Jetsettersblog

Follow the stars and escape the crowds to see another side of Tunisia

From hot springs to star-gazing and Arabian adventure movie-set scenes, southern Tunisia offers a thrilling alternative to the traditional sea and sun holiday destination.

Whether you’re beating a new trail to secret retreats or following in the footsteps of the likes of Antonio Banderas, a sojourn south will be full of surprises.

Tunisia will be in the spotlight in 2012 thanks to the hotly anticipated epic Arabian drama, Black Gold. Starring Antonio Banderas and British talent, Mark Strong, the film is an adaptation of Swiss writer Hans Ruesch’s 1957 novel South of the Heart: A Novel of Modern Arabia and was shot on location in the small southern town of Matmata.

Matmata is famous to a whole generation of movie goers as home to Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars, which celebrates its 35th anniversary in May 2012. Visitors can tour the village and stand in the same spot as Luke’s moisture farm home on Tatooine, and check into the famous Hotel Sidi Driss, whose restaurant and bar courtyard featured in both the original Star Wars as well as Attack of the Clones.

Other southern highlights include the oasis towns of Tozeur, famous for its beautiful brick architecture, and Nefta often known as the ‘Land of the Palms’. Set on the north west shore of Chott el-Jerid – an immense salt lake spanning almost 5,000km, where Luke Skywalker contemplated the two moons – this area is a place of startling mirages. The shimmering salt lake also featured inThe English Patient.

If star-gazing is a bigger draw than Star Wars, head to Ksar Ghilane to marvel at the star-filled night sky from the area’s natural hot springs. Or hop aboard the Red Lizard Train at Metlaoui and journey through the spectacular Seldja Gorge with its pink mountains and grand canyons to spot some of Tunisia’s weirdest rock formations. For real Arabian adventures, the Tunisian Sahara desert offers exhilarating experiences such as camel trekking, dune buggy riding, hot air balloon rides and Bedouin camping excursions.

The new Dar Hi boutique hotel at Nefta is the ideal desert haven, an eco-friendly design hotel geared at travellers seeking to get under the skin of Tunisia. The hotel can arrange desert excursions for guests as well as offering an oasis of wellbeing.

Travel to southern Tunisia with one of the following:

Seven nights all inclusive holiday at The Dar HI hotel from £840 per person
Dar HI hotel offers a seven night stay in February 2012 from £840 per person based on two people sharing the Troglodyte inspired room on an all-inclusive basis. Price includes: Return airport transfers from Tozeur – Nefta International Airport, access to the traditional hammam, heated swimming pool and a complimentary massage.
For more information or to book please contact reservation@dar-hi.net, visit www.dar-hi.net/en  or call on 00 33 4 97 07 26 26.

Nine day Tunisia Desert Explorer package with Exodus from £899 per person

Experience a camel trek in the Tunisian Sahara desert, visit Kairouan, the fourth most important holy city in the Muslim world and the troglodyte town of Matmata, home to the Star Wars film set for an action packed holiday to remember.

Prices start from £899 per person departing in February 2012 and include: Return flights, seven nights’ accommodation, all breakfasts, two lunches and six dinners, on-tour transport, a local guide, entrances fees, excursions and all activities.

For more information please visit www.exodus.co.uk  or call on 0845 287 2468.

Get there with Tunisair
Tunisair operates five flights per week from London Heathrow to Tunis, prices start from £180 return, including taxes. A connecting flight from Tunis to Tozeur costs from £88 return with Tunisair Express and takes less than an hour.
For reservations call 020 7734 7644 or go to www.tunisair.com .
For all your travel needs and for information on what’s happening in Tunisia go to www.cometotunisia.co.uk

SITA World Tours is marking its 2012 product introduction with new Central American programs and an expansion of its Africa product line. SITA is introducing Central American tours that provide opportunities to visit some of the world’s most fascinating Mayan ruins, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites the Copan ruins, the Tikal ruins and Joya de Ceren, which was a thriving Pre-Columbian city frozen in time by an erupting volcano.

Other popular highlights include a visit to Chichicastenango with its vast open-air market and a tour to Ruta de Las Flores where some of the world’s best coffee is produced.

In regard to Africa, SITA’s director of operations, Max Ali, said the company has been able to negotiate reduced rates as much as 20 percent off previous prices. Stability in the political climate and improvements in infrastructure have made it possible to improve SITA’s access to insure that guests get even closer to fascinating wildlife migrations.

A new eight-day program called Kenya in Luxury includes three luxury wildlife camps connected by air, providing maximum time to enjoy the safari experience. Also new is a Uganda and Rwanda in Depth program that offers the opportunity to view the gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda in two different ecological settings. Other new Africa products include an 11-day Great Zimbabwe itinerary that includes Victoria Falls, marking a return to Zimbabwe. Itineraries to Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Egypt are also included in the new brochure.

SITA World Tours has 79-years history of providing travel programs to Africa, India, Asia and South and Central America. For more information, visit www.sitatours.com

The Rezidor Hotel Group will rebrand the Hotel Riu Park El Kebir as a new mid-market hotel in Tunisia under the name of Park Inn Hammamet. The new hotel will open in the second quarter of 2012 following a full renovation. It will be Rezidor’s third hotel in Tunisa, following its opening of the Park Inn Ulysse Resort and Thalasso and the Radisson Blu Resort and Thalasso hotel in Djerba (www.parkinn.com/resort-djerba ).

Hammamet is located on the Mediterranean coast, 60 kilometers from the capital city of Tunis. The new Park Inn Hammamet will feature a 300-meter beachfront, four outdoor and one indoor swimming pools. Further leisure offers will comprise four tennis courts, two kids’ clubs and an extensive Thalasso Spa. Four restaurants — including a Tunisian specialty restaurant — will pamper every palate, while three bars will offer the perfect spots for a drink in a relaxed atmosphere. Business guests will benefit from 600 square meters of meeting space and a 500-square-meter ballroom.

The Park Inn Hammamet has 273 guest rooms and suites as well as 63 villas targeting the family travel market. Tunisia is one of the top destinations along the North African Mediterranean cost. The country has a year-round mild climate, beautiful beaches, several distinct cultures and unique landscapes ranging from lush forests to the sands of the Sahara.

Park Inn by Radisson is Rezidor’s young and dynamic mid-market brand. Launched in early 2003, Park Inn by Radisson now has more than 145 hotels with 26,500 rooms in operation or under development across Europe, Middle East and Africa. The corporate office of the Rezidor Hotel Group is based in Brussels, Belgium. For more information, visit www.radissonblu.com  or www.parkinn.com

Fantastic deals and a host of exciting activities make Tunisia the ideal family destination

With diverse attractions, a wide range of accommodation and sizzling temperatures, Tunisia is the perfect destination for families, and with great deals on offer this summer there’s no better time to go.

The whole family will love the long sandy beaches and never ending choice of activities on offer. From sailing and windsurfing to camel trekking across the Sahara desert or exploring the remains of ancient cities from the Roman Empire, there’s no chance of getting bored.

The Friguia Park in Hammamet is a great place to take the kids, with lions, tigers and lemurs on display and dolphin and sea lion shows, there’s plenty to see.

Tunisia has a number of high quality hotels to choose from, many of which are all-inclusive, at affordable prices. Many of the resorts offer sporting activities like football, tennis and volleyball, as well as daytime and evening entertainment, included in the price. Plus, while the hotel-run kids’ clubs occupy the children, grownups can unwind at one of the luxurious Thalassotherapy spas or head to one of Tunisia’s beautiful golf courses.

“Tunisia has always been a firm favourite with British holiday makers, especially those with young children as we’re only a short two and a half hour flight away.” says Anissa Ramoundi, the UK & Ireland Director for The Tunisian National Tourist Office.

“Following the Jasmine Revolution, our tourism is back on track, and we are welcoming British tourists again, making sure they have an amazing holiday in Tunisia.”

Check out Tunisia’s best family holidays below:

Great for kids

Seven nights’ holiday from £786 per person at Holiday Village Manar, Hammamet

First Choice offers a seven night stay at the 5 star Holiday Village Manar in Hammamet from £786 per person based on two adults and two children sharing on an all-inclusive basis. The price includes return flights from London Stansted departing 10 August 2011 and includes transfers and all taxes and charges.

To find out more about this holiday, or to make a reservation, please call First Choice on 0871 200 4455 or visit www.firstchoice.co.uk

14 nights’ holiday from £515 per person at El Mouradi hotel, Skanes

Just Sunshine offers a 14 night stay at the 4 star El Mouradi Skanes hotel, from £515 per person based on two adults and two children sharing, on an all-inclusive basis. Price includes return flights from London Heathrow departing 30 July 2011 transfers and all taxes and charges.

To find out more about this holiday, or to make a reservation, please call Just Sunshine on 0844 756 0056 or visit www.justsunshine.com

Great for teens

Seven nights’ holiday from £517 per person at Les Orangers Beach, Hammamet

Thomas Cook offers a seven night stay at the 4 star Les Orangers Beach in Enfidha, Hammamet from £517 per person based on a family of four adults sharing on an all inclusive basis. Price includes return flights from London Stansted departing 17 August 2011, transfers and all taxes and charges.

To find out more about this holiday, or to make a reservation, please call Thomas Cook on 0871 895 0055 or visit www.thomascook.com

MSC Cruises plans to return to Tunisia with sailings beginning July 5. MSC Fantasia and MSC Lirica are scheduled to return to La Goulette, the port for Tunis on July 5, with MSC Splendida and MSC Sinfonia calling at the port the next day.

“Tunis is back to normal and security is now stable,” said MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago. “We are glad to offer our guests one of their favorite destinations again for this summer’s seven-night cruises in the Mediterranean. Tourism represents one of the biggest resources for this country’s economic revival and we are proud to be making our contribution.”

MSC Cruises also will offer Tunis as a winter destination on MSC Splendida’s seven-night cruises between December and March, departing from Genoa. For more information, call 800-666-9333 or visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com

Several Specialty Cruise Collection member lines have announced their winter itineraries for 2011-12. American Cruise Lines offers two itineraries in the U.S. South.

The seven-night “Historic South & Golden Isles” itinerary sails in November, December and March.

The itinerary visits Charleston, Beaufort and Savannah.

The seven-night “Great Rivers of Florida” cruises in November, December and March sail on the St. Johns and Dolomites rivers to places like Amelia Island and St. Augustine.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines offers the 14-day “History of the British Royal Family,” theme during a Canary Islands cruise. Free lecturers and historians will discuss the British royal family in detail from past to present.

The Balmoral departs Southampton Dec. 8.

Prices start at $1,635 per person based on double occupancy with a $200 onboard spending credit per cabin.

Olsen’s “Around the World Grand Voyage” departs Jan. 11 for 106 nights on the Black Watch. “Around South America Grand Voyage” departs Jan. 5 for 89 nights on the Balmoral. Both cruises have an onboard spending credit and a $400 flight credit.

Starting Jan. 14, Galapagos Explorer II will operate a new itinerary, with four- and six-night programs.

The six-night program visit Baltra, Santiago, Bartholomew, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz Island.

There are two alternatives for the four-night cruises.

Cruise B will include Charles Darwin Station, Santiago, Genovesa Island, North Seymour and San Cristobal Island.

Cruise C will visit San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Rabida, Charles Darwin Station, South Plazas and Baltra Island. Programs for eight-, 10- and 14-night cruises are available.

Sailing in the wake of Hurtigruten’s founder, Captain Richard With, the line’s “Northern Lights Adventures” crosses the Arctic Circle to seek the Aurora Borealis, which are best seen between October and March.

Best departures for the “Northern Lights Adventures” are daily from October through March from either Bergen or Kirkenes.

Those who book a 2012 departure by Sept. 30 will saves 20 percent. Fares for Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 departures are $1,908 to $5,131.

Louis Cruises’ Louis Majesty will visit coastal towns in Cyprus, Egypt, France, Gibraltar, Greece and the Greek Islands, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia.

Sailings are from November through March and embarkation is available in Genoa, Italy, or Marseille, France. Itineraries include seven-day “Mediterranean Highlights,” eight-day “Spanish Odyssey,” nine-day “Iberian Coasts,” nine-day “Tunis, Malta & Italy,” nine-day “Morocco & Spain,” eight-day Christmas cruise, 10-day New Year’s Cruise, and two variations of “Eastern Mediterranean Highlights,” 13 or 14 days.

In winter 2011-12, Star Clippers will sail in the Caribbean and Costa Rica.

Star Flyer returns to Costa Rica with two seven-night itineraries roundtrip from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica.
The first itinerary calls at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and Playa del Coco, National Park Santa Rosa, Samara, Puerto Carrillo, National Reserve of Curu and Isla Tortugas, Costa Rica.

The second itinerary calls at Isla Coiba, Panama, and Golfito, Isla del Cano/Drake’s Bay, Quepos and National Reserve of Curu and Isla Tortugas.

Royal Clipper sails two seven-night, roundtrip Barbados itineraries. The Windward Islands itinerary calls at St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, Iles des Saintes and Martinique.

The Grenadine Islands itinerary calls at the Grenadines, Grenada, Tobago Cays, St. Vincent, Bequia, Martinique and St. Lucia.

Star Clipper sails two seven-night itineraries, roundtrip from St. Maarten. The “Treasure Islands” itinerary calls at Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Tortola, St. Kitts and St. Barts.

The Leeward Islands itinerary visits Nevis or Saba, Dominica, Iles de Saintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Barts.

NCMA member lines include Alaskan Dream Cruises, American Cruise Lines, Cruceros Australis, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Galapagos Explorer II, Hurtigruten, Imperial River Cruises, Louis Cruises and Star Clippers.

For more information, visit www.nichecruise.com

Riu Hotels & Resorts has opened its 10th hotel in Tunisia and second hotel on the island of Djerba.

The ClubHotel Riu Palm Azur is an ocean-front property located six kilometers from the shopping area and 30 kilometers from Djerba airport.

The new all-inclusive hotel, which opened on April 26, features 390 rooms including family rooms and Suites Prestige.

It also offers a conference room, four restaurants, four bars, two outdoor pools and a children’s pool for the warmer months and for the winter season a heated indoor pool.

Guests can enjoy the main restaurant and three specialty restaurants — the Asian, Tunisian and Mediterranean restaurants.

The hotel offers an extensive menu of domestic and international cocktails in its four different bars.

The new ClubHotel offers a gym, spa, tennis courts, beach volleyball, a playground, non-motorized water sports, a hobby club with activities to enjoy with the family, and the RiuLand program, a new children’s entertainment program with activities for different age groups – 4 to 7 and 8 to 12 years old.

And for golf lovers, there is a golf course with 27 holes 10 kilometers away.

For more information, visit the banner at right.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines announced details of an 80-night voyage around Africa. Black Watch’s Indian Ocean cruise, departing Jan. 10, 2013, from Southampton, visits several African countries, rounds the Cape of Good Hope, and takes in Mauritius and the Maldives en route to India. The cruise then travels to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt, with a transit of the Suez Canal, returning via Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, and Libya.

Key ports of call include Banjul, Gambia; Walvis Bay, Namibia; Cape Town, South Africa, for two nights; Port Louis, Mauritius; Dubai for an overnight; Abu Dhabi; Muscat, Oman; Alexandria, Egypt; Piraeus, for Athens, Greece; and Valletta, Malta.

“On the itinerary planning front, cruises featuring ports of call across North Africa and the Middle East have come under scrutiny,” said Nigel Lingard, Fred Olsen’s marketing director. “Despite these constraints, we continue to expand our horizons, offering new destinations wherever possible.”

Prices start at $12,043 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin-bed cabin. Up to $600 onboard spending per person is available, depending on cabin grade. Those who book before May 31 receive early booking savings. For more information, call 800-843-0602, email info@bortonoverseas.com  or visit www.bortonoverseas.com

Major tour operators resume services to Tunisia from UK

Tunisia is welcoming back more UK holidaymakers as TUI resumes its schedules to the popular North African destination. The operator follows hot on the heels of Thomas Cook, which started flying customers into the country on 2 March.

The return of tourists to Tunisia’s most popular resorts has been welcomed by locals, and is a sign that stability is returning to the country which last year enjoyed an unprecedented 28% rise in UK visitors.

The major tour operators follow in the footsteps of independent Tunisia specialists Just Sunshine and Tunisia First, who flew back in February, and Tunisia\’s national carrier Tunisair, which has been operating its normal schedule since 17 January.

Tunisia promises to be an interesting place to visit after the Jasmine Revolution, with Tunisians keen to return to business and eager to share their stories and love for their country.

“For the majority of Tunisians, the revolution has been very positive, allowing people the chance to speak freely for the first time.” says Anissa Ramoundi, the UK & Ireland Director for The Tunisian National Tourist Office.

“Having just returned myself, I would say visitors will receive an even warmer welcome as Tunisians are positive about the future and keen to ensure their visitors have wonderful holidays.”

“The UK market is incredibly important for Tunisia and I hope that British visitors will support us as we get back on our feet.”

Since the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office amended its travel advice for Tunisia on 4 February, some tour operators have reported a surge of interest in the destination.

“We have already seen a strong increase in enquiries and bookings,” says Can Deniz, Managing Director of Just Sunshine.

“Within 48 hours of the restrictions being lifted our first clients arrived in Tunisia.”

Discover Tunisia\’s fascinating stories with an amazing holiday deal:

• Best for Luxury:
The Residence Tunis
Elegant Resort offers seven nights from £1,250 per person based on two people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick with British Airways departing 14 May 2011 with private airport transfers. For further information, please contact Elegant Resorts Reservations on 01244 897538 or visit www.elegantresorts.co.uk.

• Best for Families
Hammamet, Tunisia
Seven night holidays from £379 per person – saving £200 per person
First Choice offers a seven night stay at the Holiday Village Manar, Hammamet from £379 per person based on two people sharing on an all inclusive basis – saving £200 per person. Price includes return flights from Bournemouth airport departing 1 May 2011 and includes accommodation, transfers and all taxes and charges. To find out more about this holiday, or to make a reservation, please call First Choice on 0871 200 4455 or visit www.firstchoice.co.uk.

• Great Value Holiday
Djerba, Tunisia
Seven night holiday from £315 per person – savings £578.00
Thompson offers a seven night holiday at the Clubhotel Riu Palm Azur hotel, Djerba from £315 per person based on two people sharing on an all inclusive basis. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick departing the 19 May 2011 and includes accommodation, transfers and all taxes and charges. For more information or to book this holiday please visit www.thomson.co.uk  or call 0871 231 4691.

All holidays are subject to availability and booking terms and conditions. Prices include flights, fuel charge and air passenger duty and are correct at the date of issue.

Grand Circle Travel and its sister company Overseas Adventure Travel, tour operators who book directly with consumers, will resume their operations to Egypt on March 14 and to Tunisia on March 17. More than 10,000 Americans travel to Egypt with Grand Circle Travel (GCT) or Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) annually, while 3,300 travelers have taken OAT’s small-group Tunisia adventure since it launched in late 2008. For more information, call 800-493-6824 or visit www.gct.com  or www.oattravel.com