i saw that you had booked at the abou sofiane i stayed there for the 1st time last july and i had a fantastic time it is very hot though so i recomend high factor sun cream as it hit it early 40's.
there are safes in the hotel there is a charge.
if you are looking to go on some trips i advise to take more money as they can be costly travellers cheque are safer and can be changed in hotel there are also cash machines in the port.
as regarding the football most games should be shown at the irish pub this is about a 5 minute journey in a taxi which you can get outside the hotel and are very cheap.
if you are celebrating speacial occasions i advise you to pick up a bottle of something at the airport. we took 2 bottles of smirnoff vodka it only cost £15 for 2 litres. the only beer they do is there own brand it is quite strong.
i have been to tunisia 3 times and i am also going in june so that will be my 4th theres so much to do and i advise you do go on one of the trips.
when do you go in june? where u flying from ?
if you would like anymore infomation please ask.

the hotel is fabulous. wine is ok but could do with buying at some at airport. the beer in tunisia is (celtica or something simmilar to that name) and is nice. hotel has safes weather is lovely so are saff i have been to the hotel 5 times in last 6 months. and the hotel is now called hotel occiental abou soffianne.
hope you enjoy youself

what date are you going in june i am also going in june

4th June - 18th June
Flying from Luton Airport

Expected a charge for safe, always has been wherever we've been, just like the idea of having the added security.

Fancy going all the way to Tunisia and ending up in an Irish bar watching footy, but I do love my footy and the wife is an avid fan too.

I think we'll bring some of our own wine in the hand luggage, I'd hate to be celebrating the wifes birthday with vinegar.

Will sort out travellers cheques and carry a bit of cash as backup, costs nothing for cheques in the TSB, so no charges out or return.

Read allsorts about the entertainment staff, seems half of them are on speed. I do hope they recognise someone who just wants to relax by the pool during the day.
Prefer to expend my energy when the sun goes down.

Thanks for all the advise, any more hints tips leave below.

Any help with finding bottled Bud or Stella (at any price) will be much appreciated.

Karl

i go on the 18th june so when u get bk i will be going lol and i am flying from luton

Thats the plane I'm coming home on.
I'll leave you a Cup Final programme to read on the way out being as your season is over

excuze me i know most of the entertainment team at abou sofianne and they are not on speed. they are very lovely. i am actually engaged to a tunisian who used to work in entertainment at abou sofianne. also the wine is very nice and does not taste of vinegar. if you treat the bar staff with respect they will ensure you will get good measures , swiffed service and also your wine will be of a better quality.

Hi Wooltonian,

Any help with finding bottled Bud or Stella (at any price) will be much appreciated.

And here was me thinking that you

Would rather pay extra than drink swill.

:-)

The local brew is called Celtia and while it doesn't really compare with premium German bottled lagers for strength and taste it doesn't come off too badly against most mass produced bottled lagers like Bud and Stella. And I have to say that I'm really tickled by the story that despite being official World Cup sponsors, Budweiser have fallen foul of the German licensing and advertising authorities and won't be able to cash in locally on their big investment because Bud isn't beer according to the Germans - too many chemical additives to comply with German brewing standards!

As for the wine I don't think the locally produced stuff is that bad either - it's a leftover from the French Colonial era - and as long as you don't expect to buy a decent wine very cheaply, the stuff available in the hotels is generally OK but I;d never buy the cheapest thing on the wine list. In my experience, the dry white is very dry and more comparable to a French style Sancerre or Spanish Vigne Sol than an Australian Chardonnay or Semillon for example. I think that this is why some people don't rate it - in the UK we've become very used to 'big' honeyed wines which actually pack quite a lot of sugar in order to up the alcohol content. In contrast, their sweet wines really are dessert wines and not really suitable for drinking as an accompaniment to your main course but can be delicious with the sweet pastries. If you aren't keen on very dry French whites or sweet dessert wines similar to a Sauterne then you might find it diffcult to find something to your taste - they don't seem to do mediums as I would define them as such.

Similarly the reds are also more French than 'New World' in style and will usually have a lower alcohol content than eg a mouth filling Merlot from New South Wales. In other words if you're a big fan of Australian/Chilean/Argentine Cabernet Sauvignons or Merlots then Tunisian reds' might taste a bit 'thin' but if you like the lighter French style reds then you should be able to find soemthing to suit.

SM

Kerry term of phrase love, not accusing anyone of actually using speed.
I'm told they are very keen and enthusiastic were I tend to be more layed back around the pool.

Sm, cheers, that was most helpful. I am a red fan, sounds like I will be alright. The wife will throw lemonade in her wine and beer if not to her taste.

Sounds like le mediterranee is one of the best places for a celebration meal (wifes birthday) will give that a whirl.

Just before you enter the marina on the right hand side there is a supermarket and right next door to it is the one selling all kinds of wines, beers and spirits. Give that a try, you may find what your looking for in there

Cheers Deb

I have read a lot now about an Irish Bar that shows football matches.
Told only about 5 dinar from PEK in Taxi
Any confirmation would be greatly received. Also any other bars likely to show World Cup games within reasonablle taxi fare.
I notice Tunisia are taking part in competition are they as keen on footy as we are ?

Less than two weeks away now, starting to get a buzz.
the wifes bought half of matalan summer range over the last two weeks, cant help feeling the excess baggage is goint to come into play (AGAIN)

Can someone just confirm that the nights are also warm, and there will be no need for jumpers and jackets (please) otherwise we might need a third suitcase

Ta

Karl

Yes you're right there it does get extremely hot that time of year. The only time you would need a light weight jacket is if you got too burnt in the day and were suffering from abit of sunstroke, you may then feel abit chilly in the evening like i did The sand on the beach was scorching, it actually melted a pair of my flipflops, so we had to walk back along the beach in the sea because the sand was too hot to walk in bare feet.

the bar is called o`connors just had a look through my cases from last year had a load of flyers wife must have threw them out but it is o`connors its owned by a tunsian guy who married a dublin girl and the bar is named after her its a lovely place very clean and tidy, loads of irish stuff around the place and yes they show the football
hope this helps you out

If you like red wine I think you will enjoy Magon (or even Vieux Magon if you feel like pushing the boat out). It is made in Carthage. It can be quite pricey in the hotels (about 14/15 dinar a bottle - £6/7) but I've bought it much cheaper in supermarkets in Sousse and Tunis. I am sure you will be able to get it in PEK as well. I always bring a few bottles home with me as all the family like it. Quite a decent dryish white is Ugni Blanc. I don't like their liquers, Thibarine and Boukha, as they are based on dates and figs and I don't like either.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Cheers to both

6-7 quid for a bottle is not bad in my eyes.
We are All In, but I dont mind paying for something decent, if the free stuff is dodgy or like lemo.
Great to read more about O'C's, it's always nice to find a watering hole that makes you feel at home every now and then.
Will probably only use it on match days

Another DAFT one

what about bookmakers ? I love a punt just as much as I like a bevvy.

No bookies I'm afraid. Moslems are not allowed to gamble and even in the casinos you have to show your passport to prove you are not Tunisian.

Don't worry about the Footie. Tunisians love football as much as we do. Tunisia is in the World Club and games will be on TVs everywhere.

Dorra

PS got back evening of Sunday 28/5 after a week of glorious weather. last Monday was freakishly hot but rest of week around 30c.

Hi Dorra,
We were there last week too, in PEK. Did you know it was 47 deg on Monday 22nd ??**!! HOT, HOT, HOT.
Love Elsa. x x x

Please don't rub it in the pair of you - I was in Sousse 23rd April - 7th May and the weather was very disappointing, we only had a few sunny days It looks as though I'll have to try again later I'm glad it was good for you though.