en fait je suis au debut de mes rechercherches alors si tu as un peu de tps, ce serait cool de m'aiguiller un peu sur les endroits a ne pas manquer
question logement et alimentation tu dormais et mangeais ou?? dans les bouquins le cout de la vie est un peu similaire a celui de la france 😕(trop cher pour moi je pars 6mois voir plus)
sur ce, des que tu as 5 min ne m'oublies pas et files moi des tuyaux que je puisse orienter mes recherches(c'est "vachement "grand la chine!!!)
je suis parti 3 mois et c'est l'impression que ça m'a fait aussi avant de partir: trop cher, pas un hôtel en dessous de 15euros, les restos hors de prix. En fait il y a vraiment plusieurs Chine, celle ultra luxueuse (Hilton, Rolls a ouvert une concession il n'y a pas si longtemps...) dont je ne parlerai même pas, celle pour touristes "classiques" (confort similaire à l'Europe) avec restaurant propres où on mange pour 30-50 yuans et on dort pour 100-120 yuans et la Chine plus abordable avec des lits en dortoirs de 20 à 50 yuans et de la bouffe de rue à partir de 2 yuans (moins cher ça devient dur dans ce monde!). La côte Est est aussi plus chère (et encore que!). .on plus gros problème au niveau financier au début à été de trouver des hôtels dans des sous préfectures, des villes de seconde importance qui doivent quand même contenir 15 à 30 millions d'habitants, à des tarifs abordables car il n'y a pas de structures pour les routards occidentaux et les petits hôtels n'acceptent pas les étrangers et encore que, si j'avais su j'aurai plus insisté, plus tard ça m'est arrivé de dormir pour 10 yuans.
La seule chose plus chère sont les voyages mais ça c'est comme partout, plus on avance lentement moins ça coûte cher.
Bref, pour ma part, après acclimatation, je ne dépensais certainement pas 100 yuans (15 euros) par jour hors transport.
une dernière chose: Go West: va te ballader dans le Xinjiang et si tu peux (ça demande un peu de budget), go Tibet, ce n'est pas la Chine mais ces 2 destinations sont tellement exceptionelles.
Enfin la Chine est un pays fabuleux, contrasté, où on ne comprend rien (!!!) mais j'ai vraiment adoré. J'aimerai tant revoir en haut de la colline, dans la brume du matin, la grâce des gestes du Tai-Shi!
@+
pascal
"Je vais où mes pas me portent. J'espère que mes pieds sont plus intelligents que moi." Titus
genial les news!! je me creusais la tete a savoir comment j'allais financer ça, bonne nouvelle de fin de soiree
tu me parlais du tibet je compte y faire un saut, mais comme je l'ai deja dit c'est le debut des recherches je ne pars qu'en octobre ça me laisse un peu de tps pour faire mon parcours
je peux t'offrir des information, puisque je suis chinois.
tout d'abord, je vous dis que le taux entre euro et Yuan est actuellement 1:10!!😮
le cout de la vie en chine, il y a du grand ecart
entre les regions, dans les grandes villes, le cout est meme plus eleve qu'en france.
mais on a quand meme des combines pour comprimer le budget.🙂
se loger. les niveaux de pris d'hotel sont variable, de dizain a mille Yuan par jour.pour les hotel de trois etoile, ca fait 2 ou 3 centaine Yuan, et celui sans etoile est moinsde 100 yuan.sinon, il y a pleine de petite auberge particulier, surtout pres de la gare (aussi dans les grandes villes), 10 ou 20 yuan par jour, mais vous n'ambitionnez pas le sdb ni les toilettes, tout est commun, ou bienrien, il faut les chercher dans la rue. il faut faire attention, celles-ci pres de la gare, parfois il risque d'etre vole.mais pour les jeunes hommes, il n'y a pas de problem, moi, ca ne m'a jamais atteint.en revenche, vous pouvez decouvrir l'autre aspect de la societe.si tu veux rester dans quelques regions touristiques pendant un mois, il vaut mieux de louer une piece particulier.par exemple, a YangShuo, pres de GuiLin, et a DaLi, a la provincedu YunNan, il y a beaucoup de touristes occidentales y s'installent pendant plusieur mois.en plus, en 2002, un ami louait un appartement de 3 piece a YangShuo, il mesure 100 metres carres, le loyer etait 300 Yuan par mois!
se nourrir.c'est les plats chinois qui me manque
fortement.😠donc je vous propose de gouter le plus
possible.alors, dans les petits restaurants, il existe generalement deux genre de repas:le premier, on prononce comme (kwai zin), c'est a dire fastfood.il se compose par 2 ou 3 plats du jour dont vous pouvez choisir parmi les dizain et plus du riz.ca coute 5--10 yuan dont depend de la region.il y en a encore moins cher, mais quelque fois avec des problems d'ygiene, je ne propose pas. et l'autre genre, c'est les plats commandes individuels.il faut payer dans les 30 yuan et plus.les grandes restaurants n'offrent pas le fastfood, cependant ont le meilleur gout. d'ailleur, en ete, les soirs, il y a beaucoup de "tables en plein air" avec plein de monde, c'est pour le soupé, ou plutot pour bavarder et boire.un peu tumulte, mais l'ambiance est tres sympa, on l'aime beaucoup.bref, si vous etes pas tres gourmands, 40 yuan est largement suffisant.
le transport.le bus dans ville, 1 ou 2 yuan chaque fois,
par rapport a en France, quand vous changez un autre itineraire, il faut racheter le billet. le taxi, a partir de dizain yuan dont 3 km inclus,
au-dela, 2 yuan a peu pres par km.mais quelques chauffeurs jouent un tour surtout a les etranges. le train, il y a plusieur classe, c'est un peu complique, il y a 3 sortes de numero de train: T+chiffre, K+chiffre, L+chiffre ou que des chiffre.la premiere est le plus rapide car la reduction d'arreter, dans un train, il y a encore 3 sortes de place:couchette molle, couchette, place assis.
ils sont en ordre de décroissance du prix.
quant a le prix, je vous donne un exemple: de BeiJing a GuiYang, trajet:2550 km, numero du train:T88, prix de assis:271,
couchette:490, couchette molle:754 yuan.
l'avion.aussi de BeiJing a GuiYang, 1530 yuan.
voila, vous voyez, 15 euros/jour .....😇
ouuu, enfin🏴☠️!!! comme je suis libre aujourd'hui, faire une composition en francais.donnez beaucoup de patience pour les erreurs de grammaire😊. ca me plaira de votre correction😛.
Peut-êtr j'arrive trop tard, sans doute ! mais la chine ce n'est pas cher ! les hotels accueillent maintenant en général les "hôtes étrangers", c'est certainement le poste le plus honéreux du voyage, néanmoins on trouvait en 2000 des chambres confort(douche dans la chambre avec eau chaude) pour 150 euros ; par ailleurs on mange partout pour pas cher : dans les rues, dans les restos pour locaux ! même à Jangshuo ou à Dali ! nous avons fais en été 2000 la route Lahore -Pekin par Kashgar et l'année d'avant la région des marches du Tibet, magnifique, partout on a pu se loger à des prix raisonnables (on voyage sacs à dos et on est cinquantenaires)
faut arreter de se faire peur, la Chine, c'est facile, et ça ne coûte pas cher ! (ok plus que d'autres pays d'Asie!)
Bonjour,
Je me permets de vous contacter parce que ma fille 14 ans et moi-même nous organisons un séjour en chine pour découvrir le pays et apprendre la langue( ma fille veux être interprète) nous imaginons rester trois ans ?! pour avoir des bases? Xiamen dans le sud-ouest, par les livres nous séduit (on ne veux pas avoir froid!) Dans la logique je m'inscrirais dans une université et je chercherais un professeur particulier pour Djennaï quel budget compter?
Nous voudrions louer un appartement quel budget?Djennaï continuerai ses études par correspondance avec la Belgique.Avant notre arrivée prévue dès que tout est en ordre en belgique(quelques mois) nous irions faire un stage d'anglais mais-est-il possible de continuer à apprendre l'anglais et d'autres études en Chine? Je suis de niveau bac+3 soit éducatrice spécialisée plus thérapeute en systémique
en résumer location + nourriture+habit+études +visite en bus et train du pays échelonner le week-end quel budget? A noter que j'ai essayé par internet de prendre contact avec l'université de xiamen pour avoir les papiers d'inscriptions je n'ai pas réussi!D'ailleurs en expert si vous avez des idées pour un autre endroit n'hésitez pas! merci d'avance !!!
Bonjour Rosemarie
Je viens de lire ta réponse au sujet du coût de la vie en Chine, tu dis qu' en 2000 tu as trouvé des hôtels" pas chers à 150 euros "
Je pense que tu as dù faire une erreur, moi qui envisage un voyage là bas, ça va me faire réflechir !!!! (je pense partir au Yunnan)
🙁🤪😠
Le bonheur ne se trouve pas au sommet de la montagne, mais dans la façon de la gravir.
😉 oups ! j'avais mis un zéro de trop !!!!! désolée ! je voulais dire 15 euros ! difficile de trouver moins cher si on veut un peu de confort et de propreté ! nous sommes cinquantenaires (proches de soixantenaires) voyageons encore sac à dos ; nous avons fait la route Lahore-Pékin, via la karakoram en 2000 ...j'ai horreur des petites bêtes et je préfère la salle de bains juste pour nous .
Donc si on veut moins de confort, on trouve moins cher, certainement. C'est le poste le plus onéreux du voyage.
Se nourrir, par contre, est très bon marché.
Nous sommes allés en chine en été 2005 pour la 4ème fois et nous y retournons cet été : Arrivée à Kunming descente vers le Xishanbannah, puis remontée vers Wuhan pour passer par les 3 gorges, et fin à Shangai que nous connaissons déja.
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › Chine · 4 replies
Je dois effectuer un stage en entreprise en chine en novembre 2007 (environ 6 semaines) merci de me donner des infos sur le cout de la vie quotidienne…
J*aimerais avoir des infos sur le cout de la vie en chine.nous ne prendrons que des hotels bas de gamme et mangerons dans la rue.nous avons le temps (pas de…
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › Chine · 10 replies
J'envisage de partir 6 mois à Pékin en 2012 pour suivre ma copine et découvrir ce pays plein d'opportunités: apprendre le chinois, rencontrer des entrepreneurs…
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › Chine · 2 replies
JE TRAVAILLE POUR UNE SOCIETE FRANCAISE DEPUIS QUELQUES ANNEES. MON ENTREPRISE ME PROPOSE UN POSTE SUR HONG KONG. on me propose un salaire équivalent à celui…
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,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
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?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
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’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?
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