I don't know about the camel trip but you can do a trip on the pirate ships from the port at Sousse. I think you can get a bus from Skanes to Sousse and you will see the ships there. If my memory serves me right they go out about 9 a.m. and 12.45 p.m. and the price, as for anything in Tunisia, is usually negotiable - ask for Carlos. You can also do a similar trip from Port El Kantaoui.

Thanks for the quick reply Aslemma, you certainly seem to be the fountain of knowledge for Tunisia,which is very gratefully received.
I take it Carlos works out of Sousse marina,if so we will definately rather use people reccomended from this site than those used by the tour reps at the hotels.
Only 94 days and counting and we are really looking forward to this holiday in the sun!!!!!

Yes, he's usually down by the port selling boat trips and I've known him for many years. There are at least a couple of pirate ships down there and they are all very similar, sailing out, anchoring up so you can fish or swim, a light meal with soft drinks etc. Be aware however that they will often want to put a headdress on you so you can have your picture taken - they then expect you to buy the 'headdress' - an unnecessary expense in my view. I've never seen dolphins though, so that may be a trip which is organised by the reps.

The dolphins are only an after thought as my wife loves them and would love to swim with them.
Which place would you recomend for shopping,Sousse or Monistir ?I know there is the fixed price shop in Sousse,is this good value compared to bartering or just go to the medina and have fun haggling???

I would suggest that you go to the fixed price shop first in the Soula Centre in Sousse in order to get an idea of prices - you certainly shouldn't let yourelf be talked into paying more than this this in the souks - and then enjoy the haggling! Alternatively, as the market traders know the prices in the fixed price shop too - unless you are really good at haggling you won't get them much below the prices charged in the Soula Centre - then you might want to save yourself the hassle. The prices are reasonable and generally represent good value for what is often better quality goods than you'll find in the souks.

The Artesanal (think from memory that's how it's spelled but can't be absolutely sure!) shops are state run, fixed price shops that specialise in high quality craft goods - they are more expensive than the souks but the quality and the standard of design is immeasurably better.

sM

Have a wander round the Soula Centre in Sousse first, as it will give you some idea of prices, then go into the Medina and haggle like mad!! If you've offered what they actually know to be a fair price and it's refused then just walk away and they will often call you back. Sometimes I can't be bothered to work up and down the prices so just stick to my guns - typical conversation "Kadesh? (How much?)" "30 dinars" "Gahli barcha (too expensive) 10", "25" "10" "15" - "10" (very firmly indeed) "OK, 10" Sousse is actually my area and I know it best but I also like Monastir and shopping in either can be great fun.

Thanks for the great advice,Aslemma we have written down those very useful phrase's,thank you.I am sure we will follow both of your advice and try the fixed priced shop first.
The trouble is we are only there for one week and want to enjoy the hopefully hot weather either on the beach or at the pool-side,what day is it best to go shopping in Sousse or Monistir,sorry to keep asking questions but this is our first holiday outside Europe,many thanks in advance...!!!

Hiya.

Im going to the Houda at the end of June too.

it'll be my 3rd visit to tunisia, second time to Houda.

There are different people for different activities, Fritz is the guy to go to for horse riding and camels rides.

I can't remember the other 2 guys names but there in the reception everyday, and if you can't find them in the reception theyll be by the pool, asking anyone if they want to go on the trips.
They are easy to book you ask what times and dates they have 9 times out of 10 you can have them when you want.

I was just reading the other reviews, Carlos(Momo) is on the animation team. If were thinking of the same Carlos.
He only does activities inside the hotel like Darts etc.

I hope I helped.

xxx

Thanks again for replying ,it is all very helpful,we are only there for a week and with two teenage kids we want to do some fun stuff a bit of shopping and then relaxing by the pool or on the beach to catch a nice tan ,which all seems a million miles away from the snow we have had today !!!!!!
We think we have choosen a very good hotel and don't believe all the bad reviews we have read,we think you make your own holiday yourself ....!!!!
Thanks again

Jeff

Definitely not the same Carlos

hi we are to going to the houda on the 25th june and we can not wait,im taking no notice wot so ever about all the bad revues,im going with my husband and 3 children.
yes i was going to try to change my holiday after reading them but,i watched a video of someone elses holiday there and have decided a holiday is wot you make it,i will try to keep an eye on what the kids are eating if you would like to watch some one elses hols vid log on to aol and click on video and type in the houda golf and beach club summer 2007 but make sure you have your speakers turned up and there is a dance for the houda that well you will have to watch it also there are some more hols videos on the evening entertainment watch the lot they are great and now i can not wait to arrive there,everyone goes on about the rooms well its a 3 * and you only sleep shower and change there wot else do you need i hope the site i have wrote is a great help to people wanting to have a look inside a place with out the travel agents just showing you what they want you to see i hope to meet you all there everyone that is going to arrive the same dat we are i will be the small one with 3 children getting over excited lol see you very soon and anyone with any doutes dont put yourself thought things just take it is your stride

Just a note on prices.
I was attracted to a small round brass coloured plate in the Sousse medina, as a gift, it was only 1TD (45p) including a name engraved on it, so I asked for one. Next was what name did I want, and I wrote it down. Then I was asked if I wanted a bigger one, would I like a brass one, so I guess this one wasn't then. We did the deal for 1TD. I'd noticed some silver bangles with a flat bit for the name. How much were these? I asked. 25TD, with a name. I declined of course. I was then asked how much I would pay, and said that I only wanted a very small gift and didn't want to spend anything close to that. After much "What is the best you'll pay", I suggested 5TD as I only wanted something small. So I said that it was ok, I'd find something else. In the end we were offered both the plate and the bangle for 10TD. No bartering, no haggling, in fact no "real interest". This really shows though how much profit the guys make if you're not careful. Another situation in Houmt Souk; I wanted a "cheap" pair of sunglasses. I asked how much the one's on a rack were. "Which ones you like?" was the reply. I just want a cheap pair, which are the cheap ones. I was then told 18TD so I went to walk away. "How much you wanna pay?" he asked. Not that much, I replied. "Ok, 10 dinars, which ones you like?" I said I don't care what they look like, so my wife chose the "Lacoste" fakes. "No, no those are not 10TD" he said, "those are 18TD". So I asked again, "Which ones can I have for 10?" Oh, he said, you can have those for 10.
This is not my way of bartering, I really was not interested at those prices, I was aware that out of town I could by a cheap pair of glasses that would do the job, but again it goes to show how much you can get off if you do haggle.
In a country where I can eat a 3 course meal for £3.00, I don't expect to pay over the top for something just because I'm a tourist.
Kevin

I always stock up on sunglasses in Sousse Kevin and never pay more than 10 dinar. Most places seem to have racks of them all the same price, in both Sousse and PEK. To be honest 10 dinar is about my top price for quite a lot of things and I often don't bother with bartering up and down, simply saying 'kadesh?' (how much?), swiftly followed by 'la gahli barcha, 10!' and stick to that, whilst the merchant tries to drive me up a bit, much to the amusement of other tourists. It has nearly always worked and I walk away with what I wanted or simply walk away.

All the Gucci, Armani, Police, Dior etc. sunglasses went for 5 Dinar when I was there in Febr./March, so I stocked up for friends at home. There's dozens of traders standing next to each other late afternoons, so competition is very high.

Thanks for all the replies they have been very interesting,sorry its taken so long but I have had no internet for the last month.
Well its only 5 weeks,today, until we go and we are really looking forward to it.I think we will be stocking up on sunglasses as well .
Look forward to seeing you all there if you are there on 25th June like us.
Cheers Jeff