatooine’ in the oasis town of Tozeur and also Matmata, where you can re-enact scenes in Luke Skywalker’s home village!

As you can see, Tunisia holidays are not just for beach lovers; history buffs, film fanatics, archaeologists, foodies. Just about the size of England and Wales, Tunisia is a country well worth a holiday, whatever your interest.
 
 
     
 
 

 
     
 

Beach Holidays - More Ideas Worth Considering

Undoubtedly, Tunisia has some incredible beaches that are absolutely perfect for beach holidays of any kind. The combination of the local culture, the great weather and miles of superb sandy beaches makes it an alluring destination.
 
However, it can’t be denied that Europe is spoilt when it comes to great beaches; whether you’re searching for alluring, secluded stretches of white sand where you can lounge in perfect peace, windswept beaches where the surf is high or wild, atmospheric party beaches - you’ll find them all.
 
So, if it’s not Tunisia that appeals for your next beach holiday, where else might you want to consider?
 
For a start, the British Isles can boast some of the best beaches you’ll ever see - stretches of the Scottish and Irish coasts have some majestic, sweeping beaches, often with spectacular coastal scenery perfect for relaxing beach holidays. One favourite is Portstewart Strand in Northern Ireland - a two mile length of wonderful beach backed by enormous dunes. There is also something mystical and alluring about Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. With the Worm’s Head accessible at low water and the chance to catch glimpses of bottlenose dolphins and basking sharks, this place has hardly changed since Dylan Thomas set his magical short story here over half a century ago. A little further into Pembrokeshire brings you to Marloes Sands and Pendine - so smooth it was once the venue of world record speed attempts. Now it is undoubtedly the best beach cricket pitch in the world and a perfect destination for your beach holidays.
 
Everyone knows about the glorious beaches of the south west of England - but fewer have explored those of the beautiful Northumberland coast. Bamburgh sands, overlooked by the majestic castle, stretch for miles and offer views across to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and the Farne Islands.
 
But many people will want to take their beach holidays overseas and then, of course, the choice becomes even more difficult.
 
Take Spain, for example. Some of the very best - and least crowded beaches - are in the south of Andalucia on what is now known as the Costa de la Luz. Here you’ll discover vast golden beaches that include the wind surfers’ paradise, Tarifa; the wonderful city beaches of Cádiz; and many undiscovered gems. In the north of the country, there’s the fabulously energetic Zarautz beach in San Sebastian, with just about every water sport ever invented!
 
Or think about the amazing beaches that France has to offer - on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. My own favourites are on the awe-inspiring Île de Ré and the almost idyllic Îles d’Hyères but there are, literally, hundreds more.
 
But there are so many other tempting beaches to consider. Croatia, for example, has a lovely coastline with some of the most secluded beaches in Europe. Gotland, a small island 100 kilometres to the south of Stockholm, has great kayaking, hiking, cycling, all in a wonderfully unpolluted environment. Party goers tend to congregate in the south of the island; those looking for quieter pursuits head north.
 
And we still haven’t mentioned Portugal - and, again, it’s not just the popular beaches of the Algarve, fine though they are. Portugal’s Atlantic coastline has a whole host of different beaches to lure the tourists.
 
Then there are the islands of Sardinia, Corsica, the charming Gozo, Greece ( how could you not fall in love with the perfect crescent of Myrtos beach in Kefalonia) and, of course, the captivating coastline of Turkey, especially the 12 mile long dune-backed beach at Patara on the so-called Turquoise Coast.
 
My own #1 most favourite spot? I’m not telling you, I’m afraid; that’s somewhere I don’t want to share with anyone. And why should I? After all, there are so many wonderful places in Europe for people to find their own perfect, never-to-be-forgotten beach holidays and hide-aways on the coast!
 
 
 
 

Getting The Most From Your Beach Holidays

For most of us, a good holiday means, somewhere along the line, a good beach. We might have other criteria that are quite important to us, but that stretch of sand is going to be very close to the top of our list of ‘must haves’. It’s essential, though, that, in order to get the very best out of our beach holidays, we undertake a little preparation and research before we go.
 
Now, I’m not just referring here to whether we want a beach in Spain or Portugal. Or whether we need to have access to beach bars and car parks or whether our only need is a palm tree or two when it gets too hot - important as these things undoubtedly are taking on beach holidays.
 
No, let’s look at some of the other considerations we might want to factor in to our decision making - after all, our beach holidays tend to be few and far between and we want to make absolutely certain that we make them as memorable as we can.
 
Are you going to try for the best beach or the best location overall for your holiday? After all, these are not always the same thing. Are you looking for beach holidays that are picturesque, exclusive and hidden away or beach holidays that are nearer to amenities such as shopping centers and restaurants? Do you want to be right on the beach with your accommodation or are you happy having a short walk or drive to get there? All these things, and more, need to be carefully considered when planning your next beach holidays.
 
However sandy our beach, however clear our sea waters, we will need to stay somewhere on our longed-for vacation. We need to make sure, again, that we choose the most suitable. Is a well-appointed hotel going to suit our needs more than a self-catering apartment that would give us a little more freedom? Or will the chores that might mount up in an apartment mean that at least one member of the family doesn’t really get a beach holiday at all? If we decide on a hotel, will opting for an all-inclusive mean that we don’t get full value for money because we still go out to try different local restaurants or would we be happiest eating in the hotel all the time?
 
One of today’s greatest tools in answering all of these questions - and countless more - is the internet. We can browse for hours, searching for beach holidays and accommodation options that totally match our criteria.
 
Once we’ve got some ideas, don’t forget those sites that give the opinions of fellow travellers - Fodors, Yahoo Travel and, my own particular favourite, Trip Advisor. You’ll find plenty of reviews of beaches and hotels; just make sure you get the most up-to-date you can and also that you read enough reviews to be able to form a complete picture before you make your choice.
 
The last piece of advice of how to make the most of your beach holidays is to make sure that you pack really carefully before you go. Hotels and beach resorts love those travellers who decide to buy their sun cream, water toys and beach gear when they arrive - their prices have a premium especially for them. You’ll spend enough on your holiday without having to pay too much for things you could get far cheaper at your local supermarket before you leave to go on your beach holiday.
 
Take all of these things into consideration - and then you’ll really ensure that you do completely get the best out of your next planned beach holidays.