France is doing just fine, it's @tetras that's in trouble
The capercaillie, a bird of ill omen?
... an endangered species that needs to be protected.
In Europe, its territory extends across the plains starting from the north and east of Poland and the north of Ukraine, covering Belarus, the Baltic states, the Scandinavian countries, and a large part of European Russia.
Any ideas why?
(and sometimes you find its feathers on a dreary virtual plain.)
In a rather lovely old-school French way, there’s always that batch of pure personal and petty attacks.
Michel
QED. And no hope of redemption. Just another reason to dread going back home.
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
In Clermont-Ferrand, you're two hours by road from LYS Lyon.
So if you want, you can compare it with Brest and Rennes, or even Nantes.
It's not the same in terms of global accessibility.
Lyon is a secondary airport, and you can count more on 2 hours 30 than 2 hours.
If everything goes well... (Snow, traffic jams, etc.)
In short, no choice—Paris prices aren’t an option, nor is the ability to leave easily any other way than by car...
Global accessibility from the "empty France"? Not happening.
But you can’t have it all.
The advantages of the area far outweigh the drawbacks.
It’d never occur to me to move to Paris just to have good airports easily accessible by public transport.
If you live in Brittany, it’s because something tips the balance in favor of that region.
Otherwise, given the picture you paint, you’re a bit of a masochist.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
You really have no idea what it costs—in money and hassle—to go to Paris just to catch a flight. In Europe, there aren’t many places where you have to travel over 500 km to reach a proper international airport. Maybe Norway or northern Sweden.
But even there, there are PSO (Public Service Obligation) routes, and flights are subsidized—not made more and more expensive, like what’s happening in France with Brittany.
When it comes to Brittany, you act shocked or skeptical, but you don’t have a clue about the reality.
You really don’t realize what it takes—cost-wise and logistically—to go to Paris just to catch a flight
Oh, but I *do* do it sometimes...
Lyon isn’t some magic solution, and it doesn’t offer the same range of options as Paris.
A lot of destinations are just European spots that aren’t that exciting if you’re not into pure beachside lounging or city breaks.
Connections can be *super* long, and flights are less frequent.
It’s often more expensive than flying from Paris, and the options are shrinking instead of growing (Qatar Airways leaving, for example).
I’ve also flown out of Clermont-Ferrand or Toulouse before.
When it comes to Brittany, you act all shocked or skeptical, but you have no real idea what the reality is like.
Oh, and *you* do when it comes to what life’s like for someone in Aurillac, Saint-Flour, or Laguiole?
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
Because you have one about what’s happening for a resident of Aurillac, Saint-Flour, or Laguiole?
No, but I’m not talking about it, while you keep speculating about what Bretons are supposed to think about their region...
For Lyon airport, you don’t know how lucky you are; you’ve got connections to tons of European hubs to go just about anywhere.
As for prices, I don’t know about Lyon, but flying from Brest or Rennes to a European destination usually costs double what it does from Paris.
I know some Bretons. You don’t have a monopoly on them...😛
For Lyon airport, you don’t know how lucky you are; you’ve got connections to tons of European hubs to go just about anywhere.
Meh.
From that point of view, I was way luckier when I lived in Rouen. CDG was within reach with special car rental rates to get there, and pretty much all the airlines were competing with each other.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
hi there, I recently saw on the show "Le Monde de Jamy" about climate change. People have started planting vineyards in Brittany to produce wine because other wine-growing regions in France are beginning to have issues with the changing climate. Brittany is becoming an asset in this sector, not to mention the tourism that surges when heatwaves hit the south and southwest.
Hi there, I recently saw on the show "Le Monde de Jamy" about climate change. People have started planting vineyards in Brittany to produce wine because other wine-growing regions in France are beginning to have issues with the changing climate. Brittany is becoming an asset in this sector, not to mention the tourism that surges when heatwaves hit the south and southwest.
We don’t grow sugarcane
In Morbihan
We don’t cultivate bananas
In Morbihan
But what’s certain is that on Saturday nights
In the bistros and bars
We’re all totally wasted
In Morbihan
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
I was talking about investors who see a huge opportunity here, just like those who, over 30 years ago, bought land in northern Europe to plant vineyards and produce the future great wines we’ll have less and less of in France due to climate change.
The drinking habits of the three local boozers weren’t the point of this post. Nor were those who criticize this beautiful region, which has a bright future—especially with rising temperatures making bookings drop in the south and tourism increase in Brittany and the North every year.
I was talking about investors who see a huge opportunity here.
Does this mean La Baule and Saint-Nazaire are set to become the new Saint-Tropez of France’s Atlantic coast?
Yes, hurry up and invest.
Especially since the TGV goes all the way to La Baule, unlike Saint-Tropez.
Not to mention those who criticize this beautiful region with a future, particularly with rising temperatures being felt every year in the drop in bookings in the south and the increase in tourism in Brittany and the North.
Well, a few words...
I was born in Brittany, in maritime Brittany; I grew up there, and I’ve been back working there since 1993, seeing tens of thousands of young people from rural areas pass through—often even the children of those I knew in their youth.
During my studies, I also took a deep interest in the question, in the 60s, 70s, 80s, the CELIB, and so on. Up to my postgraduate studies.
So when I explain what it’s *really* like, in real life—not the illusion of a week’s vacation or the fantasies of a wine-growing project—I’ve got a couple of biscuits and a bit of legitimacy to do so 🙂.
Most people who decide to move to Brittany leave very quickly because it’s tough, the people are anything but welcoming, they miss the world too much, their friends forget them, and you can’t live on calendar photos and romantic myths.
Or else they *do* have significant means, and in Auray, Dinard, Pont-Aven, Place Saint-Corentin in Quimper, or Perros-Guirec, you can indeed find croissants.
Most people who decide to come and settle in Brittany leave very quickly because it’s really harsh,
It’s true that life in Brittany can be very tough: winters get down to -20°C, there are few roads inland, and not everyone has running water.
In some villages, people have to dig wells to get water.
And in many villages, residents have to walk several kilometers across fields to find a shop.
Electricity is hit-or-miss too.
So, the week confirmed that the real topic of this discussion is: Brittany according to Tatra (Season 6).
To not see that Brittany is in sharp decline, you must not have lived there three or four decades ago, and you must not have traveled regularly to comparable territorial and cultural entities.
Take Estonia, Slovenia, or Catalonia, for example.
And I’m not even talking about Ireland, which had particularly comparable assets and constraints... only to end up several divisions apart in results.
Trying to prove that Brittany is in sharp decline by comparing it to a French administrative region, two countries that were long under Soviet influence and only began in the market economy three or four decades ago, the wealthiest autonomous community in Spain, and—the cherry on top—Ireland, whose current success is solely due to tax dumping and being held in the grip of multinationals, is like comparing apples and oranges (from Léon).
The data is different, and while comparison isn’t always reasonable, let’s look at Brittany’s evolution relative to other French regions: between 1990 and 2020, its GDP growth was slightly higher than the country’s (in %). Hardly evidence of a sharp decline.
But it’s true that not all the INSEE folks have lived in Brittany for three or four decades. 😎
Whoever wants to ruin their dog accuses it of rabies.
Place Saint Cotentin in Quimper
Good old Corentin, who annexed Normandy in the 5th century. 😮
Houses for 40,000 € in Brittany aren’t exactly common—plus, after negotiation, how much do they actually end up costing?
In inland Brittany, you’re never far from the ocean or the sea.
Even small towns like Ploermel or Pontivy have expensive housing.
Not to mention farmland—check out the price per hectare.
And now there’s vineyard land too.
The region’s attractive, so people are moving in, which has helped curb the demographic decline.
Your work must be really fascinating for you to have sacrificed everything for it...
There are only a handful of positions in France.
And I’m not telling you Brittany is the problem; you annoy me with your prejudices and clichés, so I’m telling you the truth.
Houses for 40,000 € in Brittany aren’t common. Plus, after negotiation, how much do they end up costing?
40,000 or 50,000—yes, my whole street.
Often, they’re bought up by municipalities and turned into social housing: Roma, Parisians in crisis.
In inland Brittany, you’re never far from the ocean or the sea.
Even in small towns like Ploermel or Pontivy, housing is expensive.
Not to mention farmland—check the price per hectare.
Now there are even vineyard lands.
The region’s attractive, people are moving in, so the demographic decline has been halted.
I’ll believe it when I see it...
I don’t trust that word—it’s not in my vocabulary. It means the person using it isn’t sure of themselves.
I’m certain of that.
The week has confirmed that the real topic of this discussion is: Brittany according to Tatra (season 6).
No, but you’re all so curious—and so skeptical—about this that I’ll make an effort to explain. 😏
And stop playing naive; some of you here love getting your fur ruffled by my ideas, which don’t align with yours or your experiences as tourists.
Trying to prove that Brittany is in sharp decline by comparing it to a French administrative region, two countries long under Soviet influence that only started in the market economy three or four decades ago, the wealthiest autonomous community in Spain, and—cherry on the cake—Ireland, whose current success is solely due to tax dumping and being controlled by multinationals, is like comparing apples and oranges (from Léon).
I don’t see how this is incomparable, unless you’ve already decided nothing can be compared.
The data differs, and while comparison isn’t always reasonable, let’s look at Brittany’s evolution relative to other French regions: between 1990 and 2020, its GDP growth slightly outpaced the country’s (in %). Hardly a steep decline.
The founders of CELIB explained that 1960s Brittany was a region on the brink of underdevelopment—not so much because of the French state, but due to a lack of creativity, ambition, and classical virtue among Bretons.
There was a revival, as they say, but right now, the situation is tough.
You’re presenting Brittany as a monolith; I don’t doubt that in Vannes, Auray, Dinard, Saint-Malo, or Quiberon, the GDP is high. But the contrasts are huge between this very wealthy, bourgeois, and frankly inaccessible coastal strip (even for other Bretons) and the rest of the region...
Between organic farms on the coast where customers arrive in Porsche Cayennes and the *penty* without toilets in Gurunhuel or the suburbs of Rostrenen, there’s a world of difference. Brittany’s sociology is complex, with rural areas often leaning far left or having communist traditions.
You refuse to compare incomparable things, yet that’s exactly what you’re doing.
Not so much because of the French state, but rather due to a lack of creativity, ambition, and virtue in the classical sense, among the Bretons.
Hello again,
You’re one of millions of French people who spend their time criticizing the system while expecting a lot from state handouts.
But if you criticize the things that are wrong in Brittany, why don’t you yourself show some creativity?
Why don’t you start your own business and make millions in turnover? In Brittany, I’m sure there are tons of entrepreneurs who are *actually* taking initiative, hiring people, and helping improve the system.
you are one of millions of French people who spend their time criticizing the system and expecting a lot from the state's generosity.
I don’t expect anything from the state, and I actually think it meddles in far too many things in France. You’ve misunderstood my point.
Why don’t you start your own business and make millions in revenue? In Brittany, I’m sure there are tons of entrepreneurs who are really taking action, hiring people, and helping improve the system.
Actually, no—you don’t understand the Breton mentality at all.
This summer in Kosovo, I was reflecting on how Kosovars left their country, but wherever they went, they started businesses, teamed up, moved around, and came back with stacks of 500 € bills.
Sure, there are companies here, but they tend to just get by. They hire based on family ties or connections and are rarely open to outsiders. There are also a lot of people who don’t want businesses around, seeing them as a nuisance... Beyond the never-built Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande airport, there are plenty of examples—salmon farms, fish farms, mining operations, pig and poultry farms—all rejected in the name of a "quiet" life.
It’s a mindset.
Again, you’re operating under this whole imaginary idea of Brittany as some literary construct. Even Bretons themselves buy into it, convinced they’re welcoming, for example, or that their identity is tied to gray granite monuments, a rugged visual and moral landscape, or that they’re entrepreneurial—when that’s just an illusion.
Identities are social constructs, after all.
There’s a line of people in this discussion ready to doubt my experiences, but do *you* have any concrete experience to share—something grounded in time and place that we could actually relate to? Kola, Voyajou, for instance: you claim to know Brittany and jump on my explanations year after year without ever showing your cards. And what about post-travel reflections—any experiences to share there?
Yes, that’s exactly it—French people are known to grumble, especially when abroad.
Ah, here’s one of the perks of coming back to France: the chance to grumble together about all the injustices and daily hassles we face 😉
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
It’s a bit like flying fish 🙂.
You’ll always find a few things to mention.
Pinault and Bolloré—I don’t see much that’s Breton about them. Yeah, I know, Bolloré historically made paper, and I even went to the Scaër parade a couple of times as a kid.
Your examples are just the trees hiding the forest, and I don’t think they’ve massively reinvested in their home country.
Hello, you must really be suffering daily living in a region you don’t like, where the locals reflect the disdain they read on your face toward them.
There’s no disdain at all, and if I’ve been doing the same job in close contact with the Breton population for decades—happily and successfully—it’s because no one holds it against me for thinking this way.
Besides, it’s not just that the region doesn’t "please" me, but that it is what it is, very far from the romanticized image cultivated here by those who’ve only passed through or had a bowl of cider in a trendy crêperie.
When you return from traveling, there’s a shock, which I’m trying to describe and explain because that’s really the topic of this thread.
Little things like Ubisoft or Leclerc...
Seriously, Tatra, you seem at the end of your rope.
You’ve got to reinvent yourself!
It’s not easy to change course after 50 years, but it’s now or never.
I’m talking about the diaspora coming back to invest and create energy and jobs, thanks to two or three successful entrepreneurs who’ve expanded in France.
How many employees does Ubisoft have in Brittany? 20? 30? 🤪
We’re not talking about the same thing.
If this conversation doesn’t suit you, just stop replying—no problem.
Trying to prove that Brittany is in sharp decline by comparing it to a French administrative region, two countries long under Soviet influence that only started in the market economy three or four decades ago, the richest autonomous community in Spain, and, the cherry on top, Ireland—which owes its current success solely to tax dumping and being in the hands of multinationals—is like comparing apples and oranges (from Léon).
I don’t see how this is incomparable, unless you’ve already decided nothing can be compared.
Beyond my initial observations, your sample also includes:
A size difference of 1 to 3
A population difference of 1 to 5
A total GDP difference of 1 to 8
A GDP per capita (PPP) difference of 1 to 4
But yes, one thing in common: they all have a coastline. 😮
Instead, tell us what led you to this selection to demonstrate Brittany’s "sharp decline."
If I’m not mistaken, Bretons aren’t exactly welcoming, but you don’t really grasp their nature or their character.
A Breton is cold and rather reserved. But they’re people you can count on.
Protest has always existed in Brittany—you can trace it back to the *papier timbré* if you want.
Whether it’s good or bad, there’s no nuclear power plant, even in ’44, and protests happened there too.
Because in France, people don’t protest over highway constructions, antenna installations, stores, etc.
I don’t really see much of a difference.
I’m comparing two Celtic nations with similar religions and very close geographic strengths and constraints.
In 1918, they had the same population—both were very rural and quite isolated until the 1960s.
In a way, you could even say Brittany was more industrial than Ireland at the end of the 1950s.
Result: an independent state, a hub for multinationals, a major European player, and a French-administered region that struggles, regresses, with a GDP per capita on par with Slovenia’s.
I’d love for you to explain to me that I don’t know the Bretons, but I’ve still seen thousands of them up close—in their ideas, actions, and how they’ve evolved over time.
To me, they tend to be reliable, but also very obedient, easy to manage, and control.
After all, great academic results, lots of civil servants.
Anyway, the psychology of peoples is a bit of a touchy subject no matter what—intellectually and conceptually fragile. Essentializing is a risk.
This summer in Kosovo, I was reflecting: the Kosovars left their country, but wherever they went, they started businesses, teamed up, moved around, and are now returning with wads of 500 € bills.
It’s clear that Kosovars have all studied engineering—they’re shining in Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, building billion-dollar companies. Elon Musk is shaking in his boots seeing Kosovar entrepreneurs
I crossed Kosovo by train a few years ago, and it really felt like the third world in Europe.
And isn’t what Attila wrote enough? There are big companies like the Bolloré Group, Ubisoft…
Brittany could perfectly function on its own economically, for that matter.
Pinault and Bolloré, I don’t see much that’s Breton.
don’t you know what a company’s market capitalization or revenue is?
I think it’d be a good idea to get some basic knowledge about corporate economics.
Je reviens tout juste d'une semaine passée à Tokyo. La faible durée de mon séjour ne m'a bien sûr pas permis de tout voir mais on va dire que j'ai vu les…
Vous est-il arrivé de renoncer à un ou des voyages à cause de la nourriture servie à destination? Personnellement, certains pays ne m'attirent pas ou plus à…
Ne dit-on pas souvent que les mêmes causes produisent toujours les mêmes effets? De retour d’un voyage dans un pays que volontairement je ne citerai pas, car…
J'arrive a montréal le 31 juillet et je compte faire tout le continent américain en passant par la terre de feu ; je serai seul avec mon sac et ma volonté d'y…
Quand on attrape le virus du voyage, on vois la vie autrement. Tout ce que nos parents ainsi que la société à pu nous apprendre perd son sens au profit d'une…
Bonjour,
Je m'appelle Marion. Dans le cadre de ma reconversion professionnelle, en tant que Travel Planner, je suis à la recherche de quelques personnes (couples avec ou sans enfants) pour échanger afin de mieux comprendre vos besoins et vos envies de voyages.
Cela durera environ 30 min avec moi par téléphone ou en visio 🙂
Je n’ai rien à vous vendre!
N'hésitez pas à me contacter si vous le souhaitez, bonne journée.
"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...)
.
.
