Advice sought - Trip to Turkey, Paris, Morocco, Tunis in December

[Simsy85]

Hi All,

It's that time of year again and my partner and I are planning our annual overseas trip.

This year, she's decided that she wants to go somewhere different, so tentatively we've said Turkey, Paris, Morocco, Tunis.

So tentatively, we are looking at the following:

DRW - SIN 17 DEC
SIN - IST 18 DEC
IST - CDG 24 DEC
Paris to Morocco via Train/Ferry some how, arrive 30 Dec
CMV - TUN (I think thats the airport code for Tunis) 5 JAN
TUN - IST 6 JAN
IST - SIN 6 JAN
SIN - DRW 8 JAN

So, can anyone give me some advice here? In particular any experiences people have had in Turkey, travelling from Spain - Morocco on ferry, and Tunis?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Simsy

 

[get me outta here]

What a great looking trip, I'm envious. Pack your long johns though for IST and CDG.

 

[Simsy85]

Got some cracking flights on TK: SIN - IST $1078 pp.

Anyone know about Dubrovnik or the surrounding area?

 

[Skyring]

Istanbul - and indeed all of Turkey - is a favorite destination for me. My current TRIP (Trip Report In Progress) is here. I spent three nights in Turkey, two of them on Gallipoli, and had a great time. Mind you, late December is probably not the most pleasant time of year.

Paris in the winter. Geez. Still, there's a lot of indoors places to look at.

 

[kpc]

This year, she's decided that she wants to go somewhere different, so tentatively we've said ...Morocco...

See my TR in signature below about some ideas re Morocco

 

[RooFlyer]

Happy to give more detailed advice via PMs re Morocco (visited 4 times) and Tunis (once), but in general:

Tunis. I think you only have a day? If possible, make it 2.
* Bardo Museum **without fail** Its been undergoing renovations the past couple of years, but even when I went there last year, only 1/2 open, it was jaw dropping. Roman mosaics, by the room, wall and floor-ful. Simply stunning.
* 'Carthage' of course (on the coast, part of greater Tunis). Quite a few sites (mostly Roman), but if you are short of time, the Roman Antoinine Baths and the Carthaginian ruins next to the National Museum would be my top picks. Arrange a driver and car; or even a good extended taxi. BUT have your maps ready and know where you want to go and where you are. Drivers not necessarily great with maps / directions themselves.
* If you end up staying longer, the Roman town of Dougga is about 110km WS of Tunis and is a wonderfully preserved Roman town on a hill, out in the country. Need a car and driver (most hotels will have an Avis or similar with drivers available).

Morocco
* Always allow double what you think you need to drive from downtown to, and then to get through, Casablanca airport ("Mohammad V"). Traffic always very bad and queues in the airport slow.
Casablanca to me isn't nearly so interesting as the rest of the country. Mostly a large commercial city. Traffic is very bad. Interesting to walk around the centre, Medina is a bit scruffy. You will be initially impressed, only to realise once you've seen elsewhere in the country that time would have been better spent outside Casablanca!
Head to Marrakesh! You can do it by train (get there early, go 1st Class! - or car with driver, or fly). Royal Air Moroc is OK.
Stay at one of the Riads - I use Maison Arabe. Wow.
Souks, Djemma El Fna Square - crazy, amazing. 'real' snake charmers and real snakes! etc etc. Lots to see in the rest of old Marrakesh as well.
Fez is good and ancient; I haven't spent much time there.

As I said, more detailed tips if you'd like to PM me anytime.