Discussions Tatra took part in

nous sommes un couple habitues à voyager seuls sac à dos . nous souhaitons partir pour un mois voir un mois et demi pour faire l'Ouzbékistan et le kirghistan . sur le forum très peu d'infos récentes. si quelqu'un y est alle il y a moins de 5ans peut il prendre contact pour communication de circuit et infos concrètes ... merci pour l'instant nous n'avons rien prévu sachant que nous concrétisons nos séjours quand nous sommes sur place .

Hi I’m planning a trip around Montenegro in May 2027. I’m flying with AIR MONTENEGRO and I have a "portable oxygen concentrator" that I need to keep with me in the cabin. I can’t figure out if the airline allows it or what steps I need to take. Thanks for your help

A few days ago, I came across a chart showing a number of cities around the world ranked by cost and quality of life. The source is the Numbeo database, based in Serbia, dated August 2026. There will undoubtedly be a thousand possible questions and criticisms. The main objection is methodological. Anyone with an internet connection can rate a city, so the sample is neither random nor representative, and its size varies enormously from one city to another. Numbeo describes the ranking as reflecting the perceptions and experiences of its contributors rather than measured results.



Is this an appropriate topic for VF? I think so. When traveling abroad, you notice huge differences in lifestyle and naturally ask yourself: is it better here than there, or than at home? The question arises differently depending on the type of trip—short or medium-term tourism, or medium to long-term residence.

And we’re back to the methodology problem. Since anyone can submit ratings to the database, how do we know whether the ranking of a city like Novgorod, Quito, or Islamabad (chosen at random) comes from travelers, foreign residents, or only people who are native to the place and have never left their hometown?

The cost of living in the database is indexed based on restaurant prices, transportation, services, housing (rented or purchased), and income. Fair enough. For quality of life, they mention safety, medical services, traffic, pollution, and climate. I would have liked to see social quality of life (interpersonal relationships, nightlife, shows, restaurants, etc.) as well as the possibility of pleasant and interesting excursions included.

That said, I don’t think it’s completely meaningless. In any case, it can serve as a starting point for those interested in the topic. So, I’m posting the original chart here, along with two versions with my personal annotations. A few comments:

- In principle and in my opinion, there should be a simple cost-quality relationship, which I represent with a diagonal sector running from the bottom-left quadrant to the top-right quadrant—that is, from cheap but low-quality cities to expensive cities offering a higher quality of life. It’s no surprise to find several Australian cities at one extreme of this sector, for example. Take Melbourne: sure, it’s a very pleasant city to live in, but living or visiting there is very expensive.



- The bottom-right and top-left quadrants: these are the cities that don’t fit this expected relationship:

o Bottom-right quadrant: expensive cities with mediocre quality of life. London and Paris are here, along with several U.S. cities. No surprise there. The worst is Los Angeles, closely followed by London, Paris, New York, Chicago, Milan... I don’t think that’s a huge revelation. o Top-left quadrant: relatively affordable cities with a good quality of life. We find cities in Brazil (Curitiba, Florianópolis), Turkey (Antalya), Spain, and Portugal. I’m intrigued by the presence of Russian cities and Islamabad—again, who are the people rating these cities?



I was drawn to this chart after returning from a trip to Japan. I know some travelers don’t think much of Tokyo, but I had a good impression of it. So, I’m inclined to agree with ranking Tokyo right near Lisbon in the best quadrant. I’m even wondering if it wouldn’t be a good idea to move there for a few months. Other cities in Japan could be worth considering...

What do you think?

Hi there,

I’m planning a backpacking trip to Kazakhstan with my 8-year-old daughter this summer. She’s used to backpacking trips. I’m brainstorming the sights to see and could really use some advice.

Ideally, I’d like to visit:

8 days in the Almaty region (Charyn, Kolsai, Kaindy, Altyn Emel, etc.) 1 day in Turkestan (mausoleum, caravanserai) (overnight train from Almaty, 16 hours) 1 day in Aktau (overnight train from Turkestan, 35 hours!!) 1 day in Mangystau 1 day in Astana (flight from Aktau) 1 day in Burabay (by train)

The distances are huge, especially between Almaty and Aktau, and Aktau to Astana.

Is the Aktau stop essential, given that the Mangystau desert looks stunning (but the excursion is expensive—300 € for three people), while Aktau itself seems pretty dull (a run-down Soviet city)?

Are Astana and Burabay (which also looks amazing) must-sees?

Is Turkestan worth it if we’ve already seen Uzbekistan and its wonders?

I’m torn between four scenarios:

1. Almaty + train to Astana and return to France from Astana: simple and not too expensive 2. Almaty-Turkestan-Aktau-Astana (train + flight = very expensive!!) 3. Almaty-Aktau-Astana (flights—very, very expensive but fast) 4. Almaty-Turkestan-Aktau and return to France from Aktau, but that means combining two different airlines with two one-way tickets and all the risks that entails...

Right now, only Flyarystan has released tickets for this summer, and the Almaty-Aktau-Astana flights cost nearly 1000 € for three people with luggage (200 € per person round-trip).

For the Almaty region, I could even spend two weeks there—there’s so much to do and see. That’d be a fifth scenario, but I’d really like to take the overnight train and see the capital and the Mangystau desert too.

International flights are operated by Turkish Airlines to Astana and Almaty, but they don’t serve Aktau. Pegasus flies to Aktau but not to Almaty or Astana on the days I’d want.

So, I’m looking for feedback from people who’ve visited Mangystau and Burabay—is it worth investing the time and money in those excursions, or is the Almaty region alone enough for the trip?

Thanks to all the great travel journals I’ve read—they’ve already given me plenty of ideas!

I’m reporting to VF that my message count dropped from around 5,160 to 5,090 over the last three days.

Is there now an issue with the message count, an unintended disappearance, or some kind of pruning?

I’m asking because I haven’t received any info about this.

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.

Booked a hotel in Hong Kong for 3 nights - displayed price with a good non-refundable Agoda deal at 401 €, listed as the last room. After payment, the same room was still available for 5% cheaper. Agoda refuses to refund the difference. You end up feeling scammed.

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.

The latest travel journal about Turkmenistan dates back to 2019. Here’s a quick update on this vast desert country, which is now a bit easier to visit than before.

This is my first travel journal. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. The country is slowly opening up, but it’s still possible to visit sites where you’ll be completely alone. In five days, I saw two Hongkongers, a few Germans, and a Chilean at the crater, ten Chinese people in a capital bazaar, and that’s it!

It’s possible to visit Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan. The easiest and most economical way is to take a taxi to the border from Bukhara. The trip takes a little over an hour.

Crossing the border takes quite a while because many Turkmen bring back items bought in Uzbekistan to resell in Turkmenistan. For example, diapers, baby products, or beauty products. It took me over 2.5 hours to cross the border. To visit Turkmenistan, it’s mandatory to have a guide and go through a travel agency. British agencies often offer three-, five-, or seven-day trips for over 1,500 or 2,000 €. But if your budget is more limited, you can contact a few Turkmen agencies directly by email, and they’ll make you an offer between 700 and 1,300 € for three to seven days. I took a five-day trip from Turkmenabat in the northeast of the country to Dashoguz in the north. The goal was to visit the main UNESCO-listed sites, including Merv, and archaeological sites like Nisa or Gonur Tepe.

Your guide will also be your driver. They’ll pick you up at the border. The formalities are very long because customs officers have to stamp multiple documents, and obtaining the visa you previously requested from your travel agency requires several checks. But the process goes relatively smoothly, even if each step takes a while.

Once on the other side, the first surprise is the brand-new highway all the way to Turkmenabat. A very long line of trucks stretches for several kilometers on the Turkmen side to cross the border into Uzbekistan. According to my guide, Turkmen trucks transport gas and cotton (though not this season, since the harvest is in September), but they mainly fill up their tanks because fuel is much cheaper in Turkmenistan. A full tank for a car costs about 3 €, which is unbeatable.



From the Farap border post, the goal is to reach the city of Mary, which is home to the UNESCO-listed site of Merv in its suburbs, about thirty kilometers away. This city is known as a foundation by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC under the name Alexandria of Margiana. Several fortresses are visible.



After more than three hours on the road, we have lunch at a Turkish restaurant called Aladdin. Several quotes from the president are visible along the highway, but the road is in good condition, and we move along easily. This will be by far the best road in the country—things will get much worse later.



Roundabouts are particularly interesting because they feature emblems of Turkmen culture, like the dog, a carpet, the Ahal Teke horse, or Muslim symbols, even though the presence of Islamic artifacts is quite limited.

Hi, I’m thinking of heading to Malaysia soon. I’ve seen some great prices and direct flights from Paris with Malaysia Airlines. Is it a reliable airline? Thanks for your feedback!

Hello everyone on this forum! I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it? Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples: - - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"! - - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country??? - - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc. Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo. I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.

Hi Community,

We're heading to South America with our converted truck, which is a light vehicle (3,500 kg limit) that we’re shipping by boat in October this year (2026). But after weighing it, we’re at 4,500 kg. Based on your experience, do you think we’ll get stopped in South America (Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and southern Brazil) because of this? Are there police checks for overweight vehicles? Has this happened to any of you?

Thanks in advance for your experiences and advice!

Les Megy Rozé Un Petit Voyage en Plus

Hi, I booked an Etihad ticket on their website for Dusseldorf-Abu Dhabi. In the first name field, I entered all my first names (something I never do and I regret it, but the site was confusing). Everything is spelled correctly, but the problem is that I just received my new passport and only my first two first names and the first letter of the third appear—there’s no trace of the last one.

I called Etihad, and of course, they tried to charge me $100 USD to remove that last first name. But I’m hesitant because usually, I only put my first first name and not the others, and I’ve never had an issue... So I’m wondering if having that extra first name, which isn’t on my passport, could get me denied at check-in. Thanks for your feedback!

Hello,

Back in February, I booked a flight with Air France-KLM from Lyon to San Diego with a layover in Amsterdam (flights operated by KLM). The flight is scheduled for late August. My Lyon→Amsterdam flight was canceled by KLM in June, and a replacement flight the evening before was booked for me. So, I’ll end up spending the night at Amsterdam Airport to catch my flight to San Diego the next morning.

Since the cancellation happened more than 14 days before departure, I know I’m not entitled to financial compensation (EU Regulation 261/2004). But am I entitled to reimbursement for a hotel night in Amsterdam?

Hi there, Do you know of any good travel insurance? Usually, I go with the one from the agency. But this time, I want to travel independently, and I'm a bit lost.

Some people told me that when you pay with a credit card, you get the bank's insurance. But after checking with the bank, that's not true. Or else, you have to add an extra option and pay for it monthly.

So, I'm looking for insurance that covers cancellation, repatriation, lost luggage, etc. Thanks for your tips!

Hi there, A friend has osteoarthritis in the knee and a meniscus problem, treated with regular injections. Do you know of any insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions in case their knee locks up in Africa? Thanks a bunch!

Hi, I’m going to Turkey for 3 weeks. I’ve heard that you can’t book through Booking.com once you’re there and that everything has to be reserved in advance. Is it true that Booking.com doesn’t work in Turkey? Thanks to anyone who’s already been or is there—if it’s true, how do you handle bookings?

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.