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TikTok is currently experimenting with a hotel booking feature directly integrated into its app, in partnership with a well-known specialized platform. American users can now search for and book accommodations without leaving TikTok. Meanwhile, content creators with over 1,000 followers can promote hotels and restaurants in the U.S. and earn commissions or vouchers for bookings. This test, limited to the U.S. market for now, aligns with the trend of social commerce. There’s no doubt this initiative will be closely watched by major players in the online travel industry.

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Hi there, we’re planning our trip to the North Cape this summer. We bought a new vehicle for it. Unfortunately, the registration document is still being processed, and the delay seems long—I don’t think I’ll have it in time for our departure... I have the transfer documents, insurance in my name, and all the supporting paperwork, but not the registration document. So my question is: does the ferry company require the registration document *mandatorily* when boarding in Denmark or not? Thanks for any insights...

Hi everyone,

I’m posting this as a not-so-pleasant experience, but one I think is important to share.

We stayed at MMV Arêches-Beaufort at the end of June 2025 (from the 21st to the 28th), in room 317, as a family with our young daughter.

Everything was fine until the night of June 25th to 26th, when we discovered a bed bug infestation right next to our bedhead. We’d already slept 4 nights in that infested room without noticing anything. Needless to say, the shock was huge, especially with a little one.

MMV offered to relocate us, but by that point, trust was completely broken. The rest of the stay was spent in constant stress: disinfecting, isolating our belongings, and worrying about bringing these pests home with us.

They refunded our stay (which was the least they could do), but they’d also promised compensation of 150 €, which was never paid. Since then, no news at all. We felt erased, ignored, and not taken seriously.

I’m sharing this not to stir up controversy, but to warn other travelers. We thought we were staying in a reliable residence with responsive customer service—it wasn’t the case.

I’m genuinely wondering: Am I an isolated case with MMV? Have others experienced similar situations (bed bugs or a lack of consideration when problems arise)?

Thanks to those who take the time to read this. And above all, be wary when everything seems "too good on paper."

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a quiet village or town by the Black Sea in Romania to spend 2 nights (hotel, guesthouse, Airbnb) away from the crowds and resort towns—we’re traveling by motorcycle. Thanks

We're heading to the US in October and planning to take a boat ride on the bayou. We don’t want to fall into tourist traps with big boats—we’d prefer a more intimate experience. I can manage in French, but I know that’s not always possible. My English isn’t great.

We’re torn between: - Annie Miller's in Houma - Zam's Swamp or Torres Cajun in Thibodaux - Cajun Style in Marrero

Unless you have another spot to recommend. Thanks in advance for your help!

For an upcoming trip to Panama, we contacted the Tout Panama network, which requires a (real) credit card for the rental companies it acts as an intermediary for—something that’s rare and apparently not so easy to get in France. I’ve posted another question about where to find a credit card in France, but that’s a different topic.

Usually, we do our research directly on forums and especially Google Maps. We scan all the listed rental agencies and scrutinize the reviews. Very often, we come across local agencies with excellent ratings. So we avoid the big brands, which always find a way to scam you.

But for the first time, I can’t find anything that inspires confidence. On the contrary, in Panama City, all of them have terrible ratings (scams, delayed charges, etc.).

My question: are there any travelers who can recommend reliable agencies (possibly with contact details if they’re companies) that might accept debit cards?

Thanks so much in advance,

Hi there, I’m looking for some contacts for French-speaking guides and drivers for a short trip to Egypt. Thanks!

Hi fellow travelers,

I’m an old-school cycle tourist, traveling by bike... and I’ll be heading to England, Scotland, and Ireland in September. I was wondering if cash is still used in supermarkets, grocery stores, and generally—do people still use cash in the UK?

Thanks for your replies, happy travels!

Hi everyone!

So great to be back on this forum after being away for—I don’t even know what!

I’m planning a trip to Malaysia in July with my 5-year-old son. The thing is, I’m not sure which coast to choose. AI keeps telling me east one minute and west the next. Which spot is least affected by rain during this time?

Thanks a bunch

We're planning a trip to Vietnam with La Palanche, a travel agency in Hanoi. If anyone here has used them, could you share your experience with this agency, please? Thanks

Hello,

The end of an era at Southwest—starting May 28, 2025, they’re no longer offering two free checked bags.

Southwest Ends Free Checked Bags Policy | AirlineGeeks.com

Short version: I booked through Croisières.fr, and everything went smoothly until my order was confirmed. When I requested a date change—due to administrative reasons—the sales rep initially assured me the fee would be 50 € per person, but then demanded 600 € (negotiated down to 338 €), even though the price remained unchanged. On top of that, Paul, the sales rep, was dishonest, claiming that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages, which is completely false. All drinks—even water—are charged onboard. I had also requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother, a request that wasn’t honored, forcing me to sleep on a small couch. To make matters worse, all my emails and calls to customer service were ignored or handled carelessly. While the cruise itself was satisfactory—thanks to Costa for the onboard organization—I recommend booking directly with Costa to avoid these bad surprises with Croisières.fr.

Long version: I booked a cruise for two through Croisières.fr, and the process went perfectly until the final confirmation of my order, which initially reinforced my trust. However, as soon as I requested a change in departure dates—due to a delay in obtaining my mother’s ID card—the situation quickly deteriorated. During this process, Paul, the Croisières.fr sales rep, initially told me that the date-change fee would be only 50 € per person. To my surprise, I was then hit with an exorbitant processing fee of 600 €, which was eventually negotiated down to 338 €. This turnaround was all the more baffling because the new cruise offered was priced exactly the same as the original booking on the website.

The situation worsened when the cruise line later changed the dates for internal reasons at Costa. The new dates didn’t work for us at all, especially because of my mother’s non-reschedulable medical appointment. Despite my flexibility and numerous phone calls and emails, we were forced to accept these new dates against our will. It took a lot of effort to secure another slot, even though we had been accommodating on almost all other dates.

I also noticed other serious shortcomings in Croisières.fr’s sales service. Paul, the sales rep, turned out to be dishonest: he claimed that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included in the ticket price and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages. That’s absolutely not true! Without a package, all drinks—even water—are charged onboard. Additionally, I had specifically requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother. This request wasn’t honored, and I had to make do with a small couch because there was no way to set up two separate beds.

I’m willing to accept rules and constraints if they’re communicated upfront, but these crucial details were never shared with me. What disappoints me the most is how my requests were handled by customer service. None of the emails I sent received a response, and my numerous phone calls were dealt with carelessly and without any consideration. Everything was fine until the order was confirmed, and then suddenly, there was a complete lack of attention and follow-up, leaving a bitter taste.

That said, despite these issues, I was very satisfied with the cruise itself, and I’d like to sincerely thank Costa for their excellent onboard organization. Based on this experience, I strongly advise travelers to book directly with Costa to avoid the bad surprises and lack of follow-up that seem characteristic of Croisières.fr.

Hi there,

Do you know any tricks for traveling on a budget? With flight prices constantly rising, it’s a real lifesaver!

Hi everyone, It’s been 6 years since we last went on a cruise... We’re heading back to sea on April 26th on the Lirica (MSC). For those who’ve recently sailed with MSC, could you let me know if there are still dress codes for the evenings and, if so, what they are? Thanks in advance. Have a great day

Hi everyone, Actually, the stopover is Zeebrugge, of course, but my destination is Bruges. I’ll go from the ship to Bruges by the bus provided by the cruise line (CFC), and I’d like to know exactly where the bus drops us off (I assume it’s south of the city, but I really don’t know). Since walking isn’t always easy for me, this will help me plan my routes a bit in advance. Thanks in advance!

Hello, Some of you may not be aware, but a few days ago, Titi passed away suddenly. He was a very active member of this forum, keeping track of cruise departure schedules for members. Today, I wanted to open this post to inform you and let you share messages that will bring comfort to his partner, Agnés.

Here we go!!! I left home at 4 AM on October 31st and headed to Barcelona. Driving through Barcelona on the ring road stresses me out a bit, but at 6 AM the traffic is smooth, and I arrive at the airport without any issues. I call the valet, who quickly comes to pick up my car. He takes photos of it from all angles before letting me go.

Baggage check-in hasn’t started yet, and there are already several of us waiting.

Once free, everything happens very quickly. The flight to Abu Dhabi is on time and goes smoothly. I’ve never had any problems with this airline, which I’ve been using for several years.

The flight to Bangkok arrives at 7 AM as scheduled. This is my first time in Thailand and Bangkok. I’m used to traveling in India, and I notice that everything here is well organized—the customs process is quick, and the luggage is already on the carousel.

I booked a taxi on Booking. All I have to do is find the right exit and door based on the agency’s instructions. A large sign with the names of people who booked is posted on a wall. A hostess greets me and calls the taxi, which arrives 5 minutes later. I booked one night at the Lost Inn BKK hotel in the Phra Nakhon district, and we arrive at 9 AM. The welcome isn’t warm, and I have to wait until noon, sitting on a chair, before I can check into my room. I’m exhausted, and sleeping sitting up isn’t ideal. Noon finally arrives—the room is small but clean, which is fine for one night. I quickly take a shower to wake up because I plan to spend the afternoon visiting the Grand Palace. First, I need to exchange some money, and the banks are all close together on the same street, which is very convenient. When I enter one, a hostess gives me a ticket and invites me to sit down. There are about twenty counters, and I wait quietly until my number is called. The exchange is quick, so I can head out to find the Royal Palace. It’s actually very easy, and the walk is pleasant.

Entry to the Royal Palace (500 baht).



It’s magnificent and grand, and there are quite a few of us visiting. The sky is gray, it’s very humid, and a shower interrupts the visit. It’s a vast complex of temples and palaces. The buildings are colorful and sparkling, with a great sense of serenity (without the tourists, of course). I quietly enjoy the place and try to take photos without tourists, which isn’t easy.



Very close to the Grand Palace is Wat Pho, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the capital.



It’s very famous for its 46-meter-long reclining Buddha statue.





Walking around the temple, you can see different representations of Buddha, all covered in gold leaf.



Inside the temple, on one side, monks recite their prayers, while the other side is reserved for tourists who come to meditate in silence.



Before returning to the hotel, I have dinner at an Indian restaurant. I go to bed early because tomorrow’s wake-up call will be very early again.

Saturday, November 2nd Wake-up at 4 AM, departure from the hotel at 4:30 AM. The taxi I booked via Booking is waiting for me and takes me to the airport. The trip is fairly quick—he takes small roads, and at this hour, there’s no traffic.

The flight to Phnom Penh is on time. Before boarding, I realize I left my fleece jacket on the carousel, but it’s too late to go back for it.

The flight goes well, and customs is quick.

At the exit, I take a tuk-tuk to Julieka’s GH near the museum. The welcome is friendly. I won’t be able to check into my room until noon, so I take the opportunity to exchange some euros on the market street. The street is lined with restaurants, and I’ll have my first meal there.

The museum is right across the street, so I don’t waste any time visiting it.



The representations of Hindu deities are very different from those in India, and I don’t recognize them. Many beautiful Buddhas are on display.



The museum is very pleasant, and there aren’t too many people, which is a plus.

At the exit, I return to the GH, settle into my room—which is decent and clean.

The Royal Palace is 1 km away. I walk along a garden, and at the end of the street is the Tonlé Sap, but I turn right. I arrive at a large esplanade and see the buildings with tiered roofs and glazed tiles. The entrance to the palace is a little further away.

At the entrance, I notice there isn’t the same crowd as at the one in BKK.

Khmer architecture is magnificent. The complex consists of gardens, palaces, pagodas with golden roofs, and slender spires.



The Silver Pagoda houses the small Emerald Buddha, which is actually made of jade. The silver flooring is covered with carpets. Photos are not allowed.

The walls surrounding the pagoda are covered with frescoes depicting scenes from the Ramayana.

Hi, we’re planning a 15-day road trip in mid-May. We’d like to rent a vehicle with a reliable agency (I’d seen CIZGI, but the reviews are really mixed). Rates with full insurance are around 1000 € or even more…) Do you know of a rental company that won’t rip us off? Thanks for your help. Praline33

Hi there, Not wanting to go through a traditional travel agency—often based in France and only offering "items pulled from an internet catalog"—I’ve decided to plan this trip to Chile on my own this year, in March-April. However, I’m overwhelmed by the number of options online. I’ll be staying in San Pedro de Atacama for 4 nights. I’d love to explore San Pedro de Atacama and its surroundings. Since I won’t have a vehicle, I’ll likely need to rely on group transfers. What do you recommend as must-see places and activities? And most importantly, which trustworthy providers should I turn to? Thanks in advance! Jamet JC

Hi there,

I need help creating my IRCTC account. I tried to create an account via the website (not the app), but I’m not receiving any OTP at my email address. It asks me to verify my OTP to confirm registration, but I’ve tried multiple emails and checked spam, trash, etc.—nothing. I’m not getting any OTP at all.

What should I do now?

I want to take the train from Delhi to Agra Cantt. What are my options without an IRCTC account? I have a trip from New Delhi to Agra and another from Agra to Jaipur.

FYI: I’d prefer to avoid the bus since it doesn’t seem to stop, and I don’t feel comfortable jumping off a moving bus. Too risky for my taste.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi everyone, Planning a trip to Panama... Itinerary still in the works... I’d love to hear your thoughts on this 3-week plan for February/March 2025: Day 1: arrive in PC in the late afternoon Day 2-3: PC Day 4-5-6: Valle de Anton Day 7-8-9: Santa Catalina Day 10-11-12: Boquete Day 13-14-15: Boca Chica Day 16-17: Santa Fe Day 18-19: Gamboa Day 20: PC Day 21: flight back to France at 2:00 PM Thanks for your feedback

Hi everyone, We’ll be spending 3 days in Khao Sok during our trip to Thailand in March 2025. Could anyone share some great tips on: Accommodation, excursions, and dining? Thanks in advance!

My request: We would like to modify our return flight booking scheduled for December 3 under reference: O__T. We’d like a flight that gets us to France no later than January 27, 2025, under the same conditions as our current ticket. Please let us know the options and any additional fees. (We paid 2,256 € for the round-trip Bordeaux/Tamatave tickets for 2 people.)

Air Austral’s response: We’ve managed to free up seats for January 22. (Same class.) The penalty and adjustment fee is 895 € per person. (That’s 1,790 € for 2.)

My response: Given the outrageous prices Air Austral is charging for a date change, we’re confirming our flight on December 3, 2024, for Tamatave/Bordeaux. Also, you can count on me to share this experience with Air Austral on various online forums. It’s absolutely shameful to offer a flight change for 1,790 € when buying new tickets would cost us 1,564 €. I think Air Austral’s pricing policy is going to interest a lot of people online, and I can assure you that you’ve just lost two customers who will give you some great publicity.

Despite a complaint, no reaction from Air Austral—they’re clearly in big trouble...

Hello everyone, after our trip was canceled due to COVID, I’ve decided to travel alone at 66 since my husband is no longer healthy enough to join me. I speak a little English and, while I’m taking this trip as a challenge, I’ll admit it stresses me out a bit. I’ll be leaving in May for 3 weeks. If it’s easy to plan the route and accommodations with Airbnb, I’m a little worried about transportation. Do you think it’s better to hire a guide for visiting the cities? I’d love all your tips. Corinne

Hi everyone, just wanted to say how happy I am to be back on this forum—it really helped me out on my previous trips. I’ve missed it these past few years, so thanks for bringing it back to life! Long live Voyage Forum! We’re boarding the MSC World Europa next month. I’d love to hear any tips or see photos from anyone who’s already been on this ship. We’ll be in cabin 14135 if anyone’s been in the same one. Thanks in advance! Seb

I don’t want to write an obituary for VF here; I hope it’s just a rough patch and that we can keep exchanging. But I do want to list all the great things this Forum has given me:

-Some amazing travel stories from Yangguizi, one of which led me to North Korea. Just look at the power of storytelling! And Looping, Mariecurry, Michant... Pondi will see me in the Altai one day. -Meeting a really friendly travel companion, which gave me the confidence to explore the Russian Far North. Where else could I have found a travel buddy for such a unique trip? -Meeting people on the Forum who encouraged me to write and gave me confidence. I even found my Quebecois translator and Breton translator for a few lines here on VF. A big thank you to them. -A wealth of information from reading travel journals, plus the chance to ask specific questions to prepare for a trip. Reading these journals also inspired me to visit new destinations.

And then, Voyage Forum is like a big family made up of so many different personalities. Anonymity breaks down all barriers and inhibitions. Sure, some people can be a pain and might’ve needed some help, there are the lost souls; others are all kindness and warmth; some stand out for their beautiful French; that’s not something to dismiss in these times of language impoverishment; some intellectuals share ideas that often go over my head; there are the ruthless commentators on others’ writing and thoughts. Ego battles flare up—it’s all part of the game. I can’t imagine the work it takes to manage all this. Rarely, a historical discussion takes hold with knowledgeable contributors. How cool is that! It’s fascinating and educational. Unfortunately, political correctness often shuts it down quickly. The trolls are watching!

Thank you, VF. And thank you all who owe it to yourselves. What are the most original contributions?

Après s'être limitée dans un premier temps de sa réouverture à une clientèle exclusivement italienne, Costa a décidé de rouvrir ses croisières à tous les européens (ou presque) dès octobre avec également de nouveaux itinéraires. Lire la suite...