Results for "Port-Camargue+|+127"

Hi there,

I’m in the middle of planning our trip to Croatia. We’re arriving in early September for a week in Split and leaving from Split as well. We’re a couple with a 20-month-old little girl. We’re renting a car directly at the airport, which I still need to book (I have a GOLD debit card). I hope that won’t be an issue because, logically, with this card, I shouldn’t need to take out extra insurance from the rental company. If you have any recommendations on that, I’d love to hear them.

As for the itinerary I’m planning, I’ve already ruled out Plitvice and Zadar because we don’t want to spend too much time on the road—this is a vacation, after all—and some travelers told me Zadar can be seen quickly and isn’t worth the long drive. For the nights, someone already suggested we spend the last two in Trogir to consolidate.

I particularly love beautiful towns, historic centers, ports, taking photos, shopping, beaches, and seeing stunning places. We’re not big on museums, and hiking with a little one makes long or steep hikes tricky, especially with the heat we might encounter.

Here’s the initial plan I’ve come up with:

Day 1:

Activities: Arrive in Split in the morning, pick up the car, explore the historic center, Marjan Hill... Klis Fortress, and see what else we can add before evening. Night: Initially planned near Plitvice (2 min away).

Day 2:

Activities: Day at Plitvice—check out Entrance 1 or 2 with the baby. Night: Lozovac (2 min from Krka, 16 min from Šibenik, and 1 hour from Zadar).

Day 3: Activities: Zadar and Šibenik. Night: Lozovac (2 min from Krka, 16 min from Šibenik, and 1 hour from Zadar).

Day 4: Activities: Krka National Park (someone recommended going after 4 PM and seeing the "circular" waterfalls) + Primošten. Night: Lozovac (2 min from Krka, 16 min from Šibenik, and 1 hour from Zadar).

Day 5: Activities: Hvar (exploring the island). Night: Jelsa.

Day 6: Activities: Omiš + Starigrad Fortress. Night: Omiš.

Day 7: Activities: Trogir city center, Čiovo Island. Night: Trogir.

I haven’t updated the plan yet because I’m still looking for the best way to optimize it. Someone suggested Makarska and Brač as alternatives to Plitvice.

Given that I’m already planning to visit Hvar with an overnight stay, is it worth adding Brač? If so, maybe taking the ferry without the car—would we still be able to enjoy the day without being too limited? Did I forget anything essential? Thanks in advance—I know answering all these questions can be repetitive, but it’ll save me so much time and help optimize our vacation. I also like to take my time and enjoy being there rather than stressing over preparations, which is why I’m planning just enough. What’s most important to me is optimizing the route and staying in places that let us explore easily. I think we’ll come back another time to enjoy Dubrovnik, which we didn’t include in this itinerary because it’s over two hours away with a border crossing.

What I really want to see: Trogir, Split, Krka, Hvar…

Hi there, I’m looking for info on whether it’s feasible to travel the Pangalanes Canal by boat from Toamasina to Manakara. I know the canal is poorly maintained with some sections that aren’t navigable. This is my 5th trip to Madagascar. Thanks for any tips!

Hi there,

I hit my photo limit on the other post, so I’m forced to start a new one to continue this travel journal.

Victoria / Mahé continued:

After Anse Intendance, we head to Police Bay, located at the very southern tip of Mahé. Swimming and snorkeling aren’t ideal there (lots of waves)—just for the view!









On the way back, we stopped to visit some "typical" Seychellois houses, including one of the oldest.







We got back to the port around 6:30 PM, with memories filling our heads.

We were really happy with this day, and our guide/driver was exceptional! We even gave him a nice tip.

Dinner at the restaurant:







To be continued: Day at sea and Nosy Be

Hi everyone,

We were offered a visit to the Renaissance by the new CFC cruise line through Croisiland. After reading all the reviews—some very harsh, others glowing—I wanted to form my own opinion without having to book a full cruise to test it out. This visit to the ship at the port of Le Havre for 49 € per person came at the perfect time, even if I’m a bit put off by having to pay for a ship tour. That’s not how it usually works with other cruise lines, as far as I know.

The Renaissance is a former Holland America Line ship, built in 1993 and renovated in 2023. We’re familiar with this style of ship since we took a long cruise in Polynesia in 2014 on one of its sister ships, the MS Statendam. We remember it as a charming small ship with a lovely pool terrace at the very back.

Off we went this morning for a relaxing day on a ship—always a nice change!

The Pont de Normandie is the last elegant structure you see before entering the vast and rather smelly port area of Le Havre.



The area around the port where the Renaissance is docked is total chaos—cars everywhere and only a handful of taxis. We were supposed to have a reserved parking spot in front of the terminal (we’d even given them our car model and license plate), but we were denied entry. There’s no paved public parking, so we left the car on a vacant lot.



CFC was officially acquired by the British cruise line Ambassador Cruise Line in January 2025. Ambassador Cruise Line, launched in 2010, already owns two ships of the same type and age. They wasted no time repainting the funnel in their new colors.



The line of passengers disembarking and waiting for taxis is endless... and taxis are trickling in. Is this the aftermath of yesterday’s strike, or is this the norm in this port? Either way, I feel bad for the poor travelers waiting—it’s going to be a long haul. Many are leaving on foot, dragging their suitcases. Compared to the port of Marseille, this is pretty dismal.



Forty spots were available for this visit organized by Croisiland, but we ran into a good hundred people at the meet-up. A group from the AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises) of Le Havre will be joining us. Our Croisiland group consists of twelve people, if I counted right.

Security clearance is done alphabetically, and we quickly board the ship. Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter.

To be continued...

Hi there, if you're planning to rent a car to get around in Morocco, make sure to budget for "fines" even if you drive perfectly. For example, getting caught going 5 km/h over the speed limit 500 meters before you see the sign dropping the limit to 60 km/h—while being overtaken by a packed taxi with no seatbelts. Or, say, stopping at a stop sign for 3 seconds but not long enough, even though no helmetless motorcyclists were stopping either (yes, helmets are mandatory in Morocco)... Anyway, plan a "fine" budget for your Moroccan "vacation."

Hello everyone! We’re heading to South Africa this summer (August 11 to September 1) and I’m finalizing our itinerary. I’d love to get your thoughts on our route and specifically on two points: - The time spent at each stop: does any seem too short or too long? - The domestic flights: do you think they’re a good choice? (Flight from Kruger to Durban + Durban to Port Elizabeth) We’ll rent a car each time we land. Or is it better to do the whole trip by car? Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to take a look! Have a great day! !

Hi there, we’re planning a trip this summer to Charente Maritime (Gironde estuary) with our 2-year-old daughter. We’re looking for a quiet, family-friendly seaside town—not too big and not too overrun with tourists, if possible. Some nice beaches where we can safely introduce our little one to the joys of swimming. Restaurants and everything we need nearby so we can forget about the car for a bit… We were thinking of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer or Meschers-sur-Gironde, but we’re not sure if they’re the right fit. We’ve also heard about Fouras-les-Bains and Châtelaillon-Plage a bit further up? Thanks in advance for your feedback! Best, Mouoi

Hi everyone, From March 31 to April 10, I took the Viking Lands cruise with CFC. Out of curiosity, I checked the Renaissance’s route yesterday and noticed it didn’t make the Sandnes/Stavanger stop that we had. Maybe the itinerary was planned that way? Best regards,

Hi everyone,

Great to be back here—it’s been years!

We’re heading to Japan with the family in mid-July and will mostly explore Kyushu for this second trip. We’ll wrap up with 3 days on Yakushima, but we’re planning to fly back to Osaka from Tanegashima after stopping by the space center. To get from Yakushima to Tanegashima, I’ve found two options: - Depart from Miyanoura port and go to Shimama with the Taiyo II ferry, but it arrives a bit too late for us (it gets in at 10:05 AM, and we need to be at the space center by 10:30 AM…) - Depart from Anbo port, but in that case, the boat goes to Nishinoomote, which is all the way at the north of the island—super inconvenient since the space center is at the very south!

Does anyone here know if there’s another way to make the Miyanoura/Shimama trip besides the Taiyo II ferry (like a private boat, a fisherman’s boat, or something else)? It feels silly to go all the way to the north of the island just to head right back down…

Thanks in advance! !

Hi there,

I’d like to travel from France to the Philippines without flying. I’ve found ways to reach the South China Sea easily, whether from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc. However, I can’t find a straightforward way to get to the Philippines by sea. There’s a cargo ship from Zamboanga to Sandakan, but getting to Sandakan is really complicated. Do you have any simpler ideas for ferries or cargo ships? I can arrive anywhere in the Philippines. Has anyone tried hitching rides on cargo ships in ports? From which port?

Thanks a lot!

Hi, I’ve booked tickets to Phuket to stay in the Andaman Islands (Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta Yai Noi, etc.). I’m really struggling to book our hotels because the reviews are so bad. We’re looking for mid-range to upscale hotels. Any tips or recommendations would be super welcome!!! Thank youuuu

Hi there, What are the best things to do around Lakes Como, Garda, and Maggiore? Thanks

Hi there, Our son is in Canada for a year on a Working Holiday Visa, and we’re planning to join him around September 20th for a 15-day campervan road trip in Nova Scotia. I was thinking of going with Canadream, but if you have other rental companies to recommend, don’t hesitate! Here’s the itinerary I’ve been considering—I tried not to cram in too many stops so we’re not just driving the whole time.

Day 1: Pick up campervan in Halifax at 3 PM. Stop at Peggy’s Cove, then drive to Lunenburg and Blue Rocks (151 km) Day 2: Explore Lunenburg, then head to Kejimkujik National Park for hikes or other activities. Overnight in the park (91 km) Day 3: Drive to Annapolis Royal (visit), Port-Royal National Historic Site, then on to Digby (111 km) Day 4: Ferry to Saint John (visit Reversing Falls), then drive to St. Andrews (103 km) Day 5: Whale-watching excursion and explore St. Andrews Day 6: Drive to Alma and Fundy National Park (233 km—we’ll probably leave St. Andrews the night before to split the drive and arrive earlier in Alma) Day 7: Hopewell Rocks (check tides) (43 km) Day 8: Hopewell Rocks—Tatamagouche (dinner train)—Pictou (237 km). Any suggestions for this day? Day 9: Drive to Baddeck, Cabot Trail to Chéticamp (317 km). Ideas for breaking up the drive? I thought of Pomquet Beach Provincial Park for a walk on the boardwalks, but any other suggestions are welcome. Day 10–11: Cape Breton Highlands National Park for hikes and Cabot Trail to Baddeck (208 km) Day 12: Explore Baddeck, Graham Bell Museum, and Bras d’Or Lake Drive. Drive to Louisbourg (118 km) Day 13: Fortress of Louisbourg, then drive to Liscomb (302 km) Day 14: Drive back to Halifax via Lawrencetown Beach (or other suggestions?). Fisherman’s Cove (205 km) Day 15: Return campervan by 10 AM

- All suggestions are welcome, as long as they don’t add too much detour from the main stops. We’d rather skip some places to fully enjoy the ones we visit. We love hiking in beautiful landscapes, charming and lively towns or villages, etc. - I wanted to add a museum dedicated to Acadian culture, but I didn’t find anything along the route—or they’re closed this time of year. Maybe there are places to listen to folk music? - If you have any campgrounds or wild camping spots to recommend, I’d love to hear about them. - Do we need to book the ferry this time of year?

Thanks in advance for your ideas and suggestions!

Claire

Hi everyone! We’ve booked a cruise on the Costa Smeralda for early November 2025 (ports of call: Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples, Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa). This is our first cruise, so I need your help for some sightseeing tips. I checked Costa’s website for excursions, but the prices are pretty steep! I saw that it’s possible to get a Costa Go Round ticket with multiple stops—this seems really practical for some destinations. Has anyone tried it? How does it work? Is it useful for seeing several sites in the city? If you have any tips for sightseeing without blowing our budget for 3 people, I’d love to hear them. Thanks so much! :)

Since no travel journal has been posted about this destination since 2020, I’m giving it a go—maybe it’ll jog some memories for a few of you or give others a few ideas... even if, in the end, there isn’t much to tell 😎! Even though the itinerary was as classic as can be, it still led to a few brain knots: in what order? How many nights on each island? Rent a car or not? In short, plenty of existential questions to land on 4 nights per island, finishing with Mahé to avoid any nasty surprises before the return flight.

Saturday 03/22: Flight to Mahé with Qatar Airways (no—or rather, no more—direct flights from Paris 😕) A nice surprise at CDG with the discovery of a new lounge in Terminal 1

Then, an in-depth exploration of Doha Airport thanks to (or because of) a loooong layover:



And finally, arrival at the tiny Mahé airport where we step onto the tarmac feeling like we’ve walked into a steam room

Baggage claim is quick, the shuttle to the port is on time, the ferry is punctual (we, on the other hand, are *very* early for it ), and there’s Praslin in sight:



... with a sneak peek of the sea’s colors 🙂 Quick note on the photos: most were taken with a smartphone, and the colors are a bit more saturated than in real life (I did bring my hybrid camera, but in the end, I barely used it since it wasn’t very practical to lug around on the water or for snorkeling).

We pick up the car (a Grand i10 instead of a Picanto) from a muddy parking lot (it just rained) and off we go—of course, with a windshield wiper instead of the turn signal 😎, left-hand driving obliges. In just a few minutes, we arrive at our accommodation for these 4 nights on Praslin (Oh, and now the "lien" tab isn’t working! ) We’re blown away by the view from the terrace:



Then by the view from the little shared terrace on a promontory:

Before heading to test the water temperature on the other side of the road, at Anse Boudin, and spotting our first fish.

Hi there,

I'm trying to plan a little Greek getaway in early summer, and it's a tad complicated—connections from Sitia to Rhodes via Karpathos are only twice a week (and not on the days that work for me!). I gave up on the idea of Kastelorizo, which isn’t that easy to reach either, and replaced it with Symi, which has a daily connection—even several—to Rhodes, where I’d like to spend as little time as possible. I found a boat leaving Symi at 8:15 AM and arriving in Rhodes at 9:35 AM. The ferry to Karpathos leaves the same day at 11:00 AM. That’s 1 hour and 25 minutes to switch boats. It’s tempting because it’s a perfect sequence, but I’m wondering if it’s still a bit too tight.

Do Sebeco Lines’ speedboats arrive at the same port where Blue Star ferries depart? Are they punctual?

Catherine

Hi! I’m doing the Viking Legend cruise, and if you have any great tips, I’d love to hear them. We’re not big on excursions—we prefer to explore on our own. So if you can help us out, that’d be amazing. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I’d love to get your thoughts on a 13-night trip to Crete this summer. We’ll be 2 adults and 2 kids (5 and 10 years old), and we’re renting a car to get around. ➔ If you have any tips on renting a car, I’m all ears! (I was thinking of picking it up at the airport.) For now, I’m planning a round-trip flight to Heraklion (I’m still debating whether to return from Chania, in which case we’d spend our last night in Paleóchora or Elos). Here’s how I’m splitting up the nights:

08/07 - 11/07 (3 nights) → Heraklion

Visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos Explore the city: archaeological museum, Venetian harbor, Koules Fortress Possible day trip to Matala or the east coast, depending on how we feel

11/07 - 14/07 (3 nights) → Rethymnon

Explore Rethymnon’s old town Walk around Argiroupoli (natural springs, waterfalls) Relax on the beaches in the area

14/07 - 18/07 (4 nights) → Chania

Visit the historic center Day trip to Seitan Limania (wild beach) Day at Balos Beach & Gramvousa (by boat or hike)

18/07 - 20/07 (2 nights) → Paleóchora or Elos ➔ Do you have a preference between these two spots? They both seem like great, low-key places, but Elos is more mountainous.

Hike through Samaria Gorge (full-day trip) ➔ Do you think this is doable with a 5-year-old? I’ve read there’s a bus at the end of the gorge, but I’m worried about missing the ferry and having to rush the kids. Relax at Elafonissi Beach

20/07 - 21/07 (1 night) → Heraklion

Return the day before our flight to avoid stress.

Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips! 😊

Hi there, I’m reaching out for some help planning a short trip to Greece at the end of April with my dad. We’ll be staying for 7 days, flying in and out of Athens, where we’ll rent a car. After quite a bit of research, we’ve decided to explore the Peloponnese, which we don’t know at all. We’ve read that basing ourselves in Nafplio for a few nights and then in Gytheio would be a good way to organize our visits. Here are the main spots we’ve noted so far: Corinth (just the canal, as the rest seems to have little interest based on what we’ve read), Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Monemvasia, and Mystras. Could you help us figure out the best route to take? Are there other places worth considering given the time we have? Thanks so much in advance for your help!

Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum and I’m going on a Costa cruise in three weeks with my family (there’ll be 14 of us in total). The planned stops are: Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Palermo, Rome, and Savona. Given the high cost of the excursions offered by Costa, I’m looking for tips and great deals. In your opinion, what are the best excursions to do at these stops? Which sites shouldn’t be missed? Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

SANDRINE🙂

Our trip lasted a month, from March 10 to April 10, 2024, and was done aboard our Land Rover Defender 110. For those interested, our 4x4 is equipped with mountain-approved 3PMFSF all-terrain tires (non-studded), a removable electric winch that can be attached to either the front or rear of the vehicle, two sand recovery boards, and we bring two pairs of snow chains. We sleep in our Land Rover, which is equipped with a diesel-powered independent heater, a small fridge, and has a layout that allows the dinette to be converted into a bed.

Starting from the Paris region, we crossed Belgium and Germany, took the ferry from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki, followed the Russian border up to northern Finland, then headed into Norway all the way to the North Cape before returning via Norway, taking the ferry from Larvik in Norway to Hirtshals in Denmark, then passing through Germany and Belgium on our way back to France.

Tonight, March 10, 2024, we’ll be sleeping at our daughter’s place in the North.

Tuesday, March 11, we’ll cross Belgium and then enter Germany, where we’ll camp in Bremen.

Wednesday, March 12, we’ll have a quick visit to Bremen in the morning. We had planned to visit Lübeck, but some electrical issues with the car delayed us, so we head straight to the German port of Travemünde, where we’re set to embark at 11:30 PM to cross the Baltic Sea and arrive in Helsinki after 31 hours of sailing (one-way cabin ticket cost: 850 €—quite expensive since we booked last minute).

On the ferry, there are mostly semi-trucks and only a few campervans and passenger cars. The boat is quiet, and the Baltic Sea is calm.

About two hours before arriving in Helsinki, we hear noise along the hull. Surprise—looking out the porthole, we realize we’re sailing on frozen sea ice!

Thursday, March 14, we arrive at the port of Helsinki at 9:30 AM. Disembarking takes a while. As soon as we’re out, we head straight to Rastila Camping (cost: 27 €), about ten kilometers east of Helsinki. Then we go to a Land Rover garage to fix our headlight switch, which stopped working (a real hassle in Finland since you have to drive with low beams on at all times).

After the repair, we visit the stunning Temppeliaukio Church, which is built underground.

On our way back to the campsite, we stop at the supermarket for supplies. Prices are similar to France, except for imported products.

We settle into our snowy campsite spot.

Hi everyone! We’d love to share some great tips for excursions with French speakers. If you’re on the same cruise, I’d be interested! We’ll be spending a few days in Tokyo and Seoul. Please let me know if you’ll be on the Norwegian Spirit or if you’ve already done this cruise—we’d love to hear about the best places to visit since the guides aren’t very cruise-friendly. Thanks so much!

Hi there, Here’s a little recap of my cruise on the CELEBRITY INFINITY from February 14th to 23rd. Itinerary: Athens / Thessaloniki / Thessaloniki / Kusadasi / AT SEA / Cyprus / AT SEA / Rhodes / Heraklion / Athens / Athens Since the cruise ended on Monday, we had to leave the ship on Sunday to go back to work on Monday 😕 Bring on retirement! This was our 34th cruise, and the price was around 1,300 € per person for AQUACLASS. Just to remind you, AQUACLASS includes spa access, a cabin with a hydro-massage shower, and a dedicated restaurant. For once, I have to say we didn’t get a good deal—prices dropped two months before departure, and we could’ve had AQUACLASS in a guaranteed cabin for 1,000 € per person. So, I think for January/February cruises, it’s better to book last-minute. We arrived in Piraeus on the 12th in the evening. The hotel was great—"Phidias Piraeus Hotel"—close to the center, with a spacious room (upgraded by Booking to a junior suite). The breakfast was decent, and the price was 125 € for two nights, all included. The cherry on top? The hotel offers free shuttles to the cruise ship on departure day—really awesome! We’d never visited Piraeus before, and it was a lovely surprise. Not only was the weather gorgeous, but the walk was really pleasant—the port, the beach, the little streets. It was way nicer than I’d imagined! TO BE CONTINUED: BOARDING 😉

Hi everyone, I’m boarding on May 3rd in Venice and didn’t book flights with COSTA, so no transfer is included. Could you let me know the best way to get to the boarding point (bus, taxi, etc.) and the prices? Thanks so much!

Short stay in Mauritania (one week), then back to Morocco (Dakhla) for a few days before heading to Agadir and flying back to Brussels. Looking for great spots and sights to visit, as well as nice, moderately priced accommodation. What do you recommend? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone, Little cruise heading north... First stop: Copenhagen. There’s a good chance the boat will dock at OCEAN QUAY, which is over 5 km away from the Little Mermaid! I’m struggling to figure out how to get there by taxi, bus, or shuttle. Thanks for your tips! I can still walk, but 5 km through the port area... Have a great rest of the day!

Hi everyone, We’re looking for info on the stopovers in NEWCASTLE, SOUTH QUEENSFERRY, INVERGORDON, and LERWICK. Cruise departing from Hamburg. Thanks in advance to those who can tell us if the ports are far from the cities, what there is to see, and whether we can manage excursions on our own... Have a great day

Hello soon-to-be retired travelers flying from Orly to Fort-de-France! We’re taking the transatlantic cruise on the Virtuosa, which departs from Fort-de-France on Saturday, April 5th and arrives in Le Havre on Sunday, April 20th. Are excursions possible without necessarily going through MSC for Guadeloupe, St. Martin, the Azores, and Lisbon? Has any forum traveler already done this cruise and have some tips and advice to share with us? Thanks in advance.