Asia

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

Frankfurt

Germany

Manila

Philippines

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.

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.

Nairobi

Kenya

Ahmedabad

India

Jaipur

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.

Malé

Maldives

Bengaluru

Hanoi

Vietnam

Jakarta

Indonesia

Singapore

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Munich

Mumbai

Kochi

Phuket

Thailand

Dusseldorf

Kolkata

Hyderabad

Chennai

Copenhagen

Denmark

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Medan

Thiruvananthapuram

Brussels

Belgium

Bangkok

Krabi

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

Rice fields and black sand beaches? You won't find that on the PCH

Los Angeles

United States

Denpasar

Bali 🌴 at $731 RT

Manchester

England

Taipei

Taiwan

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

London Heathrow

Dublin

Ireland

New Delhi

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

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

London Stansted

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

Bali 🐒 in €6000s-€6100s rtn

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

Osaka

Japan

Hong Kong

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

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

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,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

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>

Travel News

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.

Reader's Corner

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>

Paris Travel Dupes - alternative destinations to the City of Light

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Skip this, see that – 28 places our members hated and loved.

Israel

Poland

Brazil

Ask people about their favourite part of a holiday and, unsurprisingly, food and the dining experience will often feature high on the list. However, travelling with any sort of dietary requirement or preference can make the experience stressful, even more so when you don&rsquo;t speak the language! The good news is that vegan and vegetarian lifestyles have long been the norm in some regions, and are gaining in popularity in others, meaning it&rsquo;s getting easier to enjoy authentic cuisine without compromise.
If you&rsquo;re looking for where to put on your short-list with tasty food in mind, here&rsquo;s a roundup of some of the best places to visit for a successful vegetarian or vegan foodie holiday.
Please note: While we have included a few links in this post to other websites, none are affiliated with us and we don&rsquo;t receive anything if you click on them - we just find them extra useful :)
<h2>Taiwan</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/46fbe2005e03d7802bc851b0da803b176745215b" alt="Steamed Dumplings" width="740" height="555">
Often considered one of the most vegan-friendly places on the planet, the Taiwanese Buddhists follow a similar diet to veganism and are widely catered to, with many traditional foods already free of animal products. The Taiwanese government also actively encourages a reduced meat diet and has strict food labelling standards that make it easier to identify food that meets various dietary needs. This rich history in vegan cuisine means vegan-specific restaurants, as well as street food vendors, market stalls, and grocery stores can be found throughout the country.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Sesame noodles, steamed dumplings, shao bing (flatbread), stinky tofu (the pungent aroma comes from being marinated in fermented bean curd, but luckily most people agree it tastes better than it smells!).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Taipei: Sh&agrave;ng Dǐng Hu&aacute;ngJiā (Vegan street stall selling dumplings and buns), Yiihotang Bakery, Vege Creek (Vegan build-your-own noodle restaurant, with multiple branches throughout Taipei), Flourish.

<h2>Bali</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/3f7efcce5ec1a27fece29c7e1465c08710363a09" alt="Traditional Indonesian Cuisine" width="740" height="555">
Traditional Indonesian cuisine is pretty veg-centred from the get-go, and when combined with the holistic tourism focus throughout Bali, it delivers a vegetarian and vegan heaven. Bali also gets points as it&rsquo;s easy to find restaurants catering to both across the island and English is widely spoken. Popular areas Ubud and Canggu have particularly impressive offerings, with trendy new eateries opening all the time. It&rsquo;s also worth checking out the cooking schools on the island, a number will offer vegetarian-specific classes so you can recreate a piece of your holiday once you return home and make for a lasting introduction to the culture of the region.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Gado gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), tempe goreng (marinated tempeh), bakwan (vegetable fritters), rujak (fruit/veggie salad).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Bali: Moksa Ubud (Ubud), Bali Buda (Cafe and shop with branches across Bali), Living Food Lab (Canggu), Give Cafe (A Canggu not-for-profit cafe offering plant based Indonesian dishes), Sayuri Healing Food (Restaurant and cooking school in Ubud), KYND Community (Seminyak).

<h2>Israel <img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/ca8e77c6517e902fea5441cf9d4298e3223fbf01" alt="Humus Israel Cuisine" width="740" height="555"></h2>
Israel has the highest percentage of vegans in the world (estimated at 5-8% of the total population) and Tel Aviv has a tonne of cool vegan eateries as a result. Variety is key here, and you will find a blend of Israeli, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Western cuisines in the vegan and vegetarian eateries dotted throughout the city centre. Restaurants range from fine dining to fast food, and there are a few vegan delis and grocery stores for supplies on the go, so this location is great at any budget.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Falafel, hummus, sabich (stuffed pita bread), baba ganoush (eggplant dip), halva (sesame confection).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Tel Aviv: Anastasia, Falafel Mevorach, Goodness (Vegan diner providing comfort food - mushroom nuggets are a must), Tenat (Vegan Ethiopian restaurant with regular live jazz music).
<h2>Poland</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/66e3b04b91d0a7f092e8f6dc0df9cd5fe2b6ce77" alt="Fried beets Poland" width="740" height="555">
Polish food may not bring to mind a plethora of vegetable-based dishes, but Poland is in fact one of the most vegan friendly countries in Europe! They boast a rapidly growing number of fully vegan restaurants across the country, and veganism is well understood and catered for. Many of these eateries offer cuisine from across the globe, though you will also find that several traditional Polish dishes are naturally meat or animal product free. Unlike many other countries, vegan preferences have spread beyond the main cities and you are likely to find suitable meals in most places (especially those popular with tourists). Warsaw and Krakow do, of course, provide the largest choice - boasting extras such as vegan bakeries and grocery stores as well.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Pierogi (dumplings), grillowane warzywa (grilled veggies), risotto z grzybami (mushroom risotto), buraczki zasmażane (fried beets), kisiel (fruit dessert).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Poland: Youmiko Vegan Sushi (Warsaw), Vege Bistro (Warsaw cafe specialising in vegan versions of classic Polish dishes), Krowarzywa (locations throughout Poland), Lokal Dela Krem (Warsaw bakery).

<h2>India</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/d701d815bb90b37a2a50b1f28abb964f54afa83b" alt="Vegan Indian Cuisine" width="740" height="555">
India is one of the most vegetarian friendly nations out there, with over half a billion residents identifying as vegetarian. Vegan travellers will still find dairy products quite prevalent in Indian cuisine - think ghee (clarified butter) and paneer (soft cheese). However, it is getting easier to find vegan-friendly options, with Chennai in particular seeing a recent increase in vegan restaurants. If you&rsquo;re a fan of going out for a curry already, you know they can all be prepared with vegetables and chickpeas - and they only get more delicious when you try them in India!
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Onion bhaji, dahl, chana masala (chickpea curry), pani puri (filled dough balls), palak paneer (spinach curry), chikki (nut brittle).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in India: Saravana Bhavan (Locations throughout India), Burma Burma (Locations throughout India), Earth Cafe (Mumbai), Bhaja Govindam (New Delhi), Tamu Tamu (Chennai).

<h2>Sri Lanka</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/57c58e8bdcb1242724c47fd92b129d9d3868a111" alt="Jacfruit Curries Sri Lanka" width="740" height="554">
Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options can be found throughout Sri Lanka and not only in the big cities. There are several religions represented throughout the country and an expectation of varied food requirements as a result. English is widely spoken and, while the term &ldquo;vegan&rdquo; may not be well known, vegetarianism is common. Due to less prevalence of dairy in their cuisine, you can find many dishes that are vegan by default; of course, it&rsquo;s always best to double check as ghee can sometimes be used instead of oil for frying, and milk powder is added to coconut milk in some instances.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Jackfruit curries, mallung (green leaves salad), kiribath (coconut white rice), string hoppers (rice flour dough cakes), kesari (semolina pudding).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Sri Lanka: The VOV (Colombo), Ranbath (Colombo), Balaju Dosai (several outlets in Kandy), Amirthaa (Colombo), Sriyani (Colombo vegetarian restaurant with buffet and bakery options).

<h2>Brazil</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/6ac1cc30bee494f5c6ab57ec7e0a5be7f41f123d" alt="Acai Bowl Brazil" width="740" height="555">
Although many Brazilians still eat meat every day, the sheer volume and diversity of inhabitants (particularly in the big cities) means there is an increasing awareness of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. Foodie hotspot S&atilde;o Paulo definitely tops the list with many well-established vegan specific restaurants, ice cream shops and fast food options. Outside of the cities, people are less likely to be familiar even with vegetarianism, but beans, rice, and vegetables are staples of the Brazilian diet and will be found almost anywhere. Brush up on your Portuguese so you can check for sneaky additions like pork fat, which is often used to add flavour to bean stews.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Polenta, beans and rice, a&ccedil;a&iacute; bowls, pa&ccedil;oca (peanut candy), goiabada (guava dessert).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Brazil: Banana Verde (S&atilde;o Paulo), Dona Vitamina (S&atilde;o Paulo), Bio Carioca (Rio de Janeiro), Camarader&iacute;a Gastrobar (Belo Horizonte).

<h2>Thailand</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/6a7b3170fbc150b2cd20349552cb3385a9d40960" alt="Vegan Pad Thai" width="740" height="555">
Thai cuisine has been plant-based from the get-go, owing largely to the cruelty-free philosophy of devout Buddhists in the country. Over time animal products have been widely introduced, however, it is still easy to find restaurants with vegan (&ldquo;kin jay&rdquo; in Thai) or vegetarian (&ldquo;mangsawirat&rdquo;) offerings. The country&rsquo;s foodie hotspot, Chiang Mai, has long been home to a tonne of suitable restaurants, and they have new eateries popping up all the time. Fish sauce or shrimp paste are common flavorings so you will still need to be diligent, and expect eating out in the busy street markets to be challenging. A must-do when visiting Thailand is going to a cooking class, and you&rsquo;ll find plenty of schools that cater exclusively to vegetarian and vegan diets, with classes ranging from traditional dishes and desserts through to making tofu from scratch.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Gang jay (vegetarian curry), laab jay (vegan spicy salad), pad thai, som tum (papaya salad), pad phuk tong (stir-fried pumpkin), mango sticky rice.
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Thailand: May Kaidee (vegetarian restaurants and cooking schools in Bangkok and Chiang Mai), Goodsouls Kitchen (Chiang Mai), Chuan Siang (Chiang Mai), Vistro (Bangkok), Barefood Bangkok (restaurant specialising in homemade nut cheeses), The Vegan Table (Phuket).

<h3>Tips and tricks no matter where you&rsquo;re visiting</h3>
Even if you are touring a country that caters more to vegetarianism and veganism than average, it&rsquo;s not always smooth sailing - particularly when you come up against a language barrier. On the flipside, destinations that aren&rsquo;t known for their plant based cuisine shouldn&rsquo;t be considered impossible to visit. With some preparation you&rsquo;ll be all set to get your munch on, wherever you end up! Here are a few things to consider:
<h4>Use apps to your advantage</h4>
Numerous apps have sprouted up dedicated to the vegetarian and vegan food scenes, and are helpful to speed up the search for the best foodie spots on your travels. <a href="https://www.happycow.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Happy Cow</a> is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and covers restaurants, as well as stores, hotels and resorts. There are also vegan specific restaurant apps, such as <a href="https://www.vanilla-bean.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanilla Bean</a> and <a href="https://www.abillionveg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abillionveg</a>. Be sure to check out The Vegan Society&rsquo;s<a href="The Best Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Places to Visit Around the World" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Passport</a> for a handy multilingual phrasebook app.
<h4>Overcome the language barrier</h4>
Bring cards printed with your dietary needs translated into the local language(s) of your destination &ndash; not everyone will understand the term &ldquo;vegan&rdquo; so instead try translating a list of specific foods you avoid, e.g. &ldquo;I do not eat meat, seafood, dairy, eggs&rdquo;. These <a href="https://www.maxlearning.net/HEALth/V-Cards.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">V-cards</a> can be saved to your phone, but it&rsquo;s also a good idea to have printed copies as a backup.
<h4>Find a space for DIY meals</h4>
Booking accommodation that has cooking facilities, such as a serviced apartment, Airbnb or even hostels, will allow you the flexibility to cook for yourself and takes the pressure off having to find a suitable place to eat out for every meal. You can also make the most of local markets to create versions of the region&rsquo;s specialities without meat or animal products, if you can&rsquo;t find suitable options at restaurants!
<h4>Bring an emergency food stash</h4>
Take some key supplies with you from home. Pack your favourite dry and tinned ingredients if you are unsure if they will be available at your destination (only if you&rsquo;ll have cooking facilities available, of course!). Bringing snacks such as protein bars will ensure you never get caught out on travel days.
<h4>Keep up those nutrients</h4>
Pack supplements (such as B12 and iron) to keep healthy on the road, even if you don&rsquo;t usually need them at home. This one is particularly important to avoid deficiencies on long journeys when you may struggle to find your usual food sources of essential nutrients.
<h4>Connect with locals</h4>
Join local groups, such as on Facebook (for example, try searching &ldquo;Vegans in [your destination]&rdquo;), to connect with fellow vegans and vegetarians for the most up-to-date advice on where to eat and shop.


With these tips and a little preparation we hope you can enjoy a stress-free and vege-filled holiday. If you&rsquo;re not already a member at Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club, click here to join, we&rsquo;ve shared cheap flights to all of the destinations mentioned in this post in the past. Let us know about your favourite vegan- and vegetarian-friendly holiday spots - and send us your best food snaps!

. . .
Found this useful or have tips of your own? Feel free to drop us a message on <a href="mailto:support@jacksflightclub.com%E2%80%9D">support@jacksflightclub.com</a>&nbsp;and we'll be happy to help.
Please note, while we do have links to other websites in our articles, none are affiliate links and we do not benefit from you clicking on them, we just think they are a good resource :-)

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