I don't really know Hammamet at all, only having been there for a day, but I would say Tunisia is one of the safest places in the world. It's certainly a lot safer than many parts of the U.K. You are obviously at risk of theft if you walk round the Medina with your bag open or your wallet hanging out of your back pocket, but that applies anywhere. Being a muslim country there is not the drinking culture there is in many places. As an 'elderly lady' myself I have no fears about walking around alone and use the trains and buses whilst out there.

I don't know anything about the main hospitals but have been taken to a local clinic after a minor accident and was very well looked after

Tunisia and Majorca are as different as chalk and cheese. I love Tunisia, as do most of those who post on here, but obviously it is not to everyone's taste.

Think carefully and have a lovely holiday, wherever you decide to go.

I really can't work out how these rumours about high crime levels in Tunisia get started. Like Aslemma, I have travelled as a woman alone in Tunisia, including Hammamet, and these days feel safer there than I do in London. I've only ever come across one person who's been a victim of crime in Tunisia and he was a man who had his wallet picked from his back pocket in a crowd in the Medina in Sousse and freely admitted that it had only happened because he had become complacent and stopped taking the normal precautions that he would at home in a crowded place! As he said, he wouldn't have left his wallet in the back pocket of his jeans on a crowded underground train in London so why on earth had he done so in Sousse? Answer because he'd felt so safe he hadn't bothered to put it inside his backpack as he would have done anywhere else!

I see no reason why your husband shouldn't be able to go for his morning jog or take one of the children with him. However, depending on where you are staying in Hammamet then there mightn't be a paved promenade along the beach as you get in European resorts. Many of the beaches are lined with hotles whose gardens run right down to the beach and the road actually runs the inland side on all the hotels. But most of the hotels are built in groups with shared grounds and immaculately kept gardens. For example, there are three hotels in the Azur group on the edge of Hammamet and are so spread out that I saw a lot of the guests while I was there happily jogging round the gardens every morning and they clearly didn't feel the need to leave the complex in order to get a good jog in. And re-assure the Granmas that the elderly are treated with more respect there than they are in the UK these days and shouting 'Shooma' (Shame on you!) will soon bring the local blackclad Grannie Mafia out in force to come to their aid. Works everytime for me :-)

SM

Hi famly-6 - like the other replies, I really have no idea where the people who talk of Tunisia being unsafe get their facts from. We live in Tunisia for 6 months every winter and although we live in a hotel, we spend our lives pretty much as the Tunisians do. We have travelled all over the country on public transport and received nothing but friendship - and offers of drinks and food etc! Even in the remote mountain villages where westerners are never seen, there is no feeling of anything but safety.
The Arab hospitality is the warmest you will ever encounter and the poorest families will extend the most friendliest of welcomes. Children are adored in the loveliest way and thoroughly spoilt by everyone.
The only crime I have ever heard of was an incident in Sousse, where a tourist leaving an ATM machine had her bag snatched by someone on a motorbike. The people who told us of this were horrified by the occurrence and dreadfully apologetic.
I know one thing, I have happily walked through the Tunisian streets in the evening - alone - and felt perfectly safe. Something I certainly wouldn't do in Nottingham! If you do decide to go - relax and enjoy yourself and leave the worrying to the others - you'll be fine! Jenny

Sorry, forgot to mention the hospitals. Tourists are generally taken to "Clinic" hospitals - which are excellent. Should you need to visit a doctor you will be quite surprised by the high standard of service and amenities. Most "tourist" doctors have all the facilities in their surgeries that you would expect - plus ECG machines, blood testing facilities etc
I know many Italian tourists who arrange to have all their dental work done whilst staying in Tunisia, as it is considerably cheaper and equally as good as anything they can get at home. Same arrangements made for optical requirements.
OK, Tunisia is a developing country and is far from perfect (where is?! ) but in many ways, it is far superior than one would expect. Jenny

Thank you very much for your comments jennyfrank and ashlemma. It is the first time I have used the discussion forums and I am delighted that you have taken so much trouble to write such detailed replies. We have decided that ....Tunisia it is! I shall be looking out for the 'local blackclad Grannie Mafia' though! :yikes.
Thank you again.

Ooops , sorry.....thank you SM too!

It is only by asking questions that you can make an informed decision and any of us on here are always pleased to share our experiences. I'm sure you will all enjoy Tunisia. May I suggest that you try and learn a few Arabic phrases before you go as it will be much appreciated and also help you appear more knowledgeable than you actually are. Apart from anything else, it does seem to bring the prices down for taxis and shopping in the Medina. You will find a few useful ones on another part of this forum. - You can start with my name - it simply means 'hello'.

"hello" "aslemma" . i think there is nothing worse than people not attempting to speak the language of the country you are visiting. Thats why we get on so well when we visit different countries. Each to there own i suppose. Also dont some people realise they are not at home, so the food IS different. DUUUHHHHH!!!!

Fully in agreement with Aslemma and Debs. Irrespective of how successful you are, the Tunisians are always MOST impressed that you are paying them the compliment of actually trying, as they appreciate that the Arabic language isn't particularly easy for an English speaker.

Had to smile at your comment re. the food Debs. There are very few English people where we stay, but a lady we met 2 years ago was complaining bitterly to me about the food at the hotel. I asked her what on earth she wanted as there was a range of food to choose from - and I pointed out that there was a plain roast every evening.
"Look at last night." I said " There was roast turkey, roast potatoes and several plain vegetables" "Well yes" she said, "But I mean, you want sprouts and cranberry sauce with that don't you?" Sadly, I was so shocked that I spoilt my usually good manners. "Why on earth did you come to Tunisia?" I asked " This is North Africa for goodness sake! I suggest that you stick to Blackpool in the future" I felt rather uncomfortable about saying that the next day!! Jenny

sorry you felt uncomfortable having said it, but it had to be said . good for you girl. Here, Here!! Debs :yipee. I think there are always times on holiday we think these things about some other holidaymakers. still giggling at you saying that

Hi jennyfrank,

I've had the same experience and hate it when people complain that they 'Don't cater for the Brits' meaning that the food is NOT just like they'd get at home and that there aren't bars serving British beer and showing Premier League football all over the place and not everybody speaks English. I always loved Tunisia because it is different and the best part of any holiday for me is trying the local food. However, I've started to realise that Tunisia does seem to be increasingly attracting people who do want the sort of food and entertainment that they would get in Blackpool but cheaper and with guaranteed sunshine. I'm afraid that I'm beginning to sound a bit of a snob and I'm not, it's just that if I want a Blackpool style holiday I go to Blackpool and find it hard to understand why people would go to North Africa and then complain that it's all so North African and not English enough :-)

I'm afraid that my manners slip a bit too at times when encountering people like you describe. It really doesn't take much to learn how to say 'hello' and 'goodbye', 'please' and 'thank you' and a few local phrases for use whenever and wherever you go on holiday and the positive response it recieves, especially in places like Tunisia, makes it more than worth the effort.

SM

I've starting something now havent I. No seriously, this will be our first time to tunisia, havent booked yet but we enjoy other cultures and respect and like the differences. Especially the weather.

I've starting something now havent I. No seriously, this will be our first time to tunisia, havent booked yet but we enjoy other cultures and respect and like the differences. Especially good weather.

I've starting something now havent I. No seriously, this will be our first time to tunisia, havent booked yet but we enjoy other cultures and respect and like the differences. Especially good weather. Sorry guys dont know why dupli..duplicated !!!!!!!!

hello all has anyone stayed at the golf residecnce in port ell kantaoiu.this is going to be our first visit to tunisia and any information would be well appreciated.what is the weather like in august?what is the beach like?are there restaurants out of the hotel and basically is it worth the trip really haprehensive but am very open minded.one thing is though if we do go out to eat will we get drinks to buy with our meals as ive heard alcohol is is scarce many thanks christine