Tunisia

Tunisia is two climates: a temperate Mediterranean coast and a Saharan south that passes 45°C in summer. The coast (Hammamet, Sousse, Djerba) runs May–June and September–October — warm sea without July–August's blaze or its crowds. The desert south (Tozeur, Douz, Matmata) is really only a November-to-March trip, and even then nights are bitterly cold despite warm days, so pack extra layers for a desert overnight. Spring, particularly March–April, is the finest stretch for combining both, with a brief greening of the plains before summer burns it off.

Authentic Ramadan: medina cafés after taraweeh and Tunisian sweets at their peak.

Haggle freely in the medinas. French helps but Arabic fully suffices; resort quality varies — read reviews closely.

The dinar can't be exported — exchange only what you need. Cards at hotels, cash rules the souq. Bolt in Tunis.

Global services work. Bolt in Tunis; yellow metered taxis are cheap — insist on the meter.

Traffic keeps to the right side of the road, as in the Gulf (steering wheel on the left); Saudi licenses work for short stays. A car unlocks the coast and south; main roads are decent.

Rounding up or a dinar or two at restaurants is customary.

Ooredoo and Orange Tunisia — cheap SIMs (~TND 10) from any shop.

A rental car unlocks the coast and south; city taxis are cheap (insist on the meter).

• Sidi Bou Said
• Carthage ruins
• Tunis medina and Zaytuna Mosque
• Djerba island
• Tozeur oases and the Sahara