Le gouvernement éthiopien et Ethiopian Airlines ont décidé de construire au sud de la capitale ce qui pourrait être un jour le plus grand aéroport africain et même peut-être du monde avec une capacité autour de 100 millions de passagers/an. Celui-ci serait opérationnel pour 2028.
Lire la suite...
C'est une véritable catastrophe économique pour l'Ethiopie car ce pays n'a pas du tout les moyens de faire des dépenses extravagantes.
Donc les finances publiques de ce pays même avec un partenariat privé vont beaucoup s'endetter.
Et c'est une dette qu'il faudra rembourser pendant des années.
Pendant ce temps-là le petit peuple possède peu pour vivre
Oui c'est le colonialisme à la chinoise :Métro, train Addis-Ababa à Djibouti), infrastructures routières, usines, barrages etc... tout est aux mains des Chinois sans aucune retombée sur le peuple qui est toujours aussi pauvre !
Matt,
Comme dans tous les pays, il y a des gagnants et des perdants. Ayant visité l'Ethiopie déjà 3 fois depuis 2008, j'y ai vu bien des améliorations à la vie des populations même dans des régions reculées. L'aménagement en eau potable et en électricité a fait des progrès très importants pour desservir les habitants . Il y a dorénavant pratiquement plus de coupure à Addis et dans les grandes villes.
Quant à Ethiopian, c'est la plus grande compagnie aérienne africaine. Son développement sur le continent permet de maintenir à flot des compagnies de l'Afrique de l'Ouest ce que les gouvernements ne pourraient faire.
Lire: https://www.air-journal.fr/2020-01-19-ethiopian-airlines-lance-la-construction-dun-mega-aeroport-dune-capacite-de-100-millions-de-passagers-5217672.html
Si la Chine est autant présente dans les infrastructures et le développement de l'industrie et de l'agriculture, c'est en raison de l'abandon par l'Europe de ces pays d'Afrique de l'Est manquant de façade maritime. Le seul port disponible Djibouti , nous l'avons laissé tomber pour l'offrir aux émirats et à la Chine. Notre simple préoccupation est de maintenir tant bien que mal une base militaire en Mer Rouge .
Jusqu'à présent, la population éthiopienne était peu citadine et les bidonvilles peu nombreux car l'agriculture vivrière des campagnes permettait le maintien des habitants dans les campagnes (85%), du fait du manque de mécanisation ce qui nécessitait un nombre important de main d'oeuvre. Ce serait un développement rapide de méthode de travail de la terre qui favoriserait l'exode rural, ce que nous avons connu vers le milieu du XIX ème siècle.
Il vaut peut-être mieux construire des barrages, améliorer le réseau routier, construire des usines et des universités (il y en a un peu partout maintenant) que se contenter de piller les richesses d'un pays avec la complicité des dirigeants comme l'on fait, un peu partout, les coloniaux d'autrefois.
D'accord avec toi, les retombées pour le paysan des Hauts Plateaux et d'ailleurs seront minimes sauf de pouvoir envoyer leurs gamins à l'école et peut-être en faculté, de pouvoir circuler plus facilement car aujourd'hui beaucoup de régions sont sorties de leur isolement.
Bien entendu, les Chinois ne font pas cela pour rien et comme partout une petite minorité va s'enrichir et le reste stagner ou s'appauvrir davantage, ce qui semble difficile dans ce pays !
Cela dit, après le méga barrage sur le Nil Bleu, les Éthiopiens veulent avoir le plus grand aéroport d'Afrique et d'ailleurs. Ce n'est pas aller dans le bon sens pour ce qui est de l'écologie, qui semble être le dernier des soucis du gouvernement. Il suffit de traverser la Rift Valley pour le constater (cultures des fleurs et maintenant des vignes : bien pire à mon avis que ce futur aéroport) ou l'Oromia du côté de Gasera (céréales à perte de vue sans un seul arbre). Ces productions à grande échelle n'apportent rien aux habitants, bien au contraire. Et là, ce ne sont pas les Chinois qui tirent les marrons du feu !
Pauvres Éthiopiens, ils n'ont pas fini d'en baver ! A l'époque d'Hailé Sélassié, que j'ai connue, ce n'était pas terrible non plus, ni à celle du Négus Rouge, que beaucoup regrettent aujourd'hui, c'est dire !
La Chine a peut-être d'autres soucis actuellement et aura d'autres priorités par la suite...
Oui enfin bon, encore heureux qu'un gouvernement ne soit pas bloqué par une épidémie pour avoir une vision de développement moyen et long terme.
Et l'Afrique est bien LA priorité de la Chine
Donc rien d'incohérent...
Effectivement, si l'épisode épidémique coronavirus 2019 a autant d'effets que celle du SARS en 2002 ce sera peanuts sur l'économie chinoise (rappel SARS 2002 = 1pt de croissance en moins pour la Chine)
Bon voyage et surtout voyagez zen!
Michel France (85)
M’enfin 100 millions de passager c’est autant qu’Atlanta et Pékin (les aéroports les plus fréquentés au monde), plus que Dubaï ou encore LA. On peut dire que c’est « ambitieux » ou, autrement, peu réaliste comme perspective même à relativement long terme.
Effectivement, si l'épisode épidémique coronavirus 2019 a autant d'effets que celle du SARS en 2002 ce sera peanuts sur l'économie chinoise (rappel SARS 2002 = 1pt de croissance en moins pour la Chine)
La situation de la Chine n'est pas vraiment la même en 2020 qu'en 2002... les effets risquent d'être un peu plus fort alors que la croissance était déjà en baisse. Sans parler de tensions politiques qui pourraient voir le jour.
Et avoir de telles faiblesses lorsque l'on vise l'hégémonie pourrait ne pas être sans conséquences.
On peut dire que c’est « ambitieux » ou, autrement, peu réaliste comme perspective même à relativement long terme.
Surtout que l'Éthiopie n'est pas un pays des plus stables et peut être soumis à des tensions géopolitiques assez fortes (avec des voisins comme l'Érythrée ou la Somalie).
L'Ethiopie n'est pas la seule porte d'entrée de l'Afrique, les pays du Golfe ont des plate-formes assez efficaces déjà en fonction.
Et Éthiopian n'est peut-être pas aussi irréprochable non plus...
Kyle,
L'Ethiopie n'est peut être pas irréprochable mais son développement est remarquable dans une Afrique très morcelée et en cherchant pas à se coaliser contre ses problèmes internes.
Les pays du golfe ne sont pas en Afrique mais en Asie ou j'ai oublié mes cours de géo de 6 ème.
Addis est le plus gros hub en Afrique. 100 millions de passagers est certainement très ambitieux. L'aéroport prévu ne se fera certainement pas en une seule fois ( voir CDG qui n'en finit pas de s'agrandir au grand dam des voisins ) .
Cela permettra un accroissement du tourisme d'un pays dont la diversité géographique et le passé historique sont des atouts. Les infrastructures routières sont balbutiantes mais le réseau aérien permet d'atteindre rapidement des zones éloignées de la capitale.
Les pays du golfe ne sont pas en Afrique mais en Asie ou j'ai oublié mes cours de géo de 6 ème.
Je parlais des routes Asie <> Afrique qui font escale dans les pays du Golfe sans grand détour avec des places possiblement déjà prises.
Ainsi que via l'Europe pour certaines destinations.
Disons que Ethiopian ne remplit pas un marché inexistant.
Ils ont leur place... mais au point d'avoir le plus gros aéroport du monde ??
Oui c'est le colonialisme à la chinoise :Métro, train Addis-Ababa à Djibouti), infrastructures routières, usines, barrages etc... tout est aux mains des Chinois sans aucune retombée sur le peuple qui est toujours aussi pauvre !
Les Éthiopiens n'ont qu'à se prendre en main...
Quant à cet éventuel aéroport, je vais attendre de le voir pour y croire ! 😎
Franchement, ce pays n'a rien d'autre à offrir à ses habitants? il pourrait aussi leurs offrir directement la 5G pendant qu'on y est. Non il semblerait que des choses bien plus simples et plus utiles, sont à mettre à disposition du peuple. Pourquoi mettre la population et le pays sous le bruit infernal des avions ainsi que la pollution qui en résulte. Qu'ils ne prennent pas exemple sur les pays (qui se disent) développés et garde la beauté de celui-ci 🏴☠️
Bernard,
Bien sûr qu'il peut paraître que le pays pourrait faire d'autres choses que cet aéroport, mais il faut voir la position géographique d'Addis. C'est le point d'arrivée en Afrique pour tous les avions venant d'Asie. Depuis l'Europe, c'est également un hub important pour distribuer les vols vers tous les pays de l4afrique subsaharienne.
Du point de vue économique, cela permet le développement du tourisme dans un pays qui détient une forte potentialité dans ce domaine. C'est le pays d'Afrique différent des autres pays africains en particulier dans ses diversités tant géographiques qu'ethnographiques et historiques.
Le pays s'est considérablement développé en matière d'électricité par l'aménagement en barrages sur les différents cours d'eau qui irriguent le pays tant l'Omo que le Nil bleu . Que les détracteurs de l'hydro électricité se rassurent, un barrage ne fait pas perdre d'eau aux utilisateurs situés en aval. Pour faire de l'électricité, il faut des lâchers d'eau. Quant au climat de l'Ethiopie, il est beaucoup plus clément en raison de l'altitude moyenne du pays que de nombreux autres pays africains.
C'est le point d'arrivée en Afrique pour tous les avions venant d'Asie.
"Pour tous les avions venant d'Asie ?" c est pas le cas maintenant et c est aller un peu vite en besogne pour l avenir. Comme cela a déjà été dit, le marché des "hubs" entre Asie et Afrique est loin d'être égal à 0 avec 2 très grands hubs qui sont tous 2 hors d'Afrique : Dubai et Istanbul. Et en Afrique, avec Kenya Airways et South African qui souffrent, il y a effectivement une opportunité pour Addis.
Mais quant à dire que cela en fera un hub incontournable ou le plus grand aéroport du monde...
Doumechris vous êtes merveilleux, rien que des bénéfices pour la population!!! Alors qu'en Europe on cherche des solutions à ce problème de monstrueux aéroports. c'est vrai que le peuple n'attends que cet aéroport pour son avenir. Arrête de faire des commentaires, mais voyagez un peu à travers le monde et vous vous apercevrez qu'il y a une sacré différence en ce que veulent les dirigeants de ces pays en voie de développement et ce que veut le peuple! Enlevez votre casquette d'européen et ouvrez les yeux!!!
😐
Din,
Je n'ai jamais dit qu'AA serait le plus grand aéroport du monde.
Par contre, pour moi, AA est bien placé comme hub principal de l'Afrique, c'est à dire plaque tournante pour bon nombre d'avions venant d'Europe, et d'Asie y compris du Moyen Orient. De plus, Ethiopian se développe à vitesse grand V. AA est plus central que Nairobi au niveau géographique.
Bernard,
L'Ethiopie , je m'y suis rendu 3 fois depuis 2008. Je vois, et me rends compte des changements dans la vie de la population. L'eau et l'électricité sont les besoins essentiels des habitants. Et là d'importantes améliorations ont eu lieu pour les villes et les campagnes. J'ai certainement visité pas mal de pays où vous n'avez jamais mis les pieds (voir mon profil !).
Et pensez vous que les populations européennes soient d'accord avec leur gouvernement? J'en doute.
Au fait, on ne dit plus pays en voie de développement mais pays émergents !!!
Compagnies aériennes › Éthiopie / Kenya · 142 replies
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If you're planning your trips for 2026, Bruno Maltor's latest video should catch your interest. The travel tips YouTuber lists about ten destinations that could seriously complicate your stay this year.
What to expect in 2026
Without giving everything away, here are a few hints about what might ruin your trip:
- Major construction projects turning some cities into work zones (Olympics, infrastructure, etc.)
- Iconic sites under scaffolding – yes, even world-famous landmarks
- Major sporting events causing prices to skyrocket and accommodations to fill up
- Formerly affordable destinations now priced out of reach
- New tourist restrictions in cities that can’t handle any more visitors
- Concerning health or logistical situations in certain countries
10 destinations scrutinized
Bruno Maltor breaks down the cases of Los Angeles, Athens, Barcelona, Hallstatt, Vancouver, Cuba, Argentina, Kyoto, the Canary Islands, and Cairo in his video. For each, he explains exactly what the issues are and whether they’re temporary or structural.
Watch the full video.
Dear community members,
For years, we’ve shared our stories, tips, and travel mishaps here. That’s the strength of our forum. However, we’ve noticed a trend: more and more travelers find themselves stuck with critical questions that need an immediate answer.
Sometimes, a post on the forum takes a few hours or even days to get the right response. When you’re traveling, you don’t always have that time—nor do you when you come across a great deal that’s only available for a few hours for booking. Some questions also go unanswered.
Why a WhatsApp group?
To complement our discussions here, we’ve decided to launch a WhatsApp support group. The idea is simple: provide an instant communication channel for those who need reliable info, right away.
Locals with real-time access to information can answer your questions.
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The group is open to all forum members. Whether you’re in the middle of planning or already on the road with your backpack, this thread is here to help keep you safe.
Join the WhatsApp support thread here
Note: We’ll of course continue exchanging long stories and in-depth advice on the forum, but for urgent or technical/logistical questions, we’ll see you on WhatsApp!
Dear members, dear travelers,
The whole team sends you our best wishes for this new year. We hope you’ll have unexpected roads, light backpacks, and above all, that joy of sharing that keeps our community’s heart beating.
Independence comes at a cost (but it’s priceless)
The year that just ended was decisive. We made a strong choice: to keep VoyageForum and MyAtlas independent.
In concrete terms, this means:
Zero selling of your personal data.
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The reality of the numbers: why we need you
To be completely transparent with you, running a platform like ours—covering hosting, data security, moderation, and the technical team that supports us—costs 10,000 € per month.
The 2026 goal: The site in your pocket
Your support will go toward a major priority you’ve often asked for: making VoyageForum and MyAtlas more mobile-friendly. We want to develop a seamless smartphone experience so you can check tips and share your stories more easily.
To maintain this standard, we’ve invested a lot technically and personally. But today, to keep the adventure going in 2026 without compromise, we need you.
How can you help? (The price of a coffee every two months)
The most direct way to support us is to subscribe to the MyAtlas membership for 19 € per year. To do this, you’ll first need to create a MyAtlas account before subscribing.
This isn’t just a subscription to a travel journal tool—it’s an act of support to keep VoyageForum’s infrastructure online, secure, and thriving.
Today, we’re a community of 100,000 active members. If just 10% of you choose to support us through the MyAtlas membership, VoyageForum’s future isn’t just secure—we’ll finally be able to invest in what you’ve been missing most.
Let’s co-build 2026
Beyond the financial aspect, we want 2026 to be the year of dialogue.
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Are you a pro (tech, tourism, content) and want to lend a hand?
Write to us at service@myatlas.com—we read everything.
VoyageForum has existed by and for you for years. Thank you for being its pillars.
Wishing you all wonderful end-of-year celebrations,
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Photo credit: Yonhap - Santa Clauses on Mount Bukhansan, Seoul
VoyageForum celebrates its 1-year reopening with MyAtlas!
Thanks for this amazing year—you’ve come back with unforgettable travel stories shared on VoyageForum, swapped tips, and dreamed up new adventures... What if now’s the time to bring them to life in a different way?
To celebrate this first milestone, MyAtlas and VoyageForum, still united, are offering you a sweet discount on your photo book.
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The end of a golden age
For years, travel forums embodied the spirit of mutual aid on the web. Travelers generously shared their experiences, tips, and secret spots. This collective generosity seemed endless. But behind this altruistic facade lay a more complex reality.
The silent infiltration of forums
Free travel forums have gradually become marketing hunting grounds. Under the guise of "experienced travelers," professionals in tourism, affiliates seeking commissions, or aspiring influencers testing monetization strategies now lurk.
These fake profiles master the community’s codes. They build credibility by answering dozens of basic questions before subtly slipping in their paid recommendations. A "favorite" hotel mentioned insistently, an "essential" guidebook systematically cited, an "extraordinary" local agency that keeps coming up in conversations.
New travelers can no longer tell the difference between selfless advice and disguised promotion. This informational pollution has gradually eroded the trust that gave these platforms their value.
The rise of paid Travel Planners
Faced with this decline, a new profession has emerged: the independent Travel Planner. These professionals fully embrace their commercial status and charge for personalized advice.
The model is transparent: you pay for real expertise, tailor-made itineraries, and guaranteed availability. Some offer packages for 150-300 € to plan a two-week trip entirely. Others charge by the hour.
This professionalization marks a turning point. Travel advice is leaving the realm of volunteerism and entering the world of paid services. Paradoxically, this acknowledged monetization can restore a form of trust: you know what you’re paying for.
The irruption of artificial intelligence
But now, a third option is emerging: generative AI. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others can now generate travel itineraries in seconds, for free, with no commercial agenda.
AI promises neutral, synthetic, endlessly customizable information. It compiles thousands of sources in real time, suggests alternatives, and adapts recommendations to your budget and time constraints. It doesn’t sell anything, earns no commissions, and has no hotels to promote.
But this apparent neutrality hides its own limitations. AI feeds on existing data, often from the same polluted forums or marketing content. It can invent restaurants that don’t exist, mix up tourist seasons, or ignore recent local realities. It has never walked a city’s streets, negotiated with a tuk-tuk driver, or felt the atmosphere of a neighborhood at nightfall.
The forgotten alternative: authentic local experts
In this landscape saturated with dubious information, imperfect AI, and monetized services, one often-overlooked option remains: consulting real local professionals.
Not the agencies at the top of Google’s first page—often the most expensive and generic. But small local businesses, independent guides established for years, still-free municipal tourism offices, and cultural associations organizing themed tours.
These players offer what neither AI nor forums can: embodied, up-to-date, contextualized knowledge of the area. They know the newly opened restaurant, the museum temporarily closed for renovations, the impromptu weekend festival, or the alternative route to avoid construction.
Finding them takes extra effort. You have to search in the local language, look beyond the first page of results, check regional institutional websites, and join community Facebook groups. But this approach is often rewarded with free or low-cost advice of unmatched precision.
Toward an ecology of travel advice
The future of travel advice likely won’t be binary but hybrid. AI can rough out itineraries, propose logistical options, and compare alternatives. Travel Planners can refine, personalize, and reassure anxious travelers. Local experts can enrich, correct, and ground advice in on-the-ground reality.
But for this ecosystem to work, we’ll need to develop new discernment. Learn to spot fake profiles on forums. Systematically verify AI suggestions. Assess the real value of a Travel Planner before paying. And, above all, rediscover the habit of contacting those who live there directly.
Travel has always been a school of discernment. It teaches us to distinguish the authentic from the fake, sincere advice from commercial manipulation. In the digital age, this skill becomes more crucial than ever.
Because ultimately, the real question isn’t which information source to prioritize, but how to cultivate our own ability to evaluate, cross-check, and ultimately make informed choices. The best travel guide may still be our critical thinking.
Travel is, above all, a story of encounters.
Those that inspire us, guide us, and make us dream.
That’s why we’re happy to announce a partnership between Petit Futé and VoyageForum, two worlds that share the same passion: travel experienced and recounted by those who truly set off.
In practical terms, you can now find VoyageForum directly on PetitFuté.com, through:
Over 190 destinations linked to the forum: on each “Discover the destination” page, a “Travelers’ Forum” tab lets you access discussions, tips, and testimonials from travelers just like you.
A link to the forum in the “Community” menu under “Discover the forum”, where you can chat, ask questions, or simply dream about your next getaway.
This partnership marks a new step in giving travelers even more of a voice.
A way to connect practical information and lived experience, to share insights so everyone can plan their trips by relying on what’s most valuable: exchanges between enthusiasts.
Thanks to all of you who keep this wonderful community alive, day after day.
Because travel is even more beautiful when it’s shared
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I’ve kept quiet about them... to preserve them.
Those are the words of a passionate traveler who recently wrote to us.
For years, he’s been discovering rare, authentic places... and chooses to say nothing.
Out of respect. Out of fear of destruction. Out of love for secrecy.
What would you do?
You stumble upon a magical spot, still untouched by mass tourism.
Do you keep it to yourself... or do you open the door, gently, to other travelers?
At DIRECTRAVEL, we’re asking ourselves these questions.
Can sharing be an act of passing something on?
Or is it always the beginning of the end for these preserved places?
Read the article here.
We’ve got a little game for you (okay, it’s not a walk in the park—you’ll have to do some digging!) with DirecTravel: the prize is 5 nights for one person at the Nilaya Experience guesthouse, right in the heart of Kerala, India.
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Back-to-school season is when we get back into our routines, but it’s also when we look back on the great memories from summer. We often promise ourselves we’ll organize our photos, jot down our stories… and then life gets busy. Those memories slowly fade, stuck in our phones...
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A new step for visitors starting September 2025
Laos is modernizing its border entry procedures. From September 1, 2025, the Laos Immigration Police Department will pilot a new online arrival registration system for foreign passport holders.
This new procedure is similar to Thailand’s recent switch to a digital arrival card system (introduced in May 2025). Just like in Thailand, travelers heading to Laos will still need a valid visa—either an e-visa obtained online in advance or a visa on arrival (VOA) at eligible checkpoints—but they can now skip the paper immigration forms at the border.
TikTok is currently experimenting with a hotel booking feature directly integrated into its app, in partnership with a well-known specialized platform. American users can now search for and book accommodations without leaving TikTok. Meanwhile, content creators with over 1,000 followers can promote hotels and restaurants in the U.S. and earn commissions or vouchers for bookings. This test, limited to the U.S. market for now, aligns with the trend of social commerce. There’s no doubt this initiative will be closely watched by major players in the online travel industry.
Originally planned for an official opening on July 3, 2025, the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which has already been partially open since autumn 2024, has had its official inauguration pushed back to the end of the year. This decision, made due to growing tensions in the Middle East, was motivated by the desire to give the event the international dimension it deserves.
Spanning 500,000 m²—larger than the Louvre (which has 360,000 m² of total space, including 73,000 m² of exhibition areas)—the museum will house up to 100,000 artifacts, including the complete collection of Tutankhamun and a monumental statue of Ramses II.
It can already welcome 4,000 visitors per day with limited access, with a future capacity estimated at 13,000 per day once fully open.
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of François Boucher, the founder of VoyageForum.
We will remember his passion for travel, but most of all, the pride he took in this forum, which has become indispensable among travelers. While there may have been heated debates, we ask that you show respect for him.
François was still very active on the forum, especially in the technical development section. VoyageForum was his life’s work. He worked passionately to update the site and make up for the 4 years of closure due to the pandemic.
Today, VoyageForum has also lost its developer.
That’s why we’re reaching out to this community to continue François’s legacy. If there are any former or current developers among you who know PERL and would be willing to help, your support would be greatly appreciated.
According to a recent study, Bangkok ranks first among the top 100 global destinations for remote workers in 2025. The Thai capital stands out for its excellent value for money, solid infrastructure, and high satisfaction levels among digital nomads.
Dubai, London, Tokyo, and Nakhon Ratchasima (in Thailand) complete the top 5, each catering to different priorities (safety, connectivity, cultural vibrancy). The study also highlights the cost-of-living gaps between cities: from Weligama (Sri Lanka), very affordable, to New York, the most expensive.
Social media engagement and visitor return rates are also becoming key indicators for assessing a destination’s appeal to nomads.
We’re thrilled to share an exclusive offer from our partner Subocea for August:
80 € per person per day to board a private luxury boat in Egypt with friends, family, or colleagues!
The offer includes everything on-site (accommodation, meals, activities, etc.), except for the flight.
Onboard, snorkel with turtles!
A unique opportunity to experience an unforgettable adventure in an exceptional setting while meeting other community members.
Hurry: only 26 spots available! 😉
Departure is imminent—a great chance to escape and reconnect.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to pack your bags, here it is!
Interested? Contact us quickly to book or get more info!
You’ve probably noticed it: the real travel gems no longer show up in search results. In today’s all-digital age, those local operators, small authentic accommodations, passionate guides, and committed local initiatives remain invisible. No flashy website, no ads, often not even an online presence.
Yet they exist—people who take care of their land, their culture, their community. Hidden in valleys, villages, forests. These are the ones who truly give meaning to travel, the kind you only discover through word of mouth... or among savvy travelers.
A collaborative project is starting to patiently catalog them, one by one. It’s called DirecTravel. Not very well-known yet—it’s just getting started—but already shared among independent travel enthusiasts. Here, no standardization or flashy interface: every address has been discovered on the ground, the old-fashioned way. Some have even been recognized by the Sustainable Travel Awards.
Their approach? Taking the time to listen, build connections, and support local initiatives that will never appear on Google’s first page.
If you’re looking for something beyond the usual recommendations, and if the idea of sharing genuine tips speaks to you, then this project might interest you. And maybe you, too, have a gem to share with them.
Travel bookings to the United States are seeing a significant drop in France for summer 2025, with over a 30% decrease in the spring and around -11% for summer departures.
Several reasons explain this disengagement:
an unfavorable exchange rate at the start of the year,
very high prices on the ground (accommodation, dining),
negative experiences with immigration,
as well as a political and social context perceived as off-putting (civil rights, safety, tense social climate).
Tourism professionals also note difficulties for Florida and some Southern states, while destinations like New York and Orlando are faring better.
The recent drop in the dollar and airfares could, however, encourage last-minute departures, and tourism stakeholders are betting on a gradual recovery starting this autumn, with major events planned for 2026 like the World Cup or the 250th anniversary of the United States.
This summer, your memories deserve more than just a corner of film!
For the summer season, our partner MyAtlas is offering you an exclusive deal: 10% off all travel journals to print with the code ETEVF25 😛
Perfect for preserving your photos, anecdotes, itineraries, and highlights, the MyAtlas journal turns every trip into a real keepsake book—personalized and ready to flip through anytime.
Whether you're off on an adventure or exploring just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to capture the essence of your getaways and relive them again and again.
Don’t let your best stories gather dust in your phone: print them, share them, and above all, treasure them 😉
This forum was closed for a long time after COVID, then due to its sale by the previous owner. Since 2022, there have been notable changes for Russia. It became possible to travel to Russia as a tourist again after COVID restrictions ended in summer 2022. But before that, in March 2022, the EU and member countries cut air links with Russia, as well as train lines. They also cut Russian banks off from the Euro-American banking network—meaning cards and wire transfers.
EU-based insurers stopped offering policies for Russia.
The Green Card for cars in Russia was also discontinued.
Then the EU abolished the simplified visa regime agreement with Russia.
All in all, a summary of the current practical aspects would be helpful.
I’ve been traveling to Russia regularly for about twenty years, and after the long COVID break, I resumed in autumn 2022.
Visa
The usual paper visa is much more expensive. On one hand, because the previous regime was scrapped, and on the other, because invitations for multi-entry visas are pricier. A single-entry 30-day visa costs 80 €. The multi-entry one is 240 €. To be sure you’ll get a 12-month multi-entry, it’s best to buy a telex invitation from the MID (Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), though there are few resellers. Prices vary depending on the seller.
E-visas are now available for Schengen passport holders. A big simplification for trips up to 16 days within a 60-day validity period. You can apply from 40 days up to 5 days before your desired date. Issued in up to four days. The site is https://evisa.kdmid.ru/ Cost: 50 €. Processed through an Emirati bank (United Arab Emirates).
Medical Insurance
Medical insurance with repatriation is required to get a visa. So you’ll need to buy a policy. This brings up payment methods. If you’re already familiar with Russia and have a Russian bank account, you can pay with your Russian card. Otherwise, you’ll have to buy from a site that accepts payments via a Belarusian bank—which means your bank must work with Belarus—or go through https://goingrus.com/fr/insurance
Transport from the EU
Minibus (marshrutka) from Kirkenes (Norway) to Murmansk. Schedules are coordinated with flights from Oslo, which arrive between 11:00 and 12:00. They wait on the right as you exit the airport. Some are chartered by groups and leave directly, but may have space—ask the driver. Otherwise, two companies run the route, with a stop in town at the corner of the Scandic, where they depart around 14:00 or 15:00. Payment in cash (NOK or RUB) to the driver. Main operator: https://borodinbus.com
Bus from Tallinn (Estonia) to St. Petersburg. The border crossing is on the Narva River. The Russian road checkpoint has been closed since January 2024 for construction expected to last 2.5 years, so reopening is possible in summer 2026. In the meantime, it’s a two-bus journey: Tallinn-Narva, then walk across the bridge between the Estonian and Russian checkpoints at Ivangorod, followed by another bus. Several companies: Luxexpress, Ecolines, Baltic Shuttle, Anniston, СКСавто.
Bus from Riga to Pskov or St. Petersburg (final destination). Departs from Riga’s bus station (behind the train station) daily between 18:00 and 19:00. Arrives in Pskov between 01:00 and 02:00 (Russian time). Company: СКСавто. There’s another bus around 21:00 with Ecolines, but it’s longer, with a long stop at the border.
Bus from Gdańsk to Kaliningrad. Several buses per day. From the PKS bus station, behind Gdańsk’s central station, on the other side of the boulevard. From Kaliningrad, a 1-hour flight to St. Petersburg costs around 5000 RUB.
Basically, unless you’re planning to go to Murmansk and the Kola Peninsula—and possibly from Murmansk, flights to Arkhangelsk, then Nenetsia (Naryan-Mar), etc.—the three main crossing points with airports are Tallinn, Riga, and Gdańsk.
The Gdańsk-Kaliningrad bus is the fastest, and the ticket to St. Petersburg is very reasonable.
The Narva-Ivangorod route is the riskiest in terms of potential queues and crossing time. Holiday periods are especially risky. Last mid-June, I took a 14:00 bus from Tallinn. I’d bought a single-berth compartment on the Grand Express St. Petersburg-Moscow train, leaving at 23:00, with the idea of a good night’s rest before a Moscow-Magadan flight. A 7-hour queue at the border meant I arrived at St. Petersburg’s bus station at 23:00—missed the train, had to book a room, and spent time finding a reasonably priced flight to Moscow the next day for the same airport as my Magadan flight.
The Riga-Pskov route is a bit long but relaxed. If you get off in Pskov, you can still get decent sleep between 02:00 and 12:00. The Oktyabrskaya Hotel is cheap. I’ve also stopped in Izborsk. You ask the driver when boarding in Riga. The stop is on the federal highway—cross the road, and the main inn is 200m away. You can explore the medieval site the next morning before taking a bus to Pskov (30 km).
From Pskov, there are fast regional Lastochka trains—three or four per day—to St. Petersburg, taking 3.5 hours. Very comfortable and affordable.
Also, two daily flights with Azimuth to Moscow-Vnukovo from 5000 RUB. A one-hour flight. It’s a section of Pskov’s military airfield, just a few kilometers from the city center.
Money
Cash. The EU issued a nonsensical decree: a ban on importing EU currency (euros, zloty, kroner, forints, etc.) except for personal travel use. This doesn’t make sense because as a citizen of a eurozone country, you *have* to have euros—cash or electronic (card). You can’t travel without them. The stipulation about a limit for personal use is absurd because personal use can mean anything from a hostel bed to a luxury hotel room, plus transport (flight tickets, train tickets in Russia), restaurants, etc. Estonian customs officers ask about this at the border when leaving. They ask in Estonian, then Russian, then English, depending. Since I cross with a French passport, I just say, "Sorry, I don’t understand," no matter what. Then they ask with a questioning look, "Euro?" and I shake my head. I haven’t been searched, but they do ask to glance in your bag. Russians with large suitcases often get checked.
Cards and phone apps: if you have a Russian bank account.
Telephony and Internet
Roaming works but is pricey. Okay for calls and SMS, but very expensive for data. In that case, use an e-SIM with your home carrier if your phone supports it. Otherwise, look into prepaid rechargeable SIMs in Russia for data only—like SIM cards for mobile modems.
Russian SIM: Since this year (2025), as of March, it’s mandatory to be registered in the EBS (Unified Biometric System) to buy a SIM card. For a non-resident foreigner, this means first registering for a SNILS at an MFC (Multifunctional Center)—also called "My Documents." The SNILS is the pension center, which doesn’t require residency. After getting your SNILS number and certificate, you register on the public services portal, Gosuslugi. Finally, you register in the EBS system (voice sample—you read numbers—and a biometric facial photo).
Personal Car
The Green Card no longer covers Russia, and neither do EU-based insurers. But third-party liability insurance (OSAGO) is mandatory. Since the closure of the Russian checkpoint at Ivangorod for construction and the Finnish border closure, the routes are from Kirkenes in Norway, the Estonia-Pskov route, and—since the Belarus-Russia joint visa this year—the Belarus route, e.g., Poland-Terespol-Brest or Lithuania-Belarus.
No OSAGO sales if you cross via Kirkenes. I didn’t see any at Shumilkino, the Russian checkpoint after Estonia toward Pskov. If you have a Russian card, you can buy online, of course. Otherwise, pay in cash on-site at certain company offices (specific forms aren’t available at all agencies) or online by paying to a third-party account outside Russia—with added fees.
Spotlight on the "What A Trip Festival" in Montpellier
From September 22 to 28, 2025, head to Montpellier for the What A Trip Festival, the must-attend event for travel and adventure in images 😉
This event draws around 40,000 passionate visitors who come to (re)discover the world through documentary film screenings, followed by meet-ups, conferences, and workshops.
The "travel village" hosts a dedicated fair: exhibitor booths, a travel bookstore, photo exhibitions, food trucks, and free concerts set the pace.
The "Les rencontres voyageurs" booth will be there to offer you: a friendly atmosphere, conferences, masterclasses, fun games, and even interviews!
From December 9th to 12th, experience a winter getaway in the heart of the Czech capital, under the magical lights of the Christmas markets.
Enjoy an all-inclusive stay, blending cultural discoveries and festive holiday vibes with Hasamélis & MyAtlas.
Explore Prague’s treasures: Old Town Square, the castle, and the Town Hall Tower for breathtaking views…
This guided tour also takes you to exclusive, privately booked venues: Strahov Monastery, Estates Theatre, Municipal House… A rich cultural program in a cozy, festive atmosphere.
Calling all adventure and off-road enthusiasts: the must-attend event of the year is just around the corner!
From August 26 to 30 in Valloire, don’t miss THE OFF-ROAD SHOW, the premier event dedicated to expeditions, overlanding, and motorized exploration.
4x4s, trucks, motorcycles, SSVs, gear, travel, test drives, meet-ups... Over 180 exhibitors and the 4th edition of the Rencontres Voyageurs, a 1,000 m² space hosted by Campers Lab and MyAtlas.
On the program: Activities, talks, interviews, masterclasses...
One motto: get inspired, connect, explore... in the heart of the Alps.
At the Seto forum (Association of Travel Agents), it was highlighted that, despite an uncertain geopolitical context, summer bookings are showing a slight increase (+1.4% overall as of the end of April), with +1.6% on medium-haul and +0.6% on long-haul flights. This growth is supported by an expected revenue increase of +2.9% and an average basket rise of +3.2%.
In terms of destinations, the Greek islands remain at the top despite a slight decline of -1%, the Balearic Islands are gaining ground (+2%), and Tunisia stands out with strong growth (+13%) thanks to its excellent value for money. For long-haul, Mauritius continues to dominate (+9%), while the United States is experiencing a downturn (-14%), behind Indonesia (-6%) and ahead of the Dominican Republic (+4%). Finally, French Polynesia (+16%) and Vietnam (+41%) are emerging as booming destinations.
"Les rencontres voyageurs" is a must-attend event for all travel enthusiasts, at the heart of France’s most beautiful gatherings.
Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a beginner looking for your first adventures, these meet-ups aim to bring people together, inspire, and share knowledge.
They offer a unique opportunity to chat with inspiring travelers, discover their authentic stories, their favorite spots around the world, and their practical tips for traveling peacefully and enrichingly 😉
"Les rencontres voyageurs" also feature conferences and masterclasses led by industry experts, covering a variety of topics such as responsible travel, content creation, and optimizing itineraries.
These sessions, both practical and inspiring, are designed to expand your knowledge and fuel your projects. On top of that, there are fun and educational activities, including the famous traveler quiz, encouraging exchanges and conviviality. Finally, visitors can explore an exhibition of travel vehicles, vans, 4x4s, nomadic equipment, and chat with professionals about van conversions, mobility, and innovations dedicated to vanlife.
A complete, immersive experience that’s all about discovery.
VoyageForum needs you more than ever! To continue making it the biggest space for exchange, inspiration, and sharing, we want to better understand your desires and expectations.
Take a few moments to answer our survey and let’s build the future of VoyageForum together!
Big traveler survey! We want to know everything! 🌍
Dreaming of your next trip already? So are we, but to better understand the desires and habits of French travelers, we need your help to later offer the best tips, good deals, trips, and more.
It’s a short form (promise, it only takes a few minutes).
And... there might just be a 50 € gift voucher up for grabs for one of the participants. Just like that, to thank you for taking part✨
Just click on this link: https://tally.so/r/mRrj6J and check the box based on your travel preferences 🧳✈️
Thanks in advance for lending a hand!
The cruise sector has seen a remarkable rebound since the pandemic, with 2024 attendance 20% higher than in 2019—outpacing air traffic growth, which was limited to 10%.
This performance is driven by an early recovery in the U.S. starting in 2021, competitive pricing, and enhanced onboard offerings. Cruise companies have invested in innovation, with a notable increase in patents related to passenger health (14%) and onboard services (50%).
These efforts have attracted a younger clientele, with millennials now making up 34% of passengers. This recovery model could inspire the airline industry to accelerate its own rebound.
