Experience Tunisia's holy land with a Skanes holiday

A Skanes holiday, apart from acting as something of a pilgrimage for many Monty Python fans (the hilarious Life of Brian was largely filmed here), will find you in one of the most peaceful and culturally diverse areas of eastern Tunisia.

By day, one can visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan or relax on the fabulous sandy beach that stretches all the way to central Monastir, whilst nighttime can bring a whole smorgasbord of activity. In terms of eating out, the collective restaurant population is nothing short of eclectic, although seafood appears to be something of a specialty throughout the town. Post-mealtime, there are several clubs where one can dance into the early hours whilst those looking for more low-key entertainment may well find in their hotel.

For those looking to explore some native Tunisian culture, or simply just to get away, a Skanes holiday will have everything you need.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), divided into 1,000 millimes.  Travellers cheques are widely accepted.  ATMs are found in most towns and at all the tourist resorts, almost all will accept Visa cards and many will also accept Maestro debit cards. Visa, Diners Club, American Express and MasterCard are accepted for payment in souvenir shops, upmarket hotels and restaurants, although Visa encounters the least problems.  All Tunisian currency must be exchanged before departure.

Time

Local time is 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.

Electricty

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz.  
Round European-style, two-pin plugs are used.

Skanes Climate

The Mediterranean climate makes a holiday in Skanes the perfect sunshine break no matter what time of year you visit.  The long, hot, summer months stretch from May until October, with temperatures never usually dipping below 25C, the hottest months from June to September see the temperatures hovering above the 30C mark.  Winters in Skanes are mild and warm with temperatures reaching as high as 25C.  Rainfall mainly occurs from November to February but the rain tends to be short-lived and infrequent.

Tipping

Tipping is not a requirement but appreciated for good service in local establishments. Most people performing a useful service will wait to be tipped. Waiters in resort and hotel restaurants expect a tip of around 10%.

Communications

The international dialling code for Tunisia is +216.  The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).