Europe

Scotland is far more than shortbread, bagpipes, and weather that requires three waterproof layers, and you're about to see that for yourself! Finding cheap flights to Scotland is entirely possible, whether you’re planning a culture binge in the historic streets of Edinburgh, catching a gig in buzzing Glasgow, or heading straight for the mystical Scottish Highlands. This is your definitive insider's guide, packed with everything you need to outsmart peak season pricing, uncover epic castles, sample the best local whisky, and turn that bucket list trip into a budget-friendly reality.

Highlands, islands, and fairytale roadtrips - Scotland's serving up all the best vibes.

Toronto

Forget everything you thought you knew about Canada being a polite, freezing expanse. This place is seriously epic, stretching from Vancouver's gorgeous coastline and the towering Rockies right over to the hip coffee shops of Montreal and the rugged East Coast. 
The only problem? It’s massive. Luckily, this is where we step in. We find those great-value Canada Flights that prove you can tackle this stunning country without turning your bank account into a frozen wasteland.
Whether you're flying in from overseas or grabbing a domestic flight for a quick poutine run, our in-house Canadian crew is here to lend their expertise. So stop guessing when to book and where to go: our guides are your secret weapon for getting the most bang for your loonie, eh!

Canada

Forget everything you thought you knew about Canada being a polite, freezing expanse. This place is seriously epic, stretching from Vancouver's gorgeous coastline and the towering Rockies right over to the hip coffee shops of Montreal and the rugged East Coast.

Glasgow

Scotland

Scotland is far more than shortbread, bagpipes, and weather that requires three waterproof layers, and you're about to see that for yourself!

Glasgow, Scotland 🦄 in $580s-$610s RT 

Last-minute trips across the pond, don't mind if you do! 

Winnipeg

Edinburgh

Halifax

Edinburgh, Scotland 🏰 in $660s-$770s RT 

Is this gonna be the year you go to the Fringe?

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.

Beauvais

France isn't just about Eiffel Tower selfies; it’s a country that deserves a serious deep dive without the pretension—or the heavy price tag. We’re here to help you snag cheap flights to France so you can spend less on airfare and more on what actually matters: endless glasses of Bordeaux, buttery croissants, and authentic French food. Whether you’re planning a culture binge in the romantic streets of Paris, hunting for sunshine along the French Riviera, or wandering through the vineyard-lined hills of Provence, we’ve got the insider intelligence to get you there for less.

France

We’re here to help you snag cheap flights to France so you can spend less on airfare and more on what actually matters: endless glasses of Bordeaux, buttery croissants, and authentic French food.

Charleroi

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.

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.

Edinburgh 🏰 in €30s-€60s rtn

Which one of these 'lands is on your bucket list?

Cardiff

Wales

Dublin

Ireland is infinitely more than just four-leaf clovers and endless rain; it's a land of jagged coastlines, legendary pubs, and locals who could talk the hind legs off a donkey—all accessible without spending a fortune. From the history-soaked streets of Dublin to the rugged expanse of the Wild Atlantic Way and the vertigo-inducing heights of the Cliffs of Moher, our flight alerts ensure you spend less on flights, and more on the experiences that actually count.

Ireland

Ireland is infinitely more than just four-leaf clovers and endless rain; it's a land of jagged coastlines, legendary pubs, and locals who could talk the hind legs off a donkey—all accessible without spending a fortune

The UK and Ireland 🏞️ in $570s-$680s RT

Bournemouth

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.

Edinburgh 🥃 at £31-£32 rtn from Bournemouth

A dirt-cheap summer trip across the Irish Sea? Don't mind if we do.

Manchester

Belfast

Northern Ireland

Derry

Kerry

Cork

London Stansted

East Midlands

Shannon

Liverpool

Knock

Leeds Bradford

Newcastle

Birmingham

Bristol

London Luton

Across the UK and Ireland 📍 in £20s-£40s rtn

A beautiful view out on Loch Lomond! £25 each way with Ryanair - the train to the airport cost more!

Postcard from SuperWhelk

I began my gap semester in Europe, in Scotland, a place that quickly etched itself into my heart. We set out to hike the West Highland Way, a journey that ended up being one of the hardest things I have ever done.
Only after a few brutal days did I realize my hiking boots, which had served me fine on trips in Canada, were actually a whole size and a half too small. Every step felt like my bones were shattering, and the pain was made worse by the fifty plus pounds I carried on my back. As if that was not enough, halfway through the trail an elderly man in the highland farms told us, “This is the rainiest year in the last century.” He was not wrong. The sky seemed determined to test us. Yet despite the discomfort, the exhaustion, and the soaked gear, that stretch of Scotland remains my favourite part of all my travels in Europe.
I found a strange joy in the struggle, in the simplicity of living only from what was on my back. Each step was entirely my own as the landscape unfolded around me, changing slowly with every passing kilometre. Mountains softened into moors, forests opened into misty valleys, and I felt deeply connected to the land beneath my feet.
More than anything, the journey brought me closer to my three friends who hiked beside me. By the end, they felt less like friends and more like sisters. We laughed until our sides hurt and cried when the weight of it all became too much.
Scotland itself felt alive with history and culture, present in every ancient stone and sweeping view. The beauty of the land left me speechless, and the kindness of the people I met along the way made the experience even more unforgettable. That trip was truly the most rewarding thing I have ever done, and I will cherish every memory of it. Thank you, Scotland, until we meet again.

Story from TrailblazingSightseer59007

Thanks to Jack, I got a flight from Dublin to Glasgow to visit some friends! 
Thank you for help &amp; incredible website!! You&#39;re the best :)

Photo taken at a Lake at dusk :)

Postcard from Emma

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

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

It was great for the price! It&#39;s a short flight ans the seat was comfortable.

Postcard from Lorain

Jamaica

China

United States

Uzbekistan

Jordan

Curaçao

Cabo Verde

Hey there, Travellers!
This week's travel news has revolved a lot around the FIFA World Cup, which kicked off yesterday. From Scotland's <a href="https://news.stv.tv/sport/tartan-army-in-boston-6-30am-bagpipe-wake-up-call-beer-running-dry-and-soaring-temperatures">Tartan Army drinking their flight dry</a> within the first hour of a transatlantic crossing to the German national team <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9v2nvm02llo">paying for their fans' train fares</a>, it's already been an eventful tournament.
Among the most excited teams and fans to be there are likely the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/5/20/which-teams-will-make-their-debut-at-world-cup-2026">four nations making their debut</a>&mdash;Cura&ccedil;ao, Jordan, Cape Verde, and Uzbekistan. Coincidentally, also four of the most popular and up-and-coming travel destinations this year.&nbsp;
Between Uzbekistan's recent loosening on visa restrictions, Cape Verde becoming an attractive alternative to spots that might include transit through the UAE, Cura&ccedil;ao's lush, hurricane-free Caribbean shores, and <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/middle-east/jordan-petra-tourism-travel-middle-east-b2990285.html">Jordan quietly rebounding</a> from the effects of neighbours at war, this outing to the World Cup will no doubt be a nice PR opportunity for the first-timers, regardless how they perform.
I've certainly got a soft spot for Uzbekistan after my visit there two years ago, but I'd love to hear about your experiences in the other three. Even if they end up scoring an own goal or two over the coming weeks, what made you love them when you visited? <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-241-essentials-for-your-first-trip-to-china-perths-around-the-world#comments">Let us know in the comments</a>!
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

What I Learned During My First Trip to China

Currently based in Spain, you&rsquo;ll likely find Lauren skateboarding along the beachfront. When she&rsquo;s not falling off her board, you&rsquo;ll catch her hunting for bargain flights cheap enough to make up for the dreaded 3 AM start.

By Lauren

China has always had a place on my bucket list, but its complicated and pricey visa regulations had me putting it off for ages. Until earlier this year, that is, when the government updated their entry regulations allowing Brits (like me) <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c875d3d3x34o">visa-free travel</a>! And that was it. My China trip was on, and I got to work planning a two-week itinerary.
My plan was to fly into Chongqing, then travel by train to Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Xi&rsquo;an, and finally Beijing, where I would catch a flight home.
I'll go into more detail about what I got up to in each of those cities below, but first, here are a few things to note&hellip;
Ease of travel
Right off the bat, the first thing that struck me after landing was just how efficient the country is. Queues moved quickly, taxis often arrived less than a minute after ordering them, trains were boarded seamlessly and left on time; it was all very impressive.
In general, everyone I interacted with was very friendly and happy to try and help me. Although it's worth noting that many people do not speak English, so I mostly communicated with locals through language translation apps.

I only travelled to big cities and popular tourist areas, but I always felt incredibly safe. Streets were well lit, and if I had found myself in any kind of danger, there always seemed to be an open convenience store nearby that I could dip into for help.
One particular aspect of travel through China that I appreciated was the lack of &ldquo;hassle.&rdquo; Street vendors and shopkeepers rarely tried to push me to buying their products/tours, which meant I could usually shop around in peace. Although sales assistants did occasionally shadow me around a store, just in case I needed their help.
Internet
If you connect to Wi-Fi or use a Chinese SIM, you will find that a lot of your apps do not work. To get around this, you can either install a VPN or an eSIM. I opted for an eSIM from Airalo, and I was able to continue using all of my apps as usual. I found that 10 GB just about saw me through my two-week trip, but if you're a big social media user, I'd suggest 15 GB.

Cash and payments
Pretty much all payments are made through apps like WeChat and Alipay. It's best to make an account and link your card to these before you travel, since you may need to wait a while for your details to be verified. When paying, either you or the vendor will need to scan a QR code from one of your apps. It's all very quick and efficient once you get your head around it, but it can become a bit panic-inducing if you're low on battery. Thankfully, most cities are filled with rentable street-side power banks if you ever get caught off guard.
I only saw physical cash once during our trip. A taxi driver &ldquo;accidentally&rdquo; overcharged me for a ride, and refunded me the difference in notes. But I didn't have any issues spending it in 7-Eleven.
Train travel within China
The high-speed train network within China is extensive, efficient, and affordable. In my opinion, it's the best way to move around the country. Even the train stations were impressively spacious and swish-looking. The trains themselves were also very comfortable with tables, charging ports, and a food ordering service.

The easiest place to book tickets is <a href="https://www.trip.com/trains/china/?locale=en_xx&amp;curr=usd&amp;departurecitycode=hk001xja&amp;arrivalcitycode=cn001izq&amp;allianceid=742331&amp;sid=23143527&amp;ppcid=ckid-53906045033_adid-740095378266_akid-kwd-2411442721130_adgid-158876778430&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=20704910865&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20704910865&amp;gbraid=0AAAAABn2eFIs8nUg1eUDGNGJEgHjE5P2P&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw2rrQBhBuEiwAarLWHTbckXPyzHREsjRJgawMZqpiesEgB57zDTTq1EgiZf6YKs0VGNtX7BoC1dMQAvD_BwE">trip.com</a>, where the tickets will be linked to your passport. You can book up to two weeks in advance of your journey, but be aware that popular routes often sell out close to the departure date.
Toilets
Honestly, I am a huge fan of the toilet situation in China. Public toilets are everywhere, and they are mostly very clean. Just to be up front, 99% of the time, the public toilets will be squat toilets. But don't let that intimidate you if you are unfamiliar. They are very easy to use, and I promise you'll get the hang of it quicker than you think. Just remember to bring a pack of tissues with you whenever you leave your hotel.

And if you really miss the comfort of a western-style toilet, fear not, as most hotels have them installed.
Food
I can only talk about food from my vegetarian perspective. I am sure if you are a meat-lover who enjoys trying new flavours, textures, and spices, this will be your idea of food heaven! However, as someone who primarily eats a meat-free diet, I&rsquo;ll admit that I did struggle. Vegetarianism isn't really a thing in China (let alone veganism), and most restaurants that I visited did not serve any large meat-free dishes.
To get around this, I would either politely ask if they were able to prepare one of the listed meals without meat, or I would order a selection of smaller vegetable side dishes.

All the food I ate was delicious. However, with my limited options, it did become slightly repetitive over the course of my trip.
If you have specific dietary preferences, I would suggest saving a few translated key phrases into your notes app to show restaurant staff so your mealtimes run as smoothly as possible.
I do need to shout out one specific vegetarian restaurant in Beijing that I will probably remember for the rest of my life.<a href="https://guide.michelin.com/en/beijing-municipality/beijing/restaurant/tianchumiaoxiang-vegetarian-chaoyang"> Tianchu Miaoxiang</a> is an affordable, Michelin-starred veggie restaurant. And honestly, I would fly back in a heartbeat just to try their kung pao (faux) chicken one more time.
Keep reading for all the inside info on <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/china-my-tried-and-tested-2-week-itinerary">Lauren's 2-week China itinerary</a>&hellip;

Travel Tips

All roads lead to Perth. Just not that one...

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

Few things make us happier than scrolling through <a href="https://jacksflightclub.typeform.com/the-detour-2026">your submissions</a> of places you'd love to read more about. Except for maybe traveling there ourselves!&nbsp;
Now, this anonymous member &mdash; let's call them Loquacious Lars &mdash; didn't give us much to go on:

No context. No clues. Just &ldquo;Perth&rdquo;.&nbsp;
Thus we can only assume he&rsquo;s looking for the lowdown on one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_(disambiguation)">17 (or more) places on Earth sharing that name</a>. Minus the one with the sunshine and kangaroos, though, because we already know all about it, right?
So dear readers, I give you&hellip; Perth. Just not that one.
<h2 dir="ltr" id="perth-scotland-the-og-minus-the-sun">Perth, Scotland: The OG (Minus the Sun)&nbsp;</h2>

Population: 47,000
Scotland&rsquo;s former capital rarely sees the flocks of tourists that descend upon Edinburgh&rsquo;s Royal Mile. A shame considering its sharp spires and streets, a blend of Gothic Revival and Georgian grandeur has been <a href="https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Perth-Scotland/">fundamental in shaping Scotland&rsquo;s history</a>. Scone Abbey was once the coronation site for all Scottish kings, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce.
The Fair City is fiercely local, home to more than 100 independent shops, cafes, and boutiques, and has been crowned the UK&rsquo;s first <a href="https://unesco.org.uk/our-network/creative-cities/perth">UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Art</a>.&nbsp;
It doesn&rsquo;t hurt that it sits at the gateway to the whiskey-soaked Highlands too. Those fairytale landscapes of the Cairngorms, Ben Nevis and Glencoe are all reachable in under 2 hours.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr" id="perth-ontario-canada-the-one-built-on-big-cheese">Perth, Ontario, Canada: The One Built on Big Cheese</h2>

Population: 6,469
About an hour from Canada&rsquo;s capital city, Ottawa, Perth is a town known for, well, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mammoth-cheese-replicas">MAMMOTH BLOCK OF CHEESE</a>. Why does this deserve aggressive all caps? The enormous wheel of cheddar was created in 1893 (before Kraft destroyed the craft) and took the efforts of 12 cheesemakers and 10,000 cows.&nbsp;
Standing at 6ft high, the aim was to showcase Canada&rsquo;s fermenting feats at Chicago&rsquo;s World Fair. Transporting it to the Windy City wasn't exactly easy; at 22,000 pounds, it was so heavy it fell through the floor of the train!&nbsp;
Nowadays it&rsquo;s just <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g499284-d14058597-Reviews-The_Mammoth_Cheese-Perth_Ontario.html">a highway replica</a> but worth a photo stop en route to one of Canada&rsquo;s most underrated national parks: <a href="https://visit1000islands.com/">the 1000 Islands,</a> an archipelago of over 1800 emerald islands shared with New York.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr" id="perth-north-dakota-usa-six-away-from-a-ghost-town">Perth, North Dakota, USA: Six Away From A Ghost Town</h2>

Image courtesy of Andrew Filer on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/afiler/6176675639/in/photolist-8GkDwR-apP5tz-apRNfY-apRN17-apRMuj-apRMCu-apRMkS-apRMSJ-apP6k4-5DeXwG-GrSiTX-4fEHYP-ap21rb-8kmdJN-2hFKjbp-dhZTfT-9MuMhR-3eZLg9-3hHAwa-MsSoW-2sbPHXg-2sbMmao">Flickr</a>.
Population: 6
Deep in the prairies of North Dakota, you&rsquo;ll find a rickety wooden sign posing a jarring existential question: &ldquo;While on Earth, Why Not Perth?&rdquo; The &ldquo;o&rdquo; in Not is an unnerving smiley face, reminiscent of Microsoft's clip art in the 1990s.&nbsp;
Perth, North Dakota, boasts a whopping population of six, none of whom are the man in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122153317448189209&amp;set=pcb.122153320034189209">this photo</a>. A total outsider and the entire tourism demographic for the region, if I could hazard a guess.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Once a booming and raucous railroad community of 200 people, you&rsquo;ll find more headstones here than residents now. But back in its heyday, the town boasted all the typical businesses, including a general store, a blacksmith, livery barns, a hardware store, and its very own newspaper, The Perth Journal. Impressively, the post office managed to hold on for over a century before finally closing its doors in 2003.&nbsp;
Unless your hyperfocus is the type that compels you to visit places around the world with the same name, there's absolutely no reason to visit this Perth. Except perhaps if you're <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g49769-d11843641-Reviews-W_eel_Turtle-Dunseith_North_Dakota.html">really into turtles</a>.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr" id="perth-jamaica-coffee-spuds-and-a-whole-lotta-fog">Perth, Jamaica: Coffee, Spuds, and a Whole Lotta Fog.&nbsp;</h2>

Image courtesy of Kevin on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nfrhtp/8435313706/in/photolist-dRpbTd-4SURK2-BNB5sq-dRpbGA-dRpbZ3-dRiCTv-3cebQD-dRpbqw-dRiCMZ-dRpcr1-dRpcwS-9nGftr-eCQKZ-dRiC2i-2j3tGeV-aRbxdX-aRbpP4-qRXY8B-aRbxW8-3ciAyq-aRbxzM-aRbphr-aRbykr-aRbiMz-aRbxk8-2n8zxvV-aRbjqp-aRbq6c-aRboiK-2n8B4Ys-mhe7-2n8sT1U-8Yek85-2n8zxw1-aRbfbg-aRby4c-aRbqiR-8YejBb-4QukqW-3cebvt-3ciB45-aRbyuv-8YejRL-8YbhLD-aRbjCa-aRbgye-aRbxLZ-wNaa-8YejpY-2p8WV">Flickr</a>
Population: 20,000 (and growing).
Forget sun-baked beaches;&nbsp;this Perth sits in the mist-shrouded mountains of south-central Jamaica right on the outskirts of Mandeville (pictured above). 
And while the country is synonymous with sugarcane, the high elevation and cooler climate made it impossible to cultivate. In its place grew one of the world&rsquo;s most sought-after coffees:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2022/09/06/we-created-the-high-mountain-coffee-jamaica-standard-products-story/">Jamaican High Mountain Coffee</a>, often fetching $50-$100+ a pound.&nbsp;
Perth also was part of the region that introduced the very <a href="https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2018/11/03/potato-pioneer/">first Irish potatoes</a> to the island in 1902.
&nbsp;Today the area's rolling green hills have been transformed into Perth Estate, a rapidly growing upscale residential community known for sprawling modern homes and a fondness for looking at fog.&nbsp; 
So there you have it, Lars. Four distinct flavors of Perth, none of which involve Vegemite or budgie smugglers.&nbsp; 
There are more where these came from, of course, so please, dear readers, let us know all about your chosen Perths. And just in case it was that Perth&nbsp;Lars was looking for, please drop your tips for the Antipodean alternative <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/all-roads-lead-to-perth-just-not-that-one#comments">in the comments</a>!
Oh, and don't forget to <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/postcards">send us a postcard</a> of the mega cheddar.&nbsp;

Reader's Corner

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel chatter from around the Jack's Community this month.
<ul>
<li>The chickens are finally coming home to roost for budget airline Ryanair, as the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj87rvx349o">UK's competition watchdog launches an investigation</a> into the fees they charge for families to sit together. </li>
<li>A <a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a71536193/new-statue-discovery-easter-island-mystery/">new moai statue appeared</a> on Easter Island, and scientists are floored. </li>
<li>United Airlines is working on <a href="https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/06/10/united-airlines-is-reportedly-working-on-a-new-economy-product-with-a-blocked-middle-seat-to-reduce-flight-attendant-requirements/">a new economy seating concept</a> that will make sure you can't stretch out, even though there's nobody sitting next to you. Thanks a bunch. </li>
<li>Sardinians are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/10/sardinian-beach-bans-umbrellas-people-aged-10-65-punta-molentis">scrambling to borrow extra children and grandparents</a> just to guarantee an umbrella at the beach this summer. </li>
<li>And finally, Toronto is celebrating the World Cup in a way that only Canada possibly could: with a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-toronto-beavers-db94c803ca2a2f2af29a5889818d75dc">giant beaver hunt</a>. If you find all 51 beavers before they disappear, please send us pics, and then consider whether you might have too much time on your hands.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Essentials for Your First Trip to China & Perths Around the World

Australia

Image courtesy of Kevin on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nfrhtp/8435313706/in/photolist-dRpbTd-4SURK2-BNB5sq-dRpbGA-dRpbZ3-dRiCTv-3cebQD-dRpbqw-dRiCMZ-dRpcr1-dRpcwS-9nGftr-eCQKZ-dRiC2i-2j3tGeV-aRbxdX-aRbpP4-qRXY8B-aRbxW8-3ciAyq-aRbxzM-aRbphr-aRbykr-aRbiMz-aRbxk8-2n8zxvV-aRbjqp-aRbq6c-aRboiK-2n8B4Ys-mhe7-2n8sT1U-8Yek85-2n8zxw1-aRbfbg-aRby4c-aRbqiR-8YejBb-4QukqW-3cebvt-3ciB45-aRbyuv-8YejRL-8YbhLD-aRbjCa-aRbgye-aRbxLZ-wNaa-8YejpY-2p8WV">Flickr</a>
Population: 20,000 (and growing).
Forget sun-baked beaches;&nbsp;this Perth sits in the mist-shrouded mountains of south-central Jamaica right on the outskirts of Mandeville (pictured above). 
And while the country is synonymous with sugarcane, the high elevation and cooler climate made it impossible to cultivate. In its place grew one of the world&rsquo;s most sought-after coffees:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2022/09/06/we-created-the-high-mountain-coffee-jamaica-standard-products-story/">Jamaican High Mountain Coffee</a>, often fetching $50-$100+ a pound.&nbsp;
Perth also was part of the region that introduced the very <a href="https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2018/11/03/potato-pioneer/">first Irish potatoes</a> to the island in 1902.
&nbsp;Today the area's rolling green hills have been transformed into Perth Estate, a rapidly growing upscale residential community known for sprawling modern homes and a fondness for looking at fog.&nbsp;

So there you have it, Lars. Four distinct flavors of Perth, none of which involve Vegemite or budgie smugglers.&nbsp;
There are more where these came from, of course, so please, dear readers, let us know all about your chosen Perths. And just in case it was that Perth&nbsp;Lars was looking for, please drop your tips for the Antipodean alternative below!
Oh, and don't forget to <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/postcards">send us a postcard</a> of the mega cheddar.&nbsp;

All roads lead to Perth. Just not that one...

Italy

Vietnam

Mexico

Hey there, Travellers,
I'm heading to Senegal next month, and I can more or less guarantee that I will be attacked by the world's deadliest animal. That's not pessimism; it's just realism.&nbsp;
Apparently, the it isn't a hippo (though I hear they're pretty scary), and it's not a snake or a spider; it's actually the most annoying animal in the world, too&mdash;<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/deadliest-animals">the mosquito</a>.
I might try something new to keep them at bay and spend my whole trip&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/evaamsen/2019/04/05/skrillex-music-is-not-enough-to-keep-you-safe-from-mosquitoes/">blasting dubstep beats</a>, rendering myself the most annoying animal instead. But if you have any better, tried-and-true methods for keeping the bitey beasts away, please share your wisdom <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-228-scotland-by-public-transport-the-creme-de-la-creme-of-cable-cars#comments">in the comments</a>.
Happy travels and safe landings,

The Cr&egrave;me de la Cr&egrave;me of Cable Cars: As Chosen by You

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 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

<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>

&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

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. 
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jacks-coolest-cable-car-rides">See more cable cars, ft. bendy roads and Balkan bobsleighing...</a>

A Local's Guide to Scotland by Public Transport

The Detour Editor Katy is a budget travel aficionado who has already travelled to more than 50 countries. Whether she's at home or on a foreign adventure, she has a particular talent for stumbling upon tasty Georgian restaurants.

By Katy

<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/local-guide-to-scotland-by-public-transport">Open the full article &rarr;</a>
When I was a student, I spent a couple of summers working in the Visit Scotland information centres in Aberdeen and Glasgow. People from all over the world would drop in for a map, some tips, help with accommodation, or to book a tour&mdash;but they all had a different idea of how they wanted to see the country and in what timeframe.&nbsp;
The majority of visitors staying longer than a few days tended either towards a self-drive road trip or a full-on guided tour. Both have their merits, of course, but I was surprised at how few people thought of taking public transport to get around the country. This has only intensified in recent years with the surge in popularity of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northcoast500.com/">North Coast 500</a>.

Here&rsquo;s where I confess: I don&rsquo;t drive&mdash;rather, I can&rsquo;t drive. Buses and trains are my go-to whether I&rsquo;m at home or away. All it takes is a little patience and planning (and a decent podcast), and you really can reach most places without getting behind the wheel.&nbsp;
So here are some tips from me, a local and a public transport nerd, to help you make the most of travelling around Scotland without a car.
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Trains</h2>
ScotRail is the main train company operating routes across Scotland. Others do operate within Scotland, but they tend to be long-distance routes connecting us across the border. These include LNER, Avanti, TransPennine, CrossCountry, and Lumo. Additionally, the Caledonian Sleeper runs a night train service 6 days a week (no Saturdays) <a href="https://www.sleeper.scot/about/our-trains/">between London and various parts of Scotland</a>.
Our <a href="https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/our-routes">train network</a> is actually pretty decent, connecting even more remote parts of the country and often syncing up with island ferries. That&rsquo;s especially handy for any of you planning to tackle the <a href="https://www.westhighlandway.org/the-route/">West Highland Way</a>, go on a <a href="https://www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blogs/feature/exploring-scotland-s-distilleries-by-train-and-on-foot">distillery crawl</a>, or even just enjoy a <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/stonehaven--united-kingdom/homes?refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes&amp;place_id=ChIJCUqwt7MYhEgR5yb_p6JQLZg&amp;adults=2&amp;query=stonehaven%2C%20united%20kingdom&amp;flexible_trip_lengths%5B%5D=one_week&amp;monthly_start_date=2026-04-01&amp;monthly_length=3&amp;monthly_end_date=2026-07-01&amp;price_filter_input_type=2&amp;channel=EXPLORE&amp;ne_lat=56.56973657468622&amp;ne_lng=-2.5626367884672447&amp;sw_lat=56.547377010487565&amp;sw_lng=-2.605995674858775&amp;zoom=14.636762951783304&amp;zoom_level=14.636762951783304&amp;search_by_map=true&amp;search_type=user_map_move&amp;price_filter_num_nights=5&amp;search_mode=regular_search">windswept coastal retreat</a>.
It&rsquo;s easy to get swept up in the romance of a Scottish train journey, especially on the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20231204-the-west-highland-line-one-of-the-worlds-most-scenic-train-lines">West Highland Line</a> from Glasgow to Mallaig. Just look out for flying cars along the way&hellip; If you stick it out all the way to the end, you&rsquo;ll be treated to <a href="https://www.wayfaringkiwi.com/things-to-do-in-mallaig/#Things_to_do_in_Mallaig">rugged coastal beauty</a> featuring cozy pubs with live music and a roaring log fire.

<h2 dir="ltr">Buses</h2>
Anyone who has ever travelled on a budget in the UK has taken a long-distance bus ride. Sure, they take a little longer than the train, the legroom can sometimes be pretty rotten, and the single lavatory often makes itself known to everyone onboard. But it&rsquo;s always affordable, and sometimes it&rsquo;s your only option.
While the train network is decent, Scotland has a lot of rural spots in between that rely on bus connections. Taking a long-distance coach between bigger towns is a good start, but if you want to reach <a href="https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/castles/scotland-castle-trail">those castles</a> and <a href="https://www.wowscotlandtours.com/blog/how-to-visit-the-old-man-of-storr/">rock formations</a>, you&rsquo;ll likely need to catch a local country bus from the closest hub, too.&nbsp;
Take the <a href="https://maltwhiskytrail.com/">Speyside Malt Whisky Trail</a>, for example&mdash;a major draw for international visitors who love a tipple. Somehow, the steam billowing from the distillery chimney stacks, nestled in among the hills and on the banks of roaring rivers, actually adds to the charm of these <a href="https://must-see-scotland.com/is-moray-in-the-highlands">(almost) Highland</a> towns and villages.
The buses here even go beyond our charming borders. Living on an island, it always feels like a novelty when I see a bus to a different country, but it is possible, even in Glasgow. If you want to avoid the cheap Ryanair hop from Scotland to Ireland, simply spend 9 hours on a coach*, and you&rsquo;ll be breathing in the brisk Donegal air before you know it.
*the coach may or may not board a ferry across the Irish Sea to Belfast before continuing west.

This summer, our friends at Lupine Racing are running a 3-day public transport race across the UK and Ireland! Join us for a fast-paced challenge by land and sea before a splendid summer soiree.

See You on the Scenic Route: a Public Transport Race Across the UK & Ireland!

<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/local-guide-to-scotland-by-public-transport">Read more, including island hopping, unlimited travel passes, and all the nitty-gritty...</a>

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A man was arrested at the Nairobi airport for attempting to smuggle 2,000 Kenyan ants into China, and we&rsquo;re not sure which is weirder: this news story or the fact that it&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7gd57z33zo">not the first time this has happened</a>. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The US <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-restarts-global-entry-program-under-pressure-industry-2026-03-11/">reopened Global Entry this week</a>, after shutdown-induced lines kept international arrivals waiting for hours on end. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">An excellent reminder to switch your phone to airplane mode: These passengers got hit with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/12/mobile-phone-air-sea-charges-satellite-roaming">shockingly huge fees</a> when their devices kept trying to connect from the air. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Six guinea pigs <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxgd571497o">mysteriously appeared on the isle of Jersey</a>, and quickly scattered to evade capture. So if you&rsquo;ve got an island holiday coming up, keep an eye out for furry fugitives! </li>
<li>And finally, you might have forgotten your passport before trying to board a plane, but at least you weren&rsquo;t <a href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/jet2-flight-glasgow-turkey-delayed-36852518">supposed to be the one flying it</a>.</li>
</ul>

A Local's Guide to Visiting Scotland by Public Transport & the Crème de la Crème of Cable Cars

As a Scot who travels a lot, it&rsquo;s not uncommon to find yourself meeting someone abroad who will tell you they love Scotland or they&rsquo;ve always dreamed of visiting Scotland. And quite rightly so, it&rsquo;s a fantastic wee country. The landscapes, the castles, the fluffy coos, the whisky: they all paint a pretty romantic picture. And Outlander hasn&rsquo;t done too much harm either, I suppose.
When I was a student, I spent a couple of summers working in the Visit Scotland information centres in Aberdeen and Glasgow. People from all over the world would drop in for a map, some tips, help with accommodation, or to book a tour&mdash;but they all had a different idea of how they wanted to see the country and in what timeframe. 
The majority of visitors staying longer than a few days tended either towards a self-drive road trip or a full-on guided tour. Both have their merits, of course, but I was surprised at how few people thought of taking public transport to get around the country. This has only intensified in recent years with the surge in popularity of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northcoast500.com/">North Coast 500</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">The nitty-gritty</h3>
Ticket pricing on trains in Scotland (and the UK in general) can vary wildly from one service to the next when you&rsquo;re booking in advance. Typically, the earlier you can book, the lower the price will be.&nbsp;
Buuuut there are exceptions, which are utterly mind-boggling if you&rsquo;re not a local (and, frankly, also if you are). There is no advance pricing on short-distance, high-frequency commuter routes in Scotland. You&rsquo;d think that would just apply within cities, but it also applies to journeys between Glasgow and Edinburgh. So on these routes, just rock up and hit the rails whenever it suits.
Generally, though, planning your route in advance will pay off. ScotRail releases tickets 12 weeks ahead, so if you want the best fares on longer distances at the times that suit you, set a reminder to book.
That said, if you&rsquo;re a UK resident planning a somewhat spontaneous train-based trip within Scotland, I&rsquo;d recommend checking out the unlimited travel passes that ScotRail offers&mdash;yet doesn't really advertise! Pick from 4 different options to suit your trip length and the areas you want to see, and away you go. Even better, book a combined Rail and Sail ticket, and you needn&rsquo;t worry about a separate ferry booking.
For those of you resident in other countries, it&rsquo;s even better. You can use a Global Interrail/Eurail pass to combine your travels with other parts of the continent, or you can hone in on Britain with a <a href="https://www.britrail.com/">BritRail pass</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">The nitty-gritty</h3>
The big hitters in the Scottish long-distance bus game are CityLink, Megabus, FlixBus, and, more recently, Ember. CityLink has the most elaborate network, connecting all the major cities and also taking you up to towns like Ullapool in the northwest, where no other train or bus is brave enough to go.
Megabus and Flix usually compete for the lowest fares on the intercity routes, while <a href="https://www.ember.to/">Ember</a> is the new kid in town, with modern electric vehicles and a pretty competitive network.&nbsp;
Aside from Inverness, none of Scotland&rsquo;s airports have their own train stations. Since most visitors from abroad will be flying into Edinburgh or Glasgow, it&rsquo;s worth mentioning that you&rsquo;ll find long-distance bus connections straight from both to other parts of the country.
From Edinburgh Airport, you can get &ldquo;through&rdquo; to Glasgow, as we say, in under an hour on the bus, without having to head into Edinburgh first. You can also find FlixBus and Ember connections north to cities like Aberdeen, Dundee, and Stirling, and even over to Oban on the west coast.
It&rsquo;s a similar story from Glasgow Airport, with many of the CityLink buses from the city stopping by on their way up the west coast and plenty of coaches heading northeast through the city. Just be aware that trips to and from airports tend to cost a fair whack more than non-airport counterparts double their length.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re gallivanting around the country for a week or two, I&rsquo;d definitely recommend considering a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citylink.co.uk/tickets/explorer-pass/">CityLink Explorer Pass</a>. They work much like train passes, but they&rsquo;re soooo much cheaper and available to all, regardless of where you live.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ferries</h2>
As alluded to above, many train routes offer combined &lsquo;rail and sail&rsquo; tickets, and certain buses straight up just board the boat with you. These tickets are great for connections to the Hebrides and Northern Isles in particular, where flights can be particularly expensive.&nbsp;
Most ferries in Scotland have a nearby train station for easy connections; however, the route from Ullapool to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis is an exception. Since there&rsquo;s no train line up there, the CityLink bus from Inverness is your best bet. Island day trips from Glasgow are also feasible to Arran, Cumbrae, and Bute with a well-planned rail and sail.&nbsp;
Island hopping is a big thing off Scotland&rsquo;s west coast, but it will take a little planning. CalMac ferries let you make all your bookings in one go, and they have some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/blogs/ultimate-guide-to-island-hopping/#/">inspired suggestions for island-hopping routes</a>. Public transport gets spottier once you reach land, so I&rsquo;d recommend asking your accommodation host for tips about buses and taxis.
For Orkney and Shetland, your connection is with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/book/routes-times-and-prices/timetables/">NorthLink ferries</a> from Aberdeen. The port is close to both the bus and the train station, so it&rsquo;s fairly easy to line up with transport from all over the country.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll notice that the vibes up on the Northern Isles are more rugged and Nordic than anywhere else in Scotland, while the Hebrides are famed for their traditional music, the Gaelic language, and beaches to rival the Caribbean. There are more than 90 inhabited islands to choose from, so pick wisely.
In all this overland public transport chat, the one exception I&rsquo;ll make is an essential part of any Orkney trip: the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DLpTGIVI1tV/">world&rsquo;s shortest scheduled passenger flight</a>. If you have the chance, make the journey from Westray to Papa Westray (usually in under 2 minutes) and live the aviation enthusiast&rsquo;s dream.

There&rsquo;s a lot more I could say about my favourite public transport routes around the country (Glasgow&rsquo;s no. 90 bus is pretty fantastic, I must say), but these are my starting points for encouraging you to get out there without a car.&nbsp;
Using a combo of buses, trains, ferries, local taxis, and public bike rentals, you&rsquo;ll never have to worry about where to park, how to pay, driving on the wrong side of the road, who&rsquo;s on distillery driving duties, etc. Some may see travelling without a car as limiting, but I like to think of it as freeing. Take your time and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
If you have any questions about routes or destinations in Scotland, ask away in the comments or <a href="mailto:katy@jacksflightclub.com">drop me an email</a>. I'm always happy to share my tips or bother my family and friends for theirs!

Visiting Scotland by Public Transport: a Local's Guide

Guatemala

Netherlands

Spain

Finland

Fiji

Sri Lanka

Hey there Travellers,
Like much of the world this week, Katy's off on holiday, so I get the special honor of sending out the first Detour of 2026 🎉
New Year's Eve, for many folks, is a time of reflection! It's the perfect excuse to dig through some old memories and take stock of those meaningful moments.&nbsp;
So that's our theme for this week: memories.&nbsp;This Detour is chock full of them &mdash; from this year's highlights, to nostalgic travel tattoos from trips long past.&nbsp;
Let's make 2026 another great year, Travellers! And let us know in the comments which travel memories you're hoping to create in the next twelve months &mdash; maybe we can help :-)
Wishing you a safe and happy New Year,

Olivia - Sub-Editor of the Detour

Permanent Souvenirs: Our Travel Tattoo Tales&nbsp;

You know a trip is worthwhile when that bittersweet thought crosses your mind: I wish I could bottle up this moment and keep it forever.
It&rsquo;s the feeling that drives souvenir sales and fills up your photo albums, but for travelers who&nbsp;really want to keep those memories close, there&rsquo;s another option &mdash; having that memory permanently added to your body.
Despite the discomfort of traveling with a fresh tattoo, getting inked on the road is a time-honored tradition. Captain Cook&rsquo;s sailors are said to have returned home from Polynesia sporting some new body art. Even 700 years ago, religious pilgrims to the Middle Eastern Holy Land were <a href="https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1235759">getting small tattoos as evidence of their journey</a>. By the 19th century, the list of folks with travel tattoos even included <a href="https://www.rct.uk/collection/exhibitions/japan-courts-and-culture/the-queens-gallery-buckingham-palace/features/royal-tattoos">British royalty</a>.&nbsp;
Nowadays, there&rsquo;s an entire culture built up around travel tattoos. Some shops in touristy areas even&nbsp;depend on the demand. And just like in centuries past, there are still a myriad of motivations behind the decision.&nbsp;

During my (rather formative) few months in New Orleans, I realized I&rsquo;d regret it forever if I didn&rsquo;t leave that city with an inked reminder. Next thing I knew, I was face-down on a leather table, surrounded by NOLA-typical spiritual decor, while a stranger put me through excruciating pain for so long that I felt like my soul was leaving my body.
Unfortunately, in my case, that meant I was having a panic attack, desperately trying to keep still while hyperventilating and gasping through the pain. I tried to focus on a fixed point in the room to ground myself, but ended up locking eyes with a large, weeping statue of Santa Maria. It seemed less unnerving than the taxidermied animals, the bloody crucifixes, or the clutter of figurines stuck with nails or covered in bones and teeth.&nbsp;
When it was finally over, I paid the artist with shaking hands and basically ran out of the shop. I cannot even describe the headspace I was in. The relief was so strong that I felt like an entirely new person. All I wanted was a drink and a place to sit down.
Fortunately, that&rsquo;s not a tall order in New Orleans &mdash; I popped over to Bourbon Street and entered the first bar I saw.&nbsp;

Midway through a whisky, while listening to a bartender&rsquo;s story, I realized my new tattoo had started bleeding. There was a gruesome, oozy red smear running down my leg and trickling onto the floor of the bar.
&ldquo;Sorry, could I just get a napkin?&rdquo; I say, interrupting the bartender. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m bleeding onto your floor.&rdquo;
She casually handed me a napkin without even pausing her story. She had no reaction at all to hearing a patron say they were bleeding onto the floor of her bar at 2pm on a Monday.&nbsp;
I guess that&rsquo;s business as usual on Bourbon Street!
The tattoo has long since healed, but whenever I look at it, I remember what a wild time it was. I had no idea it would be that intense, but I&rsquo;m honored to have been given such a distinctly NOLA experience &mdash; one that really embodies the chaotic excitement of my time in the city. It&rsquo;s how I got hooked on travel tattoos!
So, as a person with so much access to well-seasoned travelers who understand the value of overseas memories, I just&nbsp;had to ask the Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club staff and Community for a few more tales.
And I heard some great ones! Like the new tradition started by our reader Zo&euml; and her wife, which started out as a space-saving measure:

&ldquo;My wife and I have a tradition of getting a tattoo on every *far* trip. Makes the long haul flight home worth it&hellip; Wanting to collect &lsquo;souvenirs&rsquo; whilst living in a small flat at the time was the original inspiration. We&rsquo;ve collected them from Thailand, Bali, and Singapore so far. Many more on the travel wishlist.&rdquo; - Zo&euml;

Or our Jack&rsquo;s Navigator Henry&rsquo;s story, about a priceless memorial that only cost &euro;15:

&ldquo;When I was 19/20, I lived in Spain and became friends with a good group of people. I moved back when someone at home died, but while I was at home, one of my friends in Spain died (very tragic, I know). So when I came back to visit my friends, one of them mentioned that another guy was starting off as a tattoo artist, and he needed guinea pigs to get the business&nbsp; going, so I said I would volunteer one night we were out. So the next day, we went to Seville and got this done. It is of course the song of Liverpool Football Club. But the tattoo is actually for everyone who is no longer with us. The words of the song make more sense than whatever I will say here 😂 It took 3 hours and cost 15 euro.&rdquo;&nbsp;- Henry

Our writer Akasha&rsquo;s tales of stick n&rsquo; pokes in Central American hostels could probably fill an entire novel:

"After almost an hour with my face wedged in the crook of an old Maltese man&rsquo;s pungent armpit as he bent over backwards attempting to tattoo my ribcage, eighteen-year-old me was hooked.&nbsp;
'For each country I visit, I&rsquo;m going to get a tattoo to commemorate it,' I excitedly told my boyfriend at the time. He rolled his eyes. He was the typical Irish lad, one that would 'go on holidays' once every 5 years to Benidorm or Magaluf. Something about the Irish pubs there.
He probably didn&rsquo;t expect that by my twenties, I&rsquo;d be lying on a sagging mattress in the jungles of Guatemala, a Czech apprentice straddling my torso, carving her gun of pain into my arm for four hours without a break.
Or that I&rsquo;d let a French guy hand-poke a reiki symbol onto my wrist in exchange for covering a bar shift.&nbsp;
Stick and poke became my preferred way. So naturally, my ears perked up when a German tattooist blew into the hostel I worked at in Chiapas. It&rsquo;d take me a few weeks to propose a trade he simply couldn&rsquo;t refuse: I&rsquo;d bleach his dreadlocks in return for some artwork."

"This was probably my most painful one. Not from the needle but from the cup of rubbing alcohol he poured over my raw skin, and the violent slap that followed. A sick and twisted joke because it was midnight and I couldn&rsquo;t scream without waking the hostel guests.
And while I haven&rsquo;t managed to stay true to my promise of getting inked everywhere I&rsquo;ve wandered, I&rsquo;ve done a pretty good job of collecting permanent stamps.
Mostly, the ink I&rsquo;ve gotten along the way is a map itself - of the girl who showed up clueless and curious, reckless and scared, but booked the ticket anyway."&nbsp;- Akasha

And lastly, our Detour queen Katy shared the story of her first tattoo, a remnant of a teenage adventure in the Netherlands:

"When I finished high school, I didn&rsquo;t go on the big group trip clubbing in Ayia Napa. That wasn&rsquo;t my thing at all. I wanted to see some of the world before starting university, not just the inside of a bar, surrounded by people I&rsquo;d mostly never see again.&nbsp;
Instead, myself and some of my closest friends decided to go Interrailing around Europe for 5 weeks. As is common when leaving high school in Scotland, most of us were only 17 at the time. We couldn&rsquo;t even (legally) drink in bars at home, so a month of European rules was exciting. And when we realised that we&rsquo;d even be old enough to get tattooed in The Netherlands&hellip;
Well, let&rsquo;s just say a few of us decided to give it a go &mdash; a fact my mum only found out three years later, when I was lazily lying in bed with my leg hanging out from under the sheets.
When getting your first tattoo, there&rsquo;s a lot of pressure to make it meaningful, so I opted for something I knew would always be important to me &mdash; music. I was right, playing music is still part of my life. But perhaps more important is the fact that I got it while on a memorable adventure with people who are still part of my life."&nbsp;- Katy

When I look at all of these stories together, there&rsquo;s a common thread: Most things in life are temporary. People enter and exit, chapters close, and that return flight is always rapidly approaching. I can go back to New Orleans, but I can&rsquo;t go back to that trip. Travel, by definition, has to be ephemeral.&nbsp;
We might be staking our money, time, and energy on a very short-lived experience, but we often return home permanently changed. I think travel tattoos owe their prolonged popularity to that change &mdash; they can help make the outside match the inside.
So if you feel the same, and have a travel tattoo (or several) of your own, feel free to send them our way. Maybe you&rsquo;ll see them in part two :-)

Travel Tales

Jack's Gone Global: Where We Went in 2025

As you might expect, the Jack's staff is always jetsetting around the world! 2025 was no different &mdash; We traveled everywhere from the Caribbean to the Arctic Circle.&nbsp;
Here's a few highlights from another fantastic year of travel...

<h2 id="lapland">Lapland</h2>
Hannah Deals &amp; Content

&ldquo;We took a day-trip over to the <a href="https://arcticsnowhotel.fi/en/">Arctic SnowHotel </a>during our trip, as well as snowmobiled through the forests, and took reindeer and husky rides on a tour with the Snowmobile Park company &mdash; they were great and included proper snow gear in their prices, so would highly recommend.
And last but not least, the northern lights! While you can hunt for them on a guided tour, it gets pricey. Instead, we stayed just outside of the city (towards Ounasvaara) in an AirBnB and were lucky enough to spot them dancing above the house most nights we were there.&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">Fiji</h2>
Larissa Deal &amp; Content Manager EU

&ldquo;Fiji was such a surprise to me! I went for a family celebration and didn&rsquo;t have many expectations (given I knew a lot of the holiday would be resort-bound), but we managed to do a decent amount in Nadi and the surrounding <a href="https://www.koroyanituheritagepark.org/plan-your-trip">Koroyanitu National Heritage Park</a>. My highlights were DIY-ing a hike through the park to an incredible waterfall lookout, and visiting the <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qs6PyZGqz5nm2PF9A">Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple</a> - the intricate paintwork inside was incredible!&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">France &amp; Scotland</h2>
Andrea Member Experience Team Leader

&ldquo;My trip to France and Scotland healed parts of me I didn't know needed healing. The little girl in me who thought she might never make it to Europe and visit her dream city and the grown girl in me that found her soul city.
My favorite moment of my adventures was being able to see and touch the Eiffel Tower. I knew that I would cry the moment I laid eyes on her and I very much did! LOL The tears were joy and marvel and finally realizing that I did it, I made it, I was standing in Paris!! I was looking at a monument I had only seen in books and movies. I checked a place off of a very long bucket list. I had macarons and croissants from French boulangeries and strolled along streets with beautiful architecture. I spoke terribly broken French from the years of Duolingo that I had been doing and I was out of this world happy.
However. My favorite place was Scotland. I had never traveled and felt at home anywhere the way I did there. The buildings, history, slight gloom and chill in the air. The beautiful stone streets and castles, this was my place. A place I felt very happy and comfortable, where I could wander for hours and not feel tired. I am still day dreaming about my time there and thinking of the things I want to do and see when I go back. It was on my bucket list and still is. There's so much more I need to see and experience (highland coos, for example!)&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">Sri Lanka</h2>
Fran&nbsp;Deals &amp; Content/Social Media

&ldquo;We loved our train experiences in Sri Lanka, and we&rsquo;d suggest every curious traveller give it a try at some point. I even wrote <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-truth-about-traveling-by-train-in-sri-lanka">an honest guide</a> about it. It sparked our curiosity to venture beyond the tourist-packed routes and discover the more authentic, less crowded journeys in the future.&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">St. Croix</h2>
Olivia&nbsp;Deals &amp; Content/Detour Sub-Editor

&ldquo;The highlight was definitely the Cruzan Rum Distillery, which you can read more about <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-179-st-croix-historic-distillery">in my article here</a>. Between the informative tour, the historic setting, our lovely guide, and drinks enjoyed at a breezy, palm-lined patio bar, we couldn&rsquo;t have been more pleased. There&rsquo;s a reason every guide to St. Croix name-drops this spot, and I can happily add myself to its list of fans&rdquo;

<h2 id="lapland">The Netherlands</h2>
Gabi Product Team

&ldquo;I had such a great time in the Netherlands. I started off in <a href="https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/discover-the-netherlands/visit-the-cities/the-hague">Den Haag</a>, where I decided to try haring (the famous raw herring, just a full fish) which not everyone loves but I&rsquo;m absolutely crazy for (I really love pickled stuff). I spent the rest of my time wandering around the city center, renting bikes with nerdy names, and cycling to some pretty spots like Haagse Bos. That same day I rode all the way to Scheveningen, which turned out to be a super lovely beach with a big pier. I sat there with a hot Chocomel in hand, feeling very Dutch. It also POURED rain the minute I hopped on the bike.&rdquo;

How about our readers? Where did you travel in 2025? Let us know in the comments :-)

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Unfortunately, we have to start the year off with some tragic news: Chaos in Machu Picchu as <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gweww8rjro">two trains collided</a> last Tuesday, causing one death and injuring 40 others.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">On a more hopeful note, National Geographic released their <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/travel-adventures-best-trips-to-book-2026">top 20 picks for adventures to take in 2026</a>. The key words? &ldquo;Immersive&rdquo; and &ldquo;Transformative.&rdquo;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sicily&rsquo;s Mount Etna has been in a bit of a turbulent mood lately, but that&rsquo;s not stopping the local skiers from <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cz7n4px7e41o">hitting her slopes</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Central Asia <a href="https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/12/22/kobyz-and-the-yurt-central-asias-living-knowledge-enters-unescos-intangible-heritage-lists">got some love from UNESCO</a> as a regional stringed instrument and a style of yurt both got added to the organization&rsquo;s list of intangible cultural heritage.</li>
<li>And finally, got any questions about life at an Antarctic research station? Now&rsquo;s the time to ask &mdash; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/climate/thwaites-glacier-expedition-antarctica.html">the NYT is heading on down</a>, and they want to know what you want to know.</li>
</ul>

Ringing in 2026 with Our Travel Memories

United Kingdom

Like every year, 2025 has presented a never-ending stream of &ldquo;the best cities to visit this summer,&rdquo; &ldquo;the cheapest city to visit,&rdquo; etc. I always keep an eye on these lists, because just occasionally, they dig up somewhere new or less-visited. 
Not so for the new list of &lsquo;<a href="https://www.cntraveller.com/article/top-uk-destinations-to-visit-this-summer-revealed">top UK destinations to visit this summer</a>,&rsquo; as named by CN Traveller based on recommendations from online travel agent Hoppa. Essentially, it names five of the most famous cities in the UK outside London &mdash; hardly revelational, but they are all well worth a visit. Suggesting we visit in summer, though&hellip;? That was the tipping point for me.
To save you the trouble, the article names Manchester, York, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Bath as the best places to visit this summer. If you&rsquo;re coming to the UK on a big summer jaunt, those cities are likely to be on your radar already, but if you live in the UK, or you&rsquo;re keeping your plans loosey goosey, I&rsquo;d recommend looking elsewhere.

I&rsquo;ve visited four of those five cities over the last year, and every single one of them is best enjoyed outside peak summer.&nbsp;
Take York, for example; I was there two weeks ago. It&rsquo;s gorgeous, and there are lots of great restaurants. When you visit, you&rsquo;ll likely want to walk around the old town, along <a href="https://www.chasingthelongroad.com/england/shambles-york/">The Shambles</a>, and visit the Minster. You may even want to lean into <a href="https://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/haunted-places/york">the city&rsquo;s spooky side</a>.&nbsp;
But a summer trip is basically an invitation to wait in lines, battle along narrow streets through hordes of tourists, dodge the raucous hen and stag parties, and pay over the odds for fairly basic accommodation.&nbsp;
In fact, that&rsquo;s a theme that repeats across all these destinations: big money, big crowds. Meals out are expensive, reservations are hard to come by, and frankly, there&rsquo;s just so little room to breathe and enjoy your surroundings.

Having lived in Glasgow on and off since 2007, I&rsquo;ve always had one rule about visiting our more famous and desirable neighbour, Edinburgh &mdash; don&rsquo;t do it in August. And if you must, come prepared.&nbsp;
A trip to Edinburgh in August should be a conscious decision to join the tens of thousands other visitors descending on the city for the festival. Or should I say &ldquo;festivals&rdquo; &mdash; there&rsquo;s not just one, but five, spanning art, opera, comedy, literature, and more. You can catch big names on small stages, street performers on corners, up-and coming stars in bars. It&rsquo;s great if that&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;re into! But even strolling down Princes Street becomes a mission during this time.
Visiting the castle is a must for any first-timer, but be sure to book your tickets well in advance during summer. Usually, I&rsquo;d say you can save a few bucks by skipping the tour and just taking in the views from the outside, but they&rsquo;ll be blocked off by the set-up for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/whats-on/military-tattoo/">military tattoo</a>.

All that to say, readers, I just don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s worth it if you really want to experience a city.&nbsp;
Even in May, Belfast was buzzing and pricey, with little chance of grabbing a table without planning ahead. Manchester in August required the specialist knowledge of a local to find us a brunch spot worth making those reservations for, and the only affordable accommodation within the city was a noisy hostel room with no air conditioning. It was safe and didn&rsquo;t break the bank, at least.
So where would I recommend in summer? Here are a few suggestions, the first of which likely won&rsquo;t surprise you:
<h2 dir="ltr">Glasgow</h2>

First off, it&rsquo;s within easy reach of Edinburgh if you do want to dip into the festival scene. Trains connect the two cities during the day in only 50 minutes, while buses run all night to get you home after a late show.&nbsp;
 But there&rsquo;s plenty to see and do in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHT4ItFIHDR/?hl=en">Scotland&rsquo;s under-rated largest city</a> without heading east. The grand architecture, free museums, and quirky character like <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/duke-of-wellington-statue">Duke of Wellington&rsquo;s perpetual cone hat</a> and the old, <a href="https://www.summerleetg.co.uk/blog/blog9.html">circular subway system</a> are enough to make anyone fall for Glasgow&rsquo;s charm. Plus, it's a <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/indy-eats/glasgow-best-restaurants-bars-food-scene-london-b2770764.html">haven for foodies.</a>
<h2>Folkestone</h2>

Isn&rsquo;t that where the Channel Tunnel goes to France? Why yes, actually, it is. But Flight Finder Larissa assures me it&rsquo;s also a great spot for a weekend break. In her words, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s particularly cute &mdash; it has a very Brighton vibe without being so crowded as Brighton.&rdquo; 
By that, she means you&rsquo;ll find cobbled streets full of&nbsp;<a href="https://folke.life/folkestone/places/old-high-street/">colourful, artsy, and independently-owned</a> shops and caf&eacute;s, as well as a city beach safe for surfing and swimming. It&rsquo;s got its fair share of wartime history behind it too, with the nearby <a href="https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/">Battle of Britain Memorial</a> and the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/zigzag-path">Zigzag Path cave</a>. And on a clear day, you can even <a href="https://folke.life/folkestone/places/the-leas/">see France from The Leas</a>.
<h2 dir="ltr">Lincoln</h2>

Looking for that gothic cathedral, fortified castle, and cutesy cobblestone street vibe you&rsquo;d expect in York or Edinburgh? Turns out&nbsp;<a href="https://jamiechancetravels.com/blog/things-to-do-in-lincoln/">Lincoln&rsquo;s got it too</a>, minus the millions of tour buses.&nbsp;
Between the Arboretum, Roman ruins, nearby country parks and <a href="https://www.doddingtonhall.com/">Downton Abbey-esque mansion</a>, you can easily fill a few days of glorious summer sunshine. By day, you&rsquo;ll stumble across <a href="https://www.visitlincoln.com/shopping/markets/">market stalls</a> selling fresh produce and local crafts, and come nightfall, the local <a href="https://www.lincolnghostwalks.co.uk/">ghost walk</a> serves up a more gruesome slice of local lore.
But should the British summer show up in traditionally unpredictable fashion, you still can pass the time with a spot of history; Lincoln Castle houses an <a href="https://www.lincolncastle.com/explore/magna-carta">original Magna Carta</a> from 1215, while the nearly 1000-year-old cathedral was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years. Be sure to look out for its <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-lincoln-imp">demonic resident</a>!
There are certainly more cities around the UK &mdash; and indeed, across Europe &mdash; that deserve a shout-out here for their charm and affordability. Get in touch and share your favourite summer city breaks off the usual tourist trail!

Scotland

Glasgow, Scotland in $580s-$610s RT

Edinburgh, Scotland in $660s-$770s RT

Edinburgh in €30s-€60s rtn

The UK and Ireland in $570s-$680s RT

£33-£33 rtn

Across the UK and Ireland in £20s-£40s rtn

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