I’m getting back to you to ask if you have any idea about the taxi fare from Tunis Airport to the Medina (I haven’t booked my hotel yet, but I’m thinking of staying in that area—anywhere nearby, really).
Do you need to negotiate the price, or is there a fixed rate from the airport? Also, do the taxis have meters?
I had a really bad experience in Warsaw, so now I’d rather know how things work beforehand.
Hi there,
Generally, it's around 20 dinars for 15/20 minutes.
But to avoid any nasty surprises, make sure to agree on a price before you set off. Prices are often 50% higher at night.
Taxis do have meters, but they only use them if they feel like it...
Otherwise, there are also buses 35 and 635 that go from the airport to Tunis Marine station, which is at the bottom of Avenue Bourguiba.
I don’t know if you’ve been following the recent weather events that have hit Tunisia, but places like Sidi Bou Said, for example, have experienced severe flooding that might affect your trip.
Outside of Tunis, many towns in Cap Bon and the Sahel region have suffered from flooding and rough waves, and the seafronts have been badly damaged.
I’m currently in Mahdia, and the temperatures are cold and it’s very humid. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or a rain poncho in your luggage—it doesn’t take up much space...
When you book a hotel, don’t forget to ask if there’s heating. Interiors without heating can be freezing.
When are you leaving?
Thanks for the info about taxis—I’ll make sure to ask for the price before we leave.
I’m leaving on February 15th.
Since you mentioned it could be cold, I’ve made sure to book hotels with heating and pack warm clothes!
While looking into what to expect during Ramadan, I saw some reports in the Tunisian press about bad weather, but I didn’t realize it was that serious.
For now, my route looks like this: Tunis (with Carthage and Sidi Bou Said), Hammamet, Sousse, and Kairouan. I haven’t really "planned" the areas around Hammamet and Sousse yet or my exact stops.
In the Tunisian press, I saw that even today Tunisia is on alert for violent winds and heavy rainfall. They really haven’t been lucky—going from drought to destructive floods. With climate change, this is unfortunately the case in many countries. I hope these new storms won’t cause too much human or material damage (buildings, agriculture, etc.).
Hi there,
The climate situation is indeed quite worrying.
Here in the east-central region, it's still very windy but no rain yet today—unlike the past few days.
I took a little walk on the beach this morning and noticed that, on top of the piles of seaweed, the sea is washing up some of the trash that’s been dumped in it. It’s not a pretty sight—all the little beach huts used as cafés and the permanent structures have been devastated, along with the walls along the corniches that protect against the sand.
There are also storm warnings in the south, but I imagine the temperatures are milder down there...
Here in the eastern center, still a lot of wind but no rain yet today
Storm warnings in the south too
I’d read that all of Tunisia was on orange alert today—the bad weather is also hitting parts of Morocco and Algeria.
Last night, I was watching an ARTE show on YouTube about Tunisian cuisine (specifically from Cap Bon), and they showed a family harvesting bitter orange flowers. They were complaining because the flowers were yellow due to the drought, and they were really worried about the groundwater levels. One family member had given up growing these flowers to switch to strawberries, but with the drought, the strawberries weren’t very big. This was near Nabeul, and I think this region has been one of the hardest hit by the recent floods...
Hopefully, for Tunisians, the situation will improve quickly so they can get everything back on track for the high season.
Otherwise, yes—depending on the season, the sea and the streams flowing into it leave a lot of waste on the beach. I noticed this in Central America too; it was also "winter" there. Lots of plastic straws, plastic bottles, toys, etc., and a strong sewage smell where the streams emptied out.
Are you still in Tunisia?
I saw that the bad weather just won’t let up—heavy rain was forecast for the South today.
I read that it’s a disaster for agriculture, especially citrus fruits, strawberries, and potatoes. A lot of sheep have died too. It’s unprecedented in 70 years.
In the French online press, there are articles about Sidi Bou Said saying these storms have put the village in danger (they mention it was already at risk before), with rocks breaking off cliffs and falling into the streets, shops closed, etc. I had no idea things were this bad.
It’s the whole Mediterranean basin that’s affected—today there are floods in southern Spain, Morocco too, and we don’t know when it’s going to stop....
Hi there! Yes, we’re still in Tunisia, and we’re supporting the local economy—cough syrup, throat lozenges, Doliprane, emergency doctor visits, and even a specialist for my husband... 😷
The weather still isn’t great, but it’s a bit more normal today—mild and humid.
A friend told me yesterday that Djerba is actually quite pleasant.
As I mentioned before, February is really a good time to visit the south, but not the north.
For us, we’ll be leaving on the 20th, at the start of Ramadan, because for us, this period has more downsides than advantages. In Mahdia, there are few festivities during this time, and if there’s any entertainment, it’s usually in the last few days before it ends.
As for Sidi Bou Said, the village is built on a fragile hillside. Building permits are more or less processed, and it’s clear that construction or expanding existing buildings—like we’ve seen recently—should no longer be allowed.
Tourists will also need to learn to walk a bit more, and buses shouldn’t be allowed to drive up and park at the top of the village.
Even the placement of small shops around that famous parking lot needs rethinking.
We didn’t go this time, so I can’t really say what it’s like now.
Let us know what you find if you go!
Don’t hesitate to ask if you need tips or info.
At the moment, I know I’ll be landing in Tunis on Sunday, February 15th, and I’m supposed to leave on the 19th or 20th to continue my trip—but where to? It’ll depend on the weather. If it’s really bad, I’ll grab a flight ticket to Djerba or take a bus to Tozeur.
In Tunis on the 16th, I’m planning to visit the medina. The next day, I’ll check out the Bardo before Ramadan starts (officially on February 19th, I think), though museums might have reduced hours. Before leaving Tunis, I’d also love to see the medina at night during Ramadan, after the fast breaks.
I’ve been looking for info on Ramadan nights in Tunis but can’t find anything for 2026. For previous years, I saw that there’s a cultural center dedicated to stambali that hosted special Ramadan evenings—I’d be interested in that, but I haven’t found anything for this year yet.
Finally, I was planning to skip Sidi Bou Saïd because of the damage from the bad weather (I’m really disappointed), but I’ll see what people say on the ground to decide if I can still go.
I wish I’d taken your advice to land in Djerba and spend my time there, especially since I think the bad weather isn’t over yet....
Hi,
I still think you should visit Sidi Bou Said, even though there’s been some damage. It seems the Baron’s Palace is open.
You won’t have anything to compare it to, but Sidi Bou Said will surely still have a lot of charm despite the scars. And it’s not far from Tunis, so you’re not taking any risks.
For the rest, museums are usually closed on Mondays.
Markets also tend to have little activity on Mondays, and none on Friday afternoons.
During Ramadan, life slows down a lot—especially transportation—and many shopkeepers and restaurant owners take time off.
If you’re planning to fly here, it’s probably because your tickets aren’t changeable—too bad!
There are no charter flights here, which makes domestic flights relatively expensive.
Information about events is usually only available at the last minute.
Yesterday, it rained for most of the day; today, no rain yet, but it’s gray and windy.
I didn’t know that markets have less activity on Mondays and no activity on Friday afternoons—I’ll keep that in mind.
Yes, I’ll try to visit Sidi Bou Saïd. Today, while looking for info online, I came across two articles that listed this village as one of the must-see places in 2026, so it’s probably best to go before it gets even more crowded with tourists...
I’ll keep you posted. Thanks again for all your tips! !
We’re planning a trip to Egypt from January 21 to 28, 2027.
J21 – Arrival in Cairo at 6 PM
V22 – Visit the Pyramids
S23 – Early flight to Aswan, visit Aswan
D24 – Visit Aswan, depart mid-afternoon for Abu Simbel
L25 – Morning visit to Abu Simbel, return to Aswan. Is it possible to go all the way to Luxor the same day? Private driver between Aswan and Luxor
M26 – Visit Luxor
M27 – Visit Luxor
J28 – Early flight to Cairo, arrive around 9–10 AM, head back into the city to see 1 or 2 museums (probably just 1 due to time), then flight to Lyon at 7 PM
Does this itinerary seem realistic to you? Does it cover the highlights?
During our trip to Egypt at the end of January, beginning of February, we plan to visit the White Desert and nearby oases for 3 to 4 days, starting from Cairo.
If my initial agency searches weren't conclusive, I now have a "too many options" situation.
Here’s an alphabetical list of my first findings.
If you’ve had any experience (good or bad) with any of these agencies in the White Desert:
Hello, my husband and I will be in Egypt this coming November. Cairo seems more challenging to explore without a guide, and we’ll be there for 3 full days. Would anyone have the name of a guide?
Thanks!
Hi
It's hard to tell from Maps or anything else whether the road along the Tessaout is fully paved from Amezri all the way to the junction with the road connecting Demnate to Ouarzazate (RN23).
Thanks for your replies!
Herviche
Here’s a first draft for a 14-night itinerary during the Christmas break with two teens. We’re especially fond of hiking (nothing too extreme, though), which is why we’re drawn to the south.
- Marrakech (2 nights)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 night)
- Dadès (3 nights, though we’re thinking of doing a day trip to the Todra Gorge on one of those days)
- M'hamid (1 night)
- Erg Chigaga (1 night)
- 4 nights to slot in
- Marrakech (2 nights)
Okay, I realize this involves a lot of driving, and we’re still debating the return route since we’d like to avoid the Tichka Pass in January, but going through Taroudant seems like it would add *a lot* of time. 😕
If you’ve got other suggestions for an itinerary with great hikes, I’m all ears!
Also, the 4 nights total in MRK isn’t really our preference, but since we’re arriving/departing super early from overseas, we’d like to be a bit rested before the long flight.
Another question:
For hikes (aside from the desert one), is it better to have a guide with us, or are the trails well-marked?
Hi there!
I’m heading to Dakhla at the end of October for about two weeks as a backpacker.
Without renting a car or booking pricey excursions, what are the best ways to get around and explore?
I’ve heard that the small taxis only cover limited routes outside the city center, and the local buses might be tricky...
Thanks to anyone who knows the area and can share their tips for nature and culture in this up-and-coming destination!
Laurence
Hi, I’m planning a 10-day trip to Morocco starting on 12/30 with my parents, and I’d love your thoughts on the itinerary. Since I’m traveling with my parents, who are 78, I’m trying to keep train rides between cities short. I’d like to start with 4 days in FES (with Meknès nearby), then head to Casablanca for 2 days, and finish with 4 days in Marrakech, including a day trip or overnight stay in Essaouira. Thanks for your input!
During our road trip in Morocco in November/December, we’re planning to spend a night at the Hassilabied dunes around November 10th.
We don’t want to sleep in a camp, go on a camel trek, or do a 4x4 tour—we just want to stay right at the foot of the dunes so we can walk around on our own, on foot, at sunrise and sunset. It seems like Hassilabied is better located for this (closer to the dunes) than Merzouga.
Do you know of any clean accommodation with hot water, not too rustic but not too "bling-bling" either, and—most importantly—ideally located right in front of the dunes?
Thanks so much for your tips!
Fran
Hi, we're looking for a guide to show us around Essaouira.
We're 11 adults and don't want to go through an agency. If you have a contact to help us discover this city, that would be great!
Thanks
We're heading to Egypt in a few days, inspired by many of your travel journals (thanks especially to Franck!).
We’ll spend a short day exploring Cairo before an evening departure, with our luggage in tow. We’re traveling light, but it’s still not very practical...
Does anyone know if baggage storage/lockers are easy to find, and if so, do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!
I’m currently planning several trips to Morocco (Marrakech, Draa Valley, Merzouga) and I’m wondering about the reliability of data connections outside major urban centers.
Here’s what I’ve observed on the ground so far:
- In cities (Marrakech, Agadir, Fez), 4G is excellent, including in the medina riads.
- On the Tizi n'Tichka road and toward Ouarzazate, coverage remains decent, with a few dead spots here and there.
- In Saharan areas (Merzouga, Chegaga), the connection becomes patchy: some camps get great reception, others none at all.
My specific questions:
1) On your recent trips, which operator (Maroc Telecom, inwi, Orange) gave you the best coverage in the Atlas and Sahara?
2) Have international eSIMs seemed as reliable as a local Moroccan SIM, or have you noticed a difference in speed in rural areas?
3) While trekking or driving a 4x4 in the desert, have you come across completely dead zones despite theoretical coverage?
I’m happy to share my own coverage notes if it helps, and I’ll gladly answer any questions about Morocco—I know it well.
I'm looking for a travel companion for a road trip in southern Morocco at the end of March 2027.
Duration: 15 days.
Departure from Marrakech.
Car rental and Airbnb accommodation.
Budget: 1200 €.
Itinerary to plan together
I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.
I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?
I was wondering if it’s possible to join a group as a solo traveler with local agencies in Djanet for circuits like Tadrart, Essendilene, Sefar, or Tassili?
If you have any agencies to recommend, I’d love to hear about them.
I didn’t find any info on the forum.
Best,
Hi everyone,
Our trip to Morocco will be from November 3 to 17, in the High Atlas.
Basically, our route would be:
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou
Skoura - Tinghir - Merzouga
Merzouga via the N12 to Zagora
Zagora - Draa Valley - Marrakech
It seems to be the low season, so I’d love to travel without having to book accommodations in advance. In other countries, pre-booking has restricted us and kept us from visiting unplanned sites. Freedom is important to us, but I’d also like to avoid arriving somewhere and finding nothing available.
What do you recommend? Book ahead or not?
Your advice is always helpful, and thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
Roberto
First of all: a big thank you to everyone whose insightful, funny, lively, and exotic posts we’ve enjoyed. It’s a joy to find such lovely writers on this forum, who’ve given me tons of ideas and addresses to prepare our trip.
Our plan: to explore Morocco from November 2nd to December 4th. We’ll have our own vehicle (a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic, in great condition), shipped with us from Sète to Tanger Med. Returning from Nador.
Our profile: 75 and 62 years young, so old but happy to be, in very good health. Seasoned travelers—it’s practically our whole life. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, historic sites, fine craftsmanship, and road trips. This will be my 3rd trip to Morocco, but the first two were 20 and 17 years ago. I’ve never been north of the Essaouira-Marrakech line (though I’ve gone further south). As for my husband, a lifelong expat including in Muslim countries, it’s his first time in Morocco.
He’s the one driving. He’s very experienced, cautious, not necessarily fast, but used to driving in all conditions (and countries, including the most creative on the road). But I don’t want to tire him out, and he no longer drives at night (and we’ll be there in November).
I’ve decided to show him a bit of everything by taking a road trip along beautiful backroads, with daily distances averaging 180-200 km (except on highways, which will be rare), regularly broken up by rest days. I’m counting on a speed of 40-50 km/h, plus stops/visits along the way.
Since I’ve read so many posts, I’ve narrowed it down to some very specific questions.
1) Coming directly from Rabat via the highway, we’d prefer to skip Marrakech*. Still, we’ll need to sleep somewhere nearby. We’ll head toward Skoura the next day. Does anyone have a well-located address for this route, possibly east of Marrakech? Ideally, we’re looking for a small town, easy parking, clean accommodation (minimum) with average comfort (or better if available), a bit heated, and if possible, pretty and/or nice—but above all, a place to sleep well, wash with lukewarm (ideally hot) water, and have a decent dinner.
(*Explanation for the "no-go" in Marrakech: it’s a shame, because there are truly beautiful things in this city, but I think the vibe won’t suit us—it’s an understatement for "it’ll put us off" / "make us flee" / "traumatize us." Not because it’s too crowded and we want to stand out from tourists (we’re part of them), but because of forced henna on your hand, or spending 10 minutes every quarter-hour saying "no thank you" to a "guide" who’s as much a guide as I am a trapeze artist. Knowing us, it’ll wear us down. The country is vast and beautiful, and our time too short to waste our memories just days after arriving. And I don’t want to ruin things for my peaceful husband, or he’ll demand we turn back—and Sète in November isn’t exactly thrilling either.)
2) Which route to Skoura (in 2 days)? I see two options: either via the Tichka Pass, with a night in Telouet before reaching Skoura, or via the R307/N23 from Demnate, with a night near Megdaz before descending to Skoura. So: Tichka Pass or R307/N23? I have a slight (big) preference for the second option, even though I know the other route is very beautiful too. Of course, before deciding, we’ll check the weather and the current state of the R307/N23—does anyone know where to get info on the road conditions? But even assuming the road is "passable," is it a bit too tough in itself? In short, is it reasonable? If a kind soul could share their experience, a thousand thanks in advance.
That’s all I’ve written for now. I’ll save the other questions for later posts. Thanks again to those who had the patience to read this and to those who can respond. Happy Sunday to all!
I’m just a few days away from my trip to Marrakech—I’m leaving from November 13th to 20th and bringing my parents along! I’d love to plan my stay as best as I can, and I’m sure the forum crew can help. So, here are my questions:
- Where’s the best place to exchange money without getting ripped off? The owner of the riad where we’re staying told us to avoid doing it at the airport because it’s really expensive and to do it in the medina instead, near Jemaa el-Fna square.
- Which traditional hammams do you recommend that are reasonably priced? How much should we budget for one? That’ll help me plan my expenses.
- What are some nice restaurants in the medina?
- I’d also like to know roughly how much to expect for a tea, a meal, a taxi, a djellaba, and babouches. I don’t want to get overcharged and would like to know what to expect.
- What are the must-do activities and places to visit?
Hi, I’d like to head to Morocco next week with my car. I’ve looked online at all the different info about the ferry crossing to Tangier, but I’m finding it really expensive. Is there a way to buy tickets in Spain? Or another way to get the Algeciras–Tangier crossing cheaper? Thanks for any tips or info!
We found a guide who offers the trip from M'hamid to a camp (departure at 3 PM, tea, meal, camel ride, overnight stay, breakfast, and return to M'Hamid by 11 AM the next day via the sacred oasis). He quoted us a price of 380 € for April.
What do you think of this rate?
This might sound like a silly question, but is it common to negotiate the price for this kind of thing (we're booking from France)? It’s still a big part of our travel budget.
Hi there,
We're planning to visit Egypt between January 25 and February 15, 2027. I looked up the Ramadan dates and found some sites saying it starts on February 8, while others say February 18... Where's the mistake?
Thanks,
Christian
Hi there,
We’re a family of 4 with two boys aged 12 and 10 traveling to Egypt in February.
We’re spending 3 days in Cairo to take our time exploring the city and the sites before heading south.
-Is it necessary to have a guide to visit the GEM? Are audio guides available?
-Do you have any contacts for drivers to organize a few transfers (Giza, Saqqara, Airport)?
-Do you know a French-speaking guide who’s friendly, family-friendly, and good at making things exciting, with reasonable prices?
With our two teens, we’re heading to Morocco for two weeks at the end of December and beginning of January. It’ll be our first trip that’s more "off the beaten path," even though we’ve visited several countries before. Given the overwhelming amount of info, I’m feeling a bit swamped with the prep this trip requires, and I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to figuring out what’s realistic to visit in two weeks 😕 So, all your tips, personal experiences, and suggestions are more than welcome!
- Which places should we prioritize during this time of year? (I’ve read that some spots are less accessible in winter?)
- What’s the best way to get around? (rental car, train, private transport, buses, etc.? — just a heads-up, we’ll have a few suitcases!)
- In terms of "safety," are there any areas to avoid?
- Any recommendations for reliable local tour companies (beyond the big names like "Get Your Guide") that offer excursions or private transport to help us explore the country?
- A doable 2-week itinerary that lets us enjoy the country’s diversity without having to change accommodations every two days?
I’m planning a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco and have a few questions for you:
- Why do so many people recommend avoiding international agencies for car rentals? Can anyone explain why?
- Is Booking.com reliable, and has anyone rented a vehicle through their service? There’s a pretty big price difference compared to local Moroccan agencies.
- Is there a detailed road map included in the rental car?
- Is Google Maps enough to get around the High Atlas? This will be my first trip there.
Thanks so much to anyone who can help with this destination I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Have a great evening,
Roberto
hi there, I’m heading to Tunisia 🙂 from April 27 to May 8 with my family. I’ve read through the various discussions about the country, but I’m still a bit unsure🤪: for currency exchange, I saw on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that withdrawing currency with a bank card from ATMs is limited to 200 TND per week. There are four of us traveling by car, so that might be a bit tight! And it’s a hassle to carry a lot of cash, even if I’m not being paranoid! What do you all recommend?
Cheers,
Laurent.
We're planning a 2-week trip in late February/early March for a road trip in the High Atlas with a rental car, and we'd love to avoid booking our accommodations in advance. Is that doable, easily manageable, or risky (are accommodations available, expensive, or not great)? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
