Dear Tunisifan or other readers

- Did I say 3 ft, - I meant 3 metres!!!!!!!

Forget that - 3 SWIMMINGPOOL LENGTHS!!!!!!

Hopefully, come August I'll be adding to all the positive writings on visits to Tunisia.

MamaInTunisia

We're leaving for Sousse tonight and will be back 9th june so I'm taking the liberty of replying to your posting.People going to Tunisia often ask about nightlife and I'm never sure what they expect- if they mean pub/clublife then their is virtually none except a pub in the Tej Marharba complex.That's because this is a muslim country and alcohol-driven entertainment is rare.Nightlife revolves around the tourist hotels-any of which you can use- and you can get drink there. On the walk to Sousse centre you will find a supermarket called "Magasin Generale" and you can buy drink in the basement- spirits though are ��50/60 bottle!We buy in Monastir airport on arrival-Bacardi e.g ��8 litre-can't do that in other airports as far as I know but you can there.Milky coffee-not the black local stuff is our favourite daytime drink out but you must ask for it. As for men's clothes -anything acceptable here is acceptable there- it's women who have the problem because Tunisian women cover up all the time in public so scantily clad Europeans become the centre of attraction!

You'll have a great time but when it's a "first" you're always apprehensive-don't worry,we love it.All the best, Tunisiafan

Well we're back-where is everyone? We had a super time but much hotter than we expected-in the 90's some days! Our "on arrival"hotel turned out to be the Hotel Salem next door to the Royal Salem, half way between Sousse and Port el Kantaoui-frankly in the middle of nowhere but lots of cheap taxis queueing outside! What a nice welcome we got even at 3 in the morning,got a ground floor room opposite reception and opening onto the beautiful gardens and pool. Negatives though were that there's no lift and 3floors so if you needed one-tough! Another was that from june 1st evening entertainment is in the garden by the pool and continues at a very high rate of decibells until 11.30pm not allowing any freedom of choice about hearing it or not and there were many age groups there,some of whom might have liked peace or an early night for whatever reason now and then.The same volume continued during the day from 10-12 and2-4 to accompany various forms of entertainment.We learnt of an annexe,too late,which,had I not been handicapped with my broken leg,we could have used.

Ah well-we were out every day exploring and drinking coffee- cappucino in the hotel-1.3dinars each(dinar 40p)- along the road with the locals2xmilky coffees 1dinar! Yes-40p for 2 lovely coffees!Anyway overall the hotel was good and staff in all areas were so attentive-the manager spoke to me most days checking we were ok and couldn't do enough for us. As for the food it was superb-everything you could imagine!Sunbeds by the pool and on the beach were free by the way.Some asked earlier in the forum about clothes-didn't seem to be too much of a problem-many topless bathers, which many no doubt enjoyed but some found a bit embarrassing cos of the culture-many local families use the beach and the women swam in long dresses!

Bougainvilleas and oleanders were flowering everywhere-gorgeous!Went on a few trips which we recommend but bored you enough so maybe next time! Can't wait to go again but must get on with the clearing up now-Tunisiafan

Just wondering of you have ever been to the Hotel Royal Beach in Sousse. I am going there for two weeks on the 3rd of July. I have heard good and bad reviews of it?

Also is there much to do in Sousse during the day?

we went 2yrs ago, small but friendly, right on the beach, their are plenty of shops and a few bars, pek is worth a visit. about 5 dinar in a taxi. do not go to samara nightclub, go to grease instead, we fly out again 6/7 only home 2 week. just enjoy.

Hello

I am going to Marhaba Salem in Sousse very soon 6/7 with my family and we were wondering about a couple of details that I cannot find online;

Are there tea/coffee facilities in the hotel rooms.

Are there rental facilities for refrigerators for the rooms.

Also could you please give me a few details in regards to the children's mini club.

Could you also tell me the approximate exchange rate for GBP Sterling to Tunisian Dinar and the cost of an average meal for two adults and a child both in the hotel and in local cafe/bars/restaurants.

Also are the trips expensive?

If anyone could help it would be appreciated

Thanx in advance ;)

We just returned june9 fromHotel Salem-not Royal Salem next door,although you can share all facilities. We had a great time and have written a review on it but it has been listed as ROYAL by mistake. Anyway,your questions- there are no fridges or tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms but we take a travel kettle anyway and coffees are about 1.3 dinars in the bar-1dinar is 45p at the moment or 50p for easy reckoning. The mini club for children is apparently great,we didn't have children with us. 10-12 and 2-4/5 something seemed to be happening all the time. In the evening there's a childrens disco(everythings around the pool by the way) followed by various things for all the family including bingo,karaoke, folklore shows etc etc until 11pm then if you like that kind of thing theres an adult disco up the drive until 3am. My husband and I found a small local cafe about 20mins walk toward Sousse and on the right,where the locals eat and a lovely big pizza was from 3dinars,a miky coffee was half a dinar! Can you guess, we love it, hence the name"Tunisiafan"!

I've got all the trips here on a list which I'll let you have if you are still interested. You'll either love or hate it,we think you'll enjoy!

Thanks for the reply Fan.

Much appreciated...

My family and I are bracing our selves for some hard haggling and lots of fun in the sun.

Kids club sounds ideal.

I was wondering as you are a regular visitor can you tell me the un-official line on whiskey trading is it really better than money? and can you get into trouble (with local police etc) for trying it.

The whisky story is a sore subject with us! First you need to know the price of whisky in Tunisia- last time we looked it was 50/60pounds a bottle in the basement of the supermarket just beyond the Hotel El Hana,called Magasin Generale(there's one at the entrance to Port el Kantauoi too),anyone can buy there it's legitimate-beers are reasonably priced. You'll know the reason is to discourage muslims from drinking alcohol and that's not difficult since the average wage is 25pounds a week.

Consequently we took a bottle from UK once and thought we'd barter but never again,we didn't enjoy the hassle cos they know you didn't pay much and they are not going to take 50pounds off something! W e came home with a leather pouffe- very nice but no one sits on it! So next time we took a bottle and drank it!

If you enjoy haggling you are going to the right place- the real price for anything,that they usually accept, is about a third of the original asking price. Go for it!!!!!!!!!!

9 days to go yay.......

Thanks again your proving to be a very helpful and a mine of useful hints and tips:)

If you don't mind me being a pest there are a couple more questions....

How much is the bottled water both in the hotel and out and about, just wondering if its worth a trip to the local supermarket?

Also I have been reading on a couple of other forums about children asking for une stillo merci which if memory serves me rightly is french for a pen. I was thinking of taking a box of biros out to give to the local kids if they are hard to come by or in short supply, to help education purposes, but my wife and I wouldn't want to offend the local people.

Well till next post