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Peru, Panama & Colombia 🌴in £890s-£1050s/€1000s-€1070s rtn

A week in rainy Europe, or kitesurfing in Cumbuco? You tell me…

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Brazil, Dominican Republic and more 🌍 in €90s-€620s rtn

Big birds, bigger canyons and the biggest savings!

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Madrid, Peru and more 🗺️ in £70s-£590s/€70s-€420s rtn

With rare fares to Asunción and Buenos Aires, let's just say we're not disappointed…

Cordoba

Argentina

Buenos Aires

Asunción

Paraguay

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Medellin

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and more 🤯 in £400s-£680s rtn 

This email takes the cake for our chunkiest today! 

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Asia, Canada, USA, and more 📍 in €140s-€590s rtn

Time waits for no one, and neither does Black Friday

Rio de Janeiro

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David

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Latin America & the Caribbean 🌴 in $210s-$490s RT

We’ve never been to Panama and loved our visit! 

Postcard from Steph

Italy

Hey there, Travellers,
It seems like 2025 is flying by, and all of a sudden, we've landed in awards season again. This week, we've got Japan Airlines winning Skytrax's <a href="https://simpleflying.com/worlds-best-economy-seat-2025/">'Best Economy Seat' award</a>, while CN Traveller has published its <a href="https://www.cntraveller.com/article/readers-choice-winners-2025">2025 Readers' Choice Awards</a>.&nbsp;
Most of the winning hotels and resorts in the latter are far fancier than my trips can ever aspire to, but I will admit that they're onto something with the <a href="https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/friendliest-cities-in-uk">'Friendliest City in the UK'</a>.
Today, I wanna know the friendliest city you've ever visited, anywhere in the world! What was it that made it stand out?&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-207-ligurian-lounging-latin-america#comments">Share your picks in the comments</a>, and who knows, maybe we'll start our own awards!
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Cinque Terre? Never Heard of Her. Meet Sestri Levante.

Navigator Akasha finds phenomenal Flights faster than you can decide where you want to take a trip to next. A pro at finding the best of the best fares, she's also a master at sharing must-visit spots for when you land.

By Akasha

Sun-drunk and still, there&rsquo;s a kind of conversation that drifts between people when you&rsquo;re half lost in sunlight.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m somewhere along the Ligurian Coast, slathered in SPF and sand, strategically flopping from front to back, playing the part of a rotisserie chicken. Pollo Allo Spiedo, with a pinch of ADHD.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If this place could be bottled, what would the label say?&rdquo; I glance over at my best friend, nothing short of a sun goddess. Palms facing upward, the freckles on her face greet the rays like an old friend.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Hmmm, I guess, real, authentic, low-key, maybe a little quiet, or maybe that&rsquo;s just because it&rsquo;s the end of the season?&rdquo; she responds dazedly.&nbsp;

I sit upright and take in the view before me.&nbsp;
A constellation of boats sways hypnotically to the mellow strum of the chittara battente, a sound that comes from nowhere and everywhere all at once and what would come to be the bass line of the town itself. Across the street, laundry sways, music-tossed, on lines between the buildings.&nbsp; 
This beach is empty, except for us and an elderly woman in a two-piece shuffling toward the sea. I watch the years wash away the moment the water touches her skin.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not catchy,&rdquo; I reply, &ldquo;but I think I&rsquo;d put 'We are here too' on the label.&rdquo;&nbsp;
And as if to echo my thoughts, I catch a woman in my periphery, stomping toward us, head-to-toe in glamorous winter gear. She tells us the sun loungers we&rsquo;re lying on cost 40 euros for the day. Otherwise, get lost.&nbsp;

It&rsquo;s the first time I&rsquo;ve heard anyone speak English since I&rsquo;ve been here.&nbsp;
She softens when we attempt an apology in Italian and tell her we&rsquo;ll be on our way. Folding her arms, and flicking her scarf, she shivers from a September wind perhaps only Italians can feel. Certainly not two Irish girls in bikinis. 
&ldquo;Why you come here?&rdquo; she arches her brow and points to the ground, as if the sand here in Sestri Levante is somewhat lesser than its neighbors, Portofino and the Cinque Terre. With zero crowds to elbow through, I&rsquo;m beginning to suspect it's better.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Oh, I saw it on a map, I wanted to see what it would look like in real life&rdquo; That gets me a quizzical smile, and she softly points us in the direction of the free beach, Baia del Silenzio.&nbsp;

I&rsquo;m not one for sun holidays, but like Giovanni Descalzo, the poet who named it, I find myself spellbound by the bay's cerulean crescent.&nbsp;
The shoreline is a ribbon of gold and citrus, limoncello-hued houses leaning shoulder to shoulder, their illusionary <a href="https://www.portofinocoast.it/en/the-illusion-of-colour/">trompe l&rsquo;oeil facades</a> trembling in the water like a painter&rsquo;s spilled palette. 
It wasn&rsquo;t exactly as silent as the name promised, but the pace matched every image evoked by the phrase &ldquo;il dolce far niente.&rdquo;&nbsp;

<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/meet-sestri-levante">Keep reading...</a>

Travel Tales

Last week, we dipped into our Facebook Community to see what the hot topics were and who needed help planning their next big trip. When we spotted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2607558869599958">Traveller Yvonne's question</a> about what to see and do over 10 days in Panama, we couldn't leave her hanging.&nbsp;
Here's what you, dear readers, recommend for a fantastic Panamanian adventure:

&ldquo;Ride the Panama Canal train to Colon (once per day leaving 09:30 I think) Visit Portobelo near Colon and visit the Statue of Black Christ amongst other things Visit Miraflores Lochs and the visitors centre. We got a reputable driver who drove us to the railway station in Panama City, then met us at Colon and we continued the trip with him.&rdquo; - GallantHiker69332
<hr>
&ldquo;Try 3 nights in Panama city and then 3 nights at the Gamboa rain forest resort ending with 4 nights at a 5 star resort. We both had a ball. The Mall in the city is enormous and well worth a visit. Try the train up the canal is another trip. Have a lovely holiday.&rdquo; - BoldNomad53378
<hr>
&ldquo;I spent some time on the western side of Panama a few years ago, and it was really lovely. The town, Boquete, looks like it jumped right out of a postcard and onto a map. Its cooler climate, incredible coffee and vibrant expat community make it super popular for retirees as well as adventure tourism. A hike to the Lost Waterfalls and the Pipeline Trail is an absolute must, or a night summit on Volcan Baru if you are looking for something challenging.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/75357a73bb405934cec47d4d2570d5db149a28ae" width="454" height="341" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
The city of David isn't much of a looker, but if you take the westward coastline you'll hit Santa Catalina, one of the best surfing spots in the country. It's also a jumping-off point for Coiba National Park, which has world-class scuba diving and snorkelling. You can also take boat rides from Boca Chica to islands like Bolano, Partido and Gamez too!
I found <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.journeyera.com%2Fcategory%2Fpanama%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNmR2SVhnR1RRVGVmSjRvNQEe0cBRhlEb1WjDAlLy7Fuo9GHENVDT_6RwEIk2fDL02_lx7HR7R9Kdu6rEJqo_aem_qNWQqmSzjPFEsDkx8GIndw&amp;h=AT1n17aQ04OSiBE31JBQ5QBehWqSvGu93U0C82B0PJ7OgWn3enHx_uzVmscSCb-FqVVu6l2scDIgagwDoldG18G8iNfAvzHpZJMIPS4pE1sCwGR_-QvskVVUwF-eZCjY6qoWO7ItMws4Mw&amp;__tn__=R]-R&amp;c[0]=AT2dDVYL_XSlNCoHf7MgKmTuDKXaEXkF0PlgFT7mj9b1V2_kDB6PELwAEUEKR7fb0eDzw8bs4uCxdjEhKX5FPjtBL3Uv07E7ItIPwbb8lTQlF1v70-o0HYLDx7T7Pn2KLO87AsEng1sSHGqKPuqAGuDEh5quxTqMltkz5yQOMQ">this blog</a> really helpful for inspo on what to see and do. Hope you have a fab trip!&rdquo; - Akasha

And in case you're still hungry for more, Yvonne, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-184-iceland-lapland-copenhagen-and-prague-epic-multi-stop#:~:text=Pandering%20to%20my%20Panama%20dreaming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here are some other tips</a> we scooped up earlier this year. Do send us a postcard and let us know how it goes!
Rounding off this week's Reader's Corner, Liz is sharing her epic plans for a big birthday trip, and asking for your help to fill in the gaps:

&ldquo;So for my 50th birthday in January, I am taking a one-month trip to South America! Some of my ancestors are from there, so I am following their trail and eventually meeting up with family still living in Lima. My grandma, Gladys, was born in Montevideo, so I am spending my birthday there. 
Whilst I have some ancestral places to see in every destination, I&rsquo;m after tips for things to do and recommendations on food etc in the locations I am visiting. Here is my itinerary, which was so much fun to put together. Any tips will be gratefully received! 
South America Adventure
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">1/1 Heathrow to Barcelona flight</li>
<li dir="ltr">1/1 Barcelona to Santiago, Chile flight</li>
<li dir="ltr">2/1 to 5/1 accommodation Santiago</li>
<li dir="ltr">5/1 Santiago to Montevideo flight</li>
<li dir="ltr">5/1 to 8/1 accommodation Montevideo (50th birthday 7/1)</li>
<li dir="ltr">8/1 Ferry Montevideo to Buenos Aires</li>
<li dir="ltr">8/1 to 10/1 accommodation Buenos Aires</li>
<li dir="ltr">10/1 Buenos Aires to Cuzco&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">11/1 Bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo</li>
<li dir="ltr">11/1 to 14/1 accommodation Ollantaytambo</li>
<li dir="ltr">13/1 Machu Picchu</li>
<li dir="ltr">14/1 bus to Cusco</li>
<li dir="ltr">14/1 Cusco to Arequipa</li>
<li dir="ltr">14/1 to 15/1 accommodation Arequipa</li>
<li dir="ltr">15/1 bus from Arequipa to La Paz</li>
<li dir="ltr">Arrive 16/1</li>
<li dir="ltr">16/1 to 18/1 accommodation La Paz</li>
<li dir="ltr">18/1 bus La Paz to Puno</li>
<li dir="ltr">18/1 to 20/1 accommodation Puno</li>
<li dir="ltr">19/1 visit Uros straw islands Lake Titicaca</li>
<li dir="ltr">20/1 boat from Puno to Taquile island</li>
<li dir="ltr">20/1 to 22/1 accommodation Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca</li>
<li dir="ltr">22/1 boat from Taquile island to Puno</li>
<li dir="ltr">22/1 to 23/1 accommodation Puno</li>
<li dir="ltr">23/1 bus from Puno to Lima</li>
<li dir="ltr">Arrive 24/1</li>
<li dir="ltr">24/1 to 27/1 accommodation Lima</li>
<li dir="ltr">27/1 Flight Lima to Heathrow</li>
<li dir="ltr">Arrive UK 28/1</li>
</ul>
Transport total: &pound;1484 Accommodation total: &pound;692
Total &pound;2176 + &pound;150 for Machu Picchu&rdquo;

Wow, what a quest, Liz! We're sure you'll have a fantastic trip retracing your family routes regardless, but if anyone has suggestions for exciting stop-offs or must-try restaurants, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-207-ligurian-lounging-latin-america#comments">head to the comments</a> or hit 'Reply'.
Let's make Liz's big birthday unforgettable!

Reader's Corner

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Surfing blind &mdash; how one <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/a-blind-traveler-learns-to-surf-in-hawaii">traveller learned to read the waves</a> like Braille. </li>
<li>This weekend marks the launch of the EU&rsquo;s new entry/exist system. <a href="https://www.euronews.com/travel/2025/10/10/eu-announces-launch-date-for-entryexit-system-heres-how-travellers-can-prepare">Here&rsquo;s what the changes will mean</a> for anyone travelling on a non-EU passport. </li>
<li>The mystery of the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xrd29r5ywo">3-year around-the-world cruise</a> that is yet to set sail. </li>
<li>Watch out, there&rsquo;s a <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/longest-flights-in-the-world">new longest non-stop flight in the world</a>, and it&rsquo;s a pretty random route! </li>
<li>And finally, taking a trip often means missing your furry pals back home. But fear not, cat tours are becoming a thing! While <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cattourto/?hl=en">North America</a> has been at it for a while, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPg3dYqkWrU/">200 feline fans took to the streets of Brighton</a> on Sunday for the first one in the UK, where tales of the city were interspersed with&hellip; Well, tails of the city.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

The Sweetness of Ligurian Lounging & Lusting After Latin America

Hey there, Travellers,
It's time to invoke the "c word" again &mdash; chaos. Anyone planning to travel over the next couple of weeks should be prepared for potential travel chaos, as storms, strikes, and government shutdowns could well change your plans.
In Europe, flights to, from, over, and around France will feel the impact of <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/furious-ryanair-boss-warns-100-000-passengers-could-have-flights-cancelled-next-week-13442651">air traffic control strikes</a> from October 7th - 10th. Meanwhile, in the USA, an ongoing government shutdown could result in delays at TSA checkpoints and even lead to cancellations.
And here in the UK and Ireland? Let's just say I'm currently listening to the wind and rain batter my windows thanks to the first named storm of the season. Dublin Airport has been cancelling flights all day, while airports in the UK are poised to follow suit.
On the plus side, if we can't go anywhere right now, it's the perfect excuse to make plans for the future. Let us know where you're off to next <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-206-georgia-love-story-plan-for-chaos#comments">in the comments</a>!
Happy travels and safe landings,

My Love Affair with Georgia (the Country, Not the State &mdash; Though I&rsquo;m Sure She&rsquo;s Great Too)

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

This one&rsquo;s long overdue. Honestly, it&rsquo;s only taken me so long because it&rsquo;s nearly impossible to know where to start. Like any good romcom, there have been a few (mostly entertaining) bumps in the road during my relationship with Georgia. So, I&rsquo;ll just start at the usual place: the beginning.
This love story begins like most life-changing romances: with a good meal.
Back in 2018, I visited Stockholm for the first time. I have a friend there (hi, Noora!) who insisted that we must go out to her local Georgian restaurant for dinner. &ldquo;Sure,&rdquo; I said. &ldquo;Never had Georgian food before.&rdquo; Little did I know that it&rsquo;d begin a years-long obsession that I&rsquo;m yet to find a cure for.
I have no memory of what I ate that night beyond <a href="https://www.tasteatlas.com/beyond-adjaruli-khachapuri-varieties-youve-probably-never-tasted">khachapuri</a>. But that&rsquo;s all it took. Turns out a simple cheese bread can unlock doors, change worldviews, and shape the way you live forever. Okay, I&rsquo;m maybe going a little over the top here, but what can I say? I&rsquo;m in love!

From that point on, I took every chance I could for an hour or two in the company of a cheese-filled dopamine boost and the heady delights of an orange wine. The butterflies in my stomach (or was it hunger?), the wonder of discovering something new and different every time&hellip; Like the early days of any romance, I was always left wanting more.
From then on, I&rsquo;d carve out time to savour even the smallest taste of Georgia whenever I could &mdash; and sometimes, I even felt like it was seeking me out, too. From Scotland to Estonia, Lithuania to T&uuml;rkiye, we began seeing the world together. Georgia loves to travel too, it seems.&nbsp;
A year after first tasting that stringy liquid gold encased in its soft, bready vessel, I finally decided it was time to take our relationship to the next level. I needed to experience the real deal, so when Jack&rsquo;s sent me a &pound;38 return trip from London to Kutaisi (I was a just member back then!), I couldn&rsquo;t say no.&nbsp;
But unfortunately, that trip wasn&rsquo;t to be. As talk of Coronavirus spread around the world, the idea of travelling solo to a completely new country where I&rsquo;d have zero language skills wasn&rsquo;t appealing. Instead, I still made the trek to London, where I would have caught that flight, and consoled myself with some khachapuri&nbsp;there before hunkering down at home for a year and a half.

For the Love of Georgia & Planning for Chaos

Panama

Peru, Panama & Colombia in £890s-£1050s/€1000s-€1070s rtn

Brazil, Dominican Republic and more in €90s-€620s rtn

Madrid, Peru and more in £70s-£590s/€70s-€420s rtn

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and more in £400s-£680s rtn

Asia, Canada, USA, and more in €140s-€590s rtn

Latin America & the Caribbean in $210s-$490s RT

The Sweetness of Ligurian Lounging & Lusting After Latin America

For the Love of Georgia & Planning for Chaos

Postcard from Steph