Lonely Planet blog

Straight from the keyboards of the Lonely Planet team

Before you go: Round the World travel tips

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:49:29 +0000

There's an art to the Round the World trip -- or RTW travel to those in the know -- and Thorn Tree is chock-full of great advice. Here are some great tips from Lonely Planet members.

What happens to unclaimed baggage?

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:36:00 +0000

Have you ever been in a desolate airport terminal, the last person to get your luggage off a carousel, only to see a couple of random suitcases still circling hopefully when there is no obvious owner in sight? Who do these bags belong to? Did someone get so excited about landing in a new city that [...]

Lonely Planet meets Robert Verdi

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:57:04 +0000

Robert Verdi wants his own cartoon character, restaurant, island, airline, magazine, jewelry line and empire. Until then, the style/jewelry guru, at least, DOES have his own TV show, and he hosts Twitter parties at his New York studio. This Thursday, July 22, Robert’s turning his Twitter party focus to travel, and invited Lonely Planet to [...]

76-Second Travel Show: ‘Harry Potter & the Search for Authenticity’

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:30:06 +0000

In his recent book Authenticity Hoax, Andrew Potter makes a few pot shots at authenticity-hunters — in writing, in art, in marketing, in grocery stores, and yes, in travel. I agreed with some of what he wrote, but felt he fell short on travel. Pulling out extreme versions of tourism — like taking kitschy communist tours [...]

Martha’s Vineyard family appeal

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:24:23 +0000

The First Family are going to Maine this year for summer vacation, but we're still fond of their choice last year: one the east coast's great family getaways, Martha's Vineyard.

Why you should go to the Gulf Coast

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:08:20 +0000

I returned from my research trip to the Florida Gulf Coast a week ago, and walking its gorgeous white-sand beaches (and splashing in the blue water offshore) felt like something of a farewell to me, as I said in this video shot in Panama City Beach: Turns out, oil has splashed ashore some of these beaches [...]

Robert Reid tweets live from US oil spill

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:30:10 +0000

Lonely Planet’s US travel editor Robert Reid is in Pensacola, Florida, researching the effects of the devastating oil spill in the US Gulf Coast. He’s been taking to Twitter to map what he’s seen so far: ‘Highlight of day in Pensacola. Meeting cruise capt who started “Sweet Crew Pick-Up Crew” to pick up tar balls as [...]

From the Lonely Planet magazine: insider news and tip-offs

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:35:33 +0000

Lonely Planet’s UK-based Travel Editor Tom Hall shares his latest insider news and tip-offs. This month: vintage guidebooks, new rail routes in England, big airlines getting in bed together, parking at airports and the airport that’s become a park. Centenary of publication of 1910 Baedeker Great Britain It was all so different in 1910, when wealthy Edwardian travellers [...]

76-Second Travel Show: ‘The real Orlando’

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:07:37 +0000

Orlando's not the #1 destination in the USA for the city itself, which was an orange grove haven long before Mick Mouse showed up. But on a recent visit, to attend the opening to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I stayed in town and spent time talking with locals about the 'other Orlando.' And I liked it.

How to be a reenactor?

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:48:48 +0000

In this episode of The 76-Second Travel Show, US travel editor Robert Reid takes to the historical road to be part of a reenactment, complete with tri-cornered hat and insults for Thomas Jefferson.