• Around the world,  TDM,  Tips

    [Coronavirus] Tips for Travellers around the world

    Here is a post written by Bérengère M., who is a ground agent. Thank you for this kind and objective text Greetings to you travelers. As a stopover agent, I wanted to leave you a message to tell you a little bit about the returns we have from airlines/countries. To begin, please understand that the situation is REALLY very complicated. Updates are permanent for all countries in the world. A passport of any origin (but especially Chinese or European) can be refused overnight in any country. Even TRANSIT through an airport can be impossible ! Borders / airports are closing more and more. Most Visa applications are now impossible depending…

  • Belgium,  Europe,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Brussels: the most beautiful city in Belgium – Road Trip in Belgium (5/5)

    I’ve been to Brussels at least twice – but each time I forget what she looks like. I think that documenting my stay on the blog – at last – will help me remember this city better. Note: this article is part of a series of blog posts about my road trip in Belgium. You can access the other parts here : 1st part, 2nd part, 3rd part, 4thpart Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary I don’t know why the other two times, my visit to Brussels didn’t really make an impression on me. Whereas this time, I feel like looking at it through…

  • Belgium,  Europe,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Antwerp: the City of Diamonds & Printing Museum – Road trip in Belgium 4/5

    It is a mistake to think that diamonds in Antwerp are cheaper than elsewhere. If the centuries-old diamond district is the home of thousands of diamond merchants, cutters and polishers, buying a diamond in Antwerp means having more choice – but not necessarily paying less. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Train Ghent – Antwerp After half a day visiting Ghent, we take the train back to Antwerp. If we chose to spend 2 nights in Antwerp, it’s because I couldn’t find an economical hotel in Ghent for 3. So we opt for an Airbnb (a private room with shared WC and bathroom) in…

  • Asia,  TDM,  Tips,  Vietnam

    News: Vietnam and Coronavirus: Drastic measures & Quarantine

    Updated : 16/03/2020 To give a bit of info about Vietnam, since I am Vietnamese and read the articles in Vietnamese. On the French forums, I am told about “drastic measures” in Vietnam at the moment – without knowing the reason. So I’m going to bring you more information because you won’t necessarily find it in French. On March 2, 2020, while the country was no longer registering new cases, a Vietnamese woman carrying the virus returned to Vietnam (case n°17) – after having travelled through Italy, France and England(source en fr). After trying to hide her itinerary and trying to hide at home, she had to be hospitalized on…

  • Belgium,  Europe,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    A day in Ghent: Castle of the Counts & medieval churches – Road trip in Belgium 3/5

    On the way to Antwerp, we decide to spend half a day in Ghent. We don’t sleep there because I couldn’t find cheap hotels for the three of us (my girlfriend M., her 5 year old son and I travel together). This half-day really made us want to go back another time, under the sun if possible 🙂 Note: this post is part of a series of blog posts about our road trip in Belgium. I invite you to read the previous articles: 1st part, 2nd part here Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Train Bruges – Ghent Trains leave regularly from Bruges train…

  • Belgium,  Europe,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    One Day in Bruges / Brugge: canals, cobbled streets & medieval buildings – Road trip in Belgium 2/5

    After 3 days of rest and chit chat in Mons with my best friend M., we are getting ready to spend 4 days together, travelling around Belgium by train. There will be 3 of us: M., his 5 years old son and me. It’s the first time that we travel together somewhere else than Paris and the little boy is very excited to sleep for the first time in a hotel. Our first destination will be Bruges. Note : this article is part of the series of blog articles “Road Trip in Belgium”, to read the 1st part, click here Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1:…

  • Belgium,  Europe,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    One Day in Mons, city of the 3 UNESCO heritages: Road trip in Belgium 1/5

    I don’t know if you knew it but we came back to Europe because of the cancellation of our plane ticket to Vietnam. As the tickets to Asia are too expensive, we decided to come back to Europe and spend some time with family and friends. My best friend lives in Belgium, in Mons to be precise. And I take the opportunity to come and visit her, to visit Belgium with her, to visit Germany on my own. During these 3 weeks, JB will travel all over France to see his family again and participate in two events (which will themselves be cancelled because of the coronavirus…). That’s how I…

  • America,  TDM,  Travel Journal,  USA

    7h stopover in Las Vegas (United States): a Giant Amusement Park

    To make Mexico City – Paris, JB found an atypical but economical and interesting route: Mexico City – Las Vegas – Paris with a 7h stopover in Las Vegas. At the beginning, I just wanted to rest quietly in one of the lounges at the airport (because we have the Priority Pass with the American Express), but JB encouraged me and convinced me to go out and visit the city a bit. I admit that I had a rather negative preconception of Las Vegas, but after a few hours of stopover there, I changed my mind. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary The arrival…

  • America,  Mexico,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Pyramids of the Sun and Moon in Teotihuacán (Mexico)

    Here is a great short travel notebook to quickly show you the pyramids we saw in Teotihuacán. Along with Palenque, Calakmul and Uxmal, these pyramids are among my favorites in Mexico. Once one ofthe largest cities in Mesoamerica, Teotihuacán is only an hour from Mexico City. The Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and the Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon) dominate the remains of the ancient metropolis, which, even after its fall in the 8th century, remained for a long time a place of pilgrimage for the Aztec royalty. Today, it attracts a crowd eager to soak up the mystical energies that are supposed to converge…

  • America,  Mexico,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Visit of two former mining towns: Tlalpujahua and El Oro (Mexico): Travel Diary #2

    In the previous travel diary, we were in Sierra Chincua to see monarch butterflies. We then took a truck to go to Tlalpujahua, a magico pueblo next door. It’s an old mining town, also known for its handicrafts: blown glass balls make it the town where it’s Christmas all year round. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Workshop: Fabrica De Esferas Fimave Despite the late arrival, we arrived in time to visit a workshop for the production of blown glass balls – with a live demo. The tools are simplistic, there is no protection (for eyes or hands) but the craftsman’s dexterity is undeniable.…