Central America

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Costa Rica 🐒 in $370s-$440s RT

Sorry Victoria! We forgot you yesterday!!

Victoria

Liberia, Costa Rica 🦜 in $450s-$480s RT

Winnipeg

🥥 Liberia in $380s RT from Winnipeg

⚠️ This PSA is coming to you poolside, from deep in the jungles of Costa Rica....

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Caribbean, Central America, Mexico & Hawaii 🌴 in $290s-$590s RT

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Costa Rica & more  🦥 in €460s-€580s rtn

🦥 Liberia, Costa Rica at $294 RT from Toronto

Costa Rica is so laid back and has a variety of towns that give various feels. I absolutely loved it. From Jungles, waterfalls, nightlife and national parks. Spent time in Uvita and Jaco.

Postcard from Sk412

This trip has been at the very top of my bucket list for years (always a &#39;future&#39; trip) - but then I saw the amazing deal via the JFC email and finally made it a reality!

Postcard from Lo

Thanks. . A dream first visit to Thailand, non stop from my local airport    

Postcard from Debbie 

Not sure this was cheaper. It’s the flight that was on the BA website after receiving your email. It’s the first time I’ve booked from Jack’s Flight Club. 

Postcard from Cathy

When we had to cancel our holiday due to a medical false alarm, we didn&#39;t think we&#39;d get away this winter. Until we saw these fares to Costa Rica! Thanks to Jack&#39;s Flight Club, we managed to take our last winter sun holiday before our daughter starts school (and we start having to book in the holidays). We had a wonderful time. Pura Vida!

Postcard from Alex, Jeff and Juju x

I booked Manchester to Cancun - £250 flights in March. Thank you!! Mexico has been on my list for a while!

Postcard from Danielle

Spain

Mauritius

Gambia

Vietnam

Thailand

Cambodia

Laos

South Africa

Portugal

As soon as the temperatures begin to drop, the requests for winter sun recommendations start piling up in our inbox. And we don't blame you at all; winter sun holidays are about the only thing that get us through those dark and dreary months!
Some of you are just in need of a quick, cheap winter break, while others are on the hunt for good spots to combine a vitamin D top-up with a bit of remote working.
As a general rule, we&rsquo;d suggest you head south for extra daylight and temperatures above 16 &deg;C (well known for being the point at which it becomes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taps-aff.co.uk/#search">&ldquo;Taps Aff&rdquo; weather</a> here in Scotland). If you want a little more to go on, we&rsquo;ve drawn up a short-list of exciting winter sun spots beloved by the Jack's team and Community alike.
<h2 id="cadiz">Cadiz, Spain</h2>

Temperatures: 16-18 &deg;C in January - March
Why should I visit?&nbsp;It's supposedly the oldest city still standing in Europe, dating back to the 12th century. Beautiful cathedrals, Roman ruins and authentic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.manvsglobe.com/best-taps-restaurants-bars-where-to-eat-cadiz-spain/">tapas bars</a>&nbsp;are tucked away around every corner in the narrow alleyways of the Old Town.
The locals also know how to throw a party, rehearsing all year for their world-famous&nbsp;<a href="https://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-cadiz-carnival/">Carnival</a>&nbsp;that takes places over 11 days in late February - March.
<h2 id="mauritius">Mauritius</h2>

Temperatures:&nbsp;22-27 &deg;C in November - March
Why should I visit?

"What&rsquo;s not to like with Indian and East African influences mingled in with British and French culture? People are hospitable, weather is great (remember it&rsquo;s summer in January) rum tastes good, and I&rsquo;d be happy to return tomorrow!" - Avril

Temperatures&nbsp;- 16-17 &deg;C in November - March
Why should I visit?&nbsp;- You'll find it hard not to rush outdoors and breathe in the Azores&rsquo; fresh mountain air. The islands are <a href="https://www.muchbetteradventures.com/magazine/hiking-in-the-azores-a-guide-to-the-best-hikes-in-azores/">made for hiking</a>, with trails leading you to waterfalls, around volcanic craters, and along the craggy coastline. And although you may never have heard of a&nbsp;<a href="http://grutadocarvao.amigosdosacores.pt/en">lava tube</a>, we bet you&rsquo;ll want to snoop around inside one now that you know it&rsquo;s possible on S&atilde;o Miguel Island.
We&rsquo;d also recommend&nbsp;<a href="https://www.winetraveler.com/portugal/azores-islands/">visiting a local winery</a>&nbsp;or two - just for science, of course. Despite the extreme growing conditions out there in the middle of the Atlantic, wine has been made there for hundreds of years.
<h2 id="c">Costa Rica</h2>

Temperatures&nbsp;- 16-27 &deg;C in January - March, depending on the area
Why should I visit? Sorry to be clich&eacute;d, but there genuinely is something for everyone in Costa Rica. Sun, sea, surf, and sand? Check. Mountains, rainforests, volcanoes, and lakes? Check. Colourful birdlife, howling monkeys, and <a href="https://www.slothconservation.org/blog/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-sloths-moths-and-algae">green-tinged sloths</a>? Also check.
Plus, the Jack's team is&nbsp;obsessed&nbsp;with <a href="https://puravidamoms.com/what-is-salsa-lizano-from-costa-rica/">Lizano Salsa</a>!

&ldquo;We enjoyed Costa Rica this past January, although we only stayed in Tamarindo for a week. If we had more time we would travel to other areas in Costa Rica. In January, we had little rain if any and it was hot. Perfect time to go on boat cruises and lounge around the pool.&rdquo; - Sharrie

Temperatures&nbsp;- 32-34 &deg;C in January - March
Why should I visit?&nbsp;- For one thing, the people of Gambia are famously friendly, earning it the nickname &ldquo;The Smiling Coast of Africa&rdquo; (okay, that may have something to do with the&nbsp;<a href="https://face2faceafrica.com/article/ever-wondered-why-the-gambia-is-called-the-smiling-coast-heres-why">shape of the country</a>, too).
Despite being reliant on tourism, the country&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gambia.co.uk/blog/a-beach-lovers-paradise">beaches remain uncrowded</a>, and you don&rsquo;t have to hike for hours to find a secluded spot. You can have all the luxury of a Caribbean resort for much less. Then again, it&rsquo;s easy to immerse yourself in local life by staying in&nbsp;eco lodges&nbsp;and hitting non-touristy spots like Tanji, with its <a href="https://www.mewithmysuitcase.com/2022/09/tanji-fish-market.html">fish markets</a>.
Word to the wise: if you&rsquo;re not into fish guts and strong aromas, sit this one out.
<h2>Cape Town</h2>

Temperatures&nbsp;- 25-29 &deg;C in November - March
Why should I visit?&nbsp;

&ldquo;It has everything. We used to spend three months there for many years. Cape Town has masses of things to do apart from 1000 wine estates to visit. Then there are amazing safaris to go on. The food and wine scene is fantastic.&rdquo; - Christine

Oh, and the <a href="https://onegirlwholeworld.com/africa/boulders-beach-foxy-beach-penguins-south-africa/">tiny penguins</a>, obviously!
<h2 id="s">South East Asia</h2>

Temperatures&nbsp;- 15-30 &deg;C in November - March
Why should I visit? Okay, okay, we know this is a whole region, but we find it hard to pick just one spot. Northern regions of Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam will offer cooler jungle vibes, while central areas will be a little warmer, just right for checking out some temples. And then there are the coastal spots, and all those famous Thai beaches.&nbsp;
If we had to choose, we'd say: don't! Take your time, and work in some winter sun on the beach as well as the jungle fun.

&ldquo;Thai beaches are always a good idea, especially in January. It certainly isn't the rainy season in, e.g., Phuket then! Koh Lanta and other nearby islands, plus beaches North of the airport, have a slower pace than the racier party beaches in the South, near Phuket town. Or for cheaper, more developing options: Cambodia or Vietnam.&rdquo; - Catherine
<hr>
"Asia is a very good option to spend January in! Countries like Vietnam (the only one I have been to Asia so far, which I absolutely loved), Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, see temperatures around 30C which can make it appropriate for swimming! The other perk of Asia compared to other areas in the world is it's cheap!"&nbsp;- Marilena

There you have it, readers - our top suggestions for trips to wash away the winter blues.
Where's your favourite winter sun destination? Let us know in the comments!

Jack's Top Winter Sun Destinations

"Hi, we&rsquo;ve been doing house swaps for the past 10 years (32 so far!) but our teenagers would love to go to Costa Rica in 2026 (our 14 year old son dreams of plucking exotic fruits direct from the tree&hellip;) and there&rsquo;s only one house in the whole country on the site we use!
I love reading the questions &amp; advice from other JFC-ers &amp; JFC staff but can&rsquo;t see anything specific for CR.
Does anyone have some advice for up to 6 weeks (July-August - it would have to be 3-4 weeks if we travelled at Easter) of exploration, including some relaxing but also some proper adventures? Ideally with a budget of up to &pound;1000 per week for the 4 of us (we&rsquo;re happy to go budget if there&rsquo;s the chance for a few moments of more comfort!)
Thank you!"&nbsp;- Louise, Mike, Ella &amp; James

Hi there, Travellers! Flight Finders Kristi and Kash here, and together we have lived in and/or visited Costa Rica over a dozen times!
Kash's favourite Costa Rica rec is the Osa Peninsula, and that sounds like a great fit for your trip. Tucked away on the country&rsquo;s Southern Pacific coast, it's the most biologically diverse place on the planet!

To get here, you'll have to drive or catch a bus to Sierpe from San Jos&eacute;, and from there take a 1hr boat ride. You'll be treated to the most scenic rides through lush mangroves until you reach the Pacific Ocean&mdash; if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of some dolphins swimming by the boat.
Make sure you've got empty pockets, though, you'll have to wade your way to shore since the boat can only get so close.
Once you arrive, you'll discover pretty quickly that it was worth the effort to get here. Where else can you see scarlet macaws, capuchin monkeys, and a toucan from your breakfast table?

Travellers mainly come here for the epic hikes of Corcovado National Park, and although this place is pretty remote, there&rsquo;s more lots to do. Some of our favourites include snorkelling at Cano Island, and a night tour through the jungle.
Tip: Some businesses here will try to convince you that you have to pay $90 for a guide to take you through the park, but it's entirely optional. You can go on your own, so long as you have a good sense of direction!
If your son's dream is plucking exotic fruits from trees, he'll be in competition with the local wildlife. When I said above that they are everywhere, they really are! It was probably the most tropical place I've ever visited, and the best part was seeing all the animals in their natural habitat.

I stayed <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g313830-d10055059-Reviews-Las_Brisas-Drake_Bay_Osa_Peninsula_Province_of_Puntarenas.html">here</a>, and it was basic, but the view was worth it!
Passing over to Kristi for a breakdown of some road trip route suggestions &mdash; and her unsolicited Costa Rica Bucket List &mdash; to help you plan your trip.
You mentioned wanting to visit both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Personally, I&rsquo;m a big fan of the Pacific side, so I&rsquo;d stick to that. If I were you, I&rsquo;d land in Liberia instead of San Jos&eacute;, and head straight to the beaches in Guanacaste for a few days to recover from your long trip.&nbsp;
Once you've settled in, make your way inland to one of the two nearby volcanoes, Rincon de la Vieja or Arenal. Both are worth a visit, but Arenal is the classic &ldquo;storybook&rdquo; volcano &mdash; plumes of ash and all. Don&rsquo;t skip the hot springs or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@charontourrr/video/7513276002135444758?lang=en&amp;q=monteverde%20cloud%20forest&amp;t=1755127144133">Monteverde Cloud Forest</a> while you&rsquo;re in the area!

From there, head down to Puntarenas and through the lively surf town of Jaco en route to the southern National Parks. Along the way, you&rsquo;ll cross the <a href="https://mytanfeet.com/activities/rio-tarcoles-crocodiles-costa-rica/">Puente T&aacute;rcoles</a>, where you can watch crocodiles sunning themselves below. 
I would stop for a few days of exploration in <a href="https://explorerspassage.com/chronicles/costa-rica-manuel-antonio/">Manual Antonio National Park</a>, before moving on to spend a few lazy days in Uvita, home to Playa Ballena (one of my all-time favourite beaches, with calm, bathtub-warm water without a hawker in sight!). From Uvita, you&rsquo;re just a short hop to Corcovado National Park.
I&rsquo;ve always rented a car in Costa Rica and found it essential for reaching the quieter, hidden beaches (or natural rock waterslides!). Sure, some roads are slow, and I would recommend getting off the roads before nightfall, but by the time you factor in arriving early, flying, deplaning, and driving to/from the airport, it often balances out.

If it were me, I&rsquo;d choose the March/April option&mdash;spring generally has less rain than summer (which they call their &ldquo;little green&rdquo; season). I&rsquo;d also pick <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAhoqEgoyMDI2LTAzLTA5KAFqDAgDEggvbS8wNGpwbHIHCAESA0xJUnoDWVlaGioSCjIwMjYtMDMtMzAoAWoHCAESA0xJUnIMCAMSCC9tLzA0anBsegNZWVpAAUgBcAGCAQsI____________AZgBAQ">these flights with a stopover in Canada</a> instead of the USA. Yes, the layover may be longer, but it&rsquo;s nice to break up the trip with a true overnight stop, get a hotel room, and arrive refreshed.
You can fly into either Liberia or San Jos&eacute; for about the same price, but I recommend Liberia &mdash; it&rsquo;s closer to the beaches, smaller, and a much more pleasant arrival experience.
Here&rsquo;s Flight Finder Kristi&rsquo;s Costa Rica bucket list in case you're still short of ideas (though somehow we doubt it)...&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/costa-rica/stays/treehouses">Live (for a week) in a treehouse</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Catch a scuba diving liveabord out to Cocos Island to swim with <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@oliverroggisch/video/7303309970177625377?lang=en&amp;q=coco%20island%20hammerhead&amp;t=1747090260508">schools of hammerheads</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Float in the bathtub-warm waters of Playa Ballena</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Learn kite-boarding with other newbies in windy Bahia Salinas</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hike on Arenal's still-smoking volcano. Or for a bolder experience, Poas Volcano is the closest you can get to a live crater in the world.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Soak in a bubbling mud pot in Rinc&oacute;n de la Vieja National Park</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Play tug-of-war with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVLEzScLsWP/">rehabilitated jaguars</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the2travelers.com/video/7466274947908963630?lang=en&amp;q=sloth%20manual%20antonio&amp;t=1747089983339">Spot wild sloths</a> in screensaver-picture-perfect Manual Antonio National Park</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Get woken up by Howler Monkey alarm clocks</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Learn to surf near Jaco. And then treat yourself to a well-deserved mango con leche batido at the<a href="https://www.instagram.com/tacobar_cr/?hl=en"> TacoBar</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Zip (and plunge) down <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@oliversniecphotos/video/7239902178586971398?lang=en&amp;q=natural%20waterslide%20costa%20rica&amp;t=1747089001920">natural rock waterslides</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Frolic with the whales in Drake Bay</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Witness a mass sea turtle nesting event with tens of thousands of turtles in the Nicoya Peninsula</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Spot a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmc2UmBn1hl/">shy, iridescent quetzal</a> in the wild</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">And finally,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAvkMMuoI_/">spelunking the caves of Barra Honda National Park</a>!</li>
</ul>

We hope that helps you plan your trip, Louise!
There&rsquo;s so much to the country that there are undoubtedly even more jaw-dropping vistas and tranquil cloud forest moments to be found. If any of you other lovely readers have tips for this family of intrepid travellers, please drop your tips in the comments below!

How to Spend a Month in Costa Rica

Kyrgyzstan

United States

Brazil

Hello there, JFC-ers!
This week&rsquo;s travel news has been dominated by one of the things I find most important when I travel &mdash; food! Except it&rsquo;s been less about what you must try, and more about what everyone else wishes they hadn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re talking about the least popular foods around the world, the ones that leave locals and visitors alike feeling a little queasy. Scandinavian classics take quite the hit <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Infographics/comments/1i07qa7/worst_rated_dishes_in_the_the_world/">on this list</a>, alongside the supposed British fave, jellied eels, and Chile&rsquo;s unassuming potato bread.
I can&rsquo;t say I&rsquo;ll argue with the eels, but coming for Scotland&rsquo;s deep-fried pizza is a step too far, Taste Atlas. No doubt a few of you will take the ratings as a challenge instead of a cautionary tale, and when you do, be sure to send us your reviews!
Tasty travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

For Christmas in 2022, British Airways gifted us a missed connection, a lost suitcase and a thousand hours on the phone with their call centre. However, I can say that this year, they redeemed themselves.
It all started on Christmas Eve, at 11.30am, at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.&nbsp;
Ready to spend the holidays in Qu&eacute;bec with my boyfriend's family, we showed up at the British Airways check-in counter to get our Paris-London-Montr&eacute;al tickets printed (online check-in wasn&rsquo;t possible due to my European passport). Our&nbsp;spirits were high &mdash; we were fresh out of a night at an airport hotel, a rogue choice for us, but designed to help with my boyfriend's fear of flying.
You may be thinking: a Qu&eacute;b&eacute;cois, living in Europe, with a travel-addict girlfriend, and stuck with a huge fear of flying? Yeah&hellip; we're working on it.

Surprisingly, there was no queue at the counter, and we were welcomed by a smiley man with a strong French accent: "vos passeports, s'ils vous pla&icirc;t!"
As our duo of red and blue passports went through the scanner, the gentleman&rsquo;s face quickly became sombre, and his eyes went straight to his boss, who was working right beside him. &ldquo;Ils sont pas la&hellip;&rdquo; he whispered in a concerned tone. The supervisor had a look at the screen, and then went on, "Maybe we could&hellip; nah, that's too late. What about&hellip;? Okay, no &mdash; You&rsquo;ll have to call London..."
Still traumatized by our 2022 misadventure, I glanced into my boyfriend's eyes &mdash; what does it mean we're not on it? We're not on what?! The turkey is already in the oven, cooking for us&hellip;
Yes, I know what you're thinking &mdash; Fran, you're flying on the 24th of December, what did you expect? True, but for a &euro;360 return ticket, we accepted that we might not make it in time for Christmas dinner.
&ldquo;You're not registered on the flight between London and Montr&eacute;al. I can see your ticket, but you don't have seats associated with your reservation. I'm going to call London to see what we can do about it.&rdquo;
As I listened to the man telling us what was happening, all the possible options passed in front of my eyes: is the flight overbooked? Are there gonna be flights on the 25th? Did I somehow mess up the reservation?
Five looooong minutes later, our pal looked at us, smiled, and cheerfully said, "sorted!" 
After a sigh of relief, I placed my elbows on the counter and whispered cheekily, &ldquo;Well, after that fright, the least you could do is to put us in business class!&rdquo; To which he answered, &ldquo;Yes, I'm just going to get your tickets printed here.&rdquo;
F&eacute;lix and I looked at each other with an &ldquo;okay, he didn't get the joke&rdquo; expression. F&eacute;lix clarified, &ldquo;No, she meant &mdash; as a joke &mdash; because of all of this stress, the least you could do now is to give us business class seats&hellip;&rdquo;
&ldquo;Well, yes! You&rsquo;re already in business class. Actually, you may even be First, let me check&hellip;&rdquo;
Our faces lit up &mdash; this stuff only existed on TikTok, or for fancy influencers. Was it actually happening to us as well?

And there we were, jumping for joy in the Charles de Gaulle security lines, in disbelief at having had our longest leg, the flight between London and Montr&eacute;al, upgraded to the highest possible class on the plane. I&rsquo;m talking lie-flat seats, bottomless champagne, filet mignon served on actual plates, with proper cutlery&hellip; ah, what a dream!
After the swift 50-minute flight to Heathrow, we headed straight to Terminal 5&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/lounges/business">business class lounge</a>. A quick cuppa and a perfectly moist slice of carrot cake later, we went to our gate. Surprisingly, the gate wasn&rsquo;t busy, so we couldn&rsquo;t test our fast-track business class perk. However, when the hostess saw our tickets, magic started happening.
Our seats were in the <a href="https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/travel-classes/club-world">Club World</a> cabin, in a three-seat central composition with no window access (sadly). 
We turned left after crossing the plane&rsquo;s threshold and were greeted by three smiley stewards. Once our cabin bags were in the huge storage compartment, a tray filled with glasses of champagne, apple juice, and water appeared before our eyes. A big pillow, a plastic bag with a pair of headphones, as well as two thick blankets packed in a &lsquo;The White Company&rsquo; bag, were placed on our seats.
On our way into the cabin, I had noticed that someone was chatting with the two pilots in the cockpit, so I tried my luck and asked the flight attendant if F&eacute;lix and I could take a peek, too. She smiled and said, &ldquo;of course!&rdquo;. So we went in and, after introducing ourselves, received information about the flight, weather conditions, and just made some casual conversation. Let&rsquo;s say, meeting the two people responsible for your life definitely made F&eacute;lix feel a bit more relaxed.
Back in our seats, I lifted the blurred plastic divider between me and the stranger sitting on my left, before cheers-ing to our luck and having a look at the daily menu for our flight.

The seat was very spacious, extremely comfortable, with a great reclining function and a big footrest (reachable only when the seat was lying flat). At the bottom left, a drawer was filled with a plastic bottle of water, and a &lsquo;The White Company&rsquo; beauty case &mdash; inside, we found some moisturiser, lip balm, ear plugs, a toothbrush + toothpaste kit, a pair of socks and a soft eye mask.
As F&eacute;lix and I were finishing our second glass of champagne, the hostess came around to ask us if we wanted a cocktail after take-off &mdash; as you might expect, of course we did!
Five minutes after take-off, our drinks arrived (both turned out to be delicious!) and we were asked if we were ready to order our meals, which were served around 30 minutes later. As proper foodies, F&eacute;lix and I decided to try as many plates as possible, so we ordered:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Smoked salmon and avocado timbale and Italian burrata as starters</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Herefordshire beef fillet and the Traditional Christmas Dinner (how could we not?!) as main courses</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">BA&rsquo;s selection of artisan cheese, served with savoury crackers, caramelised apple and onion chutney and Fresh seasonal fruit as dessert</li>
</ul>
Each service was accompanied by a different type of wine, offered right after the dish landed in front of us &mdash; chef&rsquo;s kiss. The food was nice, the starters were a bit too cold for our taste, and the turkey slightly dry, but overall a great meal for a plane. (Special mention for the beef fillet!)
After filling my belly with all that glorious food, I just had to try the lie-flat seat. So I got all wrapped up in the blanket, put the earplugs in and eye mask on, and closed my eyes. The result? BA&rsquo;s lie-flat seats are definitely JFC approved &mdash; I slept for two and a half hours, waking up just in time for a cup of tea and a delicious chocolate muffin before landing!

While I was dreaming about the very snowy Montr&eacute;al we were flying towards, F&eacute;lix made the best of the in-flight entertainment on the 17&rdquo; adjustable screen. While he did enjoy spending a couple of hours watching a Korean drama, the selection of films and games was nothing special, just what you&rsquo;d expect from economy.
As our Club World experience came to an end, I was gifted a bar of toffee &mdash; I didn&rsquo;t know I liked toffee, but now I&rsquo;m addicted, thanks BA! &mdash; and an extremely relaxed F&eacute;lix after a 7-hour flight that would usually make him anxious and stressed. Let&rsquo;s just say, they&rsquo;ve earned my forgiveness for that lost suitcase from two years ago!
And although he couldn&rsquo;t bag us a Club World seat on our flight home, I&rsquo;d like to give a special shout out to our Cabin Manager, Richard. He treated us like royalty in business class, and even sent us goodie bags on our return flight, despite being all the way back in row 37. Thank you!

Travel Tales

Where We've Been and Where We're Going

Today we're wrapping up our top tips from the JFC team about where we loved visiting in 2024, and where we're looking forward to in 2025.&nbsp;
Fran - Flight Finder
Top trip of 2024? I loved Itacar&eacute; in Bahia, Brazil. A friend of mine lives there, and I was curious to visit him and tick Bahia off my bucket list. It was so, so, so special because it's an insanely gorgeous place. Plus, I learnt how to surf, and now I'm hooked!
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? Sri Lanka, to discover the surfing scene in the south of the country. Plus, an extra trip back to Bahia if we find a good deal :-)
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? Salvador in Bahia! And maybe some Mongolia?

Allan - Flight Finding Team Lead
Top trip of 2024? I have a few: a month in Europe that culminated in a beautiful few days in Edinburgh; traveling up to Montpelier, Vermont, for the solar eclipse in April and sleeping in a random New Hampshire lodge; and spending a lovely few days in San Juan.&nbsp;
But I'm giving it to Toronto for being the perfect weekend trip from New York City and just being so gosh darn pretty. Take that ferry over to the islands in Lake Ontario, you won't regret it.&nbsp; I went in 2017 for a few days, but I was visiting family that lived in the suburbs, so it didn't feel like I was in the city. We did Niagara and saw the CN Tower, but there was more to see.&nbsp;
This time, I flew up on a Saturday morning and came back on a Sunday night, managing to fit in the Islands, a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre and a walk around Kensington market. It was a perfect getaway and I found the city so, so beautiful. Plus, I got to meet fellow Flight Finder Olivia there, so it was a jam-packed, fun-filled few days.
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? I'm really looking forward to going to Rome for the first time, after visiting other parts of Italy in 2024. But I'm most excited for Colombia, because I haven't traveled to South America in almost a decade. Being from Miami, I'm pretty aware of the culture and speak Spanish, so the learning curve won't be huge, and I'll be able to tick a new country off my list.
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? I'm waiting so patiently for Tokyo from the East Coast of the US. Literally anywhere in the East Coast; I will take a train/flight down to make Japan come true.

Kash - Flight Finder
Top trip of 2024? Scoring a budget-friendly Pegasus deal was the perfect excuse to check a multi-day horse trek in Kyrgyzstan off my bucket list. What made this adventure so unforgettable was how raw and untamed it felt&mdash;far from the polished paths of over-touristed destinations. The landscapes were nothing short of spectacular, and even though I spent most of the trip battling a nasty illness, I couldn&rsquo;t help but feel deeply grateful to experience such wild, untouched beauty.
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? JFC's company meet-up in Italy! It&rsquo;ll be so great to meet everyone in person for the first time.
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? China, please!
Katy - The Detour Editor
Top trip of 2024? Obviously, it has to be my honeymoon! Firstly, it was really interesting to experience a totally different kind of travel on a cruise, and get a taste of so many spots around the Caribbean. My fave stop was definitely Mexico, which 1000% deserves more than just a day trip &mdash; watch this space!
And then the dream of being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras came true. The parades were loud, colourful and vibrant. The locals were incredibly welcoming and chatty as we stood together for hours on the streets. The food was rich and tasty. The only thing I&rsquo;d do differently there is stay for longer and drink fewer alcoholic slushies from Bourbon Street pizza joints.

After all that, Costa Rica truly was an antidote and the icing on the cake. Lush cloud forests and stunning wildlife lined every winding mountain road. Plus, the long drives into the mountains were a great opportunity to blow the cobwebs off my Spanish skills with our drivers.
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? I&rsquo;m reeeeally excited to go to Vietnam in February! It&rsquo;ll be my first foray into Southeast Asia, so I&rsquo;m looking forward to experiencing a completely new culture, eating more summer rolls and b&aacute;nh mi than is advisable, and seeing those epic landscapes for myself.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? If I see flights to Chile for &pound;300 or less, I will book first, think later!

Travel Inspiration

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">For those of you well and truly over the booking.coms and Airbnbs of it all, check out <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/jan/15/a-break-from-the-accommodation-mega-sites-the-best-alternative-booking-platforms">these accommodation platforms</a> trying to do things a little differently. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">After decades of Soviet irrigation projects led to the<a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/AralSea"> near disappearance of Central Asia&rsquo;s Aral Sea</a>, Kazakhstan is reporting that the volume of water in the <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kazakhstan-says-part-aral-sea-173108534.html">Northern Aral Sea has nearly doubled</a> since 2008. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ever wondered what it takes to be a pilot?&nbsp;<a href="https://simpleflying.com/thread/i-was-a-commercial-pilot-for-51-years-ask-me-anything/">This Ask Me Anything thread</a> has pretty much all the answers! </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">And finally, it turns out that taking a stroll through the grounds of the University of Florida is not for the faint of heart. Most universities have interesting art on campus, but things get real interesting down in Gainesville when you stumble upon the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/some-were-quite-blind">&ldquo;Some Were Quite Blind&rdquo;</a> sculpture collection outside the Animal Science Building. Let&rsquo;s just say, they&rsquo;ll make you stand bolt upright&hellip;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Cocktails and cutlery at 38,000 ft 

United Kingdom

Japan

Scotland

Italy

Australia

Federated States of Micronesia

India

Season's greetings, JFC-ers!
There's something about all the joy and glee going around in December that makes me actively seek out the weirder side of the festivities. And this year's Creepy Crimbo Crown goes to... Greece's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.argophilia.com/news/kallikantzaroi-greek-christmas-goblins/232499/">kallikantzaroi goblins</a>!
Much like Iceland's Yule Lads, these wee guys roam around causing mischief, until they're banished on 6th January. But don't worry, just hang a pig's jawbone above the front door and your house will be just fine. How very festive indeed!
Safe travels and happy holidays,

Katy - The Detour Editor

Two Years Living in Airbnbs: Here's What I've Learnt

Flight Finder Olivia splits her time between San Diego and Seattle. When she&rsquo;s not at her local coffee shop writing about the benefits of slow travel, you&rsquo;ll find her hiking or road tripping along the West Coast.

Written by Olivia

I&rsquo;ve spent almost two years living in Airbnbs full-time as a digital nomad. I usually stay for about 1&ndash;3 months (with some shorter term rentals in between) so it&rsquo;s safe to say I&rsquo;m pretty familiar with the lifestyle.&nbsp;
Airbnb is an incredible resource for slow travel, but there&rsquo;s definitely a learning curve to it, and lots to look out for when it comes to using it safely, affordably, and ethically. There are also some misconceptions that could use clearing up, and some secrets that should be shared!
I usually stay in the US or Canada, with a couple stays in England. So I&rsquo;ve checked in with my fellow writer Kristi, who has a lot of international experience with long-term Airbnbs, and verified that these tips apply pretty widely around the world.
We&rsquo;re also not affiliated with Airbnb in any way &mdash; that&rsquo;s how you know you&rsquo;re getting the real truth here.

Misconceptions
Let&rsquo;s get these out of the way first &mdash; while it&rsquo;s far from a perfect company, I think a lot of hesitation towards Airbnb comes from inexperience. Here&rsquo;s my take on some popular complaints, and why they don&rsquo;t stop me from using the service.
&nbsp;&ldquo;Airbnb owners drive up housing prices and wreck the market!&rdquo;
There&rsquo;s&nbsp;some truth to this, but it&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/28/economy/housing-affordability-airbnb-vrbo-backlash/index.html">nowhere near as widespread as people imagine</a>. There are too many other factors at play controlling rapid rent inflation.&nbsp;
Without getting into too much detail about housing markets, I can say from experience that many properties on Airbnb are not places that would be available for permanent housing if the website disappeared. Think basements, spare rooms, guest houses, and trailers. Some people even rent vacant lots to campers. Those flashy mansions on the homepage represent a surprisingly small fraction of what&rsquo;s actually available.
So if this is what&rsquo;s holding you back, you&rsquo;ll be happy to know I&rsquo;ve never found it difficult to book the sort of place that wouldn&rsquo;t be on the market at all without Airbnb, one where I know my money is mostly going into local hands.

&ldquo;That must be super expensive!&rdquo;
Monthly Airbnb rentals are always going to be pricier than standard leases in the same neighborhood, but there are a few things to consider:
<ul>
<li>You have nearly absolute flexibility on move-in and move-out dates. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">You don&rsquo;t have to do a credit/background check or fill out applications like you might with a regular lease. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">It&rsquo;s fully furnished, with utilities included. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">You have a host (usually onsite or close-by)&nbsp;whom you get to review at the end. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">You will almost never pay the nightly price. Most hosts offer massive discounts for stays of 30+ days. This has saved me over $1,000 a month before. There&rsquo;s a reason I prefer hotels for short stays and use Airbnb for longer rentals.</li>
</ul>
I generally stay in one-room homes like guest houses (comparable to a studio apartment) in either small cities or rural areas in the US and Canada. My monthly costs range between $1,100 and $1,400 USD per month. In my hometown of San Diego, studio apartments regularly cost $2k-$3k, so it&rsquo;s actually far cheaper for me to switch Airbnbs every month than to try and rent a permanent spot at home. While you can definitely find some swanky places on the site, you don&rsquo;t need to break the bank to use the service.&nbsp;
More cost-saving tips below!
&ldquo;Airbnbs have crazy rules and cleaning expectations!&rdquo;
I&rsquo;m honestly not sure where this myth comes from. Hosts set their own rules, so you&rsquo;ll find some oddball requests once in a while, but you don&rsquo;t have to book those rentals. That is absolutely not the norm. The most I&rsquo;ve ever been asked to do is not throw parties or smoke indoors, and to take the trash out before I leave. Just read the listing thoroughly to make sure you&rsquo;re okay with the host&rsquo;s expectations.

My tips for booking long-term Airbnbs
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Book as far in advance as you can. Prices don&rsquo;t typically fluctuate like airfare. Because you need long stretches of availability, it&rsquo;s best to book your spot as soon as you&rsquo;ve made your decision. I usually aim for 3&ndash;5 months in advance. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Stay in each spot for at least 30 days to get the discount. Hosts set those discounts, so some might offer it for 14 days, or 60 days, but there&rsquo;s almost always a discount. Play around with the trip length until you&rsquo;re satisfied with your savings. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Be flexible on location (or prepare to make other compromises). There are three main components to a good booking: location, quality of home, and price. You need to be highly flexible on at least one of those criteria, and I suggest you loosen up on the location. You&rsquo;re there for at least a month! You&rsquo;ll have time to explore. You don&rsquo;t need to be right next to the action. Especially if you work from home, you&rsquo;ll be happier in a nicer room. I cast pretty wide nets: &ldquo;Southern Utah&rdquo; or &ldquo;anywhere in England&rdquo; or &ldquo;somewhere in the desert&rdquo; are all criteria I&rsquo;ve started with and found comfortable, affordable spots. When I want to stay in a specific city, I generally have to either take a huge hit to my comfort level, splurge for a month, or get extremely lucky. </li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">Read listings with a fine-tooth comb. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t need to make sure that amenity is listed, every home has that!&rdquo; WRONG. You have no idea what kinds of things can be missing from Airbnbs. If you have deal-breakers (even basic things like heating or hot water) then you need to ensure they are either listed on the page, or message the host and ask. And be warned &mdash; it&rsquo;s common for hosts to say they have a &ldquo;kitchen&rdquo; when what they really mean is a mini fridge and a microwave.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>You can haggle. You can also reach out to hosts and try to negotiate a lower price. Kristi did this all over Europe and regularly saved cash ($500&ndash;$1200 a month!) &nbsp;Her advice: &ldquo;Find 3&ndash;5 options that are slightly higher than your budget and send a friendly and polite message stating your maximum budget and ask if they would be willing to negotiate on the price. I found that at least 1 of the 5 would say yes, and I would go from there.&rdquo;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lastly, remember that the host also reviews you as a guest. Bad reviews can tank your chances of securing bookings, but if you&rsquo;re polite, follow the rules, and don&rsquo;t leave the place a wreck, you&rsquo;ll be fine. </li>
</ul>
So, while Airbnbs can absolutely be expensive, complicated, and unethical, they don&rsquo;t have to be. There's a reason they became so popular so quickly, and that homely comforts aspect really can win out over a hotel, especially if you'll be staying awhile like me.
If you&rsquo;re thoughtful and open-minded about your decisions, living full-time in short-term rentals makes a great way to explore the world without dropping your entire savings on a vacation. 
Do you have experience of staying long-term in Airbnbs (or similar)? I'd love to hear your tricks for finding your next temporary home, and hear about what makes short-term rental accommodation more appealing to you than a hotel. Just hit 'Reply'!

Travel Tips

Since this is officially our festive edition, we thought we'd rustle up our own take on a famous Christmas song, and gift you 12 altogether less usual travel ideas for 2025...
🥁For twelve drummers drumming: Head to Japan over Easter, 19th-20th April, for<a href="https://www.festicket.com/festivals/let-it-roll-open-air/"> </a>the <a href="https://narita.com/topics/archives/113?lng=en">Narita Drum Festival</a>. Expect a whole weekend of traditional Taiko drumming echoing through the streets as part of the 35th annual festival.&nbsp;
The event typically sees around 200,000 spectators flock to the impressive venue of <a href="https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6401.html">Naritasan Temple</a> over the course of the weekend, so prepare to compete for a good view!
🎺For eleven pipers piping: You shouldn&rsquo;t be shocked by this one &mdash; it&rsquo;s a bagpiping festival in Scotland! <a href="https://bagpipe.news/event/piping-live-2025/">Piping Live!</a> and the World Pipe Band Championships will be taking place in Glasgow from 10th&ndash;17th August, attracting pipe bands from all over the world for a week of concerts, parades, and good old-fashioned bagpipe show downs.
😈For ten lords a&rsquo;leaping: Head to the little town of Castrillo de Murcia in northern Spain, which hosts one of the world&rsquo;s strangest festivals every year during June&hellip;<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/el-colacho-baby-jumping-festival-murcia-spain">El Colacho.</a>
During the week-long religious festival, performers in devil outfits run riot through the streets, insulting and whipping passers-by and generally causing chaos &mdash; before they&rsquo;re finally driven out by the good men of the town.
El Colacho ends somewhat controversially, with the performers symbolically leaping over the town&rsquo;s babies (who are laid gently on a mattress, we should emphasize) to protect the infants&rsquo; innocence.
We have to admit that it all sounds a bit terrifying, but there have been no reports of accidents in the festival&rsquo;s history, thankfully. And for less child endangerment, there&rsquo;s always the<a href="https://youtu.be/SzTyn3qxi8s?si=RZP9jQoL5i1Uhqwr"> adumu jumping rituals</a> of the Maasai.

💃🏻For nine ladies dancing: Take a trip to the beautiful<a href="https://www.visityap.com/getting-here/"> subtropical Yap</a> in Micronesia.
Yap&rsquo;s waters are home to over 100 manta rays, and if you go for a dive at the islands&rsquo; cleaning stations between December and April, you might just witness nature&rsquo;s most spectacular dance-contest.
As part of their courtship rituals, female manta rays will lead hordes of males through the sea on<a href="https://blog.mares.com/photographer-engulfed-manta-ray-mating-dance-yap-micronesia-6485.html"> long, elaborate dances</a> for hours at a time. Uncanny. Unearthly. Unforgettable.
🐄For eight maids a&rsquo;milking: Fly over to the city of Bra in northern Italy during September, and take part in<a href="https://cheese.slowfood.it/en/"> Cheese 2025.</a>
It is (yes, you guessed it), the world&rsquo;s biggest dairy festival, with crowds coming in their thousands to sample delicious curds and whey from across the face of the globe
The event's chill vibes and focus on animal welfare and environmental sustainability is a great fit for Bra in general.
It's<a href="https://prettyslow.life/cittaslow-movement-slow-city-sustainable-living/"> a 'Slow City'</a>, part of an Italian movement that has deliberately stepped back from factories and industry to embrace relaxed, peasant-style eco-living &mdash; with a fully pedestrianised city centre, an array of communal vegetable gardens, and more.
🦢For seven swans a&rsquo;swimming: Stop by <a href="https://en.japantravel.com/hokkaido/otofuke-tokachigawa-swan-festival/66204">Tokachigawa Onsen</a> in Hokkaido, Japan during late January to mid-February each year.
Renowned for its hot springs and glorious winter views, this charming town also plays host to a yearly &lsquo;swan festival&rsquo; of lights, with an impressive illuminated display in the snow that&rsquo;s meant to resemble the elegant movement of birds. Because what says &ldquo;elegance&rdquo; better than a <a href="https://youtu.be/8-XIgPFTQvc?si=-C1SWSPe0Rj8RECs">laser show</a>?

🐣For six geese a&rsquo;laying: Visit the Mother Goose House, found in a town called Hazard, in rural Kentucky. This<a href="https://www.kentuckytourism.com/hazard/history-heritage/historic-districts-sites/mother-goose-house"> bizarre and delightful home</a> was built to resemble a colossal goose back in the 1930s, and has since become a beloved local landmark.
Tragedy struck a few years ago, when strong winds led to<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/kentucky-town-rallies-to-restore-beheaded-mother-goose-people-b1823424.html"> Mother Goose being beheaded</a>. Local residents rallied around, and successfully raised the funds required to rebuild her.
💍For FIVE GOLD RINGS: Book your flights to Australia, where you can legally<a href="https://www.trulyaus.com/gold-panning-australia/"> buy a miner&rsquo;s permit</a> and search for gold buried in the hills like an old-fashioned prospector.
Your odds of finding a nugget as big as your fist are slim, unfortunately &mdash; but in 2019, one prospector<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-22/large-gold-nugget-found-near-kalgoorlie-as-gold-price-soars/11135228"> stumbled onto a $100,000 lump of gold</a> near Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia, so we&rsquo;d suggest starting there!
Alternatively, head to the<a href="https://www.sovereignhill.com.au/visit/"> old-timey town of Sovereign Hill</a> and learn more about the fascinating history of gold mining in Oz.
🦜For four calling birds: Pay a trip to the sprawling <a href="https://www.monteverdeinfo.com/cloud-forests">cloud forests of Monteverde</a>, Costa Rica, home to magnificent waterfalls and a ton of rare wildlife, including the Resplendent Quetzal (what a name!).&nbsp;
There are over <a href="https://www.birdingplaces.eu/en/birdingplaces/costa-rica/monteverde-cloud-forest-reserve">400 species of bird</a> living in Costa Rica&rsquo;s cloud forests, so don&rsquo;t forget your binoculars, a little patience, and a rain jacket &mdash; unsurprisingly, it can get a little damp up there (evidence from my trip there this year below).

🐔For three French hens: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kentucky is the place to head for a real hen party &mdash; on the last weekend of September each year, Laurel County hosts the <a href="https://chickenfestival.com/">&lsquo;World Chicken Festival&rsquo;</a> in honour of its very own state hero, Colonel Sanders.
If giant skillets of deep-fried chicken don&rsquo;t sound like your thing, you can always take a walk in the 700,000-acre depths of the nearby<a href="https://www.kentuckytourism.com/an-insiders-guide-to-the-daniel-boone-national-forest"> Daniel Boone National Forest.</a>
🐢For two turtle doves: Stop by the coastal village of Velas in western India during March.
This is the time when adorable, baby Olive Ridley turtles hatch from their eggs and crawl towards the shore - and Velas holds a yearly<a href="https://www.travelandleisureindia.in/featured/velas-turtle-festival/"> Turtle Festival</a> in honour of the event.
If you&rsquo;re crying out, &ldquo;but wait, those are turtles, not turtle-doves!&rdquo; then you might prefer a trip to eastern England during the spring&ndash;summer breeding season. Turtle doves can be tough to spot, so your best bet is to <a href="https://operationturtledove.org/see-a-turtle-dove/where-to-see-habitat-and-time-of-year/">head to a nature reserve</a> that they&rsquo;re known to visit.
🍐For a partridge in a pear tree: As Nat Geo sensibly points out,<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/animals-birds-holiday-culture-christmas"> partridges don&rsquo;t tend to sit in pear trees.</a>
But if you go cycling through the<a href="https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/hidden-gems/apple-and-pear-trees-in-blossom/"> Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park</a> in France during the spring, you&rsquo;ll be treated to the spectacular sight of the region's pear trees in bloom.
There&rsquo;s even a<a href="http://poire-domfront.fr/tourism-and-poire-domfront/itineraries/"> &lsquo;Pear Route&rsquo; you can follow</a>, stopping off at the charmingly colourful town of Domfront which is renowned for its delicious pear cider). Sant&eacute;!

All&nbsp;the&nbsp;important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across&nbsp;the&nbsp;web this week.
<ul>
<li>Bleary-eyed revellers suffering the effects of the office Christmas party last weekend could have been forgiven for thinking they were hallucinating, as <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/santacon-attendees-overrun-new-york-boozy-event-2000954">thousands of Santas ran rampant</a> through the streets of New York City.</li>
<li>Also on the loose this week is the <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/worlds-largest-iceberg-a23a-breaks-free/">world&rsquo;s largest iceberg</a>, which is slowly making its way north from Antarctica.</li>
<li>It looks like Editor Katy was ahead of the curve on this one, as <a href="https://www.timeout.com/news/this-central-asian-country-has-been-named-the-worlds-most-desirable-emerging-destination-121624">TimeOut puts Uzbekistan top</a> of its &lsquo;most desirable&rsquo; list.</li>
<li>And finally, it turns out pigs really can fly! Dutch airline KLM had an absolutely stinking week, as a flight from Amsterdam to Mexico City had to be diverted to Bermuda due to the awful pong emanating from the 100 pigs in the cargo hold.&nbsp;
After a 30-hour beach break and a stretch of the trotters, passengers, pigs, and crew were all able to return to the plane and continue their journey.
</li>
</ul>

Costa Rica

Costa Rica in $370s-$440s RT

Liberia, Costa Rica in $450s-$480s RT

CA$411-CA$411 RT

Caribbean, Central America, Mexico & Hawaii in $290s-$590s RT

Costa Rica & more in €460s-€580s rtn

$294 RT