Hôtel Gran Ventana à Puerto Plata

Hey, I’d like to know which hotel in the south doesn’t force you to wake up at 4 AM just to reserve a shady chair, whether it’s at the beach or the pool.

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.

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.

Tell me what you think about this hotel because I’ve been there five times now and I still love it..............

Hi, For my husband's 50th birthday, we're going to Mombasa for 10 days and 8 nights in March 2026. I found a hotel, the Kappa Club Crystal Bay Resort, and online reviews for this hotel recommend a guide named Omar. I contacted him via WhatsApp, and he's offering a 2-day, 1-night safari in Tsavo East, a "blue safari," and a Marafa Canyon day trip for 400 € per person. I’m asking for help from people who’ve already done these excursions because I have no idea what these offers entail. Thank you for any advice you can give me about this trip. Caroline

Hi there! To help me decide 🤔

Any recommendations for boutique hotels in Koh Samui based on your experience? I’m also tempted by traditional bungalows with half-board.

Hi everyone, I’m writing here because I’m really torn—I want to go on a trip. A vacation? 10 to 12 days, maybe 14 days. Starting March 14th. I’m in a wheelchair but completely independent. I was thinking of going to Martinique, but apparently, the hotels aren’t all-inclusive, which might be a hassle. If you have any advice, that’d be great. Otherwise, I was considering Mexico—a long-time dream. At an all-inclusive hotel with accessibility on one level (since I’m independent but in a wheelchair). Do you know of any nice, budget-friendly hotels with activities in Mexico? Or Zanzibar is also an option for me, same idea.

Thanks in advance for your help! If you have any tips, that would be amazing so I can finally make up my mind and plan my trip without too much stress. I’m looking ahead so I have plenty of time. Feel free to ask questions if you’d like. Thanks for your feedback, have a great evening!

Hi everyone, happy to be back on this site. I’m tired of spending hours and hours searching for all-inclusive hotels for my first trip to Mexico to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Can anyone recommend 5 or 6 hotel names that meet the following criteria? (I’m not too picky, lol) 1. All-inclusive 2. Adults-only 3. Beautiful beach and pool 4. Hotel for relaxing (no "factory hotels") 5. One-week stay in February 2026 6. A nice hotel (3 or 4 stars) but no need for an ultra-palace

Oh, and I almost forgot the main thing 😉: budget between 3500 € and 4000 € for two, including flights from Montreal-Mexico-Montreal.

Thanks to all of you for your recommendations! Adjou

Hello,

I’m looking into November (first, will it be warm enough for snorkeling in Sharm El Sheikh?) and especially for feedback on hotels. I’ve read that the clientele is mostly Italian or Russian. Are there any French-speaking hotels—or at least mixed ones? We’re a retired couple and are looking for a hotel around 1,000 € per week. We’ll be in Cairo beforehand and will take a domestic flight. Thanks in advance.

Hi! I’d like to go to Tunisia in September but I’m torn between Hammamet and Djerba. Could you give me some advice, please? Thanks

I'm looking for retirees who spend the winter in DJERBA and who can recommend decent hotels. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

We’re thinking of booking an "all-inclusive" trip so we don’t have to worry too much... for a week at the beginning of next September, but we’re torn between several destinations: Crete? Cyprus? Sicily? Sardinia? The only thing we’re really looking for is sunshine. Thanks in advance for any tips you can share!

Hi there, I’m planning a stay at the Sian Kan in the Riviera Maya and was wondering if anyone’s been there recently. If so, are the location, welcome, services, and food still as excellent as they used to be? I’ve heard that since the train between Cancun and Tulum was built, things might have gone downhill. Thanks for your feedback! Lise

Hi there, I’m a 43-year-old woman planning to travel solo in early March. I’m not really into "commercial resorts," but if I find a place that fits my criteria, I might be interested. To add to the info in the title, I’m open to various activities, but ideally, it’d include snorkeling, hiking, dance (every evening if possible!), group tours, etc. I’d love to meet people (not necessarily a man—just people in general!). I’m not necessarily aiming for the cheapest resort, but since it’s spring break week and everything’s already pricier, 5-star options are probably out of the question. Thanks!

Hello! What a pleasure to be back on Voyage Forum! We’ll be in Venice from March 20th to 24th, and I’m looking (for two couples) for a hotel close to St. Mark’s Square—my husband can’t walk long distances. For four nights with breakfast, our budget is around 1,400 € per couple. To avoid too much walking for him, I’d also prefer a hotel where we could potentially eat dinner in the evenings. If anyone has any recommendations, thank you in advance to those who reply!

Hi there,

We’re planning a week-long trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. We’re looking at staying from March 22nd to 30th: will we still be able to see the Northern Lights, or is it too late in the season?

We found a deal on Voyage Privé that seems like a good price, with a hotel in Reykjavik. If we rent a car, are there any interesting sites we can visit during the day, since we’re tied to returning to Reykjavik every night—or else we’d lose our nights at the hotel!

Thanks so much for your advice!

Best regards,

marc

Hi, I was planning a trip to Hurghada at the end of March, but it's the end of Ramadan. Some people are telling me I should avoid it. What do you think? Thanks

Hi I can’t manage to get in touch directly with one of the hotels in Prachuap... like Prachuap Grand Hotel or Prachuap Beach Hotel... has anyone been there recently? or have any info? Thanks everyone...

Hi there, We’re heading to Argentina and Chile in February 2025. I’d love to know if it’s recommended to book accommodations (hotels, guesthouses, etc.) in advance, especially in Patagonia? Thanks for your tips!

Hi everyone, I’d like to book 2 nights at a camp inside Etosha (Halali). However, online, I’ve found two sites for making this reservation: The first is the Etosha National Park site: https://etoshanationalpark.co.za You can’t pay online there—you just submit a reservation request (enquiry). The second is the NWR (Namibia Wildlife Resorts) site: https://www.nwr.com.na, where you *can* pay online. Is the latter one reliable? Thanks so much for your tips! Frédéric

Bonjour nous arriverons dimanche 5 mai ( à partir de 16h25) à l'aéroport de Punta Cana pour profiter d'un séjour que mon amie à gagner à l’hôtel Gran Bahia Principe La Romana. L'avion est offert par la compagnie aérienne, l'hôtel je pense par la chaine hôtelière, mais aujourd'hui je m’inquiète du transfert car aucune info et j'apprends que rien n'est prévu. D’après ce que j'ai vu le dernier car expreso part de Punta Cana à 16h00 Y-a t'il d'autres moyens de transports collectif (guagua) qui puisse faire le trajet ou au moins nous avancer jusqu'à La Romana ou San Pedro de Marcoris et je pense qu'on finira le trajet en taxi. Si c'est trop compliqué ça sera navette privée mais on est plus "lonely planet " que navette privée et hôtel tout inclus.

Merci pour les réponses

William

Bonjour j ai effectué des reservations d hebergement sur l amerique du sud par l intermediaire de Booking en fevrier dernier pour novembre 2020 . A ce jour elles n apparaissent plus sur mon compte Booking , j en ai informé par mail le service clients mais ce dernier ne repond pas ...donc impossible d annuler ces reservations....Quelqu un a t il connu ce probleme et l a t il resolu ??? Merci d avance....

Bonjour à tous,

Ma femme, ma fille de 18 mois et moi allons passé nos vacances du 05 au 19 Août à Majorque et nous aimerions bien avoir des avis sur quel coin de l'île choisir pour séjourner. On pense prendre un "all inclusive" pour ne pas trop se tracasser la tête pour les repas etc.... On pense également louer une voiture pour visiter l'île en soirée...On fera quelques sorties en journée mais nous allons vraiment être en mode repos.

Merci d'avance pour vos conseils quels qu'ils soient.

Quel hotel tout inclus proche plage et visite un peu sur grand canarie ou lanzarote voir tenerife pour fin septembre debut octobre merci de vos avis hitel pas isole et facile d acces . Merci

Bonjour, Le premier voyage First voyage en Crète est parti le 20 octobre 2018. Y a-t-il des avis sur ce voyage précisément ?

Je pars à l'hôtel ambre a l'est et je souhaiterez connaitre les prix des massages à maurice en euros svp merci. Les prix peuvent t ils etre moins cher a l extérieur merci encore

je pars dans quelques jours pour l'Ile Maurice (au Sugar Beach à Flic en Flac) et j'aimerais avoir quelques infos pertinentes de la part de ceux d'entre-vous qui connaissent bien l'ïle et/ou ce coin "flic en Flac". Voici mes questions principales (toute autre info utile étant bienvenue ! ):

Que faut-il absolument faire à Flic en Flac et environs proches ? Est-il de coutume de négocier les prix dans les boutiques ? Si oui, dans quelle proportion afin de ne pas se faire berner ? Est-il préférable de se fournir dans de petits centres commerciaux ou les petits marchands sont-ils fiables ? Comment faire la différence entre les artisants fabricants réellement des maquettes et les importations chinoises ?

A quoi doit-on faire attention en dehors du resort (voire dans le resort, car c'est souvent le coup de fusil chez eux ;) ) ?

D'avance merci pour vos réponses. MB

Bonjour,

Notre prochain voyage si dieu le veut sera à Cayo Santa Maria, CUBA.

Nous avons 2 choix d’hôtels/resort.

1 - MELIA LAS DUNAS 2- VALENTIN PERLA BLANCA

On aimerait vos opinions, on sera que 2 et on aime la tranquillité de préférence adulte seulement.

Merci et bonne soirée.

Claudine et Sylvain

Bonjour je suis intéressé par cet hôtel pour début avril est-ce qu'il y'a quelqu’un qui revient de cet endroit dernièrement merci.

Bonsoir je pars en juillet à l hotel occidental at xcaret a Playa del carmen pouvez vous me dire combien coûte un aller retour pour aller à playa del carmen et si on est loin de la ? Pour le wifi est t il possible d acheter sur playa del Carmen une carte pour le téléphone ? Merci d avance pour vos réponses