Europe

Berlin

Germany

Dublin

Ireland

Dublin ☘️ at €31-€44 rtn from Berlin

Frankfurt Hahn

Kerry

Kerry 🏞️ at €52-€54 rtn from Frankfurt Hahn

Birmingham

England

Dublin 🍻 at £30-£31 rtn from Birmingham 

Beauvais

France

Dublin 🎻 at €34-€40 rtn from Paris Beauvais 

Non-stop long weekends over peak dates? This has got everything!

Inverness

Scotland

Inverness ⛰️ to Dublin ☘️ & vice versa in £150s-£180s/€180s-€190s rtn

London Luton

Dublin 🍀 at £30-£37 rtn from Luton 

Loved the trip and got lucky that the dates were right after our anniversary!
Highly recommend using Jack&#39;s flights and visiting Dublin !

Postcard from RapturousPassenger13062

Your email came at the perfect time. Ive been wanting to go on a trip with my mum for a while. She has trouble flying so knew it would have to be business/first class for any flight. So to see this email! I hopped skipped and jumped to the flights and booked it! We&#39;re going istanbul whoop whoop! We both love Turkish culture (my mums been, I havent) ,I would have definitely missed these flights if i didnt sign up to your emails.

Thanks, 😊
J

Postcard from Janelle

Hey Jack &amp; team,
I booked this snack to Vienna from Copenhagen, dec 12 to 15!
Super excited to go with my husband and baby 🐥

Postcard from Elizabeth

Hi, I booked my return trip to India yesterday over December and got it for 399 without a checked bag (and 458 with). This is a direct flight via BA from London &gt; Delhi &gt; London. Thought I’d share!

Postcard from Sangam

I love a cheap deal from my local airport Leeds instead of heading to Manchester or London.. excited for a quick jaunt to Dublin next February!

Postcard from Abi

Going end of Sept (2025) for a mini trip to Dublin on my own! Pretty excited. Hope the weather will be decent and not rain.
😊


Postcard from Marilyn 

Chile

Argentina

Falkland Islands

Hey there, Travellers,
First of all, I'd like to wish a hearty Jack's Flight Club Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating today! Amid especially hard times with the war in the Gulf, we're sending good vibes for warm hearts and full bellies to all.
Jack's Navigator Akasha recently visited Oman and left the team envious with tales of the "best chicken of [her] life" and amazing hospitality she was given during an iftar meal. After getting a flat tyre while out on the road, locals in the small town she'd unexpectedly landed in rallied around to make sure she and her guide were taken care of.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/e361a0905149f7d03390cf5b2d62a1ecce0af37c" width="354" height="354">
While her trip was sadly cut short, the kindness and culture she felt in Oman has left her (and the rest of us) longing to return for more.
And for bonus festivity points this weekend, to anyone <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-is-nowruz-persian-new-year-food">celebrating Nowruz</a>, may your&nbsp;<a href="https://surfiran.com/mag/all-about-haft-sin-the-7-s-of-iranian-new-year/">Haft Sin tables</a> be bright and bountiful and the pastries sickly sweet! Save an <a href="https://www.sprinklepastry.com/2023/10/08/festive-nowruz-baking/">apple baklava</a> for me?
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Take Your Travel Inspiration to the Next Level

If you're reading this, that means you:
<ul>
<li>probably enjoy our weekly travel inspo and news from around the Jack's Community,</li>
<li>aren't already signed up to our Takeoff&nbsp;membership. Whaaaat?! 🤯</li>
<li>can <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/eu-upgrade-spring-sale-2026?utm_campaign=spring-sale-2026&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=detour">bag 3 months of Takeoff for &euro;5 today</a>! (SOLD) 😏</li>
</ul>
Joining&nbsp;Takeoff not only gets you access to loads more fantastic Flights, but you also get all our Navigators' hot tips that go with them. So even if you're not ready to go all-in on that dream trip just yet, you're investing in future-you's epic travel era.&nbsp;
Give it a whirl! We think it's worth it, and hopefully you will too. And if not, you can cancel any time.

Jack's Promo

If you're reading this, that means you:
<ul>
<li>probably enjoy our weekly travel inspo and news from around the Jack's Community,</li>
<li>aren't already signed up to our Takeoff&nbsp;membership. Whaaaat?! 🤯</li>
<li>can <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/uk-upgrade-spring-sale-2026?utm_campaign=spring-sale-2026&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=detour">bag 3 months of Takeoff for &pound;5 today</a>! (SOLD) 😏</li>
</ul>
Joining&nbsp;Takeoff not only gets you access to loads more fantastic Flights, but you also get all our Navigators' hot tips that go with them. So even if you're not ready to go all-in on that dream trip just yet, you're investing in future-you's epic travel era.&nbsp;
Give it a whirl! We think it's worth it, and hopefully you will too. If not, you can cancel any time.

If you're reading this, that means you:
<ul>
<li>probably enjoy our weekly travel inspo and news from around the Jack's Community,</li>
<li>aren't already signed up to our Takeoff&nbsp;membership. Whaaaat?! 🤯</li>
<li>can <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/us-upgrade-spring-sale-2026?utm_campaign=spring-sale-2026&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=detour">bag 3 months of Takeoff for $5 today</a>! (SOLD) 😏</li>
</ul>
Joining&nbsp;Takeoff not only gets you access to loads more fantastic Flights, but you also get all our Navigators' hot tips that go with them. So even if you're not ready to go all-in on that dream trip just yet, you're investing in future-you's epic travel era.&nbsp;
Give it a whirl! We think it's worth it, and hopefully you will too. And if not, you can cancel any time.

If you're reading this, that means you:
<ul>
<li>probably enjoy our weekly travel inspo and news from around the Jack's Community,</li>
<li>aren't already signed up to our Takeoff&nbsp;membership. Whaaaat?! 🤯</li>
<li>can <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/ca-upgrade-spring-sale-2026?utm_campaign=spring-sale-2026&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=detour">bag 3 months of Takeoff for $5 today</a>! (SOLD) 😏</li>
</ul>
Joining&nbsp;Takeoff not only gets you access to loads more fantastic Flights, but you also get all our Navigators' hot tips that go with them. So even if you're not ready to go all-in on that dream trip just yet, you're investing in future-you's epic travel era.&nbsp;
Give it a whirl! We think it's worth it, and hopefully you will too. And if not, you can cancel any time.

The Beginner's Guide to Antarctica

San Diego native Olivia left home three years ago to live on the road. Since then, she's had homebases everywhere from Quebec to England to New Orleans, but she always ends up back on the West Coast. When she's not hiking through the desert or the woods, she can usually be found scoping out the best bars and coffee shops.

By Olivia

As more and more travelers seek out untouched, uncrowded places, the &ldquo;beaten track&rdquo; just gets harder and harder to escape. Even the tallest mountain in the world has a line to the top these days!
Maybe that&rsquo;s why people are increasingly eager to travel&nbsp;alllllll the way to the very bottom of the Earth &mdash; to Antarctica, one of the most pristine, ethereally beautiful places on the planet.

It was nigh-impossible for tourists to set foot on its unforgiving, icy shores until the first passenger cruises started visiting in the late 60s. Back then, only a few thousand people made the journey per year. In the 2023&ndash;2024 season, that number was 122,072.&nbsp;
Despite the increase in visitors, strict environmental regulations and logistical nightmares have kept Antarctica exclusive, limited only to visitors traveling with an organized tour. So unfortunately, you can&rsquo;t exactly book a flight to McMurdo Station with British Airways. If you want to witness this raw, otherworldly landscape for yourself, you&rsquo;re going to need months of planning, tens of thousands in spare cash, and an unshakeable &ldquo;go with the flow&rdquo; attitude.
Fortunately, I&rsquo;ve scoured the internet, read account after account, watched video after video, and interrogated as many experienced visitors as I can find, and now I&rsquo;ve distilled all that information into one handy-dandy beginner&rsquo;s guide.&nbsp;
So if you&rsquo;ve just begun thinking about a trip to Antarctica and you need to learn the basics to decide whether it&rsquo;s the right adventure for you, then you&rsquo;ve come to the right place!&nbsp;
<h2 id="what-is-there-to-do-in-antarctica">What is there to do in Antarctica?</h2>
So&hellip; why do people want to go to Antarctica, anyway? What is there to actually do in this snow-covered desert?
For starters, I wasn&rsquo;t kidding about that otherworldly landscape:

You&rsquo;ll be surrounded by crackling glaciers, icy blue waters, and snowy hilltops rising up out of the sea. It&rsquo;s harsh and beautiful and utterly unique. There&rsquo;s a reason why one of the most popular Antarctic pastimes is photography!
Due to the environmental regulations and lack of human influence (no resorts down here!), it&rsquo;s also an incredible place to see wildlife. Antarctic animals are abundant and generally don&rsquo;t fear people. The big stars are the penguins (mostly gentoos and chinstraps), plus whales (humpbacks, minkes, orcas) and seals (Weddells and leopards). And if you&rsquo;re a birdwatching enthusiast with an affinity for seabirds, Antarctica is practically heaven.

What you see and do from day to day will heavily depend on which tour you choose &mdash; but don&rsquo;t worry, I&rsquo;ll dissect all that for you in the sections below. Generally speaking, your trip will begin in Argentina or Chile with visits to a few nearby islands, and then cross the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula.&nbsp;
You won&rsquo;t be allowed to explore on your own due to the regulations, but there are still plenty of ways to interact with the landscape. Lots of expeditions will include guided hikes, kayaking, and swimming stops along the way to let you get up close.
<h2 dir="ltr" id="how-do-you-get-to-antarctica">How do you get to Antarctica?</h2>
Unless you&rsquo;ve managed to hitch a ride with the researchers, there&rsquo;s really only one way to reach Antarctica, and that&rsquo;s by cruise ship.&nbsp;
You have two options when it comes to cruises:
Option #1: Book an Antarctic holiday with a global company like Princess or Viking. These trips are very similar to non-polar cruises, and you&rsquo;ll be aboard a large ship with tons of amenities and an emphasis on passenger comfort.
Pro: If you&rsquo;re older, lack mobility, are traveling with small children, or just want to make your trip as comfortable as possible, this might be the best option for you. You&rsquo;ll be sheltered from the elements as you watch icebergs roll past your window.
Con: These ships don&rsquo;t make landings, so while you&rsquo;ll get to admire glimmering Antarctic views, you won&rsquo;t get to set foot on the actual continent or interact with the land at all.
Option #2:&nbsp;Book an expedition cruise with a smaller company, aboard a smaller vessel, with a smaller group of travelers (usually around 100-200).
Pro:&nbsp;Weather permitting, you&rsquo;ll get to experience the polar desert up close, mingling with penguins and hiking over snowy drifts.&nbsp;
Con: These trips involve more planning, cost more money, and can also get tarnished very easily by the weather (more about that later).
Taking a larger ship is fairly straightforward (you can book them like any other cruise), and they don&rsquo;t have quite the same &ldquo;high risk vs. high reward&rdquo; nature as the expedition cruises, so I&rsquo;ll be focusing primarily on the latter for this guide.

<h2 dir="ltr" id="how-to-choose-an-expedition-cruise-to-antarctica">How to choose an expedition cruise to Antarctica</h2>
If you&rsquo;ve chosen to go with the more adventurous option and book an expedition cruise, the decision-making gauntlet has only just begun!
When sorting through the myriad of expedition cruise offerings, pay close attention to the&nbsp;itinerary. These cruises don&rsquo;t just sail you on down to Antarctica; they make stops all around the area! Popular landings include South Georgia, the Falklands, and the South Shetland Islands &mdash; all penguin-covered and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@marco.miglionico_/video/7570308173282774286">starkly stunning in their own right</a>.
Once you reach the continent, you&rsquo;ll be bouncing around the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Antarctic-Peninsula">Antarctic Peninsula</a>. This is the only section of mainland Antarctica onto which passengers can actually set foot.&nbsp;
Keep in mind, due to that pesky weather,&nbsp;your itinerary is a guideline and not a guarantee. This is where that &ldquo;go with the flow&rdquo; mindset becomes key &mdash; the itinerary you carefully selected could be thrown out the second you leave port if the captain hears of rough weather down south. So choose wisely, but don&rsquo;t marry yourself to anything too specific.&nbsp;
Pro-Tip: One experienced expeditioner suggested that the most reputable cruises are actually more vague about their itinerary, rather than offering exact promises that can&rsquo;t always be delivered.

Also look closely at the activities offered on each trip. During landings, different cruises will provide different ways to soak up your stunning surroundings. Common options include hiking (for getting up close), kayaking (for calm, wildlife-filled views), zodiac trips (for speeding around an entire area), and polar plunges (for freezing your toes off).&nbsp;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-visiting-antarctica">Read on for all the gory details,</a> like how to get there, when to visit, and how much it's going to cost...

Travel Tips

Here's Why Cork Should Be On Your Irish Bucket List

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

In the spirit of Paddy-not-Patty&rsquo;s Day (he was neither woman nor burger), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10242279377299694&amp;set=gm.2759946561027854&amp;idorvanity=577601325929066">we asked the Jack's Community</a> for spots in Ireland that&rsquo;d turn someone green with envy should they be missed.&nbsp;
Naturally, the big hitters like Dingle, Dublin, and Cobh all made the list, but growing up on this whimsical, windswept little isle, I&rsquo;ve learned that there&rsquo;s actually a lot of ground to cover. And honestly, my biggest tip? If you&rsquo;ve come to Ireland for its rolling hills, craggy castles, and Celtic traditions, you&rsquo;ve got to get out of Dublin!
It&rsquo;d be remiss of me to not tell you what my county of Cork (and the city of the same name) has to offer. Honestly, there's no greater backyard when the sun peeks out. Kerry's a close second, but don't utter that in a pub packed with Corkmen&hellip;
<h2 dir="ltr" id="cork-city">Cork City</h2>

With historic streets steeped in<a href="https://www.independent.ie/life/if-not-for-collins-why-is-it-called-the-rebel-county/29469436.html"> tales of rebellion</a> dating all the way back to Viking settlers, there's a reason why we call Cork the "Rebel county."&nbsp;
It's the birthplace of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins, and that spirit of defiance remains an integral part of its identity, which you&rsquo;ll no doubt notice on your visit.
Perhaps it's this same rebellious spirit that explains why our town's famous landmark, the&nbsp; <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/four-faced-liar-cork">"Four-Faced Liar"</a> refuses to conform too&mdash;a nickname it earned because no two of its faces ever seem to show the same time.&nbsp;
Today, Cork proudly aligns itself with causes supporting oppressed people, showing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=744801264825412">solidarity with </a>Palestine by hosting powerful protests, <a href="https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/news-room/latest-news/lord-mayor-welcomes-palestinian-mayor-and-nablus-delegation-on-historic-visit-to-cork/">visits</a>, and <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41682872.html">exhibitions</a>, even among our Paddy&rsquo;s Day parades.&nbsp;
Revolutionary Irish leaders, Cillian Murphy, and butter&mdash;we've given the world a lot! Yes, really; we were once the world&rsquo;s largest exporter of butter (<a href="https://thebuttermuseum.com/">there&rsquo;s even a museum</a>; no, I&rsquo;ve never been).&nbsp;
From <a href="https://www.marinamarket.ie/">artsy markets</a> to fine dining, we're formally known as <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/where-to-eat-in-county-cork-ireland">the foodie capital of Ireland</a>, with heaps of gourmet festivals and heritage trails throughout the year.&nbsp;
The best include&nbsp;<a href="https://www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-on-a-fork-fest/">Cork on a Fork</a> in August, a citywide celebration of over 100 different events, including cooking demos, food trails, brewery tours, and pop-up experiences from some of the island&rsquo;s most revered chefs.&nbsp;

Speaking of chefs, one place I'd highly recommend is the Japanese takeaway <a href="https://www.corkcitydining.com/restaurants/miyazaki">Miyazaki</a>. It's run by a Michelin-star chef, Takashi Miyazaki, who uses the finest of Irish ingredients to bring you a treasure box of Japanese food. Netflixers may recognize this one from the <a href="https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/netflix-somebody-feed-phil-irish-food">Ireland episode of Somebody Feed Phil</a>.
Another local favorite includes Izz Cafe, <a href="https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/corks-izz-cafe-named-one-33385234">a Palestinian restaurant</a> named one of Ireland's best restaurants, and some of the yummiest Musakhan I've ever tried.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Sometimes, though, you just can't beat a traditional Sunday roast. We're fiercely loyal when it comes to the spud, but some notable ones worth sharing are The Elm Tree and Murphy's Rock, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whincuF1lXg">this YouTuber</a>.
Naturally, you&rsquo;ll want to bring a taste of Cork home, too;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.corkcity.ie/en/english-market/">the English Market</a> is where you&rsquo;ll likely want to head. Since 1788, this indoor Victorian market has been home to family-run stalls selling the freshest food from farms across the country. Specialty mushrooms, meat, and cheeses&mdash;you can find it all.&nbsp;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/is-cork-on-your-irish-bucket-list-it-should-be">Read on for jazz festivals, cozy pubs &amp; bioluminescent lakes</a>

More Travel Tips!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Your Paddy&rsquo;s Day might have been wild, but was it &ldquo;wake up surrounded by Nepalese yaks&rdquo; wild? Here&rsquo;s a look at the <a href="https://www.timeout.com/news/i-visited-the-worlds-highest-irish-pub-where-guinness-comes-in-cans-and-yaks-transport-the-bar-stools-031726">highest-altitude Irish pub in the world</a>, where the beer is always extra strong (or else it explodes). </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">After years of being the &ldquo;happiest country in the world,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.euronews.com/travel/2026/03/11/learn-to-chill-like-a-finn-worlds-happiest-country-is-giving-away-finnish-lakeland-trips">Finland&rsquo;s offering free Lakeland retreats</a> to teach visitors their ways. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">American airports are still in chaos, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-says-it-may-be-forced-shut-down-some-airports-over-funding-standoff-2026-03-17/">plagued by shutdowns</a> and long TSA lines. Turns out your parents&rsquo; advice about arriving &ldquo;three hours before your flight&rdquo; is finally correct&hellip; if you&rsquo;re lucky enough not to get cancelled. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rent payments got you down? Need a fresh start? <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/meggenharris/2026/03/14/8-countries-paying-people-to-move-there-in-2026/">These eight countries will pay you to move there</a> &mdash; and they include some pretty popular spots. </li>
<li>And finally, we all know long hauls are better in business class, but <a href="https://simpleflying.com/costs-fly-business-class-worlds-longest-airbus-a380-routes/">here&rsquo;s how much you&rsquo;ll need to shell out to make it happen</a>. We promise the prices seem lower when you&rsquo;re 12 hours into a 16-hour flight.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Antarctica For First-Timers & Captivating County Cork

In the spirit of Paddy-not-Patty&rsquo;s Day (he was neither woman nor burger), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10242279377299694&amp;set=gm.2759946561027854&amp;idorvanity=577601325929066">we asked the Jack's Community</a> for spots in Ireland that&rsquo;d turn someone green with envy should they be missed.&nbsp;
Naturally, the big hitters like Dingle, Dublin, and Cobh all made the list, but growing up on this whimsical, windswept little isle, I&rsquo;ve learned that there&rsquo;s actually a lot of ground to cover. And honestly, my biggest tip? If you&rsquo;ve come to Ireland for its rolling hills, craggy castles, and Celtic traditions, you&rsquo;ve got to get out of Dublin!
It&rsquo;d be remiss of me to not tell you what my county of Cork (and the city of the same name) has to offer. Honestly, there's no greater backyard when the sun peeks out. Kerry's a close second, but don't utter that in a pub packed with Corkmen&hellip;

Speaking of chefs, one place I'd highly recommend is the Japanese takeaway <a href="https://www.corkcitydining.com/restaurants/miyazaki">Miyazaki</a>. It's run by a Michelin-star chef, Takashi Miyazaki, who uses the finest of Irish ingredients to bring you a treasure box of Japanese food. Netflixers may recognize this one from the <a href="https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/netflix-somebody-feed-phil-irish-food">Ireland episode of Somebody Feed Phil</a>.
Another local favorite includes Izz Cafe, <a href="https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/corks-izz-cafe-named-one-33385234">a Palestinian restaurant</a> named one of Ireland's best restaurants, and some of the yummiest Musakhan I've ever tried.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Sometimes, though, you just can't beat a traditional Sunday roast. We're fiercely loyal when it comes to the spud, but some notable ones worth sharing are The Elm Tree and Murphy's Rock, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whincuF1lXg">this YouTuber</a>.
Naturally, you&rsquo;ll want to bring a taste of Cork home, too;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.corkcity.ie/en/english-market/">the English Market</a> is where you&rsquo;ll likely want to head. Since 1788, this indoor Victorian market has been home to family-run stalls selling the freshest food from farms across the country. Specialty mushrooms, meat, and cheeses&mdash;you can find it all.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.flickrhelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/40048459562388-Copyright-Licenses-on-Flickr">CC image</a> courtesy of Allain Rouiller on <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/alainrouiller/29753110300/in/photolist-Mkbt7m-MAXbB9-qvmU56-ugN2F1-MJaphC-rUmYQt-LPGF1A-LPLD9a-LPLFkV-qvt6md-VC1tPS-MJaoxG-qdYPGY-qdYWj5-MMb64n-LPGLrq-zUc82Z-2mdNerg-abBZcs-abz8UP-2pbZQx5-2pc28o4-2mdNuEq-abBYA3-2mdM6Pk-abBZNs-abzba2-gidDDp-LioKTv-6EMSx3-2me2Fv8-9y7gQg-dbLewf-Mkbdio-EH6uTx-dbLe1b-dbLbNe-dbLeSL-dbLeKG-2ofn2qn-2ofgTmF-2bAyRum-dbLepS-gicVMj-2ofn2sm-7zoQzj-dbLbX8-dbLbER-9fPVBB-dbLcX6">Flickr</a>
Rain or shine, festivals&nbsp;<a href="https://www.purecork.ie/whats-on/categories/festivalshttps://www.purecork.ie/whats-on/categories/festivalshttps://www.purecork.ie/whats-on/categories/festivals">are plentiful</a> too; we&rsquo;re home to Ireland's biggest city-wide festival, the <a href="https://guinnesscorkjazz.com/">Guinness Jazz Festival</a>.&nbsp; Some of jazz's biggest names have stopped by the festival to play us a tune over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Morcheeba, Macy Gray and Gregory Porter, just to name a few.&nbsp;
There are performances, pop-up workshops, and parties around the clock all over the city. Seriously, from intimate pubs to grand concert halls, no corner remains untouched by the saxy melodies and flowing pints of Guinness. Remember to book your accommodation as far in advance as possible, though; places fill up quickly!
We've got more pubs than people here, and you can't go wrong with any of the historical watering holes <a href="https://corkheritagepubs.com/cork-heritage-pub-trail-location-map/">along the Heritage Trail</a>. Think cozy pubs with roaring fireplaces, locals that'll chat your ear off, and trad sessions that feel more like a family gathering than a performance.
The Corner House, Annie Macs, Sin E, Tom Barry's, Mr. Bradley's. The choices in the city are endless, so much so that someone even made <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eenYKfUQ6vaFTgP_OJ_RJiNpEsChlat5Hm73nEMyCpg/edit?gid=126424338#gid=126424338">a spreadsheet</a>. But before you go ordering a pint of the black stuff, Guinness isn&rsquo;t the only game in town. Stouts here have subtle rivalries, and when in Cork, try <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzlMME_sekI">a Beamish</a>!
However, if you&rsquo;re a whiskey buff, we&rsquo;ll probably find you sampling the world&rsquo;s best at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-ie/visit-our-distilleries/midleton-distillery-cork/?gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=17747989885&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAC_bsCUDZX4rpuRTTbuKRdIZUH2r1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwve7NBhC-ARIsALZy9HXDN24kxAxbPeT6LV_6ZAJdyFMHbpd4O5xGx58KowiKCGoOduFQFB4aAmZ6EALw_wcB">Jameson&rsquo;s Distillery</a>, just outside the city.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While tour buses loop endlessly around the well-trodden paths of the Ring of Kerry, Cobh, and Kinsale, many of them bypass the untamed beauty of West Cork, and that, my friend, is a crying shame.&nbsp;
Out your window, wild, windswept peninsulas dotted with crumbled ruins and <a href="https://www.outdoorswimming.ie/category/munster/cork/">hidden coves</a>&nbsp;&mdash;every turn reveals a shade of green more vivid than the last. And in my opinion, this is where the county truly comes to life.&nbsp;
Renting a car is by far the easiest way to get around, but you can still cover a decent chunk of ground by using <a href="https://westcorkconnect.ie/timetable/">West Cork Connect's bus service</a>.
A local legend, the buzzy <a href="https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/things-to-do-in-clonakilty/">seaside town of Clonakilty</a> is famous for birthing Michael Collins and, let's be honest, probably <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSeD-JwNt3Q">the best black pudding</a> you'll ever have. It&rsquo;s well worth basing yourself here to delve into the town&rsquo;s beaches, surf schools, and, you guessed it, pubs&mdash;there's no better place for music lovers than Clon, as it&rsquo;s affectionately known.
<a href="https://debarra.ie/">De Barra&rsquo;s Folk Club</a> is world-famous, receiving a Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2025 accolade as one of the top music venues in the world. Come in September, and you&rsquo;ll find the town&rsquo;s corners <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRMiasihEeY">jam-packed with guitarists</a> from across the globe.&nbsp;
Skibbereen,<a href="https://skibbereen.ie/"> another foodie-obsessed market town</a>, also makes an excellent base and has just as lively a social calendar and tight-knit, friendly community.&nbsp;
Peel yourself away from the fireside chatter in one of its many cozy pubs, and you're within minutes of<a href="http://www.whalewatchwestcork.com/"> whale watching</a> excursions, and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKKhKnpsZ15/"> night-time bioluminescent kayaking trips on Loch Hyne</a>.

If you can handle a breeze, I&rsquo;d recommend ferry hopping to the<a href="https://cleire.ie/"> Irish-speaking island of Cape Clear</a> for a night of camping under the stars or visiting artsy<a href="https://sherkinisland.ie/"> Sherkin Island</a>.&nbsp;
Some of my favorite picturesque road trip stops in this area are <a href="https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/allihies-in-cork/">Allihies</a>, where colorful cottages meet the Atlantic. This town is known for its 19th-century <a href="https://acmm.ie/">copper-mining heritage</a>.&nbsp;
Another shout is the town-turned <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTIUFsncWLc">artist hotspot</a>,&nbsp;Ballydehob. Spend a night here before venturing off to Ireland&rsquo;s most southwesterly point, Mizen Head, for some of the most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Em_aaK-p4">spectacular coastal views</a> on this side of the Atlantic.&nbsp;
P.S. Levi's Pub is<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL3xGCt5Z_U&amp;ab_channel=CR%27sVideoVaults"> somewhat of an institution</a> here;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/levis_corner_house_ballydehob/?hl=en"> expect quirky gigs</a> that have been known to end in a broom closet. Don&rsquo;t say I didn&rsquo;t warn you!

Getting here

We&rsquo;re pretty well connected, so getting here by public transport won&rsquo;t be an issue. 
From Dublin
You&rsquo;ve got two options: take the <a href="https://www.aircoach.ie/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=21354209951&amp;gbraid=0AAAAABn_CfKU399GPZ1t0HIS2LrFCihI4&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw4PPNBhD8ARIsAMo-icypFHkyhC3kE8B2rNurNUg7FOnZwt3naHlI5G91WBBYUuqREoirJUAaAs6KEALw_wcB&amp;c=1773996713">Aircoach </a>right outside the airport straight to Cork in 3.5 hours, or <a href="https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/Offer/webfares?gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=827803889&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADkkyerYQKJAamgrnCm7suYKt7kYe&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw4PPNBhD8ARIsAMo-icxYQZmmfTv3h4FUjN5H_wfOtETNDlp4PMqSNFBPT7HAGnJEDz5iPu0aAjckEALw_wcB">hop on a train</a> from Dublin&rsquo;s Heuston Station, and you&rsquo;ll reach the city in about 2.5 hours. 
From Shannon
If you&rsquo;re flying into Shannon, the best way to reach Cork by public transport is the direct&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buseireann.ie/destinations/shannon-airport">Bus &Eacute;ireann/Expressway Route 51</a> that leaves from right outside the airport.&nbsp;

Is Cork on your Irish bucket list? It should be!

Mexico

Italy

China

Vietnam

Malaysia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The only line we&rsquo;ll happily wait in? The cable car queue&hellip;&nbsp;
Turns out we&rsquo;re not the only ones with this niche obsession! A few weeks ago we asked for your thoughts on the best cable cars you&rsquo;ve been on.&nbsp;
From Chile to China, our latest rabbit hole crisscrossed through centuries of architectural feats&mdash;including France&rsquo;s mercifully brief (yet whimsical)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGbzYqcl6OI">underwater death trap</a>.&nbsp;
Your recommendations poured in too, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2753016238387553/">some incredibly dizzying pics</a> in our Facebook community.&nbsp;
And we must say, they were pretty&nbsp;uplifting. Take a look! 
<h2 dir="ltr">Cableb&uacute;s, Mexico City</h2>
Manufacturer: Doppelmayr (Austria) / Leitner (Italy)
Objective: Mass transit system connecting high-altitude neighborhoods to the Mexico City Metro
Launch Date: 2021&nbsp;
Vertical Ascent: Varies by line; Line 2 traverses the Sierra de Santa Catarina volcanic ridge
Capacity: Each cabin holds 10; capable of transporting 3,000 people per hour per direction
Track Length: About 10,550 meters (Line 2)
Transit Length: 36 minutes (Line 2 total journey)

<a href="https://www.flickrhelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/40048459562388-Copyright-Licenses-on-Flickr">CC image</a> courtesy of Ted McGrath <a href="https://flic.kr/p/2pxDixx">on Flickr</a>

&ldquo;A great way to view Mexico City from above is by <a href="https://getlostinmexicocity.com/mexico-city-cable-car/">using Cableb&uacute;s</a>, Line 2 is the longest cable car in the world taking around 45 minutes, costing 7 MXP per journey (30 pence). You need a Tarjeta Card to tap in.
It&rsquo;s also an easy connection from the metro system; you just need to change cable cars at Xalpa to continue the journey. It&rsquo;s well worth getting off at&nbsp;<a href="https://mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx/venues/mercado-quetzalcoatl/?lang=en">Quetzalcoatl </a>for the local market. Great views of the rooftop murals, and don't miss the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUWl-i9jY4-/">parked airplane</a> (turned library) on the ground.&nbsp;
Top tip: don't travel at rush hour, instead go off-peak to avoid the crowds&rdquo; - GallantHiker6933

Mexico City&rsquo;s cable car system isn&rsquo;t just for tourists! The line connects local communities in between Indios Verdes &amp; Cuautepec, cutting down on lengthy commute times and unsafe conditions. Not only that, it&rsquo;s helped reduce air pollution in this mega metropolis. Line 2 holds the Guinness World Record for the longest public cable car on earth (10.55 km), and over 100 massive murals and 3,000 brightly painted rooftops were commissioned specifically to be viewed from above.

<h2 id="prada-costabella-italy">Prada Costabella, Italy</h2>
Manufacturer: Graffer (Italy)
Objective: Direct transit from Prada (San Zeno di Montagna) to the Costabella ridge on Mount Baldo
Launch Date: August 2022 (Complete overhaul and reopening)
Vertical Ascent: Elevates passengers 838 meters
Capacity: Each "open basket" holds 2; capable of transporting 400 people per hour
Track Length: About 3,000 meters of cable (across two sections)
Transit Length: 22 minutes in total

&ldquo;Lake Garda. Rickety-looking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prada-costabella.it/en/">birdcage thingies</a>! You could hear everything as there was no glass. Saw an eagle swoop right below us.&rdquo;&nbsp;- Emma

Rickety indeed! If you can get over <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VftUF7j_rLg">climbing into a metal cage</a> for one section of your journey, Funivia Prada Costabella&rsquo;s cable cars lead to mountain huts and the highest peaks of Monte Baldo with insane views of Lake Garda below. The baskets don&rsquo;t stop to let you on, and we&rsquo;re not sure which is more anxiety-ridden: the running jump start or the leap of faith to get off.

<h2 dir="ltr">Tianmen Cable Car, China</h2>
Manufacturer: Poma (France)
Objective: Direct transit from <a href="https://chinaexplorertour.com/2025/destination-guide/zhangjiajie-dayong-ancient-city-travel-guide-tips-info/">Zhangjiajie City</a> to the summit of <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g494933-d1871611-Reviews-Tianmen_Mountain_National_Forest_Park-Zhangjiajie_Hunan.html">Tianmen Mountain</a>
Launch Date: September 2005
Vertical Ascent: Elevates passengers 1,279 meters above sea level
Capacity: Each cabin holds 8; capable of transporting 1,000&ndash;1,200 people per hour
Track Length: About 7,455 meters of cable&nbsp;
Transit Length: 28&ndash;30 minutes

&ldquo;Tianmen Mountain 99-Bend Road a few months ago.&rdquo; - Slava

At 7,455 meters, <a href="https://www.zhangjiajieguide.com/attractions/tianmen-mountain/cable-car.html">this cable car</a> takes you to Heaven&rsquo;s Gate&mdash; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVgEzzBDy0z/">literally</a>. Unlike most cable cars that start at a mountain base, this one begins right in the city center near the railway station and flies over residential rooftops and farmland before ascending to the cliffs.

<h2 id="vung-tau-cable-car-vietnam">Vung Tau Cable Car, Vietnam</h2>
Manufacturer: Doppelmayr (Austria)&nbsp;
Objective: Direct transit from <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g303946-d8331363-Reviews-Front_Beach-Vung_Tau_Ba_Ria_Vung_Tau_Province.html">Front Beach</a> (Bai Truoc) to the summit of <a href="https://asialegend.travel/blog/big-mountain-vung-tau-guideline-for-first-timers">Big Mountain</a> (Nui Lon)
Launch Date: February 2010
Vertical Ascent: Elevates passengers 210-250 meters above sea level&nbsp;
Capacity: Each cabin holds 8; capable of transporting 3,000 people per hour&nbsp;
Track Length: About 455-500 meters of cable&nbsp;
Transit Length: 10 minutes

&ldquo;When in the <a href="https://www.vietnamcoracle.com/vung-tau-city-by-the-sea/">criminally underrated Vung Tau</a>, a couple of hours south of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in September last year, I took the modest 5-minute cable car alone on the way to Hồ M&acirc;y Park - a mountain-top amusement resort that is as bizarre as it is fun.&nbsp;
Needless to say, I went in the middle of a full-on thunderstorm, and (even though I generally love cable cars) decided that the only way to 'survive' was to make no sudden movements and grip the metal bars with a force that Newton himself had never discovered.&nbsp;
A dramatic recollection? Yes. A fun evening? Also yes. Give it a go...?&rdquo;&nbsp;- RapturousWanderer78593
<a href="https://www.flickrhelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/40048459562388-Copyright-Licenses-on-Flickr">CC image</a> courtesy of &nbsp;Фотобанк on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/moscow-live/44911896115/in/photolist-7XwdPi-7TBUga-8v2zZj-2bHoAJQ-2bqHd1t-P4eHwz-2bqHfDK-P4eHxX-2cPpZ2B-2cPpZ7X">Flickr</a>

At its summit, you&rsquo;ll find a <a href="https://sklegendvungtau.com/Services/may-lake-tourist-area">mountaintop water park</a> (and an artificial lake), the first in Vietnam. Its &ldquo;Adventure Oasis&rdquo; is the world&rsquo;s longest water coaster designed exclusively for kids.

<h2 id="langkawi-skycab-malaysia">Langkawi SkyCab, Malaysia</h2>
Manufacturer: Doppelmayr (Austria)
Objective: Direct transit from the<a href="https://panoramalangkawi.com/oriental-village/"> Oriental Village</a> to the summit of <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g23318796-d25262663-Reviews-Machinchang_Peak_Hiking-Padang_Matsirat_Langkawi_Langkawi_District_Kedah.html">Machincang Mountain</a>
Launch Date: November 2002
Vertical Ascent: Elevates passengers 708 meters above sea level
Capacity: Each cabin holds 6; capable of transporting 700-800 people per hour
Track Length: About 2,200 meters of cable
Transit Length: 15 minutes (total journey including middle station stop)

&ldquo;I just went on <a href="https://panoramalangkawi.com/">the cable car in Langkawi</a> that is apparently the world's steepest! I'm not scared of heights but apparently this was near my limit, as my stomach was in knots on the way down! Superb views though, so definitely worth it!&rdquo; - ZestyCruiser17980

A 550-million-year-old ride. Sort of. The cable car climbs Gunung Machincang, the oldest rock formation in Southeast Asia&mdash;predating dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years! On a perfectly clear day you can look north to Tarutao National Marine Park in Thailand. But if any gusts of wind exceed safety limits, the cable car&rsquo;s high-tech wind sensors shut it down, occasionally leaving tourists at the tea station for a &ldquo;forced&rdquo; break.

<h2 id="sarajevo-cable-car-bosnia-herzegovina">Sarajevo Cable Car, Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina</h2>
Manufacturer: LEITNER AG (Italy)
Objective: Connecting the Bistrik neighborhood in the Old Town to the Vidikovac peak on Mount Trebević
Launch Date: Originally opened May 3, 1959; reconstructed and reopened April 6, 2018
Vertical Ascent: Elevates passengers from 583 m to 1,160 m&nbsp;
Capacity: Each cabin holds 10; capable of transporting 1,200 people per hour
Track Length: About 2,100 meters of cable
Transit Length: 7 to 9 minutes

"Sarajevo, top of the cable car next to the bobsleigh." - Scott
<hr>
"Another vote for Sarajevo" - Ed

Before Bosnia-Herzegovina&rsquo;s brutal war in the 90s, Mount Trebevic was a beloved place of peace for hikers. The cable car&rsquo;s inauguration in 1959 meant greater access to &ldquo;the lungs of the city&rdquo; for all of Sarajevo&rsquo;s residents. And in 1984 it became an important venue for the Winter Olympics, with the <a href="https://www.heartmybackpack.com/blog/olympic-bobsleigh-track-sarajevo-bosnia/">world&rsquo;s most modern bobsleigh track</a> newly built on the mountain&rsquo;s slopes.
Eight years later, the mountain became the enemy when the cable car guard became the first victim of the war in 1992. From the mountaintop, countless bullets rained down on Sarajevo, killing more than 11,500 people during a 1,425-day siege&mdash;the longest blockade of a capital in modern history. After the war, the cable car fell by the wayside until a $4 million donation from an American doctor, Edmond Offerman, and his Bosnian wife, scientist Maja Serdarevic Offerman,&nbsp;<a href="https://snagalokalnog.ba/en/as-dr-edmond-offermann-returned-the-cable-car-to-sarajevo-love-and-his-wife-maja-are-to-blame-for-everything/">revitalized the restoration project</a>.
April 6th, 2018 was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/apr/06/sarajevo-reopened-cable-car-lifts-city-out-of-the-past-bosnia-herzegovina-serb-siege-yugoslavia">the date of revival</a>, an important date marking both the city&rsquo;s WWII liberation and the start of the 1992 siege. The upper station is now named after Ramo Biber, the guard who was tragically shot dead two decades before. At the reopening, Sarajevo's mayor declared, &ldquo;We have renovated the last destroyed symbol of Sarajevo. This is a monument to love.&rdquo;

<h2 dir="ltr">Bonus Rec from the Jack's team: Dursey Island Cable Car, Ireland</h2>
Manufacturer: British Chairlift Company Limited&nbsp;
Objective: Lifeline transport for residents and farmers across the turbulent Dursey Sound
Launch Date: December 5, 1969
Vertical Ascent: Runs approximately 22&ndash;25 meters above the seawater
Capacity: Holds 6 passengers (or 1 person and 1 coffin); transports approx. 48 people per hour
Track Length: About 374 meters across the open sea
Transit Length: 7.5 to 10 minutes

&ldquo;Ireland's only Cable Car sways from the Beara Peninsula, Cork, to Dursey Island. One time the island was inhabited by hundreds of people; now it&rsquo;s home to 4 people and hundreds of sheep! Go early to have time to see the island and keep in mind the last car back is at 7:30 pm. Bring your own food and water (there&rsquo;s no shops on the island). And dress warm.&rdquo; - Henry, Member Experience

During Dursey&rsquo;s booming days, the island was infamously hard to reach, often capsizing boats in its treacherous tides. For that reason, Ireland&rsquo;s only cable car was built, being only one of two in Europe that crosses open water (the other is in Barcelona).&nbsp;
In its glory days, it was the only cable car on the planet that transported not just humans but livestock. Cows and sheep dangled above the Atlantic until 2012, when a health and safety ban was introduced. That said, funerals take absolute priority to this day, so if a coffin needs to cross to the island&rsquo;s burial ground, you better be prepared to wait.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Honorable Mentions</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.christchurchattractions.nz/christchurch-gondola/">Christchurch Gondola, New Zealand</a> - 1,000 meters of pure silence and uninterrupted views of the city and the Southern Alps.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://en.loenskylift.no/">Loen Skylift, Norway</a> - One of the steepest cable cars in the world soars above fjords</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hFklJ3cmzC8">Mi Teleferico, La Paz, Bolivia</a> - The world&rsquo;s longest and highest cable car, used by 200,000 people per day, covering 30 km.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/C9XKiEsEozY">Ngong Ping 360, Hong Kong</a>&nbsp;- This glass-bottom cable car is not for the faint of heart&mdash;but those views!&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=cable+car+great+wall+of+china&amp;oq=cable+car+great+wall&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyCQgBEEUYORiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIICAQQABgWGB4yBggFEEUYPDIGCAYQRRg9MgYIBxBFGD3SAQgzNDgzajBqNKgCALACAQ&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&amp;vld=cid:81a81627,vid:pOPNevckhpM,st:0">Mutianyu Great Wall Cable Car , China</a> - A chairlift up and toboggan back down have to be the coolest ways to see one of the world&rsquo;s seven wonders.</li>
</ul>

Cloud Nine, Literally: the World's Coolest Cable Car Rides, As Chosen By the Jack's Community

United States

Canada

United Kingdom

Hey there, Travellers,
My friend Rachel was recently telling me about her alter ego, Airport Rachel. Airport Rachel and Everyday Rachel are not the same person; one is caring, patient, and up for a laugh, the other has no time for your nonsense, and will see you at the gate.&nbsp;
And she's not alone. Those of us who regularly navigate airports on our own have our system worked out, and throwing someone you care about into the mix might not be the fun start to a trip that you'd hope for.&nbsp;
Enter: <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/travel/inspiration/comment-inspiration/airport-divorce-travel-trend-huw-oliver-7jgs8kncs">the airport divorce</a>. A temporary parting of ways in an overstimulating environment that's often full of people you might perceive as utterly bonkers.
What do you think? Is an airport divorce the secret to happy transit? Or do you have another trick to calm the turbulence before you take off? <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-212-sale-predictions-travel-blunders#comments">Let us know in the comments</a>.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Over the past few years, airlines have been dropping sales left, right, and center as that pandemic hangover has worn off and travel numbers have soared to pre-2020 levels and beyond. But, are these sales actually worth it?&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve rounded up the best Black Friday deals from the most popular airlines we&rsquo;ve seen in the past, to shed some light on what you can expect from this year&rsquo;s sales.
Round-trip flights to Europe under $300, Tahiti at $644 including a checked bag, and five-star flights to Osaka at $690 only scratched the surface of Black Friday deals we've found from across the United States.
Since demand has remained high in the years since the pandemic, it&rsquo;s highly likely that prices might be a smidge higher across the board than a few years back. We&rsquo;re keeping our fingers and toes crossed that 2025 will be another year of (good) surprises!&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/e3235eb3eee4b5ad8ff76d7b46cdbccd250b74da" width="524" height="315" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<section id="southwest airlines">
<h2 id="h_7267660882881698760985610">Southwest Airlines</h2>
Free bags, open seating, and a generous change policy once made Southwest our favorite &ldquo;no-frills&rdquo; airline, hands down. But a lot has changed over the past year, and they've recently embraced the same cost-cutting methods used by other low-cost carriers, putting an end to the generous policies they were known for. Free checked bags, we hardly knew ye!
Their Black Friday sales have traditionally focused on domestic trips under 100 buckaroos, but anything goes with the new Southwest.
<h4>What we expect in 2025</h4>
Southwest has ignored Black Friday in favor of Cyber Monday for the last four years, and we expect that to continue. They're not the only ones, either&mdash;we saw an overall shift to Cyber Monday in 2024. But hey, as long as the sales are good, it's all the same to us!
We figure Southwest's sales are likely to go in one of two directions this year. Either they'll continue to cut costs and deliver some lackluster discounts, or they'll make up for the new lack of perks by slashing their fares even lower. Either way, they'll be the first place to look for domestic flights in 2025.
<section id="united airlines">
<h2><img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/bb8231d8276f64dd3a212d3189f33458ffb83cfc" width="524" height="353" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></h2>
<h2 id="h_3436739416281698761090755">American Airlines</h2>
We had low expectations for American Airlines last year, after they completely skipped Black Friday in 2023. But they surprised us with some&nbsp;killer discounts this time around, landing at the top of 2024's nice list. Great job, guys!
American is the world&rsquo;s biggest airline and has the most robust network, so seeing them drop a BF sale is always a good thing. Especially as they usually tend to shy away from sales just like their friends at Delta, positioning their product on that more premium tier.
When they do offer sales, they typically focus on short-haul domestic routes. But American has an enormous international network with flights all over the globe, so there's always the chance for some top-tier fares to the rest of the world too.
<h4>What we expect in 2025</h4>
We're riding high on last year's great sale, so we have great expectations for American in 2025. We're guessing they'll probably focus on domestic routes again, especially since that's been a trend all this past year. But they might choose to leverage their global network and surprise us with some great international ones too.
We'll be keeping an eye on their Asian routes this time around&mdash;while American's reach is pretty limited in that part of the world, flights to Asia have been super popular in 2025. Could they be looking for a bigger slice of the transpacific pie?
<section id="turkish airlines">
<section id="avianca">
<section id="spirit airlines">
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/3fdb1ccf7e4d05669598ec646a11fba1c0c8a9f6" width="523" height="392" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<section id="alaska airlines">
<h2 id="h_68266749033301698761151853">Alaska Airlines</h2>
Alaska has had a big year since last Black Friday, completing a merger with Hawaiian Airlines and solidifying themselves as the premier carrier for the western US. They've also turned their eyes to Asia, launching new non-stop flights from Seattle to Tokyo, with a Seoul route coming in September.&nbsp;
An Alaska Black Friday sale is almost a certainty - they absolutely love doling out discounted fares across their domestic and regional routes every holiday season.
<h4>What we expect in 2025</h4>
Alaska is one of the most consistent US airlines when it comes to Black Friday sales, so we're expecting the same from them yet again. We're sure to see some really terrific discounts on domestic routes, including to rarer spots like Bozeman or Redmond.
There's also the possibility of better deals on flights across the Pacific this year, falling in line with yearly trends and Alaska's new focus on Asian travel. Could this be the year we get crazy cheap fares to Tokyo?
<section id="sas airlines">
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/black-friday-flight-deals-usa-what-to-expect-in-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more Black Friday predictions for the US...</a>
</section>
</section>
</section>
</section>
</section>
</section>
</section>

Black Friday Predictions

Over the past few years, airlines have been dropping sales left, right, and center as that pandemic hangover has worn off and travel numbers have soared to pre-2020 levels and beyond. But, are these sales actually worth it?&nbsp;
Canadian airline prices might be a bit higher than other markets, but there are still fantastic deals to be found. We&rsquo;re talking round-trip flights to Europe for under $400 RT, non-stop to Japan in the $600s RT, and&nbsp;five-star&nbsp;seats to Phuket for $894 RT &mdash; and that&rsquo;s just scratching the surface.
We&rsquo;ve rounded up the best Black Friday deals from the most popular airlines we&rsquo;ve seen in the past, to shed some light on what you can expect from this year&rsquo;s sales.
<h2 dir="ltr">Air Canada</h2>
On average, Air Canada&rsquo;s prices tend to be higher than the rest of the Canadian airlines, but with them comes better service and&nbsp;usually a cushier flying experience.&nbsp;
Unfortunately, as of January 2025, they&rsquo;ve nixed the free carry-on for their lowest short-haul fares. But they&rsquo;re still the largest airline in the country, and have an extensive flight network around the world. Plus, they offer nice amenities like seat-back entertainment and a focus on comfort.
We frequently see minor sales on routes within Canada and the US, but they also offer some bigger, rarer sales to Europe and Central/South America too.&nbsp;
<h4>What we expect in 2025</h4>
Air Canada left us hanging last Black Friday. Their 2024 sale was pretty underwhelming, and honestly, we&rsquo;re bracing for a repeat this year.
But don&rsquo;t despair just yet! In the past, Air Canada has come through with better discounts on both Cyber Monday and Boxing Day &mdash; and we think that&rsquo;s where the best deals will be again this year. So, if you&rsquo;re hoping to snag a bargain, keep your eyes peeled for those sales instead.
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<h2 dir="ltr">WestJet</h2>
Another Canadian favourite, WestJet also has an extensive flight network. Although we don&rsquo;t see quite the same level of coverage as their big brother Air Canada, their consistently lower fares are good enough. Similarly to Air Canada, they don&rsquo;t offer a free carry-on for their lowest fares unless you&rsquo;re flying to Europe or Asia.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll see consistent &ldquo;sales&rdquo; throughout the year, but the biggest ones tend to be Cyber Monday, Boxing Day and random September sales (don&rsquo;t ask us why). The sales tend to be best for Canadian destinations, so don&rsquo;t expect to find any dramatic deals for the rest of the world.&nbsp;
<h4>What we expect in 2025</h4>
WestJet knows how to throw a <s>party</s> sale. It might not have been the widest-ranging collection of destinations, but we did see their lowest prices of 2024 last Black Friday. That being said, we didn't get a random September sale this year, so fingers crossed that means they're going to toss it all into one massive BF extravaganza!&nbsp;
Whatever they decide to do for Black Friday, we expect to see the absolute best deals on Cyber Monday again.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">ZIPAIR Tokyo</h2>
Not to beat this dead horse, but if Flair is the Flair of Canada, and Arajet is the Flair of South America, then ZIPAIR must be is the Flair of&hellip; ok, you get it.&nbsp;
ZIPAIR is a low-cost Japanese airline connecting Canada to Asia (just Tokyo). Although it is no-frills, they offer free in-flight entertainment and, shockingly, free wifi too! Even with consistently low prices,&nbsp; from time to time they offer sales with really low prices, so it&rsquo;s definitely worth holding out.&nbsp;
<h4>Last year</h4>
2024: Their Black Friday sale saw non-stop routes to Tokyo at $678 RT. They were the lowest prices of the year, so well worth the wait!
<h4>What we expect in 2025</h4>
ZIPAIR keeps things simple with its Vancouver&ndash;Tokyo route, but that&rsquo;s exactly what makes this one to watch for Black Friday. Demand for Japan trips is sky-high right now, and ZIPAIR consistently offers some of the lowest fares you&rsquo;ll find. 
We expect a solid BF sale, including the cheapest ways to get to Tokyo this winter &mdash; perfect for anyone itching for sushi, ramen, and neon lights!
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/black-friday-canada-airline-flight-sales-what-to-expect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more Black Friday Predictions for Canada...</a>

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are on their way once again&hellip; but is it all hype, or do airlines really make it worth the wait?
Last year, we saw a higher concentration of sales during the actual week of Black Friday. This differed to previous years when we noticed the first &lsquo;Black Friday&rsquo; sales pop up much earlier in the month.&nbsp;
For the first time, there were even a few airlines who, despite announcing a sale on or around Black Friday, attempted to distance themselves from the label of &lsquo;Black Friday&rsquo;&mdash;yet they still held a sale. Go figure! Maybe they wanted to try to stand out from the crowd?&nbsp;
We also noticed a decline in the &lsquo;one and done&rsquo; type of sale, with many airlines advertising multiple sales over the period, or even a different sale every day in the lead up to Friday. You can probably expect to see this again in 2025.
Read on to find out what kind of flight deals we&rsquo;ve seen in past Black Friday sales, and see more of our predictions for what to expect in 2025.
<h2 id="aer-lingus">Aer Lingus</h2>
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Ireland&rsquo;s airline isn&rsquo;t just for trips from Ireland. Their connecting flights to airports across the UK make them a compelling way to fly to the US &amp; Canada, especially thanks to the <a href="https://www.dublinairport.com/flight-information/travelling-to-usa/usa-preclearance/us-customs-and-border-protection-video">security preclearance in Dublin</a>.
They&rsquo;ve focussed their Black Friday sales mainly on their routes to the US, Canada, and the Caribbean over the past few years.
Considering they&rsquo;ve previously been one of the earliest to announce their BF sale, we were a little surprised they held off until 3 days before Black Friday last year. Along with plenty of long/short hauls from Ireland, their non-stop route from Manchester to Barbados was a standout.
<h4 dir="ltr">What to expect in 2025</h4>
In 2023 they launched early, in 2024 they launched (relatively) late, so maybe this year they'll go back to being early birds? They were one of the first airlines to announce their end of summer sale this year, so maybe that's a sign.
And speaking of summer sales, their Black Friday offering last year was essentially a re-branded version of what they'd previously offered at the end of August. So if you want a hint at what you'll be seeing this time around, it'll likely be <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/tip/europe-canada-barbados-and-the-us-in-60s-520s60s-390s-rtn?utm_source=JFC-Deals&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;utm_campaign=%5BJFC%5D-deal-sharing&amp;utm_content=deal">similar to this</a>.&nbsp;
<h2 id="british-airways">British Airways</h2>
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If you live in the UK, and especially if you live in London, the British Airways sale is always one to watch out for. They fly to pretty much everywhere you&rsquo;re interested in travelling to.
If you&rsquo;re looking to go to any major US or Canadian city or to one of their many Caribbean island destinations, their Black Friday sale is likely a good time to book, too.
They usually have sales at the end of August and from Boxing Day on, but British Airways jumped into the Black Friday game properly in 2018 to bridge the gap between their main sale seasons.
Last year, the main bulk of the UK sale was made up of short-haul flights, with the unexpected exception of a pleasantly cheap route from Newcastle to Boston. Discounts from mainland Europe seemed a little more diverse, but still very USA-heavy. The stand-outs were a sprinkling of India and Mexico.
<h4>What to expect in 2025</h4>
British Airways holding a Black Friday sale is definitely something you can count on. Bagging an actually decent bargain, on the other hand, now that's a different story.
While you can safely assume to see reductions on their short-hauls across Europe, and long-hauls (mostly focused across the USA &amp; India), the prices appear to be getting increasingly underwhelming with every sale.
That being said, last year they just about pipped Virgin Atlantic to the post with a slightly stronger sale offering &mdash; a winning title they held on to during the battle of the end of summer sales. So, if we had to put our faith in one of the two airlines this Black Friday, it'd still be BA.
<h2 class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-h2 mui-lqgaod" id="sas">SAS</h2>
<img height="290" src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/6d284f748a3cb43854bfd2cf057525ad5e2bba71" width="515" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
While 2023 was all about business class, 2024 was all about short-haul economy.
But what really made SAS stand apart from the other Scandi airline sales were the routes on offer. We don&rsquo;t often see spots like Lule&aring; (AKA Swedish Lapland) and S&auml;len go cheap from the UK. Plus, they came with a huge span of dates up until June.
Don&rsquo;t forget that SAS has a pretty decent year-round&nbsp;<a class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways mui-1broqmw" href="https://www.flysas.com/en/sas-young/">youth discount scheme</a>, offering at least 10% off all economy fares for anyone under the age of 26.
<h4 class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-h4 mui-1nst6g4">What to expect in 2025</h4>
Honestly if we could have a mix of the previous two years, with long-haul, short-haul, economy, and business, that'd be great!&nbsp;
SAS often delivers on cheap US flights, from Scandinavia in particular, but judging by what we've seen this year, we'll also be keeping an eye out for some bargain fares to Svalbard, and maybe some routes to Asia too.
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/black-friday-uk-ireland-airline-flight-sales-what-to-expect">Read more Black Friday predictions for the UK and Europe...</a>

Travel Mistakes We'll&nbsp;(Hopefully)&nbsp;Never Make Again

We&rsquo;ve all been there. Wide-eyed, in a foreign land, full of glee. You no longer feel the sharp ache of life&rsquo;s shackles, those burdens feel a million miles away. The butterflies in your stomach remind you that you&rsquo;re on your path. You&rsquo;re doing you. You&rsquo;re alive!
And damn, is that not the most intoxicating feeling? That's what travel is about.
But then there are those moments in travel that we don't always talk about, when those butterflies suddenly turn into a giant pit.
Missed flights, forgotten passports, ten years on a secondary security screening list&hellip; Our members and the team at Jack&rsquo;s recently shared those travel mishaps they hope never to repeat. And honestly, some of these are a masterclass in exactly what&nbsp;not to do.&nbsp;
Except our Editor, Katy, that is. When asked, she simply said:&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really a very good traveller, so not much stupidity to offer.&rdquo; An admirable stance. A suspicious one, but admirable&hellip;
Here are some of our favorites (and a handful of lessons we&rsquo;ve learned right alongside you).
<h3 id="from-bali-to-frostbite">From Bali to&hellip; Frostbite?</h3>

&ldquo;When our visa for Indonesia couldn&rsquo;t be extended, I booked a week in Shanghai in February. While it was 25&deg;C in Indonesia, we arrived in Shanghai to 0&deg;C and frost!
Also, it was Chinese New Year &mdash; everything closed, no food stalls, not even local eateries. We made the best of it and booked tourist excursions until we could go back to Indonesia.&rdquo; - Elisabeth

Going from beach vibes to freezing winds wasn&rsquo;t quite the mid-trip refresh Elisabeth had in mind&mdash;but hey, at least she got to experience a very different side of Asia - sans dumplings.&nbsp;
Our takeaway: Always check the weather and the national holidays before booking that spontaneous side trip.
<h3 dir="ltr" id="never-again-gambia">Never again - Gambia.</h3>

&ldquo;Never go to Gambia ever again - rubbish on beaches, sea too rough to swim in, and constant harassment by locals asking for money.&rdquo; - Kaminee

Our takeaway: Sometimes a destination just doesn&rsquo;t click - and that&rsquo;s okay. Not every beach is a paradise, and if you&rsquo;re looking for just a quick sun holiday with your creature comforts, there might be better places. But we wouldn&rsquo;t write off Gambia just yet. 
Where the country shines is in the interior and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vejPcqNLmHc">on its river</a>. Take a journey upriver, either as a day trip or a multi-day excursion, and you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the true Gambian lifestyle.
Whether that&rsquo;s spotting&nbsp;<a href="https://perchancetoroam.com/2025/05/10/chimpanzee-spotting-and-other-cool-things-to-do-in-river-gambia-national-park/">chimpanzees</a>, cruising along the Bao Bolong Reserve, or visiting <a href="https://perchancetoroam.com/2025/05/24/visiting-wassu-kerr-batch-and-other-megalithic-stone-circles-in-the-gambia/">megalithic stone circles</a> and traditional villages, can you really say you&rsquo;ve seen Gambia without venturing into its interior?
<h3 id="overpackers-anonymous">Overpackers Anonymous</h3>

&ldquo;Taking too many things on our trip to North and Central America meant we had to take an extra hold bag. Costing &pound;70&ndash;&pound;110 each flight we took!&rdquo; - Albert&nbsp;

That &ldquo;just in case&rdquo; sweater and 10 more pairs of underwear? Not worth a hundred quid per flight.&nbsp;
Our takeaway: Give our genius <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/one-bag-packing-hacks-to-change-the-way-you-travel">one-bag packing hacks</a> a read - non-negotiable.
<h3 dir="ltr" id="leaving-the-hotel-and-forgetting-where-it-was">Leaving the hotel... and forgetting where it was</h3>

&ldquo;This is basic, but leaving the hotel in a foreign country and not remembering its name or address so you can get back to it.&rdquo; - Robin&nbsp;

Our takeaways: A quick photo of the entrance (or a pin on Google Maps) can save you an embarrassing game of charades with taxi drivers.
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/travel-mistakes-well--never-make-again">Keep reading...</a>

Travel Tales

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Thailand may be known as a party destination, but don't get tripped up by their <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/thailand-alcohol-ban-drinking-fine-b2863488.html">new drinking rules</a> next time you visit. </li>
<li>If Saudi's recent push for tourists has put it on your radar, the country's <a href="https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/hegra">first UNESCO World Heritage Site</a> should be firmly at the top of your to-visit list. </li>
<li>Level up your festive European trip with <a href="https://www.timeout.com/europe/travel/best-winter-train-journeys-in-europe">these wintry train journeys</a> beautiful enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. </li>
<li>And finally, most of us have wondered what it would be like to just sack it all in and hit the dusty trail. But very few of us have ever gone right ahead and done it. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/09/hike-continental-great-divide-trail">Here's what happened</a> when one intrepid adventurer spent 5 months walking over 3,500 miles from Mexico to Canada. No mention of how many Compeed she went through, we notice...</li>
</ul>

Our 2025 Flight Sales Predictions & Biggest Travel Blunders

Iceland

Howdy Travellers,
With Katy&rsquo;s last known location being Kosovo, she&rsquo;s a little tied up, racing the clock to reach Moldova on yet another Lupine Race.&nbsp;
So I&rsquo;ve been handed the mic this week &mdash; and I&rsquo;ve gone down a bit of a late-night rabbit hole.&nbsp;
Ever heard of&nbsp;Third Culture Kids? I hadn&rsquo;t until recently, but clearly Instagram&rsquo;s algorithm knows me better than I know myself.&nbsp;
Basically, Third Culture Kids (TCKs) are people who spend their formative years in places that are different from their parents' homeland. Children of immigrants, diplomats, missionaries, and military, they absorb bits and pieces of multiple places. And the &ldquo;third&rdquo; culture is a mishmash of both cultures.&nbsp;
It doesn&rsquo;t just stop at geography, though. They can be cultural chameleons with a knack for fitting in anywhere. Many are multilingual and can easily connect with people from all walks of life. But that comes with a flip side: a feeling of being too foreign for home and too foreign for here, and a restlessness that never quite lets you settle completely.&nbsp;
Personally, I came from Canada and grew up in Ireland. On paper, it might seem like a small cultural jump, but for me, it always made answering the question &ldquo;Where are you from?&rdquo; complicated. I&rsquo;d start with Canada, then add Ireland, realizing neither explanation really encapsulated the way I experienced the world.
I&rsquo;ve always felt out of step with the social rhythm and mindset of both places. A bit like standing in a doorway between two rooms. I can see and interact with both, but I never fully inhabit either. So discovering the term TCK was validating, and suddenly it made sense why I moved so much in my adulthood, hopping between countries, jobs, and cities.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve just discovered the book called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Third-Culture-Kids-Experience-Growing/dp/1857885252">Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds</a> by David C. Pollock and this <a href="https://tally.so/r/3jE4Z4">global online community called &ldquo;Home,&rdquo;</a> and I&rsquo;m so excited to dive deeper into the research and community.&nbsp;
So I&rsquo;m curious, how many of you are Third Culture Kids? Did you grow up living between cultures? How has it shaped your life and identity, your travels? Or maybe you&rsquo;re raising a TCK yourself&mdash;I'd love to hear your perspective in the comments.&nbsp;
From one doorway to the next,

Akasha - Guest Editor

It&rsquo;s not you, it&rsquo;s me: Breaking up with my nomadic lifestyle after years on the road

A San Diego native, Olivia left home a few years ago to live on the road. Since then, she's had homebases everywhere from Quebec to England to New Orleans, but she always ends up back on the West Coast.&nbsp;

It wasn&rsquo;t a decision, so much as a realization: I don&rsquo;t want to do this anymore.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t want to be constantly making new friends that I will never see again. I don&rsquo;t want to be shoving everything I own into a suitcase every couple of months. And if I have to harass my cell phone carrier about my international data one more time, I just might scream.
&hellip;Okay, let me go back to the beginning.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s hard to overstate how badly I wanted to travel as a kid. We&rsquo;re talking &ldquo;10-year-old who wanted a globe for Christmas&rdquo; levels of desire here. But it simply wasn&rsquo;t something my family did &mdash; I was well into my twenties before I even left the United States, and I&rsquo;d only left California a handful of times prior to that. Even the East Coast seemed strange and exotic. Europe might as well have been another dimension.

I was a very bored, very rambunctious little girl. I didn&rsquo;t just want to see the world, I wanted freedom. In high school, I once told a counselor that my post-grad plan was to buy a school bus, paint it psychedelic colors, and drive around the country. I was dead serious about this, and I was incensed when they laughed me out the door.
So ten years later, when I found myself with a stable remote job and nothing keeping me pinned down? It seemed foolish to waste the opportunity. I wasn&rsquo;t going to just take a measly trip or two, I was going 24/7, non-stop, wherever I wanted to go.
I took the plunge. I got to see places that I didn&rsquo;t think I would ever get to see. I even made it to that strange, alternate dimension called &ldquo;Europe.&rdquo; I could fill entire books with all the things that have happened to me in my years of living nomadically, and maybe one day I will.&nbsp;

That&rsquo;s not what I want to talk about today. You&rsquo;ve heard plenty of exciting tales from around the world (including some of mine, if you&rsquo;re a regular Jack&rsquo;s reader!) but today&rsquo;s story starts with the uglier side of traveling, the one that you discover very quickly when you&rsquo;re moving non-stop: burnout.&nbsp;
That sickening feeling when you look at your itinerary, at all the plans you excitedly made months ago, and you think &ldquo;Do I even&nbsp;want to do this?&rdquo;
When people talk about &ldquo;burnout,&rdquo; they&rsquo;re mostly referring to work stress, but it can happen with anything. Even the dream lifestyle you&rsquo;ve wanted since you were a kid. It can also make you feel a little like a Debbie Downer &mdash; sometimes it seems like everyone in the entire world is desperate to travel, and you&rsquo;re the odd one out if you don&rsquo;t think it sounds exciting.&nbsp;

And I understand that perspective! I remember when I was first getting started, and I saw a piece of advice on the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalnomad/">r/digitalnomad</a> subreddit: &ldquo;You probably don&rsquo;t actually want to be a digital nomad.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Well that&rsquo;s stupid,&rdquo; I thought. &ldquo;Why wouldn&rsquo;t I? Why wouldn&rsquo;t everyone want to do this?&rdquo;
But&hellip; I get it now. Most people don&rsquo;t actually want to live like this. They want the freedom and the excitement that comes with living nomadically, but they don&rsquo;t realize how much of your life has to be dismembered in order to make it happen.
It&rsquo;s not just one big sacrifice that you make at the beginning, either. Sure, constant solo travel means you&rsquo;re giving up any chance at a stable in-person social life. You have to give up all the hobbies that can&rsquo;t fit into your luggage. You have to give up your home. That&rsquo;s the deal you make when you first take off.
However, I never thought about all the other sacrifices that just keep coming. Smaller, less significant sacrifices, but sacrifices nonetheless. You can&rsquo;t buy souvenirs from any of these cool destinations unless you want to lug them around for god-knows how long. You can&rsquo;t go to that concert tour because the dates don&rsquo;t line up with your itinerary. You find yourself buying&nbsp;another frying pan, because for some reason this kitchen doesn&rsquo;t have one and you had to jettison the last three frying pans you bought because you needed the luggage space and ugh.

When I first started living nomadically, none of these sacrifices &mdash; not even the major ones &mdash; seemed like a big deal. The allure of travel was so strong that it overshadowed any of the downsides, and it stayed that way for years. How could I be so stupid as to stop traveling, even to take a break? Didn&rsquo;t I remember how badly I always wanted this? How lucky I am to be in this position? How many people would kill for this lifestyle? How could I ever just&hellip; give it up?
To paraphrase the poet Frank Bidart, sometimes you can drink til you&rsquo;re sick but you can&rsquo;t drink til you&rsquo;re satisfied. Seasoned travelers know you cannot ever truly satiate the travel bug. You just have to make the conscious, difficult decision to actively ignore the sucker before it makes you sick. Because the travel bug might inspire you to get off the couch, but it doesn&rsquo;t always have your best interests in mind. If you let it call the shots for too long, if you start thinking life is something that exclusively happens anywhere but home, you start to miss out.
Recently, I was watching a YouTube video by the famous drag queen Trixie Mattel. She was talking about how she was grateful for her successful career and all the unique experiences it provided, but then she goes&hellip;
&ldquo;Sometimes I'm like, "Wow, I am living life in 4K fast forward, super speed&hellip; a whole life in a month, you know, and then sometimes I check in with friends from college and everybody has children&hellip; have I really lived life or has this prevented me from living my life? I don't know."

It was like a light bulb went off in my head. My twenties haven&rsquo;t exactly been average, to say the least, and I&rsquo;m grateful for that. I never wanted an average life. But the flipside is that you end up looking at your peers, the people you went to school with, and realizing there&rsquo;s miles and miles of distance between you, both literally and figuratively. You&rsquo;re burned out and lonely and no longer as easily impressed by your fast-paced lifestyle. And suddenly, that average life with the average apartment and the average social life and the average hobbies looks mighty aspirational.&nbsp;
Which brings us back to the beginning: I don&rsquo;t want to do this anymore.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve had that feeling plenty of times in the last few years, and I always told myself it just meant I needed to rest, maybe take a week off. The travel bug was persistent.&nbsp;
Besides the urge to take advantage while I still could, the thought of quitting entirely just plain made me nervous. I had set out to expand my comfort zone, and instead I created a new one, one where I felt safer while I was on the move. My single-minded pursuit of freedom had become its own kind of cage, and everything outside that cage seemed threatening. What if I have to commit to a long-term lease? What if I embarrass myself in front of a neighbor, and now I can&rsquo;t find solace in the fact that I&rsquo;ll never see them again?&nbsp;What if I get bored again like I did as a kid?
These fears have always kept me moving. But this time, the deep desire for some damn peace and quiet feels&hellip; different. Just like how the downsides to solo nomadding seemed minimal two years ago, now the downsides to being stationary seem like nothing. I handled living in a glorified shed for months in New Orleans, I handled losing my luggage in England with no cell service, and I handled five days in Alaska living off tortilla wraps. Sure, I can handle a long-term lease. Bring it on.
This summer, I drove from Utah to Canada by myself. These thoughts had already been floating around in my head, but while exploring Grand Teton National Park, I ended up talking to another woman on my hiking trail. We chatted for hours while we hiked up to a waterfall, and I told her all about my nomadic life on the road. Then I told her I was thinking of ending it. I hadn&rsquo;t said it out loud til that moment, but as soon as I started explaining the decision to her, it settled in my gut. Yep, I was done. As soon as I got to my next rental, I started shopping for long-term apartments.

It was a bit like breaking up with someone. You always know deep down that it&rsquo;s over well before you admit it to yourself.
So I guess this is my break-up letter to my nomadic lifestyle. We had some good times together. You taught me a lot about myself. I&rsquo;m smarter and stronger for having known you, and I don&rsquo;t regret a single second. I&rsquo;m lucky to have spent so much time with you and it hurts to say goodbye. Maybe one day, we can settle into casual friendship, and I will find excitement in the occasional airport chaos and overstuffed suitcase once again.
But right now, I have some gorgeous O&rsquo;Keeffe prints from Santa Fe that I&rsquo;ve been lugging around for god-knows how long, and all I want is a place where I can hang them up on the wall.

You Only Turn 40 Once

Based in California, Navigator Jake loves nothing more than traveling, saving money, and doing both things at once!

Answered by Jake

This week&rsquo;s Reader&rsquo;s Corner comes with an extra-special mission, travelers. A man&rsquo;s birthday is at stake here! Let&rsquo;s dive right into Ritchie&rsquo;s question:

&ldquo;Hey JFCers,
I can't believe it, but I'll be turning 40 next June. An avid traveller, there are still plenty of things I've not yet ticked off my list and my 40th is surely a good excuse to go big.
I've narrowed it down to two choices and I need to choose one:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">BC, Yukon, Alaska road trip.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Icelandic Highlands.</li>
</ul>
It doesn't have to be in June, and I appreciate that there are limitations at that time of year for Iceland - F roads aren't open, some campsites are closed. And with the Western Canada and Alaska option, if time allowed, I'd even consider a few days in Calgary for the Stampede if we were around in July.
I lived in Canada back in 2014 and travelled through every province, but I never made it into the territories. My wife and I love a road trip, and she's never been to Canada. The Yukon and Alaska have always fascinated me. I'd consider a mix of campervan/RV and motels along the way.
Iceland is our favourite destination to travel together to and we have been many times, in all seasons. However, the option to do the Highlands has never been possible due to budget or season.
We are typically budget travellers and aren't bothered about the finer things in life - we'd rather see cool stuff. I love photography and we appreciate a nice landscape. We'd have a fortnight available.
Help me choose!
Thanks,
Ritchie&rdquo;

Happy birthday, Ritchie&mdash;and congrats on the big 4-0! It just keeps getting better from here.
Iceland and Western Canada/Alaska are both pretty terrific places to visit, especially if you&rsquo;re looking for stunning scenery.&nbsp;
Knowing we have the most travel-savvy subscriber base out there, we asked the JFC Facebook community to chime in:

The people have spoken, and their choice is clear: the Yukon &amp; Alaska road trip takes it!
Personally, I think you guys nailed it. I <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-solo-road-trip-survival-guide?utm_source=JFC-Posts&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;utm_campaign=%5BJFC%5D-post-sharing&amp;utm_content=post">love a road trip</a>, and while Iceland is beautiful at any time of year, the scenery in Western Canada and Alaska just blows me away like nowhere else.
I&rsquo;ll also give a big thumbs-up to the potential stop in Calgary! I&rsquo;ve never been to the Stampede (Navigator Kristi is our&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-197-foodie-fever-dreams-magical-mexico#travel-tales">expert on that one</a>), but Jack&rsquo;s North American team met up for a little get-together in Kananaskis and had a blast hiking up the mountains. Just look at those smiling (and exhausted) faces!

You&rsquo;re not the only one dreaming of Alaska, either&mdash;I&rsquo;m taking a solo trip there myself in February. I&rsquo;ll be holed up in Fairbanks, hunting the northern lights and freezing my buns off, but you&rsquo;ll probably want to start down south by Anchorage instead. Coming from Western Canada, you can pass through <a href="https://www.roadtriplocals.com/blog/things-to-do-in-glacier-bay-national-park">Glacier Bay National Park</a> (and <a href="https://victoriastravelsandtribulations.com/2022/08/28/two-perfect-days-in-wrangell-st-elias-national-park-except-for-speedy-the-glacier-guide/">Wrangell-St. Elias</a> if you&rsquo;re feeling bold) on your way up the Panhandle. Take a quick detour south from Anchorage to <a href="https://danielleoutdoors.com/kenai-fjords-national-park/">Kenai Fjords</a>, and then you&rsquo;ll be ready to head north and hit the crown jewel: <a href="https://www.youralaskanadventures.com/blog/how-to-visit-denali-national-park-as-a-first-time-visitor-a-locals-guide">Denali</a>. You won&rsquo;t find better spots for photography anywhere!
What do you think, travelers? If you&rsquo;ve got more road trip tips for Ritchie&rsquo;s birthday bash, or you&rsquo;re an Iceland purist pushing back on the Facebook vote, just head to the comments or hit reply!

Reader's Corner

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">It&rsquo;s autumn for us folks above the equator, but one of the driest places on Earth is experiencing a very unusual (and colorful) springtime. Last week, a rare torrential downpour turned the Atacama Desert <a href="https://apnews.com/article/desert-chile-atacama-bloom-gabriel-boric-84e53ea84702abfb2f6c93c4970ebad5">into a wildflower rainbow</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Millions of travelers rely on navigation apps, but how do brands like Google Maps or Waze decide what to show them? Here&rsquo;s a <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-digital-maps-decide-what-names-appear">peek behind the cartographers&rsquo; curtain</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A little Belgian train news: SNCB introduced some serious discounts for riders this week, but the policies are&hellip; <a href="https://www.brusselstimes.com/1780013/sncb-to-make-train-travel-cheaper-for-up-to-80-of-passengers-tbtb">a bit confusing</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">&ldquo;Harvesting grapes on a vineyard in Southern France&rdquo; might sound like a cottagecore fantasy, but don&rsquo;t be fooled &mdash; it&rsquo;s back-breaking work. Nevertheless, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/oct/08/volunteer-grape-harvesting-vineyard-rhone-region-france-wine">volunteers return to this farm year after year</a> for the camaraderie (and probably the wine!)</li>
<li>Lastly, this Nordic archipelago may not recognize the concept of time, but that <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2025/10/08/arctic-maldives-a-european-island-spectacular-northern-lights-2026-24299571/">won&rsquo;t stop winter&rsquo;s light show</a> from arriving right on cue.</li>
</ul>

Breaking Up with the Nomadic Lifestyle 

I&rsquo;m usually not one for making the most of my own backyard. Too tempting is the thought of hauling my bruised and battered backpack halfway across the world to connect with something bigger than myself.&nbsp;
Give me the pale morning light in Alhambra, a celestial cloud storm in the mountains of Oaxaca or the shifting sands along the Pamir Highway. The further from the co-ordinates of my childhood home, the better.&nbsp;
But if there&rsquo;s one place close by that stills my wandering feet, it&rsquo;s down a country lane about 10 km west of Kenmare in Co. Kerry.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s not so much of the road itself, if you can even call it that, but what it promises the inquisitive type, a reward for taking heed of Robert Frost, opting for the road less travelled. Not a tour bus in sight.

Snaking through the valley, sharp turns and sheep, the brown craggy rocks jut from the earth like slabs of centuries-old soda bread. You&rsquo;ll reach a point where it appears you can&rsquo;t possibly drive further. Drive further. Someone in the village can take a look at the axel on your car later.&nbsp;
Once your eyes fixate on the small crooked sign propped up by two planks of wood that reads &ldquo;Entry Fee 5 euros per person&rdquo; you know you&rsquo;re in the right place. Now, I can&rsquo;t guarantee it&rsquo;ll be a fiver at the time of your visit. Over the years, that tiny weather-beaten honesty box has grown heavier, as has the pockets of the farmer who owns the land. Perhaps one day there&rsquo;ll be a gift shop, but for now, just pay the fee &mdash; the faeries are watching.

A slight left at the tin box, up the short path leading towards the valley. It's not long before you&rsquo;re rendered speechless at what spills out in front of you. A cluster of megalithic standing stones guarding space in front of a lonesome body of water. Across the lake, a waterfall drifts down the mountain so slowly, almost pulling itself backward. The stones huddle together like ancient elders, watching centuries whip past.&nbsp;
4,000 years of solstices are difficult to comprehend, and not much is known about the purpose of this exact site. They could be sites of burial or ritual, most likely astronomically aligned. It doesn&rsquo;t take a scholar to see why they were placed here among mesmerizing beauty beyond words.&nbsp;
Upon discovering some carefully placed crystals of amethyst and quartz wedged at the base of the 10ft monolith, I realized I wasn&rsquo;t the first to be moved by this place, compelled by the same pull down a forgotten country road.

Ireland

€36-€45 rtn

€57 rtn

£30-£30 rtn

€41-€43 rtn

Inverness to Dublin & vice versa in £150s-£180s/€180s-€190s rtn

£30-£32 rtn