• Europe,  France,  Paris,  Storytime,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    [story time] Becoming a Host Family for a Cat Association, my return from experience

    Christmas is approaching and this is the period when associations receive the most requests for adoption… to give a cat or a dog as a gift. Every day, I see on my Facebook “such and such an association no longer accepts adoption requests before Christmas. Animals aren’t objects. Do not offer animals for Christmas etc.” Having been part of a cat rescue association for more than 3 years, I totally agree with this speech. You don’t give away an animal. We adopt it! I will reveal to you behind the scenes and tell you about my own experience as a foster family for a cat protection association. Well, if you…

  • Around the world,  Budget,  Our Itinerary,  Preparations,  TDM

    Total transport budget Round the world 2017 – 2020 – 29 countries crossed in 3 years

    For the 1st round-the-world trip, I have listed all the transportation costs between cities/countries of the 21 countries here.For this 2nd round, I will do the same thing. I hope that it will help you to organize our trip and/or estimate your transportation budget as accurately as possible. You will see below some actual costs The estimated cost is 6000€/person to cross 29 countries, at a cruising pace (1 month/country minimum, and little travel within each country because we have to work instead of being unemployed as before). Here is the final list of countriesUpdate: March 2020 Poland – Czech Republic – Austria (short stay) – Hungary – Romania –…

  • America,  Around the world,  During the World Tour,  El Salvador,  TDM,  Tips

    Shuttle between Concepcion de Ataco (El Salvador) and Antigua (Guatemala)

    Last week, we took a shuttle between Concepcion de Ataco and Antigua. I’ll tell you how it happened. We booked the trip on a whim the same day and we contacted gekkotrailsexplorer.com in a hurry on Whatsapp. They confirm very quickly that there are still 2 places available. Then I have to: either make the reservation directly on the site and pay a deposit with PayPal (10$/person) either give the info via Whatsapp and I receive an email with a link to pay the deposit via PayPal (10$/person) The appointment is taken and at 1:30 pm, a driver comes to pick us up and drop us off at a service…

  • America,  Guatemala,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Antigua (Guatemala): Fuego volcano erupting & Hobbitenango

    In the previous episode, we were quiet in El Salvador where we were supposed to stay for another week when we heard about the Fuego Volcano in Guatemala, on the verge of eruption. Neither one nor two, we gathered our things and left ASAP in Guatemala, precisely in Antigua. Part 1: Travel Diary Part2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary How to get there? Concepcion de Ataco – Antigua We simply went through gekkotrailsexplorer.com. Given the urgent departure, I contacted them via Whatsapp at 9:30 am, everything was settled in an hour: the deposit via PayPal, appointment taken at 1:30 pm to take a private car to a gas station…

  • America,  Around the world,  During the World Tour,  Guatemala

    Prepaid 4G SIM card in Guatemala: How much does it cost? Where to buy it? What speed? Speedtest (2020)

    As we arrive in Guatemala, I continue to use my SIM card purchased in El Salvador (a SIM card that you purchase in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras or Guatemala will be usable in each of these countries). However, Anh’s offer has expired, so we are looking for a SIM card for him. Buy a SIM card at the airport Having arrived by land, we couldn’t take note of the tourist offers proposed at the airport. If you have any information, do not hesitate to share it as a comment. Buy a SIM card in the city As everywhere in Central America, it is very easy to find a place…

  • America,  Around the world,  Country Guides,  During the World Tour,  El Salvador,  Our Itinerary,  TDM,  Tips

    [Travel Guide] Itinerary 8 days in El Salvador: Budget, Transport, Digital Nomad in El Salvador

    We just spent a week in El Salvador and fell in love with this beautiful country. The landscapes are beautiful, everything is green, easily accessible, the people are very nice. We don’t really understand why a bad reputation sticks to it, because we onlyhave good things to say about El Salvador. Why go to El Salvador? Because you will be the only tourist in the village. Quite simply. The trip becomes much more interesting all of a sudden. What about security in El Salvador? Despite the highest rate of intentional homicide in the world, the crimes are mainly committed by gangs (or victims of gangs who refuse to pay a…

  • Around the world,  During the World Tour,  TDM

    Orbitz Test: Cancellable Aircraft Tickets for Proof of Exit from Territory

    As you may know, some countries require travellers to have proof of exit from the country. It is usually the airlines, at check-in, who are responsible for checking that you have an exit ticket. Not being aware of it, we were almost prevented from taking our flight from Hong Kong to Manila, we had to buy an emergency exit ticket, otherwise we stayed at the airport. Since then, we have been using an airline ticket rental service. This service works very well but costs $12 per person. I recently discovered a 100% free solution: Orbitz. Orbitz is an online travel agency, a subsidiary of Expedia that allows you to book…

  • America,  Around the world,  During the World Tour,  El Salvador,  Tips

    [Transport] Bus San Salvador – Concepcion de Ataco: Fares & Bus Terminals

    There are two ways to get from San Salvador to Concepcion de Ataco. Both routes require a change of bus. 1st method: San Salvador – Sonsonate – Concepcion de Ataco This method is longer but the advantage is that the changeover to Sonsonate is done in the same bus terminal. From Terminal Occidente in San Salvador, take a bus to Sonsonate (the route in question is called Ruta 205). There are several types of buses. Choose the servicio especial buses ($1.30) that have a luggage compartment. These buses leave on time. Hours: every 20 minutes, between 5:20 am and 7:20 pmDuration:1h30Rates:$1.30 From the same terminal, take a bus that looks…

  • America,  El Salvador,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Concepción de Ataco on the Route of Flowers, Santa Teresa & Santa Ana Thermal Waters (El Salvador)

    After a weekend visiting San Salvador, we are back on the road to Concepción de Ataco, located on the Route of Flowers. The Route of Flow ers includes several small villages, and the name comes from the wild flowers we see on the road, not from the flowers in the villages. Concepcion de Ataco is the most beautiful village on the Flower Route. Having to be in Mexico for Christmas, we don’t have much time left. We’re in the rhythm of Round the World Tour and not Digital Nomad, we only stay a few days in Concepción de Ataco to work, before moving again. Part 1: Travel Diary Part2: Practical…

  • America,  El Salvador,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    2 days in San Salvador: Old Town & Volcano of El Salvador, El Boqueron Park

    After a month in Nicaragua, we take an international bus from Leon to San Salvador (more details here). The trip is very long but at least the seats are comfortable and the border crossing (Nicaragua – Honduras – El Salvador) is rather smooth. We hesitated a lot to stay a little longer in Nicaragua, but we thought it would be better, even if we were there, to visit as many Central American countries as possible. These countries are so geopolitically unstable that it only takes a little trick to make them inaccessible for months or even years. Instead of going directly to one of the beaches of El Salvador, like…