Posts by AlexPlora

You're welcome! And no, not necessarily! The main thing is that in the south and southeast, December to February is a hot and fairly humid period, with occasional big storms and several days of rain. But that doesn’t mean it rains non-stop as soon as you move away from the coast. In the Northeast, especially around Bahia and further north, you can also have great conditions during this time. Chapada Diamantina might be trickier for hikes because of the rain, but it’s not necessarily off-limits. You should mainly choose regions based on seasonal weather rather than systematically opposing the coast and inland areas.

Hey, honestly, yes—the south of Brazil is definitely worth the detour, especially if you’ve got nearly two months ahead of you. That said, I’d recommend skipping Porto Alegre for a first trip; it seems less interesting than other spots in the region.

If you land in São Paulo, you can take it easy heading down the coast, stopping by Ilha Grande and Paraty before reaching Florianópolis. It’s a nice mix of beaches, nature, small colonial towns, and that classic Brazilian vibe. Florianópolis is totally worth it if you love beaches, hiking, and places where you can easily settle in for a few days.

After that, you can gradually make your way up to Rio, where you could easily spend several days without getting bored, then keep heading north.

For an itinerary until mid-February, I’d suggest: - 2-3 days in São Paulo to get a feel for the city; - 5-7 days in Paraty and Ilha Grande, with their colonial villages, beaches, and hikes; - 5-7 days in Florianópolis (or even longer if you really like the vibe); - 5-6 days in Rio de Janeiro—it’d be a shame to rush through it; - A few days in Bahia, exploring Salvador, Morro de São Paulo, or the Chapada Diamantina region if you enjoy hiking (in my opinion, this is where the trip can take on a whole new dimension, with a culture and atmosphere quite different from the south).

You could also push further to Recife and Olinda, or even head northeast to the beaches around Maceió or João Pessoa if you’re prioritizing sun and sea.

One small heads-up: December to February is Brazilian summer, but that doesn’t mean guaranteed sunshine everywhere. The south can get heavy rain and really humid days, even if the heat and beaches are still a big draw. If your goal is to maximize good weather, I’d focus a good chunk of the trip on the Nordeste, though I wouldn’t rule out Florianópolis entirely.

And since you’ve already been to Iguaçu, no need to go back—you’ve got plenty to fill those seven weeks without rushing from place to place.

Stick with São Paulo, then the southeast coast, followed by Florianópolis, Rio, Bahia, and the Nordeste. You might even want to take a domestic flight to save time on transport.

Brazil is huge—better to savor a few regions than try to tick every box on the map. And if you’re traveling solo, you’ll probably meet tons of people in hostels, especially around the beaches.

Have an amazing trip—you’re heading out at a perfect time for this kind of adventure!

Absolutely! Costa Rica is totally doable, even for someone with mobility challenges. You just need to choose your stops carefully: prioritize beaches, waterfalls accessible by car, and boat excursions, and avoid long hikes in the parks. It’s best to plan fewer moves and take your time, since some roads can be exhausting. With an adapted itinerary, you can really enjoy it!

What an adventure! You can really feel through this story that going home wasn’t quite on the cards yet… And you made the right call extending the trip by crossing British Columbia and Alberta. Between the bald eagles, bison, moose, vast landscapes, and those roads that sometimes seem to vanish at the edge of the world, there’s something almost surreal about this part of Canada. Hard to imagine a better welcome committee!

I’d lean more toward the Northeast if your priority is to wrap up with a few truly "chill" days. During the southern hemisphere summer, the Costa Verde can actually be a bit cool and humid, so Ilha Grande might not be the best wildcard.

If I were you, I’d look at an itinerary that starts in Rio, then heads to Iguazú, followed by Salvador, and finishes on the coast, rather than adding too many stops. And with teens, having 3-4 days in the same place at the end of the trip is pretty ideal. 😊

Around Salvador, Praia do Forte seems like a great spot to end: it’s pretty, beachy, easy to get to, and lively enough that you won’t feel like you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere.

For flights from Iguazú to Salvador and the return to France, an "open jaw" ticket works really well—no need to always go back to Rio if the schedules and prices line up.

Hi Laurent, yes, the itinerary is totally doable in 15 days, but in January you’ll still need to stay flexible: in Cappadocia, the cold and snow can sometimes throw a wrench in the works.

Starting with Istanbul, then Cappadocia, followed by Pamukkale, and finally Ephesus, plus a few days on the Aegean coast, seems like the smartest way to go.

For Cappadocia, I’d recommend 3 days instead of 2—just so you’re not rushing and have a chance to enjoy good weather for the landscapes and maybe even a hot-air balloon ride.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t necessarily drive everywhere: some trips are pretty long, and domestic flights can save you a ton of time.

For accommodations, in January you should find some great quality-to-price ratios, especially outside the most touristy areas. Sounds like an awesome plan! Turkey in winter can be really stunning, with way fewer crowds. 😊

Your itinerary is super well put together for a solo traveler looking for maximum diversity in three weeks. You go from the skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur to the muddy trails of Taman Negara, wrapping up with the colonial vibe of Ipoh and the street art of Penang. It’s a dynamic trip, but the downtime in Malacca and Penang gives you a chance to catch your breath. Ending in Singapore is a great idea for a dose of futuristic modernity before your flight home.

This travel journal is truly eye-opening! Turkmenistan is a country we don’t hear much about, and your story makes me want to see what lies behind its reputation as a closed-off place.

I especially love the little details of your trip: the hours spent at the border, the trucks, filling up for 3 €, the roundabouts with their horses and carpets... It’s those kinds of things that bring a journal to life and help us picture daily life there. And knowing you barely ran into any other tourists in 5 days gives this wild sense of really getting away from it all.

Thanks for taking the time to share this experience—especially with such concrete details on agencies and budget-friendly travel options!

Hi there, a recruiter won’t necessarily see "2 years without working"—they might also see a recent graduate who chose to take a step back, travel, step out of their comfort zone, and live a real international experience. It really depends on how you frame that period.

And in your case, you already have something quite interesting: your Working Holiday Visa (WHV) in New Zealand. You already know that you enjoy traveling and that you’re capable of going alone to the other side of the world. If you then spend several months traveling as a couple, it can even become a valuable experience to highlight: autonomy, adaptability, language learning, handling unexpected situations, organization, budgeting, discovering new environments, etc. These aren’t "technical" skills, but they’re far from useless in the professional world.

In my opinion, the real risk would be staying at home for 2 years waiting to land the perfect permanent contract while you desperately want to leave. A gap in a CV can be justified. Regretting having postponed a project that was close to your heart is sometimes much harder to swallow.

And since you’re not necessarily planning to leave the working world entirely, you can always try taking on fixed-term contracts, short-term assignments, temp work, or one-off experiences before leaving. Even if it’s not exactly the ideal job matching your degree, it’ll give you some initial professional experience and show that you stayed active.

As for your return, I think the most important thing is to never present your trip as a gap to hide. On the contrary, own it. On your CV, you can easily include a section about your travels with 2-3 concrete points. And in an interview, if someone asks why you took such a journey, you can simply say it was about living that experience before starting your career—that you had the opportunity and knew you’d regret it if you didn’t take it, but now you feel ready to settle down and build what comes next.

Personally, I find this much more coherent than a recent graduate locking themselves into a permanent contract just because they’re afraid of straying from the classic path. Of course, there’ll always be a recruiter who’ll say your career path isn’t "linear." But there’ll also be many who’ll appreciate the personality behind the CV. And most importantly: you’re in the 20-25 age range, have a Master’s in Earth and Environmental Sciences, and—if I understood correctly—no dependents. This is probably one of the few times in your life when taking off for several months will be relatively simple. So if you really want to go and it’s financially feasible: I’d go for it.

Try these: 1) 2 nights in San Gerardo de Dota (cloud forest, quetzals, mountain silence); 2) 2 nights in Turrialba (small roads, coffee, cocoa, Pacuare River, a rural and lively Costa Rica); 3) 2 nights in Bijagua/Tenorio (jungle, hot springs, and Rio Celeste, far from the hustle of Arenal); 4) 3 nights on the Osa Peninsula (primary jungle, macaws, monkeys, deserted beaches); 5) 2 nights in Pavones/Golfito (the end of the world, villages, surf, and long beaches where you’ll barely see anyone); 6) 2 nights in Uvita (waterfalls, forest, and ocean to slow down before heading back); 7) and the last night in San José.

Honestly, for a 5-day trip for two, I’d stay based in Istanbul rather than changing hotels. Tuzla is to the east, so you’ll need to factor in some travel time on GP days, but it saves you from lugging suitcases around, and Istanbul is definitely worth visiting.

For sightseeing, the classics are obviously Sultanahmet (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern), the Grand Bazaar, then a stroll toward Galata/Karaköy and the Bosphorus waterfront. The Bosphorus ferry is also a pretty simple activity and lets you see Istanbul from a different angle.

For something a little less touristy, I’d check out Kadıköy and Moda on the Asian side. It’s much livelier and more local, with tons of little restaurants, cafés, and bars. It can also be nice to take the ferry instead of the metro to cross over.

Since you’re in Tuzla for the track, you could also plan a half-day or evening in Pendik/Tuzla instead of always heading back to central Istanbul. And if you like slightly offbeat spots, the Princes’ Islands could be a great option for a day trip—Büyükada in particular: walks, old houses, a vibe completely different from the city.

For accommodation, I’d aim for Kadıköy or maybe Karaköy/Galata. Kadıköy can be especially handy if you want to enjoy the Asian side and avoid being stuck in ultra-touristy areas. For GP days, though, I’d double-check real travel times to Tuzla—Istanbul traffic can be pretty heavy.

Hey Patrick. At 67, with 22 trips outside Europe under your belt, it’s clear you’re not just a tourist ticking off boxes—you’re a real traveler who knows how to craft your own journey.

What stands out in your recap is the elegance of independent, well-paced travel. No more falling into the trap of the overpriced national JR Pass that everyone bought on autopilot. You dissected your needs, opted for surgical precision (the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass), and handled the rest à la carte with an IC Card. At an average of 46 € per night on Booking in 2026, you prove you can explore contemporary Japan without getting slammed by tourist inflation.

Special mention for your culinary philosophy. Skipping the Wagyu beef or Kobe hype—often just a tourist trap for influencers—to focus on Onomichi oysters, okonomiyaki, a measured omakase, and those quick combini breakfasts with views whizzing by—that’s the essence of smart travel. It’s real, sensory, and far from Instagram clichés.

Your route also shows a knack for balance: alternating solo introspection (the Shimanami Kaido by bike, the Nakasendo trails) with friendly connections. Choosing to step off the hyper-touristed paths while keeping a few strong anchors (like Kyoto’s Aoi Matsuri or Miyajima) reveals a sharp sense of timing.

In short, a raw, no-frills travel journal that makes you want to slow down and repack your bag.

What’s your most vivid memory from that solo stretch on the Shimanami Kaido compared to the buzz of your urban stops?

Sorrento was never part of the Amalfi Coast. Still, it can be a good gateway to explore the coastline: Positano is quite close, and Sorrento is very well connected from Naples.

For Delhi, a well-located mid-range hotel is Radisson Blu Marina Hotel Connaught Place. For Amritsar, Hotel Golden Lagoon is right next to the Golden Temple and is a good mid-price option.

There’s plenty to do without rushing: Copacabana and Ipanema, of course, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, but also Santa Teresa, Lapa, the botanical garden, and a walk in the Tijuca Forest. Rio also has a real natural dimension, with numerous trails and waterfalls in the forest.

You could also plan a slightly different activity: hiking and a boat trip. For getting around, the metro is very practical for the main tourist areas; it’s also integrated with buses, trains, BRT, and VLT.

Personally, I’d choose Ilha Grande over Angra dos Reis if you’re looking for a few days of escapism and beaches. It fits much better with Rio and lets you slow down a bit after the city. You can hike, take boat trips, swim, and snorkel there.

Fernando de Noronha, on the other hand, is a great idea if snorkeling or diving is a priority. The waters are warm and rich in marine life, with turtles, rays, and dolphins. The official site mentions an average water temperature of around 26°C and visibility up to 50 m for diving.

However, keep in mind that March marks the start of the wetter season in Noronha. There may be more clouds and rain, but that doesn’t mean water activities are off the table. The island’s administration notes that snorkeling and diving are still possible during this period, and rain doesn’t necessarily affect underwater visibility.

There’s also the natural pool of Atalaia, but access is regulated and limited daily, with prior booking required through ICMBio.

Recife is definitely doable at the end of March. The climate is warm year-round (around 26-28°C on average), and the rainiest period is June-August. You could even combine Recife with Olinda, which is really worth a visit.

Bonito is stunning for its crystal-clear rivers, fish, and natural activities, but it’s quite a detour from Rio/Ilha Grande. With only 17-18 days, I’m not sure I’d add it unless you’re particularly drawn to river snorkeling and ecotourism.

Based on currently published rates, fees can vary quite a bit depending on the network used. For example, Banco Agrícola charges up to $3.25 including VAT for a withdrawal made on another local network. BAC, on the other hand, shows up to $3.39 per withdrawal at an ATM from another bank.

The Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero (El Salvador’s financial regulatory authority) also publishes bank commissions. The amounts have changed in recent years, so I’d be wary of old information found on forums—some still list $1 or $2, while current rates can be higher.

Also worth noting: El Salvador uses the US dollar, which makes things much simpler. With a French card that has no foreign exchange fees, there’s normally no euro-to-dollar conversion fee for card transactions. However, withdrawals may still incur the local ATM fee.

To minimize fees, aim for relatively large withdrawals rather than multiple small ones, and always check the commission amount displayed by the ATM before confirming. You can usually cancel if the fee isn’t acceptable.

Finally, for card payments at merchants, it’s often better to pay directly by card instead of withdrawing a lot of cash—when the merchant accepts it. And if a terminal offers a currency conversion, it’s usually best to choose payment in USD rather than accepting the terminal’s conversion offer.

Hi, the fees can indeed come from the Salvadoran ATM, even if your French bank doesn’t charge for withdrawals or currency exchange. The amount mainly depends on the bank and the type of card.