bonjour!
de retour d'un récent voyage au maroc, nous avons ramené une "cargaison" de choses en cuir type babouches, pouf, sac à main....bref!
le hic est que le cuir a une odeur très tenace, très forte et nous n'arrivons pas à nous en débarrasser!
perso ça ne me dérange pas que mes babouches sentent, ça fait "nature"😄 mais le souci principal est que nous avons offert à ma belle mère un magnifique sac à main qu'elle ne peut malheureusement pas porter car l'odeur est très très très forte! elle n'ose rien mettre dessus de peur de tacher le cuir (type fébreez) mais elle est déçue de ne pouvoir utiliser ce présent!
elle a essayé de l'aérer dehors, rien n'y fait!
je demande donc à toutes les bonnes âmes et à toutes les personnes qui ont eu ce désagrément de partager LE tuyau en or afin de remédier à cela, dans la mesure où il existe ce tuyau !🤪 on désespère!!!!!!😕
j'ai ramené, de Fés, des souvenirs en cuir et ils avaient le même inconvénient. je les ai disposés dans un carton sur le rebord de la fenêtre, au soleil, pendant plusieurs jours et l'odeur a totalement disparu
Pareil! J'avais acheté un sac en cuir et il sentait l bouc grave!!! (le meilleur c t les chats : ils adoraient se frotter à mon sac!!étrange...) mais en l'utilisant (ducoup en le mettant à l'air libre et au soleil effectivement) c passer très vite!
Noémie
Quand tu arrives à l'étranger, ouvre tes yeux et tes oreilles mais ferme ta bouche!
je demande donc à toutes les bonnes âmes et à toutes les personnes qui ont eu ce désagrément de partager LE tuyau en or afin de remédier à cela, dans la mesure où il existe ce tuyau !🤪 on désespère!!!!!!😕
merci par avance!!!!!!!🙂
Allez, un bon tuyaux : ne jamais acheter du cuir de chameau !
Le truc du soleil, avec moi, ça n'a pas marché ! S'agissait non pas de sacs mais d'un coussin en cuir touareg acheté à Tombouctou.
J'ai fini par le passer en machine... eh oui ! Il a un peu déteint (mais pas trop et ça lui donne une jolie patine) mais l'odeur a disparu.
Bon ...ce n'est peut-être pas la bonne méthode pour le sac de la belle-mère ! Amitiés
C'est dommage que vous n'ayez pas pensé à ramener aussi du Maroc ce qu'on appelle de l'ambre . En fait ça n'en est pas, bien sur, mais c'est une sorte de "concrète" très parfumée. Un petit morceau, comme un demi sucre de cet "ambre" dans le sac, en se mélangeant avec l'odeur du cuir ( je ne vous dirais pas avec quoi il est tanné, pour vous épargner 😛 ) finit par lui donner une odeur très agréable, très exotique très "luxe" je trouve .
Sinon, un petit morceau de cet "ambre" dans un tiroir de bureau par exemple, c'est un délice .
Catherine
" La lucidité est la blessure la plus proche du soleil" René Char
Un vieux remède mais qui marche toujours et qui évite que le chat vienne se frotter ou faire ses besoins dessus : il faut badigeonner l'objet en cuir, en entier quelque soit sa taille (chapeau en peau de chameau !..sac à main, ou chaussures, babouches, ou pouf....toute la panoplie des souvenirs, quoi ! ) avec du lait pur, avec un coton style coton à démaquiller ou avec un chiffon . C'est super efficace. Je l'ai fais que je ramène de voyage qqchose en cuir, ou même acheté en France mais qui sent fort. Il faut le passer en entier. Le faire une ou deux fois à quelques jours d'interval car ce n'est pas immédiat. Mais après l'odeur disparait définitivement. 🙂
bon alors merci de tous vos conseils! je vais tenter la mise au soleil, dommage pour l'ambre! si d'ici là l'odeur n'est pas partie mes voisins qui vont à marrakech en juin auront un cube d'ambre en commande!😉
pour ce qui ets du lait, ça ne le tache pas au cuir? on à l'impression que l'odeur vient de l'intérieur, je veux dire "des fibres cuir" pas du côté lisse, bref, je m'exprime mal!🤪😄
merci à tous! c'est très sympa pour ma belle mère que je ne passerais pas à la machine, elle est trop sympa! dommage souchon!😏
hhéé oui les methodes pour tanner les cuirs gardent dans certains pays à rester secrètes...
pourquoi ne pas le passer en machine comme l'a fait une personne de la discussion ... mais je pense que ce serait bien après de mettre un produit pour nourrir le cuir qui risque de devenir dur et sec
bonne chance
salut ma parenté , à vous tous , le cœur bon , j'offre ma main pour la marier avec la votre
Salut, il faut le laisser dans un endroit aeré qques jours... surtt ne rien appliquer dessus.
le cuir va se détendre progressivement et sentir moins fort!
Non, pas de solution pour les sacs qui déteignent sur les vêtements; peut-être s'abstenir d'en faire l'achat ? (une autre fois) Ou se résoudre à en faire un objet de décoration ? (dans un endroit sec)
Non, pas de solution pour les sacs qui déteignent sur les vêtements; peut-être s'abstenir d'en faire l'achat ? (une autre fois)
Question toute bete mais ta reponse sera peut-etre utile a nombreux d'entre-nous: et comment on fait pour savoir a l'achat si un sac va deteindre sur les vetements ou pas? Quelque soit la matiere, je suis incapable de savoir, et c'est vrai que c'est bien embetant ca, un joli sac souvenir qui nous flingue nos fringes...🙁
Je n'ai pas non plus de réponse; en général, je me méfie des articles trop bon marché - mais il arrive que je me trompe... Ex.un collier de pacotille d'un beau turquoise a déteint sur mon chemisier blanc (Brésil)
Ce sujet de sacs qui p....me fait penser aux bogolans achetés au Mali; superbes cotonnades; sur place, mon nez ne décelait pas la moindre odeur; une fois à la maison, c'était une horreur; là aussi j'ai utilisé la lessiveuse (à froid), en craignant beaucoup pour les couleurs, mais elles ont résisté, et mes bogolans répandent désormais un doux parfum de Silan et font l'admiration de tous.
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: EPISODE 5 – RODRIGO PAZ WITH HIS BACK AGAINST THE WALL!
The saga continues in the heart of the Cordillera, and the tension isn’t letting up—quite the opposite! Between high-stakes political negotiations and the harsh reality on the ground, Bolivia is at a historic turning point.
In this new episode, we focus on the latest decisions and the crucial role of Senator Rodrigo Paz, now with his back against the wall as the crisis intensifies by the hour.
To fully understand the political and economic stakes and their direct impact on the country, check out the full analysis here: 👉 https://www.petitherge.com/2026/06/bolivie-episode-5-rodrigo-paz-au-pied-du-mur.html
Note to future travelers: Rest assured, there’s absolutely no violence from Bolivians toward tourists. On the contrary! They’ll often be happy to share their perspective on the crisis and talk about their situation, always with the warmth they’re known for.
The real shift could come if the government eventually orders the military to forcibly clear the roads. So stay alert, keep an eye on how the blockades evolve, and above all: prioritize your safety.
History is unfolding before our eyes—stay tuned for the next on-the-ground updates!
See you soon,
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
J'ai découvert une super émssion sur Arte.
Il s'agit de "7 en route" : c'est 7 jeunes journalistes européens embarqués dans un bus complétement aménage, pour faire le tour de l'Europe et réaliser des reportages sur chaque ville qu'ils visitent. C'est génial 🙂
hier, par exemple, ils étaient à Rome en Italie et le type de reportages était le suivant : reportage sur le plus petit resto au monde : resto pour 2 personnes super romantique. Ou encore reportage sur le roi des paparazzis en Italie.
Ils doivent choisir des sujets qui nous permettent de découvrir les petits trucs de chaque pays. Et à chaque fin d'émission on découvre le reportage terminé.
C'est vraiment une trop bonne émission, qui allie journalisme, voyage, découverte, ... bref ... à voir absolument !
C'est le soir à partir de 18h50 (je crois), et ça à commencer depuis lundi 14/07.
Si vous la regardez écrivez moi, on pourra en discuter.
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
Je viens vous faire part d'une expérience fort désagréable concernant notre dernier séjour réservé chez Promoséjours et organisé par FTI.
Nous avons réservé un séjour de 8 jours/7 nuits en Egypte, du 8 au 15 juin.
Le vol initialement prévu à été modifié une semaine avant départ pour décoller à 22h de Paris CDG.
Finalement il décollera avec 1h de retard et une escale non mentionnée à Marsa Alam.
Nous avons donc atterri à 4h du matin à Hurghada pour arriver à l’hôtel à 6h du matin.
Nous avons donc passé la première nuit dans l'avion.
Pour le retour, surprise, le vol est avancé. Nous quittons donc l’hôtel à 22h30 le vendredi 14 pour décoller à 2h du matin et attérrir à 7h du matin à Paris CDG.
Nous avons donc passé la dernière nuit dans l'avion.
Après un courrier de réclamation promoséjours / FTI ils m'ont répondu que le premier et le dernier jour peuvent être consacrés au transport (chose que je savais déjà) et que peu importe le nombre de nuits réservées, on est pas obligé de les passer dans l’hôtel, ça peut aussi être dans l'avion.
Je m'interroge à ce sujet.
Est-ce qu'il n'y a pas une loi qui protège le client dans ce genre de cas?
Car si je fais le compte, le premier et une partie du deuxième jour ont été consacrés au transport, de même pour l'avant dernier et le dernier jour; Et j'ai payé 7 nuits pour un séjour qui n'en a duré que 5.
En tout cas je leur dis merci car grâce à eux et aux deux nuits blanches passées dans les transports, je rentre encore plus fatigué d'un voyage sensé m'apporter du repos!
Je mets aussi en garde ceux qui réservent par cette agence pour les visas en Egypte.
A la réservation on m'a dit que le visa était inclus dans le prix, ensuite on m'a envoyé un mail pour me dire qu'il faudrait le payer sur place à 25€.
une fois sur place on nous fait emprunter une file spéciale pour les clients FTI et là on nous fait payer 30€!
Bref ils sont doués pour vous faire profiter de vos vacances, en tout cas ils profitent bien de votre portefeuille!
Si quelqu'un a déjà rencontré ce cas de figure et obtenu gain de cause, je suis toute ouïe.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...
Where’s Cape Vidal?
It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland).
It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks...
There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal.
That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is.
The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai...
They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive.
Anyway...
I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood...
The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded.
The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call!
So, if you’re camping there, be careful...
Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.
A white rental Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 carrying foreign tourists was attacked at the entrance of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in the village of Bekopaka, western Madagascar, yesterday. So far, there’s been no response from the central government to curb these repeated armed attacks—usually between Malagasy people, but this time targeting foreign tourists.
After an engine failure in mid-2016 on a long-haul flight from BRISBANE to LYON, I developed a persistent aviophobia that I’m struggling to shake off. It’s becoming more and more of a hindrance.
Up until now, I’ve been using an avoidance strategy (for example, avoiding destinations that would require any other mode of transport than a car or train), but lately, it’s become really limiting.
I’m looking for a therapist—either in-person or via video call—who could help me get past this hurdle.
