Results for "Montanita+|+4+>+129"

Bonjour, nous preparons un voyage de 3 semaines entre Los-Angeles et San Fransisco en passant par les grands Parcs de l'Ouest ... Mais la on commence déjà à être un peu perdu ... On est parti sur le concept autotour ... en passant par un voyagiste qui nous le prepare, et on se retrouve avec des devis dont le montant differe de 20 000 Frs .... (on part à 4 donc 5 000 par personnes ..) On n'a pas du tout idee si la categorie des hotels Americains se compare a celle en France (2 etoiles ou 3 etoiles ... les prix sont pas les mêmes ...). Nous on veut pas forcement passer notre journée à l'hotel .. on veut juste y dormir ... donc que se soit propre et pas trop loin des sites .... Certaines agnences nous affirment que des chaines d'hotels du type "Holliday Inn" ou "Best Western" 3 etoiles en France sont du type standard au USA.... Quand pensez vous ??? 2 ou 3 étoiles .... En parcourant le forum j'ai vu des messages donnant des prix de l'ordre de 55 à 80 Euros la nuit, en passant par un voyagiste on atteind vite 100 - 180 Euros ... Je sais pas si c'est les mêmes types d'hotels .... et peu etre pas non plus a la meme periode ... On partirait du 20 juillet au 15 Aout ....pleine periode .. oui je sais ;-)

Que nous conseillez vous ??? qu'est ce qu'un hotel de bon niveau aux USA ???? Une agence non soutient que si on va dans des hotels en dessous des Hollidays Inn et Co c'est de qualite mediocre et peuvent etre sales .... Qu'en pensez vous ??? On imagine qu'ils essaient de vendre leurs produits ... mais on ne veut pas avoir de mauvaises surprises ....

Merci pour vos conseils !!!!

Bonjour a tous,

Je pars prochainement pour la Jordanie en moto et je me pose toujours la question du carnet de passage en douane : quelqu'un peut-il me renseigner sur la necessité de ce carnet ? Il semble qu'il soit absolument nécessaire pour l'Egypte mais qu'on puisse s'en passer pour la Syrie, la Jordanie et le Liban. Vu le montant de la caution demandee (250% de la valeur argus hors taxe du véhicuke si je vais en Egypte!), j'envisage tout simplement de ne pas prendre le carnet et d'aller éventuellement en Egypte sans ma moto (que je laisserais en Jordanie) pour y passer quelques jours.

Quelqu'un a-t-il des infos récentes à ce sujet ?

Merci de votre aide !

Florence

Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?

Best,

Hi there,

I arrive in Jakarta on July 24th and want to head to Flores Island the next day. Do you know which airlines offer direct flights to Labuan Bajo (or elsewhere)? Is it possible to book tickets directly on Indonesian airline websites (I get the feeling that when connecting from France, access is blocked...)

Also, are there direct flights from Maumere or Ende back to Jakarta for the return trip, or do I have to go back through Labuan Bajo?

Thanks and have a great evening

Hi, It's all in the title—this means nothing's getting through, so no more oil. In Europe, kerosene reserves are still good, but by the end of April, flights will have to be reduced. European airports fear running out of kerosene if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened within three weeks

Bluff or not? Stay tuned....

Hello, We’re a family of four with two teens aged 16 and 18. We’re heading to Thailand this summer. We’ll arrive in Bangkok and plan to take a flight to Luang Prabang. I’ve seen there are some great visits and excursions to do (temples, markets, waterfalls) and maybe even venture a bit north to places like Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay, Muang Ngoy, or Oudom Xay. But I’ve also heard about the Bokeo region with the Gibbon Experience. Since we won’t be able to do everything, I’d love to hear about your experiences, impressions, and advice on the two options I’m considering, especially since we’ll be meeting family in Chiang Mai, Thailand, afterward.

Option 1: A loop from Luang Prabang heading slightly north, then a flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.

Option 2: A few days in Luang Prabang, exploring within a few dozen kilometers around, then heading to Bokeo province for the 2-day/1-night Gibbon Experience. For this option, I saw on Rome2Rio that it’s possible to book a ferry trip on the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Huay Xay—they mention about 8 hours. But is that realistic? What type of boat is it? Then, to get to Chiang Mai, there aren’t many options—bus or minivan—but how does crossing the border work?

Finally, for those of you who’ve been to Laos in August, what was the weather like? We’ve already visited Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia during the same period over the past four years and weren’t really bothered by bad weather.

Thanks for your feedback! Best regards, Aurélien

Hi everyone! 🙂 As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th. Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us. We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.

Here’s our itinerary: Day 1: Davis – overnight stop Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen) Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes) Day 6: South Lake Tahoe Day 7: South Lake Tahoe Day 8: Mammoth Lake Day 9: Mammoth Lake Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road Day 11: El Portal Day 12: El Portal Day 13: Oakhurst Day 14: Miramonte Day 15: Three Rivers Day 16: Three Rivers Day 17: Coalinga Day 18: Monterey Day 19: Monterey Day 20: San Francisco Day 21: San Francisco Day 22: Departure

For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned: Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2) Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3) Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4) Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)

I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV? Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?

That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening! Marcalamar 🙂

Hello, here’s a totally subjective recap of our 15-day road trip between Colorado and New Mexico, from late September to mid-October.

Our main interests are culture, museums, and landscapes—no hiking or trails for us. Personally, I’m pretty contemplative, and luckily, there’s always something to see out there! We’re pretty used to the US; we’ve been going there often for a long time (let’s just say we’re not exactly young anymore).

Budget: Even though we don’t set a strict budget beforehand, we try to keep costs as low as possible. This time, we managed to spend around 4000 € for two, all included. To do this: avoid expensive accommodations, staying between 60 and 120 € per night with an average of 90 €/night, mixing Airbnb and motels. And skip the “real” restaurants, which are pretty pricey in the US: sandwiches for lunch, takeout or cooking in the Airbnb in the evening. We shop at Sprouts or Whole Foods—organic-style chains that are pricier than Walmart but better. In the evenings, Sprouts has discounts on items that didn’t sell during the day. Also, avoid toll roads, paid parking, and overly expensive attractions or sites. The dispensary budget is separate…

Route: Denver/Colorado Springs/Alamosa/Raton/Santa Fe/Cuba/Cortez/Grand Junction/Glenwood Springs/Denver This wasn’t too planned in advance—we booked a few nights upon arrival and went with the flow. Flight from CDG to Denver with AF/Delta, car rental at Dollar for a standard SUV. The guy at the Dollar counter upsold me on extra insurance for flat tires (and since I knew we’d be off-roading, I took it). Without telling me, he upgraded me to a Jeep Sahara 4X4 Hybrid. Nice.

Listening to the news upon arrival, the anchor announced, “It’s officially fall now.” We hadn’t really thought about that before leaving, but yeah—it’s the time when the trees turn fluorescent yellow and red. Amazing.

Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods is a free park with paved trails winding through red/orange rock formations. Magical at sunrise—groups of deer roam around, along with birds and rabbits. It’s small but wow! Didn’t try the Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, a staircase with thousands of steps going straight up the mountain. Impressive from the bottom, but the parking is paid, which is a downside for those willing to tackle it. The Cog Railway goes up to the summit of Pikes Peak—around $100 when we were there. No thanks. And of course, the parking is paid too. For fans, Maggie’s Farm dispensary is great.

On Route 24, Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area is fly-fishing paradise—just like in the movie *A River Runs Through It*. Entry is $11, and a trail follows the river at the bottom of the canyon to the dam. Dozens of people in waders are in the water, casting their lines over and over. You can see the salmon in the clear water, and we had a picnic in the sun, imagining Brad Pitt catching a fish.

Buena Vista: A cute little tourist town with an Outdoor Fair that day—some pretty impressive vehicles for sale, set up for mountain living (like Juniper outfitting a RAM).

Alamosa: The closest town to Great Sand Dunes National Park, crossed by the Rio Grande (and let’s be real—it’s more of a stream than a river!). Park access was free because it was National Park Day. A park with massive dunes—climbing them is pretty exhausting, with lots of wind and sinking sand. Glad we didn’t do it in summer; I can’t imagine how tough it’d be in the heat. It’s a bit deceptive: it looks easy to get to the top of a dune, but it’s really not. The campsites were nice, and it was busy that weekend. We passed the “Point of No Return,” a sandy trail winding through the hills and connecting to Route 559 from above. Didn’t go all the way, but it’s possible the entrance is free from that side. However, you need a 4X4 with good ground clearance. After 1 or 2 km on the trail, you’re alone between the dunes and hills—hardly anyone around. But tricky to turn around or pass other vehicles; the trail isn’t wide. We crossed paths with a Hanomag (registered in the Netherlands—impressive!) coming down without stopping, or risking getting stuck.

On the way out, we took the small Route 403, which quickly turns into a trail crossing the mountain. Entire sections of forest were turning fluorescent yellow with patches of green and red—an incredible sight.

Raton: A small town that probably peaked in the late 19th century and has been in slow decline ever since. The Raton Pass Motor Inn is the kind of place that makes the US legendary—entirely 50s and 60s decor, really well done. I had the Betty Page room—too cool. Felt like we were on Route 66. Even better.

Santa Fe: A small city with no high-rises—almost all low-rise buildings, many in adobe, blending perfectly into the landscape. The old downtown is touristy but nice, with its plaza and church. There’s a really cool vibe—we loved it. For drinks, the bar at the top of La Fonda Hotel was packed for sunset, with a diverse crowd. Not overpriced for the location. SITE Santa Fe is a contemporary art space near the train station. It’s free, and the temporary exhibit was really good—high quality. Museum Hill is, as the name suggests, where several museums are located. We visited the Museum of Indian Art and Culture—great if you’re into “First Nations” history. Saw The Dandy Warhols at The Bridge—an outdoor venue, one of the last concerts of the season before winter makes it too cold. Oddly, there was no bag check, just an ID required (even though it was obvious we were over 21!). Tickets were reasonable, around $30 (concerts in the US can be crazy expensive). The band was good, with fewer than 300 people in front. A sign at the bar warned: Don’t forget you’re at 1,500 meters—alcohol hits harder up here!

Albuquerque: A sprawling city with an old historic center that feels a bit like Disneyland—too perfect for my taste. The real highlight is the Sandia Peak Tramway, which goes up to the old ski resort above the city. Tickets are around $35, and it’s worth it—the ride over the canyons is pretty wild. The ski resort is a bit abandoned; apparently, like elsewhere, there’s no snow anymore. I asked several people about the lack of snow, and the answer was always the same: “It’s cyclical.” Okay then. We arrived for the start of the International Balloon Fiesta (one of the world’s largest hot-air balloon gatherings), hoping to see hundreds of balloons in the sky. Nope—windy today, so no one took off. Bummer.

Las Vegas: New Mexico has its own Las Vegas, but it’s nothing like the other one—a sleepy little town with a perfectly preserved 19th-century Historic Plaza Hotel, brick buildings, and vintage streetlights. Everything is so well-preserved it’s often used as a filming location. NM attracts a lot of productions thanks to tax incentives and its Western landscapes—and it’s cheaper than California! That day, a huge Texas flag was flying in the wind: they were filming the second season of *Ransom Canyon* for Netflix in the town center. If we’d been dressed more “Western,” we could’ve been extras.

Jemez Springs: Its Jemez Hot Springs is super cute—several thermal pools at different temperatures, a New Age vibe. The pools are surrounded by big rocks, and you’re asked to speak softly. A place where you could spend hours. $50 for two hours for two.

Los Alamos: A town made legendary by the bomb, the movie, etc. Heads up: It’s still a research center, and to cross part of the town, you need to show ID. No stopping or taking photos allowed. Other than the Oppenheimer House (currently closed—only the neighboring house is open to visitors), there’s not much to see. There’s a replica of the camp entrance, but it’s been turned into restrooms.

Georgia O’Keeffe Trail (American painter, 1887–1986): Her museum in Santa Fe is pretty good, even if they don’t have tons of works. Entry is $20. Her house in Abiquiu is open for visits, but it’s way overpriced at $65. So we skipped it. You can get an idea of it by stopping at the Welcome Center on Route 84. Further down the same road, Ghost Ranch is worth a visit—beautiful setting, free to enter, with trails to explore and a great atmosphere.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park: A pretty isolated park—25 km of trails to get there, with only a small section paved. The road is decent except for the last few kilometers, which have potholes. I can’t imagine it being accessible after rain, though that doesn’t happen often! This park, in the middle of a desert plain with a few canyons, is one of the rare places where you can find multi-story structures from pre-Columbian civilizations—so, before the “current” tribes. But cruel disappointment: it’s been shut down for a few days. We met a Native ranger—tall, with long hair—who explained that even though he wasn’t being paid, he was still guarding the park and had closed all access to the sites. Darn. Turned around and headed back down the trail.

Same story in the next town, Aztec (a funny name, right?): Aztec Ruins National Monument was closed too.

We passed Ship Rock, the Navajo’s sacred mountain—really impressive. Couldn’t find a trail to get closer, but it’s better from a distance anyway! The town of Shiprock itself is pretty depressing—poor living conditions for some Natives, with rundown mobile homes and piles of junk cars.

Stopped in Cortez to visit Mesa Verde National Park. Ate at Denny’s—hadn’t been there in ages (though it’s the kind of place I should feel at home in!). The customers all looked like they’d stepped out of *The Addams Family*—a little creepy. Or funny, depending on your perspective. For Mesa Verde, after discussing it on this forum with the honorable member Caussat (who didn’t find it that amazing), we were on the fence. Problem solved: it was closed too. Back on the road.

Durango: Really nice with its Main Ave and its shops, cafés—touristy but with local life. Famous for its tourist train to Silverton, but we didn’t do it—way too expensive. Choice between a steam locomotive or diesel (which belches black, stinky smoke—yuck). The diesel should be replaced with electric as soon as they get the funds.

Million Dollar Highway: The road winds through the mountains, and every turn (and there are a lot) is breathtaking—unbelievable landscapes with fluorescent yellow, green, and snow-capped mountains. Just wow.

Silverton: A Western town nestled between two mountains, preserved in its original state despite the tourists arriving by train. Around it, abandoned mines and old wooden ties—must’ve been tough for the 19th-century miners.

Grand Junction: The city is surrounded by giant mesas—pretty impressive. The old downtown is *too* clean—almost sterile.

Colorado National Monument: Just outside the city, a winding road climbs between stunning canyons, with sweeping views of the valley. Entry was free that day due to the shutdown.

Route 330, which we took to get back to the highway, passes through a place called “Cowboy Country”—and it’s true. We saw guys in Stetsons with huge pickups, the road turned into a trail with cows wandering on it, and we had to honk to get them to move. The trail to I-70 was full of potholes—the 4X4 came in handy. Had a picnic by Vega Reservoir: the booth at the entrance was empty, but people left cash in envelopes for camping fees. Anyone passing by could’ve taken it, but it’s an example of US trust and honesty!

Glenwood Springs: A small town famous for its hot springs pool—they claim it’s the largest in the world. I don’t know about that, but it has a great look. Unfortunately, it was closed for maintenance those days! Blew our budget by staying at the Hotel Colorado, a huge 1893 building with a real atmosphere in its grand lobby and fake fireplaces. Fire pits in front of wooden chairs in the garden with mountain views—just really great.

Aspen: The billionaires’ ski resort, but surprisingly, parking was free for 2 hours. Rare to see a place for the super-rich that doesn’t scream “not for you” (like Palm Beach, for example). A former mining town completely redone, every shop occupied by a luxury brand. There’s even a thrift shop run by sweet retirees—funny as hell. Two ski lifts to start directly with your skis, but we didn’t see the price—they were still closed. Lots of houses that aren’t huge but are cute, though looking at real estate prices made us think, “Is there an extra zero on that listing?” A 6-bedroom villa for $52 million? Wow. The mountains around are gorgeous—no wonder it became what it is.

Another fancy resort nearby: Vail, more modern in its construction. The restaurants opted for a “Schwarzwald” decor—kind of odd.

Denver: Nothing really stood out for us in this city, except the Design Museum—the Kirkland, where a local painter collected furniture and supplies from Arts and Crafts to Postmodern. Just really great. Entry is included with a visit to the Denver Art Museum, which has diverse collections—from Impressionism (they have a Manet, a Van Gogh, a Cézanne, several Sisleys) to photography. The best part for me was the “Ancient Americas” totems—huge, impressive wooden sculptures, painted, the kind you’re more used to seeing in Polynesia or Easter Island. Personally, I didn’t know Natives made them too. That’s what museums are for!

Back at the airport, where I had to tag my own luggage (you have to do everything yourself with these US airlines). The tag said SLC/CDG! But we were supposed to connect through JFK. Turns out, they’d put us on a DEN/SLC/CDG flight without telling us. In the end, we gained 30 minutes on our original arrival time in Paris!

There you go—hope this inspires other travelers! !

Hi, I’d like to arrive in India at New Delhi Airport with some cash. I was wondering if the exchange rates at the airport are any good or if it’s best to avoid them (and exchange in the city instead?).

Thanks for your help.

Hi there, Looking for advice on how to get from the cruise stop at La Goulette to Sidi Bou Said on my own. Cruise is planned for November. Thanks in advance for your help! Hester

Hello everyone, This coming November, I’ll be joining my family who lives in Villarrica, and I’d love to take the opportunity to climb the volcano. I’ve been dreaming of doing it with my 16-year-old little brother, who’s in excellent physical shape and very athletic. However, after checking out the "reputable" booking sites, I noticed that most guides systematically refuse anyone under 18, with no possibility of an exception—even though I’d be fully prepared to take full responsibility. I think that’s really too bad. Do any of you know if there are any serious agencies or guides who accept young people who are at least 16? Your feedback or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much! 😊

Hi, I was wondering if anyone here has ever booked flight tickets through a travel agency without it being part of a package. And if so, did the agency mention that when they book for you, it’s them who has to pay the government tax or other taxes—I can’t remember—and then they charge you for those taxes afterward? Or maybe this is specific to Quebec...

Hi everyone, I really enjoy traveling by boat, and I usually book directly with the cruise line. At the same time, I get a lot of ads for Croisières.fr, which, as a middleman, offers me the same cruises as the cruise lines themselves. I’d love to know if any of you have booked through them before and if everything went smoothly? Thanks!

Hi there,

We’re traveling to Java on October 23, just the two of us. I’ve read that it’s best to book train tickets in advance on tiket.com. Is that true, and how far ahead do you recommend? Are the tickets changeable?

Thanks for your help!

Nicole

We’re planning a week-long trip to southern Tunisia in early September and we’d like to rent a car in Djerba. We don’t have a credit card, only a debit card. Any good tips on rates and reliability?

Hello fellow travelers, I’m planning my trip to Madagascar for next March and I’m looking for info on how to get a visa and its cost for 13 days in Mada. I’ve read that you can get the visa directly at Ivato, but what’s the price for the length of my stay? Also, can you pay in euros? Thanks for your tips and advice—they’re always welcome and super helpful.

Hi everyone, My friend and I are heading to Madagascar in March, and we were wondering if it’s possible to bring some cash and top up once we’re there (specifically in Tana). Is it worth exchanging money if euros are accepted everywhere? Thanks for your always super helpful tips on VF!

Hi there! I’d like to spend a week in the United States with my 19-year-old daughter. It’s her dream to go there, and we’re planning to visit New York in 18 months. For July, we’re looking for a fun week with cultural visits and some shopping, with a budget of 4000 € for two people, including travel. Just a little heads-up—I’m not a big fan of extreme heat! If you have any cool destination ideas or great tips, I’d really appreciate it! Thanks in advance 😊

Hi everyone, my husband and I are planning a night-train trip in September: first to Vienna (3 nights), then Budapest (2 nights), Bratislava (1 night or skip it?), Salzburg (1 night), Munich (1 night), and maybe Stuttgart (1 night) before heading back to Paris. The whole trip will be by train.

Is it worth getting the Interrail Global Pass for this? Thanks for your feedback!

With the $CAD/EUR exchange rate already worse than ever (thanks, Mr. Trump and his annexation threats), imagine my surprise when I found out that the EuroBank ATM (same for Alpha Bank) charged a 9% commission on the transaction. That pushed the exchange rate from the official 1.60$ to 1.77$ per euro. It’s better to buy euros in Canada or at a currency exchange office, or just pay by credit card, which I did (at a rate between 1.61$ and 1.63$).

Every day, I look back at my 2022 trip to Wyoming. And every day, I tell myself I need to start getting ready to go back. Don’t agree? 😎

Hello, I need some advice because I can't decide on an itinerary. We're going to join our son around September 20th, who's spending a year in Canada on a working holiday visa. I did the classic Quebec loop over 30 years ago, so I’m ruling out the Saguenay Fjord and Lac Saint-Jean right away. Here are the stops (overnights) I’ve tentatively planned:

D1-2-3: Quebec City D4: Malbaie Gorges National Park via Routes 360 and 362 D5: Malbaie Gorges National Park (fishing and canoeing) D6: Tadoussac (walks and whale watching from the shore, hiking up to Cap du Bon Désir) D7: Whale-watching zodiac excursion – ferry – Bic National Park D8: Bic National Park D9: Carleton-sur-Mer via the Matapedia Valley D10: Percé D11: Percé (Bonaventure Island excursion) D12: Forillon National Park D13: Forillon National Park D14: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts via Route 132 D15: Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (Gaspésie National Park) D16: Kamouraska D17: Quebec City D18-19-20: Montreal

I feel like one night in Tadoussac is too short. Wouldn’t it be better to add another night there and only spend one night in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, skipping Gaspésie National Park? Just to clarify, we love nature and hiking but limit ourselves to about 10 km per day.

Also, I’m wondering about the distances (even though I tried to keep them reasonable), the short stops (max 2 nights except in Quebec City and Montreal, so not much time to settle in), and the weather in Gaspésie in late September-October (my husband doesn’t handle the cold well). Maybe it’d be better to only go as far as Bic National Park, then head back, and add more nights at Malbaie Gorges National Park (I didn’t stay in a park on my first trip, and my son, who got his fishing license, would be proud to bring us dinner 😊), Tadoussac, and maybe around Bic/Rimouski?

One last detail: the plan is to land in Quebec City, rent a car on D4, return it on D17, and take the train or bus to Montreal the next day, where we’ll catch our flight 4 days later. This is to cut down on rental costs and avoid having a car in Quebec City.

Thanks for reading this far—I hope I can count on your advice! 😊

Claire

Hi, How long does it take to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok? Thanks! Car, metro?

Hi there, We’re doing two loops: from SLC to Grand Tetons/Yellowstone from 06/25 to 06/26 (June 1–8) and another in Utah from 06/25 to 06/26 (June 8–16).

We’ve already been to these areas and are filling in gaps from previous trips—especially in Utah with Capitol Reef, Kanab (including White Pocket—we’ve already done North and South Coyote Buttes), Wahweap Hoodoos, The Narrows, and a few other little treats.

Renting an AWD SUV from Rugged Rentals and bringing a sat phone for the gravel roads.

I use a Revolut card for payments to avoid hefty foreign-exchange fees, but I’m wondering how much cash we should bring for 15 days.

Thanks for your input! Louis

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to warn you all after my disastrous trip back on February 28th because of Emirates airline. Please note that if you need to file a complaint with this airline, wait until you're back home in France or your country of origin. Here’s what happened to me. I had booked and paid for seats on the plane for my outbound flight on February 10th from Lyon to Dubai, then Dubai to Bangkok. Despite our reservation, these seats weren’t assigned to us. I spoke to a flight attendant who told me she’d inform Emirates management and advised me to file a complaint once I was at my hotel. So, I did that on the Emirates website to request a refund for the paid seats that weren’t assigned, totaling 34 €. On February 26th, I tried to check in online for the next day, which was supposed to be my return flight. To my surprise, my husband still had his return ticket, but mine was no longer scheduled. I contacted the airline via chat, and an advisor told me, "Ma’am, you canceled your return flight." I responded, of course, that I hadn’t, and as proof, my husband still had his return ticket. The advisor ended the conversation by insisting I had canceled my flight. I was devastated and in tears, and like most tourists, I only had data and no way to call except via WhatsApp and Messenger. I had to contact my daughters so they could call Emirates to understand and resolve the situation. But nothing worked—they insisted that when I filed my complaint, it was indicated that all my future tickets were canceled. The flight on February 27th was fully booked, so either my husband returns to France alone, or we return together on February 28th, but we’d have to pay 2300 € for both of us. Despite multiple explanations to Emirates—including that I’m disabled and can’t be alone—they refused to listen or understand. We had to pay 2300 € to get home on February 28th. We also had to extend our hotel stay in Bangkok by one night and change our train for the return on the 28th, totaling 2565 € to get back home. I’ve since filed requests with Emirates for a refund of the return flight tickets and with my Visa card, but I have little hope of recovering anything. If anyone here has experienced this situation or has any ideas for a solution, I’d really appreciate your help. Thanks so much for your valuable support. Most importantly, remember: DO NOT FILE A COMPLAINT WITH EMIRATES BEFORE RETURNING FROM YOUR TRIP.

Hi there, No recent discussion here on the topic (2025). Anyone else interested?

Today I ended up being denied boarding at CDG. I booked the trip through a physical travel agency with no assistance for the visa application. I applied in plenty of time and got the approval. Except I put the 9th (the day I left France) as the date instead of the 10th, which is the arrival date in India. That’s what caused the denial. I’m guessing I don’t have any recourse? Thanks for your replies.

Hi there,

We’re arriving soon at a hotel near Miami Airport for a 2-day weekday stay before heading west. We’d like to spend a day in South Beach and are wondering whether it’s better to drive there despite the parking costs and the hassle of finding a spot, or if there’s a cheaper alternative.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions! 😊

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a short trip—max one week—to connect to the Dolce Via starting from La Voulte and then link up with the Dolce Fluvia. I’d like to head up via Le Puy and was wondering if it’s best to make the connection by going through Saint-Agrève, then up to Chambon/Lignon, and finally to Raucoules. Does anyone have a nice route suggestion? I’m traveling with a loaded touring bike (a Farrad TX800 with two rear panniers), but I’m limiting my load to 13 kg. I’m aiming for around 70 km a day, max 80 km, and I usually sleep at campsites or in a guest room if the rain’s too heavy.

On my way up to Le Puy-en-Velay, I plan to come back down through the Ardèche mountains, then head to Aubenas and the Rhône Valley. Does anyone have route ideas with scenic roads (like Lac d’Issarlès) or any other suggestions?

Thanks for all the tips!

Christian