Not sure if it helps but I've just come of the phone to Nationwide customer info (after 20 min wait for answer!) The lady confirmed that Nationwide don't charge any commission on debit card withdrawals but local bank / ATM providor may charge a fee!!
I also asked if there was a website directory of ATM locations -she advised looking at 'visainternational' but I can't find anything of use with that name. Staying at Marhaba palace next week; does anyone know if there is an ATM there or nearby?
Thanks
ajono

can anyone tell me if when changing money if it has to be english notes or will they change scotish notes ?

That is a very good question. All scottish respondents please note.

Last August myself and a friend went Monastir to attend a wedding. My friend was given her holiday pay in cash by her boss; who had just returned from a business tour in Scotland. As a result, the majority of these notes were scottish and from different banks.

Changing them was a pain in the proverbial! The hotel refused point blank. Some banks would change some notes but not others. Can't recall which at the moment but will check with my pal. Spent best part of a afternoon trailing from bank to bank in Sousse, trying and failing to exchange these notes. Most of them came back to Newcastle with us where we had no problems spending them.

Perhaps some of our Scottish Tunisians (that's you Willie!) know what the situation is. Given the choice I wouldn't take Scottish notes. Sorry Scotland, I know your money is just as good as ours. But try telling the Tunisians that.

Madsue,

There's a cpouple of ATM's in Tunis Airport. Easiest one to find is beside the arrival gate.

Once you come out of departures, turn right and it's straight in front of you (next to the Post Office). This ATM's has limitsn so don't expect it to spew out 660TD (£300 quids worth). Probably best to get about 200 TD to tide you over and grab the rest of your money at the resort.

The other ATM is across from the downstairs cafe. Basically, you come out of arrival gate and walk forward. When you reach the outside doors (and while still inside the terminal) turn left and walk along until you get past all the car rental offices. The ATM is just there on the right hand wall before you hit the next set of doors.........

WG

Thanks for that willie! Am now ready and eager to go, just this one more sleep and I am off to the airport!!!!!!!

ty Dora ill make sure to get english notes im flying from newcastle so i will withdraw money when i get there

Anyone know where the ATM is in Monastir airport?

Thanks,
Dawn

Some weeks ago there was a currency converter - Dina to £ and visa versa at the top of the Tunisaia forum.
Does anyone know where it's gone, or am i going blind?

Its easy to convert the Dinar . youve just got to half it ..eg. £1=50d.

Hope this helps a bit .

can anyone tell me how many tunisian dinars you would get for £850 pounds?

assuming it is still 2 dinars to the pound you'd get 1700 dinars

just make sure you don't change too much into dinars, as, although you can change it back into sterling, the exchange rate that way is very poor - approximately 30% less than the other way.

It is normally a bit over TDN 2/£1 - today it is 2.40, so things work out even cheaper than thought.

hmm i wonder where everyone gets a 30% exchange rate going from Dinar to the pound its NOT it is 3%. We also thought it was 30% as this is what the holiday companies tell people they really should get there facts straight its 3% and if you paid more then you have been ripped off !

I think what is meant is that you get 30% less when you change back - not charged a 30% fee for changing .

But the advice re getting 30% less back is according to my understanding still incorrect. You are only allowed to change back a maximum of 30 % of the total of what you originally changed, that is if you changed a total of £100 into Dinars and received something like 220 Dinars at the current exchange rate then you are only allowed to change approx 70 of them back into sterling. This is why the general advice is only to change small quantities at a time and to keep all the reciepts you receive at each transaction so that you can prove what you changed in total over the holiday. In the above example if you had lost some of the receipts and could only prove that you'd changed £50 then you'd only be allowed to change a maximum of 35 Dinars back. The only time I had to change some Dinars back to Sterling I got exactly the same exchange rate as I'd been given in the first place and they were changed in full because I could prove that the amount was less than 30% of what I'd changed in total over the week.

When I asked the cashier about the 30% rule he explained that it was part of their anti-money laundering procedures but I suspect that it has as much to do with ensuring that us tourists spend as many dinars as possible before we leave the country but what the heck - isn't that Section 1 in the 'Tourist' job description? :-)

SM

WoW !

I'm glad i read this thread. So i need to take most of my money in travelers cheques and some English money in ten pound notes.

Hi

I only took sterling cash and changed £100 when i got to the resort and when i ran out i just changed £30 at a time.I had only 30 dinar left to exchange at the airport,you just have to manage your money as you go,so forget all this about 30% or 3% just enjoy your holiday !!!!.

PS; make sure you have a safe at the hotel for peace of mind.

Daveyboy

I've never used Travellers cheques in Tunisia or anywhere else. I take out some sterling which I can change up at the hotel and then use ATMs as the need arises, as they are plentiful throughout all tourist areas of the country. The exchange rate is set by the government so it is pointless to look for a better deal - it has been about TDN 2.400/£1 for quite a time now. If you are getting a taxi to your hotel independently you will need to change up some money at the airport.

As for changing money back, you will often be approached by staff at your hotel asking if you have any dinars which they will exchange for sterling, as some guests tip in sterling when they arrive and the locals have difficulty getting it changed.