Ceux qui considere le Lonely Planet comme La bible feraient bien de jeter leur froc aux orties.
Je m'explique : je suis actuellement a Dali (Salvador du meme nom aurait apprécié le coté surréaliste du lieux - mais je m'égare) et tout a l'heure j'ai mis plus d'une heure a trouver le lieu de départ du télésiege qui permet d'accéder au temple de Zhonghe sur les flancs de la montagne Cang.
Le LP (mais aussi le Routard - qui pour ce qui concerne les lieux incontournables en Chine est bien meilleur a mon avis) me renseigne de marcher 1 Km en prolongement de Renmin Lu 😠 Ne suivez pas ce conseil et allez plutot jusqu'a la Yinxian Lu a environ 200 metres au Nord de la Porte de l'Ouest (sur la gauche de la démesurée Dian Zang) ensuite c'est plus ou moins tout droit sur effectivement 1 Km.
s'Il n'y avait que cela il n'y aurait pas de quoi fouetter un chat mais au fur et a mesure de ma progression je constate de nombreuses erreurs et autres manquements auxquels le célebre guide autrefois appelé "A travel survival kit" ne nous avait pas abitué.
Le plan des villes n'est en général pas assez large et l'arrivée dans une ville assez difficile a comprendre.
Quelques exemples :
page 282 sur le plan des gorges du Saut du Tigre il renseigne Zhongdian a 50 Km alors qu'il y en a pas loin de 100
page 303 sur un plan du Southeast Yunnan il renseigne Simao a 150 Km et Jinghong a 200 Km (50 Km entre les deux villes !!) alors qu'il serait mieux d'indiquer 360 et 500 Km
page 312 a Jianshui il renseigne la gare des bus a 3 Km alors que 1 Km aurait été plus juste. Toujours a Jianshui les emplacements des gares de bus locales sont mal positionnés. Dans le commentaire, dire qu'aller a Tuanshan est compliqué et qu'il vaut mieux prendre un taxi releve du manque de professionalisme de celui qui a écrit ces ligne; bien sur que c'est plus facile de prendre un taxi mais ou est le voyage si l'on adopte une telle attitude.
pas de plan de Yuanyang et de sa région et la aussi l'incitation a prendre un taxi pour un prix abusif de 400/450 Yuan alors que la moitié et encore serait plus juste
page 321, présenté Puzhehei comme un équivalent de Yangshuo c'est vraiment se foutre de la gueule de ses lecteurs car en plus d'un prix exhorbitant (160 Yuan d'entrée) j'ai vraiment eu l'impression d'avoir été pris pour un touriste débile et avaleur de couleuvres.
Bon j'arrete la car je suis pas payé pour ce genre de boulot; d'ici un mois je mettrai un message donnant des infos pratiques de mes deux mois danc cette superbe partie de la Chine
Je voulais simplement dire que cette version 2007 du LP devait etre prise avec de sérieuses pincettes mais qu'elle restait malgré tout assez intéressante car elle présente des sites que d'autres ne mentionnent meme pas
Un petit commentaire totalement surréaliste c'est de signaler la puissance du seche mains dans le KFC de Baise (Guangxi) 🤪
Un voyageur averti en vaut deux
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
J'allais justement acheter le LP car en général il est bien fait... Je sais qu'un nouveau sort le 1er mai 2009, p e que la nouvelle version corrige ces inexactitudes ??
Quel guide conseillerais tu au final ? Car le Routard bof bof usuellement...
oulala pakontan raggamuffin
j ai utilise le LP 2007 et le routard 2007 en 2007 en chine, on n a probablement pas ete voir les memes choses et j ai aussi trouve des erreurs ds le LP, plutot plus que j en avais l habitude avec LP dans d autres pays (surtout a cause du rythme chinois de demolition-reconstructions, donc du caractere obsolete des infos), mais plutot moins d'erreurs que ds le routard
jeter le LP aux orties ou considerer le LP comme La bible, tu fais pas ds le pastel.
vivement le boulot que tu te reposes et que tu te detendes
ca serait sympa pour eux (et pour les futurs touristes) que tu leur envoies tes commentaires, peut etre qu ils feront comme ils ont deja fait, a savoir un credit pour le prochain guide que tu souhaites acheter.
En chine, (et pas que la bas), ils disent qu'une cure de citronelle detend et aide a faire passer les petites aigreurs
bon retour
ayant l'intention d'aller au Yunnan cet été pour 1 mois, , pouvez vous m'expliquer si cela vaut le coup ou non d' aller à Puhzehei (et combien de temps y passer) et me faire part de votre expérience?. y A -t-il des endroits particuliers à ne pas manquer?
merci
Le LP en anglais uniquement sur le sud-ouest est plus précis,
Il permet de découvrir des endroits non cités dans le LP Chine
plus exact je ne sais pas j'ai pas eu le tps de regarder
De toute façon les chinois ont une propension à tout déplacer en ce moment
Siya
D'abord signaler que les "modérateurs" du forum ont changé mon titre et l'on "francisé" ce qui pourrait laisser croire à certains que le guide "China's Southwest" existe en français. Ce qui à ma connaissance n'est pas le cas.
Mes revenons à nos moutons vu que j'ai du temps à perdre et des oeufs à peler.
Commençons par le début :
indiquer comme "portes d'entrée" à la Chine du Sud-Ouest Beijing et Shanghai c'est comme de dire à un Chinois qui voudrait visiter l'Andalousie qu'il peut y arriver via Berlin ou Londres. Bref la meilleure porte d'entrée c'est Hong Kong ou alors arriver à Kunming en venant de Bangkok par exemple.
Disons Hong Kong : comment "getting there and away" surtout sortir de Hong Kong. Il ne renseigne même pas les bateaux. J'ai par 3 fois quitté HK pour la Chine en bateau + bus (Canton, Kaiping et Zhaoqing) et c'est assez facile, on est directement au coeur de la Chine. En rentrant vers Hong Kong cela m'a pris trois heures de la gare de Shenzhen-Ouest pour rejoindre Tsim Sha Tsui. Bref ne pas privilégier les bateaux est une erreur d'autant plus que les formalités douanières sont très rapides contrairement à Shenzhen. On peut aussi arriver en Chine via Macao et Zuhai (la gare des bus de Zuhai est juste derrière la frontière). Bon évidemment si votre première étape est Guilin/Yangshuo péparez-vous à une longue étape - pas/plus ma tasse de thé.
Le Guizhou :
Guiyang : mauvaise échelle du plan; de la gare des bus (N°42 sur le plan) à la gare des trains il y a 3Km (c'est marqué sur des panneaux, en anglais) le plan laisse croire à 2, 2 kilomètres ! Aucune mention de 2 hôtels près de la gare dont le Mingzhu Fandian (d'accord les coups de sirène des trains font partie du tintamarre ambiant). Il ne renseigne même pas la magnifique église catholique sino-gothique fraîchement restaurée (photos 1 à 3) (elle est située dans le plan en haut et au milieu du cadre C2)
Une petite parenthèse pour signaler aussi des expressions difficilement compréhensible par de non-anglo-saxons : tippy-toe view (vue sur des orteils de tentes indiennes !?), "strolling willy-nilly around", ou aussi des infos totalement inutiles - j'ai déjà parlé du sèche-mains du KFC de Baise mais il y aussi ceci : "water heaters, which, if they've been turned on, ensure a hot shower" !? pour la télé c'est pareil, il faut l'allumer sinon l'écran reste noir !?
Xingyi : échelle pas correcte; il faut multiplier par trois celle indiquée (200m = 600m). C'est pas le bus 5 qui va aux gorges de la Maling mais le 4. Le bus 1 ne va pas aux Ten thousand peaks hills mais bien un bus local à prendre dans une station de bus bien cachée dans une cour sur Dongfeng Jie. Dans la rubrique "getting there and away" on mentionne un vol sur Shenzhen distante de près de 1.000Km en ... 35' (je savais pas que la Chine faisait voler des Concordes entre Xingyi et Shenzhen 🤪)
Guangxi :
à Yangshuo ne même pas mentionner le Marias' café !! ne mentionner Lèyè que par cette laconique ligne : "If you have more time continue on north to the karst landscape of Lèyè county" alors que cette région possède l'une des plus profondes dolines/tiankeng au monde, des grottes en veux-tu en voilà et une gigantesque arche naturelle accessible après 2h45 de canot sur la rivière Buliu cf http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_curiosity/2004-08/10/content_58840.htm
Hunnan (enfin juste 2 pages !) même pas la traductio en caractères chinois de Huaihua et localisation très approximative (ça ou ne rien dire c'est pareil, je préfère encore ne rien dire) dans cette ville de la gare des bus pour Fenghuang
Yunnan (le gros morceau) : généralités/climat, on ne dit pas quand il pleut dans cette province !!
Kunming : - la bus station (pour aller à Shilin) n'est pas bien située, elle se trouve sur le côté (gauche) de la gare (quand on regarde la gare). Il y a bien une petite gare en face de celle des bus longue distance (bien localisée elle) mais peu de bus pour la province. pour aller à Xi Shan il faut prendre un bus entre le terminus du N°5 et la gare des bus d'où démarre le bus N°6 (une préposée au terminus du N° 5 a un petit papier photocopié où il est inscrit la marche à suivre - on se croirait revenu au bon vieux temps des jeux de pistes chez les Scouts)
Xiaguan (New Dali) : le carrefour avec Taian Lu (emprunté par le bus N°8 en venant de Dali) et Jianshe Lu n'est vas un rond-point mais un carrefour en baïonnette. Avant d'arriver à ce carrefour vous avez sur votre gauche une tour assez originale avec un super marché au rez-de-chaussée (photo 4)
Si vous voulez aller de Dali/Xiaguan à Lincang (bus à 6h20, 7.50 et 9.00) prenez le bus N°8 depuis Dali jusqu'à son terminus à Xiaguan; la gare des bus pour Lincang (entre'autre) est à 200 mètres plus loin de l'autre côté de l'avenue.
Dali : le plan mentionne des routes qui n'existe pas comme celle en haut à gauche du plan et qui semble être une grand' route et bien elle n'existe pas. Le guide ne renseigne pas que celle qui est à l'extrémité droite du plan est la grand route de Kunming à Lijiang; il ne localise même pas la porte centrale de la ville sur Wenxian Lu, y'a bien une sorte de carré mais qui ne "parle" pas à celui qui lit le plan et qui s'imagine être déjà à la porte Sud ! Il positionne le Yunnan Café & Bar sur Huguo Lu alors que c'est sur Renmin Lu - il en vante les pizzas mais comme l'auteur principal du guide est Anglais (j'espère qu'il n'y a pas d'Anglais qui me lisent) il doit s'imaginer que les pizzas ont été inventées par les Hawaiens 🤪.
Lijiang : le pompon il n'y a qu'un petit morceau de la vieille ville; allez vous y retrouver avec un demi plan !
Zhongdian : même remarque il n'y a même pas la vieille ville ou à peine un morceau!!
Dans le Xishuangbanna, à Ganlanba il ne mentionne même pas le très intéressant temple bouddhiste (photo 5)
Je dois cependant reconnaître que leurs informations sur Bamei m'ont convaincu à y aller et que je n'ai pas été déçu par ce qui reste probablement le plus beau moment de mon voyage (photo 6 à 8)
D'autre infos ??? A vot' bon coeur 😉
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
J'avoue que je voyage depuis des années avec le lp, mais j'ai été très décu par celui sur la Chine en ce qui concerne le Yunnan ou le Guangxi... Encore pire, je voyageais avec le gros "China", que j'avais trouvé pourtant pas si mal pour Beijing, Xian ou la région de Shanghai, mais pour le Yunan y a pas mal de trucs à la limite de l'amateurisme ! Quasi rien sur Deqin, 5 lignes tout au plus, Zhongdian aucun plan non plus de la vieille ville, j'ai mis pas mal de temps à comprendre ne serait ce qu'ou elle etait, Lijiang meme chose, un tout petit plan... Yuanyang, y a en tout et pour tout une vingtaine de lignes... C'est jamais très grave parce que ça fait naturellement partie du voyage de se renseigner, mais bon la parfois c'était vraiment nimporte quoi ! J'essaierai le Rough Guide je pense la prochaine fois (parce que le routard faut quand meme pas pousser, je peux définitivement pas !).
je partage ton avis sur le guizhou. Les indications des hotels sont inprecises. Il manque trop d'information sur les chutes de huangguoshu.
Pour Kaili, aucunes indications sur l'impossibilité d'aller en bus de kaili à guilin sauf a revenir a guiyang ou d'aller a duyung et chercher une place dans le train (deja difficile de guiyang)
Les indications sur les villages autour de Kaili trop rapides et imprecises.
A titre perso, je prefere la descente en radeau de bambou à la descente en bateau une vraie arnaque a touriste avec nourriture inmangeable sans oublier que le guide essaie de te fourguer des visites à 2 fois le prix
Nous avons été surpris par une vague de chaleur à 40° à Xi'An tout en visitant le site des Guerriers en Terre Cuite. Malgré toutes les précautions peut être…
Alors que je me promenais tranquillement ce week end à People Square, j'ai été pour la première fois confronté à l'arnaque de la cérémonie du thé. J'espère…
Nous venons de quitter Datong ce matin. Nous sommes allés visiter les grottes de Yungang, le tarif est actuellement de 100 yuans par pers (bientôt 130 mais…
Nous venons de passer deux mois en Chine a la rencontre de journaliste, artiste, economiste... pour dresser une vue generale de la Chine de 2005 autour de…
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
We’re flying to China in a few days for a four-week trip—our first time in this fascinating country! 🇨🇳
We’ll be sharing our adventure live on our travel journal, with photos and daily updates. Our itinerary, though classic, will let us discover the wonders of this vast country:
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to China as a couple, and before we left, the budget was the hardest thing to picture concretely. We found plenty of info on visas, apps, transport, and itineraries, but way fewer detailed breakdowns of what you *actually* spend on the ground.
So, we took the time to share our real budget for 14 days. In our case, we spent around 1,800 € per person, with a big chunk of that going toward round-trip flights at about 600 € per person. We were also pretty surprised by how affordable China can be once you’re there—transport is often cheap, and a lot of everyday expenses stay reasonable.
The trickiest part, in the end, was figuring out how to pay while you’re there, since it’s not always obvious if you’re not prepared. But once everything’s set up and you get the hang of it, it’s really smooth.
If this can help other travelers get a better idea before they go, we’ve broken it all down here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/budget-2-semaines-de-voyage-en-chine/
Hi everyone,
I’ve been planning several itineraries for a trip to Japan with my wife but would love your insights before we start booking!
In short, we want to go during Golden Week, see late-blooming cherry trees, and have the freedom to get around with a rental car.
Here’s the plan:
18-day itinerary in Japan (April 25 → May 12)
Goal: freedom, late cherry blossoms, culture & nature
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Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27)
Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet).
Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba.
Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals.
Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
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Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28)
Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities:
Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms)
Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
Activities:
Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go.
Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house).
Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts.
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Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
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Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4)
Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle.
Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle.
Stay: Osaka.
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Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
The info I found on the forum is a bit outdated, so I’m asking again!
1) What budget should I plan for 15 days, given that hotels with breakfast, transfers, and transport are already paid for? I know it depends on the person, but I’d love a rough idea. For meals, we’re thinking simple street food or small local restaurants.
2) I’ve heard that credit cards (we each have a Revolut + 1 Visa Premier) aren’t widely used and that it’s better to have cash. Can you confirm?
3) Are foreign credit cards still not accepted at bank ATMs? Still 7-Eleven or the Post Office? And what about American Express?
I'm planning a 19-day itinerary in Japan this summer.
For a first trip, Kyoto seems like a must. For the rest, I'm torn between:
- Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa for 5 to 6 days
- Kyoto 4 days
- Nara 2 days
- Koyasan 1 day
- Hakone/Mount Fuji 2 to 3 days
- Tokyo 3 days
Or dedicating the first 6 days to Kyushu.
Maybe there’s less traditional Japan in Kyushu compared to the Japanese Alps?
Maybe Kyushu is less crowded?
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ll be in Hong Kong from December 31 to January 3, 2027.
Any recommendations for things to see or do?
I’ll be staying in the Kowloon district.
I’d love to visit Lantau Island—what’s the best way to get there? And would you recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket for the cable car? Also, is there an entry fee for the Big Buddha?
I’m heading to Taiwan soon and would love some up-to-date info on Wi-Fi.
From what I’ve gathered, Taiwan offers it for free, but I’ve heard it’s not secure since it’s not protected by a "password." Since I’ve been traveling outside the EU for years without a local SIM card, I only use Wi-Fi in hotels, restaurants, and cafés. For me, that’s more than enough. So, my question is: Do these places secure their Wi-Fi with a "password"? If not, does buying a SIM card or eSIM seem like the only alternative?
Also, if any of you have recommendations for budget-friendly hotels in the main "cities," I’d love to hear them!
We’re planning a trip to China for two at the beginning of April and want to spend 2 nights in the Longji Rice Terraces—either in Dazhai, Tiantouzhaï, or Ping'an. I’ve seen that most of the hotels are made of bamboo, and you can hear every little noise. Since my husband is a very light sleeper, he’d really like to be sure he’ll get a good night’s rest. Can you recommend any quiet, well-soundproofed hotels in the area?
I’m reaching out to you because I’m planning our next big trip (Japan is really tempting us for the autumn!) and I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.
My husband and I have always loved traveling, and at 75, we have no intention of stopping... But I find that everything’s getting so complicated. I try to be "modern" by booking online, but as soon as there’s a problem, we hit a wall.
A friend nearly missed her departure last year because of a visa issue that wasn’t explained properly on a website... and no one to call for help, just automated messages.
It makes me a little nervous to be alone in front of a screen so far away, especially since at our age, we like knowing there’s real support if our health takes a turn while we’re there.
Anyway, I’m tired of seeing my file passed from one person to another without ever having the same contact... Do you know of any small, trustworthy agencies or people who still work the "old-fashioned" way and really look after their clients? I love my independence, but I need a real face behind my project.
Thanks in advance for your advice, and I look forward to reading your replies,
Catherine
I’m planning our trip to Japan from March 21 to April 11, 2026. We’re planning to travel by plane for long distances (Okinawa) and by train for the rest. I’d like to know if renting a car is easy and, most importantly, if driving with road signs written in Japanese isn’t too complicated. For trains, are there any tips to save money?
hi everyone, and first of all, I wish you all a happy new year and good health!
This coming October or November, we’re planning our first trip to Japan. The only downside is we’ll only have two weeks off.
For this first visit, I’m thinking of sticking to the Kyoto and Osaka area… saving Tokyo for another trip. Do you think that’s a good choice for a first-time visit?
I’ve put together a little itinerary below to get some feedback from those in the know. I’m only counting the days we’re actually there, not travel days.
Day 1: Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji – Philosopher’s Path with stops at a few shrines
temples Eikan-dō and Nanzen-ji
visit to the Samurai Ninja Museum in the late afternoon
Day 2: Kyoto
Fushimi Inari (allow 4 hours for the hike through the park)
visit to Sanjūsangen-dō temple
Shōseien garden
participate in a tea ceremony
Day 3: Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera temple
stroll through the historic district up to Kennin-ji temple
visit Kennin-ji temple
Yasaka-jinja shrine and Gion district in the late afternoon
return to the hotel via Pontochō Street
Day 4: Kyoto
visit Kinkaku-ji and Nijō Castle
visit the Imperial Palace gardens
end the day in the shopping streets (Shibkyogoku and Teramachi, among others)
Day 5: Kyoto
Arashiyama area
Togetsukyo Bridge, walk along the river, visit the Bamboo Forest
explore the area up to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple
Day 6: Kyoto
hike from Kibune to Kurama
Day 7: Kyoto
day trip to Nara (full day)
Day 8:
stroll around Kyoto before heading to Osaka
Day 9: Osaka
Katsuo-ji temple, then head to Minoh Falls and hike back via the Minoh Trail
end the day in the Osaka Castle area
Day 10: Osaka
Himeji Castle and an afternoon in Osaka
Day 11: Osaka
Osaka and return to the airport in the late afternoon for the flight home
Do you think this itinerary is doable? Are some days too relaxed or too packed?
I was thinking of adding a trip to Lake Biwa and Uji, but in that case, I’d have to cut some things. Are those places worth dropping some of the planned spots? And if so, which ones would you recommend cutting or shortening?
Thanks in advance—I’m all ears for both positive and negative feedback!
stephane
