Destinations

Chile is such a long and thin country that it claims an astonishing 6435km (4000 miles) of coastline. That means as you travel between Patagonia and the Atacama, you’ll find hundreds of beaches in all shapes and colors. Black-sand beaches lie on the edge of volcanoes, tree-lined beaches on the fringe of temperate rainforests and bone-white

In this series, Lonely Planet’s team of writers and editors answers your travel problems and provide tips and hacks to help you plan a hassle-free trip. This week Tom Hall, a Londoner and Lonely Planet’s VP of Experiences, tackles a query from a US traveler coming to Europe. Question: Hey Lonely Planet, I have an

Mexico is huge! From fluffy, white ski slopes and thick, steamy jungle to cacti-strewn deserts and sublime stretches of untouched sand, expect to use many transport options to get around the world’s 13th biggest country. Between domestic flights, long-distance buses, hair-raising colectivo, combi minibuses and – for one spectacular stretch – an old-school passenger train,

While most visitors to Ghana will leap at the opportunity to try fufu (a ball of mashed cassava, yam or plantain), the West African country has plenty of other traditional foods and drinks for travelers to seek out too.  From oily palm nut soup paired with starches like banku (cooked balls of fermented corn flour)

No matter where you go in Chile, an epic hike through blockbuster nature is waiting to be discovered. Stand at the geographic heart of the country near Santiago, and you’ll find the tallest mountains in the Americas snaking along the horizon to your east. Out west, over another mountain range, you’ll hit the pounding surf of

The Hawaiian islands can swell with upwards of 10 million visitors each year, so getting off the beaten path is the best way to appreciate the islands’ multicultural history. Beyond its sandy beaches and seductive, jewel-toned waves, Hawaii‘s lesser-known local tours and activities make the days in paradise more meaningful. Whether it’s mellowing out at a

There’s a lot more to Moroccan cuisine than couscous and tajines. From cooked vegetable salads and slow-cooked meats to fresh fruits and flaky pastries, the traditional foods of Morocco are mouth-watering. Midrange restaurant menus can often repeat the same old tajines, so to get more variety you need to feast on street food or dine

With notoriously bad traffic and next-to-impossible parking, it’s best to avoid driving until it’s time to leave San Francisco. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent ways to get around. Most locals walk, bike, ride Muni (the public transit network of buses and streetcars) or ride-share instead of taking a car. The city also has three

Beef and malbec may be Argentina’s most well-known food and drink, but there is more to the country’s food and drink scene than perfectly grilled steak and red wine. Due in part to the immigration of millions of Europeans to Argentina at the turn of the 20th century, the country’s cuisine is an eclectic mix

It’s hard not to fall in love with Hong Kong at first sight, a disarmingly high-rise metropolis in the dreamiest of island settings. Then you start to discover just how memorable the food scene is, how vibrant the nightlife is, how endless the shopping is – and game over, you’re smitten.  Hong Kong truly is

While events in historic cities like Dublin, London, Bucharest and Prague are bound to be frightfully fun, looking further afield at Halloween could mean you reap the rewards of exploring some of the most authentically spooky surrounds Europe has to offer. If you have a curious bone in your body you’ll dare to visit these chilling landscapes for a

Jamaican food is as distinctive as the music that the island is famous for, and its hot Caribbean flavors have proved almost as world-conquering as reggae and dancehall. The indigenous fruits of the tropics, the island’s complicated history of colonialism and the trade of enslaved people, all make for a distinctive combination of influences that

I usually plan my trips with a visual in mind, and Costa Rica was no exception. On a casual social media swipe last February, I saw someone horseback riding in the mountains there — and then, even though I’ve never really ridden a horse, I could barely think of anything else: the overwhelming greenery, the

Compact Singapore may take less than an hour to drive across on a good day, but it has a wealth of tasty food options that reflect the diverse cultures that have come to call this island home. These original recipes were introduced by the early migrants bringing a piece of their roots with them. They

Perugia’s location along the slope of the prominent and iconic hills that define the Umbrian region has made it strategically important since the Etruscan era and its sizable student population counts an impressive number of foreign students. Almost exactly halfway between Rome and Florence, Perugia has been a pilgrimage site for music lovers from around

Jamaica is no stranger to white sand beaches and sensual sunsets, but what is often overlooked is its road trip appeal. The largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean, Jamaica can be slowly and comfortably traversed by car within a week.  Whether you’re looking for mountain views, a ride along the coast or a drive through

Bermuda might not be the first country that comes to mind when you think about hiking destinations. However, the beaches, cliffs, mangrove swamps and pockets of jungle in nature reserves that dot this 24-mile-long island in the middle of the Atlantic offer a surprising number of options for those keen to get exploring on their

If you travel with kids, then you may have found cheap family vacations more difficult to arrange in recent years. The price hikes for trips during school breaks are well documented, but there’s also the steady upward trajectory of the costs of food, accommodation and entry to attractions — all of which add up when

Maine has a reputation for being cultured, foodie, outdoorsy and steeped in history. It’s also known for being, particularly if you check into historic seaside hotels and dine out on lobster dinners. But a vacation in Maine doesn’t have to cost a fortune – you can hike, swim, cross-country ski and enjoy the arts scene,

With a dramatic rocky coastline broken by scenic beaches, a rich seafood tradition and ski resorts and state parks rising into the hills, Maine is known as Vacationland for good reason. Summer and early fall are great times of year to enjoy the state’s natural beauty, but if you can handle the cold, winter offers