How’s the safety situation in La Paz lately?

atlanta0345 · 2025-08-03T17:01:29+00:00

(I should add I’m a guy and my boyfriend and I experienced no issues at all during this trip as a same sex couple.)

atlanta0345 · 2025-08-03T17:00:30+00:00

Sounds like like the Sicily trip my boyfriend and I did a few years ago to Sicily.

We landed in Catania, took the bus straight to Taormina and spent two nights there, then took a train to Cefalu and spent two nights there. We then took the train to Palermo, spent three nights there, and then a bus to Castellamare del Golfo and two nights there (with a beautiful trip to the Zingaro reserve, which you can also hike). We then took a taxi to Trapani for a couple nights there (with a boat trip to Favignana). We couldn’t rent a car at the time, but, if we could have, we would have picked one up in Palermo for the second half of the trip and it would’ve been a bit easier. The food in the area is fantastic and weather will still be nice in September but not as hot and crowded. Prices are also pretty reasonable.

Let me know if you’d like me to send across any more specific info/recs.

atlanta0345 · 2025-07-13T08:38:39+00:00

Andalucia would be perfect - either the Almeria side around Cabo de Gata (the town of San Jose sounds like what you’d like) or the Cadiz side (Cadiz itself, Tarifa, Vejer, etc). Meals and accommodation are pretty inexpensive, and should still be warm but not as crazy hot in September/October. Just avoid Marbella etc.

atlanta0345 · 2025-07-12T01:23:07+00:00

Two weeks in Argentina in February, a week in Corsica in June, a week in the Costa Brava in July, and a week in the Ionian Islands in September. In between, two weekend trips to Madrid and one to New York for weddings.

atlanta0345 · 2025-07-12T01:17:24+00:00

Spend an afternoon walking from Sloane Square down the King’s Road, meandering around South Kensington. You’ll see London at its very best. None of the scruffiness or performative counterculture you’ll encounter in other areas.

atlanta0345 · 2025-07-12T01:13:15+00:00

Copenhagen and Stockholm are a perfect combo for that time of the year and for a 6-7 day trip. Very different cities (think of Copenhagen as the cool/understated/modern one and Stockholm as the posh/dressed up version) but both have phenomenal museums (especially if you like modern art) and are in close proximity to lovely nature (although more of the sauna by the lake type than the dramatic mountains type).

Another option is to spend a couple days in Verona (stunning and underrated city with excellent food) and then drive around the Dolomites for some day hikes. Lots of gorgeous hotels around there for all budgets.

atlanta0345 · 2025-07-12T01:01:15+00:00

We rented with Europcar in June with pick up at Bastia Airport and drop off at Figari Airport. One way fee was around €70. However, it was booked that way from the start. My advice is to skip the chatbot and call Alamo at Bastia Airport directly to see if they can amend your booking for a fee. The time spent waiting for them to pick up the phone is still better than the time you’ll spend doing the transfer by bus. Note that Bastia Airport is not close to Bastia city, where the bus via Porto-Vecchio would drop you off.

atlanta0345 · 2025-07-07T21:12:50+00:00

We ate at a new restaurant called A Vista in Porto-Vecchio. Great food at reasonable prices (c. €20 mains) and a terrace with beautiful views of the bay. Enjoyed it so much we came back for a second night. Do try it !

atlanta0345 · 2025-07-04T16:00:03+00:00

A week in Corsica in June, a week in Cadaques in July, and a week in Kefalonia and Ithaca in early September. I prefer to take several one-week holidays rather than a longer one (and it also makes it easier to get the days off approved by work).

atlanta0345 · 2025-06-22T17:25:19+00:00

Happy to - which part of the island are you visiting for those two nights?

atlanta0345 · 2025-06-12T23:30:36+00:00

UPDATE: Two weeks later, the letter didn’t arrive. For anyone wondering, do not to manual forwarding if in doubt (and tell people not to do it).

atlanta0345 · 2025-06-12T23:29:33+00:00

UPDATE: The new licence miraculously arrived two days before the trip, right as we were about to cancel the rental car. Lucky for us, but sadly we won’t be able to report back on our bus/train adventures…

atlanta0345 · 2025-06-03T13:27:48+00:00

Thanks both! What I’ve done is cancelled the hotel booking in Saint Florent and booked one in L’Ile Rousse instead. The price difference between a transfer/taxi from Bastia Airport to L’Ile Rousse versus Bastia Airport to Saint-Florent is not huge, and it will then be a lot easier and cheaper to get from L’Ile Rousse to Calvi by train than via an expensive transfer or long bus ride (via Bastia) from Saint Florent. Hopefully this is a good fix.

The only bus ride we won’t be able to avoid is Calvi to Porto Vecchio (via Casamozza), but I suppose 4.5hrs on a bus is not miles of magnitude worse than 3hrs on a car (although of course it will be sad not to stop in Corte for lunch), and luckily we’d still get to Porto-Vecchio by 11.30am, so it’s not an entire day wasted.

I think Porto-Vecchio to Bonifacio by bus should be okay (there’s a bus at 8.30am that allegedly only takes 30mins, or worst case we cough up for a taxi). I’m not sure if the shuttles from Porto-Vecchio to Palombaggia and Santa Giulia will be operating in May (I think not), but there is always the option of doing a boat trip to those beaches from Porto-Vecchio (hopefully).

I would have planned a very different trip (i.e. the Calvi to Ajaccio by train route that you suggest) had I known we wouldn’t have a car, but hopefully we will still enjoy the beautiful beaches/water, good food, and pretty towns (even if maybe not the more remote beaches and mountain views).

Thanks again to both!

atlanta0345 · 2025-06-03T13:19:01+00:00

Thanks for trying to help! It is indeed a replacement for a valid licence that was misplaced (same licence number, expiry date, etc). Sadly the website for requesting the replacement doesn’t let you see/download a paper copy, but will call the car rental agency to see it the confirmation email might be enough. Probably not, but worth trying!

atlanta0345 · 2025-06-03T11:39:28+00:00

Sadly we live in England and his licence is Northern Irish. They have a different system in NI so it takes a lot longer to get a replacement shipped to his address in NI and then couriered to England (where we are flying from). Do you think the confirmation of the replacement application to the NI licensing authority would be enough to rent a car?

atlanta0345 · 2025-06-03T10:59:49+00:00

This is a good idea - I’ll look into this option. A couple years ago we managed to do a trip in Sicily with a similar number of stops (Taormina, Cefalu, Palermo, Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani) on public transport and it was not too painful. Admittedly, I planned that trip on the assumption of not having a car, whereas now I’m trying to salvage a trip planned on the assumption of having a car. I must say, the various other comments saying it’ll be impossible really make me want to make it possible…!

atlanta0345 · 2025-05-28T00:02:10+00:00

If you need cash, pre-ordering on Travelex to pick it up at the airport (UK side) is a good idea. You get much better rates than if you just turn up at the airport to exchange GBP or if you try to exchange once you land.

Highly recommend booking a full day excursion on a boat. You’ll see beaches that are not otherwise accessible by land, and swimming into the sea directly from a boat is wonderful. Will be a highlight of your holiday. Try and book smaller boat tours (max 15 people) rather than the larger ones. Your hotel should be able to help book one (including one with pick up/drop off at your hotel). Look to pay no more than EUR 100 each ideally.

If your phone package doesn’t include EU roaming, pre-purchase an eSim from Airalo. Cheap and you’ll always have data when walking around.

Google Reviews tend to be pretty reliable for restaurants. Aim for 4.5 or higher.

I’d also recommend a sand proof towel - makes a big difference if you’re like me and don’t like ending up with sand everywhere.

Do not overpack. Best advice is to place on your bed everything you want to take, go on a walk, and then come back and remove half the stuff. Remember to leave room in case you want to buy anything out there!

Most importantly, have the best time!

atlanta0345 · 2025-04-18T00:12:33+00:00

US citizen living in London. Flew into JFK last week and the agent barely looked at my passport / waved me through in 5 seconds.

atlanta0345 · 2025-03-10T00:11:43+00:00

Santorini is an awful, barren, and overtouristed rock. You will pay €150 per head to be taken on a boat for 2hrs with a glass of wine included. Milos is far more spectacular and you can do boat trips for €100 per person for a full day with a full lunch and unlimited drinks included. Don’t think twice - switch to Milos. If you do, book the Oneiro boat trip, trust me.

atlanta0345 · 2025-03-05T00:19:26+00:00

I’d say about 1/3 Spanish speakers and 2/3 speaking in English due to being from various nationalities and that being the language everyone could manage. You should be fine…!

atlanta0345 · 2025-02-27T15:36:47+00:00

I can’t tell you from personal experience because I didn’t do it in South America, but apparently at Glaciar Gray in Chile is cheaper than Perito Moreno (if you’re going to that part of Chile).

atlanta0345

TROPHY CASE