Posts by Manondugard

Is it possible to do wild camping, are there campsites and supplies along the way, and water? Thanks for your answers, Pierrick

Hey, that’s a funny way to interpret "wild camping" if you’re looking for campsites, right? Wild camping means having enough food in your pack and restocking as needed in the villages you pass through. As for water, there’s plenty—streams, rivers, etc.—and purification tablets in your bag. That’s what wild camping is all about. Just be careful if you make a fire not to get spotted by the ONF agents (and make sure to put it out afterward). When it’s really windy, it’s better to do it in a rock hollow. I’m often in these parts since I live nearby and I’m in the forest every day. I’m past the age for wild camping due to the lack of comfort, but I come across great quiet spots far from everything every day, thinking I’d love to bivouac there. Plus, when it comes to food (except for meat unless you know how to hunt without a gun), everything else is within reach, and I come back every day with my backpack full of wild fruits (chestnuts, arbutus berries, apples, blackberries, etc.), wild salads (dandelions, purslane, wild leeks, wild lettuce, etc.), and loads of mushroom varieties—enough to make super vitamin-packed organic meals (that’s wild camping for you!). For meat, you can drop in twice a week on hunting days at the hunters’ cabins, where they usually cook and eat their game on the spot while socializing with them. As for fish, no problem in the streams or elsewhere—you can catch some gudgeon for frying or even better if you know how to catch them. Otherwise, right now, almost all campsites are closed, and your post doesn’t say when you want to go.

Is it possible to do "wild" camping, are there campsites and supplies at the stages, and water? Thanks for your answers Pierrick

Hey, You scout out spots during the day to settle in, then come back at nightfall to set up quietly. For campsites, you’ve got your search engine. But you’re gonna freeze your butt off, that’s for sure 😄

Dear VoyageForum members,

For the past two months, I’ve been checking flight ticket prices to spend 4.5 weeks in Thailand from early July to early August. I’m flying from Brussels with a young child, so I want to avoid layovers. That’s why I’m only looking at Thai Airways’ website and only choosing direct flights.

At the end of August, I saw tickets for 955 € per person. On October 1st, they were 1225 €. Today (October 22nd), the price is the same as on October 1st. (Same dates: Departure: July 4th, Return: August 7th.)

My question is: is it possible that these prices will drop significantly in the coming months?

Note: I clear my browser cache before each search, which I always do during the week and in the evening. This time, we also checked with my work computer, which has a VPN. So, the price isn’t influenced by cookies.

Thanks in advance for your feedback and advice.

Damien

Hey, Your destination and dates in July-August mean prices are likely to rise quickly in the coming months because flights will fill up fast. Personally, since I don’t travel to tourist destinations or during school holidays, I do the opposite and book my flights 10-15 days before my chosen departure date. In your case, you’ve chosen the most expensive options (capital-to-capital, July-August, no layovers, and two dates falling on weekends). If you don’t want to change your plan, at least try nearby airports (using all airlines on Google Flights). Otherwise, the cheapest flights are those with long layovers—I choose them for the price and to enjoy visiting the cities where I have layovers without paying extra to get there. I think with long flights, a kid needs to stretch their legs (a layover is ideal for that). The cheapest flights are also usually the early morning ones. It also depends on your exact destination (Bangkok, Phuket, etc.). For your dates, there are flights with a short layover for around 900 € with a single airline for both legs (Cathay Pacific).

Good evening, I don’t think it’s specifically this forum that’s affected, but rather VoyageForum as a whole hasn’t quite regained its former glory since Covid. First, because the closure lasted so long—some people developed other habits or lost interest. Second, because I don’t really think this type of forum format holds the same appeal as before. Social media has taken over and is probably consulted far more for travel "info." We look for photos, posts, reviews, and stories to prepare. And if we want advice, we also have AI to help plan our trips. We’re seeing the same decline in interest on Le Routard. Too bad for those who enjoyed exchanging ideas and feeding—and being fed by—the forum. Apparently, it’s of less and less interest, and participation has dropped significantly.

Hey, In the "New discussions" section of this forum, there have been 34 new posts in the last 14 days that haven’t received any replies, and 89 new posts that have gotten responses. I wouldn’t call this a deserted forum—it’s actually active, even very active (and way more varied in terms of member exchanges compared to Le Routard, where it’s basically the same 5 or 6 regulars answering everything, with very few new faces).

okay okay, interpret it however you want, but when you're facing a problem or a nitpicky cop, it’s not what this law says 😅

Stop stressing so much about safety in Colombia. You feel safer there than in France. I was there for two months at the end of last year, including near the Venezuelan border, the Pacific coast, the Caribbean, and the center—no problems at all. So, like anywhere else, you need to be careful, but honestly, YES, Colombia is safe for traveling, even without an organized tour. As for those who tell you to hide your phone or other cameras... personally, I keep my DSLR in hand, and my smartphone too—no need to hide them (unless you're walking around at midnight in a sketchy neighborhood). Anyway, EVERYONE has one, if not two, in their hands all the time... As for the current political situation, just follow the news...

You should stop too 😄 Okay, the country isn’t more dangerous than anywhere else (but phone theft is what Colombians themselves deal with the most, and not just at night in sketchy areas). Just on the avenue leading up to Monserrate, which is super touristy, and around the ticket booths in broad daylight—want me to count the thefts for you?? 🤪 When it happens to you, you won’t be saying anything 😏

You can generally consider that the rule of keeping to the right applies, since the greenway is defined as a road reserved for non-motorized users. This is consistent with cyclists riding on the right side of the road, but you're a pedestrian, so you're not breaking any rules by walking on the left. You can walk on the left to see oncoming two-wheelers and leave the right side free for those cycling. If two cyclists pass you at the same time—one coming from the front and another from behind—you can step onto the left shoulder. If you don’t see the one coming from behind, one of them will have to yield to the right when they pass you. On the Sèvre in Nantes, I often come across walkers going left or right. Either way, it’s up to the cyclist to watch out for you—pedestrians have the right of way.

According to the law (in the link), pedestrians must walk on the right on roads and greenways, so I’m in the wrong even if I do it for my safety, since in this thread, no cyclist uses their bell.

Rest assured, cyclists who don’t have a bell are breaking the Highway Code. Article R313-33 of the Highway Code states that every bicycle must be equipped with a warning device consisting of a bell or gong. The sound of this device must be audible at least 50 meters away. The use of any other sound signal is prohibited. The absence of this equipment is punishable by a fine for first-class offenses (a fixed fine of 11 €, which can be increased).

Hey, thanks for the info—I didn’t know that! Same goes for what I recently learned (on roads, cyclists are allowed to ride side by side). The ones on this greenway never use theirs, though—they just zoom along, heads down, probably to go even faster. The problem is that even with the law, if they crash into us at that speed, sure, the costs from the accident will be on them or their insurance, but we’re using these paths to avoid roads and *should* be able to relax (which is *not* the case, especially in season) It’s the same as drivers on the road who don’t use their turn signals (or only put them on at the last second, like they’re saving bulb life 😂). Incivility is everywhere, and it’s getting super stressful to get around, no matter the mode of transport—even on foot. On FB, I do my small part when someone warns about a speed camera (which saves lives). In the comments, I tag @gendarmerie du Gard or other departments (and the post warning about the speed camera at such-and-such a location) disappears like magic 😂

And just like that, everyone’s gone. The greenway behind my house is all mine now (no more strolling tourists, clueless joggers, or cyclists) 😔 Perfect track for rainy days like this morning, and no slipping in the mud in the woods for a good fifty kilometers 🚴‍♀️

You're right, it's total chaos. The worst part is the electric scooters going full speed without helmets, while we cyclists were told on TV that we can't have a flashing red light on our helmets—it has to be fixed or we get fined. Yet a flashing light is way more visible. We're really going off the rails in this country. Everything's about squeezing money out of those who work. In India, where the roads are pure chaos, people respected us way more than here. I go to the gym to stay in shape too, but soon I won't be able to talk to anyone—they all have earbuds in or are filming themselves on their phones. At this rate, if my honking gives people heart attacks, that could be fun. The corpses will turn into obstacles, and bike lanes into BMX tracks. I think I heard that in Korea, people are so glued to their phones while walking that they installed traffic lights on the ground. We're heading straight for it. 🏴‍☠️

Noses buried in phones, ears plugged, helmets optional. Joggers, cyclists, scooter riders—everyone’s charging straight toward stupidity. And when it ends under someone’s wheels, it’s always the fault of the world moving too fast. 😄

Come on, a reply... that isn't really one... Lots of pedestrians, or rather joggers, wear headphones to stay in their own bubble... so bell rings are inaudible or even useless. As a pedestrian (without headphones), I find bell rings rather unpleasant and even impolite because I (and others) believe it's up to cyclists to pay attention to pedestrians and avoid them without bothering them, not for pedestrians to move aside at the sound of a bell. Here, bike paths are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, and scooters, and everyone 'keeps left' without too many issues!

A light bell ring isn’t impolite at all and can prevent many accidents. I don’t know where you live, but where I am, on the paths, people pass each other with smiles, say hello, and even exchange a few words. A very light bell ring isn’t unpleasant and helps warn a pedestrian who, for any number of reasons, might step aside just as a cyclist comes up from behind (I met a gentleman two days ago who confirmed there are accidents)—either bike vs. pedestrian or bikes colliding with each other. Long live the individualistic world, we see where that gets us

No replies from cyclists after 35 views 🤪 Not looking good for the boxes 😛

Hey there!

I only found two really old discussions on the topic, and the links were dead, so here’s a new thread.

I’m getting back from Bahía Solano this Saturday and haven’t planned anything from the 25th (I’ll be in Medellín). I’m traveling with my 9-year-old son... and I figure, if we’re gonna get caught in the rain here, might as well do it somewhere nice... I’m thinking of spending a week or so in the archipelago, but I can’t really tell what the weather’s like this time of year—is it just a few showers where life goes on, and you can still swim, snorkel between downpours, or read quietly? Or is it really non-stop torrential rain?

Any cool alternatives you’d recommend?

Hey! Storms on the Caribbean coast are often intense, but they never last more than 15–30 minutes. Keep in mind, it’s actually a blessing for locals who are also suffering from climate change and intense droughts (heatwaves galore). That said, San Andrés or other islands aren’t really representative of the country—they’re super touristy. Sure, there are beaches, but like everywhere else (to each their own) 😄

Hello,

My son is finishing up a year of working holiday in Canada soon. His plan is to take a bus from Montreal to Florida on 26/10, stay there for a few days, then take a flight to Cancun, Mexico. From there, he doesn’t have a precise plan yet, except to head down to Panama if the safety of the countries he’ll cross allows it. Then, in March 2026, he’d like to take a flight to Martinique where he’d either find a sailboat (as crew) for the return transatlantic crossing (option 1) or do a sailing internship that includes the crossing (option 2).

My questions are: - Will he be able to enter Mexico without an exit date or proof of a flight back to Belgium? Would proving his return by sailboat with a specific date (option 2, sailing internship) make things easier? - Are there any countries to avoid between Mexico and Panama? He’s traveling with a backpack and a small budget.

Thanks for your answers.

Claire

Good evening, yes, a round-trip ticket is mandatory for Mexico. The airline may refuse boarding at departure because if he’s denied entry upon arrival in Mexico, he’ll be repatriated at the airline’s expense. So, they won’t take that risk at the departure airport (Belgium). Instead of a return ticket, he can book a low-cost bus ticket with an exit date from Mexico (though I’m really doubtful about proof of a sailing internship working). Mexico is dangerous outside tourist areas. And between Mexico and Panama, he’ll cross at least three equally dangerous countries (Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua). Your son should check the official website of each country he plans to cross (that’s the basics when traveling) to get informed. And finally, the title of your post is a bit misleading because Central America is a continent with several countries, each with its own specifics. It’s not a single country, and we can’t answer as if it were (each country has its own rules regarding one-way or round-trip flight tickets). 😅

Hey, we often forget to look for flights from nearby airports that sometimes offer cheaper prices, like in the example of Mexico City - Fort-de-France and Cancun - Fort-de-France, which show 400 € less. But even airlines play games to squeeze a bit more out. Proof with these screenshots taken today—the flight mentioned above is still available for 325 € via Google Flights, which directs us straight to Air Canada’s site (buy urgently before it changes). Yet, the same flight doesn’t even exist if you go directly to the airline’s website 🤪

hi everyone, not everyone is lucky enough to own horses, unfortunately, on this forum :P I’d love to own one and ride across the Camargue plain

It’s not the same having one or forty like I used to. And then riding 10–12 hours a day, every day of the year, it becomes a real grind. If one day you get one, maintenance costs a lot. My little neighbor used to lend hers for my treks, which meant she didn’t pay anything for her. And if you have one, well, you need two so they don’t get bored (and you have to dedicate time, love, and freedom to them if possible), like a dog or a child (but a horse is often skittish 😅). The only problem is when they give you a hug, they can unscrew your head with how strong they are 😂