'Beautiful seaside town looks exactly like Mykonos but drinks are just 50p'
Ashley Bautista stepped foot in a North African seaside town for the first time and was completely blown away by the cheap luxury at her disposal
After months of counting down, the awaited trip that finally left the group chat arrived - and it’s one of my favourite holidays so far.
Just 20 minutes away from the capital of Tunisia is La Marsa, a small seaside town situated along the Mediterranean Sea. Even though it’s relatively close to Tunis, it has a completely different vibe which I absolutely loved. The streets and the colour of the houses reminded me of Mykonos, and it was far less crowded.
Mykonos has earned itself a reputation of offering rustic luxury to holidaymakers, and it's even a firm favourite among celebrities. But that's nearly always reflected in its steep price tag, with sunset viewing restaurants all demanding a premium.
Soaring in popularity in recent years, Santorini and Mykonos grapples with an influx of tourists every summer, but my friends and I wanted to get away from the typical holiday retreat.
We wanted to do away with an all-inclusive resort and be able to walk down the street with ease. So we opted for a more local experience, and, let me tell you, it was so worth it.
As soon as we touched down at the airport, we were greeted by the warm winds and a couple of stares from the locals. Our AirBnB was 100 metres away from the beach, which was ideal for us to just get up and head over to get some sun.
La Marsa is known for its lively atmosphere, beaches, and upscale residential areas. The houses and many buildings are painted in white and blue, and the streets are covered in pebbles, giving off a Mykonos vibe.
The one huge difference I found between the two were prices. Our AirBnB cost £396 for five days, whereas this premium would be required for just a night at a modern apartment in Mykonos.
During our five-day stay, we visited the Ruins of Ancient Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Central Market. We also came across a souvenir shop, where the owner spoke five different languages.
The people in La Marsa were not only the kindest and most genuine people, but they were also happy to see tourists visiting. We were recommended a lot of local restaurants and bars, as well as different areas to visit. No one was keen to gate-keep beauty spots across the town, and were almost willing to show it all off.
And it wasn't just the cost of the overall trip that was cheap, a full-course meal for five people cost us approximately £10 each, if not less, with soft drinks being as cheap as 50p. Overall, I spent around £100 in food, drinks and transport for a five-day trip which I find astonishing.
Doing a holiday in pure self catering meant we had a mixture of everything, from Tunisian tacos to fresh seafood and fresh-warm bread with Harissa sauce.
And, to get around the town and other areas, you could either walk or take public transport, which is super affordable. Alternatively, there are a bunch of yellow taxis that will take you anywhere you want and even blast some music during the ride. A 30-minute trip only was £5.
If you’re looking to spend a couple of days away from home without spending thousands of pounds, Tunisia is the place for you. It’s cheap, beautiful and the kind of place you’ll definitely want to return to. I know I will.