Jack's Flight Club ✈️ Travel News & Inspiration |
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We’ve all been there, sitting at the beach or by the pool, and then it’s time to take a dip and cool off. But what do you do about your valuables? You can’t just leave your phone, keys, passport, etc. lying around unattended, after all.\xa0 Earlier this week, AFAR shared an article recommending various products to helpkeep your valuables safeduring those toasty seaside outings this summer. And naturally, that got the JFC team chatting about all their beachy security hacks!\xa0 From burying cash, to secret zip compartments, and even stashing belongings in nappies (unused, we presume), it turns out most of us are pros at the old anti-theft techniques.\xa0 So tell me, how do you do it? Hit ‘Reply’ to share all your top tips (and biggest fails!) in next week’s Detour. |
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The JFC Cruise Conundrum Pt. 2
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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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Last time, we embarked onthe great cruising debate. From the highs of hopping between hard-to-reach islands and endless top-quality service, to the lows of missing out on authentic cultural experiences and a significant carbon footprint, we found plenty to talk about.\xa0 That’s why I decided to save my personal cruise experience—highsandlows—until this week. Back in February, my husband and I took off on our honeymoon. Not satisfied with just one type of holiday, we combined three—a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise, followed by a New Orleans city break over Mardi Gras, before taking to the Costa Rican cloud forest for 5 days.\xa0 Unsurprisingly, a lot of research went into that trip! It quickly became apparent to me that a major factor in how much we’d enjoy the cruise portion of our adventure would come down to the choice of cruise line.\xa0 Pretty unfairly, cruises have a reputation of being purely for an older demographic, or for unadventurous and lazy travellers. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll see that each company and ship has its own vibe. You get expedition cruises around the Arctic and Antarctic, cruises that are essentially music festivals on the ocean, others that cater to young adults or singles. And yes, you get cruises aimed at seniors who want (and deserve!) an easy trip to exciting places. |
We opted to travel with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Much of that was based on the itinerary on offer (Dave was looking for destinations that would remind him of a youth spent playingMonkey Island), but honestly, if we’d just been looking for any old western Caribbean cruise, we could have taken any number of ships.\xa0 What sold us on NCL (aside from the rather agreeable price!) was the more informal approach they take to cruising—getting all dressed up for dinner and worrying about etiquette just wasn’t what we were after. We were more into the late-night stand-up comedy, somewhat embarrassing quiz games (top tip for Brits on American ships—learn whatJeopardyisbeforeyou volunteer to join in!), and the never-ending list of tasty cocktails. Runner-up in our research (and definite potential should we cruise again) was adults-only Virgin Voyages. Among many others, JFC-er Paul thoroughly rated his trip with them, and agreed that it's all about the ship you pick:\xa0 “Did Virgin Voyages as my first cruise in May and loved it. Great way to see different places and was such a fun few days. Think you have to research carefully to see if a certain cruise line is for you, but there is something for everyone. Never thought I'd be a cruise person but now I have 3 more booked over the next few years!” Another common thread with our cruise fans was the safety and entertainment on offer if you’re travelling with kids. From the kids’ club taking care of younger sailors to the well-stocked buffet keeping teens stuffed, it makes things easy in the same way as an all-inclusive resort, but with the added bonus of visiting several of those harder-to-reach spots. |
For what it’s worth, we thoroughly enjoyed our cruise. I had previously taken a Mediterranean cruise that didn’t float my boat(ahem), while Dave had never been on one. But we knew we wanted to do something special, and this was just one part of the larger adventure. That said, we did experience many of the caveats that would be enough to put many travellers off cruising again. In the Bahamas, we landed on NCL’s private island. The pros: all food and drink was included just like on the ship, the sand was powdery and white, the water turquoise and teeming with life. There were plenty of watersports and other activities to choose from, and we managed to grab a tour to an island where you could swim with pigs.\xa0 The cons: hiring snorkelling gear cost an extra \\$40, we had to queue to eat in the same place as the other 4,000-odd passengers, and we didn’t even set foot on an island inhabited by Bahamians. While the pigs were rescues and well-cared-for, with the freedom to escape visitors, they were very much there for the bits of apple provided as snacks, and we were just there to feed them and take pictures.\xa0 Oh, and once the heavens opened, everyone attempted to decant off the island via tender at the same time. You can imagine how that went. In fact, it was so chaotic and soggy that we heard several other passengers swearing off cruises for good. That was only day two! |
We decided we’d go for a locally-operated free walking tour when we docked in Falmouth, Jamaica. Our guide was great, teaching us about the town’s history, taking us to a local fishing village, and generally showing us as much of his town as he could. It felt as different as possible to the constructed tourist town surrounding the port where our ship docked. And then he told us that he expected \\$250 as a tip for the supposedly free walking tour, because that’s what visitors usually give him. We had planned to tip him, of course, but nowhere near that much. It was clear that he was trying his luck, and no doubt it sometimes paid off. In the Cayman Islands, we went for a trip to the Crystal Caves run by a local tour company. Storm damage meant that we had to dock on the opposite side of the island than planned. With no communication from the tour company, we had no way of knowing that they were indeed collecting us at the new port, while we spent the best part of an hour trying to reach the original pick-up point. But we made it, and the caves were stunning! Then came Cozumel, Mexico. Popular for beaches and snorkelling, but we’d never been to Mexico before andreallywanted to see a bit more, so we took a jam-packed day trip to the ruins at Tulum, followed by a quick dip in acenote. Since this one was offered by NCL, at least we didn’t need to worry about the ship leaving without us if we faced any delays! We knew the transfers would eat into our day, that it would be rushed, and we wouldn’t experience much of Mexico at all. But I’m still glad we injected a little culture instead of sitting on the beach. Our guide, Carlos, was great, too, teaching us about the Maya people and culture, and even giving us a little language lesson! |
So where does that leave us? Well, I can understand why cruises aren’t for everyone—it’s not how I’d choose to spend every holiday. But if you’re willing to just enjoy the convenience and comfort, and accept that every moment won’t be a cultural experience, the occasional cruise might actually be right up your street. Dave’s top tips: don’t scrimp on the all-inclusive drinks and Wi-Fi packages! And take a good book or two. You’ll be grateful for them during those sea days.\xa0 JFC-er Lauren wrote in to share her feelings on cruises and summed it all up pretty well: “Of course, cruising doesn't have everything. There isn’t lots of time to explore, you generally don't see nightlife, you don't always contribute hugely to local economy, and you may feel your carbon footprint is high (though for how many people travel and the offset from the companies it is better than we think).\xa0 But that's why, to me, cruising is one way to travel a few times—no not every time, but maybe an amazing supplement to what you may already do. So for me, that is solo travelling, city breaks, long-haul holidays and staycations, and usually now a cruise a year.\xa0 I've been to 98 countries (100 comes in September to India) over 6 continents and really think cruising is just one way, but a very good way, to see more remote parts of the world, or to see if it's "worth" the investment of a week's precious annual leave!” However, with all the economic and environmental factors at play, it feels like the destination really has to be worth it for many of us to consider a cruise. You can decide to be a conscientious cruiser and do your best to offset the negative aspects, but you have to be up for the challenges and choppy seas that may come with it. |
Or maybe, as JFC's Member Experience Lead Jo suggests, it all just comes down to the individual: “The destination-less cruise I took (3 days out to sea) was great, as I was able to take a long weekend break that didn't require accommodation, food, and entertainment planning. All the emphasis was on enjoying time on the ocean with no expectation to fill my day with activities, and I really had a good time onboard. I feel like pretty much any place can be suited to a cruise—it’s less about the destination and more about people being suited to a cruise. Some people are just better suited to it than others.” \xa0 What would you like us to cover next in The Detour? Let us know via the form below 👇 |
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Q:"Budapest's mineral baths: yes or no, and if so, which one(s)? (I've been put off as I heard the water is not very clean) also …\xa0 I have 3 Days in Montreal (summertime). Is it worth using one of those days to visit Ottawa or Quebec City?" |
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Hey, reader! What a great question combo. I'm envious of all your upcoming trips. In my opinion, it's a massive "Yes!" to the Budapest baths! The water is spotless, and there are tons to choose from around the city. I went to Széchenyi many times, and it was always super clean. Yes, it’s one of the most famous spots, and really popular with tourists, but for good reason. Firstly, the building itself is absolutely beautiful. And secondly, there are 18 different outdoor thermal pools to dip into within the one complex. It all looks particularly impressive in the cooler months as the steam rises around you! If you’re looking for somewhere a little more under-the-radar (and thus less full of strangers’ germs!), you could tryVeli Bej. It happens to be the oldest Turkish bath in town, so you’re sure to get an authentic experience. They limit visitor numbers to 80 at a time, so you shouldn’t find yourself feeling like a sweaty sardine. -Kash |
And now for your second question! After one or two days exploring Montreal, I’d book a hotel in Québec City and spend a day strolling around the Petit-Champlain, walking up to the Château Frontenac, or even go boating on the St. Lawrence River! If you’d rather get out of the city, you can head to Montmorency Falls — thelargest waterfall in Quebec. It stands almost 100 meters taller than Niagara Falls, and it’s only a 15-minute drive away from the city centre :-) I’d probably skip the day-trip to Ottawa, though. Unless you’re particularly interested in visiting the country’s (admittedly beautiful) parliament buildings or perusing the National Gallery, there’s not so much to do there. Plus, it can get pretty steamy in the warmer months! P.S. Keep a look-out for festivals in bothQuébecandMontréal— there are plenty during the summer! -Fran |
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Q:“Suggestion for a nice, interesting not too expensive meal for my birthday with my wife in Florence” |
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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\xa0the\xa0yummiest fries around. |
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Lucky for you, reader, I save all my favourite spots in each city on Google Maps so I can find them again later!\xa0 I'd recommend sticking to the Oltrarno (staying below the river Arno), because you'll be able to get away from the very touristy spots of the centre. Here are my suggestions for a memorable (and tasty!) evening: Start at this cosywine bar for aperitivo, or take in the views from arooftop! And then for the actual food: -Alla Vecchia Bettola- a light-hearted Trattoria\xa0 -Trattoria Cammillo- for a more traditional Trattoria -Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino- a funky osteria famous for its offal dishes (really love this one) -Santarosa Bistrot- cute bistro with a nice little garden -Enoteca Spontanea- born as a natural wine bar, they now serve food too! To end the night on a fun and kitschy note, make a stop atthis Fotoautomatica. The photo booth has been sitting on the corner of the road for ages, and its extra-saturated vintage-looking photos are so, so pretty. I make sure to stop there every time I go to Florence! |
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All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week. |
- New pie-in-the-sky plans suggest the UK and the US could someday be connected by atransatlantic tunnelnearly 145-times longer than the Channel Tunnel.\xa0
- Cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation—where is the line?
- One man travelling to China this week obviously decided to take the phrase "trouser snake"very literally…
- And finally, one from the vault: Back in 2009, Japanese airline ANA introduced a one-month trial, where it requested that passengersvisit the loobefore\xa0boardingtheir flight in an effort to reduce emissions.
According to the airline's calculations, it was possible to save as much as 4.2 tons of CO2 each month if just 50% of passengers relieved themselves in the airport instead of at 38,000 ft!
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