Your rating of this hotel:
9.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
9.0
Service:
9.0
Cleanliness:
9.0
Food:
8.0
Amenities:
9.0
Tunisia.
The author is Pasha from Odessa.
Rest - August 24-September 2.2008. Hotel Mahdia Palace Thalasso.
The local currency is the dinar. 1$ = 1.2 dinars. There are 1000 millimeters in a dinar. You can change at the hotel - the exchange rate is normal.
Initially, when choosing a hotel, I had the following difficult task: to choose a hotel of an unambiguously good level (5 stars or 4 stars with reliable information that it is good there), always with a thalassotherapy center in the hotel itself and that the price was real, since thalassotherapy is not cheap. I spent a lot of time on the Internet researching this issue, reading reviews, studying google, measuring distances, looking at photos, etc. I was noticed and alerted by the abundance of negative reviews about Tunisia (about two-thirds). Tourists complain about poor service, rudeness, dirt, theft in rooms, etc.
I decided not to take risks and chose the 5-star Mahdia Palace Thalasso. Reviews about him are more positive than negative. The hotel meets my criteria.
Minus - the remote zone of Mahdia. But in Sousse, a hotel of this level with a thalassotherapy center in the hotel would cost 1.5 times more.
By the way, the presence of the word Thalasso in the name of the hotel does not mean that it has a thalassotherapy center. Thalasso translates to "sea", which can be found in the name. It needs to be further clarified.
My travel agent, from whom I went to Malta back in 1999, booked a tour through the tour operator Voyage. I wanted to go through Oasis, but on the day I decided, the phones in the Oasis office did not work, my agent offered not to delay and order through Voyage (only $ 15 more expensive), I thought the difference was only in the receiving side, I decided that it was irrelevant, and agreed. As it turns out, this was a serious mistake. I waited about 3 days for confirmation of the hotel reservation, I started to get nervous, but it was said that this is a common practice for this hotel.
So, everything is OK, D-day has come (as the military says) and we arrive at Monastir airport without incident. We approach the Voyage counter, and the girl Lily immediately redirects us to the Tunisian guide Fued. I only had time to rejoice once, because I have the conviction that the best guides are local, and not ours who work there. But the joy soon ended. Fued talked about the fact that there are no places in the hotel that I chose, but he will put me in a hotel that is better: El Mouradi in Mahdia 5 stars, besides, there is All incl. , and I will be moved to my hotel only through 2 days. That is, the so-called “overbooking” happened to me, about which I heard many times, but before that it had passed me by. As soon as I realized where Fued was driving, I immediately turned to the Voyage representative, but she just shrugged her shoulders. I categorically refused the “best hotel”, and demanded that I be placed in the hotel that I had been choosing for so long.
Meanwhile, the girl from the Voyage had fled, leaving only us, Fued and the driver. Unfortunately, in this situation there is practically no choice, except to contact the police, but what results can this give in Tunisia? In Ukraine, there were weekends in connection with Independence Day. I called my operator on my mobile, informed, but that's all. In Voyage, of course, everyone was celebrating. Roaming in Africa is very expensive, which further complicates the situation.
As a result, there was no choice, I began to press that we were settled in the chosen hotel the next day, Fued said that he would try, but he did not succeed. But he promised all sorts of compensation, in the form of a view of the sea, etc. It turned out that since on Tuesday morning we went to the Sahara for 2 days, in the end I got to Mahdia Palace only on the 27th, i. e. on Day 3
Fued explained that in August, overbooking happens often, because it is high season, and hotels have a privileged position, and travel agencies cannot cope with them.
It seems to me that perhaps the host company Exotic Tour (which works with Voyage) has problems in its relationship with this hotel. And El Mouradi are good. When I left, I talked with those who traveled from the Oasis (the host company - Expresso), they did not have such problems. As I understand it, overbooking for Tunisia is a common thing (judging by the reviews). As for me, this is already a serious reason not to go there at all! I was very nervous, the first night I did not sleep at all. In addition, then for 3 days I thought, will they relocate me or not? This situation greatly spoiled my vacation, although the rest of the impressions are positive.
Along the way, I'll tell you about El Mouradi, since I got there. It is quite possible to live there, although the hotel is old, unconvincing, I would say, design. The sea view promised by Fued turned out to be a view of the utility yard of a neighboring hotel, and the sea could be seen to the left in the distance. Once the sea is visible, then this is the view of the sea.
But everything is more or less like that, the food is normal, the territory is good, clean, the beach is clean, the sea is clean. There were not enough beach towels, they were allowed to take from the room. Trestle beds were free, despite the peak season. With the waiters everything is in order, they tried to serve.
Now about Mahdia Palace, where we ended up on the 27th. Fued met us in Sousse, which was nice of him, and took us to Mahdia (1.5 hours drive) in his car, took our things from EL Mouradi and to the Palace. Something didn't work out there either, but finally, they gave us a key card, Fued waved to us and said that we had a view of the pool. We went into the room, opened the balcony and saw the wall of the golf club, located next to the Mahdia Palace. When I went to the reception to find out if it would be possible to somehow rise higher, the employee said that it was possible, but after 3 days. So, our 9 days of stay were divided into 3 days with folding and unpacking, which, for example, I really don’t like.
Mahdia Palace is a great hotel.
Good design, nice rooms, there are safes in every room (not listed on the internet). Nice place, everything is clean. There is a feeling in the hall that you are in an oriental palace. Of the minuses, one can say about the notorious connecting rooms (which, however, you get used to), and some inadequate waiters. A connecting number is when your room has a door without a lock, opening which you see the same door, only opening from the next room. There are fears that someone might come in all the time, besides, if there is a noisy company or Russians behind the wall, which will probably be a problem to sleep. But when we were moved upstairs, we ended up in the last number of the corridor, this number 3218 did not connect to anything. Inadequate waiters, for example, when I give a banknote of 10 dinars for a bottle of wine worth 9 dinars, the waiter says thank you and runs away. I'm used to tipping myself.
Or, once, when we did not order drinks for dinner, but instead ate watermelon (in Mahdia Palace half board, in which you have to pay for drinks at dinner), the waiter slightly but visibly expressed his displeasure. But you don’t have to react to such things, especially since you can take tables in other places of the hall, and there the waiters worked without frills, so that they wanted to give a tip.
The kitchen is good, the choice is large. Probably there are also stale products, so you don’t have to type everything in a row. I don't expect homemade food from a hotel with 600 people. There were many fruits, there were watermelons (by the way, they were not in El Mouradi, only melons! ). The food is no worse than in Turkey, and you can get poisoned at home. That is, reviews about terrible food on websites are not at all a reason not to go to Tunisia. Who has a stomach, and to what extent.
There is animation, but I never judge the hotel by its presence or absence, so what it is - I can’t say anything.
When settling, avoid level -2, this is the very bottom. The reception is on level 0.
The beach in Tunisia is common, but from the hotel there is a security guard on the beach, who looks to make sure everything is fine. We saw mounted police on the beach. In general, security in Tunisia is pretty good, if you keep in mind that this is an Arab country. Police at every corner, intersection, circle.
Trestle beds, towels, mattresses were enough, who loves a beach holiday - there are all conditions, including water activities. The sea is clean, only a breeze every day, I didn’t see it calm at all, there were no jellyfish, fish swam. In general, it was not hot, but the African sun was insidious. When I forgot the cream in the room for the last day, I soon felt it.
Barkers walk along the beach, they sell all sorts of things, but they don’t strain at all. Like we have in Bugaz or in the Crimea.
Slightly confusing situation with beach towels.
You give a deposit of 10 dinars for a towel at the reception, they write out a piece of paper for you, you go to the beach with it and there the employee gives out a towel and marks something. It is not clear when you hand over, to look for this employee or not. I just threw them in a pile, but then the next day the employee asked me if I handed them in the day before. To avoid misunderstandings, hand over towels personally.
In general, the hotel confirmed that I was not mistaken when I chose it, it is probably the best in Mahdia.
Now about the Mahdia itself. As you know, this place is not as developed as Sousse. In the resort area, in fact, one shopping center. We went there 2 times a day. Once my wife and I went to Mahdia itself, we fled from there so quickly, because there was nothing to do there. At the bazaar, sellers grab hands, shopping centers are not visible, only shops. I photographed the sights, bought wine in a special store and returned. Taxi one way - an average of 5 dinars ($ 1 - 1.2 dianars).
Alcohol in Tunisia, as we once did, is sold only in special shops with bars. You can also buy it in duty free at the check-out (Magon wine, which I liked, costs 3.8 Euros there). The most famous Tunisian wine is Gris de Tunis (“gray Tunisian”, although it is actually pink). I tried it, it's not to my taste, I still like red wines more.
In addition to taxis, there is a subway - an electric train, a cat. described in travel brochures. But, she rarely goes (once an hour somewhere), the stations are not close, it is not known whether it is clean and whether there is air conditioning. Also, it drives slowly. From Mahdia to Sousse - 2.5 hours. It seemed to me that tourists do not use this metro at all, do not count on it.
The road from Monastir to Mahdia takes about an hour by car, passes through several settlements, where you need to know which narrow streets to turn into. This I mean that if you rent a car, there will be a problem with finding a road.
Rental cars are quite expensive, and air-conditioned ones are quite expensive. Tourists rent cars, but I think rarely. The driving style of Tunisians is quite acceptable, no worse than ours! . And better than in Turkey! I canceled the rental. As a result, in Sousse and the Monastery, we were passing through when we went on excursions. As I understand it, there is decent shopping precisely and only in Sousse, and Monastir is similar to Mahdia, just closer.
There was another option to go to Sousse with a guide, and Fued from Exotic tour suggested this. Since I kept asking the question about compensation for the suffering suffered, Fued said that he was ready to take us around Sousse and Monastir not for 300, but for 200 dollars. I said that I could pay a maximum of 50 and only for gasoline (it is expensive in Tunisia, unlike neighboring Algiers, where a liter costs 10 cents). Then Fued suggested that he would be able to find a couple more in Mahdia and we would split the amount in half.
But then I asked, how are the four of us going to drive all day in his little Volkswagen without air conditioning? The question is gone.
Tunisia has a developed light industry, many things are made for Europe, you can buy branded T-shirts, shirts, jeans, just make sure that it is not a fake.
Another disadvantage of Mahdia is that since it is closer to the Sahara, I thought that we would be the last to be selected for the tour. Dudki! Both in Carthage and in the Sahara we were picked up at half past five in the morning, taken to Sousse, from where all excursions begin. In Sousse, people got out to the bus by 7 o'clock.
Conclusion - it would be possible to settle in Sousse in a good hotel, and go to a neighboring one for thalassotherapy, only so as not to be too far away. If I suddenly go to Tunisia again, I will think that way.
Well, now about the most important thing - about the Sahara. This is a real exotic. I have not been to Egypt (for some reason it doesn’t pull) and for me all the components of this 2-day excursion were very interesting.
And it includes: a visit to a carpet factory in Keiroan (we bought a rug for $ 60 - prices are lower, and show-offs are less than in Turkey), a very good hotel in the city of Tozeur with a swimming pool and an excellent view of the oasis, jeep riding on the sands of the Tunisian desert , which is adjacent to the Sahara (with a guaranteed, permanent mirage); Star Wars, a trip to the Atlas Mountains, swimming in a spring of mud (so useful), and under a waterfall; the next day, after contemplating the sunrise on the dead lake, where there are no animals or birds, but only tourists, moving to the city of Douz, where the Sahara begins, riding camels (my name was Ferrari), and on the way back visiting the second in the world the largest colliseum, well preserved, in the city of El Jem. I haven't been to Rome, I haven't ridden camels before, so it's very interesting. They were strengthened by the fact that the tour was led by a guide named Hamdi (he called himself "daddy"), and I would call him the Great Hamdi.
As he said, his name is easy to remember if you remember the Russian words ham-moron. He is dressed in spectacular national clothes, knows Russian very well (except for “cases”), talks with humor and comprehensively, and before a pause he approaches each tourist and asks if he understands everything and if he has any questions. So, there is something good in Exotic Tour too! Hamdi spews jokes, Russian and local, mocks Libyan neighbors, asks riddles. Everything is artistic and cool. If it hits you, then you're in luck! We were also lucky that the bus was half empty, everyone got in and out quickly and did not quarrel.
The Sahara is impressive like the ocean, you want to go deep into it and immerse yourself in thoughts...
As everyone rightly says, you must go. The cost was $170 per person.
We also went to Carthage. As you know, it was destroyed even before the tourists, but you go there to note that I was there. On the site of the Punic Carthage, the ruins of the Roman (cat.
Somehow it's faster. The city of Tunisia itself was seen from the window and somehow from the edge. No, it's worth going to check in.
Moreover, it is very important that the Exotic tour has what I call a colonial bus. He drove us from Mahdia to Hammamet and back. There is something with a cardan in it, it buzzes so sweetly, especially at speed. Some he took away from the airport, so they, tired, could not fall asleep later, they heard this sound.
Oh, and thalassotherapy. Mahdia Palace has a great center. Thalassotherapy is essentially the same spa, only with sea water + sea mud wraps. We took a minimum course of 4 days. I had 4 procedures a day, the cost was 560 dinars. It's minimum. It all started with steam wraps, in the middle of the bath and shower (including the Charcot shower, where it is called douch a jet) and ended with massages. The doctor speaks good Russian, but we were with a guide, it was even easier. The staff is very friendly, they speak French and English.
They know the Russian words "on the stomach" and "on the back. " You change clothes (they give you a bathrobe, slippers, a towel), you go out with a program of procedures and they run up to you and lead you. And all the time then, just came out, they look and lead. You want to relax, but you can't do it for a long time. There is a tea room with excellent views of the golf club and the sea. I will say that after the procedures you feel a certain tiredness and you want to lie down and lie down. There is a load on the body. Those who booked treatments for free are allowed to go to the jet pool, hammam and gym. But often they did not use it, because it was enough. Everything took about 2-2.5 hours, in the morning, to be free later. Tipping gave only at the end of the masseurs - 1 dinar. 1 dinar is generally a worthy tip everywhere in Tunisia: to the driver, camel driver, etc. The average salary in Tunisia is $300. Question: is it possible not to take a course, but to go a-la carte?
Answer: you can, but I think from the second time, when you know what procedure means. If I go there again, I will probably take a couple of procedures on my own. But the doctor advises that there is an effect, to take a course.
The day before departure, I met with Fued, he drove to the hotel, there were still tourists. I tell Fued that you, dear man, promised a view of the sea, but I got it myself, so make yourself happy, let the room be extended until 4 pm, when the transfer to the airport is scheduled. Fued said that he should have called him if something went wrong. So I called and wrote SMS, but with Fued, either the account was not replenished, or the phone was dead, or he simply did not answer. But Fued did a favor and said, I'll extend Pa-ve-la, the hotel, but I'm a professional, so write me a receipt that you have no complaints. That is, the professionalism of the guide is to take a receipt from the tourist that there are no complaints.
My mood began to deteriorate again, as at the beginning of the trip, and I said that I could not give such a receipt, but I could simply write in fact when and in which rooms I lived. We argued a little more, then Fued agreed to my option, I wrote a receipt, and he went to the reception (and we were sitting right next to each other 3 meters away) and agreed on something. How I thought about my renewal. The next day, at one o'clock we return in swimming trunks from the beach to the room from the back porch to collect things, but I just open the door and cannot. I go wet to the reception, and well, I know English, and I speak French. They tell me in these languages that the number has not been renewed, and there are rules that I must leave it at 12. By the way, in the morning, some Afro-African came into my room in a livery and I explained to him that I was leaving around 4. In short, I had to explain to the receptionist that Fued himself arranged everything, we were sitting here yesterday and he came up.
And the porter says I don't know any Fued. I started calling Fued, but he did not answer the call (I would be surprised if he did). Then I explained to the receptionist that the hotel was already wrong, that I was settled here only on the 27th instead of the 24th, and I had a voucher in my hands. Then the receptionist understood everything, and extended my room for free.
So if you are going to Tunisia, then remember that the guides in Tunisia are professionals, and the porters love to follow the rules.
About Fueda, I can say that he is honest, but cunning. It was positive that he arrived on time for appointments. He told me to call him first next time, then everything will be OK. By the way, he allowed his number to be published on the Internet: +21623364002. Call, but first read my note.
We left when the month of Ramadan (all of September) had already begun. That adult male population sat and drank endless coffee and tea all day, and here all the cafes are closed.
For a tourist, Ramadan brings certain inconveniences, mainly, I think, if he travels around the country on his own - there is nowhere to eat and drink before sunset. And in tourist areas, I think, no change. Next year, Ramadan will begin around August 19-20 (11 days shift each time).
We left Tunisia with our heads held high. In duty-free, they bought some, there, by the way, he is not alone, there is also at the end of the hall. Dinars are not accepted in duty-free, but they are accepted in cafes. We all spent dinars a long time ago, so I paid in dollars at a fair airport rate of 1:1.
Farewell, Tunisia ...In general, I liked it, but spoiled, spoiled, there was a feeling due to moving that we did not come for 9 days, but for 5.
If you have questions, colleagues, then write.
Pasha from Odessa.
The author is Pasha from Odessa.
Rest - August 24-September 2.2008. Hotel Mahdia Palace Thalasso.
The local currency is the dinar. 1$ = 1.2 dinars. There are 1000 millimeters in a dinar. You can change at the hotel - the exchange rate is normal.
Initially, when choosing a hotel, I had the following difficult task: to choose a hotel of an unambiguously good level (5 stars or 4 stars with reliable information that it is good there), always with a thalassotherapy center in the hotel itself and that the price was real, since thalassotherapy is not cheap. I spent a lot of time on the Internet researching this issue, reading reviews, studying google, measuring distances, looking at photos, etc. I was noticed and alerted by the abundance of negative reviews about Tunisia (about two-thirds). Tourists complain about poor service, rudeness, dirt, theft in rooms, etc.
I decided not to take risks and chose the 5-star Mahdia Palace Thalasso. Reviews about him are more positive than negative. The hotel meets my criteria.
Minus - the remote zone of Mahdia. But in Sousse, a hotel of this level with a thalassotherapy center in the hotel would cost 1.5 times more.
By the way, the presence of the word Thalasso in the name of the hotel does not mean that it has a thalassotherapy center. Thalasso translates to "sea", which can be found in the name. It needs to be further clarified.
My travel agent, from whom I went to Malta back in 1999, booked a tour through the tour operator Voyage. I wanted to go through Oasis, but on the day I decided, the phones in the Oasis office did not work, my agent offered not to delay and order through Voyage (only $ 15 more expensive), I thought the difference was only in the receiving side, I decided that it was irrelevant, and agreed. As it turns out, this was a serious mistake. I waited about 3 days for confirmation of the hotel reservation, I started to get nervous, but it was said that this is a common practice for this hotel.
So, everything is OK, D-day has come (as the military says) and we arrive at Monastir airport without incident. We approach the Voyage counter, and the girl Lily immediately redirects us to the Tunisian guide Fued. I only had time to rejoice once, because I have the conviction that the best guides are local, and not ours who work there. But the joy soon ended. Fued talked about the fact that there are no places in the hotel that I chose, but he will put me in a hotel that is better: El Mouradi in Mahdia 5 stars, besides, there is All incl. , and I will be moved to my hotel only through 2 days. That is, the so-called “overbooking” happened to me, about which I heard many times, but before that it had passed me by. As soon as I realized where Fued was driving, I immediately turned to the Voyage representative, but she just shrugged her shoulders. I categorically refused the “best hotel”, and demanded that I be placed in the hotel that I had been choosing for so long.
Meanwhile, the girl from the Voyage had fled, leaving only us, Fued and the driver. Unfortunately, in this situation there is practically no choice, except to contact the police, but what results can this give in Tunisia? In Ukraine, there were weekends in connection with Independence Day. I called my operator on my mobile, informed, but that's all. In Voyage, of course, everyone was celebrating. Roaming in Africa is very expensive, which further complicates the situation.
As a result, there was no choice, I began to press that we were settled in the chosen hotel the next day, Fued said that he would try, but he did not succeed. But he promised all sorts of compensation, in the form of a view of the sea, etc. It turned out that since on Tuesday morning we went to the Sahara for 2 days, in the end I got to Mahdia Palace only on the 27th, i. e. on Day 3
Fued explained that in August, overbooking happens often, because it is high season, and hotels have a privileged position, and travel agencies cannot cope with them.
It seems to me that perhaps the host company Exotic Tour (which works with Voyage) has problems in its relationship with this hotel. And El Mouradi are good. When I left, I talked with those who traveled from the Oasis (the host company - Expresso), they did not have such problems. As I understand it, overbooking for Tunisia is a common thing (judging by the reviews). As for me, this is already a serious reason not to go there at all! I was very nervous, the first night I did not sleep at all. In addition, then for 3 days I thought, will they relocate me or not? This situation greatly spoiled my vacation, although the rest of the impressions are positive.
Along the way, I'll tell you about El Mouradi, since I got there. It is quite possible to live there, although the hotel is old, unconvincing, I would say, design. The sea view promised by Fued turned out to be a view of the utility yard of a neighboring hotel, and the sea could be seen to the left in the distance. Once the sea is visible, then this is the view of the sea.
But everything is more or less like that, the food is normal, the territory is good, clean, the beach is clean, the sea is clean. There were not enough beach towels, they were allowed to take from the room. Trestle beds were free, despite the peak season. With the waiters everything is in order, they tried to serve.
Now about Mahdia Palace, where we ended up on the 27th. Fued met us in Sousse, which was nice of him, and took us to Mahdia (1.5 hours drive) in his car, took our things from EL Mouradi and to the Palace. Something didn't work out there either, but finally, they gave us a key card, Fued waved to us and said that we had a view of the pool. We went into the room, opened the balcony and saw the wall of the golf club, located next to the Mahdia Palace. When I went to the reception to find out if it would be possible to somehow rise higher, the employee said that it was possible, but after 3 days. So, our 9 days of stay were divided into 3 days with folding and unpacking, which, for example, I really don’t like.
Mahdia Palace is a great hotel.
Good design, nice rooms, there are safes in every room (not listed on the internet). Nice place, everything is clean. There is a feeling in the hall that you are in an oriental palace. Of the minuses, one can say about the notorious connecting rooms (which, however, you get used to), and some inadequate waiters. A connecting number is when your room has a door without a lock, opening which you see the same door, only opening from the next room. There are fears that someone might come in all the time, besides, if there is a noisy company or Russians behind the wall, which will probably be a problem to sleep. But when we were moved upstairs, we ended up in the last number of the corridor, this number 3218 did not connect to anything. Inadequate waiters, for example, when I give a banknote of 10 dinars for a bottle of wine worth 9 dinars, the waiter says thank you and runs away. I'm used to tipping myself.
Or, once, when we did not order drinks for dinner, but instead ate watermelon (in Mahdia Palace half board, in which you have to pay for drinks at dinner), the waiter slightly but visibly expressed his displeasure. But you don’t have to react to such things, especially since you can take tables in other places of the hall, and there the waiters worked without frills, so that they wanted to give a tip.
The kitchen is good, the choice is large. Probably there are also stale products, so you don’t have to type everything in a row. I don't expect homemade food from a hotel with 600 people. There were many fruits, there were watermelons (by the way, they were not in El Mouradi, only melons! ). The food is no worse than in Turkey, and you can get poisoned at home. That is, reviews about terrible food on websites are not at all a reason not to go to Tunisia. Who has a stomach, and to what extent.
There is animation, but I never judge the hotel by its presence or absence, so what it is - I can’t say anything.
When settling, avoid level -2, this is the very bottom. The reception is on level 0.
The beach in Tunisia is common, but from the hotel there is a security guard on the beach, who looks to make sure everything is fine. We saw mounted police on the beach. In general, security in Tunisia is pretty good, if you keep in mind that this is an Arab country. Police at every corner, intersection, circle.
Trestle beds, towels, mattresses were enough, who loves a beach holiday - there are all conditions, including water activities. The sea is clean, only a breeze every day, I didn’t see it calm at all, there were no jellyfish, fish swam. In general, it was not hot, but the African sun was insidious. When I forgot the cream in the room for the last day, I soon felt it.
Barkers walk along the beach, they sell all sorts of things, but they don’t strain at all. Like we have in Bugaz or in the Crimea.
Slightly confusing situation with beach towels.
You give a deposit of 10 dinars for a towel at the reception, they write out a piece of paper for you, you go to the beach with it and there the employee gives out a towel and marks something. It is not clear when you hand over, to look for this employee or not. I just threw them in a pile, but then the next day the employee asked me if I handed them in the day before. To avoid misunderstandings, hand over towels personally.
In general, the hotel confirmed that I was not mistaken when I chose it, it is probably the best in Mahdia.
Now about the Mahdia itself. As you know, this place is not as developed as Sousse. In the resort area, in fact, one shopping center. We went there 2 times a day. Once my wife and I went to Mahdia itself, we fled from there so quickly, because there was nothing to do there. At the bazaar, sellers grab hands, shopping centers are not visible, only shops. I photographed the sights, bought wine in a special store and returned. Taxi one way - an average of 5 dinars ($ 1 - 1.2 dianars).
Alcohol in Tunisia, as we once did, is sold only in special shops with bars. You can also buy it in duty free at the check-out (Magon wine, which I liked, costs 3.8 Euros there). The most famous Tunisian wine is Gris de Tunis (“gray Tunisian”, although it is actually pink). I tried it, it's not to my taste, I still like red wines more.
In addition to taxis, there is a subway - an electric train, a cat. described in travel brochures. But, she rarely goes (once an hour somewhere), the stations are not close, it is not known whether it is clean and whether there is air conditioning. Also, it drives slowly. From Mahdia to Sousse - 2.5 hours. It seemed to me that tourists do not use this metro at all, do not count on it.
The road from Monastir to Mahdia takes about an hour by car, passes through several settlements, where you need to know which narrow streets to turn into. This I mean that if you rent a car, there will be a problem with finding a road.
Rental cars are quite expensive, and air-conditioned ones are quite expensive. Tourists rent cars, but I think rarely. The driving style of Tunisians is quite acceptable, no worse than ours! . And better than in Turkey! I canceled the rental. As a result, in Sousse and the Monastery, we were passing through when we went on excursions. As I understand it, there is decent shopping precisely and only in Sousse, and Monastir is similar to Mahdia, just closer.
There was another option to go to Sousse with a guide, and Fued from Exotic tour suggested this. Since I kept asking the question about compensation for the suffering suffered, Fued said that he was ready to take us around Sousse and Monastir not for 300, but for 200 dollars. I said that I could pay a maximum of 50 and only for gasoline (it is expensive in Tunisia, unlike neighboring Algiers, where a liter costs 10 cents). Then Fued suggested that he would be able to find a couple more in Mahdia and we would split the amount in half.
But then I asked, how are the four of us going to drive all day in his little Volkswagen without air conditioning? The question is gone.
Tunisia has a developed light industry, many things are made for Europe, you can buy branded T-shirts, shirts, jeans, just make sure that it is not a fake.
Another disadvantage of Mahdia is that since it is closer to the Sahara, I thought that we would be the last to be selected for the tour. Dudki! Both in Carthage and in the Sahara we were picked up at half past five in the morning, taken to Sousse, from where all excursions begin. In Sousse, people got out to the bus by 7 o'clock.
Conclusion - it would be possible to settle in Sousse in a good hotel, and go to a neighboring one for thalassotherapy, only so as not to be too far away. If I suddenly go to Tunisia again, I will think that way.
Well, now about the most important thing - about the Sahara. This is a real exotic. I have not been to Egypt (for some reason it doesn’t pull) and for me all the components of this 2-day excursion were very interesting.
And it includes: a visit to a carpet factory in Keiroan (we bought a rug for $ 60 - prices are lower, and show-offs are less than in Turkey), a very good hotel in the city of Tozeur with a swimming pool and an excellent view of the oasis, jeep riding on the sands of the Tunisian desert , which is adjacent to the Sahara (with a guaranteed, permanent mirage); Star Wars, a trip to the Atlas Mountains, swimming in a spring of mud (so useful), and under a waterfall; the next day, after contemplating the sunrise on the dead lake, where there are no animals or birds, but only tourists, moving to the city of Douz, where the Sahara begins, riding camels (my name was Ferrari), and on the way back visiting the second in the world the largest colliseum, well preserved, in the city of El Jem. I haven't been to Rome, I haven't ridden camels before, so it's very interesting. They were strengthened by the fact that the tour was led by a guide named Hamdi (he called himself "daddy"), and I would call him the Great Hamdi.
As he said, his name is easy to remember if you remember the Russian words ham-moron. He is dressed in spectacular national clothes, knows Russian very well (except for “cases”), talks with humor and comprehensively, and before a pause he approaches each tourist and asks if he understands everything and if he has any questions. So, there is something good in Exotic Tour too! Hamdi spews jokes, Russian and local, mocks Libyan neighbors, asks riddles. Everything is artistic and cool. If it hits you, then you're in luck! We were also lucky that the bus was half empty, everyone got in and out quickly and did not quarrel.
The Sahara is impressive like the ocean, you want to go deep into it and immerse yourself in thoughts...
As everyone rightly says, you must go. The cost was $170 per person.
We also went to Carthage. As you know, it was destroyed even before the tourists, but you go there to note that I was there. On the site of the Punic Carthage, the ruins of the Roman (cat.
Somehow it's faster. The city of Tunisia itself was seen from the window and somehow from the edge. No, it's worth going to check in.
Moreover, it is very important that the Exotic tour has what I call a colonial bus. He drove us from Mahdia to Hammamet and back. There is something with a cardan in it, it buzzes so sweetly, especially at speed. Some he took away from the airport, so they, tired, could not fall asleep later, they heard this sound.
Oh, and thalassotherapy. Mahdia Palace has a great center. Thalassotherapy is essentially the same spa, only with sea water + sea mud wraps. We took a minimum course of 4 days. I had 4 procedures a day, the cost was 560 dinars. It's minimum. It all started with steam wraps, in the middle of the bath and shower (including the Charcot shower, where it is called douch a jet) and ended with massages. The doctor speaks good Russian, but we were with a guide, it was even easier. The staff is very friendly, they speak French and English.
They know the Russian words "on the stomach" and "on the back. " You change clothes (they give you a bathrobe, slippers, a towel), you go out with a program of procedures and they run up to you and lead you. And all the time then, just came out, they look and lead. You want to relax, but you can't do it for a long time. There is a tea room with excellent views of the golf club and the sea. I will say that after the procedures you feel a certain tiredness and you want to lie down and lie down. There is a load on the body. Those who booked treatments for free are allowed to go to the jet pool, hammam and gym. But often they did not use it, because it was enough. Everything took about 2-2.5 hours, in the morning, to be free later. Tipping gave only at the end of the masseurs - 1 dinar. 1 dinar is generally a worthy tip everywhere in Tunisia: to the driver, camel driver, etc. The average salary in Tunisia is $300. Question: is it possible not to take a course, but to go a-la carte?
Answer: you can, but I think from the second time, when you know what procedure means. If I go there again, I will probably take a couple of procedures on my own. But the doctor advises that there is an effect, to take a course.
The day before departure, I met with Fued, he drove to the hotel, there were still tourists. I tell Fued that you, dear man, promised a view of the sea, but I got it myself, so make yourself happy, let the room be extended until 4 pm, when the transfer to the airport is scheduled. Fued said that he should have called him if something went wrong. So I called and wrote SMS, but with Fued, either the account was not replenished, or the phone was dead, or he simply did not answer. But Fued did a favor and said, I'll extend Pa-ve-la, the hotel, but I'm a professional, so write me a receipt that you have no complaints. That is, the professionalism of the guide is to take a receipt from the tourist that there are no complaints.
My mood began to deteriorate again, as at the beginning of the trip, and I said that I could not give such a receipt, but I could simply write in fact when and in which rooms I lived. We argued a little more, then Fued agreed to my option, I wrote a receipt, and he went to the reception (and we were sitting right next to each other 3 meters away) and agreed on something. How I thought about my renewal. The next day, at one o'clock we return in swimming trunks from the beach to the room from the back porch to collect things, but I just open the door and cannot. I go wet to the reception, and well, I know English, and I speak French. They tell me in these languages that the number has not been renewed, and there are rules that I must leave it at 12. By the way, in the morning, some Afro-African came into my room in a livery and I explained to him that I was leaving around 4. In short, I had to explain to the receptionist that Fued himself arranged everything, we were sitting here yesterday and he came up.
And the porter says I don't know any Fued. I started calling Fued, but he did not answer the call (I would be surprised if he did). Then I explained to the receptionist that the hotel was already wrong, that I was settled here only on the 27th instead of the 24th, and I had a voucher in my hands. Then the receptionist understood everything, and extended my room for free.
So if you are going to Tunisia, then remember that the guides in Tunisia are professionals, and the porters love to follow the rules.
About Fueda, I can say that he is honest, but cunning. It was positive that he arrived on time for appointments. He told me to call him first next time, then everything will be OK. By the way, he allowed his number to be published on the Internet: +21623364002. Call, but first read my note.
We left when the month of Ramadan (all of September) had already begun. That adult male population sat and drank endless coffee and tea all day, and here all the cafes are closed.
For a tourist, Ramadan brings certain inconveniences, mainly, I think, if he travels around the country on his own - there is nowhere to eat and drink before sunset. And in tourist areas, I think, no change. Next year, Ramadan will begin around August 19-20 (11 days shift each time).
We left Tunisia with our heads held high. In duty-free, they bought some, there, by the way, he is not alone, there is also at the end of the hall. Dinars are not accepted in duty-free, but they are accepted in cafes. We all spent dinars a long time ago, so I paid in dollars at a fair airport rate of 1:1.
Farewell, Tunisia ...In general, I liked it, but spoiled, spoiled, there was a feeling due to moving that we did not come for 9 days, but for 5.
If you have questions, colleagues, then write.
Pasha from Odessa.
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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