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Do I need an eco sticker to drive in Germany?
by Didine18 · 2025-02-17 · 14 replies
Hi, We're heading to Germany in August. Finally, after all this time I wanted to go back to Germany :) I think I need an eco sticker for my car, but I'm not sure. I found this info: "Since June 1, 2022, it’s no longer necessary to buy the German eco sticker to drive in Freiburg-im-Breisgau’s Umweltzonen (low-emission zones). The Crit'Air sticker, rated from 0 to 3, is recognized by the authorities." Could you tell me the name of the website where I can find this info, please? We’ll be staying in Brigachtal (Baden-Württemberg). We’ll visit Friedrichshafen, Triberg, and Hohenzollern Castle.

Thanks :)
Cécile, from Big Sur to Sausalito
by Ducono · 2025-02-05 · 32 replies
After our first trip discovering the American West with our teens, Cécile asked me to go back for a romantic getaway to this wonderful destination. Whatever my wife wants, so here we are on a plane in September 2022, heading to San Francisco. Since we’d already visited the main parks two years earlier, this time we took the scenic route:



We arrived late in the evening, spent a short night at the hotel, and picked up our rental car to hit Highway 1 and the Pacific coast. The sky was gray, foggy, and a bit disappointing for now.



As Brittany lovers, we know coastal weather can change quickly... but no! Bixby Bridge was just a quick view from the car, and it was only 11°C outside.



We had a quick picnic on the spot, quickly bothered by the local wildlife.



And then—miracle! This charming animal made the wind shift and brought us sunshine. So this coast is absolutely worth the trip—it’s just stunning.



Only the sound of the wind and the seals’ calls disturbed the tranquility of the moment.





But even the best things come to an end, and we turned inland toward the sequoias. We drove through a long plain with fruit trees, vineyards, and endless straight roads.





First night at the hotel, tired but happy! !
Mediterranean Bike Tour: Crossing Algeria, Egypt, and Libya
by GregorVelo · 2025-02-03 · 5 replies
Hi everyone,

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

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

Thanks for any advice!
15 days in Japan: Nikko or Matsumoto?
by Cocci26 · 2025-02-02 · 1 reply
A friend and I are planning to visit Japan this autumn. Beyond the usual spots like Tokyo and Kyoto, we're looking for a nice, relaxing place. I've gathered info on Nikko and the Matsumoto area, and we might even stay in a monastery. We’ll have to choose—any preferences or tips? Thanks
Finding Faroese kronur and a SIM card in the Faroe Islands
by Tatra · 2025-02-01 · 4 replies
Hi there,

I’m coming with my little batch of questions, thinking it’s more sociable to ask here than my favorite AI.

1) In the Faroe Islands, you pay in Danish kroner—that’s clear—and mostly by card. But there are also Faroese kronur, and I’d love to bring some back. Are they available at ATMs? There don’t seem to be any real exchange bureaus in the capital.

2) The Faroe Islands aren’t part of the EU roaming agreement. Local SIM cards are supposedly available everywhere, but does anyone have an idea of prices or an operator to recommend?

Michel
Australia/New Zealand Trip: Which Flights Are the Most Budget-Friendly?
by Elfine · 2025-01-28 · 5 replies
Hi there! I’m planning my trip for next year in February—5 weeks total: 3 weeks in southern Australia and 2 weeks on New Zealand’s North Island. (We’ve already explored all of New Zealand a few years ago, which is why we’re only spending 15 days on the North Island this time.)

My question is about flights. What’s the most cost-effective and economical route: France → Sydney → Auckland → France, or France → Auckland → Sydney → France? Any airline recommendations? Thanks so much!
Best time to visit the Yucatan with family?
by Ichijooo · 2025-01-20 · 8 replies
Hi, We had to cancel our trip to the Yucatan in April 2025. So now I’m looking at 2026. But since it’s tricky to take time off during the April school holidays (we have young kids, so we have to travel around school vacation periods), what would be the best alternative time (we’re in Zone B)?

February break: end of February / early March All Saints' break: end of October / early November Summer vacation (but I don’t think that’s ideal). I’m not mentioning Christmas—it’ll be too expensive.

Thanks,
24 days in Argentina in September: what to visit?
by Audreyaussie · 2025-01-16 · 5 replies
Hi there, We’ll be in Argentina for 24 days starting mid-September 2025. I’m not sure where to go for this time of year—is Patagonia doable? Iguazu without a doubt, Salta, Peninsula Valdes to see the wildlife? Can we see penguins at that time? We love hiking, thanks for your tips!
Trains and ferries in Madagascar
by Laurent5607 · 2025-01-12 · 4 replies
Hi there I’m heading to Madagascar soon and I’m looking for two pieces of info: - Is there a passenger train between Tananarive and Tamatave? - Are there maritime connections again between Madagascar and the Comoros from Majunga? If so, can you buy ferry tickets online? Thanks Laurent
Flight ticket prices for Christmas holidays to Guadeloupe
by Philfog · 2025-01-06 · 3 replies
Hi, We’d like to travel to Guadeloupe as a family (5 adults) for Christmas 2025. We’re leaving on the first Saturday of the school holidays and returning on January 1st—we can’t leave outside of the holiday period. Could you give me a rough idea of what a reasonable price is for that time? Is booking as soon as reservations open a good deal, or should we wait? Thanks for your help. Isabelle
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
Layover luggage in Washington IAD
by Cline11 · 2024-12-28 · 4 replies
Hi, I have a flight from San Diego to Newark with a layover at Washington IAD (Dulles). In Washington, do I need to collect my luggage or will it be transferred automatically?
Good place for one night in Delhi
by Ignatus88 · 2024-12-25 · 30 replies
Hi fellow travelers! I arrive in New Delhi on January 5th, and this is the third time I’ve come across what turns out to be a scam (after some research outside of booking.com): dirty places, fake reviews, etc. So I’m starting to distrust booking.com because it really doesn’t seem like a reliable site (at least when it comes to booking hotels in New Delhi).

If you have a good place to stay (max 1500 € per night, and I don’t want a dorm) in New Delhi, I’d love to hear about it! :)

Looking forward to your replies!
3 days in Milan: sights, hotels, restaurants, etc.
by Lechefrando · 2024-12-24 · 11 replies
Hello, VoyageForum friends, and happy holidays! I’m planning a trip with my 19-year-old grandson to Milan for Easter Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in 2025. I’d love your insights on what we can visit in Milan that would interest both my grandson and me (I’m 75). Of course, I’m thinking of the must-sees, but not just those—cozy little restaurants, trendy neighborhoods, and anything else you’d recommend. I’m also looking for a comfortable hotel in the city center that isn’t too expensive!

I’m sure the VoyageForum community will help me uncover some hidden gems! Looking forward to your replies.
Withdrawing Money in Uzbekistan
by UnaMilanese · 2024-12-22 · 14 replies
Hi there,

It’s been a while since I’ve traveled outside an area packed with ATMs, so I’m wondering about Uzbekistan and the best exchange options. The guidebooks aren’t very chatty on the topic.

From what I gather, transport and hotels will be booked and paid via bank transfer to a local agency. For personal expenses, is it better to bring euros, dollars, or can we still find ATMs along the Silk Road cities to withdraw cash with our bank card?

Catherine
Review of a cruise on the Costa Fortuna – November-December 2024
by Avionsol · 2024-12-16 · 6 replies
I’ve finally gotten around to writing a review of our transatlantic cruise on the Costa Fortuna. We’ve always loved cruises, especially transatlantic ones. In recent years, we were MSC customers (Diamond card). But this year, we decided to return to Costa, though there was one downside: we lost all the points from our old Costa card (I think we were "Gold"). Still, since we’re former customers, the company generously gave us 1 point and the bronze card. It’s better than nothing.

Our departure nearly went wrong. The ship was leaving Marseille on Friday, December 22 at 2:00 PM, and we were told to be at the port by 10:30 AM. This unusual departure time meant we had to travel to Marseille the day before (since we live in the Paris area). So, we booked a flight from Orly to Marseille on the 21st at 5:15 PM. But December 21 was a particularly rough day in France with a big snowstorm. And as everyone knows, planes and trains don’t handle snow very well. At Orly, in the waiting area, everyone was anxious as the minutes ticked by. The departure time kept getting pushed back in 15-minute increments. They eventually let us board the plane with no guarantees. Once inside, the captain announced we were waiting for a takeoff slot. About an hour later, he said the plane needed de-icing and the wait could be long since airport staff were overwhelmed. Miraculously, after what felt like forever, the de-icing truck finally arrived, and we took off—over two hours late. When we landed in Marseille, the terminal was practically empty. Luckily, our hotel wasn’t too far away.

We later found out that passengers who took the train were even less lucky—trains were canceled. Later, at our table, we met a neighbor who had boarded in Malaga by plane because his Paris-Marseille train had turned back. He’d incurred extra costs, lost two days of the cruise, and had quite a bit of stress.

The next day in Marseille, our boarding went smoothly. We were surprised by the large number of passengers. We later learned that 1,300 people had boarded in Marseille. Since the ship wasn’t full (between 2,300 and 2,500 passengers), the French were in the majority (a rare occurrence). We noticed during the cruise that the French are just as loud as the Italians. The only upside? At least we could understand what was being said.

More to come later.....
Problem with Sixt in Chile
by SetChB · 2024-12-15 · 3 replies
Hi, I booked a car with Sixt from Temuco to Puerto Montt from 01/27/25 to 02/17/25. On Saturday, I got an email canceling the reservation. But the reservation is still showing up on the website (as of this morning at 9:30 AM). Can’t reach Sixt Chile. Sixt France is also in the dark (they can’t contact Chile either). Has anyone heard anything about this?
Your experiences with AIDA cruises
by Clown83 · 2024-12-01 · 12 replies
Over ten years ago, we took a cruise on the Costa ROMANTICA. Since then, we’ve never had the pleasure of finding another company for a cruise in the Indian Ocean with stops in Réunion, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Madagascar. I recently discovered on this site that the German company AIDA offers the exact same cruise in December! But we don’t speak German and don’t know this company at all. Thanks if you can give us any insights about the ship *Stella* and the quality of their services
Traveling to Thimphu (Bhutan) from Kolkata by land
by Eidyl · 2024-11-25 · 3 replies
Hi everyone! So great to be back on this Forum! My question is in the title: is it possible to reach Bhutan from Kolkata by entering through the Phuntsholing border crossing? If anyone has already done this route, it would really put my mind at ease... 😉 Thanks in advance for all your replies! 🤪 Lydie
What to see in Montenegro?
by Lechefrando · 2024-11-15 · 11 replies
Hi everyone on Voyage Forum! In mid-September 2025, a group of friends and I are heading to Montenegro for a week. On my must-see list, I’ve obviously got the Bay of Kotor and Lake Skadar. Besides those two excursions, what else would you recommend seeing or visiting? Just to note, we’ll be staying in the Bijela area.

Another question: Is Tivat Airport operating during that period? I think Transavia flies there. Otherwise, we’d have to go through Dubrovnik, which I’d prefer to avoid—partly because I’ve been there before and partly to skip the border wait.

Looking forward to your replies or suggestions!
Exploring Quebec
by Dolma · 2024-11-14 · 11 replies
I love barns. The ones with bright, cheerful colors, the ones whose wood is so old it’s turned completely gray, the ones that are restored, the ones that are run-down… You come across a thousand and one no matter which road you take, and every single one of them has one thing in common: they lean! Is it the weight of the years, the weight of the snow, or the wind that makes them so wobbly? Whatever the reason, it gives them a charm that utterly enchants me.

I love lighthouses. They’re small, often all curves and colors. Do they really serve as landmarks for sailors? I think they’re more useful to seals or whales—and even more so to birds, which make them their favorite meet-up spots. Either way, they have a wonderfully easygoing look that I love.

I love houses. Not just any houses: the ones decked out like Christmas trees all year round. Usually, they’re spruced up, looking just as cheerful under snow as they do covered in flowers and little figurines on the lawn, always decorated with those strings of lights wrapped around them. Is it true they help lost travelers find their way during a snowstorm? And in summer? Is it just for looks? Either way, they have a totally kitschy vibe that delights me.

I love roads. The ones that hide in endless forests, the ones that play hide-and-seek with rivers, the ones so straight you can see forever, the ones that go up and down like a rollercoaster, the ones that burst with autumn colors, that sparkle under the snow, that vanish into the fog, the ones that cross villages, that cross meadows, that run along the shores of the St. Lawrence. I love lonely roads, peaceful roads, the ones where you drive while listening to Janis Joplin and Tom Waits… What if we just kept going? Always farther, never stopping…

But I also love the people! The people with big smiles and laughing eyes. The people who come up to us as soon as they hear our accent. And who talk—sometimes so fast and with words we don’t know that it takes a while to understand. And then there’s that kindness in a café or a shop: “Hello there, sweetheart, what can I get you?” “Welcome, if you need help, just call me,” and so on… I love it, yes, I love it. I struggle *so* much with the Québécois accent (laugh), but I figured out a trick: you have to open your mouth wide and twist your lips a little, and it works pretty well! Laugh again… I love you, my Québécois friends…
First trip to Morocco: what to see and do?
by AlbertV · 2024-11-08 · 10 replies
Hi there, We're interested in urbanism, architecture, Arab-Muslim culture, and the daily life of locals... A rough idea: Fez and Meknes. A good plan? Maybe too touristy? We prefer off-the-beaten-path destinations (we’ve traveled to Iran, for example). What else is there to see in the region? We’re open to any suggestions. Thanks for your tips!
Stopovers during the Costa Deliziosa cruise in May 2025
by Primavera94 · 2024-11-07 · 22 replies
Hi everyone, I’m so glad VOYAGE FORUM is back up—it’s such a lifesaver for us travelers!! Next May, I’ll be going on a cruise on the COSTA DELIZIOSA with stopovers in SPLIT, DUBROVNIK, KOTOR, CORFU, KATAKOLON, and BARI. Since the forum closed during COVID, all the discussions stopped at the same time. So, I’d love to hear from anyone who’s done this cruise to share some tips about the stopovers. Thanks in advance for your help!
Road tolls and ferries in Norway
by Tainois · 2024-11-06 · 21 replies
I’m planning a trip to Norway in June 2025 and I’d like to know how to handle tolls with a contract like I read about
Exploring the Chocó region in Colombia on the Pacific side
by Kuntzb · 2024-11-03 · 9 replies
Hi there, I’d love some tips for visiting the Chocó region near the Pacific in Colombia. I’m assuming I’ll fly in... Where should I stay? Where can I walk in the forest (without a guide)? Where can I see wildlife, go diving, hiking, and what are the best places to stay? Also, how do I get around, etc.? Thanks in advance! Bernard
Insects and Spiders in Southeast Asia
by Davidoff76 · 2024-10-31 · 3 replies
Hi there,

I’m planning a solo road trip through Northern Vietnam and Northern Laos (Muang Khua, Nong Khiaw, Luang Prabang) / train to Bangkok, but I have a slight (okay, big) phobia of insects and especially spiders... And of course, Laos has a reputation for having plenty of them! Can you tell me if the "risk" of running into any is real with my route through this magical-sounding country?

Thanks! !
First trip to France with kids after 12 years abroad
by BeneFukuoka · 2024-10-31 · 2 replies
Hi there, A sudden family event means I’ll be spending a few days in France alone with my kids in the coming days.

Just to set the scene—I live in Japan, I have two young children (4 and 2 years old), and this is my first time returning to France in 12 years. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.

My questions: 1/ My kids don’t share my last name. Do I need to have a document proving our parent-child relationship (+ a French translation?) with me?

2/ They have Japanese nationality. Will they be able to go through the same line as me at the airport? (I think I remember there’s an EU nationals line and another for non-EU, but given their age...)

Thanks in advance for your help.
Mediterranean Cruise with Costa Toscana: Your Tips for the Ports of Call
by Fanchon97250 · 2024-10-17 · 13 replies
I’d love to get some tips for DIY excursions during our cruise. The scheduled stops are Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Palermo, Rome, and Savona. Thanks in advance!
Car rental in Thailand
by Attila · 2024-10-16 · 2 replies
Hello again!

For an upcoming trip to Thailand, I’m looking for names of reliable car rental companies based in Phuket.

I’d also like to know about local road rules and the current amount of traffic "fines."

Are foreigners targeted or profiled when driving a rental vehicle?

The routes I’d be taking aren’t in Phuket itself—Phuket would just be the arrival point—but rather around Khao Lak, Krabi, Surat Thani, and the inland areas in that region.

Thanks! :)
Are there any promotions available for the MSC Yacht Club?
by Guxie · 2024-10-14 · 39 replies
Hi,

Is it possible to get promotions on the MSC Yacht Club section? What strategy should I adopt to get the best prices: book in advance or at the last minute? Is it better to book directly with MSC or through a third-party provider to get the best value for money? Thanks

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