Originally Posted by
Maz1982
Resurrecting an old thread but really funny and informative read. Been to Tunisia twice many years ago, the scariest thing was a genuine marriage proposal and and offer to meet his dad. 😆
I've flown to dodgy airports before the only thing I've heard is that you need time to be processed. Handy to know about bolt being cash only and the bolt pick up being pinned on Google maps 😆. Got stuck in Malta a few months back as I couldn't find the bolt pick up point due to lack of WiFi and it being a bit further away from the airport for obvious reasons.
I'm doing a similar flight in a few weeks coming from London TUN-JED-BKK with Saudia. Found the deal by accident so only booked one way gutted.
My question is about Tunisia I have been on TripAdvisor to ask but wanted a second opinion . Flight arrives at 6pm and flight to JED leaves at 11 40am looks like I need to be at the airport no later than 9am possibly 8.30.
It seems like the medina does not open until 10, and that there are no night markets as the medina will be shut by whatever time we make it out. Not booked a hotel yet but was advised we could stay in Sidi Bou Said but may have time for breakfast and a morning stroll if anywhere else is open.
Was either planning to stay there but it's either an apartment as accommodation is expensive which experience tells me is not wise as taxi drivers don't always know where something is. Or a hotel can't remember the name of the famous avenue but it's 10 minutes walk from the medina. We shouldn't be tired as it is an evening flight to TUN and only a few hours.
Is there a better area to stay as it seems you can get a resort stay which may have late night food options on Garamath for £40-50 for two. Seemds a similar distance travel wise and cost at 20 minutes to SBS and somewhere in the medina. Similar price for a decent apartment and hotel.
Does it really shut down at night, is there really nowhere to go for a local dinner. Also trying to find a hotel that has early breakfast apart from in the medina is tricky, but happy to find somewhere to eat in the morning but gives me the same issues as finding the right place to stay with somewhere to eat for dinner and breakfast.
Taxi from TUN airport to La Marsa, Sidi Bou Said or Gammarth (three most popular tourist areas) is going to take a similar amount of time. Roughly 15 mins if zero traffic (i.e. in the middle of the night) up to 45 mins if there is traffic (i.e. driving at 9am or 5pm on a weekday). So I wouldn't worry too much about travel time when deciding where to spend the night. Base it on the accommodation you want, and how you want to spend your evening and morning. You could lounge on the beach in Gammarth, explore the Marché Centrale in La Marsa, walk down to Sidi Bou Said Harbour, or wander the medina if you're downtown. If you want to stay slightly closer to the airport, you could stay in Lac 1, which has some good restaurant and hotel options (like the Mövenpick) but note that it's a dry area and a bit soulless at night as most people only work there during the day and clear out in the evenings.
There is plenty going on in the medina before 10am. Likewise in the evenings. You can definitely find dinner in the medina (or around it) late into the night. Everything from fancy meals (like
Dar el Jeld) to street food. Although you're right, some of the vendors and some of the restaurants will close around 5-6pm. You could go and grab some breakfast in the medina, or in one of the many cafés on Avenue Habib Bourguiba which leads up to the Bab El Bhar gate of the medina (the one most tourists enter through).