Forget Spain and Greece – Tunisia is emerging as the next big budget family holiday hotspot, according to a mother who visited with her five-year-old daughter. Rafaela Kuznec spent a week at the 4T+ Holiday Village AQI Skanes Resort and was blown away by what the resort and country had to offer.
Why Tunisia surprised a sceptical traveller
Kuznec admitted Tunisia was not high on her travel wish list. Like many, she automatically thought of Spain, Greece, or Turkey for a quick sunshine break. However, after spending a week there with her daughter, she came home wondering if Tunisia might be one of the most underrated family destinations she has visited.
One of Tunisia's biggest selling points is its location. Just a few hours from the UK, with several airlines now flying directly, it offers warm weather, palm trees, beachfront hotels, and turquoise waters. Despite a relatively short flight, parts of the destination felt much further from home than many European resorts.
Arrival and first impressions
After a 3am wake-up call and a flight where her daughter felt unwell, Kuznec arrived in Tunisia feeling less like she was on a glamorous press trip and more like someone in desperate need of a holiday. Things improved the moment they arrived at TUI's new Holiday Village in Skanes. Friendly staff welcomed them with a refreshing homemade lemonade-style drink during check-in – a small touch that was exactly what she needed after an early start and tiring journey.
Their suite was spacious, bright, and modern. The real excitement came from her daughter discovering she had her own bedroom. For a five-year-old, this was apparently the greatest luxury known to mankind. Before Kuznec had even unpacked, her daughter had claimed it as her own.
Food quality exceeded expectations
Kuznec was genuinely surprised by the food quality. She admitted she was not expecting much from an all-inclusive resort, but the quality was far better than anticipated. They tried several restaurants during their stay, including the buffet, Italian restaurant, snack bar, and a traditional Tunisian restaurant, which became her favourite. The salmon and risotto there were genuinely excellent. There was also a gelateria on site, which quickly became one of her favourite spots. Surprisingly, her daughter was far less interested in unlimited ice cream than in the swimming pools.
Pool obsession and water slides
Before arriving, Kuznec imagined her daughter would spend days doing organised activities, crafts, and kids' club sessions. Instead, she developed a single-minded obsession with the pool. If it had been entirely up to her, they would have spent the entire week there while she transformed herself into a mermaid and Kuznec slowly turned into a raisin on a sunbed. The water slides were an immediate 10 out of 10 in her eyes. On one particular afternoon, she went down the same slide so many times that Kuznec lost count. The only thing Kuznec achieved during that period was accidentally getting sunburnt while watching from a nearby sunbed.
Kids' club and parent downtime
The resort offers a huge number of organised activities for children. While her daughter enjoyed some of them, the pool remained the undisputed winner. The kids' club was another pleasant surprise. Kuznec checked on her after around half an hour, expecting her to be ready to leave. Instead, she barely noticed Kuznec was there. Between drawing, games, and activities, she was so entertained that she happily stayed for the full three-hour session. As a parent travelling alone with a child, that was worth its weight in gold. Kuznec particularly appreciated knowing the kids' club follows UK standards, which gave her peace of mind that her daughter was safe while she enjoyed some rare downtime.
Kuznec decided to make the most of it and booked an Ayurvedic massage at the spa. The treatment involved rather more oil than expected, including a generous amount in her hair, but it was incredibly relaxing. Her daughter also had her first professional massage and absolutely loved it.
Beach and boat excursion
For Kuznec, one of the best parts of the resort was the beach. There was something incredibly calming about sitting by the sea, listening to the waves, and watching flamingos fly overhead. Unfortunately, her daughter's response to this natural beauty was usually, 'Can we go back to the pool now?' One of their favourite experiences was taking a boat excursion along the coast. They were lucky enough to spot dolphins, which completely made her daughter's day.
Reluctance to leave
By the end of the holiday, Kuznec realised something surprising. Her daughter normally starts missing her dad quite quickly when they travel without him. This time, however, she was actively trying to negotiate staying in Tunisia for longer. When departure day arrived, she did not want to leave. Kuznec could not blame her.
No holiday is perfect. The early flight was tough, some areas still had the feel of a newly opened resort, and the pools could get busy at peak times. But overall, Tunisia genuinely surprised Kuznec. It offered sunshine, great food, family-friendly facilities, and the sort of relaxed atmosphere that many parents dream about when booking a holiday.
Booking details
TUI offers a seven-night holiday to Skanes, Tunisia, staying at the 4T+ Holiday Village AQI Skanes Resort on an all-inclusive basis from £830 per person. Price is based on two adults and two children sharing a 1 Bedroom Family Room with Balcony or Terrace. Includes TUI Airways flights departing from Newcastle on 5 July 2026 with 25kg hold luggage per person and transfers included. The package includes one free child's place. TUI also flies directly to Tunisia from Birmingham, Stansted, Manchester, and Gatwick.
