Sticking to the thread's theme, as our friend Obeoandpai would say, and to finally answer the original poster, Merck, here’s a little thought I didn’t even dare include in my latest travel journal about Thailand.
Back from sightseeing, we hurried to take a dip in the pool at our hotel in Ayutthaya. Two couples were already there with their kids, who we first thought were French, but given their accent, they were probably Belgian—though it doesn’t really matter.
When we heard them talk, we were stunned.
How to put it? Sometimes in life, you meet people who look like walking parodies, and sometimes their way of speaking matches. Well, this time, it was parodies of parodies. The height of unfiltered crassness. A naturalness and spontaneity bordering on simplistic, an ode to vulgarity.
We’re not the type to mock these people, but we were suddenly hit with a wave of consternation.
Just repeating what they said and how they said it would already be rude.
More natural than that, you’d die. Afterward, you better understand why refined, well-off people try to distance themselves from the masses. Before your head starts hurting, your ears already do. At the same time, you feel a little sorry for them—it’s almost like they’re scary.
When I whispered to my wife that we’d finally found the missing link, in my head, someone said: "Aren’t you ashamed that such a thought even crossed your mind? Look at yourself with your long history of blunders, missteps, and mistakes. You’re just one person among all these others."
But another voice immediately replied: "Come on, you’d have to be deaf and blind not to notice. And besides, it’s not mean—it’s just true!"
I settled the thesis and antithesis by concluding that, okay, more than five minutes next to them is unbearable, but it’s still great that these families could afford a nice vacation in the middle of a life of hard work. Or was it *labour*? I can’t remember...
« 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
My turn, Jojoone 😉: returning from Myanmar on a Bangkok-Paris flight, I was pretty surprised by the vacationers coming back from Thailand who had the look and speech of the Paris suburbs, let's say.
And I caught myself—someone who thinks they're so open-minded—having slightly "condescending" thoughts (calling them "beaufs" is right, isn't it?). Ugh, I don’t like myself in those moments!
Then I thought that those good folks probably saw me as some "country bumpkin" with my cheap clothes and my strong southern (or even Chalossais) accent 😛.
Anyway, when it comes to prejudices, it’s a tie!
All this to say we’re all someone else’s "redneck" (watch out, Merk99, you’re Belgian on top of it ). Beyond the type of visitors, what bothers me about Thailand is the sheer number of them (visitors in general, not just rednecks!) and the globalization that comes with it (I struggled to find a Thai restaurant on one island!).
I don’t doubt there are more authentic spots in the country, but just the hotel in Bangkok and its mostly Western clientele makes me want to go elsewhere (I’ve had several layovers in different hotels, but it’s always been the same!).
Anyway, Thailand is the country I recommend to anyone wanting to visit Asia for the first time. I discovered it a little too late—I should’ve started there 😛
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
You’re not wrong: a few years ago, I was wandering around Prachuap, and mid-conversation in the middle of the market, I made a comment to my wife that—taken out of context—sounded like it came straight from some redneck’s mouth.
Nobody’s perfect all the time, anyway.
That was exactly the moment we ran into a French couple, either regular vacationers or locals, and since I’m pretty observant, I overheard the guy say something to his girlfriend like, "Well, look at that—they even show up here."
For a few seconds, I didn’t feel too proud. My wife, on the other hand, was just happy to be there, as usual, and didn’t notice a thing.
Obviously, the people who *really* act like that—and do it all the time—don’t even realize it. Even if they did, they wouldn’t care.
Since then, I’ve been more careful about how I present myself and express things. Hopefully, the result lives up to expectations.
« 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
My turn! One day in Bangkok, I saw in a shopping mall one of those typical Western tourists from back home—bald at fifty to hide his receding hairline, wearing a checkered shirt that looked like a kitchen towel, baggy shorts, dusty Crocs, and a big camera slung over his shoulder... The classic *beauf*, really. Flushed, with dark circles under his eyes and exhausted features, he looked like he’d just stepped off his flight. Despite the air conditioning, he was sweating buckets. He was strolling alongside a Thai woman who was clearly younger than him, quite pretty, well-dressed, and looking fresh. They exchanged a few words in some kind of Franglais mixed with Thai, then walked into a KFC.
That’s when I glanced at a mirror in the room and realized that this guy—about to eat hormone-laden chicken with his companion—was me.
+++ My coworkers are gonna wonder again why I’m laughing to myself all day
« 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
Do you think Thais behave better around pools? Rudeness—they must say just as much while letting their kids jump almost in your face... and without even apologizing for their kids.
People with no manners exist in every country in the world... We just have to deal with it or go set up a Tuareg tent in the middle of the Sahara. Peace and quiet guaranteed😉
My turn! One day in Bangkok, I saw in a shopping mall one of those Western tourists who could be straight out of our neighborhood—bald at fifty to hide his receding hairline, wearing a checkered shirt that looked like a kitchen towel, baggy shorts, dusty Crocs, and a big camera slung over his shoulder... The classic *beauf*, you know? Red-faced, with dark circles under his eyes and exhausted features, he looked like he’d just stepped off the plane, and despite the air conditioning, he was sweating buckets. He was walking alongside a Thai woman who was clearly much younger than him, quite pretty, well-dressed, and looking fresh. They exchanged a few words in some kind of Franglais mixed with Thai, then walked into a KFC.
That’s when I glanced at a mirror in the room and realized that this *mimile* about to eat hormone-laden chicken with his girlfriend was... me.
Brilliant😄😄😄
Y'en a pas un sur cent et pourtant ils existent. Leo Ferre
My turn! One day in Bangkok, I saw in a shopping mall one of those typical Western tourists from back home—balding at fifty to hide his receding hairline, wearing a checkered shirt that looked like a kitchen towel, baggy shorts, dusty Crocs, and a big camera slung over his shoulder... The classic "beauf," as we say. Red-faced, with dark circles under his eyes and exhausted features, he looked like he’d just stepped off the plane, and despite the air conditioning, he was sweating buckets. He was walking alongside a Thai woman who was clearly much younger, quite pretty, well-dressed, and looking fresh. They exchanged a few words in some kind of Franglais mixed with Thai before heading into a KFC.
That’s when I glanced at a mirror in the room and realized that this guy—about to eat hormone-laden chicken with his companion—was me.
Thanks for giving me a laugh.....
You’ll find "mimiles" like that everywhere—and sometimes, you *are* one for others.
Staying humble... a rare and valuable quality.
L'éternité c'est très long....surtout vers la fin (Woody Allen)
We really need to stop putting ourselves down—we’re on a completely different level compared to so many millions of tourists in Thailand.
I’ve got a long list of people I can’t stand: Chinese tour groups, pretentious wealthy retirees who’ve taken over Koh Samui and driven up prices, guys from the 93 department acting rowdy with their knockoff brands, dreadlocked tattooed backpackers in "adventure mode" like they’re on *Koh-Lanta* (the French *Survivor*), the vulgarity of many Russians and new-money Eastern Europeans, and plenty of others.
I actually don’t mind French tour groups or young Chinese families traveling independently—they explore Thailand with such wonder.
Luckily, I know exactly where to go to avoid all that most of the time. There’s still space, and honestly, I’m surrounded by way more idiots back in France. Yeah, I’ve got to earn a living, and I feel bad for the Thais who have to work with these awful groups.
It’s true—I miss the 70s and 80s, when you had the backpackers on one side and the party crowd on the other, with just a few connections between them, and when Thais hadn’t yet figured out all the tricks of tourism.
It's even worse if it were just working-class travelers... Thailand is the favorite destination of both the rough crowd from the projects AND men greedy for sex.
I’d rather go to Malaysia a thousand times over.
Cleaner country and more respectable.
It’s even worse if it were just the proles... Thailand is the favorite destination for both the scumbags from the projects AND men greedy for sex.
and
I’ve got plenty more under my belt that I can’t stand—like the groups of Chinese tourists, the pretentious rich retirees who’ve invaded Koh Samui and driven up prices, the guys from the 93 (Seine-Saint-Denis) showing off with their knockoff brands, the tattooed dreadlocked types in "adventure mode" like they’re on Koh-Lanta (TF1), the vulgarity of many Russians and the nouveau riche from Eastern Europe, and so many others.
Between the two of you, you’ve named 90% of the tourists in Thailand. LOL
You go to Thailand, which is in the top 10 global tourist destinations, and then you complain about some of the downsides... It’s a bit like wanting to spend two weeks in Saint-Tropez, heading to Pampelonne Beach, and hoping that the first tourist you see will be thirty meters away from your towel... A little utopian, don’t you think?
Back in the 80s or 90s, the only info we could get about a destination came from travel agents or friends who’d been there, or maybe from articles in the press. But here we are in the 21st century... GOOGLE is your friend... 😉 A quick search would’ve pointed you to all kinds of websites— and probably this forum too (though it’s not the only one). And then—MIRACLE—you’d have had an almost endless source of tips, personal experiences, and honest opinions, good or bad. Travel journals filled with amazing photos and videos. And if you still wanted more, you could’ve checked out YouTube, Dailymotion, or Vimeo to get a better idea of the country. As for your hotel, same thing—just take a look at TRIPADVISOR or other booking sites to read reviews from travelers who’ve stayed there. And for those who don’t speak English, there are online translators, complete with photos from other tourists. You can’t say that some of Thailand’s beach resorts haven’t been shown inside and out for their excesses and "folklore" on TF1 and M6. You must’ve seen at least one of the many reports on those channels!! So, you were warned...
But despite all that, you still go... It’s almost like masochism at this point.
But if Thailand is a destination for "working-class" travelers, "posers," or "country bumpkins on a spree," why not choose other equally exotic and beautiful destinations? Like some of the Caribbean islands, the Seychelles, Zanzibar, Rodrigues, New Caledonia, or French Polynesia... and I’m sure I’m forgetting plenty. But WARNING—we’re not talking about the same budget here. In Thailand, you can get a package for around 1500 to 2500 € for 12-15 days, including flights, transfers, and a hotel with breakfast. For these other destinations, you’ll need to budget *a lot* more... Cut back on restaurants or movies, dip into your savings plan, seriously slim down your "squirrel fund," or sell a Bitcoin or two 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️... And then, *sure*, you’ll only meet the *best* tourists—the crème de la crème... the absolute *nec plus ultra* of travelers 😎😎😎😎... And if you still have complaints then, you’ve got a real problem and should probably see a doctor before your next trip . Or just head to the middle of nowhere in Lozère... peace and quiet, but say goodbye to the sea and the hustle and bustle...
Now, I can’t help but wonder—aren’t *you* a bit of a BEAUF too? Just a different kind from the ones you were ripping into earlier...
PS: For those complaining that some Thai 5-star hotels are only as good as European 3-stars:
There are no global standards in the hotel industry, so each country sets its own criteria for earning stars.
Alright, we can stash this message away and reuse it copy-paste style the next time the same question comes up. 😉
Besides, isn’t the question kind of missing the point of what we’re really after—having a great vacation and making good memories? All the later analysis of different considerations and the sometimes heated discussions they spark don’t really add much to that, in the end.
« 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
You’re heading to Thailand, which is in the top 10 global tourist destinations, and you’re complaining about certain inconveniences... It’s a bit like wanting to spend two weeks in Saint-Tropez, going for a swim at Pampelonne Beach, and hoping the first tourist will only be thirty meters away from your towel... 😇 A little utopian, don’t you think?
Back in the 80s-90s, the only info we could get about a destination came from travel agents or friends who’d been there, or through press articles. But here we are in the 21st century... GOOGLE is your friend... 😉 A quick search would’ve redirected you to all sorts of sites—😏 and probably to this forum (which isn’t the only one, by the way). And then, MIRACLE... you’d have had an almost endless source of info, experiences, and good or bad impressions. Travel journals with amazing photos or videos. And if you still wanted to see more about your destination, you had YouTube, Dailymotion, or Vimeo to help you get a better idea of the country. As for your hotel, same thing... a quick look at TRIP ADVISOR or other booking sites to read reviews from travelers who’d stayed there. And for those who don’t speak English, there are online translators, complete with photos from those same tourists. You can’t say that certain Thai beach resorts haven’t been shown inside and out for their excesses and "folklore" on TF1 and M6. You must’ve seen at least one of the many reports that aired on those channels!! So, you were warned...
But despite that, you still go... It’d almost be "masochistic" if it didn’t surprise me.
But if Thailand is a destination for "budget travelers," "middle-class tourists," or "country bumpkins on a spree," why not choose other equally exotic and beautiful destinations? Like some Caribbean islands, the Seychelles, Zanzibar, Rodrigues, New Caledonia, or French Polynesia... and I’m sure I’m forgetting plenty. But WARNING, we’re no longer in the same budget range—Thailand in economy mode averages 1500 to 2500 € for 12-15 days, including flights, transfers, and a hotel with breakfast. Nope, you’ll have to budget more... a lot more... cut back on restaurants or movies, dip into your savings plan, put your "squirrel fund" on a serious diet, or sell one or two bitcoins 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️... And then, for sure, you’ll only meet top-tier tourists... the crème de la crème... the "nec plus ultra" of tourists 😎😎😎😎... And if you still have complaints then, you’ve really got a problem and should see a doctor before traveling again 🤪. Or go to the middle of nowhere in Lozère... quiet, but say goodbye to the sea and the sun...
And now, I’m starting to wonder if you’re not a bit of a "BEAUF" yourself? Sure, different from the ones you DESTROYED earlier... 🤪🤪🤪🤪
PS: For those who complained that some Thai 5-star hotels are only worth a European 3-star:
There are no global standards in hospitality, so each country sets its own criteria for star ratings.
Small correction, my friend—I’m not going on vacation to Thailand; I’ve lived here for over 20 years, which is why I can observe the change in tourists 😏.
Google isn’t my friend, and TripAdvisor is the ultimate site for manipulating "middle-class tourists," so I skip it when I travel.
And as you explained, Thailand’s appeal for those tourists is mostly about cost. But in French Polynesia or the Caribbean, the "Tuches" (as Fabric would say) aren’t in short supply either 😏.
A Thai 5-star hotel for 100 € a night? You’d really have to be a "middle-class tourist" to believe that 😏😏.
Y'en a pas un sur cent et pourtant ils existent. Leo Ferre
If you live in Thailand, you should know you can live in a parallel world to tourism—very close but without ever encountering a tourist.
For sites like TripAdvisor, Booking, etc., either you use them at face value and you're part of the basic tourist flow, or you use them intelligently with cross-checking, and they become a powerful tool.
Five-star hotels do exist—you can check the rates at the Oriental, for example—but for less than 100 €, even around 80 € these days, you get a certain level of comfort, gadgets like a sauna, an infinity pool on a high floor, room service, and plenty of staff at your disposal for the price of an Ibis or Campanile. It’s always a headache to find a well-located hotel in Paris that fits a middle-class budget with decent amenities in every area.
Having worked in tourism or related fields for 40 years, I still find it fun and such a massive business these days—so much money circulating and evolving faster and faster. Models that were valid five years ago are no longer relevant.
When you really compare it to nearby countries with similar cultural offerings like India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and now Myanmar, you understand Thailand’s appeal—and its flaws too.
- So if you’ve been living in Thailand for 20 years, I believe you when you say it’s changed and evolved... Normal, hasn’t Europe changed too? However, what I don’t understand about you is this persistence in staying in a nest full of BOZOS!!! I assume you’ve traveled the country far and wide, and despite that, you stay put... a bit like a limpet clinging to its rock. So, I can only conclude that if you’ve been here for 20 years and don’t want to change locations, you’re either a wealthy retiree or you’ve built your own business that allows you—and still allows you—to live comfortably in this country. And if that’s the case, the KARENS, BOZOS, etc., must have given—and continue to give—you their "dough," so to speak... So a little respect on your part for those people wouldn’t hurt.
- GOOGLE or other search engines aren’t your friends... surprising for a traveler like you, who’s been living here for 20 years . You’ll have to explain how you prepared for your trip to Polynesia, as you claim... TripAdvisor may manipulate travelers or not, but through posted photos, you can get an idea of the location and, above all, compare them with the hotel’s official photos. By the way, they’ve been fined for that.
- One example among many... Do you know Mustique Island in the Caribbean?? I assume you do, since you seem to be a HIGH-END traveler... you can’t seriously claim you find crowds of "low-cost" tourists there like in Siam. The same goes for Polynesia...
Stop trolling... And all things considered, if Siam no longer suits you... go back to Belgium to enjoy its climate, its turquoise-water beaches, its mussels-and-fries cones, and the sweet life in this wonderful Europe... 😉😉😉😉😉
Hey,
Who’s talking about low-cost or high-end tourists here?
We’re talking about the *mimiles*—it’s not the same thing at all.
Trump, a billionaire, is a perfect example of a real *mimile* .
Google isn’t my friend—it’s just a tool. My real friends have two arms and two legs .
There was a time when I’d get excited when tourist season rolled around. I’d meet so many interesting people. Now, I barely meet anyone I actually want to connect with.
Y'en a pas un sur cent et pourtant ils existent. Leo Ferre
Hey
Who’s talking about low-cost or high-end tourists?
Here, we’re talking about the "mimiles"—it’s not the same thing at all.
Trump, a billionaire, is a perfect example of a real "mimile"
Google isn’t my friend; it’s a computer tool. My friends have two arms and two legs
There was a time when I was happy when tourist season arrived—I’d meet lots of interesting people. Now, I barely meet anyone I feel like sharing anything with.
Two arms and two legs—that’s very Thai. I’d add a head to that.
Hardly anyone left I feel like sharing with anymore: same here, I’ve turned into a grumpy old man
The Oriental isn’t really part of what I’d call new establishments suited to the new wave of digital nomads! Plus, I don’t see any rooms for under 500 €.
Not really anyone left I feel like sharing with: same here, I’ve turned into a grumpy old man
I thought that too for a while 😏, but I still travel, and the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia (except Bali), India, and some other destinations still bring me great encounters 😏
Two arms, two legs—that’s great for Thai massages. I’d add a head to that
😄😄
Y'en a pas un sur cent et pourtant ils existent. Leo Ferre
For a few years now, it's become obvious that tourists in Thailand are increasingly "mimile"—I see it every day.
The problem is that Thais know how to adapt and are offering more and more things that appeal to this kind of clientele. That’s why we’re seeing more and more pizzerias and burger joints... The hotel industry is also happily slapping 5-star ratings on places that barely deserve 3 by European standards, and this "prolo" crowd is over the moon, believing it!
In short, travelers looking to discover other civilizations and cultures are likely to be nothing but disappointed.
Hi,
We often go to Chiang Khan, Loei—mostly for administrative reasons.
So, a small town that once wavered between becoming the Pattaya of the Mekong River (fun for Thais and gambling just a paddle away).
A different positioning was decided. It’ll be vintage: plywood 7/11s, Isaan scarves, for the hipster high-society crowd from Bangkok, and bicycles.
It’s a huge hit.
When we arrive in our smoky clothes from our *amphor*, we’re the Thai *mimiles*.
I like it. I sneak winks at the well-to-do girls in real Ray-Bans, here to snap a few selfies in the far northeast.
That’s exactly what earns my respect about you. Goes to show...😮
« 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
You go to Thailand, which is in the top 10 global tourist destinations, and then you complain about certain inconveniences... It’s a bit like wanting to spend two weeks in Saint-Tropez, heading to Pampelonne Beach, and hoping that when you lay down your towel, the nearest tourist will be thirty meters away... 😇 A little utopian, don’t you think?
Back in the 80s-90s, the only info we could get about a destination came from travel agents or friends who’d been there, or through magazine articles.
But here we are in the 21st century... GOOGLE is your friend... 😉 A quick search would’ve redirected you to all sorts of sites—😏 and probably to this forum (which isn’t the only one, by the way). And then—MIRACLE—you’d have had an almost endless source of info, firsthand experiences, and honest opinions, good or bad. Travel journals filled with amazing photos and videos. And if you still wanted more, there was YouTube, Dailymotion, or Vimeo to help you get a better idea of the country. As for your hotel, same thing—just check TripAdvisor or other booking sites to read reviews from travelers who’ve stayed there. And for those who don’t speak English, there are online translators, complete with photos from other tourists. You can’t say that some of Thailand’s beach resorts haven’t been shown inside and out—including their excesses and "folklore"—on TF1 and M6. You must’ve seen at least one of the many reports that have aired on those channels!! So, you were warned...
But despite all that, you still go... It’s almost like masochism, if you ask me.
If Thailand is a destination for "working-class" travelers, "posers," or "country bumpkins on a spree," why not choose other equally exotic and beautiful destinations? Like some Caribbean islands, the Seychelles, Zanzibar, Rodrigues, New Caledonia, or French Polynesia... and I’m sure I’m forgetting plenty. But WARNING—we’re not talking about the same budget. In Thailand, the average cost for 12-15 days (including flights, transfers, and a hotel with breakfast) is around 1500 to 2500 €. For these other destinations, you’ll need to budget *a lot* more... Cut back on restaurants or movies, dip into your savings plan, seriously slim down your "nest egg," or sell a Bitcoin or two 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️... And then, *sure*, you’ll only meet the *best* tourists—the crème de la crème... the absolute pinnacle of travelers 😎😎😎😎... And if you still have complaints after that, you’ve got a real problem and should see a doctor before your next trip 🤪. Or just head to the middle of nowhere in Lozère... quiet, sure, but no sea or sunbathing...
Now, I can’t help but wonder—aren’t *you* a bit of a BEAUF too? Just a different kind from the ones you’ve been ripping into... 🤪🤪🤪🤪
PS: For those complaining that some Thai 5-star hotels are only as good as European 3-stars:
There are no global standards in hospitality, so each country sets its own criteria for star ratings.
Good evening, Christian!
I mostly agree with you. To me, "prolos" (working-class) are just people with less money, and terms like "mimiles," "beaufs," "pignoufs," whiners, clowns, etc., can apply to rich people or so-called rich people too...
Back in 2004, after the tsunami, many tourists avoided Thailand out of fear. Then there were a few coups—the "meanest" but necessary one, in my humble opinion, was in May 2010. The last one was in May 2014, and who knows when the next will be...
If tourism is booming in Thailand, it’s only because of the deals, the low prices, the huge variety, the excellent value for money, and—most importantly—the low crime rate.
(Not to mention that Chinese travelers now have an easier time getting there and have decent salaries!)
Unfortunately, things can change fast—a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, and *poof*—mass tourism moves somewhere else...
No need to be so negative or try to predict the future. Just raise flight and hotel prices, and... but why would decision-makers change a destination that’s so trendy? Why indeed?
As for hotels, like you said—sorry, *wrote*—don’t confuse real 5-star establishments or palaces with those that get stars handed out willy-nilly by booking sites...
In Bangkok, the "well-off" might go to the Mandarin Oriental out of nostalgia for its century-plus history, especially the original building that harks back to the "golden age" of Siam.
Others will choose even more luxurious, modern hotels—and trust me, there’s no shortage of those in Thailand.
Anyway, to each their own! Safe travels to everyone! 😎
" La Liberté, si elle est illimitée, conduit à son contraire, car si elle n'est pas protégée et restreinte par la Loi, la Liberté conduit nécessairement à la tyrannie du plus fort sur le plus faible " Karl Popper
You can debate for hours about hotel categories. Do 5-star hotels even really exist? There are the Shangri-La, Regent, Ramada, and many others. Back when I worked in the industry, there seemed to be a "4-star luxury" category. Who remembers the Regent Hotel in Hong Kong or the Dusit Thani in Bangkok in the '80s? Since then, the offering in Bangkok or Phuket has become impressive. When you look at the Booking.com map, it’s amazing—when you zoom in, hotels pop up everywhere. There are even hidden gems to find in Bangkok or down south in Phang Nga or Krabi.
It seems like at the start of high season, there’s still plenty of availability everywhere.
As for those devastating Chinese tour groups, you don’t see them as much—they must be packed into dorm-style hotels on the outskirts.
Hey Fabien!
We may agree or disagree, but the "minimum" basis of good manners when you want to do business is to say hello, goodbye, thank you...
That’s what I was taught since childhood, and it still serves me every day!
I’ve stayed in a few hotels, and the "mass" clientele doesn’t interest "5-star" hotels or real palaces for various reasons I won’t go into here.
As for the Chinese, I don’t know why there’s so much "racism" from French speakers on all these travel forums—they have just as much right as we do, come on...
Mass tourism clientele is often the same across all nationalities! I’ve seen "posh" people rush to beautiful buffets where everything was all-you-can-eat.
And believe me, some expat business owners would be thrilled to have more customers, but instead of trying to understand why we’re so different, people just keep criticizing.
The Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok is a beautiful hotel but still a tourist factory—a standardized "luxury" for the "uncultured" crowd. Depending on the season, when rooms are discounted, breakfast is still charged extra at 750 baht.
I’d rather drink and have my breakfast on the terrace of the Landmark and pay only 100 baht more than at a Starbucks!
Anyway, to each their own—I’m just sharing my opinion, and of course, with no "classification" 😉
Safe travels and happy adventures to everyone! 😎
Photos—no matter the place or the price of a meal, what matters most is knowing who you’re willing to share it with, and being able to adapt is a huge quality...
" La Liberté, si elle est illimitée, conduit à son contraire, car si elle n'est pas protégée et restreinte par la Loi, la Liberté conduit nécessairement à la tyrannie du plus fort sur le plus faible " Karl Popper
I'm not sure what you mean about politeness, but I find the welcome and service in Thailand pretty good—friendly and efficient.
I just did some solid research for hotels in BKK for my niece, who’s coming for a short stay so she can make the most of the hundred-plus exciting activities in Bangkok. I was blown away by the sheer number of hotels, prices, etc., catering to every type of traveler. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid areas with big groups of Chinese tourists (it can get pretty overwhelming), neighborhoods that are too Arab-influenced, too backpacker-heavy, or too party-focused. But with her budget, I had plenty of options—sometimes you pay less and it’s actually better.
Not being racist about the Chinese—I’m not a fan of the huge tour groups I only ever see along the Chao Phraya, but I’ve had great interactions with individual Chinese travelers, whether they’re young groups or families. I think they travel better than a lot of young Europeans who tend to stick together in their own little bubbles.
As for the groups of French travelers I run into, mostly around Chiang Mai, it seems like there are some local tour operators doing a great job—like Voyage en Inde with Vinay, for example.
I once had a friend who stayed at the Shangri-La. He wasn’t super impressed by the room size, but the balcony overlooking the Chao Phraya was amazing.
For breakfast, I’ve been doing the Asian thing for way too long (and no, I don’t mean the mall).
Regarding hotels, as you mentioned—sorry, wrote—you shouldn’t confuse real "5-star" establishments or palaces with those that are handed out willy-nilly by booking sites or others...
That’s definitely the issue. I don’t know who assigns the stars on booking sites. Tripadvisor is certainly the worst. In Koh Tao, for example, according to Tripadvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so you’d imagine you’d get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president—but no, the clientele in the reviews are amazed to have a phone in their room!?😕
Regarding hotels, as you mentioned—sorry, wrote—you shouldn’t confuse real "5-star" establishments or palaces with those that are handed out willy-nilly by booking sites or others...
That’s definitely the issue. I don’t know who assigns the stars on booking sites. Tripadvisor is certainly the worst. In Koh Tao, for example, according to Tripadvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so you’d imagine you’d get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president—but no, the clientele in the reviews are amazed to have a phone in their room!?😕
That’s what I meant by "tourists with no clue" on vacation. In Koh Tao, there’s a whole crowd like that—I’m thinking of the Jamahkiri, Villa d’El Sol (just the name alone, LOL), and plenty of others.
according to TripAdvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so we imagine we’ll get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president
That definition of romance is already kinda tacky itself...😇
According to TripAdvisor, the most romantic hotel in the world is "The Place," so we imagine we’ll get a room between two Hollywood stars or next to a president
That definition of romance is already kinda tacky itself... 😇
It’s not really a definition—he probably just meant that a globally top-ranked hotel *should* attract some celebrities, but apparently, it doesn’t.
Réflexions de voyageurs › Thaïlande / Birmanie · 120 replies
J'espère d'abord que je suis dans la bonne rubrique et qu'il y en à une ; j'espère que vous avez vu comme moi l'émission 66 minutes sur M.6. dimanche 12/11/06…
Suite aux quelques propos que j'ai pu échanger avec Thuan sur un autre topic et ne voulant pas flooder indéfiniment le topic d'un autre membre, je crée ce…
Ceux qui decouvrent la Thailande aujourd'hui en reviennent emerveilles..Ceux qui l'ont connus dans les annees 80 et 90 a l'epoque ou le portable et internet…
Je reviens de mon voyage en Asie et je suis passé par la Thailande et je dois vous faire part de mon choc. Je trouve l'attitude des occidentaux complètement…
Réflexions de voyageurs › Thaïlande / Inde · 35 replies
Avec les voyageurs que je rencontre en Inde, qu'ils arrivent de Thailande ou qu'ils s't rendent, nous ne pouvons nous empecher de faires des remarques a propos…
bonjour à tous les voyageurs qui ont les yeux grand ouverts sur le désert ...
je me suis toujours demandé ce que je "foutais" sur la terre. Et pourquoi mon père, mort quelques mois après ma naissance, ancien plus jeune résistant français, avait rejoint la Première Compagnie Sahariene motorisée d'Atar, et passé le reste de sa vie à réparer des moteurs de l'armée, en Algérie, en Mauritanie, au Sénégal, au Mali (qui n'existait pas sous ce nom), au Maroc et pour finir en Algérie où ma mère est née et a grandi. (croyez moi c 'est pas "cool" d'être enfant de militaire en pays occupé par la France et encore moins enfant de "pied noir").
Bien sûr, je n'ai jamais eu de réponse : les morts ne parlent pas, et l'armée ne parle pas.
Seulement, voilà, j'avais des photos...
Alors forcément, un jour j'ai pris la route. Je voulais voir, comprendre.
C'est grâce à VF que j 'ai pu me documenter, un peu, sur le passage de la frontière Maroc Mauritanie et j'en remercie ses membres, tout comme je remercie toutes celles et tous ceux qui m'ont accueillie, pendant 14 ans, sur la route.
Depuis quelques semaines, je me demande si je dois en parler ou pas..
Il se fait que les Mauritaniens ont transformé ma vie en me demandant de l'aide... Et cela, dès le mois de février 2012... (avais je une dette envers eux ? Question sans réponse)
Ah ah. La belle affaire, ils m'avaient vu venir. Mais quand on vous met des enfants malades dans les bras, en vous suppliant de faire quelque chose, qu'auriez vous fait ? J'avais travaillé dans un hôpital, je connaissais un peu les règles à suivre. Je ne me suis pas posé de question.
Et bien, toutes ces années J'ai rencontré des médecins, des chirurgiens, et ensemble, nous avons organisé des prises en charge, des évacuations d'enfant, des formations de chirurgiens, jusqu'à tenter de ne plus faire voyager les enfants hors de leur pays, et cela n'a jamais été simple. J'en profite pour remercier celles et ceux qui nous ont soutenus ainsi que la Chaine de l'Espoir, la Fondation Face au Monde et toutes celles et ceux qui ont tissé des liens entre nos deux pays.
Malheureusement, et malgré les efforts permanents des médecins et chirurgiens mauritaniens, certains enfants n'ont pas pu être pris en charge à temps. Aujourd'hui je voudrais parler de quatre frères et soeurs, orphelins de mère, atteints d'un glaucome congénital provoquant une cécité irréversible. Leur cas m'a été confié en 2020 quelques semaines avant le grand confinement. Nous n'avons rien pu faire pour eux alors, quand leur père m'a demandé un cadeau, je me suis jetée sur mon ordinateur et j'ai écrit une histoire.
A travers un conte, les enfants vont réaliser un grand voyage, explorer leur pays, réaliser un rêve. Jamais je ne pensais que ce livre serait publié, il l'a été, en 2023.
Ce livre rend hommage à la Mauritanie, il est un message pour celles et ceux qui ne se conaissent rien des difficultés de la vie là bas, il porte la dureté et la beauté d'un désert immense où il est possible de se ballader en 4X4, à vélo, à pied, à dos de dromadaire, en toute sécurité, il témoigne de la bienveillance des Mauritaniens pour le voyageur.
En tant que femme seule avec mon véhicule, un vieux Mercedes au chassis maintenant pourri et qui ne roule plus, j'y ai fait les plus belles rencontres de ma vie (j'ai vu d'autres coins du monde...).. Les enfants aveugles de Choum, d'Atar, de Nouadhibou et de Nouakchott sont à jamais dans mon coeur.
Des lectrices bénévoles ont transcrit le livre en versio audio gratuite pour les malvoyants, il est disponible dans les bibliothèques sonores de France, de la Fondation Valentin Hauy, dans la bibliothèque suisse romande.
J'ai effectué mon dernier voyage en Mauritanie avec mon vieux 4X4 afin d'offrir le livre un peu partout et surtout à ses héros et à l'école des malvoyants de Nouakchott.
Ensuite, j'ai pensé que la page devait se refermer parce que je n'ai plus ni les moyens ni la force de voyager.
Mes éditrices avaient choisi de lui donner ce titre : les yeux bleus du désert.
Cette publication a permis à une mission d'ophtalmologues bénévoles suisses de venir opérer les glaucomes en Mauritanie. Je m'en réjouis car chaque année, ils reviennent !
Cette aventure se termine, oui, car il faut une fin à tout, mais au final, elle est née ici, dans le site de VF !! Alors oui, il fallait que je le dise : MERCI !!!!!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
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
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
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?
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