There are cash points (ATMs) everywhere in Tunisia so you won't have any problems. I have used them in Hammamet though it was some time ago and I can't remember exactly which one I used - I usually base myself in Sousse or Port El Kantaoui. All ATMs have a screen which asks which language you want. Most hotels also have money change services, though sometimes these are only open at certain times of day. If you go inside a bank for cash they will ask to see your passport as well and will often try and insist that you use the machines.

thanks so much for letting me know.are these very safe to use,i have heard that they can sometimes eat you card.

Cash machines in England have been known to eat cards too! Traveller's cheques - that's just one more thing to do, so no thanks. Cash and cards, that's all I ever take anywhere.

Yep english machines are just as guilty.

I always take three cards, two for the one account and my savings account card just in case. So far in three different countries over 5 years have not once had a problem

It only swallowed my card once, but as the bank was open I just went in and a nice man came and fished it out again. I always take two credit and one debit card in case of problems.

hello,

we will be landing at monastir airport at 10.45 ish in 25th september and was wondering if the currency exchange will be open and if you have time to change your money up before getting on the coach to go to your hotel?

This was covered in a thread recently :

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=47314

- there should be plenty of time to change money as the baggage handlers will still be uinloading.

I am pretty sure that the foreign exchange is open (it was on the way home) at this time, but if you are getting a pre-paid transfer straight to your hotel I wouldn't worry as most hotels will change currency - and you will be no worse off as the exchange rates are strictly controlled by the Tunisian government, so rates should be the same everywhere.

It is worth mentioning that when you leave you must change back any Dinas you have purchased (no matter how small the amount) as it is a closed currency. You can do this at the airport - a tip ....do this before you go to custom control as they have metal detectors which will go off if you have forgotten the coins in your pocket and you may lose your place in the queue.

For the trip home; the bank is at the top of the escalators to the left of the custom control point.

Have a great time !

From your other question about the Houda, I would guess you're staying there. They do indeed have money exchange at recption, but not 24 hours! You need to check as to when the currency exchange is open.

As jdybnsn says, change back any unused dinars at the airport or the hotel before departure, but don't have too much left over as the exchange rate back into £s is approximately 30% poorer than changing from £s into dinars

This one about the exchange rate being really bad if you need to change dinars back into sterling keeps doing the rounds but unless the rules have changed since my last trip, is based on a misunderstanding of the currency laws in Tunisia. In my experience you get a broadly comparable exchange rate but you are only allowed to change back a maximum of 30% of the Dinars you have bought during your trip. The explanation that I was given when I asked about the reason for this is that it as an anti-money laundering measure. It is, therefore essential to keep the reciepts you will be given whenever you change sterling or whenever you take money from an ATM so that you can prove how much in total you've changed and ensure that you aren't left holding more than 30% of the total by the end of your holiday.

SM

The lower exchange rate happened to us in May this year at the Houda in Skanes. I had some £40 worth of dinars left and exchanged them back into sterling at the hotel, and I got 3 x £10 notes back.The slip from the hotel showed an exchange rate well below the rate used for changing money the other way. This was no 'urban myth' - it happened to me, not 3 months ago!

It would appear that the rules have indeed changed recently - were you asked for any receipts Sancho? When I needed to change money back I was asked to produce receipts equivalent to at least 3 times the money I was wanting to change back and got the lowest of the exchange rates listed on them. I only changed money in the hotel so basically got the same rate as they'd given me in the first place. It emphasises how important the advice to change only small quantities of money at a time as you need it is.

SM

Although we were repeatedly told to retain the receipts for changing money we weren't, in fact, asked to produce them when changing money back - perhaps because we were in the hotel, and all the transactions were logged onto their computer against our room number.

Not only do you get a rotton exchange rate changing back to stirling, but if they run out (as they did when we were there in May) they give you Euros which means you lose out twice

And this time we were asked for our receipts.

Best thing to do is to make sure you only have enough dinar on your last day for the bits and bobs. Do all your tipping,shopping etc the day before and if need be just change a fiver for soft drinks etc

hi,what would any one advise to take travellers cheques or tunisian money.also would i be able to change the travellers cheques easy in hammermett
thanks

You cant take tunisian dinar in or out of the country so its either stirling cash,TC's, or atm cards. Personally I take cash. The exchange rate is the same in banks and the hotels. Your hotel will have a money exchange

why cant you take tunisian dinars in or out of the country???

Its a closed currency.

There are banks at the airports to get money on arrival. Whenever you change money in resort you need to get a receipt and keep it. On departure you have to change the dinar back either at the hotel or the airport. This is where you need the receipts, you can only change back 30% of the total changed.

Only change small amounts of money as you go as you dont want to be left with loads of dinar on your last day as the exchange back to stirling isnt favourable

We always take cash when we go to Tunisia as well.Good advice from Suki,especially about changing money in small amounts.