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Thorn Tree Forum

Departure Lounge

Share your travel information, advice, hints and tips. Please choose from one of the countries or regions below.

Number of topics
Branches
12,414

Africa

Looking for a latte in Lesotho or a truckin' good transcontinental time

1,433

Americas - Canada

Maple leaves and Mounties, Tim Hortons' and hockey, Hollywood North and more shoreline than the Caribbean

1,215

Americas - Caribbean

Fun, sun and sand in your shorts

5,971

Americas - Central America

From the cloud forests to the blue holes

1,852

Americas - Cuba

It's more than just cigars, rum and old cars

2,415

Americas - Mexico

Akumal to Zipolite, Aztecs to Zapatistas.. y tequila!

12,986

Americas - South America

Supplement your Shoestring with the word from the road

5,135

Americas - United States of America

From sea to shining sea

1,848

Asia - Central Asia

Here a 'stan, there a 'stan, everywhere a 'stan 'stan

11,733

Asia - Indian Subcontinent

Not only elephants, snake charmers, price rises, immodium and curry in a hurry

7,889

Asia - North-East Asia

From teaching in Tokyo to travelling through Tibet

9,177

Asia - South-East Asia Islands & Peninsula

Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore

9,577

Asia - South-East Asia Mainland

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam

6,966

Asia - Thailand

The lowdown on the land of smiles

4,077

Australasia & Pacific - Australia, New Zealand & Antarctica

Do they speak English? Is there a bridge to NZ? Are kangaroos poisonous?

862

Australasia & Pacific - Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

Sun-drenched beaches, swaying palms, rising ocean levels...

9,198

Europe - Eastern Europe & the Caucasus

Czech out all the vital info

1,981

Europe - Scandinavia & the Nordics

Fjords and hiking, meet some Vikings - Nordic Europe will be to your likings!

2,509

Europe - UK & Ireland

Two islands, infinite opportunities, all on one branch

13,158

Europe - Western Europe

Bacalhau to bratwurst, frites to zabaglione - Also, there's art

4,128

Middle East

...and does anyone know about that Israeli passport stamp

Recent threads in this category:

May 22, 2013 10:31 AM
Realmccoyone

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:37 AM
StripeG1

9 replies
459 views


Roads - Pilon - Granma

TERRIBLE - BOTH PILON CITY AND AREA.

May 23, 2013 9:59 PM
twiddleedee

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:36 AM
enroutesiglo

3 replies
61 views


unds

thanks Connerwatts,for the helpful reply,sounds pretty cool to me,anyone else have a hotel suggestion,travelling solo,thanks

May 24, 2013 5:27 AM
wendysy

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:36 AM
asean2011

7 replies
78 views
location: Philippines

TRANSIT FROM NAIA TERMINAL 1 TO TERMINAL 3

Will be arriving Manila by jetstar asia at 9.55am terminal 1, need to catch connecting flights to Tagbillaran by Air asia
at 1.30pm at terminal 3.

As we will be travelling together with elderly , please advise on how to easily transit from terminal 1 to terminal 3
and also 3.5 hours, will it be enough times to be able to catch the connecting flight.

thank you

May 23, 2013 12:33 AM
tara_whitfield

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:35 AM
prevajalka

7 replies
162 views


Please critique my Central/Eastern Europe Itinerary

Hello,

This summer my husband and I will be backpacking around Central Europe (Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, and back to Austria). Our plane tickets are booked from July 2nd to September 5th, which gives us a little over 2 months.

My interests include ancient sites, architecture, and art, while my husband enjoys the outdoors and relaxing. I've tried to mix the two, and while it seems like a lot, the only place I think I will feel rushed is in Greece, but I'm ok with that. It is worth it to me to be able to see all the sites. We are both young and athletic.

We are flying into and out of Vienna and plan on using public transport, staying in hostels and camping, and eating like locals.

I have already subtracted the time spent for traveling, so these times are for purely exploring the cities.
Please let me know if... more »

May 23, 2013 10:30 AM
regards

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:33 AM
mike9

9 replies
182 views


How to post a thread if you cannot?

Maybe somebody knows or maybe even the mods can help (if they have the time for). There are members here who, after the last reopening of TT cannot write in here even if they used their old and new account. A second question: Why I need to sign in each time I open this site?
Thanks for any help.

May 16, 2013 8:52 PM
Tlynn_Traveler

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:32 AM
dollyd

4 replies
209 views
location: Nicaragua

Windsurfing in Nicaragua

Just wondering if anyone has gone windsurfing in Nicaragua, and if so where and were they able to rent the equipment etc. I tried searching online but wasn't able to come up with anything useful.

Cheers

May 23, 2013 11:07 AM
connerg

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:31 AM
StripeG1

6 replies
170 views


Cubas tourism strategy

PROGRESO WEEKLY
Cuban tourism and its future challenges
Published on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 07:26

By Lenier González Mederos

HAVANA – The emblematic beach at Varadero, Cuba's premier resort, hosted the 33rd International Tourism Fair (FitCuba2013) May 7 to 11. The grand event, at the Plaza América Convention Center, featured Brazil as its guest country and invited representatives from 53 countries to its 40 display stands.

Present were tour operators, airline officials, and more than 100 journalists and tourism specialists, among them several tourism ministers. The presence of Brazil's Tourism Minister Gastão Vieira should be highlighted.

The event, more than just a routine annual event, has become a gauge that allows us to predict the future of Cuba's tourism sector, successfully managed during the 1990s after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the arrival of th... more »

May 23, 2013 3:21 AM
artemis2

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:31 AM
Mrs_Trellis

21 replies
356 views


Pages 1 2

GeoGuessr - something fun to do

I wanted to share this with you, even though it is not related to this branch specifically as it is worldwide.

http://www.geoguessr.com

May 24, 2013 7:29 AM
lovesea

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:29 AM
lovesea

0 replies
9 views
location: Maldives

So Much More than Just a Surf Charter

110 feet of opulent luxury, Ocean Divine offers fantastic facilities for both surfers and non-surfers. Owned and operated by Frenchman David Mesnard, himself a scuba diver and keen surfer, and assisted by a highly professional full-time experienced crew that includes a live-aboard masseuse and top level chef, your life aboard Ocean Divine will be an experience never to be forgotten. Let's visit Maldives

May 23, 2013 3:15 PM
adonis_abril

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:28 AM
anillos_de_satu...

4 replies
93 views


Europe via leased Car

Hi Guys,

I'm leasing a car through Renault USA for about 160 days and driving through Europe. Since I'm insanely spur of the moment spontaneous type, I haven't developed a detailed itinerary. I'm picking up the car on Jul 17th in Paris and returning it Dec 20th at the same spot. Now, from Paris I can make my way north towards Poland and then go south towards the mediterranean or I can go south first and head down to Spain/Portugal. I'd like to be able to cover Italy, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Austria, and Turkey at the very least. Your opinions and suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Adonis V.

May 23, 2013 2:28 PM
myrataylor

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:26 AM
anillos_de_satu...

9 replies
174 views
location: Spain

Quickest way from Valencia to Carcasonne

I'm looking for some advice - I want to go from Valencia to Carcasonne the quickest, most comfortable way possible. I want to leave Valencia on a sat morning and get to Carcasonne as son as I can the same day. Ive done a bit of research and flight don't seems to work. Train from Valencia to Narbonne seems to be the best option and then change train to get from Narbonne to Carcasonne. I don't fancy the bus for such a long trip but maybe from Narbonne to Carcasonne if times were better - I cant seem to find a bus from Narbonne to Carcasonne.

Thanks in advance for any help.

May 17, 2013 11:42 AM
needadvice101

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:25 AM
Liberat

9 replies
248 views
location: Spain

2 weeks from Barcelona to Porto

Hey all, wanted to ask for some tips in planning my trip. Before someone tells me it's a lot in 2 weeks, please know that the ticket is already purchased (it was much cheaper) and we will have to deal with it.

We arrive at noon in Barcelona on a Saturday, we have 16 daysm so my preliminary planning is as follow:

  • 3 nights in Barcelona. Fly to Seville on Tuesday evening.

  • 2 nights in Seville, bus to Granada on Thursday evening.

  • 2 nights in Granada, Alhambra on Friday, bus/train to Madrid on Saturday morning.

  • 3 nights in Madrid (one side trip to either Segovia or Toledo), flight to Lisbon on Tuesday morning.

  • 3 nights in Lisbon, bus to Porto on Friday.

  • 3 nights in Porto, then fly out on the Monday.

Any thoughts and recommendations on how the days are allocated for each city? Any good restaurants to try? What are good side trips for Barcelona (if we have... more »

May 23, 2013 2:05 AM
ach2

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:25 AM
Heridotus

9 replies
221 views
location: India

Wifi and Ladakhi Treks

Hello
Finally doing a trip of a lifetime..having spent 9 months in the himalayas over twenty years ago now I am taking my daughter out to show how the wonders (and sometimes pains) of India. We travelling on a budget unfortunately and was wondering wethar its worth taking a laptop. My daughter would like to start blogging and posting pictures so would like toknow wethar wifi is available in budget accomodation. Were possibly travelling up from Amritsar to Srinigar-Leh-Manali-Dharamsala-Delhi. Or would it just be better to use the internet cafes?
And is it possible to do Independent treks up in Ladakh or Spitti? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks
ACH

May 23, 2013 5:28 PM
jayeonthrontree

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:24 AM
ref_traveller

2 replies
47 views


Camping in Quebec

Planning to camp our way all across Quebec from Gatineau to Labrador City. I have the regional tourist guides from the Province of Quebec and have been on their camping website too.

But I am confused. They have a 5-star ranking system, but it doesn't really answer the question that is most important to us - and that's "What's the mood of this campground". I'm feeling that a Quebec '5-star' campground means more 'amenities' (and noise) and less nature and quiet. But maybe I'm wrong?

In the USA, we can look for 'public' rather than 'private' and that pretty much eliminates the places with mini-golf, playgrounds, and so on.

But in Quebec?

May 23, 2013 11:58 PM
drumbrake

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:22 AM
drumbrake

3 replies
62 views
location: China

English Teaching Assistant in China

Not for me, but for a younger relative, who is thinking of being a English teaching assistant in China for a few months during her gap year.

Does anyone have information about this? I think her family would prefer something organised and legit - does the British Council or similar organisations do anything like that? I'm concerned about private companies who will charge a large fee, and then basically stick her in a class or 40+ kids as the actual teacher rather than the assistant.

So, if anyone has done this type of job, or has any extra information it would be appreciated.

 
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