Europe

Washington Dulles

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

United States

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

Bergen

Norway has a knack for making almost every other landscape look a bit ordinary, and with the right intel, getting there doesn't have to cost a fortune. We’re deep in the data to find you the best Norway flight deals, clearing the path for you to trade your local view for the dramatic, towering fjords, the Northern Lights, or the historic charm of Bergen. Our insider strategy will help you score cheap flights to Norway and keep your travel budget focused on the important stuff—like exploring the vibrant streets of Oslo and experiencing the wild, untamed beauty of the Arctic north.

Norway

Norway has a knack for making almost every other landscape look a bit ordinary, and with the right intel, getting there doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Oslo

Vilnius

Lithuania

Copenhagen

Denmark is far more than just sleek architecture and an obsession with bike lanes—it’s an effortless blend of Scandi-cool design, cosy hygge culture, and historic harbour cities that don't need to shout to be impressive. Whether you’re planning a weekend of design-spotting in Copenhagen, exploring the ancient, cobbled streets of Aarhus, or chasing music festival highs in Roskilde, we’re constantly tracking the best Denmark flight deals to get you there for a bargain. Stop overpaying, snag some cheap flights to Denmark, and find out why this corner of Scandinavia is worth far more than just a quick layover.

Denmark

Denmark is far more than just sleek architecture and an obsession with bike lanes—it’s an effortless blend of Scandi-cool design, cosy hygge culture, and historic harbour cities that don't need to shout to be impressive.

Prague

Prague is undeniably gorgeous, but if you think the Czech Republic begins and ends at the Charles Bridge, you’re missing the actual magic. We’re talking gothic castles, dense forests, and hidden spa towns that feel like they were plucked straight out of a fairy tale. We’re tracking cheap flights to the Czech Republic so you can afford to venture well beyond the capital and see the real heart of the country. Don't get stuck in the tourist bubble—snag one of our Czech Republic flight deals, pack a sturdy pair of walking shoes, and go find out why this country is so much more than just a really good pint of Pilsner.

Czech Republic

Think the Czech Republic begins and ends in Prague? You're missing the magic of gothic castles, dense forests, and hidden spa towns that feel like they were plucked straight out of a fairy tale.

Zurich

If you think Switzerland is strictly a playground for the ultra-wealthy, it’s time to rethink the itinerary. The Swiss Alps and the crystal-clear shores of Lake Geneva are surprisingly attainable when you have the right intel, and we spend our time hunting down the best Switzerland flight deals so you don’t have to. We ensure your travel budget stays firmly focused on the actual experience—like sampling artisanal cheese in Bern or catching a scenic train ride through the Jungfrau region—rather than getting eaten up by airfare. Skip the inflated holiday packages, use our tracking to snag cheap flights to Switzerland, and prove that the quintessential Alpine escape doesn’t have to carry a premium price tag.

Switzerland

If you think Switzerland is strictly a playground for the ultra-wealthy, it’s time to rethink the itinerary. The Swiss Alps and the crystal-clear shores of Lake Geneva are surprisingly attainable when you have the right intel!

Amsterdam

If you’re still picturing the Netherlands as just one giant postcard of windmills and wooden shoes, you’re missing out on one of Europe’s most dynamic corners. This is the place where historic canal-side cycling meets cutting-edge urban design and a bar culture that’s second to none. We’re scouting the routes to land you the best Netherlands flight deals, whether you’re plotting a culture-heavy weekend in Amsterdam, exploring the industrial cool of Rotterdam, or getting lost in the medieval charm of Utrecht. Don’t just scroll through photos—book the cheap flights to the Netherlands and find out why this place is so much more than just the stereotypes.

Netherlands

This is the place where historic canal-side cycling meets cutting-edge urban design and a bar culture that’s second to none.

London Heathrow

Forget the stereotype that England is nothing but endless gray drizzle, overpriced tourist traps in London, and people obsessing over the weather. We’re here to help you get past the postcard clichés and uncover the real magic, from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the moody peaks of the Lake District to the buzzing, eclectic streets of Manchester. We’re always hunting down the best England flight deals so you can save your cash for the actual essentials—like proper pub grub and a decent pint. This is your insider’s guide to booking cheap flights to England, and proving that the best of the UK is well within reach if you know how to search for it.

England

We’re here to help you get past the postcard clichés and uncover the real magic, from the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the moody peaks of the Lake District to the buzzing, eclectic streets of Manchester.

Riga

If you’re bored of the same old European city-break capitals, Riga is your new best friend—it’s got a medieval Old Town that looks like a film set, a world-class art nouveau scene, and the kind of cheap, hearty comfort food that makes you want to cancel your return ticket. We’re on the hunt for cheap flights to Latvia so you can see the Baltic’s hidden gem without the sky-high price tags of Scandinavia. Whether you’re looking to get lost in the forest or explore the buzzy local markets, our Latvia flight deals will get you there without denting your wallet.

Latvia

Bored of the same old European city-break capitals? Riga is your new best friend—it’s got a medieval Old Town that looks like a film set, a world-class art nouveau scene, and cheap, hearty comfort food.

Chicago

Budapest

Warning: A trip to Hungary might result in a sudden, deep obsession with thermal baths and architectural marvels that actually put your hometown to shame. Budapest gets all the glory for its nightlife, but there’s an entire country of wine regions and hidden villages waiting for you beyond the capital. We’re tracking cheap flights to Hungary to ensure you can get there for less, keeping your budget intact for all the goulash and ruin-bar cocktails you can handle.

Hungary

Warning: A trip to Hungary might result in a sudden, deep obsession with thermal baths and architectural marvels.

Athens

Greece is infinitely more than just crowded sunsets and the overhyped postcard clichés. We're here to help you navigate the magic of the Greek islands without blowing your entire travel fund. Whether you’re dreaming of a culture-packed getaway to historic Athens, hunting for the absolute best cheap flights to Greece, or mapping out an island-hopping adventure from the iconic cliffs of Santorini and the party vibes of Mykonos to the hidden gems of Crete and Rhodes, we’ve got the insider intelligence to get you there for less. Stop overpaying for your summer escape, brush up on the best time to visit Greece, and turn your dream Mediterranean holiday into a budget-friendly reality.

Greece

Greece is infinitely more than just crowded sunsets and the overhyped postcard clichés. We're here to help you navigate the magic of the Greek islands without blowing your entire travel fund.

Atlanta

Trondheim

Warsaw

Poland is the sort of place that makes you wonder why you’ve been spending your travel budget on the usual suspects when you could be exploring some of Europe’s most underrated urban hubs. From the fairytale spires of Kraków and the modern, resilient energy of Warsaw to the hidden, cobblestone magic of Wrocław, this is a country that consistently punches way above its weight. So stop scrolling, and get booking your cheap flights to Poland to discover a destination that’s equal parts historic, affordable, and surprisingly cool.

Poland

From the fairytale spires of Kraków and the modern, resilient energy of Warsaw to the hidden, cobblestone magic of Wrocław, this is a country that consistently punches way above its weight.

Boston

Gothenburg

Sweden isn’t just the sleek, high-design wonderland you see in glossy magazines—it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, packed with history and a café culture that’s arguably the best in the world. Whether you’re hunting for the best Sweden flight deals to experience the midnight sun in Swedish Lapland, wandering the historic streets of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan, or exploring the maritime charm of Gothenburg, we’ve got your back. Our navigators are on the hunt for the genuinely good value airfare that unlocks the magic of Scandinavia, giving you the insider tips you need to book smarter, save on the essentials, and secure cheap flights to Sweden.

Sweden

Sweden isn’t just the sleek, high-design wonderland you see in glossy magazines—it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, packed with history and a café culture that’s arguably the best in the world.

Palanga

Brussels

It’s rare to find a country that packs so much culture into such a travel-sized package, yet Belgium remains one of Europe’s most underrated escapes. Whether you’re nursing a legendary Trappist ale in a Brussels tavern, getting lost in the storybook canals of Bruges, or soaking up the historic, edgy energy of Ghent, you’re doing it all in one of the most accessible corners of the continent. We’re obsessively tracking the best Belgium flight deals to make sure you get there for less, leaving you more of your travel budget to spend on moules-frites and local chocolate. Skip the high-priced travel packages, secure your cheap flights to Belgium, and discover why this compact gem is punching way above its weight class.

Belgium

It’s rare to find a country that packs so much culture into such a travel-sized package, yet Belgium remains one of Europe’s most underrated escapes.

San Francisco

Helsinki

Finland is the kind of place where you can detox in a sauna, chase the elusive Northern Lights, and explore cutting-edge design, all without needing to break the bank to get there. We are obsessed with making the magic of the Nordic north accessible, which is why we’re constantly scouring the web for the best flight deals to Finland. Whether you're planning a city break in the stylish, café-lined streets of Helsinki, looking to venture into the snowy expanse of Finnish Lapland, or just hoping to find a bit of peace in a remote lakeside cabin, our Navigators help avoid paying over the odds. Get ready to snag your cheap flights to Finland and start planning an Arctic adventure that actually fits your budget!

Finland

Finland is the kind of place where you can detox in a sauna, chase the elusive Northern Lights, and explore cutting-edge design, all without needing to break the bank to get there. 

Los Angeles

Miami

Newark

Tallinn

Is Estonia just a tech-savvy fairytale? Pretty much. One minute you’re navigating the cobblestone medieval streets of Tallinn’s Old Town, and the next you’re logging onto free public Wi-Fi in the middle of a forest—it’s that kind of place. We’re tracking cheap flights to Estonia so you can dive into this Nordic-Baltic hybrid without the usual headache of high-season prices. Whether you're here to embrace the sauna culture or get lost in the boglands of Lahemaa, our Estonia flight deals are your ticket to the coolest destination you haven’t visited yet.

Estonia

Whether you're here to embrace Estonia's sauna culture or get lost in the boglands of Lahemaa, this is your ticket to the coolest destination you haven’t visited yet. 

Tromsø

Longyearbyen

New York

Kiruna

Fuerteventura

Sick of looking out the window at the same old gray sky? We get it. Sometimes you just need to swap reports and Teams chats for tapas and a questionable sangria that tastes suspiciously like pure sugar. Spain isn't just one place; it’s a million different escapes waiting to happen, from the scorching beaches and Moorish architecture of the south to the mountains and wine regions up north.
We’ve been hunting down Flights so cheap, you won't even care whether your boss notices you're gone. Consider this your official notice: your next spontaneous trip is calling, and it sounds suspiciously like "Hola."
But we’re not just going to drop you off at the gate with a map and a shrug. On this page, you’ll find all the insider intel—hand-crafted articles, honest reviews, and destination guides—to help you navigate everything from the world's best paella to how to avoid tourist traps. 
We've done the legwork and gathered the secrets of Spain, so you can stop scrolling through boring forums and start perfecting your siesta game. If a trip is worth taking, it’s definitely worth taking for less.

Spain

If you're looking for a destination where the default settings are fiesta and siesta, Spain is the one. You're in for legendary food, charming, sun-drenched streets, and mind-blowing architecture, and that's before you even hit the beach.

Tenerife

Around Europe 🌐 in $390s-$560s RT

Vilnius 🏰 at €63 rtn from Oslo 

Nuremberg

Think Germany is just giant steins of beer and lederhosen? You’re missing the actual vibe—which is surprisingly modern, rugged, and full of insane art scenes. From the techno basements of Berlin to the fairy-tale castles of Bavaria, this is a country that thrives on variety, and we’re on the hunt for the best cheap flights to Germany to help you explore it all. Why settle for expensive, last-minute fares when you could be sipping Riesling in the Mosel Valley for half the cost?

Germany

From the techno basements of Berlin to the fairy-tale castles of Bavaria, this is a country that thrives on variety.

Vilnius 🏰 at €34-€54 rtn from Nuremberg

Billund

Vilnius 🏰 at €48 rtn from Billund 

Vilnius 🏰 at €60 rtn from Bergen 

Eindhoven

Vilnius 🏞️ at €86 rtn from Eindhoven

Allows me and my fiance to visit my extended family in Poland for our Honeymoon!

Postcard from Maciej

Thanks Jack! Your wizzair sale email has led to a spontaneous trip to Tenerife for 7 uni friends as a reunion. All booked within one hour. Lovely.

Postcard from Allon

Afternoon Jack et al.
I think this is my 4th or 5th. Just done the Wizz to SSH. More by coincidence, but is our 3rd Wizz of the year - LTN is great for the very adjacent reasonable parking. 
Might be worth mentioning. I think I&#39;ve had great value out of this Wizz loyalty scheme, might have been £49? for that, I&#39;ve had three lots of (x2) 20kg checked bags [wife is not a light traveller] big hand baggage, not that wevew bothered... decent seat selection, speedy stuff andf I think there are some benefits on changes and a flight discount Seems pretty good value to me. I&#39;m sure your elves can work it out and spread the word, if it&#39;s as good as it seems.
Keep going with the long haul Prem Econ stuff - that&#39;s what floats my boat.
Cheers!

Postcard from Simon

Postcard from rickyhawketts1@gmail.com

Thanks for Bamboo airways to Vietnam tip. Booked over Xmas and much cheaper ( and direct) than anything else

Postcard from Julia

I booked from Frankfurt Hahn to Zagreb Aug 19-22 for €40 round trip for 2 people! Thank you so much for your help!


Postcard from Elizabeth 

Portugal

Japan

Iceland

Peru

United Kingdom

Canada

Italy

Austria

Thailand

<h3>Slowing Down the Speed of Our Wanderlust. This is how tourist fines ask us to pause.</h3>

You&rsquo;ve heard the protests, seen the headlines, &ldquo;The new tourist fines sweeping Europe&rdquo;.&nbsp;
But depending on who you ask, the new rollout of tourism rules and regulations can feel like a total killjoy or long-overdue protection against an industry that&rsquo;s been eating itself alive.&nbsp;
Reading the list below, it&rsquo;s easy to roll our eyes when we&rsquo;re the ones passing through. But how would you feel if the beach you grew up hearing the waves at night now echoes with drunk tourists music and drones overhead? That street you grew up on where you learned to ride your bike? It&rsquo;s now blocked with selfie-stick traffic impeding your route to work.&nbsp;
And your favourite caf&eacute;, the one that knows your order by heart? They tell you that you&rsquo;ll have to wait longer because tables are being saved for tourists that tip better and stay all day.&nbsp;
Through this lens, it&rsquo;s easier to see that these new waves of tourist fines are less about punishing visitors, and more about meeting a destination and its locals on their own terms. So, presuming you want to be a conscientious traveller and not become enemy #1 in your chosen destination, here&rsquo;s everything you need to know.

<h2 dir="ltr">Flip-flops behind the wheel in Europe</h2>
Rule / Fine: Up to &euro;200 if police deem your footwear unsafe, despite no outright ban.
In countries like Spain, drivers are expected to maintain proper control of the vehicle at all times. Loose footwear like flip-flops can jeopardize pedal control, so officers can fine you if they judge your sandals to compromise safety.
Traveller Tip: Always pack a pair of light sneakers or secure sandals to slip on when you hit the open road.
<h2 dir="ltr">No Swimwear Off the Beach (Europe, including Barcelona, Sorrento, Albufeira, Cannes, Venice)</h2>
Rule / Fine: Up to &euro;1,500 for walking around in swimwear outside beach zones. It's just polite, really!
 Traveller Tip: Keep a lightweight cover-up handy &mdash; say, a breezy shirt or sarong &mdash; for when you step ashore and into town.
<h2 dir="ltr">Public Drinking (Spain, UK, Baltic states, Canada &amp; more)</h2>
Rule / Fine: Up to &euro;3,000 for alcohol consumption in non-designated public areas.
Party hotspots like Ibiza and Mallorca in particular are trying to curb rowdy public behaviour by outlawing open-air drinking away from bars and restaurants. But beyond that, many countries or local authorities have blanket bans on carrying open containers of alcohol in public.&nbsp;
Traveller Tip: Check the local laws at your destination before cracking open a nice cold beer. If in doubt, sip your sangria indoors, at a bar&rsquo;s outdoor terrace, or in your hotel.

<h2 dir="ltr">Sunbed Reservation Abuse (Spain)</h2>
Rule / Fine: Around &euro;250 for reserving a sunbed with a towel and abandoning it.
Resorts are cracking down on the old 6am towel trick to keep things fair and tidy for all beach-goers.
Traveller Tip: We&rsquo;re not sure what to say about this one&hellip; Don&rsquo;t get lost?&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Collecting Shells or Pebbles (Greece &amp; Sardinia)</h2>
Rule / Fine: Up to &euro;1,000&ndash;&euro;3,000 depending on location.
Coastal ecosystems are fragile. Pocketing natural souvenirs threatens biodiversity and local ecosystems.
Traveller Tip: A picture says a thousand words. Take one, take a thousand &mdash; just leave the shells be.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Swimming in Venice&rsquo;s Canals (Italy)</h2>
Rule / Fine: Around &euro;350 fine &mdash; and up to &euro;1,000 if other violations apply.&nbsp;
Repeat after me, &ldquo;Canals aren&rsquo;t for swimming, they&rsquo;re for boats and sewage!&rdquo; Banning swims protects both visitors and historic waterways &mdash; and probably protects you from at least a dozen infectious diseases.&nbsp;
Traveller Tip: Stick to gondolas, or <a href="https://gillianlongworthmcguire.substack.com/p/gillian-knows-best-guide-to-beaches">head to the Lido</a> if you must get your feet wet.

<h2 dir="ltr">Entry Fee for Day-Trippers (Venice, Italy)</h2>
Rule / Fine: &euro;5&ndash;&euro;10 entry fee; failure to pay can lead to &euro;300 fine.
Overwhelmed by mass day-trip tourism, Venice is trying to manage crowd flow and encourage longer stays by offering fee exemptions to hotel guests.
Traveller Tip: Book your visit in advance, or stay overnight, and keep your receipt handy.
<h2 dir="ltr">Selfie Zones &amp; No-Linger Spots (Portofino, Italy &amp; Hallstatt, Austria)</h2>
Rule / Fine: Up to &euro;275 for blocking walkways with a selfie; Hallstatt uses &ldquo;selfie fences&rdquo; to curb crowding.&nbsp;
Europe&rsquo;s quaint and cute villages are overloaded with visitors lining up for the same shot. This measure aims to restore flow and reduce stress for locals trying to get to work on time.
Traveller Tip: Capture your pic, then move on. Who knows, you might just find a hidden corner!
<h2 dir="ltr">Beach Behaviour Campaigns (Spain &amp; Portugal)</h2>
Rule / Fine: Ranging from &euro;750 for public urination to &euro;2,000 for beach smoking. Malaga&rsquo;s Improve Your Stay campaign enforces up to &euro;873 fines for bad conduct in the port city.&nbsp;
Fines can be as high as &euro;30,000 for anti-social behaviour like vandalism or street drinking; attending (or throwing!) unlicensed events can set you back a similar amount, while hitching a lift in an unlicensed taxi can result in penalties of &euro;600. And before you decide to go for a nighttime dip Benidorm, just consider whether you have &euro;1,000 to spare.&nbsp;
Traveller Tip: Follow the local code snippets posted in your hotel lobby or on billboards, or simply ask a local. But let&rsquo;s be honest &mdash; it&rsquo;s always better to just find a toilet, smoke away from others, keep the noise down at night, and generally not be a nuisance.

<h3 dir="ltr">Proof of Travel Insurance (Spain)</h3>
Rule / Fine: Fines for British travellers of up to &euro;6,900 for not having proper travel health insurance documentation when entering Spain.&nbsp;
To protect its healthcare system and keep tourists from becoming walking liabilities, Spain can now request proof of travel insurance at the border.
Traveller Tip: Buy travel insurance! And just in case your phone battery dies, pack a printed copy of your insurance documents so you can pull them out at passport control.
<h3 dir="ltr">Visitor Caps in Europe&rsquo;s Ancient Icons (Greece, Italy)</h3>
Rule / Fine: Acropolis (Athens) is capped at 20,000 visitors/day; pre-booking required, high heels banned with fines up to &euro;900. Pompeii (Italy): also limited to 20,000 visitors/day and the Colosseum (Rome): capped at 3,000 visitors at a time.&nbsp;
These heritage sites want to stay standing, not crumbling under the footfall. Regulating access protects their history (and makes your visit more enjoyable).
Traveller Tip: Book your tickets for the first thing in the morning to avoid the rush, and leave the stilettos at home.
<h3 dir="ltr">Tourism Balance (Japan)</h3>
Rule / Fine: Mount Fuji: &yen;2,000 entry fee (&pound;10/$13.50/&euro;11.60) with a cap of 4,000 climbers/day. Kyoto: &yen;10,000 fine for taking photos of geisha without permission; some alleys are even off-limits. Tokyo: A year-round ban on public drinking from 6pm-5am.&nbsp;
Traveller Tip: Book early. Ask before snapping. Stick to bars and caf&eacute;s, not the streets.
<h3 dir="ltr">Hiking Restrictions (Machu Picchu)</h3>
Rule / Fine: Timed-slot tickets are now mandatory &mdash; no more spontaneous hikes to Machu Picchu!
Peru is slowing tourism to protect both the trail and the ancient ruins from overuse and degradation.
Traveller Tip: Book your slot online well in advance. Check out Flight Finder Lauren's <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/detour-145-machu-picchu">top tips for visiting the site here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Digital Arrival Card (Thailand)</h3>
Rule / Fine: As of May 2025, all foreign visitors must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card at least within 72 hours before arrival. Earlier isn't possible.
This replaces the old paper form, and can be submitted online before you travel. You won't need to do this if you're just transiting in Thailand.
Traveller Tip: Set a reminder on your phone to do this 3 days before you arrive, save the confirmation, and breeze through immigration!
<h3 dir="ltr">Eco-Tax (Iceland)</h3>
Rule / Fine: A nightly, per-room eco-tax is in place nationwide to support environmental conservation to protect its glaciers and geysers.
Traveller Tip: Factor this small extra (approx. $5-$8) into your hotel budget; you&rsquo;re investing in the island&rsquo;s future. 
<hr>
 Follow these guidelines, and hopefully you won't find yourself stepping on any toes on your next trip.
Wear the right shoes in Cinque Terre, not because Italy wants to control your packing list, but because those paths are centuries old and prone to erosion. Skip the selfie in a geisha district, not because Kyoto wants to spoil your carefully curated feed, but because a working woman shouldn&rsquo;t be turned into a prop or have her picture taken without consent.&nbsp;
The result? A subtle but meaningful shift: travel is becoming less about extraction &mdash; how much you can see, collect, or post in a few days &mdash; and more about exchange: &ldquo;You bring the curiosity and respect, we&rsquo;ll reveal our truer selves beyond the tourist brochures.&rdquo;
And if that feels restrictive, maybe the question isn&rsquo;t whether the rules have gone too far, but whether the speed of our wanderlust has burned through the soul of the streets before we even noticed.&nbsp;

Navigating New Tourism Rules: The 2025 Traveller's Cheat Sheet

Indonesia

Hey there, travellers,
Greetings from somewhere in Lithuania! At the time of writing, I'm a little over one hour into an 11-hour train journey between Vilnius and Tallinn. And my entire train carriage is bright pink.&nbsp;

When I boarded, bleary-eyed, at 6:55 AM, I wondered if Lithuania had a particular penchant for Barbie &mdash; how very 2023, I thought. And then I noticed the egg sticker on the window, and the table decal showing dill, cucumber and half boiled eggs floating on a pink background.
A few sips of coffee later, I finally noticed the sticker in the middle of the train table emblazoned with the words, "VILNIUS PINK SOUP FEST." So strong is the&nbsp;<a href="https://tasteoflithuania.com/saltibarsciai-cold-beetroot-soup/">Lithuanian love of cold beetroot soup</a> (&scaron;altibar&scaron;čiai), apparently, that they have a festival celebrating it each May. And this summer, overland Baltic travellers have also been given the chance to live a beetroot-drenched dream aboard the Pink Soup Train.

It seems I'm lucky, too, as this weekend is the carriage's last hurrah of the year. While it would have been nice to get a few more hours' sleep before stepping into this Wonka-esque world of cheery food stuffs, I'd now quite like to try a bowl of the pink stuff.&nbsp;
My stopover in Lithuania was fleeting, unfortunately. But I'm pretty confident there'll be a vibrant&nbsp;<a href="https://estoniancuisine.com/2019/08/06/cold-summer-beetroot-soup/">Estonian version</a> waiting to greet me in Tallinn, albeit minus the waving eggs.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Where No Man Roams &mdash;&nbsp;Lessons from a Professional Trespasser

Flight Finder 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

Simon scales fences, evades police, and crawls through asbestos. I followed him into the dark to understand what dead places do to the living.&nbsp;
A burly man, cloaked in black, waits for me in the deadzone of security cameras. I&rsquo;ve known him for all of half an hour, and now here I sit, teetering atop a 10ft fence, trusting that he&rsquo;ll catch me if I fall. My cotton gloves are useless, offering no protection as the chain links dig into my skin. One foot scrambles for a hold, dangling for a second too long; far below, the ground is a m&eacute;lange of brambles and broken concrete.&nbsp;
Expertly reeling, my mind fires off a million worst-case scenarios: a broken ankle, a dog chase, disappearing off the face of the earth. My phone buzzed in my pocket &mdash; a friend&rsquo;s text from Canada,&nbsp;&ldquo;You alive?&rdquo; as if her panic could bridge an ocean.
I&rsquo;d sent her his Instagram profile earlier: no last name, no identifiable locations, zero posts of sunlight. Just a feed of abandoned nuclear sites. I prayed she&rsquo;d at least pick a flattering thumbnail for the inevitable true-crime podcast.&nbsp;
And yet, there&rsquo;s something entirely too intoxicating about this moment. A forbidden dare, a promise of secret worlds hidden in plain sight. The rush comes before I even hit the ground.
This is Urbex &mdash; urban exploration &mdash; the exploration of manmade structures usually off-limits or abandoned. A regular Thursday for my new friend Simon, the man in black.
We connected weeks earlier through a dead Reddit thread, his username half-buried between broken links and breadcrumb co-ordinates. No small talk, no promises &mdash; this wasn&rsquo;t a tour. Just a time he&rsquo;d pick me up and the unspoken rule: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t slow me down.&rdquo;
Just like hackers, lurking in the shadows of society, bypassing firewalls and cracking code, urbexers chase the thrill of uncovering a backdoor into the supposedly inaccessible.
Later, I&rsquo;d ask him about the moment he fell in love with Urbex. He thinks for a moment before answering with certainty.&nbsp;&ldquo;The atmosphere. It&rsquo;s like seeing the earth without humans. It&rsquo;s ephemeral, temporary, history, and adrenaline all wrapped in one. And photography, of course." He pauses, a glint of passion in his eyes. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about capturing something that&rsquo;s fading, something that won&rsquo;t be there forever.&rdquo;

Chernobyl&rsquo;s exclusion zone, nuclear bunkers and NYC&rsquo;s legendary TB sanatorium are some of the hundreds of sites featured on Simon&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theurbextrip/">Instagram</a> &mdash; an apocalyptic obsession fuelled by more than a decade of exploration.&nbsp;
The son of a photographer, documenting his adventures is essential to him, as is the web of intricate tattoos sprawled across his skin; both ink and images are a blueprint of a life lived on the edge. He&rsquo;s mastered the classic &ldquo;hero shot:&rdquo; a solitary figure, often snapped from behind, half swallowed by shadow and dwarfed by the grandeur of decay.&nbsp;
Back in Hungary, en route to the first of two sites Simon has agreed to show me, I launch into question mode. Naturally, I want to know if he&rsquo;s ever been busted, and the probability of being caught today. With his eyes focused on the road, I&rsquo;m speaking mostly to his face tattoo, a leviathan cross on the side of his cheek. Its meaning I can only guess.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Yeah, I got caught sleeping in my hammock at Baikonur.&rdquo; Baikonur, I am to learn, is an abandoned military base in the desert of Kazakhstan, a cathedral to the USSR&rsquo;s failed Buran space program, housing two enormous, decrepit Soviet space shuttles.
It&rsquo;s the ultimate endgame for Urbex explorers: sealed off, locked down, and just waiting for someone to bypass its firewall. Simon tells me of his masochistic journey there: A three day, forty kilometer night hike through the desert and a subsequent four days inside a Soviet military prison &mdash; a small price to pay for his SD card.&nbsp;
Following the fence jump,&nbsp;Simon lays his backpack over the twisted snarls of a barbed wire hole I am to climb through. He emphasizes the importance of taking quiet, calculated movements, &ldquo;I once fell through the roof of an abandoned morgue, got stuck between the roof and the glass and cut my arm up real bad.&rdquo;

Despite his broad frame, he slips through with expert ease, a feat that seems almost cruel as I attempt to follow. His boots looked like they&rsquo;d kicked in every door between here and Chernobyl.&nbsp;
Mine? Soft-toed sketchers with arch support, the kind reviewed by moms visiting Disneyland. Half his size, yet twice as clumsy, I muddle through, my down jacket a caught bird against the steel. The Urbex hierarchy was clear.
He&rsquo;s agreed to show me two sites today. A Cold War bunker in the Hungarian mountains and a legendary spot in the Urbex community, Kelenfold Power Station &mdash; a crumbling Art Deco cathedral of electricity, once the pride of Europe, now sealed off and slowly eroding into dust.
A beat-up old rental. A man I&rsquo;ve never met. And me, alone in a foreign country, climbing into the passenger seat with nothing but a backpack and blind faith. What could possibly go wrong?
Step into the&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/where-no-man-roams-lessons-from-a-professional-trespasser">full story</a> here.

Travel Tales

&ldquo;Hi! I&rsquo;d like to see some tips for a honeymoon to Indonesia from Amsterdam in October. Affordable but with some luxury in it.&rdquo;

Hey there, reader! Congrats on your wedding and MEGA congrats on the exciting honeymoon ahead. Amsterdam is a particularly good city for Indonesia connections, since you have lots of options.&nbsp;
Sure, there&rsquo;s the KLM of it all, but you also have the option of non-stop flights to Jakarta with Garuda Indonesia, and cheaper connections via the Middle East. In the last six months, we&rsquo;ve seen that non-stop route around &euro;650 return, while a one-stop route with Saudia has taken things below the &euro;400 mark. For that bit of luxury, check out Etihad for business class fares &mdash; they&rsquo;re currently sitting around &euro;1.8k return, which isn&rsquo;t too bad.
Of course, you may be looking more towards somewhere like Bali for the romantic island vibes. We sometimes see fares there for under &euro;500, but recently they&rsquo;ve mostly been via China &mdash; not exactly the quickest route! Given the handy Jakarta connections, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxoqEgoyMDI1LTEwLTI5KABqDAgDEggvbS8wNDRydnIMCAQSCC9tLzAzcnluGioSCjIwMjUtMTEtMDUoAGoMCAQSCC9tLzAzcnlucgwIAxIIL20vMDQ0cnZAAUgBcAKCAQQICRACmAEBsgEEGAEgAQ&amp;tfu=GioaKAoSCcS2NdwRVytAER0aqt8-H2FAEhIJNQqgzPTyLMAROTRUvy3zV0A">plethora of cheap island hopping available</a> from there, that&rsquo;s where I&rsquo;d focus my flight hunting.

As for where to go, that obviously depends on what you&rsquo;re looking for. Bali has the reputation and lush resorts to match, but it can be overwhelmed with tourists. <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/newsletter-2024-03-05">Have a look here</a> at what the Jack&rsquo;s Community had to say about where to skip and what to see in and around Bali.
Away from the mega tourist track, there&rsquo;s another bucket-list Indonesian experience you might want to consider: orangutan spotting in the jungle. That&rsquo;s a pretty special honeymoon treat, so if it takes your fancy, do some research and look for an ethical tour company. I found <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/solotravel/comments/18b85lo/advice_for_traveling_to_north_sumatraethical/">this reddit thread</a> pretty useful.
Now it&rsquo;s over to the rest of you, dear readers! Have you got any special Indonesia tips for our honeymooners? Where should they go to make memories with a touch of pizzazz? <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-198-urban-exploration-hungary#comments">Let us know in the comments</a> or by replying to this email.

Reader's Corner

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Germany&rsquo;s legendary efficiency has officially gone <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/deutsche-bahn-is-on-track-for-more-delays-and-cancellations/a-73304129">off the rails</a> &mdash; literally. With delays, breakdowns, and Deutsche Bahn drama, the land of punctuality is facing an identity crisis on the tracks. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rice fields, cave hikes, and karst cliffs that aren&rsquo;t swarming with influencers! This is Vietnam, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/vietnam/vietnam-travel-unique-destinations-b2801570.html">far from the tourist track but just as beautiful</a>. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Just when you thought Vegas weddings couldn't get campier, one couple got married by&hellip; a walking jar of <a href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/hellman-s-mayonnaise-wedding-c780bc00?st=SQpkac&amp;mod=1440&amp;user_id=66c4c27d600ae150758fd9b4">Hellmann's mayonnaise</a>. Good thing the condiment-themed ceremony was quick, ending before Nevada's summer heat could spoil the fun. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Feeling targeted by high air fares? Turns out it really is personal &mdash; or it will be, once Delta starts <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/delta-pricing-tickets-ai-b2790442.html">using artificial intelligence</a> to determine individual ticket prices. Pro-tip: Don&rsquo;t google &ldquo;caviar near me&rdquo; the night before booking a flight. </li>
<li>And finally, meet the hiking couples who found each other by leaving handwritten messages in a notebook <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250805-swiss-mountain-tinder-sparks-high-altitude-attraction?utm_source=join1440&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_placement=newsletter&amp;user_id=66c4c27d600ae150758fd9b4">on top of a Swiss mountain</a>. Your move, Nicholas Sparks.</li>
</ul>

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