je vous fait part de mon expérience qui m'a scandalisée et qui m' a fait perdre 916€ de billet pour une erreur de clic!
1/ Le 15 nov 2013 à 22h55, j'ai effectué la réservation de 2 billets Paris New-York sur le site Go-voyages.
A 23h00: 5 min plus tard, je reçois une confirmation mail.
2/ Je réalise qu'il y a une erreur de saisie sur la date de retour "31 janvier 2014" au lieu du "31 décembre 2013"
Comme il est impossible de joindre le service client à cette heure tardive, j'envoie une réclamation via le site internet afin de rectifier la date de retour.
3/ Le 16 novembre au matin, soit 9h après la commande, j'appelle le service client dès son ouverture (9h), afin de procéder à la modification de ma date de retour:
Dans un 1er temps, le service client m'explique que cette modification est impossible et que 100% du billet est perdu car le billet a été "émis".
Comment réagir dans un délai de 5 min entre la validation de la commande (22h55) et sa confirmation (23h) avec un service client fermé?
Nous avons mis moins de 24h pour signaler le souci.
4/ Après de nombreuses recherches sur le forum, je parviens à trouver le numéro top secret du SAV en France qui a seul, une possibilité d'action sur les réservations.
Le SAV m' explique que si j'avais signalé le problème le jour-même c'est à dire le 15 nov à 23h, les modifications auraient pu être réalisées moyennant 60€.
Je leur rappelle que le SAV est fermé à 23h et qu'il ne rouvre qu'à 9h et que j'ai bien appelé à 9h.
Seulement, nous étions désormais le 16 novembre et que ma possibilité de modifier mon billet était caduque.
Je perdais donc 900€ de billet pour :
- ne pas avoir contacté un SAV fermé à 23h
- n'avoir pas réagi entre 22h55 et 23h, c'est à dire avant l’émission du billet, où pour les mêmes raisons, je n'aurais pas pu faire grand chose avec les services fermés!
5/ J'ai donc contacté une journée entière le SAV, ainsi que la compagnie American airlines. Chacun s'est renvoyé la responsabilité.
6/ Les pénalités concernant" l'avant émission de billets" sont absurdes lorsqu'il y a un délai de 5 min entre la récapitulatif de la commande et sa confirmation!
Par ailleurs, il faut savoir qu'une révision de directive européenne est en cours, depuis juillet 2013, afin de mettre fin aux clauses abusives des agences de voyages sur cette question de la rétractation qui ne s’applique pas aux prestations de voyage, hébergement ect:
Le calendrier que propose govoyages est très mal fait et il décale les mois lorsqu'on enregistre son retour.
J'ai donc cliqué sur le 31 du mois de janvier au lieu de celui du mois de décembre.
- Le SAV m'a expliqué qu'ils auraient pu modifier ma commande si je les avais appelé dans les 24h.
Or, j'ai appelé le soir-même de ma réservation, mais le message vocal indiquait que leur bureau était fermé.
J'ai donc rappelé à l'ouverture à 9h.
Entre la confirmation (23h) et mon appel à 9h, il s'est écoulé exactement 10h!
Mais il était impossible de rectifier les dates car nous étions passé du 15 novembre au 16.
- Par ailleurs, le délai de rétractation permettant une modification moyennant des frais de pénalité de 10% du billet ne fonctionnait pas car il aurait fallu les contacter AVANT l’émission du billet soit entre 22h55 (horaire de la validation de la commande) et 23h (horaire de la confirmation).
Par conséquent, je perdais 100% du billet
D'une part, cette clause est inacceptable car on ne peut réagir en 5 min!
D'autre part, même dans les 5 min, on ne peut faire changer un billet si le service client est fermé!
En matière de transport, ce sont les agences qui fixent les règles des délais et pénalités en cas de rétractation.
Ce qui est scandaleux dans le cas précis, c'est que les clauses fixées sont impossibles à atteindre:
- Dans les 24h, Go Voyages propose de modifier pour 60€ de frais les billets, mais les 24h ne sont pas quantifiables en heures, mais en date.
Dans mon cas, j'étais dans l'impossibilité de les prévenir car leur service était fermé (il était 23h au moment de ma réservation). J'ai donc écrit un mail à défaut.
- 2nd cas de rétractation possible prévu dans leur conditions générales de vente:
Avant Emission des billets, on paye des pénalités pour modifier le billets plus ou moins importante (10 à 50%) selon la date du départ initial (ce qui me parait tout à fait normal).
Sauf que, dans mon cas, il s'est passé exactement 5 minutes entre la validation de ma commande et l’émission des billets électroniques.
D'emblée, il est impossible de réagir sur un délai aussi court!
Ne perds pas ton temps ici ...
et consacre-le plutôt à leur envoyer un recommandé reprenant calmement,
c'est à dire sans les agresser bêtement comme tu le fais en ces lignes,
la suite chronologique et factuelle (juste factuelle) du déroulement des opérations,
et leur demandant, au vu des faits (incontestables semble-t'il) que tu rapportes,
l'annulation pure et simple de la transaction erronée (reconnais ton erreur)
et (le cas échéant) son remplacement par une nouvelle opération mentionnant les bonnes dates.
Quand on est demandeur, on a toujours intérêt à formuler calmement sa demande en ne s'en tenant qu'aux faits,
ce que tu es loin d'avoir fait ici, même si ton agacement est en partie compréhensible !
Je vous remercie d'avoir pris le temps de répondre.
J'ai omis effectivement de préciser que 5 mails ont été rédigés aux différents services. La lettre recommandé s'impose de toute facon et je pense, tout comme vous, qu'elle devra restituer de manière objective la situation.
Si le ton de mon message peut paraitre "passionné", il est également le résultat d'une journée entière consacré la veille à l'écriture et à l'appel des différents services de Go Voyages
Je suis une personne calme et j'ai eu des retours forts désagréables des services clients, voire contradictoires ou encore arbitraires.
Quand on perd 900€ sur une mauvaise saisie informatique et que le recours du consommateur, même s'il se retracte quelques heures après, est non recevable de fait de clauses excessives et innateignables, cela peut affecter la personne et par voie de conséquence le discours.
Avez vous entendu parler des arnaques des comparateurs de prix qui augmentent les prix des billets artificiellement lors de recherches consécutives pour pousser le consommateur à l'achat ?
Pensez vous que ces méthodes soient fairplay quand on sait que la plupart des gens ne savent pas comment fonctionne un ordinateur et croient simplement ce qu'ils voient à l'écran ?
Pensez vous que les méthodes des agences de voyage en ligne soient honnêtes et prennent en compte le respect du client ?
La réponse est tout simplement non !
Et on est en droit de s’énerver quand on est pris dans cet engrenage.
Par ailleurs, les gros sites internet ont bien pris le soin de n'avoir aucun bureau physique et un seul numéro de téléphone taxé qui renvoie souvent le client vers une plateforme de téléopérateurs dont le seul travail est de vous faire perdre vos moyens.
Donc oui Tilila40 vous avez raison d'être énervée et de vouloir partager votre expèrience avec d'autres.
J'ai eu aussi un problème avec Go Voyages, dont les réductions sur les billets cachent bien souvent des économies sur le service après vente et les garanties.
Je suis désolée pour toi, mais je ne peux pas croire qu'avec les dizaines de témoignages (rien que sur VF !) il y ait encore des gens qui se fassent avoir en passant par ce genre d'intermédiaires...🤪
Bonjour
Bien d'accord , les Go Voyages et cie sont utiles pour connaitre le prix d'un billet, pour l'achat rien ne vaut le site de la compagnie aerienne😉
appliquez vous à garder en toutes choses le juste milieu
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Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
Hi everyone, fellow travelers!
I’m looking for anyone who’s in Kyoto or planning to visit Nishiki Market! Here’s the thing: during our trip there in April, we discovered a jewelry artisan (highly recommended!) on the left when exiting through the west exit of Nishiki Market (which is a long covered east-west street). I bought a piece of jewelry for my daughter there, but she lost it. I’d love to buy her another one! In the photo, it’s the shop with the yellow awning to the right of the restaurant with the blue awning, "Sushi Sakai." Would any kind soul be willing to get the shop’s name, email, or phone number for me? Despite my Google/AI searches, it’s nowhere to be found. A thousand thanks to whoever can help me out! Wishing you all great vacations!
Sabrina
Hello everyone! 🙂🙂,
A BIG thank you to all the travelers who sent us postcards this year—my students are becoming real geography whizzes!!!!!!!! I’m renewing my call for your kindness this year! We’re also working on food, so if your postcards can make our mouths water with local dishes, traditional meals, or typical recipes, that’d be amazing!!
Here’s a quick recap of the project:
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globetrotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse, working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m starting a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of the journal will focus on opening up to the world, diversity, travel, countries, culture...
I’m launching a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a little postcard (from France or anywhere in the world!) to take us on a journey and help us discover new places, countries, and horizons—much more fun and exciting than a regular geography textbook! One section of our journal could be called "We received mail from " and would be an opportunity to research that location and share what we learn with our readers (a super enriching activity in class).
The project starts in September 2025 but has no real end date, as this journal and world discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in my ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! (The kids will find them when they return.)
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow traveler friends. Make us dream, take us on a journey!!!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!!
Thank you in advance for your participation(s)! Below is our address. Feel free to leave your own address on a corner of the postcard if you’d like us to write back! 😊
The ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and see you soon, I hope! 😁
Julien
Regarding the amount of tobacco you can buy during a trip in the European Union and bring back to France, we can't really talk about a "duty-free allowance," because the rules around how much tobacco you can bring back to France aren't straightforward at all under French law.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Hi everyone, fellow travelers!
I’m looking for anyone who’s in Kyoto or planning to visit Nishiki Market! Here’s the thing: during our trip there in April, we discovered a jewelry artisan (highly recommended!) on the left when exiting through the west exit of Nishiki Market (which is a long covered east-west street). I bought a piece of jewelry for my daughter there, but she lost it. I’d love to buy her another one! In the photo, it’s the shop with the yellow awning to the right of the restaurant with the blue awning, "Sushi Sakai." Would any kind soul be willing to get the shop’s name, email, or phone number for me? Despite my Google/AI searches, it’s nowhere to be found. A thousand thanks to whoever can help me out! Wishing you all great vacations!
Sabrina
