Winter is here and you know what that means! Yes, snow and freezing temps – but also, the winter issue of Lonely Planet magazine has arrived. It’s also exciting because the ‘Best in Travel 2017’ is in this issue. So where does Lonely Planet suggest we go to this year? The ‘Best in Travel 2017’ is split into three groups: Countries, Regions and Cities. Colombia has been popping up a lot on my Instagram feed, so I can see why it made the cut for Top 10 Countries to visit this year. Finland is also on the list and Canada topped it off.
The Azores in Portugal are in the Top 10 Regions. I had never heard of it until recently when once again, it was popping up on Instagram. Meanwhile in the Top 10 Cities, Los Angeles “The City of Angels”, Portland and Seoul are some of the best city breaks for travel in 2017.
There is a lot of useful information in this issue. ‘10 New Ways to Fall in Love with Paris’ has recommendations for exploring Paris in a different way. This includes a visit to the largest cemetery in Paris, Père Lachaise Cemetery. It has the burial places of many celebs like Oscar Wilde.
Another favorite of mine is ‘Photo Story’. Photographer Simon Urwin captures the daily lives of women in Mongolia. I love the photo of the woman in the beauty salon. She was asked to express herself in a pose about her feeling of being a Mongolian. She looks very confident and proud.
‘Easy Trips’ featured New Orleans and I am happy with that choice! I love “The Big Easy” and not because my relatives are from Louisiana, but the food is unforgettable. You’ll never be the same once you’ve had your first taste of crayfish, boudin or gumbo.
The tear out ‘Mini Guide’ is back and it has great tips for visiting Florence, Italy on a budget. I was excited to see the Dominican Republic featured as a ‘Great Escape’. My husband and I went to there last year. It was an eye opening experience in so many ways.
There are lots of informative stories to read in this issue. One that caught my eye was ‘Close Encounters of the Furred Kind’. Locals in the small town of Churchill, Manitoba tell their stories about life with polar bears. They are cute, but very scary!
In November 2015, Lonely Planet launched their quarterly magazine in the U.S. You can pick up a copy for $5.99 at many retailers including Barnes & Noble, Hudson Booksellers and Whole Foods Market. A digital version is available for Kindle, iPad and Nook for the same price or you can get a 1 year subscription for $8 – don’t miss out!
This post was kindly sponsored by Lonely Planet, as always my opinions are my own.
