Hey there Travellers,

You'll all be glad to know that I made it back from Portugal last weekend without so much as a drop of wine spilled down my front.

However, it's safe to say that my jeans were feeling a little tighter after a few days of sampling the Portuguese cuisine. Nobody warned me that I'd still be dreaming of that mustardy pica-pau sauce a week later!

And no sooner had I returned than, once again, the good old Pastel de Belém was named sweet pastry of the year for 2025. But would you visit just for its custardy goodness? 

A few weeks ago, we asked our Facebook Community what food they'd travel abroad for time and time again. For me, it's an authentic Imeruli khachapuri, for others it's a Costa Rican breakfast, or Indian street food.

So tell me, dear readers, what's the tasty treat that you'd hop on a plane for right now? Let us know in the comments (so we can organize a grand Jack's Food Club tour, obviously).

Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

By Olivia

A San Diego native, Olivia left home a few years ago to live on the road. Since then, she's had homebases everywhere from Quebec to England to New Orleans, but she always ends up back on the West Coast. 

This week, Jack's released a new city guide to Victoria: British Columbia's provincial capital, located at the southern end of Vancouver Island. 

“The island,” as it's colloquially known, is truly the jewel of the Pacific Northwest. It's roughly the size of Belgium, and packed with seaside villages and lush woodlands. Everywhere you turn, there are rocky coastlines, moss-covered pine trees, and boardwalk cafés.

While the charming capital city is worth a few days on its own, it'd be a shame to stay in town when there's so much beauty right in your backyard. And you don't have to look very far to catch views around here! Even a quick stopover in Victoria comes with some pretty lovely day trips. 

So if you find yourself contemplating a visit to the island (and any cheap YYJ fares that you just so happen to see in your inbox), allow me to introduce you to some local sights...

Butchart Gardens

This is THE day trip from Victoria — the one pretty much every visitor takes. 

It’s not hard to see why! The Butchart Gardens cover 55 acres of land in beautiful floral displays. Descend into the manicured Sunken Garden, meander through a forest of Japanese maples, and admire fountain after bubbling fountain. While it’s worth seeing at any time of year, spring’s rose blossoms and autumn’s bright red foliage make for especially colorful visits.

You can reach the Butchart Gardens from downtown Victoria in about 30 minutes by car, or with a one-hour bus ride aboard the 75 or 30.

Nanaimo

Pronounced nah-NYE-mo, this is the second-largest city on the island. It’s got a much more small-town feel, with a cute downtown and Old City Quarter.

Other than whale-watching and ferry connections, its biggest claim to fame is the Nanaimo bar: a chocolatey, coconutty, custardy treat that just might ruin you for every other café dessert.

You can get to Nanaimo from Victoria by city bus or Island Link, but driving the full ~90 minutes yourself is much more fun. The highways will take you through several charming villages worth the stop — my favorites are Cowichan Bay, Duncan, Chemainus, and Ladysmith. Expect cozy shops, dockside restaurants, small local museums, and tons of gorgeous bay and island views.

Provincial and Regional Parks

The island may only have one — difficult-to-reach — National Park, but it’s covered in Provincial and Regional Parks. These protected areas include dense, mossy woodland, waterfalls, tons of lakes, and rocky coastlines.

I could fill an entire article just with outdoor day trips from Victoria, but a few highlights within a mere half-hour’s drive include Thetis Lake (Canada’s first nature sanctuary), Mount Wells (known for wildflowers and a challenging summit hike), and Goldstream (massive trees and a beautiful waterfall).

Sidney

One of my favorite things about Vancouver Island is the abundance of lovely coastal towns, and Sidney is one of the coolest and most accessible from Victoria.

Unique highlights here include the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (a small but very well-done aquarium), a fish market frequented by the local seals, and a pier that offers an excellent view of the Gulf. On clear days, you can even spot Washington’s Mount Baker across the water.

It’s also home to the Victoria airport, and the first big town you’ll see if you arrive at Swartz Bay on the ferry. This means you’ll likely pass through Sidney anyway, so take some time to look around!

Salt Spring Island

If you only take one more ferry during your trip, it should be the one to Salt Spring! This island is around the size of Aruba, and it’s become quite the artistic outpost on the Gulf. The main town, Ganges, is packed with galleries and nifty boutiques, plus there’s a weekly street market each Saturday where local artists take to the sidewalks.

It’s also one of the best hiking spots in the area — drive down to Ruckle Provincial Park and follow the trail along the coast for some gorgeous, peak Pacific Northwestern views.

To get there from downtown Victoria, either drive or take one of several direct buses up to Swartz Bay, then hop on the ferry to Fulford Harbour. You’ll be much better off with a car on Salt Spring Island, but buses do run every couple hours and cover most of the highlights.

Want to learn more about Victoria? Check out the guide.

Answered by Akasha

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.

Hi there, Nehla! Wow, what an adventure! Consider me officially jealous. Slow travel is by far one of the best ways to connect with the land and the people (and yourself!) on a deeper level. It’s the anti-checklist trip. 

I’ve done some research and dug up your best options for traveling overland, and flying when necessary.

Stage 1: Manchester to Uzbekistan

Currently, one-way fares from Manchester to Samarkand or Tashkent in March are pretty decent, in the £240s–£380s.

Uzbekistan is a firm bucket-lister at Jack’s, with Detour Editor Katy the first of us to chart a course through its mesmerizing blue mosques and mausoleums.

Stage 2: Uzbekistan to China

Option 1: Flying from Uzbekistan to China

Obviously, flying from Uzbekistan to China is the easiest and quickest option and will cost you around  £100-£180. Flying non-stop, you can either fly to Urumqi (close to the border with Kazakhstan), Guangzhou, Xian or Beijing. 

Option 2: Crossing overland into China 

Alternatively, if you’re up for an adventure, you can cross