Destinations

Picture rows of oil lamps twinkling in the night and pathways adorned with rangoli – intricate patterns made from flowers and colored sand. All around you, firecrackers burst, painting patterns in the darkness. Persistent drumming melds with Indian melodies and special festive foods invite you to enjoy the festival mood. This is Diwali (or Deepavali)

Lonely Planet Destination Editor for Central & Eastern Europe Sandie Kestell recently traveled to Moldova and Transnistria. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip. When I told people I was planning a trip to Moldova, responses were mixed, ranging from “Amazing!” to “Why?”, right through to “Where is that?”.

Bold, big and beautiful, Arizona has a lot to brag about. Framed by New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California, and with Mexico at its southern reaches, the state gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year and has four distinct seasons. Arizona’s sprawling deserts and massive mountains provide a range of weather conditions year-round,

Our slow travel series explores how you can take more mindful journeys by train, boat, bus or bike – with tips on how to reach your no-fly destination, and what to see and do along the way. Here, Austin Bush explains how he traveled from Seville, Spain, to Lisbon, Portugal, via land.  I had just

Having lived in and out of Ho Chi Minh City for the last 10 years, I’ve had a chance to look at this city through the eyes of a local and sometimes a visitor. In Vietnamese, we refer to this city as Sai Gon hoa le, literally translated into “Saigon flowers and tears”. While the

No matter where you stay in the Florida Keys, you’ll feel a bit outside of normal USA time. Throughout this chain of coral islands drifting south from the tip of Florida, you’ll find incredible things to do: lost-in-time dive bars and weather-worn marinas are interwoven with oceanfront views from five-star resorts and Michelin-star-worthy dining experiences.

Boston and Philadelphia are both US cities with rich histories that helped shape the nation. Both have world-class institutions of art and culture, sports teams with hordes of committed fans, and both cities make culinary claims to fame. But if you can visit only one of them, which should it be? To help you decide, we

The cities of Scotland may be full to the brim with history and atmosphere, but it’s the countryside in between that captures most visitors’ hearts. Quintessentially Scottish landscapes of lochs, glens and mountains begin right on the limits of Edinburgh, Glasgow and other major cities, setting the scene for road trips to rival James Bond’s flight across

Palm Springs is the California desert’s restaurant hotspot, but it wasn’t always so. For much of the last century, the city – and the Coachella Valley to its southeast – felt like chiefly the realm of retirees and golfers, with ho-hum dining to match.  My, how things have changed. As a nonstop stream of visitors

As the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, El Yunque is an unmissable stop for anyone visiting Puerto Rico. Its nearly 29,000 acres of lush landscape are a nature lover’s dream, home to 200 types of trees, 70 kinds of birds, multiple bat and lizard species and 13 coquí species – the

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, copious amounts of mulled wine and some of the best hot chocolate you’ve ever had. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas across Europe, with hundreds of festive markets glittering brilliantly as soon as the first Advent door is opened. While Germany is the real fairy-tale deal, Christmas

There are few things more fun than traveling by tram, with its delightful mix of retro style and budget-friendly practicality. In Melbourne, Australia, riding a local icon is one of the best ways to explore a sprawling metropolis famed for its food and culture.  Melbourne has the largest light rail network in the world, with

Georgia is steeped in the imagery of the past, of grand old homes and Spanish moss-draped oak trees, where you might see Forrest Gump waiting at the next bus stop. But there’s so much more tucked within its boundaries, depending on what you want to see and do. It’s possible to traverse the entire length

If it’s your first time in Scotland, you’ll most likely choose to land in Edinburgh and work your way north to the Highlands, maybe over to St Andrews, then perhaps up to otherworldly northern isles like Skye. Southern Scotland literally lives in the Scottish Highlands’ shadow. But the dramatic sea cliffs, rolling countryside and star-speckled

The birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States. It’s home to the country’s oldest public park, university, public library and many other firsts that have given it a unique place in the nation’s cultural and political identity.  Modern Boston overflows with creativity and innovation in

As soon as the first flakes fall and the northern lights begin to flicker in dark winter skies, the call of the Alps and the Arctic is irresistible. Kit yourself out in warm gear and brace yourself for the thrill – whether it’s to be a shockingly cold float in a frozen river with the

When I was writing my first book, I felt an insatiable urge to finish it some place where I could look out at the sea, a place I didn’t know well enough to distract myself with nostalgia and surprise visits with old friends. When I picked Genoa I only knew that it was far enough

Stretching from the Eastern Plains to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is rightly famous for its breathtaking landscapes. Crossing this rugged state will take you past soaring mountains, sun-drenched plains, red rock mesas and high-altitude deserts – all of which look especially fetching through a car or RV windshield. Fans of road trips are in for

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly and still sometimes referred to as Saigon) is one of Vietnam’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities. Although it is characterized by a tropical climate with two main seasons – dry and wet – the city is less susceptible to severe weather conditions than other parts of the country, and potential

Though it may be best known as the gateway to legendary National Parks Yellowstone and Grand Teton, there’s plenty to see and do in Jackson Hole before you move beyond it. Encircled by peaks over 13,000ft high and vast areas of wilderness, the valley (or “hole”) surrounding Jackson is a year-round playground for adventurers – beloved