Author: Hic T

It would be fair to say that you really have to tap into your creative side when you venture on vacation and look to keep on top of your beauty regime. It’s not possible to take your entire bathroom of products, and more often than not a suitcase just isn’t enough to house everything in.

Bearing this in mind, we have devised the following hacks. Before you jet away on your travels, take in the following advice to help perfect your beauty regime.

Take moisturizer for the long flights

They might get us from A to B, but airplanes are still far from perfect. From your skin’s perspective, they can be a nightmare and you’ll soon find that your skin completely dries out as you take to the air. As such, take moisturizer with you, and apply plenty of it as soon as you board your flight.

The same rules apply for body lotion

Following on from the above, the same rules apply for the rest of your body. It’s not just your face that is going to dry out, every other part of your body is as well. As such, invest in a mini body lotion bottle. For the typical week-long trip, you’ll probably have enough with a 3 oz. bottle.

Fortunately, these bottles are very easy to obtain free of charge. A lot of companies, with Bath & Body Works being one, regularly send out coupons allowing you to claim your free 3 oz. lotion.

Get your dose of travel-sized makeup

As any keen travelers will testify, one of the big problems is that makeup is so cumbersome to travel with. This is where a travel-sized kit comes into play. Whilst mini in name, and size to an extent, they will still probably last you for a year or so and be well worth the expense. It’s also a chance to experiment with a few new colors.

If spending money isn’t an issue for you, then you can just take only the essentials, and visit a local makeup artist if you are attending any events or having important meetings.

And while you’re at it… turn to travel-size dry shampoo

Another travel-size option comes in the form of dry shampoo. We don’t need to reiterate what the sun and saltwater does to your hair, it can wreak havoc with it at the best of times. If you can at least apply some dry shampoo before bed on an evening, you can wake up with it feeling as good as new.

Mini sunscreen works as well

While it might be tempting to simply purchase sunscreen when you arrive in your destination, try and resist such an urge. Instead, turn to a mini sunscreen face stick, which will make it oh-so easy for you to apply to your face. Additionally, if you opt for a Sun Bum product, you’ll find that it’s eco-friendly (which can’t be said for a lot of sunscreen products).

As does travel perfume

Something else that you should be packing as a miniature version is travel perfume. Fortunately, cost doesn’t have to be so much of a barrier here, courtesy of the samples at Sephora.

This is a store that will conveniently put any perfume of your choice into one of their little spray bottles, before labelling it.

If you are feeling particularly adventurous, consider one of their trial perfume kits. Whilst the perfumes in here are already selected, you do get seven to ten to choose from and also get a voucher for a free full size perfume as well. Ultimately, if you are traveling frequently, this can be another option to consider.

Still exercise caution with free samples

One theme which you might have noticed that was commonplace through this guide is the emphasis on free samples. As we all know, the beauty industry is expensive, and free samples can at least provide some rest bite.

However, exercise caution with these. Don’t be tempted to grab them all, as some just won’t be suitable. If you are going down the free sample route, at least make sure you’ve tried it before and you know that it’s compatible with your skin or hair.

Stick to full size bronzer

Most of the advice thus far has been about packing travel-size beauty products. Well, let’s go against this grain with bronzer; you can comfortably get away with using a full-size version. By simply dabbing it with circle cotton pads, you’ll find that you preserve it easily.

Give yourself the surf look (well, almost)

Whilst on your vacation, it could be argued that the “surf style” is something that is slightly more commonplace and fitting for you. This is where a mini surf spray should be on your shopping list. Whether you make it yourself, or turn to a Bumble & Bumble product, you’ll be thankful you took it along.

The beauty of blotting sheets

It might have its tanning benefits, but from an oil-generation perspective the sun can be your worst nightmare. It can make the oil pile up on your face, and this is where blotting sheets come into play. Make sure you arm yourself with plenty of these and whenever you do feel an excess of oil build up on your face, start dabbing (not wiping) it away.

Develop a cartoon smile with white strips

Even if it’s just for the purpose of those holiday snaps, nobody will begrudge you a cartoon-esque white smile. This is where white strips come into play. You don’t necessarily have to use them year-round, but if you can apply them just for the duration of your getaway it will make a noticeable difference.

Stay on top of your pores

Just because you are exposing your body to the sunlight, it doesn’t mean to say that your pore-problems are going to disappear. This is where you need to turn to a pore strip, to reduce the risk of those breakouts occurring on the top of your skin.

Bring your own nail polish

You never know if there will be an occasion where you will have to do your nails yourself in an emergency abroad, or if the manicure establishment of your choice charges extra for nail polish (this is quite common in Asia). As such, take a mini kit with you, and borrow an emery board from the hotel if required.

It can sometimes come down to your choice of pillowcase

This next suggestion might sound as though it is bordering on the ridiculous, but give us time. When you sleep on a standard pillowcase, your face has the habit of becoming scrunched up. The knock-on effect of this is that wrinkles are more likely to develop, and dry skin will form.

This is where a silk pillowcase steps in. It doesn’t absorb as much moisture, meaning that your skin doesn’t become anywhere near as dry. Furthermore, it can just be thrown onto a standard hotel pillowcase for the desired effect.

Finish things off with a face mask

By the end of your trip, your body (or your face specifically) needs some TLC. This comes in the form of a face mask.

This is one of those items where you might need to invest in, as it can be quite difficult to obtain the freebies that sometimes don other types of beauty items. However, to instill that elusive freshness into your face, it’s completely worthwhile.

Few would disagree that Tunisia is well and truly back on the map when it comes to tourism. Following a few turbulent years, it’s now becoming more prominent than ever in the travel brochures, with tourists desperate to lap up the glorious beaches, fantastic history and of course the hot temperatures.

However, this isn’t like your standard exotic getaway. Tunisia is a little different to the typical vacation, and through the course of today’s guide we will supply you with seven tips and tricks which can help your plight when you visit there. (You can find the French version of this article by following the link below / Vous pouvez trouver la version Française de cet article ici).

Tip #1 – Know your routes

A lot of tourists are targets for locals who are looking to “show them the way”. They will approach you, attempt to show you the “right” way to a place, before concluding the relationship by asking for a tip.

Suffice to say, you can avoid this if you plan accordingly. Then, if they do start to pester you and ask to show you the way, simply smile and carry on walking. As long as you show confidence that you know where you are going, they will leave you alone and attempt to entice someone who perhaps isn’t quite as sure.

Tip #2 – Be wary of the dress code

You might be coming from a country where nobody particularly bats an eyelid about what you are wearing, but let’s not forget that Tunisia is a Muslim country and you are a guest to it. Ultimately, you need to obey their dress codes.

Unfortunately, the rules become a little more stringent for women and the key message you need to keep in mind is to be as conservative as you possibly can. It would be fair to say that you probably won’t have quite as many problems when it comes to the larger cities, but if you start showing off a lot of flesh in smaller areas it might cause offence.

Tip #3 – Stay local

This is something that has changed a lot over the years. Once upon a time Tunisia was quite segregated, in the way that locals and tourists would tend to be located in completely different areas of the country.

Now, this has changed. There are absolutely no problems in venturing off the beaten track, within reason at least, meaning that the older areas of Sousse, Hammamet and Kairouan are all completely open to everyone. Try and find local restaurants and really become ingrained in Tunisian life; it’s a lot different to the “tourism” option.

Tip #4 – Beware of the pickpockets

Every country has them and unfortunately, Tunisia isn’t any different. The main rule to think of in relation to pickpockets is that they tend to stay in the crowded areas. It means that if you are heading to the souks, or anything else that attracts the crowds, just be aware of your surroundings and make sure you tuck everything away.

On the flip side, in the quieter regions of the country, crime tends to be very low and tourists don’t usually encounter any problems.

Tip #5 – You are expected to negotiate

It might not be commonplace in every region of the US, but when it comes to Tunisia you are well and truly expected to negotiate and barter in most stores that you come across. Chances are, the first price that you set eyes on isn’t the “real” one, and the store owner is going to expect you to make a lower offer.

Of course, if you happen to be in particularly premium stores, this might not be the case. In every other case, start with your lowest offer.

Tip #6 – Taxis are the preferred method of transport

Most tourists who have been to Tunisia in the past are more than happy to recommend the use of taxis. The fact that these tend to cost no more than 80 dinars an hour means that they are exceptionally cheap – and you can let the driver of the cab deal with the local driving etiquette which is most probably a little different to what you are used to. Sure, hiring a car can sometimes be tempting, but for the simplicity-factor alone a taxi is by far and away the best choice for you.

On a side note, if you are really against the use of taxis, it’s worth giving a quick mention to the train system. Particularly if you travel through the countryside of Tunisia, you will be greeted with picturesque desert scenes. This option is of course preferred if you are travelling between cities where a taxi probably isn’t practical.

Tip #7 – Don’t change any money in the hotel

It might seem like the most reputable establishment for changing money, and there’s no doubt that it is utterly convenient, but hotels charge a fortune for this service. It’s not been unheard of for some hotels to charge as much as 15% more than a bank – which certainly adds considerable expense onto your getaway.

As such, banks should always be your first port of call. If we were going to recommend a specific one, the Central Bank of Tunisia always tends to offer good rates and is of course reputable.

It would be fair to say that the Tunisian tourism industry has stuttered immensely over the last few years. Once upon a time, it was one of the tourist hotspots for Europeans. After all, this was a place that was just three hours away from the UK, yet offered everything from immense cultural experiences, right the way to the typical beach activities that so many Britons love on a sunshine holiday.

Suddenly, this was all to stop. It wasn’t because of a downturn in economy, or one of the “usual” reasons behind a decline in tourism popularity. Instead, this setback came in the form of terrorism. A terror attack on one of the country’s popular beaches resulted in the death of 38 people, and since then its tourism industry has struggled to recover.

Unsurprisingly, the UK Foreign Office strongly advised against travel there, and this meant that a nation which was once accepting hundreds of thousands of UK tourists every year was now limited to a paltry few thousand.

The 2015 terror attack

The terror attack that changed everything occurred in 2015. An ISIS gunman strolled onto a popular stretch of the beach in Sousse, which is surrounded by hotels which were commonly frequented tourists. Upon opening fire, 38 people died. 30 of these were from Britain.

The police were eventually able to stop the man, going by the name of Sifeddine Rezgui, but the damage was done. This was an attack that effectively killed the tourism industry, even though it wasn’t the only one over that period. For example, just several months before 22 people were slaughtered at the Bardo Museum in nearby Tunis.

The Tunisian response

As you might expect, a lot of questions were raised about the Tunisian security services.

These questions have led to aid from other nations. For example, Britain has helped the country to overhaul all of its security at leading airports including the likes of Djerba, Monastir and Tunis. This overhaul has included all of the latest security systems, including explosive detection.

It’s not just airports which have benefited from changes though. For example, the National Guard, which operates the country’s port security, has been helped by the Ministry of Defense to enhance this.

From a more general point of view, MI6 has now got a much better relationship with the Tunisian authorities and will pass on any information in relation to intelligence.

While Britain has provided great assistance to Tunisian recovery efforts, other countries have also played a part. One of the big problems of Tunisia is actually the close proximity of other countries, such as Libya. This is where America and Germany have come into play, with both of these nations helping build a 120km wall to run along the Libyan frontier. Not only this, drone patrols are just around the corner, in a bid to further enhance the security of this area.

The Americans have had an impact with other borders as well. If we turn to Ras Ajdir, the Americans have installed x-ray scanners which will profile 10% of vehicles that pass through the border. These scanners are regarded as some of the best in the business, and can immediately see straight into a vehicle.

As you can see, from an official point of view the security in the country has progressed significantly. However, it’s not just the police and airports which have been aided from an international perspective. Counter-terrorism detectives from the Metropolitan Police have trained hotel staff in the main tourist areas to look out for suspicious activities. Then, in relation to the beach where the terror attack occurred, this is now armed with more than 60 CCTV cameras and a police presence on standby.

Is 2018 the year where things start to get back to normal?

Following all of the work which has been outlined above, it probably won’t come as a surprise to see that Tunisia is on the verge of kick starting its tourism industry again. Of course, it’s not going to get to the heights of pre-2015, but the signs are there that small steps are at least being made.

For example, one of the biggest tourism operators in the UK, Thomas Cook, is set to launch direct flights to Tunisia from some of its major airports such as Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick. These flights haven’t just been launched, but they are actually fully-booked. In other words, tourists really want to visit Tunisia again.

If we turn our attention to another big player, TUI, they are set to launch flights in May this year.

Admittedly, the numbers are still low. If we turn to the example of Thomas Cook, they will still be transporting just a quarter of people who visited the country back in 2014.

Nevertheless, it’s baby steps, and for a country that has experienced the amount of turmoil that Tunisia has, it’s all steps that will hopefully result in a full recovery in the long-term.