Je suis extrement déçue par Héliades!!!!
Nous sommes arrivés le premier jour et avons rencontré 3 personnes avant d'arriver à notre hôtel (personnes que nous n'avons jamais revu!!) on nous a laissé à l'hôtel et c'était : "débrouillez vous" car nous ne rencontrions notre guide que le lendemain. Notre groupe au départ du circuit le lendemain était parfait nous étions une vingtaine. Mais la joie fut de courte durée puisque le car est arrivé avec deja 30 personnes!!! Nous étions donc 50 pour effectuer notre circuit, car archi bondé, probleme de places des familles sont séparées. Ce grand groupe nous empechait de rentrer dans certains lieux et il fallait se bousculer pour entendre les explications de notre guide. Je n'aime pas critiquer les hotels etrestaurants mais il faut avouer qu'il y avait de l'abus, nous avons sejourné dans un magnifique 4 étoiles à Olympie et le lendemain nous étions dans un hôtel insalubre sans catégorie avec chambre au dessus d'une station service (l'odeur insoutenable) au Mont Parnasse. Niveau nourriture il faut signaler que nous avons manger 6 repas de suite porc/patates!! 6 de suite!!! A la longue c'est lassant.
Mais ce n'est pas le pire, Héliades nous a laché en fin de circuit à l'hôtel et la journée du lendemain (jour du retour) nous avons du attendre jusqu'à 17h le transfert à l'aéroport en étant mis dehors de notre chambre à 12h et sans repas de prévu! Nous devions laisser nos bagages à l'hôtel........dans le hall à portée de tous. Les taxi qui devaient nous transférer sont arrivés avec 30 min de retard nous pensions etre en retard pour l'avion (19h de décollages) mais quand nous sommes arrivés, un conseiller Héliades nous a dit "avion kaput" (je cite mot pour mot), "3h de retard", nous avons demandé pourquoi toutes les 30 min la version changeait : "Orage à Roissy" (j'appelle Paris = beau temps), "l'avion a du se poser à Marseille mais ne peut plus redécoller car l'aéroport de Marseille est inondé" (pas de pluies signalées à Marseille), ......bref que des cracks!!!
Nous avons attendu en tout 9h dans l'aéroport et le conseiller de Héliades avait depuis tres longtemps disparu. A 1h45 nous embarquons enfin dans l'avion, l'appareil avait ete changé au lieu du MD83 de Blue Line initialement prévu, nous avons voyagé sur un Boeing 757 spacieux et confortable d'Icelandair/Blue Line Holidays. Heureusement le personnel Blue Line était tres agréable et avait gardé sont sourire malgré tout. Le steward nous a dit que notre avion avait du etre posé puis stoppé à Marseille pour pb technique et qu'il avait fallu attendre un autre appareil.
Nous avons eu un repas copieux et avons enfin pu dormir.
A notre arrivée à Roissy, pas d'Héliades pour s'excuser non juste Blue Line qui nous remet un justif de retard pour un possible avoir. Où était Héliades????
Ce fut des vacances périple avec en plus des accidents de nos compagnons de voyage (entorses et fractures)
Heureusement les visites vallaient vraiment le coup et les sites que nous avons visité etaient grandioses. De plus notre guide et notre chauffeur étaient fantastiques.
Mes souvenirs de Grèce restent donc mitigés tout cela à cause d'un TO qui privilégie la quantité à la qualité pourtant en proposant des prix plutot élevés!! Adieu Héliades se sont les seuls et derniers euro que vous recevrez de ma part!!
Je repars en Autotour l'année prochaine, c'est le voyage comme je l'aime.........libre.
LA DOLCE VITA E IN ITALIA
"Delle cose italiane lamentarmi e di tutti i mali vorrei anch'io,
delle virtù d'un tempo consolarmi, non posso nel presente contrario." TARA
http://bellavita.over-blog.com
Business, business dis-tu. S'il n'y avait que toi, ou que Héliades... Je peux te confirmer que tu rentres dans le cas "normal", l'industrie touristique aurait une éthique, cela ce saurait.
Si on se limite à la Grèce, voici mon expérience.
J'avais réservé charter + une nuit à Athènes à l'arrivée + une voiture, cela chez Fram.
Vol aller convenable.
Le loueur de voiture à l'aéroport ne semble pas avoir pignon sur rue, il trouve un bureau ouvert et s'y installe pour les papiers avec les chauffeurs qui ont apporté les véhicules loués, ceux ci sortent du bureau et .. mon blouson à disparu qui était posé sur la valise à coté de moi, personne d'autre n'a circulé; il ne le reconnaitra jamais. Un autre couple arrive, français aussi, nouvelle voiture, nouvelle disparition.
Du coup, nous sympathisons, eux ont réservé un "autotour", la première nuit, mais nous sommes dans le même hôtel. Nos voitures se suivent, le plan remis par celui qui faisait l'accueil ne correspond pas à l'hôtel qu'il nous a désigné et il est bien tard. Un peu à tâtons nous trouvons l'hôtel, mais il est complet, on nous renvoie ailleurs, à l'autre bout d'Athènes, il y aura encore deux renvois successifs, chacun ayant revendu les nuitées à un autre; quatre heures plus tard on veut bien de nous.
Pour nous indépendance et hôtels locaux, pour eux galère d'hôtels ou la "piscine" est un trou avec des sacs plastiques, etc, etc, menus comme vous, sans choix, selon eux, mais j'ai tendance à les croire.
Dernier jour, la fin approche, nous nous faisons confirmer comme il se doit le retour en téléphonant la veille du départ : aucun problème, l'avion sera à l'heure !
Puisque nous sommes dans une cabine téléphonique, j'appelle mon fils en France : On me cherche partout ! Le hasard veut qu'une des employées de l'agence où j'avais acheté le voyage le connaisse, Fram a téléphoné à la maison et il parait que je n'y suis pas!, pour m'annoncer que mon retour est avancé de -je crois- quatre heures, au tout petit matin.
Je joint à nouveau le correspondant à Athènes : non, l'horaire est confirmé, pas de changement.
Heureusement il y a les correspondants Fram, toujours à notre service, deux pour la Grèce;
mais malheureusement l'un ne répond qu'en haute saison, c'était en octobre, et l'autre ne répond qu'aux jours et heures de bureaux...
Prudent, je prends la route de suite pour une dernière nuit proche de l'aéroport à tous hasard. Bonne pêche, au petit matin les groupes sont là. Je rends la voiture, le correspondant Fram présent nous insulte copieusement quand on lui fait remarquer que ses renseignement manquent de précision.
Dommage, en plus Fram n'a vraisemblablement pas de service clientèle si de service courrier, jamais de réponses aux lettres.
Et je me demande si Fram comme Héliades ne sont pas à classer parmis les meilleurs....
J'ai vu bien pire sur d'autres destinations, notamment et surtout avec Look.
je rentre d'un voyage en Croatie en TO où nous étions...48 !, idem pour les Pays Baltes en juin...
Je crains que de plus en plus les cars de 50 personnes soient faits pour être remplis au maximum.
Cela met un frein aux "petits" restaurants et à beaucoup d'autres choses.
De plus, les voyageurs sont plutôt âgés. Etait-ce le cas pour vous ?
Nous avons également eu 3 h de retard au retour sans aucune explication car de toutes façons il n'y avait pas de représentant du TO avec nous, que de similitudes !
Je ne connais pas le système autotour mais ai fort envie de l'essayer.
Comment crois-tu qu' ils puissent gagner de l' argent au prix qu' ils vendent les forfaits? Ca s' appelle rendement, profitabilite, rentabilite, etc.
Un bus de 50 passagers, c' est fait pour 50 passagers et un avion de 200 passagers, c' est fait pour 200 passagers.
Alors arretez de raler et commencez a payer de la tune si vous voulez etre traites comme des princes.
Sinon c' est "cattle car" comme tt le monde.
Tout dans la vie est une affaire de choix. Ça commence par la tétine ou le téton, ça se termine par le chêne ou le sapin. *Everything in life is a matter of choice. It starts with "pacifier or nipple", it ends with "oak or pine". Pierre Desproges.
Pourtant, la discussion porte sur les TO business, business 🤪. Et pour ces TO, un bus de 50 personnes doit être rempli avec 50 personnes .... Et vous avez eu de la chance, il restait 2 sièges "tournants". Je ne vois pas pourquoi on devrait être étonné, c'est la logique même.
Est-ce que tu achètes une voiture de 5 places alors que tu n'as que 2 personnes à caser à l'intérieur ?
Si tu veux trouver des petits restau sympa sans trop de touristes, il faut partir en individuel ou choisir un TO qui fait ses circuits en petits groupes : certains circuits de 15/20 personnes avec NF (attention, petit prix mais t'as pas forcément tout le confort) ou payer plus cher avec un TO haut de gamme.
Est-ce que tu achètes une voiture de 5 places alors que tu n'as que 2 personnes à caser à l'intérieur ?
Ben, oui ! J'ai une voiture 5 places pour moi toute seule . Tu connais beaucoup de voiture une place, toi ? Ou alors sous prétexte qu'on est seule est-on obligé de rouler en mobylette ? 😛 Chinook
salut à tous,
ce que vous dites est effrayant😕. Je rêve depuis longtemps d'aller en Grèce et de visiter ce pays en passant par ses sites les plus réputés. Donc je pensais y aller en voyage organisé. Combien avez vous payez, sans indiscrétion, votre voyage (par pers.) pour que je puisse me faire une idée de la somme à déboursée afin d'avoir un voyage convenable... Héliades me semblait interessant mais vous me faites réfléchir...
Quelqu'un a t-il essayé l'agence E. Leclerc-voyage ? Cette entreprise a une certaine réputation de fiabilité en matière de consommation, est ce la même chose en matière de voyages ?
Je n'ai fait que deux fois des circuits mais à chaque fois j'ai été satisfaite
la première fois au maroc: on n'etait même pas 10 et la deuxième fois en turquie: on etait une trentaine
au maroc mon tour operator etait sunsnack (qui a été depuis racheté par tomas cook) et en turquie c'etait pacha tour
mais c'est vrai que c'est pas la première fois que j'entend des gens se plaindrent d'héliade
Si tu métrise bien l'anglais, l'idéal est de louer une voiture, tu vas ou tu veux et quand tu veux, ce qui rend le voyage selon moi plus agréable et moins stressant, bien sur tu ne verras peut-ètre pas autant de choses qu'avec un TO mais tu les apprécieras pleinement et tu feras des découvertes que tu ne ferais pas avec les TO.
Par exemple, des petits villages ou tu verras comment les gens vivent, les petits restos typiques et familliale, bref beaucoup plus interresant selon moi, et puis pour vous les Européens c'est tout proche, vous pouvez toujours y retournez.
Crois -moi j'y suis aller 3 fois et a chaque fois ça été magique.
Bon voila ! j'espère que ça te donne une petite idée.
Ciao !😎
Je veux pas etre méchant mais faut pas s'étonner quand on part avec ce genre d'agences d'etre traité comme de la merde. On voit souvent des séjours d'une semaine en grece, tunisie ou turquie du style 300 euros avec une semaine d'hotel 4 étoiles plus l'avion. Pour ce prix il faut quand meme pas s'attendre au grand luxe et à une grande considération !
Enfin j'espere au moins que tu n'as pas payé trop cher...
Salut Chinook 🙂,
Oui, évidemment, vu sous cet angle 🤪.
Ce que je veux dire c'est que quand tu es seule et que tu ne te sers de ta voiture que pour toi, tu investis généralement dans une petite voiture.
Budget, budget ....
Bon, mais peut y avoir des exceptions .. 😛.
Je tiens à préciser à ceux qui me disent "tu n'as qu'à y mettre les tunes" ou "faut pas s'étonner en payant 300€", que mon voyage je l'ai payé 1000€ par personnes pas moins et pour un voyage hors-saison s'est cher!! J'ai voulu mettre le prix justement, car 1000€ pour la Grèce s'est cher!! Alors le probleme ne vient pas du fait que j'ai voulu tirer sur les tarifs car sinon je ne serais pas partie avec Héliades (TO assez cher) et ne me serais pas plainte!!
Pour repondre à ceux qui veulent partir en Grèce, Leclerc-Voyages te vendra du Héliades, 90% des gens de notre voyage étaient justement passé par Leclerc fais attention.
J'ai aussi fait deux autres voyages organisé l'un en Italie avec Fram super (30 personnes) et l'autre en Turquie avec une entrepise (CE) nous n'étions que 15. Là c'était bien en effet.
LA DOLCE VITA E IN ITALIA
"Delle cose italiane lamentarmi e di tutti i mali vorrei anch'io,
delle virtù d'un tempo consolarmi, non posso nel presente contrario." TARA
http://bellavita.over-blog.com
Hi,
I'm looking for a car rental company in Tirana for September. Does anyone have a rental company to recommend? I saw that it's possible to rent from private individuals through a platform that groups them (rentfromlocals/al). Has anyone used this method, and if so, is it cost-effective, reliable, and what guarantees are there?
Also, I plan to drive through the Albanian mountains (Valbonë, Kukës, Përmet, Pogradec...). Can anyone tell me about the general condition of these roads? Is a 4x4 vehicle necessary, or would a car with a slightly raised undercarriage (like a Dacia Sandero Stepway) be enough?
Bruno
I’d like to know the opening hours of physical stores between Germany and Austria, and between Austria and Slovenia, that sell the PAPER STICKER toll vignettes that still exist for 2026—non-digital ones. I don’t think they’re open 24/7, and I can’t find the info anywhere.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week trip in late September with our camper van to explore Bulgaria and Romania.
What routes would you recommend, starting from the South?
Is there an option to take a ferry in Italy, and is it worth it?
Thanks for all your tips!😊
Hi, I’m looking for a local guide in Burgas, Bulgaria, who speaks French and can suggest some great excursions for us? For 3 people from July 8 to 14, 2026.
Hi there, we’re a young couple and we’d love to go to the Blue Eye (Syri i Kalter) between today (26/06/26) and tomorrow (27/06/26).
Is anyone heading there and could give us a ride? We’re super friendly!
Thanks so much!
Hi there,
After booking an Airbnb last January for this summer’s vacation in Sarajevo... My "host" canceled our reservation without any reason—this has never happened to me before.
Of course, now it’s impossible to find a place to stay at a "normal" price in Sarajevo with parking...
So we’re falling back on the capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, which had already crossed my mind before I booked Sarajevo.
I already have quite a few ideas in mind, without having dug too deep into the region yet.
But if anyone has already been there and has suggestions? Even for restaurants—I’m all ears!
And even if it’s not right next door, I’m planning to spend a day in Sarajevo!
We’re two forty-something friends spending two weeks in the Baltic countries. Between Lithuania and Estonia, we’d love to swing by Minsk.
From what I’ve read on this forum and other sites, I think I’ve got it right: from Vilnius, by bus, you need an up-to-date passport, travel insurance, and Belarusian rubles.
A couple more questions—what about euros if we’re carrying a few hundred?
And which sites are reliable for finding accommodation or a hotel for 3–4 days in Minsk? With the usual sites (Airbnb and Booking, for example) being blocked, the alternatives seem to be less familiar or pricier (like hotels.com). There are other sites, but it’s never easy to know how trustworthy they are.
What should we look for in Minsk if we’re used to Airbnb or Booking?
One last question—has anyone here tried crossing via Daugavpils?
We're back. It's still a bit tough to get precise info, so here's a quick trip report!
A good starting point is Shkoder, a really pleasant city. You can easily explore Shkoder itself in a day or two.
Two accessible spots: Valbona and Theth.
In both cases, local travel agencies in Shkoder or online offer round-trip or one-way access packages. Super handy, especially for Valbona.
Valbona and Theth are both very steep! There aren’t many easy hikes for less sporty folks (like me!).
Valbona: The highlight is the amazing 2.5-hour boat ride across Lake Koman. There are day trips from Shkoder, but you’ll only get a short tour of the lake. The best option is to do the full crossing—so spend a night in Valbona (or two if you want to hike in the valley) and return.
Theth is deeply nestled in the mountains. The village at the end of the valley, which is a dead end, has lots of hotels, but they’re pricey. Other hostels are scattered along the mountainside road, but it’s a steep climb down to the village or to the start of the two easy hikes (waterfalls and the Blue Eye). For us, it was a one-hour descent (and ascent!). It’s fine if you have a car; otherwise, keep an eye out for a taxi (cheap) or try hitchhiking—it works really well.
Access from Shkoder to Theth is through an agency. The road is in great condition, and you can also rent a car for 2-3 days in Shkoder. If we did it again, that’s the option we’d choose.
We didn’t do the trek and returned to Shkoder each time. I can’t speak to its difficulty, but we were there in late May, and even experienced hikers had given up because of heavy rain and snow.
Hope this helps! It’s a stunning region you shouldn’t miss.
We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027.
Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer.
Initially, I had planned this itinerary:
Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture.
That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.
Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.
Naxos seems like the best option!!!
For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?
Hi there!
We bought our tickets to Greece at the end of November 2025, and let’s just say the geopolitical climate has really taken a turn since then with the war started by the United States against Iran. Not to mention all the other conflicts happening around the world 😕... Anyway!
Our flight from Montreal is on May 1st, and I was wondering how things are currently being experienced in Greece.
We were planning to rent a car and had already booked accommodations on three Cyclades islands!!
The oil shortage is also worrying us...
If you could share some insights on this, that would be great!
A little trip report from an 11-day journey to Albania at the end of April 2026, with two friends in their early sixties and beyond...
Our route: Berat, Gjirokastër, Himarë, Tirana
Here are some opinions, tips, and great deals to share:
Flight Round-trip Beauvais-Tirana: Ryanair, 260 € with checked baggage (20 kg) and seat selection. Flight was fine and on time. 2h 30min flight.
Exchange: 1 € was worth 95 lek in April 2026. We were advised to exchange in the airport hall at the Illiria counter (98 lek outside the security zone), saying we wouldn’t find a better rate. However, the exchange rate was 93 lek for 1 euro, while in the city it was 95...
Car rental at Tirana airport for 9 days via Booking.com: 144 € (56 € for the car rental and 88 € for optional full insurance deductible waiver).
Wheego agency: the car was fine, but be careful when signing the contract—they tried to convince us that the insurance taken through Booking didn’t cover everything and insisted we take their own insurance for 250 €... We refused.
After reading about driving in Tirana, instead of starting our trip by visiting the capital, we decided to head straight to Berat upon arrival and return the car at the end of the trip to explore the city on foot. This turned out to be a great choice!
Accommodations: All our stays were booked via Booking.com. Everyone prefers to be paid in euros and in cash—they mention this when booking.
Berat: 2-hour drive from the airport.
Accommodation: Vila Arben Elezi: 135 € for 3 nights with breakfast and private parking. The room was decent and clean but a bit dark, located slightly below ground level near the parking. However, the breakfast on the rooftop was excellent, especially with the stunning view of the "city of a thousand windows." Great location.
Berat was our favorite—there are lovely walks through the different neighborhoods on both sides of the river, each with a very different vibe. The citadel visit is also fascinating, as it’s like a small town within the fortress.
The walk along the river is pleasant, with plenty of restaurant choices. Other restaurants in the old town are also very nice. The White House Restaurant, on the first floor along the road, is good and offers a great view of the Gorica district.
Gjirokastër:
Accommodation: Te Ajdini Guest House: 120 € for 3 nights with breakfast. A private home stay. There’s free parking just before entering the city, a 5-minute walk from the accommodation, which is very convenient since the cobblestone streets are narrow and parking is tricky. Yes, it’s a climb to get to the place, but everything in this city is uphill... The room was bright and clean. Breakfast was very good, hearty, and served in the courtyard with a view of the castle. The guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the city center (the bazaar) but in a quiet area.
Restaurants: Rrapi and Kujtimi—good and affordable with their little pergolas.
The old town of Gjirokastër is charming but very touristy, with streets packed with souvenir shops and restaurant tables and chairs. Lots of people.
-The bunker visit (near the tourist office) is very interesting: Cold War Tunnel.
The castle offers a beautiful view of the city.
-Visit to the Ottoman house Skenduli: very well done. Don’t forget to climb the ladder facing a trapdoor in the ceiling to see the roof’s framework—it’s like a forest of beams: impressive!
-The bridge Ura e Ali Pasha: A steep 45-minute climb from the city to the site is worth it, but once you reach the viewpoint (which is stunning), you have to go back down a path to reach the bridge. You can drive to the viewpoint, but parking is very tricky.
Around Gjirokastër:
-Just outside the city: Lake Liqeni i Viroit: a nice, ordinary-looking lake, but at the end, there’s a natural spring making the water crystal clear and a brilliant blue—really spectacular, like photos of Blue Eye near Sarandë.
-Drive to Përmet along the gorges: beautiful viewpoints along the way and lovely countryside.
Himarë:
Accommodation: Vila Kosteli: 120 € for 2 nights with breakfast—slightly overpriced for this type of place but very close to a small beach and not far from the promenade with all the restaurants. Private parking, but very tight (4 cars on a tiny lot along the road). The "sea view" room is a bit obstructed by the building across the street. However, the rooftop breakfast view is beautiful. Friendly staff.
Himarë is a pleasant seaside resort, quite calm (but it was April...). There’s a cute promenade with restaurants along the beach. The castle on the heights of Himarë is worth a visit.
Around Himarë:
-Qeparo is worth a quick stop, but Qeparo village is really worth the detour: a village lost in the heights after a scenic drive up from the coastal road—narrow but well-maintained. Beautiful view from the top and a charming village.
-The Big Bunker and Llogora Panorama: take a right turn several kilometers after Dhermi—a road that climbs steeply from the start... A breathtaking winding road that reaches 900 meters in altitude. The view is stunning.
-Several small villages between Dhermi and Himarë are worth a quick stop.
-Porto Palermo Castle is somewhat disappointing.
Tirana:
Taxi from Tirana airport to the city center: 15 € with electric taxis (Green Taxi, Bee Taxi, Do Taxi).
Accommodation: Hotel Nevi Apartment: 63 € for 2 nights. A private apartment in an older building but very clean and well-equipped, with a kitchen and small enclosed balcony.
Great welcome and contact—the owner even booked a taxi for our departure. Very well located, close to the main square, shops, and restaurants. A small supermarket nearby is perfect for stocking up on breakfast supplies.
The city is lively and dynamic, with plenty of green spaces and promenades. Buildings are popping up everywhere, often with surprising architecture—like a building shaped like a face, a huge golden cube, and many others under construction.
-Sky Tower: at the top, a rotating bar offers a 360° view of the city and its buildings. Drinks are a bit pricier than usual, but it’s totally worth it (6 € for a beer or a glass of white wine, 3 € for coffee). We were there for sunset, and it was amazing! A must-do. Arrive early, as it fills up quickly.
-The House of Leaves: a house used for secret surveillance and interrogations during the dictatorship... A great way to learn about the surveillance systems of that era.
-Bunk’Art 2: a bunker in the heart of the city—very interesting, covering the dictatorship period and its system...
-The Pazari i Ri Bazaar: the new bazaar district. The large hall is worth a visit, but souvenir prices are often higher than elsewhere... The area is nice.
Restaurant: Kastrati Restaurant—a bit like a canteen with lots of traditional dishes. It’s on the first floor of a building. Excellent value for money, and the waitress explains the dishes in French.
That’s a little overview of our trip and my personal impressions!
Albania is a beautiful and pleasant country to visit.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Hi everyone,
We’re thinking of spending 3 weeks in Crete between mid-August and early September, renting a car, quickly exploring a few spots in the east, and focusing on the west, southwest, and south.
I’m worried about the heavy tourist crowds. Is it really more noticeable than elsewhere in Greece? Is there a way to avoid the crowds without missing out on the iconic places, which I imagine are stunning in Crete? Thanks for your thoughts and experiences!
Hi,
I'm heading to Greece via Albania soon. Does anyone have info on transportation from Gjirokastër to Ioannina?
Which company, fares, and schedules—it's not very clear with Google.
I’m just passing through Bratislava quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see the highlights of the city.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—feel free to let me know what you think!
Start at the castle and its beautiful viewpoint
Visit the Baroque gardens
St. Martin’s Cathedral, quick visit
National Theatre
Discover the Cumil statues
Primatial Palace via Hlavné Namestie
Michael’s Gate
Grassalkovich Palace via Obchodna
Walk across Namesti Slobody to head back to the upside-down pyramid
Head down to the Blue Church
Cross the Danube to see Sad Janka Krala, then return via the UFO Bridge
There you go—10 km and a packed day!
What do you think?
Hi there,
we’re heading to Crete from May 8th to 15th, staying at a hotel in Agia Pelagia, 20 km from Heraklion, on half-board, so we’ll be back every evening. What daily itinerary would you recommend? We love hiking and discovering local cultures...
Thanks in advance!!
Hello,
We’re heading to Prague with so much excitement from June 10th to 20th. I’ve got three main questions for those who live there or have visited:
- What are your thoughts on what to pack clothing-wise? What’s the weather usually like at this time of year? We’re a bit sensitive to the cold—we live way down in southern Andalusia and are used to the *calor* 😎... Should we pack rain gear? Are we likely to get a lot of rain (which we’re dreading a little, but we couldn’t choose other dates)?
- I’ve seen there are "passes" for various attractions, museums, and sites, including one that’s valid for 10 days but costs a whopping 160 € per person—that’s an average of 16 € per day. Do you think it’s really worth it? We won’t be spending our days rushing between every indoor site; we also love wandering the streets and discovering things a bit "at random." If we do two paid visits a day, that’ll probably be the max... Can we make it worth the cost with that? Of course, we want to visit the castle and take a boat trip as a minimum. Are the sites included in these passes iconic, or are they more "minor" attractions? Does having the pass help us skip long lines?
- Finally, a question about communication: I speak French, obviously, plus Spanish and English fluently, but very little German (haven’t practiced in ages), and no Russian or Czech at all. My husband knows a few words of Russian, but it’s "Cuban" Russian—about the same level as my current German 🙂 !! Can we still get by without too much trouble? We don’t want to spend 10 days not saying a word to anyone and communicating only with gestures!!
Thanks for your valuable tips and opinions.
Hi there!
We’re heading to Crete (Heraklion) as a couple and I’d like to rent a car.
1) Do we need an international driver’s permit?
2) Are rentals super expensive?
Thanks everyone!
I’d like to know how much a meal costs on average in zloty in Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Częstochowa, Wadowice), and also the price of souvenirs like postcards and magnets—so I don’t end up with too many zlotys left after my 5-day trip to Poland?
I’m just passing through the city very quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see as many must-see spots as possible.
I’ve put together a little itinerary—let me know what you think!
Visit to Varosliget Park
Heroes’ Square
Quick stop in the southern part of Margitsziget (for the photo with the Budapest sign!!!)
Gül Baba Mausoleum and Rose Garden
Fisherman’s Bastion
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady of Budavár
Tóth Árpád stny promenade
Budavar Palace
Freedom Square
Parliament
This is just a first draft.
I still have a few months to tweak it.
hello
I’m looking for advice for a last-minute trip—about 3 weeks (half Montenegro, half Croatia).
I’m traveling solo, backpacker style (low budget, hostels). I’m 40 and love exploring cool spots—cities, beaches, mountains, sports activities, you name it.
I’m torn between renting a car or just going with the flow using buses once I’m there. A car would definitely be more convenient, but it might be pricier—plus, parking (is it paid?) and having to return it to the same place. My plan is to start in Montenegro (flying into Podgorica or Albania) and finish in Croatia, so I’d either need to do short-term rentals per country or one-way.
In Montenegro, here are the spots I’ve noted:
- Ulcinj and Velika Plaža beach
- A side trip to Lake Skadar and Virpazar
- Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Petrovac
- Cetinje and Lovćen National Park
- Kotor / Perast
- Žabljak and Durmitor National Park + rafting in the Tara Canyon
Is 8–10 days enough?
And in Croatia, I’ve got:
- Dubrovnik
- Korčula
- Hvar
- Split + Trogir and Krka National Park
- Zadar
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Croatian Istria / Rovinj / Pula
- Zagreb
Around 10–12 days.
Any tips on the stops (adding or cutting some from my list) or transportation options?
I’m heading to Pelion with my partner and then to Chalkidiki around mid-September (from September 12th to 26th). I arrive in Thessaloniki on Saturday evening and plan to spend a day there to check out the market (though it’s marked as temporarily closed on Google??) and, most importantly, enjoy the local food scene.
After that, I’ll head toward Meteora (Sunday evening/Monday), spend a week in Pelion, and then head up to Nikiti to finish the trip (5 days in Vourvourou) and explore the beaches of Sithonia. We’ll also make a trip to Afytos since I think it’s worth the detour.
About Pelion, I’m really not sure where to stay because the distances between Volos and Afissos aren’t straightforward.
I’m looking for a quiet spot but with a little evening activity—like strolling through a village or by the sea. I’ve seen a few suggestions via ChatGPT, but I’m not convinced about the vibe (Milies, Makrinitsa).
Volos is big… but kind of ugly.
We love hiking, spending time in picturesque/typical villages, and, like everyone else, tasting local specialties. As for balancing the trip, I’m open to changes or adjustments if you’ve got any tips—I’d love to hear them, along with any other ideas.
Hi! We’d like to go away for 10 days around May 15th, either to Menorca or Crete—we don’t know either place. We love hiking, unspoiled nature, good food, swimming, and, if possible, avoiding crowds. We enjoy getting off the beaten track. Menorca seems ideal because it’s not far by plane from Lyon, but if Crete is really wilder and more beautiful in terms of landscapes, we can add an extra hour of flight time. Can you help us out? Thanks!
I'm on my way to Slovakia, where I'll be spending about ten days on vacation in the High Tatras. I've decided to stop in Prague for 24 hours with my two teens (arriving around noon, leaving the next day). We don’t know the city at all.
I know a single day is way too short to discover everything, so I’d like to plan a small circuit to see the must-see spots.
Here’s what I’ve planned:
Walk through Nový Svět street
Visit the castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Golden Lane
Quick stop at Vojanovy Sady gardens
Malá Strana Square
Maltese Square
Kampa Island
Then the iconic Charles Bridge and a short tour of the Jewish Quarter
We’ll head back down to visit Old Town Square (Malé Náměstí, St. Nicholas Church, and the Church of Our Lady before Týn)
Head to Wenceslas Square and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows
Then to the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Dancing House
And finally, back to the starting point.
Estimated distance: 10 km
I was thinking of a little evening stroll up Petřín Hill... what do you think?
Are there things that aren’t really worth it, or other spots that are must-sees?
It’s decided—next summer, it’s Cyprus! A region we don’t know yet, with nature, culture, beach time, and diving the Zenobia 😎
We’re thinking of a 2-week trip.
After flipping through the LP guide, I’m still unsure about the best bases—I can’t quite picture the distances...
Option 1: Stay near Larnaca for 1 week and Paphos for the other.
But from Larnaca, Cape Greco is doable. Wouldn’t it be better to stay near Cape Greco (Protaras?) instead? What about getting to Lefkara?
Same from Paphos—easy to explore as far as Kourion.
Option 2: A single, more central base somewhere between Limassol and Larnaca.
I’d like to book tickets for a visit to the Acropolis at the end of April. The official site is down. What do you think of agencies like Get Your Guide? Are they reliable? It’s a lot more expensive. The audio guide option is tempting, but is that reliable too? We’re a bit older and like to take our time...
Do the other museums (National Archaeological Museum and Museum of Cycladic Art) also require reservations? We visited Athens 50 years ago, and it seems like things have changed a lot.
I just booked a flight and hotel (Mövenpick in Durrës) for my husband and me for late May.
We’re thinking of spending (I haven’t really decided yet) one day in Tirana, one day around Berat, and one day around Gjirokastër and the Albanian Riviera.
We were planning to hire a private driver for the day. I asked the hotel if they could find one for me... they brushed me off! Yet I usually do this for all my trips.
Would you have a name, a company, or someone I could contact?
Otherwise, is it "dangerous"—road conditions and Albanian driving—to rent a car?
