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- Destinations
- Africa
- Tunisia
- The East Coast
- Skanes
Skanes
The holiday resort of Skanes, with its beautiful and seemingly
endless sandy beach, is a suburb of the Tunisian Mediterranean port
town of Monastir, particularly popular with British holidaymakers.
Monastir has happily given itself up totally as a tourist Mecca,
centred on a modern marina and a revamped Medina crammed with
souvenir shops and restaurants. Even its ancient Ribat (fort) has
been rebuilt and glamorised by being used as the setting for
several movies like Monty Python's
Life of Brian, as well as
Raiders of the Lost Arkand a TV series about Jesus of
Nazareth.
The modern gilt on Monastir may be a little false, but
underneath this historic city retains its ancient air of having
been Tunisia's holiest place, and an important strategic stronghold
that was even once used as a base by Julius Caesar. Just a few
miles from the centre of Monastir lies the extravagant stretch of
grand hotels that have been built along the coast in the area known
as Skanes. These magnificent architectural delights are set in
acres of lush gardens, most of them encompassing their own patch of
well-maintained sandy beach.
The Skanes hotels are well connected to Monastir and other
nearby resort towns, like Sousse, by a tourist road train and a
plethora of cheap taxis. Monastir also has the advantage of having
its own international airport. Parasols mushroom on the beaches in
between watersports equipment stands and local vendors parading
with a variety of wares, particularly pottery.
Information & Facts
Activities
There is no need to move off the hotel beach to have an
action-packed holiday in Skanes, with a wide variety of watersports
on offer from jet skiing to paragliding. Those needing a break from
the sun, however, will find plenty of interest in exploring the
8th-century Ribat, or fort, in Monastir, which houses an
interesting museum containing a collection of ancient Islamic
fabrics, pottery and other artefacts. Also worth a visit is the
mausoleum of Habib Bourgiba, the first president of Tunisia, with
its magnificent gilded dome. Most visitors enjoy a cruise in a
felucca (sailing ship) or a camel safari into the local
countryside. Golfers are in seventh heaven with a choice between
the renowned Palm Links and Flamingo 18-hole courses.
Language
The overwhelming majority of people in Tunisia 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.
Money
The unit of currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), divided into
1, 000 millimes. Travellers cheques are widely accepted. Banks and
some hotels provide foreign exchange. ATMs are found in most towns
and at all the tourist resorts; almost all will accept Visa cards
and many will also accept Maestro (Switch) 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.
Negatives
Vendors and shopkeepers often pester tourists to buy their
wares. There is little for children to do apart from enjoying the
sandy beaches.
Night Life
Holidaymakers will find that the nightlife in Skanes mainly
centres on live entertainment and dancing provided 'in house' by
the various hotels.
Restaurants
In Skanes itself most dining is confined to the hotel
restaurants geared towards holidaymakers, but those wanting a
change of eating venue are spoilt for choice in nearby Monastir,
particularly around the marina and its adjacent shopping centre.
Here, restaurants, cafes, pizza parlours and snack bars abound.
Most of these establishments are aimed at European tastes and
alcohol is served. Many even happily accept Euros in payment. Those
wanting to try genuine local fare can head for the back alleys
where spicy dishes are served up with unleavened bread but no
accompanying wine list, at rock bottom prices. Some recommended
'tourist' restaurants are Le Grill, Le Chandelier, King's and
Calypso.
Shopping
Like everywhere in Tunisia a great deal of fun can be had
haggling for bargains in the local medina. Monastir and Skanes are
also well supplied with modern shopping centres catering to tourist
needs.
Time
Local time in Tunisia is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday
in March to the last Sunday in October).