Hi, I’m planning to rent a car at Porto Airport in mid-November. I’ve spotted "Holyday Autos" and "Surprice Empowering Mobility"—they have decent rates, but given the rental issues in Portugal, I’d love to hear from people who’ve rented from them. Thanks in advance for your replies!

Hi there,

I’m planning a trip to Sicily, and we’ll be renting a car at Palermo Airport. For our first stop, we’d like to visit Palermo itself. I’m really struggling to find a parking spot outside the ZTL (since we don’t know what type of vehicle we’ll have) and that’s not too far to walk from the city center.

It’d also be great if the parking were monitored, since we’ll have all our luggage in the car for this first leg of the trip.

I hope I’m not asking for the impossible! If any of you have some great tips to share, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks for taking the time to read my message—it really means a lot!

Looking forward to your replies,

Alain

Hi there, we're heading to Madeira next week. We don’t plan to rent a car directly at the airport. We have 19 km to cover to get to our hotel—is taking a taxi a good deal in Funchal?

Thanks, have a great day everyone

Hi there,

We’re a group of 4 heading out at the end of June for 11 days. I’m just starting my research. We’ll be renting a regular car, not a 4x4. I’m not finding a ton of info on the North. Would love your take on all those kilometers—is there a route that lets us cut out a section? Thanks

Hi, I’m trying to plan our trip to the Azores. I’m running into a problem: can you rent a car on one island and take it to two other islands? We’d like to pick it up on São Jorge, then go to Pico, and finally Terceira, but the only price I’m seeing is 28,000 € for a week in August! If you know any rental companies that do this, I’d love to hear about them. Thanks! Aurore

Hi there, Can you share your experiences about Bilbao with us? We're planning to go during the last week of April, with our main goal being to visit the Guggenheim Museum. Despite our research, we're not sure if a week is too long or what there really is to see and do in Bilbao. Should we rent a car to explore the surrounding areas? For San Sebastián, it seems there are pretty convenient buses. Would a day trip there and back be doable? Any advice would be welcome regarding the itinerary, local transportation, hotels, and how long to stay. Thanks in advance! Maevita

Hi there, We’re spending a week in Andalusia in April, starting with 2 days in Seville, then Córdoba, Granada, and Ronda. We’re thinking of renting a car the morning we leave Seville and returning it at the airport on the last day.

Do you know which downtown rental spot is the easiest for quickly getting out of the city? Or maybe it’s simpler to rent at the airport and leave the car in a parking lot for the first 2 days? Thanks in advance for your help!

Amandine

Hi there, We’re planning a 10-day trip to Scotland around late December. Is it worth it weather-wise? Has anyone already done this trip during this season? How should we go about renting a car in Edinburgh? And how can we find a bed and breakfast in a castle? Thanks for any tips that could help us out! Daniel

Hi everyone, I’m planning a week-long trip to southern Portugal with my two teens. I’m looking for accommodation ideally located near Faro. What do you think of the towns of Lagos and Albufeira? Is it easy to get around these places using public transport, or is it better to rent a car to make the most of our stay? If you have any accommodation recommendations (hotel, campsite, Airbnb, or other), I’d love to hear them. Thanks so much in advance for your tips and valuable feedback! Hélène

Hi there, I’m planning a roughly 15-day trip to Scotland at the end of September/beginning of October for a road trip (meaning: renting a car and finding accommodations at strategic points). There won’t be anything original in my itinerary—I’m discovering Scotland for the first time, so I’ll be visiting the most well-known spots. I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice. I’m a bit worried about trying to do *too much* in 15 days—the idea is to enjoy myself and not rush or spend my days in the car.

Here are the places I was thinking of stopping to sleep, which gives an idea of the route I’d like to take:

Day 1: Arrival in Edinburgh in the evening Day 2: Day in Edinburgh Day 3: Edinburgh → Cairngorms Day 4: Cairngorms Day 5: Cairngorms → Inverness Day 6: Inverness → Torridon Day 7: Torridon → Plockton Day 8: Plockton → Isle of Skye Day 9: Isle of Skye Day 10: Isle of Skye Day 11: Isle of Skye → Glenfinnan Day 12: Glenfinnan → Trossachs Day 13: Trossachs → Glasgow Day 14: Glasgow → Edinburgh, departure early afternoon

I’m open to all feedback on the itinerary, especially from those who’ve already explored Scotland. Specifically about the stops/overnights—if there’s a better way to do it and if it’s doable without feeling too rushed. Thanks everyone! 🙂

Hi there! We’re heading to Andalusia for a week in early April. We’ll spend 3 days in Seville and 1 day in Córdoba. After that, we’d like to rent a car for the remaining 3 days to explore the Costa de la Luz.

We’d love to do some great hikes along the beaches between Tarifa and Cadiz and visit Cadiz itself. Is 3 full days enough to do this? Is it better to stay in Cadiz and explore the area from there, or should we move around to different villages? Do you have any hiking suggestions? We’ve spotted some hikes in Barbate, Trafalgar Beach, and Bolonia.

Thanks for your tips and hiking ideas! :-)

Hello, We’re heading to Puglia at the end of May. We’re a senior couple. We arrive in Bari, where we’ve booked accommodation for 2 nights. We’ve rented a car. Day 1: Bari Day 2: Polignano a Mare – Monopoli Day 3: Ostuni – Brindisi Day 4: Lecce Day 5 & 6: Exploring the coast from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca Day 7 & 8: Gallipoli area Day 9 & 10: Matera

We’re considering renting a place near Lecce for 5 days and using it as a base to explore the region.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Best regards, Jean Michel

Hi there, we’re a couple of bikers planning a trip to Majorca in June 2026, and I’d love to organize a half-day or full-day boat or catamaran outing. Which coast do you think is the nicest for this, and do you have any suggestions or personal experiences to share? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I rented a car through Klaus Wagen, picking it up in downtown Porto and returning it in downtown Lisbon. After paying, I read some pretty negative reviews about them. So, can anyone reassure me with positive experiences they’ve had with them? Thanks in advance!

Hi there, my partner and I are planning a 3-week trip to Scandinavia next June (2026). We’d love to validate our itinerary and get any relevant tips on what to see—or avoid, etc.

Day 1 and 2: Departure from Montreal and arrival in Copenhagen Days 2, 3, 4: Stay in Copenhagen Day 5: Train from Copenhagen to Stockholm Days 5, 6, 7: Stay in Stockholm Day 8: Flight from Stockholm to Oslo Days 8, 9, 10: Stay in Oslo Day 11: Train from Oslo to Bergen (Bergen Line) Days 11, 12: Stay in Bergen Days 13 to 18: 6-night cruise with Hurtigruten or Havila Day 19: Stay in Kirkenes Day 20: Flight from Kirkenes to Oslo Days 20, 21: Stay in Oslo Day 22: Return to Montreal from Oslo.

Thanks so much.

My daughter and I are planning to visit Puglia in September. We won’t have a car. We’re thinking of staying in Bari for a few days, then exploring the surrounding area before heading to Lecce and finishing in Matera. Do you have any recommendations for hotels or Airbnbs?

Hi there,

I’m desperately turning to you all for advice—I just can’t seem to organize myself or make efficient city choices for such a short trip.

There are two of us, and we’re heading to Scotland for a few days in July, without a driver’s license. We arrive in Edinburgh (where we’ve already been) on a Friday at noon and need to be in Glasgow by Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

Between the two, we’d love to catch a glimpse of the Highlands—do you think that’s doable? From Edinburgh, is it easy to get to Inverness, Fort William, or other spots (?) for 2 nights (3 max)? Would you recommend the train or the bus? Which company? Any suggestions for a reasonable little itinerary?

For example, I was thinking of doing Edinburgh → Fort William, and once there, either renting bikes and exploring or taking a round-trip train to Mallaig in the same day, since the route looks stunning.

Alternatively, we could skip the Highlands if there are pretty towns around Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Any tips would be *so* appreciated—thanks a million! !

Hi there, I live in Quebec and I’m planning a trip to Italy. We’re thinking of visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, and Tuscany. Here are a few questions I haven’t been able to find clear answers to online. If anyone can help, I’d really appreciate it—thanks in advance!

- There are different City Passes for Rome. I’ve found the differences between them, but whenever I try to simulate a purchase, I’m always redirected to another site like Tiquet. Is there an official Tourism Office website for these?

- Is it easy to get around Tuscany by public transport, especially in the Chianti region?

- For guided tours (or not), which company do you prefer? Get Your Guide? Viator?

Looking forward to your recommendations—thanks again!

Hi there, I’m wondering about spending a week in Basilicata in southern Italy in mid-to-late March. Initially, I was talking about Puglia, but I realize that in my imagination it was actually Puglia—but no, it’s really the timeless charm of Basilicata that I want to discover.

We’d be leaving from Nice. Do any of you have any tips? People who’ve been there recently—how about transport? Accommodations? A possible itinerary? Maybe fly into Naples and rent a car? Thanks for your feedback!

Have a great day,

Barbara

Hi there, I’m posting this because I can’t decide. We’d like to travel in mid-October to explore a Nordic destination. We’ll have 6 full days on-site. I’m torn between the Faroe Islands and Lofoten... What about the weather and the cost of accommodation? My budget is a maximum of 120 € per night. I don’t want to rush but take the time to explore just one part of these islands and avoid running around too much. The Faroe Islands might be pricier and less lively. Lofoten requires more flight connections... In terms of landscapes and 6-day hikes, could you share your feedback?

My request is a bit vague.

Thanks for reading!

Penelope

Hi everyone, so happy VoyageForum is back up and running! I’m planning to explore Sardinia at the end of April and in May 2025. Could anyone tell me what the must-see spots are for this destination? I know there are tons of stunning beaches and, like everyone, I’m drawn to them. But I’m actually more interested in visits (towns, remarkable sites, curiosities) than the usual touristy spots. Looking forward to your enlightened tips!

Hello fellow travelers! My husband and I would like to spend a few weeks in Jan-Feb-Mar 2025 in Spain.☺️ Our main criteria: shopping, hiking, long walks along the sea, climate 15-24°C, easy transport, languages (French, English, or Spanish), 🥂🏌️‍♀️🚴🎾☀️🎼🏝️ We’ve already been to Marbella and Alicante. However, we don’t know these places apart from suggestions from friends who’ve visited them. 🤔 We’re thinking of renting an apartment or condo near the sea and maybe a car from time to time! We’ve visited Spain a lot and really enjoy it given the distance and climate for these months away from the cold! 😊 Looking forward to your suggestions and tips! Thanks so much! 🤗 Oh, and we’re seniors but in great shape! 💃🕺😉

Hi everyone, I’m sharing my draft itinerary with you because I just booked our flight tickets, and I feel like it’s quite late in the season. So, I’d like to be sure about my stops before reserving the hotels. I’ll be traveling alone with my two adult children. We want to prioritize outdoor walks, avoid too many indoor visits (both for budget and preference), and not spend too much time on the road.

D1: Arrival at 9 AM in Malaga, day in Malaga and overnight stay D2: Head straight to Nerja (1-hour drive) and spend the night there D3: Head straight to Granada (1.5-hour drive), spend the day and night there D4: Granada. Visit the Alhambra (Nasrid Palaces tour at 5 PM) and spend the night D5: Head to Ronda (2.5-hour drive) and spend the night D6: White Villages and overnight in Ronda D7: Head straight to the Costa del Sol (e.g., Estepona), spend the day and night there D8: Return to Malaga to catch our flight

There you go! This itinerary takes into account that we’d like to do a circuit starting from Seville in a few years. That said, it’d be a shame to miss something doable from Malaga.

Questions: Since the Alhambra visit is only at 5 PM, and we’d already have the day to explore Granada, would arriving the day before be a mistake? Or should we skip this day and dedicate it elsewhere (Costa del Sol? Head toward Tabernas?)? The old town appeals to me, but maybe the Sacromonte neighborhood isn’t essential... Same question for Ronda: should we dedicate a full day to it, or combine Ronda and the White Villages in one day? Note that we love wandering around villages outside, so that might answer my question! :)

Final question: Is it better to rent the car at Malaga Airport or in the city? If we rent at the airport, we’d need a hotel with parking, which doesn’t seem easy. Or stay outside the city and park for free near the center if possible? I’ve read comments about taking a taxi to Malaga and then picking up the rental car at the airport the next morning. The taxi would really need to be affordable...

Thanks so much for your feedback and suggestions for visits during this little circuit. Have a great day, everyone! Christine

Hello, We’re heading to the Lofoten Islands from February 17 to 24, 2026—my husband (a fishing enthusiast), our 7-year-old daughter, and me. The flight tickets are booked (arrival and departure from Evenes), the car is rented, and the itinerary is more or less set. I just have a few questions left and was hoping to get some advice/tips from your experiences. We’ve planned two bases: Henningsvær and Nusfjord. Originally, I had planned:

Arrival at Evenes at 2:30 PM, pick up the car, drive (3h) to the Lofoten Islands 4 nights in Henningsvær 3 nights in Nusfjord Drive to the airport (5h) and departure at 3:20 PM

Looking back and considering the unpredictable weather, I’m thinking that a 5-hour drive on the last day before returning the car and catching our flight might not be the best idea. So now, I’m considering spending 3 nights in Henningsvær, 3 nights in Nusfjord, and one last night on the way to the airport. What do you think? Would you have any villages to recommend along the route between the Lofoten Islands and Narvik where we could spend the night and maybe explore for our last 24 hours in Norway? A few practical questions: I’ve heard that most shops, restaurants, cafés, etc., will be closed since it’s the off-season, but on the other hand, I see that Henningsvær is a village that comes alive during the skrei fishing season. I was wondering if everything would be closed or if it would still be possible to visit shops, workshops, and galleries. As for skrei fishing, my husband would love to fish with locals for 2 or 3 days. I found some options online, but nothing’s open yet for February. Will it be possible to join skrei fishing with locals or certain organizations? One last question for now: should we bring our own snowshoes, or will it be possible to rent them there (including for kids)? Thanks in advance, and have a great day!

Hi everyone,

We’re planning an 8–9 day trip in October 2025. The goal is to take it slow, enjoy two spots for hiking, photography, and soaking up nature—without rushing. Iceland’s seeing a tourism boom in places like the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon, which we’d rather skip.

We’re thinking of spending 3–4 days on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Then, we could add the peninsula near Reykjavík (where the airport is) or head up to Blönduós in the north. Another option is taking the ferry via Flatey Island to reach the northwest fjords and just explore the southern part.

There’s also an airport in Ísafjörður—we could fly there and base ourselves in the Westfjords for the whole week… Or check out the north around Akureyri. Alternatively, would it be more doable and practical to stay around Vík?

Thanks for reading!

Hi there, we’re planning a 15-day trip to the Azores at the end of April/beginning of May. We’re torn between São Miguel and Terceira, or São Miguel and Flores—could you give us some advice based on the season? We saw a free flight offer within 24 hours of arriving in São Miguel—does this apply to French residents? Thanks

Hello,

After a road trip in Quebec in 2025, we’re looking for a destination this year (around September 20th to October 10th) where we can settle in 2 or 3 spots and explore the area without having to drive 200 km every day to see something. I’ve had my eye on northeastern Spain for a while, and I thought of the Basque Country and its hinterland (Rioja? Navarre?) to avoid too many kilometers from Belgium. Bilbao and San Sebastián seem like must-sees, and beyond that, we love the vibe of small ports, medieval old towns (like Onati), hiking in beautiful landscapes, and cycling on greenways. I also spotted the Bardenas Reales, but it might be too far from a home base—unless we make it an extra stop... Based on this, can you recommend where it’d be interesting to set up base? Have a great evening, Claire

Hi there,

I’m planning a trip from Gran Canaria to El Hierro to Tenerife at the end of winter.

My current dilemma is where to book accommodations on Gran Canaria.

We’re planning to stay 7 nights on the island, and our goal is to hike, drive along small roads, discover a few villages, and admire some beaches (just for the views, not for swimming!).

Since the island is quite rugged, the journeys can be long even if the distances are short. I’d like to avoid driving 2 hours every morning and evening to reach the area we want to explore...

I’m thinking of splitting the 7 nights into 4 somewhere and 3 elsewhere.

But where? It seems the center and the northwest might be the best options.

Any advice, given that I’m mainly looking for peace and quiet, a beautiful view, a secluded spot, or a quiet village?

Thanks! :)

Hi there, We’re spending a week in Porto this summer and plan to explore the surrounding area. A visit to the Douro seems unavoidable! We’ll be discovering a lot once we’re there, but we’re still looking for recommendations on where to stay... Could you help us out? We’ve read that spending a night in a quinta would be great, but it seems way out of our budget. Or is it? We’ve set a max budget of around 150 €. Otherwise, we’re looking for charming little villages with nice restaurants to end the day on a high note. We’re open to all suggestions—thanks in advance for your help! Delphine and Fred

Hi there, 🙂

Summer 2027 is going to be Norwegian for us! We’re heading to the Lofoten Islands first, then Senja, near Tromsø, and finally the North Cape. We’ll likely start from northern Finland (flight tickets and car rentals are more affordable there).

I’d like to book accommodations early to have more options. Good value-for-money places go fast in these pricey Nordic destinations...

But where should we book?

We’re planning to stay around ten nights in the Lofoten Islands.

What’s the best approach?

One place in the central part and explore from there?

One place in the south and another in the center?

Or one in the south, one in the center, and one in the north (3-4-3 nights)?

Our main goal is hiking.

Thanks for your tips!😉