Results for "Musée+Hospice+France+|+127"
36181 results found.
Back from Albania (1,000km by car)
At the risk of drawing some harsh criticism, I’ll admit we were really disappointed: sure, this trip—taken at the end of September—was short (a week), but we’d planned this little road trip (1,000km by car) as a first scouting mission. We won’t be going back anytime soon!
First mistake: we flew into Tirana (from Marseille) when it would’ve been better to fly to Corfu and rent a car in the south of the country instead of staying in the capital, which frankly isn’t all that interesting. From Tirana, we headed east toward Lin, by Lake Ohrid (a very poor region facing Macedonia), then to Korça, which guidebooks call "the most pleasant city in Albania." From there, we drove to Gjirokastra, an old Ottoman town (170km of mountain roads that took us nearly 5 hours...), then further south to Butrint, near Greece. The goal of these stops? To visit UNESCO World Heritage sites. In Lin, 6th-century mosaics; in Korça, a remarkable icon museum; in Gjirokastra, the citadel. At Butrint, we fled at the sight of all the tour buses parked in front of "this major archaeological site in the Mediterranean" and headed back north! The entire Adriatic coast is undergoing severe overdevelopment: developers are destroying the coastline to attract even more tourists (11 million visited in 2024, while Albania only has 3 million residents). We preferred to leave the coastal road (in excellent condition, a future highway) to visit Berat, an Ottoman town topped by a citadel. Our favorite spot. Why were we so disappointed? Villages without charm, outskirts of major cities in advanced decay, trash along the roads... The weight of the communist dictatorship and forced industrialization over forty years is still felt everywhere. The country is recovering but betting on tourism. The result? Newly built villas for the newly rich, beaches near the capital already polluted... Too bad, because the natural landscapes are often stunning, the locals are welcoming (young people learn English, though their parents speak little), and prices remain very reasonable—except in the capital. We’d chosen to stay with locals as much as possible, but like in Croatia, families are turning their homes into guest houses (~35 € per night, hearty breakfast included). Renting the car cost us 312 € for a week (with an international rental company—it’s probably cheaper with a local one, but I prefer understanding the contract I sign), and we cautiously took the optional insurance. Just so you know: Albanians drive fast, seem unfamiliar with traffic rules, overtake before curves, ignore yellow lines, and rarely use turn signals...)
First mistake: we flew into Tirana (from Marseille) when it would’ve been better to fly to Corfu and rent a car in the south of the country instead of staying in the capital, which frankly isn’t all that interesting. From Tirana, we headed east toward Lin, by Lake Ohrid (a very poor region facing Macedonia), then to Korça, which guidebooks call "the most pleasant city in Albania." From there, we drove to Gjirokastra, an old Ottoman town (170km of mountain roads that took us nearly 5 hours...), then further south to Butrint, near Greece. The goal of these stops? To visit UNESCO World Heritage sites. In Lin, 6th-century mosaics; in Korça, a remarkable icon museum; in Gjirokastra, the citadel. At Butrint, we fled at the sight of all the tour buses parked in front of "this major archaeological site in the Mediterranean" and headed back north! The entire Adriatic coast is undergoing severe overdevelopment: developers are destroying the coastline to attract even more tourists (11 million visited in 2024, while Albania only has 3 million residents). We preferred to leave the coastal road (in excellent condition, a future highway) to visit Berat, an Ottoman town topped by a citadel. Our favorite spot. Why were we so disappointed? Villages without charm, outskirts of major cities in advanced decay, trash along the roads... The weight of the communist dictatorship and forced industrialization over forty years is still felt everywhere. The country is recovering but betting on tourism. The result? Newly built villas for the newly rich, beaches near the capital already polluted... Too bad, because the natural landscapes are often stunning, the locals are welcoming (young people learn English, though their parents speak little), and prices remain very reasonable—except in the capital. We’d chosen to stay with locals as much as possible, but like in Croatia, families are turning their homes into guest houses (~35 € per night, hearty breakfast included). Renting the car cost us 312 € for a week (with an international rental company—it’s probably cheaper with a local one, but I prefer understanding the contract I sign), and we cautiously took the optional insurance. Just so you know: Albanians drive fast, seem unfamiliar with traffic rules, overtake before curves, ignore yellow lines, and rarely use turn signals...)
The Baltic Capitals in September 2025
Hi everyone,
First off, 12 days of great weather at the end of summer—my husband’s fleece jackets were totally unnecessary. We visited Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn in that order, and it was a great tip. Vilnius is peaceful, very colorful, the food is delicious, street art is everywhere, and strolling through the historic center is really enjoyable. We stayed there for 2 nights. A 4-hour Lux Express bus ride was perfect for getting to Riga, where we spent 3 days. The city is a mix of medieval, Gothic, and Baroque art, with Orthodox churches and synagogues in the old town, plus an Art Nouveau district featuring the Rosenthal House. The central market looks austere and huge, facing the colorful walls of the tourist center—it’s a real pleasure to wander the cobblestone streets and taste the local cuisine, with its Germanic and Uzbek influences. In Tallinn, the highlight of the trip, we found Art Nouveau again, colorful walls, and a fitting reminder of the past at the Museum of Occupations. There’s a hipster district, a trendy area, stunning originality, and an unexpected maritime museum in its design. The city is at the cutting edge of technology, and the youth are everywhere. The welcome was friendly everywhere, and we’ll keep great memories of it.
First off, 12 days of great weather at the end of summer—my husband’s fleece jackets were totally unnecessary. We visited Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn in that order, and it was a great tip. Vilnius is peaceful, very colorful, the food is delicious, street art is everywhere, and strolling through the historic center is really enjoyable. We stayed there for 2 nights. A 4-hour Lux Express bus ride was perfect for getting to Riga, where we spent 3 days. The city is a mix of medieval, Gothic, and Baroque art, with Orthodox churches and synagogues in the old town, plus an Art Nouveau district featuring the Rosenthal House. The central market looks austere and huge, facing the colorful walls of the tourist center—it’s a real pleasure to wander the cobblestone streets and taste the local cuisine, with its Germanic and Uzbek influences. In Tallinn, the highlight of the trip, we found Art Nouveau again, colorful walls, and a fitting reminder of the past at the Museum of Occupations. There’s a hipster district, a trendy area, stunning originality, and an unexpected maritime museum in its design. The city is at the cutting edge of technology, and the youth are everywhere. The welcome was friendly everywhere, and we’ll keep great memories of it.
Hiking Collioure to Cadaqués: Questions About Bus Frequency and Reservations
I want to do sections of the Collioure-Cadaqués trail. I plan to stay in Collioure first to hike the paths on the French side using the bus. Speaking of which, I’m wondering if it’ll be easy to find a seat on the buses at the end of April, beginning of May.
After that, I’ll head to Figueres to do sections of the trail on the Spanish side. I’m worried the buses might not be too crowded at the end of April.
Here’s what I’m interested in: Llanca - Port de la Selva: Figueres - Llanca by train in the morning and Port de la Selva - Figueres on the way back Port de la Selva - Cadaqués: Figueres - Port de la Selva in the morning and Cadaqués - Figueres on the return trip
I’d also like to go to Cadaqués from Figueres as a day trip. I’m concerned about how busy this route might be at the end of April.
I’m wondering if I need to get tickets in advance and where to buy them.
After that, I’ll head to Figueres to do sections of the trail on the Spanish side. I’m worried the buses might not be too crowded at the end of April.
Here’s what I’m interested in: Llanca - Port de la Selva: Figueres - Llanca by train in the morning and Port de la Selva - Figueres on the way back Port de la Selva - Cadaqués: Figueres - Port de la Selva in the morning and Cadaqués - Figueres on the return trip
I’d also like to go to Cadaqués from Figueres as a day trip. I’m concerned about how busy this route might be at the end of April.
I’m wondering if I need to get tickets in advance and where to buy them.
18-Day Itinerary for Japan
Hi everyone,
I’ve been planning several itineraries for a trip to Japan with my wife but would love your insights before we start booking!
In short, we want to go during Golden Week, see late-blooming cherry trees, and have the freedom to get around with a rental car.
Here’s the plan:
18-day itinerary in Japan (April 25 → May 12)
Goal: freedom, late cherry blossoms, culture & nature
---
Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27) Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet). Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba. Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals. Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen. Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
---
Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28) Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities: Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms) Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum. Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
---
Days 6–7: Takayama & Shirakawa-go (April 29–30) Route: Hakone → Takayama (~4 h).
Activities: Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go. Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house). Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts. ---
Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3) Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara: Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
---
Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4) Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle. Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle. Stay: Osaka.
---
Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6) Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
Activities: Kenroku-en Garden (gorgeous in spring), Omicho Market, samurai district. Stay: Kanazawa.
---
Days 14–15: Northern Japan – Aomori / Hirosaki (May 7–8) Route: Kanazawa → Aomori (~7 h, possible to break via Sendai).
Activities: Hirosaki Castle Park (peak bloom early May). Northern onsen (e.g., Sukayu). Stay: Hirosaki or Aomori.
---
Days 16–17: Nikko (May 9–10) Route: Aomori → Nikko (~6 h).
Activities: Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji. Stay: Nikko.
---
Day 18: Return to Tokyo & Relax in Kamakura (May 11–12) Route: Nikko → Kamakura (~3 h) → Tokyo (~1 h).
Activities: Great Buddha, Zen temples, seaside at Enoshima. Final night: Tokyo before the return flight.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
---
Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27) Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet). Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba. Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals. Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen. Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
---
Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28) Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities: Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms) Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum. Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
---
Days 6–7: Takayama & Shirakawa-go (April 29–30) Route: Hakone → Takayama (~4 h).
Activities: Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go. Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house). Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts. ---
Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3) Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara: Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
---
Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4) Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle. Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle. Stay: Osaka.
---
Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6) Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
Activities: Kenroku-en Garden (gorgeous in spring), Omicho Market, samurai district. Stay: Kanazawa.
---
Days 14–15: Northern Japan – Aomori / Hirosaki (May 7–8) Route: Kanazawa → Aomori (~7 h, possible to break via Sendai).
Activities: Hirosaki Castle Park (peak bloom early May). Northern onsen (e.g., Sukayu). Stay: Hirosaki or Aomori.
---
Days 16–17: Nikko (May 9–10) Route: Aomori → Nikko (~6 h).
Activities: Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji. Stay: Nikko.
---
Day 18: Return to Tokyo & Relax in Kamakura (May 11–12) Route: Nikko → Kamakura (~3 h) → Tokyo (~1 h).
Activities: Great Buddha, Zen temples, seaside at Enoshima. Final night: Tokyo before the return flight.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Backpacking itinerary in Tunisia
Hi there,
I'm urgently planning a trip to Tunisia in November, backpacker-style (no agency, no guide or taxi, public transport, youth hostels or small hotels, local restaurants). I'm not interested in the beach, and I like to take my time at archaeological sites and museums (twice as long as the average visitor). I'm aiming for about two weeks, give or take.
First, I'm trying to roughly outline a route/schedule so I can book my flight as soon as possible (no desert in the south this time—I went there years ago and want to stay independent). I’ve sketched out the following itinerary, knowing that apparently, there are quite a few towns without budget-friendly hotels (even on Airbnb), which means I’ll be staying longer where they’re available. Three questions: 1. Does this seem reasonable overall (time spent in each city)? 2. Should I add other cities, maybe in the northwest? 3. For hotels, in November, is it better to scout options on booking sites first, then book on the spot for cheaper rates (no site commission + possible negotiation)? Also, are hotels not listed online and found randomly on-site much cheaper?
ROUGH ITINERARY (order to be confirmed)
TUNIS 5 days (cheap accommodations: 13 or 19 €) 2 days: Medina, souks, Bardo Museum, Royal Mausoleum of Tourbet El Bey, Zitouna Mosque (exterior) 1 day: Sidi Bou Said 1 day: Carthage 1 day: A-R Dougga (bus to Tebersouk 2h + taxi) – pack a picnic + option: hike to Zaghouan (750m+, 10km round trip) – worth it? Doable alone?
KAIROUAN 2 days (very expensive room: 40-50 €!) Great Mosque, Medina, Three Doors Mosque, medieval cemetery, Sidi Sahbi Mosque...
SOUSSE 3 days (room 15 €) 2 days: Medina, archaeological museum, Port El Kantaoui, the Ribat (fortress), Contemporary Art Museum Dar Am Taïeb, Dar Essid (17th-century traditional house) 1 day: A-R El Jem (60km away) + option: 1 day A-R Monastir? Worth it? + option: 1 day A-R Mahdia (or 2 days sleeping there)?
OPTIONS -> Gabes to mix things up? But is it easy to find cheap lodging and get around/visit alone? -> Other sights or stops to sleep: Sfax, El Kef, others? -> Kerkenna Islands (easy accommodation?)
Thanks for your thoughts and opinions on these options. Once I’ve adjusted the duration, I’ll book my tickets for early November! (By the way, do you think I should arrive and depart from two different airports?)
I'm urgently planning a trip to Tunisia in November, backpacker-style (no agency, no guide or taxi, public transport, youth hostels or small hotels, local restaurants). I'm not interested in the beach, and I like to take my time at archaeological sites and museums (twice as long as the average visitor). I'm aiming for about two weeks, give or take.
First, I'm trying to roughly outline a route/schedule so I can book my flight as soon as possible (no desert in the south this time—I went there years ago and want to stay independent). I’ve sketched out the following itinerary, knowing that apparently, there are quite a few towns without budget-friendly hotels (even on Airbnb), which means I’ll be staying longer where they’re available. Three questions: 1. Does this seem reasonable overall (time spent in each city)? 2. Should I add other cities, maybe in the northwest? 3. For hotels, in November, is it better to scout options on booking sites first, then book on the spot for cheaper rates (no site commission + possible negotiation)? Also, are hotels not listed online and found randomly on-site much cheaper?
ROUGH ITINERARY (order to be confirmed)
TUNIS 5 days (cheap accommodations: 13 or 19 €) 2 days: Medina, souks, Bardo Museum, Royal Mausoleum of Tourbet El Bey, Zitouna Mosque (exterior) 1 day: Sidi Bou Said 1 day: Carthage 1 day: A-R Dougga (bus to Tebersouk 2h + taxi) – pack a picnic + option: hike to Zaghouan (750m+, 10km round trip) – worth it? Doable alone?
KAIROUAN 2 days (very expensive room: 40-50 €!) Great Mosque, Medina, Three Doors Mosque, medieval cemetery, Sidi Sahbi Mosque...
SOUSSE 3 days (room 15 €) 2 days: Medina, archaeological museum, Port El Kantaoui, the Ribat (fortress), Contemporary Art Museum Dar Am Taïeb, Dar Essid (17th-century traditional house) 1 day: A-R El Jem (60km away) + option: 1 day A-R Monastir? Worth it? + option: 1 day A-R Mahdia (or 2 days sleeping there)?
OPTIONS -> Gabes to mix things up? But is it easy to find cheap lodging and get around/visit alone? -> Other sights or stops to sleep: Sfax, El Kef, others? -> Kerkenna Islands (easy accommodation?)
Thanks for your thoughts and opinions on these options. Once I’ve adjusted the duration, I’ll book my tickets for early November! (By the way, do you think I should arrive and depart from two different airports?)
Feedback on 6-day Alicante itinerary
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a little trip in October and wanted to share where I’m at with my preparations.
We’re heading to Alicante from October 18th to 23rd and will be staying on C/ Bailén. (We won’t have a car.) We’ve decided to buy a bus and tram card with 20 trips for the two of us to start. Depending on the weather, here’s what we’ve planned: a visit to Alicante including the covered market, the bullring (?), Santa Cruz…
La Illeta del Banyets,
Lucentum,
the MARQ museum,
ELCHE,
Tabarca Island,
Villajoyosa,
Villena Castle,
Orihuela (if we have time).
Any thoughts? Anything that doesn’t seem worth it? I’m bringing my snorkel mask and a wetsuit just in case.
I remember a bit of Spanish—just *unas pocas palabras*—but otherwise, I get by in English. I’m bringing some euros in small bills. I don’t eat gluten, lactose, legumes, or rice—not allergic, but I feel sick if I eat them. If there are any dishes you’d recommend trying (I’ve heard about *patatas bravas*, and there must be seafood and octopus), or anything for my husband, who can eat everything.
We’re hoping to find a holiday vibe with some atmosphere, even though we’ll be there at the end of October.
I remember a bit of Spanish—just *unas pocas palabras*—but otherwise, I get by in English. I’m bringing some euros in small bills. I don’t eat gluten, lactose, legumes, or rice—not allergic, but I feel sick if I eat them. If there are any dishes you’d recommend trying (I’ve heard about *patatas bravas*, and there must be seafood and octopus), or anything for my husband, who can eat everything.
We’re hoping to find a holiday vibe with some atmosphere, even though we’ll be there at the end of October.
Self-organized stopovers in the Canary Islands and Madeira
Hi there! We’d love some tips on organizing stopovers on our own in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Arrecife, Puerto del Rosario, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Las Palmas, and Funchal. Thanks so much for your help
Visiting museums in Amsterdam for a person with disabilities
Hi everyone,
I’m going to Amsterdam alone for 5 days. I’d like to know if, as a disabled person with a French CMI card, I can get free entry to museums (I’m planning to visit 4). If not, would you recommend the city card? I won’t be using public transport but will get around on foot or by taxi.
I’m also thinking of visiting Haarlem and the Frans Hals Museum. I’ll take the train.
Thanks for your help! This is my first time traveling alone since my difficulties 😉
huacha
I’m going to Amsterdam alone for 5 days. I’d like to know if, as a disabled person with a French CMI card, I can get free entry to museums (I’m planning to visit 4). If not, would you recommend the city card? I won’t be using public transport but will get around on foot or by taxi.
I’m also thinking of visiting Haarlem and the Frans Hals Museum. I’ll take the train.
Thanks for your help! This is my first time traveling alone since my difficulties 😉
huacha
19-day trip to China in summer with a classic itinerary – feedback
Hi there,
A quick recap of our 19-day trip to China – classic itinerary, half-family: dad and 13-year-old son, August 2025.
Arrived in Shanghai, the idea was to explore the city in the evening to help with jet lag. Day 1: Maglev (50 CNY), then metro to the hotel, night cruise on the Huangpu River, admiring the skyline. Day 2: Yuyuan Garden (meh), Lujiazui district, sunset from the top of Jinmao Tower, stroll along the Bund, admiring the skyline. Day 3: Chaos at the Shanghai Museum – should’ve booked in advance. Backup plan: Longhua Temple (nice), Tianzi Fang district (great). Day 4: Aquarium (okay), Pearl Tower, Fake Market (top), then flight to Guilin. Taxi from Guilin to Yangshuo (400 CNY arranged by the hotel). Verdict: Maybe one day too many. Late mornings (jet lag) kept us from visiting the water town. Day 5: Yangshuo – scooter ride (40 CNY) along the Yulong River. Day 6: Early Didi (30 min) to the top of Xiang Gong Shan (ideally for sunrise). Then a walk through the countryside to the Li River, crossing by boat (10 CNY) to Xingping. You can shorten the walk by flagging down a mini-shuttle that shuttles Chinese tourists in the opposite direction. Explored Xingping, scooter ride, 20 CNY viewpoint, sunset from Laozhai Hill, back to Yangshuo. Day 7: Scooter ride to spots we missed on Day 5. Verdict: It’s stunning. Might be worth staying in Guilin the first night and booking a cruise to Yangshuo the next day on the Li River. Day 8: Bus (4/5h, 100 CNY) to Longji/Dazhai. Hotel in Tianzhouzai – I think it’s better to stay in Ping’an, it’s more typical. Dazhai is generally overdeveloped. Day 9: Full-day hike from Dazhai to Ping’an, then bus back to Dazhai. Super nice walk, only crossed paths with 4 people. Day 10: Walk around the top of Dazhai, but the trails are poorly maintained – no loop possible. Verdict: Gorgeous, probably one day too many, but the area is very rainy, so it’s good to have a buffer. Day 11: Private taxi (4/5h, 200 €) to Fenghuang. Explored the town in the evening – really nice. Day 12: Short visit to Fenghuang during the day, then train to Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan. Hotel pool. Day 13: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via Wulingyuan entrance, Route A (starting with the cable car). Fabulous. If I did it again, I’d take Route B to get early access to the section near the giant elevator. Day 14: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via the south entrance – superb. Day 15: Wulingyuan Grand Canyon, glass bridge – nice but not essential. Day 16: Tianmen Mountain in the afternoon. You can leave your luggage at the entrance. Routes A and B sell out quickly. Note that Route C no longer uses buses to the top – there’s a brand-new cable car instead, which I think is actually better than A and B. Really nice, worth doing. Evening flight to Beijing. Verdict: The canyon could be done the same morning as Tianmen Mountain, or even skipped. Day 17: Visited the Forbidden City (book a week in advance!), missed the entry slot for Tiananmen Square (book in advance!) due to security checks. Visited the Lama Temple. Stayed in a hutong. Day 18: Great Wall at Mutianyu. Private taxi (100 € round trip – probably overpaid) to arrive before 7 AM. Then back to Beijing, Temple of Heaven, and finally the modest skyline from the mall at Guomao metro station. Day 19: Fake markets (pointless – they’re stripped of their usual goods compared to Shanghai’s), Summer Palace, then Wangfujing Street. Headed to the airport. Verdict: 3 days is too short for Beijing.
Overall impressions: Highlights: Incredible places (cities and landscapes), often vast and fascinating, a total change of scenery. Very easy and smooth to travel despite the clear language barrier. Excellent food, very affordable, very few scams. Lowlights: Intense heat and humidity in August, *way* too many tourists (99.9% Chinese), a real circus that makes the trip exhausting. Walking is tiring in the long run (even though we’re very active) because it’s all on stone paths and stairs. To avoid crowds, you’d need to wake up early every day – tough with kids, especially with jet lag.
Logistics: - Buses and private taxis arranged last-minute through hotels. - Didi is widely available everywhere, plentiful, and cheap. - Flights and trains booked on Trip.com a month in advance (fills up fast). - Hotels on Booking and Trip.com. Only the one in Yangshuo was booked well in advance – hotel capacity is huge everywhere. - Apps: Didi, Alipay, WeChat, Maps.me, Google Translate. Free 35 GB data plan, SIM card from the airport.
A quick recap of our 19-day trip to China – classic itinerary, half-family: dad and 13-year-old son, August 2025.
Arrived in Shanghai, the idea was to explore the city in the evening to help with jet lag. Day 1: Maglev (50 CNY), then metro to the hotel, night cruise on the Huangpu River, admiring the skyline. Day 2: Yuyuan Garden (meh), Lujiazui district, sunset from the top of Jinmao Tower, stroll along the Bund, admiring the skyline. Day 3: Chaos at the Shanghai Museum – should’ve booked in advance. Backup plan: Longhua Temple (nice), Tianzi Fang district (great). Day 4: Aquarium (okay), Pearl Tower, Fake Market (top), then flight to Guilin. Taxi from Guilin to Yangshuo (400 CNY arranged by the hotel). Verdict: Maybe one day too many. Late mornings (jet lag) kept us from visiting the water town. Day 5: Yangshuo – scooter ride (40 CNY) along the Yulong River. Day 6: Early Didi (30 min) to the top of Xiang Gong Shan (ideally for sunrise). Then a walk through the countryside to the Li River, crossing by boat (10 CNY) to Xingping. You can shorten the walk by flagging down a mini-shuttle that shuttles Chinese tourists in the opposite direction. Explored Xingping, scooter ride, 20 CNY viewpoint, sunset from Laozhai Hill, back to Yangshuo. Day 7: Scooter ride to spots we missed on Day 5. Verdict: It’s stunning. Might be worth staying in Guilin the first night and booking a cruise to Yangshuo the next day on the Li River. Day 8: Bus (4/5h, 100 CNY) to Longji/Dazhai. Hotel in Tianzhouzai – I think it’s better to stay in Ping’an, it’s more typical. Dazhai is generally overdeveloped. Day 9: Full-day hike from Dazhai to Ping’an, then bus back to Dazhai. Super nice walk, only crossed paths with 4 people. Day 10: Walk around the top of Dazhai, but the trails are poorly maintained – no loop possible. Verdict: Gorgeous, probably one day too many, but the area is very rainy, so it’s good to have a buffer. Day 11: Private taxi (4/5h, 200 €) to Fenghuang. Explored the town in the evening – really nice. Day 12: Short visit to Fenghuang during the day, then train to Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan. Hotel pool. Day 13: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via Wulingyuan entrance, Route A (starting with the cable car). Fabulous. If I did it again, I’d take Route B to get early access to the section near the giant elevator. Day 14: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via the south entrance – superb. Day 15: Wulingyuan Grand Canyon, glass bridge – nice but not essential. Day 16: Tianmen Mountain in the afternoon. You can leave your luggage at the entrance. Routes A and B sell out quickly. Note that Route C no longer uses buses to the top – there’s a brand-new cable car instead, which I think is actually better than A and B. Really nice, worth doing. Evening flight to Beijing. Verdict: The canyon could be done the same morning as Tianmen Mountain, or even skipped. Day 17: Visited the Forbidden City (book a week in advance!), missed the entry slot for Tiananmen Square (book in advance!) due to security checks. Visited the Lama Temple. Stayed in a hutong. Day 18: Great Wall at Mutianyu. Private taxi (100 € round trip – probably overpaid) to arrive before 7 AM. Then back to Beijing, Temple of Heaven, and finally the modest skyline from the mall at Guomao metro station. Day 19: Fake markets (pointless – they’re stripped of their usual goods compared to Shanghai’s), Summer Palace, then Wangfujing Street. Headed to the airport. Verdict: 3 days is too short for Beijing.
Overall impressions: Highlights: Incredible places (cities and landscapes), often vast and fascinating, a total change of scenery. Very easy and smooth to travel despite the clear language barrier. Excellent food, very affordable, very few scams. Lowlights: Intense heat and humidity in August, *way* too many tourists (99.9% Chinese), a real circus that makes the trip exhausting. Walking is tiring in the long run (even though we’re very active) because it’s all on stone paths and stairs. To avoid crowds, you’d need to wake up early every day – tough with kids, especially with jet lag.
Logistics: - Buses and private taxis arranged last-minute through hotels. - Didi is widely available everywhere, plentiful, and cheap. - Flights and trains booked on Trip.com a month in advance (fills up fast). - Hotels on Booking and Trip.com. Only the one in Yangshuo was booked well in advance – hotel capacity is huge everywhere. - Apps: Didi, Alipay, WeChat, Maps.me, Google Translate. Free 35 GB data plan, SIM card from the airport.
New York City Pass
Hi there.
I’m traveling solo to NYC for 10 days. Is the pass for multiple activities worth it? I don’t want to plan everything in advance and really want to take my time while avoiding crowds!
Thanks for your replies.
Boris.
I’m traveling solo to NYC for 10 days. Is the pass for multiple activities worth it? I don’t want to plan everything in advance and really want to take my time while avoiding crowds!
Thanks for your replies.
Boris.
Southwest USA in August: possible or not with the heat?
Hi everyone.
For 2026, I’m considering what might be my last long trip to the States.
A loop from Dallas back to Dallas via Houston, San Antonio, Tucson, Albuquerque...
Simple question: Is it doable in August with the extreme heat?
Best,
For 2026, I’m considering what might be my last long trip to the States.
A loop from Dallas back to Dallas via Houston, San Antonio, Tucson, Albuquerque...
Simple question: Is it doable in August with the extreme heat?
Best,
Feedback on Japan Itinerary
Hello Hello,
We’re two couples of friends heading to this amazing country and need your help to validate our itinerary.
First, I’ll share the overall plan for our trip. I can go into more detail for each day if everything looks good to you.
Thanks Thanks
30/10 Arrival at HND 31/10 Tokyo: Chiyoda, Yurakucho & Shinjuku 01/11 Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara & TeamLab Planets 02/11 Day trip to Mount Fuji (Kawaguchiko) 03/11 Yanaka, Ueno, Shibuya & Izakaya 04/11 Ghibli Museum & Kichijoji 05/11 Shopping and Odaiba at sunset 06/11 Departure for Kyoto & first discoveries 07/11 Arashiyama, bamboo grove & zen temples 08/11 Fushimi Inari, Gion 09/11 Kyoto → Himeji → Hiroshima 10/11 Hiroshima (morning) → Osaka (afternoon) 11 & 12/11 Exploring Osaka and return to France 🙂
30/10 Arrival at HND 31/10 Tokyo: Chiyoda, Yurakucho & Shinjuku 01/11 Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara & TeamLab Planets 02/11 Day trip to Mount Fuji (Kawaguchiko) 03/11 Yanaka, Ueno, Shibuya & Izakaya 04/11 Ghibli Museum & Kichijoji 05/11 Shopping and Odaiba at sunset 06/11 Departure for Kyoto & first discoveries 07/11 Arashiyama, bamboo grove & zen temples 08/11 Fushimi Inari, Gion 09/11 Kyoto → Himeji → Hiroshima 10/11 Hiroshima (morning) → Osaka (afternoon) 11 & 12/11 Exploring Osaka and return to France 🙂
Trip around Bontoc, Luzon (Philippines)
Hi there,
Between Sagada and Banaue, I’m thinking of spending a night in Bontoc. Are there any interesting villages to see around Bontoc (accessible by vehicle)?
Is the Bontoc-Maligcong road worth it... landscapes? Same question for the Bontoc-Barlig road?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Your recommendations for Bangkok lovers
Hello everyone! :)
Our next trip to Thailand is coming up, and we just can't wait! We talk, eat, drink, and dream Thailand 😏
Our itinerary is mostly set, and we’ve found quite a few new things to explore, but I’d still love to hear your recommendations for Bangkok. Just so you know: we love this city, and every time we visit, we spend several days there without ever feeling like we’ve seen it all. So this year, we’re staying for 8 days! Here’s what we have planned this year: * Exploring Nonthaburi * A day trip to Nakhon Pathom (to test out our basic Thai skills 😛) * Khlong Lat Mayom floating market (we went 10 years ago—it’s probably changed a lot!) * The Erawan Museum (we visited Muang Boran on our last trip) * Finally taking the time to check out Wat Phra Sri Maha Mariamman and Wat Yannawa (we’ve planned to go several times but never made it—are they worth a visit?)
This is what we’ve picked so far, but I’d love to hear about the favorite spots and recommendations from travelers who, like us, adore Bangkok.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Laetitia and Benjamin.
Our next trip to Thailand is coming up, and we just can't wait! We talk, eat, drink, and dream Thailand 😏
Our itinerary is mostly set, and we’ve found quite a few new things to explore, but I’d still love to hear your recommendations for Bangkok. Just so you know: we love this city, and every time we visit, we spend several days there without ever feeling like we’ve seen it all. So this year, we’re staying for 8 days! Here’s what we have planned this year: * Exploring Nonthaburi * A day trip to Nakhon Pathom (to test out our basic Thai skills 😛) * Khlong Lat Mayom floating market (we went 10 years ago—it’s probably changed a lot!) * The Erawan Museum (we visited Muang Boran on our last trip) * Finally taking the time to check out Wat Phra Sri Maha Mariamman and Wat Yannawa (we’ve planned to go several times but never made it—are they worth a visit?)
This is what we’ve picked so far, but I’d love to hear about the favorite spots and recommendations from travelers who, like us, adore Bangkok.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Laetitia and Benjamin.
BERLIN on our own
Berlin in May is really nice.
Day 1: Flight from Orly to Berlin. We had a bit of a struggle finding the train or RER to get to "Mitte". The Berliners were quite helpful in trying to guide us. Settled into our hotel, we took some time to explore the northern part of "Mitte". Dinner at a pizzeria and off to bed.
Day 2: A 3-hour guided tour of Berlin East’s must-see spots. Great idea—it helped us plan the rest of our stay. After a quick lunch at a kebab place, we set off on foot to check out the graffitied Berlin Wall, including the Swiss Army Knife mural. We stopped by some cool bars along the way (we love walking). Back by metro—we’re starting to figure out how it works. Dinner near our hotel at a Chinese restaurant.
Day 3: We visited the Jewish quarter, walked to Charlottenburg, and then headed to the Memorial Museum, a must-see. Grabbed a snack with a slightly spicy Berlin sausage and made our way to the Jewish Museum. Since we’re not Jewish, we didn’t fully grasp its content, despite the richness of the exhibits. Walked back and had dinner at a traditional restaurant.
Day 4: Back in 1968, as a high school student, I stayed with a German family to improve my German—which I’ve since forgotten. I wanted to revisit Kurfürstendamm, but it was a mistake. This West Berlin neighborhood, with its bars, nightclubs, and luxury shops, has lost all its charm. It’s now just a residential area. We headed back through one of Berlin’s many beautiful parks.
Day 5: Our last day included a visit to Charlottenburg Palace—a mini Versailles—and a stroll around the Reichstag. The cherry on top of this trip was getting to visit the dome. Luckily, I’d read that you need to book in advance to access it. Three weeks before our departure, I logged on and—surprise—I got two spots for the day before we left at 6:30 PM. I confirmed right away. It’s true that on-site, buses drop off tourists who could crowd the dome, so booking early is *totally* worth it.
Day 6: Heading home. If we’d gotten a 72-hour metro pass, we could’ve saved a day. Sure, we walked a lot, but like in Paris, being outside lets you appreciate the city’s architecture even more.
Day 1: Flight from Orly to Berlin. We had a bit of a struggle finding the train or RER to get to "Mitte". The Berliners were quite helpful in trying to guide us. Settled into our hotel, we took some time to explore the northern part of "Mitte". Dinner at a pizzeria and off to bed.
Day 2: A 3-hour guided tour of Berlin East’s must-see spots. Great idea—it helped us plan the rest of our stay. After a quick lunch at a kebab place, we set off on foot to check out the graffitied Berlin Wall, including the Swiss Army Knife mural. We stopped by some cool bars along the way (we love walking). Back by metro—we’re starting to figure out how it works. Dinner near our hotel at a Chinese restaurant.
Day 3: We visited the Jewish quarter, walked to Charlottenburg, and then headed to the Memorial Museum, a must-see. Grabbed a snack with a slightly spicy Berlin sausage and made our way to the Jewish Museum. Since we’re not Jewish, we didn’t fully grasp its content, despite the richness of the exhibits. Walked back and had dinner at a traditional restaurant.
Day 4: Back in 1968, as a high school student, I stayed with a German family to improve my German—which I’ve since forgotten. I wanted to revisit Kurfürstendamm, but it was a mistake. This West Berlin neighborhood, with its bars, nightclubs, and luxury shops, has lost all its charm. It’s now just a residential area. We headed back through one of Berlin’s many beautiful parks.
Day 5: Our last day included a visit to Charlottenburg Palace—a mini Versailles—and a stroll around the Reichstag. The cherry on top of this trip was getting to visit the dome. Luckily, I’d read that you need to book in advance to access it. Three weeks before our departure, I logged on and—surprise—I got two spots for the day before we left at 6:30 PM. I confirmed right away. It’s true that on-site, buses drop off tourists who could crowd the dome, so booking early is *totally* worth it.
Day 6: Heading home. If we’d gotten a 72-hour metro pass, we could’ve saved a day. Sure, we walked a lot, but like in Paris, being outside lets you appreciate the city’s architecture even more.
Poutine, souvenirs, and must-see spots in Quebec City?
Hi everyone! We’re nearing the end of our trip and have 3 nights in Quebec City. What are your must-try spots for a good poutine? Our previous attempts haven’t gone well, and where’s the best place to buy souvenirs that actually scream "Quebec"? Also, what are your top picks for sights and walks? We’re thinking Old Quebec, Lévis, and Montmorency Falls. We’ll be there for 3 nights but only have 2 full days. Thanks in advance for your ideas!
Another side of my trip to Thailand: Villages, nature, countryside, mountains...
February 9th is a pivotal day during my trip to Thailand. Up until this date, my focus had been on cities, temples, and other urban landmarks. Starting February 10th, I’ll finally leave the city behind for the outskirts—one town, one life, farther from tourism, more real, more authentic... Then comes the bucolic surroundings of Chiang Mai, nature, the countryside, the mountains.
This morning, I head to visit the ethnographic museum. I’d been told about another one, but it’s permanently closed. I wonder if it’s the same one that might have changed its name and location.
I thoroughly enjoy visiting this museum. At first, I’m a bit annoyed because the place is packed with noisy school groups blocking the display cases without even showing the slightest interest. But soon, their chaperones manage to lead them into another room, giving me some peace. They maintain this distance throughout the tour, allowing me to explore the museum in complete tranquility. I really appreciate their tact.
I’m amazed by the absolutely stunning fabric displays and the countless everyday objects, especially the very old pottery. There’s so much beautiful basketry and intricately carved wood. The statues are also incredible... After seeing all of them, I no longer feel like buying any from the shops.
On my way back, not far from my hotel, I discover a rather unique place that only serves one drink, which they’ve made their specialty: egg coffee! A pretty surprising novelty. I have to try it.
At the bottom of the cup, they pour a layer of milk, topped with a layer of liquid coffee, followed by a layer of egg yolk, and finally a top layer that turns out to be a mix of coffee and cocoa powder. It’s a cold drink that, in the end, doesn’t have much flavor, and the price is pretty steep for such a small cup. You’re paying for the exclusivity!
Later in the day, I venture once again into small alleys, something I love doing when exploring a new city—no specific goal, just wandering east of the city, outside the walls.
I encounter very few tourists there and discover unsuspected little shops overflowing with lovely items, much cheaper than what you find in the heart of the tourist district. Then I wander through the floors of Warorot Market. I discover another kind of temple there: the temple of good deals. I love finding clothes that are really original for locals, not the flood of shirts and pants that tourists love but no Thai would ever buy, which invade the shops in the "Historic Square." I stop in my tracks in front of a stall with beautiful shirts featuring stunning geometric patterns in elegant color combinations and very short sleeves. Hmm, these would be perfect for showing off my biceps, one of which is adorned with the magnificent Ganesh tattoo I got last year in Bali. "When you’ve got nice things, you’ve got to show them off!" he said. 😜🙏💪 I pick out two for 380 baht and negotiate them down to 300. But the seller won’t go any lower. I understand I’ve reached the limit of her commercial possibilities. Just as I’m leaving the shop, happy with my purchase, my ever-helpful inner voice, Petite Voix, suggests: - You didn’t try them on because you were too lazy to take off the one you’re wearing and also because of the sweat, but you could just put one on over the one you’re wearing. It’s light enough that it won’t bother you.
I go back to the two sellers, who burst out laughing when I ask to try them on. - Oh no, it’s way too small for you! It’s a women’s shirt! - But they don’t look particularly feminine in style! And I chose XXL... I put the shirt on, and of course, it won’t close. Then I notice the buttons are on the wrong side. That’s why the sleeves seemed so short!!! They put the shirts back on the rack and refund me without any fuss, commenting amid total hilarity: - Well, thank goodness you tried it on just as you were leaving the shop!
Since I don’t want to walk too much before tomorrow’s first Big Outing with the driver, I end my stroll with a visit to two very pretty temples recommended by Joël.
I’d rather not post more temple photos. But these ones smell like village and countryside...
I’ve never seen anything like Wat Ket Karam, so extravagant...
And I end my day with two other lesser-known temples: Wat Noung Kham, simple and finally free of gold and glitter,
and Wat Dap Phai, where an intimate ceremony is taking place at the end of the day.
This morning, I head to visit the ethnographic museum. I’d been told about another one, but it’s permanently closed. I wonder if it’s the same one that might have changed its name and location.
I thoroughly enjoy visiting this museum. At first, I’m a bit annoyed because the place is packed with noisy school groups blocking the display cases without even showing the slightest interest. But soon, their chaperones manage to lead them into another room, giving me some peace. They maintain this distance throughout the tour, allowing me to explore the museum in complete tranquility. I really appreciate their tact.
I’m amazed by the absolutely stunning fabric displays and the countless everyday objects, especially the very old pottery. There’s so much beautiful basketry and intricately carved wood. The statues are also incredible... After seeing all of them, I no longer feel like buying any from the shops.
On my way back, not far from my hotel, I discover a rather unique place that only serves one drink, which they’ve made their specialty: egg coffee! A pretty surprising novelty. I have to try it.
At the bottom of the cup, they pour a layer of milk, topped with a layer of liquid coffee, followed by a layer of egg yolk, and finally a top layer that turns out to be a mix of coffee and cocoa powder. It’s a cold drink that, in the end, doesn’t have much flavor, and the price is pretty steep for such a small cup. You’re paying for the exclusivity!
Later in the day, I venture once again into small alleys, something I love doing when exploring a new city—no specific goal, just wandering east of the city, outside the walls.
I encounter very few tourists there and discover unsuspected little shops overflowing with lovely items, much cheaper than what you find in the heart of the tourist district. Then I wander through the floors of Warorot Market. I discover another kind of temple there: the temple of good deals. I love finding clothes that are really original for locals, not the flood of shirts and pants that tourists love but no Thai would ever buy, which invade the shops in the "Historic Square." I stop in my tracks in front of a stall with beautiful shirts featuring stunning geometric patterns in elegant color combinations and very short sleeves. Hmm, these would be perfect for showing off my biceps, one of which is adorned with the magnificent Ganesh tattoo I got last year in Bali. "When you’ve got nice things, you’ve got to show them off!" he said. 😜🙏💪 I pick out two for 380 baht and negotiate them down to 300. But the seller won’t go any lower. I understand I’ve reached the limit of her commercial possibilities. Just as I’m leaving the shop, happy with my purchase, my ever-helpful inner voice, Petite Voix, suggests: - You didn’t try them on because you were too lazy to take off the one you’re wearing and also because of the sweat, but you could just put one on over the one you’re wearing. It’s light enough that it won’t bother you.
I go back to the two sellers, who burst out laughing when I ask to try them on. - Oh no, it’s way too small for you! It’s a women’s shirt! - But they don’t look particularly feminine in style! And I chose XXL... I put the shirt on, and of course, it won’t close. Then I notice the buttons are on the wrong side. That’s why the sleeves seemed so short!!! They put the shirts back on the rack and refund me without any fuss, commenting amid total hilarity: - Well, thank goodness you tried it on just as you were leaving the shop!
Since I don’t want to walk too much before tomorrow’s first Big Outing with the driver, I end my stroll with a visit to two very pretty temples recommended by Joël.
I’d rather not post more temple photos. But these ones smell like village and countryside...
I’ve never seen anything like Wat Ket Karam, so extravagant...
And I end my day with two other lesser-known temples: Wat Noung Kham, simple and finally free of gold and glitter,
and Wat Dap Phai, where an intimate ceremony is taking place at the end of the day.
Your tips for things to visit during a one-month trip to Martinique
Hi fellow travelers,
We're heading to Martinique for a month from mid-January to mid-February.
Our plan is to explore the island by staying in three different spots for 10 days each, on both sides of the island...
Could you share some great tips on where to stay for an authentic experience and what we absolutely must see?!
Thanks for your help! Voyamie.
Thanks for your help! Voyamie.
Photography in tombs in Egypt
Are we allowed to take photos inside the tombs and mastabas in Egypt? Thanks
Places and activities to see and do in Quebec
Hi everyone,
If I want to take a seaplane tour... is it necessarily around Mauricie, or do you have other spots to recommend? If I want to see whales... it's around Grandes-Bergeronnes from land. If I want to see belugas... it's around Baie-Sainte-Catherine. If I want to see seals... where is it? If I want to see moose... it's in Gaspésie. If I want to see bears... it's around Saint-Jean-des-Piles on the banks of the St. Maurice River. If I want to visit the Museum of First Peoples' Civilizations... where is it? If I want to go canoeing... it's around Lac de la Mauricie or Mont-Tremblant. If I want to see a beautiful waterfall, it's Montmorency Falls. If I want to eat the best poutine, where is it?
Just to remind you, my round trip is: Montreal – Mauricie – Lac Saint-Jean – Tadoussac – Gaspésie – Charlevoix – Quebec City... but I'm really hesitating between Montreal, Mauricie, Charlevoix, Quebec City, the Saguenay Fjord, Lac Saint-Jean, Tadoussac, the Gaspésie ferry, and back to Montreal.
Thank you for your valuable tips—I’m taking notes! If you have other suggestions, as well as restaurants and accommodations along the way, I’d really appreciate it!
If I want to take a seaplane tour... is it necessarily around Mauricie, or do you have other spots to recommend? If I want to see whales... it's around Grandes-Bergeronnes from land. If I want to see belugas... it's around Baie-Sainte-Catherine. If I want to see seals... where is it? If I want to see moose... it's in Gaspésie. If I want to see bears... it's around Saint-Jean-des-Piles on the banks of the St. Maurice River. If I want to visit the Museum of First Peoples' Civilizations... where is it? If I want to go canoeing... it's around Lac de la Mauricie or Mont-Tremblant. If I want to see a beautiful waterfall, it's Montmorency Falls. If I want to eat the best poutine, where is it?
Just to remind you, my round trip is: Montreal – Mauricie – Lac Saint-Jean – Tadoussac – Gaspésie – Charlevoix – Quebec City... but I'm really hesitating between Montreal, Mauricie, Charlevoix, Quebec City, the Saguenay Fjord, Lac Saint-Jean, Tadoussac, the Gaspésie ferry, and back to Montreal.
Thank you for your valuable tips—I’m taking notes! If you have other suggestions, as well as restaurants and accommodations along the way, I’d really appreciate it!
Camping and homestays in Slovenia
We're planning to cycle through Slovenia on touring bikes from July 14th to August 14th. We're used to camping, but I get the feeling there are large areas without campsites. Is wild camping allowed? If not, is it easy to stay with locals?
Could you tell me about the must-see spots in Slovenia? I'm thinking of finishing in Istria, at a seaside campsite to relax and enjoy the sea. Is it pretty quiet there?
Thanks so much, Mireille.
Could you tell me about the must-see spots in Slovenia? I'm thinking of finishing in Istria, at a seaside campsite to relax and enjoy the sea. Is it pretty quiet there?
Thanks so much, Mireille.
First trip to Sardinia from 04/12/24 to 04/21/24
I just got back from Sardinia 2 and wanted to share my little recap with you.
It’s a stunning country, and the people are so welcoming.
We were lucky to see it at the end of April—I wouldn’t go in July or August because it gets overcrowded and loses its charm!!!
SARDINIA 2: 10 days
-Departure from Geneva to Olbia on Friday, 04/12/24 with EasyJet: 1h30 flight -Return from Cagliari to Geneva on Sunday, 04/21/24 with EasyJet: 1h40 flight (Round-trip price: 314 €) -Car rental with Locauto: 250 €, including 51 € for "full" insurance + 87 € (drop-off at a different airport) -Accommodation every night via Booking 13: room + kitchen *OLBIA: Arrival at the airport… wasted time at Locauto because there was only one person at the desk (you can check in online and send the driver’s license and ID, but it was impossible to do!) Headed to our lodging. *COSTA SMERALDA: The part we liked the least… everything feels artificial since the billionaires moved in (Porto Rotondo, Porto Cervo, Baia di Sardinia). We regret not stopping at Golfo Aranci to see its underwater art museum, Mumart. *ARZACHENA and its archaeological park (Tomba dei Giganti: Coddu Ecchju, Li Muri, Nuraghe la Prisgiona) to see in beautiful nature. Coastal road toward Palau (lagoons with lots of birds). *PALAU: Ferries to La Maddalena Island every 15/30 minutes (37 € for 2 people + 1 car). *** La Maddalena is part of an archipelago with 7 large islands and small islets… absolutely stunning… views of Corsica! *** -La Maddalena: A charming little town with narrow streets. -Follow the scenic coastal road that loops around the island for 21 km (gorgeous). -On the east side of the island, take a 600m bridge to Caprera Island (lots of great hiking trails). -Lots of beaches with granite rocks and wild coves. -Return by ferry to Palau. *SANTA TERESA GALLURA: Departure for Bonifacio 2, 4 km to Capo Testa (cape with a lighthouse… granite rocks). Here, there were Roman quarries. *Drive down a beautiful road along the Costa Paradiso (red trachyte). *CASTELSARDO: A fortified hilltop town worth seeing. *PORTO TORRES: Visit the Basilica San Gavino. *STINTINO and its beaches, including La Pelosa with its Genoese tower… too crowded for us! *Viewpoint at Capo Falcone with a view of Parco dell’Asinara (we didn’t have time to go, but it’s a must). *Drive down to Argentiera via small coastal roads (old lead, zinc, and silver mines). A "ghost town" with a museum that’s apparently only open on weekends at this time of year. *Small road (with stunning sea views) toward Grotta di Nettuno (you get there by a long staircase, but it was too windy and closed!). Capo Caccia. *Drive down (along lagoons with birds, including pink flamingos) toward Alghero (historic center: ramparts, bell tower, churches). The city of coral and lobsters! *Drive along the sea to Bosa, a colorful little town (Malvasia vineyards) between the Temo River and the sea. *Road to Montiferru Castle on a volcanic massif—ruins of the castle with a beautiful panorama of rolling hills (cork oak forests, chestnut trees, oaks) and cultivated plots. *** Cuglieri: Olive oil museum *** *Santa Caterina di Pittinuri, S’Archittu (many beaches with limestone cliffs) (many archaeological sites). *SINIS PENINSULA: Cabras and its lagoons with lots of pink flamingos. Archaeological museum with its Nuragic giants. *Archaeological site of Tharros. *ORISTANO: Not much visited, but it has some beautiful buildings. A traditional Sardinian pastry shop—an absolute delight (DELIGIA, Via Figoli 61). *Road surrounded by marshes, along the coast with beautiful little beaches. *Arrival at Costa Verde: The Piscinas dunes and beaches are stunning. Miniera Montevecchio and the surrounding old mines (Iglesiente road) (Naracauli, Ingurtosu). *** Near Guspini, in the mountains, visit the village of Arbus, where many Sardinian knife makers are based. But make the detour to meet Paolo Pusceddu, the master knife maker who opens his workshop and created the *Museo del Coltello Sardo* Via Roma, 15 · +39 349 053 7765. Absolutely fascinating and super interesting… he also sells his knives at very reasonable prices. *Masua (mines) then Pan di Zucchero. *Porto Flavia: Transport of minerals from a port carved into the cliff with two 600m tunnels… the visit is a must. *IGLESIAS: Worth visiting. *ISOLA DI SANT’ANTIOCO: A bridge connects it to Sardinia 2. Drive around the island via small roads. Calasetta (white and blue houses), Nido del Passeri, Cala Lunga, Capo Sperone, Turri. Beautiful beaches and stunning views. *Road to Teulada, then Chia (see the small road from Chia to Tuerredda). *PULA: Archaeological site of Nora. *CAPOTERRA: We ended our trip with a night at an agriturismo in the middle of olive groves, "Azienda Agricola Corte degli Ulivi" (Pixina Sa Murta, Marco: +39 347 246 2361). Unforgettable welcome, eco-friendly place (wooden house with water and electricity self-sufficiency). *Cagliari airport. In total, 1000 km, and we still didn’t finish exploring (the area south of Olbia and the interior are still on the list). The Sardinians are very welcoming. Sardinia 2 is diverse (beaches, countryside, towns, archaeological sites…). We were lucky to visit at the end of April—summer must be awful with the heat and tourist crowds! Easy to visit with kids.
-Departure from Geneva to Olbia on Friday, 04/12/24 with EasyJet: 1h30 flight -Return from Cagliari to Geneva on Sunday, 04/21/24 with EasyJet: 1h40 flight (Round-trip price: 314 €) -Car rental with Locauto: 250 €, including 51 € for "full" insurance + 87 € (drop-off at a different airport) -Accommodation every night via Booking 13: room + kitchen *OLBIA: Arrival at the airport… wasted time at Locauto because there was only one person at the desk (you can check in online and send the driver’s license and ID, but it was impossible to do!) Headed to our lodging. *COSTA SMERALDA: The part we liked the least… everything feels artificial since the billionaires moved in (Porto Rotondo, Porto Cervo, Baia di Sardinia). We regret not stopping at Golfo Aranci to see its underwater art museum, Mumart. *ARZACHENA and its archaeological park (Tomba dei Giganti: Coddu Ecchju, Li Muri, Nuraghe la Prisgiona) to see in beautiful nature. Coastal road toward Palau (lagoons with lots of birds). *PALAU: Ferries to La Maddalena Island every 15/30 minutes (37 € for 2 people + 1 car). *** La Maddalena is part of an archipelago with 7 large islands and small islets… absolutely stunning… views of Corsica! *** -La Maddalena: A charming little town with narrow streets. -Follow the scenic coastal road that loops around the island for 21 km (gorgeous). -On the east side of the island, take a 600m bridge to Caprera Island (lots of great hiking trails). -Lots of beaches with granite rocks and wild coves. -Return by ferry to Palau. *SANTA TERESA GALLURA: Departure for Bonifacio 2, 4 km to Capo Testa (cape with a lighthouse… granite rocks). Here, there were Roman quarries. *Drive down a beautiful road along the Costa Paradiso (red trachyte). *CASTELSARDO: A fortified hilltop town worth seeing. *PORTO TORRES: Visit the Basilica San Gavino. *STINTINO and its beaches, including La Pelosa with its Genoese tower… too crowded for us! *Viewpoint at Capo Falcone with a view of Parco dell’Asinara (we didn’t have time to go, but it’s a must). *Drive down to Argentiera via small coastal roads (old lead, zinc, and silver mines). A "ghost town" with a museum that’s apparently only open on weekends at this time of year. *Small road (with stunning sea views) toward Grotta di Nettuno (you get there by a long staircase, but it was too windy and closed!). Capo Caccia. *Drive down (along lagoons with birds, including pink flamingos) toward Alghero (historic center: ramparts, bell tower, churches). The city of coral and lobsters! *Drive along the sea to Bosa, a colorful little town (Malvasia vineyards) between the Temo River and the sea. *Road to Montiferru Castle on a volcanic massif—ruins of the castle with a beautiful panorama of rolling hills (cork oak forests, chestnut trees, oaks) and cultivated plots. *** Cuglieri: Olive oil museum *** *Santa Caterina di Pittinuri, S’Archittu (many beaches with limestone cliffs) (many archaeological sites). *SINIS PENINSULA: Cabras and its lagoons with lots of pink flamingos. Archaeological museum with its Nuragic giants. *Archaeological site of Tharros. *ORISTANO: Not much visited, but it has some beautiful buildings. A traditional Sardinian pastry shop—an absolute delight (DELIGIA, Via Figoli 61). *Road surrounded by marshes, along the coast with beautiful little beaches. *Arrival at Costa Verde: The Piscinas dunes and beaches are stunning. Miniera Montevecchio and the surrounding old mines (Iglesiente road) (Naracauli, Ingurtosu). *** Near Guspini, in the mountains, visit the village of Arbus, where many Sardinian knife makers are based. But make the detour to meet Paolo Pusceddu, the master knife maker who opens his workshop and created the *Museo del Coltello Sardo* Via Roma, 15 · +39 349 053 7765. Absolutely fascinating and super interesting… he also sells his knives at very reasonable prices. *Masua (mines) then Pan di Zucchero. *Porto Flavia: Transport of minerals from a port carved into the cliff with two 600m tunnels… the visit is a must. *IGLESIAS: Worth visiting. *ISOLA DI SANT’ANTIOCO: A bridge connects it to Sardinia 2. Drive around the island via small roads. Calasetta (white and blue houses), Nido del Passeri, Cala Lunga, Capo Sperone, Turri. Beautiful beaches and stunning views. *Road to Teulada, then Chia (see the small road from Chia to Tuerredda). *PULA: Archaeological site of Nora. *CAPOTERRA: We ended our trip with a night at an agriturismo in the middle of olive groves, "Azienda Agricola Corte degli Ulivi" (Pixina Sa Murta, Marco: +39 347 246 2361). Unforgettable welcome, eco-friendly place (wooden house with water and electricity self-sufficiency). *Cagliari airport. In total, 1000 km, and we still didn’t finish exploring (the area south of Olbia and the interior are still on the list). The Sardinians are very welcoming. Sardinia 2 is diverse (beaches, countryside, towns, archaeological sites…). We were lucky to visit at the end of April—summer must be awful with the heat and tourist crowds! Easy to visit with kids.
3-4 weeks of vacation starting mid-October 2025
Hi there!
Looking for one or more friendly people to share a sunny vacation with!
Available around mid-October for 3-4 weeks of vacation. Open to destinations (Greece, Morocco, Portugal/Spain, Colombia, Argentina, or others).
45 years old, from the Quebec City area, French/English speaker.
What I'm looking for: -Outdoor activities (hiking, snorkeling, horseback riding, etc.) -Cultural visits (museums, shows, fairs, etc.) -Gastronomic experiences (from street food to nice restaurants) -Relaxation time (beach, hot springs, spa, etc.)
Accommodation options: guesthouses, Airbnb, or the occasional hotel room.
I’ve traveled through every Canadian province, lived in the Yukon for several years, visited a few Latin American countries, explored Europe once (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Germany), road-tripped 22,000 km across the USA in two months, and participated in a youth volunteer program in Sri Lanka.
If this speaks to you, let’s chat in DMs!
Looking for one or more friendly people to share a sunny vacation with!
Available around mid-October for 3-4 weeks of vacation. Open to destinations (Greece, Morocco, Portugal/Spain, Colombia, Argentina, or others).
45 years old, from the Quebec City area, French/English speaker.
What I'm looking for: -Outdoor activities (hiking, snorkeling, horseback riding, etc.) -Cultural visits (museums, shows, fairs, etc.) -Gastronomic experiences (from street food to nice restaurants) -Relaxation time (beach, hot springs, spa, etc.)
Accommodation options: guesthouses, Airbnb, or the occasional hotel room.
I’ve traveled through every Canadian province, lived in the Yukon for several years, visited a few Latin American countries, explored Europe once (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Germany), road-tripped 22,000 km across the USA in two months, and participated in a youth volunteer program in Sri Lanka.
If this speaks to you, let’s chat in DMs!
Your thoughts on my Zanzibar itinerary prep?
Hi there, I’m planning our trip for February 2026. I’ve done my homework, but I’d still love your insights in case I’ve missed anything.
Arrival in Stone Town – 1 night
Jambiani – 6 nights. Activities with a guide: Mnemba, Safari Blue Mangrove, Nakupenda sandbank, etc. Without a guide, we’re thinking of renting bikes on the beach, visiting Maalum Cave, Jozani Forest ??? (no strong opinions), N’tende ??? What do you think? Quad biking?
Nungwi – 3 nights, mostly chilling and a sunset boat ride.
Last day: on the way to the airport, visit Stone Town and a spice farm.
For Jambiani, I was considering Garden Beach Bungalow. Any other accommodation recommendations?
Thanks a million for your feedback...
Arrival in Stone Town – 1 night
Jambiani – 6 nights. Activities with a guide: Mnemba, Safari Blue Mangrove, Nakupenda sandbank, etc. Without a guide, we’re thinking of renting bikes on the beach, visiting Maalum Cave, Jozani Forest ??? (no strong opinions), N’tende ??? What do you think? Quad biking?
Nungwi – 3 nights, mostly chilling and a sunset boat ride.
Last day: on the way to the airport, visit Stone Town and a spice farm.
For Jambiani, I was considering Garden Beach Bungalow. Any other accommodation recommendations?
Thanks a million for your feedback...
One-week itinerary in Croatia (Split)
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…
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…
Questions about visiting Egypt with kids
Hi everyone,
We’re two families planning a trip to Egypt with our kids during the autumn 2025 holidays. Our youngest will be 5 1/2 at the time. Do you think this is a good idea? Is a guide absolutely necessary? We were hoping to travel independently (4 adults and 4 kids).
Here’s what I had in mind—let me know if this seems doable or if I’m way off 😉 - Day 1: Cairo (Khan el Khalili souk, Saladin Citadel, and maybe a museum if possible) - Day 2: Saqqara necropolis - Day 3: Giza Plateau - Day 5: Fly to Luxor and visit Luxor Temple in the evening - Day 6: Visit Karnak Temple early in the morning, relax in the afternoon, and a felucca ride in the evening - Day 7: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple - Day 8: Hot-air balloon ride and Medinet Habu Temple - Day 9: Bus to the Red Sea for diving and chilling until our return flight.
I tried to leave some downtime for the kids, but I’m not sure how realistic the visiting times are. Thanks so much for your thoughts!!
Here’s what I had in mind—let me know if this seems doable or if I’m way off 😉 - Day 1: Cairo (Khan el Khalili souk, Saladin Citadel, and maybe a museum if possible) - Day 2: Saqqara necropolis - Day 3: Giza Plateau - Day 5: Fly to Luxor and visit Luxor Temple in the evening - Day 6: Visit Karnak Temple early in the morning, relax in the afternoon, and a felucca ride in the evening - Day 7: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple - Day 8: Hot-air balloon ride and Medinet Habu Temple - Day 9: Bus to the Red Sea for diving and chilling until our return flight.
I tried to leave some downtime for the kids, but I’m not sure how realistic the visiting times are. Thanks so much for your thoughts!!
5 days in Saint Petersburg in May 2019
Hello there!
Here’s the recap of a little week we spent as a couple in Saint Petersburg in early May 2019, just before the *annus horribilis* of Covid. Since then, there’s also been the war in Ukraine, which has made things quite complicated, but tourist stays in Russia are still possible (see the discussion thread for the post-2022 situation). Looking back, early May was a bit too soon in the season—the trees were just starting to bud, and the wind was pretty chilly. It’s better to go at the end of May to enjoy the gardens.
Below is our 5-day itinerary. I’d brought along the inevitable Lonely Planet and the Blue Guide to Saint Petersburg, just to get a basic understanding of the architecture of the buildings I’d be admiring. I’d prepared two complementary routes on G**gle Maps in advance to cover the essentials of the city center in two days. That left the other days completely free for the big highlights: the Hermitage Museum and Peterhof Palace. We tried to adapt based on the weather, visiting Peterhof and its gardens on what was *supposed* to be the nicest day. We’d saved the Hermitage for a day when the weather was really bad, but in the end, we had more or less the same weather every day (sunny but windy and chilly).
Itinerary:
Day 1: City center north of Nevsky Prospect, up to the fortress (Route 1 on the map) Day 2: Peterhof Day 3: City center south of Nevsky Prospect up to Mariinsky (Route 2) Day 4: Canal boat tour during the day + nighttime boat ride on the Neva Day 5: Hermitage
Evening activities:
On the 3rd day, we saw an opera at the Mariinsky I, On the 4th day, we saw a ballet at the Mariinsky II, then headed back to the embankments at half past midnight for a nighttime cruise on the Neva—magical!
Here’s the recap of a little week we spent as a couple in Saint Petersburg in early May 2019, just before the *annus horribilis* of Covid. Since then, there’s also been the war in Ukraine, which has made things quite complicated, but tourist stays in Russia are still possible (see the discussion thread for the post-2022 situation). Looking back, early May was a bit too soon in the season—the trees were just starting to bud, and the wind was pretty chilly. It’s better to go at the end of May to enjoy the gardens.
Below is our 5-day itinerary. I’d brought along the inevitable Lonely Planet and the Blue Guide to Saint Petersburg, just to get a basic understanding of the architecture of the buildings I’d be admiring. I’d prepared two complementary routes on G**gle Maps in advance to cover the essentials of the city center in two days. That left the other days completely free for the big highlights: the Hermitage Museum and Peterhof Palace. We tried to adapt based on the weather, visiting Peterhof and its gardens on what was *supposed* to be the nicest day. We’d saved the Hermitage for a day when the weather was really bad, but in the end, we had more or less the same weather every day (sunny but windy and chilly).
Itinerary:
Day 1: City center north of Nevsky Prospect, up to the fortress (Route 1 on the map) Day 2: Peterhof Day 3: City center south of Nevsky Prospect up to Mariinsky (Route 2) Day 4: Canal boat tour during the day + nighttime boat ride on the Neva Day 5: Hermitage
Evening activities:
On the 3rd day, we saw an opera at the Mariinsky I, On the 4th day, we saw a ballet at the Mariinsky II, then headed back to the embankments at half past midnight for a nighttime cruise on the Neva—magical!
Is stopping in Baguio a good idea? Philippines
Hi there. To break up the trip from Capas to Banaue, we're planning to stop in Baguio for 2 nights. Good or bad idea? If it's a good one, which neighborhood should we look for accommodation in? Thanks
Itinerary and tips after our 2-week family trip to Uzbekistan
Hi everyone,
We’re back from our vacation in Uzbekistan with our kids—a wonderful trip with amazing memories! I’m sharing our itinerary and a few tips.
**Khiva + Aral Sea (3 days)**
- Arrived in Urgench at 5 AM on Saturday - Transferred to Khiva and spent the day exploring the city (that’s enough time). Among other sights, we struggled to find the Tash Khauli harem—it’s totally worth it! - Sunday: headed to Moynaq (the ship graveyard of the Aral Sea). On the way, we stopped to visit two fortresses in the desert—there are about fifty in varying states of repair. Really beautiful, especially Ayaz-Kala. We continued to Moynaq on a rough road (4-hour drive). - Monday: visited the ship graveyard and the small museum. There isn’t much to see, but we thought it was worth it to understand the consequences of human activity—a real eye-opener. It’s true that it’s a long drive, so you’ll have to decide for yourselves. On the way back to Nukus, we stopped to visit the Mizdakhan necropolis (worth it, even if it doesn’t compare to Bukhara or Samarkand’s buildings—it’s no match for them ;-)) - Evening: flight to Tashkent (saved us a day of travel to get to Bukhara from Khiva)
**Ferghana Valley (3 days)**
- Tuesday morning: left Tashkent by train to reach Margilan by noon. - Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday: visited Margilan’s market, silk/ceramic workshops, and dutar-making (a traditional two-stringed, bulging violin). Arrived in Kokand in the evening. - Thursday: explored Kokand (the palace is worth it) - Summary: Margilan and Fergana aren’t very pretty—only the workshops are interesting. Don’t miss Kokand. This leg could’ve been done in 2 days. - Left Kokand by overnight train to Bukhara (note on overnight trains: *very* small cabins—but for us, overnight train rides are a must ;-)!)
**Bukhara (3 days)**
- Arrived Friday morning: 3 days there—perfect for seeing (and revisiting) everything at our own pace. - Hired a French-speaking guide for one day—really helpful for understanding the history and politics, and getting a better grasp of Uzbekistan.
**Toward Lake Aydar Kul (2 days)**
- Left Monday morning by car for the lake. On the way, stopped at a renowned ceramicist’s workshop and to see Neolithic petroglyphs. Note on the petroglyphs: there’s apparently a 3 km walk to see quite a few, but we skipped it due to time—we regret it! For the kids, it was like a treasure hunt, searching for the petroglyphs among the rocks—they loved it. - Arrived in the evening at a yurt camp with traditional music. The yurts were fun, but we ate in a very Westernized restaurant with way too many tourist groups for our taste. - The next day: a 2-hour camel ride in the desert to see plants and animals. We saw a few things, but it wasn’t very interesting unless you’re going from point A to point B. Then left the camp for Lake Aydar Kul—we ate at a lakeside restaurant, but it was pointless. There must be nice spots, but this one was a bust. - Drove to Samarkand (4 hours)
**Samarkand (2 days)**
- Wednesday–Thursday: explored this stunning city. Two days are enough to see everything, but three would’ve been better to take more time to wander and revisit certain spots. - Another day with a French-speaking guide—we confirm it’s worth it!
**Urgut (1 day)**
- Friday: 1.5 hours from Samarkand, in the mountains. AMAZING! A 3-hour hike in the mountains with a guide (you can do longer). We stayed in a guesthouse—so peaceful, with the sound of the stream and mountain views. It deserves 2 days. - Left by train that evening for Tashkent
**Tashkent (2 days)**
- Saturday: visited Chorsu Market (incredible—even though we’d been to several markets, Tashkent’s is wild), the TV Tower (for the view, but not much else), and lunch at The Plov Center (at the base of the tower)—a plov factory, so cool! You can see the kitchens, it’s insane! Spent a relaxed afternoon on Broadway: a park with ping-pong tables, archery, ice cream stands—great with the kids. - Sunday: Chimgan—took the cable car at a ski resort (no snow this time of year), had a picnic at the top of the mountain—nice. - Evening: off to Tashkent Airport and goodbye, Uzbekistan!
**A few tips:**
- In cities, *must* download Yandex Go—super practical, fast, and cheap for getting around. - We bought a Ucell SIM card: 80 GB of data for 50,000 sums (around 3 €). We put it in an old phone and connected our two phones to it—so handy! - Uzbeks are *so* nice, welcoming, and helpful. - Thank you, Google Translate—few people speak English. - The beds are hard… I think it’s an Uzbek thing!! - Guesthouses: between 50 and 70 € per night for the four of us. Comfortable enough, private bathroom, but not luxury. - Meals: we mostly looked for Uzbek restaurants without tourists. Around 200,000 sums per meal (about 15 €). If you add wine, it adds up fast—one glass of wine = the price of a dish. - Don’t hesitate to buy from markets for picnics (samsa, dried cheese balls, fruits and veggies, bread). You can even taste before buying. Some good (and not-so-good) discoveries ;) - Everything is very clean: the streets, the cities, the accommodations.
**Special thanks to our organizer, Sardor (fluent in French):**
I contacted him by email before we left; he optimized the program we’d planned. He set us up with French-speaking guides and handled all the transport and activities outside the four main cities. Super available via WhatsApp and phone while we were there. All the drivers/guides were *very* punctual. DM me if you need his info.
There you go. Sorry for the long post, but I looked for some of this info before we left—I figured it might help someone.
Happy travels in Uzbekistan! We’ll remember this trip for a long time!
We’re back from our vacation in Uzbekistan with our kids—a wonderful trip with amazing memories! I’m sharing our itinerary and a few tips.
**Khiva + Aral Sea (3 days)**
- Arrived in Urgench at 5 AM on Saturday - Transferred to Khiva and spent the day exploring the city (that’s enough time). Among other sights, we struggled to find the Tash Khauli harem—it’s totally worth it! - Sunday: headed to Moynaq (the ship graveyard of the Aral Sea). On the way, we stopped to visit two fortresses in the desert—there are about fifty in varying states of repair. Really beautiful, especially Ayaz-Kala. We continued to Moynaq on a rough road (4-hour drive). - Monday: visited the ship graveyard and the small museum. There isn’t much to see, but we thought it was worth it to understand the consequences of human activity—a real eye-opener. It’s true that it’s a long drive, so you’ll have to decide for yourselves. On the way back to Nukus, we stopped to visit the Mizdakhan necropolis (worth it, even if it doesn’t compare to Bukhara or Samarkand’s buildings—it’s no match for them ;-)) - Evening: flight to Tashkent (saved us a day of travel to get to Bukhara from Khiva)
**Ferghana Valley (3 days)**
- Tuesday morning: left Tashkent by train to reach Margilan by noon. - Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday: visited Margilan’s market, silk/ceramic workshops, and dutar-making (a traditional two-stringed, bulging violin). Arrived in Kokand in the evening. - Thursday: explored Kokand (the palace is worth it) - Summary: Margilan and Fergana aren’t very pretty—only the workshops are interesting. Don’t miss Kokand. This leg could’ve been done in 2 days. - Left Kokand by overnight train to Bukhara (note on overnight trains: *very* small cabins—but for us, overnight train rides are a must ;-)!)
**Bukhara (3 days)**
- Arrived Friday morning: 3 days there—perfect for seeing (and revisiting) everything at our own pace. - Hired a French-speaking guide for one day—really helpful for understanding the history and politics, and getting a better grasp of Uzbekistan.
**Toward Lake Aydar Kul (2 days)**
- Left Monday morning by car for the lake. On the way, stopped at a renowned ceramicist’s workshop and to see Neolithic petroglyphs. Note on the petroglyphs: there’s apparently a 3 km walk to see quite a few, but we skipped it due to time—we regret it! For the kids, it was like a treasure hunt, searching for the petroglyphs among the rocks—they loved it. - Arrived in the evening at a yurt camp with traditional music. The yurts were fun, but we ate in a very Westernized restaurant with way too many tourist groups for our taste. - The next day: a 2-hour camel ride in the desert to see plants and animals. We saw a few things, but it wasn’t very interesting unless you’re going from point A to point B. Then left the camp for Lake Aydar Kul—we ate at a lakeside restaurant, but it was pointless. There must be nice spots, but this one was a bust. - Drove to Samarkand (4 hours)
**Samarkand (2 days)**
- Wednesday–Thursday: explored this stunning city. Two days are enough to see everything, but three would’ve been better to take more time to wander and revisit certain spots. - Another day with a French-speaking guide—we confirm it’s worth it!
**Urgut (1 day)**
- Friday: 1.5 hours from Samarkand, in the mountains. AMAZING! A 3-hour hike in the mountains with a guide (you can do longer). We stayed in a guesthouse—so peaceful, with the sound of the stream and mountain views. It deserves 2 days. - Left by train that evening for Tashkent
**Tashkent (2 days)**
- Saturday: visited Chorsu Market (incredible—even though we’d been to several markets, Tashkent’s is wild), the TV Tower (for the view, but not much else), and lunch at The Plov Center (at the base of the tower)—a plov factory, so cool! You can see the kitchens, it’s insane! Spent a relaxed afternoon on Broadway: a park with ping-pong tables, archery, ice cream stands—great with the kids. - Sunday: Chimgan—took the cable car at a ski resort (no snow this time of year), had a picnic at the top of the mountain—nice. - Evening: off to Tashkent Airport and goodbye, Uzbekistan!
**A few tips:**
- In cities, *must* download Yandex Go—super practical, fast, and cheap for getting around. - We bought a Ucell SIM card: 80 GB of data for 50,000 sums (around 3 €). We put it in an old phone and connected our two phones to it—so handy! - Uzbeks are *so* nice, welcoming, and helpful. - Thank you, Google Translate—few people speak English. - The beds are hard… I think it’s an Uzbek thing!! - Guesthouses: between 50 and 70 € per night for the four of us. Comfortable enough, private bathroom, but not luxury. - Meals: we mostly looked for Uzbek restaurants without tourists. Around 200,000 sums per meal (about 15 €). If you add wine, it adds up fast—one glass of wine = the price of a dish. - Don’t hesitate to buy from markets for picnics (samsa, dried cheese balls, fruits and veggies, bread). You can even taste before buying. Some good (and not-so-good) discoveries ;) - Everything is very clean: the streets, the cities, the accommodations.
**Special thanks to our organizer, Sardor (fluent in French):**
I contacted him by email before we left; he optimized the program we’d planned. He set us up with French-speaking guides and handled all the transport and activities outside the four main cities. Super available via WhatsApp and phone while we were there. All the drivers/guides were *very* punctual. DM me if you need his info.
There you go. Sorry for the long post, but I looked for some of this info before we left—I figured it might help someone.
Happy travels in Uzbekistan! We’ll remember this trip for a long time!
How many days to visit Memphis?
Hi there,
The first stop on our trip is Memphis. How much time should we spend there to see the must-see spots?
Of course, I’m thinking of Elvis Presley’s house, but I don’t think Memphis is just about that.
Any suggestions for accommodation for 4 people?
Thanks for your feedback!