Actually, they’re telling you to stop acting like a show-off—it’s not cool. Because right now, you’re scaring them off, and you won’t get anything good that way, sweetie. 😛
Oh, poor thing! There was a time in my life when I had to manage around forty purebred Camargue horses—spending 15 hours a day galloping through free-roaming bulls with my wrangler, while hordes of tourists screamed like calves because they were so scared 😂.
So, it’s not the four female dachshunds from the travel forum barking at me all the time that’ll bother me 😂.
For a while now, I’ve been paying for everything with my card in foreign currencies because it’s more convenient.
I’m heading to Prague soon—does anyone know if cards are accepted everywhere? Any good tips for exchange bureaus?
It’s true that having a little cash is better, even if you can get by without it in a lot of places.
The card I take traveling isn’t great for withdrawals. Worst case, I have another one, but I don’t like carrying both.
If possible, I prefer exchanging just 20 €—that’s often enough.
In Warsaw, I had to exchange a bill to pay for a viewpoint, and I ended up with too much change (spent it at the airport 🤦)
For a while now, I’ve been paying for everything with my card in foreign currency because it’s more convenient.
I’m going to Prague soon—does anyone know if cards are accepted everywhere? If not, any good tips for exchange bureaus?
It’s true that having a little cash is better, even if you can get by without it in a lot of places.
The card I bring when traveling isn’t great for withdrawals. Worst case, I have another one, but I don’t like carrying both.
If possible, I prefer exchanging just 20 €—that’s often enough.
In Warsaw, I had to exchange a bill to pay for a viewpoint, and I ended up with too much change (spent it at the airport 🤦♀️)
Hi! Exchanging currency is more cost-effective when you do it once for your entire trip (a large sum) because the small fees banks charge abroad decrease with the amount.
Personally, I keep whatever’s left over when I return, instead of spending it carelessly like you do at the airport.
The foreign currency I have left, I’ll exchange on my next trip, waiting for the best rate to win on both transactions.
I do it this way because, apart from the first night, I pay for everything else in cash everywhere in the world (which often gets me discounts) 😊
Lately, I’ve been paying for everything by card in foreign currencies because it’s more convenient.
I’m heading to Prague soon—does anyone know if cards are accepted everywhere?
Otherwise, any good tips for exchange bureaus?
It’s true that having a little cash is better, even if you can get by without it in a lot of places.
The card I take when traveling isn’t great for withdrawals. Worst case, I have another one, but I don’t like carrying both.
If possible, I prefer exchanging just 20 €—that’s often enough.
In Warsaw, I had to exchange a bill to pay for a viewpoint, and I ended up with too much change (spent it at the airport 🤦♀️)
Hi! Exchanging is more cost-effective when you do it once for the whole trip (a large sum) because the small fees banks charge abroad decrease with the amount.
Personally, I keep whatever’s left when I return and don’t spend it carelessly, like at the airport.
The leftover foreign currency, I’ll exchange it on my next trip, waiting for the best rate to win on both transactions.
I just do it this way because, apart from the first night, I pay for everything else in cash everywhere in the world (which often gets me discounts) 😊
I don’t really want to bring back Czech korunas that I’ll use in 10 years...
I didn’t spend it carelessly—I had breakfast because my flight was at 6 a.m....
I’m not particularly up for debating cash vs. card. Let’s just say I have my reasons.
Before, I was more into cash, but some experiences made me change my mind...
In Prague, you pay for everything by card, even a bottle of water or the restrooms.
Elsewhere in the Czech Republic, small restaurants often don’t take cards.
Okay, it’s a shame to stay only in Prague—it’s still the epitome of an unpleasant city—but if you’re really set on "sightseeing."
In the Czech Republic, you can pay in euros at many shops, supermarkets, under a few conditions: and they’ll give you change in crowns—Lidl, Albert, Penny, and a few others.
Exchanging money in Prague without getting ripped off? Doesn’t exist.
I was recently in Prague and paid for everything in the local currency, except for the accommodation I’d prepaid with CDV. I think paying in euros or dollars in countries that have their own currency just means you end up paying more, since a lot of shopkeepers round up and you lose out in the end.
I never said to pay in euros, though... Anyway, even in France I mostly pay by card.
I already know Prague and wanted to show it to my mom. But if it doesn’t rain, I’d love to do one or two day trips. I’ve also been to Moravia. But that’s not really the point!
I went to Prague for two days (after Budapest and before Magdeburg) two years ago. I didn’t exchange a single cent—everything was paid with Apple Pay. In fact, I didn’t exchange cash in Budapest either.
I don’t even know what a forint or a Czech koruna looks like.
I don’t know much about the surrounding areas, but I have great memories of Karlštejn Castle.
I spent the summer between these two countries—actually, more than one summer—and I can confirm that in most cases, you don’t need cash.
That said, I’ve never understood visiting a country while depriving yourself of contact with the local currency, the money itself, and everything tied to it, like how people count and the value scale.
A 100 HUF coin for a shopping cart, a 200 CZK bill for a small restaurant, and above all, the images, the language, the values.
Well, I’m not a big fan of handling money, counting it, etc., to begin with. I’m absent-minded—I’ve already lost money that way. And with foreign currency, finding the right coin and all that...
Plus, in my case, my travel payment card is a bit special—I get charged more if I make withdrawals. I could use another card in a pinch, but I prefer to spend the money on this one (I won’t go into details, it’s not interesting).
I’ve never understood visiting a country while depriving yourself of contact with the local currency, the money itself, and everything tied to it—like how people count and the value scale.
From a distance, it seemed like just a simple decimal system, so I didn’t think it was worth looking into further.
A 100 HUF coin for a shopping cart, a 200 CZK bill for a small restaurant, and above all, the images, the language, the values.
Okay for the images, but I don’t see the connection with the language or values (except for the ones on the bills).
With quite a few Hungarian stamps in my youth, I only managed to learn two words:
Yo, poste and hongroise. If it’s just to add banque…
Hello,
Everyone has their own way of traveling, and their own way of paying. Except that often, circumstances dictate the rules. In April 2024, I was in China, and I’d been warned that
those old payment methods (bank cards) were already outdated—and that’s true. Even in small villages, you only pay using apps with QR codes, with the vendor themselves having their own QR code. For cash, even in a village in Fujian, when I bought a bottle of water, the shopkeeper checked an old coffee tin to see if she had change to give me!!
On the other hand, I always carry local cash in other countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Africa, for example, because in remote areas, there isn’t always electricity, so no card payments. And tourists are forced to turn back.
Plus, I can confirm that paying in the local currency gives you a better exchange rate. It’s glaringly obvious in Cambodia. Like Manon, I travel with cash, and my bank card is really just for emergencies. And it’s helped me avoid hassles on off-the-beaten-path routes.
Everyone has their own travel style. The important thing is to come back fulfilled.
Then, in my case, my payment card for abroad is a bit special—I get charged more if I make withdrawals.
That’s more or less the case with all cards. They either allow a few free withdrawals (e.g., 3 with Bourso) or a fee-free amount (e.g., 200 € with Revolut), but after that, it’s pay-to-play. Still way cheaper, though, than traditional bank cards.
(I won’t go into details, it’s not interesting)
Oh, but there are people here who *love* this stuff.
From a distance, it seemed like a simple decimal system to me; I didn’t think it was worth looking into further.
I’m not talking about that. When you use a different currency, you realize there are symbolic values—everyday reference points. A particular coin or bill becomes tied to specific uses or exchanges in daily life.
Cash isn’t just about arithmetic.
But hey, if you’re only there to "visit" this or that thing, this or that monument without diving deeper into the culture or society, then sure, you can skip caring about it.
With a bunch of Hungarian stamps in my youth, I only managed to learn two words.
Yo, post and Hungarian. If it’s just to add bank...
No, you’re still missing the point.
You don’t just "translate" like that, mechanically—especially not with a language like Hungarian.
Anyway, we won’t see eye to eye; we don’t have the same expectations when approaching a country or culture.
Yeah, I’m not a big fan of handling money, counting it again, etc., to begin with. I’m scatterbrained—I’ve already lost money that way. And with foreign currency, finding the right coin, etc.
I always bring back a little money anyway—coins, a few bills—as a souvenir. Plus, I always keep a small stash. Right now, I’ve got forints, Turkish liras, Romanian lei, and yen. I take them along from trip to trip if the country is more or less on the way, or as a currency reserve (like with the yen).
For cards, I often assign a specific bank card to a currency during a trip: Fortuneo for forints, Boursobank for Czech korunas, Axa for online purchases and bookings without payment, and Monabanq for euro expenses.
Hello,
Everyone has their own way of traveling and their own way of paying. Except that often, circumstances dictate the rules. In April 2024, I was in China, and I had been warned that these old payment methods (bank cards) were already outdated, and that’s true. Even in small villages, you only pay using apps with QR codes—the merchant has their own QR code. For cash, in a village in Fujian, to buy a bottle of water, the shopkeeper checked an old coffee tin to see if she had change for me!!
On the other hand, I always carry local cash in other countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Africa, for example, because in remote areas, there isn’t always electricity, so no card payments. And tourists are forced to turn back.
Plus, I can confirm that paying in local currency gives you a better exchange rate. It’s glaringly obvious in Cambodia. Like Manon, I travel with cash, and my bank card is really just for emergencies. And it’s helped me avoid hassles on off-the-beaten-path routes.
Everyone has their own travel style. The important thing is to come back happy.
Hello everyone,
I’m genuinely happy when I return from my trips and see on my bank statement that absolutely no fees have been charged. And for good reason—I pay for everything in cash, which isn’t really the French way when you see that in Italy you can pay in cash up to 5,000 € (and in Germany, you can even buy a house paying entirely in cash 🤑).
I’m genuinely thrilled when I get back from trips and see that absolutely no fees have been deducted from my bank account. And for good reason—I pay for everything in cash
Well, obviously there aren’t any fees deducted from your bank account, since the exchange fees and commission are taken when you convert the €!
It’s like saying that thanks to payroll withholding, you no longer pay income tax…
But with a BEL bank card (not a traditional bank), there are no exchange fees or commissions—before, during, or after. Plus, the card is free.
... Just a tiny bit, actually, but banks like Fortuneo explain it for every transaction.
Every time I use my Fortuneo card outside the eurozone, I get an email like this within a minute:
Authorization of 3,070 HUF, which is 7.84 € with your Fortuneo bank card 51XXXXXXXXXXXXX.
Mastercard exchange rate applied: 1 € = 391.6 HUF (0% compared to the ECB reference rate of 1 € = 394.5 HUF), resulting in fees of about 0.1 € or 0% of the total estimated transaction amount (0 Fortuneo fees).
I’m genuinely thrilled when I return from trips and see on my bank account that absolutely no fees have been charged. And for good reason—I pay for everything in cash.
Well, obviously there are no fees taken from your bank account since the exchange fees and commission are deducted when you exchange the €!
It’s like saying that thanks to payroll withholding, we no longer pay income tax...
However, with a BEL bank card (but not from traditional banks), there are no exchange fees or commissions, whether before, during, or after. Plus, the card is free.
I think there’s been a misunderstanding. When I travel to any country, I always bring euros and exchange them at banks offering the most economical rates.
Best regards,
Hi there,
Of course, no commissions or exchange fees, but it all depends on the rate applied. They still need to cover their costs and make a profit.
Same in Vietnam at small exchange offices or jewelry shops—low operating costs mean better rates than banks or ATMs. A long time ago in Hong Kong, street exchange rates were much better than the official rate. They preferred to exchange at a slight loss but had cash to lend to local street soup vendors at 10% daily interest!!! That’s where the real profit was.
Eric
Yeah, we agree—just a tiny bit.
For example, Revolut charges 3070 HUF at 7.81 € (right now), while XE lists them at 7.77 €.
Yes Change, on the other hand, asks for 8.13 € (on their site, maybe less in person).
In Hong Kong, street exchange rates were significantly better than the official rate.
Of course, the black market is, by definition, more attractive than the official rate.
I fondly remember pre-Gorbachev USSR, where you could get twice as many rubles on the street as in exchange bureaus. Though afterward, the problem was spending them...
I remember back in 1979 in the USSR, street exchange rates were even more than twice as good!! But afterward, you could only spend rubles on street ice cream, metro tickets, or a few rare items at the "Goum" on Red Square. Everywhere else, you had to pay in foreign currency... and you couldn’t exchange them back before heading home.
Indeed, I remember back in 1979 in the USSR, street exchange rates were more than twice as good!!
Yes, exactly.
Twice was the initial rate you could get—30 rubles for 100 FF instead of 15.
But quickly, after some haggling, it went up to 50, then 60, and even a bit more toward the end.
And afterward, you could only buy ice cream on the street, metro tickets, and a few rare items at the "GUM" on Red Square with rubles. Otherwise, you had to pay in foreign currency everywhere... and it was impossible to exchange them back before going home.
This time, I’m the one who doesn’t understand the construction of that sentence...
Amenant toujours des Euros en voyage dans n'importe quel pays, je les échanges dans les banques m'offrant la possibilité la plus économique.
The cheapest exchange rate is still more expensive than exchanging with a card like fort7neo, Boursorama, Revolut, N26, etc.
Could you specify which card—Revolut, fort7neo, Boursorama, or N26—so we can actually have a conversation? I still insist that exchanging my euros in a city exchange bureau abroad all at once for the entire trip is cheaper than using a card, because the larger the amount exchanged in one go, the lower the fees. No specific card example = impossible to compare.
Best regards,
The cheapest currency exchange is still more expensive than the exchange done with a card like fort7neo, boursobank, revolut, n26, etc.
You’ll never manage to convince a believer they’re wrong.😉
There’s no logic in dogma.
That said, on very rare occasions, you might stumble on a good deal and save 2 or 3 euros... out of 1000...
Hey chamelle 😏
All I’m waiting for is for you to prove me wrong (and I’d say you’re right and admit my mistake).
But to convince me, all you have to do is give me the name of a specific bank card so I can compare it with exchanging cash in town abroad—euros to another currency.
How do you expect to persuade me if you don’t give me a specific card example?
@Attila, @Tatra, @Masterpo, as long as you don't provide proof of what you're saying by citing a specific example of a bank card, you won't have any credibility.
It's so easy to write hundreds of messages without proving anything 🤷
You can't mislead thousands of members who read your posts because your statements will influence their choice of exchange methods.
@Masterpo, someone who, like you, claims and insists that online banks offer cheaper exchange rates than cash must be able to name the exact bank card you use to back up your claims—down to the minute. The fact that you don’t do this means you have no idea what you’re talking about and are just throwing things out there, just like the other commenters spouting the same nonsense.
Stuck in bed with a broken rib (I’ll be like this for weeks, unable to do anything but type on a keyboard). So I won’t let this go—it’s directly related to the topic of this thread. A topic about currency exchange that no one has wanted to discuss honestly for 6 years: why carry suitcases full of cash when using a card is supposedly cheaper? 😄
Your move is a bit of a gamble. You can often exchange a lot when you arrive in a country if the exchange rate is better the next day (this happens in quite a few places), and then you really regret having exchanged all your cash already. 😏
In most cases, it's best to avoid exchanging cash at the arrival airport—the rate is usually unfavorable, but everyone knows that.
Those who use ATM withdrawals with online bank cards like Fortuneo or Revolut are onto something, but the downside (whether you have one or multiple cards) is the risk of having your card "eaten" by the machine. If that happens on a Friday night, unless you wait until the bank opens Monday morning, you’re without one of your cards for a while…
So having one or more online bank cards is great, but having some cash on you too is even better. 😄
And daring to tell the truth is even better. No card name = impossible to verify if they're winning. Always the same story of pride, arrogance, and...
Then people will tell me I'm vulgar without checking if an expression has the same meaning in different regions. One day everything will be standardized, and people will be happy with a sterilized world 😏 But when someone tells tall tales with fancy words, oh, that slides right by—even if it misleads everyone. Pfffff
"If the exchange rate is better the next day (which happens a lot in many countries), you’ll really regret exchanging all your cash."
A rate never changes overnight enough to make you lose money when a large sum significantly reduces the fees, which are progressive. The fees inherent to the ATMs’ owners—they pay those with their cards.
But with their cards, which are almost all limited either in the number of free withdrawals or the amounts they’re allowed over a given period (I tested this in France where I was allowed 3 free withdrawals, but the ATM only let me take 150 € lollll), not to mention the daily hassle of finding a working ATM while on vacation and avoiding being spotted every time you withdraw by those who target tourists. How many girls I’ve traveled with spent their time searching for working ATMs or had their cards declined lollll.
But if you can tell me why they won’t name their card here, I’m all ears 😄
I’m chiming in for my part.
I have a card with Fortuneo (the Gold MasterCard). Why Gold? Because it offers better insurance coverage (car rentals, for example). My card is completely free, and Fortuneo even gives you 100 € when you open an account (or more now, after 3 months).
There are no withdrawal fees abroad, no matter where you go, and no fees when you pay with your card—no matter how many times you use it.
The only restriction is that you need to use your card at least 3 or 4 times a month, even for small withdrawals or payments.
This discussion is going off in all directions with a lot of repetition because some people don’t bother reading the thread of replies or following a link.
So...
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
Well...
You're only doing science if you accept at least two things without question: there's a truth, and it's worth looking for.
You don’t prove classic logical postulates, like non-contradiction or the law of excluded middle, for example.
If you want, we can have a laugh with axioms—those of Euclidean geometry, or those of other geometries that are no less valid. Riemann, Lobachevsky...
Science and logic are only possible if we accept postulates and dogmas.
I’m answering from my personal experience.
I have a card with Fortuneo (the MasterCard Gold). Why Gold? Because it offers better insurance coverage (car rental, for example). My card is completely free, and Fortuneo even gives you 100 € (or more now) when you open an account (or rather, 3 months after opening it).
There are no withdrawal fees abroad, no matter where you go, and no fees when you pay with your card, no matter how many times you use it.
The only restriction is that you must use your card at least 3 or 4 times a month, even for small withdrawals or payments.
Thanks a lot! I can finally investigate this fairly—it’s not about being right or wrong, but about exchanging ideas, clarifying things, and maybe even changing my mind and admitting it.
That said, it confirms my observation that most travelers who use cards tend to stick to touristy places and not venture much elsewhere in the world, where showing a card might get you a "What’s that?" reaction.
I recently remembered Cairo, where my friends, accompanied by a guide, explored the touristy souks, while I went solo to the souks of the "real" people (where credit cards don’t exist). Same in rural Caribbean Colombia—everything is paid in cash, and the only ATM had a line of 300 people with a wait of at least 2 hours. 😅
But you can’t deny that with your card, most ATMs abroad take a percentage for their owners, who are usually banks, so it’s not 100% free.
Plus, you have to make the effort to find ATMs, deal with the travel time, and when you’re on vacation, that feels like a hassle (at least to me).
And paying for drinks with a card means missing out on discounts—I personally take advantage of cash deals that also help out merchants, since they pay a percentage on card payments.
When you exchange money, you’re paying a fee just to get your own cash back in another currency (or getting ripped off, like you recently did). Total sucker move, and then some.
Not to mention that walking around with loads of cash means spending all your time paranoid about getting it stolen.
My high school and college years feel like a distant memory.
I just realized I was starting my final year in "terminale C" 40 years ago...
What’s left from that time is a logical, Cartesian mindset—nothing groundbreaking, but enough to know that in most cases, withdrawing money with a debit card is the most economical way to spend abroad.😉
In some cases, the card will be slightly more expensive due to withdrawal fees charged by foreign banks, but ten or twenty euros over an entire trip is nothing.
In some countries, the card will be of little use (or even useless) because the country is outside Western banking networks or doesn’t have a well-developed ATM system.
Finally, physical cards are increasingly becoming a relic. Smartphone payments are taking over now.
That said, I’m still skeptical about that last point—you need electricity to recharge the thing and a network connection.
With a card, all you have to do is dig out the old card slider... (Those over 45 or even 50 will get it)
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
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"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?
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
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.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.
VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now.
The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.
Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions.
I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.
Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.
Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid?
Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again?
Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with?
Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now?
What’s really going on here?
This isn’t exactly a traveler’s question... I’d like to know who handles the technical side of this forum?
I run a similar forum on a different topic (unrecognized children), and we’re dealing with a few technical issues that are slowly killing our forum... so I’d have one or two questions to ask 😊.
Also, I was wondering who created this forum... who the administrators or moderators are, etc.
I think this forum is great. Much better than Facebook, which I’ve been using since it shut down (so I’m happy to see it’s working again...)
Hi there, I’ve been traveling for 18 years now, at least 6 months a year, and as the years go by, I actually enjoy coming back to France more and more—a feeling I struggled with at first. I mean, we always think the grass is greener elsewhere.
But in the end, I find meaning in that saying about how there’s no place like home. I still love traveling just as much, but now my trips are shorter, and I enjoy spending more time in our beautiful country, even though I don’t hesitate to criticize it.
How about you? How do you handle coming back from your travels?
A few years ago, I went with a group of friends to lend a hand at a small rural school near Thiès, Senegal.
It was a relaxed but hardworking atmosphere—hands in the mortar, laughter, exchanges, and everything that a COOPERATION project can bring.
Today, the little project is flying on its own.
Wanting to explore Senegal’s riches, we set off for some tourism in the Siné Saloum. One girl in our group fell ill (a malaria attack), and we decided to take her to see a doctor at a large tourist complex nearby. Despite her condition, we had to "show our credentials" (if I may say so) just to get in. She was treated and has been fine since.
This "stop" at a Club Med-style resort with a Teutonic twist—resembling Le Grau-du-Roi but fancier—was a horror show for us: pools, massive artificial basins dyed blue, pink, or green (!!!!), animators shouting around wet T-shirt contests or coconut tree climbing, and sunburned (or sun-pinked) *toubabs*.
The entire hotel was surrounded by a huge wall, behind which a small souvenir-seller slum had sprung up, worthy of Dakar’s outer neighborhoods.
On leaving, we saw a minibus of guests returning from an "excursion," loaded with masks, fabrics, and djembés—African souvenirs?
Maybe those will be *theirs*?
What impression did the kids clustered at the hotel gates get?
What about the Black servers in "traditional African costumes," serving cocktails and ice cream nonstop?
For me, who experienced Africa very young and in the bush, this remains a haunting image.
On VF, this kind of vacation doesn’t seem to be the norm among users, and that’s exactly why I signed up.
Have you ever experienced this kind of interstellar travel?
Do you understand the Martians?
Are their motivations peaceful?
.
.
