Members' personal websites

Costa Rica isn’t just a destination for wildlife and nature. We discovered Costa Rican gastronomy, and between traditional dishes and Caribbean influences, you won’t be disappointed.

Here are some dishes to try during your trip:

Gallo Pinto: The national dish! A mix of rice, black beans, onions, and peppers, often served with eggs and tortillas. Casado: A complete meal with rice, beans, vegetables, grilled meat or fish, and fried plantains. Olla de Carne: A traditional stew made with meat and vegetables. Chifrijo: A mix of fried beans, pork, and tortillas.

Not to mention the many exotic fruits—nothing like what we eat in France. Pineapples, mangoes, papayas, passion fruits...

I’ve detailed everything on this page: dishes, drinks, and fruits to discover during your trip to Costa Rica.

Feel free to share your favorites! ;)

Several years ago, I discovered the Val Cenis resort. It was love at first sight, and I’ve been going back whenever I can. Plus, the Haute Maurienne valley is stunning, and you can take the opportunity to visit Bessans and Bonneval-sur-Arc. It’s truly a beautiful place where authenticity is preserved, perfect for spending a few days in the mountains during winter and skiing. I wrote an article about this resort on my blog: https://www.hunza.pro/2025/01/vacances-d-hiver-a-val-cenis-ski-rando-et-decouverte-de-la-vallee-de-la-haute-maurienne.html

✈️ One-month Vietnam itinerary from North to Central 🇻🇳

We’re sharing this trip from July 2019—our first time traveling around like this. It’s pretty classic, but it’s a great way to start discovering this amazing country that is Vietnam. Hopefully, it’ll give some ideas to those who’d like to head to Southeast Asia!

Our little adventure is detailed in our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos there.

The Siwa Oasis is worth the effort—it takes nine hours by car from Cairo to get there. But once you arrive, it's pure magic! I share my trip on my personal blog (not sponsored)

https://travels-of-a-life.com/en-route-vers-oasis-siwa/

Hi there!

I’m reaching out because two friends and I are planning a one-year world cycling tour. We’ll cover 25,000 km across 30 countries, starting in September 2026. I’d love to share details about our route and budget through our Instagram account:

TricycleWchallenge: https://www.instagram.com/tricyclewchallenge?igsh=MXRwZmdoY2tjZHJ3aA==

We’ll be adding posts as we continue our research (which is already well underway) to show you our gear, route, and budget—with plenty of practical details, of course!

Thanks so much to those who follow us—you’re helping us a lot, especially with finding sponsors!

An interesting destination to discover for the end-of-year holidays, the Baltics. We visited Riga in Latvia (5 nights) and Tallinn in Estonia (4 nights) over 9 days in December 2024.

We loved Riga—the calm of its old town, its atmosphere, its architecture, and all the things to explore. Its little Christmas market is really nice. A great discovery.

Tallinn is a beautiful city, both modern on one side and with its medieval old town rich in history on the other. A bit livelier and more touristy than Riga, Tallinn is a city worth discovering by the Baltic Sea.

These two countries aren’t necessarily "cheap" compared to France. At this time of year, expect gray skies, short days, cold weather, and snow.

Our day-by-day travel journal is available here.

Hi there!

Here’s a video preview of the island of Dominica, specifically its southwest part.

https://youtu.be/DMWAJmPrnO8

And here are some practical tips for a first trip.

Hi everyone,

Here’s a video overview of Grande Terre in Guadeloupe (a classic video, nothing fancy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D6TYjTMmKU

And here’s some practical info for a first trip! !

Hi there, I wanted to share my experience at the BMW Museum with you. If you're a fan of the brand or just curious about the history of automobiles, this museum is really worth a visit! From the first BMW motorcycles to racing cars and the legendary production models, the museum traces the brand's history. You'll find the entire BMW universe through videos, sound installations, and 3D reconstructions of engines. Plan for at least 2 hours to visit. And there’s the Olympiapark nearby to check out too!. All the info on the BMW Museum in Munich is on this link, along with photos.

In June 2022, we covered 5,600 km. The major stops: San Francisco, Yosemite Park, Death Valley Park, Las Vegas, Zion Park, Bryce Canyon Park, Monument Valley Park, Grand Canyon Park, then the Pacific coast and back to San Francisco.

Photos of breathtaking landscapes.

Hi there, For anyone interested in dog sledding towards Tromsø, we spent a day on a private tour with a local musher. It was a really small operation—just him and his dogs :) Here’s the link to my post about the day we loved: https://hellolemonde.fr/chien-de-traineau-ethique-tromso/

If you're torn between visiting Knossos and Phaistos during your trip to Crete, here are a few points to help you decide! Knossos is the island’s most famous and most visited archaeological site, largely thanks to its impressive Minoan palace and its proximity to Heraklion. It’s a must-see for history, mythology, and archaeology buffs.

That said, to avoid disappointment, you should know the site is completely reconstructed according to one archaeologist’s vision. So, it’s all very concrete...

See the full details on Knossos

Phaistos, on the other hand, is quieter and less crowded, which can make for a more intimate and peaceful experience. Its palace is less restored than Knossos’s, but Phaistos has its own charm thanks to its stunning views of the Messara Plain and the Libyan Sea. The site is simpler but just as fascinating, with its ruins and the famous "Phaistos Disc," a mysterious artifact that still puzzles researchers.

Check out the info on Phaistos for some photos

Too often, people only spend a day or two in Cairo. I stayed for five days and wasn’t bored at all. I’m sharing my trip on my personal blog, hoping it might inspire you!

https://travels-of-a-life.com/explorer-le-caire-cinq-jours/

A warning to women traveling alone around the world. August 2024 I was alone in Egypt and experienced some not-so-pleasant things. Here’s a link to my TIPS so you don’t find yourself in the same situation I did during your trip (local resident entering my hotel room to kiss me... Dive guide who takes you underwater for 45 minutes and acts suspicious, does weird things... Scams... Street harassment...).

https://lonyssa.gumroad.com/l/dmcgbh?_gl=1*llhqzs*_ga*Mjc0MTU3NjIxLjE3MzQ1OTg3NzQ.*_ga_6LJN6D94N6*MTczNDYwODcxOC4yLjEuMTczNDYxNTAyMi4wLjAuMA..

Hi everyone,

We’re just back from a nearly 6-week trip to Western Australia. 4x4 style. Lots of accommodation and a few nights under canvas. Highlights of the trip: The Bungle Bungles, The Gibb River Road, Karinjini NP, Mt Augustus NP, Millstream NP, The Ningaloo Reef, Kalbarri, The Pinnacles... For anyone thinking of a trip to this part of the world—or just curious—here are the links to my two recent travel journals:

First part of the trip https://www.myatlas.com/anneclaire95/symphonie-de-couleurs-en-australie-occidentale

Second part of the trip https://www.myatlas.com/anneclaire95/symphonie-de-couleurs-en-australie-occidentale-2

Happy reading! 🙂

In a coconut, there’s something to drink *and* eat. Coconut water—a true tropical treasure—is gaining popularity for its many health benefits. This natural drink, from young coconuts, offers optimal hydration and a wealth of essential nutrients.

Discover how I learned to open coconuts and enjoy their benefits. 😉

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your trip to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates without falling into tourist traps.

Just to clarify, my blog is strictly personal and not monetized in any way.

https://travels-of-a-life.com/visiter-dubai-emirats-arabes-unis/

Contrary to popular belief, it’s really easy to travel independently in Egypt thanks to a well-developed tourist infrastructure. I’ll share my tips from my trips to Egypt in a post on my blog.

Important: my blog is personal and not sponsored.

https://travels-of-a-life.com/reussir-voyage-independant-egypte/

Hi there, We took a trip to Peru in 2022—probably one of the most amazing of our lives! It took me a while to write up all the details of our journey, but if it helps, you can find the full itinerary, my favorite spots, and my tips here.

After watching the *Échappées Belles* episode on this spectacular chain of islands lost in the North Atlantic, we’ve been dreaming of going there. Why not summer 2023?

Since we love road trips for the way they let you really grasp distances, we’re choosing to travel by car and ferry.

It’s not exactly fast, but it’s a great way to see the countryside!

We’ll explore part of the archipelago starting from three bases—charming apartments we rented through a well-known platform...

Hiking, hiking, and more hiking.

Green, green, and more green.

Sunshine, wind, a few raindrops, and a pretty cool climate...

But most of all, a peaceful escape from the hustle of cities in a stunning landscape of cliffs and untouched nature.

You can find the details of our Nordic adventure here.

Happy reading!

And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to share!

hi fellow travelers, and other "responsible" travel bloggers. An article to fuel your thoughts and set some ideas straight..

https://www.virtual-trip.fr/blogueur-voyageur-responsable/

Hi there, We traveled to Norway in early March 2024 for a 10-day winter trip and visited Tromsø, Kvaløya, Sommarøy, part of Senja, and then spent 6 days in the Lofoten Islands. Here’s my feedback, on my blog Hellolemonde:

- A practical guide and tips for seeing the northern lights without a guide: https://hellolemonde.fr/10-jours-tromso-aux-iles-lofoten-en-mars/

- Articles on each stop here: https://hellolemonde.fr/tromso-lofoten-en-hiver-articles/

Don’t hesitate if you have any questions—I’d be happy to answer! ;)

Hi, The travel forum site is finally back up. We missed it! I’m sharing a link to my travel journal from June 2022—a road trip from San Francisco to the big national parks in the central U.S., then back to San Francisco. It might help you plan your own trip. Here’s the link: https://diasporus33.wixsite.com/usa2022

Cheers to everyone, and thanks for your comments

It’d been 30 years since I last set foot in the United States, and I hadn’t really felt the urge to return.

Reading Marati’s trip report sparked a bit of nostalgia for this destination that my partner had never experienced.

So, we chose the American West as the goal for our spring getaway.

With only 15 days, we couldn’t be too ambitious...

I cut Los Angeles from the itinerary—it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me—and San Francisco, which is tricky to reach from the East this time of year.

We’ll land in Las Vegas, which will also be our return point, and do a classic loop covering the highlights of Utah and Arizona.

The plan includes plenty of hikes but also lots of miles behind the wheel to admire the natural wonders of the West.

You can find the details of our transatlantic wanderings here.

Happy reading!

And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to share!

Back from a 2-week trip to Algeria, I’m thrilled with this experience... which I’m sharing on my personal site (new address) http://lethieu39.jimdo.com/ and a bunch of photos on http://picasaweb.google.fr/lethieu39/

Summer 2020, Transavia cancels at the end of June the flights they put on sale at the beginning of the same month... Not enough customers!

Too bad, it was a unique opportunity to discover Iceland without its overwhelming number of tourists.

Summer 2021, the entry conditions for the island keep changing.

Summer 2022, the Icelandair ticket is booked, the Duster 4x4 is rented, accommodations are reserved—it’s finally our turn to discover this northern gem!

In 3 weeks, we’ll have to make choices.

Our itinerary will skip the Westfjords.

We’ll start our Icelandic adventure in Snæfellsnes and finish at the Golden Circle.

In between, there’ll be roads, tracks, glaciers, volcanoes, fjords, wind, cold, rain, snow, fog, and a touch of sunshine...

A few hikes, a hot spring, and plenty of wonder, especially on the backroads where travelers often find themselves alone against the elements.

Bundle up in your down jacket, grab your scarf and hat to warmly discover the full detailed story of this trip...

Happy reading!

And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate!

Our trip to Puglia left a bitter taste—between the trash, privatized beaches, and relentless heat.

But on our way home, a short stop in Tuscany reconciled us with Italy.

This new summer, we’ve decided to add this beautiful region to our itinerary!

As usual for relatively nearby destinations, we’ll be driving via the Col de la Lombarde on the way there and Mont Cenis Pass on the way back.

A chance to kill two birds with one stone: one trip, multiple landscapes crossed.

For our Tuscan stay, we’ve chosen a house tucked away in the Chianti vineyards.

Peace and quiet, barely disturbed by the occasional wild boar or deer!

You’ve probably gathered that we won’t be sightseeing fanatics, even if classics like Siena, Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa, and the Abbey of Saint Michael of the Cluse are on the agenda.

You can find the details of our journey beyond the Alps here.

Happy reading!

And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate!

For our first post-COVID trip outside Europe, we’ve chosen a North African destination: Morocco.

I’ve already visited this country four times, but my partner has never set foot there.

Since we both prefer wide-open spaces over even imperial cities, our itinerary will focus on nature and villages.

Starting point: Casablanca, easily accessible with a direct flight from Lyon.

Our ride: a Dacia Logan, perfect for navigating roads turned into Swiss cheese by corruption and the weather.

Stops: Demnate, Aït Ben Haddou, the Dadès Gorges, N'Kob, Zagora, the Todhra Gorges, the Merzouga dunes, Tinejdad, Agoudal, Lake Bin El Ouidane, the Vallée Heureuse, the Ouzoud waterfalls, and finally El Jadida.

Season: November, when there’s no tourist pressure. Sure, it can be chilly, but what peace and quiet!

You can find the details of our journey beyond the Rif here.

Happy reading!

And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate!

A November trip, 15 days of vacation.

What if we finally headed to Réunion Island for that trip canceled by the COVID wave?

A car, 5 stops, and a craving for nature...

The details of our southern adventures are here.

Happy reading!

And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate!