Middle East

It's been over 6 years since these fares landed in your inbox! 🤯

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.

Cairo

Egypt

Cairo 🐫 at €212 rtn

Calgary

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.

Toronto

Vancouver

Cairo, Egypt ☀️ in $980s-$1100s RT 

London Luton

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.

Sharm El-Sheikh

London Gatwick

Glasgow

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.

Scotland

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

Manchester

Giza

Egypt ☀️ in £110s-£280s rtn

A flight to Hurghada doesn’t just mean beaches, yuh know…

Birmingham

Hurghada

Bristol

Liverpool

Edinburgh

Belfast

Northern Ireland

Hurghada, Egypt 🐠 in £210s-£290s rtn

Wwap winter blues for the deep blue sea :-)

Leipzig

Germany

Berlin

Nuremberg

Cologne

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.

Paris

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.

Hanover

Frankfurt

Dusseldorf

Hamburg

Stuttgart

Hurghada, Egypt 🐡 in €150s-€270s rtn

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

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.

Larnaca

Cyprus

Rhodes

Chania

Heraklion

Thessaloniki

Santorini

Greece, Cyprus and Egypt 🐚 in €130s-€190s rtn

Once in a life time experience, met life long friends, explored the history and enjoyed every minute

Postcard from Traverse905

Great flight out to Luxor. Away on time and early arrival with good BOB service. Coming back, the aircraft went tach, and despite a long wait at the airport whilst the local reps tried to determine the extent of the problem and options, we were eventually bussed to a decent hotel for an overnight and afternoon departure. All handled well.

TUI fly Review from LivelyGallivanter61720

Hi JFC,
I love your service btw, and you guys are always helpful. In fact, I&#39;m travelling to Egypt soon based on a flight option you guys provided. It&#39;s been my lifelong dream to swim with wild dolphins so Red Sea, here I come! I&#39;ve booked a private speedboat excursion to make the experience extra special and cannot wait!

So thanks again and wishing you a great day!

Postcard from Paul

Had the app a day and already made a booking not only great for prices but also ideas I&#39;d of never thought of going and now I can&#39;t wait

Postcard from Jason

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

Booked the flights for Hurghada in December for some winter sun! Hadn’t even heard of Hurghada before your email! 

Postcard from Zachary

United States

Norway

Iceland

Fiji

Mexico

Hi there, Travellers,
For me, the travel experience starts long before I reach the destination. The speculating, the fare tracking, the booking, the planning, the bus to the airport, and even the flight itself&mdash;they're all part of the trip and the lasting memories.&nbsp;
But would I splash out on a flight just for the experience...? The <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/pan-am-returns-golden-age-aviation">new owners of the Pan Am brand</a> are sure hoping some of us will, as they look to relaunch commercial flights in the coming years, banking on nostalgia and reputation to carry them through. In the meantime, they're going to launch Pan Am as a lifestyle brand, and I must admit I'm much more likely to purchase a tote bag than I am a 5-figure-sum flight.
What do you think? Would you splash out on tickets with the new Pan Am for a taste of the 'Golden Age of Travel'? Let us know <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-239-where-to-escape-this-june-and-your-tales-from-the-road#comments">in the comments</a>.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Hannah loves spotting a deal to somewhere she can add to her endless bucket list. When she&rsquo;s not busy writing up travel inspo, you&rsquo;ll probably find her buying some new vinyl or tackling her TBR list.

By Hannah

Summer&rsquo;s finally arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, so the temperatures are creeping up nicely, and we're all getting in that travel mindset. And if you get going now, you should still be able to avoid the peak of the summer crowds that&rsquo;ll arrive later on in the season.
Then down in the Southern Hemisphere, some countries are leaving their wet weather behind, and the sunshine is starting to appear again&mdash;aka, no emergency brolly packing!
Read through our choices of the best places to visit in June and take your pick between iconic cultural festivals across Europe, idyllic beach breaks off the African coast, and plenty more!

<h2 dir="ltr">Newfoundland, Canada</h2>
Why? Iceberg season
Key dates: Early June
Closest airport: St. John&rsquo;s (YYT)
So you&rsquo;ve heard of chasing storms and Northern Lights, but what about <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/newfoundland-coast-iceberg-alley">iceberg chasing</a>?
Iceberg Alley is a stretch of water off the coast of Newfoundland where massive icebergs drift through from Greenland each year &mdash; some are over 10,000 years old!&nbsp;
Iceberg viewing season starts in April over there, but it reaches its peak in May-June, when hundreds of travellers flock to the coast.
Of course, you might not wanna jump on a boat to see them (did you never see Titanic?!), but somewhere like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLGQwTgSfd5/">Twillingate</a>, aka the &lsquo;Iceberg Capital of the World,&rsquo; has great viewpoints (yes, on solid ground) where you&rsquo;ll see the giants gently float past you.
The aptly named <a href="http://icebergfinder.com">icebergfinder.com</a> is a great tool to help you spot them too, with live location updates and pictures from other users.

<h2 dir="ltr">Dalarna, Sweden</h2>
Why? Swedish Midsummer&nbsp;
Key dates: 19th June 2026
Closest airport: Stockholm (ARN), or &Ouml;rebro (ORB)
<a href="https://sweden.se/culture/celebrations/swedish-midsummer">Midsummer</a> is one of Sweden&rsquo;s most iconic traditions, when the country comes together to celebrate the days being at their longest by dancing around a maypole wearing flower crowns and traditional outfits.
Celebrations happen all over the country, but the <a href="https://www.visitdalarna.se/en/everything-you-need-know-about-midsummer-dalarna">Dalarna region</a> is where you wanna be. When midsummer rolls around, tens of thousands of visitors flock to small towns like Leksand to celebrate the festival. 
The world&rsquo;s biggest celebrations happen there, featuring traditional fiddlers, choirs, folk outfits, and Sweden&rsquo;s tallest maypole to ring dance around. And as for&nbsp;<a href="https://swedishness.ch/blogs/midsummer-blogs/midsummerfood">the food</a>, a dish of pickled herring and new potatoes, followed by strawberry cake for dessert, is a must.

<h2 dir="ltr">San Francisco, USA</h2>
Why? Pride
Key dates: 27th-28th June
Closest airport: San Francisco (SFO)
June is Pride Month in the US, and let me tell you, <a href="https://sfpride.org/">San Francisco</a> goes all out.
This city has a lot of history surrounding the March; in 1978 Harvey Milk delivered his 'Hope' speech, and the flag we've all come to recognise was flown for the first time.
Nowadays, it&rsquo;s not America&rsquo;s biggest Pride festival (you&rsquo;ll have to head over to <a href="https://www.nycpride.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York</a> for that), but it certainly packs a punch with a massive parade travelling through the city, complete with massive floats and wildly colourful outfits.
And it&rsquo;s not just the parade to keep you busy &mdash; the city&rsquo;s iconic Civic Center becomes a hub for other festivities, with seemingly endless entertainment from singers, dancers, and drag queens who deliver on all fronts.
P.S. If you fancy a Californian road trip, you could start in&nbsp;<a href="https://lapride.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LA on their pride weekend</a>, spend 2 weeks driving through the state, and end in San Fran just in time!&nbsp;
Keep reading for more <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-best-places-to-visit-in-june">off-beat and unexpected June travel suggestions</a>...

Travel Tips

It's been a couple of months since we honed in on where you've all been visiting, the stories you've been sharing, and the questions you've been asking. So let's get to it!&nbsp;
First up, some of your Postcards from the frozen north...

My second trip to Svalbard with a Jack&rsquo;s deal. Now to look out for the third!

Postcard from EnterprisingHodophile92486

Postcard from IndomitableVisitant25453

Took a trip to Svalbard to see the walruseseses! A beautiful, but at times, somber, trip. Climate change is very real.

Postcard from SuperWhelk

For all you Svalbard superfans out there, SuperWhelk has some insider tips...
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<blockquote>
"I stayed at Gjestehuset 102, in Nyben. It&rsquo;s right at the top of the hill! If you stay with them you get a 5% discount on some of the excursions, which makes the budget easier to manage. I cannot recommend the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cafehuskies">Huskies Cafe</a> enough, they look after retired sled dogs and the food and drink is superb. I went as often as I could! Every day, I did a boat tour to a different place. Hvurtigen &amp; Snowfox are good providers to look at."
</blockquote>
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But it's not been all auroras and icebergs for Jack's Travellers! Let's thaw out with some postcards from cozier climes:

Wananavu trip! (Thats awesome in Fiji). Wayasawa Island was beautiful. Excellent snorkeling and great honestly with private beach. The main island was fun too. Highly recommend the Navua River rafting.

Postcard from ChrisC

Meant to stay in Oaxaca for 3 weeks. Ended up staying for 2 months. Absolutely loved the place.
The food. The culture. The people. The scenery.
Absolutely unbelievable place.
Not a chain restaurant in sight!

Postcard from Whodunnit

Once in a life time experience, met life long friends, explored the history and enjoyed every minute.

And as Jack's members gear up for their summer trips, planning questions are beginning to roll in, like this one in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2827386050950571/">our Facebook community</a> from member Katy:
<blockquote>
"Can someone please talk me through e-sims please. I am going to Morocco on Saturday for about 10 days"
</blockquote>
We'd love to hear about your go-to eSIM solutions <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-239-where-to-escape-this-june-and-your-tales-from-the-road#comments">in the comments</a>. Providers, region vs global vs country packages, discount hacks&mdash;if you have a tip, please share!
Or if you have any other travel questions you'd love to get advice on from the Jack's Community or our Navigators, click the button below!

Tales from the Road

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel chatter from around the Jack's Community this month.
<ul>
<li>Jacks Travelers in our Facebook community have been <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2825021901186986/">showing off their photography skills</a>, and&nbsp;WOW&nbsp;are you a talented bunch! </li>
<li>Wanna go to Asia, but keen to avoid transiting in the Middle East? Your best choice could well be a Chinese airline like China Eastern.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYw6b5niIj0/">Here's Navigator Lauren's airline review</a> from her recent trip. </li>
<li>When asking for Malta tips, Traveler Rachel probably never expected that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2802403230115520/">a whole other island</a> would come out on top.&nbsp; </li>
<li>In the battle of Paros vs Naxos, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-238-planning-for-japan-reviewing-alaska-airlines#comments">the winner is... both</a>! </li>
<li>And finally, we don't&nbsp;think&nbsp;Dua Lipa is a Jack's member, but she's definitely one of us. We can tell by the <a href="https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/maps/dua-lipa/">Google Maps Lists</a> she's just shared, featuring her top recs for bars, restaurants, bookstores, and more around the world. And Dua, if you are a member, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/home?contribute=postcard">send us a Postcard</a> from your next adventure?</li>
</ul>

Community News

Where to Escape This June & Your Tales from the Road

Western Sahara

Vietnam

Cambodia

Italy

Uganda

India

Sri Lanka

Nepal

Thailand

Hey there, JFC-ers,
This edition of The Detour comes to you from the comfort of an SBB train through the Swiss Alps! Team JFC is full of beans this weekend, as many of us wing our way to Italy for our first-ever in-person team meet-up. But of course, true to the name, I&rsquo;m taking a little detour en route to stop by Liechtenstein and spend the 10 Swiss Francs left on my Revolut card.
After 8 years of hard work finding thousands of awesome flights for you, dear readers, this trip is well deserved. But it won&rsquo;t be all fun and games &mdash; we&rsquo;re also looking forward to brainstorming exciting new ideas for JFC! Most importantly, though, we can finally put to bed the question of how tall all our colleagues are, having only ever seen most of them through a webcam lens!
Happy travels and safe landings,

JFC's Eleven Most Chaotic Cities in the World - As Chosen By You

It&rsquo;s official, dear readers &mdash; you have been to some very chaotic destinations indeed. After my escapades in Ho Chi Minh City brought back more than a few memories for Detour reader Avril, she suggested we all put our heads together and come up with a list of the most chaotic cities in the world.
As always, you obliged. So, without further ado, here are Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club&rsquo;s top 11 most chaotic cities around the globe&hellip; well, technically it&rsquo;s thirteen. Oops.
<h3 dir="ltr">11. Paris, France</h3>

She&rsquo;s busy and bustling, the City of Light, and it seems that a lot of that light comes from headlamps. Considered one of the world&rsquo;s most congested cities, getting in a car there can feel like a whole adventure &mdash; especially if you&rsquo;ll be <a href="https://youtu.be/-2RCPpdmSVg?si=rMjSG-6Kw1TSsKlV">passing by the Arc de Triomphe</a> or tackling <a href="https://fabricofparis.com/2022/11/18/the-last-wall-of-paris-the-story-of-the-boulevard-peripherique">Europe&rsquo;s busiest urban motorway</a>.
Personally, I&rsquo;d rather just hop on the Metro, but even there it&rsquo;s a wild ride. The stations are notoriously smelly, the trains jam-packed like a tin of sardines or cancelled at short notice.&nbsp;
And then there&rsquo;s going by foot. Size-wise, Paris is fairly walkable, but the rules of the road for pedestrians may well confuse any level-headed visitor. In theory, jaywalking is illegal in France &mdash; but only if there&rsquo;s an official pedestrian crossing within 50m &mdash; and the fine if you get caught breaking the rules is a whopping &euro;4. Unsurprisingly, most locals don&rsquo;t care and just cross where they like.
Reasons to visit anyway: It&rsquo;s Paris, of course! It&rsquo;s iconic, having long been a shining star of stage and screen. Aside from seeing the major sights, there&rsquo;s something about the art, culture and history oozing from the city&rsquo;s pores that make it undeniably appealing. You could say, it&rsquo;s got a certain je ne sais quoi. 
<h3>10. Rome, Italy</h3>

Much like Paris, Rome is a bustling European capital. This time, with added mopeds!&nbsp;
Crossing the road here is often a challenge, as the scooters weave in and out of the cars, hurtling across pedestrian crossings without much care for those on foot.&nbsp; But this site offers up some handy tricks you can employ to make sure that you reach the other side in one piece:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Make eye contact with drivers or politely hold your hand up to signal to them that you want to cross</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Once you step out into the street, commit! There&rsquo;s no turning back.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Find an older person to cross with (sure, drivers might respect them more, but they&rsquo;ve also been doing it for a good while</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Find a nun to cross with &mdash; they have God on their side, after all!</li>
</ul>
Reasons to visit anyway:&nbsp;Pizza, pasta, the Colosseum! Rome is brimming with alluring sights going far beyond the ones you&rsquo;ve heard of. Want to see where Caesar was murdered? Or maybe you just like cats? Either way &mdash; head to the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/torre-argentina-roman-cat-sanctuary">Torre Argentina</a>. Or how about visiting an old-school <a href="https://anamericaninrome.com/2018/05/boccione-forno-in-romes-jewish-ghetto/">bakery in the Jewish Ghetto</a> that&rsquo;s been serving up ricotta and cherry cake for 210 years?&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"> 9. Bangkok, Thailand</h3>

&ldquo;The article about crossing streets in HCMC brought back memories of trying to cross streets in Bangkok. We deployed a similar strategy: wait on the side of the road until a critical mass of people is achieved, and then all move across at the same time. It was scary/exhilarating! We arrived back at the hotel each night covered in grit from the diesel exhaust.&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;No list would be complete without Bangkok!&nbsp; You've just got to run and hope for the best!&rdquo;

The city&rsquo;s hectic roads are only part of the chaos, though &mdash; the glowing neon billboards and huge malls next to ancient temples are enough to give you whiplash. The stench of durian and street food stalls mix with exhaust fumes from the city&rsquo;s 7 million cars. It&rsquo;s a lot by any standards!
Reasons to visit anyway: 9th place may not seem like it gives Bangkok enough chaos credit where it&rsquo;s due, but the main thing that offsets it is the <a href="https://youtu.be/NFw-WizIt50?si=w1giE5keLa5t5DeQ&amp;t=704">cracking public transportation</a>. Getting around the city is easy once you know how, so you&rsquo;ll have no problem whizzing between the markets and temples &mdash; probably not <a href="https://farandwild.travel/wilder/article/temples-of-bangkok">all 400</a> though, that&rsquo;s a stretch even for us!
Plus, we JFC-ers loooove all the other <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxoZKABqBwgBEgNCS0tyDAgEEggvbS8wNzNxMRoZKABqDAgEEggvbS8wNzNxMXIHCAESA0JLS0ABSAFgyAFwAoIBCwj___________8BmAEBsgEEGAEgAQ&amp;tfu=GioaKAoSCbQXY2AIFTNAEcTVEHxtilxAEhIJF17BaFHbEEARxNUQfMVkV0A">cheap Southeast Asia flights</a> you can pick up once you&rsquo;re there!
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">8. Phnom Penh, Cambodia</h3>

&ldquo;Hello there. Regarding traffic chaos, I have to include Phnom Penh. It's crazy enough as it is, but come 4pm and the "rush" hour, it gets particularly bonkers with both moto riders and tuk tuk drivers mounting the pavement to make a right turn more quickly.&nbsp;
I'd advise either viewing this spectacle from above with a drink or actually in a tuk tuk. Both much safer than being on the back of a motorbike trying to weave a path through the chaos. Enjoy!&rdquo;

Much like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Phnom Penh seems to take a &ldquo;good luck out there&rdquo; approach as it waves you off to cross the street. Then there&rsquo;s the added fun of tuk tuks, and the extra challenge of a lack of marked crossings. But all in all, <a href="https://youtu.be/bHvlYCULD3s?si=B9BpQg3mLBGJzQ6l&amp;t=123">this guy</a> makes it look pretty simple.
Reasons to visit anyway: Cambodia&rsquo;s history is intense and at times grim, but visiting the Killing Fields and learning about the Khmer Rouge will give you a real insight into the country&rsquo;s people and culture. It&rsquo;s also home to&nbsp;<a href="https://helloangkor.com/the-ancient-temples-near-phnom-penh/">ancient, intricate temples</a> that are way less touristed than famous Angkor Wat, so take the time to explore them with a little more breathing room. 
<h3 dir="ltr">7. Kampala, Uganda</h3>

&ldquo;There are almost as many motorcycles as other vehicles, and they:
1. drive down the middle of traffic in both directions,&nbsp;
2. drive on the pavements
3. carry dangerous cargos - I have seen the passenger carrying huge mirrors
4. drive through traffic lights
The roundabouts are road carnage - no sense of giving way to the right, so a total snarl
Traffic lights often are not working, but the police man major junctions to direct traffic (ignored by motorcycles)&rdquo;

Reasons to visit anyway: If you&rsquo;ve been a JFC-er for a while, you&rsquo;ll no doubt know exactly why you should head to Uganda. The clich&eacute;d thing would be to<a href="https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/gorilla-trekking-in-uganda-a-complete-guide/"> go gorilla trekking</a> (we're not knocking it, it's genuinely fantastic), but you might also want to spend a minute exploring<a href="https://moafrikatours.com/lake-victoria/"> Lake Victoria</a> by boat. It's the largest lake in Africa and just teeming with wildlife. We'd suggest not swimming in it, however, unless you don't mind sharing the waters with a few hippos and crocodiles.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">6. Kathmandu, Nepal</h3>

&ldquo;I traveled there by myself 10 years ago, just before the big earthquake of 2015. Imagine a metro area of 1.5 million people, where many of the "main" roads look like the last time they were paved was maybe 30 years earlier: remains of asphalt surrounded by dirt, deeply rutted.&nbsp;
The main roads were a non-stop stream of cars, trucks, motorcycles, tuk tuks, and bicycles. It's hard to describe how many traffic lanes there were; every vehicle is weaving in and out, maybe 4 or 5 or 6 deep in each direction. With cows standing in the middle of the road chewing their cud. I have no idea how THEY got there.&nbsp;
I hired a driver one day to take me to a couple of shops that were right across the street from each other. When it was time to cross the road, he simply took my elbow and steered me through the moving traffic. I still don't know how he did it. It felt like the Red Sea parting for Moses and the Israelites. Except the traffic never stopped flowing.&rdquo;

Reasons to visit anyway: You don&rsquo;t have to be into Himalayan trekking to enjoy Kathmandu (although, that helps). From <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/detour-173-cheapest-safari-in-tanzania">temples to tigers and the &lsquo;Toothache Tree</a>&rsquo;, Kathmandu is more than just your starting point for the long road to Everest Base Camp &mdash; it&rsquo;s a whole experience in its own right. 
<h3 dir="ltr">5. Ho Chi Minh City &amp; Hanoi, Vietnam</h3>

Okay, I&rsquo;m biased here because I&rsquo;ve lived through it &mdash; Ho Chi Minh City was an assault on the nerves and senses. At times, we found ourselves weaving on and off pavement between mopeds, people enjoying a coffee, and actual free-roaming chickens. In the middle of the city!&nbsp; It sounds like Hanoi isn&rsquo;t much different:

&ldquo;I feel Katy&rsquo;s pain with HCMC but another assault course is Hanoi. The narrow roads are no better even though you think you&rsquo;ll be safer &mdash; they come from all angles rather than travelling in the same direction!&rdquo;

And JFC-er Avril isn&rsquo;t the only one who thinks so &mdash; every traveller I met in Ho Chi Minh who had been to Hanoi agreed that the Vietnamese capital was just as bad. Somehow, I&rsquo;d imagined the ancient city with its traditional Old Quarter to offer a little respite. Apparently I was way off, and getting around there also requires <a href="https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/cross-road-hanoi/">Jedi mind tricks</a>.&nbsp;
While Hanoi&rsquo;s Metro is still a relative novelty with only a few lines, that is a couple more than Ho Chi Minh has to offer at this point. One tip I can offer is using those Metro underpasses to get across big junctions, if you can!
Reasons to visit anyway: Both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offer a great introduction to Vietnam&rsquo;s history and cuisine. The War Remnants Museum in HCMC was a tough visit, but essential to understanding the lasting effects of the Vietnam war on the country. They&rsquo;ll also give you a crash course in Vietnamese coffee and tea culture, with every second shop front hosting at least a few people with a cuppa in hand.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">4. Colombo &amp; Kandy, Sri Lanka</h3>

We&rsquo;ve already heard from you about hectic Colombo, so let&rsquo;s turn to nearby Kandy:

&ldquo;I live in Sri Lanka, near Kandy, which is much worse than Colombo. Sri Lanka has way more tuk-tuks per head of population than does India, and I would suspect more than anywhere else on the planet. In Kandy, they infest the streets, along with nose-to-tail buses belching black fumes.&nbsp;
Pedestrian crossings exist in theory but in practice are just road decorations, completely ignored except the single one which is light-controlled. The one way system was designed by a madman, in order to maximise the length of time vehicles spend stationary or near-stationary.&nbsp;
The walk around the otherwise picturesque Kandy Lake is spoilt by the continuous traffic jam next to you. Add to that the fact that the city lies in a hollow surrounded by mountains, a magnet for air pollution, and you have plenty of ingredients for chaos.
Nonetheless, although we're always glad to retreat to our home in the delightful Hanthana mountains half an hour away, I'd still miss Kandy. It's a fine line between positive bustle and negative chaos, I guess, and Kandy bestrides it.&rdquo;

Reasons to visit anyway: The lush jungle, epic views, stunning temples, and mouthwatering curries are incredibly popular among the JFC team &mdash; so much so that our Business Analyst Tara has returned to spend several months there yet again! You can read all about <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/detour-140-sri-lanka">her 2024 visit here</a>, and take a look at some snaps from Flight Finder <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHJkgxHInxV/?hl=en">Lauren&rsquo;s recent trip here</a>. 
<h3 dir="ltr">3. Delhi</h3>

There are nearly 35 million people living in Delhi, so it&rsquo;s hardly surprising that things get a little busy. Add in the tourists flocking to the same major sites, all attempting to tackle the same stretch of road but with little understanding of how local drivers operate, and it&rsquo;s sheer chaos.
You want an idea of what it&rsquo;s really like to cross the road in Delhi? I feel like <a href="https://youtu.be/H6bPVEUwnhc?si=34Lta5sWHZEDMEeo">this video</a> sums it up nicely. It&rsquo;s not a case of standing by the side, looking out across the pedestrian crossing, and waiting for a window. There will be no window. You can hardly see the other side for the moving walls of tuk tuks that stand between you and your goal.&nbsp;
Most of that chaotic energy can be found in Old Delhi, where livestock, vehicles, and street food vendors all weave frantically between one another. This truly is a city where the early bird catches the worm, and that worm is a gap in the traffic.
Reasons to visit anyway: Spectacular spots like the <a href="https://www.transindus.co.uk/highlights/red-fort-delhi/">Red Fort</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Jami-Masjid-mosque-Delhi-India">Jama Masjid</a> make the buzz worthwhile. And you can even escape for some peaceful moments in <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g304551-d324106-Reviews-Lodhi_Garden-New_Delhi_National_Capital_Territory_of_Delhi.html">Lodhi Gardens</a>. It&rsquo;s also an essential stop on the <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/newsletter-2024-15-03">Golden Triangle</a> route, a veritable trip of a lifetime.
<h3 dir="ltr">2. Mexico City, Mexico</h3>

&ldquo;Having got back from Mexico City last week, it is on another level compared to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi! Everyone literally barges their car past everyone else and we saw two actual fights almost break out. Half the cars had broken windshields too. Absolutely chaotic.&rdquo;

In the city where drivers &ldquo;<a href="https://mexiconewsdaily.com/mexico-living/pedestrians-in-mexico/">consider a red light to be a mere suggestion</a>,&rdquo; crossing the street on foot is inadvisable, but likely unavoidable. Lanes of traffic won&rsquo;t always be going in the direction you expect, so taking your time to assess the situation in full is essential.
The Metro is a cheap and fast option for getting across the city. But there are lots of lines and, as you&rsquo;d expect in a city of nearly 23 million, it&rsquo;s pretty darn busy at peak times. 
Reasons to visit anyway:&nbsp;&ldquo;Mexico City can be overwhelming &hellip; One of the cheapest sightseeing things to do is ride the <a href="https://youtu.be/Mwz7MikjAcA?si=A4MpccCbr3FrEiQB">cablebus public transport cable car</a> over the top of the city and see all the painted roofs and people going about their lives. Super fascinating, and there is <a href="https://www.blondevoyagenashville.com/home/mexico-city-from-taquerias-to-fine-dining-where-to-eat-in-mexico-city">tons of good food</a> to be had for cheap everywhere!&rdquo;
<h3 dir="ltr">1. Cairo, Egypt</h3>

&ldquo;There aren't [pedestrian crossings] in Egypt (at least not in Cairo) - nor are there really any traffic lights (I saw three when I was there last year - two were near the airport). People also run across motorways!&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;I agree with Cairo as one of the most chaotic cities.&nbsp; We got an Uber to the new Egyptian museum from our city hotel. 270 (Egyptian) pounds. Coming back, the taxi drivers were waiting, and the negotiations started at 800 pounds. We agreed on 500 including tip, and the driver said "follow me". We were by the side of a motorway. The "taxi" was on the other side. The cars were coming thick and fast. We had to cross it.&nbsp; What to do???
Looked the other way and there were the police. They will stop us, I thought. But no. &ldquo;Come on,&rdquo; said the taxi driver, so we stepped out and followed him across the motorway without looking either way. Survived, despite horns blowing. "We shouldn't have done that," said my husband. I was just relieved to get across.&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;I was in Cairo a few years ago and the taxi I was in missed a motorway turn, so he just reversed up the motorway (into a bus!) - we were all alright, so no worries really. I have been to Cairo a few times before and thought I had it down with the road crossing etc, but reversing up a motorway is a new one for me!&rdquo;

Reasons to visit anyway: Pyramids are where most of us start when we plan a trip to Egypt. And the pyramids themselves may be breathtaking, but the crowds, the pushy street sellers, and the intensity that come with them can be a bit much. Thankfully, Flight Finder Kristi shared fantastic tips on escaping Cairo&rsquo;s chaos in a previous edition of The Detour &mdash; you can read all about her <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/newsletter-2024-09-02">escape to Egypt&rsquo;s nature here</a>. 
That&rsquo;s your lot, readers! We had several more suggestions, too, including Lagos, Johannesburg, Dhaka, and Beijing. And if there's one thing I've learnt from this, it's that you can always find an instructional road-crossing video on YouTube to prepare yourself for the madness before touching down!

Reader's Corner

No, not Dakha in Bangladesh. This time we&rsquo;re talking about Dakhla in the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14115273">disputed Western Sahara region</a> to the south of Morocco. &ldquo;But why?&rdquo; you might ask. Well, it just got a whole lot cheaper to travel there, so you know that our Flight Finders have suddenly become obsessed.
Ryanair recently launched flights from Spain to Dakhla, so now you can combine a Madrid city break or a Lanzarote beach week with a few days rambling the Western Saharan sand dunes and catching the waves.
The city is squeezed between the waters of the Atlantic and the Sahara desert. With <a href="https://www.iksurfmag.com/travel-guides/africa/morocco/dakhla/#:~:text=Dakhla%20is%20known%20for%20its%20constant%20wind%2C%20an%20estimated%20340%20days%20per%20year">300+ windy days</a> a year, this is the place for anyone who appreciates a sprinkling of adrenaline atop their breach holiday. Kite surfing aficionados and newbies alike will want to make a beeline for the <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/style/article/2022/07/11/dakhla-a-windswept-lagoon-in-morocco_5989759_40.html">Dakhla lagoon</a>, if only to try and look as cool as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@stighoefnagel/video/7225899792101133595">this guy</a>.&nbsp;

Next stop, the white dunes. Now, this one isn't strictly for you adrenaline junkies &mdash; I mean, who could say &ldquo;no&rdquo; to a stroll&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Chzvv1fP_x0/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">along this beauty</a>? But don't leave without trying your hand at <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/OAcVymvtJG8?feature=share">sand-boarding</a>, too! After a long, hard day of fun, head to the local oyster farm to sample the local speciality.
Beyond the adrenaline and aphrodisiacs, the region is also home to the Sahrawi nomadic people. The harsh desert heat sees them migrating towards the coast during summer months, while winters are spent further inland. For a traditional desert experience while there, a guided camel trek to a Bedouin camp is likely on the cards.
So if you&rsquo;re in the mood for somewhere more than a little different, but not too far from the usual European suntraps, perhaps Dakhla is your next stop. And if you&rsquo;ve already been, we&rsquo;d love to hear all about it! Hit &lsquo;Reply&rsquo; to share your experience with your fellow Detour readers :-)

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Note to self: <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/03/12/tsa-turtle-mans-pants-newark-liberty-international-airport/82304392007/">remove turtle from pants</a> before travel. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">After a number of incidents involving overheating power banks on planes, some airlines are cracking down and <a href="https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/singapore-airlines-power-bank-battery-ban">banning use</a> on board. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">From ghost towns to graveyards, check out these <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-11-18/the-most-stunning-abandoned-places-on-earth?_sp=4df24eff-b5dc-4c90-857a-c025195fd1ba.1742040541031">creepy and fascinating abandoned spots</a> around the world. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">And finally, today we bring the joyous (and, let&rsquo;s face it, unsurprising) news that the EU&rsquo;s ETIAS entry &ldquo;visa&rdquo; has been <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/news/europe-travel-visa-etias-what-to-know/">pushed down the line</a> yet again. Non-EU visitors should still expect their biometrics to begin being collected from October this year, but current forecasts suggest the electronic travel authorisation won&rsquo;t be mandatory until the end of 2026. Hooray?</li>
</ul>

Travel News

11 Most Chaotic Cities Around the Globe

Morocco

United Arab Emirates

Hey there, JFC-ers,
February has finally come to an end, meaning I can start dreaming about warmer days and not having to wear gloves indoors.&nbsp;
This is typically the season when Europeans look towards Spain for a quick getaway to boost their vitamin D and sangria levels. But this year, the mass media seems set on telling us we&rsquo;re not wanted there.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve had lots of questions from members and friends about the so-called Spanish &ldquo;tourist ban&rdquo; recently, so for anyone who&rsquo;s fallen foul of those headlines, here&rsquo;s the low-down:&nbsp;
Spain is not banning tourists! So what are they doing? Well, local governments in many of the country&rsquo;s popular tourism areas have brought in <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-real-story-behind-spains-tourist-ban">rules to prevent new short-term rental properties</a> coming onto the market. As such, hotels will not be affected at all.
For the next few years, homeowners in Malaga won&rsquo;t be able to turn their vacant apartments into an Airbnb, and only those that are already registered will be available. Meanwhile, some of Barcelona&rsquo;s existing tourist rental licences are even being revoked. The idea here is to tackle the shortage of affordable housing for locals, and at the same time curb overtourism.
Another rumour we&rsquo;ve been asked about is the Spanish government needing access to your bank accounts. Thankfully, we can categorically tell you that this is another piece of misconstrued information &mdash; they will not ask for your bank details!&nbsp;
As is the case in many countries, Spanish authorities can ask you to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay. In 2025, that amount is &euro;118/$125 per day. While it is unlikely that you&rsquo;ll ever need to provide this, be prepared to pull up your banking app on your phone just in case! You can find <a href="https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Condiciones-de-entrada-en-Espana.aspx">more detailed information here</a>.
Hopefully that bit of myth-busting puts your minds at ease, because I honestly can&rsquo;t think of a better way to spend a few days than by indulging in way too many patatas bravas in the spring sunshine.
Happy travels and safe landings,

The Chaotic Cities JFC-ers Would Rather Avoid

After my account of the <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/vietnam-where-learning-to-cross-the-road-isnt-childs-play">moped chaos in Ho Chi Minh City</a> last week, quite a few of you wrote in to share in my traffic-based trauma. As expected, there are a few other places around the world that would give HCMC a run for its money:

&ldquo;Loved the re-learning to cross the road in Vietnam!&nbsp; You're right - India will compare similarly. Its a scary/daunting skill, but once mastered, it's a sense of thrill and accomplishment.
Thanks for the article!&rdquo; - Nalini
<hr>
&ldquo;"But at least there are pedestrian crossings&hellip;"
There aren't in Egypt (at least not in Cairo) - nor are there really any traffic lights <img alt="😅" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfJaswtXxj_axJVBHXPHeRyjE-Ig_ZQs95-iZa2FkqUHlbqqcBMidsrle2ipGpdvrlBV9Z0LWEbd3cnDG0RmcRoeuQ0y5dzs66-0RvS902fdIkZpFZMpwMCZ9PmxoxJ0xgtFo_qCw?key=bRsuJAHmQuwvzPTAPh1Frkfj" width="17" height="17"> (I saw three when I was there last year - two were near the airport). People also run across motorways! Fortunately I was with a local, who had to hook my arm, so I'd walk across the road with her, and I had to position myself on the other side of her and not look in order to keep going <img alt="😁" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc33n-VykPe2OhVO9l76sPy2_lvqAHq122wSyH1Ov6VSp_rGHu4e8POB56A7KLLgeuiHG9BibowoWJYnH5Q3l3_7TlvPKQYM34Ep8JjdSxb04oBBUwf5olGvaYDO39OP3SKR8fgcA?key=bRsuJAHmQuwvzPTAPh1Frkfj" width="17" height="17"> But in a sense it was a learning to respect all road users!&rdquo; - Sarah

&ldquo;I feel Katy&rsquo;s pain with HCMC but another assault course is Hanoi. The narrow roads are no better even though you think you&rsquo;ll be safer &mdash; they come from all angles rather than travelling in the same direction!
Others on my list are Columbo and Delhi.
From my experience of both, crossing slowly and purposefully is a skill set, and the arm aloft indicating stop to oncoming hurtling buses really shouldn&rsquo;t be attempted. (sitting on these death trap buses is no different!)
I reckon that Jack&rsquo;s could make a top 10 of dreadful cities to avoid! Those are 4 of a possible top 10. I expect readers can add to them.&rdquo; - Avril

While I personally still enjoyed much of Ho Chi Minh City, not least seeing people living their authentic big-city lives, I can absolutely understand why the intensity could be enough to put you off.&nbsp;
Adding in Cairo to Avril&rsquo;s four &mdash; Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Delhi and Columbo &mdash; that takes us to five. What other cities in the world would you include in the Top Ten Most Chaotic Cities? Is there somewhere you would recommend your friends and family to avoid, and why? Or maybe a place you&rsquo;d still suggest they visit, but only after serious preparation?
Please hit &lsquo;Reply&rsquo; and tell us about the most intense and chaotic cities you&rsquo;ve ever visited!
In the meantime, here are a few places other JFC-ers recommend avoiding in our article on the <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/skip-this-see-that28-places-that-our-members-hated-and-loved">spots around the globe that members hated and loved</a>. 
Oh, and a quick note to the Neapolitans among you (if there are any left): last time we shared this, you were quick to defend your hometown. As a result, we also wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/newsletter-2023-27-04">grovelling love letter to Naples</a> the following week.&nbsp;
Dubai

While the scale of the glittering skyscrapers alone is something to behold, our members were less impressed by how fake it feels. Add to that questions about rights, in particular those of the workers who built this megacity, and few seem keen to return.
Paris

Out of all the places on our list, Paris has definitely been voted as the most disappointing city by our members, staff, and pretty much everyone on the internet. It even has its own <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome#:~:text=Paris%20syndrome%20(French%3A%20syndrome%20de,severe%20form%20of%20culture%20shock.">syndrome</a>! Between dirty streets and tacky tourist traps, lots of people feel like Hollywood glamour has oversold the romance of the City of Light.
Marrakech

Most of us visit for the hustle, bustle, and charm of the old town. But some people feel there&rsquo;s not much charm left in the souks, where tourists are cornered into paying above the odds for generic goods, and street performers get mean if you pass by without leaving a tip.&nbsp;
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/skip-this-see-that28-places-that-our-members-hated-and-loved">Keep reading&hellip;</a>

Temples, Tailors, Banh Mi, Vy &mdash;&nbsp;Hội An at its finest

&ldquo;Thank you for your very informative piece on how to cross the road in Vietnam!! You've now scared the hell out of me!
My husband and I (both over 70) are setting out on a tour of Cambodia &amp; Vietnam on 17th March. Neither of us are in any way supple so this should be an interesting experience.
I think I might just look for coffee shops on the same side of the road.
We both intend to take a crutch with us - mainly for stability. I suppose I could always hold it up in the air (might even get a few tips if I get mistaken for a tour guide!)
I was surprised by your comment on the weather. I hadn't done any research and didn't think it would be so cold. Thank you for the heads-up&rdquo; - Joy&nbsp;
<hr>
&ldquo;Dear Katy,&nbsp;
I hope you are well. There&rsquo;s some amount of serendipity involved here, as I&rsquo;m taking my wife and six-year-old son to Vietnam for the first time next month. We won&rsquo;t be further south than Hội An, otherwise we are going northwards towards Ha long Bay, and we also want to experience something scenic and tranquil inland. We have nine nights total. What are some of your best memories and recommendations from the northern part of Vietnam?&rdquo; - &Oslash;yvind
<hr>
&ldquo;Hi Katy,
We&rsquo;re off to Hội An next Sunday, any tips would be appreciated.
Cheers, Dave (avid jfc&rsquo;er)<img alt="👍" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfS7qxSnDg7MnVPDwXw3cZKaL2jQO8IcyOgR9h0ekbon1__DRwpyPARkM-oM8JsKiRD002dTLpzOq6uIMm5xYymoltRxjRvrroAKgp5ADWvwsp0fbGHZr8a_fG1XxKqiHZGQJC3?key=bRsuJAHmQuwvzPTAPh1Frkfj" width="17" height="17">"

Well, I had been planning on drip-feeding you all my Vietnam stories over time so as not to overwhelm you, but it seems like &lsquo;tis the season for Vietnam trips, and all of a sudden it&rsquo;s pretty urgent!&nbsp;&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ll start with Hội An itself, since we spent around 5 days there. It&rsquo;s hard to deny the beauty of the (mostly) pedestrianised streets of the old town, with colourful paper lanterns dangling overhead everywhere you look. You can easily walk around day after day just getting lost in the maze of alleyways, craft shops and restaurants, occasionally emerging alongside the river to gaze at the boats floating by.

But you should also expect a completely tourist-driven town. This place is fully set up to cater to those of us visiting from abroad, and I did hear it compared to Disneyland on more than one occasion (some of those utterances may have been from myself). That said, I would quite happily go back.&nbsp;
There are countless lantern-making, coffee, cookery, and ceramics workshops you can take part in, but ultimately we didn&rsquo;t do any. What we did do, however, was visit <a href="https://www.instagram.com/unicorncafe.hoian/">Unicorn Bowl &amp; Coffee</a>, where the cost of the barista teaching you how to make a traditional Vietnamese coffee is included.&nbsp;
I opted for the coconut coffee, while Rachel went for the salted coffee. Both were excellent, and I&rsquo;ve already bought the necessary condensed milk and coconut milk to recreate the magic at home!

We were generally hesitant about eating street food (with the exception of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hermawan_kartajaya_/reel/DEXs4BVhlxu/">ice cream rolls</a>!), so instead we visited Vy&rsquo;s Deli at <a href="https://tastevietnam.asia/vys-market-restaurant-hoi-an">Vy&rsquo;s Market Restaurant</a>. Think up-market food hall featuring lots of local and national dishes in a comfortable atmosphere.&nbsp;
Spending a few days in Hội An, you soon notice <a href="https://tastevietnam.asia/about-ms-vy">Ms Vy</a>&rsquo;s name everywhere &mdash; Morning Glory Mother&rsquo;s Kitchen was the first of her restaurants that we visited, and the food was fantastic! Plus, you get 10% off any of her other restaurants when you bring along your receipt from the last. Bonus!
You&rsquo;ll also want to try a banh mi or two while you&rsquo;re in Vietnam. There are a couple of spots in the city that are commonly considered the best, Madam Khanh - The Banh Mi Queen, and B&aacute;nh Mì Phượng. We visited the latter, primarily because it was right next to where our hotel shuttle dropped us off, but also because it was <a href="https://youtu.be/0nI9LvK7r-4?si=fwvUhVvQ9alP_ejL">one of the spots Anthony Bourdain ate at</a> when he visited. It was a 10/10 from me &mdash; my only regret was not going back for another.
One more classic Hội An experience is getting tailor-made clothes. You can hardly move for tailors in that town, so much so that the choice becomes overwhelming. Our hotel gave us a few recommendations, but we ended up choosing one suggested by another guest from our hotel who had already replenished her entire wardrobe! 
It&rsquo;s almost a military operation in&nbsp;<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/59VcQTxHtDwCwiQC6">Cloth Shop 52</a> in the Cloth Market, so come prepared and know what you&rsquo;re looking for. We decided to bring along items we already owned as an example, which made the whole experience much easier. As an idea, we paid around &pound;35/$44 for a pair of trousers and &pound;30/$38 for a dress.

A couple of things worth noting are that prices absolutely are negotiable in the cloth market, and although you can pay by card, it&rsquo;s worth carrying cash to avoid the 2% fee. Your clothes will be ready within 24 hours, and if you&rsquo;re as lucky as us, they&rsquo;ll fit perfectly!
I could go on at length about Hội An itself, but I&rsquo;ll round off with this: when you&rsquo;re in need of some downtime and a refreshing beverage, one of the endless 2-4-1 happy hours may seem like a good idea. And they&rsquo;re not bad, but they can be busy and soulless. Instead, I&rsquo;d recommend hitting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/7BridgesHoiAn/">7 Bridges Hoi An Taproom</a> for a local beer and tasty bar food in their chilled beer garden.
We actually stayed outside the old town in a hotel near An Bang Beach. The area was much less developed, and some of the beach was still undergoing work following storm damage. However, there were still some lovely, quiet spots, plus pleasant caf&eacute;s and restaurants to spend some time relaxing in. The thing that really sold us on this was that our hotel offered a free shuttle into the old town several times a day, which seems to be pretty commonplace.
We also did a couple of trips from here &mdash; one a quick basket boat tour at the Coconut Village, and the other sunrise trip to My Son Sanctuary, followed by a visit to the Marble Mountains.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://izitour.com/en/blog/basket-boat-ride-hoi-an">basket boat tour</a> was fun, and definitely worth doing, but again, it was like a ride at Disneyland. You&rsquo;re in one of hundreds of boats floating along that stretch of river at any given time, all while the boat drivers (captains?) sing Gangnam Style at you and each other across the water.

We didn&rsquo;t really understand why they were singing Gangnam Style at the time, but afterwards, the tour operator explained that it&rsquo;s one of the songs they find best for keeping the rhythm when they <a href="https://youtu.be/TgvKgIxf_sg?si=LbmxsAxZIoP_-18n">spin the basket boats</a>. Thankfully, the spinning is optional, and you are allowed to simply enjoy the spectacle from afar!&nbsp;
My favourite tour by far, however, was the trip to <a href="https://www.banyantree.com/vietnam/lang-co/guide-to-visiting-my-son-sanctuary">My Son Sanctuary,</a> which is up in the hills a couple of hours west of Hội An. We went for the sunrise tour because we&rsquo;d read it would be beautiful, but as it turned out, there was no sunrise that day, only major downpours. But when you&rsquo;re in the jungle, surrounded by ancient temples, you kinda don&rsquo;t care!
The main perk of visiting at the crack of dawn was that we got there way before everyone else. By the time we were done, around 9 am, bus-loads of tour groups were flooding through the gates on their way up to the site. We had practically had the place to ourselves, giving us the chance to explore the different buildings and paths without interruption.
We followed this up with a trip to the <a href="https://whereangiewanders.com/marble-mountains-vietnam/">Marble Mountains</a> in Da Nang, which honestly, I&rsquo;d love to have done at sunrise, too! It was absolutely mobbed with folk, which is especially trying when you&rsquo;re attempting to manoeuvre up and down narrow, uneven staircases. Nonetheless, the views and caves were spectacular, and we were fortunate enough to witness a Buddhist ceremony in action.

Unfortunately, we didn&rsquo;t have enough time to venture any further north than that on this trip, however I can share a couple more recommendations from friends we met along the way.
The city of Hue lies a couple of hours north of Da Nang. Formerly the country&rsquo;s capital city, it was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, and has an appropriately fancy, <a href="https://thenwewalked.com/visiting-imperial-city-hue/">massive citadel</a> to match. Our friends spent a half day exploring the grounds, but they said that history buffs should definitely set aside a whole day!
For some true peace and quiet up north, &Oslash;yvind, you might be thinking of heading up into the mountains? We heard a lot of chatter about <a href="https://www.seeksophie.com/magazine/a/sapa-things-to-do">Sapa</a>, and its jaw-dropping rice terraces and less polluted air! However, it is preeeeeetty touristy there these days as well, so you may want to consider <a href="https://www.adventuresofjellie.com/vietnam/cao-bang-complete-guide">Cao Bang</a> for its waterfalls, mountain views, caves, tombs and more.
Hopefully all my stories and tips have got you excited about your upcoming trips! And if you happen to bump into each other at the 7 Bridges, send me a pic. Happy travels!

Reader’s Corner

All&nbsp;the&nbsp;important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across&nbsp;the&nbsp;web this week.
<ul>
<li>The world&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.timeout.com/news/the-european-city-named-the-worlds-best-destination-for-women-solo-travellers-022825">safest cities for women solo travellers</a> have been named! And while the number one spot may not surprise you, there are a few others in the top ten you might not expect. </li>
<li>Whether you have a tendency to miss flights or your plans change, sometimes we just don&rsquo;t make those flights we booked. But did you know that you can <a href="https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/missed-or-cancelled-a-flight-claim-air-passenger-duty-refund/">get a refund</a> on those taxes in the UK and Europe? </li>
<li>Why <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/mount-etna-eruption-danger-tourism/">cooking a sausage on a lava rock</a> probably isn&rsquo;t as cool as it sounds. </li>
<li>And finally, if you&rsquo;ve been wondering how to spend your spare $1mil, look no further &mdash; <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fyre-festival-2-tickets-how-to-buy-billy-mcfarland/">tickets for Fyre Festival 2</a> are now on sale! And as a bonus, you&rsquo;ll probably end up featuring in another smash-hit Netflix documentary when it all goes up in flames&hellip; again.</li>
</ul>

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