This practice is common at many hotels in Tunisia, last time we went to the Royal Kenz there was one there. A similar scam to the "remember me I am the waiter in your hotel" You have to be alert to these or as you say you can spend a half day locked away in a carpet factory.

Everyone gets caught once in their lifetime, but you learn and make sure its only the once. What annoys me is that these people try it on over and over again, you can walk by the same person 3 times in an hour and he can't even remember you. It can be a pain when tackled with the same old routine over and over again.

Most countries have similar such scams to try and relieve the holiday maker of his hard earned cash. To me this is the Tunisian equivalent of the time share scratch cards you see elsewhere. The free blanket trip on the Costa del Sol is another one. In my 30 years of foreign holiday's any free trip just means hassle with someone on the make.

We had it in the Marhaba Beach Sousse this week and they even had a big poster advertising this free trip, which I thought was a bit naughty as it makes it look genuine. I've not come across it before though in Tunisian hotels, Strangely enough he didn't approach me - possibly sussed out that I was unlikely to fall for it (either that or didn't think I looked afluent enough)