Je n'en fait aucune, sauf pour les radars mais pas avec la base Tomtom. Comme la "grosse" mise à jour est payante, j'attends que mes cartes soient complètement dépassées pour en acheter un autre, ce qui devrait bien prendre 10 ans minimum 😉😎😎😎.
Tu y gagnerais sûrement en faisant toutes les mises à jours gratuites.
Oui, sûrement. mais j'ai tellement modifié le mien, notamment le menu, que mes modifs ne marchent plus avec les dernières versions du système. je suis donc obligé de rester avec mon ancienne version d'OS et les mises à jours impliquent en général de mettre l'OS à jour.
Perso j'ai fait le choix de prendre un GSM Nokia avec le gps ( 1 € en renouvellement), du coup le logiciel est gratos ainsi que les cartes , les MAJ aussi !
Donc je ne me retrouve qu'avec un appareil et pas 2
Comme cet été cassos aux states donc avec mon nokia j'ai tous les USA dans le tel
Pensez-y lors de votre prochain renouvellent de téléphone 😎
Je te recommande le Garmin Nuvi, je suis du Quebec et j'ai fait plusieurs états Américains, beaucoup de ville au Canada également. J'ai même fait la France, l'espagne et l'Italie avec ce GPS et il fonctionne super bien! Tu peux même trouver les cartes et mise à jour gratos sur le net... Si tu es habile sur l'ordi...
Je pars pour la Californie pour un road trip en juillet 2011 et il sera mon guide!
Je ne sais pas si il est disponible en France toutefois, mais c'est un modèle que tu peux te procurer dans les grandes chaines en amérique du nord à environ 100$ cdn ou Us soit environ 70 euros.
A la page 1 de ce sujet , j'ai mentionné avoir acheté en début d'année un TomTom après l'Avoir comparé au Carmin. TomTom était supérieur . Il semblerais que c'est tout récent que TomTom soit supérieur.
Ceci étant dit je ne doute pas que tu peux être satisfait de ton Carmin.
J'ai utilisé ce TomTom aux USA et en Europe
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
Ah, un téléphone cellulaire avec les cartes et gps ! Et ça fonctionne bien, l'écran doit être bien petit, non ? Et tu as toutes les fonctions le plus populaire d'un GPS " ordinaire " ?
Mais quand tu t'en sers, en gps, tu es sur la fonction " communication téléphone" avec des frais ?
Je ne connais vraiment pas ça, n'ayant pas de téléphone cellulaire.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
Donc je ne me retrouve qu'avec un appareil et pas 2
Chacun ses habitudes et ses façons de faire. Tu es content de ta solution et c'est tant mieux pour toi. 😎
Pour moi (mais nous ne sommes pas de la même génération 😉, je préfère un appareil pour une fonction, donc un gps pour un gps. D'ailleurs, si j'en ai 4, c'est sans doute parce que tous n'ont pas les mêmes fonctionnalités. Par exemple, je ne me vois pas prendre la mer sur mon Zodiac avec comme gps un téléphone.
D'ailleurs, je n'ai pas de téléphone (GSM), je me contente de celui de ma femme quand je suis avec elle 😉😎😎😎.
Question : quand il n'y a pas de réseau, ton gps marche encore ? Ce n'est pas une question ridicule, je ne sais pas, c'est tout. Les gps-téléphones ont-ils une puce et antenne gps ou reçoivent-ils leurs infos via le service gsm ?
J'utilise un bon vieux Garmin GPSMap278 et je prépare tout sous MapSource… On trouve plein de cartographie gratuite pour partout sur le web.
Un vieux coucou sans écran tactile, mais irremplaçable pour la navigation en raid…
Tout à fait d'accord avec vous. Apres le tom tom j'ai voulu essayer il y a un an le garmin. Grosse erreur ! les cartes mettent un temps fou à charger, j'ai découvert comment rallonger d'au moins 1 heure mes trajets en découvrant des ... chemins de campagne; campagne qui est belle en normpandie et en bretagne mais bon ce n'était pas le but recherché. Du coup j'ai repris un tom tom live ce mois ci et quel bonheur. Il me prévient des bouchons à l'avance et me fait prendre des routes où, l'on peut croiser une autre voiture sans s'arrêter. Je pense que le tom tom est peut être plus adapté à la france et le garmin aux usa.
Voila mon expérience.
Régine
Je possede des GPS Garmin depuis de nombreuses années et ce sont les plus complets, ce sont les seuls a connaitre le lieu ou j'habite ( rue créée depuis pres de 10 ans maintenant ) alors que tous les autres GPS ( TomTom, Navman, Viamichelin, ...) sont totalement perdus et indiquent la route principale qui passe a 50 m environ ! Je les trouve aussi tres intuitifs, mais sur ce point, je pense que c'est fonction des gouts de chacun !
En louant un vehicule AVIS aux USA, le GPS fourni est aussi un Garmin ! Ailleurs, je ne sais pas, j'emporte le mien !
Je pense que pour départager. il faut comparer les derniers modèles. Si on parle d'expérience vécu avec des modèles qui datent de 1 ans ou plus alors là ont est probablement loin de la réalité actuelle.
Je voudrais juste mentionner un test dont sajewi parle en page 1. Le test fait en 2010 conclue que le Carmin est supérieur au TomTom .
J'ai repris le test de sajewi avec mon TomTom et le résultat est complètement le contraire. J'ai un modèle haut de gamme acheté en 2011.
Donc si vos appareils datent, vos observations ne sont probablement plus pertinentes.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
Concernant le gps sur mon nokia 5800, je n'ai aucun souci de fonctionnement quand aux frais de com, il y a une option pour désactiver les données par paquet
En effet, si on lui dit rien il se connecte au réseau GSM pour fixer le point + vite donc si on n'a pas de forfait data on rince, si on le désactive il fixe en + de temps mais rien ne m'est facturé en plus.
j'ai toutes les fonctions classiques du gps, info trafic.. guide michelin...trip advisor ....
Bin oui l'écran est légèrement + petit mais cela me suffit et pour le cout 1 € le tel et 0 de gps, je vais pas chipoter 😏
Jadorry a entièrement raison.... le chemin le plus court vous envoie sur des chemins de graviers, ou en montagne. Au Vermont, il est préférable d'avoir une bonne carte ou y indiqué une portion du trajet. Donc, même si vous avez un GPS, ayez une carte pour vous aider.
Il vaut mieux toujours avoir une bonne carte avec soi, pour preparer son voyage avant de rouler, et sur la route un copilote qui suive un peu beaucoup la route.
Comme le GPS a tendance à vs faire prendre les grands axes, ca permet de passer dans des coins plus sympas.
Notre garmin Nuëvi acheté aux USA nous fais passer par les petites route aux heures d'affluence autour de Birmingham ce qui est très appréciable quand on va du nord a l'ouest comme nous le faisons quand nous allons d'un famille a l'autre( Trussville Fultondale et vice versa)
Il fait de même en France on c'est trompé vers Cahors il nous a guidé pour rejoindre l'autoroute par les routes de campagne
Il suffit de savoir s'en servir nous on utilise plus du tout les cartes Ni aux USA ni en France ni au Mexique ni en Crête mon mari lui a mis France Europe et Mexique trouvés sur le net
C'est absolument sans polemique, mais comme je suis plutot du genre stressé, j'aime bien regarder avant de partir la route qu'on va faire.
pour le reste, comme mon epouse n'a aucune notion de l'orientation, des distances, que ca l'interesse pas et qu'elle prefere regarder à l'exterieur plutot qu'etre penchée sur un carte, voire même prendre des photos depuis la voiture en roulant ce qui fait qu'on a 4563 photos du retro exterieur droit de la voiture😏😏, elle est donc absolument nulle comme copilote et j'ecoute donc les conseils de la dame qui cause dans le poste.
Ceci dit ca peut avoir des consequences plutot drole car en se fiant absolument à la machine, on ne sait pas vraiment ou on passe, voire meme à quel endroit ou on couche.
Il y a 2 ans, c'est au retour en FRANCE en regardant sur google maps que j'ai su où etait notre hotel à LA.
Avant 2009 on avait que les carte et je faisait le copilote tout en photographiant ou en faisant des vidéo nous aussi on a beaucoup de vidéo et photos prises de la vitre avant droite ou direct du pare brise avant soit des Usa soit de Crête soit du Mexique soit des USA je laisse l'APN a mon mari sur place (des fois les caméscopes ou APN ont pris mes pieds on voyage ainsi depuis 1984)
Maintenant Mon Epoux regarde le trajet sur le GPS avant le départ et moi je laisse causer la dame a la voix charmante durant le trajet elle nous a toujours conduit a bon port jusqu'a maintenant alors que l'ancien Gps lui nous a mené dans les sens interdits en Espagne il c'était trompé avait pris la rue parraléle
Moi finalement j'aime bien la voix de la dame qui cause dans le poste.
Heureusement, ma chere et tendre epouse, gardienne du foyer, du frigo et du poisson rouge, ne sais pas que c'est une magnifique blonde, jeune, riche et sexy, qui adore les latin lovers français un peu bedonnant et au front degarni.
comme mon epouse n'a aucune notion de l'orientation, des distances, que ca l'interesse pas et qu'elle prefere regarder à l'exterieur plutot qu'etre penchée sur un carte
On a la même ?! 😉
Pour ce qui est de la préposée au gps, j'ai viré Catherine et l'ai remplacée par Homer Simpson.🙂 Ainsi, pas de jalousie.🤪😄
Je parts faire un roadtrip dans l'ouest américain le mois prochain et j'ai besoin d'aide pour mon GPS. J'ai depuis quelques temps un GPS Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT.…
JE SOUHAITE ACHETER EN FRANCE UN GPS ET Y INSTALLER UNE CARTE POUR USA. IL PARAIT QUE CELA N EST PAS POSSIBLE AVEC TOUS LES GPS DE CHEZ DARTY FNAC. AVEZ VOUS…
Voila une question toute simple mais qui vaux son pesant d'or Vu le prix de la location du gps chez le loueur, dois je plutôt m'en offrir un ici même.? Quelle…
Pour ceux qui hésite à acheter un GPS pour les US, voilà une offre jusqu'à dimanche sur le site de la FNAC telephone-gps-mp3.fn... à 289€ au lieu de 379€ avec…
Pour le GPS, d’après ce que j'ai lu il y a la possibilité de l'acheter sur place coût autour de 100 € mais es qu'il est possible de changer la langue pour le…
Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Merci de me conseiller pour la réservation pour la plus belle vue faut il réserver une chambre dans l'hôtel ou choisir une cabane ?
Prendre le petit déjeuner ou pas ?
Que pensez vous du restaurant ?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
I’m planning a week in S.F. in April 2026 and I can’t figure out how to tell the cable cars—of which I understand there are three lines—apart from the trams, which I think number seven. I can’t find their individual numbers or routes anywhere.
Could someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks in advance.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026 full of amazing travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip through the American national parks starting from Denver in June 2026.
The price of the pass is jumping from 80 € to 250 € on January 1st, 2026!!!
Is it possible to buy the pass online before the end of the year to lock in the 80 € rate? If so, where and how do I go about it?
Thanks for your tips.
Arnale
I’m planning a road trip for July 2026 in northern Florida. Could you let me know if my itinerary makes sense?
Day 1: Orlando
Day 2: Amelia Island
Day 3: Amelia Island
Day 4: Tallahassee
Day 5: Panama City Beach
Day 6: Panama City Beach (visit to Destin)
Day 7: Crystal River (stop in Cedar Key on the way)
Day 8: Crystal River
Day 9: Anna Maria (stop in Clearwater)
Day 10: Anna Maria (St. Pete)
Day 11: Anna Maria
Day 12: Orlando
Day 13: Orlando
Day 14: Orlando
Day 15: Departure
We just finished 9 days in the American West and wanted to share our experience because we had an amazing time.
I know some of you might ask, why use an agency? Honestly, we didn’t really feel like doing all the driving and planning, especially since we didn’t know the area at all. And since our English isn’t great, having French-speaking guides was a big comfort.
We found Emmanuelle and Isabelle, and wow, they were fantastic. It was just the two of us with them, so it was a truly VIP, ultra-personalized experience. They treated us like royalty from start to finish. These two live in Las Vegas and know the region like the back of their hand. They told us they’ve spent over 15 years exploring every corner of the American West, and it really shows. Their knowledge of geology, park history, and local anecdotes is just impressive. It’s nothing like someone reciting a memorized script. They answer all your questions and really adapt to what you want to see or do.
What we really loved: the vehicle was super comfortable, and the little details made a difference—like snacks and even a homemade cake! Though, to be fair, we devoured the cake right away, so that counts.
Since they know the sites inside out, they took us at the right times to avoid crowds. So we could enjoy peaceful picnics at Grand Canyon viewpoints without being packed in with 200 people. Plus, on top of the must-see spots, they showed us some hidden gems that were absolutely stunning—places we never would’ve found on our own. They’re true locals who know all the best tips.
The service was really personalized. They adapted to our pace and preferences, and we could stop whenever we wanted to take photos. It’s the luxury of being in a small private group—you’re not just a number on a big bus.
In short, we really felt like we were traveling with friends rather than professional guides. Everything’s included in the price (hotel pickup, meals, park entries, etc.), so the value for money is fair.
We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back next year to explore other areas with them. I think we’ve caught the American West bug—it’s all we can think about, and we can’t wait to return.
If you’re looking for a French-speaking tour with real personalized service and guides who know the region like no one else, we highly recommend them. We had unforgettable moments. They also design road trips for those who don’t want a guide. And they handled our hotel reservations in Las Vegas too. If you want genuine advice from friendly locals, we’re giving them a 200% recommendation!
I’m currently looking for well-located hotels near points of interest in the cities below. I’ve found a few, but the prices are really high.
Could any of you share some great addresses in the following cities?
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- San Francisco
Also, do you have a preferred airline for domestic flights? If so, which one?
