Results for "Manas+|+7+>+8"

hello,

avec une amie nous pensons aller faire un petit sejour au mexique et si quelqu'un a des bons plans (sites interessants a visiter ou logements pas chers, ...) merci d'me repondre.

je veux descendre en moto, honda transalp, la transamazonienne.

je veux réaliser cela en saison séche, juil á oct. Je serais probablement seul.

les quelques avis reçu sont " pas de probléme " á " la transamazonienne n' existe que sur la carte, de nombreux tronçons ont disparus et en plus cela peut être trés dangereux "

Je recherche d'autres avis sur la question...

Salut

je m'en vais a Riviera Maya mi janvier je voudrais savoir si il fait chaud le jour a cette periode, et le soir fais t'il frisquet? et quand est t'il de la pluie?

merci

bonjour,

je projete de partir 15 jours en janvier ou février faire un autotour dans la province du yucatan, je voudrais avoir des infos au niveau du risque pour les bagages et les personnes, connaitre l'état des routes et le cout de la vie, peut on partir qu'avec des euros. je compte faire le circuit sur 8 jours et 7 jours de repos sur l'hotel le shangri la. si vous avez des infos et des conseils il seront les bienvenus. mon espagnol et mon anglais sont un peu limites est ce que les mexicains parlent un peu le francais !

hola, voilà je pars dans 10 jours au Guaté puis Salvador. Il est assez difficile de trouver des infos sur le Salvador, surtout kan le temps presse. Alors si kelk1 veut bien me donner kelkes plan, genre ce kil faut vraiment voir, ce kil ne faut pas manker, hotels, le guide ?

merci beaucoup !!!

PS: nous partons dans l'objectif de rencontrer et de visiter differentes associations humanitaires ou en lien avec l'ecotourismes, pour aider, alors si vous avez des adresses aussi elles seront bien venues.

Hasta Luego ...

Bonjour, arrivant debut octobre a buenos aires et devant ensuite me rendre sur Santiago pour fin novembre, je souhaiterai avoir le plus d'infos sur les itineraires incontournables, le climat, les prix(faut il réserver a l'avance auberges de jeunesse?), y-a-t-il une bonne correspondance bus a cette période?quels sont les éléments incontournables a emmener dans son sac a dos en patagonie?

Merci pour toutes ces infos...

Est il facile de trouver de l'emploi en tant qu'interimaire au Quebec en general, dans les secteurs du technique (Naval, auto et cycle) et dans le domaine de la traduction technique ???

Merci d'avance.

Dofré.

Je viens de passer 15 jours au Brésil : Salvador, Brasilia, amazonie, ouro preto, iguacu et rio. Genial... J'ai l'impression d'avoir visité plusieurs pays en trés peu de temps. Le rythme était trés soutenu (11 avions différents en 15 jours), mais je suis passé d'une ville africaine à la forêt tropicale, de villes modernes ou coloniales baroques aux plus belles chutes d'eau du monde (j'ai vu niagara et victoria...)pour finir par la "ville merveilleuse"... j'ai chassé les piranhas et les caimans en amazonie, survolé les chutes d'iguacu en hélicoptère, navigué dans la baie de tous les saints à salvador, assisté à un spectacle de samba à rio, admiré les pierres précieuses et semi-précieuses dans le minas gerais😎, mangé dans des churascarias 😛, vu brasilia de la tour de la télévision (j'ai vu l'avion), dit bonjour au christ du corcovado, pris le petit train du pain de sucre et flané sur les plages de copacabana et ipanema En un mot : sublime Je craignais un peu avant de partir au sujet des problémes de sécurité. En étant normalement prudente (pas d'étalage de bijoux ou de dollars, sortie le soir uniquement en taxis, éviter les quartiers chauds...) j'ai passer ces 15 jours sans problémes. Les brésiliens sont accueillants (surtout si vous essayer de parler en "portugnol")et heureux de vivre... La temperature était idéale : entre 20 et 27° sauf amazonie : 32° Les paysages sont trés beaux et trés variés. Nous n'avons pas été trés génés par les moustiques en amazonie (un conseil pour choisir l'hotel de jungle : préférez un lieu situé sur le rio negro, les eaux noires attirent moins les moustiques que les eaux jaunatres), mais emmenez tout de même vos produits anti moustiques...

conclusion : allez au Brésil, vous ne serez pas déçus !😎

bonjour

j'aimerai faire un grand tour (guatemala-belize-yucatan-tikal-antigua); tout ça en un mois.

Je voudrais savoir si en allant à livingston ça vaut le coup de faire un détour par Copan... et si oui, où dormir dans les environs?

merci beaucoup

Mae

Et bien voilà, je quitte pour l'Amérique du Sud dans quelques jours à peine en débutant par l'Île de Pâque qui fais plutôt parti du Sud Pacifique, mais bon, par la suite le Pérou et je suis hésitant à savoir si il est préférable de visiter l'Amazonie par le Pérou ou par le Brésil, destination final de mon périple d'ou je quitte via Sao Paolo. Alors toute information sur l'Amazonie serait grandement apprécié, sinon j'improviserai sur place!

merci,

love, light and Rock n' roll!!

Hi everyone, I'm traveling solo in Spain for 8 days without a car, on a tight budget. What train/bus route do you recommend between cities, and where can I find the best prices? Looking forward to your tips! Thanks

Preamble

I could have titled my travel journal like Carmen: "Some trips are born twice." Indeed, we had considered this destination back in February 2020. However, an honest tour operator advised us against traveling at that time due to the climate. So, we gave up and opted for Guatemala instead (see "On the Mayan Lands" on this site).

So, why this title? When I was in primary school, over 65 years ago, the illustrations in my history books (Machu Picchu) and geography books (Lake Titicaca) made me dream, and those images stayed in my mind. It took until 2026 to finally make this dream come true!

We prepared our trip with Tout Pérou, a French-speaking "agency." Everything was handled via email and WhatsApp exchanges with our contact: Laurent, who was both competent, friendly, and full of good advice. For 200 €, Tout Pérou provided us with drivers and guides whenever we wanted, helped us buy our domestic flights (cheaper when purchased in Peru), booked shuttles between airports and hotels, and got us a discount on the train ride to Aguas Calientes, as well as on the buses between Chivay and Puno and between Puno and Cusco. In short, Laurent took care of all the logistics and the Machu Picchu tickets. It was up to us to book our hotels. Tout Pérou provided a list, but we weren’t obliged to follow it. Another advantage of the package: we didn’t have to pay in advance; we paid the service providers directly day by day.

We didn’t meet Laurent in person because he was on vacation in Europe. Before his departure, he gave us a briefing, provided a summary table with the entire program, the service providers, their phone numbers, their fees, the schedules, and gave us plenty of advice (money, exchange, safety, etc.). After returning at the end of our stay, he kept checking in on us.

Lastly, we had also gathered information from Arnaud Lagadec, who runs a hotel in Cusco and offers tours of the region. He gave us a lot of useful information. Another contact: Thomas Montaigne, very friendly, who runs an agency in Arequipa (Agence Pérou Exclusif).

Day 1 – Paris to Lima

Foreword I’ll share our trip without any pretension—I don’t have the talent of some contributors on this forum—and I’ll illustrate it with a few photos (taken with an ordinary smartphone). My comments are personal and only reflect my own views. So, please be kind! Feel free to comment on my story as you like, but let’s avoid pointless debates.

Even though we live in the south of the Paris region, true to our habits when the flight is in the morning, we chose to spend the night before our departure in a hotel near CDG and parked our car in a parking lot in Garches. This way, we avoid the stress that often comes with traveling around Paris (accidents, roadworks, traffic jams, etc.).

Check-in and border control went smoothly on that Sunday morning. Our Air France flight was uneventful. In Lima, border control took a particularly long time, and for the first time, we didn’t get an entry visa stamped in our passports.

As planned, a driver took us to the Miraflores district, where our hotel was located. We were surprised by the numerous signs about possible tsunamis, having forgotten that Peru is prone to such events and regularly experiences earthquakes. We’d see the consequences of these during our journey.

Exhausted from the early wake-up, the 13-hour flight, and the 7-hour time difference, we had dinner at the hotel before a restful night.

Note that this day was Peru’s presidential election day. As a result, we weren’t served beer—the sale of alcohol was banned that Sunday.

Hi everyone,

I’m in the middle of planning my trip for February 2027 with my family (4 adults). We’re thinking of a Guatemala-Belize combo. Could you let me know what you think of my itinerary? Should I add or remove anything? Is it too minimalist? Do you recommend renting a car or hiring a driver and guide? For the islands in Belize, is 5 days too much? The volcano hike isn’t included on purpose.

· 02/21 (Day 1) — Arrival in Guatemala Night: Antigua · 02/21 (Day 2) — Antigua, the colonial gem Half-day guided walking tour of convents, churches, and Spanish ruins. Volcanoes as a photo backdrop. Coffee plantation visit. Night: Antigua · 02/22 (Day 3) — Chichicastenango Market → Lake Atitlán Early morning drive to the big indigenous market. Guide to explain Mayan rituals in Santo Tomás Church. Afternoon transfer to Lake Atitlán. Night: Lake Atitlán · 02/23 (Day 4) — The Mayan Villages of Lake Atitlán Lake crossing. Visit the villages of San Juan La Laguna (weaving cooperatives) and Santiago Atitlán. Night: Lake Atitlán · 02/24 (Day 5) — Sololá Market → Return to Antigua Leave the lake in the morning. Visit the authentic high-altitude market of Sololá with a local guide, then drive back to spend the evening in Antigua. Night: Antigua · 02/25 (Day 6) — Flight to Flores → Transfer to Tikal Domestic flight directly to Tikal National Park. Night: Tikal (in the heart of the jungle) · 02/26 (Day 7) — Exploring the City of Tikal Explore the giant Mayan city of Tikal in the middle of the jungle with your French-speaking guide. Enjoy the lodge’s pool to the sound of howler monkeys. Night: Tikal

02/27 (Day 8) — Belize Border → Xunantunich Site → San Ignacio Visit the large Mayan site of Xunantunich right after crossing the border.

Night: San Ignacio

02/28 (Day 9) — Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve Full-day 4x4 tour with the lodge’s guide to explore Big Rock Falls (swimming in natural pools) and caves in the forest reserve.

Night: San Ignacio

03/01 (Days 10 to 15) — San Ignacio → Boat to Ambergris Caye

But I’m still not sure whether to go to Ambergris or Caye Caulker (what do you recommend?)

03/06 (Day 15) — Domestic Flight → International Return Flight (feasible or not?)

Thanks so much for your feedback!

If you’ve already posted your three photos in the contest thread Staircases: May 2026 Photo Contest Theme and a fourth one comes to mind, you can ease your staircase obsession here.

A few examples of staircases:



Some of the 6,600 steps on the staircase leading to the summit of Jade Emperor Peak at 1,545 meters.



Emergency staircase at the Orléans library (France).



Brussels street artist Créons incorporates the staircase into the dress design of his character.



The staircase is part of the roof of Villa Malaparte (Adalberto Libera) on the island of Capri (Italy).

Arrival at Chetumal Airport - Car rental - 3 days in BACALAR: Magnificent lagoon. The edges of the lagoon are private (so paid access!). From the road, you can't see the lagoon. You have to take one of the many unpaved trails and walk about 2 km. You get a beautiful view of the lagoon from the Bacalar fort, a charming little lively town. Los Rapidos: A really beautiful spot (paid entry, of course!). It's definitely worth spending a few hours there. You just let yourself drift gently with the current in turquoise, warm water. Hard to find—it's very poorly signposted. Cenote Azul: Very close to Los Rapidos. It's a round lake with deep blue water. Nothing extraordinary. We have the same in Auvergne! A little restaurant by the edge is nice. Cocalitos: Beautiful viewpoint over the lagoon and the submerged cenote. Developed shoreline (large field to lay your towel, hammocks, bar). Mayan ruins ICHTIKAL, recently discovered. Recent developments, and one of the few places still free (parking is paid). A lovely walk in the woods, but as everywhere in this region, there are very few animals! 1 night in Pisté to visit Chichen Itza at the first light. Hire a French-speaking guide and go at opening time to enjoy the site before the tourist buses arrive. It's an exceptional place! At the end of the visit, check out the Sacred Cenote. It's inside the site at the end of a small path lined with souvenir vendors. Just to see—no swimming. Cenote TSUKAN: A recently discovered cenote, so still not very crowded (12 km from Pisté). Very peaceful environment. Swimming (water max. 22°C). Life jacket mandatory. Good restaurant. 2 days in Coba - Visit to the Coba ruins. Very busy site. Paid parking + tax for the Mayans + site entry. Punta Laguna: A 3-hour walk in the woods with a guide. We saw just one pair of howler monkeys high up in a tree, 25 m away! As I mentioned earlier, we saw few animals and birds in this region (except for iguanas, which are everywhere). I imagined trekking through the jungle surrounded by monkeys and toucans—nope, no jungle, just undergrowth, and no toucans (they come in July during the rainy season, apparently!). 4 days on the island of COZUMEL: Car ferry taken from Calica (Punta Venado). Bookings on the Ultramar or Transcaribe websites. Sargassum invasion on the beaches (same, if not worse, in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, according to tourists we met). All beaches are private. Access to Beach Clubs is expensive. You have to book entry to Playa Palancar if you want to be sure to get a spot (it was full for us!). The El Cielo beach to see the starfish is only accessible by boat! Near El Cielo, many stingrays swim in the shallow waters of El Cielito. That's where all the boats stop, and we enjoyed ceviche with water up to our knees and rays looking for food! Poor rays!!!

The 140th (wow!) edition of the contest is now live!

Since it’s April Fools’ month and I’m a diver at heart, I had to pick a theme around the sea and fish.

This month’s theme is: sea fishing 🙂. Deep-sea fishing, rockpooling, shore casting, shellfish & crustaceans—anything remotely related to sea fishing fits the bill 😉

Photos of fishing boats, fishing ports, fish auctions, seafood stalls, nets and trawls, lobster pots, fishermen, your kids collecting cockles, even those New Year’s oyster shells 😏—no limits as long as it ties into the theme 😛 And of course, a special shout-out to anglers worldwide! 🙂

I’m traveling right now, so I don’t have many photos on hand. To illustrate the theme, I’ve chosen this shot of a small Vietnamese fishing boat I spotted near the Cham Islands, returning from a dive.



Contest rules: You can post up to three photos, each in a separate message, clearly numbering them (1, 2, or 3) and including the location where the photo was taken. Any explanations about your photos are welcome.

When voting, you’ll choose three photos, clearly stating the participant’s name followed by their photo number. The first photo in your vote gets three points, the second gets two, and the third gets one.

The winner will be the person whose photo earns the most points. In case of a tie, the winner will be the one with the most first-place votes, or if still tied, the most second-place votes. If it’s a perfect tie, the person who reached their score first wins. The winner then gets the honor of choosing and organizing May 2026’s contest theme. Ties for any other position won’t be broken. Finally, you don’t need to enter the contest to vote, but participants (and I hope there’ll be lots of you!) are *strongly* encouraged to vote!

Please only post contest photos in this thread. Starting Saturday, April 25 (00:01 Paris time), only votes should be posted.

Key dates: You can submit your photos from today until Friday, April 24, 2026 (23:59 Paris time—Xavier, you can do the math for Perth 😏). Voting starts the very next minute and ends on Thursday, April 29 (23:59 Paris time). Results will be announced on Thursday, April 30, 2026... The next host can take over on Saturday, May 2 (yeah, May 1 is a no-work day 😛)

Ready, set, shoot!

Hello everyone,

For our latest 3-week family trip (yes, the kids are growing up, and two of them are about to enter the working world), we’re heading to South America! For our first time on this continent, I had planned a classic 3-week loop in Peru.

But since we won’t be returning to this part of the world anytime soon, I thought: why not follow in the footsteps of Franck, aka Bibouns51, who, in 18 days, didn’t just stick to Peru but also added two of the planet’s most stunning landscapes to his itinerary... the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and its neighbor, the fabulous Atacama Desert in northern Chile !!

So, I set about the tricky task of limiting the regions we’d visit in Peru to those we considered must-sees, to avoid rushing too much. The visit schedules were optimized, including several comfortable overnight buses that have the huge advantage of letting us hop between regions.

So, we’re off on a somewhat adventurous trip with three domestic flights (two on the first day and one on the last), two overnight buses for quick hops, several car rentals, the services of a few drivers to make the trip more comfortable, and even a tour operator for crossing the Salar...

Our main concern is altitude sickness, and we’re bringing Diamox, aspirin, etc., just in case.

Our second worry before departure was not even getting off the ground... Yes, for once, we’re leaving from France—Marseille, to be exact. The week before our departure, with the surprise air traffic controllers’ strike, I remembered why we usually prefer to leave from abroad, like Turin or Barcelona... In the end, it wasn’t the air traffic controllers who made us nervous but the early July wildfires that paralyzed the airport a few days before our departure. Fortunately, the fires were quickly brought under control, and on the big day, everything was smooth sailing!

Detailed itinerary (which changed on Day 1 due to departure hiccups): Day 0: Flight Marseille - Madrid - Lima PERU Theoretical and abandoned Day 1: Flight Lima - Cuzco and visit Cuzco (Puka Pukara, Tambomachay, Cristo Blanco Observatory, Sacsayhuaman sunset) - Night in Cuzco Day 2: Taxi -> Chinchero - Moray - Maras Salt Mines - Ollantaytambo - Train to Aguas Calientes Day 3: Machu Picchu - Return train to Ollantaytambo Day 4: 2-day taxi -> Pisac - Tipon - Andahuaylillas - Huaro - Night in San Pedro Day 5: Palcoyo - Checacupe - Vinicunca - Return and night in Cuzco Day 6: Day in Cuzco (catch-up on Sacsayhuaman, San Blas district, Temple of the Sun) - Overnight bus to Arequipa Day 7: Rental car -> On the road to Colca Canyon, night in Cabanaconde Day 8: Descent to the bottom of Colca Canyon, night at Oasis Sangalle Day 9: Ascent from the canyon - Maca - Chivay - Return and night in Arequipa Day 10: Visit Arequipa (Santa Catalina Convent, La Recoleta Church and Monastery, La Compañía Church, Cathedral) - Overnight bus to Puno Day 11: Lake Titicaca - Night in Puno BOLIVIA Day 12: Shared taxi -> Road to La Paz, visit downtown La Paz - Night 1 in La Paz Day 13: Moon Valley and Las Animas Valley - Night 2 in La Paz Day 14: Day in La Paz - Night 3 in La Paz Day 15: Flight to Uyuni - Day 1 of Salar de Uyuni tour - Night at the edge of the Salar Day 16: Crossing the Lipez region and lagoons - Night near Laguna Colorada Day 17: Sol de Mañana CHILE Day 17 cont.: Pre-booked transfer to SPDA - 4x4 rental - Pukara de Quitor - Stargazing tour - Night 1 in SPDA Day 18: Death Valley and Moon Valley - Night 2 in SPDA Day 19: Miscanti and Miniques Lagoons, Salar de Aguas Calientes and its Piedra Roja, Tebenquiche Lagoon and Quebrada del Diablo - Night 3 in SPDA Day 20: Rainbow Valley and swim in the Puritama River - Night 4 in SPDA Day 21: Tebenquiche Lagoon - Bus to Calama - Flight to Santiago Day 22: Return Santiago - Madrid - Marseille

Day 0 - 11/07: Destination Lima

Our first flight from Marseille went smoothly to our Iberia layover in Madrid.

In Madrid, just after getting off the plane around 8 PM, and as we were walking through the terminal, we got a rude awakening!!

We saw the word "Cancelled" next to our flight number on the display boards. Thinking it must be a glitch, we checked another screen, but the system was stubborn, and the same dreaded word appeared !

So, we headed to the Iberia counter, where an agent confirmed that our Friday evening flight was canceled and rescheduled for the next morning. The reason? A breakdown and no replacement plane, even though we were in Madrid, Iberia’s home base!

To make matters worse, I remembered our super-tight schedule, planned to the minute, with no buffer day in Lima. Since I’m a bit phobic of megacities and hadn’t found anything appealing in the Peruvian capital in our guidebooks, we’d planned to leave Lima as soon as possible for Cusco, the heart of the Sacred Valley, to spend our first day there.

Bad idea, because we already knew the 4-hour buffer wouldn’t be enough, and we’d miss the domestic flight, which was, of course, non-refundable and non-changeable. So, we had to call LATAM from Madrid to find another flight for Saturday evening and negotiate a rate to recover some of our initial outlay.

After an hour on the phone with customer service, several endless holds, and three failed attempts to dictate our credit card number over the phone to a Spaniard speaking English with a thick accent, we finally managed to confirm the transaction, securing our new flight tickets for a moderate extra cost of just 150 € total.

At first, we were pretty bummed about losing a day and incurring extra fees to reschedule the domestic flight, but then, when we learned from an Iberia customer service rep that we’d receive the max compensation of 600 € per traveler, we even ended up grinning... because 3000 € in refunds for only losing the first day in Cusco? We’d sign up for that 10 times over!!

Iberia then took care of us, putting us up in a hotel where we had dinner before a short 5-hour night and an early morning departure. I took the opportunity to improvise a quick day of sightseeing in Lima, focusing on the Barranco and Miraflores districts.

Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026! We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana. But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer. All your tips are welcome!

Thanks for your replies

Hi everyone, absolute travel lovers after our 20 trips to the USA, we’ve decided to head to Mexico in February (flight already booked: Nice to Cancun on February 20th, returning on the evening of March 1st).

I’m mainly hesitating about trying to do too much, as usual when discovering a new country. Here’s my itinerary—I’m unsure about a few things: - **Day 1**: Should we stay relaxed at the resort we booked, or should we do Isla Mujeres instead? If we stay, when’s the best time to visit the island? - **Day 3**: If we visit Chichén Itzá right at opening, will the Ik-Kil cenote be quieter in terms of tourists? If not, which cenote nearby would you recommend? - **Big decision**: Should we go all the way down to Bacalar or not? After that, it feels a bit rushed. **Day 6** is mandatory, or are there other options? Honestly, I’m counting on your advice!

For context, we’re a family of four (with very grown-up kids who are used to traveling), and we’ve already rented an SUV for this period. Thanks in advance for your help—it’ll be invaluable!

**Departure – February 20th**: Arrival in Cancún

Arrival at 8:20 PM, pick up rental car. Overnight in Cancún.

**Day 1 – February 21st**: Isla Mujeres

Ferry from Cancún to Isla Mujeres. Playa Norte, snorkeling, golf cart tour. Return to Cancún. Overnight in Cancún.

**Day 2 – February 22nd**: Ek’ Balam + Cenote X’Canché → Valladolid

Drive from Cancún to Ek’ Balam (~2h). Visit the archaeological site. Swim at Cenote X’Canché. Drive to Valladolid (~30 min). Overnight in Valladolid.

**Day 3 – February 23rd**: Chichén Itzá → Bacalar

Early departure to Chichén Itzá (~45 min). Guided tour + optional visit to Ik-Kil cenote. Drive to Bacalar (~4h). Overnight in Bacalar.

**Day 4 – February 24th**: Bacalar

Boat excursion to the "Laguna of Seven Colors." Cenote Azul + Fuerte San Felipe. Overnight in Bacalar.

**Day 5 – February 25th**: Bacalar → Tulum + Ruins, Cenote & Beach

Drive (~3.5h). Settle in Tulum. Visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum (stunning ocean view). Swim in Gran Cenote or Cenote Calavera. End the day at Playa Paraíso. Overnight in Tulum.

**Day 6 – February 26th**: Sian Ka’an Reserve

Guided excursion:

Option Muyil (half-day): boat tour + swim in the Mayan canal. Option Punta Allen (full-day): dolphins, turtles, snorkeling on the reef.

Overnight in Tulum.

**Day 7 – February 27th**: Tulum → Akumal → Playa del Carmen

Morning: snorkeling with turtles in Akumal. Lunch, then drive to Playa del Carmen. Evening on 5th Avenue. Overnight in Playa del Carmen.

**Day 8 – February 28th**: Playa del Carmen → Puerto Morelos

Free morning in Playa del Carmen (beach or Cenotes Azul & Cristalino). Afternoon: drive to Puerto Morelos (~30 min). Overnight in Puerto Morelos.

**Day 9 – March 1st**: Puerto Morelos → Cancún → Return flight

Relaxing morning in Puerto Morelos. Drive (~30 min) to Cancún Airport. Return rental car. Return flight.

Hi everyone, Back from my summer vacation, and it's already time to start planning the next one! I mean, I work to go on vacation and explore with my family—don’t you? Next destination: Mexico (Yucatán and Quintana Roo), When: February/March 2026, Duration: 17 nights there (+1 arrival night, either a layover or late in the evening), Who: Two adults and two young kids (3 and 8 years old), Transport: Rental car Interests: Culture, a little relaxation, hiking (though I’m not sure if the destination is ideal for that), and nature exploration.

The plan is to do the classic route but stay longer in each place—it’s easier to manage with kids. Here’s what I had in mind:

Valladolid = 3 nights to visit Ek Balam, Chichén Itzá, and a cenote. Mérida = 3 nights for a stop in Izamal on the way, exploring Mérida, then Uxmal + a trip to Celestún. Campeche = 2 nights to see the Xtacumbilxunaan cave and the Edzná Maya site. Calakmul = 1 night Bacalar = 3 nights for the Lagoon of Seven Colors, Fort San Felipe, some downtime, and a possible day trip to Cozumel if needed. Tulum = 5 nights to visit Cobá, Tulum, cenotes, the beach, Sian Ka’an + Muyil. Then back to the airport (1h30 drive or 2h if flying into Cancún).

Does this seem well-balanced? Could I improve it by grouping accommodations more? I’m guessing Palenque/Yaxchilán is too far (even if I cut other things from the itinerary)? It still sounds like an amazing trip... Thanks,

Hey there, community! Back this weekend, below is my travel journal from my adventure in Indonesia. Enjoy the read!!!

Day 1 - August 10, 2025 New life downloading for three weeks! And for that, Flo and I launched a public tender... A public tender? What’s that got to do with a travel journal???... Well, when you think about it, few destinations tick all the boxes for an August adventure: Meaning, finding a place that’s exotic in the middle of August, not too expensive, not too packed with tourists, warm but not *too* warm, with postcard-perfect landscapes, dreamy beaches, tasty cuisine with a hint of exoticism, friendly and welcoming locals, where you’re free to sleep under the stars among the mosquitos, take transport surrounded by chickens, and even eat from a pig trough if you feel like it—well, turns out it’s not that easy to find! I’d even say, given how thick the list of requirements is, there’s a big risk the tender could be declared unsuccessful for failing to meet just one criterion. Let’s just say the candidates better submit a rock-solid proposal!

After reviewing all the responses and presentations from the candidates, the obvious choice for us is... Indonesia! Except that trying to explore a country as vast as Indonesia and its 17,504 islands in less than five years is a bit like reading the summary of a Proust novel without taking the time to savor each of its 950 pages! Don’t worry, I won’t name them all here. Besides, do they even all have names? No! Only 7,870 have been named—their parents clearly ran out of ideas for the rest. Anyway, our society, which worships the "work more to earn more" mantra, unfortunately limits our adventure time. So we’ll only get to see a small part of Indonesia, and we’ll have to make a tough choice to head for the best of the best in this archipelago of over seventeen thousand islands. Each one has its own selling points: Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java, the Celebes, Bali, Borneo, Papua, Timor, the Moluccas... So many names that smell of adventure... Another tender, another list of requirements, another review of proposals... Drumroll... Splash splash... And the lucky winner is... Ta-da... Java, Bali’s big sister, where I’ve already been eight years ago... Java the programming language. The Java of Broadway. We’re gonna *do* the Java. Java the coffee. And yes, Java is also an island!

This island, four times smaller than France, is home to 136 million people, making it the most populated island in the world! Fun fact: Indonesia, with its 260 million inhabitants, is just shy of the podium for the world’s most populated countries, after the winning trio of India, China, and the United States. And it’s on this island of Java that you’ll find Jakarta, the (soon-to-be-former) capital and main airport of the country, where we’ll soon land after our nineteen-hour flight! Yep, nineteen hours! I mean, Indonesia in general—and Java in particular—is a *tad* farther than going on vacation to Grandma Yoyo’s! Not sure where it is? Easy. Grab a map. Plant your finger on the big island at the bottom right—aka Australia for those who struggle with geography—move it up two centimeters, and bam, welcome to Indonesia!



Nice transition, right? Because "Welcome to Indonesia" is exactly what the friendly flight attendant just said to me as we got off the plane! That’s it, our chakras are open, we’ve arrived at our (air)port. Time for rest, pool, cocktails, and a beach with our toes spread out... Wait, if you bought that, you clearly don’t know us yet! Since we still have energy to burn and need to adjust to the flight and time difference, we tackle the long administrative formalities to enter Indonesia, just to earn the right to hop in a 45-minute Grab taxi to the train station. The train station? What train station?... What do you usually do at a train station? Take a train, of course! Off we go for a three-hour train ride to Bandung, where we’ll officially start our adventure tomorrow after our first Indonesian night...

Unfortunately, we were a bit slow off the mark, which meant we missed the 6:25 PM train by two minutes. Oh well, we’ll have to wait until 11 PM. We take the opportunity to stretch our legs in Jakarta, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy the delicious smells wafting from the *warungs*—those little typical street restaurants. A quick stop at the National Monument, a detour to a night market to devour our first *kwetiaw goreng* and *teh manis* for 60,000 rupiahs (that’s 3 € for two), and just like that, our penalty is lifted, and we’re allowed to hit the road again. Off to Bandung, where we arrive at 2 AM for... a *very* short night...

We’ve read it all about Bali: mass tourism, non-stop parties, ferry disasters, the kingdom of “Instagrammers,” pollution, “Bali belly”... But luckily, this island isn’t just about Kuta’s beaches and the Lempuyang Temple.

Sure, it’s not as exotic or off-the-beaten-path as other Indonesian islands (the Moluccas, Timor, Flores...), but we spent 3 weeks there and loved it!

Our (planned) itinerary in 7 stops: - Ubud (4 nights) - Sidemen (2 nights) - Gili Meno (3 nights) - Amed (2 nights) - Pemuteran (4 nights) - Munduk (2 nights) - Jatiluwih (2 nights)



We booked our accommodations in advance, and for the rest (drivers, activities...), we took it day by day with help from the homestays (making sure to contact them a few days ahead via WhatsApp).

In the end, it’s an “easy” destination, very affordable, and one that’s managed to keep a certain authenticity.

Alright, I'm diving into this Hawaiian travel journal! I hope lots of you will follow along because the destination is absolutely charming. 🙂 Just a heads-up—I might take a while to finish it.

The trip took place from February 20th to March 3rd, 2025 (11 days total, with 9 days on-site). It was a trip with my friend Christelle, with whom I’ve already traveled to Iceland and Morocco in recent years. We’re totally on the same wavelength, with the same expectations and desires, which makes things a lot easier (and, as a bonus, it helps cut down the final bill). Being the generous soul I am, I asked Christelle which country she wanted to visit. Her answer: Asia, since I’ve never been, or Namibia... Hawaii is basically the same thing, right?!! All thanks to the search comparator—I stumbled upon round-trip tickets from Paris to Honolulu for 580 € per person during school holidays, with a layover in Canada (I don’t get to choose my vacation dates). We jumped on it on August 28th (didn’t take much convincing). For info, I always check flight tickets during the last week of August or the first half of September because there are always amazing deals.

Nine days on-site is short, so we had to make some tough choices for the islands we’d visit (I’m only listing the main ones): - Oahu: the most urbanized but also home to Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, and some stunning beaches.

Kauai: the Garden Isle. It’s the island from *Jurassic Park*, with lush vegetation—so it’s pretty rainy. Big Island: volcanoes, volcanoes, and more, but also things like night snorkeling with manta rays. Maui: very touristy, with a magnificent volcano, the Road to Hana, and the ultimate spot for whale watching (and we were there right in the middle of whale season).

We limited ourselves to two islands to avoid rushing, and in the end, we picked Kauai (non-negotiable) and Oahu (which saved us an extra domestic flight and, since we were there in winter, let us experience the BIG WAVES on the North Shore). We would’ve loved to visit Big Island, but we’d already seen volcanoes in Iceland, and the island is huge—we just didn’t have enough time. Maui was recently hit by a major wildfire and is also the most expensive island (along with Kauai). We were really hoping to see humpback whales (my favorite animal) on both Oahu and Kauai. Hawaii is far, and it’s worth the effort. The journey went smoothly. I took a 40-minute bus ride and a 1h32 RER trip just to get to Roissy, then a 9h15 flight to Calgary, with a two-hour layover before a 6h45 flight to Honolulu. 11 hours of time difference, arriving at 10 PM local time. And you know what? (spoiler alert) I’d do it a thousand times if I got the chance.

Alright, let’s go—here we go!

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

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

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

Thanks in advance for your ideas and suggestions!

Claire

hi,

We’re planning a trip to Brazil in March 2026, just the two of us, for 10 days without using an agency. Rio, the falls, and Bahia too. How can we get around there? Train? Car rental? Plane? Are the roads easy to drive on? Is Rio safe to explore on our own? We’d love any travel journals with ideas for places to see, as well as books to help us plan the whole trip. Thanks in advance for all your tips! See you soon, cheers

Set off on a journey to the heart of Japan with the "Immersion in Japan" tour. Over thirteen days, explore a country where tradition and modernity intertwine harmoniously. This trip will take you through dynamic metropolises, picturesque villages, majestic mountains, and spiritually charged places, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the many facets of this fascinating destination.

Your adventure begins in Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city, famous for its lively atmosphere and gastronomy. The Dotonbori district, with its colorful neon lights, restaurants serving takoyaki and okonomiyaki, and karaoke bars, provides a vibrant first taste of contemporary Japan. On the second day, you head to Himeji, home to the famous White Heron Castle, a majestic and perfectly preserved fortress. This visit is a dive into feudal Japan.



Next, you reach Kyoto, the former imperial capital and a cultural gem. Every street corner breathes history and elegance. You stroll through the Arashiyama bamboo grove, visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), and participate in a tea ceremony, an experience steeped in serenity. A trip to Nara, where sacred deer roam freely in the parks, completes your exploration. The Great Buddha of Nara, housed in the Todai-ji temple, impresses with its size and splendor.

The journey continues in the Japanese Alps, in Takayama and Shirakawago. These picturesque villages, with their thatched-roof houses, seem frozen in time. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Shirakawago is a true treasure of authenticity. You spend a night in Gero Onsen, a renowned hot spring resort, where you can enjoy relaxing hot baths and savor refined Japanese cuisine served in a traditional ryokan.

Finally, Tokyo, the bustling capital, awaits with its many faces. From the futuristic Akihabara district, dedicated to geek culture enthusiasts, to the traditional charm of Asakusa and the Senso-ji temple, every moment is a discovery. A side trip to Kamakura, famous for its Great Buddha and temples, adds a spiritual dimension to your stay.

This trip wouldn’t be complete without immersive experiences. Learn to wield a katana in a samurai workshop, take a cooking class to master the art of sushi, or explore the world of manga with a drawing lesson. Each activity is designed to deepen your connection to the local culture.



The carefully selected accommodations blend modern comfort with Japanese charm. From contemporary hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo to traditional ryokans in the mountains, every night is an experience in itself. With a passionate local guide and free time to explore at your own pace, this tour offers the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation.

The "Immersion in Japan" tour is much more than just a trip. It’s an invitation to discover the soul of a country rich in contrasts, through diverse landscapes, living traditions, and fascinating modernity. Whether you're a culture lover, nature enthusiast, or simply in search of wonder, this journey promises a memorable and transformative experience.

Hi there,

We’re planning a 15-day family trip in February 2026 (with 3 teens). We’ll be visiting friends who live in Puebla. Initially, I was thinking of the Yucatán, but after reading up on it, I don’t think it’s the right fit for us (too crowded, too touristy). So, we’re leaning toward something like this: - Mexico City: 2 days (Teotihuacán + city) - Puebla: 3 days - Tehuacán: 2 days (to break up the trip—is this a good choice? Is there enough to do for 2 days?) - Oaxaca: 3 days (Hierve el Agua, Monte Albán, city/tours) - Pacific Coast: 4 days (snorkeling, excursions)

Does this seem balanced? We’d like to end on the coast for some relaxation, ocean time, and fun for the kids. I’ve seen lots of excursions offered along the coast but can’t decide where to stay. Puerto Escondido? Huatulco? The beaches seem better for snorkeling in Huatulco, but I’ve read mixed things, and it’s farther away. What do you think?

For transportation, is this doable by bus? I’m struggling to find a decent bus between Tehuacán and Oaxaca (overnight schedules), and I’m not sure how to get around the coast. Also, how do we handle luggage between cities? We usually rent a car.

Finally, I’d love feedback on the Pacific Coast excursions—I get the feeling some are worth it and others aren’t. Is bioluminescence really magical? Are dolphin-watching tours ethical and not too "factory-like"? (We skipped them in Quebec and just watched whales from shore.) Can you see sea turtles up close?

Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning my trip to Brazil in March 2025 (finally!) and I’d love to hear your thoughts on Ilha Grande and Paraty. We’ll be arriving from Rio and departing from Paraty (heading to São Paulo). How can we best organize these transfers—can we book the different transports on the spot? How much time is ideal to stay in these two places to enjoy them without doing long hikes? Do you have an estimated budget? Thanks for your feedback! Dominique

Hi there,

I’ll be traveling to Peru in August 2025. Unfortunately, I only have 12 days to visit this amazing country. I’m torn between doing a fast-paced trip where I see every sight but don’t really soak it all in, or going for a lighter itinerary that lets me enjoy the moment more.

Right now, I’ve narrowed it down to three options and I’d love to hear your thoughts on which one to pick.

Option 1 August 14, 2025 Flight Canada – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 15, 2025 Flight Lima – Cusco Visit Cusco Stay in Cusco August 16, 2025 Visit Humantay Lake Stay in Cusco August 17, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Ollantaytambo August 18, 2025 Visit Machu Picchu Stay in Ollantaytambo August 19, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Cusco August 20, 2025 Visit Rainbow Mountains Stay in Cusco August 21, 2025 Flight Cusco – Lima Bus Lima to Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 22, 2025 Visit Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 23, 2025 Visit Paracas Stay in Huacachina August 24, 2025 Bus Huacachina – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 25, 2025 Flight Lima – Canada

Option 2 August 14, 2025 Flight Canada – Lima Bus Lima – Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 15, 2025 Visit Huacachina Bus Huacachina – Arequipa Overnight bus August 16, 2025 Visit Arequipa Stay in Arequipa August 17, 2025 Colca Canyon Transfer Arequipa – Puno Stay in Puno August 18, 2025 Visit Lake Titicaca Bus Puno – Cusco (7:00 AM) Overnight bus August 19, 2025 Visit Humantay Lake Stay in Cusco August 20, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Ollantaytambo August 21, 2025 Visit Machu Picchu Stay in Ollantaytambo August 22, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Cusco August 23, 2025 Visit Rainbow Mountains Stay in Cusco August 24, 2025 Flight Cusco – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 25, 2025 Flight Lima – Canada

Option 3 August 14, 2025 Flight Canada – Lima Bus Lima – Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 15, 2025 Visit Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 16, 2025 Visit Paracas Stay in Paracas August 17, 2025 Bus Paracas – Lima Flight Lima – Cusco Stay in Cusco August 18, 2025 Visit Cusco Stay in Cusco August 19, 2025 Visit Humantay Lake Stay in Cusco August 20, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Ollantaytambo August 21, 2025 Visit Machu Picchu Stay in Ollantaytambo August 22, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Cusco August 23, 2025 Visit Rainbow Mountains Stay in Cusco August 24, 2025 Flight Cusco – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 25, 2025 Flight Lima – Canada