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Cherche hôtel à Manille aux Philippines English translation pending
by Galaad55 · 2005-07-12 · 14 replies
Bonjour à tous

Après des années en amérique latine, cette année c'est les phillipines Oui, je sais, juillet, c'est pas le mieux avec la mousson. Mais je pense partir rapidement vers les visayas et de toute façon, je n'ai pas le choix des dates Question : Quelqu'un a t'il une idée d'hotel à manille ( 15 à 35 $ ) pour 2-3 jours et dans quel quartier faut il aller ( sécurté et intéret local, restos pas trop loin pour le soir) Merci
Varadero après le passage de l'ouragan Dennis? English translation pending
by Bxlnounours · 2005-07-11 · 11 replies
Bonjours, a-t-on des nouvelles des dégats à Varadero ? ça vaux la peine d'y aller les procains jours ?
Voyage dans le cockpit English translation pending
by Melville · 2005-05-21 · 35 replies
Bonjour, avez vous eu l'occasion de voyager dans le cockpit, d'assister à un décollage ou à un atterrissage en étant assis près des pilotes? j'ai eu cette chance une fois en A 320 et j'en garde un souvenir extra.

Certains parmi vous sont-ils ou auraient-ils aimé etre pilote, hotesse ou steward?
Pubs ou boîtes de nuit à Lloret del Mar (Espagne) English translation pending
by Fayading95 · 2005-05-17 · 13 replies
Bonjour je pars a lloret d'ici la fin du mois et en fait je recherche des pubs ou boites ou ils passent de rnb, non pas que je n'aime pas la dance maisma preference vas pour cette musique...Ou si vous connaissez 2, 3 endroits sympas ou 2, 3 trucs sympas a faire la bas je suis aussi preneur..Merci a tous et bon voyage pour ceux qui partent!
Quelles devises pour Bayahibe? English translation pending
by Ddyvelines · 2005-05-12 · 23 replies
Bonjour, Je pars début juin à Bayahibe. Qui peut me dire avec quoi il vaut mieux partir : EUROS / DOLLARS ? Je crois avoir lu que l'euro et le dollar sont à parité (bien que l'euro soit plus cher que le dollar), donc je pense qu'il est préférable de payer en dollar. Sinon peut on payer en pesos et à combien de pesos équivaut un dollar ou un euro ? J'espère avoir été claire dans ma demande ... 🤪 Merci d'avance.
Partir a la decouverte du Mexique et du Guatemala English translation pending
by Angela26 · 2005-04-22 · 17 replies
Bonjour a tous !

Je pars pour Veracruz debut mai et ensuite pour les chiapas, pour le Guatemala et pour finir je reviens sur la cote vers puerto escondido, Acapulco, puerto vallarta.

Voila mon programme !

Avez vous des infos sur ces lieux, sur la securite (je vais voyager seule, j ai 26 ans) des conseils sur mon parcours sur les lieux choisis, sur ce qu il y a a voir ou non, bref si vous avez n importe quel type d infos, je suis prenneuse !!!

Merci beaucoup d avance !!!

Angela
Musique indienne traditionnelle & world?? English translation pending
by Grugru · 2005-04-22 · 11 replies
Bonsoir à tous,

C'est moche, j'en ai pas trouvé et quelqu'un d'entre vous doit surement connaître une musique traditionnellement indienne mélangée à de la "world music" hip-hop ou fusion dirons-nous.

Il y a quelques années, j'avais mater sur Canal+ (chaine française) deux frères ("Rizam & Wazam" ???) nous faisant démonstration de tablas et instruments traditionnels sur un fond world, de toute beauté. N'ai jamais retrouvé ni leur groupe, ni leur nom, et ni leur musique.

Encore plus traditionnel que Nitim Sawney, quelqu'un connaitrait-il ce goupe ou un autre pouvant nous faire frissonner ??

Mille merci d'avance pour votre savoir.

Damien.
où aller pour deux jeunes filles qui veulent se faire du ''fun''?? English translation pending
by Salabast · 2005-03-02 · 8 replies
Je me planifie un voyage de deux semaines à Cuba avec une copine et je suis totallement indécise face à l'hotel sur lequel je devrais fixer mon choix. Je cherche un hotel(tout inclus) la nourriture est excellente et les plages magnifique. Je souhaite également rencontrer des gens et sortir pour m'amuser. Auriez-vous des suggestions où ca bouge pour deux jeunes filles?? Et où la clientelle est relativement jeune??

je ne veux pas dépasser le 2000$...

P-S: C'est mon premier voyage alors j'espère qu'il sera réeussi!!!😛 kloé
Activités et excursions à faire à Varadero English translation pending
by Clowny24 · 2005-02-13 · 9 replies
Il n'y a personne qui me répond, pourtant Varadero c'Est super apprécié? Que ce passe-t-il?

j'aimerais avoir des idées d'Activité et d'excursions à faire à varadero.

LE jpart le 26 mars et je loge au club amigo Varadero.

Si vous avez des commentaires sur cethotel, ca serait tres apprécié aussi. EX: la nourriture, les plages, les chambre, la propreté, les genes ect...

Jespere avoir des réponses à mes questionnements. C'Est mon premier voyage à l'extérieur du pays.

MErci
Combien de temps pour apprendre l'espagnol? English translation pending
by Vpix · 2005-01-26 · 14 replies
J'envisage de partir soit en Am du Sud soit en espagne pour apprendre l'espagnol. Je ne parle pas un mot d'espagnol.

Par curiosité, combien de temps avez-vous mis pour parler couramment (ou presque) la langue en partant de zéro? et quelles ont été vos méthodes?

Merci a++ Vince
L'avion et le réchauffement planétaire English translation pending
by Vcossais · 2005-01-19 · 5 replies
Juste histoire de lancer le débat : Est-ce que vous avez conscience quand vous prenez l'avion pour partir en vacances, de contribuer asse fortement à l'effet de serre et donc au réchauffement de la planète ? Est-ce que ça vous incite à moins le prendre, à privilégier le train pour les trajets de moyenne distance en Europe ?

Faut en effet savoir qu'un long courrier consomme en moyenne de 3, 5 à 4 litres de kérosène par passager et par 100km : faites le calcul pour un trajet de 10000km ! Consommation d'ailleurs probablement plus forte encore pour un court ou moyen courrier...

Bien sûr le transport aérien est loin derrière la voiture en terme d'émissions de CO2 au niveau planétaire, mais c'est celui qui augmente le plus rapidement. De plus le kérosène est un des carburants les plus polluants, et lâché à 10000m d'altitude il a un effet beaucoup plus fort pour l'effet de serre...

Moi ça me fait quand même réfléchir, même si je reconnais que je prends assez souvent l'avion...
Hôtel Coralia Playa de Oro Varadero English translation pending
by Mel77 · 2005-01-17 · 15 replies
Bonjour vous tous,

J'aimerais avoir des commentaires sur cette hôtel je pars au mois d'avril pour cette hôtel.

Merci
Hôtel Puntarena à Varadero English translation pending
by Toupie · 2004-11-08 · 10 replies
Est-ce que quelqu'un connaît cet hôtel?
Arenas Doradas à Varadero English translation pending
by Ginettev · 2004-10-22 · 10 replies
Bonjour

Je regardes pour Arenas Doradas, Varadero, départ le 13 fevrier en 2 semaines, croyez-vous que je fais un bon choix et comment est la température à ce temps-la

Toutes informations seraient appreciees.

GinetteV
Retour de l'hôtel Copacabana Beach Resort (Riviera Maya) English translation pending
by Rindi · 2004-08-26 · 13 replies
BONJOUR A TOUS,

NOUS SOMMES RETOURNÉS SAMENDI PASSÉ DE NOTRE MÉMORABLE VOYAGE A RIVIERA MAYA; POUR VOUS DIRE FRANCHEMENT, L'HOTEL (COPACABANA) EST SPLENDIDE!! TANT POUR SON EMPLACEMENT, LE SERVICE, SON DÉCOR, SA PLAGE ( EN PASSANT LE GUIDE QUI NOUS A AMENÉ DE L'AÉROPORT NOUS A DIT QUE LA PLUS BELLE PARTIE DE LA MER/ PLAGE A RIVIERA MAYA EST CELLE QUI SE TROUVE FACE A COPACABANA); LA NOURRITURE EST EXCELLENTE, ON A ESSAYÉ LES 4 RESTAURANTS DONT DEUX A LA CARTE ET C'EST VRAIMENT DÉLICIEUX PARTOUT! LA MER EST MAGNIFIQUE D'UNE COULEUR BLEUE-TURQUOISE, LE SABLE BLANC EST TRES PROPRE, D'AILLEURS, LES EMPLOYÉS NETTOIENT LA PISCINE, LES JACCUZIS ET LA PLAGE TOUS LES JOURS; LES ANIMATIONS A LA PISCINE A 12H ET 3H SONT UN PEU BRUYANTES MAIS C'EST LE FUN! CELA DONNE DE L'AMBIANCE; LES CHAMBRES SONT BELLES, MEUBLÉS AVEC GOûT, GRANDES ET PROPRES, LE MÉNAGE EST FAIT à TOUS LES JOURS AVEC CHANGEMENTS DE SERVIETTES ET DE DRAPS, ON REMPLACE AUSSI LES BOUTEILLES D'EAU ET LES BOISSONS GAZEUSES DANS LE FRIGO ET DANS LA SALLE DE BAIN ( POUR BROSSER VOS DENTS);LES EMPLOYÉS SONT TRES SYMPATHIQUES, TOUJOURS SOURIANTS ET TE SALUENT MEME S'ILS NE NOUS CONNAISSENT PAS. ON A EU UNE TRES BELLE TEMPÉRATURE, TRES CHAUD, IL N'A PLU QU'UNE SEULE FOIS POUR UNE DIZAINE DE MINUTES!

IL Y A PLUSIEURS SORTIES QUE VOUS POUVEZ FAIRE; ON EST ALLÉ A PLAYA DEL CARMEN, A UNE VINGTAINE DE MINUTES DE L'HOTEL ( EN AUTOBUS C'EST ~ 1$ US); C'EST LA PLACE POUR MAGASINER VOS SOUVENIRS ET PLEIN DE TRUCS. DANS CHAQUE HOTEL, IL Y A UN SERVICE DE TOURISME QUI ORGANISE DES TOURS POUR LES ENDROITS TOURISTIQUES MAIS CA COUTENT PLUS CHER QUE SI VOUS LE FAITES VOUS-MEME; COMME PAR EXEMPLE, ON EST ALLÉ SEULS A TULUM (SITE ARCHÉOLOGIQUE DES RUINES MAYA), PAS BESOIN D'UN GUIDE PARCE QUE C'EST UN PETIT SITE ARCHÉOLOGIQUE, ON AVAIT UNE IDÉE DE QUOI S'AGIT-IL PARCE QU'ON AVAIT LU DANS DES LIVRES... LES SEULS TOURS QU'ON A PRIS C'EST POUR COBA, LE GUIDE NOUS A APPRIS PLEINES DE CHOSES SUR LA CIVILISATION MAYA, C'EST UN SITE PLUS GRAND QUE TULUM ET DANS LA JUNGLE; APRES CELA, IL NOUS A AMENÉ DANS UN VILLAGE MAYA Où LES MAYA VIVENT ENCORE COMME LEURS ANCETRES OU PRESQUE!

L'AUTRE TOUR C'ÉTAIT POUR XCARET (PARC ÉCO-ARCHÉOLOGIQUE LE PLUS POPULAIRE), ON A PRIS CE TOUR PARCE QU'ON AVAIT LE CHOIX DE REVENIR DANS L'AUTOBUS DU PARC A MIDI POUR MANGER A L'HOTEL ET DE RETOURNER APRES; SI VOUS Y ALLIEZ NE MANQUEZ SURTOUT PAS LE SPECTACLE DU SOIR : "SPECTACULAR NIGHT", C'EST VRAIMENT QQCH A VOIR!!

NOUS SOMMES RESTÉS MALHEUREUSEMENT UNE SEMAINE DONC PAS BEAUCOUP DE TEMPS POUR VISITER LES AUTRES ENDROITS COMME CHICHENS ITZA... NOUS AVONS BEAUCOUP AIMÉ NOTRE VOYAGE, C'ÉTAIT NOTRE PREMIER POUR LE MEXIQUE ET NOTRE PLUS BELLE EXPÉRIENCE; ON A EU DE LA CHANCE D'AVOIR ÉTÉ DANS UN HOTEL TEL COPACABANA QUI A LAISSÉ EN NOUS DE TRES BEAUX SOUVENIRS ET UNE TRES BELLE IMPRESSION! NOUS AVONS HATE D'Y RETOURNER 🙂

SI VOUS VOULEZ PLUS D'INFO CONCERNANT CET HOTEL N'HÉSITEZ-PAS A M'ÉCRIRE, CA ME FERA PLAISIR DE VOUS RENSEIGNER 😉

RINDI
Y'a pas de honte à aimer ça... English translation pending
by Gnome · 2004-06-21 · 73 replies
Oui, je sais, c'est moins exotique que la flûte de pan andine ou que les fanfares du Rajasthan, mais je suis sûr que, comme moi, la plupart d'entre vous écoute le plus souvent de la musique anglo-saxonne. Je serais curieux de savoir quelles seraient 10 des chansons qui comptent le plus à vos yeux (ou plutôt à vos oreilles) dans ce registre...

En ce qui me concerne ça donne à peu près ça (sans ordre particulier) : Lou Reed Perfect day Aimee Mann Wise up Grandaddy He's simple, he's dumb, he's the pilot Björk Unravel Prince Sometimes it snows in april The Velvet Underground Ride into the sun Elton John Funeral for a friend (love lies bleeding) K's Choice Not an addict Radiohead Fake plastic trees Pixies Where is my mind

Je ne pensais pas que ça serait aussi dur de n'en retenir que 10... A vous de jouer !
Itinéraire Salvador? English translation pending
by Alouatta · 2004-03-09 · 5 replies
Bonjour, je voudrais savoir si y'a qqun qui a déjà fait la route longeant le pacifique au Salvador (La libertad, Zacatecoluca, Usulutan et San miguel) ou alors la ruta de la paz (de la Esperanza au Honduras à San francisco Gotera), ou autres périples Salvadoriens pour glaner quelques impressions. Merci.
TACV (Cap Vert) English translation pending
by Alai2557 · 2004-03-05 · 4 replies
Bonjour,

Qui a déjà voyagé sur les avions de TACV, compagnie Cap Verdienne, aussi bien pour les vols internationnaux que pour les vols inter-îles ?

Qu'en pensez-vous ?

Merci d'avance pour vos réponses.

Albert
Panama -> Costa Rica English translation pending
by Vivaquebec · 2004-01-25 · 15 replies
Salut,

Je retourne visité un ami au Panama au mois de mars. Je voudrais savoir si de Bocas Del toro, il est facile de traverser au Costa Rica pour quelques jours seulement. J'aimerais savoir quel est le moyen le plus facile, le moins dispendieux et enfin si vous connaissez quelques places à visiter au Costa Rica.

J'aimerais que vous me donniez le plus d'informations possibles car je ne connais absolument rien de Costa Rica.

Ferry Maroc-Canaries? English translation pending
by Djbiod · 2003-07-26 · 8 replies
Bonjour :)

j'aimerais savoir s'il est possible de prendre un ferry quelquepart au Maroc pour me rendre sur les canaries et si ca coute tres cher, cher ou peu cher :)

En fait, je viens de decider d'aller au maroc en voiture (je passe par le portugal puis espagne) et tant qu'a faire, aller au maroc et pourquoi pas les canaries :)

Quelqu'un pourrai me renseigner ??

Merci d'avance

Pol
Quel hôtel choisir à Varadero, Cuba? English translation pending
by Nellie · 2003-07-22 · 10 replies
Re-Salut!

J'avais aussi une autre question... Encore concernant Varadero, Cuba. J'ai fait des recherches sur les hôtels à Varadero mais je ne sais pas sur lequel arrêter mon choix. J'ai entendu dire qu'à Cuba si tu veux bien manger tu dois choisir au moins un 4½ étoiles. Moi j'ai comme seule référence le El Senador à Cayo Coco où la nourriture était vraiment excellente! À Varadero j'ai noté quelques hôtels qui semblaient intéressants Melia Varadero (semble vraiment bien), Sol Palmeras, Sol Sirenas Coral, Iberostar Tainos, Superclub Breezes, LTI Resort.

Est-ce que quelqu'un pourrait me faire des commentaires sur ces hôtels côté BOUFFE surtout, et aussi sur la plage, l'hôtel, les chambres, le service....?

Merci !
16 days with family in La Gomera (Canary Islands)
by Pagaljavab · 2026-08-14 · 45 replies
Preamble: Why La Gomera?

When we started looking for a summer destination a few months ago, our first criterion was to avoid extreme heat and heatwaves. We had already been to Norway two years ago and are considering going back in the future for other occasions. So, we had some fun asking ChatGPT which destinations enjoyed a mild climate during the summer without going too far. Among the list provided by the AI were the Canary Islands... The idea of a place we wouldn’t have thought of first, both not too far away and exotic enough, appealed to us: “Hmm, why not?”

This destination had never really attracted me, though Magali was a bit more interested. Five years earlier, COVID had caused a short break in my professional activity, and I had planned a trip because the flight price was attractive, and I was looking for a destination different from what usually appeals to me, more than out of deep interest. From a distance and with a social judgment I acknowledge (it’s not great, but it’s not completely wrong), I had the image of a destination for party-goers enjoying the sun without the slightest interest in local culture, with concrete coastlines and denatured landscapes—everything I detest the most. Still, I had done some quick research on the different islands and spotted Lanzarote for its beautiful volcanic landscapes, hiking trails, beaches, and the impression of a good balance between activity and fewer crowds than Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Then I dropped the idea of going, without ever reconsidering traveling to the Canaries...

Until now! Because we started researching the different islands of the archipelago to see which ones might appeal to us the most. It was La Gomera, the third smallest island of the archipelago, more praised for its hiking trails and preserved nature than for its beaches, away from mass tourism (fifty times fewer tourists than Tenerife) but still a bit more developed than its wild neighbor El Hierro, that caught our attention. Contrary to what might be suggested later, I’m not at all addicted to AI, but I use it from time to time to synthesize quick research or simply for experimentation. Since ChatGPT had started anticipating my tastes lately as if it had become my buddy (often successfully, sometimes off the mark), I asked which Canary Island would suit me best for a trip with my family. The tool answered first with... La Gomera. So, I tested it and teased it a bit to see if this suggestion was well-founded, as the method sometimes makes it contradict itself. But no luck: “You’d appreciate the wild nature of El Hierro, but with family, you’ll find little activity for the kids. You won’t like the touristy vibe of the big islands like Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. You could consider La Palma, but it’s really La Gomera that will suit you best, based on your interests and the criteria given.” So, we dug deeper into our research and were convinced without a shadow of a doubt that this island was the one waiting for us.

Without knowing it, we had Canarians in our circle who revealed their origins when they heard about our travel plans. One from Tenerife insisted we’d be better off choosing Tenerife (obviously...) because it also has preserved spots and that La Gomera, “you can explore it in two or three days, you’ll get bored quickly...” The other, a colleague from Gran Canaria who had never visited La Gomera, still recommended it without hesitation because it turned out her parents had just gone there on vacation: they loved it and had encountered few tourists. She also tended to think this destination was usually the subject of short stays, but according to what her parents told her, taking your time there was also a great idea. However, in our research, the idea that La Gomera is an island you can explore in three or four days max kept coming up. So, we considered combining its visit with La Palma or El Hierro, the other two that caught our eye. But hopping between islands by ferry represents a significant budget for non-Canarians, even more so for a family of four. Then, scrutinizing Google Maps, it seemed obvious that two weeks were too short to discover two islands as they deserve, and that there seemed to be plenty to see in La Gomera, given its very unique culture. After all, we read that some people spend several months a year there, others never even leave... Finally, these landscapes and this atmosphere, which seemed to us a mix of Europe, North Africa, and Latin America, tempted us. So, it would be two weeks in La Gomera, deal!

La Gomera is therefore the second... well, the third smallest island of the Canaries since La Graciosa was recently recognized as a fully inhabited island. It has the shape of a rough circle about 20 to 25 kilometers in diameter and has just over 20,000 inhabitants, half of them in its capital, San Sebastián de la Gomera, the only real town. Like its Canarian sisters, La Gomera is a volcanic formation that rose about 10 million years ago. The island is very mountainous and rugged, covered with red and black rocky landscapes. Geological activity has shaped, between the sprawling massifs that end in steep cliffs in the ocean, six coastal valleys with tropical vegetation that have favored human settlement. They divide the island like slices of a cake; from the north clockwise: the agricultural Vallehermoso, the rustic Agulo, the green, humid, and fertile Hermigua, the sunny capital San Sebastián de la Gomera, the southern and isolated Alajeró-Santiago, and the seaside Valle Gran Rey. They constitute the six municipalities (more like cantons to our French understanding) of the territory. The large solidified magma massifs that shape the heart of the island have created a large depression more protected from the sun at its center, allowing the growth of a vast laurel forest, today grouped within the Garajonay National Park, La Gomera’s green lung, which has earned it the status of a World Biosphere Reserve. Its completely European appearance contrasts sharply with the rocky and tropical landscapes of the rest of the island. Thus, the climate varies greatly from one point to another on the island: in summer, you can quickly go from a dry and sunny valley at 35°C to a humid forest area at altitude at 18°C.

La Gomera was populated late. As with the rest of the Canaries, human presence is thought to have begun about 2,000 years ago. Groups of animist Berbers, probably fleeing persecution, gradually populated the archipelago, especially the western islands and La Gomera, becoming its small aboriginal population: the Guanches (or later Gomeros). The animist and pastoral civilization of the Guanches thrived until the Spanish takeover in the 15th century, which, after a short period of harmony and mixing with the indigenous people, suddenly ended in bloodshed... La Gomera later became the “Columbus Island” after Christopher Columbus’s stopover, increasing the blending of populations. In the 20th century, many Gomeros emigrated to Cuba and other Latin American countries in search of a better life, bringing back a mix of cultures and traits quite palpable in today’s Gomeran culture. It is, however, in La Gomera that the vestiges of Guanche culture seem to have left the most traces, in the language, gastronomy, social practices... Moreover, most Gomeros, especially in remote villages, have a particular identifiable type and proudly claim their ancestral roots, even making La Gomera a bit exotic in the eyes of other Canarians.

Perhaps that’s why it has never really wanted to develop its tourist infrastructure too much. If we set aside the tourists who visit for the day by bus or boat from Tenerife on a marked itinerary (and whom we ultimately rarely encounter), La Gomera has remained a hidden gem, a destination focused on nature discovery that attracts hikers, nature-loving divers, and scientists for its fauna and flora, and to a lesser extent, beachgoers who don’t seek overly developed coastlines. Tourist activity is therefore limited. Roughly speaking, you’ll find a majority of Spaniards, including a substantial number of residents from other Canary Islands, many Germans who have a particular fondness for La Gomera and spend long stays there or own second homes, to the point that the German cultural footprint is clearly noticeable in some places (it’s said to be Angela Merkel’s favorite holiday spot), and still quite a few French. The presence of other nationalities seemed negligible to us. Most travelers come mainly for hiking, but it’s also a prime spot for whale watching. Additionally, the seaside resorts of La Gomera—San Sebastián, Santiago, and especially Valle Gran Rey—are well-known destinations for hippies, especially German ones, ranging from chic boho hippies to old-school hippies who’ve been there for decades, quite similar to those you’d meet in India in Goa, Rishikesh, or Paharganj. Thus, practices like naturism, vegetarianism, and local organic production are quite well established in some areas.

Some practical info: - The round-trip flight from Paris to Tenerife cost us 365 € per person (outbound with Transavia, return with EasyJet), including checked luggage and three seats reserved side by side. - We chose two bases to explore the island: one week in Valle Gran Rey, reputed to be the most pleasant of the three seaside resorts, and one week in Hermigua, more mountainous and close to the natural park. We booked two houses with balconies and views: the first at 120 € per night, the second at 99 €. - The round-trip ferry between Tenerife and La Gomera cost us 270 € with the company Baleària Canarias, including discounts for children aged 4 and 12, but I don’t have the exact details. It was a bit cheaper than with the other company, Fred Olsen. - Finally, we rented a car through the agency Cicar for 360 € for 16 days, which comes to 22.50 € per day. - Apart from that, we didn’t plan anything and decided the day before or even the morning of what we wanted to do. We didn’t invest in any paper guide on the Canaries, as information on La Gomera was scarce, but we used the very comprehensive site La Gomera Travel, a travel guide published by the Canary Islands Tourism Council, a real goldmine of almost exhaustive information on the island.

Alright, off we go for 16 days of adventure discovering La Gomera!



And we start the trip with music!

We start the trip with music!
Storm in the Canary Islands
by Attila · 2026-04-15 · 124 replies
15 days across Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and a dash of Tenerife under the storm Thérèse!

The planned itinerary will be slightly disrupted...

(The version without discussions is here)
Costa Rica: The dry season isn't what it used to be!
by Ellobo · 2026-03-09 · 56 replies
Introduction: For years, I’ve heard about Costa Rica, which seems like a country "made for me"—nature, not cities. I almost went in 2019, but a family issue made me cancel. Initially, I wanted to spend at least three weeks there, planning to go in our summer despite it being the rainy season. Then I realized what I wanted to do could fit into two weeks, so I ended up going in February. Plus, January’s weather was so awful that some sunshine should do me good. I found a flight at a decent price, but with two downsides. The first is that it leaves from Paris CDG, and the second is that it’s with Air France—a airline I’d sworn off after my misadventures with them back in 2008. We’ll see how it goes!
Societal Evolution
by Puma2A · 2026-02-20 · 90 replies
Hello everyone,

It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.

A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question. They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???

Not even a simple thank you!!!

From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕 Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????

Please forgive my little rant.

Wishing everyone all the best. Cheers,

Puma2A



...
Berlin impressions (live)
by Sinforosa · 2025-12-21 · 52 replies
Hi there,

I arrived in Berlin last night. In another discussion, I shared how much of a "nightmare" the flights from Nice were.

I’ll be posting some impressions here—what I liked and what I didn’t like as much.

This is my first time in Berlin. I’m staying for two weeks. For now, I’m alone, but I’ll be joined by someone in a few days.

Just to clarify, I won’t be posting any photos because my camera gave up the ghost the day before I left. It refused to read memory cards, and I don’t have a smartphone—just a tablet that I leave at the hotel.

Speaking of photos, a few years ago, at the Ducasse d’Ath in Belgium, I met a retired teacher who wasn’t taking any pictures of the festival. I asked her, "You’re not taking any photos?" She told me that during a trip to Nicaragua, she’d photographed howler monkeys and only noticed when looking at the pictures later that the males had huge testicles—something she hadn’t realized in person. She said, "Since then, I don’t bother with photos anymore!" I’ve thought about that often and wonder if I should do the same and stop taking pictures. Still, I’ll probably get a smartphone since it’s hard to go without one these days.
Far from the daily grind*
by Songsam · 2025-08-17 · 37 replies
Hello, Since I enjoy not only the countryside but also everything related to rail travel, I’m starting this photo thread dedicated to trains in Thailand (I’d guess most of us have taken one at some point...). Feel free to post your pictures here as long as they fit the theme: rolling stock**, stations**, platforms, tracks (even without a train on them), technical equipment, engineering structures (bridges, viaducts), etc.—all in Thailand. For each photo, I’ll (or you can) note the station or line where it was taken. Comments and questions are welcome.

* train ** interiors or exteriors

All aboard!
Join me in discovering Gran Canaria
by Pinacoladada · 2025-07-14 · 182 replies
Introduction

We stayed on the island of Gran Canaria during the first three months of 2024. It’s the third Canary Island we’ve visited, after Tenerife and Lanzarote.

We rented an apartment in Temisas. By staying in the same place for such a long period, the total price dropped by 50%.

We also rented a vehicle to make getting around the island easier.

Why the Canary Islands, and Gran Canaria in particular? For its pleasant climate, the nature and diversity of its landscapes, the charming villages, and especially the beauty of its many beaches.

In this travel journal, you’ll find a list of the many activities we did during our stay to explore the different attractions of this island.

These attractions are categorized to make it easier to find what interests you.

Videos are included throughout the summary. Click on the image to start the video.

To jump to a specific post, here are the relevant links:

HIKES:

Roque Nublo Maspalomas Dunes - Part 1 Maspalomas Dunes - Part 2 Los Azulejos de Veneguera Barranco de Las Vacas Ventana del Bentayga (Arco del Aserrador) Caves of the King Ventana de Morro (Ventana de la Ganifa) The Dog of Bentayga Cave of the Four Doors Ventana del Nublo Artenera - Caves of Acusa Seca Temisas - El Gigante Cave Fortress of Ansite Puerto de Las Nieves - Roque de Las Nieves Temisas - Cuevas de la Audiencia Roque Bentayga Guayadeque Ravine (Guayadeque Hermitage) Guayadeque Ravine (Cueva de Bartalo) El Zumacal - Barranco Tauco Casablanca Dam (Los Dolores Dam) Ayagaures - La Angostura Dam & Gambuesa Dam Santa Brígida - Alonso Ravine & Centennial Dragon Tree Pino Santo Hike in the Azuaje Ravine Gáldar - Red Lands of Samarrita Tejeda - Charco de La Paloma Bandama Boiler (Camino Borde de Caldera Bandama) Teror - Alamo Ravine Trail – SL-4 Telde - Calasio Caves Special Natural Reserve of Los Tilos de Moya Los Azulejos - Charco de Las Aneas Fataga Ravine Arinaga Military Battery Trail Maspalomas - Las Fuentes and del Canizo Ravines Mogán - Tauro Mountain Trail Tamabada - Llanos de La Mimbre & Sobre la Cueva Viewpoints Trail Hike to the Coronadero Arch via Barranco Hondo Barranco de Silva - Hike to the Jerez Caves Gáldar - Samson Cave - La Atalaya Peak Agaete - Roque Guayedra and Guayedra Ravine Artenara - Caballero Caves Arucas - Bufadero Salt Flats Barranco de Pino Gordo - Natural Pools Telde - Los Cernícalos Ravine Las Cruces - Toba Caves & Picón Puerto de Las Nieves - Moro Cave Agüimes - Morros de Ávila Caves Juncalillo del Sur - Laguna & Salinas de Abajo Caves of Camino de San Felipe Cruz de Tejeda, Cruz Chico and Degollada Viewpoint Hike on the Patalavaca Circuit Motor Grande - Puerto Rico Arch El Montañón - Los Hornos Dam Seafront Walk - Amadores Beach – Puerto Rico Beach Las Niñas Dam El Hornillo - Omega & Omicron Caves Arteara Necropolis Mogán - El Mulato Dam Las Garzas - El Regante Dam La Plata Route - Cho Flores Dam & El Charco Hondo Vega de Acusa - La Candelaria Dam Candelaria Hermitage – Acusa Seca Viewpoint Valsequillo de Gran Canaria – Roque La Vela Ayagaures Dam – GC-602 Lomo del Palo - Monte Pavón Trail Lugar La Laguna - Levada Fataga Dam & Ravine

BEACHES:

Mogán Beach Taurito Beach Tauro Beach Amadores Beach Puerto Rico Beach Anfi del Mar Beach Patalavaca Beach Meloneras Beach Maspalomas Beach English Beach (Playa del Inglés) Las Burras Beach San Agustin Beach Las Alcaravaneras Beach Las Canteras Beach (La Cicer) Las Canteras Beach (La Puntilla) Las Canteras Beach (Santa Catalina) Aquamarina Beach El Agujero - Bocabarranco Beach Hoya Del Pozo Beach Hoya Del Pozo Beach - Lizard with amputated tail El Cabron Beach Ojos de Garza Beach El Burrero Beach

NATURAL POOLS:

Charco Azul - El Risco Agaete Salt Flats Charco de Los Espejos - Sardina del Norte Natural Pools of Punta de Gáldar Snorkeling in the natural pool of Punta de Gáldar Natural Pool La Furnia o El Clavo - Gáldar Natural Pool of Los Dos Roques Emiliano Natural Pool - El Agujero Natural Pool of El Agujero Natural Pools of Roque Prieto Natural Pool El Altillo Los Charcones de Bañaderos – Arucas Natural Pools of El Charco de Las Palomas – Arucas Natural Pools of La Laja - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Cueva de la Reina Mora - La Garita Natural Pools of Castillo del Romeral

TOWNS:

Center

Santa Brigida Vega de San Mateo Tejeda Artenara Vallesco Teror

Southwest

Santa Lucia de Tirajana Fataga San Bartolomé de Tirajana Puerto de Mogán La Aldea de San Nicolas

North

Arucas Firgas Moya Santa Maria de Guia Gáldar Agaete Puerto de Las Nieves

East

Vegueta - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Triana - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Ciudad Jardin - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Canteras - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Telde Valsequillo de Gran Canaria Ingenio Agüimes Temisas

VIEWPOINTS:

GC-60 Route (or nearby) GC-210 Route (or nearby) GC-210 Route between the tunnel and La Aldea de San Nicolás GC-215 & GC-65 Routes (or nearby) GC-200 Route (or nearby) GC-130 Route (or nearby) & GC-605 GC-70 Route (or nearby) & GC-21 Sheep herd on GC-70 Route GC-150, GC-240, GC-305, GC-350 & GC-301 Routes GC-606, GC-295, GC-231 and GC-41 Routes (or nearby) Viewpoints – GC-1 Route (or nearby) Viewpoints - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Viewpoints - GC-2, GC-21, GC-15, GC-216 and GC-132 Routes (or nearby) Viewpoints - GC-503 & GC-217 Routes Viewpoints - GC-604, GC-505, GC-132, GC-42 and GC-802 Routes

MISCELLANEOUS:

San Rafael Aqueduct - Telde Abandoned San Rafael Estate - La Higuera Cenobio de Valerón La Cesta - Tejeda Puerto de la Aldea Scenic Route GC-671 to El Espinillo Scenic Route GC-607 to El Chorrillo The Galdar Cube (Santiago Quarry) Scenic Route GC-504 to Ayagaures Abandoned seaside resort in the Azuaje Ravine El Bufadero de La Garita – Telde GC-505 Route Abandoned Finca Las Haciendas (Los Mocanes) – Las Vegas de Valsequillo Ruins of San Juan Battery - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Viera y Clavijo Canarian Botanical Garden - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Tenefé Salt Flats Los Pérez, Lugarejos & Las Hoyas Dams Monte Pavón, Gran Canaria’s little Ireland Valleseco Lagoon Recreational Area Climbing - Fataga Ravine Surfing – El Agujero El Cairete Restaurant - Carrizal de Tejeda Paragliding flight observation - Los Giles La Cuevita Ayagaures Restaurant Statues and Murals - Cruce de Arinaga Aviation Monument (Las Majoreras) & Murals – Carrizal Artistic recycling by Antonio Peñita - Ojos de Garza Rainbows
Martine and DD in Colorado and Utah
by Marcalamar · 2024-12-16 · 59 replies
Hello everyone! 🙂 So many silent months, and now Voyage Forum is accessible again. That’s cool because we can pick up our discussions for our mutual enjoyment. I hope everyone is doing well and that you’ve been able to take some great trips, whether to the USA or elsewhere. In September 2020, we had planned a round trip to explore Colorado, but unfortunately, a nasty virus messed up our plans, closing borders and keeping us stuck at home. Luckily for us, canceling the car, flights, and accommodations didn’t cost us a thing—everything was refunded. In 2023, a loop from Las Vegas let us revisit places we’d seen in 2017 and discover new ones, this time spending more time at each stop with some lovely hikes. In 2024, we finally revisited the 2020 plan, and I’ll start with that. However, unforeseen circumstances mean I have much less time than before, so I’ll keep my trip reports shorter (ha ha ha—you’ll have less of my prose to endure). Another change: for those who remember the "Gang of Four crazy sixty-somethings," it was just DD and me this time. Our dear Mimi and Maumau left the Var to focus on raising horses and can’t leave their little green paradise to join us anymore. We were unfortunately much tamer without them. We traveled from September 11 to October 3.

The itinerary



Day 1: Flight Marseille-Paris-Denver, then Manitou Springs (133 km) Day 2: Manitou Springs (49 km) Day 3: Cripple Creek (104 km) Day 4: Salida (254 km) Day 5: Great Sand Dunes (231 km) Day 6: Durango (283 km) Day 7: Durango (Durango-Silverton train) Day 8: Ouray (121 km) Day 9: Ouray (Perimeter Trail hike) Day 10: Cortez (213 km) Day 11: Cortez (Mesa Verde National Park, 134 km) Day 12: Monticello (268 km, detour to Chesler Park) Day 13: Moab (171 km, Delicate Arch) Day 14: Moab (98 km, Fisher Towers) Day 15: Moab (171 km, Canyonlands) Day 16: Fruita (210 km, Colorado National Monument) Day 17: Crested Butte (224 km via Kebler Pass) Day 18: Crested Butte (57 km) Day 19: Glenwood Springs (150 km) Day 20: Glenwood Springs (118 km, Rifle State Park) Day 21: Georgetown (258 km via Independence Pass) Day 22: Denver (123 km), then return flight

We speak very little English. We spent 21 nights there and covered a 3,400 km loop by car and 160 km on foot (we’re still trying to hike while we’re in shape) from Denver in September 2024. We wanted this road trip to help us explore Colorado a bit more—we’d only spent 6 nights there in 2019—and to see it during the fall foliage season. We also wanted to return to Utah (we love Moab) to enjoy its red rocks, which we adore.

In the prices you see (some in euros, others in dollars), I’ve included bank fees and exchange charges. The flights, car, and parking were paid by credit card when we booked in February. Usually, we book around November, but some obligations kept us from doing it earlier. We downloaded the MPC (Mobile Passport Control) app on our phone, which saved us time at immigration.

📊 **Budget: just under 8,500 € for both of us, all included**

📊 **Flights** Marseille-Paris (CDG)-Denver: 2,152 € for both of us, with one checked bag each

📊 **ESTA and America the Beautiful Pass** The ones from our 2023 road trip were still valid

📊 **Parking at Marseille airport: 122 €**

📊 **Car: Nissan Rogue (the French X-Trail) from Hertz: 1,165 €** By booking through Air France (and earning miles), we got a 15% discount. Hertz offers a free Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program, which gives us priority counter service.

📊 **Accommodation: 3,050 €** We stayed in motels and hotels of various ranges (from 100 € to 270 € per night, depending on the city), all booked through Hotels.com or Booking. Booking sometimes offers cheaper rates if you book via the "Booking mobile" app. We also got some preferential rates thanks to our Genius 2 status. Out of 21 nights, only one place didn’t include breakfast.

📊 **Other expenses (activities booked by credit card before leaving)** Durango-Silverton train: 210 € (we booked the enclosed vintage coach in March) Mesa Verde: Balcony House: 15.15 € (booked 14 days before the visit) Timed-entry passes for Arches National Park: 6 € for 3 days (booked June 1 for September entries via
http://récreation.gov/). We booked three different days to play with the weather.

📊 **Supplementary insurance with AVA: 204 €** (due to our age 😅 and the high cost of medical consultations in the USA)

📊 **Cash: 1,540 €** We left with 1,000 € exchanged before departure and made two withdrawals (500 $ and 200 $). This cash was used to pay for: - Evening restaurants and tips (between 70 $ and 95 $ for two meals and two drinks) - Two state parks: Dead Horse State Park (20 $) and Rifle State Park (10 $) - The Monarch Pass gondola (24 $) - Midday picnics - Gas (slightly cheaper with cash): 204 $ for 3,400 km - Personal souvenirs and little treats.

Like in our previous road trips, we didn’t rent a GPS. We used the offline GPS app Here We Go, for which we’d downloaded maps of Colorado and Utah from France, as well as a new offline app called Organic Maps as a backup—though we didn’t end up needing it.

❤️❤️❤️ **Highlights (there are so many!)** 📍 The stunning landscapes of Colorado, especially with the fall colors 📍 A step back in time at the old farm in Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 📍 The prairies of Cripple Creek and the mining remnants of the Vindicator Trail 📍 The cheeky chipmunks in the ghost town of St. Elmo 📍 Great Sand Dunes and its soft sand 📍 The steam train between Durango and Silverton: we’re glad we chose the round-trip because it rained heavily on the way there, but we got to enjoy the scenery on the way back when the sun came out 📍 The unexpected meet-up with Michèle from the group outside a restaurant in Durango 📍 The hot springs in Ouray 📍 Mesa Verde and its still-vibrant past 📍 The red rocks of Moab and Delicate Arch at sunset 📍 The lace-like Fisher Towers and the view from the end of the trail 📍 The gorgeous Route 128 leading to Colorado National Monument—small, easy to visit, and so beautiful 📍 The colors of the fabulous Kebler Pass, Crested Butte, and especially the hike through the golden aspens (Lower and Upper Loop) 📍 The waterfalls at Rifle State Park 📍 The tundra of Independence Pass 📍 The Halloween decorations in Georgetown and Idaho Springs

😞😞 **Flops (there are very few!)** 📍 The viewpoints we missed because they weren’t well-marked or we didn’t see the signs 📍 The closure of some hiking trails (Hanging Lake and parts of Canyonlands) and the Sal Mountain Loop road, which kept us from accessing it 📍😢 The Chesler Park hike we had to cut short due to poor time management—180 km between our stop in Cortez meant we didn’t arrive until 10:30 AM, way too late for a 17 km hike.

Hope this helps! Have a great evening, everyone, and see you soon! 😊
3 weeks in Colombia in August 2024
by FamilleUS · 2024-11-20 · 45 replies
Hi there,

This summer, we spent 3 weeks in northern Colombia. A vibrant trip that complemented our southern Peru adventure from the previous year perfectly. Two neighboring countries, but completely different.

To start, we had to make a choice because the country is vast.

So we focused on 3 different regions for our 3 weeks: - Week 1: Bogotá and the colonial villages (Villa de Leyva, Barichara) - Week 2: Medellín and the Coffee Region - Week 3: the Caribbean coast

We entrusted the organization to a small local agency that handled accommodations, guides, and transportation. Transportation is key. The country is large, the road network isn’t very efficient, and we spent a lot of time traveling (cars, planes, and boats...), but it was the price to pay to explore it.

The overall budget isn’t exactly "backpacker" level. We spent 7,500 € (excluding Air France) for our 3-week stay (hotels, drivers, guides, flights, visits, meals). But we treated ourselves to nice accommodations—you’ll see as we share more posts.

For vacations, I try to follow Philippe Noiret’s motto: "Travel is short. Let’s try to do it first class."

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