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Strasbourg - Pékin en train English translation pending
by Guillaumef · 2004-03-30 · 1 reply
Salut à tous et toutes,

Cher petit yack de Mongolie, voici pourquoi j'écris sur cet immaculé forum...Ayant écoulé mon stock de surprise dans l'ensemble des pays de l'ex-yougoslavie, je m'attaque à l'Asie. Après un voyage de 10 jours à Pékin en février dernier...j'y retourne mais en train cette fois!!

Petit voyage de 10 jours, tu reviens sur les rotules mais heureux de ce souvenir impérissable!

Voici mon plan de route:

A) Les trajets (distances, arrêts, et tout le bazard)

1) Strasbourg - Moscou

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/fn?ld=43&seqnr=6&ident=07.022107212.1080662428&guiVCtrl_connection_detailsOut_setStatus_C1-0_allHalts=yes&OK#cis_C1-0 (ces liens sont vers la meilleure base de donnée des trains du continent europe+ asie+moyen orient, la DeutschBahn www.bahn.de, vous verrez, c'est hallucinant!!!)

C'est à dire 2 jours ou plus exactement 39h et 31mn pour aller à Moscou, ces durées sont aproximatives, et pris à des dates hasardeuses, mais ça ne doit pas varier beaucoup plus!

2) Moscou pékin:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/fn?ld=43&seqnr=2&ident=nm.06490151.1080662201&guiVCtrl_connection_detailsOut_setStatus_C0-0_allHalts=yes&OK#cis_C0-0 (ces liens sont vers la meilleure base de donnée des trains du continent europe+ asie+moyen orient, la DeutschBahn www.bahn.de, vous verrez, c'est hallucinant!!!)

Ca c'est la version train classique rapide (131h et 34mn de train, ce sont surtout les 34mn qui sont importantes)... mais cher visiteur jette un petit coup d'oeil et tu verra que ya des arrêts sympas!! Et il passe par Ulan bator en plus pour les amoureux de la Mongolie intérieure...

3) Pékin ville

2 jours à Pékin dans un bon hôtel avec une bonne douche, et un bon lit et peut-être (si tu es chanceux petit scorpion farcie) une masseuse.....ahhhhhhhhrrrgggg!!

Profites-en pour visiter, faire la muraille de Chine et la cité interdite, tu es maintenant près à prendre l'avion pour rentrer à ta maison plein de photos et de souvenirs.

Coût: 38€/Nuit et 7.5€/j pour manger

4) Pékin -Strasbourg (by plane)

Eh oui, je pense qu'après 8 jours de train, t'en à peut-être relativement marrre, et l'avion qui te tend les bras avec ses hotesses plus charmantes les unes que les autres, oui, laisse toi tenter petit scarabée, tu es faible...bref, environ 400€ en allez simple (non modifiable, non remboursable, J-30, - 25ans, tempo 5 en septembre, bref des conditions simples à réaliser, )

Ah oui, bah ça dure 9h le vol Pekin-paris, et après 4h30 de train pour strasbourg!

B) Les tarifs (parce qu'il faur en parler, eh oui, ya rien de gratos, face de nem!!)

1) De strasbourg à Moscou

????? Je ne sais pas mais ce doit être aux alentours de 180€ aller simple//

SVP Confirmez Moi ou infirmez moi (en plus j'aime ça )

2) De moscou à Pékin

Moscou - Irkoutsk - Pékin

Tarif 1ère classe : 430€ Tarif 2ème classe : 296€

Départ de Moscou le vendredi à 20h25 Arrivée à Pékin le jeudi suivant à 05h30

Moscou - Irkoutsk - Oulan Bator - Pékin

Tarif 1ère classe : 454€ Tarif 2ème classe : 300€

Départ de Moscou le mardi à 23h30 Arrivée à Pékin le lundi suivant à 15h30

Trajet avec arrêt

Moscou - Irkoutsk - Oulan Bator

Tarif 1ère classe : 395€ Tarif 2ème classe : 285€

Arrêt à Irkoutsk, voir les combinaisons possibles selon les trains Trajet avec arrêt

Moscou - Irkoutsk - Oulan Bator - Pékin

Tarif 1ère classe : 552€ Tarif 2ème classe : 422€

Arrêt à Irkoutsk et Oulan Bator, voir les combinaisons possibles selon les trains

Saint Petersbourg - Moscou

Tarif 1ère classe : 120€ Tarif 2ème classe : 67€

Départs quotidien à 16h00, 22h25, 23h00, 23h55 et 23h59. La durée du trajet est de 8h, sauf le train de 16h30 où la durée est de 6h)

3) Bah faut bien manger boire et visater (se faire faire des visas)

a) Les visas (sans visas t'y arrive pas!)

Visas : Chine : 20€ Mongolie : 38€ (50USD) Russie : 60€ (78USD)Pour la Russie, il faut une lettre d'invitation, cherchez sur Google, ya plein de techniques.). Pour la Mongolie, c'est à récupérer avant ou a régler sur place, la Chine, c'est ambassade directe, et la russie...aussi!! Tous les visas sont d'une validité de 1 mois (1 E/S).

b) La bouffe (sans la bouffe tu deviens ouf!)

Ces pays ne sont pas réputés pour être cher, en plus avec le mal de train, et l'alcool ingurgité (je plaisante, enfin à moitié ), ca devrait pas couté très cher! Il faut compter environ 7.50€ par jour et par personne ( et on est large).

c) La boisson (sans boisson, il meurt le poisson)

Nous tous cher amis poissons avons besoin de boire, voilà pourquoi je vous conseil fortement de gouter les boissons fermentés des pays ou le soleil se couche (à moins de 1g/L il se couche toujours à l'est!!). Alors disons pour l'eau plus les spécialités locales 2€ par jour et par personne (on devient large)

d) Les souvenirs

Pour ma part, j'ai décidé de rentrer en Avion sur Strasbourg (rentrée scolaire oblige), donc je suis limité à 20kg; Un seul conseil cependant, évitez les objets foireux, la drogue, les vraies antiquités (sans autorisation gouvernementales), etc...parce que dans ces pays, quand tu vas au gnouf, tu as le temps d'apprendre la langue en général (regarde Bertrand Canta pas si loin de nous), alors un comportement citoyen et intelligent, ça coûte rien!!

Bref pour les souvenirs, ça te reviens toujours à 150€ en général, pour les frangines, les parents, la mémé, ect...

e) BILAN DE L'OPERATION

Pour la modique somme de:

Visas : 118€ Bouffe:75€ Boisson:20€ Train+avion:880€ Hotel : 76€ Souvenirs:150€ __

1319€ TTC (lol) tu te fais un voyage de rêve ou tu as traversé quasiment 1/4 de la circonférence de la terre (40.000km)....Des milliers de photos (vive l'appareil numérique et les memories cards!), et des potes pour la vie (si tu pars avec eux)... Bref une tranche de vie de 10 jours dont on se souvient 80 ans (le ration est pas mal non??)

Tout ceux qui peuvent me confirmer le prix entre strasbourg et Moscou sont les biens venus et si ya des modifications à mes calculs, je les attends avec grand plasir...a très bientot

Merci

G. FOUCAUD
J'AN HAIT MARE! English translation pending
by Gnome · 2004-03-17 · 180 replies
Salut,

Loin de moi de vouloir jouer le vieux schnock (après tout, je n'ai que 32 ans) ou le prof de français, mais c'est plus fort que moi, quand un post est truffé de fautes d'orthographe ou de conjugaison, je décroche totalement. Je sais qu'une langue qui n'évolue pas est une langue qui se meurt, mais quand on en vient à ne même plus saisir le sens d'une phrase ou même d'un post entier, je trouve cela triste. Je me demande si certains se relisent avant d'envoyer leurs messages.

A mes yeux, l'écriture est un peu une image que l'on donne de soi-même, au même titre que son apparence physique. Les fautes d'orthographe et de conjugaison ne sont pas si dures à coriger avec un minimum de relecture et ce sont ainsi autant de tâches sur son image que l'on évite.

Privilègier le fond à la forme c'est bien, mais quand la forme devient repoussante... Comment donner envie ? Comment inspirer un minimum de crédit sur sa personne ?

Voilà, mes prochains posts seront moins pontifiants, c'est promis !

PS : Philobate, ce post ne t'es en aucun cas destiné !
Conseils sur voyage au Vietnam avec enfants English translation pending
by Danyfr · 2004-03-13 · 4 replies
Bonjour,

qui a voyagé avec des enfants au vietnam et evtl.me donner des conseils utiles?

Qu'est-ce que vous avez aime?

Merci
Hôtels Mexique (voyage de noces) English translation pending
by Olwenn · 2004-02-06 · 4 replies
Nous partons en voyage de noces au Mexique en juillet. Après un petit périple, nous souhaitons nous reposer quelques jours dans un bel hôtel au bord de la mer.

Quelqu'un a-t-il des renseignements sur le Xpu-Ha Palace (situé à Puerto Aventuras) et le Paradisus Riviera Cancun (entre playa del carmen et Puerto Morelos) ? Confort, ambiance, nourriture, belle plage...?

Merci.
Qui connait la région de Xinjiang en Chine? English translation pending
by André1 · 2004-02-04 · 3 replies
Qui connaît cette région de la Chine je suis preneur de toute information sur les transports entre les villes, les étapes à ne pas manquer à part les classiques Kasghar, Turfan, Urumqi et sur les passages de frontière Kirghize et/ou Kazakh (dans les deux sens ).

Merci Maurice
Africantreck English translation pending
by Philobate · 2004-01-28 · 171 replies
Hello tous,

Une ptit question, comme sa en passant, est ce que vous savez si africantreck des époux poussin (lui avait déjas écrit deux bouquin avec un de ses potes), et si par hazard quelqu'un la lu, il ets comment ???

think, see you

Philo
Conseils pratiques sur l'Indonésie English translation pending
by Khnouna · 2004-01-13 · 7 replies
Salut,

je voulais quelques infos sur l'indonésie >> je connais un peu la thaïlande.....

Je voudrais en fait savoir, s'il y avait des agences de voyages qui proposait des trecks et s'il était facile de laver ses affaires comme en thaïlande, de trouver un guest house etc......

Si quelqu'un pouvait me donner quelques ordres de prix, ce serait sympas......😉

@+
Quelle saison pour Kenya et Tanzanie? English translation pending
by Khnouna · 2003-10-28 · 8 replies
Salut,

Je voudrais savoir, quelle est la saison propice pour visiter ces deux pays (je souhaite y aller durant le mois de Janvier), quel est le budget que je dois consacrer pour 1 mois......et ce que je ne dois pas manquer là bas........

Merci A+
Distances au Mexique English translation pending
by Mich · 2003-06-16 · 7 replies
Ola a todos !

Je pars au Mexique en juillet pour un tour en voiture de loc. J'ai un peu du mal à estimer les distances. Sur le net j'ai vu qu'il fallait 7 heures pour Villahermosa / San Cristobal de las casas (alors qu'il n'y a que 300 km !!😮😕) ; idem pour Campeche / Villahermosa ; ou bien 4 heures pour faire San Cristobal / Palenque. Les durées me paraissent hallucinantes !! Quelques peut-il me donner des infos (confirmation ou pas ...)

Merci a tous
Inde: cherche adresses d'associations humanitaires English translation pending
by Eve · 2002-12-25 · 1 reply
Salut!

Je suis étudiante et je pars en Inde tout le mois d'août avec des amis.

Nous aimerions concilier ce voyage avec l'humanitaire pour nous rapprocher de la population. Comme c'est mon premier grand voyage, j'appréhende un peu et j'aimerai avoir des conseils et des informations sur la vie en Inde. Auusi, si vous avez des adresses d'associations ou de particuliers, ce serait sympa de votre part de me les communiquer.

Merci d'avance
Souvenirs de Santiago de Cuba (Hôtel Carrisol) English translation pending
by Romu · 2002-11-19 · 3 replies
Bonjour les futurs touristes!!!, juste quelques souvenirs liés à ce voyage à Cuba, qui date de 2001. Tout d'abord, dès que la nuit tombe, le ciel cubain est magnifique car constellé d'étoiles: à tomber par terre!!.

J'ai résidé une semaine à l'hotel Lookéa Carrissol, qui est sympa: chambres jolies et spacieuses, personnel agréable, bar dans la piscine, 2 restos, bref l'ultra luxe pour un routard!! situé a une vingtaine de kms de la ville de Santiago, il dispose d'une jolie plage, mais gare aux vagues de fond, un peu traitres parfois, car elles risquent de vous envoyer heurter les rochers, et alors gare aux bobos! Un francais, peu habitué à nager avec masque et tuba, s'était fait une frayeur lorsque j'y étais.

Il est possible de visiter les alentours avec un cubain parlant francais car certains apprennent cette langue à l'Alliance francaise ( notre guide-ami Lionel le parlait trés bien). N'hésitez pas a ramener des vetements, stylos, etc, meme si ils ne sont pas tous neufs, car les conditions de vie des gens sont assez dures... C'est un euphémisme... le choix ultra maigre de produits dans les magasins vous fera palir, petit français habitué aux Carrefour. Il existe néanmoins un artisanat local, sans oublier les clous de girofles du marché, emballés dans des journaux ou de vieilles pages de livres de propagandes, selon une forme conique trés jolie.

Enfin, méfiez-vous des cigares mal roulés et infumables, pales copies des Cohibas, et autres qui se vendent à la sauvette. Il est néanmoins possible d'en acheter chez des gens, à l'abri des regards, des vrais pour des sommes bien inférieures à la manufacture, parait-il... mais attention, car ceci est strictement interdit, et parfois controlé à l'aéroport... A part ca, ce qui me plait a Santiago, c'est que la ville est à taille humaine, n'espérez pas trouvez tout un tas de cafés avec des musiciens cubains; mais en allant vers le port, vous verrez peut etre, comme nous, des musiciens a la compay segundo, faire un boeuf, chez eux, c'est terrible!!! les gens dansent devant la maison en écoutant "el son" et en buvant parfois un vieux rhum, l'air hilare.

Avant que j'oublie, n'oubliez surtout pas, amis photographes, vos piles, car c'est strictement impossible à trouver ( j'ai testé pour vous avec mon Olympus!!) 😏 Il y a quelques anciennes cadillacs en bon état, trés 60's, et de belles couleurs.

N'hésitez pas à me poser des questions, je tenterai d'y répondre.

A bientot, Romuald
Feedback on 1-month China itinerary
by Gene40 · 2026-04-20 · 9 replies
Hello everyone, Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips. I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing Day 2 to 4: Beijing Day 5: Datong Day 6 & 7: Pingyao Day 8 to 10: Xi'an Day 11: Luoyang Day 12: Dengfeng flight Day 13 & 14: Chongqing flight Day 15 & 16: Lijiang Day 17: Dali Day 18: Kunming Day 19: Jianshui Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang Day 22: Travel via Guilin Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo Day 25: Guilin Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie flight Day 28 & 29: Shanghai Day 30: Departure from Shanghai

But to do this itinerary independently: 1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think? 2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority? Thanks so much in advance for your help.
Question about the Camino de Santiago from the Basque Country
by Sebastoudu31 · 2026-04-16 · 15 replies
Hi, I’d like some advice on doing the Camino de Santiago—or part of it—from the Basque Country. Best,
Indonesia with family for 15 days: feedback on Java, Bali, Gili itinerary
by Pofomax · 2026-04-12 · 10 replies
Hi everyone,

Family of 4—2 adults and 2 kids (11 and 15) who are well-traveled. We’re planning a 15-day trip to Indonesia and would love your thoughts on our itinerary. We love discovering local culture, food (!!), seeing beautiful landscapes, and keeping an active pace. We’re not the type to lounge on the beach for 5 hours or spend ages by the pool when we’re halfway across the world. Also, we try to avoid places "ruined" by mass tourism (like Holbox in Mexico, which we loved 10 years ago but not at all on our last visit, or Phi Phi in Thailand, completely destroyed by mass tourism).

Special note: we love traveling by train :)

Here’s what we’ve planned so far:

**Day 1** Arrival in Jakarta, then domestic flight to Yogyakarta. Settle in Yogyakarta.

**Day 2** Borobudur in the morning, then exploring nearby villages.

**Day 3** Prambanan in the morning, followed by culinary discovery / market / local vibe in Yogyakarta.

**Day 4** Train to Jombang, then driver/bus to the Bromo area. Overnight stay.

**Day 5** Sunrise at Bromo, exploring the volcano and sea of sand. Relax in the afternoon.

**Day 6** Travel to eastern Java, then train, ferry, and road to reach Sidemen in Bali.

**Day 7** Sidemen

**Day 8** Sidemen

**Day 9** Sidemen

**Day 10** Transfer to Gili Air (car to the port + fast boat?)

**Day 11** Gili Air

**Day 12** Gili Air

**Day 13** Transfer to Ubud

**Day 14** Ubud

**Day 15** Return to Bali airport, flight to Jakarta, then international flight.

Does this itinerary seem coherent for a family? Does it feel too packed or well-balanced? Would you make any changes to certain stops, durations, or transfers?

Thanks so much for your tips and experiences!
Road trip from Nice to Livorno by car, then Corsica
by Moustachewoo · 2025-10-30 · 12 replies
I'd love some destination suggestions for a road trip from Nice to Livorno by car, including the routes, tolls to cross, distance, and estimated travel time. We're planning a 5-day trip, with 2 nights near Nice, 1 night along the way, and finally 2 nights in Livorno. There are 4 of us in a rental car, and we'd like to stay in either an apartment, a mobile home near the sea, or a campsite. Our budget isn't too extravagant!!!! We want to visit the Promenade des Anglais, and I've heard Menton is really interesting. Once we reach Livorno, we'll take the ferry to Corsica for 12 days with the same rental car. We're planning to leave the last week of May and the first two weeks of June 2026, so around 17-18 days total. Thanks
Last-minute trip to Guatemala with kids
by Magali084 · 2025-10-10 · 4 replies
Hi there, We’ve had to change our plans, so we’re heading to Guatemala from October 16 to 25, 2025 (in just 6 days 😱 😊😕), with two kids aged 8 and 10. No time difference for us.

Here’s our itinerary: Day 1: Morning: Arrival in Guatemala City at 9 AM. Drive to Antigua (1-hour shuttle) / Afternoon: Stroll around Antigua / Night: Antigua Day 2: Explore Antigua / Night: Antigua Day 3: Visit the area around Antigua OR hike a volcano (Acatenango?) / Night: Antigua Day 4: Drive to Chichicastenango for the big market (how many hours?) / Afternoon: Iximche ruins? Or the hanging bridges at Atitlán Reserve? Or spend the day in Chichicastenango / Night: Panajachel Day 5: A day by boat visiting villages around the lake and checking out local crafts (which villages to pick?), Night: Panajachel Day 6: Drive to Flores with 1 stop? Should we go to Semuc Champey? (how many hours?), Night: ?? Day 7: Drive to Flores (how many hours?), Night: Flores Day 8: Yaxha (1.5-hour drive each way with a driver), Night: Flores Day 9: Day trip to Tikal, Night: Flores Day 10:: Flight from Flores to Guatemala City, then departure at 4:30 PM

About hiking a volcano, I’ve read mixed reviews. Some say it’s easy, others say it’s tough. Is there a kid-friendly hike where we could see lava from a volcano? Is it only visible at night? Do we *have* to sleep at the top and come down the next day? I’ve heard of people doing it with 2-year-olds by carrying them, and others using horses—but I guess the horses don’t go all the way up? Seeing a real volcano would be amazing! I think it’d be a memorable experience for the kids. It’d be so cool to say, "We did that as a family!" But maybe it’s way too hard and a bad idea...

I’m struggling to find reliable info on travel times: - How long is the drive from Antigua to Chichicastenango, please? I’ve read shuttles leave at 7 AM and arrive at the market by 8:30 AM, but I’ve also seen people say it’s a 4-hour trip 😕. Are the times on Google Maps reliable?

A blog mentioned visiting Chichicastenango’s market in the morning and Iximché in the afternoon. That seems like a lot of driving, especially after leaving Antigua in the morning. What should we do in the afternoon instead?

Days 6 and 7: The trip from Panajachel to Flores. Any advice on taking an overnight bus? Should we go during the day with a stop at Semuc Champey? Or fly and spend the extra day somewhere else?

Day 8: Is a full day at Yaxha too much?

Thanks so much for your help—it’s *so* valuable with such short notice! 😅 😅 😅 THANK YOU PS: If you have recommendations for private drivers, shuttle services, or any firsthand experience, I’d love to hear it!
Warnings About the Vosges Massif Crossing with TopoGuide ref. 502
by Ludomero · 2025-09-22 · 3 replies
Hi there, This August, I hiked the Vosges section (Vosges massif) of the GR5 (Lauterbourg-Wissembourg-gr53-gr5-Belfort) using the TopoGuide "Traversée du Massif des Vosges" (ref 502, April 2024 edition). My experience was partly ruined by a few things I feel I should share here to help others avoid the same pitfalls—or at least disappointments.

Having used "TopoGuide" books before, I’d always trusted them for organizing treks lasting several weeks, or even months.

Beyond the satisfactory mapping (reproductions of IGN 1:25,000 maps), these guides include route descriptions that are usually enough to find your way. On that point, I have no serious criticism of the Vosges crossing guide.

In addition to the route details, the guide provides "average" time estimates for traveling from point A to point B—useful info for gauging effort and planning likely stages. However, I eventually realized I couldn’t rely on these time estimates. I’d assumed they were calculated by the FFRP, considering that 100m of positive elevation gain roughly equals 1km on flat terrain, with an average walking speed of 4km/h. So, I’d recommend anyone using this guide to recalculate all the time estimates to avoid nasty surprises on tight stages. 🤪

Another key feature of the guide, in my opinion, is its info on accommodation options—especially budget-friendly ones suited for long-distance hikers on a tight budget. A section called "préparation des étapes" includes a table with a column meant to highlight "refuges" and "gîtes d'étapes." That column had me feeling optimistic: these budget accommodations were listed as plentiful along the route. After all, we were in the territory of the famous Club Vosgien—it made sense there’d be plenty of hiker-friendly lodging options. The reality on the ground was quite different. The TopoGuide wasn’t really to blame here, except that a serious warning wouldn’t have hurt. First, regarding the "refuges," most were run by associations. With rare exceptions, the volunteers only opened them on weekends. You can’t really blame people for not volunteering on weekdays, but it makes things tricky when the info about weekend-only openings often turns out to be wrong. As for the "gîtes d'étape," I was mostly disappointed when I was told that a place was booked for weeks: the vast majority of what was listed as a "gîte d'étape" turned out to be "gîtes ruraux." The advice here? If you don’t want to—or can’t—camp, double-check all the accommodation details before you set off. It’s time-consuming and tedious, but if you can, camping is still the best option. 😐 On a brighter note, during the first part of my trip, I came across several cabins that offered alternatives to camping. 🙂

P.S.: Even the youth hostel in Saverne was closed in the middle of August... 😕
Santorini in October
by Joubs23 · 2025-06-04 · 12 replies
Hi there,

My wife and I are heading to Santorini from October 11th to 18th (it’s her birthday gift). I’ll admit I’m torn between spending the full 7 days on Santorini or combining it with another island (I was thinking Milos) for 2 or 3 days. Since the ferry schedules aren’t announced yet for October, it’s hard to plan ahead.

Do you think 7 days on Santorini is too much, or is splitting 7 days between 2 islands too short? Any other destinations worth considering?

Thanks in advance
Help with itinerary: Rio de Janeiro - Ilha Grande - Paraty - Iguazu Falls
by Carthage1 · 2025-01-13 · 15 replies
Hi everyone,

Next April, I’m planning a trip (the 1st) to Brazil. I’ll have 12 days there (not counting the 13th day for the return). I’ll arrive on 22/04 in the early evening in Rio de Janeiro. The return flight is from São Paulo on 04/05 in the afternoon. I know 12 days is very little for such a big country, which is why I’ll focus on a relatively small area: the southeast (though "small" is relative!). I’ve started mapping out the main stops for my trip, which would be: - Rio de Janeiro: 4 to 5 days? - Ilha Grande and maybe Paraty: 2 to 3 days - Iguazu Falls: Brazilian and Argentinian sides: 2 days - São Paulo: 1 to 2 days

What do you think? Is this reasonable? There are about 250/260 km between Rio and Paraty. I’d like to make the trip by rental car. What do you think? A car is definitely much more practical and faster than the bus. 12/13 days is short—I can’t afford to lose too much time in transit. To get to Ilha Grande, I understand there’s a ferry that shuttles between the mainland and the island. From which city can you take the ferry? Mangaratiba? Conceição de Jacareí? Angra dos Reis? If I arrive by rental car, where can I park it? I think cars are banned on the island, right? That’s where I’m at with my planning. So many questions! 😕 A big thank you to anyone who takes the time to read my post and shares their valuable tips! 🙂
3 months in Southeast Asia with family
by Renaud38 · 2025-01-05 · 19 replies
Hey everyone, so happy the site is back!

After traveling solo across Iran and the Stan countries from one end to the other,

this time I’m heading to Southeast Asia with my wife and our 3-year-old.

I went to the Philippines almost 10 years ago and actually met some forum members there. It was love at first sight.

I’ve booked tickets from January 10 to March 31 for Bangkok (amazing price from Milan). I was thinking of spending: 3 weeks in Thailand 3 weeks in Vietnam 1 month in the Philippines.

Don’t worry, I won’t spam the forum with a thousand messages asking how to get from point A to point B :)))

I’m reaching out to the experts or regulars here for suggestions and ideas!

For Thailand, Obviously, some beautiful beaches wouldn’t hurt for a bit of relaxation. I was thinking of Koh Phayam or Koh Kood (or Koh Chang). If anyone knows a nice spot, even if it’s not on an island, I’m all ears. It’s tricky to ask this for Thailand, but I’m looking for a bit of tranquility (so I’ll probably avoid Phuket, Koh Samui, etc.). (Though I know sometimes you just need to get off the beaten path to find some peace, but I’m not sure if that’s the case in Thailand.)

Vietnam—I have no idea!! A friend mentioned Danang, which could be a good base to explore the countryside/inland areas.

And the Philippines—I had a huge crush on the country (Bantayan, Dumaguete, Sipalay, Siquijor) and really want to go back, maybe to new places/islands.

I have one constraint: We’ll stay in the same place each time. With a kid, it’s tough to move every 2 days (unlike when I’m solo), and I hope this will let us connect with locals by staying put for 3 weeks at a time. (Plus, my budget is pretty tight, so the idea is to negotiate a good price for 3 weeks in the same accommodation.) (My rough budget is 1000 € per month for the three of us: 450 € for lodging, 450 € for food, and 100 € for a scooter. This doesn’t include boat, bus, etc. transfers.)

If you have any ideas, tips, or experiences to share, I’m all ears! I’m totally open to shortening or extending our stays in each country, even if it means skipping one of the three.
A Turquoise Dream Come True in Uzbekistan - 2022
by Phil31600 · 2025-01-01 · 33 replies
We took this trip from September 12 to October 7, 2022. I didn’t post this travel journal earlier in Voyage Forum because the site wasn’t back up yet (and also because I was short on time). Then, at the end of 2024, I made a promise to a friend: to publish my travel journal on VF. So here it is! We took off from Paris in the late afternoon on September 12 and arrived in Tashkent around 7:15 AM on the 13th. This trip was the result of long contemplation and preparation (it was originally planned for the year of the lockdown (2020) and was prepared with the help and advice of Nasrullo Jumanov from Turquoise Travel. Stages and Itinerary Stage 1: Tashkent - September 13 and 14 Stage 2: Ferghana Valley – September 15 to 17 Stage 3: Nukus and Moynaq - September 18 and 19 Stage 4: Mysterious Khiva - September 20 to 22 Stage 5: Holy Bukhara - September 23 to 26 Stage 6: Asraf - September 27 and 28 Stage 7: Mythical Samarkand - September 29 to October 2 Stage 8: Tersak (via Shakhrisabz and Urgut) – October 3 and 4 Stage 9: Samarkand – October 5 and 6 Stage 10: Tashkent/Istanbul/Paris – October 6 and 7 Stage 1: Tashkent September 13 At the airport exit, we were greeted by the owner of our B&B (B&B Gulnara). Today was all about recovery and our first steps in the capital. Our first currency exchange made us feel like sudden millionaires. Our first stroll down the avenue leading to Chorsu Market introduced us to the fact that 80 to 90% of the cars here are white Chevrolets. A walk under the arcades facing Chorsu: hardware stores, cabinetmakers, lute makers (one of them gave me a little concert/demo of a few string instruments).





As we entered the market, many vendors called out to us, including this florist who asked where we were from: ‘France? Ah! Macron! PSG!’ He then recited a list of players from the Parisian team as well as past (Platini, Zidane, etc.) and current (Giroud, Griezmann, Mbappé, etc.) French national team players. Since we’re more into rugby (we live near Toulouse), he knew more players than I did!

The market sprawls outside around the large circular, multi-story hall. We bought some grapes and bottles of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice for just a few sums. This evening, we had a meet-up with Nasrullo. The reunion was very warm: we’d been exchanging messages for over two years, and I’d been ‘torturing’ him with changes to our itinerary and trip duration. We were finally eager to meet, and honestly, I wasn’t disappointed—in fact, it was the opposite. Nasrullo was very attentive throughout our trip and always made sure, even from a distance (and most often from a distance!), that everything went smoothly. His goal was for us to leave delighted with our trip and, why not, indirectly become ambassadors for this destination. September 14 Breakfast with Nasrullo, then we set off with him by taxi to explore some of the capital’s sites.



We started by visiting the Khazrati Imam complex, which includes the mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi, the Barak Khan and Muyi Muborak madrasas, and the great Khazrati Imam Mosque with its immense prayer hall.





In the Muyi Muborak madrasa, now a museum, you can see the oldest Quran in the world. It was written by three religious scholars, including the secretary of the Prophet Muhammad, on large ‘pages’ made of antelope skin. Next, we explored Soviet-era Tashkent, discovering its parks, canals, and squares: Independence Square with its storks and phoenixes, Amir Temur Square with its large statue and, in the background, the massive Soviet-era hotel that has become one of Tashkent’s iconic buildings. Nasrullo took us through Broadway Boulevard and along what he calls ‘Tashkent’s Montmartre’… Well, it’s far, very far from Montmartre (in every sense of the word!). Then we took the metro to Chorsu station. Rush hour is pretty much the same everywhere in the metro… When we arrived at Chorsu, it was time to say goodbye. Nasrullo had to head back to Samarkand. Before leaving, he recommended some chaikhanas at the end of the galleries facing the market. We ate there for just a few euros (2 or 3 € for two people). After eating, we headed back to our room to cool off (our B&B is about a 10-minute walk away).



Around 4 PM, we set off to visit the Kokeldash Madrasa, which is still active. On the way, we stopped to watch some bread vendors and take a few photos. We were hesitating about buying some for our evening picnic when a young woman approached us. In perfect English, she asked: ‘Are you looking for something? Do you want to buy bread? Which one? How much?’ She then spoke to one of the vendors and negotiated the price. ‘Do you want one?’ And she took two. She paid directly. I took out my wallet to reimburse her, but she refused. It’s on the house! Then the vendor asked where we were from. And off we went again: Macron, PSG, football players… We’ll have to get used to it. The young woman smiled at the questions and comments, barely gave us time to thank her, and left as quickly as she had approached us.

We continued our walk. Visited the madrasa. Then we crossed the boulevard to see the Tashkent Circus. I would’ve loved to go in and visit, but the ticket seller wouldn’t hear of it. We carried on around what should’ve been a park with old-fashioned rides and attractions. All we found was a construction site. Oh well! Back at our hotel, a message from Nasrullo was waiting for us. He had managed to change our train ticket for the next day. Instead of taking the 6:00 AM train, we’d take the 8:00 AM one. And instead of second class, we’d be in first class! Great! This evening, we had a picnic at one of the breakfast tables in the B&B courtyard. Under a shelter, the owner and his family were celebrating a birthday. The owner started by offering us some tea. Then they brought us some fruit (watermelon and melon). Finally, after the song, candles, and cake cutting, they brought us two generous slices of that beautiful birthday cake. Delicious!
NYC-Philadelphia-Washington itinerary in winter
by Anana22 · 2024-11-23 · 2 replies
Hi there,

We’re planning a trip to the U.S. in January, with the constraint of needing to be in Washington by February 3rd... Normally, I’m not big on museums or indoor visits, but I think I won’t have much choice in January.

Just to clarify, I’ve already visited NYC (didn’t love it) and Philadelphia (one-day trip, and I *loved* it). My partner has never been to the East Coast.

My initial idea was to drive from NYC to Washington by rental car, stopping in Lancaster County (and a quick detour to Strasburg as a Strasbourger—😁). But the rental car prices are sky-high, plus the hassle of parking (you have to stay on the outskirts of cities to find a spot) and the winter weather. Accommodations around Lancaster were also pretty expensive, so I’ve tweaked the original plan...

Here’s our current itinerary: - Day 1: Arrive in NYC around 4 PM - Days 2–5: NYC - Day 6: Take the bus to Philadelphia, explore Philadelphia - Day 7: Visit Lancaster County with a day rental car from Philadelphia - Day 8: More time in Philadelphia - Day 9: Take the bus to Washington - Days 10–12: Explore Washington - Day 13: Fly home at 10 PM

My main questions: - Is it easy to visit Lancaster County in a day from Philadelphia with a day rental car? - Is there any point in adding a day in Baltimore? - Does this seem logical, or am I missing too much compared to my original plan of driving from NYC to Washington? - Any winter-friendly sightseeing tips for these cities?

Thanks so much for your help—I’m thrilled to be back on the forum! :)

Anna
Choosing a phone operator/eSIM in East Asia
by Elgordo · 2024-11-19 · 14 replies
Hi everyone,

So great to see our forum back up and running. What a nice surprise to see some familiar faces again!

Anyway, today’s topic: I’m heading to Japan and South Korea for three weeks. I’m looking for the best way to stay connected (I have a recent iPhone, eSIM compatible). I’ve read that Holafly is a good option, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks, everyone, and long live VoyageForum!
Turkish Airlines flight delay and refusal to compensate
by Pasfour · 2024-11-03 · 41 replies
We bought round-trip tickets from Mulhouse/Basel to Maun (Botswana) in January 2023 through Option Way.

Turkish Airlines issued the entire round-trip tickets. The flight plan was:

31 August 2023: TK 926 from Basel/Mulhouse to Istanbul and TK38 from Istanbul to Johannesburg 1 September 2023: Airlink (4Z)300 from Johannesburg to Maun. 11 September 2023: Airlink (4Z)301 from Maun to Johannesburg and TK43 from Johannesburg to Istanbul 12 September 2023: TK1923 from Istanbul to Basel/Mulhouse.

On 1 September, on the outbound trip, Turkish Airlines flight TK38 from Istanbul to Johannesburg arrived 1 hour and 30 minutes late due to airport congestion. As a result, we missed our connection with Airlink flight (4Z) 300 from Johannesburg to Botswana (even though the initial layover time was sufficient for the connection). Upon arrival at Johannesburg Airport, a Turkish Airlines agent greeted us, booked us a room near the airport, and rebooked us on the same flight for the following day, 2 September. On 2 September, after numerous difficulties checking in at the Airlink counter in Johannesburg, we finally reached our final destination with a 24-hour delay. We lost our first day of vacation in Botswana, including the activities that were planned for that day. On 11 September, during our return trip and almost certainly due to the rescheduling of the outbound flight, the Airlink check-in counter in Maun did not recognize our tickets issued by Turkish Airlines. After many searches and phone calls, we had to buy new tickets for the Maun/Johannesburg flight 4Z301. This cost us 9,306 Botswana pula (643 €). Upon arrival in Johannesburg, the Turkish Airlines check-in counter again had trouble identifying us for flight TK43 from Johannesburg to Istanbul. It’s clear that the root of our check-in problems stemmed from the renumbering of our tickets when the Turkish Airlines representative rebooked us on the Airlink (4Z)300 flight for 2 September. During this process, all subsequent flight tickets must have been canceled. Since our return, I’ve requested the following from Turkish Airlines: · Compensation under the European Regulation EC 261/2004 of 11 February 2004 for flight delays, amounting to 600 € per passenger. We meet all the conditions: departure from a Franco/Swiss airport, arrival at the final destination more than 4 hours late, and a distance greater than 3,500 kilometers. Turkish Airlines has not provided evidence that they did everything possible to avoid this delay. · Reimbursement for the Airlink Maun/Johannesburg tickets on 11 September, which we had to pay again to Airlink even though we had already paid for them through our agent, Option Way. Turkish Airlines refuses compensation on the grounds that they complied with all regulations. Turkish Airlines and Airlink are passing the buck when it comes to reimbursing the tickets we paid for twice. For Turkish Airlines, claims can only be made through their website, and each time a different agent responds. I’ve contacted our insurance, legal protection, the travel ombudsman... without success. Currently, the case is with a lawyer working for "Air Indemnité," but I have little hope. Obviously, I won’t be flying with Turkish Airlines again—they seem to have a habit of not respecting schedules or customer satisfaction. A good lesson for planning very long layovers.
Road-trip en Suède en septembre English translation pending
by Pir971 · 2020-09-01 · 2 replies
Bonsoir,

Après un projet de voyage au Canada, puis en Norvège... Nous avons finalement prit nos billets pour la Suède pour un départ la semaine prochaine.

Nous serons 19 jours sur place et nous ne connaissons absolument rien de ce pays hormis le fait qu'il n'y a pas de quatorzaine et qu'il y a des animaux en liberté. 🙂

Nous pensions louer une sorte de campervan pour notre séjour. Auriez vous des conseils d'agence de location ? Des immanquables à ne pas rater ou tout autre conseil ? Merci beaucoup !
Visas pour un an en Asie en camping-car English translation pending
by Davau38 · 2020-08-31 · 10 replies
Bonjour, je voudrai savoir comment cela se passe pour les visas pour les pays qui les demande. j'aimerai partir au moins 1 an en Asie en camping car : faut-il tout prévoir à l'avance ou peut-on prendre les visas au fur et à mesure lorsqu'on on change de pays ? et si oui ou faut-il se renseigner ?Merci d'avance pour vos réponses..cdt
Do you ever feel jaded when you travel?
by Lecoeurestun · 2020-08-17 · 37 replies
I find myself feeling more and more jaded when I travel these days. Boredom sets in. I’m not saying I don’t like boredom, but long-term... So, I end up thinking traveling doesn’t really make much sense anymore. Do you ever feel this way?

Nat
Getting to Khartoum (Sudan) and then traveling down the Nile to Luxor (Egypt)
by Opai · 2020-08-12 · 12 replies
Hi there,

I’m planning—when it becomes possible again—to head to Khartoum and then travel down the Nile to Luxor.

I have a few questions:

For the Sudanese visa, it says I need proof of accommodation bookings for the entire stay. Is there another way to get it, because I really don’t want to book everything in advance.

About how long (just transport time, not sightseeing) does it take to get between these two cities?

Are all the connections manageable by public transport?

Thanks.
Randonnées "faciles" dans le Mercantour English translation pending
by Airline · 2020-07-26 · 21 replies
Existe-t'il des randonnées "faciles" dans le Mercantour ou dans les environs avec bivouac ? Je suis surpris du niveau de difficulté des parcours (difficiles à très difficiles)
Excursion à Ardenica et Apollonia (Albanie) English translation pending
by Vitrival · 2020-07-09 · 15 replies
Je souhaite me rendre en Albanie début septembre et faire l'excursion Ardencia et Appllonia au départ de Tirana, je suis seule et les agences et TO que j'ai contacté demande 2 personnes.Avez vous fait cette excursion et avec quelle agence pour se joindre à un groupe merci d'avance Vitrival

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