peace corps volunteers return to tunisia tour 2012 march 25 – april 4

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    Peace Corps Volunteers

    Return to Tunisia Tour 2012March 25 April 4

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    This special PCV Return to Tunisia Tourwill provide former PeaceCorps volunteers and their partners/spouses a wonderful opportunity

    to see the Tunisia of 2012. In addition to visiting locations where

    PCVs served, participants will see a diversity of Tunisian landscapes,

    meet with Tunisians from various walks of life, learn about the

    changes since the January 2011 Revolution, share some home cooked

    meals, visit some economic development projects and share with

    follow PCV your experiences and provide insight as to the return ofthe Peace Corps to Tunisia could appreciate from your experiences.

    The U.S. Embassy in Tunis will be holding a reception honoring all

    PCVs.

    Welcoming an American delegation in Sidi Bou Zid

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    Leading this program will be Hatem Bourial, a Tunisian cultural icon.

    Hatem is the author of nine books, a weekly columnist in Tunis-

    Hebdo and a radio and television commentator. Hatem worked with

    the Peace Corps in Tunisia and remains in touch with some former

    PCVs.

    His insight into Tunisia, its culture and the world of Peace Corps in

    Tunisia will make this tour particularly enjoyable.

    Hatem Bourial

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    Tentative Itinerary Subject to Change

    Sunday, March 25 - Arrival in Tunis

    Participants will be met at the airport upon arrival and individually transferred to your hotel. Rendezvous at7PM for an opportunity to meet your fellow PCV colleagues. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. (D)

    View of the bay of Tunis from Baths of Antonine

    Monday, March 26 - Tunis environsVisits, touring and meetings in the Tunis area. Overnight in Tunis. (B, D)

    Entrance to Tunis medina

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    Tuesday, March 27 - northwest

    Morning programs in Tunis visiting a local NGO. Mid-day departure to northwest. Overnight in Ain Draham.(B, D)

    Northwest Tunisia scenery

    Wednesday, March 28 - northwest

    Bulla Regia/Dougga. Dinner and overnight in El Kef. (B, D)

    Underground architecture and mosaics in situ at Bulla Regia

    Thursday, March 29 - northwest/central

    Touring and meetings in Kef, with lunch in Medjez, visit to Zaghouan and on to Hammamet. Dinner andovernight in Hammamet. (B, L, D)

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    The Capitol at Dougga

    Friday, March 30 - Sahel

    Meetings and touring in Takrouna, Sousse, Monastir. Overnight in Monastir. (B, D)

    Home cooked cous-cous

    Saturday, March 31 - Sfax area

    Monastir, El Jem and Sfax, Overnight in Sfax. (B, D)

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    Sunday, April 1 - Sahel

    Sfax, Gabes, Gafsa and on to Tozeur. Overnight in Tozeur. (B, D)

    Sfax fish market

    Monday, April 2 - southwest

    Touring of the southwest Overnight in Tozeur. (B, D)

    Tozeurs distinctive architecture

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    Tuesday, April 3 - return flight to Tunis

    Morning flight to Tunis. Free day in Tunis. Farewell dinner and overnight in Tunis. (B, D)

    Wednesday, April 4 - departure from Tunisia

    transfers to the airport

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    HOTELS (subject to change) :

    Tunis: Golden Tulip 5*Located in the northern suburbs of Tunis, near the seacoast and less than ten minutes from Carthage, Sidi Bou

    Said and La Marsa, some 20 minutes from the heart of the city, the Golden Tulip is a deluxe hotel withbeautiful interiors, spacious rooms, several restaurants, very nice spa and fitness club and architecturally, very

    attractive. Not on the ocean, but near the ocean and many nice suburban dining areas, on a hill overlooking

    the sea, five minutes from the ocean. The hotel also has an excellent fitness center on site, as well as twooutdoor swimming pools. Service is nice, but not worthy of being classified as 5* service.

    http://www.goldentulip.com/PropertyInformation.aspx?PropCode=GT;29563&ShowLanguage=EN

    Ain Draham: Nour el Ain.Relatively small hotel for Tunisian standards, located in the mountains around Ain Draham. Simple and

    somewhat the feeling of a hunting lodge, which coincides with the mountain atmosphere. Recently renovated

    and under new ownership and management by the same company who owns Dar Ismail in Tabarka. Thus, anice addition of a 4* hotel in the northwest region, where such hotels are in short supply. Nice restaurant.

    http://www.darismailhotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?

    &user=717&curr=1&ilng=1&id=750&fromdate=10/02/2010&todate=13/02/2010&idsection=249

    Le Kef: Sicca Veneria

    In a town where all hotels are basic, the advantage of Sicca Veneria is that you are in the heart of the kasbah ofLe Kef, a town that is so often overlooked, but in a beautiful part of Tunisia. Not a hotel for memories, but clean

    and simple for one night.

    No website

    Hammamet: Hasdrubal Thalasso 5*A beautiful all-suite hotel, relatively new and well run, with four excellent restaurants

    and first-class spa facilities, all on an ocean setting.

    http://www.hasdrubal-thalassa.com/index.php?langFilter=en-GB

    Monastir: Royal Thalassa Monastir 5*Open only a few years, originally as a Radisson Blu, the Royal Thalassa Monastir is a deluxe spa resort hotel

    approximately three miles or an inexpensive taxi ride into the heart of Monastir. Spacious rooms and amenities

    of fitness, spa and dining venues on site.

    http://www.thalassa-hotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?user=1067&ilng=1&id=901&curr=2

    Sfax: Les Oliviers Palace 5*After so many years of having a void of quality hotels in Sfax, the end of 2005 brought the opening of this newhotel, owned and managed by the same firm that successfully operates Le Kasbah in Kairouan and Mehari

    Douz in Douz.www.goldenyasmin.com

    http://www.goldentulip.com/PropertyInformation.aspx?PropCode=GT;29563&ShowLanguage=ENhttp://www.darismailhotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?&user=717&curr=1&ilng=1&id=750&fromdate=10/02/2010&todate=13/02/2010&idsection=249http://www.darismailhotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?&user=717&curr=1&ilng=1&id=750&fromdate=10/02/2010&todate=13/02/2010&idsection=249http://www.hasdrubal-thalassa.com/index.php?langFilter=en-GBhttp://www.thalassa-hotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?user=1067&ilng=1&id=901&curr=2http://www.goldenyasmin.com/http://www.goldentulip.com/PropertyInformation.aspx?PropCode=GT;29563&ShowLanguage=ENhttp://www.darismailhotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?&user=717&curr=1&ilng=1&id=750&fromdate=10/02/2010&todate=13/02/2010&idsection=249http://www.darismailhotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?&user=717&curr=1&ilng=1&id=750&fromdate=10/02/2010&todate=13/02/2010&idsection=249http://www.hasdrubal-thalassa.com/index.php?langFilter=en-GBhttp://www.thalassa-hotels.com/cr.resa/ui/aba/Hotel_Detail.aspx?user=1067&ilng=1&id=901&curr=2http://www.goldenyasmin.com/
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    Tozeur: Eldorador Ksar Rouge 4*Owned by the same French company that owns the Sangho Hotel in Tatouine, the Ksar Rouge provides comfort

    in a well designed setting incorporating architectural styles indigenous to the oasis region. Very hospitable

    staff and setting.

    http://www.ksar-rouge.com/en/index.html

    Tunis: The Palace Golden Yasmin (hotel de charme)Opened only a few years, this beautifully designed boutique hotel is in the heart of Tunis, on Avenue Bouguiba,

    the main street in Tunis and just steps away from the medina, restaurants and the beat of the city. The entrance

    and reception floor is reminiscent of old world charm. Rooms are beautifully designed with very nice interiors.Wi-fi available in rooms.

    http://www.goldenyasmin.com/tunisia-palace/en/index.htm

    COST per person, for land package, is based on double occupancy in deluxe/first class hotels and other hotels,similar to those described in the itinerary, English Tunisian specialist.All touring, entrance fees on sites notedin itinerary, baggage handling and all meals as indicated by B, L and D, domestic flight and airport transfers forall arrivals.Cost per personof $2,500 isbased on a minimum of 15 participants. Should the number of participantsbe more than ten, but less than fifteen, there will a supplement of $150 per person.

    Single supplement is: $475.

    What is included.

    All hotels in double occupancy, with breakfast. Meals included as indicated by B, L, D

    Water is provided on the bus. Water is provided at group, sit-down lunches and dinners.

    What is not included

    Any purchases of a personal nature, hotel expenditures such as laundry, mini-bar, business center related

    expenses and spa expenses. All expenses in addition to included room and breakfast. Gratuities to guide and driver

    Alcoholic drinks not included during group meals.

    International Airfare is NOT included.

    Any individual excursions taken by participants who wish to deviate during a days itinerary. TunisUSAwill be happy to assist in any such arrangements, but any related costs will be at the participantsexpense.

    http://www.ksar-rouge.com/en/index.htmlhttp://www.goldenyasmin.com/tunisia-palace/en/index.htmhttp://www.ksar-rouge.com/en/index.htmlhttp://www.goldenyasmin.com/tunisia-palace/en/index.htm
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    FAQ:

    Who can be part of the Return to Tunisia tour?

    Any former Tunisia Peace Corps volunteers and their accompanying friends or family.

    What is the date we should arrive in Tunisia?

    Sunday, March 25th is the date you should arrive in Tunisia. You will be met at the airport by a driverwho will transfer you to the hotel in Gammarth.

    What if I wish to attend a reception or an activity sponsored by the US Embassy, but will not be

    traveling with the tour?

    Any activities sponsored by the US Embassy in Tunis will be open to all Peace Corps returnees,regardless of whether they are participants in the PCV Tour.

    What if I will be in Tunisia and want to join just some of the days or some of the excursions?

    In all fairness to the other participants, whose participation is what helps make this tour a reasonablypriced tour, we would not be able to include people on day trips. We will however, be inviting someTunisians and some PCV Tunis residents to join,

    What if I wish to arrive in Tunis in days prior to the tour or remain after, in order to explore on my

    own, or visit at greater length locations not allocated to the PCV tour?

    Individuals are certainly welcome to spend additional time in Tunisia pre-PCV or post-PCV tour.TunisUSA will be happy to assist in making any arrangements, or those individuals are very welcome tomake their own arrangements. As the PCV tour is being designed to take in what results as the majorityof interests expressed by the e-mail inquiries, we recognize that not all PCV locations where volunteersworked or lived can be included in the tour.

    Will there be an opportunity to engage with many Tunisians?

    This will truly be a highlight of the program. We are locating some Tunisians who worked with PCV orstudied English with PCV and whenever and wherever possible, will invite them to join up with thegroup. There will also be an opportunity to meet other Tunisian, from politicos, to NGOs and more. Animportant part of this trip is letting those who have not been to Tunisia in years and/or their

    accompanying spouses/partners to learn and appreciate both Tunisia and its people.

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    Return to Tunisia Tour

    March 25 thru April 4, 2012

    RESERVATION FORM

    Fill out andprint this form and scan/email or fax to:

    TunisUSA

    175 Strafford Avenue, Suite ONE # 500Wayne, PA 19087

    E-mail: [email protected]

    Fax: 484 754 0088

    I/We ______________________________________________ are pleased to join the tour.

    Please print your name(s)

    NOTE: The above dates represent the arrival day into Tunis

    Street Address:__________________________________________________

    City:_______________________________ State:_______ Zip:

    Telephone (day):____________________________

    Telephone (evening):_________________________

    E-mail:____________________________________ Please find my/our deposit of $350 per person, payable by check to: TunisUSA

    Please find my/our credit card deposit. AMEX Mastercard VisaCard number______________________________, Exp. _________ Sec code:________

    Name as it reads on card:________________________________

    Credit card billing zipcode____________

    http://www.tunisusa.com/reserveform.phpmailto:[email protected]://www.tunisusa.com/reserveform.phpmailto:[email protected]
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    GENERAL TERMS AND AGREEMENTSIn addition to these general terms, every tour package is subject to specific terms. By agreeing to these termsyou also agree to the terms of the tour for which you are making a reservation.

    Payment Schedule

    TunisUSA requires a $350 deposit upon your application for any tour. The balance is due six weeksprior to departure. Payment is by cash, check, or credit. Final balance will be due February 15, 2012.Balances may be paid by personal check or wire transfer. Balances paid by credit card will be subject to

    a 3% processing fee.

    Cancellations and Refunds

    If cancellation is made more than 60 days prior to departure, there will be a $350 per person cancellationcharge. If cancellation is made 30-60 days prior to departure, there will be a $650 per personcancellation charge plus any non-refundable prepaid expenses. For cancellations 7-30 days prior todeparture, there will be a there will be a $800 per person cancellation charge plus any non-refundableprepaid expenses. There are no refund for "no-shows" or for cancellations within 7 days of departure.

    Purchasing trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.No refund will be made for unused

    portions of the trip. All cancellations must be made in writing.

    Changes in Itinerary and Cost

    TunisUSA makes every effort to carry out the tour itinerary as described. However, TunisUSA reservesthe right to make modifications. The tour price is based upon a minimum of 15 tour participants. If it isnecessary to impose a surcharge due to participation of less than 15 participants you will be notified assoon as possible.

    Health Recommendations

    To participate fully in the tour activities, we recommend that you be in good physical and mental health.Any health conditions requiring special attention must be reported to TunisUSA at the time ofapplication.