Africa

We get it—you’ve been staring at those epic savanna photos for ages, but the fear of a massive airfare bill has kept you grounded. It’s time to break that cycle, because we’re here to help you snag cheap flights to Tanzania so you can finally trade your daily routine for a sunrise safari in the Serengeti. Whether your goal is to conquer the towering heights of Mount Kilimanjaro or kick back on the sun-drenched beaches of Zanzibar, we’re constantly hunting down the best Tanzania flight deals to make it happen without draining your savings. Start packing your bags; the adventure of a lifetime is much more affordable than you think.

These are some of the cheapest bag-inclusive fares we’ve seen in years!

Amsterdam

If you’re still picturing the Netherlands as just one giant postcard of windmills and wooden shoes, you’re missing out on one of Europe’s most dynamic corners. This is the place where historic canal-side cycling meets cutting-edge urban design and a bar culture that’s second to none. We’re scouting the routes to land you the best Netherlands flight deals, whether you’re plotting a culture-heavy weekend in Amsterdam, exploring the industrial cool of Rotterdam, or getting lost in the medieval charm of Utrecht. Don’t just scroll through photos—book the cheap flights to the Netherlands and find out why this place is so much more than just the stereotypes.

Netherlands

This is the place where historic canal-side cycling meets cutting-edge urban design and a bar culture that’s second to none.

New Delhi

India isn't just the chaotic, colourful, and curry-fuelled whirlwind you see on postcards—it’s a continent packed into a country, and we’re here to help you get there without emptying your travel fund. Forget paying full price for your flights to India; whether you’re chasing non-stop trips to Mumbai (the Gateway of India), searching for soul-stirring moments in the shadow of the Taj Mahal, or mapping out a chaotic country road trip for the ages, we curate the best India flight deals and travel guides. Our navigators are on the hunt for the genuinely good value airfare that unlocks the magic of the subcontinent, giving you the insider tips you need to book smarter, bolder, and cheaper.

India

India isn't just the chaotic, colourful, and curry-fuelled whirlwind you see on postcards—it’s a continent packed into a country, and we’re here to help you get there without emptying your travel fund.

Kochi

Chennai

Frankfurt

Think Germany is just giant steins of beer and lederhosen? You’re missing the actual vibe—which is surprisingly modern, rugged, and full of insane art scenes. From the techno basements of Berlin to the fairy-tale castles of Bavaria, this is a country that thrives on variety, and we’re on the hunt for the best cheap flights to Germany to help you explore it all. Why settle for expensive, last-minute fares when you could be sipping Riesling in the Mosel Valley for half the cost?

Germany

From the techno basements of Berlin to the fairy-tale castles of Bavaria, this is a country that thrives on variety.

Bengaluru

Zanzibar

Tanzania

Whether your goal is to conquer the towering heights of Mount Kilimanjaro or kick back on the sun-drenched beaches of Zanzibar, we’ve got you covered.

Mumbai

Dar es Salaam

Munich

Paris Charles de Gaulle

France isn't just about Eiffel Tower selfies; it’s a country that deserves a serious deep dive without the pretension—or the heavy price tag. We’re here to help you snag cheap flights to France so you can spend less on airfare and more on what actually matters: endless glasses of Bordeaux, buttery croissants, and authentic French food. Whether you’re planning a culture binge in the romantic streets of Paris, hunting for sunshine along the French Riviera, or wandering through the vineyard-lined hills of Provence, we’ve got the insider intelligence to get you there for less.

France

We’re here to help you snag cheap flights to France so you can spend less on airfare and more on what actually matters: endless glasses of Bordeaux, buttery croissants, and authentic French food.

India & Tanzania 🌴 in €390s-€550s rtn 

London Heathrow

Forget the stereotype that England is nothing but endless gray drizzle, overpriced tourist traps in London, and people obsessing over the weather. We’re here to help you get past the postcard clichés and uncover the real magic, from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the moody peaks of the Lake District to the buzzing, eclectic streets of Manchester. We’re always hunting down the best England flight deals so you can save your cash for the actual essentials—like proper pub grub and a decent pint. This is your insider’s guide to booking cheap flights to England, and proving that the best of the UK is well within reach if you know how to search for it.

England

We’re here to help you get past the postcard clichés and uncover the real magic, from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the moody peaks of the Lake District to the buzzing, eclectic streets of Manchester.

Thiruvananthapuram

India & Tanzania 🌴 in £430s-£540s rtn

We've got plenty of beautiful islands for you today!

Brussels

It’s rare to find a country that packs so much culture into such a travel-sized package, yet Belgium remains one of Europe’s most underrated escapes. Whether you’re nursing a legendary Trappist ale in a Brussels tavern, getting lost in the storybook canals of Bruges, or soaking up the historic, edgy energy of Ghent, you’re doing it all in one of the most accessible corners of the continent. We’re obsessively tracking the best Belgium flight deals to make sure you get there for less, leaving you more of your travel budget to spend on moules-frites and local chocolate. Skip the high-priced travel packages, secure your cheap flights to Belgium, and discover why this compact gem is punching way above its weight class.

Belgium

It’s rare to find a country that packs so much culture into such a travel-sized package, yet Belgium remains one of Europe’s most underrated escapes.

Copenhagen

Denmark is far more than just sleek architecture and an obsession with bike lanes—it’s an effortless blend of Scandi-cool design, cosy hygge culture, and historic harbour cities that don't need to shout to be impressive. Whether you’re planning a weekend of design-spotting in Copenhagen, exploring the ancient, cobbled streets of Aarhus, or chasing music festival highs in Roskilde, we’re constantly tracking the best Denmark flight deals to get you there for a bargain. Stop overpaying, snag some cheap flights to Denmark, and find out why this corner of Scandinavia is worth far more than just a quick layover.

Denmark

Denmark is far more than just sleek architecture and an obsession with bike lanes—it’s an effortless blend of Scandi-cool design, cosy hygge culture, and historic harbour cities that don't need to shout to be impressive.

Dusseldorf

Zanzibar 🏝️ in €2800s-€4000s rtn

The ultimate African island itinerary for the best beach + safari balance...

Manchester

Zanzibar 🪁 in £1300s-£1600s rtn

Vancouver

Forget everything you thought you knew about Canada being a polite, freezing expanse. This place is seriously epic, stretching from Vancouver's gorgeous coastline and the towering Rockies right over to the hip coffee shops of Montreal and the rugged East Coast. 
The only problem? It’s massive. Luckily, this is where we step in. We find those great-value Canada Flights that prove you can tackle this stunning country without turning your bank account into a frozen wasteland.
Whether you're flying in from overseas or grabbing a domestic flight for a quick poutine run, our in-house Canadian crew is here to lend their expertise. So stop guessing when to book and where to go: our guides are your secret weapon for getting the most bang for your loonie, eh!

Canada

Forget everything you thought you knew about Canada being a polite, freezing expanse. This place is seriously epic, stretching from Vancouver's gorgeous coastline and the towering Rockies right over to the hip coffee shops of Montreal and the rugged East Coast.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Toronto

Montreal

Mount Kilimanjaro 🏔️ in $1700s-$1900s RT 

Soaring over Ngorongoro's emerald green crater in a prop plane is a core memory you never saw coming... 

Boston

The United States is a travel heavyweight, packing everything from dazzling skylines and buzzing neon cities to natural wonders so epic they make your camera feel inadequate. It's the land of big ideas and even bigger distances—which is precisely where Jack’s Flight Club comes in. We’re here to help you skip the seriously long bus rides and the soul-crushing flight search by finding the cheap flights for you and proving you don't need to break the bank just to cross a few time zones.
Whether you're planning a swift weekend trip to the Big Apple, a surf session on the West Coast, or a grand tour of the national parks, we've got your back. Our Navigators love sprinkling in a generous helping of insider knowledge to make your trip count—because life’s too short to pay silly money for flights you can’t even brag about.

United States

The United States is a travel heavyweight, packing everything from dazzling skylines and buzzing neon cities to natural wonders so epic they make your camera feel inadequate. It's the land of big ideas and even bigger distances.

Mount Kilimanjaro 🥾 at $1074 RT  

I'm so excited for this trip! I booked the flights as a surprise for my partners 30th birthday next year. Cannot believe how much I saved on these flights! Hoping we can do a safari and visit many of the beautiful beaches!

Postcard from Kym

Postcard from Dave

Thanks so much, I booked these flights this time last year for £170ish return to Tanzania. A trip of a lifetime! I even met other jacks clubbers in the queue for a connecting flight from Zanzibar. 
I also took advantage of the offer from Saudi Air to upgrade and got 3 out of 4 flights upgraded for £900! My first business class experience! Thank you :)

Postcard from Rebecca

Rome - Jeddah - Dar es Salaam - Jeddah - London with Saudia.
What a journey and tons of memories. 😎

Postcard from GB

It allowed me to visit Lake Natron in Tanzania, an extraordinary alkaline lake with one of the world's largest collections of flamingoos, plus I did it as a blind solo traveller! 

Postcard from Ross

Thanks. . A dream first visit to Thailand, non stop from my local airport    

Postcard from Debbie 

Portugal

Rwanda

Sweden

If you&rsquo;re looking for some inspiration on the best places to visit in June, then you&rsquo;ve come to the right place!
Summer&rsquo;s finally arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, so the temperatures are creeping up nicely, but you should still be able to avoid the peak of the summer crowds that&rsquo;ll arrive later on in the season.
Then down in the Southern Hemisphere, some countries are leaving their wet weather behind, and the sunshine is starting to appear again &mdash; aka, no emergency brolly packing!
Read through our choices of the best places to visit in June and take your pick between iconic cultural festivals across Europe, idyllic beach breaks off the African coast, and plenty more! 
<h2 dir="ltr">Porto, Portugal</h2>
Why? Festa de S&atilde;o Jo&atilde;o
Key dates: 23rd June 2027
Closest airport: Porto (OPO)
Parties, fireworks, and hitting people with plastic hammers&hellip; that&rsquo;s the S&atilde;o Jo&atilde;o Festival!&nbsp;
Each year, on the night of June 23rd (Saint John&rsquo;s Eve), the streets of Porto come alive in celebrations that date back around 700 years. All throughout the city you&rsquo;ll find concerts, dancing, and <a href="https://cantocooking.com/porto-sao-joao-festival-guide-everything-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=3.%20What%20to%20Eat%20During%20S%C3%A3o%20Jo%C3%A3o%20Festival%20in%20Porto%3A%20A%20Feast%20for%20the%20Senses">traditional dishes</a> getting grilled up right before your eyes.
And while there&rsquo;s plenty going on in the streets, the Douro River is where you&rsquo;re gonna wanna be. Once the sun sets, you&rsquo;ll get the best views of massive firework displays and locals releasing thousands of glowing lanterns into the night sky.

<h2 dir="ltr">Newfoundland, Canada</h2>
Why? Iceberg season
Key dates: Early June
Closest airport: St. John&rsquo;s (YYT)
So you&rsquo;ve heard of chasing storms and Northern Lights, but what about <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/newfoundland-coast-iceberg-alley">iceberg chasing</a>?
Iceberg Alley is a stretch of water off the coast of Newfoundland where massive icebergs drift through from Greenland each year &mdash; some are over 10,000 years old!&nbsp;
Iceberg viewing season starts in April over there, but it reaches its peak in May-June, when hundreds of travellers flock to the coast.
Of course, you might not wanna jump on a boat to see them (did you never see Titanic?!), but somewhere like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLGQwTgSfd5/">Twillingate</a>, aka the &lsquo;Iceberg Capital of the World,&rsquo; has great viewpoints (yes, on solid ground) where you&rsquo;ll see the giants gently float past you.
The aptly named <a href="http://icebergfinder.com">icebergfinder.com</a> is a great tool to help you spot them too, with live location updates and pictures from other users.

<h2 dir="ltr">Rwanda</h2>
Why? Gorilla trekking
Key dates: All month
Closest airport: Kigali (KGL)
One word: gorillas.
June is the start of the high season for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, which means you&rsquo;ll be treated to mostly dry weather and great hiking conditions. Though you may want to pack an emergency poncho; it is a tropical rainforest after all!
Now we can&rsquo;t promise you&rsquo;ll be able to get <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUXhNc0d8gU">as up close and personal as Sir David Attenborough</a>. But once you have your <a href="https://www.volcanoesnationalpark.com/rwanda-gorilla-trekking-permit/">trekking permit</a> sorted (it&rsquo;s recommended you do this well in advance), you&rsquo;ll be able to go out looking for those endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
And of course, it&rsquo;s not just animals! Nope, this park got its name because the summits of not one, not two, but&nbsp;<a href="https://rwandaecocompany.com/the-five-volcano-mountains-in-rwanda/">five dormant volcanoes</a> lie within it. Make sure you&rsquo;ve got some comfy hiking boots!

<h2 dir="ltr">Dalarna, Sweden</h2>
Why? Swedish Midsummer&nbsp;
Key dates: 25th June 2027
Closest airport: Stockholm (ARN), or &Ouml;rebro (ORB)
<a href="https://sweden.se/culture/celebrations/swedish-midsummer">Midsummer</a> is one of Sweden&rsquo;s most iconic traditions, when the country comes together to celebrate the days being at their longest by dancing around a maypole wearing flower crowns and traditional outfits.
Celebrations happen all over the country, but the <a href="https://www.visitdalarna.se/en/everything-you-need-know-about-midsummer-dalarna">Dalarna region</a> is where you wanna be. When midsummer rolls around, tens of thousands of visitors flock to small towns like Leksand to celebrate the festival. 
The world&rsquo;s biggest celebrations happen there, featuring traditional fiddlers, choirs, folk outfits, and Sweden&rsquo;s tallest maypole to ring dance around. And as for&nbsp;<a href="https://swedishness.ch/blogs/midsummer-blogs/midsummerfood">the food</a>, a dish of pickled herring and new potatoes, followed by strawberry cake for dessert, is a must.

<h2 dir="ltr">San Francisco, USA</h2>
Why? Pride
Key dates: 26th-27th June 2027
Closest airport: San Francisco (SFO)
June is Pride Month in the US, and let me tell you, <a href="https://sfpride.org/">San Francisco</a> goes all out.
This city has a lot of history surrounding the March; in 1978 Harvey Milk delivered his 'Hope' speech, and the flag we've all come to recognise was flown for the first time.
Nowadays, it&rsquo;s not America&rsquo;s biggest Pride festival (you&rsquo;ll have to head over to <a href="https://www.nycpride.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York</a> for that), but it certainly packs a punch with a massive parade travelling through the city, complete with massive floats and wildly colourful outfits.
And it&rsquo;s not just the parade to keep you busy &mdash; the city&rsquo;s iconic Civic Center becomes a hub for other festivities, with seemingly endless entertainment from singers, dancers, and drag queens who deliver on all fronts.
P.S. If you fancy a Californian road trip, you could start in&nbsp;<a href="https://lapride.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LA on their pride weekend</a>, spend 2 weeks driving through the state, and end in San Fran just in time!&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Zanzibar</h2>
Why? High season
Key dates: All month
Nearest airport: Zanzibar (ZNZ)
<a href="https://www.discoverafrica.com/safaris/zanzibar/zanzibar-in-june/">June</a> marks the start of the long dry season (through to October) in Zanzibar, which means you&rsquo;re arriving on the island just in time for bright blue skies and plenty of sunshine.
Most travellers flock here for the <a href="https://passportnomads.com/best-beaches-in-zanzibar/">idyllic beaches</a>. And with endless stretches of soft white sand and glittering blue water, we can totally see why.
But it&rsquo;s not just about the beaches. If you can bring yourself to step away from your towel (I know, it&rsquo;s hard!), you can go scuba diving, kite surfing, island hopping, wandering around&nbsp;<a href="https://annaeverywhere.com/stone-town-zanzibar/">historic Stone Town</a>, and loads more.
And if you need tips on any of the above, you&rsquo;ll find loads of advice <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jfcs-guide-to-zanzibar">in our guide to Zanzibar</a>. Tried, tested, and approved by Jack's Navigators!

The Best Places To Visit In June

Nepal

Hey there, JFC-ers,
This is the first weekend in what&rsquo;s about to be a pretty big month or so for the city of New Orleans. With the Super Bowl in town, there&rsquo;s a lot going on.&nbsp;
Some of the <a href="https://www.timeout.com/new-orleans/things-to-do/a-guide-to-super-bowl-lix-events-in-new-orleans">many celebratory events</a> lean into more classic New Orleans activities, like a seafood boil showdown, parades, and a Mardi Gras themed party. And there&rsquo;s the one I didn&rsquo;t see coming &mdash; Bourbon Street becoming <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/t-pain-bourbon-street-rum-street-captain-morgan-super-bowl-party-1235881405/">Captain Morgan&rsquo;s &lsquo;Rum Street&rsquo;</a> for the weekend.
No sooner will the big game be over than the <a href="https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/parades/">Mardi Gras parade</a> schedule starts ramping up. I&rsquo;m not just talking about the week before, either. The <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/mardi-gras/krewes/">krewes </a>begin hitting the streets as early as King&rsquo;s Day in January, dancing all the way through to Mardi Gras, aka Fat Tuesday. And after a couple of weeks&rsquo; rest, they do it all again for <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/saint-patricks-day/">St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day</a>!
Of course, there&rsquo;s more to NOLA than just parades and Mardi Gras. If, like me, you want to see more than just the bars and po-boys of the French Quarter, I can recommend heading out to the Garden District. This <a href="https://www.nolatourguy.com/free-self-guided-garden-district-walking-tour-new-orleans/">self-guided walking tour</a> led us past huge, ornate houses and cute coffee shops.&nbsp;
But as a major public transportation nerd, there&rsquo;s still one other NOLA adventure that I&rsquo;m yet to tick off the list: a <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/plan/itineraries/streetcar-itinerary/">streetcar tour</a>. On my last attempt to take one in New Orleans, we were cursed with the same fate I&rsquo;ve met the world over &mdash; the replacement bus! Guess we&rsquo;ll just have to try again!
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

We Booked the Cheapest Safari in Tanzania: Here's How it Went&hellip;

Flight Finders Lauren and Fran both love finding cheap flights, sampling local wines, and dancing the night away, no matter where they are.

Written by Lauren & Fran

Our story begins back in 2023, on an unassuming Wednesday in the middle of July. Like with most mornings, we Flight Finders began our day with (you guessed it) a spot of flight finding. Everything was pretty normal&hellip;until&hellip; *ding*
We got an alert on our feed&hellip;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/2-in-1-milan-dar-es-salaam-in-160s-280s-rtn-from-the-uk">&ldquo;Return flights to Tanzania in &pound;160s with Saudia Airlines&rdquo;</a>
Within seconds, we jumped into action. It turned out to be a 2-in-1 trip &mdash; the flights departed from Milan and returned to the UK. As we set up the flight tip for JFC members, the cogs were already turning in our brains. Urged on by our inner bargain hunter and a healthy dose of FOMO, eight of us caved and booked the flights.
 <img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdztJhO-5WRDveFREHuFLs_1cfS0YVA981FU21kFyVirZRKx5Ldcp8zCA0Y3XWp8-t86KBne5z0umZbjYlMk2q3gKVrodvNjq97eN5TbWAU0vZGu4Pged6JoxwD56W4PWVxj00oU50YiW5LIqHkDWwH3B0a?key=a0jA6mnJzjDMWAcbVFmwFw" width="416" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> 

Then reality set in. While we may have been able to afford some &pound;160 ($200 USD) flights, our bank accounts weren&rsquo;t really prepared for much else. And a quick search of safari prices practically made our credit cards shrivel up and hide. But surely, we couldn&rsquo;t go all the way to Tanzania and not see the animals? There just had to be another, cheaper, way to do it&hellip;
<h3 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Choosing our safari</h3>
First things first, we did some thorough research. After sifting through pages and pages of all-inclusive luxury safaris well over the &pound;1000 mark, we finally came across a website called Safari Bookings.&nbsp;
The site was&hellip; different.
It showcased various tours from a selection of companies with much less frightening prices. We filtered our dates, adjusted the search results to display prices from low to high, and this is what showed up:
<a href="https://www.safaribookings.com/day/t14077">3-Day Selous Reserve, Nyerere Park Boat, Drive and Walking Safari</a>

<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdbaks2-3HX_E093CYra_CDGTzVj17DtjisM1pwt_yCT_5NTxxgpbrm3RIRoBvBuGSJY8Eg40R4DJXBhdK0py9nBTk9QtvnhfG4aZvbOSZ_E8Ed7G9kKDI-PDLXrXD0yqs0SMmBcagwXURkkc2kpQF4LaFn?key=a0jA6mnJzjDMWAcbVFmwFw" width="409" height="87" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

A boat trip, a game drive and a walking safari, with food and accommodation included, and the chance of spotting some of the &lsquo;big five&rsquo; animals for &pound;360 ($450 USD) &mdash; it all sounded pretty perfect to us, considering it would be a private tour. The activities offered were more or less the same as the ones included in the pricier safari tours &mdash; which we later discovered had slightly fancier accommodation (probably justifying the price).
This cheaper safari also included a visit to a Maasai Village, which we felt a tad apprehensive about. After doing some research, we couldn&rsquo;t confidently determine whether this visit would help the villagers, and we weren&rsquo;t keen to rock up and hope for the best.
Not to let the only reasonably priced safari slip away, we decided to reach out and ask if we could skip the village. Turned out, we could! But not only that, they even gave us a lil&rsquo; discount for booking three people. The final price they offered was &pound;312 ($390 USD) per person.
Surprisingly, we didn&rsquo;t need a down payment (more on that below) or any other confirmation to lock this deal in. It&rsquo;s safe to say that the company operated very casually&hellip;

<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcbZAz_68hNBqy3gEgnyRky_k9duBBrz1Iy55-fX97yFoNqSPyp2mgrGTVKmwcJhZdEf6qVg0l_kzJudJjhLG4O3i7kVkZ4R6Y-5jE_ScazAvGXJL7MbtAYvRRH-6p-TrC4TEakwqF8DrRljmG9Pdcrs00?key=a0jA6mnJzjDMWAcbVFmwFw" width="455" height="149" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
&nbsp;
Our word was apparently all they needed, and we were promised that a guide named Willium would show up at Dar es Salaam airport to pick us up and whisk us away on our adventure. Instead of a deposit, we were told Willium would accept cash or card payments on the day.
Was this legit? We had no idea, but it was our best shot at a safari, so we decided to go for it!&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Day One &mdash; The rain</h3>
And then, it began.
A quick weekend in Milan, two smooth flights (you can read about <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/jfc-honest-airline-reviews-saudia-airlines-and-more">our Saudia experience here!</a>) and some minor sleep deprivation later, we finally landed in Dar es Salaam.
After getting changed into our 30&deg;C+ appropriate safari attire, we stepped out of the airport arrivals, praying that someone would be waiting for us in the hall.
Willium was there, holding a thin sheet of paper with faded writing that looked like it said &lsquo;Lauren &amp; Fran&rsquo; on it, with an emotionless face, and a hint of annoyance.
As soon as he recognised us, he crumpled up the paper and told us to follow him. He was &ldquo;fine, but tired&rdquo;, and had apparently been waiting for a while. Odd, considering our flight wasn&rsquo;t delayed, and we told him in advance when we would land. At that point, we understood that Willium was a man of few words.

Stepping out through the airport doors felt like entering a steam room &mdash; the 37 &deg;C (98 &deg;F) heat, matched with 100% humidity levels, was jarring. But what we really weren&rsquo;t prepared for was an endless amount of dark grey clouds quickly gathering above us.
Tiny rain drops started falling on us before we took cover in the massive Jeep, which would turn out to be our main transport for the following three days. Inside the car, a very smiley man was waiting for us &mdash; or more realistically, he was waiting for our money.&nbsp;
Fran and Andreia had brought the exact per-person amount in euros in cash, since they had been told the currency would be accepted as payment. The man quickly put the cash in his pocket, and turned to Lauren, who wanted to pay by card. Contrary to what we had been told by email, paying by card wasn&rsquo;t an easy option. The money-man started complaining to Willium, but eventually resigned, trusting Lauren to make her card transaction at the lodge where we would be staying for the next two nights.
While in this sticky money situation, the rain intensified. But it was only when marble-sized drops began hitting the car roof that we realised a tropical storm was above us. Willium seemed stressed, and as soon as the money topic was settled, he told us that we had to start driving before the unusual off-season rain began damaging the roads towards Nyerere National Park.
Little did we know it was already too late&hellip; 
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/5ebd0b0f58418205ef43dec436035b65b62c8e2e" width="260" height="411" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
 We buckled our seatbelts (or so we thought&hellip;) and away we went to brave the&nbsp;roads&nbsp;of Dar es Salaam.
As the roads became more remote, the rain was only getting worse &mdash; and as the rain got worse, so too did the amount of water coming from the roof of the car. Nevertheless, running on a couple of hours of sleep, we all slowly started dozing off on the spacious, leather Jeep seats while our clothes only got wetter, and the roads muddier&hellip;
&hellip;and suddenly&nbsp;BAM!
As soon as Lauren opened her eyes from the jump scare, Fran was already flying towards the car&rsquo;s roof and then back down on her seat. The car had run over a deep puddle a bit too fast &mdash; Willium didn&rsquo;t flinch.
We gave each other a terrified stare, before realising the rain had stopped. We breathed a sigh of relief, assuming it couldn&rsquo;t go any further downhill from there&hellip; and yet, we couldn&rsquo;t be more wrong. Actually, downhill we&nbsp;kinda&nbsp;went, when the car got stuck on the muddy main road towards our camp.
While the three of us are seasoned travellers, none of us had been in this kind of daunting situation before, and when the car&rsquo;s wheels just wouldn&rsquo;t get out of the mud, we just looked at each other in disbelief. The confusion intensified as soon as some people from the local village approached the car, and started staring at us from outside the window.
Willium, who had been silent during the whole four hour drive, knew exactly what to do. After telling us to stay inside the car, he stepped outside and started talking to the locals. 
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/246a6f4f4fd249d423fc45e0c9be2a6bf699f562" width="260" height="361" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
&nbsp;
After being stuck in the car for nearly 30 minutes &mdash; and having started working our way through the few snack leftovers from our flight (cheers, Saudia) &mdash; a dozen men holding some huge wooden logs showed up in front of the car:&nbsp;they had a plan.
Willium and his troupe of log-carriers carefully started to place the logs below the car wheels.&nbsp; After endless pushing, revving, and finger-crossing, the car jolted forward out of the mud.&nbsp;
When the excitement washed off, and we got back on the &lsquo;road&rsquo;, we started to feel the main effect of the heat:&nbsp;thirst. To our disbelief, we were informed by Willium that &mdash;&nbsp;no, there are no bottles of water. And, to give a bit of extra context, at that point, we were on a deserted road, in the middle of Southern Tanzania, heading towards Nyerere Reserve. So, stopping by a mini-market was,&nbsp;unsurprisingly,&nbsp;not an option.
The last two hours of the drive to the camp were spent sitting quietly, wondering why were we never offered any water, and why there wouldn&rsquo;t be any in the car &mdash; especially since our safari experience was supposed to be all-inclusive.
<h3 class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-h3 css-d91h7b" dir="ltr">The boat safari</h3>
Thirsty, weary, and feeling a little like three socks that had just tumbled through a 6-hour washing cycle, we staggered into our new home for the following two nights.
First impressions: it was nice! Rustic, but nice. There was a simple outdoor dining area, an algae-coated pool and a handful of wooden lodges. Oh, and a territorial troop of resident baboons roaming around the garden. Normal stuff.

We hopped our way across the garden, dodged the primates, and unlocked our front door. After such a long journey, we were relieved to see two freshly-made beds with mosquito nets &mdash; perfect to protect us from the unexpected millipede army that we noticed making its way into our room! At least there were no gigantic spiders in sight&hellip;yet.
Our relief disappeared when we realised there was no door to our (private?) bathroom. But hey, we were all friends (thank goodness) and there was no going back now, anyway.
Before we had any time to worry, there was a knock on our door. It was Willium.
&ldquo;Lunch? And boat safari?&rdquo;
We grabbed our things and followed him to the outdoor seating area. We were hastily served a simple rice, vegetable, and chicken combo (minus the chicken for vegetarians) and then ushered towards the jeep once again.
After a short drive, we reached the grassy banks of the Rufiji River. Fuelled up on food and with a renewed sense of excitement, we were introduced to our friendly boat guide. He led us onto a tiny motorboat, and we trundled out onto the murky waters.
After teaching us a bit of background info on the river itself, he exclaimed, &ldquo;Look, hippo!&rdquo;
We couldn&rsquo;t believe it &mdash; he was right! And not just one, but multiple big, chunky hippos gracefully floating by. It was incredible. To witness animals this big, and this powerful, just chilling in their own natural environment felt so amazing. We spent the next hour ooh-ing and&nbsp;aah-ing at hippo after hippo, and a few less-chunky birds, while our guide taught us about the animals&rsquo; lives.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/aa5b57b6fd1a12f8bdee1d81e63202523eb645df" width="225" height="327" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
&nbsp;
As the sun began to set, we wrapped up our boat tour and made our way back to camp. After an exhausting day, and with an early alarm set for tomorrow, we doused ourselves in bug repellent, hit our pillows and passed out.
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/we-booked-the-cheapest-safari-in-tanzania-and-this-is-how-it-went">Read more...</a>

Travel Inspiration

Nepal&nbsp;on&nbsp;the beaten track

Firstly, thank you to those of you who wrote in to correct the Cook Strait Ferry fares mentioned last week. Fares for foot passengers start at NZ$78, while bringing a car will add around NZ$300. Seemingly, the much lower prices that caught my eye on the <a href="https://www.interislander.co.nz/">Interislander website</a> were the change fees!
Secondly, let's all celebrate this reader, who is truly taking spontaneous travel purchases to new levels:

"I just booked a spontaneous trip to Nepal, but I'm not sure what all the things you can do there are. I'd love to see something about it in the Detour!"

Flight Finder Kristi is a born and bred&nbsp;Canadian. When she isn't travelling to another far-flung corner of the earth, she is writing about travelling, or dreaming about travelling, or saving up for... you get the point!

Answered by Kristi

Ooh, now this is a dream trip! Not only is the Mt Everest Base Camp trek on my actual bucket list, Nepal was my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DEzhytlJkTq/">2025 JFC wish list destination</a>. So I teamed up with Flight Finder Hannah, and together we made the ultimate Nepal to-do list. 
Of course, top of my list is the&nbsp;<a href="https://thewanderlustrose.com/mount-everest-base-camp-trek-frequently-asked-questions-answered/">Mt Everest Base Camp trek</a> (EBC). It has everything required for trip perfection: adventure, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsqhZf0o1ms/">jaw-dropping views</a>, a threat of death upon landing at their high-altitude airport, a solid chance of my legs giving out at the end of each day, friendly locals, and heart-pumping adventure at every turn.

Here is an average <a href="https://www.annaroundtheworld.com/blog/a-comprehensive-guide-on-hiking-everest-base-camp-independently">EBC trek itinerary</a>:&nbsp;
Day 1: Fly into Kathmandu, and give yourself a day to acclimatize and check your gear.&nbsp;
Days 2-3: Fly into Lukla, one of the <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/5-airports-you-never-want-to-land-at">craziest airports in the world</a>. Give yourself a buffer day in case of weather delays.
Days 4-15: Embark on the 10/11-day hike, moving each day from one teahouse to the next, with a few rest days to hopefully prevent altitude sickness. Top tip from people who&rsquo;ve done it: pack snacks and protein bars because the food can be questionable.
Day 16: Fly back to Kathmandu (lucky you! You get to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yEJ_tKFeymU">take off from Lukla</a> again!)
Highlights include shockingly gorgeous views of Everest, the vibrant Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar, the sacred Tengboche Monastery, and the turquoise glacial waters of Khumbu Icefall. The trek takes you through rhododendron forests, suspension bridges, and high-altitude <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-k0p5aos3_/">landscapes dotted with yaks</a>, and traditional teahouses.
If this is all sounding a liiiiiiittle too intense for you, but you&rsquo;re still interested in exploring the rugged beauty of the Himalayas, here are a few alternatives:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.bucketlistly.blog/posts/trekking-the-himalayas-annapurna-base-camp-in-7-days">Annapurna Base Camp</a> trek (12-18 days, moderate-challenging difficulty, main draw: close-up views of Annapurna and the breathtaking Himalayas) </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.magicalsummits.com/langtang-valley-trek/">Langtang Valley</a>&nbsp;(7-10 days, moderate difficulty, main draw: a less-crowded option with easier access from Kathmandu) </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfD1sh956u8">Mardi Himal</a>&nbsp;(5-7 days, moderate difficulty, main draw: shorter/easier hike with gorgeous ridge views).</li>
</ul>
But you might not want to pack any hiking gear at all, and that&rsquo;s totally fine too!

Flight Finder Hannah is our most spontaneous traveller, picking up and setting off as soon as she finds an amazing flight, then coming right back to share her valuable travel tips with the JFC community.

Answered by Hannah

Hannah here! I&rsquo;m not much of a hiker, but there&rsquo;s still plenty to see in Nepal without lacing up your boots, so here are a few ideas to get you started:
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Temples</h4>
Rumour has it Nepal has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramana-maharshi.org/nepals-numinous-numbers-how-many-hindu-temples-are-there-in-nepal/#:~:text=Nepal%20is%20often%20called%20the%20%E2%80%98land%20of%20a%20thousand%20temples%2C%E2%80%99%20but%20in%20reality%2C%20it%20has%20more%20than%205%2C000.">over 5,000 temples</a>, so it's no surprise that it can be hard to know where to start. But the good news is, you haven&rsquo;t got to look too far from Kathmandu to find some of the most impressive ones.
Sitting high up on top of a hill (don&rsquo;t worry, you can drive up), lots of people consider the <a href="https://handluggageonly.co.uk/exploring-swayambhunath-stupa-monkey-temple-kathmandu-nepal/">Swayambhunath Stupa</a> (or, Monkey Temple) a must-see during any trip here. And that&rsquo;s not just because of how close it is to the city, but thanks to its picture-perfect views of Kathmandu, multicoloured flags waving in the breeze, and as you might&rsquo;ve guessed, <a href="https://youtu.be/O-udB6Sc_eU?feature=shared&amp;t=187">monkeys &hellip; everywhere</a>, it&rsquo;s easy to see why!
 Side note: we&rsquo;ve heard the monkeys here are much friendlier than those in Bali (IYKYK).

<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sunrise Views of the Himalayas</h4>
Near the small lakeside city of Pokhara, the&nbsp;<a href="https://annapurnacablecar.com.np/blogs/sarangkot-sunrise-experience">Sarangkot Hill</a> is famous for being the spot to go and watch the sunrise. You can get up to this viewpoint by taking a <a href="https://www.journeyera.com/sarangkot-hill-viewpoint-hike/">hike alllll the way up</a> to the top, but there&rsquo;s also a cable car that runs from 5am to get you up there quicker and save your legs a little.
Once you&rsquo;re there, you&rsquo;ll have an incredible view of the sun slowly rising through the mountains, turning the sky bright shades of pink and orange, and giving the Himalayas <a href="https://youtu.be/5cYaMR6bixk?feature=shared&amp;t=65">a beautiful golden glow</a>.
Then, when you&rsquo;re ready to pop back down to the city, you can either take it slow and go on a walk along the tranquil <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g293891-d447093-Reviews-Phewa_Tal-Pokhara_Gandaki_Zone_Western_Region.html">Phewa Lake</a>, or fly through the skies on the <a href="https://www.highgroundnepal.com/zipflyer">world&rsquo;s steepest zipline</a> &mdash; the choice is yours!&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Wildlife</h4>
The <a href="https://thirdeyetraveller.com/chitwan-national-park-travel-guide/">Chitwan National Park</a> is maybe Nepal&rsquo;s most famous national park, thanks to its lush grasslands and jungle all filled with elephants, rhinos, leopards, and even a Bengal tiger or two.
Entry to the park is quite cheap at around &pound;12 ($15 USD) per person, per day, and you can tailor your safari experience too so that it suits your budget. There are lots of ways to do it, but your main options are on foot, on a river boat, or in a Jeep. Or if you&rsquo;d like to sit back and let someone else do the planning, there are also <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g293892-Activities-c42-Chitwan_National_Park_Chitwan_District_Narayani_Zone_Central_Region.html">loads of tours and guides</a> out there who can even pick you up from Kathmandu, if that&rsquo;s where you&rsquo;re based!

Now, there is also the option of heading out on an elephant safari while you&rsquo;re here, but we&rsquo;d recommend doing some <a href="https://alittleadrift.com/riding-elephants-chitwan/">extra research on its ethics</a> before you book.
Speaking of ethics, it&rsquo;s also really important to think about how you can be a responsible and sustainable traveller during your time in Nepal. Some quick and effective ways to do this are by supporting local businesses, using less single-use plastic, and researching the ethics of your trekking company &mdash; such as their environmental policies, and how they look after their staff, particularly the porters. For more advice and ideas,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thecommonwanderer.com/blog/responsible-travel-guide-nepal">this guide</a> is a great resource to start with. 
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bonus Round</h4>
Sometimes you just wanna see something that&rsquo;s a little out of the ordinary and entirely unexpected. If that sounds like you, here are a couple weird and wonderful things to add to your itinerary:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A monastery in the small village of Khumjung claims to hold a piece of <a href="https://www.abandonedspaces.com/public/yeti-scalp.html">scalp that belonged to a Yeti</a> some 300+ years ago. Yes, scalp. Zoologists aren&rsquo;t totally sure who, or what, the relic belonged to, but it sits safely secured in a padlocked box. You know, just in case. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">For most of us, getting a toothache on holiday is the stuff of nightmares, but that&rsquo;s not the case if you&rsquo;re in Nepal. The aptly named <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-toothache-tree-kathmandu-nepal">Toothache Tree</a> is in Kathmandu&rsquo;s dental district, and is covered in coins that people have nailed to it as they plea to the gods for some pain relief. Does it work? There&rsquo;s only one way to find out&hellip; </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">At the foothills of the Himalayas, you&rsquo;ll find a twisty, turny section of road near the Mulkot Bazar village. What&rsquo;s cool about this place is that the surrounding wall (around 15 metres long) is covered with tonnes of different mirrors that drivers have left as an offering to another Hindu god to help prevent any accidents. It&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wanderlust_rajan/reel/C9Iau6sSv-J/">really impressive</a>!</li>
</ul>
Hopefully some of these suggestions satisfy your curiosity!&nbsp;
Enjoy your trip, reader! As always, hit &lsquo;Reply&rsquo; to let us know how it went :-)
 Do you have a question for our Flight Finders? Let us know below!

Reader's Corner

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week. 
<ul>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-xhcohm css-xhcohm">Last Sunday saw the annual return of everyone&rsquo;s favourite <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg0j8zjlr9o">weather-forecasting groundhog</a>. Despite the overcast conditions, Punxsutawney Phil did indeed see his shadow, therefore condemning the folks in Punxsutawney to six more weeks of wintry weather. Nice one, Phil. </li>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-xhcohm css-xhcohm">The small-scale Italian ski resort of Roccaraso has become inundated with<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/29/travel/italy-ski-resort-social-media-chaos/index.html"> waves of TikTok tourists</a> after one influencer's post went viral. Disgruntled locals claimed the visitors clogged the slopes, created makeshift sledges out of saucepans, and fired up barbecues. </li>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-xhcohm css-xhcohm">Over the past few days, emergency services from the Greek island of Santorini have taken precautionary actions after<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/santorini-earthquakes-latest-ferry-plane-b2691759.html"> a number of tremors were recorded</a> throughout the region. Along with schools being closed, additional flights have been announced to help evacuate locals and tourists.&nbsp; </li>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-xhcohm css-xhcohm">And finally, there&rsquo;s some exciting news coming out of little Newquay airport in Cornwall. Is it a new airline or a new flight route? Not exactly&hellip;it's <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2025-02-03/nasa-backs-plans-to-build-worlds-deepest-pool-in-cornwall">the world&rsquo;s deepest pool</a>. Yay? </li>
</ul>

Travel News

The cheapest safari in Tanzania: our Flight Finders reveal all

We booked the cheapest safari in Tanzania and this is how it went…

Saudi Arabia

You're scrolling Google Flights and see an absolutely amazingly low price to the country that&rsquo;s top of your travel bucket list. The only problem? It&rsquo;s with an airline you didn&rsquo;t even know existed!
Over our years of flight finding, we&rsquo;ve learned that some of you have favourite airlines (&hellip;and others you&rsquo;d never be seen handing your suitcase to!).
Considering that we live and breathe travel, who better to trust than the Jack's Flight Club team &mdash; we&rsquo;re the travellers who&rsquo;ve been in the trenches! Lost luggage, surprise delays, hidden fees, and the endless quest for edible aeroplane food, we've been there!
So we thought we would compile all of our experiences in a set of very honest airline reviews. We&rsquo;ll look into alllllll the details, from how clean their toilets are to how tasty their in-flight snacks are. We&rsquo;ll also point out which airlines have the best onboard Wi-Fi, the cushiest seats, and which&hellip;don&rsquo;t impress.&nbsp;
Think of us as Skytrax without the <a href="https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2018/02/16/inside-strange-world-skytrax-aviation-rating-organization-probably-shouldnt-trust/">questionable alliances&hellip;</a>
Onboard? Great, let&rsquo;s take off!&nbsp;
<section id="Saudia Airlines">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">A very honest review of Saudia Airlines</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/ff766aa5c43331bcf24caa17023082ce1071efc8" width="448" height="448" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Last summer, our flight finders discovered an absolutely insane <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/what-is-an-error-fare-and-how-to-book-one">error fare</a> to Tanzania via Milan for &pound;165 rtn including a checked bag. Twelve minutes of scrambling for passports and credit cards, and voil&agrave;! Six members of the team were booked.
Once the high wore off, the inevitable question arose&hellip; &ldquo;Has anyone actually flown with Saudia before?&rdquo;
Nope! And the <a href="https://www.trustpilot.com/review/saudiairlines.com">reviews we found online</a> were a little off-putting. From unfriendly staff to broken facilities, our expectations were low.&nbsp;
But, after taking the <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/how-to-find-and-book-cheap-multi-city-flights">2-in-1 trip</a> with them, and bouncing around Tanzania and Zanzibar for ten days, we feel like we definitely had the full Saudia package, and we can now share our thoughts on this whole experience.
<h3>Flight &amp; aircraft details:</h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SV210 &mdash; Milan Malpensa (MXP) to Jeddah (JED) on an Airbus A321-251NX</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SV463 &mdash; Jeddah (JED) to Dar es Salaam (DAR) on an Airbus A320-214</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SV460 &mdash; Dar es Salaam (DAR) to Jeddah (JED) on an Airbus A320-214</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SV101 &mdash; Jeddah (JED) to London Gatwick (LGW) on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner</li>
</ol>
👎🏻 &mdash; Although all the planes were branded with a fresh coat of paint, featuring Saudia&rsquo;s new logo and colours, we definitely felt a drop in quality from planes connecting Saudi Arabia and Tanzania. While the first and last planes that we boarded had wider and comfier seats, wider screens and some additional features like a footrest, the middle two planes felt a bit older. Considering these two legs were overnight, this ultimately impacted our comfort levels and sleep.
👍🏻 &mdash; We knew our last flight was gonna be a special one when Deal &amp; Content Lead Tristan mentioned, &lsquo;Oh nice! It&rsquo;s a dreamliner!&rsquo;. The plane was waaaaaay bigger than the previous ones, with rows of eight seats instead of six. The seats were comfier too, &nbsp; complete with higher quality headrests, extra leg space and even a footrest. The windows? Tinted, baby!
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/f51610d6c21cb133b83b96f312802743084d6705" width="448" height="447" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<h3>General Facilities&nbsp;</h3>
While we got the usual sleeping set of a blanket and a pillow, on each leg, we were treated to a hot towel at take-off &mdash; fancyyyy!
Saudia's TVs on the back of each seat were modern and on par with most other long-haul airlines we've flown with. The screens were large, relatively &lsquo;new-looking&rsquo; and were able to be angled according to your preference.
The touch-screens all worked seamlessly, which was a good thing since none of them had the option of a remote control. Earphones were given out complimentary &mdash; which is standard lately, but as plastic earphones go, they were pretty comfy.
There was a USB-A and even a USB-C charging port next to each screen, and a UK/EU charging plug socket under each seat.&nbsp;
Another piece of tech that we loved was the fact that they had complimentary Wi-Fi for economy! Although none of us managed to get social media working, we could all send texts through iMessage and WhatsApp, which &mdash; considering we paid &pound;165 rtn &mdash; felt like a luxury!
But the real highlight was on our last flight, connecting Jeddah to London: the complimentary amenity kit we were offered! This included a sleeping mask, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a pair of anti-slip socks. Since this isn't a guarantee for all long-haul flights (even if they're full service), it was a nice touch from the airline &mdash; perks of flying on a Saudia Dreamliner, I guess?
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/3916930e6fb49543ba63eba886bcebe55d99a102" width="451" height="451" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<h3>Food</h3>
Considering long-haul flight standards, the food met our expectations and the service felt consistent across all 4 of our flights. We got the usual offering (vegetarian) pasta or chicken, and special-requirements meals (vegan, gluten-free options, etc) could be requested before check-in.
However, we were continuously treated to unexpected munchies and soft drinks throughout the flight. Apart from trolleys filled with juice and water glasses passing every 30 minutes, Flight Finder Lauren was even offered a glass of water while queuing for the bathroom! It&rsquo;s the little touches, eh?
Plus, the crew even allowed a couple of us to have breakfast after we snoozed past the breakfast service &mdash; yum.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/e30fdfdbc3f4f4aed13fda7c968fd42733270e01" width="450" height="450" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<h3>Entertainment</h3>
Considering the moral criticisms Saudia Arabia receives from the International Community, our expectations of Saudia&rsquo;s entertainment were quite low. However, as soon as our fingers started tapping on the TV screens, we were met with an impressive, diverse, and up-to-date movie selection from a range of countries.
Though, in amongst the usual blockbusters &mdash; including Barbie and Oppenheimer! &mdash; there were some sneaky self-promoting Saudi Arabia documentaries that piqued our interest&hellip;
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/3a7b79e8b1b35bc56d96ed9b8b6d07c800e162cf" width="450" height="450" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<h3>Cultural Aspects</h3>
While not immediately obvious, there were definitely some cultural aspects to the flight that you probably wouldn&rsquo;t find on a British Airways plane.
Before take-off, an unexpected audio recording accompanied by a video filled the cabin. The voice recited an Islamic prayer in Arabic, invoking blessings for a safe journey. Which, if anything, definitely just set a positive tone for the flight ahead.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re someone who prefers staring at the in-flight map rather than a movie, you might be surprised to see one additional feature&hellip; a Mecca tracker!&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/268535635db6497790bb59b56d9ccdad67b62393" width="450" height="450" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
This was pretty cool, and there was also a special announcement when we flew directly over it.
Top tip: If you aren&rsquo;t in need of Islamic prayer time updates, you&rsquo;ll need to turn these off in your TV settings, or else they&rsquo;ll keep popping up on your screen several times throughout the journey.&nbsp;
Despite <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/25/saudi-arabia-to-allow-first-alcohol-sales-in-72-years-dividing-opinion">Saudia Arabia&rsquo;s recent changes to the rules surrounding alcohol sales</a>, there was no alcohol offered&mdash;or allowed&mdash;on board. We were perfectly fine without them because of the amount of complimentary soft drinks they offered, but it is still something to be aware of.
<h3>Staff and Service</h3>
The cabin crew that we met all spoke English (along with many other languages), and were extremely friendly and helpful. They went out of their way to help store our bags, along with moving Flight Finder Andreia closer to the front to help her catch her connecting flight.
The whole process of boarding was very smooth, which meant that we were able to take off and land early on every flight!
One downside to Saudia is they have a strict 7 kg (15.5lbs) weight rule for all carry-on bags. You can get around this by checking in online and bypassing the check-in desk at the airport. But, if you have to check in at the airport, or drop a bag, you'll need to make sure your cabin bag is under the limit. Or, risk handing over your cabin bag to be checked in the hold &mdash; no one likes that!
One extra thing to note if you check in online, is that you may be called to the boarding gate to replace your digital boarding pass with a physical copy. This happened to most of the JFC team, but we all got lucky and still managed to avoid weighing our carry-ons at the gate &mdash; phew!
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/bbf82e269cecad4622e37a78475deb5383201921" width="449" height="447" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<h3>In the Airport</h3>
Based on a slew of <a href="https://www.trustpilot.com/review/saudiairlines.com">online reviews,</a> the layover was going to be the intimidating part of the trip, with Jeddah Airport known to have an eerie atmosphere during the night.
After a very smooth security check (just be aware there are no scissors allowed into the airport, as Fran sadly learnt&hellip;), we were pleasantly surprised by how lively Jeddah Airport turned out to be at 1 am. All the shops and restaurants were open, chefs were cooking in the lounges, and it felt as if it was midday!
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/78e4703832c539a4c5eb1f3ea89f0f1f0b80f55a" width="451" height="451" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
On our way back to Europe, before boarding our flight from Dar es Salaam to Jeddah, we had to go through bag checks, basically in front of the plane door! Carry-ons and small bags were opened on a table and inspected thoroughly. If you've travelled to places like Mexico, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Turkey, you'll likely have been through a similar check before.
<h3>Overall Rating &mdash; 4/5&nbsp; ⭐⭐⭐⭐</h3>
<h3>TLDR</h3>
🧑🏻&zwj;✈️ Service: Kind and smiley, both on board and on the ground.
🔌 Facilities: In line with main European/US Flag Carriers.
🍝 Food: Tasty meals, plenty of snacks and drinks throughout the flights.
⏰ Timing: Took off and landed on time.
💸 Quality VS Price: Worth the money.
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