Tunisia

Overview
Old and new, exotic and traditional, the captivating NorthAfrican country of Tunisia sits at the heart of the Mediterranean,caught in a cleft between Algeria and Libya, offering the world'stravellers some sumptuous modern seaside resorts set side by sidewith a treasure trove of ancient Roman, Arab, Berber and Phoeniciansites.Just a few miles north of the capital, Tunis, lie the remains ofthe legendary ancient city of Carthage, founded in the 8th centuryBC. By contrast Tunis is a hustling, bustling modern metropoliswhere steel, glass and palm trees form the backdrop to streetsfilled with fast-moving yellow taxis. In the heart of thissurprisingly pristine city, however, the centuries slip away in themedieval Medina, a haven for souvenir hunters with hundreds ofnarrow streets crammed with vendors of antiques, jewellery,pottery, carpets, perfumes, dried fruit, books, spices and manyother delights. Also, no tourist to the city should miss a visit tothe Bardo Museum, for the joy of viewing one of the world'sgreatest collections of Roman mosaics.Tunisia has a thousand miles of coastline to the north, whereluxurious resorts like Hammamet and Nabeul nestle amid citrusorchards. Vacationers relish the sandy beaches and crystallinewaters along the waterfront, where the only alternative to lazybronzing is to indulge in a round of golf or take the plunge withsome watersports.Those intrepid enough to venture into the south, on thethreshold of the Sahara desert, will be rewarded with someinteresting geographical features like the 'forest in the desert'at Ramada, the dry salt lake at Chott el Jerid, or the remote 'endof the road' oasis at Ksar Ghilane.The cherry on the top for visitors to this affordable and exoticholiday destination is the warmth and genuine friendliness of theTunisian people. This is evident in even the smallest of villages,where if you happen to pass through during one of the numeroussummer festivals you will be welcomed, urged to join in and findyourself dancing and sharing a cup of tea.In essence, Tunisia is about sun, sand, archaeologicaltreasures, lazy days and starry nights.

Money
The unit of currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), divided into1,000 millimes. Travellers cheques are widely accepted. Banks andsome hotels provide foreign exchange. ATMs are found in most townsand at all the tourist resorts; almost all will accept Visa cardsand many will also accept Maestro (Switch) cards. Visa, DinersClub, American Express and MasterCard are accepted for payment insouvenir shops, upmarket hotels and restaurants, although Visaencounters the least problems. All Tunisian currency must beexchanged before departure.

Time
GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).

Language
The overwhelming majority speak Arabic and French. English is taught in all schools and is increasingly spoken especially by younger people. Some German and Italian is also spoken.

Climate
Tunisia is a land of constant sunshine and warm water. Theheight of summer is a little too hot for most tastes, so July andAugust are regarded as 'off-season'. Between October and May is amore comfortable time to visit, with temperatures ranging between54°F and 82°F (12°C and 28°C). Springtime (March toMay) brings displays of wild flowers throughout thecountryside.