Reading an excerpt from "The Art of Boring People by Telling Your Travel Stories" by Matthias Debureaux first made me smile, then got me thinking… Are we "travel-bores" with our travel stories?
"Annoying is the one who, like Ulysses, had a wonderful trip. Because for every silver-tongued storyteller with marvelous tales, how many bores and nuisances… The traveler, drunk on grand images and magical encounters, has only one thing on their mind: pelting us with anecdotes, life lessons, and ideals. They’ll paint the most beautiful and distant Edens… the traveler has an endless pharmacy of stories. But nothing is designed to immunize us against travel tales. We should impose a quarantine on returning travelers. At least a dozen hours in a sobering cell. What’s the point? Months, years later, they’ll never miss an opportunity to reminisce. The evocation of their odyssey is a perpetual fireplace fire."
A provocative text, sure, but isn’t the person telling their travel story doing it mostly for themselves? Just to relive the joy of their trip?
At friendly gatherings or with family, we sometimes have to endure the enthusiast… without necessarily sharing their passion for the destination!
The advantage of writing—and also of exchanges on sites like VF—is that only those who want to read a story do so… with the option to skip it anytime!
So, what do you think, authors and fans of travel stories published online?
Jean
P.S.: "The Art of Boring People by Telling Your Travel Stories" by Matthias Debureaux, Éditions Cavatines, 2005
Excerpts read in "The Taste of Travel" Éditions Mercure de France, 2008
P.S.: As a little wink… I still invite you to check out my latest travel story about a trip to the Aeolian Islands… see the story and photos by following this link:
http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=4409520;page=unread#unread
I hope I didn’t "bore" you too much with this story 😉
I try, when it's face-to-face, to see how the other person—or people—react. If they look away or seem detached, I drop it. Usually, I write about it more than I bring it up in person. That way, only those who are interested read it.
By the way, what do you think, authors and enthusiasts of travel stories published online?
I haven’t read that book, but I totally disagree with that mindset!
On the contrary, I find the members of this forum who create travel journals really interesting.
I admit I don’t always have time to read everything, but some are very well done.
And I even prefer everyday travelers’ stories over those of great writers—there’s more spontaneity and authenticity in them.
The traveler, washed out by grandiose images and magical encounters, has only one idea in mind: to pelt us with anecdotes, life lessons, and ideals. They’ll paint the most beautiful and distant Edens… the traveler has an inexhaustible pharmacy. But nothing is prepared to immunize us against travel stories.
Well, you can tell this Matthias guy he’s a pretentious idiot—or maybe he’s doing it on purpose.
"Are we bores with our travel stories?" In my opinion, the answer is YES in 95% of cases!
In *The Art of Boring People by Telling Your Travel Stories*, Matthias Debureaux offers every self-respecting "exploraseur" a series of invaluable rules to follow to maintain their status. The exploraseur is this new kind of globetrotter who emerged with the recent democratization of travel and who absolutely cannot stand being called a tourist—because the exploraseur doesn’t *do* tourism, they *travel*!
From this little introduction, we discover a series of tips, each funnier than the last, for sharing your travels with loved ones while subtly belittling them for their dull, sedentary lives. Along the way, this lets us recognize friends, colleagues, family—or even ourselves!
Here are a few excerpts in the form of a guide to telling your travel stories like a true exploraseur:
« Don’t say "I spent two months in India," but rather "I lived ten and a half weeks in India." »
« Choose real people and small jobs that perpetuate centuries-old traditions (taiga hermits, Khumbu sherpas, yak herders) while pretending to believe that bailiffs and insurance agents don’t exist on the other side of the world. Mention the joy of the Dropka shepherds on the high plateaus, the patience of the ear cleaners in Mumbai, or the radiance of the fruit vendor in Phnom Penh—but never the helpfulness of the clerk who exchanged your traveler’s checks. »
If you want to describe a capital: « Declare your passion for the fascinating blend of tradition and modernity. It’s a handy argument since few capitals escape this rule. »
The author also provides a few phrases to casually sprinkle into conversations upon your return—or in the now-inescapable travel blog—like: « Over there, everything makes sense, » or « It’s a city that carries within it the sense of the inevitable, which fuels passion, » or even « Its topography reflects our intimate space. »
This book is a little gem that every "traveler" should consult regularly to avoid falling into "explorasoir" mode. Of course, to appreciate it, you’ll need to accept self-reflection and tolerate criticism. Fans of self-deprecating humor will love it.
Be careful, though—giving this book as a gift is a bit tricky, and if someone gives it to *you*, you might want to ask yourself why!
It’s no longer in print, but you can still find it easily secondhand (and at very reasonable prices) on traditional book-selling websites.
"Old travellers never die, they just smell that way"
The "exploraseur" is this new kind of globetrotter who emerged with the recent democratization of travel and absolutely cannot stand being called a tourist… because the exploraseur doesn’t *do* tourism, they *travel*!
Okay, but with travel becoming so accessible, aren’t you and I full-fledged "exploraseurs" too?
I think this mentality—full of snobbery and labeling people—is very French...
Okay, but with the democratization of travel, aren’t you and I just "explorabores" through and through?
It’s highly likely (even if I try not to be too much of one)! 🙂
I think it’s a very French mentality, full of snobbery, to label people and put them in boxes...
You’re probably right. That said, this doesn’t apply to this little book I’m recommending—it’s really funny and not at all snobbish or pretentious. It’s just a guy who’s traveled a lot and mostly pokes fun at himself and (gently) at people who show off a bit (or a lot) when sharing their vacations.
"Old travellers never die, they just smell that way"
A provocative statement, sure, but isn’t the person telling their travel story mostly doing it for themselves? Just to relive the experience and enjoy it again?
At friendly gatherings or with family, we sometimes have to endure the enthusiast… without necessarily sharing their passion for the destination!
All of this is both true and false at the same time! 😉
It really depends on your audience! 😏
The quote: "It takes all kinds to make a world" really hits the mark in this discussion, in my opinion!
Some people (even when, I’ll point out, they could afford to do otherwise) are made to:
"be born, live, and die" practically in the same place!
I guarantee you, these people are as deeply attached to their "roots" as centuries-old trees!
In most cases, sharing your travel stories with this group is a lost cause—they don’t even understand the meaning of the word "travel"! You’d quickly become an "Expert-Bore" if you insisted on going down that road!
Then there are the perpetual nomads, like the thousands you’ll find on this forum!
Belonging to the "same world" as yours, they’re much more likely to be captivated by your stories!
Between these two "extremes", it’s not a total void!
There are still people who love to travel "in spirit" rather than "in body"!
Those folks might still be interested in your tales!
Actually, this isn’t unique to the "world of travel"!
It’s more about the "world of enthusiasts" in general!!!
The truly passionate (whether it’s travel, photography, cars, politics, sports, gardening, etc.) can quickly become a "bore" to "others" in any field when carried away by their excitement! 😉
Personally, I figured this out a long time ago and only go into detail about my passions (travel being one of them, of course!) with people who share them!!! 😉😉😉
Cheers,
PS: Given my motto, it goes without saying that I absolutely hate the opening line this author chose for one of their texts:
"A pain in the neck who, like Ulysses, had a great journey" 😠😠😠
To be brutally honest, it doesn’t exactly make me want to read their book—it might just seem a bit "boring" to me!!!!!!!!!!!
Living vicariously through travel—it’s so great!
I don’t get to go away often enough—lack of time, money, health issues, and all that...
so... what a joy to be able to dive into other people’s stories and travel the world that way.
Some are great, some are "dull," but it’s up to each of us to pick what we like.
Thanks to all of you who had a wonderful trip and took the time—or found the joy—in sharing it.
Hello,
I find this topic interesting, as I’m a big traveler myself, and I realize I rarely talk about my trips. Except to people who are curious and ask me lots of questions.
I’ve often had funny experiences meeting someone who’s "done" a certain country—usually on an organized tour—and they start telling me their stories, which are often full of clichés, like: "The vendor gives you a price, you immediately halve it, then you pretend to walk away, they call you back, and the price drops even more, etc..."
Or: "You see over there, they have nothing, but they offer you everything. I admire that generosity of heart—nothing like Western countries, where individualism reigns, etc..."
If they ever ask which countries I’ve "done" and I start listing my travels, they jump in to talk about another country they’ve "done," and off they go again, without ever really listening to me.
I often try to find a way out because, yes, most "travelers" are pretty dull.
The coolest ones are those who don’t flaunt their knowledge but share interesting anecdotes over the course of the conversation, always in the spirit of exchange.
Small clarification: for me, a trip only really begins after a month, when you start to disconnect from the realities of your home country. The best is when you’re no longer tied to France at all—no apartment or job.
Guillaume
I totally agree with you. People who talk about their vacations are boring 95% of the time. I don’t like talking about my trips unless someone asks me a specific question. It’s even worse if they invite me to watch a video of their vacation 🙂
Another thing that happens to me a lot in France when people ask where I live (California) is that they want to tell me every detail of their trip when they did the "American West." It’s the same with Americans—if I say I lived in Paris, I get all the details of their 3 or 4 days in Paris... or worse, the problems they had with Air France!
Good points in your post about travel memories... it's true that travelers generally enjoy sharing their "adventures" more than listening to others'...
Another observation, but one that’s already been made in one of the travel journals posted on VF...
Often, the people who seem interested are travelers who’ve been to the country—they relive their memories while reading the story and get to revisit their trip a little... whereas the author of the journal might prefer to introduce the destination to those who haven’t been yet!
Thanks for your contribution ...
I’ve only read an excerpt of this book and don’t own the full work ... I feel like it’s a shame! With all the other remarks you mention, the whole book seems really interesting, full of humor and irony ... You’re making me want to read it in full ;)
It's true that the text is very provocative... it's meant to be humorous! It's also true that the phrase "Boring like Ulysses..." might shock some people... but I have to admit it made me smile 😉
On the other hand, opinions vary—some appreciate the author's irony, others not at all...
In the end, as we can see from all these posts in this discussion, the debate is open... and that’s the real value of this forum and this topic!
We might also wonder if 'travelers' (well, some or many of them) don’t have a more developed 'ego' than others, one that swells with each trip or country they've "done" ("doing" a country—what a strange expression, and such a reflection of consumerist society...).
Unless it’s their greed that grows from always wanting to go somewhere else, and their dissatisfaction with staying where they are, even for a moment, and just being content.
Of course, there’s the saying: travel improves the wise and makes fools worse, but not everyone who wants to be "wise" can be...
And when a traveler has the audacity to call themselves a "great traveler," I think they haven’t yet become a true traveler—someone who travels as naturally as they breathe and doesn’t feel the need to recount their "accomplished travels," but simply does so 😉
«Si tu ne trouves pas d'ami sage, prêt à cheminer avec toi, résolu, constant, marche seul, comme un roi après une conquête ou un éléphant dans la forêt.» Bouddha
One might also wonder if 'travelers' (well, some or a good number of them) don't have a more developed 'ego' than others, which swells as they rack up their travels or countries "done" (doing a country—what a strange expression, and a reflection of consumerist society, really...)
Unless it's their greed that grows from always going elsewhere, and their dissatisfaction with staying where they are, at any given moment, and being content there.
Of course, there's the saying: travel improves the wise and worsens fools, but not everyone who wants to be is 'wise'...
And when a traveler has the pretension to call themselves a "great traveler," I think they haven't yet become a true traveler—simply put, someone who travels like they breathe and doesn't need to recount their "accomplished travels," but just does it. 😉
Couldn't have said it better myself! Completely agree.
"Boring like Ulysses..." works for me, and like freepouille and kristen, I end up keeping it all to myself unless someone asks, of course—but I try to keep it short in general.
Your travel journal is a real success....
...what am I saying.... A truly beautiful exception 😉
One day here, tomorrow somewhere else, but the past is gone and the future isn’t here yet! Only the present exists...
Those who leave (in my opinion) don’t leave more of a trace than a bird’s flight—they pass like the world, before everything fades... Nothing in our pockets, everything in our minds.
Life itself is a journey that’s lived in the present or not at all ; )
«Si tu ne trouves pas d'ami sage, prêt à cheminer avec toi, résolu, constant, marche seul, comme un roi après une conquête ou un éléphant dans la forêt.» Bouddha
The present, like travel, is just an isolated act in a play...
Without the journeys that came before or the surprises yet to come, it’s completely devoid of story...
But that’s another topic 😉...
After reading your message and then your interests in your profile, I think if you wrote something about your travels, it could be really interesting. Seriously.
You’re well aware that a conversation like the one you describe so well is one thing, but a written account is another—both for the storyteller and the readers/listeners. If only for the freedom to keep reading or to walk away.
It seems to me it’s the same kind of difference as between a casual bar chat about some random topic and reading an article on that same subject.
nota bene: I thought it was northern Italy that wanted to secede from the south—is there a movement for a free Puglia now?
One might also wonder if 'travelers' (well, some or a good number of them) don't have a more developed 'ego' than others, which swells as they travel or 'do' countries (doing a country—what a strange expression, and a reflection of consumerist society in the end...)
Unless it's their greed that grows from always going elsewhere, and their dissatisfaction with staying where they are, at every moment, and being content there.
Of course, there's the saying: travel improves the wise and worsens fools, but not everyone who wants to be can be 'wise'...
And when a traveler has the pretension to call themselves a "great traveler," I think they haven't yet become a true traveler—simply put, someone who travels as they breathe and doesn't need to recount their "accomplished travels," but who does so naturally 😉
I couldn’t have said it better! Completely agree.
"Boring like Ulysses..." works for me, and like freepouille and kristen, I’ve ended up keeping it all to myself, unless someone asks, of course—but I try to keep it short in general.
Reading you (jeddhai and yourself), a question is nagging at me? 🤪
But what the heck are you really doing on this forum? Why keep coming back? What’s the point for you?
If everyone thought like you, travel journals (which are still meant to be read, right?) wouldn’t exist, or even in the absolute sense: VoyageForum wouldn’t have a reason to exist, since three-quarters of its discussions would never see the light of day!!! 😕
There must be an explanation for this mystery—I can’t wait to hear it!!! 😉
I find travel stories on the forum really useful for people planning to visit the same destination or looking for travel ideas... to me, it’s a way to gather information.
But I definitely don’t read multi-page stories all the way through. 😕
What I love is reading about someone’s impressions after a trip to the Americas in my neck of the woods, especially if I gave them a few suggestions. 🙂
As for telling travel stories in person... some people have a knack for captivating their audience with even the smallest adventure, while others are painfully boring. But between someone who constantly talks about their travels or someone who endlessly brags about their kids’ achievements... hmm...
And then there are destinations that interest some people but not others... and types of travel that appeal to some but not all.
"I go to Paris. I go to London. I go to Rome, and I always say: "There's no place like New York." That's the way it is. That's it."
(Robert De Niro)
hi,
I could try to share my travels, but I need a starting point. I have a bunch of emails I sent to friends, and I’ve been thinking for a while about compiling them. You’ve given me an idea—I might just give it a shot.
These stories fascinated my friends, so why not the folks on VoyageForum?
See you on the forum soon,
Guillaume
Here’s a link to the travel journal Bwindi, a true Africa lover among the greats, is sharing with us. He’s both down-to-earth and modest despite his incredible talent—much like yours in the "Texts & Images" series ;)...
But what the "heck" are you actually doing on this forum? Why keep coming back? What’s in it for you?
It’s precisely to talk about it with people who are interested—or supposed to be.
If everyone thought like you, travel journals (which are made to be read, right?) wouldn’t exist—heck, even VoyageForum wouldn’t have a reason to exist, since three-quarters of its discussions would never happen! 😕
Travel journals get read when the internet user has time, but the person you *could* tell your stories to isn’t always available.
Travel stories on the forum are really useful, in my opinion, for people planning to visit the same destination or to get ideas for new places... I see it as a way to gather information.
That’s exactly the value of travel stories, at least what I read on Voyage Forum.
I’m sorry to be so down-to-earth and not philosophize or mock like the author of that pamphlet, but I find traveler accounts have several benefits for those unfamiliar with a destination. Let me use the United States as an example to illustrate my point:
Get a first sense of the locals’ mentality through real-life situations—restaurants, hotel check-ins, renting a car. You quickly realize you should never raise your voice at someone, or you might face legal trouble.A discussion about the helpfulness of Park Rangers let people compare different views—some see Americans as very welcoming, while others have more mixed experiences.
Learn handy tips to make life easier, like knowing when stores are open or not leaving your car key in the ignition because the vehicle locks automatically after a few seconds.
Become aware of desert dangers (like flash floods) and that trailhead registers are a safety measure if you get lost.
Adjust your itinerary to include hikes you thought were uninteresting or too challenging.The examples could go on and on.
I think the book’s author wanted to write the new *Dictionary of Received Ideas* by Flaubert, but for travelers.
But travel stories are like TV channels or the sports newspaper *L'Équipe*—no one’s forced to read them, and as PelicanBrun aptly put it, you can just move on.
Judging by the number of replies these stories get, they *do* interest quite a few people, and those who aren’t into them can always head to the library and borrow the classics.
totally agree
A blog is meant to exchange points of view, give an opinion, offer advice—not to use it as a dumping ground for hatred, grudges, or personal problems....................if you don’t like it......you don’t read it......nobody’s forcing you.........
pepe mike
****"Are we bores with our travel stories?" In my opinion, the answer is YES in 95% of cases! ****
+1!!!!
A huge portion of what’s posted on VF—and on some insipid blogs—is totally unreadable and wouldn’t even pass muster with close family. It’s as boring as those slide nights from the 60s or video evenings from the 80s.
Too bad for the few gems you can sometimes find, buried under the output of oversized egos.
A huge chunk of what’s posted on VF—and on some insipid blogs—is totally unreadable and wouldn’t even pass muster with close family. It’s as dull as those slide nights from the 60s or the home-video evenings of the 80s.
Still, it’s easy enough to skip over "insipid" or "unreadable" stuff online, unlike those mandatory slide shows from Uncle Raymond back from his package tour of the Benelux… 😉
Travel stories are a lot like literary works. Have you ever been surprised by the countless number of books (excluding technical ones) published each year, most of which likely end up being pulped?
Well, I think you’ve got to have the mindset of a gold prospector—always searching for those unique nuggets that vary for each of us since we don’t share the same interests.
I believe respecting others starts with a well-aired, well-written, and concise text—it’s the beginning of a gripping travel story.
Yes, I completely agree with you, and I’m actually the first to check out travel blogs and journals. To find the gems and/or great tips, or just to have a good time.
What I mean is that blogs and travel journals are only read by those who want to—usually other enthusiasts. There’s no intention from the authors to force us to read them. It was nothing like when a parent or friend would subject us to their endless slide-show evenings. 😉
Since you’re bringing it up, and I’m not sure what to think myself—is Dolasadolasa a travel journal? A blog? A collaborative site about a region and travel?
I kinda agree with raoulx on the "oversized egos" 😄, though everyone has their "share of ego". I find that most travel blogs or personal sites—except those whose goal is actually to give useful and interesting info to people who want to go to a certain place without always forcing the focus on "themselves"—are really egocentric, even "exhibitionist."
It’s like a kind of "self-promotion": "Hey friends stuck in sedentary jobs! Yeah, we’ve got the "good life," we’re a couple, or a lone "adventurer" (so cool), or a family of "Travelers"! Come read about our "adventures" on routes that have been done a thousand times before—just to make you a little sick of your boring life!"
Basically, if the goal is just to help people do the same or "share" messages about peace, global brotherhood, or protecting nature, then sure, why not make a blog? But if it’s just to post your latest vacation like a photo album, I’ve got the same ones at home sometimes ;)
«Si tu ne trouves pas d'ami sage, prêt à cheminer avec toi, résolu, constant, marche seul, comme un roi après une conquête ou un éléphant dans la forêt.» Bouddha
Jeddhai, I think you're being a bit harsh on people who make the effort to put a blog online. It's true that what we find on the internet can vary greatly in quality—meaning the authors of these blogs have more or less talent. But we shouldn’t automatically assume these authors have the bad intentions you listed (egocentrism, exhibitionism, self-promotion).
Besides, "messages for peace, global brotherhood, or defending nature" don’t necessarily make the best blogs... When you’re planning a trip (which is what I’m doing right now), you mostly want to know how those who came before you structured their trip, what they saw, how they went about it, etc.
I’d find it a shame if travelers kept their notes and photos tucked away in a drawer just to avoid being accused of egocentrism, exhibitionism, or self-promotion. 😉
P.S.: Why do so many posts appear and disappear on this page? 😮
Jeddhai, I think you’re being a bit harsh on people who take the time to put a blog online. It’s true that what we find on the internet varies wildly in quality—meaning some bloggers are more talented than others. But we shouldn’t automatically assume these writers have the negative intentions you listed (egocentrism, exhibitionism, self-promotion).
I completely agree with you!
And I say that with total objectivity, since I don’t have a blog or any published travel journals!
There are no professionals on this forum (or at least, I hope there aren’t!), so why be so critical of the amateurs who make up VF? They just want to share their passion for travel—sometimes with such touching enthusiasm—through stories and travel journals made by "amateurs" for "amateurs"?
If anything, egocentrism and exhibitionism are more likely to come from professionals—it’s practically their trademark!
A writer is an artist, and what artist isn’t a little egocentric?
And even if some forum members occasionally imagine (rightly or wrongly) that they have a bit of writing talent?
So what! Is it really that big of a deal?
Why do so many posts appear and disappear on this page? 😮
Yes, I think there’s one dimension that Jeddhai completely overlooked: the enthusiasm behind travel blogs and journals. That enthusiasm that sparks travel plans, stays with the traveler on the road, and keeps the dream alive afterward.
Without that enthusiasm, there’d be no passion for travel—or forums like this one.
I’ve "committed" a blog myself; it’s nothing special, and I’m not claiming it’s a model. But one thing I’m sure of is that I did it out of enthusiasm, to extend my trip and share it with others who share the same passion.
It’s not egocentrism or exhibitionism that drives people to travel and create travel journals—it’s passion and enthusiasm!
For me, it's like with a book. I have my favorite authors, a writing style, and a story that will either hook me right away or bore me very quickly.
I'm more sensitive to the way it's told. Actually, I prefer form over substance!
I've come across some rare gems, illustrated with a few photos, which I also appreciate.
This space open to those who want to write is a great thing.
I think for some, it's a little therapy 😉
This open space for those who want to write is a good thing.
I really think for some it’s a little therapy.
Not only do I agree, but it’s an obvious truth for all those who, without the anonymity of the web, would never have dared to show and share what they’ve seen...
Contrary to what I read earlier, it’s not just oversized egos craving popularity—there are also genuinely simple people who must be thinking, "why not me?" 😛
A kind of self-aggrandizement like: "Hey friends who have to work sedentary jobs! Yeah, we’ve got the "good life," we’re a couple, or a lone "globetrotter" (oh so cool), or a family of "Travelers"! So come read our "adventures" on routes that have been done a thousand times by others—just to make you a little sick of your boring life!"
Did you see this in Dolasadolasa? (A bit surprised....)
Did you see that in Dolasadolasa? (A little surprised....)
The answer is from jeddhai... Who probably shared their opinion on the general topic by continuing the discussion and likely didn’t even glance eastward....🙂
Since you brought it up, and I’m not sure what to think myself—is Dolasadolasa a travel story? A blog? A collaborative site about a region and travel?
Good evening,
I took a quick look at Dolasa.
This "site" deserves more than a quick read, and I’ll be back.
Since I don’t know Istanbul, I might be less enthusiastic than if it were about Morocco...😕
But I’d still be curious and maybe even want to go someday...
To me, it’s not a travel story but a place where people share their impressions.
Like a journal or a magazine where everyone contributes their "article."
Plus, it’s lively—nicely illustrated, well-paced, and up-to-date.
I’m not a big fan of the term "collaborative site."
Too intellectual...
What I really love is reading the impressions of someone who’s just come back from a trip to America in my neck of the woods, after I gave them a few suggestions. 🙂
Good point! I hadn’t thought of that... When’s the story of a Canadian in the Luberon coming?
A huge part of what’s posted on VF—and on some insipid blogs—is totally unreadable and wouldn’t even pass muster with close family. It’s as boring as those slide-show evenings from the 60s or video nights from the 80s.
Too bad for the few gems you can sometimes find, buried under the output of oversized egos.
....oh, so true....
....99% of them are tedious with their two-bit discoveries in usually hyper-touristy countries..........
.....thankfully, every now and then, someone like Patrick-Yangguizi pops up (we miss him..), and boom: a mythical country, a gripping story....
....99% are annoying with their two-bit discoveries of generally hyper-touristy countries..........
So, if I follow your reasoning, as soon as a country becomes "hyper-touristy," it loses all interest... Tough luck, since the vast majority of countries in the world have become very touristy. That’s probably what explains your 99% figure...
and then, boom: a mythical country
What exactly is a mythical country, in absolute terms?
Aren’t you aware that every country, every trip, is perceived subjectively by each person? So, a country that might be "hyper-touristy" for you (and thus unworthy of interest, in your opinion) could turn out to be mythical for someone else. Have you even considered that?
The quality of a blog or website doesn’t depend at all on the destination or the regions visited, but on how the traveler shares (or doesn’t share) their story and passion.
.....oh no, I don’t think a country isn’t interesting just because it’s very touristy...
....I even think it’s possible to write something about France, Morocco, or Thailand, for example...but what I read on blogs or travel journals is often pretty thin...
....and of course, I agree with you about the idea of a "mythical" country—it’s not the same for everyone...our own country (France) can even be that for some people....I was just mentioning Patrick’s story about North Korea....where I’d love to go......
Hi,
I think the advantage of a blog is that there’s no obligation to visit it. When I used to print my photos, after coming back, I wanted to show them to everyone. I had to admit that it bored 90% of people. At that point, I created a website.
That way, those who want to see them do, and those who aren’t interested don’t. Those who’ve seen the photos and want to talk to me about them take the initiative—nothing is forced by the insufferable, overexcited traveler waving their photos around 😉.
I can’t remember who talked about enthusiasm. It’s personal, but I really enjoy posting my photos online, no matter the quality.
Pierre 🙂
leaves a bit of a "look at me" vibe that, whether we like it or not, still feels as cringe-worthy as Mom and Dad’s slide projections on the pearl screen in the 1960s living room 😛🙂...
Je lis les carnets de voyages, certains sont franchement intéressants, d'autres lassants, mais je me pose aujourd'hui la question: pourquoi fait on un carnet…
Étant adepte du stop et n'ayant jamais utilisé de carton avec ma destination marquée dessus, je me demandais si cela était utile? Outre le fait que j'ai…
Rentrée de voyage depuis hier, à chaque fois, j'ai la même sensation de revenir dans cet horrible train train quotidien! je ne suis pourtant pas partie très…
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.
VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now.
The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.
Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions.
I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.
Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.
Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid?
Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again?
Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with?
Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now?
What’s really going on here?
This isn’t exactly a traveler’s question... I’d like to know who handles the technical side of this forum?
I run a similar forum on a different topic (unrecognized children), and we’re dealing with a few technical issues that are slowly killing our forum... so I’d have one or two questions to ask 😊.
Also, I was wondering who created this forum... who the administrators or moderators are, etc.
I think this forum is great. Much better than Facebook, which I’ve been using since it shut down (so I’m happy to see it’s working again...)
Hi there, I’ve been traveling for 18 years now, at least 6 months a year, and as the years go by, I actually enjoy coming back to France more and more—a feeling I struggled with at first. I mean, we always think the grass is greener elsewhere.
But in the end, I find meaning in that saying about how there’s no place like home. I still love traveling just as much, but now my trips are shorter, and I enjoy spending more time in our beautiful country, even though I don’t hesitate to criticize it.
How about you? How do you handle coming back from your travels?
A few years ago, I went with a group of friends to lend a hand at a small rural school near Thiès, Senegal.
It was a relaxed but hardworking atmosphere—hands in the mortar, laughter, exchanges, and everything that a COOPERATION project can bring.
Today, the little project is flying on its own.
Wanting to explore Senegal’s riches, we set off for some tourism in the Siné Saloum. One girl in our group fell ill (a malaria attack), and we decided to take her to see a doctor at a large tourist complex nearby. Despite her condition, we had to "show our credentials" (if I may say so) just to get in. She was treated and has been fine since.
This "stop" at a Club Med-style resort with a Teutonic twist—resembling Le Grau-du-Roi but fancier—was a horror show for us: pools, massive artificial basins dyed blue, pink, or green (!!!!), animators shouting around wet T-shirt contests or coconut tree climbing, and sunburned (or sun-pinked) *toubabs*.
The entire hotel was surrounded by a huge wall, behind which a small souvenir-seller slum had sprung up, worthy of Dakar’s outer neighborhoods.
On leaving, we saw a minibus of guests returning from an "excursion," loaded with masks, fabrics, and djembés—African souvenirs?
Maybe those will be *theirs*?
What impression did the kids clustered at the hotel gates get?
What about the Black servers in "traditional African costumes," serving cocktails and ice cream nonstop?
For me, who experienced Africa very young and in the bush, this remains a haunting image.
On VF, this kind of vacation doesn’t seem to be the norm among users, and that’s exactly why I signed up.
Have you ever experienced this kind of interstellar travel?
Do you understand the Martians?
Are their motivations peaceful?
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