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We booked an all inclusive via tui a few months ago and have just found out by accident that we should be married, we're not.
The other half was looking for recent reviews on the hotel and came across this info on expedia.
It states that they only accept bookings from married couples and families. Now it doesn't explicitly state families to be married, however it does state further along that sexual relations between unmarried couples are punishable by law.
We've emailed tui and are waiting on a reply, but we wouldn't have known this otherwise and only found out by accident. We have different surnames, both children have mine, but there was no mention of any issue anywhere and tui happily took the booking.
Has anyone any experience of Tunisia as an unmarried couple? My partner is really upset about it and panicking now.
My wife and I, girlfriend at the time, did a week in Tunisia about five year's ago.
Nobody asked whether we were having sexual relations and this is the first time I've heard anything about a law. we never noticed anyone checking what we were up to and to my knowledge no video was ever recorded!
Having said that, my take with other countries, particularly such as Saudi, is their country, their rules.
Matt
They have spy cameras set up in all hotel bedrooms you know.
They're gonna be bored Dez, may as well be married😂
I went to Tunisia about 15 years ago. The only way I would return is at the head of a conquering army!
Is there any reason you can't just tell them you're married? No idea how I would go about proving it if asked when away from home.
Of course you may decide you're not comfortable going to such a repressive place.
Judging by my recent holiday and the poor and intrusive timing of our children, we'd be sound.
Tunisia safe now is it ? Cancel and go somewhere else that doesn't have medieval laws and unsafe beaches.
I went as an unmarried couple many years ago. That wasn't a problem, but I've been in no hurry to return.
Personally, I'd see finding that small print as a blessing in disguise. Tell them they didn't explain it at the time and happily took your money knowing you didn't meet the criteria. Get a full refund and go somewhere interesting instead.
Homosexuality is illegal in Morocco, too. So far as I remember, I didn’t get arrested when I was riding around the country last year.
You’ll be fine. Everywhere has some level of risk, I’d far rather take the risk in Tunisia than, say, Florida
have fun!
Rachel
True, everywhere has risks and you could well be fine.
But where would you rather be when you need the police, hospitals, security guards, rule of law and modern laws if the potential for risk turns real. Not North Africa for a start.
But where would you rather be when you need the police, hospitals, security guards, rule of law and modern laws if the potential for risk turns real. Not North Africa for a start.
Exactly this.
Homosexuality is illegal in Morocco, too. So far as I remember, I didn’t get arrested when I was riding around the country last year.
Did you go to any gay bars? Did you express your homosexuality or show open signs of affection toward someone of the same sex?
Any country with such backward and oppressive laws should be boycotted.
Is there any reason you can’t just tell them you’re married? No idea how I would go about proving it if asked when away from home.
The problem would be that if push came to shove, they've got you and it seems that countries with stupid laws like this like to make examples of foreigners.
Well morroco was amazing last year, North Africa it may be but no one inquired to our marital status. Plenty of police about & quite safe as long as you did nothing stupid.
Can't see how they'd find out about you & your wife getting jiggy either, check with holiday company, if that bothered, but just have fun a nice holiday.
& Just try not to read the daily mail or you'll be left quivering with fear everytime you leave the safety of good old blighty !
Mrs Zip kept her maiden name for years. She reluctantly changed it once her passport ran out.
You don't need the same surname to be married. If memory is correct, it isn't that common amongst muslims.
My wife and I were married when in Jordan but had different passport names and it never raised any questions.
I know its a different part of the world but my recent experience of travelling in the ME has been positive. Been to Saudi, Jordan, UAE and Oman in recent years and on a local, personal level, they are fine and pleasant places to be if you show a reasonable amount of respect to customs and etiquette. I'd go back to three of them, and will be required to go to the 4th.
FWIW Ramadan start mid May which could make things more interesting. I'm trying to get into and out of Saudi before it starts!
You don’t need the same surname to be married. If memory is correct, it isn’t that common amongst muslims.
This is the general principle on which things operate in the tourist-focused areas of 'conservative' muslim countries. No hotel in a tourist area is going to ask any questions. They are politely going to assume that you are married but kept different names. The fact you have children (presumably with you) makes this even more nailed-on.
In a resort area of Tunisia - where they are desperate to re-establish their touristy industry - no-one is going to do anything other than welcome you. Whether or not you want to be in Tunisia (as others are asking) is another question entirely.
The only situation where you would ever risk coming unstuck is if you got into trouble for something else, at which point there is a risk that someone starts looking for things to pin on you. If you're not going to do anything silly you don't have anything to worry about.
I would've thought that Tunisia was so desperate for the tourist dollar to return that a blind eye would be turned to any kind of sexual deviancy you had in mind.
I'm sure you'll be fine. I know people who have been to Dubai and Qatar as unmarried couples with no problems. You couldn't live there, but holidaying there will be fine I'm sure. If you're really worried just claim you're married...you don't have to have the same name after all.
I had a lot of pre-marital bouncy bouncy in Tunisia. Great place. Great bouncy bouncy.
Not been back since the Arab spring, though.
Edit as can't be bothered arguing 😉
Op enjoy your hols I will enjoy mine in Tunisia in Aug too, can't wait 🙂
Oh and try the Africa / Tunisia forum on TripAdvisor probably more people there with info
Legally the same is true in Dubai for example and much of the Muslim world.
Just say you are married if anyone asks which they wont. I went on many holidays to North Africa and Middle East with my partner before we where married and we were never asked.
We did Tunisia a few year back, before the Arab Shenanigans. Nice place. Friendly (!) "Hey remember me, I was your waiter last night, come meet my family....... BUY THIS CARPET" (and we didn't even go out for dinner the previous night. d'oh)
Don't shake hands unless you know aikido and can escape! They don't let go. I bought a shemagh and even while wearing it, people wanted to sell me one. Be careful with the colours / patterns!
We went to Tatooine, and some lush mountans on the border of Algeria. Was a VERY long coach ride (for a tall person). They are PROPER mountains and one of our coach load slipped and literally slid/fell down and ended up in ER. (The place, not the TV program). We also rode camels in the sahara. It actually rained.
If you can try the local dates (fruit kind....not THAT kind of "fruit")..... Deglet Nour.... Totes yum.
We weren't married and no-one said a thing. As we are both blonde and white the assumption is you're minted and would love to buy everything they have. But deffo nice to kick back, drink mint tea and chuff on a sheesha.
If you do go, El Djem is worth a visit:
Second largest colloseum in the world int it?
I met the ex before we were married in Tunisia a few times (in the 90's, I was working in Libya and she couldn't get a visa). We didn't have any problems due to that but I wouldn't recommend it as a holiday destination.
The relentless trying to sell to you gets tired very quickly... the hotels seemed to lack any idea of service (at least after they have been new for 2-3 yrs)
I'd also nowadays be wary going far on excursions (now I have a kid)...
Go for a weekend in Vegas, Hunter Thompson style before your holiday . Get married by an Elvis impersonator at 430 am. Problem solved.
As many others have said I don't think there'll be any problem
Yeah watch out for the, I recognise you from the hotel, let me show you around...
I thought it would get a bit dicey at one point.
The home office website prob has all the info about the marriage thing, but how could they tell? It’s not as if you haveto take a certificate before they let you in.
The home office website prob has all the info about the marriage thing, but how could they tell? It’s not as if you have to take a certificate before they let you in.
Much as I doubt the hotel cares it's a case of if you got in trouble for/because of something else.
e.g. You might hire a car or bike and get pulled over for no good reason except the policeman (or woman I seem to remember) wants a back hander... or you are exchanging currency illegally... (easy to be dragged into when they want paying in hard currency)
Everyone is trying to make a $ especially in hard currency.... (I once had a whole flight held for me and fast tracked through security for $100 and a pair of cheap sunglasses).... but more commonly some stall holder will try and sell you something then refuse to accept local currency... etc.
If something does go wrong/awry then your on a slightly dodgy ticket
That said, at the moment I'd be more wary about travelling independently or going on an organised tour when I have a kid with me to take into consideration.
Get your girl friend to cut her hair very short and introduce her as your boyfriend.
Tunisia, the only holiday where a local spat at me. I thought at the time it was because we left his shop without buying anything, but maybe he thought me and the lady I was with weren't married.. can't remember if we were.
It was a free holiday, so glad we didn't pay, cos it was pretty dire. The spitting was the most memorable thing tbh.
Almost forgot about this. Tui got in touch with the resort team and clarified with the hotel, apparently it's a local law and only aimed at Tunisian citizens and it's a predominantly British hotel with some Germans.
Happy days