Je souhaite me rendre en Jamaique durant 2 semaines en mars. Je pense pouvoir trouver un billet ds les alentours de 500 euros MAIS mon plus gros souci c l herbergement...J ai pas envie d une formule tt inclus. J ai envie d etre ds un cadre plus intimiste.
Est ce possible? Si oui pouvez vs m indiquer qlqs coins (region, B&B ou autres) sympas?
Bonsoir et merci a vous pour le lien sur Port Antonio🙂
Avez vous deja visite la Jamaique? Si oui, que me conseillez vous de faire et de voir en priorite sur l ile?
Merci pour le message. J'ai visité la Jamaïque, mais pas depuis une vingtaine d'années. Le pays est assez varié pour toutes les aventures : montagnes et plantations de café, plages et sports nautiques, soirées folkoriques, etc. Se renseigner sur place pour connaître les prix. Port Antonio est un peu hors des sentiers battus, donc on relaxe davantage. Natation, descentes de rivières, etc.
Le Parish du Portland est beaucoup plus intimiste que celui de St James ou St Ann.
Autour de Port Antonio il y a pleins de petits hotels, guest house sympa ou sejourner pour tous les budgets.
Quelques lieux a visiter dans le Portland: Blue Lagoon, Frenchman's Cove, Rio Grande, Somerset Falls, Reach falls, Port Antonio (La Marina entre autres), Long Bay, Boston Bay, Monkey Island en face de San San Beach, Winnifred Beach, Dragon Bay... Liste non exhaustive
Pour se deplacer 3options:
louer une voiture en sachant que ca peu etre fatigant et stressant: conduite a gauche, mauvais etat des routes, s'adapter a la conduite des jamaicains.
Utiliser les bus locaux: Pas cher, inconfortable
Se deplacer en taxi : +cher quand on les appelle, ou arreter les taxis depuis la route tout simplement: tres utileet economique pour les courtes distances.
nous partons à 2 femmes en mars et nous recherchions aussi des infos pour voyager en indépendantes en jamaique et vu qu'il y a trés peu d'infos en france, il faut se débrouiller avec le web, finallement on a trouvé des guest houses pour négril(4nuits), treasure beach(2n), port antonio(3n) et montego bay(1n), ilnous manque kingston(1n) et ochorios(3n) mais on a branché les g-h où l'on va pour nous trouver qqchose:les prix sont autour de 40à60§, à 2 ça ira;par contre on veut se déplacer avec des taxis locaux, pour le moment on vient nous chercher à l'aéroport de mobay et pour 50! on ns emmène à négril;ensuite on cherchera un taxi de négril à tréasure beach, puis de tréasure beach sur kingston etc.. si tu est là-bas et que ça t'intérrèse de partager le taxi, tout est possible;sur le forum du routard il ya 1 fille qui cherche qqun pour la jamaique.Nous partons samedi 7de londres pour 15 jours.bonne chance pour trouver 1compagne de voyage
Je sais c est pas facile de trouver de bonnes infos sur l ile...Mais MERCI internet et MERCI a la solidarite des voyageurs😉
Alors me concernant, j ai 27 ans, je suis actuellement au Quebec et je vais me rendre seule en Jamaique (sauf miracle). Je pars du 6 mars au 20 mars 2009.
J ai juste un itineraire sommaire de ce que je veux voir et faire...Concernant les guest houses, vous etes definitivement plus orgainsees que moi.
Ah oui, selon vous une fille recherche aussi une compagne de voyage sur le site du routard...Avez vous le lien de cette annonce, svp? On ne sait jamais 😉
Alors vous me parlez de partager les taxis....Eh bien, pourquoi pas, mais je ne pense pas que nos itineraires se ressemblent beaucoup 🤪
Donc, a voir...Le monde est tellement petit et une ile encore plus...
notre programme:arrivée le 7/03à negril pour 4 nuits chez ALFRED'S.le 11 départ pour tréasure beach 2 nuits au GOLDENSAND, ensuite départ pour kingston1 nuit certainement au MIKUZI le 13, puis départ pour port antonio et 3 nuits à l'IVANOEH
donc le 17 ns partons pour ocho rios pour 3 nuits avant de repartir a MOBAY au BAYSHORE INN ;evidemment ns avons qqs années de plus, mais l'habitude de bourlinguer à notre rythme.je donnerais mes infos persos au retour surtout pour les déplacements qui ne semblent pas si facile( ceux qui ont du temps prennent les transports en communs ce qui est plus sympa)
Je n'ai jamais encore pris le bus en jamaique, difficile de donner un avis la dessus.
Tout ce que je sais c'est que le prix tres bas, pour sur, n'inclus pas le confort.
Pour les longues distances je pense que ca peut etre assez complique car il peut y avoir plusieurs changement de bus necessaire, et les trajets sont beaucoup plus long qu'en taxi.
A vous de voir en fonction du nombre de jour que vous passez sur place, mais je pense que c'est un peu dommage de passer toutes vos vacances dans un bus. Parfois, il vaut mieux se concentrer sur une region pour profiter de vos vacances pleinement.
Je compte me rendre en jamaique en decembre quel sont vos commentaires pour le mikusi kingston?
Je voyage a petit budget avec une amie residente de kingston .Avez vous eu la tranquillite ? Et comment etait l'Ivanoeh?
Je pars en jamaique début juin pour 15 jours et je n'ai encore fait aucune réservation de GH aie aie! il est difficile de trouver des infos sur les sites internet français, comment s'est passé votre séjour? comment étaient les guest houses? votre itinéraire était-il bien? que changeriez vous si c'était a refaire?
Merci de faire partager votre séjour😉
bonjour, je souhaite partir en jamaique et concretiser mon reve, j'aimerais discuter avec vous pour savoir comment votre voyage c'est passer . j'ai commencer a chercher les prix des billets mais je n'est pas trouver moins cher que 950 euros, ( je voulais y aller pour le festival reggae ) a l'epoque je me souvient avoir lu une annonce de vous, cherchant un compagnon de voyage ( il me semble ) mais je ne pouvais vous repondre car je n'etais pas encore inscrit sur ce forum et ne savais pas trop a quel moment partir . maintenant, je me dis que aout n(est peut etre pas une bonne idee ? . et puis je prefere prendre mon temps et reussir ce voyage . j'aimerais bien y rester plus voir y vivre plus tard, mais bon pour l'instant je voudrais dejà etre sur en allant dejà là bas, enfin voilà, j'ai dejà quelque renseinement concernant deux guide, moko et teddy mais ne suis pas encore rentrer en contact avec eux . moi j'habite en france . si vous pouvez m'aider, me renseigner, me parler de votre voyage, çà serais sympa . merci d'avance . cordialement ... patrice
salut patrice
je reviens de jamaica !
je suis partis de paris vers miami et ensuite miami kingston avec american airlines et j ai eu mon billet a 730 euros par la !
j avais reserve au jamaican colors dans la paroisse de portland , un petit paradis gere par une famille francaise , Martine Bob et Romain !! si tu le souhaites ils peuvent venir te chercher a l aeroport Norman Manley de Kingston , leur petit paradis etant situe a environ 2 heures de routes de là !
A partir de la j ai visite surtt la partie nord est de l ile ( la moins touristique , la plus verte ou les locaux sont sympathiques et ou il y a beaucoup de choses a voir )
Etant un fan de reggae je suis alles a kingston voir la maison de Bob Marley et son studio Tuff Gong dans downtown , et ensuite son village natal a nine miles dans les montagnes , c est aussi l endroit ou se trouve son mausolee et celui de sa mere decedee l annee derniere !
Si cela ne t interresse pas il y a aussi de somptueuses plages a ne pas rater comme frenchmen's cove , winnifred , san san beach .... les reachs falls , ce sont des cascades , ou alors tu peux descendre le rio grande sur des bambous pendant deux heures , c magnifique !!! cette liste n est pas complete , tt ne me reviens pas la !!
si tu souhaites alles au jamaican colors , ils organisent ts ces genres d excursions , ce qui m a beaucoup aides car ts se fait beaucoup plus facilement en leur compagnie !
enfin voila je suis la si tu as besoin d autres conseils , je n ai surement pas repondu a tt ce que tu voulais savoir alors hesites pas !!
a plus tard !
salut xabi , merci pour ta reponse qui motive mon esprit a partir là bas . j'aime voyager aussi a ta maniere , suis passionner de musique alors tu pense bien que le reggae , ben j'adore aussi !😉 merci pour tes infos , par contre ton billet a 750 euros , c bien tout compris aller retour en partant de paris avec une pause a miami puis tu as repris un billet des states en jamaique , c bien çà ? j'avais aussi dans l'idee de m'enfoncer plutot dans la nature avec bien sur des passage en ville notamment pour aller voir la maison de bob enfin g dejà vu en photo , mais voiir le stud bien sur et surtout ressentir les vibrations roots 🙂 crois tu qu'il est possible de m'installer là bas facilement ? je crois bien que j'avais dejà lu quelqun qui parlait aussi de cette famille francaise qui tenait ce guest house là bas , as tu leur coordonnees tel ou mail que je puisse les contacter stp ? tu est rester combien de temps là bas ? moi j'aimerais rester un max pour avoir le plus de temps possible et trouver un job en attendant là bas et m'installer definitivement , j'ai envie d'une vie simple aves un minima de materiel et voyager un max , enfin je vais pas te couvrir de toutes mes interrogations mais si tu peut dejà me repndre a çà , çà serais cool . par avance , merci . musicalement et cordialement ... patrice
salut patrice
si t es passionne de musique hesite pas a faire les visites que je t ai dit avant , tu vas aller d emotions en emotions !!
pour le billet d avion j ai paye 730 euros pour tt , pour l aller et le retour , et j avais en poche ts mes billets , celui pour paris miami et miami kingston !
je te rassure les vibrations roots tu vas les ressentir sans problemes , pour un fan de bob et de reggae comme moi , aller sur les pas du grand Marley c etait assez intense !
si tu veux de la nature la paroisse de portland est la plus conseillee je pense et d apres l avis de certaines personnes que j ai croise !
Pour la famille francaise , tu as qu a tape sur internet Jamaican colors et tu tomberas sur leur site qui repondra a ttes tes questions sur cet endroit ou alors si tu veux leur ecrire directement hoteljamaicancolors@hotmail.com
je suis reste un peu moins de troix semaines mais c est vraiment passe triop trop vite et pourtant je suis partis tt seul mais bon j etais tellement bien la bas et tellement bien entoure par cette famille que j ai pas vu le temps passer !!
apres pour trouver du boulot la bas je peux pas t aider , je ne sais pas comment il faut s y prendre mais encore une fois bob martine ou romain du jamaican colors pourront te repondre , ils ont une bonne experience de jamaica , ca fait six ans qu ils y sont installes !
voila man si t as d autres questions je suis la !
a plus tard
Je vais avoir 18 ans, et mon rêve est de partir en Jamaïque, ma maman ma promis pour mes 18 ans qu'on partiraient ensemble... Nous aimerions partir pendant les vacances de paques ou les grandes vacances.
Mais j'aurai besoin de vos aides, car je trouve cela très compliqué a organiser.
Nous désirons bouger et donc ne pas rester à un seul endroit. Ne pas être dans un hôtel all inclusive, ... .
Auriez-vous des conseils à me donner? genre chambre pas trop chère, endroit qu'il ne faut pas louper, ...
2 backpackers, 1 mois et demi on veut faire le tour de l"ile decouvrir la vraie jamaique petit budget suggestions de guest houses?, des petits endroits caches,…
Je serai en jamaique du 10 au 17 octobre a Ocho Rios et je deteste tout ce qui est hotel, Resort et activité de groupe de tourist. Y a-t-il un moyen de quitter…
Je prévois de me rendre 3 semaines en Jamaïque en septembre 2013 et j'aurais besoin de savoir quel est selon vous le budget moyen par jour pour un voyageur à…
Malgré mes recherches, je ne trouve pas d'infos sur des éventuels logements chez l'habitant en Jamaïque. Pensez-vous que ce soit possible? Nous partons pour 3…
Avec ma meilleure amie nous partons le 6 mai prochain pour la Jamaique. Le but de ce voyage est de fêter dignement nos 30 ans mais surtout les 30ans de la mort…
Je pars cette été au Québec et au nouveau Brunswick et j'ai pris une carte revolut classic pour ce voyage. J'ai pour le moment échangé des dollars canadien sur mon appli de manière à avoir une réserve prête le jour de mon départ. Ma question était de savoir si j'allais autres frais en utilisant mon compte en dollars canadien. Je crois que je suis limité dans mes retraits au distributeur 200 euros pour ma part. Merci à vous
My boyfriend and I are going there for just 9 days, including the two travel days… It’s not much, but oh well!
Looking at prices online, I get the impression everything’s more expensive than I thought 😅 So, I wanted to get your feedback on a few things:
* Is hitchhiking common, easy, and generally safe in Albania?
* Is it possible to find day-to-day accommodations without booking ahead? If so, are they usually cheaper than the ones you find online?
* Is wild camping allowed or at least tolerated?
If any of you have traveled there recently, I’d love all the tips and great deals you’ve got!
Hi,
We’re a young couple planning to travel to South Africa after spending about three weeks in Namibia. We’ll arrive in Cape Town around mid-December, with no fixed travel duration (though our budget will eventually set a limit).
After browsing through the forum, we’ve realized the country is packed with incredible spots, which makes choosing an itinerary tough. We’re looking for stunning landscapes, hikes, and so on. So, we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
When we arrive in Cape Town, we’d like to settle in and take it easy until New Year’s, exploring at a relaxed pace. We know this period coincides with South African holidays—does that make finding accommodations (availability/prices) more difficult? Do you think it’s possible to stay in a nice place for about 15 days without aiming for the most upscale neighborhoods? Maybe somewhere a bit outside Cape Town, like Fish Hoek, and just visit the city occasionally.
After that, we’ll have plenty of time (about 2 to 2.5 months) to explore the country. We’d like to take our time. In your opinion, is it better to focus on the Cape Town region, or is it reasonable to consider more distant areas like the Drakensberg or Blyde River Canyon? Can everything be done by car if we take our time, or are domestic flights sometimes more practical?
Budget-wise, how much do car rentals cost? For accommodations, we usually look at Airbnb—are they affordable in South Africa? What’s the average nightly rate outside the biggest cities? Are there other platforms you’d recommend for saving on lodging?
Finally, regarding safety, are there any regions to avoid besides Johannesburg?
We know this is a lot of questions, but we’re still in the early planning stages!
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Bonjours,
apres avoir fait avec votre aide le sud du perou en 2024 nous aimerions faire le nord.Nous serions 5 ou 6 personnes
1 arriver a lima le soir.
2 visite lima et vols le soir 18h35 pour tarapato
3 ,4,5, jours de prevu la bas pour faire trek dans une reserve ( Réserve nationale Pacaya-Samiria ) ou autre
6 tarapoto , chachapoyas sois en bus de nuit ou jours ou voiture privé.
7 chachapoyas cascade de gocha , canyon de sonde avec retour a pied sur la villes.
8 direction kuelap citadelles, revash arrivé a leymebamba
9 musée de leymebamba route pour cajamarca
10 cajamarca source chaude bus de nuit pour trujillo ou chicliyo ou faire les 2
11,12 ,13, visite et alentour
14 bus de nuit pour lima
15 lima
16 depart a 20 h retour france.
Que pensez vous de ce circuit. Attend des conseille.
Merci
I’m planning a 7-day trip to Marrakech for a sports camp, and I’ll be traveling with just a standard carry-on backpack.
I’d love to hear your best tips and tricks:
• What clothes are absolutely essential?
• Any advice for managing the heat while traveling light?
• Which accessories have been the most useful for you?
• Mistakes to avoid on a first trip to Marrakech?
I’m also open to your recommendations for neighborhoods, restaurants, or activities not to miss during my free time.
Thanks in advance for your advice and experience! !
Hi there, we’re heading to the Cyclades from June 23 to July 9. We’ll arrive in Santorini and leave from Mykonos. We’re thinking of visiting these islands: Folegandros, Milos, Sifnos, Tinos, and Mykonos. Do you think it’s better to book the ferries now (which site do you recommend for booking?) or can we buy the tickets on the spot? Also, do you have any suggestions for accommodation under 100 €/night on each of these islands? Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone!
I’m planning my dream trip for next September, lasting about a month. Here’s my itinerary:
Amsterdam: 3 days (departing from Montreal)
Tanzania: 3-day safari
Zanzibar: 6 days
Istanbul: 7 days
Return to Montreal.
Since my budget is pretty tight, I’m looking for tips and advice to cut costs without sacrificing the experience. Here are my questions:
Multi-destination flights: What’s the best way to book these connections? Is it better to buy a one-way ticket from Montreal to Amsterdam, then a separate internal flight, or use comparison tools for a multi-destination ticket?
Budget safari: Do you have recommendations for local agencies or tips to do a 3-day safari (Serengeti/Ngorongoro) at an affordable price (e.g., camping/glamping instead of luxury lodges)?
Accommodation in Zanzibar: Which villages or types of lodging are the most budget-friendly and accessible via local transport for these 6 days?
Istanbul: Any tips for well-located but cheap accommodation and great food deals?
Hi,
Are there still basic, traditional, and affordable authentic accommodations in Poland? I’ll be traveling in July with my husband and our 2 kids along the Warsaw-Łódź-Toruń-Gdańsk route, and all I can find online are standardized Ikea-style apartments in the cities. When I look for agrotourism, it’s all luxury farms.
Can you find farms in the countryside or city lodgings for under 60 euros per night? And if so, how?
Is it possible to find accommodations on the spot without internet—like from people who put up signs—even in July?
Bonjour,
je doit me rendre 2 nuit par semaines à Paris ou Creteil, pendant 1 mois, je connait des backpackers pas cher, mais j aimerai encore moin cher, connaissait vous des chambre a louer au particulier ?
merci
We’re a young couple planning our first trip to Albania from June 23, 2026, to July 2, 2026. We have a pretty tight budget and want to make the most of this amazing country without breaking the bank.
We’re looking for all the advice you can give to help us plan our stay:
* What are the must-see places to visit?
* Which cities or villages are really worth the detour?
* What natural sites, hikes, canyons, springs, or viewpoints do you recommend?
* Do you know of any free, uncrowded, or particularly beautiful beaches?
* Where can we responsibly observe or swim with sea turtles?
* What are the most beautiful beaches on the Albanian Riviera that are accessible on a small budget?
* What budget-friendly accommodations (hotels, hostels, homestays, campgrounds) do you recommend?
* What are the best ways to get around between different regions at a low cost?
* Do you know of any reliable and affordable agencies for renting a vehicle (car, scooter, or motorcycle)? What are the average rates at the end of June, and which rental companies do you recommend or advise against?
* Is it better to rent a vehicle right when we arrive or stick to local buses and minibuses to keep costs down?
* Which restaurants or local specialties offer the best value for money?
* Are there any free or low-cost activities we shouldn’t miss?
* Which places do you think are overrated or can be skipped when you’re short on time and money?
* What practical tips would you have wished you knew before your first trip to Albania?
We’d also love any 10-day itineraries that you particularly enjoyed, along with your budget estimates for accommodation, meals, and transportation.
We’re open to off-the-beaten-path spots and local tips. If you have any secret addresses, hidden beaches, favorite accommodations, or mistakes to avoid, we’d love to hear about them! 😊
Hi there, we’re planning a road trip in northern Algeria at the end of January – early February.
Anyone have any tips for a car rental agency that’s both reliable and not too expensive? Thanks in advance!
I traveled through southern Peru in November 2024 and now I’d like to explore the north.
We’re a group of 5 people for a 15-day trip.
Iquitos or Nauta for the Amazon rainforest—I saw that you have to fly there.
Chiclayo
Chachapoyas
Kuelap
Leimebamba
Cajamarca
Trujillo
And if we have time, Huaraz for the Andes cordillera.
No problem taking overnight buses—they save a lot of time.
Or renting a car and figuring it out as we go.
We’d also love to take the train from Lima to Huancayo, but it seems complicated—I don’t understand when it runs.
I’d like to drive to Morocco from Paris via Spain. I was really surprised to see the ferry crossing prices—around 500 €—but especially the crossing time (about 1 hour). Normally, I pay 3000 € to go to Tunisia from Genoa, but that’s for a 24-hour crossing.
My question: is it cheaper to buy the ticket on the spot, as some Moroccans have advised me? Though I’ve also heard the opposite.
What do you think, considering I need to get to Tétouan around July 17th and return from Tangier around August 4th?
Thanks in advance
I’m planning a 10-day trip to Slovenia in May (9–19 May) and starting to look at accommodations. Unfortunately, I’m only seeing relatively expensive options—nothing under 50 €, and usually around 100–150 €. Traveling solo, that could quickly blow my budget. And 30 € for a bed in a 10-person dorm at a youth hostel feels like a rip-off...
Are there other booking sources besides the usual Booking.com, Airbnb, and Google? Or can anyone confirm if I’ll find more reasonable rates on the ground around Bled, Bohinj, Triglav, or in mountain huts? I’ll be renting a car to optimize my travel, so I won’t be limited geographically.
Hi there,
Could you recommend some nice and affordable neighborhoods to book a hotel in for visiting Nice and exploring its surroundings and nearby villages?
I’d like to know if it’s better to book the entire stay in Nice and take day trips to the villages, or if there are villages worth spending at least one night in to really explore them properly?
Since all the villages are stunning and we have to make a choice, which ones are absolutely must-visit?
My 16-year-old daughter and I will be spending a week there at the end of April. We’ll arrive by TGV from Paris and plan to use public transport during our stay. Do you know if there’s a weekly transport pass available and how much it costs?
I’m planning to spend about twenty days in Réunion in November.
I’d like to get around using the *car jaune* (2 € per ticket), but from what I’ve heard, it doesn’t cover the whole island.
I’m not looking to head toward the ocean and the beautiful beaches—more toward the mountainous landscapes, even if I’ll just be admiring them from below. 😉
Maybe other buses go where I want to go.
By the way, are there any relatively easy mountain hikes, and where?
But here’s the most important part:
I don’t want to book anything in advance because I don’t know what my itinerary will look like—it’ll change depending on my mood. 3 days here, 5 days there, etc.
On top of that, I’d like to arrange half-board stays with locals—not professionals—by approaching them and asking if they’d be willing to host me (overnight stay, breakfast, and dinner) for 30 € to 40 € per day.
What do you think?
Does the price seem reasonable?
And is it okay to take the initiative and ask Réunionnais directly?
The tourist office in Réunion told me that since November is peak tourist season, I should book without delay. 🤪
For four years in a row, I traveled across Canada for a month and a half each time, relying only on hitchhiking and half-board stays with Canadians who welcomed me (and refused to let me pay them).
If I’d listened to my family and friends, I never would’ve taken the leap—and that adventure remains one of the best experiences of my life.
It’s been ages since I last dropped by here... maybe simply because, apart from Nepal, I haven’t really had the chance to hit the road lately. 😉
This year, I’d love to spend a few days in Lisbon, probably in late May or early June. But with my budget being what it is, I’m looking for great tips to avoid wasting time once I’m there and risk missing out on hidden gems or unusual culinary specialties and/or quirky activities! I’m hoping to find a room in a local’s home where I can stay in a quiet neighborhood near the center, so I can get around without relying too much on public transport—my walking shoes are my best travel buddies.
I’d love all your recommendations, especially for parks, small neighborhood markets, casual eateries for a quick bite, your favorite viewpoints to soak in the scenery (I’m bringing my travel journal to sketch my getaway in watercolors), events around traditional art and crafts, and so on.
All your advice will definitely help me travel peacefully and come back with my head full of vibrant memories!
Thanks in advance, everyone!
Isabelle
I’m diving into planning a trip I’ve dreamed of for a long time: crossing Africa from North to South solo, with a departure planned for October 2025 for about 8-9 months. I’m leaving from Paris with a starting budget of around 7,000 €, aiming to supplement it with work along the way.
My planned route: Senegal → Gambia → Sierra Leone/Liberia (if logistics work out) → Côte d'Ivoire → Ghana → Togo → Benin → Cameroon → Gabon → Kenya (Masai Mara) → Uganda (Bwindi gorillas) → Rwanda → Tanzania (Kili + Serengeti + Zanzibar) → Mozambique → Malawi → Zambia (Victoria Falls) → Botswana → Namibia → South Africa (Cape Town). Madagascar as a bonus if timing/budget allows from Mozambique.
I’m not a backpacking newbie—I’ve done several trips in Europe and I’m familiar with the lifestyle, hostels, local transport, etc. But Africa is my first big adventure on this continent, and I’ve got some very concrete questions I’d love feedback on from people who’ve been there.
🎭 My big dilemma: flexibility vs. pre-organized work
What matters most to me is NOT rushing through. If I feel good somewhere, I’ll stay longer. If a region doesn’t click, I’ll cut it short. That seems totally incompatible with having pre-booked work or volunteer gigs, yet I need that income to stretch my budget.
I’m torn between two approaches:
Option A: The mixed rhythm: 3-4 weeks of volunteering in a country (free accommodation, full immersion), then 1-2 countries in classic backpacker "vacation" mode, then another mission somewhere, etc. This gives a breathing rhythm and avoids burnout from non-stop volunteering.
Option B: The continuous flow: finding gigs as I go, from the previous country, contacting hosts 2-3 weeks in advance with a flexible date range. Keeping maximum spontaneity but never arriving anywhere without a safety net.
Have you tried either? What actually works on the ground in Africa?
🌍 What I’m really looking for in this trip
Not just the classic tourist spots. I want to see the country as it is—eating at local joints, taking local transport (bush taxis, minibuses, sept-places), staying with locals when possible. The big reserves and safaris are part of the plan (Masai Mara, Serengeti, Okavango), but just as much as hanging out in a residential neighborhood in Dakar, understanding how people really live.
Volunteering or work interests me for that reason too (not just for free lodging, but because it’s the deepest way to dive into a country). Working at a school in Ghana, a lodge in Kenya, a permaculture farm in Mozambique—I see it as an immersion that classic tourism can’t offer.
🎒 My concrete questions
About Workaway and Worldpackers: I’ve read a lot but would love on-the-ground feedback, especially for West and East Africa. Are hosts really flexible with dates for long-term travelers? Do the advertised gigs match reality? Are there alternative platforms you’d recommend for Africa specifically (I’ve heard of Help Exchange, WWOOF Africa, local networks…)?
About "off-platform" jobs: Is it really doable to find informal work on the spot (bars, restaurants, lodges) without prior contacts? In which countries/cities is this most accessible for a French speaker without a local work permit?
About logistics between countries: For those who’ve done the West Coast (Senegal → Ghana → Benin), how did you cross borders? Direct buses or local shared taxis at each border? And for the jump from Central Africa → Kenya, is a flight mandatory, or are there feasible overland routes?
About Madagascar: I’m considering adding it from Mozambique (flight Maputo or Beira → Tana). Those who’ve done it backpacker-style on a tight budget—is 3-4 weeks doable, or is it too short to be worth it?
I’m open to all tips, experiences, warnings, and pleasant surprises. And if you’ve got trusted local contacts (Workaway hosts, associations, community lodges), I’m all ears!
I’ve got tons of questions and I’m eager for any advice or experiences you can share!!
Hi there,
We’re planning a trip for 2 adults and 2 kids to Tanzania and Zanzibar. I’ve had a quick look, and the prices are starting to get pretty wild.
We’ve got a budget of 8,000 €, and I was thinking of doing three or four days of safari and three or four days in Zanzibar, but even that seems like it might be over budget. Have you got any thoughts? I was also considering heading straight to Zanzibar and doing a one- or two-day excursion by plane instead—maybe that’d be cheaper than staying in a lodge.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experiences and any price tips, departing from Nice!
Good evening,
As two senior French couples who are used to traveling independently all over the world, we’d like to visit Kenya next November.
Now, after seeing and reading a bit everywhere, and with the first quotes for a 6/7-day safari, I’m shocked by the prices (like $2,250) for places like Maasai Mara, where entry alone costs $200 per person per day, plus fees for the driver and vehicle.
So if you have any recent great tips or contacts to share to help me out, I’d really appreciate it—because despite the costs, we’d still love to go, while keeping things reasonable.
The most plausible solution is probably renting a vehicle with a driver-guide.
Thanks in advance for all your replies.
Jacques
We’ll be in Srinagar for 4 days in mid-May 2026 during our backpacking trip as a couple. Do you have any nice places to recommend, and what about the houseboats on Dal Lake? Should we spend all our nights there, or just one night for practicality when getting around?
Thanks,
Rozenn
Hi there,
This is my first time traveling to Italy, and I’m planning to go by car.
From what I’ve read, parking is tough in cities like Florence.
I’m looking for a small town not too far from Florence where I can stay and park my car, then take the train to visit Florence.
Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Hi there, it’s been a long time since I last went to London. I’d love to spend a week there in July with my daughter and my niece (both young adults).
Of course, I’m looking for great tips on accommodation, and I’m wondering about renting an apartment. It seems like a better deal to save on restaurants (with the option of having a few meals at home... but is that really the case? I’m not sure about the cost of a meal in a modest restaurant, the pound exchange rate, or grocery prices...).
Otherwise, I’d like to stay in accommodation (hotel or apartment) near a tube station and in Zone 1.
If you have any great tips, I’d love to hear them!
Hi everyone!
I’m heading to Morocco for a trip in the south, starting with 3 days in Marrakech (from January 8th to 11th, 2026).
If you’ve got any tips, cool spots to recommend, I’m all ears! 🎊
And, fellow traveler, if you’d like to share this Marrakech adventure together, I’d love that!
Have a great evening
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Peru and have estimated how many days I’ll spend in each place.
Any advice on must-see sights and tourist traps to avoid?
September–October
5 days in Lima
Bus: 07:00→13:30 or 06:00 to 09:30 (express) (3 hr 30 min journey)
3 days in Paracas (beach)
I'd love some destination suggestions for a road trip from Nice to Livorno by car, including the routes, tolls to cross, distance, and estimated travel time. We're planning a 5-day trip, with 2 nights near Nice, 1 night along the way, and finally 2 nights in Livorno. There are 4 of us in a rental car, and we'd like to stay in either an apartment, a mobile home near the sea, or a campsite. Our budget isn't too extravagant!!!! We want to visit the Promenade des Anglais, and I've heard Menton is really interesting. Once we reach Livorno, we'll take the ferry to Corsica for 12 days with the same rental car. We're planning to leave the last week of May and the first two weeks of June 2026, so around 17-18 days total.
Thanks
Hello everyone,
We’re planning our next trip for this winter and need some advice to put it together. We’d love to avoid renting a car for the whole time. We visited southern Morocco back in 2011—our first trip as retirees! We loved the country so much, and now we’re heading back. Still focusing on the south, mainly for the weather. The plan is to travel down the coast from Essaouira to the Tighmert oasis at a relaxed pace. First question: is this doable without too much hassle using local transport? The idea of driving for the entire 6-week trip doesn’t really appeal to us. After that, we’d head to Ouarzazate, Skoura, the Todgha Gorge, Tinejdad, Erfoud, and then Marrakesh. I’d also like to visit the Fès region, which we can reach by train from Marrakesh. It’s a bit all over the place, and I’m realizing that as I write!
Thanks in advance for your valuable input! We haven’t booked flights yet or even decided on a starting point. The trip is planned from mid-January to the end of February. We know the end of the trip will fall during Ramadan.
Could anyone tell me how to connect Central America (starting from which country and with which airline) to Martinique in the most budget-friendly way, please?
Flight duration and number of stopovers don’t matter.