Tunis and ATMs

[Renato1]

Landed in Tunis the other day. While waiting for luggage to come out, I put my Citibank card into the STB bank ATM to make a withdrawal. I put in 400 dinars, the machine said transaction unavailable, and that it was keeping the card.

One worker there took pity on me, walked me through customs to the STB office, then back into the bag area, where two guys had opened the machine and retrieved two cards. They checked my passport, and gave me my card. They said something was wrong with the connection, but that other ATMs should be okay.

We got to the hotel (a pleasant bustling place with the Medina on one side and what looks like Champs Elysees on the other side), and an STB bank was across the square. So I tried the Citibank card, when I Pinned in and hit Withdrawal it went to a blank screen for a minute, then started a count down. At which point I hit the Annull button and got my card back.

Then I tried my Bankwest Qantas MasterCard - who I had notified that I was in Tunisia - and the same thing happened. As it was Friday afternoon, and the bank was closed for the weekend, I decided I wasn't going to risk losing my cards, and paid the penalty and converted Euros to Dinars at the hotel.

The Citibank card worked fine at the hotel where I paid for a delicious French meal.

Anyhow, the moral of this story is to beware of STB bank ATMs in Tunis.

Weather here is a nice 30 degrees, though it looks like a rainstorm is coming.
Regards,
Renato

 

[henleybeach]

Please let us know what Tunis is like , we are booked for 5 nights next year

 

[RooFlyer]

Please let us know what Tunis is like , we are booked for 5 nights next year

I have a trip report here somewhere. Plan at least half a day at the Bardo Museum.

Found it

Tunisia - Carthage, Romans and Vandals (and Doha to start)

(This may seem familiar to some; I started a similar thread some time ago but stopped after a few posts when there was a terrorist attack on Tunis - thought it was time to start again, as I don't think there is another TR on Tunisia.) A few years back I was doing some work in Morocco and...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Renato1]

Please let us know what Tunis is like , we are booked for 5 nights next year

Unfortunately I'm here chewing Tramadols with a bad back, so haven't seen much of Tunis. My wife, however, has had great fun haggling in the Medina and down the main Street, taking photos for me. No issues at all.

Hotel had a few English speakers, though one preferred me to speak Italian. My wife's smattering of French came in handy.

Delicious French bread in our hotel........but no ham to go with it.

Only odd thing we saw was a well dressed, healthy looking young guy begging for money from people having their coffees. And then touching and kissing babies - without anyone going wild at him. Though later my wife saw an ice cream seller yelling abuse as he tried kissing a baby at his stall.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I have a trip report here somewhere. Plan at least half a day at the Bardo Museum.

Found it

Tunisia - Carthage, Romans and Vandals (and Doha to start)

(This may seem familiar to some; I started a similar thread some time ago but stopped after a few posts when there was a terrorist attack on Tunis - thought it was time to start again, as I don't think there is another TR on Tunisia.) A few years back I was doing some work in Morocco and...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I really wish I could have. But an impossibility this trip with my back.
Regards,
Renato