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5 days in Valparaiso and Santiago: sightseeing and accommodation tips
by Foxpyzy · 2025-07-18 · 5 replies
Hello everyone, we’re finishing a cruise from Marseille to Valparaiso on the morning of December 23, and we’re flying out of Santiago on the 27th around noon. What do you recommend we visit in such a short time, and how? Do you also have any tips for accommodation? We were thinking of spending 2 days in Valparaiso and 2 days in Santiago. And what about transportation between the two cities? A little detail: We’re an older couple, 80 and 81 years old! We still walk well, but we’re not polyglots. Luckily, we’ll have Google Translate and an eSIM card! This trip is kind of our 60th wedding anniversary. Thanks to everyone. Mado and Maurice.
RV Campgrounds Loop - Montreal to Quebec
by Haska · 2025-07-16 · 1 reply
Hi everyone. We’re taking a 15-day RV trip, Montreal to Quebec City loop. Late September to early October 2025. I was wondering if it’s easy to find spots for the RV at that time, and if we absolutely have to book RV campground sites in advance? Also, if you’ve got any great places to park and stay, we’d love your recommendations… thanks so much!
Advice on neighborhood / hotel for last night in Bangkok before flying back to France
by ChristelleR · 2025-06-20 · 13 replies
Hi everyone,

My husband and I are heading to Thailand with our two boys on July 8th. We’ll be moving around: Bangkok (3 nights), Ayutthaya (1 night), Chiang Mai (4 nights), Koh Samui (4 nights), and Koh Phangan (3 nights). We have a flight from Koh Samui to Bangkok in the afternoon the day before our return to France, arriving around 5 PM in Bangkok (it’ll be a Friday). I’m still wondering where to stay in Bangkok for this last night in Thailand. Initially, I thought about booking a hotel near the international airport, but I figured there might not be much to do there... maybe we’ll want one last crowd-filled night at a food market? So, I considered booking a hotel near the metro instead, for easy access to the airport the next morning, while still being central enough to go out for our last evening before heading back to France.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this :-) And if you lean toward the second option, which neighborhood/hotel would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help! Have a great evening :-)

Christelle
Borneo/Kalimantan/Sulawesi
by Alalira · 2025-06-08 · 1 reply
Hi there, fellow travelers,

My mom and I are heading to Indonesia on July 11, 2025, for a month. We’ll spend 15 days in Borneo (Kalimantan) and 15 days in Sulawesi. We’re traveling with backpacks and really want to meet locals and experience their culture. We have a layover in Singapore before flying to Borneo, but we’re not sure yet which part of the island we’d like to land in.

I’m looking for the most up-to-date info possible because our research results are pretty confusing. Initially, we wanted to focus on the Indonesian side of the island, but we’re finding way more info on the Malaysian side (better tourist infrastructure). We’re feeling a bit lost...

Our priority is a 4-5 day trek max. We also want to connect with an English-speaking guide to explore Borneo’s primary forest and its wildlife. Ideally, we’d like to venture into the island’s center. But we might not have the time (given the lack of infrastructure and long distances—we don’t have 15 days just for a trek) or the physical stamina to get there. Still, we’d love to get off the beaten path and avoid pricey, touristy excursions. From our research, we’ve come across 3-day, 2-night trips on longboats or 4x4s (e.g., orangutans in Tanjung Puting) for 400 to 500 €. But that’s way out of our budget, and we think it’s too expensive. We get that as tourists with higher incomes than locals, we should pay more—but there’s a limit, especially compared to the cost of living in Indonesia. We want to avoid tour operators and crowds of tourists. Our goal is to see what’s left of Borneo’s preserved and wild tropical forest and observe animals in their natural habitat. If we don’t see any during a trek, oh well—we’ll take our chances.

On the Malaysian side, there’s Danum Valley, and on the Indonesian side, places like Gunung Palung, Betung Kerihun, and Kayan Mentarang...

What do you think?

Does anyone have any tips?

Has anyone here met indigenous communities on the island?

Does anyone know a friendly local guide?

We’d love any extra info on Borneo and Sulawesi! ;)

Take care!
What's the best way to get from Abu Simbel to Cairo?
by Bouli54 · 2025-05-24 · 7 replies
Hi everyone,

I’ve got a bit of a dilemma about our return trip from Abu Simbel to Cairo.

On November 24th, we want to travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel during the day, arriving between 2 and 4 PM to check into our hotel and see the Sound and Light show at the temples. This transfer isn’t booked yet—I still need to find ground transportation for two. We also want to visit the two temples early on November 25th, before the minibuses arrive.

That’s when things get tricky for the return to Cairo!

- **PLANE from Abu Simbel**: There’s an EgyptAir flight at 1:30 PM, but it stops in Aswan at 2:10 PM and doesn’t leave again until 8:20 PM, arriving in Cairo at 9:50 PM. Since it’s a combined flight, I assume our luggage will follow. We *could* wander around the airport area, but that doesn’t thrill me—plus, we’ll have already seen the Kalabsha Temple.

- **GROUND TRANSPORT back to Aswan** (with prior authorization, like on the way there).

- **PLANE from Aswan**: Take the same flight mentioned above, but from Aswan at 8:20 PM. But what do we do with our luggage while waiting for the flight?

- **TRAIN from Aswan at 9:05 PM**, arriving in Cairo—or even Alexandria—at 6:05 AM, since we need to go there too! This could be a fun experience if the conditions are decent. The only catch: we’d need to book the train 17 days in advance, meaning by November 8th, when we’ll be in Kharga (the last leg of our 5-day desert trip). Our French-speaking guide might be able to help reserve the tickets, though???

Which option seems the most enjoyable 😉, the least hassle 😕...

Thanks so much for your help! Sylvie.
What if your next travel agent was an artificial intelligence?
by Jojoone1 · 2025-04-14 · 25 replies
The chosen title was easy to find: it's from today's French daily newspaper "Le Figaro" (front page, right side, in the "Le Flash actualité" section at 10:31 AM). Link: https://www.lefigaro.fr/voyages/et-si-votre-prochain-agent-de-voyage-etait-une-intelligence-artificielle-20250414

As some participants had mentioned, a simple query could sometimes yield very satisfying results, even if the initial comments from readers of this article don’t necessarily agree.

Instead of presenting our request in writing, I assume we’ll soon be able to speak to AI orally or even have a conversation with it. Refining our searches to perfection would then be a breeze.

But then, what about travel agencies and travel forums? Will Vfistes, in a twilight atmosphere, keep talking in a closed circle, fewer and fewer of them, until the last one is left monologuing? Will a side effect be that we start addressing our fellow humans in the same cold, dry way we talk to the Machine? Well, some of us have already gotten into that habit... With over 30% of current jobs set to disappear because of AI, will it become possible to quickly and perfectly plan trips we can no longer afford financially? What a paradox!

I admit I haven’t looked into this yet, and one of these days I’ll probably end up talking to the Machine, but for now, I prefer to keep laboriously and methodically planning my upcoming trips, telling myself that at least I’m still good for something...
South Africa: Your feedback on luggage safety
by Levaug · 2025-04-14 · 5 replies
Hi, we’re planning to take the scenic route back from Kruger Park (Orpen Gate) but we’ll have our two travel bags in the trunk. In some countries, there’s no rear shelf to hide the trunk. I don’t know how it works in SA—what do you think?

We have the same concern because we’d like to do the Leopard Trail, but we’ll have our stuff with us too. We’re wondering if leaving the car in the parking lot where the trail starts is somewhat monitored or not. Thanks for your feedback!

PS: Is the Kruger section starting from Orpen Gate any good? Thanks a bunch!
What to see and do in Vienna? Walks, nature, and charming cafés.
by Tyflore · 2025-04-03 · 5 replies
Hi everyone,

We’re heading to Vienna in 3 weeks for a 5-day trip! After reading a few travel journals and discussions about this destination, I still can’t quite figure out what the must-sees are. Your itineraries are so varied that it’s hard to narrow it down!

Ideally, we’d like to explore Vienna without feeling like we’re stuck in museums. If you have recommendations for little green oases, short urban walking routes, or addresses for charming cafés, we’d love to hear them!

Thanks in advance for your help! !
Transfer between terminals at Atlanta Airport
by LOuVe · 2025-03-01 · 2 replies
Hi there,

Okay, I’m starting to get really nervous about this airport and the transfer... Could you please reassure me about the route I need to take?

PLEASE MESSAGE ME ON FACEBOOK AT LOUISE ANDREE DELORME—it’ll be quicker for me. Seriously, I’m even willing to give a little something financially for your help!! We’re leaving this Monday, March 3...

Flight with Delta Air Lines Flight 2625 Departure from Montreal (Quebec) at 6:00 PM Arrival at Atlanta at 9:00 PM Terminal 1 (Layover 1 hour)

Flight with Delta Air Lines Flight 1229 Departure at 10:00 PM Atlanta Terminal S Arrival at Fort Lauderdale at midnight Terminal 2

I don’t have any gate numbers yet... I guess we’ll get those when we present the e-ticket?

From what I understand, I stay in Terminal 1 and head south to find the gate—is that right? Is it walkable or do I need to take the train? Is it well signposted or is it a nightmare?

--

Return trip (this seems more complicated) Delta Air Lines Flight 1168

Departure from Fort Lauderdale at 5:00 AM Terminal 2 Arrival at Atlanta at 12:00 PM Terminal S (Layover 1 hour 15 minutes)

Delta Air Lines Flight 2597 Departure from Atlanta at 9:00 AM TERMINAL 1 Arrival at Montreal at 11:00 AM

What I understand is... Terminal 2 means international flights. So I need to head south to Terminal 1 (domestic flight?)

Is that where I take the Plane Train or a bus?

Thanks to whoever takes the time to help!

PS: We don’t have any luggage... just a bag that fits under the seat. Thank goodness! !
E-visa Madagascar: platform down
by CoSteph · 2025-02-07 · 4 replies
Hi there, Just a quick post to let travelers heading to Madagascar know not to apply for an eVisa online—the platform isn’t working. We actually submitted an application last Sunday on their official site (provided by the Madagascar embassy in Paris) http://evisamada-mg.com/. The 35 € payment for a 30-day visa was debited from our account, but no document was issued. After emailing back and forth, they admitted there’s a flaw in their system, and we’ll now have to apply for an AD visa on arrival! We thought we’d save time at the airport—nope, that backfired. They claim we won’t have to repay for the visa, but I’ll believe it when I see it…

Luckily, we only applied for my husband’s visa, so we’ll only lose 35 € if that’s not the case! I’ll apply for mine directly on arrival and skip the eVisa altogether!
Sharing a Central Asia trip - July 2025
by Schmitti · 2025-02-06 · 0 replies
I’m giving it another shot to share a trip I’ve planned for next July. My itinerary starts in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with hikes around Lake Kaindy and Lake Kolsay, then the Charyn Canyon. After crossing the border into Kyrgyzstan, we’ll head to the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul and finally to Lake Song Kul. There’ll be walks at Fairy Tale Canyon, Seven Bulls, and Barskoon Gorge...

After a flight from Bishkek to Tashkent, we’ll visit the cities of Uzbekistan: Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

Transport will be by car with a driver.

We’re a couple in our sixties and would love to share this trip with another couple or two solo travelers.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.
Saharan Loops 4x4 Tour (Morocco): Your Opinions
by Midasabelle · 2025-01-25 · 15 replies
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
Visiting and Transport Tips for Ilha Grande and Paraty
by Domigujan33 · 2025-01-14 · 7 replies
Hi everyone,

I’m planning my trip to Brazil in March 2025 (finally!) and I’d love to hear your thoughts on Ilha Grande and Paraty. We’ll be arriving from Rio and departing from Paraty (heading to São Paulo). How can we best organize these transfers—can we book the different transports on the spot? How much time is ideal to stay in these two places to enjoy them without doing long hikes? Do you have an estimated budget? Thanks for your feedback! Dominique
One-month itinerary in Central Asia
by Gomar · 2025-01-03 · 26 replies
Hello! I’m so excited to be back on this forum—it’s helped me so much in the past! I need your expert advice for our next trip, which will take us to Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

We have a month, and here’s the itinerary I have in mind: Arrival in Tashkent – 2 days Bukhara – 2 days Samarkand – 3 days Panjakent – 1 day The Seven Lakes + Iskanderkul – 3 days Khujand – 2 days Fergana Valley – 3 days Song Kol Lake – 2 days Issyk-Kul Lake – 3 days Charyn Canyon – 1 day Kaindy Lake – 1 day Altyn Emel Park – 1 day Almaty – 1 day and departure

I know the travel times, especially in the mountains, can be long, but I’ve tried to optimize it so we can rest after the long drives. Our family includes three kids aged 5, 13, and 17. We’re used to backpacking. But I have *so* many questions: -Will it be extremely hot in Uzbekistan, but manageable in the other regions on my itinerary? -I’ve read conflicting things about trains in Uzbekistan: is it possible to book train tickets in advance from France? -For the Seven Lakes and Iskanderkul, do I need to hire a driver? Is it easy to find one? Since there are five of us, we’d need a large car… or is it possible to rent a car in Panjakent and drop it off in Khujand? -What’s worth visiting in the Fergana Valley? -I’d prefer to avoid domestic flights, so I planned to break up the Osh-Issyk-Kul Lake route by stopping at Song Kol Lake and taking a horseback ride. Is that realistic? Again, do I need to find a driver, or can we do it independently? -Where’s the best base for Issyk-Kul Lake? The main goal is to relax and swim (is it acceptable for women to wear swimsuits in these regions?) -For the last part of the trip—Charyn Canyon and Kaindy Lake from Issyk-Kul—is it doable, or do I need a driver once more? -Is Altyn Emel Park doable in the summer, or is it too hot? The idea is to see the views and do a short 3-hour hike.

Thanks so much for any firsthand tips or experiences you can share!
World Cliffs Discussion: January 2025 Contest
by Montagnard74 · 2025-01-02 · 120 replies
So, to start the year off right (Happy New Year!), This is where we can discuss January’s theme. With 20,000 km of French coastline (there’s a catch ;)), our beautiful country should be well represented!

Dig out those hard drives! Bruno
Sailing the Nile by felucca from Aswan: which stops?
by Bibouns51 · 2024-12-28 · 1 reply
Hi everyone! I’m heading to Egypt this coming February for the third time, and I’d love to sail up the Nile from Aswan for 2 days and 2 nights on a felucca. Traveling with a backpack, I’m not looking for luxury and prefer stops in the cultures and villages along the Nile rather than temples (already visited). For example, I’d like to stop at Daraw for the Tuesday livestock market. What are your similar experiences, and how far can we sail upstream in 2 days? Also, what kind of prices can we expect, given we’ll be 2 adults and 2 teens? Finally, is it better to book in advance or on the spot in Aswan without spending too much time there? Thanks in advance
Southern Lake Nicaragua
by Chantalram · 2024-11-28 · 5 replies
Hi everyone, To get from San Juan del Sur to San Carlos and the San Juan River, do we really have to go all the way around the lake, head back up to Managua, and then come back down the east side? Isn’t there a small road after Colón? Can’t we take a little ferry that connects Colón to the Solentiname Islands? Honestly, that’d be a huge time-saver... Thanks for your tips if you’ve already figured this out! Chantal
Holiday in Brittany with 3 kids (5 months, 4 and 7 years old)
by Varier · 2024-11-18 · 3 replies
I’m starting to plan our summer 2025 holiday. Yes, I know, I’m getting a head start 😄, but since I’m pregnant, I’d rather have as much ready as possible before baby arrives at the end of March 👶. We’re a family of 5, and this year, we’d like to visit Brittany (not too hot—perfect for us! 🌡️). We already know the southern area a bit, as well as the Saint-Malo region, but this time, we’d like to explore the north of Finistère. We’re looking for an area that’s still quite wild, away from the crowds. We’d also like to find some fun activities to keep our two older kids (4 and 7) busy 👧🧒. We’re good walkers, and we’ll have a baby carrier for the youngest. Which area would you recommend? Any ideas for places to visit, beaches, or family-friendly activities? Thanks in advance for your recommendations! 🙏 Elise
15-day Thailand itinerary with kids aged 7 and 9
by Boosfoot07 · 2024-11-04 · 9 replies
hi everyone,

we’re heading to Thailand for 15 days at the end of February/beginning of March.

We haven’t booked our flight tickets yet, but we will soon... we’ve scoured quite a few sites to figure out where to start, but it’s still not clear.

We like to alternate between relaxation on beautiful beaches and sightseeing.

We’re thinking of landing in Bangkok and staying there for 2 or 3 days. Then, we’d spend a day visiting Ayutthaya. I’m skipping Chiang Mai on purpose—it’s too far north. After that, we’d head south (by plane?).

We love snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, or any water sports. We won’t have any means of transportation—no car rental, or at most, a bike! We’ve looked at Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao... and I’m already getting lost with all the options...

The kids might enjoy seeing elephants, but only if it’s done in a way that respects animal welfare.

That’s why I was thinking we could fly back from Bangkok instead of another city.

There are a lot of questions, but the biggest one is figuring out the route.

Thanks so much for your help!
Laos and Cambodia after the floods from January - February 2025
by Monday · 2024-10-22 · 15 replies
Does it seem feasible and reasonable to travel to Laos (or Cambodia) as early as January or February 2025? I don’t have any precise information about the damage these countries have suffered.
Flight tickets with Aegean via eDreams not refunded
by Amikima · 2024-10-20 · 7 replies
Hello fellow members,

Hope you're all doing well—it’s really great to see the site up and running again! Back in 2022, I booked a round-trip flight to Cairo/Paris via eDreams. The outbound was with Saudia: Cairo > Jeddah > Paris. The return was supposed to be in September 2022 with Aegean: Paris > Athens > Cairo. At the end of July, I got an email saying my flight was canceled by the airline. I immediately requested a refund, and they told me it would take 6 months to process. And since then—nothing. I’ve followed up with eDreams multiple times, but they just redirected me to Aegean, whose contact seems impossible to reach.

Do you have any leads or a contact address to follow up with them? Have any of you had similar experiences? Were you eventually refunded?

Amina
Recommendations for a local agency for a tour in Senegal?
by Tanya6675 · 2024-10-10 · 8 replies
The tours offered by tour operators in France don't work for me, except for TUI—its 15-day itinerary is great but too expensive for my budget. I’m planning to travel with my sister in March or April 2025 and would love to find a local agency that offers tours, even in small groups. Thanks for your suggestions! Tanya6675
Hébergement en Crète English translation pending
by Didierlouis · 2020-09-21 · 8 replies
Bonjour, nous partons le 28 septembre pour un mois en vacances. Nous pensons rester assez longtemps en Crête et sommes à la recherche d'un hébergement avec une chambre et cuisine, hors zone touristique, dans un village et en pleine nature, avec beaux paysages et possibilité de belles randonnées. L'idéal serait 30€ maxi la nuit. Si vous avez des adresses, nous sommes preneur. Merci
Transavia a mis en résa ses premières lignes domestiques françaises English translation pending
by Michelzen · 2020-09-17 · 3 replies
Ce sont... ORY / BIQ NTE / MPL NTE / MRS NTE / TLS NTE / NCE les vols pour ces lignes sont en résa sur le site Transavia mais aussi en cours pour être sur celui AF D'autres lignes en particulier au départ de ORY devraient être annoncées en remplacement de AF/HOP ce sont ( prévisions) les lignes ORY vers Brest, Pau, Perpignan, Montpellier, Toulon a suivre
Les joies du e-commerce! English translation pending
by Nomade743 · 2020-09-11 · 23 replies
Mésaventure avec Probikeshop, ou les joies du commerce en ligne: Je précise que je n'ai pas l'habitude d'utiliser ce genre de service mais la marque n'étant pas distribuée près de chez moi j'ai opté pour la commande par internet .

J'ai passé commande le 11 aout, le 12 Probikeshop m'informe que le colis vient d'être confié à Chronopost qui doit livrer sous 48h. Jusque la tout va bien ... Le 19 aout, soit une semaine plus tard ! Chronopost m'informe que le colis ne sera pas livré ou cela était prévu (la boulangerie à deux pas de chez moi) mais à un autre point relais à 40km ! (pour quelle raison ? aucune explication) J'informe par mail Probikeshop que je ne suis pas en mesure de me déplacer jusque la et qu'en outre si je dois faire 80km AR pour un colis je ne vois pas l'intérêt de commander par internet , donc soit ils font le nécessaire pour que le colis arrive à mon domicile soit je demande le remboursement. Probikeshop me répond prés d'une semaine plus tard ! (27 aout)que le colis va etre retourné chez eux et que je recevrais le remboursement total des qu'ils l'auront reçu . On est le 11 septembre et je n'ai toujours pas été remboursé ! Voila un site qui n'assume pas ces fautes, je comprends qu'en l'occurence ce soit le transporteur qui est le fautif mais dans ce cas Probikeshop aurait du premièrement s'excuser du préjudice et deuxièmement se débrouiller pour ré acheminer ma commande d'une autre manière et à leur frais ! Donc que tout le monde soit au courant avec ce revendeur ne comptez pas sur lui en cas de probleme !
Remboursement des 35% du tour monde Costa de 2020 English translation pending
by Peyregoue · 2020-09-06 · 8 replies
Avez vous de nouvelles du remboursement des 35 % du tour du monde costa de 2020.ou y a t’il des passagers qui ont été remboursé
Projet d'installation en Tunisie English translation pending
by CoupleFrTu · 2020-08-06 · 5 replies
Bonjour à tous,

"Jeune" couple franco-tunisien (dans notre cinquantaine), nous envisageons une installation en Tunisie. Nous connaissons bien le pays. Nous y possédons un logement et y allons plusieurs semaines par an. Cependant ni mon épouse (tunisienne), ni moi (français) n'y avons véritablement vécu...

Nous recherchons des infos principalement sur deux sujets:

* Visa de résidence / Carte de séjour - pour le ressortissant français que je suis: - Est-ce que le statut de "conjoint de tunisien" facilite l'obtention de ces documents? J'ai entendu parler d'une carte de séjour de 10 ans? - Procédure à suivre? Sachant que (du moins dans un premier temps) nous n'envisageons pas de travailler.

* Fiscalité / Impôts: - Si nous devenons "résident fiscal" en Tunisie (séjour de plus de 6 mois par an), nous serons bien sûr soumis à l'impôt sur le revenu en Tunisie, mais comment cela marche? Comment en pratique déclare-t-on les « revenus non-salariés » tunisiens et étrangers (e.g. intérêts bancaires, loyers, etc.)? - Nous avons lu que les retraités français bénéficiaient d'une déduction forfaitaire de 80% pour leurs pensions et rentes viagères provenant de l’étranger, mais cette déduction s'applique-t-elle aussi sur les sommes que nous aurons besoin de transférer pour vivre en Tunisie ?

Merci d'avance pour vos informations et conseils.

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