Europe

Boston

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

United States

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

Stockholm

Sweden

Stockholm 🎄 in $350s-$420s RT

Birmingham

England

Stockholm 🐟 at £55 rtn from Birmingham

London Stansted

Stockholm ⛵ at £53-£57 rtn from London Stansted

Berlin

Germany

Stockholm 🕺 at €75-€80 rtn from Berlin

Karlsruhe

Stockholm 🕺 at €42-€53 rtn from Karlsruhe

Seattle

Portland

Stockholm 🐻‍❄️ in $410s-$460s RT

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

Postcard from Amanda

Hey Jack & team,

I booked this snack to Gothenburg! Ended up booking a week but it'll be my first time in Scandinavia so thought I'd give myself a few more days!

Cheers again for the service! Adam

Postcard from Adam

So excited to have snagged RT to London in March for under $375 on Play. We really wanted to see an art exhibit and now we can!!

This is my first time using Jack’s Flight Club, having joined in early November. Love it already!

Postcard from Morgean

You saved me around €200, I had looked at these flights recently for a potential holiday at just over €300 return, I got the same ones for only €106 thanks to the flight club 

Postcard from Andrew

Thanks guys , I end up buying LHR-OSL / STV-LHR , with those prices I decide to do a little Norway tour all for £86, cracking deal for Norway 

Postcard from Enrique

Thank you for spotting the Norway (Bergen) deal from Gatwick. I’ve book for my last birthday not being a mum over May bank holiday. So excited already!

Postcard from Katie

Belgium

Netherlands

Finland

Canada

Greece

Portugal

Italy

Hey there, Travellers,
We were delighted to see yesterday that airlines aren't the only part of the industry where error fares pop up. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/carnival-cruise-line-cancellations-travelers-b2976640.html">Carnival Cruise Line fell foul of a "glitch"</a> earlier in the week that saw fares slashed in half, and of course some eagle-eyed Redditors spread the word.
While we usually see airlines honouring error fares, Carnival opted not to, saying that it "fell far below any reasonable promotional fare." Despite getting a full refund, many affected travellers are upset as they'd already gone ahead and booked their flights out to the port of departure.
They clearly hadn't read <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/what-is-an-error-fare-and-how-to-book-one">our tips on what to do when you spot an error fare</a>. Spoiler: we always recommend waiting at least a couple of weeks before booking anything else in case the carrier chooses to cancel. Until then, give yourself a pat on the back and open a bottle of bubbly to celebrate!&nbsp;
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

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This&nbsp;special&nbsp;&pound;1 offer ends 20th&nbsp;May 2026, so don't miss out and start your Wanderlust journey today.&nbsp;

In Partnership with Wanderlust

With journeys spanning more than 30 countries and ten years, Akasha's best memories live in the pages of her passport. She always consults her tarot (and her cats) before any big trip. Currently based in Ireland, when she isn't travelling, she&rsquo;s probably drawing in a caf&eacute; somewhere.

By Akasha

Welcome to the rabbit hole.
International borders are strange and sometimes confusing things, changing over time and often on seemingly bureaucratic whims. And once you start digging into the wheres and whys, it's hard to look away...
Here are a few of our top picks for the world's weirdest borders:
<h2 id="the-longest-hole-in-one">The longest hole-in-one</h2>

Ever shanked a golf shot so bad it took an hour to land? Seriously!&nbsp;
On the northern border of Finland and Sweden, you&rsquo;ll find Green Zone&rsquo;s 18-hole golf course. The quirk? Seven holes in Finland and 11 in Sweden, meaning golfers need to walk across the border multiple times per round.&nbsp;
And since there&rsquo;s a one-hour time difference between these Nordic neighbors, your shot technically takes an hour to get to the other side &mdash; or even appears to travel back in time.
<h2 dir="ltr" id="a-little-to-the-left">A little to the left</h2>

Meet the undisputed champion of border lore. One of only two counter-enclaves in the world, and certainly the most bizarre.&nbsp;
No corner of the towns <a href="https://youtu.be/xv8t0x34A8w?si=Aw5IyGnH7FS8FTbu&amp;t=68">Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog</a> is safe from the patchwork white crosses that mark the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. It&rsquo;s a town of roughly 10,000 and made up of 22 enclaves belonging to the Belgian municipality of Baarle-Hertog, surrounded by the Dutch municipality of Baarle-Nassau, with 7 counter-enclaves. Because of this, you can cross the boundary 30 times in just 5 kilometers, with the border running straight through streets, supermarkets, and schools.
It&rsquo;s a place where couples can sleep in the same bed while being in two separate countries and where residents have moved their front doors just a smidge to pay less tax.

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<h2 class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-h2 mui-lqgaod" dir="ltr" id="reading-between-the-lines">Reading between the lines</h2>
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A good book, a teary opera. Both have the ability to transport you into their stories instantly, but what if they could transport you across state lines&hellip;&nbsp;
On the skirt of Vermont and Quebec, that&rsquo;s precisely what happens at the <a href="https://www.haskelloperahouse.org/">Haskell Free Library &amp; Opera House</a>. The only indication you&rsquo;ve swapped maples for stars? A black line cutting through a rickety floorboard.
It was built by a wealthy Canadian, Martha Stewart Haskell (no, not that one), after inheriting a fortune from her late husband. A gift to the community, it was intentionally built to straddle the border between the US and Canada as a symbol of friendship and cultural welcome mat for the border communities. It&rsquo;s often referred to as &ldquo;the only library in the US with no books&rdquo; since most stacks are indeed on the Canadian side.&nbsp;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-worlds-weirdest-borders">Keep reading for more barmy borders...</a>

Travel Inspiration

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

Back in March,&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/will-the-new-ees-system-give-you-border-control-nightmares-this-summer">we shared what we already knew</a> about the new EU Entry/Exit System. It 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 got an EES tale to tell?&nbsp;<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>!

Travel Tips

What a deal!!! When I saw it, I didn&rsquo;t even hesitate to book! It got me 20 days in the wonderful country of Chile, where I got to see my first desert (and the driest one at that), and finally see the Pacific again! A great trip, and the money I saved on the flight just meant more souvenirs to bring back home.

Miami to Santiago, Chile at $383 RT

Postcard from ShopaholicShrimp

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://simpleflying.com/true-business-class-passengers-priority-emergency-evacuation/">Can fare class dictate</a> in what order you evacuate a plane? </li>
<li>Ever felt like you'd be able to keep raving a little longer, if only you could take a nap without getting thrown out of the club? <a href="https://secretberlin.co/en/the-infinite-now-kraftwerk-berlin-3/">Berlin has the solution</a>. </li>
<li>Young Americans, take the money-saving wins where you can get them with <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/tsa-precheck-offers-discount-for-young-travelers">discounted TSA PreCheck</a> this summer. </li>
<li>Yes, <a href="https://www.cntraveller.com/article/englands-eight-best-northern-seaside-towns">"England" and "beach holiday"</a> do go together, even in the north. Fish and chips obligatory. </li>
<li>And finally, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy82j0q383no">Magnus the walrus</a> spent weeks making waves around Scotland before disappearing back into the chilly North Sea. As it transpires, he'd simply had enough of us and decided to continue his Northern European tour across in Norway. Do send us a pic if you spot him!</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Weird and Wonderful Borders & a May EES Update

Spain

France

Oman

United Arab Emirates

Ever shanked a golf shot so bad it took an hour to land? Seriously!&nbsp;
On the northern border of Finland and Sweden, you&rsquo;ll find Green Zone&rsquo;s 18-hole golf course. The quirk? Seven holes in Finland and 11 in Sweden, meaning golfers need to walk across the border multiple times per round.&nbsp;
And since there&rsquo;s a one-hour time difference between these Nordic neighbors, your shot technically takes an hour to get to the other side &mdash; or even appears to travel back in time.
<h2 dir="ltr">Reading between the lines</h2>

A good book, a teary opera. Both have the ability to transport you into their stories instantly, but what if they could transport you across state lines&hellip;&nbsp;
On the skirt of Vermont and Quebec, that&rsquo;s precisely what happens at the <a href="https://www.haskelloperahouse.org/">Haskell Free Library &amp; Opera House</a>. The only indication you&rsquo;ve swapped maples for stars? A black line cutting through a rickety floorboard.
It was built by a wealthy Canadian, Martha Stewart Haskell (no, not that one), after inheriting a fortune from her late husband. A gift to the community, it was intentionally built to straddle the border between the US and Canada as a symbol of friendship and cultural welcome mat for the border communities. It&rsquo;s often referred to as &ldquo;the only library in the US with no books&rdquo; since most stacks are indeed on the Canadian side.&nbsp;
Sadly, under the current administration, Canadians are no longer allowed to use the US sidewalk that leads to the library's grand entrance. Instead, they are required to travel to a US legal port of entry first&mdash;a stark contrast to Martha Stewart Haskell&rsquo;s vision. One must enter through an emergency exit, walk up three flights of stairs through the opera house on the second floor, and descend three more flights of stairs to reach the main office before ever even touching a book.&nbsp;
In response, the library has begun building an entirely <a href="https://www.haskelloperahouse.org/canadian-door.html">new entrance for Canadians</a>, mainly with the help of private donations.
<h2 dir="ltr" id="a-matryoshka-doll-of-borders">A&nbsp;matryoshka doll of borders</h2>

You&rsquo;re probably familiar with enclaves, one sovereign territory entirely encircled by another. San Marino, the Vatican, and Lesotho spring to mind. But what about an enclave within another enclave?&nbsp;
Enter Madha. Entirely within the UAE, this Omani territory is completely cut off from Oman on all sides. Dead center in Madha is a counter-enclave, the tiny Emirati village of Nahwa, belonging to the UAE. This geographical puzzle is commonly known as the <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/nahwa-sharjah-uae-counter-enclave">UAE-Oman donut</a> and is one of only two counter-enclaves in the world.
It all came about in 1969, when borders were being established by the British. Madha swore allegiance to the Sultanate of Oman, while Nahwa swore their allegiance to one of the seven emirates.
To make things even more complicated, 30 km north is Musandam, another Omani exclave separated from the rest of the country by the UAE. Known as the "Norway of Arabia," visitors who want to see its <a href="https://www.arabianwanderers.com/musandam-trip-all-you-need-to-know-for-a-trip-to-khasab">famous fjords</a> usually fly from Muscat. Otherwise, you&rsquo;re looking at crossing six border checkpoints (passing through Madha/Nahwa) just to drive to and from Oman.
<h2 dir="ltr">Shared custody</h2>

On the border of France and Spain, there&rsquo;s a sliver of land in the middle of a river called <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-42817859">Pheasant Island</a>. It's no bigger than a football field and uninhabited, but from February to July it's Spanish&hellip; and from August to January, French.&nbsp;
In 1659, this was considered neutral land. And when the Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed here, it put an end to the 24-year war between the countries.&nbsp;
Day-to-day management is delegated to the local mayors of the border towns Hendaye &amp; Irun&mdash;mostly consisting of cutting the grass and chasing illegal campers off the land. And no, there are and never have been pheasants.
<h2 dir="ltr">A little to the left</h2>

Meet the undisputed champion of border lore. Remember when we said there are only two counter-enclaves in the world? This is the other, and the most bizarre.&nbsp;
No corner of the towns <a href="https://youtu.be/xv8t0x34A8w?si=Aw5IyGnH7FS8FTbu&amp;t=68">Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog</a> is safe from the patchwork white crosses that mark the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. It&rsquo;s a town of roughly 10,000 and made up of 22 enclaves belonging to the Belgian municipality of Baarle-Hertog, surrounded by the Dutch municipality of Baarle-Nassau, with 7 counter-enclaves. Because of this, you can cross the boundary 30 times in just 5 kilometers, with the border running straight through streets, supermarkets, and schools.
It&rsquo;s a place where couples can sleep in the same bed while being in two separate countries and where residents have moved their front doors just a smidge to pay less tax.

Have you ever visited one of these barmy borders? Are there others we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

The World's Weirdest Borders

Czech Republic

Iceland

Norway

Denmark

Wales

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

China

Kazakhstan

Faroe Islands

India

Bulgaria

Egypt

Australia

Ecuador

Guam

Sometimes you just want to get off the beaten track and delve into the more isolated corners of the world. However, getting to these places can often be both challenging and expensive. We've put together a guide on how to get to some of the most remote places on earth for cheap.
This list is not an exhaustive guide, and we'd highly recommend doing your own research before making your way to the places below.
<h2>1. Gurbant&uuml;ngg&uuml;t Desert, China</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/0d61be165463a34e5e17d70fcc6d3f45503865cc" alt="Gurbantunggut Desert China" width="745" height="453">
Sandwiched between Kazakhstan and Mongolia, the Gurbant&uuml;ngg&uuml;t Desert is located in northwestern China. It is the country&rsquo;s second-largest desert behind the Taklamakan Desert and occupies 50,000 square kilometers of Northern Xinjiang.
It&rsquo;s one of the most arid areas of the world, but the nearby glacial mountains of Tian Shan are a major water source for the province, providing valuable hydration once the snow melts. Spring is the best time for a spot of desert trekking, when blooming flowers stand out against the sandy backdrop.
<h3 id="how-to-get-there">How to get there</h3>
To get to the Gurbant&uuml;ngg&uuml;t Desert, you can take a flight from London to&nbsp;&Uuml;r&uuml;mqi (URC), the capital city of Xinjiang province, with your choice of several Chinese airlines. Our team has tested out China Southern and China Eastern; <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jfc-honest-airline-reviews-china-southern">here's what they had to say</a>.
Once at &Uuml;r&uuml;mqi, take a one-hour bus/train to the city of&nbsp;Shihezi, then another bus to&nbsp;Group 150 (yes, this is a place, named by the military) for another hour.
After arrival at Group 150, you'll need a taxi or a coach to cover the last 10 km. Easy peasy.
<h2>2. Supai, Arizona</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/65fb2c184ae2c2cff16974e8eedda9fd112aa41b" alt="Supai Arizona Waterfall" width="740" height="562">
The village of Supai, the capital of the Havasupai Reservation, has mail delivery service for its 43 households carried out by a team of mules.&nbsp;
That's because there are no roads leading to Supai! Unlike most rural destinations in the United States, this town is a full eight miles from the nearest drivable street and requires you to travel by foot (or hoof), or book a helicopter ride to reach the town.
<h3>How to get there</h3>
Start by flying into Las Vegas. From there you&rsquo;re going to want to rent a car for the 3-4 hour drive to the Hualapai Hilltop, which is essentially a car park. From there, you'll either need to hike the 8-mile trail or rent a mule to help you out. You could also splurge on a helicopter, but with surroundings this beautiful, why not take your time?
You'll also need to get your hands on a permit, which can be pretty costly ($455 as of 2026) and comes with set rules on how long you can stay.&nbsp;
<h2>3. Kolsai Lakes, Kazakhstan</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/e2d32256dd3781f6d6e68490a8fd73bd45369cd3" alt="Kolsai Lakes Kazakhstan" width="740" height="587">
Around 75 miles southeast of Almaty, near the northern foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains, sits the breathtaking Kolsai Lakes National Park. At its center are the Kolsai Lakes, often referred to as &lsquo;The Pearls of Tian Shan&rsquo;, an untouched, scenic area of Kazakhstan.
Of the lakes, Kaindy is perhaps the best known among travelers for its <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DKWmCA2I6n5/">eerie skeleton trees</a>.
<h3 id="how-to-get-there-06">How to get there</h3>
The first part of the journey involves flying into Almaty Airport. From there, grab a&nbsp;marshrutka or taxi to Saty. You can also pick up organized tours from Almaty.
The first lake is fairly easy to reach by taxi or hitchhiking, thanks to a new asphalt road from Saty. You can then hike to the second, but make sure you take your passport, as you may encounter Kyrgyz border patrol along the way.
<h2>4. Faroe Islands</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/599e78da4b094f5f5dfc62f919c335bbf25635e9" alt="Faroe Islands Overview" width="740" height="584">
The Faroe Islands is a little easier to reach than some of the other locations on this list due to an increase in flights over the past several years, but don't be fooled&mdash;you're still visiting an isolated archipelago with a population less than half the size of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It's remote travel made easy!
<h3 id="h">How to get there</h3>
Six of the islands are connected by road, so you can soak up the vast amount of snow-capped scenery from a rental car once you have arrived at the pocket-sized Vagar Airport. Atlantic Airways is the main airline connecting the Faroes with the rest of Europe, including Edinburgh, London, Copenhagen, Paris, Oslo, and more.
<h2>5. Changthang Plateau, Tibet</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/2ba3e4a730752e9c165232a8280588c805fb482f" alt="Chang Tang Tibet" width="740" height="534">
Changthang is located in the west of the Tibetan Plateau and sits at an altitude of over 4000 m. It&rsquo;s a truly wild and untouched 700,000 km&sup2; area of largely uninhabited land that experiences harsh, arctic-like winters. However, visiting between May and October opens up the chance to spot wild yaks, antelope, and snow leopards and see nomadic life in action.
<h3 id="how-to-get-there-01">How to get there</h3>
First, fly to Leh, Kashmir, likely with a layover in Delhi. From there, you&rsquo;ll need to rent a car, as it's a four-hour bumpy ride out to the&nbsp;Tibetan Plateau.
<h2>6. Kungsleden, Sweden</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/7a98dcf5bbe5d33b356e8d02990d5a213f7eda0e" alt="Kungsleden Sweden" width="733" height="589">
Northern Sweden is perfect for the more ambitious, wilderness-loving travelers. Kungsleden, also known as the King's Trail, is a 270-mile-long hiking trail between Abisko (North) and Hemavan (South Sweden). The trail passes through the Game of Thrones-esque Vindelfjallen Nature Reserve, which has to be seen to be believed.
A series of huts located 6-14 miles apart are open during the summer, but the weather can be unpredictable and potentially treacherous all year round.
<h3>How to get there</h3>
Fly into Kiruna after a layover in Stockholm. From there, it&rsquo;s a 1.5-hour bus ride to Abisko, and then you're on your way. Don't forget to pack your rain jacket&nbsp;and&nbsp;sunscreen.
<h2>7. Andaman Islands</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/ab92fd1359b100882bae286c928ea023129a7435" alt="Andaman Islands Beach" width="740" height="634">
The beautiful (and largely untouched) Andaman Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, between India and Myanmar. The islands are home to numerous tribes, including the Sentinelese, known for their hostility towards visitors. Many of the inhabitants have had little contact with the outside world. Only a dozen or so of the 300 islands are open to visitors, so this is a must-visit if you're looking to tick off a major spot on that remote location bucket list.
<h3 id="how-to-get-there-02">How to get there</h3>
Start by flying into Delhi or Bangalore, India. Then it's on to&nbsp;Veer Savarkar Airport, also known as Port Blair, which is the main airport for the Andaman Islands.
<h2>8. Rila National Park, Bulgaria</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/7ecf4aeddb4215bc1a29c829e244c98afc69922b" alt="Rila National Park Bulgaria" width="740" height="509">
Rila National Park is the largest nature reserve in Bulgaria, stretching across more than 800 square kilometers. Rila is practically made for fans of blue lakes, hiking trails, and epic views, and it&rsquo;s only 100 km away from the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. This makes it even cheaper and easier to visit!
<h3 id="how-to-get-there-03">How to get there</h3>
Fly into Sofia with a cheap and cheerful connection from anywhere in Europe, then hop on a bus from Sofia to Rila town. The trip takes around 2-3 hours from the central bus station.
<h2>9. Siwa Oasis, Egypt</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/211de9ede0a0c35dfc4bde40fd24c17744daa34e" alt="Siwa Oasis Egypt" width="739" height="629">
Siwa is the ideal location for all you desert daydreamers. Despite its arid appearance, Siwa is home to both olive and palm trees, with crystal-clear springs dotted throughout. Add to that the epic ruins of the Old Fortress, and it makes for quite the adventure.
<h3 id="how-to-get-there-05">How to get there</h3>
First things first, fly to Cairo. From here you have a rather long drive of around 740 km to Siwa Oasis, which could take 10 or more hours. There are night buses leaving Cairo and Alexandria between 9 and 11 pm if you're up for a restless night, while shared minivan transfers travel during the day from coastal towns.
<h2>10. Guam, Micronesia</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/7f5402f0311141111d21f175a4feb6d3a4b7b42b" alt="Guam Micronesia" width="740" height="560">
If "remote" for you means "crystal clear lagoons and white sandy beaches," then the Micronesian island of Guam is what you need. The whole island is only 210 square miles, and it is surrounded by a massive coral reef that makes it the perfect place for avid scuba divers and snorkelers. Located in Typhoon Alley, visiting any time between August and October puts you at a higher risk of encountering a tropical storm. If you&rsquo;re looking to stay dry and soak up the max amount of vitamin D, visit in the dry season between December and June.
<h3 id="how-to-get-there-04">How to get there</h3>
Getting there is actually pretty simple, if a little time consuming. Connecting flights to Guam are available through Honolulu, as well as a few major Asian hubs like Seoul, Taipei, and Tokyo.&nbsp;
<h2>11. Utqiagvik, Alaska</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/1a6391ed4175250800ac0bda639f27b0ab6fa577" alt="Barrow Alaska" width="695" height="613">
Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow, is one of those unique areas of the world that basks in 24-hour sunlight for over 80 days in the summer. Then, in the winter, locals endure a complete blackout for over 60 days. Located right at the tip of Alaska, you&rsquo;ll struggle to find more remote surroundings without driving for days through the mountains.
<h3>How to get there</h3>
Fortunately, the town has its own airport, meaning you only need to travel by plane to get there. Alaska Airlines runs daily flights between Utqiagvik and Anchorage in the $300s/&pound;200s. Find your flight to ANC, then take a quick hop upstate.
<h2>12. Cape York Peninsula, Australia</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/e79cdcc9eb6792d0187413954224a10a417e8b5a" alt="Cape York Peninsula Australia" width="740" height="547">
The Cape York Peninsula runs parallel to the Great Barrier Reef, north of Cairns. Its nearest city, however, is in Papua New Guinea and not Australia&mdash;that's how remote this place is! Tackling Cape York means spending several days in the bush in near complete isolation. It'll just be you, your travel partner, your jeep, and the scattered fuel roadhouses located every few hundred kilometers for company. The juice is so worth the squeeze if you like having your breakfast by pristine waterfalls, spending your days walking through rainforests, and chilling on deserted beaches by night.&nbsp;
<h3>How to get there</h3>
First, fly into Cairns. From there, your cheapest (and most exciting!) option is to rent a 4x4 and head out on your off-road adventure.
<ul></ul>
<h2>13. Galapagos Islands</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/bee8b60dc0e9532dee14d49cc2a3ddcfb15a8dfa" alt="Galapagos Islands" width="740" height="539">
Known for its rare wildlife, the Galapagos is a set of pristine islands off the coast of Ecuador. The islands and their surroundings are home to flamingos, sea lions, whales, rare birds, and, of course, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise.
<h3 id="how-to-get-there-07">How to get there</h3>
To get to the islands, you first have to fly into&nbsp;Quito or&nbsp;Guayaquil, Ecuador. From there, it's just a quick flight over to Baltra in the Galapagos.

Where else would you include on the list? Is there anywhere crazy you'd like to know how to reach? Drop your suggestions in the comments :-)

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