Hi there,

This summer, we’re heading to Bulgaria as a family (2 adults and 2 kids aged 15 and 12). Our flights and rental car are already booked, and our accommodations are pre-reserved (cancellable). Just so you know, we prefer nature over cities for our vacations.

I’d love your thoughts on our itinerary—specifically, any interesting sites, hikes, or nature activities you’d recommend. - Day 1: Arrival in Sofia at 11 PM - Day 2: Sofia - Day 3: Drive to Veliko Tarnovo, overnight there - Day 4: Drive to the Black Sea (we were supposed to go to Varna, but our booking was canceled) - Days 5–8: We were planning to stay in Varna and visit Balchik and Nesebar. But since our accommodation fell through, we’re wondering if we should spend only 2 nights in Varna and 3 in Nesebar instead. What do you think? - Day 9: Drive to Sinemorets - Days 10–11: Sinemorets, Strandja (3 nights in Sinemorets) - Days 12–13: Plovdiv - Days 14–16: Rhodopes, staying in Yagodina for 3 nights - Day 17: Melnik - Days 18–20: Bansko (Bansko Jazz Fest, hikes) - Day 21: Rila Monastery, then overnight in Sapareva Banya - Day 22: Seven Rila Lakes hike - Day 23: Return to Sofia and fly home

Does this route feel balanced, or too rushed? What do you think are the must-see spots along the way?

Thanks! PM

hi Are there any ferries that take cars from Turkey to the Greek islands—for example, Bodrum to Kos? Could you give me the details? Thanks

Hi there, The least we can say is that neither the internet nor guidebooks are overflowing with info on Thrace, this region in the far northeast of Greece (part of which is also in Bulgaria and Turkey). Needless to say, if anyone’s already visited this "eastern" Greece, I’d love to hear ANY tips about it. I’m planning to spend 4 or 5 days there next May, with a rental car. The distances seem pretty big, and I don’t want to rack up too many kilometers at the risk of being a bit disappointed—especially, what do you think of the Evros Valley, near the Turkish border? Thanks in advance.

Hi there! This summer, we're planning a 2- to 3-week road trip in one of these countries!! But despite all the reviews we’ve read on the forum, we still can’t decide... It’s so hard to choose between the Carpathians, Budapest, and Krakow!!! Could you give us some advice based on what you know? Thanks, Karine and Christophe

Hi everyone on the travel forum. We’re heading to the Cyclades on May 15th for about a month and we’re debating whether to rent a car on each of the islands we’re visiting. Naxos, Andros, Tinos, Paros, and Santorini—we’ll be staying around 5 days on each. Everything’s booked except for the potential car rental. In your opinion, is it essential, or are public transport options good enough for all or some of these islands? Which companies are the most reliable, and which ones should we avoid (we’ve already had bad experiences with companies that weren’t always very professional). Thanks for your advice!

Hi there,

I’m heading to the Cyclades at the end of May and looking into inter-island ferries. I’m a bit confused because, for example, to go from Mykonos to Naxos, there are 3 ferries leaving at the same time for the same price. So I’m wondering if there are any companies to prioritize (or, on the contrary, to avoid). Thanks in advance for your feedback! 😉

Hi there, I’m looking for some info on these capitals I’m visiting in September and the best way to travel between them, spending 3 days in each city: restaurants, weather, and maybe a French-speaking guide if possible. Thanks.

Hi there.

I’m looking for feedback from travelers or tips from locals on how to get around the islands. There are four of us—two teens—and my partner isn’t super comfortable riding a scooter. So, should we rent a car? By the day or for 4 days on each island we’re visiting (Tinos, Paros, Syros)? Is it possible to rent e-bikes? Is that a good idea?

Thanks for your input!

Tom

HELLO!

For a trip to the Cyclades in early May (1st–18th), we’re planning to visit Naxos, Amorgos, and finish on Paros to catch a flight back to Athens.

I was wondering if we need to book the ferries now or if we can wait a bit... also, for car rental, can we book on the spot?

For accommodations, our bookings are done except for Paros... any suggestions for good value-for-money options?

Also, any other tips about our route or anything else would be super welcome!!!

Thanks in advance from Quebec! 🙂

Christine

Good evening, We go on a cycling trip abroad every year for about twenty days. Obviously, we prefer small roads to discover a country. Is it possible to explore Poland mainly by taking small roads? Apart from the beautiful cities (Kraków, Warsaw, etc.), are there any regions worth discovering by bike? Thanks in advance for your replies. Jean-lucbergot

Hi there! We’re planning our trip to the Cyclades in July and I’d love to know the best place to book ferries.

Thanks in advance!

bonjour

Je voudrais savoir les horaires des boutiques physiques entre l'allemagne et l'autriche et entre l'autriche et la slovénie qui vends les vignettes PAPIER AUTOCOLLANT qui existe encore pour l'année 2026, non digitales, je pense qu'elle n'est pas ouverte 24h/24 et je trouve nulle part l'info Merci

We’ve only been to Crete in Greece before, so this trip is new to us—but planning the itinerary isn’t easy because we have to make choices. We’d love to hear from those in the know about the following plan: Day 1: flight to Athens, then flight to Milos 3 days in Milos, 4 days in Sifnos, 3 days in Paros, Final 3 days in Athens. Should we book ferry tickets between the islands in March in advance, or can we wait until the last minute? Same question for accommodations on these different islands. Finally, on the 3 islands we’ve chosen, is renting a car essential, or are the buses enough? Thanks for your help!

Hello everyone,

I’m a bit late planning, but we’re traveling as a family from October 26 to October 31, 2025, to Athens. After that, we’ll continue our journey from the port of Piraeus for a cruise with Celestyal Cruises (November 1 to November 8) in the Cyclades.

First, a few practical tips:

Is it easy to get by speaking French in Athens, or is English a must? Any tips for making yourself understood? Our hotel is located in central Athens. What do you recommend taking from the airport? A taxi, the metro, or the bus?

For sightseeing: We’ll be there for 5 days. What do you recommend? Should we book tickets for the monuments in advance or on-site? I’ve heard about a pass for visiting 5 monuments. What does it include? Do you have to visit all the monuments on the same day, or can you spread it out over the week? On some websites, it mentions that Tuesday, October 28, would be a free day for monuments. Can anyone confirm this, and what are the rules to benefit from it? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

What are the main sights to visit on Rhodes itself or the surrounding islands, and what’s the weather like? We’re leaving on May 18th.

Hi everyone on Voyage Forum! In mid-September 2025, a group of friends and I are heading to Montenegro for a week. On my must-see list, I’ve obviously got the Bay of Kotor and Lake Skadar. Besides those two excursions, what else would you recommend seeing or visiting? Just to note, we’ll be staying in the Bijela area.

Another question: Is Tivat Airport operating during that period? I think Transavia flies there. Otherwise, we’d have to go through Dubrovnik, which I’d prefer to avoid—partly because I’ve been there before and partly to skip the border wait.

Looking forward to your replies or suggestions!

A Sarajevo les hôtels étaient clairement plus chère. Surtout en plein centre avec parking privée. édit ; et je voulais proche du centre pour boire un verre/café tranquille le soir en famille.

J'écoute des idées pour ceux ayant déjà mis les pieds à BanjaLuka. Même si le programme est quasi fait, en cas de bonne idée je peux faire des modifs ! 🙂

Hi, My question is about the open-air museums in Romanian villages. There’s one in Bucharest (Dimitrie Gusti) and another in Sibiu (Astral Museum). Which one is more interesting? Thanks so much. Pascaline

Hi there,

We’re heading to the Cyclades in August 2025 (yes, not the best season…). We’re looking for ferries to get from Paros to Serifos, then from Serifos to Andros. It seems like there aren’t ferries every day to Serifos… And from Serifos to Andros, bookings aren’t open yet. We checked ferryhopper.com. Could anyone give us some info on these routes, please? Is it necessary to book in advance?

Thanks for your help! Best,

Hi there, or γεια σας.

When will the July schedules for Greek ferries (specifically the Prévélis - Karpathos-Sitia route, which I'm interested in) be available?

Catherine

Hi there,

I’ve read that Albanian merchants (hotels, restaurants, gas stations, etc.) aren’t big fans of card payments and that the euro is widely accepted.

How is it these days? Should I plan to pay only in cash (which feels pretty unusual these days...)?

Also, all ATMs seem to charge a minimum withdrawal fee of 5 €. Which networks are the least expensive? And what’s the maximum amount you can withdraw?

Thanks to recent travelers for your answers! 🙂

Hi there,

We’re two forty-something friends spending two weeks in the Baltic countries. Between Lithuania and Estonia, we’d love to swing by Minsk.

From what I’ve read on this forum and other sites, I think I’ve got it right: from Vilnius, by bus, you need an up-to-date passport, travel insurance, and Belarusian rubles.

A couple more questions—what about euros if we’re carrying a few hundred?

And which sites are reliable for finding accommodation or a hotel for 3–4 days in Minsk? With the usual sites (Airbnb and Booking, for example) being blocked, the alternatives seem to be less familiar or pricier (like hotels.com). There are other sites, but it’s never easy to know how trustworthy they are. What should we look for in Minsk if we’re used to Airbnb or Booking?

One last question—has anyone here tried crossing via Daugavpils?

Thanks a bunch!

hi everyone, I’d like to spend two weeks in Poland visiting the most beautiful spots: monuments, landscapes, etc. Do you think two weeks is enough? I’m planning to rent a car and book a room as I go. If anyone’s done this road trip before, I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations. Thanks! 🙂

Hi everyone, For about twenty years now, we’ve been regularly visiting the Cyclades to enjoy some rest, sunshine, the sea, scooter rides, lovely tavernas, and the hospitality of the Greeks (around fifteen trips in total). This September, my partner and I have decided to return to Ikaria, the island where we spent a few days in Agios Kirykos and Therma. This year, we’ll be arriving in Evdilos and would love some tips on the southern coast of Evdilos and the central part of the island—places that are doable by scooter (max 20 to 30 km round trip). For those interested, we’d be happy to share our experiences from Tinos, Syros, Amorgos, Ikaria, Fourni, the Small Cyclades, and, from longer ago, Santorini, Paros, Anti-Paros, and Naxos. Happy travels to all

Hi there, I’ve searched the forum and even the ferry company websites, but I can’t seem to find any ferry route between Amorgos and Folegandros for September (2 people, no car). Does anyone know if this route exists? Could it be too early and the schedules just aren’t posted yet? Thanks for your help! Joëlle

Bonjour, après avoir réserver un Airbnb en janvier dernier pour les vacances de cet été à Sarajevo... Mon "hôte" à annuler sans raison notre réservation, cela ne m'était jamais arrivé.

Forcément maintenant impossible de trouver une location à prix "normal" à Sarajevo avec parking ... On se rabat sur la capitale de la République Serbe de Bosnie, Banja luka qui me trottait déjà dans un coin de la tête avant de réserver Sarajevo.

J'ai déjà pas mal d'idées en tête, sans avoir trop fouiner sur la région. Mais si certains ce sont déjà rendus sur place et on des idées ? Même pour la restauration je suis preneur !

et même si ce n'est pas à côté, je pense passer une journée à Sarajevo !

Hi everyone,

I’m just passing through Bratislava quickly (one afternoon, one night, one morning) and I’d love to see the highlights of the city. I’ve put together a little itinerary—feel free to let me know what you think!

Start at the castle and its beautiful viewpoint Visit the Baroque gardens St. Martin’s Cathedral, quick visit National Theatre Discover the Cumil statues Primatial Palace via Hlavné Namestie Michael’s Gate Grassalkovich Palace via Obchodna Walk across Namesti Slobody to head back to the upside-down pyramid Head down to the Blue Church Cross the Danube to see Sad Janka Krala, then return via the UFO Bridge There you go—10 km and a packed day! What do you think?

Thanks, Stéphane.

Hi, I’m renting a car in Greece (Heraklion). Should I get extra insurance? What’s driving like with the Greeks? Thanks for any tips!

Hi there! We’re heading to Crete (Heraklion) as a couple and I’d like to rent a car. 1) Do we need an international driver’s permit? 2) Are rentals super expensive? Thanks everyone!

Hi everyone,

I'm on my way to Slovakia, where I'll be spending about ten days on vacation in the High Tatras. I've decided to stop in Prague for 24 hours with my two teens (arriving around noon, leaving the next day). We don’t know the city at all. I know a single day is way too short to discover everything, so I’d like to plan a small circuit to see the must-see spots.

Here’s what I’ve planned:

Walk through Nový Svět street Visit the castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Golden Lane Quick stop at Vojanovy Sady gardens Malá Strana Square Maltese Square Kampa Island Then the iconic Charles Bridge and a short tour of the Jewish Quarter We’ll head back down to visit Old Town Square (Malé Náměstí, St. Nicholas Church, and the Church of Our Lady before Týn) Head to Wenceslas Square and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows Then to the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Dancing House And finally, back to the starting point.

Estimated distance: 10 km

I was thinking of a little evening stroll up Petřín Hill... what do you think? Are there things that aren’t really worth it, or other spots that are must-sees?

Thanks for your thoughts and feedback!

Stéphane.