Discussions Patrick91230 took part in

Hello,

I’m currently planning a trip to Japan with my two kids.

Before going any further, my main question is about the budget. While flights are pretty straightforward—just compare prices—when it comes to daily expenses, I have no idea what to expect.

We’re thinking of traveling between mid-July (around the 19th, give or take 2-3 days) and mid-August (returning by August 20th at the latest). Duration: 15 days (though we could stretch it by 2-3 days if it makes sense price-wise). Family of 4, including two kids aged 9 and 12.

Before we had kids, we used to travel pretty "rough" and book things on the spot (we often took basic flights), but this time, it might be trickier. That said, we’re not looking for luxury—just somewhere decent to sleep and shower so we can save money for as many activities and sightseeing as possible.

For those who’ve recently had a family trip like this or are familiar with Japan, I’d love any advice—especially what a reasonable daily budget might look like (or at least the absolute minimum to make the trip feasible).

Thanks in advance!

P.S.: I’ll admit I struggled a bit with the categories, so if this post needs to be moved, no problem! ;-)

Can you change a visa OA to a visa O in Thailand at immigration without leaving the country?

To avoid paying for insurance that’s getting expensive

Hi everyone,

I’m starting to think about a trip to Japan, though I haven’t yet decided on the exact duration or itinerary, and I have a few questions for those who know the country well or have traveled there recently.

First, about getting around: what do you think are the most economical and reliable ways to travel across Japan and move between cities? I’m thinking of trains, overnight buses, domestic flights, regional passes, etc. I’m not necessarily looking for the fastest option, but rather a good balance between cost, simplicity, and reliability.

I also have a question about the return ticket. Since I don’t yet know how long I’ll stay in Japan—or even if I’ll return directly to France (I might continue to another Asian country)—is it mandatory to have a return or exit ticket before entering Japan? Would a ticket to another Asian country suffice?

Regarding accommodation, I usually prefer staying in youth hostels rather than hotels. Are hostels easy to find all over Japan, including outside Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka? And what’s the average budget per night for something clean and well-located?

Finally, I’d like to get an idea of the overall budget for the trip. Is Japan still relatively affordable when traveling simply, or do expenses add up quickly? I’m mainly thinking about:

transportation between cities; local transportation; youth hostels; food; potential domestic flights.

My plan is to travel fairly freely, without necessarily booking everything in advance, so I can adjust my itinerary or stay longer in places I like.

If anyone has traveled this way in Japan, I’d love to hear about your experiences, tips, and maybe an idea of the daily budget to expect.

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

As mentioned in a previous post, I’m heading to Hong Kong and then spending a month in China (passing through Shenzhen).

I’d like to have some cash on me, so I’m wondering where’s the best place to exchange? In Shenzhen city? At Hong Kong Airport? Somewhere else?

For Hong Kong/Macau, I was thinking of using my bank card + Octopus card—I’m not sure if that’s the right call.

Thanks for your insights!

We’re planning a trip to the Seychelles in summer 2027. We live in Lyon and I’m looking for all possible flight options. I’m interested in hearing from people who’ve flown from Barcelona with Emirates to Mahé (layover in Dubai). I’m wondering how easy parking is in Barcelona and how manageable it is to fly from there with two kids aged 10 and 13. Flights from Barcelona are cheaper than from Lyon or CDG. I’d love to hear from anyone who chose BCN with Emirates. If you’ve got other suggestions, I’m all ears. Thanks!

Hi,

We’ll be in Nepal from November 1st to 12th, 2026. We paid for our flight tickets with a Visa Premier card. Is it worth getting additional insurance? And if so, which one would you recommend? Thanks, Guylaine

I’ll have a long layover at Beijing Airport (PEK) on December 6, 2026. I arrive at Terminal 3 around 5:30 AM on Air China and depart at 6:15 PM, also with Air China, for an international flight. I’d like to stay in the transit zone, without leaving the airport or going through Chinese immigration, if possible. I’m just looking for a private room for a few hours, ideally 7-8 hours, so I can get some sleep and take a shower. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance for your tips! Jean-Philippe

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, 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.

Hi there, I’m planning a winter trip across India. Departing in early December and returning to France in mid-April. My main concern is finding an airline that offers this round-trip with the fewest hassles regarding cancellations or flight schedule changes. The unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East isn’t making this search any easier—recent reviews online about airlines from Gulf states describe quite a few struggles over the past few months. The direct Paris-Delhi round-trip flights offered by Air France or Air India are probably the safest options, but not the cheapest! Given this uncertainty, I’m still holding off on finalizing my ticket purchase... Maybe some of you India lovers on VoyageForum have tips or experiences to share? Thanks, and happy travels to all.

Hi,

Starting September 15, the visa exemption for Thailand will be reduced from 60 to 30 days.

Anyone entering before this date will still get 60 days.

A return or onward ticket (flight, bus, train) is mandatory.

20,000 baht or the equivalent in cash may be requested by immigration (random checks).

Land entries with a 30-day visa exemption will be limited to 2 per calendar year.

Hi, I’m planning a Paris–Hong Kong round trip with a return from Chongqing to Paris, spanning 28 days in November 2026.

The flight is with Air China, with a few hours’ layover in Beijing each time (I plan to stay inside the airport).

I’ve reread the conditions several times, but since I’m never entirely sure, I’d love your input.

Are we all clear that visa exemptions apply?

For arrival in Hong Kong, crossing the Hong Kong–China land border (via Shenzhen), and the return flight from Chongqing?

Thanks for your insights.

Hi everyone, Next January, I’m heading to India. My outbound flight is with Emirates from Paris to Dubai, then another Emirates flight from Dubai to Calcutta. Could anyone tell me how the connection works? I’ve heard there’s a dedicated Emirates zone, but how does it actually work in practice—I’ve got a 2-hour layover. Thanks so much! Take care.

Hi there, In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam. I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice. Has anyone here been in this situation recently?

Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding? Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival? Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient? Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?

Thanks for sharing your experiences! 😊

Hi there! Has anyone taken the direct flight from CDG to Las Vegas with Air France? Looking forward to your feedback!

Hi there,

For those who’ve experienced it, what’s the weather like in Shanghai at the end of December? I’ve heard it’s cold, but coming from France, is the winter milder than in Lyon, for example?

I’m tempted to spend the Christmas holidays in Shanghai and the surrounding areas (Nanjing, Suzhou) with my family—kids are 11 and 2. It’d be a bummer if the little one catches a cold over there.

Generally, is this a good time for simple family visits to the main spots, restaurants in the city, indoor heating, and outdoor walks?

Hi, It's all in the title—this means nothing's getting through, so no more oil. In Europe, kerosene reserves are still good, but by the end of April, flights will have to be reduced. European airports fear running out of kerosene if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened within three weeks

Bluff or not? Stay tuned....

Hi there. I’m planning a trip to Chile, and the fares from the Colombian airline Avianca are really appealing. Way cheaper than Air France, for example. That said, the reviews I’ve seen online aren’t great. What do you think of this airline? Have any of you taken long-haul flights with Avianca? Thanks in advance for your replies. Eric

Hi there!

I’ll be in Hong Kong from December 31 to January 3, 2027.

Any recommendations for things to see or do?

I’ll be staying in the Kowloon district.

I’d love to visit Lantau Island—what’s the best way to get there? And would you recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket for the cable car? Also, is there an entry fee for the Big Buddha?

Hi there, I’ll be traveling to Japan this coming August. We’ve finalized our itinerary and booked our flight tickets. Now I’m at the stage of buying train tickets for the few segments we’ll need to cover: Tokyo - Hakone Hakone - Kyoto Kyoto - Osaka Osaka - Tokyo Here are my questions: a) Is it possible to buy train tickets for these segments from Canada? b) If so, which website should I use to do this? c) And if it is possible, will we be able to print our tickets from Canada? d) If it’s not possible, where in Tokyo should I go to buy these tickets when I arrive?

Thanks a bunch,

Mario Séguin Québec, Canada