South America

Washington DC

United States

São Paulo

Brazil

São Paulo 🏖️ at $498 RT

Announcing a brand-spanking-new non-stop route to Brazil 🥳

Calgary

Canada

São Paulo, Brazil 🎉 in $880s-$980s RT

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

Munich

Germany

Fortaleza

Frankfurt

Dusseldorf

Hamburg

Paris

France

Madrid

Spain

Brussels

Belgium

Santo Domingo

Dominican Republic

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Panama City

Panama

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

You'll be feeling like the girl from Ipanema

Toronto

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro 🩴 at $661 RT

Love them or hate them, you need to know about these pods!

Antananarivo

Madagascar

Colombo

Sri Lanka

Jakarta

Indonesia

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

New Delhi

India

Luxembourg

Nuremberg

Almaty

Kazakhstan

Cologne

Bangkok

Thailand

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi

Stockholm

Sweden

Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and more 🌿 in €430s-€590s rtn

We're talking once-in-a-lifetime experiences practically on the daily :-)

Tampa

Manaus

Chicago

New York

Boston

Austin

The Brazilian Amazon 🍃 in $370s-$510s RT

Postcard from Timothy

Florionapolis was amazing and I  only knew about it through Jacks Flight Club. We had the best time on this lovely Island.

Postcard from Carl

So happy! Thank you so much! I’ve got to be there for my mom’s 75!!

Postcard from Luna

Hey Jack. I was supposed to be taking the kids to Wales for half term but here we are, cruising along River Negro in the Brazilian Pantanal, chilling with capybaras and caiman. We love you!! 

Postcard from Kate (and Jacob and George)

Postcard from Nina

I found a great deal a trip to Brazil for New Year&#39;s and Carnival returning directly in BA. I stayed in Brazil for 3 months and had the best time!

Guatemala

French Guiana

Hey there Travellers,
It is nice to see that you're not an overly judgemental bunch. Last week, I asked you for&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-214-ultimate-carry-on-respectful-dressing">your take on "respectful dressing"</a> at 38,000 ft, and the feedback was generally pretty balanced: comfort is paramount, but (when you have the choice) there's no need to be sloppy.
There were a few exceptions, however. Some of you felt that travel is indeed a special occasion, so we should dress appropriately, while others were defiant in the face of budget discomfort &mdash; if the airlines won't rise to the occasion, why should we?
Needless to say, I'm not planning to wear my Sunday best this afternoon, when I board a Ryanair flight to Porto for my last foreign adventure of the year. I'll probably make sure there aren't any coffee stains down my front before I board, but I can't guarantee there won't be a splash of port wine there by the time I return.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Searching for Culture Without the Crowds in Guatemala

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m interested in traveling to Guatemala, and I know almost nothing about it except that it looks really beautiful. I&rsquo;m interested in when might be a shoulder season there, still pleasant but not high season, as I don&rsquo;t love big crowds. I love getting to know villages and local culture as well as experiencing nature - mountains, hiking, and swimming.&rdquo;

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

Answered by Akasha

Hey there, traveller! You&rsquo;re in the right place. I spent about 6 months in Guatemala, so I&rsquo;ve got heaps of tips for you.
As a solo female traveller, I&rsquo;ll start with what I wish someone had said to me about travelling in Guatemala: It&rsquo;s hard, it&rsquo;s beautiful, and it&rsquo;ll change you. It&rsquo;ll challenge everything you think you know if you let it. 
Once you allow yourself to be moved by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyWikR-XQUU">layers of Maya history</a>, the insane resilience of communities, and truly feel the weight and warmth of a place shaped by such struggle and beauty, you cannot unfeel or unknow. And isn&rsquo;t that one of the reasons why we travel to places like this? To feel something real enough that it stays with us long after we&rsquo;re home?

But to do that, please take my advice and step outside the &ldquo;expat&rdquo; bubble, especially since you said you don&rsquo;t like big crowds. Overtourism can be a real issue here, especially in places like Antigua, and even more so on the shores of Lake Atitl&aacute;n, where I spent most of my time. 
It&rsquo;s easy to be swept up by blogs promising a &ldquo;hippie mecca&rdquo; of self-declared healers and &ldquo;sacred&rdquo; retreats in San Marcos la Laguna. But trust me, not all that glitters is gold. Sadly, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ubicomp.org/ubicomp-iswc-2023/attending/maya/">traditions of the Kaqchikel and Tz&rsquo;utujil</a> peoples have been watered down, mass-produced, and sold back as &ldquo;authentic.&rdquo; As a result, they are exploited, priced out, and often treated as background noise to the version of culture visitors prefer to consume. I won&rsquo;t go into detail here; that&rsquo;s another blog post in the making.

But if you are keen on visiting the lake, there are still a handful of towns that are a little less curated than San Marcos, San Pedro and Panajachel. They aren&rsquo;t entirely tourism-free but <a href="https://routinelynomadic.com/jaibalito-guatemala/">Jaibalito</a> and <a href="https://www.gypsysols.com/santa-cruz-la-laguna-lake-atitlan/">Santa Cruz la Laguna</a> offer more of a relaxing escape from the crowds, have a handful of locally run guesthouses, and some decent hiking (be sure to hire a guide). And San Juan, although firmly on the map, is <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-sacred-art-of-lake-atitlans-weavers">home to Maya women&rsquo;s weaving co-operatives</a> that specialize in naturally dyed textiles that align with the Mayan moon calendar.
These cooperatives play a pivotal role in the community, preserving traditional weaving techniques and improving the overall quality of life for the local women. You can take workshops here run directly by the families themselves. San Juan is also the unofficial gateway to the sunrise Indian Nose Hike; but again, remember to always go with a guide!&nbsp;
Many towns across the lake also have family-run Spanish programs or <a href="https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/guatemala-homestay/">homestays paired with lessons</a>.&nbsp;

Since you mentioned that you &ldquo;love getting to know villages and local culture as well as experiencing nature/mountains&rdquo;, I&rsquo;d recommend certain parts of Guatemala that sit well beyond the Atitl&aacute;n&ndash;Antigua loop.
<a href="https://sightdoing.net/ixil-triangle-guatemala/">The Ixil Triangle</a> in the Western Highlands (Nebaj, Chajul, Cotzal) is one of the most culturally rich and resilient regions in the country. And being right up in the Highlands, your guide will be able to take you on some fantastic hikes.
The Ixil people live in the high, rugged <a href="https://www.highlux.co.nz/2017/09/exploring-the-sierra-de-los-cuchumatanes/">mountains of the Cuchumatanes</a>, which has historically kept them pretty isolated. This allowed them to maintain their unique customs, dress, and language longer than many lowland Maya groups who faced more colonial influence. 
<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/guatemala-culture-without-the-crowds">Keep reading...</a>

Reader's Corner

Navigator Fran is an Italian globetrotter with a passion for remote destinations and snacking. Currently based in Brussels, she'll gladly tell you where to find the yummiest fries around the city.

By Fran

Every time someone asks me what was the most unforgettable trip I have ever taken, I can&rsquo;t help but think of the month I spent in the Amazon Rainforest,&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/navigating-the-amazon-in-three-weeks">navigating the Amazon River on hammock boats</a>.

It&rsquo;s been over four years since I waved goodbye to those 5am breakfast calls and pink dolphin spotting sessions, and &mdash; although I&rsquo;ve loved discovering other corners of Brazil and its incredible culture &mdash; my itch to return to the Amazon has been growing and growing.
So, while most of my friends will be enjoying Carnaval on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador de Bahia this February, I&rsquo;ve decided to embark on a voyage to complete my navigation of the Amazon River. This time, my dear friend Phil and I will navigate from Bel&eacute;m do Par&aacute; all the way to Macap&aacute;, in Amap&aacute; state, and then spend a week or so in the area.

How much do we know about Amap&aacute;? Virtually nothing. And while we&rsquo;re incredibly excited about the adventure ahead, information about what to do in the area is veeeeery scarce. For the record &mdash; this is all part of the fun when it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-south-american-countries-we-never-talk-about">discovering underrated corners of South America</a>, of course!
Now, if you <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/JxddvEALsmQ7YGrh6">take a peek at the map</a>, you&rsquo;ll see that the state of Amap&aacute; borders French Guiana. As a good ol&rsquo; Border Studies alumnus, hopping over the Oyapok River is already on my bucket list, and for the past couple of days, I&rsquo;ve been on the search for fun projects and detours around the area.
What made my Amazon escapade so special last time were the connections I made on the <s>road </s>river, and all the culture I was lucky enough to be welcomed into, allowed to listen to and photograph. 
So, now I turn to you &mdash; well-seasoned travellers who aren&rsquo;t scared of venturing off the beaten path and have visited French Guiana, Amap&aacute;, or even just Par&aacute;&rsquo;s hinterlands &mdash; do you have any advice for me? Let me know in the comments!
Muito obrigada, gente :-)

Travel Tips

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Can you guess which once isolated nation is becoming the fastest-growing travel destination on the planet? Hint:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" rel="noopener noreferrer">It&rsquo;s a Stan</a><a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://travelbinger.com/how-uzbekistan-became-the-silk-road-capital-for-21st-century-travelers/" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>. </li>
<li>Somewhere at the bottom of the sea, Norway&rsquo;s busy building the world&rsquo;s longest and deepest undersea road tunnel. It aims to replace current ferries on the west coast faster than you can say&nbsp;&ldquo;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/norway-longest-deepest-underwater-tunnel-spc" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/norway-longest-deepest-underwater-tunnel-spc" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rogaland fastforbindelse</a>&rdquo; </li>
<li>As if removing their 2 free checked bags wasn&rsquo;t enough, Southwest Airlines is aiming to become public enemy number 1 by <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/southwest-airlines-plus-size-policy-b2875948.html">charging&nbsp;plus-sized passengers</a>&nbsp;for two seats from January 27th, 2026. </li>
<li>Machu Picchu,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.remotelands.com/travelogues/alinja-castle-the-machu-picchu-of-the-caucasus/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.remotelands.com/travelogues/alinja-castle-the-machu-picchu-of-the-caucasus/" rel="noopener noreferrer">but make it Caucasus</a>. Would you travel all the way to rural Azerbaijan to see this lost city dupe? </li>
<li>And finally, spotted over South Africa&rsquo;s skies: is it a bird, is it a plane, is it Santa?&nbsp;Actually, it is one of those things, we're just not sure which. Think: high-speed sleigh pulled by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRuDRGHDd_O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRuDRGHDd_O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer">a springbok and a zebra</a>.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

Central and South America: Jack's Style

G&rsquo;day, JFC-ers!
Flight Finder Larissa here, filling in for Katy this week as she ticks off temples and is tossed around in basket boats across Vietnam. She&rsquo;s having a fabulous time, even running into some fellow JFC-ers as she traverses the country. Stay tuned to hear all about her adventures when she returns!&nbsp;
In the meantime, I wanted to give you the low-down on what&rsquo;s been going on in Flight Finder land.&nbsp;
This week, we&rsquo;ve seen quite a few countries come up on our cheap flight radar, which doesn't happen all too often. One of the best parts of our job is showing you how to travel further than the usual spots (not that there&rsquo;s anything wrong with the Tenerifes and Cancuns of the world!). There is a special twinkle in our eye when we send flight tips to places like Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Greenland or Reunion.&nbsp;
We know destinations like those don&rsquo;t appeal to everyone, but if you are in that group, it&rsquo;s been an excellent week to be a JFC member. You&rsquo;re not alone &mdash; the yearning for adventure also propels us all forward. Over the past year and a bit, you&rsquo;ve probably heard a bit about what our team has been up to: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/we-booked-the-cheapest-safari-in-tanzania-and-this-is-how-it-went">a budget safari</a>, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/trans-european-race-updates">a race across Europe</a>, <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/detour-169-australia-to-kyrgyzstan-recommendations">a horse trek in Kyrgyzstan</a>, the list goes on.&nbsp;
Read on for Flight Finder Fran&rsquo;s Lazy Planner&rsquo;s Guide to Brazil &mdash; her itinerary is full of really cool suggestions outside of Rio and S&atilde;o Paulo, including her personal experience embarking on a DIY Amazon expedition, and how you could do the same. And even if you don&rsquo;t want to jump on a plane and head straight into the rainforest (that&rsquo;s a bit too much for me too, I admit), I hope you&rsquo;re inspired by her travels.
And if you&rsquo;re just as happy with Tenerife and Cancun, we see you! Beautiful beaches are always beautiful, after all.&nbsp;
Happy travels and safe landings,

Flight Finding Team Lead&nbsp;Larissa&nbsp;is an Aussie expat from Sydney who only sometimes misses the beach. Based in London, when she's not busy checking for brunch spots in her next trip, she's writing about flight deals for Jack's Flight Club.

Larissa

The Lazy Planner's Guide to Brazil

"I've got a month in Brazil &mdash; suggestions and itinerary welcome!"

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Flight Finder Fran is an Italian globetrotter with a passion for remote destinations and snacking. Currently based in Brussels, she can gladly tell you where to find the yummiest fries around the city.&nbsp;
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Written by Fran

A month? That&rsquo;s a whole lot of possibilities!
You didn't say which part of the country you're planning to land in, but I&rsquo;ll assume it&rsquo;s S&atilde;o Paulo since that's often the cheapest entry point. One thing I&rsquo;ll say right off the bat is this: Unless you&rsquo;re into big-city vibes and modernist architecture, don&rsquo;t spend any precious time there.
S&atilde;o Paulo is a fun city, especially for the nightlife and food scene, but it&rsquo;s not worth visiting on a first trip to Brazil. What&rsquo;s great about it, though, is Guarulhos Airport, the perfect gateway to anywhere in Brazil!
Now, Rio de Janeiro is clearly a must-visit (and year-round) destination. You can easily reach it from S&atilde;o Paulo by bus or with a quick flight. Personally, I&rsquo;d recommend staying for at least four days to see the best sights. 
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/8fc183d32bb4f7f47be8eb22c697d3c650eb918b" width="360" height="450" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

I lived in Rio for a couple of months and here are my favourite activities in the city:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hiking! Rio has plenty of cool hikes, and you can even reach some tourist attractions by walking.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weirdosabroad.com/hiking-christ-redeemer-corcovado.html">The Cristo</a> and <a href="https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/hikes/brazil-hikes/hiking-morro-da-urca/">Sugarloaf</a> are some especially popular ones! My absolute favourite hike, though, is to Dois Irm&atilde;os&mdash;the<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@world_walkerz/video/7217457244126858501?q=ipanema&amp;t=1695290167127"> two majestic peaks</a> peeking behind Ipanema beach. It's a tricky one, but <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lewiistravels/video/7409077908460932385?q=dois%20irmaos&amp;t=1738230932698">these views</a> make it so worthwhile. All you gotta do is get an Uber to the entrance of the Vidigal favela (it's a chill one, don't worry!), and hop on a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@anninhapessanha/video/7277333806665764102?q=vidigal%20mototaxi&amp;t=1695290293719">moto-taxi</a> for 5 reais (less than &pound;0.8-&euro;1) to reach the trailhead (the entry fee should be around 10 reais, &pound;1.5-&euro;2). It'll take you around 40 minutes to make it to the top, if you don't stop too often to take pics! P.S. As tempting as it may be, I don't recommend hiking the hill to watch the sunset &mdash; the trail is not well-lit in the evening, and coming back down may be intimidating in the dark. The guys at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rio.worldconnection/">Rio World Connection</a> organise a lovely sunrise hike, though, if you feel like waking up at 4am! </li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/93a869d4bbc092ca91295e5d20c8da48a70a00de" width="360" height="480" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Make your way to Lapa and hop on the tram to Santa Teresa. After a stroll around the <a href="https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/the-visitors-guide-to-santa-teresa-rio-de-janeiros-little-lisbon/">bohemian neighbourhood,</a> head to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr1p_ORIutX/">Territ&oacute;rio Apraz&iacute;vel.</a> I know, it's a bit out of the way from the main touristy spots, but that &euro;5 Uber back home will be so worth it. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Next up, the Tijuca Forest (the world's largest urban rainforest). Hike your way to the <a href="https://youtu.be/vIkKv5SrTAk?si=JjOS9zz2sMMxeYW9&amp;t=422">Horto waterfall,</a> then grab some tasty lunch at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/osesquilos/?hl=en">Os Esquilos</a> and watch the sunset at the <a href="https://whynotbrasil.com/en/chinese-view-rio-de-janeiro/">Chinese View</a> &mdash; bonus points if you can see the fireflies! </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">During the weekend, check the timetable of the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajuntalocal/?hl=en">Junta Local</a> &mdash; a nomadic market with the best DJ set in town, perfect for blending in with the locals and snacking on some delicious food. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Visit the Botanical Garden, see the Parque Lage (you don&rsquo;t need to book an entry ticket if you&rsquo;re planning to have some drinks/food at the caf&eacute;) and bike all around the Lagoa. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/saoconrados/?hl=en">ASA delta in S&atilde;o Conrado beach</a> &mdash; for around &euro;150, you get to see the world&rsquo;s prettiest city from above.</li>
</ul>

Pro Tip: You could even head to Paraty and <a href="https://carolinerosetravel.com/solo-travel-guide-to-ilha-grande/">Ilha Grande</a> directly from S&atilde;o Paulo and spend 3&ndash;4 days around there before arriving in Rio if you have some spare time!
<h3 dir="ltr">Travelling between May and September</h3>
Northeast: Deserts, Turquoise Lagoons and Kite Surfing
Tempted by the northeast corner of Brazil? I suggest you hop on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAhogEgoyMDI1LTA4LTE2KABqBwgBEgNHUlVyBwgBEgNTTFpAAUgBcAGCAQsI____________AZgBAg&amp;hl=en">flight to S&atilde;o Lu&iacute;s</a> and <a href="https://planetaexo.com/blog/how-to-get-to-lencois-maranhenses/">make your way towards the Len&ccedil;&oacute;is Maranhenses National Park</a> &mdash; an immense desert dotted with thousands of turquoise freshwater pools.
You can access the desert from Barreirinhas, Atins, or Santo Amaro. Whichever entry point you pick, you'll be able to arrange a tour to the natural lagoons with one of the many agencies in town. In 2021, I went with<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Caet%C3%A9s+Expedi%C3%A7%C3%B5es+Turismo+e+Aventura/@-5.0390591,45.1308291,2.98z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x7f21fd4ec25e1b7:0xbf8d1445f836fd69!2sLa+Terrazza+Pizzeria+%26+Italian+Pub!8m2!3d-2.7500422!4d-42.8264318!16s%2Fg%2F11cs2h639f!3m5!1s0x7f21fd4e513fc1b:0x786edf97eee7b840!8m2!3d-2.7497303!4d-42.8263751!16s%2Fg%2F1pp2tkhzm?entry=ttu"> Caet&eacute;s Expedi&ccedil;&otilde;es</a> (from Barreirinhas) and managed to bag a private 3-day quad tour (for 6 people) for less than &euro;200 pp. Just be prepared to sleep on colourful hammocks!

When you have had enough of floating in the crystal clear water, I suggest either:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Continuing your trip east until you reach <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@golden.lolotte/video/7173454368279137541?q=jericoacoara&amp;t=1704717325084">Jericoacoara</a> &mdash; a buzzing seaside village surrounded by desert. You can spend 2&ndash;3 days there, then travel to the city of Fortaleza to fly out. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Or heading back to S&atilde;o Lu&iacute;s and flying from there.</li>
</ul>
If you pick the first option, I recommend spending one day at most in Fortaleza, or avoiding it altogether and instead stopping in&nbsp;<a href="https://brazil-kitesurf.com/en/kite-spots/ceara-state/kitesurfing-cumbuco/">Cumbuco</a> or <a href="https://janelasabertas.com/2023/12/26/things-to-do-in-canoa-quebrada/">Canoa Quebrada</a> before heading to the airport.
West: Wetlands, Horse Riding and Capybaras
For a more niche destination, check out the Pantanal &mdash; It's the largest wetlands area in the world (bigger than the whole UK!) and has the largest concentration of crocodiles in the world, as well as jaguars, giant otters, and the most iconic South American animal: capybaras! And let&rsquo;s not forget the 650+ bird species that call these wetlands home, from toucans and herons to macaws and jabiru storks &mdash; the region&rsquo;s most famous bird.
Unlike the lush Amazon rainforest, the open landscapes of the Pantanal make it much easier to spot animals &mdash; expect plenty of morning horseback riding, sunsets on canoes, and lots of mosquitoes.
You can reach the region via a flight to either <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAholEgoyMDI1LTA2LTE0KABqDAgDEggvbS8wNmdtcnIHCAESA0NHQkABSAFwAYIBCwj___________8BmAEC&amp;tfu=EgIIACIA&amp;gl=GB%3Flid%3Dhw97kruww8ls&amp;curr=EUR">Cuiab&aacute;</a> or <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAholEgoyMDI1LTA2LTE0KAFqDAgDEggvbS8wNmdtcnIHCAESA0NHUkABSAFwAYIBCwj___________8BmAEC&amp;tfu=EgIIACIA&amp;gl=GB%3Flid%3Dhw97kruww8ls&amp;curr=EUR">Campo Grande</a> for less than &euro;80 one&ndash;way. I would recommend spending at least three days in the Pantanal to see as many animals as possible &mdash; <a href="https://planetaexo.com/blog/where-is-the-best-place-to-see-jaguars-in-pantanal/">big spotted cats included</a> :-)
FYI, the Pantanal isn&rsquo;t a place you can just show up to after booking a place to stay. You&rsquo;ll want to go with a tour company who can ensure you have all the right permits, accommodations, guides, and transport.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/8eb783967ce3618484ab137461dd85e8bcd0d8d3" width="360" height="480" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Travelling between July and December</h3>
The Amazon Rainforest: Does this really need an introduction?
Over these months, you can plan a little Amazon expedition! <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAhomEgoyMDI1LTEwLTE4KABqBwgBEgNHUlVyDQgDEgkvbS8wMmJrazNAAUgBcAGCAQsI____________AZgBAg&amp;hl=en">Fly into Manaus</a>, and you&rsquo;ll be able to find some affordable tours leaving from the city. You can do day-trips, but I&rsquo;d recommend spending at least two nights in the forest to really connect with nature and experience the transition from day to night.
If you don&rsquo;t mind committing&nbsp;at least ten days to a real Amazonian adventure, have a look at <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/navigating-the-amazon-in-three-weeks">how I navigated over 1000 km on the Amazon River</a>, sleeping on hammock boats and befriending parrots :-)

Southeast: Waterfalls, Cowboys and Endless BBQs
Look up Brazil&rsquo;s natural wonders, and you can bet the Igua&ccedil;u Falls will be on the list &mdash; for good reason! Both sides &mdash; Brazilian and Argentinian &mdash; are equally beautiful in their own way, so I recommend spending at least three days in Foz de Igua&ccedil;u to be able to check both of them out :-)
Although, if visiting the waterfalls isn't on the top of your bucket list, I suggest keeping southern Brazil for a future visit.
<h3 dir="ltr">A year-round destination &mdash; Bahia</h3>
Aaaaaaaaaah, Bahia! A heaven for surfers, chocolate lovers (I'm talking abut&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@fruitsncahoots/video/7208743204743695662?q=chocolate%20fruit&amp;t=1738254684618">the real stuff</a>!) and <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/repeat-vacation-bahia-brazil">slooooooooow lifers</a>.
One minute, you&rsquo;re pulling up to a black-sand beach; the next, you&rsquo;re staring out from a cliffside lookout. Keep going, and you might find yourself <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DE9zIQTRjBP/">surfing your first wave</a>. Before you know it, you&rsquo;ll be on a <a href="https://www.magnificentworld.com/boipeba-travel-guide/">car-free island</a>, dancing a samba under a full moon.
Had enough beach time? You can always go inland and check out the spectacular <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@tinneclaes/video/7414877769160576288?q=chapada%20diamantina&amp;t=1738254602611">Chapada Diamantina National Park</a> &mdash; expect endless waterfalls and quiet hiking paths waiting to be explored.

To reach Bahia, you can either fly to <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAhosEgoyMDI1LTA1LTAzKABqDQgDEgkvbS8wMjJwZm1yDQgDEgkvbS8wNHNodF9AAUgBcAGCAQsI____________AZgBAg&amp;hl=en">Ilheus</a> or <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAholEgoyMDI1LTA1LTAyKABqDAgDEggvbS8wNmdtcnIHCAESA0JQU0ABSAFwAYIBCwj___________8BmAEC&amp;hl=en">Porto Seguro</a> &mdash; great for reaching most central/southern locations in the state, such as the Cocoa Coast &mdash; or to the state capital of <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAho0EgoyMDI1LTA1LTAzKABqDQgDEgkvbS8wMjJwZm1qDAgDEggvbS8wNmdtcnIHCAESA1NTQUABSAFwAYIBCwj___________8BmAEC&amp;hl=en">Salvador</a> &mdash; ideal for accessing more northern destinations (including the Island of <a href="https://www.sydneyandavis.com/destination/ultimate-guide-to-boipeba-island-brazil">Boipeba</a>).
So there you have it, JFC&ndash;ers! A Flight Finder&ndash;approved bunch of breathtaking destinations all over Brazil. Wherever you end up deciding to go, don't forget to try dadinhos de tapioca and a&ccedil;a&iacute;.
<a href="https://en.pons.com/translate/portuguese-english/boa+viagem">Boa viagem!</a>

Travel Inspiration

"SIM card for Dubai. I&rsquo;m staying 10 days. I bought an Airalo one for Belize and couldn&rsquo;t get it to work, so I am hoping someone can recommend one."

Detour Editor Katy&nbsp;is a seasoned budget traveller living in Scotland with her husband and two cats. She has already been to over 50 countries, and when she&rsquo;s not writing up travel inspo for The Detour, she&rsquo;s usually researching her next trip.

Answered by Katy

Hey there, reader! This is a great question. Travel SIMs are all the rage these days, and eSIMS like the ones Airalo offer are incredibly handy &mdash; if you can get them to work!
To start with, it&rsquo;s important to know that not all phones support eSIMs yet. I, personally, am in the unlucky eSIM-less camp, and it&rsquo;s a total pain having to acquire a physical SIM whenever I travel. If I know I&rsquo;ll need data as soon as I land and might not have time to pick up a SIM at the airport, I usually order one from <a href="https://simcorner.com/">SimCorner</a> before I travel.
However, Dubai is actually an interesting exception here, since you can pick up a <a href="https://www.timeoutdubai.com/news/dubai-tourist-sim-card">free SIM card</a> when you arrive at the airport. These SIMs come with 1 GB of data to get you started, then you can pick which package you&rsquo;ll need for the rest of the trip.
The downside to all this is that picking up a physical SIM does involve waiting in line, you often have to register a bunch of details, and then you need to spend time messing around with phone parts. If you don&rsquo;t have a dual SIM, you&rsquo;ll even need to remember which &ldquo;safe place&rdquo; you put your usual SIM in. It&rsquo;s&nbsp;a lot.

If your phone does support an eSIM, I say go for that over a physical SIM any day! A quick survey of our Flight Finders showed that most of the gang have used Airalo on their travels without any hassle. Not that that helps you, dear reader!&nbsp;
Our JFC Tech Guru Richard tends to use a handy <a href="https://esimscompare.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/?pages=1">eSIM comparison site like this</a> to find the best deal and go from there. You&rsquo;ll see a load of unfamiliar names on the list, many of which are local network providers &mdash; I&rsquo;d suggest a quick Google to see which one offers the best coverage.
Once you&rsquo;ve picked your eSIM package, it&rsquo;s usually as easy as downloading a QR code and registering the SIM on your device. It should all be doable in a matter of minutes!
Hopefully that&rsquo;s given you a couple of ideas, reader! Happy travels in Dubai, and don&rsquo;t forget to sent us a postcard :-)&nbsp;
Do you have a question for our Flight Finders? Let us know below!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week. 
<ul>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-xhcohm css-xhcohm">Looks like Ireland's most famous attraction, <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0207/1495264-cliffs-of-moher-trail/">the Cliffs of Moher</a>, are taking a gap year! Most of the trail is shutting down until 2026 thanks to some seriously sketchy spots. For now, you'll have to enjoy the views from a safe distance &mdash; or <a href="https://theinquisitiverobot.com/cliffs-of-moher-alternative/">find another cliff just as mighty as Moher</a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Air New Zealand is finally making the dream of sleeping horizontally in economy a reality&mdash;only took six years! Their <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/air-new-zealand-is-bringing-lie-flat-beds-to-economy">new Skynest bunk beds</a> are landing in early 2026, get ready to fight for the top bunk at 30,000 feet.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-xhcohm css-xhcohm">Eurostar's direct London-Amsterdam route is back &mdash; well, for the next seven weeks anyway. Thereafter, it'll be briefly suspended again from March 29,&nbsp;<a href="https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/10/eurostar-resumes-direct-train-amsterdam-london-a-catch-22530807/">before making a permanent comeback</a> on April 22. Just in time for summer flings and stroopwafels. That's not all though, from March 31 Paris' <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/06/breathtaking-train-route-25-ticket-relaunching-two-major-european-cities-22510730/">incredibly picturesque</a> direct train to Milan will relaunch after being closed for 2 years. The best part? With one-way fares as low as &pound;25.33, these panoramic views come at a bargain!</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li class="MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-xhcohm css-xhcohm">And lastly, Ed Sheeran Unplugged ft Bengaluru Police just dropped <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8lnnge8po">live on the streets of India</a>. The cop must've been a Swiftie.</li>
</ul>

Lazy Planner's Guide to Brazil Bumper Special

Kyrgyzstan

Costa Rica

Hello there, JFC-ers!
This week&rsquo;s travel news has been dominated by one of the things I find most important when I travel &mdash; food! Except it&rsquo;s been less about what you must try, and more about what everyone else wishes they hadn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re talking about the least popular foods around the world, the ones that leave locals and visitors alike feeling a little queasy. Scandinavian classics take quite the hit <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Infographics/comments/1i07qa7/worst_rated_dishes_in_the_the_world/">on this list</a>, alongside the supposed British fave, jellied eels, and Chile&rsquo;s unassuming potato bread.
I can&rsquo;t say I&rsquo;ll argue with the eels, but coming for Scotland&rsquo;s deep-fried pizza is a step too far, Taste Atlas. No doubt a few of you will take the ratings as a challenge instead of a cautionary tale, and when you do, be sure to send us your reviews!
Tasty travels and safe landings,

For Christmas in 2022, British Airways gifted us a missed connection, a lost suitcase and a thousand hours on the phone with their call centre. However, I can say that this year, they redeemed themselves.
It all started on Christmas Eve, at 11.30am, at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.&nbsp;
Ready to spend the holidays in Qu&eacute;bec with my boyfriend's family, we showed up at the British Airways check-in counter to get our Paris-London-Montr&eacute;al tickets printed (online check-in wasn&rsquo;t possible due to my European passport). Our&nbsp;spirits were high &mdash; we were fresh out of a night at an airport hotel, a rogue choice for us, but designed to help with my boyfriend's fear of flying.
You may be thinking: a Qu&eacute;b&eacute;cois, living in Europe, with a travel-addict girlfriend, and stuck with a huge fear of flying? Yeah&hellip; we're working on it.

Surprisingly, there was no queue at the counter, and we were welcomed by a smiley man with a strong French accent: "vos passeports, s'ils vous pla&icirc;t!"
As our duo of red and blue passports went through the scanner, the gentleman&rsquo;s face quickly became sombre, and his eyes went straight to his boss, who was working right beside him. &ldquo;Ils sont pas la&hellip;&rdquo; he whispered in a concerned tone. The supervisor had a look at the screen, and then went on, "Maybe we could&hellip; nah, that's too late. What about&hellip;? Okay, no &mdash; You&rsquo;ll have to call London..."
Still traumatized by our 2022 misadventure, I glanced into my boyfriend's eyes &mdash; what does it mean we're not on it? We're not on what?! The turkey is already in the oven, cooking for us&hellip;
Yes, I know what you're thinking &mdash; Fran, you're flying on the 24th of December, what did you expect? True, but for a &euro;360 return ticket, we accepted that we might not make it in time for Christmas dinner.
&ldquo;You're not registered on the flight between London and Montr&eacute;al. I can see your ticket, but you don't have seats associated with your reservation. I'm going to call London to see what we can do about it.&rdquo;
As I listened to the man telling us what was happening, all the possible options passed in front of my eyes: is the flight overbooked? Are there gonna be flights on the 25th? Did I somehow mess up the reservation?
Five looooong minutes later, our pal looked at us, smiled, and cheerfully said, "sorted!" 
After a sigh of relief, I placed my elbows on the counter and whispered cheekily, &ldquo;Well, after that fright, the least you could do is to put us in business class!&rdquo; To which he answered, &ldquo;Yes, I'm just going to get your tickets printed here.&rdquo;
F&eacute;lix and I looked at each other with an &ldquo;okay, he didn't get the joke&rdquo; expression. F&eacute;lix clarified, &ldquo;No, she meant &mdash; as a joke &mdash; because of all of this stress, the least you could do now is to give us business class seats&hellip;&rdquo;
&ldquo;Well, yes! You&rsquo;re already in business class. Actually, you may even be First, let me check&hellip;&rdquo;
Our faces lit up &mdash; this stuff only existed on TikTok, or for fancy influencers. Was it actually happening to us as well?

And there we were, jumping for joy in the Charles de Gaulle security lines, in disbelief at having had our longest leg, the flight between London and Montr&eacute;al, upgraded to the highest possible class on the plane. I&rsquo;m talking lie-flat seats, bottomless champagne, filet mignon served on actual plates, with proper cutlery&hellip; ah, what a dream!
After the swift 50-minute flight to Heathrow, we headed straight to Terminal 5&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/lounges/business">business class lounge</a>. A quick cuppa and a perfectly moist slice of carrot cake later, we went to our gate. Surprisingly, the gate wasn&rsquo;t busy, so we couldn&rsquo;t test our fast-track business class perk. However, when the hostess saw our tickets, magic started happening.
Our seats were in the <a href="https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/travel-classes/club-world">Club World</a> cabin, in a three-seat central composition with no window access (sadly). 
We turned left after crossing the plane&rsquo;s threshold and were greeted by three smiley stewards. Once our cabin bags were in the huge storage compartment, a tray filled with glasses of champagne, apple juice, and water appeared before our eyes. A big pillow, a plastic bag with a pair of headphones, as well as two thick blankets packed in a &lsquo;The White Company&rsquo; bag, were placed on our seats.
On our way into the cabin, I had noticed that someone was chatting with the two pilots in the cockpit, so I tried my luck and asked the flight attendant if F&eacute;lix and I could take a peek, too. She smiled and said, &ldquo;of course!&rdquo;. So we went in and, after introducing ourselves, received information about the flight, weather conditions, and just made some casual conversation. Let&rsquo;s say, meeting the two people responsible for your life definitely made F&eacute;lix feel a bit more relaxed.
Back in our seats, I lifted the blurred plastic divider between me and the stranger sitting on my left, before cheers-ing to our luck and having a look at the daily menu for our flight.

The seat was very spacious, extremely comfortable, with a great reclining function and a big footrest (reachable only when the seat was lying flat). At the bottom left, a drawer was filled with a plastic bottle of water, and a &lsquo;The White Company&rsquo; beauty case &mdash; inside, we found some moisturiser, lip balm, ear plugs, a toothbrush + toothpaste kit, a pair of socks and a soft eye mask.
As F&eacute;lix and I were finishing our second glass of champagne, the hostess came around to ask us if we wanted a cocktail after take-off &mdash; as you might expect, of course we did!
Five minutes after take-off, our drinks arrived (both turned out to be delicious!) and we were asked if we were ready to order our meals, which were served around 30 minutes later. As proper foodies, F&eacute;lix and I decided to try as many plates as possible, so we ordered:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Smoked salmon and avocado timbale and Italian burrata as starters</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Herefordshire beef fillet and the Traditional Christmas Dinner (how could we not?!) as main courses</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">BA&rsquo;s selection of artisan cheese, served with savoury crackers, caramelised apple and onion chutney and Fresh seasonal fruit as dessert</li>
</ul>
Each service was accompanied by a different type of wine, offered right after the dish landed in front of us &mdash; chef&rsquo;s kiss. The food was nice, the starters were a bit too cold for our taste, and the turkey slightly dry, but overall a great meal for a plane. (Special mention for the beef fillet!)
After filling my belly with all that glorious food, I just had to try the lie-flat seat. So I got all wrapped up in the blanket, put the earplugs in and eye mask on, and closed my eyes. The result? BA&rsquo;s lie-flat seats are definitely JFC approved &mdash; I slept for two and a half hours, waking up just in time for a cup of tea and a delicious chocolate muffin before landing!

While I was dreaming about the very snowy Montr&eacute;al we were flying towards, F&eacute;lix made the best of the in-flight entertainment on the 17&rdquo; adjustable screen. While he did enjoy spending a couple of hours watching a Korean drama, the selection of films and games was nothing special, just what you&rsquo;d expect from economy.
As our Club World experience came to an end, I was gifted a bar of toffee &mdash; I didn&rsquo;t know I liked toffee, but now I&rsquo;m addicted, thanks BA! &mdash; and an extremely relaxed F&eacute;lix after a 7-hour flight that would usually make him anxious and stressed. Let&rsquo;s just say, they&rsquo;ve earned my forgiveness for that lost suitcase from two years ago!
And although he couldn&rsquo;t bag us a Club World seat on our flight home, I&rsquo;d like to give a special shout out to our Cabin Manager, Richard. He treated us like royalty in business class, and even sent us goodie bags on our return flight, despite being all the way back in row 37. Thank you!

Travel Tales

Where We've Been and Where We're Going

Today we're wrapping up our top tips from the JFC team about where we loved visiting in 2024, and where we're looking forward to in 2025.&nbsp;
Fran - Flight Finder
Top trip of 2024? I loved Itacar&eacute; in Bahia, Brazil. A friend of mine lives there, and I was curious to visit him and tick Bahia off my bucket list. It was so, so, so special because it's an insanely gorgeous place. Plus, I learnt how to surf, and now I'm hooked!
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? Sri Lanka, to discover the surfing scene in the south of the country. Plus, an extra trip back to Bahia if we find a good deal :-)
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? Salvador in Bahia! And maybe some Mongolia?

Allan - Flight Finding Team Lead
Top trip of 2024? I have a few: a month in Europe that culminated in a beautiful few days in Edinburgh; traveling up to Montpelier, Vermont, for the solar eclipse in April and sleeping in a random New Hampshire lodge; and spending a lovely few days in San Juan.&nbsp;
But I'm giving it to Toronto for being the perfect weekend trip from New York City and just being so gosh darn pretty. Take that ferry over to the islands in Lake Ontario, you won't regret it.&nbsp; I went in 2017 for a few days, but I was visiting family that lived in the suburbs, so it didn't feel like I was in the city. We did Niagara and saw the CN Tower, but there was more to see.&nbsp;
This time, I flew up on a Saturday morning and came back on a Sunday night, managing to fit in the Islands, a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre and a walk around Kensington market. It was a perfect getaway and I found the city so, so beautiful. Plus, I got to meet fellow Flight Finder Olivia there, so it was a jam-packed, fun-filled few days.
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? I'm really looking forward to going to Rome for the first time, after visiting other parts of Italy in 2024. But I'm most excited for Colombia, because I haven't traveled to South America in almost a decade. Being from Miami, I'm pretty aware of the culture and speak Spanish, so the learning curve won't be huge, and I'll be able to tick a new country off my list.
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? I'm waiting so patiently for Tokyo from the East Coast of the US. Literally anywhere in the East Coast; I will take a train/flight down to make Japan come true.

Kash - Flight Finder
Top trip of 2024? Scoring a budget-friendly Pegasus deal was the perfect excuse to check a multi-day horse trek in Kyrgyzstan off my bucket list. What made this adventure so unforgettable was how raw and untamed it felt&mdash;far from the polished paths of over-touristed destinations. The landscapes were nothing short of spectacular, and even though I spent most of the trip battling a nasty illness, I couldn&rsquo;t help but feel deeply grateful to experience such wild, untouched beauty.
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? JFC's company meet-up in Italy! It&rsquo;ll be so great to meet everyone in person for the first time.
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? China, please!
Katy - The Detour Editor
Top trip of 2024? Obviously, it has to be my honeymoon! Firstly, it was really interesting to experience a totally different kind of travel on a cruise, and get a taste of so many spots around the Caribbean. My fave stop was definitely Mexico, which 1000% deserves more than just a day trip &mdash; watch this space!
And then the dream of being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras came true. The parades were loud, colourful and vibrant. The locals were incredibly welcoming and chatty as we stood together for hours on the streets. The food was rich and tasty. The only thing I&rsquo;d do differently there is stay for longer and drink fewer alcoholic slushies from Bourbon Street pizza joints.

After all that, Costa Rica truly was an antidote and the icing on the cake. Lush cloud forests and stunning wildlife lined every winding mountain road. Plus, the long drives into the mountains were a great opportunity to blow the cobwebs off my Spanish skills with our drivers.
Where are you looking forward to in 2025? I&rsquo;m reeeeally excited to go to Vietnam in February! It&rsquo;ll be my first foray into Southeast Asia, so I&rsquo;m looking forward to experiencing a completely new culture, eating more summer rolls and b&aacute;nh mi than is advisable, and seeing those epic landscapes for myself.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Anywhere you&rsquo;re hoping we find an error fare for? If I see flights to Chile for &pound;300 or less, I will book first, think later!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">For those of you well and truly over the booking.coms and Airbnbs of it all, check out <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/jan/15/a-break-from-the-accommodation-mega-sites-the-best-alternative-booking-platforms">these accommodation platforms</a> trying to do things a little differently. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">After decades of Soviet irrigation projects led to the<a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/AralSea"> near disappearance of Central Asia&rsquo;s Aral Sea</a>, Kazakhstan is reporting that the volume of water in the <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kazakhstan-says-part-aral-sea-173108534.html">Northern Aral Sea has nearly doubled</a> since 2008. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ever wondered what it takes to be a pilot?&nbsp;<a href="https://simpleflying.com/thread/i-was-a-commercial-pilot-for-51-years-ask-me-anything/">This Ask Me Anything thread</a> has pretty much all the answers! </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">And finally, it turns out that taking a stroll through the grounds of the University of Florida is not for the faint of heart. Most universities have interesting art on campus, but things get real interesting down in Gainesville when you stumble upon the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/some-were-quite-blind">&ldquo;Some Were Quite Blind&rdquo;</a> sculpture collection outside the Animal Science Building. Let&rsquo;s just say, they&rsquo;ll make you stand bolt upright&hellip;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Cocktails and cutlery at 38,000 ft 

Peru

Colombia

Navigating the Amazon in three weeks - An Insider’s Guide

Taiwan

Israel

Poland

Ask people about their favourite part of a holiday and, unsurprisingly, food and the dining experience will often feature high on the list. However, travelling with any sort of dietary requirement or preference can make the experience stressful, even more so when you don&rsquo;t speak the language! The good news is that vegan and vegetarian lifestyles have long been the norm in some regions, and are gaining in popularity in others, meaning it&rsquo;s getting easier to enjoy authentic cuisine without compromise.
If you&rsquo;re looking for where to put on your short-list with tasty food in mind, here&rsquo;s a roundup of some of the best places to visit for a successful vegetarian or vegan foodie holiday.
Please note: While we have included a few links in this post to other websites, none are affiliated with us and we don&rsquo;t receive anything if you click on them - we just find them extra useful :)
<h2>Taiwan</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/46fbe2005e03d7802bc851b0da803b176745215b" alt="Steamed Dumplings" width="740" height="555">
Often considered one of the most vegan-friendly places on the planet, the Taiwanese Buddhists follow a similar diet to veganism and are widely catered to, with many traditional foods already free of animal products. The Taiwanese government also actively encourages a reduced meat diet and has strict food labelling standards that make it easier to identify food that meets various dietary needs. This rich history in vegan cuisine means vegan-specific restaurants, as well as street food vendors, market stalls, and grocery stores can be found throughout the country.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Sesame noodles, steamed dumplings, shao bing (flatbread), stinky tofu (the pungent aroma comes from being marinated in fermented bean curd, but luckily most people agree it tastes better than it smells!).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Taipei: Sh&agrave;ng Dǐng Hu&aacute;ngJiā (Vegan street stall selling dumplings and buns), Yiihotang Bakery, Vege Creek (Vegan build-your-own noodle restaurant, with multiple branches throughout Taipei), Flourish.

<h2>Bali</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/3f7efcce5ec1a27fece29c7e1465c08710363a09" alt="Traditional Indonesian Cuisine" width="740" height="555">
Traditional Indonesian cuisine is pretty veg-centred from the get-go, and when combined with the holistic tourism focus throughout Bali, it delivers a vegetarian and vegan heaven. Bali also gets points as it&rsquo;s easy to find restaurants catering to both across the island and English is widely spoken. Popular areas Ubud and Canggu have particularly impressive offerings, with trendy new eateries opening all the time. It&rsquo;s also worth checking out the cooking schools on the island, a number will offer vegetarian-specific classes so you can recreate a piece of your holiday once you return home and make for a lasting introduction to the culture of the region.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Gado gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), tempe goreng (marinated tempeh), bakwan (vegetable fritters), rujak (fruit/veggie salad).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Bali: Moksa Ubud (Ubud), Bali Buda (Cafe and shop with branches across Bali), Living Food Lab (Canggu), Give Cafe (A Canggu not-for-profit cafe offering plant based Indonesian dishes), Sayuri Healing Food (Restaurant and cooking school in Ubud), KYND Community (Seminyak).

<h2>Israel <img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/ca8e77c6517e902fea5441cf9d4298e3223fbf01" alt="Humus Israel Cuisine" width="740" height="555"></h2>
Israel has the highest percentage of vegans in the world (estimated at 5-8% of the total population) and Tel Aviv has a tonne of cool vegan eateries as a result. Variety is key here, and you will find a blend of Israeli, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Western cuisines in the vegan and vegetarian eateries dotted throughout the city centre. Restaurants range from fine dining to fast food, and there are a few vegan delis and grocery stores for supplies on the go, so this location is great at any budget.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Falafel, hummus, sabich (stuffed pita bread), baba ganoush (eggplant dip), halva (sesame confection).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Tel Aviv: Anastasia, Falafel Mevorach, Goodness (Vegan diner providing comfort food - mushroom nuggets are a must), Tenat (Vegan Ethiopian restaurant with regular live jazz music).
<h2>Poland</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/66e3b04b91d0a7f092e8f6dc0df9cd5fe2b6ce77" alt="Fried beets Poland" width="740" height="555">
Polish food may not bring to mind a plethora of vegetable-based dishes, but Poland is in fact one of the most vegan friendly countries in Europe! They boast a rapidly growing number of fully vegan restaurants across the country, and veganism is well understood and catered for. Many of these eateries offer cuisine from across the globe, though you will also find that several traditional Polish dishes are naturally meat or animal product free. Unlike many other countries, vegan preferences have spread beyond the main cities and you are likely to find suitable meals in most places (especially those popular with tourists). Warsaw and Krakow do, of course, provide the largest choice - boasting extras such as vegan bakeries and grocery stores as well.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Pierogi (dumplings), grillowane warzywa (grilled veggies), risotto z grzybami (mushroom risotto), buraczki zasmażane (fried beets), kisiel (fruit dessert).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Poland: Youmiko Vegan Sushi (Warsaw), Vege Bistro (Warsaw cafe specialising in vegan versions of classic Polish dishes), Krowarzywa (locations throughout Poland), Lokal Dela Krem (Warsaw bakery).

<h2>India</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/d701d815bb90b37a2a50b1f28abb964f54afa83b" alt="Vegan Indian Cuisine" width="740" height="555">
India is one of the most vegetarian friendly nations out there, with over half a billion residents identifying as vegetarian. Vegan travellers will still find dairy products quite prevalent in Indian cuisine - think ghee (clarified butter) and paneer (soft cheese). However, it is getting easier to find vegan-friendly options, with Chennai in particular seeing a recent increase in vegan restaurants. If you&rsquo;re a fan of going out for a curry already, you know they can all be prepared with vegetables and chickpeas - and they only get more delicious when you try them in India!
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Onion bhaji, dahl, chana masala (chickpea curry), pani puri (filled dough balls), palak paneer (spinach curry), chikki (nut brittle).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in India: Saravana Bhavan (Locations throughout India), Burma Burma (Locations throughout India), Earth Cafe (Mumbai), Bhaja Govindam (New Delhi), Tamu Tamu (Chennai).

<h2>Sri Lanka</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/57c58e8bdcb1242724c47fd92b129d9d3868a111" alt="Jacfruit Curries Sri Lanka" width="740" height="554">
Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options can be found throughout Sri Lanka and not only in the big cities. There are several religions represented throughout the country and an expectation of varied food requirements as a result. English is widely spoken and, while the term &ldquo;vegan&rdquo; may not be well known, vegetarianism is common. Due to less prevalence of dairy in their cuisine, you can find many dishes that are vegan by default; of course, it&rsquo;s always best to double check as ghee can sometimes be used instead of oil for frying, and milk powder is added to coconut milk in some instances.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Jackfruit curries, mallung (green leaves salad), kiribath (coconut white rice), string hoppers (rice flour dough cakes), kesari (semolina pudding).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Sri Lanka: The VOV (Colombo), Ranbath (Colombo), Balaju Dosai (several outlets in Kandy), Amirthaa (Colombo), Sriyani (Colombo vegetarian restaurant with buffet and bakery options).

<h2>Brazil</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/6ac1cc30bee494f5c6ab57ec7e0a5be7f41f123d" alt="Acai Bowl Brazil" width="740" height="555">
Although many Brazilians still eat meat every day, the sheer volume and diversity of inhabitants (particularly in the big cities) means there is an increasing awareness of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. Foodie hotspot S&atilde;o Paulo definitely tops the list with many well-established vegan specific restaurants, ice cream shops and fast food options. Outside of the cities, people are less likely to be familiar even with vegetarianism, but beans, rice, and vegetables are staples of the Brazilian diet and will be found almost anywhere. Brush up on your Portuguese so you can check for sneaky additions like pork fat, which is often used to add flavour to bean stews.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Polenta, beans and rice, a&ccedil;a&iacute; bowls, pa&ccedil;oca (peanut candy), goiabada (guava dessert).
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Brazil: Banana Verde (S&atilde;o Paulo), Dona Vitamina (S&atilde;o Paulo), Bio Carioca (Rio de Janeiro), Camarader&iacute;a Gastrobar (Belo Horizonte).

<h2>Thailand</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/6a7b3170fbc150b2cd20349552cb3385a9d40960" alt="Vegan Pad Thai" width="740" height="555">
Thai cuisine has been plant-based from the get-go, owing largely to the cruelty-free philosophy of devout Buddhists in the country. Over time animal products have been widely introduced, however, it is still easy to find restaurants with vegan (&ldquo;kin jay&rdquo; in Thai) or vegetarian (&ldquo;mangsawirat&rdquo;) offerings. The country&rsquo;s foodie hotspot, Chiang Mai, has long been home to a tonne of suitable restaurants, and they have new eateries popping up all the time. Fish sauce or shrimp paste are common flavorings so you will still need to be diligent, and expect eating out in the busy street markets to be challenging. A must-do when visiting Thailand is going to a cooking class, and you&rsquo;ll find plenty of schools that cater exclusively to vegetarian and vegan diets, with classes ranging from traditional dishes and desserts through to making tofu from scratch.
Local Foods that are often Vegan or Vegetarian: Gang jay (vegetarian curry), laab jay (vegan spicy salad), pad thai, som tum (papaya salad), pad phuk tong (stir-fried pumpkin), mango sticky rice.
Popular Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants in Thailand: May Kaidee (vegetarian restaurants and cooking schools in Bangkok and Chiang Mai), Goodsouls Kitchen (Chiang Mai), Chuan Siang (Chiang Mai), Vistro (Bangkok), Barefood Bangkok (restaurant specialising in homemade nut cheeses), The Vegan Table (Phuket).

<h3>Tips and tricks no matter where you&rsquo;re visiting</h3>
Even if you are touring a country that caters more to vegetarianism and veganism than average, it&rsquo;s not always smooth sailing - particularly when you come up against a language barrier. On the flipside, destinations that aren&rsquo;t known for their plant based cuisine shouldn&rsquo;t be considered impossible to visit. With some preparation you&rsquo;ll be all set to get your munch on, wherever you end up! Here are a few things to consider:
<h4>Use apps to your advantage</h4>
Numerous apps have sprouted up dedicated to the vegetarian and vegan food scenes, and are helpful to speed up the search for the best foodie spots on your travels. <a href="https://www.happycow.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Happy Cow</a> is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and covers restaurants, as well as stores, hotels and resorts. There are also vegan specific restaurant apps, such as <a href="https://www.vanilla-bean.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanilla Bean</a> and <a href="https://www.abillionveg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abillionveg</a>. Be sure to check out The Vegan Society&rsquo;s<a href="The Best Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Places to Visit Around the World" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Passport</a> for a handy multilingual phrasebook app.
<h4>Overcome the language barrier</h4>
Bring cards printed with your dietary needs translated into the local language(s) of your destination &ndash; not everyone will understand the term &ldquo;vegan&rdquo; so instead try translating a list of specific foods you avoid, e.g. &ldquo;I do not eat meat, seafood, dairy, eggs&rdquo;. These <a href="https://www.maxlearning.net/HEALth/V-Cards.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">V-cards</a> can be saved to your phone, but it&rsquo;s also a good idea to have printed copies as a backup.
<h4>Find a space for DIY meals</h4>
Booking accommodation that has cooking facilities, such as a serviced apartment, Airbnb or even hostels, will allow you the flexibility to cook for yourself and takes the pressure off having to find a suitable place to eat out for every meal. You can also make the most of local markets to create versions of the region&rsquo;s specialities without meat or animal products, if you can&rsquo;t find suitable options at restaurants!
<h4>Bring an emergency food stash</h4>
Take some key supplies with you from home. Pack your favourite dry and tinned ingredients if you are unsure if they will be available at your destination (only if you&rsquo;ll have cooking facilities available, of course!). Bringing snacks such as protein bars will ensure you never get caught out on travel days.
<h4>Keep up those nutrients</h4>
Pack supplements (such as B12 and iron) to keep healthy on the road, even if you don&rsquo;t usually need them at home. This one is particularly important to avoid deficiencies on long journeys when you may struggle to find your usual food sources of essential nutrients.
<h4>Connect with locals</h4>
Join local groups, such as on Facebook (for example, try searching &ldquo;Vegans in [your destination]&rdquo;), to connect with fellow vegans and vegetarians for the most up-to-date advice on where to eat and shop.


With these tips and a little preparation we hope you can enjoy a stress-free and vege-filled holiday. If you&rsquo;re not already a member at Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club, click here to join, we&rsquo;ve shared cheap flights to all of the destinations mentioned in this post in the past. Let us know about your favourite vegan- and vegetarian-friendly holiday spots - and send us your best food snaps!

. . .
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