Bonjour bonjour... De retour de Hongrie, je vous poste quelques informations et impressions glanées au cours de ma semaine. J'ai passé 4 jours à Budapest (une ville superbe, grandiose, majestueuse...) et 3 jours au bord du Lac Balaton, sur la rive nord (gros coup de coeur ! magique...).
Budapest tout d'abord : La ville est TRES grande... On peut vite partir pour des heures de marche à pied (mes pieds s'en souviennent encore d'ailleurs). A voir absolument, en dehors des monuments obligatoires (Eglise St Matthias, Château, Parlement, Pont des Chaînes, Marché couvert... ) : les bains (j'ai testé ceux de Szecheny, magnifiques et démodés), le zoo délicieusement Art Nouveau, la grande Synagogue, l'Ile Marguerite, un véritable havre de paix... Les restaurants ferment très tôt par rapport à la France (22h), donc attention à ne pas s'y présenter trop tard.
Le Lac Balaton : Eviter la rive sud (plate et encombrée d'hôtels) et préférer la rive nord, un peu plus sauvage Le lac est magique et immense, les prix y sont encore meilleur marché qu'à Budapest, par contre il est plus facile de s'y exprimer en allemand Compter 3h de train pour faire Budapest / Balaton environ (voyage très économique et "typique"), sachant que les trains partent de la Gare Deli.
J'ajouterai également les quelques super restos trouvés au hasard de nos pérégrinations... En espérant vous avoir alléchés pour ce très joli pays 😉
Bonjour,
J'amène mon amoureux à Budapest pour le réveillon du nouvel an et je suis à la recherche de bons plans, notamment pour un ptit resto sympathique et authentique.
As-tu des adresses à me donner?
Merci d'avance!
Ouh il faut que je rassemble mes souvenirs... C'est loin tout ça 🤪
Je regarde, j'ai en tête un resto très sympa, il faut que je regarde dans mon guide...
Bonsoir (quoique vu l'heure je devrai déjà peut-être dire bonjour)
Je viens de lire vos commentaires sur votre voyage en Hongrie et je vois que vous faites partie de ceux qui ont aimé ce pays et sa capitale.
Mon épouse et moi même avons longtemps hésité avant de choisir de partir du 28/12 prochain au 2/01/2008 à Budapest. Nous aimons à cette époque de l'année, trouver une ambiance de fêtes, d'hiver et après avoir fait plusieurs fois le Québec, New york, Saint-Petersbourg, Vienne et Salzbourg et l'année dernière Pékin (avec la grande muraille sous la neige !!), nous pensions à des destinations comme stockholm, Vilnius, Tallinn, Cracovie ou Budapest.
Pour ce qui est de Vilnius, Tallinn et Cracovie, les choix ont été simples, nous avions des billets primes flying blue, mais comme Air france ne dessert pas ces villes directement et doit passer par des compagnies nationales, il n'y avait plus de place.... Hélas, mais ce sera pour une autre fois.
Stockholm présentait un compromis acceptable, mais des connaissance qui y ont vécu quelques temps, nous ont dit qu'à cette époque, nous n'étions pas ceratin d'avoir de la neige (par contre nous pouvions avoir beaucoup de pluie et d'humidité.... ah ! le réchauffement planétaire !) et qu'en plus Stockholm se vidait durant les fêtes, un peu comme Amsterdam où il faut se lever de bonne heure pour trouver des endroits sympas où l'on peut manger.
Bref, ce sera Budapest, nous allons séjourner 5 nuits a Sofitel avec une belle vue sur le Danube et le célèbre pont. Notre fils y a pssé deux nuits en février, il a beaucoup aimé la ville.
Pour ce qui est du rest (activités culturelles, restaurants etc...), j'ai déjà commencé à regarder, et j'ai trouvé pas mal de choses. Je crois que si l'on aime la musique, on peut trouver plein de spectacles ou de concerts intéressants, et pour ce qui est des restaurants j'ai relevé déjà deux établissements qui semblent très bien notés dans le Michelin :il s'agit du restaurant "Alabardos" et du "Fausto".
Comme nous serons à Budapest pour le 31 décembre, je cherche à reserver une table dans un excellent restaurant pour y passer une agréable soirée (sans flonflon, ni ambiance cotillon) juste un moment agréable avec un bon repas.
Si vous avez (et j'ai l'impression que vous avez des informations) des idées sur ces sujets ou des suggestions, n'hésitez pas à me les faire parvenir, j'en serai le premier ravi.
Par aillerus, vous paraît-il possible d'aller voir le fameux lac Ballaton (même à cette époque) depuis Budapest ? Je peux me renseigner sur les différents moyns pour y accéder (dont le train dont vous parlez ans votre message) je dois pouvoir (j'iamgine) demander au concierge de l'hôtel de me donner ces renseignements, ils doivent probablement comme à chaque fois dans cette actégorie d'hôtel avoir des visites privées avec guide possible.
Ceci étant dit, nous voyageons beaucoup et nous avosn à plusieurs reprises fait l'expérience de réserver directement des excursions privées par nos hôtels, et à ma grande surprise (et ce de façon assez réccurente) les prix étaient loin d'être si chers et surtout nous avions un programme sur mesure, avec des arrêts où et quand nous le souhaitions avec guide anglophone ou francophone.
Merci d'avance, si vous prenez le temps de lire ce long message et d'y répondre.
Si je peux vous être utile par des conseils ou des avis sur des villes ou pays que vous souhaitez découvrir et que je connais, n'hésitez pas non plus, ce sera avec grand plaisir que je vous donnerai mes avis.
Bonjour, nous avons, a 6 amis, l'intention de passer le jour de l'an 08/09 à Budapest et sommes a la recherche d'un bon resto typique ou on peut faire un peu la fete.Pouvez vous nous conseiller?Merci d'avance.
Je crains malheureusement ne pas connaitre beaucoup de restaurants "typiques" où de plus on puisse faire la fête.... pour le 31/12
Nous avons pour notre part réveillonné au restaurant gastronomiqu de l'hôtel Four seasons juste en face du pont au chaines. Le restaurant ne prenait en principe pas de réservation pour les gens qui n'étaient pas clients de l'hôtel, mais comme nous voyageons beaucoup et régulièrement dans la chaine Four seasons ils ont accepté de faire une exception.
Le cadre est magnifique (c'est l'ancien palais Gresham), le repas était excellent, et ensuite il y a eu un spectacle et de la danse avec buffet.
Mais bien sur le prix était cher....
Il existe un bon resto sympa dans la vieille ville où nous avons failli réserver et où nous avons diné un autre soir, il s'agit du céfé Pierrot.
Budapest à cette époque vaut vraiment le coup surtout si vous avez, comme nous la chance d'avoir de la neige (nous avons eu deu xou trois jours de neige et c'était magnifique). Il y a plein de choses à voir, visitez l'opéra et la grande synagogue qui est une des plus belles de cette partie du monde avec une chose assez rare, un cimetière juste à côté, comme à prague.
Nous venons de terminer notre périple avec nos 2 enfants de 5 et 7 ans de Passau à Budapest. Super expérience familiale, si vous avez des questions pratiques,…
J'envisage de me rendre à Budapest au mois de Février et d'aller aux Bains Széchenyi. Quelqu'un a t-il un retour d'expériences des bains à cette saison? A…
Je voudrais savoir les horaires des boutiques physiques entre l'allemagne et l'autriche et entre l'autriche et la slovénie qui vends les vignettes PAPIER AUTOCOLLANT qui existe encore pour l'année 2026, non digitales, je pense qu'elle n'est pas ouverte 24h/24 et je trouve nulle part l'info
Merci
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Bonjour je recherche un guide local à Bourgas en Bulgarie qui parle français et qui peut nous proposer des excursions sympas? Pour 3 personnes du 8 au 14 juillet 2026
Bonjour, nous sommes un jeune couple et nous aimerions allez au blue eye syri i kalter entre aujourd’hui 26/06/26 et demain 27/06/26.
Dst ce que quelqu’un y vas et pourrait nous emmener ? On est super sympa !
Merci beaucoup !
Bonjour,
après avoir réserver un Airbnb en janvier dernier pour les vacances de cet été à Sarajevo... Mon "hôte" à annuler sans raison notre réservation, cela ne m'était jamais arrivé.
Forcément maintenant impossible de trouver une location à prix "normal" à Sarajevo avec parking ...
On se rabat sur la capitale de la République Serbe de Bosnie, Banja luka qui me trottait déjà dans un coin de la tête avant de réserver Sarajevo.
J'ai déjà pas mal d'idées en tête, sans avoir trop fouiner sur la région.
Mais si certains ce sont déjà rendus sur place et on des idées ? Même pour la restauration je suis preneur !
et même si ce n'est pas à côté, je pense passer une journée à Sarajevo !
We’re two forty-something friends spending two weeks in the Baltic countries. Between Lithuania and Estonia, we’d love to swing by Minsk.
From what I’ve read on this forum and other sites, I think I’ve got it right: from Vilnius, by bus, you need an up-to-date passport, travel insurance, and Belarusian rubles.
A couple more questions—what about euros if we’re carrying a few hundred?
And which sites are reliable for finding accommodation or a hotel for 3–4 days in Minsk? With the usual sites (Airbnb and Booking, for example) being blocked, the alternatives seem to be less familiar or pricier (like hotels.com). There are other sites, but it’s never easy to know how trustworthy they are.
What should we look for in Minsk if we’re used to Airbnb or Booking?
One last question—has anyone here tried crossing via Daugavpils?
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth.
In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well.
Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
A little trip report from an 11-day journey to Albania at the end of April 2026, with two friends in their early sixties and beyond...
Our route: Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Tirana
Here are some opinions, tips, and great deals to share:
Flight Round-trip Beauvais-Tirana: Ryanair, 260 € with checked baggage (20 kg) and seat selection. Flight was fine and on time. 2h 30min flight.
Exchange: 1 € was worth 95 lek in April 2026. We were advised to exchange in the airport hall at the Illiria counter (98 lek outside the security zone), saying we wouldn’t find a better rate. However, the exchange rate was 93 lek for 1 euro, while in the city it was 95...
Car rental at Tirana airport for 9 days via Booking.com: 144 € (56 € for the car rental and 88 € for optional full insurance deductible waiver).
Wheego agency: the car was fine, but be careful when signing the contract—they tried to convince us that the insurance taken through Booking didn’t cover everything and insisted we take their own insurance for 250 €... We refused.
After reading about driving in Tirana, instead of starting our trip by visiting the capital, we decided to head straight to Berat upon arrival and return the car at the end of the trip to explore the city on foot. This turned out to be a great choice!
Accommodations: All our stays were booked via Booking.com. Everyone prefers to be paid in euros and in cash—they mention this when booking.
Berat: 2-hour drive from the airport.
Accommodation: Vila Arben Elezi: 135 € for 3 nights with breakfast and private parking. The room was decent and clean but a bit dark, located slightly below ground level near the parking. However, the breakfast on the rooftop was excellent, especially with the stunning view of the "city of a thousand windows." Great location.
Berat was our favorite—there are lovely walks through the different neighborhoods on both sides of the river, each with a very different vibe. The citadel visit is also fascinating, as it’s like a small town within the fortress.
The walk along the river is pleasant, with plenty of restaurant choices. Other restaurants in the old town are also very nice. The White House Restaurant, on the first floor along the road, is good and offers a great view of the Gorica district.
Gjirokastër:
Accommodation: Te Ajdini Guest House: 120 € for 3 nights with breakfast. A private home stay. There’s free parking just before entering the city, a 5-minute walk from the accommodation, which is very convenient since the cobblestone streets are narrow and parking is tricky. Yes, it’s a climb to get to the place, but everything in this city is uphill... The room was bright and clean. Breakfast was very good, hearty, and served in the courtyard with a view of the castle. The guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the city center (the bazaar) but in a quiet area.
Restaurants: Rrapi and Kujtimi—good and affordable with their little pergolas.
The old town of Gjirokastër is charming but very touristy, with streets packed with souvenir shops and restaurant tables and chairs. Lots of people.
-The bunker visit (near the tourist office) is very interesting: Cold War Tunnel.
The castle offers a beautiful view of the city.
-Visit to the Ottoman house Skenduli: very well done. Don’t forget to climb the ladder facing a trapdoor in the ceiling to see the roof’s framework—it’s like a forest of beams: impressive!
-The bridge Ura e Ali Pasha: A steep 45-minute climb from the city to the site is worth it, but once you reach the viewpoint (which is stunning), you have to go back down a path to reach the bridge. You can drive to the viewpoint, but parking is very tricky.
Around Gjirokastër:
-Just outside the city: Lake Liqeni i Viroit: a nice, ordinary-looking lake, but at the end, there’s a natural spring making the water crystal clear and a brilliant blue—really spectacular, like photos of Blue Eye near Sarandë.
-Drive to Përmet along the gorges: beautiful viewpoints along the way and lovely countryside.
Himarë:
Accommodation: Vila Kosteli: 120 € for 2 nights with breakfast—slightly overpriced for this type of place but very close to a small beach and not far from the promenade with all the restaurants. Private parking, but very tight (4 cars on a tiny lot along the road). The "sea view" room is a bit obstructed by the building across the street. However, the rooftop breakfast view is beautiful. Friendly staff.
Himarë is a pleasant seaside resort, quite calm (but it was April...). There’s a cute promenade with restaurants along the beach. The castle on the heights of Himarë is worth a visit.
Around Himarë:
-Qeparo is worth a quick stop, but Qeparo village is really worth the detour: a village lost in the heights after a scenic drive up from the coastal road—narrow but well-maintained. Beautiful view from the top and a charming village.
-The Big Bunker and Llogora Panorama: take a right turn several kilometers after Dhermi—a road that climbs steeply from the start... A breathtaking winding road that reaches 900 meters in altitude. The view is stunning.
-Several small villages between Dhermi and Himarë are worth a quick stop.
-Porto Palermo Castle is somewhat disappointing.
Tirana:
Taxi from Tirana airport to the city center: 15 € with electric taxis (Green Taxi, Bee Taxi, Do Taxi).
Accommodation: Hotel Nevi Apartment: 63 € for 2 nights. A private apartment in an older building but very clean and well-equipped, with a kitchen and small enclosed balcony.
Great welcome and contact—the owner even booked a taxi for our departure. Very well located, close to the main square, shops, and restaurants. A small supermarket nearby is perfect for stocking up on breakfast supplies.
The city is lively and dynamic, with plenty of green spaces and promenades. Buildings are popping up everywhere, often with surprising architecture—like a building shaped like a face, a huge golden cube, and many others under construction.
-Sky Tower: at the top, a rotating bar offers a 360° view of the city and its buildings. Drinks are a bit pricier than usual, but it’s totally worth it (6 € for a beer or a glass of white wine, 3 € for coffee). We were there for sunset, and it was amazing! A must-do. Arrive early, as it fills up quickly.
-The House of Leaves: a house used for secret surveillance and interrogations during the dictatorship... A great way to learn about the surveillance systems of that era.
-Bunk’Art 2: a bunker in the heart of the city—very interesting, covering the dictatorship period and its system...
-The Pazari i Ri Bazaar: the new bazaar district. The large hall is worth a visit, but souvenir prices are often higher than elsewhere... The area is nice.
Restaurant: Kastrati Restaurant—a bit like a canteen with lots of traditional dishes. It’s on the first floor of a building. Excellent value for money, and the waitress explains the dishes in French.
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions!
Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Hi everyone,
We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Crete between mid-August and early September, renting a car, quickly exploring a few spots in the east, and focusing on the west, southwest, and south.
I’m worried about the heavy tourist crowds. Is it really more noticeable than elsewhere in Greece? Is there a way to avoid the crowds without missing out on the iconic places, which I imagine are stunning in Crete? Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!
Hi,
I'm heading to Greece via Albania soon. Does anyone have info on transportation from Gjirokastër to Ioannina?
Which company, fares, and schedules—it's not very clear with Google.
I’m just passing through Bratislava quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see the highlights of the city.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—feel free to let me know what you think!
Start at the castle and its beautiful viewpoint
Visit the Baroque gardens
St. Martin’s Cathedral, quick visit
National Theatre
Discover the Cumil statues
Primatial Palace via Hlavné Namestie
Michael’s Gate
Grassalkovich Palace via Obchodna
Walk across Namesti Slobody to head back to the upside-down pyramid
Head down to the Blue Church
Cross the Danube to see Sad Janka Krala, then return via the UFO Bridge
There you go—10 km and a packed day!
What do you think?
Hi there,
we’re heading to Crete from May 8th to 15th, staying at a hotel in Agia Pelagia, 20 km from Heraklion, on half-board, so we’ll be back every evening. What daily itinerary would you recommend? We love hiking and discovering local cultures...
Thanks in advance!!
Hello,
We’re heading to Prague with so much excitement from June 10th to 20th. I’ve got three main questions for those who live there or have visited:
- What are your thoughts on what to pack clothing-wise? What’s the weather usually like at this time of year? We’re a bit sensitive to the cold—we live way down in southern Andalusia and are used to the *calor* 😎... Should we pack rain gear? Are we likely to get a lot of rain (which we’re dreading a little, but we couldn’t choose other dates)?
- I’ve seen there are "passes" for various attractions, museums, and sites, including one that’s valid for 10 days but costs a whopping 160 € per person—that’s an average of 16 € per day. Do you think it’s really worth it? We won’t be spending our days rushing between every indoor site; we also love wandering the streets and discovering things a bit "at random." If we do two paid visits a day, that’ll probably be the max... Can we make it worth the cost with that? Of course, we want to visit the castle and take a boat trip as a minimum. Are the sites included in these passes iconic, or are they more "minor" attractions? Does having the pass help us skip long lines?
- Finally, a question about communication: I speak French, obviously, plus Spanish and English fluently, but very little German (haven’t practiced in ages), and no Russian or Czech at all. My husband knows a few words of Russian, but it’s "Cuban" Russian—about the same level as my current German 🙂 !! Can we still get by without too much trouble? We don’t want to spend 10 days not saying a word to anyone and communicating only with gestures!!
Thanks for your valuable tips and opinions.
Hi there!
We’re heading to Crete (Heraklion) as a couple and I’d like to rent a car.
1) Do we need an international driver’s permit?
2) Are rentals super expensive?
Thanks everyone!
I’d like to know how much a meal costs on average in zloty in Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Częstochowa, Wadowice), and also the price of souvenirs like postcards and magnets—so I don’t end up with too many zlotys left after my 5-day trip to Poland?
I’m just passing through the city very quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see as many must-see spots as possible.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—let me know what you think!
Visit to Varosliget Park
Heroes’ Square
Quick stop in the southern part of Margitsziget (for the photo with the Budapest sign!!!)
Gül Baba Mausoleum and Rose Garden
Fisherman’s Bastion
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady of Budavár
Tóth Árpád stny promenade
Budavar Palace
Freedom Square
Parliament
This is just a first draft.
I still have a few months to tweak it.
hello
I’m looking for advice for a last-minute trip—about 3 weeks (half Montenegro, half Croatia).
I’m traveling solo, backpacker style (low budget, hostels). I’m 40 and love exploring cool spots—cities, beaches, mountains, sports activities, you name it.
I’m torn between renting a car or just going with the flow using buses once I’m there. A car would definitely be more convenient, but it might be pricier—plus, parking (is it paid?) and having to return it to the same place. My plan is to start in Montenegro (flying into Podgorica or Albania) and finish in Croatia, so I’d either need to do short-term rentals per country or one-way.
In Montenegro, here are the spots I’ve noted:
- Ulcinj and Velika Plaža beach
- A side trip to Lake Skadar and Virpazar
- Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Petrovac
- Cetinje and Lovćen National Park
- Kotor / Perast
- Žabljak and Durmitor National Park + rafting in the Tara Canyon
Is 8–10 days enough?
And in Croatia, I’ve got:
- Dubrovnik
- Korčula
- Hvar
- Split + Trogir and Krka National Park
- Zadar
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Croatian Istria / Rovinj / Pula
- Zagreb
Around 10–12 days.
Any tips on the stops (adding or cutting some from my list) or transportation options?
I’m heading to Pelion with my partner and then to Chalkidiki around mid-September (from September 12th to 26th). I arrive in Thessaloniki on Saturday evening and plan to spend a day there to check out the market (though it’s marked as temporarily closed on Google??) and, most importantly, enjoy the local food scene.
After that, I’ll head toward Meteora (Sunday evening/Monday), spend a week in Pelion, and then head up to Nikiti to finish the trip (5 days in Vourvourou) and explore the beaches of Sithonia. We’ll also make a trip to Afytos since I think it’s worth the detour.
About Pelion, I’m really not sure where to stay because the distances between Volos and Afissos aren’t straightforward.
I’m looking for a quiet spot but with a little evening activity—like strolling through a village or by the sea. I’ve seen a few suggestions via ChatGPT, but I’m not convinced about the vibe (Milies, Makrinitsa).
Volos is big… but kind of ugly.
We love hiking, spending time in picturesque/typical villages, and, like everyone else, tasting local specialties. As for balancing the trip, I’m open to changes or adjustments if you’ve got any tips—I’d love to hear them, along with any other ideas.
Hi! We’d like to go away for 10 days around May 15th, either to Menorca or Crete—we don’t know either place. We love hiking, unspoiled nature, good food, swimming, and, if possible, avoiding crowds. We enjoy getting off the beaten track. Menorca seems ideal because it’s not far by plane from Lyon, but if Crete is really wilder and more beautiful in terms of landscapes, we can add an extra hour of flight time. Can you help us out? Thanks!
I'm on my way to Slovakia, where I'll be spending about ten days on vacation in the High Tatras. I've decided to stop in Prague for 24 hours with my two teens (arriving around noon, leaving the next day). We don’t know the city at all.
I know a single day is way too short to discover everything, so I’d like to plan a small circuit to see the must-see spots.
Here’s what I’ve planned:
Walk through Nový Svět street
Visit the castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Golden Lane
Quick stop at Vojanovy Sady gardens
Malá Strana Square
Maltese Square
Kampa Island
Then the iconic Charles Bridge and a short tour of the Jewish Quarter
We’ll head back down to visit Old Town Square (Malé Náměstí, St. Nicholas Church, and the Church of Our Lady before Týn)
Head to Wenceslas Square and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows
Then to the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Dancing House
And finally, back to the starting point.
Estimated distance: 10 km
I was thinking of a little evening stroll up Petřín Hill... what do you think?
Are there things that aren’t really worth it, or other spots that are must-sees?
It’s decided—next summer, it’s Cyprus! A region we don’t know yet, with nature, culture, beach time, and diving the Zenobia 😎
We’re thinking of a 2-week trip.
After flipping through the LP guide, I’m still unsure about the best bases—I can’t quite picture the distances...
Option 1: Stay near Larnaca for 1 week and Paphos for the other.
But from Larnaca, Cape Greco is doable. Wouldn’t it be better to stay near Cape Greco (Protaras?) instead? What about getting to Lefkara?
Same from Paphos—easy to explore as far as Kourion.
Option 2: A single, more central base somewhere between Limassol and Larnaca.
I’d like to book tickets for a visit to the Acropolis at the end of April. The official site is down. What do you think of agencies like Get Your Guide? Are they reliable? It’s a lot more expensive. The audio guide option is tempting, but is that reliable too? We’re a bit older and like to take our time...
Do the other museums (National Archaeological Museum and Museum of Cycladic Art) also require reservations? We visited Athens 50 years ago, and it seems like things have changed a lot.
I just booked a flight and hotel (Mövenpick in Durrës) for my husband and me for late May.
We’re thinking of spending (I haven’t really decided yet) one day in Tirana, one day around Berat, and one day around Gjirokastër and the Albanian Riviera.
We were planning to hire a private driver for the day. I asked the hotel if they could find one for me... they brushed me off! Yet I usually do this for all my trips.
Would you have a name, a company, or someone I could contact?
Otherwise, is it "dangerous"—road conditions and Albanian driving—to rent a car?
We’ve only been to Crete in Greece before, so this trip is new to us—but planning the itinerary isn’t easy because we have to make choices. We’d love to hear from those in the know about the following plan:
Day 1: flight to Athens, then flight to Milos
3 days in Milos,
4 days in Sifnos,
3 days in Paros,
Final 3 days in Athens.
Should we book ferry tickets between the islands in March in advance, or can we wait until the last minute?
Same question for accommodations on these different islands.
Finally, on the 3 islands we’ve chosen, is renting a car essential, or are the buses enough?
Thanks for your help!
