Europe

Portland

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.

Stavanger

Norway

Norway 🐳 in $520s-$550s RT 

Best time to visit Norway? It's subjective, sort of like asking someone, "What is beauty?" 

Seattle

Oslo

Oslo, Norway 🛶 in $470s-$500s RT 

The ultimate bucket list moment has landed in your inbox 📩

Munich

Germany

Tromsø

Berlin

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Tromsø 🌌 in €80s-€220s rtn

Planning a trip to Norway? This is your chance :-)

Boston

Oslo 🐻‍❄️ in $420s-$460s RT

Eindhoven

Oslo 🌇 at €96 rtn from Eindhoven

London Stansted

England

Oslo 🏞️ at £35-£39 rtn from London Stansted

I’m going to Svarldbard to see the walruses! Been on the look out for one of these for a long time! So excited to see it come in with good dates at a good price!

Postcard from Becky

I booked a Jack's Flight Club recommended flight to Begen. 

Postcard from Peter

This was a great deal and we just flew SAS to Copenhagen. We booked this for a trip to Berlin! 

Postcard from Amanda

Thank you! This flight was more than half of other dates! So excited!

"more than half of other dates!"

still can’t believe it, the tickets were such a steal, and Tromso was gorgeous!! 

Postcard from Phoebe

Stop off in Oslo on way to Svalbard and stop off in Tromso on the way back to London

Postcard from Laura Fasulo

They have a saying up north: there&rsquo;s no such thing as cold weather, just cold clothing. And sure, that might feel like nonsense when it&rsquo;s -10&deg;F and your breath is crystallizing in front of your eyes, but there&rsquo;s truth in it. The right gear will keep you cozy and warm at any temperature.
This guide covers everything you&rsquo;ll need to stay toasty on your next subzero adventure. It&rsquo;s based on months of painstaking research and my own experiences visiting Fairbanks, Alaska. In mid-February. During a week-long snowstorm.&nbsp;
Unless you&rsquo;re going backpacking <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-visiting-antarctica?utm_source=JFC-Posts&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;utm_campaign=%5BJFC%5D-post-sharing&amp;utm_content=post">in Antarctica</a>, this stuff should cover you.

<h2 id="b">Base Layers</h2>
Base layers, thermals, long johns&hellip; Whatever you call them, they&rsquo;re the foundation of any cold-weather outfit. They mostly come in two-piece sets these days, but you can always go for an old-school <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_suit">union suit</a> to indulge your inner prospector. Nothing wrong with the classics!
Base layers serve two purposes: they help keep you warm while removing sweat from your body. And yes, you will sweat, even on cold winter nights. If you don&rsquo;t wick that moisture away, it can freeze on your skin, and nothing keeps you warm if you have frozen armpits.
For material, your best bet is merino wool. It&rsquo;s warm, lightweight, breathable, and it wicks sweat like a dream. Unfortunately, merino wool can also be kinda expensive &mdash; I paid about $200 for the set I brought to Alaska. If that&rsquo;s a bit outside your price range, synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon are almost as good and a whole lot cheaper. They&rsquo;re not as warm, but they wick moisture just fine and cost about $50-$150 for a solid pair, so you won&rsquo;t have to explain to your partner why you spent a couple hundos on long johns.
Whatever you end up buying, make sure you avoid cotton. Because cotton absorbs moisture rather than wicking it away, you&rsquo;ll finish every hike with a shirt made of ice water. And that&rsquo;s gonna suck.

<h2 id="m">Mid Layers</h2>
Alright, here&rsquo;s where things get a little more loosey-goosey. Remember that whole &ldquo;frozen sweat&rdquo; issue from the previous section? Even with a good base layer, you&rsquo;ll still want to avoid overheating as much as possible.
Overheating? In freezing temperatures?
It&rsquo;s more common than you&rsquo;d think! You wake up to a chilly morning, so you leave the house wearing your warmest clothes. But then the sun comes out, you start walking around, your heart rate goes up&hellip; suddenly you&rsquo;re roasting under your jacket.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s why you want mid layers, plural. It&rsquo;s the easiest way to regulate your body temperature throughout the day &mdash; put on four layers in the morning, cut down to two by the afternoon, up to five for stargazing that night.&nbsp;
Unless you live in the desert, you should be able to piece your mid layers together from clothes you already have. For my trip to Alaska, I brought a few t-shirts, a lightweight long-sleeve shirt, a heavy long-sleeve shirt, a hoodie, and a fleece jacket. For my legs, I stuck with a single pair of insulated weatherproof pants over the base layer, but I&rsquo;m a cold-weather critter by nature. If you&rsquo;re worried about a chilly lower half, some proper snow pants would be a great investment. You can get a solid pair for about $80-$150, depending on the brand.

<h2 id="p">Parkas</h2>
Along with boots, a warm jacket is probably the single most important thing you&rsquo;ll bring on a cold-weather trip. You can skimp out on most of your other gear and still get by, but only if you have a good parka to fall back on.
That means definitely no wool. A traditional pea coat might feel nice and cozy, but rain and snow will turn it into a big, heavy sponge in short order. And while merino wool doesn&rsquo;t absorb moisture the same way, it won&rsquo;t do much to keep the wind out.&nbsp;
For insulation, nothing will keep you warmer than down. All the science in the world still can&rsquo;t beat actual feathers, although synthetic fibers come pretty close these days. Unless you&rsquo;re looking at some truly fancy gear, you&rsquo;ll probably wind up with a natural-synthetic down mix anyway.
When you&rsquo;re browsing down jackets, check for a measurement called fill power. This refers to the fluffiness of the insulation, with higher ratings signifying airier down. The bigger the number, the lighter and more compressible the parka will be. An inexpensive jacket might have a fill power of 400-500, while nicer ones hit 900 and above. A lower rating will still keep you warm, mind you, but it&rsquo;ll be bulkier (and harder to fit in your suitcase).
For the outer shell, look for weatherproof synthetic materials like Gore-Tex or nylon. Try to avoid cotton, although a blend won&rsquo;t hurt as long as there&rsquo;s enough nylon in there. The wind up north gets pretty vicious, so trust me, you&rsquo;ll want a tough shell. You&rsquo;d be surprised how easily a gust can cut straight through to your bones.
Speaking of which, make sure you pick a jacket with a hood. Popping it over your head is the best way to stop the wind from blasting you in the face and blowing down the neck hole of your parka, chilling you from the inside. You&rsquo;ll also want elastic or Velcro cuffs to block the armholes, and a zip that goes high enough to cover your neck and the bottom of your face.
The best cold-weather jackets will cost you upwards of $400, although you can get some pretty solid budget ones for $250 or so. If that feels steep, I&rsquo;d recommend checking Vinted for a secondhand parka. People will often buy them for a single trip, only to sell them the next time they clean out their closet.

<h2 id="b">Boots</h2>
Boots are another piece of gear worth spending a bit more on. Jackets don&rsquo;t reach all the way to the ground, and you&rsquo;ll feel the cold in your feet long before it reaches your core.
Right now, there&rsquo;s at least one person thinking, &ldquo;Hey, I have a nice pair of heavy hiking boots. That should be fine, right? I can just double up on socks to stay warm!&rdquo;
That, my friend, is a recipe for frozen toes (or even frostbite). Hiking boots will keep your feet dry, but they won&rsquo;t keep you warm. They also don&rsquo;t usually go up past your ankles, so snow can fall in and melt, creating a miserable puddle of ice water in your boots. And, unless you&rsquo;re packing socks specifically designed for layering, wearing multiple pairs will just constrict the blood flow to your feet, making them even colder.
Luckily, snow boots solve all those problems. I splurged on a nice pair of Sorels (about $220), and was very glad I did. Those things kept my feet warm and snug for the whole trip &mdash; I didn&rsquo;t even use the <a href="https://hothands.com/products/#product-395">toe warmers</a> I brought!
Since your boots are providing the warmth, focus on socks that wick away sweat. I recommend some lightweight synthetic pairs, but you can go for wool if you want to add a little extra heat retention. Just stay away from cotton and you&rsquo;ll be fine!
Winter boots typically have a temperature rating, so look up the nighttime lows for your destination and use that as a guide. For something all-purpose, a -20 or -40 rating (-30 to -40 in Celsius) should cover you for just about anywhere. Look for boots with removable insulated liners (easier to clean) and make sure they come up past your ankle to keep the snow out.
One last tip: Your pant legs go over your boots, not tucked into them, in case the snow goes higher than the top of the boot.

<h2 id="g">Gloves</h2>
Hands are a little trickier than feet. A heavy pair of ski gloves will do the job in most circumstances, but they can be pretty cumbersome. Unzipping your pockets, using your phone, taking photos&hellip; all these things become a hassle in big padded gloves.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s why I turn back to my cold-weather North Star: layering. Start with a thin pair of insulated liner gloves, ideally merino wool to keep water out, then add some heavy-duty mittens on top. Any time you need to snap a pic or fish your car keys out of your pocket, pull off a mitten and go about your business without exposing bare skin to the elements.&nbsp;
Why mittens, you ask? It&rsquo;s the double-sock problem again &mdash; gloves can reduce blood flow in your hands, especially if you&rsquo;re wearing two pairs. Mittens also allow your fingers to share body heat with each other, which does actually make a difference in chilly climates.
Proper heavy mittens are designed like parkas, with warm insulation inside a weatherproof shell. I don&rsquo;t recommend knit ones (sorry, Grandma) because they&rsquo;ll soak through if you get them wet. Synthetic microfibers, merino wool, and polyester are all fine for the insulation, with nylon for the shell. On the cuffs, a good cinch cord or strap will prevent heat from escaping while also keeping snow out.
A really nice pair of ski gloves or mittens will run you $100-$180 or so, but I did just fine with $30 mittens and $30 liner gloves. In fact, most days I popped a couple of disposable <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/i-tested-dozens-of-the-best-hand-warmers-these-ones-held-up-in-extreme-cold">hand warmers</a> in my jacket pockets and walked around with just the liners on. You&rsquo;ll want the mittens for hiking, dogsledding, and clearing snow off your car, though.

<h2 id="h">Hats &amp; Scarves</h2>
To avoid killer brain freeze, a cozy hat is a cold-climate must-have. I recommend something with earflaps, like a <a href="https://www.overland.com/buying-guides/trapper-hats">trapper cap</a>, to protect those sensitive lugs. But if you&rsquo;re not into the whole &ldquo;grizzled pioneer chic&rdquo; look, a warm beanie will do the trick. Just make sure you can pull it down over your ears when they get cold (because they will get cold).
You know what else gets cold? Necks. Mouths. Noses. Everything below your cheeks, really, so you&rsquo;ll want to cover that all up &mdash; especially when it gets windy. A scarf is a classic for a reason, but a cold-weather neck gaiter or snood can be a bit less awkward to manage. Just keep it around your neck any time you&rsquo;re outside and pull it up over your mouth and nose as needed.&nbsp;
From personal experience, I can tell you a bushy beard also keeps your face surprisingly toasty, although you&rsquo;ll still need to cover your neck unless you&rsquo;re rocking the full Santa.
Finally, if you don&rsquo;t mind looking like a bit of a dork (or cartoon burglar), a balaclava is a great all-in-one solution for your neck, face, and ears. As always, merino wool is my personal recommendation, but that&rsquo;ll cost you about $45 or so. You can find cheaper balaclavas for around $20, trapper hats for $30-$50, and neck gaiters for $20-$35.

<h2 id="r">Renting Gear</h2>
Most cold-weather spots will have businesses that rent gear to tourists, which can be a lot simpler than trying to collect (and pack) all this stuff yourself. A standard package typically includes a parka, snow pants/bib, boots, and mittens or gloves, so you&rsquo;ll only be responsible for underlayers and headwear.
Even renting gear can still be a little pricey, though, so you&rsquo;ll have to do some napkin math to see what fits your budget. For reference, a weeklong rental from <a href="https://alaskaelement.com/">Alaska Element</a> costs $315, while two weeks will run you $465. A <a href="https://rental.tromsooutdoor.no/en">similar business</a> in Troms&oslash;, Norway, charges 2,201 kroner (about $226) for a week, or 3,794 kroner ($389ish) for two.
That&rsquo;s not cheap, but it&rsquo;s still less than buying everything listed in this article. Even just the essentials (parka, boots, pants, mittens/gloves, hat) can cost you over $500, and you can easily hit $800 if you pick up base layers and higher-quality gear.
Ultimately, the rent vs buy debate comes down to how much time you want to spend in the tundra. If you think you have more than one cold-weather trip in you, it&rsquo;s worth splurging on your own set.
The cold can be miserable &mdash; it batters your face, seeps into your bones, chills you from the inside out. But if you bring the right gear (and a little respect), it grants you access to some of the most achingly beautiful places on Earth. When you&rsquo;re lying in the snow, watching your breath rise and dissipate against the background of the aurora borealis, every cent you spent on warm clothing will officially be worth it.

Cold-Weather Checklist: What to Pack for Winter Trips

Spain

France

United Kingdom

Portugal

Italy

Austria

Poland

Hi there, Travellers,
February has whizzed by, and somehow we've reached the end of the month already!&nbsp;
While January was full of meeting members old and new at travel shows, this month has been all about bringing together everything we learned from you. The feedback was so great to hear, so please continue to get in touch with ideas.
One thing we know makes a difference before booking a big trip is getting the inside scoop from someone who's been there, done that&mdash;and that applies to which airlines we fly with, too. Two of our most-viewed articles are our reviews of lesser-known airlines,&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jfc-honest-airline-reviews-saudia-airlines-and-more">Saudia Airlines</a> and <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jfc-honest-airline-reviews-china-southern">China Southern</a>, and we'd like to keep sharing the intel.
So if you've had a memorable airline experience (for the right or wrong reasons), or you've flown on an airline you weren't familiar with beforehand, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/home?contribute=airline">send us a little airline review</a> to help the Jack's Community go further.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Will EES Give You Border Control Nightmares This Summer?

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.

Answered by Katy

<blockquote>
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to know your views on the new EES system which is due to roll out in April &lsquo;26. I&rsquo;m a UK passport holder travelling to Kos in August and concerned about the potential delays at passport control.&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Hey there, Traveller! Great topic, and very timely too.&nbsp;
Since October 2025, countries in the Schengen Zone have been rolling out the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). By collecting your biometric data upon arrival (photo &amp; fingerprints), countries within the zone are aiming to track visitors more consistently and ensure that nobody is overstaying their welcome.&nbsp;
This doesn&rsquo;t feel like anything new in terms of border control techniques (I&rsquo;ve been attempting not to make silly faces in photos at international borders for years), so you&rsquo;d think it wouldn&rsquo;t be a big deal. However, when you try to get <a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/what-is-the-ees">29 countries</a> to roll out one system across 500+ airports, all major ferry ports, land border crossings, etc., things get a little complicated.
Anyone entering the Schengen area on a non-EU passport will now need to go through the process of biometric checks upon arrival. Well,&nbsp;probably.&nbsp;
Like you, reader, airports and border control agents are getting anxious about the surge in summer visitors possibly leading to utter chaos at immigration. For that reason, the EU has confirmed that, although April 9th is still the legal deadline for implementation, all countries have the <a href="https://etias.com/articles/eu-entry/exit-system-full-implementation-still-april-9,-with-flexibility">ability to pause the EES checks</a> for up to 90 days after that date. They&rsquo;ve also given the possibility of a further 60-day extension on that, with early September as the final final deadline.
All that to say, you may not even have to deal with the new EES system upon your arrival in Kos. But if you do, there&rsquo;s no knowing whether it&rsquo;ll be hellish or plain sailing. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2734116543610856/">We asked our Facebook community</a> for their experiences so far, and it really was a mixed bag.

&ldquo;Really quick with lunchtime arrival in Vienna on February 16th. Through in under 10 minutes.&rdquo; - Susan
<hr>
&ldquo;Straight through in Lille, took seconds, and in Fuerteventura they had specific machines for people who hadn&rsquo;t previously done theirs and no queues at all.&rdquo; - Sally
<hr>
&ldquo;Barcelona last month - easy peasy and done in no time.&rdquo; - Liz
<hr>
&ldquo;Alicante in January, returned Feb&hellip;no issue.&rdquo; - Lesley

<h2 dir="ltr">The confused</h2>

&ldquo;Been through Faro (where we did our prints and photos done on the way in) and Rome Ciampino. In Rome when I scanned my passport an official told me to go with him, I was a bit worried but it was just to get my passport stamped and I went straight through. Unfortunately because he was dealing with me, he missed my husband who had to go through the whole process and was almost last through! Teething problems!&rdquo; - Fiona
<hr>
&ldquo;Two very different experiences. One was 2 hours (Tromso), and the other was all automated with self-service scanners! I was pleasantly surprised at Tenerife.&rdquo; - Sophia
<hr>
&ldquo;When I went to Spain, there were some new, very confusing lines, and none of the staff really knew which queues to put people in. When I got to the desk at the front, a grumpy man told me to look into the camera, then do my fingerprints, and that was it. It took around 30-40 minutes, I think, but that was mostly down to the lack of organization; they had people switching queues constantly.&rdquo; - Lauren
<hr>
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been through various, and I think depends upon destination. Montpellier in France is a regular trip, and time-wise for me at least, nothing is out of the ordinary. Did experience about an hour delay at Prague, where they seemed to be struggling, and it took about 40 mins at CDG Paris.&rdquo; - Simon
<hr>
&ldquo;We went through with Eurostar in Paris on Wednesday. It was fine and quick for me, but then our train was delayed because so many people, who had arrived at the time the email and tickets told them to arrive, were stuck in big queues at security.
I think, to be honest, it was the bag scanning that slowed it down there, as the staff manning that section could not have been less helpful.&rdquo; - Danielle

&ldquo;Scanner took a while to scan the passport, and the fingerprint scanner didn't work at all no matter how hard or soft you pressed! (Leeds/Bradford) so had to go the usual route anyway, and the queue was enormous!! So it wasn&rsquo;t just us that had a problem.&rdquo; - Jules
<hr>
&ldquo;2 hours to get into Krakow&hellip;&rdquo; - Beverley
<hr>
&ldquo;A nightmare in Lanzarote. Not clear what to do. Those that didn't scan their passports couldn't then get through passport control at the gate. All UK flights were delayed last night.&rdquo; - Anon
<hr>
&ldquo;Scanners "down" at Lanzarote on way in and took ages to get them back up, so there were big queues. There was no one easily found to ask questions of, and I could see that some of the questions might take some folk down rabbit holes&rdquo; - Karen

The main thing I&rsquo;m taking away from all these stories is that it really varies wildly from airport to airport. Anyone arriving in the Schengen Zone on a non-Schengen passport this summer should plan to queue for at least 30 minutes at border control. If the EES system is in use, many people will be going through for the first time and will need to register their details, causing delays. If it&rsquo;s not in use, you&rsquo;ll still have to wait for a manual check and/or stamping.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re on a tight schedule, book seats close to the front of the plane so you&rsquo;re first off. Don&rsquo;t stop to use the facilities on your way&mdash;plan ahead and use the toilet on the plane before landing. And it&rsquo;s always worth making sure you have your roaming or eSIM sorted in advance so you can keep on top of your transport plans during delays.
Waiting in a line for hours isn&rsquo;t fun for anyone; however, I would suggest doing your best to go into the situation expecting it but not dreading it. It is what it is, and it will be over eventually. That sentiment may be particularly beneficial for anyone heading to Lanzarote, it seems!
But if you&rsquo;re lucky, reader, Kos will have you through border control in under ten minutes, and you&rsquo;ll be sailing off into the Grecian sunset in no time.

It&rsquo;s worth noting that the EES system is linked to the new <a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/about-etias/what-is-etias">Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)</a> in Europe, similar to the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/eta">Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)</a> that the UK brought in this week. While visitors to the UK need an ETA already, ETIAS will only be necessary from late 2026 and won&rsquo;t be a problem for your August trip. However, keep an eye out for updates if you&rsquo;re travelling again later in the year.
I hope this helps you feel a little more prepared for your upcoming trip, reader. It may not be plain sailing, but it shouldn&rsquo;t be the end of the world. Do let us know how it goes once you&rsquo;re back!&nbsp;
Have you been through the new EES system already? <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/will-the-new-ees-system-give-you-border-control-nightmares-this-summer#comments">Share your experiences in the comments</a>!

Reader's Corner

Calling All Vicarious Travelers...

We love seeing the bargain Flights you, our fantastic Community, have bagged, and hearing stories from your trips. It helps us all travel vicariously through each other when we can't be out on an adventure ourselves.
Here are some of our fave moments of escapism from the last month:

"Always wanted to do a safari and the cheap flight offer defo made it doable for me!! Best trip ever!" -&nbsp;Postcard from DynamicVoyager84378

Kenya

"Had a brilliant time, it was amazing!" -&nbsp;Postcard from Calts63

Slovakia

"Took a very romantic road trip from Athens to see the ancient ruins and monasteries, something I had wanted to do for so long! The food was also absolutely fantastic!"&nbsp;- Postcard from PassionateHolidaymaker60896

Greece

"I had two weeks of a lifetime solo in Barbados after working through the Christmas period. I&rsquo;d never have been able to afford it otherwise and I stayed with a local in the country. After a few days of getting the bus, I hired a car and really saw the island. I made friends who live there, and now I&rsquo;m absolutely dying to go back. It was an amazing trip, I saw so much!"&nbsp;- Postcard from Polly!

Barbados

<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/postcards">Head to our Postcards wall</a> to see more!
We'd love to have your pics and tips joining them up there. <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/home?contribute=postcard">Send us a Postcard</a> to let us know about an awesome trip you found through Jack's, or share all your tips, tricks, and tales in <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/home?contribute=story">a travel story</a>.&nbsp;

Travel Tales

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from around the Jack's Community this month.
<ul>
<li>Help! Jack's Traveler Samina from our Facebook community needs your tips for her upcoming <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2741791856176658/">family trip to the Seychelles</a>. Go give her a hand, would ya? </li>
<li>Cheap flights to Asia sometimes mean a long layover in China&mdash;but don't let that put you off! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DU2m52MDD5r/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">Our Navigators shared their top tips</a> for making the most of it. </li>
<li>Now we didn't mean to get you all riled up, but when we asked <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2726200921069085/">where you'd&nbsp;never travel to</a>&mdash;not even if it was free&mdash;there were plenty of opinions flying around. </li>
<li>Jack's Traveler Nina shared some <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVJi-7mkWYg/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">stunning pics</a> from her recent trip to Northern Vietnam. The rest of us immediately went to book flights. </li>
<li>Layovers, who'd have 'em? Community members shared their thoughts, feelings, and experiences on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2722718518083992/">transiting through the USA</a>. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2723282631360914/">AMA: Ask Masuma Anything</a>. Jack's member Masuma answered all our questions about her recent trip to Sri Lanka, and, boy, were we envious! </li>
<li>And finally, Navigator Akasha challenged an unsuspecting Jack's member on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVORuEBjPKK/?hl=en">a fundamental part of plane etiquette: manspreading</a>. We think he passed the test.</li>
</ul>

Community Chatter

Community Dispatches & European Border Control Chaos

<blockquote>
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to know your views on the new EES system which is due to roll out in April &lsquo;26. I&rsquo;m a UK passport holder travelling to Kos in August and concerned about the potential delays at passport control.&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Hey there, Traveller! Great topic, and very timely too.&nbsp;
Since October 2025, countries in the Schengen Zone have been rolling out the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). By collecting your biometric data upon arrival (photo &amp; fingerprints), countries within the zone are aiming to track visitors more consistently and ensure that nobody is overstaying their welcome.&nbsp;
This doesn&rsquo;t feel like anything new in terms of border control techniques (I&rsquo;ve been attempting not to make silly faces in photos at international borders for years), so you&rsquo;d think it wouldn&rsquo;t be a big deal. However, when you try to get <a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/what-is-the-ees">29 countries</a> to roll out one system across 500+ airports, all major ferry ports, land border crossings, etc., things get a little complicated.
Anyone entering the Schengen area on a non-EU/Schengen passport will now need to go through this process upon arrival. Well,&nbsp;probably.&nbsp;
Like you, reader, airports and border control agents are getting anxious about the surge in summer visitors possibly leading to utter chaos at immigration. For that reason, the EU has confirmed that, although April 9th is still the legal deadline for implementation, all countries have the <a href="https://etias.com/articles/eu-entry/exit-system-full-implementation-still-april-9,-with-flexibility">ability to pause the EES checks</a> for up to 90 days after that date. They&rsquo;ve also given the possibility of a further 60-day extension on that, with early September as the final final deadline.
All that to say, you may not even have to deal with the new EES system upon your arrival in Kos. But if you do, there&rsquo;s no knowing whether it&rsquo;ll be hellish or plain sailing. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2734116543610856/">We asked our Facebook community</a> for their experiences so far, and it really was a mixed bag.

It&rsquo;s worth noting that the EES system is linked to the new <a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/about-etias/what-is-etias">Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)</a> in Europe, similar to the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/eta">Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)</a> that the UK brought in this week. While visitors to the UK need an ETA already, ETIAS will only be necessary from late 2026 and won&rsquo;t be a problem for your August trip. However, keep an eye out for updates if you&rsquo;re travelling again later in the year.
I hope this helps you feel a little more prepared for your upcoming trip, reader. It may not be plain sailing, but it shouldn&rsquo;t be the end of the world. Do let us know how it goes once you&rsquo;re back!&nbsp;
<hr>
May 2026 EES update:
The EU Entry/Exit System has now been in place for over a month, and its flaws continue to dominate travel news. As we inch closer to summer travel, non-EU nationals are understandably anxious about delays and disruption. So what can you expect?
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">An April statement on the website of the Greek Embassy in the UK suggested that Greece has suspended the EES system this summer for incoming UK citizens. British travellers make up the largest number of international visitors to the country from outside the EU, so the move is designed to prevent long lines in those smaller, island airports. </li>
<li dir="ltr">This does not mean that tourists from the UK won't face checks&mdash;the usual passport control will be in place.&nbsp; </li>
<li dir="ltr">Visitors from other countries, such as Canada, the USA, Australia, and further afield, will still have to register for the EES system in Greece with their fingerprints and a biometric photograph. </li>
<li dir="ltr">Portugal and Italy have announced that they do not&nbsp;plan to follow suit, despite extensive EES-related delays causing travellers to miss flights out of the country. </li>
<li dir="ltr">Popular summer spots like Faro, Lanzarote, Milan and Lisbon have all recently been called out as airports where an influx of flights landing at the same time has led to hours of queuing. If you're planning a self-transfer trip, where you book an onward connection separately, allow several hours to get through passport control (twice!).</li>
</ul>
All that said, the experience is inconsistent. So far this year, I've travelled through Berlin, Brussels, and Amsterdam airports without any major to-do.
Admittedly, the line at passport control arriving into Brussels was a little slow, but having already provided my biometrics in Berlin a month earlier, I flew through without any issue once I reached the front. The delay wasn't helped by the fact I had to run back to the bathroom beside the gate to retrieve my forgotten suitcase, either...
Amsterdam certainly wasn't making the best use of its 12 border gates with only three operational. However, there was absolutely no need for me to arrive at the airport earlier than usual, despite the warnings on my easyJet app to do so.
Berlin, however, was super efficient. 5 minutes in the line, an apology from the border guard for keeping me waiting. I think I even made it through faster than some of the EU citizens waiting to use the eGates!
So what have our members reported over the last couple of months?

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"Arrived at Verona Airport on 15/04/26 - there were maybe 15 kiosks. It was easy/quick to register and then to go through e-gate. No delays whatsoever."&nbsp;-&nbsp;PassionateHolidaymaker55469
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"12/04 - Arrived at Charles de Gaulle, quite early though - 08.00. Prints and photo in less than 5 minutes. On departure 15/04, scanned passport and straight through - easy."&nbsp;-&nbsp;NomadicHopper67104
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"Nightmare at Malaga on landing. Followed the queues as directed, machines refused to work so we finally joined the back of the original passport control queue. Waste of time and very confusing for those trying to do the right thing. Just about to head off to Faro but I&rsquo;ve read that the new machines have been suspended to be rolled out later this year when it&rsquo;s not so busy."&nbsp;-&nbsp;IndomitableTourist33491
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"We've been through Geneva Airport all winter and it's been a NIGHTMARE!!"&nbsp;-&nbsp;AnimatedExpeditionist08802
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Have you been through the new EES system yet? Share your experiences in the comments!

Will the New EES Give You Border Control Nightmares this Summer?

Czech Republic

Switzerland

Iceland

Wales

Season's greetings, Travellers!
First off, to all those celebrating this week and next, I wish you a very happy festive period! Be it munching on <a href="https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/hanukkah/#:~:text=pressure%20to%20convert.-,Morocco,-Jews%20in%20Morocco">Hanukkah&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/hanukkah/#:~:text=pressure%20to%20convert.-,Morocco,-Jews%20in%20Morocco">sfenj</a> in Morocco, celebrating Christmas with a slice of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/bibingka-filipino-rice-cake-5196489">Filipino Bibingka</a>, or hibernating with Netflix and a pizza, may your bellies be full, and your hearts be warm.
If you're anything like me, this last week has involved a lot of wrapping up (pun intended) before the end of the year. Turns out, it's no different for airline staff, as the big names have been dropping their January sales this week, ready to turn their out-of-office on until next year.
So, if you're keen to lock in a 2026 trip before the year is out, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights">jump into the Members Lounge</a> and check out all the Flights we've been finding. And if you've already sorted your travel plans for the new year, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-217-window-seat-bernina-express-festive-factoids#comments">tell us where you're heading in the comments</a>!
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

The Bernina Express: A Window Seat to Remember

Navigator 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

No white-glove service or curated grandeur here. For everything the Glacier Express is, the Bernina is not. And that&rsquo;s exactly why I loved it.&nbsp; 
After basking in&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/winter-through-a-window-glacier-express">the glitzy carriages of the Glacier Express</a>, my travel mates and I jump off in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N90gGX4XmY">Pontresina</a>. An idyllic alpine village that seems to share Swarovski snow with its high-end neighbor, St. Moritz.
We're only here for a brief stay, long enough to flop ourselves on the feathery pillows at <a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/ch/schloss-wellness-family.en.html?aid=311076;label=schloss-wellness-family-siL34lTXiXePMOAsMWnZvgS626015091330:pl:ta:p1:p21,093,000:ac:ap:neg:fi:tikwd-39525692859:lp1007850:li:dec:dm:ppccp=UmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YX-SVbABBf1_TwNC0YE2R9c;ws=&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=16290144&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD_Ls1IHc1tG-hFCUouPWpGQ-mSEB&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAo4TKBhDRARIsAGW29belcNbwzE1f0hVJhkhtDPjhaLonN4OLgz1qGhNRNTQVM3qimnrrAu4aAoP9EALw_wcB">Schloss Hotel &amp; Spa</a> before catching <a href="https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ie/experiences/bernina-express/">the Bernina Express</a> across the Alps.
But first: bundling up for a quick hike and horse-drawn carriage into the pine-clad peaks of<a href="https://www.pontresina.ch/en/guide/mountains-and-valleys/the-val-roseg"> Val Roseg</a> &mdash; the kind that makes you forget the world and your onward ticket.

Whoever dreamed up winter clich&eacute;s clearly had the Roseg Valley in mind. From underneath heavy fur and wool blankets, we wave our mittens at passing horses and hikers.
The only sounds are the soft snort of the horse and the snow crunching under its hooves.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s a snow-globe kind of serenity as we make our way to the gingerbread-perfect <a href="https://www.roseg-gletscher.ch/en/">Roseg Gletscher</a>, lured in by its legendary dessert buffet and views over the Roseg Glacier.
But snow globes always settle eventually, even metaphorical ones. With dessert plates empty, fingers numb, and daylight thinning, it's time to trade the trail for the tracks and hop on the Bernina Express.&nbsp;

The Bernina is the Glacier Express's wilder, less polished counterpart, forgoing the bells and whistles in favour of raw switchbacks and dramatic elevation changes.
It feels more like a local train that just happens to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1276/">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>, passing through some of the Alps' most stunning scenery.
The train does offer first and second class cabins, but our pockets were a feeling a little light after breathing the Swiss air for almost a week.
We opted for second class; it had everything we needed, including phone chargers and openable windows. Surprisingly, we had the cabin mostly to ourselves.

Unlike the Glacier Express, it's less about being served an experience and more about moving through one.&nbsp;You're far outside the sightseeing bubble, sharing space with locals on grocery runs.&nbsp;
Now and then, I spot lone stone huts in the distance, snow-dusted and silent. I wonder who owns these quiet outposts in such a vast landscape that barely notices our humming train. I imagine the winters and wars they have weathered.
How many hands has their hearth warmed, and how many lovers have stolen a brief embrace on their doorsteps?
The views don't let up as we climb, looping past glaciers, lakes, and peaks. The highest point, 2,253 meters, is one of Europe's loftiest railway crossings.
When the line was built in the early 1900s, just like the Glacier Express, local workers braved avalanches and thin Alpine air to carve tracks into impossible slopes.

Cresting the Bernina Pass, the world outside our window shifts again. Snow melts into emerald green as glaciers give way to forests. Pines blur past, villages flash by &mdash; fast, alive, and totally unstoppable.
The pretty town of Poschiavo lives in between worlds. Sitting north of the Italian border, the language, food, and daily rhythm sway toward the&nbsp;&ldquo;dolce vita&rdquo; lifestyle.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, many locals left to work abroad, often as pastry chefs or traders in Spain and Portugal. Those who returned quietly transformed the village with their earnings, giving Poschiavo a&nbsp;<a href="https://spritzience.com/poschiavo-in-2-hours-the-ultimate-mini-guide/">surprisingly elegant feel</a>.
Nowadays, you'll find artisan boutiques and ancestral ateliers, like <a href="https://www.stone-artposchiavo.ch/en/">StoneArt Swiss</a>&nbsp;run by Angelo Boninchi. He works with local Val Poschiavo marble and regional stones like serpentinite and nephrite jade to create everything from countertops and sculptures to one-of-a-kind jewelry.
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/winter-through-a-window-the-bernina-express">Keep reading for essential Bernina tips...</a>

Festive Facts from Around the World

By Katy

As soon as December arrives, some of the Jack's Navigators kind of lose the plot. In particular, our Member Experience Lead, Jo, gets a little carried away with all the festivities, and this year, she decided to share Christmassy facts from around the world with the team.
In the spirit of the season of giving, I thought I'd gather all our fave nuggets of seasonal wisdom together in one place to share them with you. And where better to start than with the cute little&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inspirationswholesale.co.uk/blog/christmas/what-are-gonks-where-are-they-from/">gonks</a> that have been creeping into Christmas decor in recent years?
The eyeless infiltrators started life in Scandinavia as nisser, small spirits that live in a family&rsquo;s house or barn and secretly act as their guardian. All would go swimmingly if a nisse felt appreciated - they would protect the family and its animals from evil, and they might even do the farmyard chores.

You don&rsquo;t want to offend a nisse, though. One too many tea breaks or forgetting to leave out the obligatory <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-risengrod">bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve</a> is enough to get you in the bad books, and that&rsquo;s when the pranks start. Tying cows&rsquo; tails together and turning objects upside down sounds fairly silly and mostly harmless, but word has it they&rsquo;d also break things or even attack people.
These days, nisser are considered friendly Christmas spirits who might still pull a few pranks here and there (much more elf on the shelf). They became the bearers of gifts in Denmark in the 1840s, with Sweden and Norway following suit later in the 19th century. The <a href="https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/ownership/julbock-swedens-legendary-yule-goat/">Yule Goat</a> had previously held the reins on Scandi Christmas, but now they occasionally show up to hand out gifts together.

The festive season in the Czech Republic is all about finding love for the new year and predicting marriage. If you're in the market and bored of Tinder, here are a few tips:
Shoe chucking:
Stand with your back to the door (any door will do) and chuck a shoe over your shoulder. If the toe lands pointed towards the door, then it is meant to signify that you will marry in the new year. If the toe points any other direction, better luck next time!
The elder tree shimmy:
Třesu třesu bez, pověz ty mi pes, kde můj mil&yacute; dnes! (Shake, shake, shake the elder tree, tell me, dog, where my love will be!) 
These are the words that single ladies may want to recite while standing under an Elder tree and giving it a good shake. Once you're done, stand quietly and listen out until you hear a dog barking. Whichever direction the sound comes from is the direction from which your future husband will appear.
Barborky&nbsp;a.k.a. cherry tree twigs:
On St. Barbara's Day, which lands on the 4th of December, cut a twig off a cherry tree and place it in a vessel of water. If the twig blooms before Christmas Eve, there's a good chance we'll be hearing wedding bells in the new year!

Ti&oacute; de Nadal (a.k.a. Caga Ti&oacute;, a.k.a. Poop Log) is a festive wooden log that appears in houses around Catalonia each Christmas. No Ti&oacute; is complete without little stick legs, a painted cheerful face, and a traditional Catalan&nbsp;barretina hat. Every family has their own unique log, some with a simple charcoal face while others are more intricately decorated.
Ti&oacute; de Nadal becomes part of the Christmas celebrations from the 8th of December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) and stays till Christmas Eve, placed in his own special corner of the home. The kids in the house are responsible for keeping their festive friend covered with a blanket to stay warm, and for keeping him fed. Tangerines, cookies, nuts are ideal to 'prime' him for the big day.&nbsp;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/festive-facts-from-around-the-world">Continue reading festive factoids...&nbsp;</a>

Festive Frolics

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Imagine spending all day in bed while sipping champagne, followed by a hot shower and a plushy robe. Now imagine doing it <a href="https://simpleflying.com/7-most-luxurious-long-haul-first-class-seats-book-today/">40,000 feet up in the air</a>. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">KLM is <a href="https://simpleflying.com/the-uks-regional-airline-klm-announces-flights-to-19th-airport/">expanding its "UK presence"</a>&hellip; but not where you might expect. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Soon you&rsquo;ll have to pay a <a href="https://secretroma.com/en/trevi-fountain-fee-en/">small admission fee</a> to see the iconic Trevi Fountain, which offers visitors a glimpse of Rome&rsquo;s incredible ancient history. But don't worry, it&rsquo;ll still be free to check out the Las Vegas replica, which offers a glimpse of the Guy Fieri restaurant across the street... similar enough, right? </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Scottish adventurer Alice Morrison has become the first recorded person to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/saudi-arabia-walking-british-yemen-tv-presenter-b2884877.html">walk the entire length of Saudi Arabia on foot</a>. The journey was so long, even her camel had to wear shoes.&nbsp; </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Romania has revealed plans for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/dracula-land-theme-park-bucharest-romania-b2881606.html">vampire-themed amusement park</a>, featuring a replicated Victorian London, Mardi Gras carnival, and &mdash; of course &mdash; Dracula&rsquo;s castle. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">And finally, a recent study chose this European city as the world&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timeout.com/news/this-underrated-european-city-has-been-named-the-worlds-most-relaxing-place-to-live-in-2026-121725">most relaxing place to live</a>. Any guesses before you click?</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Take the Window Seat on the Bernina Express & Jack's Festive Facts

Denmark

Sweden

As soon as December arrives, some of the Jack's Navigators kind of lose the plot. In particular, our Member Experience Lead, Jo, gets a little carried away with all the festivities, and this year, she decided to share Christmassy facts from around the world with the team.
In the spirit of the season of giving, I thought I'd gather all our fave nuggets of seasonal wisdom together in one place to share them with you. And where better to start than with the cute little&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inspirationswholesale.co.uk/blog/christmas/what-are-gonks-where-are-they-from/">gonks</a> that have been creeping into Christmas decor in recent years?
The eyeless infiltrators started life in Scandinavia as nisser, small spirits that live in a family&rsquo;s house or barn and secretly act as their guardian. All would go swimmingly if a nisse felt appreciated - they would protect the family and its animals from evil, and they might even do the farmyard chores.
You don&rsquo;t want to offend a nisse, though. One too many tea breaks or forgetting to leave out the obligatory <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-risengrod">bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve</a> is enough to get you in the bad books, and that&rsquo;s when the pranks start. Tying cows&rsquo; tails together and turning objects upside down sounds fairly silly and mostly harmless, but word has it they&rsquo;d also break things or even attack people.
These days, nisser are considered friendly Christmas spirits who might still pull a few pranks here and there (much more elf on the shelf). They became the bearers of gifts in Denmark in the 1840s, with Sweden and Norway following suit later in the 19th century. The <a href="https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/ownership/julbock-swedens-legendary-yule-goat/">Yule Goat</a> had previously held the reins on Scandi Christmas, but now they occasionally show up to hand out gifts together.

Iceland does things a little differently, of course, with not one but thirteen J&oacute;lasveinar, aka <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-thirteen-yule-lads-icelands-own-mischievous-santa-clauses-180948162/">Yule Lads</a>, and their rather unorthodox family. The Yule Lads come down from their mountain home one by one on the nights leading up to Christmas to give gifts.
Much like the nisser, their mean and violent tendencies have been softened over the centuries, so now they&rsquo;re just seen as mischief-makers. Their appearance has also changed with time - the story goes that their mother, Gr&yacute;la, is a troll, so they used to resemble weirdly proportioned elves, but have been increasingly depicted as human over time.
Icelandic children traditionally leave a shoe on their windowsill each night from 12th December until Christmas Eve in the hopes of getting a gift from the Yule Lads. Naughty kids needn&rsquo;t bother, however - unless they really want to get a potato (sometimes raw, sometimes rotten). And that&rsquo;ll certainly be your fate if you forget to leave out a <a href="https://whydyoueatthat.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/day-1-laufabraud/">laufabrau&eth;</a> &nbsp;for them, too.

<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC image</a> courtesy of <a href="https://flic.kr/p/2pRuJpS">Joe Slabotnik on flickr</a>
So here are the 13 lads you&rsquo;ll want to be looking out for over the next week. Thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/the-13-yule-lads-of-iceland/">nordicvisitor.com</a> for the clear explanation!
<ol type="1">
<li>Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod) on 12th December &ndash; He sneaks into barns to steal milk from sheep.</li>
<li>Giljagaur (Gully Gawk) on 13th December &ndash; This Yule Lad has a taste for cow&rsquo;s milk and he&rsquo;ll take it straight from the barn.</li>
<li>St&uacute;fur (Stubby) on 14th December &ndash; The shortest of the lads, he swipes leftover food from frying pans.</li>
<li>&THORN;v&ouml;rusleikir (Spoon Licker) on 15th December &ndash; He licks spoons, of course.</li>
<li>Pottasleikir (Pot Licker) on 16th December &ndash; This guy will steal unwashed pots from the kitchen so he can lick them clean.</li>
<li>Askasleikir (Bowl Licker) on 17th December &ndash; He snatches bowls out from under beds and gobbles up any morsels of food.</li>
<li>Hur&eth;askellir (Door Slammer) on 18th December &ndash; He slams doors, and he&rsquo;ll do this all night if he finds any open.</li>
<li>Skyrg&aacute;mur (Skyr Gobbler) on 19th December &ndash; He&rsquo;s ravenous for skyr, Icelandic yoghurt, and will pinch any that's up for grabs.</li>
<li>Bj&uacute;gnakr&aelig;kir (Sausage Swiper) on 20th December &ndash; Hide your sausages or this guy will eat them.</li>
<li>Gluggag&aelig;gir (Window Peeper) on 21st December &ndash; He&rsquo;ll peep through windows in the hope he can steal something.</li>
<li>G&aacute;tta&thorn;efur (Door Sniffer) on 22nd December &ndash; You&rsquo;ll find this large-nosed lad sniffing doorways in pursuit of baked goods.</li>
<li>Ketr&oacute;kur (Meat Hook) on 23rd December &ndash; He&rsquo;s hungry for meat, so lock up your lamb chops!</li>
<li>Kertasn&iacute;kir (Candle Beggar) on 24th December &ndash; Finally, the last of the Yule Lads is known for making off with candles.</li>
</ol>
We&rsquo;re sure we&rsquo;ve already spotted a few of these guys out at work Christmas parties&hellip; looking at you, Spoon Licker!
But that&rsquo;s not all - their evil troll mother is like the Icelandic Child Catcher, said to venture around Iceland looking for naughty children to whisk away in her sack. The only thing all the legends agree on is that she and her husband Leppal&uacute;&eth;i were cannibals, otherwise it&rsquo;s up to us to decide <a href="https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/gryla-and-leppaludi-the-parents-of-the-icelandic-yule-lads">how many tails</a> and how many children they each had.
But one thing we know for sure is that together they own the giant <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/each-christmas-icelands-yule-cat-takes-fashion-policing-extreme-180961420/"> J&oacute;lak&ouml;tturinn</a>, or Christmas Cat. She stalks the darkness on Christmas Eve, preying on anyone who didn&rsquo;t get new clothes as a gift this year&hellip;

<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC image</a> courtesy of <a href="https://flic.kr/p/2knktqz">Vicious Bits on flickr</a>
The only thing better than Halloween is Christmas! The only thing better than that is an amalgamation of the two (Nightmare Before Christmas). A perfect mixture of weird and dark with sparkly joy. If this sounds like your kinda holiday, well then I have some good news for you: there's a Christmas tradition in&nbsp;Wales that's made to order!
The tradition of Mari Lwyd dates back to the end of the 18th century, but it&rsquo;s believed to have much older Pagan origins.&nbsp;A horse skull is mounted on a stick, decorated with ornaments and ribbons, and adorned with a large cloth to hide the person beneath. You'll find the former horse galloping door to door around Christmas, carried by a group of merry carollers, who also challenge the people inside with rhymes and riddles.
This ritual is known as&nbsp;pwnco, where the Mari Lwyd troupe tries to win entry to a household by outwitting its occupants in a battle of rhymes. You could call it some kind of ancient rap battle. If they succeed, the carollers are welcomed inside and treated to food and refreshments before moving on to the next house.
Mari Lwyd is considered good luck for every household it enters, so it&rsquo;s rarely defeated in a rhyme contest. Win or lose, most are happy to welcome them in!

The festive season in the Czech Republic is all about finding love for the new year and predicting marriage. If you're in the market and bored of Tinder, here are a few tips:
Shoe chucking:
Stand with your back to the door (any door will do) and chuck a shoe over your shoulder. If the toe lands pointed towards the door, then it is meant to signify that you will marry in the new year. If the toe points any other direction, better luck next time!
The elder tree shimmy:
Třesu třesu bez, pověz ty mi pes, kde můj mil&yacute; dnes! (Shake, shake, shake the elder tree, tell me, dog, where my love will be!) 
These are the words that single ladies may want to recite while standing under an Elder tree and giving it a good shake. Once you're done, stand quietly and listen out until you hear a dog barking. Whichever direction the sound comes from is the direction from which your future husband will appear.
Barborky a.k.a. cherry tree twigs:
On St. Barbara's Day, which lands on the 4th of December, cut a twig off a cherry tree and place it in a vessel of water. If the twig blooms before Christmas Eve, there's a good chance we'll be hearing wedding bells in the new year!
Water faces:
Head down to your closest body of water, like a pond, river, lake, or even a big puddle. Bend over the water and think seriously about marriage. After some time, you'll see the face of your future husband in the reflection of the water. We're unclear exactly how long 'some time' is, but that's the thing about superstitions &mdash; they're rarely very precise.

Ti&oacute; de Nadal (a.k.a. Caga Ti&oacute;, a.k.a. Poop Log) is a festive wooden log that appears in houses around Catalonia each Christmas. No Ti&oacute; is complete without little stick legs, a painted cheerful face, and a traditional Catalan&nbsp;barretina hat. Every family has their own unique log, some with a simple charcoal face while others are more intricately decorated.
Ti&oacute; de Nadal becomes part of the Christmas celebrations from the 8th of December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) and stays till Christmas Eve, placed in his own special corner of the home. The kids in the house are responsible for keeping their festive friend covered with a blanket to stay warm, and for keeping him fed. Tangerines, cookies, nuts are ideal to 'prime' him for the big day. 
Every evening, the children gather around&nbsp;Ti&oacute; and sing him traditional songs while hitting him with a stick. It's all part of the process, honest! The better&nbsp;Ti&oacute; is treated by the children during his stay, the better their rewards come Christmas.
On either the night of the 24th or the morning of the 25th, Caga Ti&oacute; is taken from his corner and completely covered with his blanket, before being placed in the middle of the room. The kids then gently beat him with a stick one final time and lift the blanket to see what Ti&oacute; has "pooped" out for everyone. The little treasures usually range from sweets and small trinkets to toys and large presents.
Equal parts whimsy and delight, the&nbsp;Caga Ti&oacute; isn&rsquo;t just about making a cheery log &ldquo;poop&rdquo; gifts. It is designed to help children learn values like patience and generosity, while also enjoying the magic of Christmas.&nbsp;

We&rsquo;ll round off by heading back to Czechia for more seasonal superstitions. Christmas dinner is eaten on 24th December, and comes with an incredible plethora of food related customs and superstitions that need to be followed. It's quite the list and, if it were me, I would absolutely need to take notes and create a checklist. So, let's get stuck in:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">By chucking a piece of V&aacute;nočka (Christmas bread) into a well, your water will be good quality in the new year </li>
<li dir="ltr">To make sure your bees produce enough honey, you should also sprinkle a few V&aacute;nočka crumbs in front of the bee hive </li>
<li dir="ltr">Want your cows to be the best milk producers on the meadow? Feed precious Daisy a piece of bread on Christmas Eve! </li>
<li dir="ltr">Tired of evil lurking around every corner? Place honey on your Christmas table to protect your guests against bad luck and evil in the new year! </li>
<li dir="ltr">And if you don't place garlic&nbsp;under the table, are you even celebrating Christmas? These little cloves are believed to bring strength, and provide protection to everyone around the table. <img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/b64164ab45bafe9f989ed728b20e289b2ab6abd6" width="245" height="367" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="A goat with a snowy background in a rural snow-covered landscape"> </li>
<li dir="ltr">Sweeter milk from your family goat? Give them a sweet treat on Christmas Eve! By sharing your apples with Sally, you'll be blessed with sweeter milk. </li>
<li dir="ltr">Traditionally, a meal called Kuba, made from onions, mushrooms, garlic, and barley, was served at Christmas dinner as part of the main course. Nowadays, it's often replaced by mushroom soup for supper. The mushroom portion of the meal is the important part, though, essential for providing strength and health in the new year! </li>
<li dir="ltr">On the 24th of Dec, dip a sheaf of grain into holy water (ideally not obtained by nefarious means) and sprinkle the water all over your house, both inside and out, to ensure that your home is safe from being burnt down over the next year! </li>
<li dir="ltr">Want enough eggs to feed an army? Heck yes, omelettes and the aforementioned sweetened goat milk cheese sounds delish. Well, in that case, you need to feed a variety of poppy seed, peas, wheat, and barley to your chooks on Christmas Eve to guarantee eggs for everyone!</li>
</ul>

What are your top festive facts from around the world? Drop 'em in the comments, or else Santa will bring you a lump of coal!

Jack's Festive Facts from Around the World

Japan

Chile

Indonesia

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

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>

Norway

Norway in $520s-$550s RT

Oslo, Norway in $470s-$500s RT

Tromsø in €80s-€220s rtn

Oslo in $420s-$460s RT

€91-€96 rtn

£32-£39 rtn