5 independent reviews for Algeria vacations, Desert and History
Reviews for Algeria vacations, Desert and History
Joanna Donkin review 3 Apr 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Memorable visits to Casbah which were built in a sustainable design being able to withstand some earthquake tremors, moderate extreme temperatures and protect their community. Modern buildings rely on high energy usage.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you drink tea take your own teabags. Local tea is strong, black and very sweet. Milk is very rare.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Good, I enjoyed seeing the different agricultural areas, the desert and the many historical sites.David Graham review 23 Oct 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Traveling south through the desert to Timimoun.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Some of the days traveling are quite long, 7-8 hours. The continuous Police escorts may seem intimidating. Why, what are they for? But they are all very friendly and help us wind our why through the traffic. Soon you forget they are there.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Foreign visitors are very rare so using the hotels and restaurants is a bonus to local establishments. We were always treated with respect and kindness.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
An interesting destination. We did at the start have to keep asking the guide for better and more information about times at sites and when should we be back at the bus etc but they did nearly come around to our way of thinking by the end of the trip.Clare Renton review 6 Apr 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Djemilla in the snow, tipaza desert, berber village welcome.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take a comfy pillow and a bath plug. A lot of time in a bus. Take your own bottle of vodka. Bjaia is a dump but the park is nice. Try and fly down to the far south desert Tminrasset and spend more time in the desert.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent some it if in retrospect moments of discomfort get forgotten lovely people few tourists.Philip Tepper review 16 Nov 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
In no particular order, 1. Visiting the amazing Roman sites 2. Seeing the marvellous Roman mosaics in the Djemila museum 3. Climbing the Grand Erg Occidental dune at Taghit2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
- Ensure you have a supply of toilet paper with you each day! - Be aware that the sightseeing proceeds at a fast pace, and that shopping opportunities, e.g. for souvenirs, are very limited. - Recognise that Algeria is a third world country and that hotel facilities are sometimes a little haphazard. Wifi can be patchy! - Credit cards are accepted in the restaurant of the Ibis Constantine , or at least were during our October 2017 trip. - Don't be shy of speaking to the locals if you get the chance; for them tourists are a novelty and we found them extremely welcoming. A polite "Assalam Aleikhum" or "Bonjour" is always well received. - Be prepared for long journeys on a minibus with limited legroom. - Be aware that you will be escorted by Algerian officials on all journeys. - Be aware that you will need to rely on your local guide to change money (e.g. euros into dinars) for you - it appeared that visitors lacking appropriate documents are not able to change money themselves in banks. - (Fairly obviously) most restaurants do not serve alcohol.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
- Spending money in shops and restaurants presumably helps local people. - Algeria needs to deal with its appalling litter problems.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Our tremendously knowledgeable guide Ahmed and main driver Kamal were wonderfully helpful and added greatly to the success of the tour. Some of the eating stops were not able to cater for everyone's dietary needs. Even a 'good' restaurant like l'Equinoxe in Tlemcen were pretty clueless where vegetarians / vegans were involved, not even being able to provide something like couscous with chickpeas which we asked for. Apart from this, and with some notable exceptions, the menus tended to be somewhat repetitive, a gourmet tour this is not! All in all, despite various snags, the vacation was a great experience.maria camilo review 4 Feb 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The Roman ruins of Algeria are always a highlight, even more when one is blessed with a very good Guide as we had. Algiers is very beautiful, as far as I know the only Art Nouveau town, beautiful, despite the decay and rainy weather.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Brace yourself for long drives (mainly from the desert onwards) and the nuisance of local security, which is not really intended to our security, as they often forget their own relay...3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Local people did benefit mainly when meals were organized at their homes; given the speed of "security" cars, environment did not benefit at all, and it seems that Algeria is not at all concerned: it has huge pollution clouds and plastic bags everywhere...4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
GoodRead the operator's response here:
Thank you for the feedback. Pollution in general and from plastic bags are a problem in the country and an issue we raise regularly with the tourist board. We will continue to press this point with them.
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