/* eslint-disable */ // Multi-City — itinerary-shape hub data. // Twelve regions where the multi-country form actually works, eight builds by character, // the long-form reading list, the desk, and the questions readers send in. const MC_META = { count: 32, newThisSeason: 9, authors: 4, avgLengthDays: 18, topAge: "28 – 46", updated: "May 2026", }; // I — TWELVE REGIONS, FOR THE MULTI-COUNTRY FORM. // Every card links to a real, hand-built multi-country leaf in the live tree. // Order is editorial: Europe opens because it's the region most readers ask about. const MC_PLACES = [ { id: "europe-general", rank: 1, city: "Europe", country: "The classic", region: "Europe", nights: "21", budget: "$$$", season: "May – Jun, Sep", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1502602898657-3e91760cbb34?w=1600&q=85", coord: "48°51′N · 02°21′E", tag: "Editor's pick", why: "Open-jaw into Lisbon, out of Athens. Three weeks, one rail pass, six countries that actually want to be visited together. The form's home turf.", best: ["First time", "Rail", "Open-jaw"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/europe/how-to-plan-multi-country-europe-trip" }, { id: "schengen", rank: 2, city: "Schengen Area", country: "Twenty-nine countries, one stamp", region: "Europe", nights: "21", budget: "$$$", season: "May – Sep", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1516550893923-42d28e5677af?w=1200&q=80", coord: "ZONE · EU", tag: "Visa-friendly", why: "The 90-in-180 rule is the only border that matters. Plan the trip around the rule, not against it. Schengen makes a six-country trip feel like one.", best: ["Rail", "No borders", "Long stays"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/schengen/plan-multi-country-schengen-itinerary" }, { id: "southeast-asia", rank: 3, city: "Southeast Asia", country: "The backpacker spine", region: "Asia", nights: "28", budget: "$", season: "Nov – Feb", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528181304800-259b08848526?w=1200&q=80", coord: "13°45′N · 100°29′E", tag: "Most saved", why: "Bangkok, Siem Reap, Hanoi, Hoi An, Luang Prabang. The route is a hundred years old for a reason — overland, cheap, and no flight under three hours.", best: ["Backpacker", "Overland", "Cheap"], href: "/en/plan/regional-hacks/southeast-asia/multi-country-southeast-asia-route" }, { id: "south-america", rank: 4, city: "South America", country: "The long arc", region: "Americas", nights: "30", budget: "$$", season: "Oct – Apr", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1531968455001-5c5272a41129?w=1200&q=80", coord: "13°31′S · 71°58′W", tag: null, why: "Lima, Cusco, La Paz, Salta, Buenos Aires. The trip is the bus rides as much as the cities. Plan one month, do four countries, fly home from the far end.", best: ["Adventure", "Overland", "Big distances"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/south-america/plan-south-america-multi-country-route" }, { id: "andes", rank: 5, city: "Andes", country: "Peru · Bolivia · Chile · Argentina", region: "Americas", nights: "21", budget: "$$", season: "Apr – Oct", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1526392060635-9d6019884377?w=1200&q=80", coord: "16°30′S · 68°09′W", tag: null, why: "The high road. Cusco to Salar de Uyuni to Atacama to Salta. Altitude is the planning constraint — build the route around the days your body needs.", best: ["Altitude", "Drives", "Salt flats"], href: "/en/plan/trip-types/andes/plan-multi-country-andes-trip" }, { id: "caribbean", rank: 6, city: "Caribbean", country: "The island-hop", region: "Americas", nights: "10", budget: "$$$", season: "Dec – Apr", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507525428034-b723cf961d3e?w=1200&q=80", coord: "18°15′N · 66°30′W", tag: null, why: "Three islands in ten days, the right way. Fly between them on inter-island carriers — never connect through Miami. Budget for the airport tax twice.", best: ["Beach", "Short flights", "Multi-island"], href: "/en/plan/trip-types/caribbean/island-hop-caribbean-flights" }, { id: "gulf-states", rank: 7, city: "Gulf States", country: "Six countries, one peninsula", region: "Asia", nights: "12", budget: "$$$", season: "Nov – Mar", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1512453979798-5ea266f8880c?w=1200&q=80", coord: "25°15′N · 51°31′E", tag: "Underrated", why: "Dubai, Doha, Muscat. Visa policy here changes every year — write the itinerary the month before you go. The desert drives are why you came.", best: ["Modern cities", "Desert", "Layover-friendly"], href: "/en/plan/regional-hacks/gulf-states/how-to-plan-multi-country-gulf-itinerary" }, { id: "thai-viet-cam", rank: 8, city: "Thailand → Vietnam → Cambodia", country: "The classic three-week", region: "Asia", nights: "21", budget: "$$", season: "Nov – Feb", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528181304800-259b08848526?w=1200&q=80", coord: "ASIA · 21 DAYS", tag: null, why: "Bangkok in, Siem Reap out. Book the multi-city flight from home, then everything between is overland. The cheapest three-week multi-country trip on earth.", best: ["First time SEA", "Cheap", "Open-jaw"], href: "/en/book/flights/thailand/book-multi-city-flights-thailand-vietnam-cambodia" }, { id: "east-africa", rank: 9, city: "East Africa", country: "Kenya · Tanzania · Uganda · Rwanda", region: "Africa", nights: "18", budget: "$$$", season: "Jun – Oct", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1547471080-7cc2caa01a7e?w=1200&q=80", coord: "01°17′S · 36°49′E", tag: null, why: "Visa-on-arrival math is the whole game. Get the East Africa Tourist Visa once, cross three borders without paperwork, focus on the wildlife schedule instead.", best: ["Safari", "Wildlife", "Border-savvy"], href: "/en/plan/regional-hacks/east-africa/east-africa-visa-requirements-overview" }, { id: "southern-africa", rank: 10, city: "Southern Africa", country: "South Africa · Namibia · Botswana", region: "Africa", nights: "21", budget: "$$$", season: "Apr – Oct", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1547471080-7cc2caa01a7e?w=1200&q=80", coord: "22°57′S · 18°29′E", tag: null, why: "Self-drive Cape Town up to Etosha and across to the Okavango. Three weeks, a 4×4, and a permit folder — the trip that turns the map into a memory.", best: ["Self-drive", "Wildlife", "Big skies"], href: "/en/plan/regional-hacks/southern-africa/multi-country-southern-africa-visa-strategy" }, { id: "europe-couples", rank: 11, city: "Europe, in two", country: "The slow couples build", region: "Europe", nights: "14", budget: "$$$", season: "May – Sep", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1522093007474-d86e9bf7ba6f?w=1200&q=80", coord: "EUROPE · 14 DAYS", tag: null, why: "Two countries, four cities, fourteen days. The build for couples who want one shared memory per place — not a checklist. Trains, not flights.", best: ["Couples", "Slow", "Rail"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/europe/europe-multi-country-itinerary-couples" }, { id: "latin-america", rank: 12, city: "Latin America", country: "The flight stitch", region: "Americas", nights: "16", budget: "$$", season: "Oct – Apr", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518631297468-9a3a8aafa67e?w=1200&q=80", coord: "19°25′N · 99°08′W", tag: null, why: "Mexico City, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago. The continent is too long for a bus. Book the multi-city flight ticket as one fare — the alliance routings work in your favor.", best: ["Multi-city flights", "Cities", "Alliance hacks"], href: "/en/book/flights/latin-america/book-multi-city-latin-america-flights" }, ]; // III — EIGHT ITINERARIES BY CHARACTER. // Real hand-built multi-country plans showing the form's range. const MC_ITINS = [ { ref: "MC-088", days: 14, title: "Europe,", em: "the efficient build.", author: "Iris", price: "€2,800", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1502602898657-3e91760cbb34?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Efficient", "Rail", "Two weeks"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/europe/multi-country-europe-trip-planning" }, { ref: "MC-091", days: 21, title: "Europe,", em: "three weeks, multi-city.", author: "Iris", price: "€3,600", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1499856871958-5b9627545d1a?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Long arc", "Rail", "Six countries"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/europe/europe-multi-city-3-weeks" }, { ref: "MC-104", days: 18, title: "Europe,", em: "the multi-city plan.", author: "Marcus", price: "€2,400", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1531572753322-ad063cecc140?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Multi-city", "Cities", "Trains"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/europe/europe-multi-city-itinerary" }, { ref: "MC-097", days: 10, title: "Europe,", em: "for business.", author: "Nia", price: "€4,200", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1431274172761-fca41d930114?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Business", "Multi-city", "Tight"], href: "/en/plan/trip-types/europe/plan-multi-city-business-trip-europe" }, { ref: "MC-119", days: 28, title: "Southeast Asia,", em: "the flexible build.", author: "Marcus", price: "$1,400", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528181304800-259b08848526?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Flexible", "Backpacker", "Overland"], href: "/en/plan/itineraries/southeast-asia/plan-flexible-multi-country-southeast-asia-itinerary" }, { ref: "MC-122", days: 14, title: "Southeast Asia,", em: "for business.", author: "Nia", price: "$3,800", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508009603885-50cf7c579365?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Business", "SE Asia", "Hub-and-spoke"], href: "/en/plan/regional-hacks/southeast-asia/how-to-plan-multi-country-business-trip-southeast-asia" }, { ref: "MC-112", days: 12, title: "Latin America,", em: "for business.", author: "Juan", price: "$5,200", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518631297468-9a3a8aafa67e?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Business", "Cities", "Multi-city"], href: "/en/plan/trip-types/latin-america/multi-country-latin-america-business-trip" }, { ref: "MC-105", days: 18, title: "Border crossings,", em: "globally.", author: "Iris", price: "Method", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1488646953014-85cb44e25828?w=900&q=80", tags: ["Method", "Borders", "Logistics"], href: "/en/plan/trip-types/general/multi-country-itinerary-border-crossings" }, ]; // IV — BY CHARACTER (the multi-country matrix). const MC_BY_STYLE = [ { len: "Open-jaw classic", days: "14 – 21", count: 12, examples: "Europe · Schengen · Latin America", price: "from $2,400" }, { len: "Overland route", days: "21 – 30", count: 9, examples: "SE Asia · Andes · Balkans", price: "from $1,200" }, { len: "Self-drive", days: "14 – 21", count: 6, examples: "Southern Africa · Patagonia · Iceland", price: "from $2,800" }, { len: "Island-hop", days: "10 – 14", count: 5, examples: "Caribbean · Greek Isles · Indonesia", price: "from $1,800" }, { len: "Business multi-city", days: "10 – 14", count: 7, examples: "Europe · SE Asia · Latin America", price: "from $4,200" }, { len: "Visa-strategic", days: "21+", count: 4, examples: "Schengen · East Africa · Gulf", price: "from $1,600" }, ]; // V — EIGHT READS, BY DEPTH. const MC_READING = [ { tag: "Method", duration: "11 min", title: "How to plan a multi-country trip,", em: " the seed essay.", author: "Iris", href: "/en/plan/trips/how-to-plan-multi-country-trip" }, { tag: "Method", duration: "10 min", title: "Two countries, one trip —", em: " without the headaches.", author: "Iris", href: "/en/planning/plan-a-trip-that-combines-two-different-countries" }, { tag: "Rail", duration: "12 min", title: "The multi-country train trip,", em: " end to end.", author: "Marcus", href: "/en/plan/plan-a-multi-country-train-trip" }, { tag: "Islands", duration: "10 min", title: "Multi-island trips that actually work,", em: " not the brochure version.", author: "Juan", href: "/en/plan/plan-a-trip-to-multiple-islands" }, { tag: "Insurance", duration: "8 min", title: "Travel insurance for a multi-country trip,", em: " what's covered, what isn't.", author: "Nia", href: "/en/planning/plan-travel-insurance-for-a-multi-country-trip" }, { tag: "Packing", duration: "9 min", title: "Pack carry-on for a multi-country trip,", em: " the only kit that works.", author: "Marcus", href: "/en/pack/gear/multi-destination/pack-carry-on-multi-country-trip" }, { tag: "Power", duration: "7 min", title: "The multi-country plug kit,", em: " three adapters, no surprises.", author: "Marcus", href: "/en/pack/electronics/power-adapters/multi-country-plug-kit" }, { tag: "Budget", duration: "9 min", title: "Multi-country visa fees,", em: " on a budget.", author: "Nia", href: "/en/budget/hidden-costs/visa-fees/multi-country-visas" }, ]; // VII — FAQ — six questions, drawn from the seed plus reader letters. const MC_FAQS = [ { q: "How many countries should I try to fit in one trip?", a: "Three to four, maximum, on your first multi-country trip. The rule that's held up across two decades of building these plans: at least four to five days per country, or the travel time and cost stop earning their keep. A two-week trip is two countries done well, not five countries glimpsed." }, { q: "Should I book everything before I leave?", a: "Lock the flights and the first and last nights. Leave the middle of the trip elastic — book the next country's bed one to two weeks ahead, while you're already on the road. The trip that's fully booked from home is the trip that punishes you when one place is better than expected and the next isn't." }, { q: "What's the right way to handle flights between countries?", a: "Book one open-jaw multi-city ticket as your spine — fly into the first country, out of the last. Inside the trip, use trains where they exist (Europe, Japan, parts of SE Asia) and budget airlines for the long hops. Open-jaw on the long-haul almost always costs the same as a round-trip and saves you a backtracking day." }, { q: "How do I deal with visas across multiple countries?", a: "Map every visa requirement before you book the flight, not after. Some take three to four weeks; the longest one sets the calendar. Apply for that one first, work backward to the others. Use embassy websites, not visa agencies — the agencies are fine, but the rules change every year and only the embassies are current." }, { q: "What if my route turns out to be wrong mid-trip?", a: "Plan for it. Build two buffer days into a three-week trip — they're cheaper than changing flights. Budget airlines charge $100 to $300 to move a date; trains in Europe are flexible if you bought the right ticket; in Southeast Asia, overland buses are walk-up. The flexibility is in the calendar, not the carrier." }, { q: "Is a multi-country trip more expensive than a single-country one?", a: "Per day, often less — Southeast Asia at $40 a day, Europe at $120, the Andes at $80. Per trip, it depends on transport. Budget the flights between countries as a separate line item: $50 to $200 per hop. Add 20% on top of everything for the costs the spreadsheet doesn't catch — visas, departure taxes, the airport meals you didn't plan for." }, ]; // VI — THE BRIEF. Six tips for the multi-country form, in order of importance. const MC_PRACTICAL = [ { k: "Routing tip", h: "One direction. No zigzag.", b: "Plot the countries on a map and draw the route in one motion — west to east in Europe, north to south in Southeast Asia, the Andes top to bottom. Every doubling-back is a flight bought twice and a day spent in transit. The trip that ends near where it started is a trip that wasted a day." }, { k: "Flight tip", h: "Open-jaw, one ticket, from home.", b: "Fly into the first country, out of the last, on a single multi-city booking. The price is almost always the same as a round-trip into one city, and you save a 12-hour return leg you'd otherwise have to plan around. Inside the trip, separate one-way tickets work better than chained returns — they let the route flex." }, { k: "Visa tip", h: "Map every passport stamp before the flight.", b: "List the countries in order. List the visas required for your passport. Note the longest processing time. Apply for that one first; the others follow. Embassy websites only — visa policies move every year, and the agencies are running on last summer's rules." }, { k: "Pace tip", h: "Four to five days per country, no exceptions.", b: "Less than four days and you've bought a flight to walk through a museum. The form rewards depth, not breadth. A two-week trip is two countries done well, or three done passably; not five done badly. The discipline is choosing what stays on the plan." }, { k: "Booking tip", h: "Book the ends. Leave the middle loose.", b: "First night, last night, and the long-haul flights — those are locked. Everything else gets booked one to two weeks ahead, from inside the trip. The country you'll want to extend in won't be the one you guessed from home, and the elasticity is the whole point of doing a multi-country trip in the first place." }, { k: "Pack tip", h: "Carry-on only, multi-climate, one plug kit.", b: "Three weeks across three climates, in one bag. Layers that share a palette. A jacket that handles rain. One universal adapter that covers EU, UK, and US — you'll cross all three on a single trip more often than you think. If it doesn't fit in the cabin, it doesn't go." }, ]; // THE DESK — same four people as the rest of the Itineraries pages. const MC_VOICES = [ { name: "Iris Mendoza", role: "Senior Editor · Itineraries Desk", trips: 64, line: "The multi-country trip is the one where the planning matters most. A bad single-city trip is a bad afternoon. A bad multi-country trip is two weeks you can't get back.", av: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1494790108377-be9c29b29330?w=200&q=80" }, { name: "Marcus Lin", role: "Field correspondent · Asia", trips: 48, line: "Southeast Asia is the form's classroom. The borders are easy, the buses are real, and the trip teaches you what overland actually means. Everyone should do it once.", av: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1438761681033-6461ffad8d80?w=200&q=80" }, { name: "Nia Adebayo", role: "Field correspondent · Africa & Europe", trips: 39, line: "Three countries in three weeks is the right answer to almost every multi-country question I get. The traveler who wants five countries hasn't done one yet.", av: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1607746882042-944635dfe10e?w=200&q=80" }, ]; Object.assign(window, { MC_META, MC_PLACES, MC_ITINS, MC_BY_STYLE, MC_READING, MC_FAQS, MC_PRACTICAL, MC_VOICES });