Our GPS is Waze and Cam Sam.... Funny, we're from Rennes and we'll be leaving from Nantes too, but we're not staying in a hotel—we're traveling by swapping our apartment.
hi! I traveled through Puglia last September for 3 weeks and stayed in 3 regions: Gargano, the Bari area including Matera in Basilicata, and Salento. I used the WAZE app the whole time, and it took me everywhere without any problems—even to a B&B in the middle of an olive grove out in the countryside...
In Puglia and the Salento: it was the only time our GPS couldn’t get us to our destination, with some accommodations in Italy... Something several travelers have already experienced...
It was tough for our GPS to find the two places we’d booked (in Cisternino and Scorrano)... They were rentals in very small, quiet lanes in the countryside ...
We had to ask locals for help. We’d gotten very close to these places, but then the GPS was completely lost!!! After driving around the countless lanes near both rentals for quite a while, we asked for help—for example, at a riding school—with just a simple *buongiorno*, a big smile, lots of gestures (), and my typed notes, and we received a lot of sincere help in return .
Example: the people at the riding school gathered around, all looked at the name of our rental, the address, etc... They even took out their phones to look up the place online... After discussing among themselves, they called the owner, asked exactly where the rental was... Then they made us understand we should follow a car... They led us to the rental 😎, which turned out to be only 5-7 minutes away. We never got a chance to thank them properly afterward—just a sincere *Grazie* on the spot because they refused any compensation for the call or the time they spent taking us there...
In the end, it’s a really beautiful memory for us because that’s Italian hospitality and kindness 😎.
A little tip after this experience: make sure to ask for the exact GPS coordinates of the rentals if they’re not in city or town centers 😎! Write them down in your GPS at home to check if the addresses work (by comparing with Google Maps, for example) .
I recommended these two rentals to another traveler, and they went there in 2019... They had the same issue with their GPS—it wasn’t easy to find the places—but I’d warned them and given extra directions based on our experience, so everything worked out in the end. But when they got back from their trip, they told me the ‘correct’ addresses provided by the owners still weren’t enough to find the rentals with a GPS if only the address was given .
If I may, some GPS devices require regular updates or they won’t be reliable. I used to have a high-end Garmin GPS that needed paid updates, and despite that, I still had some bad surprises. Since then, I’ve only used Waze on my phone or sometimes the Mappy app, which is also reliable. Both apps are updated regularly and are free. Waze shows speed cameras, roadworks, traffic jams, accidents, and anything else that might block the road, etc. And if there’s a traffic jam, it anticipates and reroutes you immediately via an alternative route. I use it all the time in France, and last September was the first time I used it ABROAD—in Italy. To avoid draining the battery, though, it’s still a good idea to bring a spare one or a car charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter. With a 20 GB plan, I don’t have any extra charges. My friends with built-in GPS systems also complain about having to pay for updates.
Updates are good for us and for the traveler who stayed in the same places as we did in Puglia and Salento 😉
Same experience for both of us with our well-updated GPS 😎
No smartphones for us, so no apps possible, but that’s cool for us 🤪... Personally, just a prepaid map reload before leaving on two very old phones 😉... No phones all year when we know how to avoid them 😉..
We’ll have to get into it, but we’re in no rush at all!!!! We prefer talking to each other and all 😊...
Hey,
Don’t worry: we had the same issue in Puglia and nowhere else (!!!). Even with an updated GPS that we used every day and everywhere, it still gave us trouble!
Smartphones weren’t any better in the countryside—unless we used GPS coordinates...
I think some roads, whether dirt or paved, are so new they haven’t been mapped yet...
Have a great evening!
I have to say, we took the dirt roads—we were literally driving over figs... No houses in sight, we were alone and not in any hurry at all... 2 months in the south of Lecce.
It’s all part of the adventure, even if I’ll admit we sometimes panicked because we like to stick to our meet-up times with the owners of the places we book 😉
Hi,
We're planning to visit Puglia from July 26 to August 9, which is similar to your 2020 dates.
The posts I've read about the heat, traffic, and crowds during this period are really putting me off.
How was your trip?
Thanks for your feedback.
We’re heading to Puglia from July 30 to August 31, 2020.
I booked a rental with a pool in Locorontodo.
The more I read guides and forums, the more I regret booking the flight to Bari.
I can cancel the other reservations, but I’d face penalties for the flight.
It’s crowded, avoid August at all costs—traffic jams, stifling heat, price hikes… In short, I’m having second thoughts.
Our goal isn’t necessarily to hit the beach.
I’m thinking we’ll get up early to go where we want and head back during the hottest part of the day.
Is it *that* bad?
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
???
Does this mean you "thought Puglia," booked flights… but didn’t research ANYTHING beforehand? Weather, sights, crowds, costs—seems a bit reckless.
So own it, stop reading forums, grab the excellent *Guide Vert Michelin Puglia* for 19.50 €, and plan your days to visit "chill" at the best times.
You must’ve noticed Bari’s at the same latitude as southern Spain—August isn’t Norway, after all!
See ya
As a Belgian, I thought Northerners were friendlier, like back home, but you’re *very* French!
I just scrolled through a few Puglia posts and kept running into your condescending messages—acting like experts while judging people!
Just to put you in your place: Bari is actually *north* of Tarragona, which isn’t even in southern Spain—it’s in the northeast, in southern Catalonia. So if you’re going to respond like that, maybe don’t respond at all. Take time to improve your own life; it’ll probably make you nicer in the future.
Your 15 posts are a fantastic "contribution" to the forum, well done...
But digging up one from 2020 (out of context...) just to take a cheap shot doesn’t make you some kind of white knight—quite the opposite, it says a lot about your mentality!
Yeah, I’m tough on "certain" people who treat the forum like a travel agency that’s SUPPOSED to plan everything for them right away! A little effort and research should show goodwill, but this is happening way too often... I’m not the only one who thinks so.
Hi,
I’ll be in Barcelona at the end of October.
I can choose to be there over the weekend or during the week. Probably 4 nights.
Is there a big difference in terms of crowds in the city and in the museums?
Little or no difference would simplify my itinerary on the way.
Hi everyone,
We're heading to Madrid in November and looking for a centrally located hotel. I saw one on Calle de Alcalá.
Does anyone know this street, or do you have other suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
From January 1st to 4th, I’m heading to Barcelona for the first time. Beyond the tourist sites—which are going to cost me an arm and a leg!!—I’d love to spend a day off the beaten path and see some less touristy spots.
What do you recommend? I’ll be getting around on foot, by metro, or possibly by train if it’s not too far. I love both nature and cultural spots.
And one last thing—is Barcelona at night safe for a woman alone, or is it sketchy?
Hi,
We’d like to rent a small car (something like a Peugeot 208) when we arrive at Catania Airport.
... and we’d like to return it in Milazzo on a Sunday.
Could you recommend any rental companies for this kind of one-way rental—affordable and open on Sundays in Milazzo?
Thanks in advance!
Seb
My husband and I are spending 10 days in Extremadura next May. We’d like to hike, see beautiful landscapes and nature, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of towns and villages, especially in the evenings.
I was thinking of using 3 bases to explore the area: around Plasencia (to visit Monfragüe National Park, the Jerte Valley, etc.), around Guadalupe or Cáceres or Trujillo (though isn’t that quite close to Plasencia? We’d like to hike in the Villuercas Mountains), and finally the Montes de Toledo to ease our way back to Madrid (where we’re arriving and departing from). Could you help me decide on the 2 best home bases for northern Extremadura and then around Guadalupe? I don’t think we’ll go near Mérida. I’m not keen on spending hours in the car or on transport 😏
Hello,
We’ll be in York next week—one adult, a 17-year-old, and a 12-year-old. We’ll have a car. If you’ve got any fun activities (games, shows, etc.) or tips, we’re all ears!
We’re three adults planning a trip to Norway in May 2027.
What do you recommend for the Lofoten Islands? We’d prefer to group the places to visit (flights, rental car...??).
Hi there,
I’m heading to Lapland from November 12th to 19th.
I know it’s not the best time for snow cover… so I’ve opted for Saariselkä since it’s further north.
At this point, no activities—reindeer rides, snowmobiling, sledding, etc.—are available online yet, with just a few starting in early December.
My question: if snow arrives in early November 🤞, will it be possible to book things on-site? I’m guessing there aren’t dozens of providers.
Thanks for your feedback!
I'm probably going to spend a week in Naples, but I'd love to hear your thoughts! I've heard that the city is quite dangerous and crime-ridden? I've also heard that "Neapolitans" aren't very welcoming and have a bad temper?
Is this true or just rumors?😊
Hi there,
I’m looking for some great tips for a stay in Palma de Mallorca this summer.
I need cheap flights departing from Toulouse and affordable accommodation for 4 people.
What do you recommend?
Best regards,
We’re heading to Norway for the first time as a couple for 8 days in December
I’m really torn about how much time to spend at each stop (and how many stops to make)
We’d like to explore the cities, visit the Christmas market, see some beautiful landscapes, and if we have time, a stave church.
We arrive in Oslo on December 5th around 5 PM and leave from Bergen on December 12th around 11 AM.
Initially, we were thinking:
Oslo from the 5th to the 8th
Train to Bergen on the 8th, then stay until the 12th
But now we’d like to fit Flåm into the itinerary
Do you think it’s better to do:
From the 5th to the 8th: Oslo
On the 8th: train from Oslo to Flåm (arriving at 3 PM)
On the 9th: a short fjord cruise, then the 2 PM train to Bergen (but then the Myrdal–Bergen stretch will be in the dark)
From the 9th to the 12th: Bergen
Or should we adjust the number of nights in each place? Maybe shorten Oslo? Add a night in Flåm? Skip Flåm altogether? I’m not sure 😅
Hello,
We’ve booked our flights to Tromsø from January 9th to 16th, 2027.
Now it’s time to plan our stay, and I’ll admit I’m feeling a bit unsure...
We definitely intend to rent a car, but what route should we take?
Should we book accommodation for the entire stay (7 nights) in Tromsø and do day trips (Sommarøy, Kvaløya, Lyngen, a day in Tromsø, a boat excursion, and then... what else?)? Or spend 3–4 days in Tromsø and hit the road for another 3–4 days somewhere else—but where?
I’d also considered splitting it: 3 days in Tromsø and 3 days in Målselv, so we could explore a different region by car and maybe try some downhill or cross-country skiing.
Is this area interesting beyond skiing?
During a recent trip to Lapland, we already tried dog sledding and snowmobiling, so we’re not planning to repeat those activities. Instead, we’d love to discover the landscapes and Sami culture.
I’d love to hear about your experiences or suggestions to help us plan our trip.
Thanks,
We're heading to Genoa and the Cinque Terre in mid-October for a full week. We're planning to spend two and a half days—three nights—in the Cinque Terre. The idea is to hike between the villages and use the train (or boat) for the trip out (or back). We're thinking of staying overnight, and I was wondering which village to prioritize.
Hi there, after reading a well-known travel guide, it seems like there’s a lot to see and do in Valletta (I’m only talking about Valletta itself). That’s why I’m thinking of spending 2 days there. I don’t want to rush and would like to get a complete overview. However, I’ve noticed that some travelers only spend one day there. For those who know the city well, what do you think? (I’ve also planned the Three Cities for another day, by the way).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Our accommodation for 5 days will be near a "Carrefour by Deliveroo Hop." There doesn’t seem to be anything else nearby (it’s a very residential area).
I can’t figure out if it’s delivery-only or if you can also do your grocery shopping there. Does anyone know this type of store and could help me out, please?
Thanks in advance!
PS: I called, but I don’t speak Italian and the store doesn’t speak English—so they hung up on me.
Hi,
I’ve found my upcoming trip for February, and now I’m looking for a one-week getaway in April—somewhere not too far with generally nice weather. Any tips?
Best,😉
Hi, who’s familiar with the Algarve?
Lagos—should I go for a rental or a hotel? How do I get from the airport to the seaside, and how do I get around the city? What’s there to see and do?
Thanks for your ideas and tips!
Hello, VoyageForum friends, and happy holidays!
I’m planning a trip with my 19-year-old grandson to Milan for Easter Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in 2025.
I’d love your insights on what we can visit in Milan that would interest both my grandson and me (I’m 75). Of course, I’m thinking of the must-sees, but not just those—cozy little restaurants, trendy neighborhoods, and anything else you’d recommend. I’m also looking for a comfortable hotel in the city center that isn’t too expensive!
I’m sure the VoyageForum community will help me uncover some hidden gems! Looking forward to your replies.
Summer 2027 is going to be Norwegian for us!
We’re heading to the Lofoten Islands first, then Senja, near Tromsø, and finally the North Cape.
We’ll likely start from northern Finland (flight tickets and car rentals are more affordable there).
I’d like to book accommodations early to have more options.
Good value-for-money places go fast in these pricey Nordic destinations...
But where should we book?
We’re planning to stay around ten nights in the Lofoten Islands.
What’s the best approach?
One place in the central part and explore from there?
One place in the south and another in the center?
Or one in the south, one in the center, and one in the north (3-4-3 nights)?
Hi there, my husband and I are planning a trip to Iceland in mid-October 2026.
Would you have any advice on the best places to visit for a first trip to this destination? Thanks
Hi, I'm heading to Italy soon and I wanted to know if Italian banks charge fees when you withdraw cash at an ATM, or if, like in Spain or Greece, it's better to avoid taking out money and bring cash instead. Looking forward to your replies... Thanks
We’re planning a short trip at the end of July to explore the legendary mountains and valleys of the Bernese Oberland: round trip from Nancy (Swiss highway vignette planned), 2 nights in a room with a small kitchen in Adelboden, then 2 nights in a hotel at the Gletscherblick in Grindelwald, both with half-board included.
Could you share some tips on the best road routes to take, as well as some walking hikes (we’re not as fit as we used to be, so nothing longer than 2-3 hours)? Maybe also 1 or 2 cable car rides—I was thinking of Oeschinensee Lake above Kandersteg and the First gondola above Grindelwald for better panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau... all while keeping it doable with our schedule. We’ve ruled out the "premium" trip up to the Jungfraujoch for this time.
I’m also guessing that paying to access Wengen or Mürren only makes sense if we’re staying there for a few days, right?
- Is the road through the narrow valley of the White Lütschine toward Lauterbrunnen and beyond still worth it in terms of views and scenery?
On the way back, if we have a little time to explore Bern’s historic old town, what’s the best parking plan for a 1- or 2-hour stop?
Thanks in advance for your advice, fellow travelers familiar with this beautiful region! 😉
Hi there,
I’ll be in Rome from April 1st to 13th, 2026—it’s coming up fast!
I’ve been searching online for tickets to visit the Borghese Gallery, but either there’s no availability or the tickets offered are ridiculously expensive.
Could someone guide me to a website where I can book 2 skip-the-line tickets (I’ve heard you have to reserve in advance online)?
