Qatar Airways to launch Canberra, Australia, flights in 2018

Qatar Airways continues its growth and expansion plans as it announces the launch of Canberra, Qatar Airways’ fifth Australian destination, in 2018.

The decision comes as the carrier continues to rejig its services following the recent GCC blockade of Qatar.

The political environment has meant the carrier is unable to offer services to Saudia Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

However, the carrier argues an “intelligent redeployment” of aircraft and crew to partner airlines such as British Airways and Royal Air Maroc ensures that planes do not sit idle.

Meanwhile, the airline has continued its robust expansion plans, launching service to exciting new destinations including Nice, France in July and Dublin, Republic of Ireland in June.

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Córdoba's Mammoth Mosque-Cathedral

Mezquita de Córdoba (Spain). Photo by Simon Raven ©

Visit the enormous Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. Built in 784 as the Great Mosque under the instruction of Abd al-Rahman I, Córdoba returned to Christian rule in 1236 and this enormous stone structure was converted to a Roman Catholic church. Discover more about this fascinating region of Spain with eBook versions of Lonely Planet!

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's PDF Cordoba Province chapter from the Andalucia guidebook

Andalucia - Cordoba Province (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

You’ll find historical and architectural interest, good food, wine and gardens here, plus a rolling expanse of protected forests, remote villages and ruined castles in Suerra Morena and olive trees and grapevines, caves and canyons in Sierras Subbéticas.

Coverage includes: Córdoba, Southern Córdoba Province, Baena, Parque Natural Sierras Subbéticas, Western Córdoba Province, Almodóvar del Río and Parque Natural Sierra de Hornachuelos.

You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

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Dancing and music in mystical Marrakesh

A Berber wearing traditional clothes dances to music in the atmospheric Jemaa el-Fnaa; the famous square and market place at the heart of Marrakesh. Every night food stalls serve traditional Moroccan cuisine from Tajine to steamed sheep’s heads, and market traders and entertainers compete to draw the attention of the crowds. Welcome to north Africa!

Morocco - Marrakesh & Central Morocco (PDF Chapter)

Morocco - Marrakesh & Central Morocco

Marrakesh is most people’s first taste of Morocco and what an introduction it is. Somewhere between the souq action, the tilework and marble monument overload, and the hundredth time you find yourself lost amid the medina’s alleyways, this great city will work its magic on you

- succumb to the Djemaa’s all-out chaos then throw away the map to meander medina lanes

- walk through Aït Bougomez Valley, Morocco’s stunning Shangri-la

- descend into Dadès Gorge, a valley of timewarp villages and crumbling kasbahs, framed by wacky, weathered rock

Coverage includes: Marrakesh, Ouirgane, Central High Atlas, Western High Atlas, Toubkal National Park, Tizi n’Test, the Southern Oases, Tizi n’Tichka, Telouet, Aït Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Drâa Valley, Agdz, Tamnougalt, Timidarte, Zagora, Tamegroute, M’Hamid, West of Erg Chigaga, Dadès Valley & the Gorges, Skoura, Kelaâ M’Gouna, Boumalne Du Dadès, Jebel Saghro, Dadès Gorge, Tinerhir, Todra Gorge, Tinejdad, Goulmima, Ziz Valley & the Tafilalt, Er-Rachidia, Erfoud, Rissani, Merzouga, Taouz, Rissani, Zagora, Alnif, Tazzarine and N’Kob.

Morocco's Chefchaouen: Top Travel Destination for 2018

Chefchaouen, Morocco. Photo by Chris Raven ©

Lose yourself in the blue streets of Morocco's Chefchaouen, an otherworldly destination in the Rif Mountains. Top of many adventure travelers' lists for 2018, you will not regret making the effort to visit this incredible walled city with a maze of narrow backstreets and a vibrant souk that will captivate you for hours.

This is the Mediterranean Coast & the Rif chapter from Lonely Planet’s Morocco guidebook.

Mediterranean Coast & the Rif - Morocco (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Northern Morocco offers a beautiful coastline, a mountainous hinterland rarely explored by visitors and just one major city. East of beguiling Tangier lies one of the last stretches of undeveloped Mediterranean coast with high cliffs and sandy coves.

- dream the day away at a pavement cafe beneath the kasbah in Chefchaouen’s Plaza Uta el-Hammam

- browse Tangier’s myriad art galleries and stop for coffee at the Petit Socco, haunt of the Beat poets

- marvel at the dragons launching from the roof of a palace in Ceuta

Coverage includes: West Mediterranean, Tangier, Cap Spartel, Road to Ceuta, Ceuta (Sebta), The Rif Mountains, Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Oued Laou, Targa to El-Jebha, Al-Hoceima, Al-Hoceima National Park, Cala Iris & Torres de Alcala, Trekking in the Rif Mountains: Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen to Bab Taza, East Mediterranean Coast, Melilla, Nador, East of Nador, Saïdia.

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You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

Discover hippie town Órgiva (Spain)

Órgiva, Granada, Andalusia (Spain). Photo by Simon Raven ©

In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada is the town of Órgiva. With a reputation for attracting alternative residents from countries outside of Spain, this once sleepy Spanish village has a vibrant weekly market and is worth a visit for it's art and cultural events and to explore the countryside in the forested hills.

Download the ebook version of Lonely Planet's Spain - Granada & South Coast Andalucia chapter

Spain - Granada & South Coast Andalucia

Incorporating the provinces of Málaga, Granada, Jaén and Almería, this region leaves no one uncatered for. Golf fanatics: pack your clubs. Nightclub-loving beach bums: commandeer the sun lounger. Solitude-seeking outdoor types: pack a bag and find a natural park.

- follow the masses and make a pilgrimage to the Alhambra in Granada, then join 300 others in the Plaza Bib-Rambla for churros dipped in hot chocolate

- go long-distance hiking along Cabo de Gata, Andalucía’s most beautiful stretch of coast

- sift through the fine array of art galleries and museums in the vibrant southern city of Má-laga

Coverage includes: Granada, Granada Province, Sierra Nevada, Las Al-pujarras, Costa Tropical, Málaga Province, Málaga and around, Costa del Sol, Ardales & El Chorro, Antequera, Southern Cádiz Province, Tarifa, Gibraltar, Jaén Province, Jaén, Baeza, Úbeda, Cazorla, Parque Natural Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas, Almería Province, Alme-ría, Desierto de Tabernas, Cabo de Gata-Níjar and Mojácar.

You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

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United to launch London-Denver connection in 2018

As United celebrates 80 years of service in Denver, the airline has announced it will introduce a daily non-stop service between London Heathrow and the city.

The flight will operate from March 25th to October 27th next year, subject to government approval.

Flight UA26 will depart London Heathrow daily at 11:40, arriving at Denver at 14:30 the same day.

The return flight, UA27, will depart Denver daily at 17:35, arriving in London Heathrow at 09:40 the following day.

The flights will be operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft with a total of 219 seats – 36 flat-bed seats in United Polaris business class and 183 in Economy, including 70 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.

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Qatar Airways adds new frequency to Colombo, Sri Lanka, route

Qatar Airways has announced it will introduce a fourth daily non-stop service from Doha to Colombo from August 1st.

In addition two of the four daily flights will be serviced by the B777-300ER aircraft to accommodate the increased travel demand to and from Sri Lanka.

The increased frequency and aircraft upgauge will boost overall capacity to and from Colombo by 3,136 seats weekly, a 20 per cent increase from current weekly capacity.

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Go in search of the Indalo Man (Almeria, Spain)

Indalo Man. (Almeria, Spain). Photo by Simon Raven ©

Explore Almeria province, in the less visited south east corner of Andalusia, Spain and you will be sure to see the symbol of a stick figure called the Indalo. This prehistoic symbol was found in a cave Los Letreros in Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park. Approximately 4,500 years old, the Indalo is the official symbol of Almeria province. For a vacation to remember, why not hire a car and explore the Tabernas region, Europe's only desert, and the striking Cabo de Gata National Park. 

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's PDF Almeria Province chapter from the Andalucia guidebook

Andalucia - Almeria Province (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

With perfect weather (3000 hours of sunshine a year), Almería has all terrains covered: stunning coastlines (beaches and volcanic), Sorbas caves to explore, stark desert in Tabernas plus the lush green, mountainous Los Vélez region.

Coverage includes: Almería & around, Desierto de Tabernas, Níjar, Las Alpujarras de Almería, Laujar de Andarax, Costa de Almería, Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar, Mojácar and Los Vélez.

You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

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Visit the UNESCO Walled City of Toledo

Toledo, Spain. Photo by Simon Raven.

Visit the walled medieval city of Toledo, Spain. Declared a UNESCO world heritage city for its co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. Explore the cobbled streets and eat and drink wine and cold beer in one of its many traditional restaurants and bars. Toledo is within easy reach of Madrid for a day trip to remember, or soak up the night time atmosphere on a terrace in this ancient medieval city in the heart of Spain.

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's Toledo & Castilla la Mancha PDF chapter from the Spain guidebook.

Toledo & Castilla la Mancha - Spain (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Castilla-La Mancha’s landscape is richly patterned and dramatic: undulating plains of rich henna-coloured earth, neatly striped and spotted with olive groves, and golden wheat fields and grapevines – all stretching to a horizon you never seem to reach.

Coverage includes: Toledo & around, Talavera de la Reina, Oropesa, Consuegra, Campo de Criptana, Ciudad Real, Almagro, Castillo de Calatrava, Parque Nacional Tablas de Daimiel, Parque Natural de las Lagunas de Ruidera, Alcalá del Júcar, Cuenca & around, Pastrana, Recópolis, Sigüenza and Atienza.

You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

Visit Spain in North Africa! (Melilla, Spain)

Melilla Fort, North Africa (Spain). Photo by Simon Raven ©

Take a day trip by ferry from mainland Spain, and visit the less visited Spanish autonomous city of Melilla. Only 12.3 square kilometres in size, Melilla is the gateway to the Rif mountains in Morocco.

This is the Mediterranean Coast & the Rif chapter from Lonely Planet’s Morocco guidebook.

Mediterranean Coast & the Rif - Morocco (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Northern Morocco offers a beautiful coastline, a mountainous hinterland rarely explored by visitors and just one major city. East of beguiling Tangier lies one of the last stretches of undeveloped Mediterranean coast with high cliffs and sandy coves.

- dream the day away at a pavement cafe beneath the kasbah in Chefchaouen’s Plaza Uta el-Hammam

- browse Tangier’s myriad art galleries and stop for coffee at the Petit Socco, haunt of the Beat poets

- marvel at the dragons launching from the roof of a palace in Ceuta

Coverage includes: West Mediterranean, Tangier, Cap Spartel, Road to Ceuta, Ceuta (Sebta), The Rif Mountains, Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Oued Laou, Targa to El-Jebha, Al-Hoceima, Al-Hoceima National Park, Cala Iris & Torres de Alcala, Trekking in the Rif Mountains: Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen to Bab Taza, East Mediterranean Coast, Melilla, Nador, East of Nador, Saïdia.

Click here to see more Lonely Planet travel guides for Morocco

You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

South Africa Airlink to finally establish flights to St Helena

South Africa Airlink will offer scheduled commercial air services to St Helena when it starts flights between South Africa and the island later this year.

This follows a period of contractual negotiations between St Helena government and the airline.

Initially Airlink is expected to offer a weekly Saturday service to-and-from South Africa to St Helena using the new Embraer E190-100IGW ETOPS certified aircraft that has already undertaken a number of very successful test flights to the island.

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Etihad brings Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Lebanon route

Etihad Airways today introduced the Boeing 787-9 on its scheduled daily service from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to Beirut, Lebanon.

The new 787 Dreamliner service replaces the Airbus A321 aircraft previously operating the airline’s EY535/EY538 flights to and from the Lebanese capital.

The Boeing 787-9 features Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy Class cabins and is configured with 299 seats – 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats.

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Sleep with Shakespeare

Love theatre? Dream to visit the historic town where William Shakespeare was born? Your chance has arrived! Care for two cats in Stratford Upon Avon, England and stay in just one of thousands of properties around the globe. With a growing network of trustworthy people helping each other to ease the difficultly of not always wanting to be at home, you can now travel the world and make new friends.

To browse people and properties from Sydney to Vancouver, and find the right person to connect with and form a partnership that will make your life more flexible visit: TrustedHousesitters

Lufthansa expands European schedule this winter

Lufthansa is launching seven new winter destinations starting at the end of October: Pamplona, Genoa, Bari and Catania are the new destinations available from Frankfurt.

The offer from Munich will be extended to include Nantes, Glasgow and Santiago de Compostela as further attractive city connections.

Pamplona is on the Lufthansa flight schedule for the first time ever.

From November 6th onwards, the city in northern Spain will be connected with four weekly flights from Frankfurt.

Furthermore, Genoa, Bari and Catania will be new winter destinations available from Frankfurt.

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Buenos Aires - Retiro (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Buenos Aires - Retiro (PDF Chapter)

Buenos Aires - Retiro (PDF Chapter)

Retiro is a compact neighborhood most easily seen on foot. Wander around the Plaza San Martín area or join the crowds on pedestrian Calle Florida and follow it into the Center; Reconquista, another pedestrian street, is perfect for a lunch or coffee break.

- wander around the grand Plaza San Martín and get an eyeful of the impressive surrounding buildings

 - tour the opulent Palacio Paz, once Argentina’s largest private residence

- check out the amazing silverwork at the under-the-radar Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernández Blanco

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Shopping, Sports & Activities.

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Lonely Planet Sale Code: JUST GO!

Take the leap this summer with Lonely Planet's latest sale on all eBook travel guides.

Use code JUST GO at the Lonely Planet online shop and grab an eBook for £4.99 / €5.95 / US$8.99 / AU$9.99

Use the code [ JUST GO ] at checkout

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Buenos Aires - San Telmo Lonely Planet guide (PDF Chapter)

Download the Lonely Planet Buenos Aires - San Telmo Lonely Planet guide (PDF Chapter)

Buenos Aires - San Telmo Lonely Planet guide

Everyone is drawn to Plaza Dorrego, the heart and soul of San Telmo. It’s a nice leafy place to snag an outdoor table and have a coffee or meal; on Sundays the Feria de Sal Telmo takes over the square.

- jostle with fellow shoppers at Feria de San Telmo, the Sunday fair, where vendors sell all manner of goods, and buskers and tango dancers entertain

- take a break at the atmospheric and historic Plaza Dorrego – when it’s not Sunday

- explore the reconstructed tunnels at El Zanjón de Granados

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Sports & Activities.

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Buenos Aires - Congreso & Tribunales (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet Buenos Aires - Congreso & Tribunales (PDF Chapter)

Buenos Aires - Congreso & Tribunales

Explore Plaza del Congreso, at the heart of this neighbourhood – an easy walk from Plaza de Mayo along the important thoroughfare Av de Mayo. Then head along Callao to Av Corrientes, the city’s traditional theater district.

- peek behind the scenes of Teatro Colón on a backstage tour or catch a performance at this historical venue

- learn about the symbolic architecture of the Dante-inspired Palacio Barolo and take in the views from the rooftop lighthouse

- explore the Palacio del Congreso, the home of Argentina’s legislative branch, on a guided Senate tour

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

Lonely Planet's Epic Drives of the World

Buckle up for the next installment in our Epic series and the follow-up to Epic Bike Rides of the World.

Epic Drives of the World

Be amazed by 50 of the greatest road trips on Earth, including classic routes in Australia, Europe and America, to breathtaking adventures in Africa and Asia.

Each route features a first-hand account, awe-inspiring photographs, illustrated maps and practical advice on when to go, how to get there, where to stay and what to eat. From Hawaii’s Hana Highway and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Road, to Utah’s National Park Circuit and Germany’s Black Forest High Road, Epic Drives will inspire any motorist to hit the open road.

Kerala - South India & Kerala (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's Kerala PDF chapter from the South India & Kerala guidebook.

Kerala - South India & Kerala (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

A sliver of a state in India’s deep south, Kerala is shaped by its landscape – almost 600km of glorious Arabian Sea coast and beaches, a languid network of backwaters and the spice and tea-covered hills of the Western Ghats.

Coverage includes: Southern Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) & around, Kovalam & around, Varkala & around, Central Kerala & around, Kochi (Cochin), Kollam (Quilon) & around, Kottayam & around, Northern Kerala, The Western Ghats, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Alappuzha (Allep-pey), Munnar & around, Thrissur (Trichur) & around, Kozhikode (Calicut), Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kannur & around, Bekal & around, Lakshadweep, Kadmat Island and Minicoy Island.

Check out more Lonely Planet guidebooks in India

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Ryanair cancels planned Ukraine services as Kiev Airport fails to honour commitments

Ryanair announced that it has cancelled its planned entry into Ukraine following Kiev airport’s failure to honour a growth agreement reached at the Ministry of Infrastructure with airport officials and the current Airport Director General, Mr Riabikin, in March of this year.

Regrettably, Kiev airport has instead chosen to protect high fare airlines (including Ukraine International Airlines) and deprive Ukrainian consumers/visitors access to Europe’s lowest air fares and widest route network. As a result, Ryanair has no choice but to cancel 4 new Kiev routes and 7 new Lviv routes, which will result in the loss of over 500,000 passengers and 400 jobs.

British Airways to launch direct Canary Islands connection in October

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, will soon become more accessible to UK holiday-makers than ever before, with British Airways announcing its first ever direct flight route from London Heathrow to Tenerife South airport.

The new service will be available from October to March next year and is perfect for Brits looking for a winter sunshine getaway.

Buenos Aires - The Center (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet Buenos Aires - The Center (PDF Chapter)

Buenos Aires - The Center (PDF Chapter)

Stretching from Retiro to San Telmo and encompassing Microcentro and Montserrat, this is the heart and brain of the city. Plaza de Mayo is a good place to start, with the Casa Rosada presidential palace and the Museo Casa Rosada.

- hang out at Plaza de Mayo, BA’s historic heart surrounded by some of the city’s most important buildings

- catch a concert at the magnificent new Centro Cultural Kirchner, housed in the city’s former central post office.

- take a tour of the Manzana de las Luces during the day and return on Friday night to dance tango at the atmospheric milonga

Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

Bali & Lombok - Gili Islands (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok - Gili Islands (PDF Chapter)

Bali & Lombok - Gili Islands

Picture three minuscule desert islands, fringed by white-sand beaches and coconut palms, sitting in a turquoise sea: the Gilis are a vision of paradise. These islets have exploded in popu-larity, and are booming like nowhere else in Indonesia.

When to Go

The wet season is approximately late October until late March. But even in the height of the rainy season, when it’s lashing it down on Lombok or Bali, the Gilis can be dry and sunny.

High season is between June and late August and again at Christmas, when rooms are very hard to find and prices surge (though great weather is almost guaranteed).

The perfect months to visit are May and September. It’s fairly dry, the crowds have abated and there’s no cyclone season to worry about. Still, with the Gilis’ popularity growing so quickly, it’s always a good idea to book a room in advance.

- celebrate at Gili T’s legendary raves and parties, which happen several nights a week at venues like Tir na Nog

- swim with all manner of fish at Trawangan Wall, a popular dive spot near Gili T

- circle Gili Air looking for your favourite beach

Coverage includes: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air.

Emirates enters Cambodia with Phnom Penh route

Emirates has expanded its presence in south-east Asia with the launch of a new daily linked service from Dubai to Phnom Penh in Cambodia, via Yangon in Myanmar.

This new service, operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft, broadens the airline’s network in south-east Asia to 13 cities in eight countries and offers more choices and convenience to passengers travelling between Phnom Penh to Dubai and beyond.

It also marks the first time since 2014 that Phnom Penh and Yangon were connected by a direct air link, serving increasing demand for travel between the two fast-developing cities

Phnom Penh, the first destination within Cambodia to be served by Emirates, is one of the fastest growing economies in south-east Asia.

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Best of New York City 2017 city guide Lonely Planet

Best of New York City 2017 city guide

Stroll the massive green spaces of Central Park, overload your senses in Chinatown, and be inspired by the Statue of Liberty; all with your trusted travel companion.

Covers: Manhattan, Soho, Chinatown, East Village, Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, Union Square, Central Park, and more

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Cuba - Havana (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's PDF Havana chapter from the Cuba guidebook

Cuba - Havana (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

No one could have invented Havana. It’s too audacious, too contradictory, and too damned beautiful. How it does it, is anyone’s guess. Maybe it’s the swashbuckling history, the survivalist spirit, or the indefatigable salsa energy. Don’t come here looking for answers. Just arrive with an open mind and prepare yourself for a long, slow seduction.

Coverage includes: Sights, Activities, Festivals & Events, Courses, Tours, Sleeping, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Outer Havana, Playa, Marianao, Parque Lenin Area, Santiago de las Vegas Area, Regla, Guanabacoa, Cojímar Area, Casablanca, and Playas del Este.

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Click here to find the best hotel deals

Australia - Melbourne & Around (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's PDF Melbourne & Around chapter from the Australia guidebook

Australia - Melbourne & Around (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Ranked among the world’s most liveable cities, with gold-rush-era architecture, expansive parklands and laneway street art, Melbourne is arty and cosmopolitan. Venture beyond for penguins at Phillip Island, hot springs in Hepburn Springs and wine and wildlife in the Yarra Valley.

Coverage includes: Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, the Dandenongs, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island.

You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

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Aeroflot takes top spot for Europe-Asia connections

Aeroflot has been recognised as the top airline by seats flown on long-haul routes between Europe and Asia in summer 2017.

Aeroflot’s capacity on Europe-Asia flights over 4,000 kilometres grew 12 per cent versus summer 2016, according to data from OAG schedules analyser.

The Russian flag carrier has overtaken last year’s top airline for Europe-Asia capacity, Lufthansa, the data shows.

“Growing transit capacity on routes between Europe and Asia is one of our highest strategic priorities, and this data clearly illustrates the success of our efforts,” Aeroflot chief executive, Vitaly Saveliev, said.

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Qatar Airways brings A380 to Melbourne, Australia, route

Qatar Airways has introduced its flagship Airbus A380 on the Melbourne route as the airline continues its growth story in Australia.

Melbourne is the original home for Qatar Airways in Australia, with the airline adding services to Perth, Sydney and Adelaide in recent years.

Athens is one of Qatar Airways’ most popular destinations in Europe for its Melbourne-based passengers, and the airline offers one of the fastest and most convenient pathways to Greece via its state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Qatar Airways will further expand its footprint in Greece with the launch of its Mykonos route in 2017-18, bringing the whitewashed paradise islands closer to Australians with a convenient one-stop in Doha.

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Etihad Airways passengers allowed laptops on US flights

Passengers on Etihad Airways flights out of Abu Dhabi to the United States will be able to use larger gadgets, such as laptops, during their journey.

Regulations requiring passengers to put laptops and other gadgets in baggage in the hold were introduced in March.

“We welcome the decision by the US department of homeland security to lift the electronic devices ban on flights between Abu Dhabi and the United States, following the successful validation of security measures at the US preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi airport,” said a statement from the carrier.

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Bali & Lombok - Central Mountains (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok - Central Mountains (PDF Chapter)

Bali & Lombok - Central Mountains (PDF Chapter)

Gunung Batur (1717m) is constantly letting off steam; it has an other-worldly beauty that may overwhelm the attendant hassles of a visit. At Danau Bratan there are sacred Hindu temples while the village of Candikuning has an engrossing botanic garden.

When to Go

Bali’s central mountains can be cool and misty throughout the year. They also get a lot of rain and this is the starting point for the water that courses through rice terraces and fields all the way south. Temperatures show few seasonal variations but can drop to 10°C at night at high eleva-tions.

It rains most from October through April, but can pour at any time during the year.

There’s no peak tourist season, except when the group-tour hordes hit the Kintamani area during the peak visitor months of July and August. It’s a good idea to book ahead for Munduk too at this time.

- claim your own waterfall while trekking around the mountain idyll of Munduk

- hear the chant of priests at Pura Luhur Batukau, one of Bali’s holiest temples

- take a guided hike above and around the natural beauty and ancient temples of the an-cient volcanic lake of Danau Tamblingan

Coverage includes: Gunung Batur & Around, Danau Bratan & Around, Bedugul, Candikuning, Pancasari, Danau Tamblingan, Munduk & Around, Gunung Batukau Ar-ea, The Antosari Road.

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