Travel
The place Lonely Planet staffers traveled in July
I’m determined for a trip. I spend my lunch break looking out up last-minute solar holidays and immersing myself in Lonely Planet articles on dreamy beaches, cool city breaks, epic festival experiences and locations that supply incredibly tasty things to eat.
I am extra determined than typical, primarily as a result of summer season has eluded me to this point. I dwell in Ireland, and this a part of Europe is enduring unseasonably dreary climate. I am speaking limitless grey skies, persistent drizzle, and temperatures hovering round a cold 18°C/64°F every day. I have to feel the sun so I am contemplating somewhat trip in September. Perhaps something like this? I’ve additionally been impressed by my teammates, who’ve been exploring some actually colourful locations in all kinds of climates lately.
Let’s have a look at what they have been as much as in July—perhaps you may discover some inspo in right here too.
– Sasha Brady, Digital Editor
Southern Italy
Ru Ogata, Visible Designer
I explored southern Italy with my husband Tosh, taking the train to 3 implausible, but very totally different locations. We spent the primary few days indulging within the candy and savory delights of Naples and soaking within the city’s friendly, energetic vibes. I used to be shocked to seek out myself as excited by the candy pastries, like sfogliatelle (flaky pastry with ricotta and cream filling), as I used to be by my main cause for touring to Naples — pizza.
Subsequent, we traveled by practice to the small city of Parghelia in Calabria, a spotlight of my journey. My accommodation, run by the unbelievable host Gianni, featured non-public entry to a shocking seashore with free solar loungers and parasols. Gianni grows herbs, together with essentially the most superb basil I’ve ever tasted, that friends are free to make use of when cooking. The city itself was small and intimate, with a shocking variety of restaurant choices regardless of not being touristy.
Lastly, we visited the extra touristy seaside city of Tropea, the place I loved a number of the most scrumptious meals of my journey. Highlights included a gelato dessert known as tartufo at Caffè del Corso and lobster linguine at Il Marchese restaurant.
Tip: When visiting Parghelia, watch the dawn with a spritz whereas mendacity in a hammock on the informal hilltop bar Pousada Café.
New Orleans, USA
Max Felderman, Gross sales & Advertising and marketing Supervisor
I had a implausible lengthy weekend in New Orleans, staying on the historic Hotel Monteleone, one of many oldest family-owned resorts in the US. I began with a swim within the rooftop pool and a well-known Fleur de Lis cocktail earlier than heading to the Backyard District. There, I received an awesome haul at NOLA Mix Records, purchased books from the Garden District Book Shop, and loved wonderful espresso at Whatever Coffee. Dinner and cocktails at Sylvain within the French Quarter capped off the day.
The subsequent day, with French Truck Coffee in hand, we hopped on a streetcar down St. Charles Avenue to Audubon Park, then walked alongside Journal Road for extra thrift buying. Lunch was a sandwich at NOLA Poboys within the French Quarter. Dinner at Pêche featured an entire fish and good lodging for my meals allergic reactions (not at all times simple to seek out). Earlier than leaving, we grabbed beignets from Café du Monde (scrumptious), strolled by way of Jackson Sq., had espresso at Fourth Wall, after which hit the highway.
Tip: Do not be afraid to stroll! So long as you are staying hydrated, the warmth is manageable and you may see a lot extra of the town.
Newfoundland, Canada
Jessica Lockhart, Vacation spot Editor
A convention in Newfoundland was the right excuse for a highway journey throughout the island with my 72-year-old mother. We watched puffins in Elliston; visited Dildo (sure, an actual place identify); received screeched-in in St John’s (a Newfie custom that entails kissing a cod fish); and visited the mid-century fashionable departures lounge at Gander Airport, made well-known by musical Come from Away.
My favourite cease was Gros Morne National Park’s fjord-like Western Brook Pond. With its steep granite cliffs lined in timber and waterfalls cascading into the freshwater under, this serene spot is definitely one in all Canada’s most underrated locations.
Tip: Newfoundland’s iceberg season often runs from early June to July. To seek out out the place the icebergs are, you should utilize the crowdsourced Iceberg Finder, but when – like me – you like the climate radar to the climate forecast, then you definitely’ll love Environment Canada’s Daily Iceberg Analysis Report.
British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Chamidae Ford, Affiliate Author
I simply returned from 5 days within the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the place I had a tremendous time island hopping between Tortola, Guana, Anegada, and Cooper Island. My preferrred trip consists of every day swimming, and that is precisely what I did!
I stayed on Guana Island, a personal island with just one resort. The primary night, I swam alone on a abandoned seashore, one of the peaceable moments of my life. I swam at a number of of the seven seashores and toured the orchard, sampling recent fruits like ardour fruit, star fruit and papaya.
In Tortola, I hiked to a pineapple farm after which bouldered as much as a pure spring. Later I loved cocktails at sundown at Smugglers Cove seashore and visited a 200-year-old rum distillery on Tortola, the place I received to pattern the products.
I additionally spent two days on a catamaran, the place a spotlight was a go to to Conch Island. It is a spot the place all of the fishers discard the empty shells of conch they catch – it appears to be like like an artwork set up. Not solely did I watch our information catch the conch, however he additionally confirmed us how one can clear it and make ceviche. I received the respect of tossing the empty shell onto the island!
Tip: Most individuals hire a catamaran and sail by way of BVI, however be certain that to spend a while on the islands! There are such a lot of good, locally-owned eating places and retailers price making an attempt.
A new train journey linking seven European cities has been unveiled, with the most cost effective tickets priced at £99 — and it’s ruffled feathers amongst UK travellers.
The European Sleeper service runs from Brussels to Venice and stops at Eindhoven, Cologne, Munich, Innsbruck and Verona alongside the way in which.
Operating in each instructions as soon as per week till the tip of March, the journey takes 21 hours and costs begin at €119 (£99) — which works out at roughly £4.70 an hour.
The brand new route has caught the eye of Metro readers, and opinions are divided.
Whereas some had been happy to listen to in regards to the journey, saying it ‘appears unbelievable’ and ‘can be an incredible journey’, many responded much less positively to the information, saying the low-cost tickets places the UK to disgrace.
Liz Leigh mentioned it’s ‘such a pity such good costs and so forth are usually not out there within the UK’, whereas Pip Claire Gofton added:’This goes to point out how overpriced the rail system is within the UK, it’s so costly right here’.
Colin Wright wrote: ‘If it ever will get to the UK, the worth will robotically treble. We’re mugged off at each flip.’
One other reader calling themselves Humpty_Dumpty added: ‘The second the wheels contact any observe within the UK, the worth goes via the roof!’
Others in contrast the worth to journeys they’ve taken within the UK, with Carol Estava commenting: ‘That’s cheaper than a practice ticket from Manchester to London!!!’
Terry Nye revealed: ‘A good friend simply bought a taxi from Plymouth to Bournemouth as a result of it’s cheaper than the practice. Insanity.’
And Janet McCubbin mentioned: ‘Final time we went to the UK we thought of getting the practice from Gatwick to Chippenham as a substitute of flying to Bristol and a single fare for one individual value greater than two return flights from Spain!’
Win per week in a dreamy ski chalet within the French Alps
Metro have teamed up with Ski Beat to offer one fortunate winner and their even luckier journey companion an opportunity to expertise the last word winter getaway from the UK’s main ski chalet supplier in France.
Merely enter our prize draw and you would be jetting off to the French Alps to spend per week in Ski Beat’s stylish Chalet Perdrix within the fairly, high-altitude resort of La Rosière, staying in a non-public, ensuite, double or twin room.
Sound like a dream? This superb vacation might be taken on the fifth or twelfth of April 2025 or thirteenth Dec 2025, so you possibly can decide the proper ski time to fit your desire.
To enter, merely share your title and get in touch with particulars under for an opportunity to win. Entries shut at 23:59 on 21 February 2025. Good luck!
Type not loading? Enter here.
Full T&Cs apply, see here.
Open to UK (excluding Northern Eire) residents aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 00:01 on 24/01/2025 and closes at 23:59 on 21/02/2025. 1 prize out there: The prize consists of 7 nights’ lodging, with a chalet host to organize breakfast, afternoon tea with home-made truffles, three course night meals with wine (6 nights), return flights from Manchester or London Gatwick to Lyon Saint-Exupéry and transfers to La Rosière.The prize doesn’t embody ski passes, ski tools rent and the winner is solely liable for acquiring necessary winter sports activities journey insurance coverage. 1 entry per individual or e-mail deal with.
It’s true that UK practice fares have been climbing lately — and so they’re set to rise additional.
In March 2025, rail fares will go up by 4.6%, a transfer which was revealed within the Labour Authorities’s Autumn Budget.
In an period the place air journey is extra accessible than ever, it’s usually cheaper to fly abroad than purchase a ticket for a UK train journey, as Metro readers have identified.
Locations you possibly can fly to for lower than a practice from London to Glasgow
We’ve discovered 11 locations you possibly can fly to on March 7-14 for lower than a return ticket from London to Glasgow that very same week — a fare that prices £127.
- Budapest, Hungary, from £60
- Tirana, Albania, from £36
- Poznan, Poland, from £29
- Ostrava, Czechia, from £59
- Antalya, Turkey, from £65
- Seville, Spain, from £91
- Marrakech, Morocco, from £49
- Vilnius, Lithuania, from £61
- Hamburg, Germany, from £87
In the meantime, others mentioned the affordability of rail journey throughout mainland Europe.
Kate Katiekate shared: ‘Right here in Spain you pay €10 (£8) for a ticket and in the event you use it greater than 16 occasions they reimburse it.’
Steve Osman added: ‘In Germany, you should purchase a Deutschland ticket for €58 (£48) which covers your journey on all transport within the nation for an entire month’.
The right way to journey on the European Sleeper
Travellers can ebook a ticket on the European Sleeper by visiting europeansleeper.eu.
The inaugural journey set off on February 5 and there are two providers per week till the tip of March.
The Belgium-Italy service begins at 18:06 at Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid and finishes at Venezia Mestre at 15:00 the next day, whereas the return service begins at 16:15 and finishes at 12:38.
Costs begin at €119 (£99) for seats, however if you would like a extra opulent expertise (i.e. a mattress), you’ll pay as much as €239 (£199).
It’s nonetheless a fairly whole lot although, contemplating it really works out at £9.40 per hour.
All of the stops on the Brussels-Venice sleeper practice
Belgium-Italy:
Venezia Mestre – 3.00pm
Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid – 6.00pm
Breda – 8.31pm
Eindhoven Centraal – 9.11pm
Köln Hbf – 11.38pm
München – 07.20am
Kufstein – 08.52am
Wörgl – 09.05am
Jenbach – 09.27am
Inssbruck Hbf – 09.59am
Brennero – 10.30am
Bressanone – 11.30am
Ponte Gardena-Laion – 11.45am
Bolzano/Bozen – 12.00pm
Verona Porta Nuova – 1.45pm.
Italy-Belgium:
- Venezia Mestre – 4.15pm
- Verona Porta Nuova – 5.30pm
- Bolzano/Bozen – 7.00pm
- Ponte Gardena-Laion – 7.15pm
- Bressanone – 7.30pm
- Brennero – 8.27pm
- Innsbruck Hbf – 9.24pm
- Jenbach – 9.51pm
- Wörgl – 10.12pm
- Kufstein – 10.26pm
- München – 11.45pm
- Köln Hbf – 07.07am
- Eindhoven Centraal – 09.28am
- Breda – 10.20am
- Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid – 12.38pm.
Do you’ve a narrative to share?
Get in contact by emailing [email protected].
MORE: London commuter train station named one of the best in Europe
MORE: Venice doubles controversial tourist tax — but only for certain visitors
MORE: Eurostar resumes direct train from Amsterdam to London – but there’s a catch
San Diego’s laidback coastal ambiance isn’t nearly seashores and sunshine—it’s a spot for adults on the lookout for one thing uniquely their very own. The ambiance right here comes with a mature vibe that matches your tempo at no matter velocity might tickle your tastebuds. Right here there are craft breweries, wineries, artwork galleries, and complicated eating—amongst others. All of our concerns are scoped for adults solely. For these on the lookout for a weekend getaway or a more refined evening, or perhaps you’re only a native, attempt just a few of those San Diego actions we’ve amassed to your profit with this travel guide.
San Diego’s Legendary Nightlife
For individuals who revel within the nightlife scene and midnight hours, Gaslamp Quarter is the place to be. This historic district is full of rooftop bars, speakeasies, and dance golf equipment that thrive after darkish. It’s walkable and central, situated close to many different downtown points of interest. Take pleasure in handcrafted cocktails at Noble Experiment, or dance the night time away at Omnia Nightclub.
If you happen to want a extra relaxed vibe, try the rooftop bar Altitude Sky Lounge, the place you may sip a drink whereas overlooking the town skyline. This place is superb for upscale buying in the course of the day.
Sip and Savor at San Diego’s Greatest Breweries and Wineries
San Diego is legendary for its craft beer scene, with over 150 breweries to discover, boasting one of many largest breweries within the US. Cease by Ballast Point Brewing, Fashionable Instances, or Stone Brewing for a flight of domestically brewed IPAs, stouts, and lagers. Neighborhoods like North Park, Miramar, and Barrio Logan characteristic dozens of microbreweries and taprooms. Many breweries host occasions, excursions, and tasting rooms the place you may meet the brewers and pattern unique beers.
Wine lovers can escape to Temecula Valley, simply an hour exterior the town, for a wine tasting expertise with scenic winery views. If you happen to want to remain on the town, Carruth Cellars in Little Italy affords city wine tastings that pair completely with an evening out.
Bask in San Diego’s Wonderful Eating Scene
For foodies, San Diego’s wonderful eating scene doesn’t disappoint, and hopping to totally different meals locales is likely one of the most riveting issues to do in San Diego for adults. Being such a well-known metropolis, there’s a numerous pallet to select from. Deal with your self to a romantic dinner at Born & Raised, a high-end steakhouse with a speakeasy vibe. Seafood lovers ought to head to Mister A’s, the place you may get pleasure from recent catches with gorgeous views of the harbor.
Searching for some authenticity? Attempt a progressive eating expertise in Little Italy, hopping from one spot to a different to style all the pieces from handmade pasta to connoisseur tacos. Mexican dishes are in a lot. Being in such shut proximity to Mexico means authenticity is in abundance.
Unwind with a Luxurious Spa Retreat
If rest is your purpose, add the soothing sound of waves and recent ocean air to the combo. A lot of San Diego’s luxurious spas are nestled alongside the coast, and plenty of use indigenous components like seaweed, salt, and important oils drawn from the coastal setting, mixing them into remedies designed to hydrate, detoxify, and restore the physique. The Spa at Rancho Valencia affords world-class massages, facials, and wellness remedies in a lush, tranquil setting. Alternatively, go to The Catamaran Spa, the place you may get pleasure from a therapeutic massage with a view of Mission Bay. There are lots of to select from, so doing all of your analysis is extremely beneficial.
Take a Scenic Sundown Cruise on San Diego Bay
The pure romance of the water makes a harbor cruise at sundown one of the crucial romantic issues to do in San Diego for adults. Is it the top of a day, or the promise of a brand new one? Corporations like Flagship Cruises & Events provide luxurious dinner cruises with connoisseur meals, stay music, and posh views of the town skyline. Take a gander in a extra elegant and grownup setting. For these with an adventurous mind, go for a whale watching tour, the place you would possibly spot dolphins and grey whales migrating alongside the coast.
Attempt Your Luck at San Diego’s On line casino Resorts
For gaming lovers, San Diego’s on line casino resorts cater to adults with versatile schedules and ranging preferences. Head to Sycuan On line casino Resort or Pechanga Resort On line casino for an evening of blackjack, poker, or slot machines. Many of those resorts additionally characteristic stay live shows, comedy exhibits, and high-end eating. Be happy to decide on what fixes your fancy. The abundance of food and drinks choices ensures that there’s one thing for each palate, offering the chance to indulge generously with out leaving the resort. Plus, with luxurious spas, golf programs, and poolside lounges, these resorts provide extra than simply playing—they supply a full-fledged escape for rest and leisure, making it probably the greatest issues to do in San Diego for adults.
Expertise Tradition and Artwork at Balboa Park
If you happen to’re within the temper for a cultural connection, some adults favor spending a day at Balboa Park, for the museums, galleries, and structure. Subtle but accessible. Walkable but distant. Go to the San Diego Museum of Artwork, discover the interactive reveals on the Fleet Science Middle, or take a stroll by way of the manicured Japanese Friendship Backyard.
For just a few distinctive gems, try San Diego’s secret speakeasies scattered all through the town, or go on a self-guided road artwork tour within the East Village.
So, What to Do in San Diego With No Children?
If you happen to’re all in on adults solely, think about these 7 adventures. The distinction is the vibe. San Diego has high-energy or stress-free choices for each sort of traveler, from seaside bonfires and stay music to luxurious spa days and craft beer excursions. If you happen to’re planning a visit, you’ll want to try last-minute San Diego actions and top-rated experiences to benefit from your go to.
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