The Journal
Local intelligence, written like it matters
Long-form guides on where to go, how to get there, what it costs, and what nobody tells you until you are already stuck in a harbour town.
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Luxury
10 Private Islands You've Probably Never Heard Of
Whole islands, staffed, that almost nobody writes about.
9 min read
Routes
The Backpacker Route Through Eastern Indonesia
Flores to Ambon overland and by sea, on roughly $35 a day.
16 min read
Costs
Is Raja Ampat Possible on a Budget?
Yes — but the marine park fee and the boat transfers are where budgets die.
8 min read
Charters
21 Days on a Catamaran Through the Philippines
What three weeks of anchorages actually costs, and what it actually feels like.
12 min read
Getting there
How to Get to the Banda Islands
A small plane, a big ferry, and a schedule that changes without notice.
10 min read
Getting out
When the Last Ferry Leaves Without You
Every island traveller gets stranded eventually. Here is how to make it cheap.
7 min read