Tunisia Holiday Guide

More and more regional airports in Britain are offering charter flights to Tunisia these days, making it easier and generally less expensive to get to. Tunisair has flights from Heathrow; flights from the UK usually take around three hours.

Once you're there, there isn't a great train service, but taxis are a good way of getting around - there are lots of them and they're pretty good value. If you're thinking about hiring a car during your stay, it might be worth considering going for a four-wheel drive, just in case the lure of heading south to the vast expanses of the Sahara proves too much.

If you're after a relaxing break away in the sun, you could do a lot worse than give Tunisia a try - there are 700 miles of beaches along its Mediterranean coastline.

The country is also home to a proliferation of purpose-built resorts, such as those at sophisticated Port El Kantaoui and Hammamet to affordable Sousse and Skanes.

If you've had enough sunbathing or swimming for the day, there are plenty of sights to see in Tunisia, many of great historical or cultural significance. The capital, Tunis, is home to the remains of the ancient city of Carthage, not to mention a host of mosques and souks or local markets.
The Roman ruins at Dougga and El Djem, particularly the Colosseum at the latter, provide a fascinating insight into what life was once like in the area. And the country should excite film buffs: classics such as The Life of Brian, Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed in the area.

Aside from the beaches and Roman ruins, there is plenty worth setting a day aside for in Tunisia. The port of Bizerte, Tunisia's oldest city is worth a visit, especially its Old Town, which is littered with cafes and shops. Fans of Star Wars, meanwhile, will be interested in a trip to Matmata, where the opening scenes of the film were shot.
While the Sahara may not seem like an obvious tourist attraction, the vast swathes of sand - the desert covers an area almost as large as the USA - are quite breathtaking in person, a real sight to behold. And once you're there, you can actually be quite adventurous, if you're in the mood: activities on offer include quad-biking, sand-surfing and camel trekking.

Tunisia's resorts have a wide range of restaurants on offer, including French and Italian, but the local cuisine is well worth sampling. Among the many delights on offer are chorba, a spicy soup; kammounia, a meat stew; and salade tunisienne, which includes onion, tomato, tuna and egg.
Wash it all down with some Celtia beer or boukha, a local hot fig brandy.

If you've had a long day and don't feel like exerting yourself, you can go for a leisurely walk or just sit down at one of the many pavement cafes and have a refreshing drink or two.
If, however, you feel like letting your hair down, it's best to get to one of the resort towns, such as Sousse. Apart from the bars and clubs on offer, you may find some traditional Berber dancing on show.

Holiday makers in Tunisia will have no problems  getting presents for those back home - the souks are full of great items, often at favourable prices. If you shop around you can find some wonderful locally-made ceramics, baskets and lanterns, plus some attractive jewellery and charming Hand of Fatima pendants.
Keep your eye out also for rugs, scented oils and local leather products.

There are plenty of activities in Tunisia to keep the family happily occupied, especially around the resort areas, where parents can sunbathe, have a drink or play some golf while the kids enjoy the various water sports on offer.
The Bardo Museum in Tunis has some great mosaics on show, while the weird and wonderful bargains to be had at the many colourful markets will keep the kids fascinated.
And when the family are tired out from the day's exertions, try one of the many spas that specialise in thalassotherapy, a relaxing treatment that uses hot sea water and is very popular in Tunisia.