Novembre - Décembre 2008
De Hong Kong au Vietnam et retour
Aller
Jour 1 : bateau de Hong Kong à 8h30 pour le port de San Bu 200$HK avec transfert en bus jusqu'à Kaiping. Trajet total 5 heures environ. Hotel Guangshi single 100Y Recommandé
Jour 2 et jour 3 : voir mon message - Kaiping (Guangdong - Chine) Des infos pratiques
Jour 4 : bus de 7h45 pour Zhanjiang 95Y; trajet 5 heures; hotel Hua Nan à droite dans l'avenue en face de la gare 150Y (marchandé depuis 288Y) Recommandé. Bon restaurant dans l'hotel de l'autre coté de l'avenue.
Jour 5 : train de 7h52 pour Nanning 32Y; trajet 6 heures; hotel Ying Bin, en face de la gare, 75Y bien mais plomberie et odeurs !! restaurant bon et pas cher, style cantine self-service, à coté sur le même trottoir.
Jour 6 : excursion à Yangmei en bus; point de départ à 500M à gauche en sortant de l'hotel dans un parking pres du coin de l'avenue qui passe devant la gare; attente 45' ! 10Y; trajet 1h25; droit d'entrée au village 10Y; bof casse pas trois pattes à un canard même laqué
Jour 7 : train de 8h00 pour Ningming; 19Y; trajet 2h40; de la gare bus numéro 2 pour la gare des bus 1Y; hotel Mingdu 100Y bien (la gare des bus est fermée la nuit mais coups de klaxon des le matin )
Jour 8 : excursion à Huashan. Bus numéro 2 pour la gare puis moto-taxi collectif pour le village de Huashan prix normal 5Y ou 10Y (pas évident de savoir) j'étais seul, le mec m'a demandé 30Y je lui ai donné 20Y il avait l'air "heureux" avec cela. Prix du bateau pour aller jusqu'aux peintures murales 80Y si le groupe est de 5 ou 6 personnes, j'étais avec un couple de Chinois et on a payé 115Y chacun; seul c'est 200Y mais rien que les 2 heures aller-retour sont une pure merveille qui n'a pas de prix. Les peintures s'apprécient de loin uniquement (chutes de pierres !?)
Jour 9 : bus pour Pingyiang 9Y; trajet 1 heure environ; puis taxi partagé en trois 10Y chacun jusqu'a la frontiere; nouveau taxi partagé a 2 pour 2US$ chacun pour Lang Son (Vietnam)
retour
Jour 1 : train de 5h35 de la gare de Long Bien (Hanoi); arrivée à Dong Dang vers 11h45 - beaux paysages sur la gauche; taxi pour la frontière à 3, 7 Km 29.000 d.; taxi pour Pingxiang 30y; train de 14h45 17Y pour arrivée à Nanning vers 18h30; hotel Ying Bin, en face de la gare, 75Y
Jour 2 : bus local N°6 pour la gare des bus de Langdong 2Y 40' de trajet; bus 115Y pour Zhanjiang 4h15 de trajet; hotel Nua Han à droite dans l'avenue en face de la gare 150Y (marchandé depuis 288Y) Recommandé. Bon restaurant dans l'hotel Mirama de l'autre coté de l'avenue.
Jour 3 : bus de 13h25 (le bus de 9h50 "has traffic accident") 75Y pour Kaiping trajet 6h; Hotel Guangshi single 100Y Recommandé
Jour 4 : séjour à Kaiping
jour 5 : bus de 7h30 pour le port de Zhongshan; jetfoil pour Hong Kong; trajet total environ 5h 170Y; bus A21 33HK$ pour l'aéroort trajet 1h
Octobre-novembre-décembre 2007 - Chine
Mes deux mois entre beauté embrumée et tintamarre enfumé.
Itinéraire : Shanghai (2185Km) Lanzhou (Bingling Si) (348Km)Tianshui (Maijishan) (328Km) Xian (123Km) Huashan (420Km) Pingyao (108Km) Taiyuan (Jinci Si) (?Km) Taihuai (Wuthaishan) 5?Km) Datong (Yungang Sikku) (359Km) Beijing (Jinshanling-Simatai) (689Km) Zhenzhou (Longmen Sikku, Shaolin et Kaifeng) (697Km) Nanjing (?Km) Jiuahuashan (?Km) Tangkou (Huangshan-Hongkun-Xidi) (?Km) Hangzhou (Shaoxing) (197Km) Shanghai (Suzhou).
Lu 8/10/2007 : départ à 14h de Bruxelles via Londres pour Shanghai avec British Airways (599 Euro)
Ma 9/10 : arrivée à Shanghai à 10h15. Bus navette N°5 16Y une bonne heure de trajet + 15' à pied pour rejoindre la Mingtown Etour Y.H. Single 160Y (=16Euro) avec douche/wc commun à deux chambres et air co.
Me 10/10 et Je 11/10 : séjour à Shanghai.
Ve 12/10 : train de nuit de 16h32 pour Tianshui 355Y + 30Y booking. Trajet à pied et en métro jusqu'à la gare 40'
Sa 13/10 : (passage à Xian 8h05) prolongation du ticket jusqu'à Lanzhou + 106Y (!!) et arrivée vers 15h. Hotel Lanshan (à droite à l'entrée de l'avenue face à la gare) 98Y "matelas" très dur, sdb innondable et bruits d'ambiance.
Di 14/10 : cf détails dans mon message Bingling Si, un pas vers le nirvana
Lu 15/10 : train de 9h56 49Y pour Tianshui arrivée à 14h05. Hôtel Tielu Zhaodaisuo à droite en sortant de la gare. Single 116Y très correcte mais ... sirènes de train toute la nuit.
Ma 16/10 : cf détails dans mon message Maijishan, second pas vers le nirvana (Chine)
Me 17/10 : train pour Xian 25Y trajet 5h paysages grandioses. Xian Bell Tower Y.H. 180Y très belle chambre mais très bruyant dedans comme dehors (à l'arrière c'est un parking de cars et l'immeuble voisin est en travaux même la nuit)
Je 18/10 au Di 21/10 : séjour à Xian
Lu 22/10 et Ma 23/10 : cf détails dans mon message La face nord du Huashan en "solitaire" (Chine)
Me 24/10 : taxi pour la gare de "Huashan" 20Y 30' de trajet. Train pour Pingyao 31Y 7h de trajet. Yamen Hostel (1/4h pied de la gare) à 120Y enfin une chambre calme (je n'ai pas de voisins !)
Je 25/10 au Di 28/10 : séjour à Pingyao
Lu 29/10 : bus (la gare des bus est à 1/4h à pied pres de la porte Nord) pour Taiyuan 25Y trajet 2h. De la gare des bus du Sud de Taiyuan bus 611 pour la gare ferroviaire à 3km. Hotel Tielu à 100m à gauche dans l'avenue en face de la gare single 120Y matelas épais comme une feuille de papier et fond sonore divers inclus. Visite du Jinci Si entrée 70Y bus 804 de l'autre coté de l'avenue 2, 5Y trajet 1h.
Ma 30/10 : séjour à Tayuan visite des pagodes jumelles du Shuangta Si entrée 20Y.
Me 31/10 : bus 615 (à droite en sortant de la gare) pour rejoindre la gare des bus de l'Est. Bus de 9h45 pour Taihuai (Wuthaishan) 56Y trajet 5h dont les 2 dernières en camionette, paysages assez époustouflants. Droit d'entrée sur le site 160Y !! (les monastères demandent un droit d'entrée supplémentaire !! mais de l'ordre de 2 a 5Y) New Certury (sic) Guesthouse single 100Y assez correct et relativement calme.
Je 1/11 : séjour au Wuthaishan
Ve 2/11 : bus de 9h pour Datong 62Y 3h45 de trajet, route très, très spectaculaire.
Sa 3/11 : cf détails dans mon message Yungang Shiku, à deux doigts du nirvana. Informations pratiques
Di 4/11 : train de 8h50 pour Beijing 46Y fin de trajet spectaculaire. Single (en fait une très grande chambre avec 2 lits) Stayokay Y.H. 100Y sans sdb et pas mal de bruit, les murs sont en carton/platre !
Lu 5/11 au Di 11/11 séjour à Beijing. Deux points forts la balade sur la Grande Muraille entre Jinshanling et Simatai (160Y pour les frais de transport avec déjeuner inclus 6h de trajet aller/retour + 95Y de frais d'entrée sur les sites) et la Citée Interdite (40Y de droit d'entrée + 10Y pour le musée des horloges, un must).
Lu 12/11 : train T15 de 11h00 pour Zhengzhou 94Y 6h30 de trajet insipide. Hotel Jiajia Convenient dans la rue à droite en sortant de la gare. Single 100Y côte rue mais au 8ème étage et avec deux portes (enfin) donnant vers le couloir.
Ma 13/11 au Di 18/11 séjour à Zengzhou et excursion à Longmen via Luoyang (train 15Y 2h (retard de 30'!!) de trajet + bus sur le côté gauche en sortant de la gare une petite heure de trajet entrée 80Y, excursion à Shaolin devenu un vrai spot touristique !, musée de Zhengzhou, excursion à Kaifeng (bus 7Y (!! une vrai navette, il n'y a pas de train entre 7h15 et 12h30 !!) 1h30 de trajet) sans grand intérêt.
Lu 19/11 : train CRH (leur TGV mais vitesse maxi 206Km/h) D85 pour Nanjing 205Y 4h30 de trajet (pour 700Km) insipide.
Ma 20/11 et Me 21/11 : séjour à Nanjing
Je 22/11 : cf mon message Chine: Jiuhuashan, "too close to heaven", informations pratiques Ve 23/11 et Sa 24/11 : séjour à Jiuhuashan
Di 25/11 : bus de 14h30 pour Tangkou hôtel sans nom en caractère latin à 50m du restaurant de Mr Hu (merci Mr Hu pour toute votre aide) 100Y calme, je suis le seul client mais chiens errants dans la rue !
Lu 26/11 : temps bouché
Ma 27/11 : montée au Huangshan (entrée 200Y) bus 14Y et téléphérique 130Y A/R Pas de mots, grandiose, le sommet du voyage.
Me 28/11 : excursion à Hongkun et à Xidi 200Y (transport et entrées)
Je 29/11 : bus de 7h00 pour Hangzhou 80Y trajet 4h Mingtown Y.H. 120Y chambre à prix promotionnel (y'a pas de chauffage d'où l'expression "prix promotionel" !)
Ve 30/11 : séjour à Hangzhou changement de chambre 185Y bien mieux car avec chauffage mais bruit de poubelles à 6h du mat (nothing perfect)
Sa 1/12 : excursion à Shaoxing train 19Y par trajet durée 1h
Di 2/12 et Lu 3/12 : séjour à Hangzhou
Ma 4/12 : train T770 de 12h02 depuis la gare de l'Est (trajet en bus jusqu'à la gare de plus de 3/4h!) pour Shanghai environ 50Y 2h de trajet.
Me 5/12 au Di 9/12 : séjour à Shanghai Mingtown Etour Y.H. Single 160Y avec douche/wc commun à deux chambres et air co et excursion à Suzhou en bus 38Y aller et 26Y retour (!) trajet 1h30.
Lu 10/12 : taxi (n'essayez pas de prendre le métro à 8h du matin, même tout nu et enduit d'huile -si, si j'ai essayé - c'est pratiquement mission impossible) pour l'aéroport de Pudong 152Y et une heure à tombeau ouvert. Retour au bercail via Londres où la sécurité de sa Gracieuse Majesté a cru bon de me confisquer mon "ombrella" ramenée du Musée de Shanghai - sécurité oblige - seule véritable fausse note de ce voyage où en 63 jours je n'ai vu tomber la pluie qu'à 5 reprises. Budget moyen des hôtels : 127Y la nuit. Budget sur place environ 300Y par jour. Les droits d'entrée "culturels" sont nombreux et relativement élevés (rapide calcul : plus de 6.000Y en deux mois !!) 10Y = 1 Euro.
Plus de renseignements sur demande.
Septembre-Octobre 2003 - Chine
Mes 6 semaines de voyage au pays des portes qui claquent ou in the "land of a thousand noises"
Ma 2/09 : départ à 15h45 de Bruxelles via Londres pour Hong Kong avec Cathay Pacific (548 Euro)
Me 3/09 : arrivée à HK à 13h40 après le passage d'un typhon. Hôtel Man Hing Lung** dans Mirador Arcades. Single 150 HK$ (1HK$=1Y=1Patacas=0, 10Euro) avec douche et air co.
Je 4/09, Ve 5/09 et Sa 6/09 : séjour à HK ** (Repulse Bay***, HK Park***, Waterfront day and night***). Bons restos chinois dans Canton road + resto indien (Branto) dans Lock road.
Di 6/09 : 7h30 bateau (198HK$) pour Canton. Trajet 2h.. Youth Hôtel**, 150Y belle chambre evec sdb et air co
Lu 7/09 : séjour à Canton°°°. Vision apocalyptique entre les 2 gares de bus et la gare ferroviaire avec le vacarme au sol + les avions passant à 100 metres par-dessus tout ça!
Ma 8/09 : bus (90Y) de 10h30 pour Wuzhou°. heures de voyage.Hôtel Jin Shan*, 48Y ch avec sdb et ventilo.
Me 9/09 : bus (80Y) de 8h40 pour Yangshuo**. xh deTrajet.. Hôtel California**, 20Y sans sdb avec ventilo.
Je 11/09, Ve 12/09 et Sa 13/09 : balades à vélo et en bateau dans la campagne envirronante *****
Di 14/09 : mini van pour "touristes" (60Y) de 7h30 pour Ping'an****. 3h30 de trajet. Hôtel Countryside *, 40Y (avec commision mais possible 20Y prix normal) sans sdb.
Lu 15/09 : bus (6, 5Y) de 9h15 pour Longshen + bus (10Y) pour Sanjiang°. 3h30 de trajet. Hôtel Departement store* 20Y avec sdb et ventilo. Bus (3, 5Y) pour Chengyan (pont**). 40' de trajet.
Ma 16/09 : bus (18Y) de 6h55 pour Zahoxing***.h30 de trajet, route ***, hôtel Country Inn*, 20Y sans sdb
Me 17/09 : bus (20Y) de 11h30-12h00 pour Liping°°, hôtel° sans nom derrière le coin par rapport à la bus station, 15Y sans sdb
Je 18/09 : bus (62Y) de 9h00pour Kaili°, hôtel Petroleum (sic)**, 56Y avec sdb et ventilo
Ve 19/09, Sa 20/09 et Di 21/09 : excursion en bus dans les villagesdes environs (Chong'an*, Langde**, village à 5km de Langde***, sur la route marché de village très coloré, ...)
Lu 22/09 : train (16Y) de 11h30 pour Zhenyuan**, 1h20 de trajet. Hôtel Lerong* (15' �� pied de la gare) 50Y avec sdb et air co
Ma 23/09 : balade à pied dans la campagne***
Me 24/09 : train (42Y) de 11h35 pour Guiyang. Environ 5h de trajet. Hôtel Mingzhu* 70Y avec sdb et air co
Je 25/09 : séjour à Guiyang** (et oui "ville" chinoise avec un côté ville : très belle gare moderne, église de 1874, bords de rivière marchés, parcs, ... on est loin de l'avis très critique d'un guide de voyage concurrent !). Le soir train-couchette (116Y) de 19h30 pour Chongqing.
Ve 26/09 : arrivée à Chongqing à 6h00. Bus (35Y) de 6h30 pour Dazu*. 2h30 de trajet. Hôtel Nan Qiao Lu She° en face de la gare des bus, 30Y sans sdb (sanitaires douteux). Visite de Bei Shan*** à 40' à pied de l'hôtel.
Sa Sa 27/09 : visite de Baoding Shan****. Bus 4Y d'une autre bus station. trajet 1h
Di 28/09 : bus (62, 5Y) de 8h55 d'encore une autre bus station pour Chengdu. Trajet environ 4h. Hôtel Traffic* chambre-cellule sombre mais propre 40 y sans sdb avec ventilo.
Lu 29/09 : séjour à Chengdu°
Ma 30/09 : bus (36Y) de 9h30 pour Leshan° trajet environ 2h30 hôtel Taoyuan* 50Y sans sdb avec ventilo et bruits de travaux même la nuit ! Visite du grand bouddha **** et du "parc" à bouddhas*
Me 1/10 : bus (11Y) pour Emei trajet 1h puis 2 bus ! pour rejoindre Baoding. "International Teddy Bear Hotel" (sic)* ch sans sdb avec ventilo. Le café est mieux.
Je 2/10 et Ve 3/10 : balades dans le Emeishan*** mais pas jusqu'au sommet car perpétuellemnent dans la brume, d'où ... frustrations. Visite des temples Wannian**, Fuhu**, Baoguo et Shenshui***
Sa 4/10 : bus (35Y) pour Chengdu 3h de trajet Re-hôtel Traffic ch avec fenêtre mais sans sdb 50Y**
Di 5/10, Lu 6/10 et ma 7/10 : séjour à Chengdu. Pandas° (autant aller les voir dans un zoo près d'chez vous) temple Wenshu** et Xindu** (trajet en bus 1h + rickshaw)
Me 8/10 : avion (1.150Y) de 11h pour Guangzhou. Trajet 1h50) Bus (55Y) de l'aéroport pour Zuhai. Trajet 2h30 environ. Traversée de la "frontière" et ... Macao*** Enfin une ville "chinoise" qui a su préserver un peu de son patrimoine urbain mais pour combien de temps encore. Pensao Nam In** 130 patacas avec sdb et air co.
Je 9/10 et Ve 10/10 : séjour à Macao. Quartier près du cimetière St Michel avec quelques vieux immeubles de l'entre-deux-guerres**, Taipa, temple Pak Tai***, Coloane, temple Tam Kung***
Sa 11/10 : bateau (123Patacas) de 10h30 pour HK 1h15 de trajet
Di 12/10, Lu 13/10 et Ma 14/10 : séjour à HK. Cheung Chau***. Victoria peak** (en bus N°15, 10, 20HK$)
Me 15/10 : retour à Bruxelles via Londres
° = médiocre, °° = très médiocre, °°° plus que très médiocre, * = passable, ** = bien, *** = très bien
🙂 Alors là UN GRAND MERCI !!!!!je mets tout cela de coté pour je l'espère un proche voyage dans ce pays que nous avons beaucoup aimé par 2 fois déjà .ce travail est une mine pour préparer un circuit
Joyeuses fêtes et une année 2009 avec encore un beau circuit (et de beaux rêves ) à nous faire partager ....
Merci pour votre message qui détonne par son côté positif par rapport au fielleux message précédent
J'ai jeté un coup d'oeil furtif sur votre blog - que j'irai revoir plus en détail d'ici peu surtout pour le Yunnan que je n'ai pas pu visiter en raison d'un retour prématuré pour cause de problème de santé - et j'ai constaté votre désillusion concernant Kaiping (voir mon message du 13 novembre dernier : Kaiping (Guangdong - Chine) Des infos pratiques) ; quelques photos pour vous faire rêver
Je vois que vous êtes passer par Guiyang; avez-vous vu cette étrange église ? Voir (médiocres) photos
Et pour finir pour Pat quelques "petites pépées" de Xian 😎
@+
PS zut voilà qu'on m'annonce que mes photos, mes images n'ont pu être téléchargées.
Votre image n'a pu être téléchargée. Raison: Votre image dépasse la taille maximale autorisée (200 FILESIZE_KILOBYTES).
Hier j'ai mis 14 images de Bali sans problèmes ! Y'a des moment où l'organisation de ce forum me sort par les yeux. Cela fait des mois que je demande qu'on mette accents, trémas et cédilles sous les petites figurines sur la gauche des messages, quand on est à l'étranger c'est bien utile ! Aucun moyen non plus d'envoyer des images en messages privés !
Si vous avez un autre "endroit" pour vous les faire parvenir dites le moi
Bonjour Ragamuffin
Une seule petite étoile pour Dazu , qu'est ce que cela signifie, tu m'inquiètes !!!!
En plus tu sembles être la seule personne à avoir visité ce site sur le forum
!!!
Je pars dans qq heures pour ce site alors si tu as qq souvenirs avec des conseils , ils seront les bienvenues
Merci
Siya actuellement à Zigong dans le Sichuan , ville offrant beaucoup d'opportunités de visites
La ville de Dazu en elle-même ne vaut pas le déplacement donc 1*
Par contre les deux sites (mais il y en a d'autres) Bei Shan*** à 40' à pied du centre et surtout Baoding Shan**** à 1h en bus sont à ne manquer sous aucun prétexte.
A Bei Shan, ne pas manquer d'aller jusqu'à la très grande pagode et surtout d'aller à l'arrière de celle-ci, en contre-bas où il y a une grotte avec quelques très grande statues de bouddhas.
... tu sembles être la seule personne à avoir visité ce site ...
Pas du tout, il y a aussi (beaucoup) de Chinois 🤪
Bonne découverte (surtout des différentes "gares" de bus 😕)
Hello toi,
Je suis de retour de Chine. Et maintenant avec un tout petit peu d'expérience du pays, je te pose cette question :
A quoi servent sincèrement tes CR? franchement savoir que le bus a coûté 35Y et qu'il part à 8h12, ça apporte quoi? Il existe des guides pour cela ou avoir cette information sur place, tout simplement?
Merci de ton retour.
J'avais bien écrit sur le forum 😉
Effectivement, choisir un dimanche pour visiter Baoting, c'est pas top
Je ne sais pas si c'est comme ça tous les jours !!!!
En revanche à Beishan, il n'y avait presque personne
Le prix de l'entrée pour Baoting est de 80 Yuans, celui pour Beishan 60 Yuans
et le billet couplé est de 120 Yuans
Il es possible de visiter les 2 sites dans la journée
C'est pratique les hôtels avec connexion internet dans la chambre à 8 euros
Merci pour ta réponse , et que les râleurs s'abstiennent de lire et surtout de répondre à tes messages
Hello Tibot.
Mon retour? Tu veux savoir a quelle heure j'ai pris le bus de Jianshui à Yanyang et à quel prix?😉 Ou plutôt le prix du taxi entre le site de la première réunion du parti communiste à Shanghai et le Bar Rouge sur le Bund?
J'ai été à Beijing. Puis ds le Yunnan (de shangri La à Yanyang) puis direction le Guangxi puis le Anhui et j'ai fini à Shanghai.
Passionnant voyage.
Sincèrement, je ne pense pas y retourner.
La Chine m'a passionné. Les rencontres, les minorités ethniques, les marchés populaires, les fous rires. Les scènes de rue continuelles. Un spectacle permanent. La cuisine, le shopping, le monde de la nuit. Les rencontres avec d'autres voyageurs. Les galères à cause de la langue.
Par contre, je n'ai pas trouvé les paysages extraordinaires, en tout cas la ou je suis allé.
Merci la Chine. Ce voyage sera gravé à jamais dans mon coeur mais trop de choses passionnantes à découvrir sur terre. Enfin bon il ne faut jamais dire jamais.
Prochaine escale : Ethiopie, Burkina Fasso, Benin... Je sais pas encore. En pleine réflexion.
Bonjour
Nous sommes deux motards qui envisageons de relier la france au laos en moto de fin juillet 2011 à fin novembre 2011. Retour en avion de Bangkok (Thailande), les motos restent au Laos. Jusqu'au Kazakhstan tout nous semble relativement simple. Par contre cela fait 1 mois que je cherche des infos fiables sur l'entrée en chine en moto. Je lis et entends tout et son contraire. Je viens de penser à un plan B....Quelqu'un pense t-il qu'il est possible de mettre les motos dans un train à partir de la frontière Kazakhstan-chine (Kuytun ou Urümqi) et de traverser toute la chine en train (en changeant parfois de train bien sûr) pour ressortir à la frontière lao ou vietnamienne.
Combien de temps faut-il prévoir, tarifs passagers et motos, formalités administratives, etc etc les infos sur le sujet sont les bienvenues. Vous pouvez me répondre ici ou sur notre blog en tapant francelaosmoto Merci Jean Philippe
C'est possible mais c'est visiblement très compliqué. Il faut obtenir certaines autorisations. Des agences sont spécialisées en la matière. La seule que je connaisse est NAVO (compte-rendus de voyageurs lus sur le net). Il en existe peut-être d'autres, il faudrait faire des recherches.
http://www.navo-tour.com/fr/itineraries/Motorcycling_Tour/
(la traduction en français n'est pas terrible... 😏)
Merci pour votre info concernant l'agence chinoise. Financièrement cela me parait hors de notre budget. Par contre je cherche à savoir s'il est possible de mettre les motos dans des trains de la frontière kazakh à la frontire lao...autrement dit de traverser la chine avec des motos sans monter dessus (sauf au changement de gare). Si vous avez des infos merci. Cordialement Jean Philippe.
For April or May 2027, we’d like to find a student guide if possible to show us the best spots and services and guide us around the country for 2-3 weeks on our first trip there.
We’re missing key info to plan this trip, especially recommendations from people who’ve enjoyed places that aren’t necessarily touristy but more intimate.
Thanks in advance
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
I’m heading to Yunnan in February 2027.
We’ll be traveling exclusively by train since my daughter gets car sick.
Our itinerary includes:
Kunming
Jianshui
Dali
Shaxi
Lijiang
Shangri-La
I’d love any tips, especially other places to visit (without winding roads) or great hotel, guesthouse, or minsu recommendations.
Thanks!
Claudine
Hey there,
In the sea of VPNs, I'm looking for one to use in China for just a month (free or paid). Which one should I pick? All the ones I've found are for several months or even a year.
I’m planning an itinerary for Hokkaido but I’m struggling to decide if late May to early June will be the right time.
Too early for the flower fields but…
What do you think?
Hi,
Our trip is planned for 20 days in Japan next April. We have a free subscription that would allow us to use 35 GB (I’m a bit confused), but we also need to be able to make phone calls with a French couple traveling with us for a few days, and that seems impossible due to cost... Any solutions for using GPS while keeping those 35 GB? Used to traveling in Southeast Asia, we usually rely on local SIM cards. Is it easy to do the same in Japan?
Thanks for your help!
Best,
Tialou
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
Hi,
I’ve always been used to exchanging my money (€) in town no matter the country (with a "mini exchange" at the airport if needed).
I can’t find any recent posts on this topic from the last few years.
Does anyone have any insights on this? Intrinsic benefits, best places to exchange, etc.?
I arrive at Tokyo Haneda on a Friday around 12:30 PM, and my first night is very close to Shinjuku.
Thanks.
Here are some tips from our 6-week trip (summer 2026) to China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. We traveled as a family of four with two kids aged 15 and 12.
I hope these notes help other travelers!
CHINA
General
You’ll need to download and set up a few apps:
- Alipay and WeChat for payments (I didn’t withdraw a single bill the entire trip)
- Didi for taxis
- Amap = Chinese Maps (works great, especially for subways)
- A translation app (we used Papago, but it sometimes gave weird results)
- Google Lens for translating menus or signs—super handy.
- HelloRide for bikes
- Gemini and ChatGPT for everything: understanding daily life, enhancing visits, checking the weather, finding things.
- HomeExchange if you want to lower travel costs (few listings in Asia except in big cities, often expats)
- Trip.com is very useful, even essential, for trains, domestic flights, and hotels. Like Booking.com, the more you book with them, the more perks you get. So I’d even suggest checking flight tickets on this site, even if it’s a bit pricier. However, buying train tickets is complicated because (1) they only open 15 days in advance, and (2) they sell out fast. Trip.com just promises to buy them as soon as they’re available but doesn’t always succeed. It’s stressful and might force you to change your plans, especially if you’re aiming for a sleeper car and there are no seats left. Watch out for station names—many cities have multiple stations, including a high-speed rail one outside the city.
For internet, we got the Asia plan from Holafly. It worked but seemed much slower than Chinese internet. I regretted not buying a Chinese SIM card because without internet in China, everything is VERY complicated (money, transport, etc.).
For the firewall, we used ExpressVPN, but it wasn’t always reliable. A bit disappointing. Ask ChatGPT for tips with screenshots to improve the settings.
Since we only had one SIM card with internet, we couldn’t rent shared bikes. If I were to do it again, I’d get a SIM for each person, even the kids, because distances in cities are huge. We walked *a lot*. Same goes for buses—it’s tricky with just one internet connection. Better to have a phone per person with internet.
Book your visits as far in advance as possible—they often sell out.
Watch out for power banks: if they don’t explicitly say "3C," they’ll confiscate it. Even if there’s a little airplane logo.
Shanghai
In the evening, the streets leading to the Bund from the metro were so crowded that police were out in force blocking roads. Arrive early. We went around the north side.
Suzhou
Be careful—there are two stations (common in China), and the high-speed rail one is 45–50 minutes from the old town.
The Humble Administrator’s Garden was *packed*—we don’t recommend it. It turned into a marathon day from Shanghai (almost 4 hours from our hotel to the garden).
Beijing
Forbidden City: Don’t go—I know it’s a shame, but it’s too crowded. I couldn’t buy tickets on the official site because of the kids’ passports. We ended up with a guided tour, the only way to get in (tickets sell out fast). The visit was disappointing—bad guide *and* massive crowds. You’ll queue a lot to enter and see certain areas. You’ll be checked often, so pack your bags carefully.
Great Wall at Mutianyu: Crowded. Two hours by bus, and even though we arrived early, people were already leaving! I really think the best option is to leave your big bags in Beijing and stay overnight near the Wall. That way, you’ll have it to yourself a bit more. For transport: get off at Tiananmen Square metro and look for buses with official guides in bright yellow-green vests. No need to buy tickets online—they made me cancel mine to rebook on the spot. Buses leave when full. Note: the cable car and chairlift are separate—if you want to go up one side and down the other, you’ll need different tickets. The endless queue for the toboggan ride put us off.
Quick tip: Incredible swimming spot in Beijing—on the north shore of Houhai Lake, you can swim by crossing the barrier. We did it twice with about ten other people. Bring a swimsuit!
Shapotou Desert
Amazing, but it gets *very* hot in the afternoon. We had a tent (not an air-conditioned bungalow), which was unbearable during the day. We hung out in the restaurant.
The paid activities are fun, except the camels—they look sad. The real highlight is the evening and sunset. The only downside: you can’t explore the desert alone or far—they don’t rent 4x4s, for example.
We stayed at "The Desert Camping Hotel of the Proprietress of Shapotou." They were lovely.
Zhongwei
Gaomiao Temple and its underground: Fun and short—you’ll see quirky Buddhist hell paintings.
Xi’an
Terracotta Army: We took a Didi because for four people, a car was almost the same price as four shuttle tickets. It was packed—chaotic to see properly.
We visited the halls in order: 3, 2, then 1—a good choice.
Hua Shan Mountains: Left before sunrise to arrive when the ticket office opened (7 AM, I think). We were shocked to see so many people already coming down.
45 minutes by bus to the west cable car, then 15 minutes up.
We did the west, south, east, central, then north peaks (in that order) before taking the other cable car down (you can buy the ticket at the top). A beautiful day.
In the city, check out...
Chengdu
Panda Research Center: Like Hua Shan, plan to arrive when the ticket office opens. Already *tons* of people, and it moves fast to see the big pandas before their nap. Have them drop you at the west entrance (not south), or you’ll have to walk uphill.
Leshan Giant Buddha: Interesting. The trip is a bit long (metro, then train, then city bus, then shuttle on-site). We didn’t take the boat option but walked. In the end, you only spend a few minutes at the Buddha’s feet, but it’s a nice day out.
Hotel tip: Panda Enjoy Home Hotel Apartments (Chengdu East Railway Station Dongda Road Branch). The view is insane, and the neighborhood is super convenient and nice. 646 CNY for 2 nights.
Swimming: The municipal pool is an interesting experience, but don’t expect to swim—no one does. Everyone just splashes around where they can stand. The hours are a bit odd, with a break in the late afternoon.
Kunming
The bike path along Dian Lake is pretty and often well-protected from cars. But like everywhere in China, it’s *packed*. Not much to say about visits—the flower market is a wholesale market, not very interesting. The ethnic minorities museum closed right in front of us.
All the big malls are good for shopping.
Dali
We thought we could bike around the lake in two days. Wrong on two counts: First, the lake’s edge is blocked to traffic and reserved for bikes (or tourist mini-buses). So you’re stuck on the main road, which never gives you a view of the lake, with all the trucks and cars. Doing 120 km like that wouldn’t make sense, in our opinion. The rice fields around are nice but not as impressive as elsewhere, so Dali isn’t worth it for that.
The old town, all restored, is pretty but *packed*—thousands of people, especially in the evening.
Hekou (Vietnam border)
Comfortable train from Kunming. In the parking lot, a bus (not well-marked, but Didi is an option) takes you to the border in 15–20 minutes. Short wait at both border posts. Fun to see the two lampposts near the border line: the Chinese one is new, modern, with a surveillance camera (of course), while the Vietnamese one is old and a bit rusty.
VIETNAM
General:
- You’ll need the Grab app for taxis
- Very disappointed with 12Go—it doesn’t show all buses, never connects you with the company, and refuses refunds. Try booking directly with companies like FUTA Bus instead.
- Credit cards are often accepted (supermarkets and modern stores), otherwise, you’ll need cash
Lao Cai
2 km between the border and the train station.
The sleeper bus to Hanoi with Sao Viet is well-organized—it works.
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes early (10:30 AM, I think).
Women’s Museum: Very good, not too long
Temple of Literature: Beautiful, fairly quick
This is where you should buy souvenirs, clothes, and knockoffs—the prices are reasonable, and the sellers are nicer than elsewhere. We recommend Cho Dong Xuan.
Tu Long Bay
We did 2 days, 1 night (so really 24 hours on the boat) with Parfum d’Automne (French-speaking agency), which put us on a Cycad Cruise boat. Cost: 300 € per person—expensive, but it was amazing, super luxurious, and the buffet meals were delicious. We don’t regret the splurge. The only downside: no swimming in the bay (but there’s a pool on the boat). To swim, you’d need a 3-day, 2-night trip to an area not protected by the maritime park.
Phong Nha
If you didn’t do the northern mountains due to time or weather (like us), Phong Nha is a great stop for a motorbike ride. It’s beautiful, especially the mountains west of the city toward the caves.
There are two (small) swimming spots at the Botanic Garden—a pleasant 45-minute walk without stops.
Hotel tip: Sunbeam Village (very friendly, pool, breakfast by the river, motorbike rentals)
Da Nang
Hotel tip: Meridians by Hsuite—you’ll have the beach almost to yourself. You’ll still need to walk 15–20 minutes to the hyper-touristy area if you want to rent surfboards (150–200k VND per hour).
The beach is beautiful, and the water is 30°C—great for a break on a long trip, especially since all transport goes through Da Nang.
Hoi An
45 minutes from Da Nang, so it’s easy to visit in a day, especially since the city isn’t that big and it’s *very* hot.
Cooking class: MS Hanh cooking class—great (the market tour is a bit useless). We don’t recommend the "basket boat" tour—it’s a bit sad on a big brown pond with elderly guides.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Thanh Market is a nightmare: starting prices are exorbitant, and the vendors are aggressive. Don’t go.
The War Remnants Museum can be really tough for kids.
Can Tho
Avoid this city. We made the mistake of going to see the floating market—don’t.
Chau Doc
No Grab in the city, but regular taxis.
One day is enough if you go early to the forest and the mountain in the late afternoon.
250k VND per person for the forest and its canals (45 minutes by motorbike)
The sunset at Victoria Nui Sam can be magnificent if the clouds cooperate.
Cheap and good restaurant: Quan Nem Nuong Sau Hiep
Hotel tip: Homestay Khoa (2,250,000 VND for 3 nights)—adorable hostess, full of tips, clean rooms.
The speedboat to Cambodia is more comfortable than a bus. Book with Hangchau a few days in advance—payment in cash on the day (1,640,000 đ).
CAMBODIA
General:
- Issues with the "Bakong Tourists" app—we had to go to a big bank to load money onto it. We barely used it afterward.
Phnom Penh
For us, a day and a half is enough if you want to spend more time elsewhere.
Markets close early (around 6 PM) and are less interesting than in Hanoi, for example.
The Royal Palace has a break from 11 AM to 2 PM, but there aren’t many people in the afternoon.
Siem Reap
Trip with Capitol company—the bus is basic but cheap. Departs at 10:15 AM, 7-hour ride.
Angkor entrance fee: 62 USD per person for a 3-day pass. Tickets are picked up at Angkor Enterprise.
Renting two 125cc motorbikes: 10 USD each, plus 7 USD for gas.
By bike, it took me 25 minutes to reach Angkor Wat’s pools. A basic city bike rental was 1 USD per hour.
Short circuit by motorbike (in reverse): 7 hours with stops everywhere.
Grand tour by tuk-tuk: Only 5 temples, 4.5 hours.
If you want to see lots of monkeys, they’re grouped west of Bayon.
For the temples, we asked Gemini (AI) at each stop to point out details that might interest kids (who can get bored with the repetition). It gave fun facts and things to look for—great for the little ones.
Hotel tip: The Five Senses, run by a Frenchman, Bruno, who knows Cambodia inside out and organizes tours.
Restaurant tip: Wild (only spring rolls, but *so* many varieties—delicious and cheap)
Watch out: 1 hour to the airport, 50 km from the city.
Show tip: The Phare Circus
Has anyone taken the bus recently, especially the Busda bus from Dongsi subway station to Mutianyu or the special tourist bus from Qianmen to Mutianyu? If so, I’d love to hear your feedback!
I’m traveling solo to China on September 18th and I’m completely overwhelmed by all the info out there.
This isn’t my first trip, but it’s still tough to make choices, so I’m open to outside perspectives.
This time, the plan is southern Kyushu with a slightly more off-the-beaten-path twist.
I’m not sure if you’ll be able to help since I’m skipping some of the classics in Kyushu, but you never know.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether this itinerary is realistic in terms of time spent in each place, travel time, and the overall pace of the road trip. Just to note, I already have my translated driver’s license.
Here’s the itinerary:
- **Day 1:** YAMAGA / overnight in Yamaga or Kumamoto
Depart from Osaka by train early in the morning to Kumamoto, pick up the rental car, then drive to Yamaga for a visit. Overnight in Yamaga or Kumamoto.
- **Days 2–4:** HITOYOSHI / overnight in Hitoyoshi
Drive to Hitoyoshi for 3 days and 3 nights, including a visit to the town, nearby waterfalls, a walk along the Kuma River, a tea producer visit, and some craft activities.
- **Day 5:** AYA / overnight in Miyazaki
Drive to Aya, visit the town, craft activities, the forest, and the suspension bridge.
- **Day 6:** AOSHIMA - NICHINAN COAST / overnight in Miyazaki
Udo Shrine + Aoshima + scenic drive along the coast.
- **Day 7:** MIYAKONOJO / overnight in Shibushi
Drive to a waterfall, then continue along the Nichinan Coast if there’s anything left to see, or visit Kojima Island.
- **Day 8:** SHIBUSHI
Walk around the port and along the Osumi Peninsula coast, maybe as far as the Kishira/Hetsuka coast, or visit a black pork producer, a market gardener, or a tea producer. Overnight at a farm?
- **Day 9:** KANOYA / overnight in Kagoshima
Visit Ogawara Waterfall, Nishiharadai Park, and Kannon Cave, then Sugawara Shrine, followed by the drive to Kagoshima.
- **Day 10:** KAGOSHIMA / overnight in Kagoshima
Explore the city + whisky distillery in Hioki.
- **Days 11–12:** KOSHIKISHIMA / 2 nights in Koshikishima
- **Day 13:** AKUNE OSHIMA / overnight in Akune
Ferry, then drive to Akune Oshima with a stop at Sendai Taki.
- **Days 14–15:** AMAKUSA / overnight in Amakusa
Drive via Nagashima and visit Shimoshima (Amakusa).
- **Day 16:** AMAKUSA / overnight in Fukuoka
Drive back toward Kumamoto with stops along the way, return the rental car, then take the train to Fukuoka.
- **Days 17–18:** FUKUOKA CITY / overnight in Fukuoka
Possible half-day excursion to Nokonoshima, Munakata, or Nanzoin.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Too ambitious?
I could add an extra day but would prefer not to if it means less rushing around.
Hi everyone,
To simplify logistics, I'm considering renting a car for 5/6 days in the Japanese Alps before heading to Kyoto solo.
Is driving difficult or even risky in this region?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tara
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I saw there are several "authentic" villages about 90/100 km from Beijing.
Including: Lingshui, Liuliqu, Sangyu, Miaoying, and Cuandixia.
Has anyone visited any of them? I was thinking of choosing Cuandixia—what do you think?
Thanks in advance.
Hi everyone!
It seems there’s a flea market in Tianjin that’s way more interesting than the one in Beijing. I’ve been searching online but can’t find the right one… The one I’m looking for is called gu wan shi chang (my PC won’t display the Chinese characters…). Does anyone have the address and has anyone been there before? The one in Beijing has lost a lot of its charm over the past 10 years, so I wanted to find another. Thanks!
I’m looking for advice from seasoned travelers about a roughly one-month trip to Japan.
From late October to late November 2026.
We often travel in Southeast Asia but have never been to Japan.
Based on what I’ve read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
- Is traveling day-to-day, without booking hotels or trains in advance, possible in Japan?
(I’ve read many travel journals and blogs that say everything was booked way in advance… but that’s not how we usually travel.)
- Will the Japan Rail Pass be worth it for us?
(According to an old simulator, I’m looking at around 400 € for trains compared to 570 € for the JRP.)
Here’s our rough itinerary (which may change):
- Arrival Osaka: 3 nights with Nara
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Island: 3 nights
- Kurashiki or Naoshima: 2 nights
- Himeji: 1 night
- Kyoto: 4 nights
- Kanazawa: 2 nights
- Takayama and Shirakawa-go: 3 nights
- Around Mount Fuji: 3 nights
- Tokyo with Nikko: 6 nights (no theme parks)
Departure from Tokyo
I booked my trip from May 5 to 26, 2027. I’m starting to plan my itinerary and look for hotels (I know it’s early!). While I’ve found some in Seoul and Busan, I’m noticing that elsewhere—like Yeosu—most hotels aren’t available (on Booking.com, for example, almost all are unavailable). AI tells me not to worry because hotels in South Korea only open bookings 6 months in advance, so it’s normal to see most of them unavailable on booking sites.
Could you confirm this for me and, of course, reassure me (!)? Thanks so much.
philippe
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
