INSTEAD of spending loads on heading to the French Riviera, Brits could venture to a dupe for a fraction of the cost.
The French Riviera is known for its glamour but often comes with eye-watering prices.
Though, heading to Hammamet on the ‘Tunisian Riviera’ is just 35 per cent of the cost of a holiday to the French Riviera.
And bookings have also increased by 50 per cent following Brits ditching holidays to Turkey and Egypt following the Iran crisis.
With First Choice, Brits could pay just £516 for a week’s all-inclusive holiday to Hammamet, whereas the same holiday in St Tropez would be likely to set you back almost three times that – £1,500.
Hammamet – which is also affectionately known as the Tunisian St Tropez – is often associated with artists and actors as well as a vibrant beach-club culture.
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Visitors can head to the Yasmine district, where they will find a palm-lined promenade, waterfront cafés and Tunisia’s largest marina with many superyachts.
Beach lovers can enjoy the long stretch of golden sand, with water sports and the Carthage Land theme park.
A spokesperson for First Choice said: “[The theme park] offers kids and adult-sized rollercoasters, large-scale water slides, museum-style educational exhibits and a 5D cinema.”
Tickets cost between £6 and £8 for the day.
Or for something more active, have a go at the quad bike tours, which take you on and around the hills surrounding Hammamet.
Local recommendations from the First Choice team also include heading to Bel Canto restaurant, which is Italian-Mediterranean.
Inside, the interiors are modern, and the restaurant serves a vast array of dishes including pizza and seafood, with prices ranging from around £5 to £15 per dish.
Another option is Yuman which serves a more European range of dishes and is open from breakfast to dinner.
The cafe also has great views of the beach and the city walls.
Breakfast ranges between £4 and £8, dinner ranges between £10 and £18 and cocktails don’t cost more than £9.
If you are looking for a bar, then head to the Beer Garden Brasserie in Yasmine.
The beach-view bar is open until 4am on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and there are always live music events and karaoke nights.
Compared to the French Riviera, Hammamet has more all-inclusive accommodation, with daily costs working out at around £73.
But on the French Riviera you will have to fork out cash for meals out.
For example, a mid-range dinner is likely to set you back up to £80 per person. Local beers cost between £4.50 and £7 and a glass of rosé can even be as much as £20.
And if you wanted to soak up the sunshine, even this will set you back as much as £130 in the peak season.
As a result, a daily spend is over £200 more for the French Riviera compared to Hammamet.
If you want to travel to Hammamet you could book seven-nights all-inclusive at the Sentido Marillia Resort & Spa with flights from Newcastle Airport on May 11 (hand luggage only) for £516 per person.
The resort sits right by the beach and features 10 bars and restaurants including a wood-fired pizzeria.
Inside the hotel, families will find 352 rooms, including family options, twin rooms, and suites.
The hotel even has its own nightclub, and a cocktail party once a week, although there is also a kids’ club too, which is open until midnight.
Outside, there are two pools, including one that is Olympic-sized, and there is also an additional kids’ pool.
Kevin Nelson, Managing Director for First Choice, said: “Brits are tired of saving destinations for ‘someday’.
“They want experiences that feel bucket-list-worthy but actually fit into their budgets and availability.
“Hammamet is a great example of a budget friendly luxury swap, all the French‑Riviera perks, without the French‑Riviera price tag.”
Flights to Hammamet cost from £83 return in April, with the flight taking just over three hours.
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Terramar Calella, Costa Brava, Spain
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For more inspiration on holiday dupes, here are five holiday destination dupes to swap for overcrowded tourist spots.
Plus, here’s where The Sun’s travel experts are holidaying this year and how we found the best deals from Ibiza dupes to UK parks.
