Premier arrivé premier servi existe aussi : pic du teide par exemple.
C'est gratuit mais seulement 200 personnes par jours.
Tant pis pour ceux qui n'ont pas pré-réservé.
Et une véritable sélection par l'argent, ce ne sont pas les quelques euros demandés par les villes, villages qui ont mis en place un droit d'entrée.
Là, c'est juste pour tester la motivation du voyageur. Ce n'est même pas le prix d'une séance de cinéma, d'un repas complet chez MC do...
Une sélection par l'argent, ce serait un montant réellement dissuasif .
Un montant que le commun des mortels ne pourrait pas se payer sans gros sacrifices.
Plus que le prix d'un concert de feu Johnny, d'une place à une demi finale de foot etc.
Si les sites en péril voulaient sélectionner par l'argent, c'est à 500 euros qu'ils fixeraient leur entrée pas à 5 ou 10.
Dans la région du Cinque Terre en Italie, ils ont instauré un système semblable.
D'après le site de l'office du tourisme des Cinque Terre, ce n'est pas du tout le cas:
www.incinqueterre.com/fr/cinque-terre-card
Dont acte. J'avais pourtant lu cette information sur plusieurs sites n'ayant rien à voir l'un avec l'autre.
En cherchant un peu plus, j'ai pu découvrir que les divers responsables ne sont pas du tout sur la même longueur d'onde : les responsables du Parc national des Cinque Terre veulent limiter : 2 millions et demi de touristes par an dans cette petite région, cela fait tout de même vraiment beaucoup. Mais la région de Ligurie s'oppose à toute limitation car qui dit touristes dit rentrées financières.
Mais si le nombre de touristes augmente encore, là cela va vraiment poser problème !
Une sélection par l'argent, ce serait un montant réellement dissuasif.
Il me semble que le Bhoutan pratique cette politique, avec un budget quotidien minimal imposé aux touristes. Dans les 250€ par jour et par personne. A ce prix là, on ne s'éternise pas.
La selection peut se faire de plusieurs façons :
Par l'argent : permis dissuasifs (certaines régions du Népal par exemple : Mustang, Bouthan).
Par loterie : comme dans les parcs américains
Par l'isolement et les conditions météorologiques : régions polaires, Sibérie, Grand Sahara etc...
Par la dangerosité du site avec le risque de terrorisme, ou du terrain en lui même : volcans actifs, sommets, pays dangereux etc.
Pour les villes la sélection ne peut se faire que par l'argent ou la loterie.
Si déja on pouvait augmenter les prix des vols pour limiter les vols week ends courts à travers toute l'année. Il y a des gens qui prennent l'avion plusieurs fois par mois pour se faire des weeks ends courts dans une ville européenne.
"When I saw the Hoggar Mountains, my jaw dropped. If you think of Bryce, or Canyonlands National Park, you're close, but the Hoggar Mountains are more spectacular." David Ball, Empire of sands
moi je ne voyage qu'en voiture ( à pieds ou en vélo ça serait mieux je sais ) car aller quelque part sans voir ce qu'il y a entre chez moi et quelque part , ça ne m'interesse pas
je n'y vais pas , il faudrait déjà plusieurs vie pour visiter l'Europe
Il n'est pas nécessaire de connaître l'Europe de fond en comble et dans les moindres détails - on ne voit pas pourquoi il faudrait réserver à l'Europe l'exclusivité ni même la primauté des visites.
Même si on n'a pas "tout" vu en Europe, il est intéressant d'avoir vu par exemple New York et San Francisco, le Québec, au moins en partie les Indes, la Thaïlande, le Cambodge, la Chine, le Japon, l'Egypte, etc.
Cela me rappelle des amis italiens qui me disaient : on a suffisamment de belles choses dans notre pays, pourquoi aller à l'étranger ? Oui, bien sûr … (cela n'empêche pas de nombreux Italiens de voyager, on en rencontre partout dans le monde !)
Il n'est pas nécessaire de connaître l'Europe de fond en comble et dans les moindres détails - on ne voit pas pourquoi il faudrait réserver à l'Europe l'exclusivité ni même la primauté des visites.
Sur les forums, les gens ne se lisent pas, c'est bien triste.
Mick dit le pourquoi il se "cantonne" à l'Europe (des guillemets, car comme il dit, il ne suffis pas d'une vie pour en faire le tour) et on lui répond "je ne vois pas pourquoi".
Ca m'a toujours fait marrer cet argument du temps. D'un poinr de vue biologique, on est tous à peu-près égaux, le temps s'écoule de la même manière pour tout le monde.
tiens tiens c'est une remarque que je viens de faire dans un autre fil de discussion concernant les célibataires au Japon 😛
le temps s'écoule de la même manière pour tout le monde.
Dans le post en question j'ai compris qu'il s'agissait du temps disponible pour voyager. Donc en fonction des occupations de chacun, il y a des gens qui ont plus de temps libre à disposition. retraités, enseignants, étudiants......
A part cela, plus on avance en âge , plus un laps de temps X nous paraît court car il représente une fraction de plus en plus petite du temps déjà vécu, qui nous sert de référence. Et moins il nous en reste.......
Sur les forums, les gens ne se lisent pas, c'est bien triste.
Mick dit le pourquoi il se "cantonne" à l'Europe
Ce qui est bien triste (pour lui) c'est que ce monsieur a de telles manies :
"moi je ne voyage qu'en voiture (…) car aller quelque part sans voir ce qu'il y a entre chez moi et quelque part, ça ne m'intéresse pas "
Si on comprend bien, avant de voir le Taj Mahal, il lui faut d'abord visiter tout ce qu'il y a sur le chemin entre sa crèche et Agra, et en voiture par-dessus le marché ? Y en a pour un bout de temps …. mais c'est son problème !
c est pour ca qui l me semble plus judicieux de faire de la loterie ou limiter les places tout systeme ayant des limites on peut penser qu avec la corruption ambiante il y aura du passe droit
mais dans ce meme contexte comment savoir ou ira l argent
si on demande des sommes assez consequentes on risque de se retrouver dans des sites jet set
et quid du droit a l egalite
Sur les forums, les gens ne se lisent pas, c'est bien triste.
Mick dit le pourquoi il se "cantonne" à l'Europe
Ce qui est bien triste (pour lui) c'est que ce monsieur a de telles manies :
"moi je ne voyage qu'en voiture (…) car aller quelque part sans voir ce qu'il y a entre chez moi et quelque part, ça ne m'intéresse pas "
Si on comprend bien, avant de voir le Taj Mahal, il lui faut d'abord visiter tout ce qu'il y a sur le chemin entre sa crèche et Agra, et en voiture par-dessus le marché ? Y en a pour un bout de temps …. mais c'est son problème !
Au moins, Mick il sait pourquoi il voyage, même si tu ne comprends pas ce qu'il dit.
le temps s'écoule de la même manière pour tout le monde.
Dans le post en question j'ai compris qu'il s'agissait du temps disponible pour voyager. Donc en fonction des occupations de chacun, il y a des gens qui ont plus de temps libre à disposition. retraités, enseignants, étudiants......
A part cela, plus on avance en âge , plus un laps de temps X nous paraît court car il représente une fraction de plus en plus petite du temps déjà vécu, qui nous sert de référence. Et moins il nous en reste.......
Je ne sais pas si les statistiques disent que les catégories de gens qui ont plus de temps libre choisissent des moyens de transport plus lents (?)
c est bien ce que j ai dit tout peut se truquer qu il s agisse d une loterie ou de payer
certaines personnes n ont meme pas les moyens de se payer une voiture low cost alors l antarctique...
pour jet set c etait plutot une image pour club de riches
alors la on est en orbite
d apres toi
laissons de cote ces gens qui ne peuvent pas s acheter une voiture low cost
ces gens ne viendront jamais nous emmerder a l autre bout du monde
les autres c est pareil qu ils s achetent une bagnole et pas de voyage la on est encore peinards
les low cost quand on parle de surtourisme c est discutable non
j imagine que tu as une voiture
je te rassure avant que tous les terriens aient une voiture..
par contre nous en avons souvent plus d une dans certains pays bien nantis et qui apparemment souhaite le rester si je te suis
Bien vu. Le temps c est aussi, vu ainsi, tres relatif... S en est meme flippant...
le temps s'écoule de la même manière pour tout le monde.
Dans le post en question j'ai compris qu'il s'agissait du temps disponible pour voyager. Donc en fonction des occupations de chacun, il y a des gens qui ont plus de temps libre à disposition. retraités, enseignants, étudiants......
A part cela, plus on avance en âge , plus un laps de temps X nous paraît court car il représente une fraction de plus en plus petite du temps déjà vécu, qui nous sert de référence. Et moins il nous en reste.......
Pour en revenir au message de Xyz999 en fait Sartre nous dirait presque le contraire en affirmant que "l'existence précéde l''essence".
Pour essayer d'expliquer de manière simple ( aïe c'est dur), l'essence c'est ce que l'on est soi-même pris au sens large du terme, bref c'est considérer son âme en quelque sorte.
Par opposition à l'existence, la manière d'être au fil du temps.
C'est pour cela que Simone de Beauvoir affirme que "l'on ne nait pas femme, on le devient"...mais cette proposition est plutôt d'ordre social.
L'existence, le devenir de l'âme bref sa propre personne devient une construction au fil du temps.
Salut Matthews,
Ce que tu dis est intéressant, mais je ne comprends pas trop ce que tu veut dire à propos de la phrase de S. de Beauvoir. Si elle veut dire, elle, qu'on devient femme par conditionnement social, c'est plutôt le contraire que devenir soi-même non ?
Ma chère Valérie, je ne suis responsable ni de ma naissance ni de mon lieu de naissance.😛
C'est la roulette russe de la vie.
C'est certes extrêmement injuste mais se flageller h24 ni changera rien.
La terre en l'état actuel des choses n'est pas prête à offrir le nirvana à plus de 6 milliards de consommateurs.
Au mieux, si tu divises égalitairement les richesses, nous serons tous au rsa.
Pourquoi pas finalement.
Plus de société de consommation, plus de voitures, plus de voyages.
Les besoins primaires de tous seraient assouvis.
Jusqu'à ce que...
En attendant, le plus sûr moyen d'offrir un avenir meilleur à nos descendants, c'est de moins en avoir.
J'aurais au moins fait preuve d'utilité sur ce point. 🙂
Au mieux, si tu divises égalitairement les richesses, nous serons tous au rsa.
Tiens donc...ça sort du cerveau de quel économiste ça? Tu parles des richesses sur le papier? En terme de PIB mondial ?Le gaspillage est compris ?
Ce qui est certain c'est que: 80% de la richesse mondiale est détenue par seulement 1% de la population. Et ce déséquilibre s'accroît chaque année qui passe...
Ou encore plus frappant:www.liberation.fr/...e-l-humanite_1704155
Que 80 % de la richesse mondiale soit détenue par 1% de la population ne change rien au fait que cette richesse n'est pas suffisante pour que les plus de 6 milliards d'êtres humains atteignent le niveau de vie rêvé d'un gilet jaune.
Faire miroiter qu'une vie égalitaire serait une vie de rêve est un leurre.
Nous n'en avons pas les moyens.
D'autant moins que l'homme se satisfait rarement de ce qu'il a.
Au mieux, si tu divises égalitairement les richesses, nous serons tous au rsa.
Que 80 % de la richesse mondiale soit détenue par 1% de la population ne change rien au fait que cette richesse n'est pas suffisante pour que les plus de 6 milliards d'êtres humains atteignent le niveau de vie rêvé d'un gilet jaune.
Le montant du RSA français (559 euros pour une personne seule et 839 pour un couple) s'il permet tout juste de survivre dans notre pays serait une véritable aubaine dans la plupart des pays d'Asie du sud et sud- est ainsi que dans toute l'Afrique où le revenu moyen tourne autour de 50 euros.Les richesses au niveau mondial sont largement suffisantes pour tous.
Le partage plus équitable de ces richesses.... Là c'est une autre histoire.
Faire miroiter qu'une vie égalitaire serait une vie de rêve est un leurre.
Nous n'en avons pas les moyens.
Disons plutôt que nous ne le souhaitons pas.
D'autant moins que l'homme se satisfait rarement de ce qu'il a.
Si elle veut dire, elle, qu'on devient femme par conditionnement social, c'est plutôt le contraire que devenir soi-même non ?
oui cependant devenir soi-même c'est plutôt dans une vision existentialiste.
D'ailleurs sur la fiche Wiki de l'existentialisme cette fameuse phrase de S. de Beauvoir est abordée
Si elle veut dire, elle, qu'on devient femme par conditionnement social, c'est plutôt le contraire que devenir soi-même non ?
oui cependant devenir soi-même c'est plutôt dans une vision existentialiste.
D'ailleurs sur la fiche Wiki de l'existentialisme cette fameuse phrase de S. de Beauvoir est abordée
Je ne vois pas bien ce que tu n'as pas compris dans cette phrase :
cette richesse n'est pas suffisante pour que les plus de 6 milliards d'êtres humains atteignent le niveau de vie rêvé d'un gilet jaune.
pour me répondre ceci :
Les richesses au niveau mondial sont largement suffisantes pour tous.
Tu confonds assurer le gîte, le couvert, l'école et les soins sous forme basique ce qui est effectivement possible pour tous, je ne l'ai jamais nié, et ouvrir le monde à la société de consommation telle que nous la connaissons ce qui est impossible.(je te rappelle le début de cette digression dans la discussion : une voiture pour tous et des voyages à la pelle...)
Je serais curieuse de t'observer sur un rond point ou sur un piquet de grève sncf expliquer que le grand soir mondial est arrivé et qu'ils vont retourner au niveau de vie de leurs aïeux.
Bonjour.
Pour l Espagne ou j habite.et que je connais depuis mon enfance c est simple.: Les touristes ne vont que dans les lieux où vont les autres touristes.et dans certaines grandes villes pour visiter tous les mêmes monuments.
L Espagne cette année a été la deuxième destination mondiale pour le tourisme.vous allez me dire tourisme de masse et horreur.
Pas du tout.car tous les touristes étaient concentrés aux mêmes endroits.les endroits "horribles" des plages des 1000kms de côtes aux enfilades d immeubles.et dans certaines grandes villes pour des séjours souvent très courts pour voir les principaux monuments ou principaux musées.l Espagne en superficie est le plus grands pays f Europe.
Ce qui fait que les dizaines de millions de touristes étaient tous concentrés aux mêmes endroits et 90% de l' Espagne n a jamais vu aucun touriste.
Je pourrais sur ce forum passer ma vie à indiquer des endroits merveilleux en Espagne dans le centre et aux quatre coins de l Espagne cela ne servira à rien.et pour cause..les touristes iront tous visiter les mêmes lieux qui se limitent à quelques centaines et c est comme ça qu on a des messages pour la millième fois demandant des renseignements pour el camino d' el Rey en Andalousie ou pour la millième fois pour l Alcazar de Sevilla ou pour la millième fois pour Peniscola sur la côte.
Donc du tourisme de masse il y en a en Espagne mais c est sans danger pour le pays puisque les touristes se concentrent tous aux mêmes endroits.
Si je me mets à parler de ce merveilleux endroit qu est le village d Arnes de 400habitants dans le merveilleux parc naturel dels sports on va me regarder avec des yeux ronds et me dire kesaco...et trente secondes après me demander un hôtel où un camping sympa pour Malaga.
En Espagne il y a une culture espagnole et 90% du pays à découvrir sauvage avec des lieux sensationnels sans aucun touriste...
Ana
Bonjour Anne,
Quand même, pour beaucoup d'habitants de la région de Barcelone, l'effet de mode doit être assez difficile à vivre.
Ne parlons pas des Baléares où on en est à louer des matelas sur les balcons pour les saisonniers.
Récemment à Séville, un type m'à demandé comment ça se faisait qu'il y ait soudainement autant de français dans sa ville. J'imagine que c'est par effet de mode, avec un effet soudain comme l'évoque Voyageur plus haut. Et ces effets de vagues, avec leur côté instable, c'est peut-être un peu économiquement compliqué.
L'Espagne à toujours été la deuxième destination touristique, mais il me semble que ce dont on parle dans le sujet c'est cette nouvelle forme de tourisme, liée directement aux bas coûts du transport aérien, qui vient se rajouter à celui plus traditionnel et plus stable.
Même si ce n'est que 10% du territoire (à mon avis plus en nombre d'habitants touchés par les hausses de l'immobilier), on peut plaindre ceux qui ne peuvent plus se loger ou boire leur verre en centre ville.
Personellement, en France, je suis une sorte de réfugié économique victime du tourisme. En quelques décénies, la région de mon enfance est devenue très appréciée des étrangers à niveau de vie plus élevé. Le prix de l'immobilier à été multiplié par 5 à une certaine époque.
J'ai toujours rêvé d'y avoir une petite maison, mais ça n'est plus envisageable.
Ce n'est pas trop grave car mon activité professionnelle me permet de vivre dans une autre région.
Mais j'imagine que beaucoup d'habitants de Barcelone ou Séville n'ont que le choix de rester sur place pour travailler. Alors leurs conditions d'existence se dégradent (pas seulement de façon conomique, pour un barcelonais d'origine, ça doit être dur d'avoir perdu l'âme de sa ville).
Si je me mets à parler de ce merveilleux endroit qu est le village d Arnes de 400habitants dans le merveilleux parc naturel dels sports on va me regarder avec des yeux ronds et me dire kesaco..
Non, pas du tout. J'irai à Arnes , c'est promis , dès les beaux jours et je suis quasiment sûr que je vais adorer cet endroit dont tu nous fais si bien la publicité. A mon retour j'en parlerai sur ce forum et surtout, surtout... Je donnerai un avis très positif sur trip advisor.Dès l'an prochain les touristes seront bien présents et ce petit village merveilleux peut, dès a présent , se réjouir d'être enfin reconnu comme un des sites touristiques incontournables en Espagne!
C est dur pour toute l Espagne pays le plus pauvre d Europe avec la Grèce..
C est vrai que les grandes villes avec le tourisme ont perdu leur âme surtout Barcelona où on dit que la langue principale est l anglais et non le catalan.
Le tourisme au début peut etre un bienfait économique mais devient vite un fléau..et cela partout dans le monde.
Mais il est impossible de faire marche arrière.a moins que les ressources pétrolières cessent.
Pour l' Espagne c est simple au moment de la construction des immeubles sur la côte dans les années 60 du nord au sud toutes les cabanes de pêcheurs ont été détruites et les habitants obligés de vivre à l' intérieur des terres.
Les loyers sur la côte (et je pourrais rajouter dans toute l espagne) sont inabordables pour les espagnols .et aucunes aides sociales ni RSA ni allocations familiales ni allocations logements et le taux de chômage le plus haut d Europe avec 15%.
Et le tourisme concentré aux mêmes endroits n amene rien à la population espagnole et ne profite qu à une poignée minuscule de personnes..
le tourisme de masse détruit .profite à certains.mais il y aura toujours des voyageurs.et donc toujours des touristes.
Mais concentré aux mêmes endroits ça ne détruit qu une infime partie du pays.au Portugal l Algarve Lisbonne et porto sont "fichus" ça tout le monde le sait .c est devenu hors de prix et laid. envahi de touristes. Alors que tout le centre du pays et le nord est est vide de touristes..
On voyage partout et de plus en plus grâce aux vols low costs. les touristes ne vont voir que ce qu ils appelent les "incontournables".les touristes hors circuits touristiques sont très rares.
Bonne journee
Ana
À l extérieur d Arnes il y a un camping ou ne vont que des espagnols dans un paysage sauvage sans maisons .seuls des oliviers.et en face les massifs dentelés dels ports.qui prennent au coucher du soleil des tons ocres et rouges.
On peut voir le site du camping : camping dels ports.com
Je ne pense pas qu il y aura un jour des hôtels où aires de camping cars..
Arnes se trouve à 50kms au dessus de Tortosa.au sud de Gandesa.
À la frontière Catalogne/Aragon et toute la région est magnifique à découvrir.ce qui est amusant comme c est frontalier c est qu on passe d une langue à une autre.a Arnes les habitants ne parlent que le catalan.et tous les autres villages aussi et des qu on passe en Aragon au premier village à 5kms c est l espagnol.et ça m arrive parfois d oublier .je commence en catalan puis je me dis mince c est vrai je suis en "Espagne" de ce côté et je continue en espagnol.
Dans cette région côté Aragon le gros village de valldrobes est une merveille vraiment la partie ainsi que le centre de la petite ville d alcaniz.
Ana
Pour confirmer ce que vous dites, il m'est arrivé de visiter l'été dernier une des plus célèbres catédrales d'Espagne totalement seul (quel bonheur). A quelques dizaines de kilomètres de lieux hyper-touristiques où on doit faire la queue pour visiter les monuments. D'ailleurs, dans cette ville de cent-mille habitants, j'ai été étonné d'attendre deux jours pour croiser les premiers touristes....pourtant en juillet (je garderai égoïstement secret le nom de cet endroit).
Les flux touristiques sont devenus trop important dans le monde, et ce n'est pas prêt de s'arranger vu la démographie mondiale.
De nos jours un simple selfie peut donner l'idée à des millions de personnes de visiter un endroit.
La rapidité et la facilité de diffusion de l'information via internet, les reseaux sociaux est destructice.
Je pense que pour freiner le phénomène il faudrait rendre le tourisme moins accessible comme au 20 e siècle ou c'etait réservé à une élite, en augmentant sensiblement les prix des billets d'avion, sinon on part à la catastrophe ( le trafic aérien est prévu pour doubler dans moins de 20 ans).
La question de l'existence d'un forum comme celui ci se pose également, car elle contribue au phénomène.
S..... de pauvres ! maintenant ils voyagent et prennent la place des riches.....!
Non mais vraiment lire ce genre de chose à de quoi faire bondir !
Ne vous tracassez pas trop..vous connaissez le boomerang bâton des aborigènes australiens.on le lance et il revient sur vous..l humanité a tout détruit..sur toute la planète .dans les destructions le tourisme y est inclus..des peuplades "sauvages" il n y en a plus...de bienfait pour l économie le tourisme est devenu un fléau..dans un récent article du journal portugais publico : 9500 portugais à Lisbonne entre 2013 et 2018 ont été expulsés de leur logement "à cause de la pression touristique de la flambée des prix des loyers et du harcèlement immobilier".
De 61 licenciés Airbnb en 2010 à Lisbonne ils sont passés à 7006 en 2018.
Soit une augmentation de 11385%.
Oui le tourisme tue tout sur son passage..l homme a toujours été un nomade un migrateur..
Si cela peut vous rassurer 😎 pour les journaux notre terre et national geographic" la 6eme extinction massive a déjà commence .il est déjà trop tard l espèce humaine devrait s éteindre ce siècle " .
Pour Yves Cochet ancien ministre de l environnement " l humanité pourrait avoir disparu en 2050".
9500 portugais à Lisbonne entre 2013 et 2018 ont été expulsés de leur logement "à cause de la pression touristique de la flambée des prix des loyers et du harcèlement immobilier".
ça tombe bien...je déteste les grandes villes.
Et des individus comme moi qui vont dans des endroits déserts, ça existe c'est ça l'instinct grégaire 🙂
Qui irait passer ces vacances en Lozère ou en Franche-Comté ?
À quoi bon s'écharper sur une retraite qui n'existera pas ?
c'est bien pour cela que vous devriez aller travailler pour cotiser à votre retraite au lieu de disserter sur ce forum mouarf mouarf.
Vous êtes tous des glandeurs, ceux qui sont à la retraite maintenant attendent que vous bossiez dur pour payer leur retraites aux Baléares ou aux Bahamas 😉
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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