Pocket Hong Kong travel guide by Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet’s Pocket Hong Kong is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Jump aboard the legendary Star Ferry and explore the famous harbour, shop ‘til you drop at Temple Street Night Market and cheer on a winner at the Happy Valley Racecourse.

Click HERE to buy the Lonely Planet Pocket Hong Kong travel guide

Inside Lonely Planet’s Pocket Hong Kong:

- Full-colour maps and images throughout
- Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
- Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
- Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
- User-friendly layout with helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time

Coverage Includes: Hong Kong Island, Central, Sheung Wan, Lan Kwai Fong, Soho, Admiralty, Kowloon, the New Territories, Macau and more.

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Pocket Reykjavik & Southwest Iceland ebook by Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet's Pocket Reykjavik is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Jump on a whale-watching boat at Reykjavik's Old Harbour, peruse priceless artefacts at the National Museum, or wash away your cares at the ethereal Blue Lagoon geothermal waters set in otherworldly lava fields.

Click HERE to buy the Lonely Planet Pocket Reykjavik & Southwest Iceland >>

Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Reykjavik:

- Full-colour maps and images throughout
- Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
- Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
- Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
- Free, convenient pull-out Reykjavik map (included in print version), plus over 13 colour maps

Coverage Includes: Old Reykjavik, Old Harbour, Laugavegur & Skolavordustigur, Laugardalur, Videy Island, Blue Lagoon, Reykjanes Peninsula, Golden Circle, South Coast, Jokulsarlon, West Iceland and more

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Mauritius prepares to welcome World Travel Awards for first time

Mauritius is making final preparations as it steps up to host the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony.

Leading travel industry figureheads from across Africa and the Indian Ocean will arrive to attend the event on June 1st.

It will mark the inaugural ceremony in the paradise destination.

The red-carpet evening is taking place at the opulent Sugar Beach – A Sun Resort, which enjoys an unrivalled location bordering the vast sands of Flic-en-Flac, one of the most picturesque beaches in Mauritius.

Graham Cooke, founder, World Travel Awards, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to bring World Travel Awards to Mauritius for the first time in our 26-year history and I am excited to be welcoming the most senior decision-makers from Africa and the Indian Ocean to this delightful country.

“Mauritius embodies experiential travel at its finest – a sparkling crystal in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, offering a charming contrast of colours, cultures, adventures and tastes.”

A number of global media networks will be broadcasting the ceremony live.

The event, which starts at 20:00 (MRU) will also be streamed live on the World Travel Awards website.

Hotels in Mauritius >>

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Lonely Planet Pocket Bali - 6th edition. Download today!

Lonely Planet Pocket Bali is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Catch a wave on one of Bali's legendary surf breaks, follow a colourful procession accompanied by traditional music and dance, head to the shops for some retail therapy; all with your trusted travel companion.

Click HERE to download the Lonely Planet Pocket Bali - 6th edition >>

Coverage Includes: Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Canggu, Jimbaran, Ulu Watu, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Denpasar, Sanur, Benoa and more

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Tanzania - Western Tanzania (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Tanzania - Western Tanzania (PDF Chapter)

Tanzania - Western Tanzania (PDF Chapter)

Western Tanzania is rough, remote frontier land, with vast trackless expanses and few visitors. Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks are two of the world’s best places for chimpanzee encounters, while Katavi National Park offer an almost primeval safari experience.

- visit Mahale Mountains National Park, the ultimate ‘get-away-from-it-all’ destination

- venture into the forests to mingle with the chimps made famous by Jane Goodall’s studies at Gombe National Park

- sail from port to port down Lake Tanganyika aboard the MV Liemba, the historic ferry that inspired the movie The African Queen

Coverage includes: Tabora, Kigoma, Ujiji, Gombe Stream National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Kalema, Kipili, Kasanga, Mpanda, Katavi National Park, and Sumbawanga.

Review: NEW Lonely Planet New York travel guide

Review Lonely Planet New York City travel guide

Epicenter of the arts. Dining and shopping capital. Trendsetter. New York City wears many crowns, and spreads an irresistible feast for all. Lonely Planet will get you to the heart of New York City, with amazing travel experiences and the best planning advice.

Click HERE to buy and visit the Lonely Planet shop.

Lonely Planet’s New York City is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Food truck, deli, pizza parlor, pub – eat your way through a world of food; take a sunset stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge for romantic views of amber skies; and take in a spectacular show on Broadway.

Lonely Planet writer Regis St Louis loves New York and says "I've always loved the energy here. There's so much creativity, with wildly imaginative works filling the city's galleries and concert halls - not to mention the restaurants, with ever more inventive mash-ups of global cuisines. I never tire of exploring the metropolis."

Lonely Planet's Top Number One thing to do in New York City - Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

Inside Lonely Planet’s New York City:

- Colour maps and images throughout

- Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

- Essential info at your fingertips- hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices

- Honest reviews for all budgets- eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

- Cultural insightsprovide a richer, more rewarding travel experience - covering history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics

Coverage Includes: Lower Manhattan & the Financial District, SoHo & Chinatown, East Village & Lower East Side, West Village, Chelsea & the Meatpacking District, Union Square, Flatiron District & Gramercy, Midtown, Upper East Side, Upper West Side & Central Park, Harlem & Upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens.

Curator: Regis St Louis

Writers: Robert Balkovich, Ray Bartlett, Michael Grosberg, Brian Kluepfel, Ali Lemer

"All you've got to do is decide to go and the hardest part is over. So go!" Tony Wheeler, cofounder - Lonely Planet

Australia - Tasmania (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Australia - Tasmania (PDF Chapter)

Australia - Tasmania (PDF Chapter)

From the lichen-splashed granite of the east coast to the bleak alpine plateaus of Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania has a unique beauty. Yes, this is still Australia, but Tasmania is bewitchingly different.

- be inspired, turned on, appalled, educated and amused at Mona, Tasmania’s unique art gallery

- tick Tassie’s superb new walking trail, the Three Capes Track, off your ‘to do’ list

- pay your respects to the past, both distant and recent, at Port Arthur’s sombre ruins

Coverage includes: Hobart & Around, Richmond & Around, Mt Field Na-tional Park & Around, The Southeast, Bruny Island, Cygnet, Huonville & Around, Geeveston & Around, Dover, Southport & Around, Tasman Peninsula, Port Arthur, Dunalley, Eaglehawk Neck, The Midlands, Oatlands & the Southern Midlands, Ross, Campbell Town, The East Coast, Maria Island National Park, Swansea, Coles Bay, Freycinet National Park, Bicheno, St Helens, Bi-nalong Bay, the Bay of Fires, Derby & Around, Flinders Island, Launceston & Around, Launces-ton & Around, Tamar Valley, Longford & Around, Evandale, Ben Lomond National Park, Devon-port & The Northwest, Devonport, Sheffield, Deloraine, Mole Creek, Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Penguin, Burnie, Stanley, Marrawah, King Island, The Tarkine Wilderness, Corinna & the Pieman River, Cradle Country & The West, Queenstown, Strahan, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, The Southwest, Lake Pedder & Strathgordon, Southwest National Park.
Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions.

South African Airways and Alaska Airlines Launch New Interline Agreement

South African Airways (SAA), the national carrier of South Africa and Alaska Airlines, the fifth largest airline in the United States, announced today that they have established a new interline partnership, which provides new and convenient flight options for both SAA and Alaska’s customers traveling between North America and Africa.

With immediate effect, customers will be able to purchase a single itinerary for travel on flights of both carriers in one simple transaction and enjoy connections via New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport between Alaska Airlines’ expansive North American network and over 75 destinations in Africa served by SAA and its regional partners.

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Wilderness Safaris welcomes Magashi camp in Rwanda

Wilderness Safaris has opened its new camp, Magashi, overlooking scenic Lake Rwanyakazinga in the north-east of Rwanda’s wildlife-rich Akagera National Park.

Launched in partnership with conservation non-profit African Parks and the Rwanda Development Board, both of which manage the national park, Magashi offers journeys to this remarkable location.

“We are thrilled with our elegant new camp, which is looking incredible thanks to the collective efforts of our Rwanda team and lead designers Caline Williams-Wynn and Nilfah Adams from Artichoke.

Hotels in Rwanda >>

“Our Magashi team has already started to work their magic and exceed our guests’ expectations, and we are looking forward to sharing the area’s wonders with many more guests in the future,” commented Ingrid Baas, Wilderness Safaris Rwanda general manager.

Comprising a traditional East African “safari under canvas” feel, Magashi’s six airy tented suites and main guest areas have been designed to take full advantage of the beautiful wilderness surrounds and tranquil, uninterrupted views over Lake Rwanyakazinga.

Emirates brings Airbus A380 to Muscat route

Emirates is gearing up for a big summer in Muscat with the deployment of double daily A380 flights from tomorrow.

The airline will operate the A380 on EK862/863 and EK864/865 to and from Muscat International Airport.

Muscat will become Emirates’ shortest scheduled A380 flight, flying a distance of 340 kilometres each way.

Hotels in Muscat >>

The new A380 services to Muscat demonstrate the airline’s agile approach to fleet deployment and its commitment to providing an enhanced onboard experience for its passengers.

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president commercial operations centre, said: “The introduction of the A380 services to Muscat means more of our customers will have the opportunity to experience our industry-leading products onboard, and will also enhance choice and travel preferences as they plan their journeys.

“Oman is an important destination for Emirates, and we will continue to look at ways to grow our operations in the market to best serve our customers.

Africa - Zimbabwe (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download Lonely Planet's Africa - Zimbabwe (PDF Chapter)

Africa - Zimbabwe (PDF Chapter)

While from afar Zimbabwe’s plight doesn’t paint a rosy picture, a journey here will take you through an attractive patchwork of landscapes, from highveld, balancing boulders and flaming msasa trees to laid-back towns, lush mountains and lifeblood rivers up north.

- take the country’s spiritual pulse at the atmospheric stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe

- walk through Mana Pools National Park, the only park in Africa that allows unguided safaris among big cats and elephants

- unwind in garden restaurants within converted colonial homes in Harare

Coverage includes: Harare, Northern Zimbabwe, Kariba Town, Matusadona National Park, Mana Pools National Park, Eastern Highlands, Mutare, Chimanimani, Chimanimani National Park, The Midlands, Southeastern Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou National Park, Western Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park, Understand Zimbabwe and Survival Guide.

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions.

Oman Air debuts new service to Alexandria, Egypt

Oman Air has commenced direct flights to Alexandria.

The Egyptian city will become the airline’s 53rd destination in its expanding global network.

Alexandria, Egypt’s second-largest city, is a major economic and industrial centre of the country.

With its 30-kilometre coastline extending along the Mediterranean Sea, coupled with its magnificent ambience and rich cultural heritage, Alexandria is also a popular tourist destination.

Oman Air chief executive, Abdulaziz Al-Raisi, said: “We are pleased to be offering direct services into the beautiful city of Alexandria, Egypt’s most important seaport, where more than 70 per cent of the country’s imports and exports passes through.

Wine Time! Vevey in Switzerland welcomes the Fête des Vigneronscomes in July

Vevey will be popping more corks than ever in 2019 as the Fête des Vigneronscomes to town in July. Held just once every 20 years since the 18th century, this three-week wine festival is all about flamboyant costumed shows, cowbell-clanging parades, Alphorn concerts, and, if you find time, the chance to sample some divine local pinots and chasselas in pop-up stalls and open-door cellars.

Click HERE to buy the Lonely Planet Switzerland travel guide >>

The Rough Guide to Crete (Travel Guide and Free Ebook) 2019

Beautiful beaches, rugged landscapes, atmospheric towns and lost-in-time mountain villages make Crete the ultimate Greek-island getaway. Whether you want to walk in the footsteps of the Minoans at Knossos, trek down the Samariá Gorge, while away the hours on Crete’s idyllic beaches, explore its many off-shore islands, enjoy the views at the scenic Lasithi plateau or dance till dawn in Ayios Nikolaos, this fully updated and entertaining, ‘tell it like it is’ Rough Guide, is packed with exhaustive practical information and honest independent recommendations for the very best seaside hotels, hilltop villas, rustic tavernas and raki bars.

Click HERE to buy the Rough Guide to Crete travel guide >>

Crete Top 10

1. Loutro

2. Traditional Music and Dance

3. Knossos

4. Archeological Museum, iraklio

5. Lasithi Plateau

6. Elafonisi

7. Windsurfing

8. Wildlife

9. Hiking

10. Hania

Witchcraft and communications black holes: new series of Rough Guides podcast

Series four of the popular travel podcast, The Rough Guide to Everywhere, is back with new stories and new host, Aimee White

In series four of The Rough Guide to Everywhere podcast, Aimee interviews people who live in Green Bank, West Virginia, where mobile phones and microwaves are banned, talks witchcraft and magic with the founder of the Museum of Witchcraft and Sorcery in Iceland, and discusses the liberation of Europe and what it means today, 75 years on from D-Day. The podcast will also explore the art of adventure writing and the topic of responsible photography.

 The upcoming third episode in the series is a particularly special episode to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of Europe. Aimee will speak to the author of the upcoming book Travel the Liberation Route Europe about what we can learn from the events of the past and how travel can help us reflect and remember.

 Whether you’re on the road or in the comfort of your own home, Rough Guides helps you to make the most of your time of earth. Subscribe to The Rough Guide to Everywhere now (iTunes, Soundcloud, and Spotify) to make sure you don’t miss any of the new season.

Aimee White is a Rough Guides editor and has recently edited The Rough Guide to Iceland, The Rough Guide to Croatia, and The Rough Guide to Venice & Veneto. She has worked in the travel industry for three years and has been working as a travel editor for Rough Guides since May 2018. She has her own travel blog at https://twentysomethingtravelling.wordpress.com/ and can be followed on Twitter at @aimeefw.

ICC Sydney Celebrates National Reconciliation Week

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) is celebrating the contributions and achievements of Australia’s First Nations people this National Reconciliation Week, which commemorates the anniversaries of the 1967 referendum and historic Mabo High Court decision in 1992.

Throughout the week, ICC Sydney will display a series of First Nations artworks across its 19 digital blades to welcome visitors in acknowledgment of the 2019 theme, Grounded in Truth, Walk Together with Courage. This is in addition to the permanent artwork by renowned Aboriginal artist Jeffery Samuels, titled Gadigal, Acknowledgement Respect, which is on display across all main entry points of the venue and across the precinct to officially welcome visitors to ICC Sydney and the Tumbalong precinct.

Internally, the venue’s team members will also come together to learn about shared histories, cultures and traditions at an interactive workshop featuring guest speakers, traditional dances and ceremonies and native produce.

Hotels in Sydney >>

Need a Sydney travel guide? Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Austria travel guide Lonely Planet - 8th edition

Download the Lonely Planet Austria travel guide

Austria travel guide

No country waltzes so effortlessly between the urban and the outdoors as Austria. One day you’re cresting alpine summits, the next you’re swanning around imperial Vienna.

Stroll the palaces and cathedrals of Vienna, ski the slopes of the Austrian Alps, or take a lazy trip through the valleys and lakes of the countryside.

Coverage includes: Planning chapters, Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Upper Austria, Styria, The Salzkammergut, Salzburg, Salzburgerland, Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Understand and Survival chapters, and more.

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions.

New Orleans Lonely Planet eBook city guide - 7th edition

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's PDF New Orleans Lonely Planet eBook 7th edition, or choose a chapter!

New Orleans eBook city guide - 7th edition

The things that make life worth living – eating, drinking and the making of merriment - are the air that New Orleans breathes.

Coverage includes: Plan Your Trip, French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny & Bywater, CBD & Warehouse District, Garden, Lower Garden & Central City, Uptown & Riverbend, Mid-City & the Tremé, Day Trips, Understand New Orleans and Survival Guide.

Lonely Planet eBooks are digital versions of our trusted travel guides. You can pick and choose from complete guides and individual chapters, and download them to any device you like.

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions.

Sweden travel guide Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet Sweden travel guide

Sweden travel guide

Frozen wastelands, cosy cottages, virgin forest, rocky islands, reindeer herders and Viking lore – Sweden has all that plus impeccable style and to-die-for dining.

Visit the beautiful, stylish capital of Stockholm; hike, ski or dogsled Arctic wasteland; or curl up by the fire in a cosy cottage.

Coverage Includes: Stockholm, Uppsala, Central Sweden, Goteborg, Southwest Sweden, Malmo, South Sweden, Southeast Sweden, Gotland, Ostersund, the Bothnian Coast, Lappland, the Far North and more

Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip from Hong Kong

Pay a visit to the Giant Buddha, visit Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery and explore the island of Lantau on this incredible tour, complete with a professional and friendly guide. You’ll get a taste of the beautiful beaches, fishing villages and stunning mountain ranges that make this destination so unique, while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the spirituality and Buddhist practices that drive the culture here. The tour includes lunch, a one-way ferry ride and round-trip hotel transport.

Click HERE to book and for more details >>

- Full-day tour of Lantau Island in Hong Kong

- Ride an express ferry across Hong Kong Harbour to Lantau Island

- Visit Po Lin Monastery and the Giant Buddha Exhibition Hall on a Big Buddha tour

- Pass Tai O fishing village and its traditional houses on stilts

- Take a sky rail cable car from Ngong Ping Village to Tung Chung town

- Enjoy a vegetarian lunch at the monastery

- Round-trip hotel transport from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon included

Hotels in Kong Kong >>

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Northern Ireland Highlights Day Trip Including Giant's Causeway from Dublin

Explore Northern Ireland's biggest draws — Belfast, Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge — on a day trip from Dublin. In a traditional black cab in Belfast, you’ll explore sites of the capital’s conflicted history: the mural-strewn streets of the Falls and Skankill neighborhoods and the Belfast Docks. Then course along the Antrim Coast to experience one of Ireland great geological marvels, the UNESCO World Heritage Site–listed Giant’s Causeway, followed by a stop at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Marvel at the surrounding headlands that were also used as a filming location for many Game of Thrones scenes.

Click HERE to book a tour and for more details >>

- Day trip from Dublin to Belfast including a black cab tour and Giant's Causeway excursion

- View the 15th-century Dunluce Castle, a Game of Thrones filming location

- See top Belfast attractions including the Harland and Wolff shipyard and Belfast Docks

- Learn about Belfast’s complex history as you visit the Falls and Shankill neighborhoods in a black cab

- Travel along the Antrim Coastal Drive and admire the scenery from your luxury coach

- Spend time at leisure at the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

- Walk across the teetering 80-foot (24-meter) high Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

- Giants Causeway & Visitor Heritage Centre, 2 hour stop. The only tour from Dublin to offer both attractions at the Giants Causeway. Also a complimentary walking tour of the Giants Causeway Coast available which is optional whether to take or not.

- Belfast Black Cab Tour, 2 hour stop. A complete tour offering the passenger the opportunity to walk and record the various locations synonymous with the city's troubled history.

- Carrick A Rede Bridge – 1 hour 30 minute stop. Premium tickets to walk across the rope bridge included. (optional to cross)

Hotels in Dublin >>

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

REVIEW: Lonely Planet Andalucia travel guide

The scent of orange blossom, the swish of a flamenco dress, the glimpse of a white village perched atop a crag: memories of Andalucía linger. Experience the Alhambra’s perfect blend of architecture and nature, visit the Spanish Royals’ residence at the Alcazar and hike to the rugged cliff-top town of Ronda. Lonely Planet will get you to the heart of Andalucía, with amazing travel experiences and the best planning advice.

Click HERE to buy the Lonely Planet Andalucia travel guide

Lonely Planet writer Isabella Noble explains why she loves Andalucia. "I grew up in the whitewashed Málaga Province mountain village of Cómpeta, performing famenco at local ferias, picking up a lifelong malagueno accent, tackling meat-mad menus as a vegetarian and studying maps of Andalucian peaks, parks and rivers, then later lived in Cadiz province. Tarifa remains my favourite place in the world though Vejer de la Frontera is creeping up behind and, while Cadiz, Malaga, Cordoba and Seville are all fabulous, there's no city quite like magical Granada. Andalucia will always be my home, and I love the Andaluz zest for life, from late-night tapas crawls to full-family beach expeditions."

Andalucia Top 10

1. Granda's Alhambra

2. Seville's Catedral Alcázar

3. Cordoba's Mezquita

4. Sierra Nevada

5. Parque Nacional de Doñana

6. Cádiz

7. Kitesurfing in Tarifa

8. Flamenco

9. Tapas

10. Cabo de Gata

South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland travel guide by Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland travel guide

South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland travel guide

Fill your days with beaches and wineries in Cape Town, spot wildlife galore in Kruger National Park, and hike past majestic mountains in the Drakensberg region – all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland and begin your journey now!

Coverage Includes: Cape Town, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Johannesburg & Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Limpopo, North West Province, Northern Cape, Lesotho, Swaziland

Writers: Robert Balkovich, Jean-Bernard Carillet, Lucy Corne, Shawn Duthie, Anthony Ham, Ashley Harrell, Simon Richmond

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for more ebooks and print versions.

France - The Loire Valley (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

If it’s French splendour, style and gastronomy you seek, the Loire Valley will exceed your ex-pectations. With crenellated towers, soaring cupolas and glittering banquet halls, the region’s châ-teaux, and surrounding villages and vineyards, attest to over a thousand years of rich architectural and artistic creativity.

Click HERE to buy the Lonely Planet France - The Loire Valley (PDF Chapter)

- climb the staircase to the turreted rooftop of the Château de Chambord, the Loire’s most ex-uberant château

- admire the Château de Chenonceau’s elegant arches and fabulous art

- enjoy fantastic food, great local wines and equestrian virtuosity in Saumur

Coverage includes: Orléanais, Orléans & Around, Sully-sur-Loire & Around, La Sologne, Blésois, Blois, Touraine, Tours, Chenonceaux, Amboise, Villandry, Langeais, Azay-le-Rideau, Loches, Chinon, Anjou, Saumur, Angers.

Click here for hotels in France >>

3-Night Jordan Private Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea

Enjoy tours of Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea on this 3-night private tour of Jordan’s wonders from Amman, with your own private guide. Head south from Amman for a guided Petra tour: seeing the best of this age-old, UNESCO-listed rock-cut city. The next day, explore the spectacular desert valley of Wadi Rum, and ‘swim’ in the salt-rich waters of the Dead Sea. Three nights of accommodation in Amman and Petra; daily breakfast and dinner; and airport transfers at the start and end of your trip are also included.

Click HERE to book a tour and for more details >>

- 3-night tour of Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea from Amman with a private driver

- See the best of Petra, including the Siq, Treasury (El Khazneh) and the Royal Tombs, led by a local guide

- Ride a 4x4 through the canyons, valleys and deserts of Wadi Rum

- Float in the salt-rich waters of the Dead Sea Enjoy two nights in Jordan’s capital of Amman, plus a night in ancient Petra

- Choose from a range of hotel standards to suit your budget

Hotels in Jordan

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Atlas Mountains Hot Air Balloon Ride from Marrakech

Enjoy bird’s-eye views of Morocco’s deserts and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains on a sunrise hot-air balloon ride from Marrakech. Ride a 4x4 to the launch spot in the early morning and drift through the dawn skies over the desert valleys and hillsides just as the sun casts them in gold, orange and pink. Then, land safely back on ground to enjoy a tasty Berber breakfast and memorable camel ride. A flight certificate to commemorate your balloon ride is also included.

Click HERE to book and for more details >>

- Morocco hot air balloon flight and camel ride

- See the Atlas Mountains on a peaceful hot air balloon ride at sunrise

- Sit down to a typical Berber breakfast after your flight

- Enjoy a camel ride through the Moroccan desert

- Take home a flight certificate as a souvenir of your Morocco hot air balloon ride

- Make use of a hotel pickup and drop-off service from central Marrakech

Hotels in Marrakech >>

Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

Southern Italy - Plan your trip (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Southern Italy - Plan your trip (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Southern Italy - Plan your trip (PDF Chapter)

Your journey to Southern Italy starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on Southern Italy with kids.

- tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
- list of highlights and best experiences
- everything you need to know about local food specialities and where to eat them
- user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Southern Italy, Southern Italy’s Top 11, Need to Know Accommodation, First Time Southern Italy If You Like: Baroque Architecture, Ex-traordinary Churches, Ancient Sites, Medieval Towns, The Great Outdoors, Markets, Diving, Month by Month, Itineraries, Outdoor Activities, Eat & Drink Like a Local, Travel with Children, and Regions at a Glance.

If you want to see more stars this year, head to New Zealand

With the 50th anniversary of the moon landing coming up on 20 July 2019 the world’s attention will be turning skywards this summer. But did you know one of the best places in the world to gaze at the universe above is New Zealand with a host of unique star-gazing experiences?

First, Lake Tekapo is also one of the only places in the world where you can lie in a natural 38-degree hot-spring pool and gaze at the stars above after an astronomy and storytelling session with the outfit at Tekapo Springs. Relax on a floating hammock and feel like you’re soaking in the stars as you explore the wonder of night skies with one of the guides here.

Read more

Click here for family-friendly, luxury & budget hotels in New Zealand >>

Need a New Zealand travel guide? Click here to visit the Lonely Planet shop for ebooks and print versions. Get 10% OFF with code EBOOKGUIDE10 at checkout.

New York to London in 90 minutes? A new hypersonic flight is on the horizon

A hypersonic jet aims to take passengers from New York to London in just 90 minutes.

An Atlanta-based start-up has plans to build a hypersonic jet that could propel passengers from New York to London five times faster than the speed of sound – reducing a typically seven-hour flight to just 90 minutes. Aerospace company Hermeus Corporation is working on propulsion technology that would allow the jet to fly at speeds of up to 3800 miles per hours. That’s about three times faster than the now-defunct Concorde, which connected the cities in under three-and-a-half hours.

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Rough Guides Croatia travel guide

Download the Rough Guides Croatia travel guide

Croatia travel guide

Discover Croatia with this comprehensive, entertaining, ‘tell it like it is’ Rough Guide, packed with exhaustive practical information and our experts’ honest independent recommendations.
Whether you plan to taste biscuits and sweets in Korcula, take in the maritime panoramas from Vis’s Mount Hum or head to the Museum of Broken Relationships, The Rough Guide to Croatia will show you the perfect places to explore, sleep, eat, drink and shop along the way.

Features of The Rough Guide to Croatia:

Detailed regional coverage: provides in-depth practical information for every step of every kind of trip, from intrepid off-the-beaten-track adventures, to chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas. Regions covered include: Zagreb; Inland Croatia; Istria; the Kvarner Gulf; Northern Dalmatia; Split; the south Dalmatia coast; the southern Dalmatian islands; Dubrovnik.

Honest independent reviews: written with Rough Guides’ trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, and recommendations you can truly trust, our writers will help you get the most from your trip to Croatia.

Meticulous mapping: always full-colour, with clear numbered, colour-coded keys. Find your way around Hvar, Rovinj and many more locations without needing to get online.

Fabulous full-colour photography: features a richness of inspirational colour photography, including Plitvice Lakes National Park’s sequence of foaming waterfalls and turquoise lakes and Zadar’s muddle of architectural styles, from Romanesque churches to Corinthian columns to glass-fronted café-bars.

Things not to miss: Rough Guides’ rundown of Hvar, Istria, Dubrovnik and Zagreb’s best sights and top experiences.

Itineraries: carefully planned routes will help you organise your trip, and inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences.

Basics section: packed with essential pre-departure information including getting there, getting around, accommodation, food and drink, health, the media, festivals, sports and outdoor activities, culture and etiquette, shopping and more.

Background information: comprehensive Contexts chapter provides fascinating insights into Croatia, with coverage of history, music and books, plus a handy language section and glossary.

– Covers: Zagreb, Inland Croatia, Istria, the Kvarner Gulf, Northern Dalmatia, Split and the south Dalmatian coast, the southern Dalmatian Islands, Dubrovnik and around.

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Chicago - Andersonville & Uptown (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Chicago - Andersonville & Uptown (PDF Chapter)

Chicago - Andersonville & Uptown (PDF Chapter)

These northern neighborhoods are good for a delicious browse. Andersonville is an old Swedish enclave centered on Clark St, where timeworn European-tinged businesses and bakeries mix with new foodie restaurants, funky boutiques, vintage shops and gay and lesbian bars.

amble along the busy thoroughfare of Clark Street, pop into funky shops by day and drink and dine in gastronome taverns at night

listen to jazz and sip martinis with Al Capone’s ghost in velvet booths amid candlelit, art-deco décor in Green Mill

slurp pho and bubble tea in the steamy-windowed shops of ‘Little Saigon’ on Argyle Street

Coverage includes: Sights, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping and Sports & Activities.

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Turkey - Thrace & Marmara (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Turkey - Thrace & Marmara (PDF Chapter)

Turkey - Thrace & Marmara (PDF Chapter)

Grand narratives have unfolded in this corner of Turkey for millenniums, leaving an extraordinary archaeological site (Troy), a city of Ottoman buildings (Edirne), historically significant battlefields (Gallipoli) and a fascinating and physically beautiful island outpost (Gökçeada) for visitors to explore.

- visit Selimiye Mosque, the exquisite World Heritage-listed building in the former Ottoman capital of Edirne

- sample local wine and food at vineyards among stunning scenery along the Thrace Wine Route

- investigate the fascinating Greek heritage and windswept landscape on the Aegean island of Gökçeada

Coverage includes: Edirne, Tekirdağ, Gallipoli Peninsula, Eceabat, Çanakkale, Troy (Truva) and Gökçeada.

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England - Manchester, Liverpool, Northwest England (Travel Guide) Lonely Planet

Two cities brimming with history, a Tudor delight, an island that marches to the beat of its own drum and some of the most pleasant countryside in Britain…welcome to the northwest of England.

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- be overwhelmed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s awesome neo-Gothic masterpiece, Liverpool Cathedral

- visit the Liverpool houses where John and Paul grew up – and wrote their earliest hits

- explore Chester’s Tudor-era shopping district, the Rows

Coverage includes: Manchester, Chester, Liverpool, Lancashire, Blackpool, Lancaster, Ribble Valley, Isle of Man, Douglas, Northern Isle of Man, Southern Isle of Man.

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Chicago CityPASS

Chicago CityPASS

Get the most out of your trip to Chicago as you enjoy discount access to five of the city’s top attractions with the CityPASS. This easy-to-carry booklet grants you free entry into top-tier sights including the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, Skydeck Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry and 360 Chicago (John Hancock Observatory). Plus enjoy a wealth of useful Chicago tips and savings at a variety of other venues and retailers.

- Free admission to Chicago's premier attractions

- Visit the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, the Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry OR 360 Chicago and Adler Planetarium OR the Art Institute of Chicago

- Ticket booklet features lots useful information, visiting tips and additional savings on shopping or other venues

Find your perfect hotel near these amazing landmarks >>

Millennium Park

Cloud Gate

Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower

The Magnificent Mile

Navy Pier

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Canary Islands - Fuerteventura (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the eBook version of Lonely Planet's PDF Fuerteventura chapter from the Canary Islands guidebook

Canary Islands - Fuerteventura (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

The second-largest island in the archipelago, Fuerteventura has year-round sunshine and the biggest and best beaches in the Canaries. Just 100km from the African coast, there are striking similarities in the colours of both the landscape and the architecture.

Coverage includes: Puerto del Rosario, Betancuria & around, Antigua & around, Pájara, Caleta de Fuste & around, Road to La Oliva, La Oliva, Corralejo, El Cotillo, Tarajalejo, La Lajita, Península de Jandía, Costa Calma, La Pared, Playa de Sotavento de Jandía and Morro Jable.

Croatia - Kvarner (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Sheltered by soaring mountains, the Kvarner Gulf has long been loved by visitors attracted by the mild climate and cobalt waters, and those in search of more than just beach appeal.

Click HERE to buy the Lonely Planet Croatia - Kvarner (PDF Chapter)

- wander the cobbled streets of ancient Rab Town

- sample Croatian specialties in Volosko

- find bears and views in the high country, in U?ka Nature Park

Coverage includes: Rijeka & Around, Risnjak National Park, Volosko, Opatija, U?ka Nature Park, Lošinj & Cres Islands, Beli, Cres Town, Valun, Lubenice, Osor, Nerezine, Mali Lošinj, Veli Lošinj, Krk Island, Malinska, Krk Town, Punat, Vrbnik, Baška, East Kvarner Coast, Crikvenica, Senj, Rab Island, Rab Town, Lopar.

British Airways welcomes her majesty the Queen to celebrate centenary

Her majesty the Queen has visited British Airways’ headquarters at Waterside, Heathrow, as part of the airline’s centenary celebrations.

While at Waterside her majesty was introduced to colleagues in heritage uniforms from across the airline’s history and she visited British Airways’ museum, the Speedbird Centre, where she was shown artefacts and memorabilia relating to her many historic journeys with the airline throughout her reign.

These included images from 1951 when the then HRH princess Elizabeth and HRH the duke of Edinburgh made their first transatlantic flight on a Boeing Stratocruiser from London to Montreal aboard British Airways’ predecessor, BOAC, as well as a photo from her own first Commonwealth tour in 1953, after her coronation.

Aircraft models that the royal family have travelled on lined the Speedbird Centre route including De Havilland Comet 4s, Boeing 70s, Vickers VC-10s and Lockheed Tristars, along with items from royal flights such as the royal book, which has been signed by members of the family.

Delta Air Lines launches new Boston connection from Edinburgh

Delta Air Lines’ newest service is departing Edinburgh Airport on its maiden flight to Boston Logan International Airport.

The flight, which will operate daily during the summer, complements Delta’s existing Edinburgh-New York-JFK service which will become year-round in 2019, and means the airline offers two nonstop connections between the capital and United States every day this summer.

Delta first started flying to Scotland in 2016 when it launched its nonstop service to Edinburgh from New York-JFK.

It added a summer seasonal service from Glasgow to the Big Apple (which resumes today) a year later.

Together with joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic, the airlines will offer up to four daily flights this summer to three destinations in the US.

Cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, joined executives from Delta, Edinburgh Airport and VisitScotland for the ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to departure, while a bagpiper offered a traditional welcome to guests on the inbound flight from Boston.

REVIEW: The Rough Guide to Amsterdam

With its handsome gabled houses, olive-green canals, vibrant markets and exquisite art, Amsterdam never fails to charm. However, there are plenty of surprises too: the city is shrugging off itsold anything-goes image and smartening up its look, from reviving the long-neglected docklands to revamping showpiece sights in the Museum Quarter. But for all its reinvention, amsterdam retains a laidback, small-city vibe that's hard to top; this Rough Guide will help you to discover both sides to the capital.

Click HERE to buy The Rough Guide to Amsterdam

Discover Amsterdam with this comprehensive, entertaining, 'tell it like it is' Rough Guide, packed with exhaustive practical information and our experts' honest independent recommendations. Whether you plan to explore the Museum District, visit the moving Anne Frank Huis, hole up in a cosy brown café or cycle the leafy lanes of Vondel park, The Rough Guide to Amsterdam will show you the perfect places to explore, sleep, eat, drink and shop along the way.

Amsterdam's Top 10

1. Koninklijk Paleis

2. Van Gogh Museum

3. Anne Frank Huis

4. The Vondelpark

5. Brown Cafes

6. The Begijnhof

7. The Eye

8. Brouwersgracht

9. Oude Kerk

10. King's Day

Malta & Gozo - Valletta (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet

Download the Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo - Valletta (PDF Chapter)

Malta & Gozo - Valletta (PDF Chapter)

Valletta is Malta’s lilliputian capital, built by the Knights of St John on a peninsula that’s only 1km by 600m. Its founder decreed that it should be ‘a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, and it retains its 16th-century elegance.

- enjoy the angles of Renzo Piano’s spectacular architectural statement – the Parliament Building

- check out the stunning view from the Upper Barrakka Gardens that puts the ‘grand’ in Grand Harbour

- discover the glories of the magnificent church of the Knights, St John’s Co-Cathedral

Coverage includes: History, Sights, Courses, Tours, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping, Around Valletta.

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TAP Air Portugal reaches fleet milestone

TAP Air Portugal has marked an historic point in its 74-year history.

With the arrival of its latest A330neo – CS-TUI, which has been named King Afonso Henriques – the company has 100 aircraft in its fleet for the first time.

A further 71 new aircraft due to arrive by 2025.

The new airplanes have allowed TAP to open new routes with the airline continuing to grow in Brazil, a market in which TAP retains market leadership in connections to Europe and where there has been a 23 per cent increase in the number of passengers between 2015 and 2018.

The carrier was also voted the World’s Leading Airline to South America by voters at the World Travel Awards.

TAP also has a strong commitment to the North Atlantic market, where there has been a 177 per cent growth in passenger numbers between 2015 and 2018, alongside a quadrupling of the number of seats available in the past four years.

TAP was the fastest growing European airline on routes to the United States, offering 245,000 more seats compared to 2015.

TAP will continue receiving new aircraft throughout 2019, with new routes launching to Chicago, San Francisco and Washington in June 2019.