Jack's Flight Club βοΈ Travel News & Inspiration
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The season has definitely turned here in Scotland, and to say Iβm looking forward to stealing back a little extra warmth in Georgia next week would be an understatement. While I enjoy the crispness of autumn and winter air, surely nobody looks forward to the day they have to turn the heating on again?
That day was Wednesday, in case youβre wondering.
Itβs little wonder that so many people have taken to digital nomadism, really β heading abroad for months at a time, following the sunshine and exploring the world while working on the road. Unsurprisingly, a few of the JFC team know the lifestyle well.
But did you know that the concept actually dates back to the β90s? Even before the internet and remote working became commonplace, digital nomads were out there living their best lives.
So, tell me, readers β who among you has lived the digital nomad life? Where are you now, and how do you choose where to go next? Weβd love to hear from you, so please get in touch!
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Happy travels and safe landings,
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By Katy
A seasoned budget traveller, Editor Katy has already been to every country in the EU, and is gradually ticking off the rest of the world - when she can bear to leave her cats.
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Earlier this year, I went to Jamaica for the first time. As just one of a few stops on the week-long Caribbean cruise I took as part of my honeymoon, it was a pretty swift 8-hour visit, but it still lent me a snapshot of life in Falmouth. Once an important colonial port and market town, the whole place now revolves around welcoming thousands of cruise passengers at a time.
The (very pricey) cruise excursions on offer covered everything from rum tasting to river tubing and reggae, all of which would no doubt have been great. However, our limited time convinced us that weβd be better taking matters into our own hands and seeing more of the city itself than the inside of a bus (we had plenty of opportunity for that in Mexico).
Researching Falmouth quickly revealed that most Jamaican cruise ports have a poor reputation for safety, and many passengers opt to stay within the constructed tourist town surrounding the ship. Knowing that many regular cruise travellers have slightly different attitudes to travel and new cultures than my own, I took it with a pinch of salt and decided weβd join a city walking tour.
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We escaped the throngs of other cruisers milling around the port, which was sandwiched between the two mega ships docked that day, and found several tour guides in white shirts waiting by the exit. D smiled and waved us over, ready to go, with a group of 4 already in tow.
We set off along the street, hearing all about the townβs history as a hub for the slave trade and the figures that profited from it. We were guided around well-preserved churches with stained-glass windows and pews made from wood that came all the way from Liverpool. And, of course, taken via the obligatory souvenir stalls and jerk chicken shops.
Best of all, we met so many friendly faces our guide knew along the way. A few were tickled by my blue hair, others were just pleased to chat to someone from Scotland (most tourists there come from North America). In the company of D, everyone was our friend.
He guided us down towards the beach, pointing out a football field where Bob Marley used to play, before leading us into the local fishing village. The shore was lined with old wooden boats, canoes, and fishing nets in front of a maze of wooden shacks, a family of puppies running around and yapping playfully.
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A couple greeted us, and D ushered us all in to sit at their makeshift bar, where they immediately plonked down a bottle of 60% volume rum and some plastic tumblers. It was only around 10:30 am, but who were we to say no? And the Jamaican hospitality didnβt end there, as our guide offered around another variety of home-grown speciality (that one, we could smell coming).
We sat and chatted to our hosts for around 20 minutes, hearing about their lives there, the trouble that recent storms had caused for the fishermen. And then we were on our way again, toddling merrily towards our ship. And to our surprise, the morning tipple was completely on the house.
I asked D to take us via a cash machine, so I could withdraw money to tip him. As with all free walking tours, your guide operates on tips, and ours had certainly earned one. But then came the awkward moment when he asked, βHow much are you planning to take out?β
I paused, uncertain how best to deal with the situation. βIβm not sure,β I lied. I had planned to withdraw around $50. Then he said, β$250 per person is normal, thatβs what most people give me.β I had to stop myself from laughing. To this day, I donβt know whether he was being serious or just testing his luck, but $250pp was not what he got.
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That final interaction left a weird taste in my mouth (or maybe that was the rum?), but overall, it felt like the most authentic taste of the island that we could possibly get in such a limited time. Back in the port area, we rounded off the experience with some juicy Jamaican patties and an overpriced local beer before setting sail for Grand Cayman.
I wasnβt the only member of the JFC team to visit Jamaica for the first time this year, either. Henry from our Member Experience team fulfilled a childhood dream when he spent a couple of weeks there with his partner.
Much like me, he wanted to get away from the resorts a little and see more of the country:
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βMy favourite place was a spot called Bull Bay. We spent time with locals every day, learned about the history of the country and about people such as Bob Marley. We also learnt how big a part Rastafarianism plays in Jamaican culture β much more than I originally thought.
Get to know the locals and stay in Airbnbs etc. Hotel Resorts will prevent you from seeing and learning about the real Jamaica. Like a lot of places, you should do your research before travelling, but the locals will help you get around, figure out what bus to take, where you should go that tourists don't know about generally. If you are lucky enough, they will go with you so you don't get lost.
Definitely try the rum, jerky, goat and Red Stripe beer, and enjoy wandering along the amazing beaches. And of course, visit the Usain Bolt restaurant in Montego Bay for any sporting events, and the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston!β
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Answered by Fran
Flight Finder Fran is an Italian globetrotter with a passion for remote destinations and snacking. Currently based in Brussels, she can tell you where to find the yummiest fries around.
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Hey, reader! I visited Seoul this spring and I reeeeally loved it β I only spent five full days there, but here are a few tips I wanna share with you for when you visit:
1. Cherry blossom season is incredible in Seoul, but mother natureβs attitude is (naturally) very unpredictable!
My mum and I visited at the very end of March specifically to hit cherry season, as every possible blossom forecast website suggested. However, the week right before we landed in Seoul was surprisingly cold and killed alllllll the tiny flower buds that were patiently hanging on the branches.
The result? We ended up seeing one (1) tree in bloom β was that even a cherry? If not, please donβt let me know β but the city was kind of packed already for the blooming season.
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Now, Iβm fully convinced Seoul must be quite impressive covered in baby-pink petals, but if I were to go back to South Korea (which Iβll probably do soon!), Iβd try to fly there for the fall foliage. The red, orange, and yellow hues typically last about 4 to 6 weeks, which will give you more flexibility (and fewer tourists) in case mother nature decides to do her thing π
And since weβre talking about fall foliageβ¦
2. Changdeokgung (not so) Secret Garden β is the (compulsory) tour worth it?
In a few words β yes, absolutely! That said, our guide explained that this side of the garden is at its most impressive during the autumn because of the hundreds of maples and ginkgos that thrive there. Even during cherry blossom season, the garden doesnβt get as impressive as in the fall β or on a snowy winter day!
Important: Make sure to book your tickets in advance (especially if youβre aiming to visit during the weekend), since there are only a few English-language tours a day, and they tend to sell out quickly.
3. Hanbok Rentals
When we arrived in front of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul, I was surprised to see so many people wearing the traditional Korean dress β the hanbok. As soon as I realised that most of the people wearing them were tourists, the surprise turned into a weirder, controversial feeling.
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Thanks to our guide, I discovered later on in the day that the South Korean government has been encouraging tourists to wear traditional clothes in historical places over the last few years. And, to further convince foreigners to do so, the government allows free (or discounted) access to most museums and galleries if you show up in a hanbok.
Although we did not rent them, you may want to consider it if youβre trying to tick off some tourist sights without breaking the bank.
4. Restaurant Reservations
For some of you whoβve already been to Japan, this may sound familiarβ¦
Itβs almost never possible to book a restaurant table in Seoul. In most cases, it works on a first come, first served basis. Restaurants tend to have a tiny screen outside the door, which lets you add yourself to a waiting list (usually also displaying an average waiting time, depending on your position on the list).
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Now, if you have any particular restaurant on your bucket list (especially when it comes to Korean BBQs, yum!) plan to pass by the restaurant at least 30/45 minutes before your desired dinner time, and get ready to wait β but not necessarily in front of the restaurant doorβ¦
Follow the localsβ way β if you have to wait longer than 20 minutes, take a stroll around the neighbourhood, or go for a drink. The queue-bot will send you a message or email when your table is ready!
Hopefully, these tips will be helpful for planning your South Korean escapades. Oh, and donβt forget to book a free walking tour on your first/second day β thatβll ease your way into the city and provide you with plenty of up-to-date tips.
μλ
!
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"You always talk about accommodation. If you take a tent, mattress, and sleeping bag with you, you can stay anywhere for free. And if you take a good quality folding bike with you, it's even better!
I remember a trip to Lanzarote, where we started with bikes from the airport, camped everywhere for free and returned after 2 weeks to the airport β our accommodation cost zero.
Or during my trip with the bus from Germany to Istanbul, and from there with another bus to Marmaris on the south coast of Turkey? My sea kayak, which I could divide into two parts, travelled with me. After kayaking along the coast for 4 months, I took the bus back to Germany again. Again, my accommodation cost zero.
Or the trip along the Andaman coast in Thailand with a folding kayak? Another 4 months, also with the tent and zero accommodation costs!" - Peter
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All these adventures sound excellent, Peter!
There are many among us whose backs can't handle the thought of anything other than a comfy bed. But for anyone else with the urge to get out in the wild and off the beaten path, you can also check out Robin's tips for "car camping", and Lauren's deep dive into the best wild camping spots around the world.
If you have any other tips for avoiding those pricey accommodation costs, hit 'Reply' and let us know!
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π Detour Book Club π
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We're back! The Detour Book Club took a surprise break in September, after spending August imagining sipping wine by the pool with Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence.
It was one of Flight Finder Andreia's holiday reads this summer, here's what she had to say:
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"I started reading this book on a sunny morning flight to Paris, after spending a night trying to sleep on a Burger King bench in Madrid airport. Thankfully, I was randomly upgraded to business class, and that put me right in the mood to start the 18 days of travel ahead. I picked up my Kindle.
Peter Mayle told me, right in the first few paragraphs of the novel, what I needed to know. A British couple moves to the South of France, with dreams of wine, food, and sun β this was the perfect narrative to travel along with.
The book starts in January, with the abrupt death of the fantasy of warmer winters, and I joined Peter and his wife as they learned about the cold Mistral that hits Provence in the early part of the year. And I struggled through the train stations of Belgium while reading about Franceβs hellish bureaucracy. At some point, it also felt like I was dealing with the contractors when I had to adjust my expectations and return home mid-journey for R&R.
By the time spring arrives, the ways of the locals start to settle in, and the menu gets updated to match the season, I already felt as entitled to this couple's property in France as their intruding guests. And not just because of the wine and pool. I got acquainted with these people, their routines. I was engaged in their stories and quirky workaround solutions to everything. This, in part, is what inspired me to book a flight to Albania and resume my trip.
Going through the June-September chapters by the pool and while sipping cocktails in the sea, I must admit, was a charm. Just like in Provence, nothing else was done. I finished the book on my flight home, touching down back home in Portugal as Provence toasted to the New Year. And now Iβm ready to read Mayleβs next books, and catch up with my French friends!"
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She wasn't alone in her appreciation, with reader JBS writing in to say:
"Just confirming I thoroughly enjoyed A Year In Provence, it's a humorous read for exposing cultural differences."
Our next book is one I'm particularly excited about, after several of you, dear Detour readers, recommended it! This month, we're heading off to Peru in Mark Adams' Turn Right at Machu Picchu.
"I read this before we took on the Inca Trail and it was brilliant, made the run up more exciting and again when we were walking to the amazing sight."
I may not have the Inca Trail on my 2025 calendar right now, but we'll find out if that's still the case by the end of this month. Happy reading, bookworms!
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All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.
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- The writers over at CN Traveler have a challenge for us, with 13 stunning spots they reckon weβve never heard of. We only knew 4/13 over here!
- All this chillier weather is putting us right in the mood for these fascinating Nordic tales.
- Bad news for anyone who regularly flies in or out of France β tax increases mean some flights are likely to see a serious price hike as of 2025.
- And finally, spooky season has arrived! And you know what that means? Itβs Spooky Lake Month! TikToker geodesaurus will be taking us around the world in gruesome and fascinating lakes throughout October, and we are absolutely jumping onboard the eerie ride!
It might even be enough to make me download TikTokβ¦
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