Tunesia- Go with the flow or be daring

[shepsm001]

Tunesia- should we stick with the ship's tours or should we try to hire a taxi for the day. Maybe share with a couple. We are in our fifties and experienced travelers but not to Arab countries. Do speak limited french, nes pas? Don't want to be burdened by a bus full of people who may be aged and or infirm? But also do not want any hassles or incidents or potential problems in making it back to the ship. Have heard it is really pricey to hire a taxi but would like the experience of any who have tried this route. We are on the early Sept Noordam. Really looking forward to this cruise.

 

 

Thanks

[lapp]

We did Tunisa last year. We rented a taxi and saw Tunis on our own. Although we had no difficult there was always a slight concern on our part about safety. Speaking French is a bonus. Without our limited French the taxi tour would have been very difficult. I don't remember if the taxi fare was out of line. We agreed on a price before we left the port. It is an exciting place to visit and so different from the Euopean countries. Enjoy.

[shepsm001]

Thanks for your quick reply. I assume the taxi was just transportation and there was no guide. Do you remember what it cost, total and per person? What did you see and how long did it take you? Any problems getting back to the ship? Once again thanks for your help.

[Roz]

You use the term "we". Is "we" a man and woman, 2 women, a family, etc.? The reason I'm asking is that women traveling by themselves is looked down on in Arab countries, and could make you vulnerable to unwanted male advances. The social mores dictate that women be escorted by men, preferably a family member.

 

I'm not here to debate one culture over another, I'm just trying to present the facts based on my experience in Arab countries. (When in Tunisia, do as the Tunisians do.)

 

If there aren't men in your party, you may find the ship's tour to be the way to go.

 

Roz

[shepsm001]

Husband and wife, what were your experiences in striking out on your own.

[Travelbug 2]

On our visit to Tunisia during a Med' cruise we opted for the ships tour and were very glad we did. It was very well done and the guide was amazing. I am told you can get in a lot of trouble without good knowledge, for instance there was a particular government building that we were NOT allowed to take pictures of (it was a very beautiful building) and if we were caught taking a picture the chance of being arrested was very real!!! We saw many interesting things and felt secure being on the ships tour. Not worth the chance to go it alone IMO.

[shepsm001]

good point. This is a port that I might want to be part of the herd, especially since its my first time there and we are not staying at a local hotel.

[Roz]

I had no experience going it alone. I was part of a visiting business group, and the US State Dept. gave our company a list of DOs and DON'Ts. One of the don'ts was unescorted women. Even the men were advised not to go out without a local guide.

 

Roz

[blue whale]

Hello, we have been to Tunisia and the port for Tunis twice. The first time we took the ship's tour, which was very satisfactory. We had stops at Carthage, etc. In the afternoon, we took a cab to the bazaar and had no trouble, other than it took a while to get a return cab.

 

The second time my husband and I were with three eldish women. We got into two cabs and headed to the bazaar. We knew the way, having been before—straight across the causeway and to the city gates. Well about wo-thirds of the way, our cab driver gestured to the cab driver behind us (in which the three women were traveling). Both drivers turned off to the left. We yelled that that was not where we wanted to go, but they kept going. We were scared. They finally wove in and out and came to a stop in an alley. "Here's the bazaar," they said. "No, take us to the main gate of the bazaar," we said. We glared at one another; the three women we were escorting were shaking. the drivers gestured that the bazaar was in that direction. Finally, we gave them the 10 dollars we had agreed upon per cab. They said, no, ten dollars per person. We just walked away, not knowing where we were or where we were going. I spied a youngster just standing in a doorway. The bazaar, I asked. He smiled and said, "Follow me." And wonder of wonders, he led us in and out of a lot of alleys and there after about 15 minutes of walking, we were in the bazaar. I gave the boy 10 dollars!

 

Now on the return trip, we had to get a cab in the street. Our cab stopped off to get gas! He was running out. The cab driver who was driving the women we were with could not find the right pier. He dropped them off at some nearby place! But they had to walk much farther than they wanted to. So my advice. Use the ship's tour. Even though I love the shopping in the bazaar, it just wasn't worth the nervous energy we expended. We've used cabs all over the world—Casablanca, Istanbul, Mumbai, Hong Kong, etc. We have never had any trouble, other than the situation I just described.

[rockinjo]

We're on the Noordam June 10th cruise, and although I am an experienced traveler, I agree that in an Arab country you need to stick with the ship's tour. . .our port in Tunisia is La Goulette and we (four of us, me, my daughter, grandson and his fiance) have booked the Sidi Bou Said & Carthage tour with a stop in the Medina (market). . .sounds like the wise thing to do.

 

Rockinjo