All the sunshine-filled fun you'd expect from a Spanish or Portugese break... but a little more exotic! We're heading to North Africa this week with travel experts Thomas Cook, with top travel tips for Tunisia...

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Location, location, location

Tunisia is located in North Africa (don’t be scared by this in terms of flight time, it won't take you any longer to get there than it does to get to the Canary Islands or many other popular holiday destinations!).It’s a really interesting country due to its location as it has had a lot of cultural influences. The country itself borders the Mediterranean Sea, so it enjoys a beautiful sandy Mediterranean coastline, but beyond the beaches there is a lot more happening.  The cities tend to be “medinas”, meaning that are walled cities - which gives them a really enchanting feel. Sousse in particular is a really colourful and lively city that is bursting with local markets selling jewellery, crafts, clothes and more, prepare to spend hours happily wandering!

Money matters

The great news is that Tunisia is a very cheap place to visit – food, drink, entertainment and shopping are all very reasonable so you would definitely be able to holiday here on a budget. Even better news? The food is absolutely incredible in Tunisia! Beautiful couscous and fresh fish as well as lots of other local dishes are on offer at restaurants in the resorts. The standard of accommodation is also very good in Tunisia, so if you’re paying for a good 4 or 5 star hotel you can expect to be staying in a very high standard spot and the staff tend to be very helpful and attentive.

Settling down on the sand…

Tunisia has absolutely stunning white pristine sandy beaches, so if you are somebody that enjoys relaxing on the beach it’s perfect. The weather also is very suited to beach trips as it’s very hot there all year around. If you’re somebody that doesn’t like heat you should avoid the months of July and August as it can go up to 40 degrees Celsius during these months! May and June see temperatures of around 26 degrees and it remains in or around 20 degrees for the rest of the year, so whenever you visit you can expect to soak up the sun.

See and do…

When you’re not lazing on the beach (very tempting!) you could enjoy water sports like jet skiing, speed boating and snorkelling or diving (as there are beautiful coral reefs to explore). If you want to try something different you could take a jeep safari into the desert or go camel-trekking. You can also opt to spend an overnight stay in the desert if you’re feeling really adventurous!

Night-time fun?

Options for this vary from one resort to another. Hammamet and Sousse tend to be the more lively resorts with late night bars and nightclubs while Port El Kantoui and Yasmine Hammamet are more low key, they have a couple of bars but the nightclubs are usually restricted to hotels in these areas.

Wherever I lay my head…

When it comes to finding your base in Tunisia it really depends on what you’re looking for. Thomas Cook have holidays to Hammamet, Port El Kantaoui, Sousse and Yasmine Hammamet and they each have their own appeals.

Hammamet is sometimes referred to as the Tunisian St. Tropez with sunbathing, al fresco dining and late night discos all on offer.  The walled medina is full of bustling shops, little cafes and restaurants and the beaches in this area are stunning.

The purpose built resort Port El Kantaoui is a fantastic base – relatively quiet and a great place to unwind.  Again the beaches are beautiful white sandy beaches and there are water sports available.  The nightlife is quite low key – there are a number of bars and restaurants including an Irish bar but nightclubs are mainly restricted to the hotels in the area.

Tunisia’s third largest city Sousse is a wonderful lively and colourful place with plenty of local and historical interest.  It’s great for shopping and also has some of the best beaches so there is a lot of variety in this resort.  The nightlife here is also a little more lively than other resorts.

Finally if you’re looking to holiday in a plush location then you might want to consider Yasmine Hammamet.  Here there is 4km of glorious coastline and a stylish marina with moorings for over 700 boats and a promenade running the length of an excellent sandy beach.  Nightlife here is low-key again so it might suit a couple looking for a relaxing holiday.

Bear in mind…

A word of warning to any couples heading over there on a romantic holiday – obviously there are cultural differences in Tunisia and they are in particular very strict when it comes to public displays of affection! Keep the PDAs to a minimum or you could find yourself in trouble with the authorities! 

Top Picks for a Fun Stay?

If you’re travelling as a family Thomas Cook have a kids club property based in Hammamet that would be a great choice called the Vincci Nozha Beach Resort and Spa that is available exclusively to Thomas Cook Ireland. It’s a beautiful modern and stylish 4 star hotel with lots of facilities for the family and there is an all-Inclusive option available if you wanted to opt for an all-inclusive holiday.  For something really nice you could try the IBEROSTAR  Saphir Palace in Yasmine Hammamet. This is a 4 star plus property that offers really luxurious accommodation and exceptional hospitality.  The food is delicious in the hotel and again there is an all-inclusive option available. The spa treatments in the hotel are fabulous and the hotel is perfectly located across the road from a private sandy beach. The 4 star Kanta resort in Port El Kantoui and the 3 star plus Tej Marhaba hotel in Sousse are also lovely properties if you chose to opt for either of these locations instead.

Prices for Tunisia start from just €455pp staying at the 3 star Residence Golf on half board basis with Thomas Cook. To book your summer holiday, click here!