Asia

Super cheap? Yes! But read this before you book...

Manchester

England

Singapore

Taipei

Taiwan

Hanoi

Vietnam

Mahé

Let’s face it, your current desktop background is probably a picture of the Seychelles, so why not make the jump from screen-saver fantasy to actual reality?
Visiting this tropical haven means trading your office chair for a sun lounger beside postcard-perfect beaches, where giant granite boulders meet impossibly clear turquoise water. It’s the kind of escape that’s both ridiculously luxurious and genuinely wild, where you can spend the morning snorkeling vibrant coral reefs and the afternoon greeting ancient giant tortoises. 
Forget fighting for towel space; the only thing you’ll be wrestling is the urge to never, ever leave, proving that sometimes, the most cliché paradise is actually the best one.

Seychelles

Forget fighting for towel space; the only thing you’ll be wrestling in the Seychelles is the urge to never, ever leave, proving that sometimes, the most cliché paradise is actually the best one.

Jaipur

India

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

Krabi

Thailand

London Heathrow

Kolkata

Medan

Indonesia

Dublin

Ireland

Phuket

Manila

Philippines

Jakarta

Colombo

Sri Lanka is often called the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean,’ but frankly, that sounds waaaay too delicate for a place that packs so much punch into one island. 
Forget choosing between beaches and mountains; here, you can sip world-class Ceylon tea in the misty highlands in the morning and be surfing on golden coasts that same afternoon. From spotting leopards and elephants on safari to exploring ancient rock fortresses and marveling at incredible temple ruins, Sri Lanka throws everything at you, and you’ll love every chaotic, flavorful, and unforgettable moment of it. 
It’s an island where adventure is mandatory, curry is king, and your itinerary quickly becomes a blur of astounding landscapes and genuinely welcoming smiles.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is often called the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean,’ but frankly, that sounds way too delicate for a place that packs so much punch into one island.

Nairobi

Kenya

Bangkok

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Thiruvananthapuram

Chennai

Kochi

Mumbai

Ahmedabad

New Delhi

Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and more 🌿 in £350s-£370s & €400s-€480s rtn

Frankfurt

Germany

Johannesburg

South Africa isn't just a country; it's practically a whole continent squeezed into one incredible, diverse package. Where else can you start your day spotting the Big Five on safari and finish it sipping world-class wine near Cape Town, all while marveling at the sheer majesty of Table Mountain?
From the dramatic coastal drives of the Garden Route to the buzzing, complex history woven into every street corner, this place demands your full attention and rewards you with breathtaking scenery and adventures at every turn.
Prepare for epic views, mind-blowing food, and a destination that constantly reminds you that life is far too short not to own a pair of binoculars. Bonus points for spying the tiny penguins!

South Africa

Adventurous Travelers, assemble! South Africa delivers a jam-packed itinerary where you can start your day spotting the Big Five on safari and end it sipping local wine at the foot of Table Mountain. Think dramatic coastal drives and a rich, complex history alongside mind-blowing nature.

Malé

Maldives

Bengaluru

Munich

Dusseldorf

Hyderabad

Copenhagen

Denmark

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Brussels

Belgium

Asia, East and South Africa  🌿 in €390s-€440s rtn

High season in the city? You need a beach escape plan...

London Stansted

Jakarta, Indonesia 🌊 in £560s-£590s rtn

In the flight-finding biz, we call this a slam dunk

Los Angeles

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.

Java, Indonesia ⛰️ in $710s RT

Blessing your inbox with a totally different kind of holy trip 🤓

Osaka

Japan

Hong Kong

Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and more 🏙️ in €400s-€590s rtn

You'll be ready to leave the concrete jungle behind once you take one look at the actual jungle.

Edmonton

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.

Saskatoon

Winnipeg

Calgary

Kelowna

Victoria

Jakarta, Indonesia 🌴 in $1320s-$1480s RT

From Jakarta we went on to the Banda islands and kei island. Paradise . 

Postcard from Barbara 

Return to Bali with Lufthansa. Booked in September '24 for March'25. I couldn't let it go!
I bought a property on Bali, so now I have to go each quarter 😎. Please find me more deals if you can.
Regards Bart.

Postcard from Bart.

Thanks so much for this flight deal, I flew to Jakarta then went to Lombok, the Gili islands and Bali! Amazing deal and I’ll definitely be booking again. Also flying with Saudia was a fantastic experience - apart from the 6h layover!

Postcard from James

Thanks, the price was already a bit bumped to 609 but we booked this for three people, with an extra leg and return from Bali with long layover in Istanbul (free hotel!)
So we did:
Brussels to Jakarta
Bali to Istanbul (+1 night)
Istanbul to Brussels

Indonesia here we come

Postcard from pablo

I booked directly with Turkish Airlines. Thanks for the great tip! From Jakarta we will go and explore the Moluccan Islands. 

Postcard from Barbara

Iceland

Brazil

Rwanda

Uganda

Hey there, Travellers,
This week has been fairly incendiary when it comes to panic-inducing headlines about jet fuel shortages. You're likely wondering whether your own trips will be affected over the coming months, and unfortunately I can't give you a definitive answer.
Major airlines like Lufthansa have already cut services, and US budget airline Spirit (which had been in trouble for a while) officially entered liquidation last weekend. This uncertainty has led <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/jet-fuel-shortage-flight-cancellations-airline-easyjet-ryanair-b2971558.html#:~:text=Below%20is%20a%20list%20of%20how%20airlines%20are%20responding%2C%20in%20alphabetical%20order%3A">airlines</a> such as easyJet and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/will-holiday-companies-hike-the-price-of-already-booked-trips-due-to-the-oil-crisis-aXZQf1R2khBr">package operators like lastminute.com</a> to reassure travellers that they won't come asking you for more money after booking (which, apparently, they have the right to do).
Don't panic, though; if you're yet to book your next trip, we're still finding plenty of <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights">great-value Flights</a>, both short- and long-haul, throughout this year and into next. Our best advice for saving cash on a trip right now is to stay flexible and let yourself be inspired by alternative destinations.&nbsp;
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

We're looking for a flight-hacking hero to join our small team of experts going the extra mile to find and write up engaging and informative cheap flight tips for our audience in Canada.
Our ideal new teammate is a passionate traveller who knows their way around travelling on a budget, who loves to go off the beaten track and mix with the locals.&nbsp;
Most importantly, you should have a keen eye for writing concise copy with personality and humour and get a kick out of sending someone on a vacation they never imagined taking.&nbsp;
Sound like you or someone you know?

Join Jack's Team

The man, the myth, the legend, Sir David Attenborough turned 100 years old today. He has dedicated his life to documenting nature and conservation around the world, and left us a trail of travel inspiration along the way.
Here are some of our top Attenborough-inspired destinations that we think everyone should add to their bucket list:
<h2 id="r">Rwanda &amp; Uganda</h2>

Travel Inspiration

We'll <a href="https://youtu.be/MUXhNc0d8gU?si=sjwDLcuaLDCQdvYm">let David tell you why</a> you&nbsp;must&nbsp;add these countries to your list.
The gorilla trekking high season&mdash;with the best hiking conditions&mdash;runs from June to September, with a bonus short dry season from mid-December to early February offering a second chance.&nbsp;
It is important to know that gorilla trekking is highly regulated in both Rwanda and Uganda, and only 90&ndash;150 permits are available each day, depending on the country. If you're going at short notice, make sure to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.volcanoesnationalparkrwanda.com/trip-planner/gorilla-permits/">book your permit</a>&nbsp;or an organized tour before you book your flights.
Now, onto picking between Rwanda and Uganda:
<ul>
<li>Pick Rwanda if you only have time for a brief stopover to go gorilla trekking. Volcanoes National Park is close to Kigali Airport, whereas it'll take around 9 hours to drive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brilliant-uganda.com/how-to-get-to-bwindi-impenetrable-national-park">from Entebbe to Bwindi</a> Impenetrable National Park. </li>
<li>Trekking routes in Rwanda are considered more open, and not as steep and slippery compared to Uganda's.&nbsp; </li>
<li>Uganda has more habituated mountain gorillas and so admits <a href="https://www.bwindinationalparkuganda.com/information-blog/gorilla-permits/">more trekkers per day, for cheaper</a>&mdash;we're talking around &euro;1380 vs &euro;550. </li>
<li>Apart from gorilla trekking, Uganda has <a href="https://followalice.com/knowledge/top-20-things-to-do-in-uganda-the-definitive-list">more adventure activities to offer</a>, while Rwanda's <a href="https://kgm.rw/about/">recent history of genocide and societal turnaround</a> makes for a meaningful learning opportunity.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="b">Borneo</h2>

Sir David first visited the island 70 years ago to meet the elusive orangutan in the wild. He's returned multiple times since, working to highlight the impact of deforestation and importance of conservation, and has left a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/may/03/meeting-orangutans-borneo-malaysia">positive footprint in the local community</a>.
On any trip to Borneo, Kota Kinabalu is the place to start (and most likely where you'll arrive). It is a great base for trips to islands off the coast. <a href="https://www.mysabah.com/wordpress/mengalum-island-and-the-mysterious-anchor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mengalum Island</a> is around an hour away from the city, while trips to <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=sapi+and+manukan+island&amp;rlz=1C1FKPE_en-GBGB937GB938&amp;sxsrf=AOaemvLUkbu-Pn6tek29kBgwg8pFdBMmRA:1634820726461&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj70q_lxdvzAhXVAmMBHYepAgw4ChD8BSgBegQIARAD&amp;biw=1920&amp;bih=937&amp;dpr=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sapi and Manukan</a> just take 20 minutes. Either way, you'll be greeted by passing sea turtles and colourful coral reefs.
No matter where you are, you can't miss Mt. Kinabalu in the distance. It's the country's highest mountain and considered very safe to hike up via one of the <a href="https://www.mountkinabalu.com/mount-kinabalu/trail-routes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two standard trails</a>. You can also opt to take the <a href="https://www.mountkinabalu.com/ferrata" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Via Ferrata</a> if the usual 2-day hike doesn't sound extreme enough for you...
A trip on the old <a href="https://thebackpackinghousewife.com/north-borneo-heritage-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Borneo Railway</a> is probably a more relaxing way to travel through the jungle. It's designed for tourists and only runs twice a week, but it gives you access to more rural areas without hiring a car.
Borneo is one of only two places in the world where you can see orangutans in the wild (the other being Sumatra), and that's definitely easier if you have your own transport. It's about a 6 hr drive from Kota Kinabalu to eastern Sabah, where you'll have the best chances of spotting the ginger giants.
From there, you can drive to the Kinabatangan River to pick up a boat tour to spot them hanging by the river or head to Deramakot Forest Reserve to be taken off-road in a 4x4. You can save yourself some time on the road with a cheap <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAhomEgoyMDI2LTA5LTEyKABqDQgCEgkvbS8wMV9nN2ZyBwgBEgNTREsaJhIKMjAyNi0wOS0xOSgAagcIARIDU0RLcg0IAhIJL20vMDFfZzdmQAFIAXABggELCP___________wGYAQE&amp;tfu=EgYIARAAGAA&amp;hl=en-GB&amp;curr=GBP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">domestic flight to Sandakan</a>, where you can also join organised tours.
It's possible to save a bit of cash and make your own way to the boat tours without a car, but public transport there isn't great&mdash;<a href="https://travelynnfamily.com/getting-from-kota-kinabalu-to-sandakan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this blog</a> gives you a good idea of how to go it alone.
<h2 id="a">Alaska</h2>

Fans of&nbsp;Frozen Planet, Planet Earth and Our Planet, this one's for you. Alaska is packed with amazing sights, especially in summer, and you hardly need to leave Anchorage to see them.
Following the <a href="https://anchoragecoastaltrail.com/">coastal trail</a> from downtown to Kincaid Park will show you a bit of everything the area has to offer&mdash;epic <a href="https://www.alaska.org/guide/alaskas-most-impressive-mountains">mountain views</a>, a <a href="https://www.alaska.org/detail/earthquake-park">park</a> famous for being the site of a 1964 earthquake, <a href="https://www.anchorage.net/plan-your-trip/things-to-know/frequently-asked-alaska-travel-questions/how-to-find-a-moose-in-anchorage-in-less-than-an-hour/">wild moose</a> (in under an hour, apparently), <a href="https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewinglocations.pointworonzof">beluga whales and bald eagles</a>.
Unsurprisingly, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alaska.org/advice/best-festivals-to-celebrate-summer-solstice-in-alaska">summer solstice</a> is a pretty big thing over there. Not only are there street and beach parties galore, there's also a midnight baseball game, music festivals in the mountains, and even a midnight sea swim (for the brave)!
And you will even get some serious glacier action in summer, too. You can actually find&nbsp;<a href="https://www.anchorage.net/outdoors/glaciers/">60 glaciers within 80 km of Anchorage</a>!&nbsp;<a href="https://andreakuuipoabroad.com/how-to-see-portage-glacier/">Portage Glacier</a> is easy to reach by train or bus (followed by a boat trip across the lake) and lets you get right up close. Tackling the <a href="https://www.10adventures.com/hikes/anchorage/portage-pass-and-lake/">hiking trail</a> is probably the best way to get a real impression of the glacier's size.&nbsp;
If that doesn't quite scratch the itch, you can also pick up boat trips to countless more glaciers from the nearby town of Whittier on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Regions/Southcentral/Prince-William-Sound">Prince William Sound</a>.
But regardless of when you go and how far from the city you stray, prep the Attenborough voice in your head and keep your eyes peeled for&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/ZcyCul68A7Q?si=5_iTYT5KPRfcTvt8">Alaskan snowy owl chicks</a> playing a game of hide-and-seek.
 These are just a few of our faves, but there are&nbsp;so&nbsp;many more we'd love to delve into, like <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/pockets-of-solitude-7-places-to-embrace-your-inner-introvert#:~:text=Trade%20people%20for%20wildlife%20in%20the%20Gal%C3%A1pagos%20Islands">the Galapagos Islands</a> and its unique and bizarre wildlife, or <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/top-tips-for-visiting-glorious-ghana">Ghana</a> with its endangered crocodile populations. But if you're still dreaming of <a href="https://youtu.be/EiQzls8YQcw?si=kdZ6muO1MdzCYhOl">Life in the Freezer</a>, here's that link to <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-visiting-antarctica">our Beginner's Guide to Anarctica</a> again.
Let us know <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-236-attenborough-inspired-trips#comments">in the comments</a> which nature-fuelled destination is top of your list!

Continuing our Attenborough-inspired topics, last week I asked you where in the world you've had luck spotting whales. Thankfully, you all have some great tips!
Here are a few of the spots that came up multiple times across our comments, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2807904842898692/">Facebook community</a>, and The Detour inbox.
<h2 id="k">Kaikoura, New Zealand</h2>
<blockquote>
"New Zealand, South Island Kaikoura, can be done by boat <a href="https://worldofwhales.co.nz/whale-watching-flights">or helicopter</a>.<span class="html-span xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j">"&nbsp;-&nbsp;Jean
<hr>
"The whale watching I appreciated most, however, was in Kaikoura in New Zealand. I got so much information about the sperm whales and I loved their meticulous attention to sustainability. They really educated the tourists on plastic use and even explained that the boats they used and the methods to find the whales were used in a way to cause as little disturbance as possible to the whale&rsquo;s environment and communication system." - BoldHiker86402
</blockquote>

<h2 id="ic">Canada</h2>
<blockquote>
"Johnstone Strait, British Columbia. Lots of humpbacks and orcas in September '25. Also, Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia) had about 4 different kinds when I went in 2018."&nbsp;- Mel
</blockquote>

<h2 id="b">Brazil</h2>
<blockquote>
"Abrolhos islands in Bahia, Brazil are a real treat for nature lovers and for a bonus there are usually whales in the area which you visit by boat. We loved it and were not sure which we enjoyed most: watching whales play, snorkeling in crystal clear water full of fish or wandering past all sorts of marine birds that completely ignored us."&nbsp;- GutsyHolidaymaker46937
<hr>
"I saw a rock moving once whilst surfing at Praia do Santinho, in Florianopolis, Brasil. It was a humpback whale."&nbsp;-&nbsp;IndomitablePassenger07727
</blockquote>

<h2 id="ic">Iceland</h2>
<blockquote>
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<div dir="auto">"We had a fabulous time in Akureyri, Iceland. Not huge whales but plenty of them."&nbsp;- Sandra</div>
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<div dir="auto">"We went from Husavik, Iceland. It's a nice town, too, so no hardship to wait there if the weather isn't in your favour. Saw a pod of humpbacks!"&nbsp;- Polly</div>
</div>
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<hr>"We saw several kinds of whales in very early October in Iceland."&nbsp;- PeripateticNavigator74163</blockquote>
Keep those whale-spotting tips coming <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-236-attenborough-inspired-trips#comments">in the comments</a>, readers! As always, pics earn bonus points 🐋

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 mui-1kubl8f">A German tourist has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/07/german-tourist-awarded-after-losing-out-sunloungers-greek-hotel">won a payout of &euro;1000</a> after being unable to find a free sunlounger during his trip to Kos in 2024. </li>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-1kubl8f">A <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2026-05-06/airport-staff-pushed-to-hit-targets-for-bag-charges-in-leaked-poster">leaked picture</a> from a non-passenger area at Jersey Airport apparently shows a sign encouraging staff to aim for &pound;200 per flight in oversized carry-on charges. </li>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-1kubl8f">Here's <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/05/rookie-public-transport-habit-shows-japanese-locals-a-tourist-28242423/">how not to stick out as a tourist</a> when traveling by public transport in Japan. </li>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-1kubl8f">Why are <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/yemen-people-california-coffee-oman-b2969453.html">Yemeni coffee houses</a> seeing such a boom in popularity in the US? </li>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 mui-1kubl8f">And finally, ever wondered whether celebrities also look like convicts in their passport photos? <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/may/04/ready-for-their-close-ups-celebrity-passport-photos">Here's the answer</a>.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Attenborough-Inspired Trips to Celebrate His Centenary

Kota Kinabalu is the place to start. It is a great base for trips to islands off the coast.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mysabah.com/wordpress/mengalum-island-and-the-mysterious-anchor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mengalum Island</a> is around an hour away from the city, while trips to <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=sapi+and+manukan+island&amp;rlz=1C1FKPE_en-GBGB937GB938&amp;sxsrf=AOaemvLUkbu-Pn6tek29kBgwg8pFdBMmRA:1634820726461&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj70q_lxdvzAhXVAmMBHYepAgw4ChD8BSgBegQIARAD&amp;biw=1920&amp;bih=937&amp;dpr=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sapi and Manukan</a> just take 20 minutes. Either way, you'll be greeted by passing sea turtles and colourful coral reefs.
No matter where you are, you can't miss Mt. Kinabalu in the distance. It's the country's highest mountain and considered very safe to hike up via one of the <a href="https://www.mountkinabalu.com/mount-kinabalu/trail-routes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two standard trails</a>. You can also opt to take the <a href="https://www.mountkinabalu.com/ferrata" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Via Ferrata</a> if the usual 2-day hike doesn't sound extreme enough for you...
A trip on the old <a href="https://thebackpackinghousewife.com/north-borneo-heritage-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Borneo Railway</a> is probably a more relaxing way to travel through the jungle. It's designed for tourists and only runs twice a week, but it gives you access to more rural areas without hiring a car.

Borneo is one of only two places in the world where you can see orangutans in the wild (the other being Sumatra), and that's definitely easier if you have your own transport. It's about a 6 hr drive from Kota Kinabalu to eastern Sabah, where you'll have the best chances of spotting the ginger giants.
From there, you can drive to the Kinabatangan River to pick up a boat tour to spot them hanging by the river or head to Deramakot Forest Reserve to be taken off-road in a 4x4. You can save yourself some time on the road with a cheap <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAhomEgoyMDI2LTA5LTEyKABqDQgCEgkvbS8wMV9nN2ZyBwgBEgNTREsaJhIKMjAyNi0wOS0xOSgAagcIARIDU0RLcg0IAhIJL20vMDFfZzdmQAFIAXABggELCP___________wGYAQE&amp;tfu=EgYIARAAGAA&amp;hl=en-GB&amp;curr=GBP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">domestic flight to Sandakan</a>, where you can also join organised tours.
It's possible to save a bit of cash and make your own way to the boat tours without a car, but public transport there isn't great - <a href="https://travelynnfamily.com/getting-from-kota-kinabalu-to-sandakan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this blog</a> gives you a good idea of how to go it alone.

After You Land: Borneo

Portugal

Italy

Peru

With the cold winter chill firmly behind us and the sweltering summer sun not quite here yet, you&rsquo;re spoiled for choice when it comes to looking for the best places to visit in May.
As with other shoulder months, you&rsquo;ll be treated to fewer crowds and cheaper prices at this time of year. But you&rsquo;ll also find the weather in that perfect sweet spot, with warmer temperatures in Europe and North America and the wet season ending in parts of South East Asia and East Africa.
And that makes it an ideal time for a trip filled with sunny beach days, hikes through lush forests, or just soaking up some culture in the shape of local festivals.
So, have your sunglasses, sun cream, and passport at the ready while we run you through some of the best places to visit in May! Let&rsquo;s get into it:

<h2 dir="ltr">Madeira, Portugal</h2>
Why? The Madeira Flower Festival
Key dates: The whole month, but aim for the 3rd &amp; 17th May (2026) for floral parades
Closest airport: Funchal (FNC)
Madeira in spring is just a little extra special. It&rsquo;s a great time for taking on the island&rsquo;s actually <a href="https://travelrebels.com/madeira/pr1-pico-do-arieiro/">jaw-dropping hikes</a> and wandering along its black sandy beaches, and as an added bonus, the surrounding meadows and fields will be blooming.
And the locals love it too. So much so, they have a special<a href="https://visitmadeira.com/en/whats-on/events/flower-festival/"> Flower Festival</a>!
The whole month of May is dedicated to celebrating the island's stunning natural beauty, with floral parades that add sweet smells and a kaleidoscope of colour to Funchal. Sure there&rsquo;s a little less glitter, but with a lot more petals, these<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdxTHcdaJX8&amp;t=129s"> gorgeous and intricately decorated floats</a> could even give Brazil's carnivals a run for their money!

<h2 dir="ltr">Seychelles</h2>
Why? Good weather, great for outdoor activities&nbsp;
Key dates: All month
Closest airport: Mah&eacute; (SEZ)
If you&rsquo;re looking for warm places to visit in May, Seychelles is hard to beat.
As the start of the dry season, the weather is ideal for all of your outdoor activities, whether that&rsquo;s hiking through lush jungles or heading straight for the beautiful beach.&nbsp;
FYI, <a href="https://northabroad.com/anse-source-dargent-beach-la-digue-seychelles-travel-guide-how-to-visit/">Anse Source d&rsquo;Argent</a> is the beach you&rsquo;ll have seen all over socials!
And if you&rsquo;re no stranger to donning some fins on holiday, then you&rsquo;ll find a whole other world waiting for you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuM2w8AHfzg&amp;t=219s">below the water</a>. With great water visibility, May is one of the best times to go snorkelling and diving near the <a href="https://www.spga.gov.sc/parks/port-launay">Port Launay Marine Park</a>.

<h2 dir="ltr">Camogli, Italy&nbsp;</h2>
Why? The Camogli Fish Festival
Key dates: 2nd Sunday in May (10th May 2026)
Closest airport: Genoa (GOA)
Now, you may have never heard of Camogli before, but you&rsquo;ll find it on the Ligurian Coast (just over half an hour away from Genoa). And on the 2nd Sunday in May, you&rsquo;ll see it come alive.
Ever since the 50s, this tiny village has had its own <a href="https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/camogli-fish-festival/">Fish Festival</a> to celebrate its centuries-old fishing traditions. How do they celebrate, you ask? Well, they cook up a feast using a <a href="https://youtu.be/3yUxK1zzTPE?si=IDoQCRgGUCqOl17i">giant frying pan</a> and dish it out to the attendees &mdash; for free!
It&rsquo;s worth sticking around and visiting some of the other towns on the Ligurian Coast, too. <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/meet-sestri-levante">Sestri Levante</a> is a particularly great choice if you&rsquo;re looking for somewhere quiet and beachy.

<h2 dir="ltr">Bali, Indonesia</h2>
Why? Good weather, fewer crowds than in summer
Key dates: All month
Closest airport: Denpasar (DPS)
If you&rsquo;re looking for beach holidays in May, Bali&rsquo;s got to be top of your list.
The island is transitioning from the rainy season into the sunny, dry season at this time of year, which makes it the perfect middle ground.
You&rsquo;ll be there before all the summer crowds descend, you can spend a day at the beach without packing an emergency brolly, and the forests will still be beautifully lush and green.
Of course nowhere in Bali is gonna be crowd-free (it is Bali after all!), but if you head for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.baliholidaysecrets.com/uluwatu-bali-guide/">quieter village like Uluwatu</a>, you&rsquo;ll still be able to find a bit of peace and quiet.

<h2 dir="ltr">Ottawa, Canada</h2>
Why? The Canadian Tulip Festival
Key dates: 8th-18th May 2026
Closest airport: Ottawa (YOW)
You can never have too many floral festivals, right?
For 11 days every May, Ottawa hosts the <a href="https://tulipfestival.ca/">Canadian Tulip Festival</a> &mdash;&nbsp; the biggest in the world! And it&rsquo;s all thanks to an annual gift of tulip bulbs that Canada has received <a href="https://ottawatourism.ca/en/ottawa-insider/deep-historical-roots-canadian-tulip-festival">from the Dutch royal family</a> every year since the 1940s.&nbsp;
With the city blanketed in over a million multicoloured tulips (mainly in the Commissioners Park), they really take it seriously over there. It&rsquo;s definitely the kind of trip <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHBitcSRKiE/">your Instagram feed</a> will thank you for later!&nbsp;
Then, once you&rsquo;re all tulip-ed out, there&rsquo;s plenty to keep you busy, including markets, walking trails, a fun run, and loads more.

<h2 dir="ltr">Machu Picchu, Peru</h2>
Why? Great conditions for hiking Machu Picchu
Key dates: All month
Closest airport: Cusco (CUZ)
<a href="https://abexpeditions.com/machu-picchu-in-may/">May in Machu Picchu</a> is where everything just comes together perfectly.
You&rsquo;re there at the start of the dry season, which means you&rsquo;ll still be treated to lush green landscapes, but you&rsquo;ll also have bright blue skies and uninterrupted panoramic views of the citadel.
It&rsquo;s also before the summer crowds join in on the fun, so you&rsquo;ll have plenty of room on the trails and won&rsquo;t have to worry about a selfie stick blocking your perfect pic. 
And if you&rsquo;re looking to do it on the cheap, there are loads of great tips in our guide to&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/how-to-visit-machu-picchu-on-a-budget">visiting Machu Picchu on a budget</a> from Navigator Lauren.

The Best Places To Visit In May

Switzerland

Norway

Chile

Hey there, Travellers,
I'd like to kick off by wishing a very happy Thanksgiving to all our American readers! However you celebrated, I hope your bellies were full and your hearts warm&hellip; and that you had five minutes free to check over all the bargain Flights landing in your inbox.
No doubt your emails have been overflowing this past week, so you may have missed some rather amusing "news." The US transportation secretary has been urging travellers to <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/sean-duffy-transport-secretary-air-travel-thanksgiving-request-b2869798.html">wind back the clock and dress with respect</a>, as though we were in the golden age of travel.&nbsp;
When you're embarking on a 20-hour journey across continents, or hopping on a budget flight with nothing more than a backpack and randomly allocated seat, does anyone truly expect you to care about more than comfort?&nbsp;
Sure, we can debate the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBdqR-5qhVD/?hl=en">merits of jeans on a plane</a>, and we can probably all agree that shorts involve too much skin-seat contact. But, we're not living in&nbsp;that&nbsp;Golden Age of Travel. We're in our own, modern, slightly tarnished age with even more opportunity than ever before.&nbsp;
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the dos and don'ts of "respectful" travel garb. Should we bring back collars and dresses? Or are leggings and hoodies perfectly reasonable? <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-214-ultimate-carry-on-respectful-dressing#comments">Jump into the comments</a> or reply to this email.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Your Top Recommendations for Underseat &amp; Carry-on Bags

The Detour Editor Katy is a budget travel aficionado who has already travelled to more than 50 countries. Whether she's at home or on a foreign adventure, she has a particular talent for stumbling upon tasty Georgian restaurants.

By Katy

I knew when I asked for backpack recommendations last week that frequent travellers like yourselves would have some strong opinions. Thank you so much for all the bag reviews, suggestions, and links, lovely readers!
The ideas came rolling in, and a few loyal camps became clear. To be honest, I'm actually pretty concerned that some of you may have joined a particular multicoloured cult&hellip;
With my trusty Herschel nearing the end of its life, I've spent this week researching all your suggestions and trawling the Black Friday sales. Frankly, I'm only a little closer to pulling the trigger, and time is ticking on those discounts.&nbsp;
But without further ado, here are the top recommendations from you, the wonderful Jack's Community:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.osprey.com/">Osprey</a></h2>

&ldquo;I've had an Osprey Farpoint 40 for the last few years, and so far it's passed every test with flying colours. It's had dozens of work trips, backpacking in Japan, hiking in Iceland, travelling around Europe visiting 28 countries in 28 days with 100s of buses, coaches and trains, numerous trips to the US &amp; Canada and here's the thing: nothing has broken 😱😱 no broken zips, no frayed ends, no rips, nothing. And I have not been careful!
It also opens up fully laid down which is a great plus. If the 40 is a little big, Osprey have brought out a smaller Sojourn backpack in the same style, which I bought my gf and she loves. The Farpoint is probably a 4/5 on comfort when carrying but easily a 5/5 on endurance. I think there is a "trek" version they've recently brought out that is presumably more comfortable. I've also gotten away with it as cabin baggage on easyJet many times, even though it's technically too big (only been fined on 2 occasions out of maybe 25?). Hope this is useful for people!&rdquo;&nbsp;-&nbsp;UninhibitedBackpacker38333
<hr>
&ldquo;I bought my Osprey 40 litre Fairview pack 3 years ago and have been using it nearly year round ever since. It opens flat so I can see everything inside, has enough compartments and easy access whilst on the move. I have travelled for several 3 month trips and it takes everything I need and more, and is comfortable for a nearly 60 year old like me to carry!&nbsp;
There are no signs of wear and tear. 100% recommended.&nbsp;
Good luck, it's a tricky and important decision!&rdquo; - Claire

Pros: Osprey bags are practical, supportive, and clearly have staying power. There are a few nice colorways to choose from, for those who like their functionality served with at least a little pizzazz.
Cons: They&rsquo;re not the cheapest; Navigator Lauren&rsquo;s fave Fairview is currently clocking in at around &pound;115/$140/&euro;150. And while they do come in different colors, they&rsquo;re hardly serving up that enduring <a href="https://www.fjallraven.com/eu/en-gb/bags-gear/kanken/">K&aring;nken</a> style. Maybe more for the outdoorsy types than purely savvy travelers?
Next up, the zero frills, zero fuss crew:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://cabinmax.com/">Cabin Max</a></h2>

&ldquo;The cabin max bird and stars is amazing, I&rsquo;ve used it for a few trips and I also use it at work!&nbsp;
It easily fits clothes and toiletries in for a whole week for one person, with room to spare for a drink and snacks. Though I haven&rsquo;t tried to fit a proper jacket in there yet as it&rsquo;s only been used for warmer trips.&nbsp;
But it still looks brand new after being used almost every day since the start of May. It even has a clip on bit for you to pop glasses/goggles/sunglasses into, and the front zip up pocket has extra compartments and a tether that clips onto items for extra security. It has a little padded slot for a tablet or such and buckled straps in the main section to hold items in tight for you to fit in extra! I love it.&rdquo; - Danielle
<hr>
&ldquo;Another Cabin Max fan here, especially the Metz 20L that fits the Ryanair bins. Sturdy and it fits a huge amount of stuff!&rdquo; - DauntlessHolidaymaker17406

Pros: Cabin Max cater to nearly every airline&rsquo;s dimensional whims. It&rsquo;s all in the name: you&rsquo;ll get the max cabin space possible (without paying extra). Plus, they&rsquo;re super affordable and come in a variety of jazzy colors and styles, some even a little more stylish than purely functional.
Cons: Not ideal for lugging around on your back all day &mdash; the shoulder straps are all you&rsquo;ve got in the way of support, so don&rsquo;t bring the kitchen sink. And yes, they are on the cheaper side, so pay close attention to design elements like laptop padding and secure closures.
And now we&rsquo;ve got a PSA from Navigator Fran, who, surprisingly, is not being sponsored for this rave review:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cotopaxi.com/">Cotopaxi</a></h2>

&ldquo;So I have a couple of Cotopaxis, but the ones that I use the most are the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L and the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. The thing that I love the most about them is that they open fully like a suitcase, but they&rsquo;re backpacks. That&rsquo;s the key thing for me because I hate having to put my hands inside a backpack without seeing what I&rsquo;m touching. Everything gets messy, whereas if your backpack opens completely like a suitcase, it makes everything much more orderly.&nbsp;
Another thing that I love is the material. The external material, especially the front, has a kind of waxy feel, but it&rsquo;s not actually wax, so you don&rsquo;t need to treat it. Even though it&rsquo;s a soft backpack, it's made with sturdy materials, so even if it gets thrown around, it feels like the things inside won&rsquo;t get hit too hard.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/a4a6e696d247b91ff1b2f8c198c762c9f99997cd" width="501" height="626" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
I really love all the pockets inside and outside. That&rsquo;s important for me for storing things properly and for accessibility. The Allpa 28L I have is the new model, and it comes with a side pocket, which I absolutely love. I use it for my water bottle, flip-flops, thin sneakers &mdash; whatever fits. That pocket only exists on the newer version Cotopaxi released last year. My 35L is the older model, so it doesn&rsquo;t have it, and I really miss it. I&rsquo;m honestly considering upgrading my 35L just for that pocket (lol Cotopaxi I love you pls send me one).
Another key thing is: the 35L one has back support, which is crucial for me. It has the adjustable chest buckle and the waist strap, while the 28L doesn't have the waist strap. I&rsquo;ve walked endless kilometres with it, and it&rsquo;s essential that the weight sits on my hips and not fully on my back.
I also love the little loops on the outside where you can attach a lock or hang things. Anything with a carabiner can go there &mdash; a portable speaker, flip-flops, whatever. I really love the colours too. They&rsquo;re veeeeeeery fun and stylish.&rdquo; - Fran

&ldquo;The Cotopaxi Allpa is AMAZING. I will not have another bag, ever. The 35L one is still Euro airline friendly, and I've lived out of it for months.&rdquo; - Layla

Pros: Cotopaxi bags are clearly super reliable and practical. Plus, you gotta love their <a href="https://uk.cotopaxi.com/collections/del-dia-collection">&lsquo;Del D&iacute;a&rsquo; collection</a>, made from a patchwork of leftover fabrics. That means you get a completely one-of-a-kind bag, which can come in pretty handy during the shuffle of international travel.
Cons: That price, though. You&rsquo;re looking at &pound;140-&pound;200 new on the Cotopaxi website. If you dig around online, you&rsquo;ll no doubt be able to find them a little cheaper, but they&rsquo;re still far from a budget-friendly option. More of a long-term investment, perhaps.&nbsp;
Also, you might be joining a cult that it&rsquo;s really hard to leave if you buy one.
Now, not to be confused with the Max competition above, the Jack&rsquo;s Community is also fond of&hellip;&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cabinzero.com/">Cabin Zero</a></h2>

&ldquo;Hello! I love my cabin zero. The 28L one is small enough for under Ryanair seats, and you can get them in a variety of sizes. Happy bag shopping!&rdquo; - Daniella
<hr>
&ldquo;I absolutely adore my Cabin Zero military backpack. I used it for 6 months to travel through Asia next to my larger backpack, used it as hand luggage while making short trips. Very roomy, holds a bottle, can be locked and has a separate space for a laptop.&rdquo; - BoldHiker86402

Pros: Once again, we&rsquo;ve got bags designed to beat airline restrictions. Looking for a carry-on that&rsquo;ll fit under the seat in front of you? Just filter by &lsquo;Underseat&rsquo;. They&rsquo;re functional, affordable, and they come in pretty much every color. 
Cons:&nbsp;What they offer in color, they kind of lack in actual style. Maximizing functional bag space is key here, and every model appears to be a cuboid bag designed to fit perfectly in a bag sizer.
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-best-underseat-and-carry-on-bags-for-travel">Keep reading...</a>

Travel Tips

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>From next year, National Parks in the USA will begin charging <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kpnxvpgy2o">higher entry fees for foreign visitors </a>than US residents. </li>
<li>Inside the Swiss village where <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20250314-murren-the-stunning-car-free-village-reached-by-cable-car">the only cars are cable cars</a>. </li>
<li>Move over salmon sperm facials, there's an island in Patagonia where <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-rare-potato-revival-in-patagonia-chile">potatoes are the key</a> to a youthful glow. </li>
<li>Here's how to make that <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/norway/how-i-did-a-once-in-a-lifetime-norway-journey-for-a-fraction-of-the-price-8lmfnss9h">bucket-list cruise of the Norwegian fjords</a> into a reality without breaking the bank. </li>
<li>US passport holders can now save a <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/can-apples-new-digital-passport-be-used-for-travel">digital version of their passport</a> to their Apple Wallet. But can you actually use it on your next trip? </li>
<li>It's official: <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/jakarta-and-dhaka-topple-tokyo-to-become-worlds-biggest-megacities-13475419">Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo</a> as the most populous city in the world. </li>
<li>And finally, while Fodor's list of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2025/11/19/overcrowded-travel-destinations-in-2026-as-per-fodors-no-list/">over-touristed destinations to avoid</a> may not have thrown up many surprises, their <a href="https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/10-destinations-begging-for-more-visitors">10 spots crying out for more visitors</a> certainly will. From Palau, to Pakistan, to regional Japan, there's always somewhere new to discover without adding stress to the local community.</li>
</ul>

Our Ultimate Carry-On Backpacks & Respectful Dressing On Board

Hungary

Lithuania

Hey there, travellers,
Greetings from somewhere in Lithuania! At the time of writing, I'm a little over one hour into an 11-hour train journey between Vilnius and Tallinn. And my entire train carriage is bright pink.&nbsp;

When I boarded, bleary-eyed, at 6:55 AM, I wondered if Lithuania had a particular penchant for Barbie &mdash; how very 2023, I thought. And then I noticed the egg sticker on the window, and the table decal showing dill, cucumber and half boiled eggs floating on a pink background.
A few sips of coffee later, I finally noticed the sticker in the middle of the train table emblazoned with the words, "VILNIUS PINK SOUP FEST." So strong is the&nbsp;<a href="https://tasteoflithuania.com/saltibarsciai-cold-beetroot-soup/">Lithuanian love of cold beetroot soup</a> (&scaron;altibar&scaron;čiai), apparently, that they have a festival celebrating it each May. And this summer, overland Baltic travellers have also been given the chance to live a beetroot-drenched dream aboard the Pink Soup Train.

It seems I'm lucky, too, as this weekend is the carriage's last hurrah of the year. While it would have been nice to get a few more hours' sleep before stepping into this Wonka-esque world of cheery food stuffs, I'd now quite like to try a bowl of the pink stuff.&nbsp;
My stopover in Lithuania was fleeting, unfortunately. But I'm pretty confident there'll be a vibrant&nbsp;<a href="https://estoniancuisine.com/2019/08/06/cold-summer-beetroot-soup/">Estonian version</a> waiting to greet me in Tallinn, albeit minus the waving eggs.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Where No Man Roams &mdash;&nbsp;Lessons from a Professional Trespasser

Flight Finder Akasha finds phenomenal flights faster than you can decide where you want to take a trip to next. A pro at finding the best of the best fares, she's also a master at sharing must-visit spots for when you land.

By Akasha

Simon scales fences, evades police, and crawls through asbestos. I followed him into the dark to understand what dead places do to the living.&nbsp;
A burly man, cloaked in black, waits for me in the deadzone of security cameras. I&rsquo;ve known him for all of half an hour, and now here I sit, teetering atop a 10ft fence, trusting that he&rsquo;ll catch me if I fall. My cotton gloves are useless, offering no protection as the chain links dig into my skin. One foot scrambles for a hold, dangling for a second too long; far below, the ground is a m&eacute;lange of brambles and broken concrete.&nbsp;
Expertly reeling, my mind fires off a million worst-case scenarios: a broken ankle, a dog chase, disappearing off the face of the earth. My phone buzzed in my pocket &mdash; a friend&rsquo;s text from Canada,&nbsp;&ldquo;You alive?&rdquo; as if her panic could bridge an ocean.
I&rsquo;d sent her his Instagram profile earlier: no last name, no identifiable locations, zero posts of sunlight. Just a feed of abandoned nuclear sites. I prayed she&rsquo;d at least pick a flattering thumbnail for the inevitable true-crime podcast.&nbsp;
And yet, there&rsquo;s something entirely too intoxicating about this moment. A forbidden dare, a promise of secret worlds hidden in plain sight. The rush comes before I even hit the ground.
This is Urbex &mdash; urban exploration &mdash; the exploration of manmade structures usually off-limits or abandoned. A regular Thursday for my new friend Simon, the man in black.
We connected weeks earlier through a dead Reddit thread, his username half-buried between broken links and breadcrumb co-ordinates. No small talk, no promises &mdash; this wasn&rsquo;t a tour. Just a time he&rsquo;d pick me up and the unspoken rule: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t slow me down.&rdquo;
Just like hackers, lurking in the shadows of society, bypassing firewalls and cracking code, urbexers chase the thrill of uncovering a backdoor into the supposedly inaccessible.
Later, I&rsquo;d ask him about the moment he fell in love with Urbex. He thinks for a moment before answering with certainty.&nbsp;&ldquo;The atmosphere. It&rsquo;s like seeing the earth without humans. It&rsquo;s ephemeral, temporary, history, and adrenaline all wrapped in one. And photography, of course." He pauses, a glint of passion in his eyes. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about capturing something that&rsquo;s fading, something that won&rsquo;t be there forever.&rdquo;

Chernobyl&rsquo;s exclusion zone, nuclear bunkers and NYC&rsquo;s legendary TB sanatorium are some of the hundreds of sites featured on Simon&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theurbextrip/">Instagram</a> &mdash; an apocalyptic obsession fuelled by more than a decade of exploration.&nbsp;
The son of a photographer, documenting his adventures is essential to him, as is the web of intricate tattoos sprawled across his skin; both ink and images are a blueprint of a life lived on the edge. He&rsquo;s mastered the classic &ldquo;hero shot:&rdquo; a solitary figure, often snapped from behind, half swallowed by shadow and dwarfed by the grandeur of decay.&nbsp;
Back in Hungary, en route to the first of two sites Simon has agreed to show me, I launch into question mode. Naturally, I want to know if he&rsquo;s ever been busted, and the probability of being caught today. With his eyes focused on the road, I&rsquo;m speaking mostly to his face tattoo, a leviathan cross on the side of his cheek. Its meaning I can only guess.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Yeah, I got caught sleeping in my hammock at Baikonur.&rdquo; Baikonur, I am to learn, is an abandoned military base in the desert of Kazakhstan, a cathedral to the USSR&rsquo;s failed Buran space program, housing two enormous, decrepit Soviet space shuttles.
It&rsquo;s the ultimate endgame for Urbex explorers: sealed off, locked down, and just waiting for someone to bypass its firewall. Simon tells me of his masochistic journey there: A three day, forty kilometer night hike through the desert and a subsequent four days inside a Soviet military prison &mdash; a small price to pay for his SD card.&nbsp;
Following the fence jump,&nbsp;Simon lays his backpack over the twisted snarls of a barbed wire hole I am to climb through. He emphasizes the importance of taking quiet, calculated movements, &ldquo;I once fell through the roof of an abandoned morgue, got stuck between the roof and the glass and cut my arm up real bad.&rdquo;

Despite his broad frame, he slips through with expert ease, a feat that seems almost cruel as I attempt to follow. His boots looked like they&rsquo;d kicked in every door between here and Chernobyl.&nbsp;
Mine? Soft-toed sketchers with arch support, the kind reviewed by moms visiting Disneyland. Half his size, yet twice as clumsy, I muddle through, my down jacket a caught bird against the steel. The Urbex hierarchy was clear.
He&rsquo;s agreed to show me two sites today. A Cold War bunker in the Hungarian mountains and a legendary spot in the Urbex community, Kelenfold Power Station &mdash; a crumbling Art Deco cathedral of electricity, once the pride of Europe, now sealed off and slowly eroding into dust.
A beat-up old rental. A man I&rsquo;ve never met. And me, alone in a foreign country, climbing into the passenger seat with nothing but a backpack and blind faith. What could possibly go wrong?
Step into the&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/where-no-man-roams-lessons-from-a-professional-trespasser">full story</a> here.

Travel Tales

&ldquo;Hi! I&rsquo;d like to see some tips for a honeymoon to Indonesia from Amsterdam in October. Affordable but with some luxury in it.&rdquo;

Hey there, reader! Congrats on your wedding and MEGA congrats on the exciting honeymoon ahead. Amsterdam is a particularly good city for Indonesia connections, since you have lots of options.&nbsp;
Sure, there&rsquo;s the KLM of it all, but you also have the option of non-stop flights to Jakarta with Garuda Indonesia, and cheaper connections via the Middle East. In the last six months, we&rsquo;ve seen that non-stop route around &euro;650 return, while a one-stop route with Saudia has taken things below the &euro;400 mark. For that bit of luxury, check out Etihad for business class fares &mdash; they&rsquo;re currently sitting around &euro;1.8k return, which isn&rsquo;t too bad.
Of course, you may be looking more towards somewhere like Bali for the romantic island vibes. We sometimes see fares there for under &euro;500, but recently they&rsquo;ve mostly been via China &mdash; not exactly the quickest route! Given the handy Jakarta connections, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxoqEgoyMDI1LTEwLTI5KABqDAgDEggvbS8wNDRydnIMCAQSCC9tLzAzcnluGioSCjIwMjUtMTEtMDUoAGoMCAQSCC9tLzAzcnlucgwIAxIIL20vMDQ0cnZAAUgBcAKCAQQICRACmAEBsgEEGAEgAQ&amp;tfu=GioaKAoSCcS2NdwRVytAER0aqt8-H2FAEhIJNQqgzPTyLMAROTRUvy3zV0A">plethora of cheap island hopping available</a> from there, that&rsquo;s where I&rsquo;d focus my flight hunting.

As for where to go, that obviously depends on what you&rsquo;re looking for. Bali has the reputation and lush resorts to match, but it can be overwhelmed with tourists. <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/newsletter-2024-03-05">Have a look here</a> at what the Jack&rsquo;s Community had to say about where to skip and what to see in and around Bali.
Away from the mega tourist track, there&rsquo;s another bucket-list Indonesian experience you might want to consider: orangutan spotting in the jungle. That&rsquo;s a pretty special honeymoon treat, so if it takes your fancy, do some research and look for an ethical tour company. I found <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/18b85lo/advice_for_traveling_to_north_sumatraethical/">this reddit thread</a> pretty useful.
Now it&rsquo;s over to the rest of you, dear readers! Have you got any special Indonesia tips for our honeymooners? Where should they go to make memories with a touch of pizzazz? <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-198-urban-exploration-hungary#comments">Let us know in the comments</a> or by replying to this email.

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Germany&rsquo;s legendary efficiency has officially gone <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/deutsche-bahn-is-on-track-for-more-delays-and-cancellations/a-73304129">off the rails</a> &mdash; literally. With delays, breakdowns, and Deutsche Bahn drama, the land of punctuality is facing an identity crisis on the tracks. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rice fields, cave hikes, and karst cliffs that aren&rsquo;t swarming with influencers! This is Vietnam, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/vietnam/vietnam-travel-unique-destinations-b2801570.html">far from the tourist track but just as beautiful</a>. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Just when you thought Vegas weddings couldn't get campier, one couple got married by&hellip; a walking jar of <a href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/hellman-s-mayonnaise-wedding-c780bc00?st=SQpkac&amp;mod=1440&amp;user_id=66c4c27d600ae150758fd9b4">Hellmann's mayonnaise</a>. Good thing the condiment-themed ceremony was quick, ending before Nevada's summer heat could spoil the fun. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Feeling targeted by high air fares? Turns out it really is personal &mdash; or it will be, once Delta starts <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/delta-pricing-tickets-ai-b2790442.html">using artificial intelligence</a> to determine individual ticket prices. Pro-tip: Don&rsquo;t google &ldquo;caviar near me&rdquo; the night before booking a flight. </li>
<li>And finally, meet the hiking couples who found each other by leaving handwritten messages in a notebook <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250805-swiss-mountain-tinder-sparks-high-altitude-attraction?utm_source=join1440&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_placement=newsletter&amp;user_id=66c4c27d600ae150758fd9b4">on top of a Swiss mountain</a>. Your move, Nicholas Sparks.</li>
</ul>

Urban Exploration in Hidden Hungary & Honeymooning in Indonesia

France

Romania

<h1>Paris Travel Dupes</h1>
This article was originally published in the Detour in January 2024

I&rsquo;m not a big one for leaning into travel trends&mdash;go where your heart truly desires, I say! But if your heart&nbsp;reeeeally wants to go &ldquo;somewhere like Paris but not so touristy,&rdquo; then maybe the travel dupes trend is actually for you.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s be clear, I&rsquo;m not talking about going somewhere that looks exactly like Paris&mdash;short of a visit to Vegas, you&rsquo;re not going to get a selfie with the Eiffel Tower anywhere else. TikTokers jumping on the bandwagon are all about finding somewhere &ldquo;better&rdquo; than the original destination, but for me, it&rsquo;s more about getting to the heart of what you want from a trip and looking for places that offer a similar experience.&nbsp;
So, what is it that visitors want from a trip to Paris? Romantic sunset strolls along the Seine, world-class art and stunning architecture&hellip; some really tasty baked goods and great wine? Unsurprisingly, these are all things you can find elsewhere, too.

We&rsquo;ll start with a suggestion to satisfy anyone wanting to practise their French: Rouen, the capital of Normandy. At first glance, it&rsquo;s a little more industrial than Paris, but stick with me&mdash;it still checks a bunch of boxes!&nbsp;
For those leisurely strolls, you&rsquo;ve got the Seine running through the centre of town. But here, I&rsquo;d say it&rsquo;s best enjoyed as part of the panorama from atop&nbsp;<a href="https://en.visiterouen.com/heritages/nature/the-sainte-catherine-hill-in-rouen/?lid=16g46ynjyt1i">Saint Catherine&rsquo;s Hill</a>. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://arthive.com/claudemonet/works/324044~General_view_of_Rouen_from_the_hill_of_St_Catherine?lid=sttgycdmn1sl">Monet</a>&nbsp;found the views inspiring!
The steeple towering above the rest of the old town belongs to none other than Rouen&rsquo;s own Notre-Dame Cathedral, which spends its summer evenings&nbsp;<a href="https://en.visiterouen.com/heritages/history/the-cathedral-intimate-and-flamboyant/cathedral-of-light/?lid=mgwjjzgs6r0x">bathing in illuminations</a>. And then there&rsquo;s the Gothic church of Saint-Laurent, worth a visit for its unusual museum packed with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.clarkart.edu/microsites/the-art-of-iron/exhibition-(4)?lid=1kppg9ufbm2d">wrought iron works of art</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Just walking through the medieval cobblestone streets will keep you entertained, though. You can hunt down the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, admire the city&rsquo;s astronomical clock from inside and out, and duck in and out of cheese shops (or&nbsp;<a href="https://rouen-bouge.fr/en/fromagerie-bar-bickett-le-premier-bar-a-fromage-de-rouen/?lid=7c1buui4kcaf">cheese&nbsp;bars</a>!) along the way. It&rsquo;d be rude not to sample&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/get-inspired/calvados-a-norman-tradition?lid=c6qz0tgyl3zl">the local tipples</a>, too!

My second suggestion takes us a hop northeast to the Belgian city of Antwerp. This one has already popped up on social media as a suggested Paris &ldquo;dupe&rdquo;, but I actually think it fits more for Amsterdam. That said, I can definitely get behind it from a more historical destination angle.&nbsp;
The&nbsp;<a href="https://aviewoncities.com/antwerp/meir?lid=gv26bcxfilcb">grand boulevards</a>&nbsp;lined with historic buildings, luxury shopping galleries, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1977614/worlds-most-beautiful-train-station-antwerp-belgium" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO-protected train station</a>&nbsp;all play a major role in setting the tone for the city. Add in the&nbsp;<a href="https://rubenshuis.be/en?lid=t7w2lwhzp3yz">Italian-style palazzo</a>&nbsp;surrounded by lush gardens and stuffed to the brim with Baroque art, and you&rsquo;ve probably got a pretty good idea of what to expect.
Don&rsquo;t worry, Antwerp also has a&nbsp;<a href="https://aviewoncities.com/antwerp/cathedral-of-our-lady?lid=66rfuoyvo8l3">Cathedral of Our Lady</a>&nbsp;for you to visit, complete with more works of art by Rubens and an effigy of Isabella of Bourbon. Bonus activity for anyone who isn&rsquo;t claustrophobic or afraid of heights: free guided tours of the cathedral include the opportunity to climb the small cathedral tower. For the full belfry experience, you&rsquo;ll need to stop by the&nbsp;<a href="https://museumvleeshuis.be/en?lid=jxxel7fzludw">Museum Vleeshuis</a>&nbsp;interactive music museum.
Antwerp also takes care of you boat-trip fans. The Scheldt River is teeming with life&mdash;between the waterbuses connecting the city and the tours that take you around the harbour, you won&rsquo;t lack an opportunity to get on the water. The sunset strolls may&nbsp;<a href="https://www.livetheworld.com/activities/belgium/walking-the-quays?lid=stf13yveldwv">look a little different</a>&nbsp;here than Paris, but they can definitely still be romantic.

My final Parisian alternative is Bucharest, Romania. You can probably surmise from its nickname, &ldquo;Little Paris of the East,&rdquo; that I&rsquo;m far from the first person to suggest that Bucharest might indeed remind you of the French capital.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ll get the most obvious reason out of the way first: the&nbsp;<a href="https://visitbucharest.today/arch-of-triumph/?lid=848le7bda3sc">Arcul de Triumf</a>. In fact, much of the architecture in Bucharest wouldn&rsquo;t feel at all out of place in Paris. As well as an old town packed with cafe-lined cobblestone streets and hidden courtyards, you&rsquo;ll soon encounter the imposing tree-lined boulevard that was specifically&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulevardul_Unirii?lid=r5k2goalrxk9">designed to rival the Champs-&Eacute;lys&eacute;es</a>.&nbsp;
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/muzeul-micul-paris-little-paris-museum?lid=mqb4ptyey4d1">Muzeul Micul Paris</a>&nbsp;(Museum of Little Paris) is a good place to get a feel for where the nickname came from. It celebrates Bucharest&rsquo;s golden age in a staged bourgeois house that&rsquo;ll take you right back to the late 19th century.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But Bucharest does have remarkable landmarks of its own as well! Located at the end of Bulevardul Unirii, the&nbsp;<a href="https://visitbucharest.today/palace-of-parliament/?lid=5hcqn3bipel2">Palace of the Parliament</a>&nbsp;is hands-down one of the most jaw-dropping buildings I&rsquo;ve ever seen. It&rsquo;s the largest civilian building in the world, and apparently also the heaviest and most expensive.
There are loads of excellent spots to stop around the city for a browse or a bite to eat, like the beautiful&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Som5Do3VU/?hl=en&amp;lid=5wjr5drihwe8">Carturesti Carusel</a>&nbsp;bookshop and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carucubere.ro/en/venue/?lid=8gs68s5eupwo">Caru&rsquo; cu bere</a>&nbsp;restaurant. And come the evening, you can pop into a&nbsp;<a href="https://draculasguidetoromania.com/2023/10/15/wonderful-wine-bars-bucharest/?lid=i0iuwb5l64s3">cosy little wine bar</a>&nbsp;and find out just how well the local produce rivals Paris&rsquo;.
Now we&rsquo;ve got a few options lined up instead of the City of Lights, your brain might be ticking away thinking about &ldquo;dupes&rdquo; for other destinations. Here are a few ideas to consider:

<ul>
<li>Switch the Maldives for Malaysia. Already popular with diving enthusiasts, the white sand beaches and overwater bungalows of Sipadan and Langkayan just scream relaxation. Or for more budget options, pick the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timetravelturtle.com/malaysia/perhentian-islands/?lid=bmlbh6zoeah1">Perhentian Islands</a>.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Want the big city vibe without the Big Apple price tag? Head to Chicago. Walk&nbsp;<a href="https://www.the606.org/?lid=trh43lwi3ros">The 606&nbsp;</a>instead of the High Line, sip a cocktail while taking in the views at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6uxcxDLcxE/?lid=k7176azc4l0y">Cindy&rsquo;s</a>, catch a show at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.secondcity.com/history?lid=x9wzz5t5cgtk">Second City</a>. And of course, treat yourself to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/november-2023/chicago-25-best-pizza/?lid=opq344i9pwwk">slice</a>&nbsp;(deep-dish or otherwise).</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>The busy temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia are high on many lists, but Indonesia&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/unusual-place-of-the-month-borobudur/?lid=onhk8ub8xkdl">Borobudur</a>&nbsp;deserves just as much attention. It&rsquo;s the largest Buddhist temple compound in the world and which took 75 years to build. Its 3-tiered stupa is made from over 2 million stones and surrounded by 72 smaller shrines. Unsurprisingly, sunrise is a popular time to visit.</li>
</ul>

Indonesia

Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and more in £350s-£370s & €400s-€480s rtn

Asia, East and South Africa in €390s-€440s rtn

Jakarta, Indonesia in £560s-£590s rtn

Java, Indonesia in $710s RT

Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and more in €400s-€590s rtn

Jakarta, Indonesia in $1320s-$1480s RT

Attenborough-Inspired Trips to Celebrate His Centenary

After You Land: Borneo

The Best Places To Visit In May

Our Ultimate Carry-On Backpacks & Respectful Dressing On Board

Urban Exploration in Hidden Hungary & Honeymooning in Indonesia

Paris Travel Dupes - alternative destinations to the City of Light

Postcard from Barbara

Postcard from Bart.

Postcard from James

Indonesia here we come

Postcard from pablo

Postcard from Barbara