Results for "Pirée+|+123+>+211"

In 2015, for my 50th birthday, my daughter and I went to Kenya and Tanzania for a safari. Ten years later, for my 60th, a new African adventure: returning to Tanzania, this time to attempt the ascent of Mount Meru.

After watching documentaries and films about Everest climbers, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of experiencing something like that. I’m impressed by those who risk their lives just to chase their dreams and push their limits (my partner would say they’re crazy). I’ve never pretended I could climb the roof of the world. My sights were set on Kilimanjaro instead. But when my daughter planned our adventure, she lowered my ambitions by a few meters by choosing Meru—and I get it. We’re both very active, but we’re not seasoned athletes. And our mountains in Quebec, as beautiful as they are, don’t offer the chance to climb very high to test our endurance against the lack of oxygen.

So, to prepare physically, I worked my 60-year-old legs daily by walking and climbing small hills near home. As for altitude sickness, I’ll have to trust my system and my old lungs, but it still stresses me out. The departure is approaching, and there’s no turning back—I tell myself that at worst, I’ll have tried.

February 2nd, departure day. We leave Montreal on an Air France flight as scheduled. Luckily, because we were worried, our flight times were delayed, and our layover at CDG will be tight. After a 6.5-hour flight to Paris, no messing around—we have just enough time to sit for about thirty minutes before boarding another 8.5-hour flight to Zanzibar, still with Air France. In Zanzibar, we stay on the plane while pale-faced passengers disembark, replaced by sun-kissed travelers (it’s sunny and warm in Zanzibar). We then take a short flight to Kilimanjaro Airport, our final destination. Exhausted but happy to step off the big metal bird, a driver from the agency we chose (Soaring Flamingo) waits to take us to our hotel, the Tulia in Arusha. It’s 2 AM when we finally collapse onto the mattress. Tomorrow, we’ll spend the day recovering from the sleepless flight, relaxing by a murky pool in a beautiful flower-filled courtyard, surrounded by palm trees and the everyday sounds of Africa. At that moment, I feel privileged to share this experience with my daughter, and I think about the mountain that awaits us.

To be continued...

Hi there, I’m planning a backpacking trip to China at the end of April, and I’ve got two key questions. 1. Money: where to exchange it? My usual approach is to carry cash for the whole trip, so the question is: where can I get a decent rate? Airport, exchange bureau, bank, hotel, or jewelry store? The answer varies a lot depending on the country. What’s the best option for China? Extra detail: I might arrive on a Saturday. 2. Booking hotels day-by-day: how to do it? Until 2022, I’d just show up at places I’d spotted and negotiate. Now, I bring a smartphone and use Booking or Agoda, but these sites now require an OTP sent by email to log in, and I won’t have access to my ProtonMail account in China (even with a VPN, it’s uncertain). Can anyone tell me how to handle this? Worst case, by setting up a dedicated email account that works in China—but with which provider? Or maybe using a different booking platform? Thanks.

Hi there, do you know any affordable places to do yoga in this area? I found some, but they cost between $12 and $20 USD! For a Canadian who wants to practice every day, that adds up quickly... Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to bike around the Mediterranean. I’m supposed to go through North Africa, but it seems a bit complicated. Visas and travel in Algeria and Egypt only work if you book a hotel (no nights spent outside?). Libya is generally very unclear, and it seems you can only travel there with a local guide (which doesn’t exist for bike trips). If necessary, I’d skip Libya, but neither a bus ride nor a boat detour seems possible to enter Egypt.

Does anyone have tips on how to get around these issues and secure a visa?

Thanks for any advice!

Hi, We’re traveling as a family to Qawra at the end of February, from Sunday the 16th to Wednesday the 19th of August. I’ve got a few questions about the area—what there is to do during the day and in the evening. There are two adults and three teens aged 12 to 16 in our group. I know the trip is short, but it’s an opportunity we got. If any forum members are familiar with the island, I’m all ears 😉 . Also, I’m planning to rent a car—good or bad idea? Thanks in advance, and looking forward to your replies.

Hi there,

We’re heading to Southeast Asia for several months as a family with two teens (10 and 13). The first country we’re visiting is Cambodia. I’m having an issue with the e-visa—it won’t accept any of the documents I’m attaching. I’ve validated all four e-visas and received the registration numbers, but when I check the application, it shows no attachments. I’ve tried multiple times in different formats (PDF, JPEG, PNG), whether compressed or not, but there’s always a red cross next to the documents.

Has anyone else run into this problem?

Thanks for your help—I’m losing patience, and our departure is in 15 DAYS 😕

Magos

Hi, I’m Algerian and I have a residence permit in France. In two months, I’m traveling to Japan with a Japanese visa, and I have a 16-hour layover in Incheon, South Korea. Do I need a visa to leave the airport and visit the area, or not? On the way back, I have a 20-hour layover in Beijing, and same question—do I need a visa to leave the airport or not?

Thanks for your help!

Hello, We’re about to book the Saharan Loops 4x4 tour with Fram for April. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this trip. Thanks in advance! Best regards, Michel

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

Sunday, November 26, 2023 Melbourne - Hobart Flawless journey to Hobart. Our stay in the southernmost land we’ve ever visited. And indeed, everything’s different. The climate—14°C, rain that varies in intensity but never stops, the landscapes… It’s a shock! But, apart from the bad weather, Dom is thrilled.











We’ve also downgraded our accommodations. We’ve got a tiny room, and the bathroom—private, at least—is two hallways away… But the price is reasonable (under 100 €) and the location is central.

We cheered ourselves up by dining at *The Drunken Admiral* (reservations are a must—we barely snagged a table for 8 PM!). The decor is straight out of an old ship, complete with cheeky statues in the style of *Pirates of the Caribbean*… We had fun! The food was decent, but pricey. Dom loved it; I was less impressed.



We bailed on the British series *Emma*, based on Jane Austen. We couldn’t take it anymore. The boredom was so intense that the specter of a collective suicide loomed over us. This show, where the world’s most insufferable bourgeoisie—the English nobility—lives out love stories with such improbable naivety that I wanted to scream, is pure torture. Mercy, I surrender! I’ll tell you anything you want, just make it stop! We got rid of it. We’re safe now!

My usual travel buddy isn’t available. I’m looking for someone to join me from February 13th to 28th in Egypt for a classic trip off the beaten path—Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, and Abu Simbel.

Hi,

I swapped my first and last name when I made my reservation. I’d like to know if this could cause any issues for boarding or not? I have a layover in Istanbul on my way to Dubai.

Could you please point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance

Hi there,

I’m looking for a ferry or Ro-Ro passage for my vehicle and two passengers from Mexico to Costa Rica. I haven’t found anything online. If you know of any regular routes, I’d love to hear about them!

I’m planning to take Air France from Paris to Trujillo with my 2 bikes in boxes. I have a layover in Lima and a change to LATAM Airlines for Trujillo. On the way back, it’s Santa Cruz in Bolivia via Lima (LATAM Airlines) and then Air France to Paris. During the layovers in Lima, do I need to collect my luggage and the bike boxes and re-check them for the second flight? It’s really hard to get through to Air France for this kind of question.

Hi there, My partner and I are planning to visit Paros from June 4th to 11th, 2025. I’ve been reading a lot of conflicting things, so I’m a bit confused. Does Paros feel more like St. Tropez or Porto-Vecchio—overcrowded, too built-up, and has it lost its authentic charm? Are umbrella and sunbed prices on the beach still reasonable? Thanks so much for your input—we’re thinking of heading there in early June with my partner.

Hi,

I’m leaving for Brazil in two weeks with my partner and just realized I made a mistake on the flight ticket regarding the middle name. Usually, I never include one, but this time I wanted to add my partner’s middle name—and instead of putting it on his ticket, I put it on mine. So now I have an incorrect middle name (a male one, no less!). Otherwise, the first and last names are correct. Do you think this could cause a problem, given that the middle name is optional? Thanks!

Hi everyone, A little feedback on our 12-day cruise in early November on the Lirica.





The Lirica is a human-sized ship with 2,500 passengers for an old-school cruise—no extra-charge themed restaurants or bars, but large lounge bars with plenty of seating. We had no trouble grabbing a drink. The meals are decent, the staff is always helpful, but the ship is starting to show its age, and the cabins aren’t exactly fresh anymore. The low point: the shows were the worst we’ve seen in eight cruises—barely up to camping standards.

Day 1 Boarding in Venice. Since the ship now departs from Marghera, there’s a transfer from the terminal to the ship by water shuttle. Day 2 At sea. Day 3 Katakolon We’ve already visited Olympia twice, so we did some shopping at the port and the only shopping street. Day 4 Heraklion Excursion with MSC to the Palace of Knossos and shopping. It’s a bit pricier than doing it on your own, but you get the guide’s explanations.





After visiting the palace, we explored Heraklion—a very lively city.

Day 5 Rhodes The ship docks just steps from the old town, a magnificent city surrounded by its ramparts.







Visit to the Palace of the Grand Masters.

Hi, My partner and I are arriving in Costa Rica the day after tomorrow, and it seems the country is flooded in several places. We haven’t planned anything except a few days in San Jose... Are these flood stories real, and is it affecting your travels for those who are currently there? Thanks

Hi there, We have the option to go to Venice from December 31st to January 4th or 5th. But is it a good idea?

Hi there,

I’m planning a trip to Morocco, arriving in Marrakech and leaving from Essaouira.

For my itinerary, what do you recommend as a cheap mode of transport: private driver, car rental, train, or taxi?

It’ll be a 5-6 day trip with my husband.

Thanks in advance! Have a great day, Émilie

Hi there,

It’s been 3 years since I was last there, so I don’t have any recent references. Apparently, the French Canal+ subscription—and MyCanal—won’t work in Rwanda 😡 (whereas in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and I think—but not sure—in Kenya or Tanzania, there’s no issue 🤪).

I’ll be there during the 12th and 13th matchdays of the championship, but I have no idea where in the city (and especially which broadcaster?) to go.

Back in the day, Canal+ Rwanda mostly showed (exclusively?!?! 🤨) European football, basketball, and Formula 1. TV5 also broadcasted a Ligue 1 match live. But what about rugby?

Worst-case scenario, how can I get around this with a simple VPN?

Thanks in advance!

hi we want to visit the Philippines in January but we’re not sure where to go—there are so many islands! We’d also love some advice on where to land. I’ve checked a few discussions, but they’re not recent. thanks for your help

Hi there, I just got back to France and realized I don’t have a stamp in my French passport. Is it normal that at Suvarnabhumi Airport customs didn’t stamp my passport? I’m really worried because I have to go back in a month and I don’t know what to expect when I arrive at Thai customs. I’m afraid of the consequences, like a fine or worse—being blacklisted from entering Thailand. Has anyone else had this happen? And if it’s not normal, what can I do to avoid any problems?

Hi there, After checking out different sites for buying tickets to visit the Acropolis, I have to admit I’m a bit lost.

I saw that since April 2024, the visiting time has been limited to 1 hour.

Entry is free for kids, but can you only buy the ticket at the counter?😮

Can anyone confirm this info for me?

We’ll be in Athens at the end of October. Thanks.

Hello, how are you all? To be honest, this isn't really a "deep" topic—just a quick note to say I'm really happy VoyageForum is finally back up. I hope everyone who contributed to this site is still around, still traveling, and in good health. For my part, travel didn’t really stop despite the COVID crisis. Looking forward to sharing photos, travel stories, and discussions with all of you again. Jacques And I’ll share a photo right away—taken last year in the Vichada region of Colombia, where I’m heading back in 2 weeks.

Welcome back to VF!

Bonjour, J'hésite à réserver une croisière MSC pour le début d'année 2021 aux caraïbes ... j'aimerai avoir le retour de ceux et celles qui reviennent de croisière. Comment se passent les escales ? Merci à vous.

Bonjour/bonsoir

Si tout va bien (on croise les doigts) je pars bientôt à Venise, bien sûr très contente de redécouvrir la Sérénissime avec je l'espère moins de monde qu'une année classique.

Comme il a été remarqué sur ce même forum, Venise a beau être une ville unique et magnifique, elle ne semble pas regorger d'endroits pour se poser tranquillement entre deux balades (j'avais un peu remarqué ça lors de mon passage éclair dans la ville il y a des années).

Alors je ne demande pas la lune, je sais que si l'Italie est le pays de la gastronomie (et je compte bien en profiter 😛 ) ce n'est pas celui des salons de thé, mais j'avoue qu'on aime bien faire des petites pauses après avoir marché des heures ou avoir visité un musée, palais, etc. J'aime bien reposer mes pattes 😇

Bien sûr j'imagine qu'on trouve facilement des bars ou s'arrêter boire un café (et faire une pause pipi 😊) mais certains ont-ils des adresses un peu sympas à me conseiller ?

Pâtisseries où on peut s'asseoir ? Salons de thé (soyons fous !), endroit où boire son Aperol Spritz ?

Bien sûr je préfère éviter les trucs trop à touristes (non, pas de Café Florian pour nous) ou hors de prix (genre 10€ le cappuccino, je passe mon tour).

Bon j'ai trouvé un appartement assez central qui permettra au pire de se poser un peu avant de ressortir dîner, mais je suis quand même preneuse de bons plans ! 🙂

Bonjour, Après un mois passé en Mauritanie (février), nous sommes bloqués depuis 6 mois au Sénégal avec notre camion (4 mois à Diembering en Casamance et 2 mois à côté de St Louis depuis). Toutes les frontières sont bien fermées et non négociables (pour qui connait Rosso......c'est dire). Donc pour les prétendants à un prochain départ il vaut mieux viser 2021 ! Globalement la situation sur place est loin d'être catastrophique et les mesures préconisées sont respectées à.....l'africaine (ce n'est pas pire qu'ailleurs....les chiffres l'expriment assez bien). Bon, la Téranga est un peu en sommeil et le Sénégal version "Échappée Belle" il faut l'oublier pour l'instant. Le Ministère de l'Intérieur Mauritanien délivre, au coup par coup, des autorisations pour entrer en Mauritanie (avec un test covid de moins de 72h); mais il faut que la demande soit initiée par le Consulat dont dépend le ressortissant. Or là, les autorités françaises font un blocage ! (je bataille depuis 2 mois). Elles sont intervenues pour les rapatriements aériens mais pas pour le rapatriement des voyageurs motorisés. Les autorités espagnoles sont plus réactives et ont réussi à faire entrer leurs ressortissants (la procédure est la même pour entrer au Maroc !!!). Donc futurs voyageurs en Afrique de l'Ouest..........patience !! Cordialement

Alain

Partie 1 : Les Préparations

5 jours avant mon départ, le premier hôtel où je vais séjourner, dans la ville de Taungdwingyi, m'informe qu’ils ont besoin d’un papier qui montre que je ne souffre pas de symptômes du coronavirus. Hier, je me suis donc rendu au 1000 Bed General Hospital de Nay Pyi Taw. Après une heure à remplir beaucoup de papiers, j’ai reçu ce document gratuitement, mais j’ai laissé une petite donation. Cet hôpital est composé de plein de bâtiments sur un terrain immense, je me suis perdu pendant une demi-heure avec mon vélo et j’ai fini par payer quelqu’un pour qu’il me montre la sortie avec sa moto.