Je désirerais que l'on m'éclaire sur la notion de "camping sauvage".
D'abord, ce refus officiel apparaît en quelle année ? Pour ma part, je pensais que c'était suite à l'affaire de Lurs dont on a tant parlé .
Cette famille anglaise faisait (si je ne me trompe du camping en bord de route, donc dit "sauvage") lorsqu'elle fut assassinée.
Si, en tant qu'automobiliste, je m'arrête dans un coin tranquille pour y passer la nuit, après avoir fait 1000 km, car je suis crevé, je suis donc dans l'illégalité ? Mais si je possède un motorhome, un 4x4 aménagé pour y pioncer, suis-je toujours dans l'illégalité ? Cela pourrait, encore une fois me faire dire que si vous êtes nanti, tout ira pour le mieux ? (j'attend avec courtoisie vos réflections)
Si je déploie ma tente de toit et que j'y dors, quid ?
Si je traverse la douce France avec mon cheval et un cheval de bât ou un âne et que j'installe ma tente sur le domaine public, je suis donc encore une fois dans l'illégalité ??
Y a-t-il, chers amis Français, des réponses PRECISES à tous ces cas, qui je pense concernent beaucoup de monde.
Il serait intéressant pour tous les "bohêmes" de savoir exactement à quoi s'en tenir et également quelles en sont les conséquences (financières ou autres)
Perso je fais beaucoup d'escalade et dans le milieu des grimpeurs c'est très fréquent de faire du camping sauvage près des falaises surtout quand il n'y a a pas de camping proche, souvent avec des camions plus ou moins amménagés ou juste en plantant sa tente à l'ancienne. On se fait rarement emmerder à partir du moment ou on campe dans des coins un peu perdus ou ça ne gene personne. J'ai jamais entendu parler de problemes avec ça (evidemment il faut pas aller camper dans les zones sensibles ou c'est formellement interdit : calanques, certains parcs nationaux).
Me suis laissé dire également - un jour que j'essayais de planter ma tente dans le Morvan - qu'à partir du moment où il y avait un camping sur la municipalité concernée le camping sauvage était interdit ailleurs sur ladite commune...............?
Y a-t-il une législation nationale ou bien celle-ci est-elle modulée par des arrêtés préfectoraux ou municipaux?
"le silence des pantoufles est plus terrifiant que le bruit des bottes"
Gros problème d'ailleurs rencontré de plus en plus par les camping-caristes; et pourtant ceux ci sont équipés pour vivre en autonomie sans laisser de trace de leur passage sur le sol (malheureusement, certains, rares, vident leurs eaux usées et eaux noires dans la nature, ou s'étalent à outrance avec des déballages extérieurs excessifs 😠).
Donc, pour moi, si le domaine est public, par définition, il ne devrait pas y avoir d'interdiction pour les campings-cars, voitures équipées, etc, à condition d'éviter les attroupements. Malheureusement, beaucoup de municipalités interdisent ceux-ci en dehors de toute légalité française.
Pour le reste du territoire, il s'agit du domaine privé, et quelque soit le mode utilisé (camping-car, voiture, tente ...) il me semble normal de risquer des ennuis si l'autorisation de stationner n'a pas été au préalablement gentiment demandée aux propriétaires. Et pourtant, quand les gitans débarquent sur les domaines privés ou publics, il est quasiment impossible de les faire partir, même en demandant aux autorités: il y a quelques années, ceux-ci ont envahis tout le parking de Castorama Antibes pendant quinze jours, et il n'y a rien eu à faire pour les faire dégager par les forces de l'ordre; le directeur du magasin a donc dû créer d'urgence un parking clientèle à 400 m du magasin, et installer des gardes avec vigiles jour et nuit.
En résumé, je pense que finalement, en France, on a une grande gueule, mais on se laisse faire comme des moutons. Ceux dont on a peur, font ce qu'ils veulent, où ils veulent, et les autorités laissent faire 😕
Aie, alors la tu ne crois pas si bien dire, moi qui suis dans une ZI constamment envahie par les gens du voyage et dés que la remorque est dételée, ils sont là pour deux semaines mini.Nous sommes obligés d'avoir des vigiles pour éviter le pillage de nos entreprises et pendant ce temps la, on interdit le camping sauvage, le monde à l'envers, ou le monde des plus forts😠.
A confirmer, mais je crois que le bivouac est autorisé mais doit se faire du coucher du soleil au lever du soleil. Sauf interdiction explicite et dans le respect de la propriété privée, je pense. Au-delà du bivouac, et pour du camping qui durerait plus longtemps, je ne sais pas, désolé.
La notion de camping sauvage n'a aucune valeur juridique. La règle c'est que tu peux camper où tu veux, à condition de ne gêner personne. Personnellement je n'ai jamis été emmerdé, ni en France, ni ailleurs.
Sur les plus de 30 000 communes françaises tu trouveras cependant bien un jour un maire qui t'emmerdera, soit par excès de pouvoir, soit par connerie, soit par ignorance mais aussi parfois pour une juste raison : il ne s'agit pas de camper n'importe où : sur un lieu touristique, sur une plage fréquentée, devant une école, un commissariat de police...
Bref en ce domaine, comme en d'autres, le bons sens s'impose...
Les voyages améliorent les sages et empirent les sots.
Pour compléter cette question sur le "camping sauvage", il faudrait aussi y intégrer la notion de "camper" ou "se caler pour dormir" n'importe où, compris en milieu urbain.
Personnellement j'ai dormi dans un fourgon ( immatriculation française) aménagé en camping car pendant 4 mois en plein Lisbonne en 2000, pour raiason économique essentiellement mais aussi parce que c'était très proche de mon lieu de travail.
une telle ville pourait faire penser à insécurité, risques de verbalisation ( j'étais souvent sur des parcmètres et n'y mettait rien en treme de monnaie)...Eh bien, rien de tout celà et même personnellement je préférai me parquer (je bougeai de rue tous les 3 ou 4 jours) au milieu de pâtés de maisons ou immeubles qu'à l'écart de toute vie!
Finalement ce n'est pas différent de loger en banlieue d'une mégalopole avec bruits divers...
Bedoo de Metz
On dit que les voyages forment la jeunesse mais heureusement pas qu'elle!
Pour avoir "planter" notre tente dans pas mal d'endroits en France je peux dire que nous n'avons jamais eu de probleme...dans le Morvan nous demandions systématiquement à un habitant du village, souvent hameau d'ailleurs, si il y avait un endroit pour le faire..les gens ont toujours été trés sympas, et nous nous sommes parfois retrouver dans des situations trés agréables à discuter tard le soir avec le proprietaire du champs, ou du jardin "prété" pour l'occasion...aprés c'est une question de bon sens et de savoir vivre..quand au Parc, comme celui du Vercors, où nous habitons, il est possible d'y bivouaquer pour la nuit, à une certaine distance du sentier(je ne sais plus laquelle) et pour une nuit seulement........voili voilou.
Nos dirigeants n'ont que le pouvoir que nous leurs accordons. Ils ne peuvent exercer leurs tyrannie que dans la mesure ou nous l'acceptons.
Ma patrie, c'est le monde, ma famille c'est l'humanité!
Pour ceux que ça intéresse, ci-dessous un lien avec tous les textes de lois et décrets réglementant le camping en France.
http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/ ( puis accès thématique + taper camping )
Ce qu’il faut retenir, pour faire bref, c’est que camping « sauvage » ( incluant le caravaning ) est considéré comme une activité d'intérêt général et librement pratiquée en France et en dehors des aires de stationnement autorisées.
Exceptions précisées par la loi : emprise des routes et des voies publiques, rivage de la mer, rayon de 200 m autour des points d'eau captés pour la consommation, sites classés, inscrits ou protégés, rayon de 500 m autour des monuments historiques.
Les maires peuvent décider d'interdictions temporaires ou permanentes, à condition de les motiver ( salubrité publique ou maintien de l'ordre). C'est ainsi que le camping libre est interdit sur tout ou partie des départements côtiers.
Mon expérience toute fraîche en la matière : on est partis en van quelques jours sur la côte atlantique. C’est vrai que notre plus "gros souci", c’était de ne pas se prendre un PV pour stationnement non autorisé.
Bien que la côte soit un secteur sensible pour le « hors camp », nous n’avons eu aucun problème avec la police municipale. Certainement parce que la saison se termine et que les campings à proximité sont sur le point de fermer. La municipalité est donc un peu plus tolérante pour nous laisser profiter de la vue plongeante sur l’océan.
Nous avons à chaque endroit demander aux campings caristes et aux bohèmes sur les lieux s’ils avaient eu des soucis pour dormir et nous avons fait quand nous le pouvions un détour à la mairie pour demander au garde-champêtre l’autorisation de stationner à un endroit non autorisé. Mieux vaut prévenir…
Bilan : pas de PV, juste un avertissement sur le pare-brise un matin…malgré un message tel laissé à la mairie.
Rien de grave finalement mais les policiers veillent au grain, ça c’est sûr, en pleine saison, nous n’aurions pas eu cette chance.
Voilà pour ma p’tite contribution…
Byebye
" Dans un grain de sable voir un Monde et dans chaque fleur des champs le Paradis. Faire tenir l'Infini dans la paume de la main et l'Eternité dans une heure..."
W. Blake
Voilà un texte de loi qui pourrait vous éclairer sur le camping sauvage....En outre, si vous garer votre véhicule sur un domaine public ou privé pour y dormir, c'est considéré comme du stationnement, si vous plantez la tente....c'est du camping sauvage. Mais comme le dit le texte, si c'est un véhicule à usage d'habitation, il ne peut être saisi....et une plus grande latitude de stationnement lui est possible. D'ailleurs, je suis camping-cariste et je me suis toujours garé dans les bois, au fin fond d'une forêt, dans les champs......et je n'ai jamais eu de problème avec la maréchaussée.....La tente sur le toit de la voiture, c'est considéré comme véhicule aménagé...mais si vous sortez la table de camping et les chaises ....c'est du camping sauvage....!!!
C'est comme pour les camping-cars, le stationnment est autorisé sur la voie publique, nous pouvons également dormir sans être inquiété....mais nous n'avons pas le droit de sortir table et chaises de camping à l'extérieur du véhicule.
Vous pouvez dormir sur l'âne ou sur le cheval....mais si vous plantez la tente....l'illégalité vous guette !!!
Voilà je vous souhaite une agréable journée....et au plaisir de vous lire....
« Art. 322-4-1. - Le fait de s'installer, en réunion, en vue d'y établir une habitation, sur un terrain appartenant soit à une commune qui s'est conformée aux obligations lui incombant en application de l'article 2 de la loi n° 2000-614 du 5 juillet 2000 relative à l'accueil et à l'habitat des gens du voyage, soit à tout autre propriétaire, sans être en mesure de justifier de son autorisation ou de celle du titulaire du droit d'usage du terrain, est puni de six mois d'emprisonnement et de 3 750 euros d'amende.
« Lorsque l'installation s'est faite au moyen d'un véhicule automobile, il peut être procédé à la saisie de ce véhicule en vue de sa confiscation par la juridiction pénale. »
« II. - Après l'article 322-15, il est inséré un article 322-15-1 ainsi rédigé :
« Art. 322-15-1. - Les personnes physiques coupables de l'infraction prévue à l'article 322-4-1 encourent exclusivement les peines complémentaires suivantes :
« 1° La suspension, pour une durée de trois ans au plus, du permis de conduire ;
« 2° La confiscation du ou des véhicules automobiles utilisés pour commettre l'infraction, à l'exception des véhicules destinés à l'habitation. »
<Je vous remercie pour ces précisions qui sont d'une importance capitale pour mon avenir de voyageur.
Car il y a beaucoup d'imprécision dans le monde du "voyage" et du camping dit "sauvage" Il m'est très important de connaître les règlements qui régissent la douce France.
Je possède un pick up et j'hésite entre l'achat d'une seconde caravane (l'autre est dans un camping près de CALVI) d'une cellule ou autre forme de camping.
Encore une fois merci pour votre intervention.
André CHAPELAIN
2, rue de la Pépinière😇
6230 Pont-à-Celles
BELGIQUE 0032/71845730
Une caravane n'étant pas un véhicule, puisque non motorisée (elle est tractée), si vous vous garez sur un parking pour la nuit ou en pleine campagne....la législation française considèrera que vous faites du camping sauvage.....et la population française que vous êtes "des gens du voyage".....encore mal considérés en France ! Si vous mettez une cellule sur votre pick-up, vous devenez un camping-car....et vous pourrez stationner sur tout parking, aire de stationnement et même à la campagne sans être inquiété...sauf si c'est privé !
Il est interdit de camper:
dans les bois, forêts et parcs classés, sur les routes et voies publiques, sur les rivages de la mer, dans un rayon de 200 m autour d'un point d'eau capté pour la consommation. dans un site classé ou inscrit dans les zones de protection du patrimoine de la nature et des sites, à moins de 500 m d'un monument historique classé ou inscrit, dans certaines zones déterminées par les autorités municipales ou préfectorales.
Signalisation
Des panneaux réglementaires sont apposés aux points d'accès habituels des zones interdites.
Attention: tout stationnement de plus de trois mois par an, hors terrains aménag��s, doit être autorisé par le maire, l'autorisation est donnée pour trois ans maximum.
Voilà les interdiction en matière de camping. Le terme camping sauvage n'a aucun sens juridique. Tu peux camper sur le domaine public (qui appartient au peuple) partout où ce n'est pas interdit. Tu peux circuler partout où ce n'est pas interdit. Dans les parcs naturels, zones à statut spécial, il est interdit de camper mais il est pratiquement toujours permis de bivouaquer. Le bivouac c'est un camping d'une nuit, en théorie, tu peux camper du coucher du soleil au lever du soleil, en pratique si tu te lèves à 8h du mat plutôt qu'à 6h, personne ne te dira rien. Certains parcs restreigne cette autorisation de bivouac à certaines zones, souvent ce n'est autorisé qu'à proximité des refuges. D'autres encore l'interdisent purement et simplement. C'est toujours indiqué à l'entrée du parc. Dans tous les cas tu ne devra laisser aucun déchet et ne faire aucun feu sur le sol, car là tu tombe sous le coup de la loi. Voilà.
J'aimerais avoir un peu plus de précisions sur le "bivouac". Si j'ai bien compris que le camping était assez restreint, le bivouac est beaucoup plus libre.
Bon deja les termes :
bivouac = a la limite une tente (mais pas de table et de chaise ?), et surtout : uniquement du levé au couché du soleil
C'est bien cela ?
Et donc cela est permis partout (respect de la propriété privée bien sur) ?
J'aimerais savoir si cest possible en bord de mer ? J'avais bien entendu dire quil était interdit de dormir sur les plages fréquentées... c'est pourtant du bivouac ? Et est autorisée sur les plages plus petites/tranquilles/isolées ?
Pour etre précis, j'aimerais savoir si j'ai le droit de bivouaquer sur la cote dans les environs de La Rochelle ? (et tant qu'affaire ailleurs aussi pour de prochaines aventures 😉 ). Y a t'il des réglementations spécifiques par endroit a propos du bivouac (en bord de mer) ?
Nous serions 4 à 6, avec deux voitures... Garées sur le bas cotés, et nous tranquillement un peu plus loin avec de petites tentes discretes (ou a la belle étoile si le temps, et je lespère, le permet !) : serions nous dans la légalité ? Je nai vraiment pas envie davoir de mauvaises suprises....
Je n'ai rien trouvé sur le sit légigrance concernant le bivouac....
Bivouaquer, c'est camper pour une nuit, c'est du voyage itinérant, tu poses ta tente le soir et tu la remballe le matin. Tu peux avoir plusieurs tentes.
Entends par "lever au couché du soleil" une acceptation large, si tu te lève à 8-9h au lieu de 6h personne ne te dira rien.
Cela n'est pas permis partout, nous sommes en France pas en Suède!
Il te faudra respecter toutes lesz interdictions liées au camping.
Pour le bivouac, c'est simple, il est interdit partout où le camping sauvage est interdit et où il bivouac n'est pas explicitement autorisé. Dans la plupart des parcs naturels par exemple: le camping sauvage est strictement interdit, mais le bivouac autorisé, parfois uniquement sur certaines zones, aux abords du parc, près des refuges et auberges ou parfois librement dans tout le parc. Le but de l'interdiction étant d'éviter que des vacanciers en mal de nature ne squattent pendant tout l'été le parc et que celui-ci ne se transforme en camping géant. Toutefois il fallait être réaliste et interdire purement et simplement le camping sauvage reviendrait à interdire tout trek et rando de longue durée. Ce qui est stupide pour le tourisme et pour les randonneur respectueux auxquels ont interdirait leur activité d'où l'autorisation du bivouac. Dans tous les cas ça dépend du règlement du parc. Il faudra lire les panneaux à l'entrée des parcs, c'est généralement indiqué, sinon demande à l'office du parc.
Plus largement, je te conseillerais de toujours bivouaquer plutôt que de faire du camping sauvage même si cela est autorisé, le bivouac c'est plus sûr. Ne fais pas de feux, c'est interdit et dangeureux (utilise plutôt un réchaud)! Ne laisser rien traîner, c'est sale et tout aussi interdit. Ne plante pas ta tente, pose la uniquement pour éviter d'abimer le sol où d'aracher des racines. Respecte les interdictions nationales que j'avait énoncé dans le message précédent car elles sont justifiées. Surtout pour ce qui est du camping dans une forêt du sud de la France! Le bois sec ça s'enflamme vite! Faire du camping sauvage dans une pinède en juillet c'est de l'inconscience pure.
Sur le bord de mer bivouaquer comme camper est interdit au niveau national. Toutefois quelques communes du littoral autorisent le camping sauvage sur la plage par intérêt économique. C'est une tolérance et non une autorisation. Généralement pour les naturiste ou les surfeurs. C'est très restreint, il n'y a que quelques plages en France. Et le maire peut t'expulser à tout moment. Renseigne toi.
Tu peux aller poser ta tente plus loin(quitter le sable) si c'est autorisé mais pour ça il faudra vérifier s'il n'y a pas d'arrêtés préfectoraux ou municipaux qui interdisent le camping sauvage. Appelle les collectivités pour en savoir plus avant sinon sur place c'est signalé par un panneau ou affiché en mairie. Si tu appelle, demande bien à ton interlocuteur de consulter les arrêtés parce que souvent la personne que tu auras en face de toi ne voudra pas se fatiguer et répondra de façon hasardeuse sur ce qu'elle pense et non sur les textes. En général, sauf pour quelques cas concernant des endroits fr��quentés par des surfeurs ou des naturistes, les communes des zones côtières touristques sont interdites au camping sauvage, il te faudra prendre un camping payant.
Petite astuce pour trouver un endroit où le camping sauvage est autorisé: Repère les villes qui ne disposent pas d'un camping payant et appelle-les car souvent ce sont les directeurs de camping qui font pression sur leur maire(parfois amis) pour qu'il interdise de camper sur la commune. Après ça, si tu ne trouve pas, rien ne t'empêche de dormir dans ta voiture (à 4 ça ne pose pas de problème, mais à 6 c'est plus compliqué) où de carrément t'écarter de la ville pour planter ta tente... Tu regarde s'il n'y a pas de panneau notifiant un arrêté prefectoral, tu te mets dans un endroit discret et tu pose ta tente. De toute façon si tu ne fais pas de feux et que tu ne pollues pas, tu risque (très rarement, je te rassure, ça ne m'est jamais arrivé) dans le pire des cas (si tu n'a pas vu ou fait mine de ne pas voir l'arrêté interdisant le camping) de voir la gendarmerie(il faut en plus qu'ils passent par là de nuit et qu'ils aient envie de te réveiller) te signifier que ce n'est pas autorisé et de te demander de remballer ta tente et de finir ta nuit dans ta voiture ce qui n'est pas bien méchant. Tu peux également demander à un agriculteur de camper dans son pré, ils ne refusent généralement pas. Tu vois un pré, tu va à la mairie, tu demande à qui il appartient(ils ont l'adresse) et tu contacte la personne. C'est plus facile (et moins dangereux) de faire du camping sauvage dans des villages ou petites villes que dans des grandes.
Autre chose: dormir à la belle étoile ça n'est pas du camping(tu n'établis pas de campement, pas de tente), ça n'entre donc pas dans les interdictions nationales mais les municipalités peuvent prendre là aussi des arrêtés spécifiques (jamais vu mais ça doit exister, tout est possible avec les arrêtés municipaux). Si on devait interdire à tous les vacancier d'abaisser leurs paupières sur la plage on n'aurait pas fini!
A reserver auc petites plages. Dormir à la belle étoile, il ne faut même pas y penser sur une grande plage.
Même dans un parc naturel interdit au bivouac tu peux généralement dormir à la belle étoile.
Remarque: Dans d'autres pays d'Europe, certains à l'extrême interdisent la présence dans le parc pendant la nuit. Jamais vu en France.
Le bivouac est toléré dans les parcs naturels,
aux abords des chemins,
et à plus d'une heure de marche du premier axe routier.
Ce qui est donc très relatif...
Une heure de marche... En montée ? En descente ?
Pour une mémé ? Un athlète ?
Et puis une route, c'est quoi ??
Y'a forcément du goudron ?
Les parcs ne sont pas tous surveillés de la même manière.
Il n'est pas rare de pouvoir laisser sa tente une semaine avant de voir passer le premier garde.
Qui oubliera toute contravention
sitôt que vous aurez sorti la bouteille de pastis...
j'aimerai reprendre ce fil pour d'autres alternatives.
il y a en france une région où le camping sauvage est expressement autorisé par l'office de tourisme communal: la Camargue ( c.f. http://www.tourisme.ville-arles.fr/a8/a8d.htm ). je me demande s'il y a d'autres régions comme ca, en connaissez-vous ? la Camargue ressemble un peu à un "bad land" américain et là aussi tout est libre...
autres endroits : j'ai en souvenir un aire de repos en bordure du lac de Serre-Ponçon (Au lieu-dit du Bois Mort, au sud du lac et avant le barrage, sur la rive ouest), parking, tables dans la pinède mais pas d'accès en voiture à celles-ci. aucune interdiction sauf celle d'y laisser des ordures. comment sont reglés ces endroits là ?
merci pour vos listes de sites 😉
nb: j'ai une voiture équipé pour dormir dedans ET une tente, suis donc plus ou moins libre d'agir...
Bon, on est dans les réflexions et pas informations, donc désolée je vais pas faire trop avancer le problème, j'ai juste envie de me cogner contre les murs quand je vois cette stupidité que l'interdiction du camping sauvage. Enfin, je trouve pas ça débile, c'est plus ou moins normal, effectivement quand on voit certains dégueulasses, ou d'autres qui s'installent n'importe où, je sais pas trop... Mais ... Dormir quoi. J'ai meme appris qu'il était moyennement autorisé de dormir dans sa voiture :| Moi ça me débecquete un peu avec le recul, on a une voiture à nous, on a le responsabilité de prendre les risques qu'on veut, si on respecte le lieu où l'on se pose, je trouve cette interdiction absurde. Enfin c'est quoi s'assoupir quelques heures ? On est obligés d'avoir un endroit spécifique pour se reposer, désolée de ce message un peu incompréhensif et énervé contre des règles comme ça, mais je trouve ça absurde si on y réfléchit 2 minutes... Après, si on n'a pas le confort qu'on veut parce qu'on n'est pas dans un camping adapté, ben c'est notre problème non ? J'vois pas en quoi ça dérange de planter une tente ou meme dormir à meme le sol, ou encore de s'arreter dans un endroit qui gene pas pour dormir dans sa caisse . Oo
Hello everyone on this forum!
I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it?
Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples:
- - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"!
- - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country???
- - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc.
Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo.
I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
This is my 15,000th post, and it's a message I would have preferred never to write.
Patrick—Yangguizi—won’t be returning from his trek in Uganda. His health betrayed him in the mountains.
Like many of you, I laughed until I couldn’t anymore at his travel stories. I met him in Shanghai, then in Istanbul... We scoured restaurants—he was an incredible expert on world cuisines. We relived Korea, China. Always brilliant, so sharp, so funny, so down-to-earth. Being even a little bit his friend was something to be proud of. I think I envied him.
Patrick is still out there, of course...
He found his happiness running across the world. He’s on his path. He never doubted that "the traveler doesn’t even know if he’ll return one day."
Not sure this would’ve suited him, but his departure devastates me.
Alright,
Farewell, you foreign devil. Safe travels.
hello to all travelers with their eyes wide open to the desert...
I’ve always wondered what I was "doing" on this earth. And why my father, who died a few months after I was born—a former youngest French resistance fighter—joined the First Saharan Motorized Company in Atar and spent the rest of his life repairing army engines in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali (which didn’t exist under that name back then), Morocco, and finally Algeria, where my mother was born and raised. (Believe me, it’s not "cool" being the child of a soldier in a country occupied by France, and even less so the child of a "pied-noir.")
Of course, I never got an answer: the dead don’t talk, and the army doesn’t either.
But here’s the thing—I had photos...
So naturally, one day I hit the road. I wanted to see, to understand.
It’s thanks to VF that I was able to do a little research on crossing the Morocco-Mauritania border, and I’m grateful to its members, just as I’m grateful to all those who welcomed me on the road for 14 years.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering if I should talk about this or not...
It turns out the Mauritanians changed my life by asking for my help... And that started as early as February 2012... (Did I owe them something? No answer to that question.)
Ah, the irony—they saw me coming. But when you’re handed sick children and begged to do something, what would you have done? I’d worked in a hospital, so I knew a bit about the rules to follow. I didn’t hesitate.
And well, over all these years, I met doctors, surgeons, and together we organized care, evacuations of children, training for surgeons—even trying to stop children from having to travel outside their country. It was never easy. I’d like to thank those who supported us, as well as *La Chaîne de l’Espoir*, *La Fondation Face au Monde*, and everyone who built bridges between our two countries.
Unfortunately, despite the constant efforts of Mauritanian doctors and surgeons, some children couldn’t be helped in time. Today, I want to talk about four siblings—orphans of their mother—suffering from congenital glaucoma causing irreversible blindness. Their case was entrusted to me in 2020, just weeks before the big lockdown. We couldn’t do anything for them then, but when their father asked me for a gift, I rushed to my computer and wrote a story.
Through a tale, the children take a great journey, explore their country, and fulfill a dream. I never thought this book would be published—it was, in 2023.
This book pays tribute to Mauritania. It’s a message for those who know nothing about the hardships of life there, carrying both the harshness and beauty of an immense desert where you can travel by 4x4, bike, on foot, or by camel in complete safety. It bears witness to the kindness of Mauritanians toward travelers.
As a woman traveling alone in my vehicle—a now-rusted old Mercedes that no longer runs—I had the most beautiful encounters of my life there (I’ve seen other parts of the world...). The blind children of Choum, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott will forever be in my heart.
Volunteer readers transcribed the book into a free audio version for the visually impaired. It’s available in sound libraries in France, the *Fondation Valentin Haüy*, and the Swiss Romande library.
I made my last trip to Mauritania in my old 4x4 to distribute the book everywhere, especially to its heroes and the school for the visually impaired in Nouakchott.
After that, I thought it was time to close the chapter because I no longer have the means or the strength to travel.
My publishers chose this title for it: *The Blue Eyes of the Desert*.
This publication helped a mission of Swiss volunteer ophthalmologists come to operate on glaucomas in Mauritania. I’m thrilled because they come back every year!
This adventure is ending, yes—everything must come to an end—but ultimately, it was born here, on the VF site!! So yes, I had to say it: THANK YOU!!!!!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
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