Free Stopovers & Answers To Your Burning Questions
Hey there, Travellers,
I have a secret: I like Star Trek. And since this week marks Star Trek's 60th birthday, I thought it only right to share a round-up of 10 of the galaxy's coolest vacation spots you'll never visit. No, Iowa is not on the list.
Today also marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, with memorial events taking place online and around the United States. If you’d like to honour the lives that were lost, one way to do that is by pledging a good deed on 911day.org. Whether it’s by donating to a charity or simply going out of your way to thank someone who deserves it, a little kindness can go a long way on a dark day.
Happy travels and safe landings,
Katy - Editor of The Detour
Fly One, Get One Free: Jack's Guide to Airline Stopover Programs
By Hannah and Akasha
Two expert Jack's Navigators with one simple goal: to inspire you to see more of the world while spending less on flights.
Stopovers vs. layovers: is there actually a difference? Short answer: yes!
Both involve a break in the journey to your final destination, but they differ in two ways: duration and purpose.
The primary purpose of a layover flight is to allow passengers to switch planes, and typically doesn’t give you much time to explore the layover city. A stopover is more of an extended break in your journey that typically lasts from 1 to 7 days before you fly onwards to your final destination. It’s basically a multi-city trip - but with little to no extra cost.
This can be a bit complicated to plan, but the trick is choosing an airline that includes a free stopover program in one of their hub cities. Some make the process super easy, while others make it tricky to find concrete information.
Luckily for you, we’ve already done the digging. Here are a few of our faves to get you started...
How long?
1-9 nights
Where?
Madrid
What’s included?
Hotel stay offers: Travelers can get up to 25% off Meliá hotel stays (including early check-in or late check-out upon request). There’s also a free bottle of Perrier-Jouet champagne in it for you if you book a stay at Casa Faraona, or an included breakfast and guaranteed upgrade at the Rosewood Villa Magna Hotel.
Free public transport: All travelers are entitled to free transportation on metro, light rail, and urban and intercity buses for 2 days. Find more details here.
Discounted activities and attractions: Promotions include a complimentary dinner at a flamenco show, 20% off museums and up to 50% off theme park tickets. Find a full list of offers here.
How to book?
Iberia has a designated stopover page where you’ll enter in your route and travel dates as normal. Then you can choose whether to have the stop on your outbound or return leg, as well as how many nights you’d like to spend there.
After You Land
You’ve got the entirety of Spain at your fingertips by flying into Madrid. But before making a beeline for one of hundreds of high-speed trains, allow a little time to explore Spain’s capital, starting with the classics: museums, parks, and palaces.
Afterward, pick a platform and head for:
Salamanca: Bask in in the golden glow of this university town's famous sandstone architecture. There's something magical about wandering the streets of Salamanca.
Burgos: Admire the jaw-dropping Gothic cathedral, meander along the picturesque riverfront, and soak up the laid-back aura of this historic northern treasure.
Zaragoza: Marvel at the stunning Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, dive into the city's rich Roman and Moorish tapestry, and savor the lively street life and mouthwatering local bites. It's considered Spain's best-kept secret, and we have to agree!
Cuenca: Take in the gravity-defying hanging houses. These medieval structures, dating back to the 14th century, were originally built as summer houses for the royal family. Today, they are iconic symbols of the city
How long?
1 - 4 nights
Where?
Nadi, Fiji
What’s included?
Discounted resort packages: Fiji Airways’ stopover program includes resort packages in Nadi through partner properties like Landers Bay Resort, Crowne Plaza, Sofitel, Radisson Blue and more. Prices vary depending on the resort you choose but start from $226 per night (Shangri-La). Depending on the resort, you’ll get return airport transfers, all-inclusive food, boat transfers, and spa services.
Discounted Activities: The airline also offers separate tours and activities at a discounted rate, including guided walking tours of Nadi, sailing trips, and cultural performances starting from $70.
How to book?
To book a stopover with Fiji Airways you’ll need to book your trip as though it’s a multi-city, by clicking on the ‘Multi-city/Fiji stopover’ tab on its home page. For example, if you want your stopover on the outbound you’ll enter it in like this:
Home airport → Nadi → final destination and final destination → home airport
Or for the return leg, it would be like this:
Home airport → final destination and final destination → Nadi → home airport
After You Land
Nadi sits on the island of Viti Levu, and is a pretty big city by island standards. Luckily, they've got a great public transportation system, with trips around the island costing about a dollar. Highlights include the city's charming markets, Sabeto Hot Springs, and the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
A hike up Mount Tomanivi (the highest peak in Fiji) is a must. A playlist of parrot calls and out-of-this-world views await anyone whomakes the 3-hr summit to the top. For something a little easier, you've got the choice of the Namosi Highlands or Colo-i-Suva Forest Park – both have gorgeous waterfalls and heaps of hiking trails.
Read Navigator Larissa’s tips on Fiji beyond the resort here; it’s packed with helpful itinerary ideas for making the most of your time in the country.
How long?
20 hours - 7 days
Where?
Istanbul
What’s included?
Free hotel stay: Economy passengers are entitled to a 1-night stay in a 4-star hotel, and business class passengers are entitled to 2 nights in a 5-star hotel or boutique. Breakfast included!
How to book?
To book a stopover with Turkish Airlines, go to the airline’s homepage as normal and click on ‘Stopover in Istanbul’ under the ‘Flight’ tab. There you can enter in your itinerary, select which leg to stopover on, and for how many days.
Note: The free hotel stay won’t be added automatically when booking your trip. Once you’ve completed booking, you’ll need to enter in your information on the airline’s stopover page and make an application at least 72 hours before the flight.
Keep reading for tons more airlines with great stopover programs, as well as a few we think you can skip...
Your Questions Answered
Answered by Katy
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.
Last week, I took to Reddit and Facebook and let the people ask me anything. Some wanted destination tips, others wanted to know more about error fares, and a few just wanted to know what on earth Jack's Flight Club is all about.
So today, I'm going to share a few of the questions (and answers) I thought the rest of you might find interesting.
Q: "How many error fares do you find in a week and publish?"
A: Error fares are super rare! I've only seen 3 or 4 this year, honestly. As soon as you spot one, it's panic stations to verify that it works and get it sent out ASAP.
Last week, Aer Lingus accidentally dropped all their fares from Dublin to the US to about £200 or less. They noticed quickly and shut down their website before we managed to send the email. And there's no point in telling everyone if it just won't work!
Q: "How has the change in AI affected your ability to surface travel deals? What makes your knowledge stick out when tech can scan and surface deals continuously?"
A: Good question! Over the years (before AI was even a thing we all used), we'd already started tracking and recording prices. Jack's is 10 years old this year, so I have access to ten years of data from great flight deals all over the world. That means I know what was "good" 5 years ago and can compare it to what we have now.
Naturally, AI helps me cut mundane and repetitive parts out of my day to day, but every deal I and my colleagues find is checked by human eyes, assessed against past deals, looked at for context ("is there war, is it hurricane season, is the airline any good?" etc.)
Q: "We are two retirees who are planning on going around the world. We have only booked the one flight so far which is to Cancun (with Jack’s Club) in January. The plan is then to venture down towards and into South America before flying over to NZ and Oz, Tasmania, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. My question is are there any countries along our route that you would avoid and is going by local busses a safe way of traveling or would you suggest we fly. Any other suggestions are welcome too."
A: WOW, what an adventure you have ahead of you. Can I come?!
Countries I would avoid: There are few countries I'd recommend avoiding altogether as a general rule, however, it's always worth checking on the current situation of different regions.
In Mexico, for example, certain states carry a 'do not travel' advisory due to cartel activity. The Yucatan peninsula, where you'll arrive, is not one of those areas and is considered fairly safe overall. In Ecuador, the port city of Guayaquil (the gateway to the Galapagos) is still in the midst of a security crisis and increased gang activity. However, there is a huge amount of the country where there are no safety advisories in place.
My suggestion is to always check your own government's advisories when creating your itinerary and deciding where to go next. Not least, because your travel insurance may be invalid if you visit an area they recommend against visiting.
Public buses: Generally speaking, I'd always travel by public buses with locals. However, not all buses and bus companies are made equal! In Mexico, ADO and Primera Plus are considered good operators for tourists.
In Southeast Asia, you'll want to look out for the companies targeting tourists too. Pay a little extra for the comfort and extra reclining seats on long journeys. I've spoken to lots of people who found the local buses overcrowded, with more people crammed into small sleeping spaces than you'd care to imagine! Trains are also a great scenic option in Vietnam. Though you'll maybe want to splash out on first class if it's hot.
When it comes to Australia, the distances between cities are loooong, so weigh up whether you might want to fly instead of taking buses or trains. Local budget airlines make it easier to cross the country, and can save you days of backache and sleepless nights.
Hope that helps!
If you have any more tips for Ann on her travels, or if you'd like to ask a question of your own, jump into the comments!
Pick of the Clicks
All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
- What do you do with an unruly passenger? Break out the duct tape, of course!
- Thousands of people got stranded in Indonesia when a volcanic eruption grounded all flights in the area, reminding us to make sure our travel insurance includes "acts of lava."
- Feeling inspired by Nolan's Odysessy? Hop aboard the world's longest cruise, lasting 371 days. Sirens and cyclopes aren't currently on the itinerary, but you know how those cruise schedules are always subject to change.
- Rampant delays in the states: A study found that only one US airline achieved an on-time performance of 80% last year.
- And finally, do you hear that rumbling in the distance? That's the sound of Alaska's fattest bears, and they're rapidly approaching.