Bonjour,
Qques infos sommaires de retour de voyage (fév. 2018) portant uniquement sur les hébergements bon marché, auberges de jeunesse, guest houses ou petits hôtels.
Negombo : Aurora guest house : non.
Pas cher le dortoir de 7 (700-800 Rp sans petit déj.) mais mal conçu et bruyant.
La dame est gentille mais parle à peine anglais ; on peut utiliser la cuisine. Bien placé dans une petite rue calme.
Sigiriya : Sigiriya Relax guest house : recommandé !
Joli jardin, terrasses individuelles, chambre assez grande, moustiquaire ok. Il y a même l'eau chaude. La proprio parle bien anglais et n'est pas insistante pour revendre des services. Calme, sauf peut-être si vos voisins sont bruyants.
En revanche, la nourriture est chère : environ 600 (restos à l'autre bout de "la rue des restos" à 350). Chambre environ 1500.
Le chemin qui mène à la route débouche sur l'arrêt de bus et il y a de petits magasins avec des "quick eats" dès 6h30 si vous partez tôt au rocher du Lion ou ailleurs.
Polonnaruwa : Samudra guest house : bof.
En fait un hôtel sans charme mais bien placé, près de là où nous pose le bus de Sigiriya, du marché ou du musée. On peut aussi aller se balader le long du lac pour le coucher de soleil voir la partie gratuite des ruines (sud).
Prix négocié : 1000 Rp sans petit déj.
Kandy : The best hostel : pas mal.
Tenu par des jeunes assez sympa dont un en mode "Bob Marley", dortoirs de 4 pour 800 - 900 Rp avec petit déj européen inclus. Une SdB pour 8 mais vous pouvez utiliser celles des autres étages. Petite terrasse pour rencontrer du monde. Casiers. Tout à fait honorable.
Placé à l'est du lac donc il vous faudra 10 min de marche pour arriver au temple de la dent.
A proximité, une laverie pratique : 150 Rp/ kg et des "bakeries". Egalement un resto local.
Haputale : Lakshan view resort : mouais.
Familial, certaines chambres nécessitent de passer par le salon. La mère ne parle pas bien anglais mais le fils suffisamment. 1200 négocié à 1000 Rp sans petit déj (pas sûr qu'il soit possible d'en avoir). Très bien placé près du centre : 5 min de marche en venant de la gare. En revanche, on a l'impression que le train passe dans la chambre donc il faut vouloir se lever tôt ! Salle de bain (privative) mal conçue comme souvent.
Ella : Sleep Cheap : recommandé
Auberge de jeunesse basique mais les chambres font seulement 2 ou 3 lits (matelas encore bons) ! Moustiquaires ok. SdB et toilettes communes dehors. Propriétaire jeune et très sympa, anglais correct, répond bien aux questions pratiques. Bonne ambiance, notamment grâce au petit déj en commun sur la terrasse.
Seule réserve : il y a une route avec un virage où tout le monde klaxonne donc il ne faut pas vouloir faire la grasse mat' (en même temps, les randonnées se font plutôt le matin).
Petit déj inclus et un cran au-dessus des autres (style européen toujours).
1500 avec le petit déj ce qui peut paraitre cher mais les prix à Ella sont ridiculement élevés pour tout (laveries, tuk tuk, guests, restos).
Un peu à l'écart et pourtant à 3 min du centre. Proche des restos moins chers du haut de la rue.
Difficile à trouver si on ne sait pas : il surplombe la route.
Katagarama : Dilantha rest : non
Difficile de trouver des hôtels pas chers dans cette ville.
Pour 1500 Rp sans petit déj (et ss possibilté d'en avoir), vous avez le Dilantha : c'est bien un hôtel, mais il a connu des jours meilleurs : assez sale, ventilo horriblement bruyant, pas de moustiquaires, pas possible d'avoir du papier toilette, il faut demander une serviette, encaissement du prix à la remise de la clef et on ne croise plus trop le proprio ensuite (qui habite dans une autre partie du bâtiment ; il n'y a pas de réception. Attention : pas d'enseigne en caractères occidentaux (en face d'Isuruma rest) !
15 min à pied mini de l'entrée des temples. Le seul resto à proximité est très cher, mieux vaut manger un rice and curry dans une bakery/resto à proximité des temples (encore ouvert vers 21h30).
Uda Walawe : Enjoy Paradise safari resort : très bien
Env. 1 500 Rp sans petit déj.
Petit hôtel très bien géré par un couple et une employée, très propre, bon service, bon accueil. Chambres avec SdB privatives, ventilo et moustiquaires fonctionnels.
Juste en face d'un arrêt de bus pour repartir vers Tangalle (mais à 20 bonnes minutes de marche de l'arrivée depuis Katagarama / Tissa.
Organisation de safaris tout compris : 7000 pour 1 pers seule, 4 700/pers pour 3 pers, 4 300 / pers pour plus.
Restaurant (plats SL mais très peu pimentés / goûteux) : 270 les fried rice et noodles, 500 le rice and curry très copieux avec dessert (trop loin de tout pour trouver des alternatives).
Tangalle : Home feel stay : RAS.
1600 sans petit déj. Le fils est assez sympa. RAS à part ça mais ce n'est pas très cher pour cette ville.
Midigima : Yelum guest house : bien
A l'écart de la route, petite guest avec 5 chambres (dont deux dans un nouveau bâtiment) donnant sur un petit jardin sympa. Yelum et son père tiennent le lieu. Yelum est sympa et parle correctement anglais. Chaque chambre a un morceau de terrasse avec table et chaise. Les nouvelles chambres peuvent servir à une famille.
On s'y sent assez bien. Ventilo et moustiquaire ok.
Negombo : Molly's 2 : passable pour une nuit
1000 le lit sans petit déj dans un dortoir de 8 sans aucun charme mais j'étais seul (note : ils ont apparemment prévu de rajouter deux lits superposés). Lits superposés avec moustiquaires (correctes) en bas seulement. Salle de bain/toilettes dehors, pas super propres et douche devant la porte, avant les toilettes...). La dame qui tient le truc est sympa.
C'est au sud de Lewis place, vers l'église Saint Sébastien donc plus proche des gares de bus et train que la plupart des autres guests. Pas loin au début de Lewis place, il y a le resto Ceylonica qui fait des rice and curry pas chers pour Negombo (moins de 200) et aussi tous les plats habituels à 600-700 du coin (ils font aussi petit déj local pour 100 je crois) - tout est bien pimenté.
We’re looking for a group of people available to share an excursion to the Trollstigen (Trolls’ Road).
We’ve contacted a local provider who’s offering us the following rates:
- 6,325 NOK for 4 people
- 6,874 NOK for 5 to 8 people
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to discuss!
Happy planning to everyone! !
Hi there! We’re a couple setting off to walk the Porto to Fisterra trail on September 15th… We’re torn between the coastal route and the inland path—apparently, the latter has a lot of roadside sections. We’d love to hear about your experiences if you’ve done either! Thanks…
Hi! I'm torn between these two destinations. If we go to Crete, we'll probably head to the Chania region and the south, which seems wilder. With 10 days and a car, it should work out. If we choose Sardinia, we haven't figured out the exact area yet. We love hiking, swimming, and eating well. We have 10 days at the end of September and prefer to avoid crowds this year. In May, we went to Menorca and really enjoyed it—great hikes, beautiful beaches, good food, and not too many cars.
Hi,
I'm looking for a private transfer from Istanbul Airport to the historic center of Sirkeci. Does anyone know a company? I've found a few:
GetYourGuide,
Istanbultour24.fr (more interesting because they offer round-trip transfers at a lower price).
If you've used any of these services, I'd love to hear your feedback.
Thanks in advance!
Hi,
I'm looking for info on the Pristina–Skopje bus route.
Can you leave from the main bus station in Pristina?
I’ve also heard about a bus station near the theater...
If anyone has details, I’d love to hear them—thanks!!!!
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Vietnam in February, specifically Da Nang and Hoi An.
Does anyone know a French-speaking guide in the area?
Thanks for your help
I wanted to share a great discovery in the Marakele area because, in the end, this park doesn’t get talked about much compared to Kruger, even though it’s really worth the detour.
We discovered Cypiro Leopard Lodge, right next to Marakele National Park in the Waterberg. It’s a small property with just a few villas and suites, so it’s nothing like the big, crowded lodges. What we loved most was the feeling of being truly at the end of the world—lots of space, silence, and almost no one around.
And yet, it’s only about 3 hours from Johannesburg. Once you leave Joburg, the road is pretty straightforward, and you quickly find yourself in a much wilder Africa.
Marakele National Park was a huge surprise for us. There are plenty of animals, the Big Five are present, but best of all, very few people. At times, we drove for quite a while without seeing another car. It’s such a change from parks where you sometimes end up with 15 cars around one animal.
The landscapes are also stunning, with the Waterberg mountains, plains, and beautiful views from some of the trails.
We also learned on-site that Marakele is known for its very large Cape vulture colony—around 800 breeding pairs. When you climb into the mountains and see them soaring above, it’s pretty impressive.
The entire Waterberg region is actually a UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve, and you quickly understand why once you’re there.
As for Cypiro, it’s a lodge that was recently taken over by French owners—really nice and approachable. The place is quite exclusive since there are very few accommodations. The villas and suites each have their own private pool, a wood-fired hot bath (like a KolKol), a braai, and an outdoor fireplace.
Evenings are especially lovely, especially with the peace and quiet all around.
Another thing we found really convenient: you can organize your stay however you like.
You can come self-catering and cook for yourself. There’s a supermarket in the nearby small town, practically on the way in, so you can do your shopping before arriving without making a big detour.
Or you can ask them to organize everything with breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Their chef, Ernest, cooks really well, and it lets you completely unwind for a few days.
We liked being able to alternate: some quiet meals on our own and others prepared for us.
That’s actually one of the things we appreciated here—it’s not an ultra-formal lodge where everything is scheduled at fixed times. You can head out early to Marakele, come back for lunch, enjoy the pool, go back out in the late afternoon, then have a braai or a relaxed dinner in the evening.
In terms of price, we also found the value for money really good for this level of accommodation and especially for the very private feel of the place. Sometimes it feels like you’re in a much more expensive lodge.
If you’re looking for lots of activity and dozens of people around you, this probably isn’t the right spot.
But for peace, wildlife, nature, wide-open spaces, and that feeling of being a little alone in the world, we absolutely loved it.
I’ll add a few photos with this post—it’ll probably be more telling! 😊
And if anyone knows Marakele or the Waterberg well, I’d love to hear about other spots to discover in the area.
Hello,
We're heading to Istanbul from October 7th to 12th. I’d love to do a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus on a more intimate boat (no show) with a private table and alcohol (wine, since it’s a birthday dinner). Could anyone recommend a reliable company (I’m not looking for a private yacht either) that organizes this kind of evening?
Thanks in advance,
We had planned a road trip to Jordan in March 2026. Unfortunately, the Americans decided otherwise the week before. Since Jordanian Airlines wasn’t canceling flights, we were able to reschedule ours (for up to one year max). I opted for October 2026, hoping for the best...
Since then, I’ve been scouring forums for info but haven’t found anything.
So, has anyone traveled to Jordan recently?
Can anyone currently there give us an update on the situation?
Basically, I’m looking for any info.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Motorhome trip in Norway from September to November: who's done it before?
Hi everyone,
I'm planning a road trip in a motorhome from early September to late or mid-November.
My idea is to head up through Sweden to the Lofoten Islands, then come back down along the Norwegian coast.
I've already traveled through Norway in the summer (July-August), but never in the fall.
If any of you have done this kind of trip before, I'd love to hear about your experiences, especially regarding:
• the weather and first snowfalls by region;
• road conditions and any potential driving challenges;
• tires (summer, all-season, winter, etc.);
• ferries during this period;
• the northern lights (where and when did you see them?);
• and, more generally, anything you wish you'd known before setting off.
I was thinking of going up through Sweden and then back down along the Norwegian coast. Do you think that's the best route for this season, or would you do it the other way around?
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi there.
I need some advice. We’re two couples of friends and we want to travel from Nantes to Dublin for Ascension weekend. Our dates are fixed: May 5–9, 2027. Right now, the round-trip fare is 191 € per person (no baggage included). Should we book now or wait? Given that this is the busiest weekend of the year and our dates can’t change, what do you think? Thanks for your help!
Hi, I’d like to buy a ticket to go to Terezín from Prague using the Pid Litacka app, but I don’t know which zone to get the ticket for. Thanks for your help! 😊
Hi there,
I’m heading to Oman this coming October with my 13-year-old son for 11 days. My plan is to rent a car, probably a 4x4, to reach villages in the mountains, among other places. We’ll be sleeping in a tent the whole trip.
Since it’s a short stay, we’ll stick to the eastern part of the country, from Muscat to Duqm, most likely.
Any recommendations?! Things to know, like where to exchange money without high fees, a reliable car rental agency, road safety tips, wildlife like snakes, and anything else... I’ve done a lot of research already, but any suggestions would be super helpful!!
Thanks in advance,
Happy travels to everyone,
Céline
Hi there, I’m Brigitte, 66 years old, fairly active and in great shape. I split my time between the Tarn region and Nantes, have a youthful spirit, and am very easy-going. I’m looking for a woman with a similar profile for a road trip in Southeast Asia—half humanitarian work and half free travel. The trip starts in October 2026 in the Philippines on the island of Panay, then moves on to Indonesia and Malaysia. The journey could last up to 4 or 5 months, as I have no fixed schedule. If you’re cool and friendly, feel free to message me. See you soon!
Dream of standing on the roof of Africa at 5,895 m?
I’m looking for 4 people to complete our group for the Kilimanjaro ascent in Tanzania.
📅 September 17–28, 2026
👥 Small group
🥾 Suitable for experienced hikers
🏔️ Goal: Uhuru Peak – 5,895 m
🇹🇿 Local team specialized in Kilimanjaro
🎒 Porters during the ascent
🍽️ Meals and trek organization included
🧗♂️ Trip led by a French state-certified Mountain Leader
September is a great time to attempt the Kilimanjaro ascent.
🔥 Only 4 spots left. The departure is confirmed.
No need to be a mountaineer—just be in good shape, love hiking, and want to experience an incredible adventure.
👋 If you’re alone, no problem: you’ll join our small group directly.
📧 Send me a message for the full program, price, and all the details.
Don’t hesitate to share this post with your hiking friends! 😊
Mafate Randos
I’ll be in central KERALA (4 hours from KOCHI airport by car). For the rest of my stay, I’m planning to do "nothing" except brisk walking, Tai Chi... and swimming. The spot could be Varkala or somewhere else. If the place has nearby tourist sites like monuments, temples, or anything else, I’d be happy to let myself be guided. I’m traveling solo. GOA is a 7-hour drive away, or a flight, so I’d rather skip it (too far from KOCHI airport). This break will last a week, with a return to KOCHI airport. Thanks in advance for your ideas, experiences, and tips!
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
I discovered solo cruises last year, and it was a wonderful experience. Since then, I’ve decided to do one every year, usually between October and March, departing from Marseille or Le Havre.
I travel alone, but I enjoy sharing certain moments with other travelers: having meals together, attending shows, enjoying the evening entertainment, grabbing a drink, or going on a few excursions. Of course, everyone keeps their freedom—the goal is simply to have a good time in a friendly atmosphere.
For the end of this year, I don’t have a cruise planned yet. However, I’m already booked on the MSC Magnifica from October 29 to November 3, 2027, departing from Marseille with an itinerary to Spain and Italy.
If you often travel solo or if you’re on this cruise, I’d love to chat with you before departure. Looking forward to meeting you! 🚢😊
Hi,
From Malacca to get to Jerantut, is it better to go back to KL and take a bus from there, or take a bus to Tampin and then a train? Any feedback on the "Jungle Train"? (duration, price, comfort, etc.). Thanks
I’m traveling solo to Armenia in mid-September for three weeks, and I’ll be using public transport. I have a few questions:
- Does Yandex work everywhere, even in villages?
I’m looking for:
- Nice guesthouse addresses in the north (national park) and the south, including the village of Ararat,
and a simple but clean hotel in Yerevan that’s convenient for getting to the bus stations later.
- Any great tips or advice you can share.
Actually, I’m a bit worried I’ll be stuck only visiting tourist sites without a car. What do you think?
Thanks for your help
Hello everyone,
Could a resident of Benin (Cotonou) kindly let me know which is the best mobile phone and internet service provider?
Thank you very much,
Best regards,
Juan
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Flores and then Bali at the end of September.
We’ve already visited both but this time, once we’re in Labuan Bajo, we’d like to take a boat to the Komodo Islands to see the famous Komodo dragons.
I don’t want to sleep on the boat—just a day trip would be perfect.
Does anyone know a reliable and friendly provider to recommend?
Thanks in advance, and have a great summer!
While digging through the archives 🔍, we discovered a 19th-century journal 📜 bearing the name: "Le Petit Baigneur, weekly journal of beaches, spa towns, and thermal resorts in the South of France", published as early as 1886. Its motto? "All for the baths and by the baths" 🏖️ — what a program!
We found the name so amusing that we chose it to rename our hotel: Hôtel Le Petit Baigneur!
140 years later, we’re carrying on this seaside tradition of the South of France in our own way 🏊♂️ — with a few fewer crinolines, but just as much love for the seaside. 😊
#19thCenturyJournal #SpaTown #ThermalResort #WeeklyBeachJournal #AllForTheBaths #140YearsAndCounting #HotelLePetitBaigneur #Seaside #SeasideTradition
📍 Hôtel Le Petit Baigneur, 2 rue Saint-Louis, Palavas-les-Flots.
Go all the way to the end and don’t let yourself get robbed!!.. "Robbery" is the right term here!!
CARJET subcontracts with OK MOBILITY, which then subcontracts with local rental agencies..
Most people say they’re satisfied, so you might trust them like I did and rent a car..
But if you’re one of the scammed ones, your money disappears and your vacation is ruined!!
Our story:
We arrived in Heraklion, Crete as planned and headed to the OK Mobility counter as stated on the voucher.. mixed reception.. they explained in English that this wasn’t the pickup location and shuttled us to a rental company called MONZA!! (nowhere mentioned on the voucher)..
There, we found ourselves stranded two kilometers from the airport with a smooth-talking young guy.. CARJET was overbooked.. they had no vehicle for us.. end of story! No solution..
Took a taxi to the hotel... and to keep it short, it was nearly impossible to reach CARJET or OK MOBILITY..
Had to rent urgently from a local company during peak summer season.
Today, three weeks later, after multiple exchanges and follow-ups from me, the rental company dares to claim I never showed up..
So for now, no refund and it’s not looking good..
I’ve checked the negative reviews.. same stories, plus issues with insurance and credit cards..
So these are THIEVES who overbook with no customer service.. they have good reviews from people who didn’t hit the bad luck draw and benefit from their stats.
I’ll say it again—STAY AWAY!!
