- Accommodation
- Transport
- Nutrition
- Entertainment
- Purchases
The mild climate, the warm Mediterranean Sea, an endless strip of sandy beaches and attractions that tell about the ancient history of the North African country - this is Tunisia. The choice of its resorts is great, and there are even more interesting places that you want to see.
The most common type of vacation in Tunisia is an all-inclusive tour. Although many people prefer hotels with breakfasts - for exploring the local cuisine. Or an independent trip to get to know the country. In both cases, the main thing is to plan your vacation in detail and calculate the travel budget. With what amount and in what currency should I go to Tunisia?
Both dollars and euros can be changed equally easily anywhere - from a state bank to a post office or a hotel reception. Moreover, the course will be the same everywhere - this is the state policy. One US dollar costs about three Tunisian dinars, the euro is a little more expensive - 1: 3, 16. It is recommended to keep the exchange receipts, because export of national currency is strictly prohibited. So the balance can be exchanged back before departure.
Accommodation
If the purpose of independent travel is to save money, then certainly not in Tunisia. The finished tour will be a quarter cheaper. In this case, there are a couple of reasons for self-booking accommodation. If you prefer to live in a villa or in an apartment, first of all. Secondly, if you are going on an educational tour around the country, that is, you will travel to different cities.
Apartments and villas are only available for self-booking. Vouchers are not sold here. You can rent a villa during the high season for 2,000-3,000 dinars per month, plus the amount of the deposit, which the owners will return to you only upon departure. The rental price, as usual, depends on the area, the number of rooms and the availability of a garden / pool / parking. Water and electricity consumption is accounted for separately and deducted from the deposit. The shorter the rental period, the higher the price.
Consider the cost of living in hotels in popular tourist cities:
- In Hammamet, designed for a respectable vacation, you can hardly find an inexpensive room. The price for a double junior suite will be around 260-280 dinars.
- In ancient Nabeul, a room in a four-star hotel will cost about 230 dinars per day.
- Mahdia hotels rarely raise prices above 180 dinars per day, while there is an opportunity to enjoy picturesque landscapes and privacy.
- In the capital of the same name, you can find quite a solid three-star hotel with rooms for 90 dinars.
- Accommodation in the same hotel in Sousse will cost about 75 dinars.
Transport
Public transport in the country is very comfortable for independent travelers - both the network is developed and the roads are good.
Within the same resort, you can get by with a taxi, they are in demand precisely because of the low fares. Getting in a taxi costs 450 millims, a kilometer of the way - 650 millims. At night, the cost increases by 50 percent, but still comes out inexpensive. A taxi ride between cities will be more expensive. Although, as an airport transfer, a taxi is a viable option. There are several airports in Tunisia. For example, we will give the prices for transfers from the new airport of Enfidha. You can get to Sousse and Hammamet for 75 dinars, already to Tunisia or Mahdia the cost will be 130, and to Sfax - 160 dinars.
The bus network runs through almost the entire country. Travel from Hammamet to the capital costs about 4 dinars, from Sousse to Hammamet 4, 5 dinars, from Hammamet to Mahdia will be slightly more expensive - over 7 dinars. The presence of air conditioning and TV in intercity buses increases the cost of the trip.
The same is the cost of travel in local "minibuses", they are called luazhs. The principle of operation is similar to the Russian one: it is sent as it is filled with passengers, payment to the driver, stop on demand. The only caveat: the route is usually written in Arabic. It is better to check with the driver.
It is convenient to travel in the capital by surface metro - high-speed trams that connect the main transport hubs, the center and tourist places. The fare is from 0.5 to 1.7 dinars.
Nutrition
Tunisian cuisine is based on French, Italian and Arab culinary traditions. It is quite varied. Prices in local restaurants are higher than in another tourist North African country - Egypt. But this is not a reason to abandon an independent acquaintance with the country in favor of an all-inclusive package. You just need to plan your travel budget more carefully.
Average prices per person in a restaurant look something like this:
- Continental breakfast, eggs, sausages and yoghurt, costs 8 dinars.
- Standard lunch, steak with salad or the famous Carbonara pasta - 14 dinars.
- An assortment of seafood with a side dish, a glass of wine and a dessert - such a dinner will cost 20 dinars.
A business lunch in a hotel restaurant will cost from 15 to 30 dinars, for this cost you will be served a meat or fish dish with french fries, and a plate of fruit. Prices in a cafe will be 15 percent lower than restaurant prices, with the same volume of dishes. At McDonald's or other fast food, you can eat a big mac for 7-8 dinars.
When traveling on your own, you can stock up on local food in markets or shops. Prices in local supermarkets are very budgetary:
- Fresh fish will cost 12 dinars per kilogram.
- Beef is more expensive - 19-20 dinars.
- A chicken carcass will cost only 8 dinars per kilo.
- Packing eggs (12 pieces) - 2 dinars.
- Rice will cost only one and a half dinars per kilogram.
- Fruits, bananas and apples cost only 3-4 dinars per kilo.
- A kilogram of tomato, onion or potato is 1 dinar.
- Drinking water in a bottle of 1.5 liters - 500 millims (half a dinar).
The decision to cook on your own will save you at least 300-350 dinars. If you prefer not to spend your vacation time preparing food, meals in restaurants and cafes will cost about 700 dinars for 10 days.
Entertainment
In a country whose history dates back to ancient times, there are many world-famous places, and many sights included in the UNESCO list, the main entertainment will be visiting them.
The most famous excursion in Tunisia is a trip to the legendary Sahara Desert. An excursion from the category of "must see". For most, it becomes the main impression of the vacation. The cost of a two-day trip ranges from 450 to 500 dinars. To this must be added the inevitable expenses on souvenirs, water, camel rides, etc.
The southernmost oasis of Tunisia is located among the orange sands on the border of the Sahara and is called Ksar Gilan. This is a real oasis - a picturesque garden of palm trees surrounded by sand dunes. A day trip there with a visit to an ancient Roman fort and bathing in a thermal spring costs about 250 dinars.
A one-day tour of ancient Carthage allows you to see many other attractions along the way, from the sea gate and the Bardo Museum to the old city, Medina. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the world famous blue and white town of Sidi Bou Said. The trip will cost about 200 dinars.
Active youth are offered a quest excursion to Carthage worth 150 dinars.
Vacationers with children, as a rule, do not risk going on long tours. Enough easy entertainment has been invented for them:
- Boat trip on a pirate ship - for 70 dinars for an adult and 50 for a child.
- A visit to the Phrygia Zoo is 50 and 35 dinars, respectively.
- Half a day will take a trip to the Phrygia Zoo with exciting adventures organized by the animators. Its cost for an adult with a child will be 140 dinars.
- A visit to the water park is also calculated for half a day. The price, 120 dinars for two, includes food and soft drinks.
- In the hottest weather, children will be interested in visiting the 3D optical illusion museum. An exciting excursion costs 45 dinars (for a child).
The opportunity to rejuvenate and heal the body attracts thalassotherapy lovers to Tunisia. The cost of the most budgetary procedures, and it is better to go through them at least in a small, but at a rate, ranges from 500 to 1200 dinars.
Purchases
The Tunisian textile industry is quite competitive. You can safely go shopping, the prices are adequate and the result will be pleasant. Jeans can be bought for 15 dinars, T-shirts - for 3-5 dinars, children's summer clothes cost from 3 dinars, a stylish linen shirt costs only 20 dinars. In the same stores, you can find products of well-known European brands at much lower prices.
The main point of shopping is buying gifts and souvenirs at home. Tunisia has plenty to choose from. To make it easier to navigate:
- Pottery is well developed in the country and local ceramics are valued at the world level. Jugs and other utensils painted in the style of different periods of Tunisian history can be bought for 8-15 dinars, tea sets for six people will cost 200 dinars.
- Olive wood products will become a colorful gift, and they will be much cheaper than in any other country. A nice mortar and pestle costs only 8-10 dinars. Charming figurines can be bought from 5 to 30 dinars.
- Antique coins can be bought for 5-7 dinars, and this will be the best piece of local antiques. Everything else is a beautiful, elegant "remake".
- A small replica of a real Arab carpet costs only 10 dinars.
- The local amulet in the form of a human palm is called hamsa. It is sold as a bracelet or pendant, costs about 15 dinars, and brings good luck.
- Cosmetics based on olive oil or seaweed are considered to be of high quality and inexpensive - from 1 to 10 dinars.
- An original local delicacy, lemons pickled in a jar will be an excellent edible souvenir at an inexpensive price - 8-9 dinars.
- Aromatic and fragrant Tunisian coffee is best bought in company stores. In the market, you need to ask to taste the grain so that you don't get overcooked. Price - 8 dinars for a pack of half a kilo.
Leather goods are also of excellent quality, but only in stores that can present a certificate for this very quality. Belts will cost from 40 dinars, wallets - up to 100 dinars and more, bags will cost 100-180 dinars.
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It is not difficult to relax here for a reasonable price. On average, spending per one for ten days will be from 800 to 2000 dinars in the "all inclusive" category. These are expenses for excursions, souvenirs, alcohol, thalassotherapy course and other entertainment. When traveling alone, the cost of accommodation and meals is added.
