Best neighborhoods to visit in Chiang Mai

I've been on 18 cruises and I absolutely love them.

Richard Branson has added a new safari experience to his Virgin Limited Edition portfolio—the award-winning Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp in Kenya. Located in Africa's only Shetani lava flow, Finch Hattons features 17 tented suites and offers stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The camp joins other African destinations in Virgin Limited Edition's collection, including Mahali Mzuri (also in Kenya), South Africa’s Ulusaba Private Game Reserve and Mont Rochelle hotel and vineyard, and Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco.

Panama has long been a paradise for the backpacker crowd thanks to 1,800 miles of pristine coastline and an abundance of budget-friendly accommodations. But in recent years, the Central American country has won over a more varied mix of travelers, luring luxury-seekers, coffee snobs, serious conservationists, and everyone in between. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to a Panamanian getaway—you can see three-toed pygmy sloths in Bocas del Toro, marvel at Spanish-colonial architecture in Panama City’s Casco Viejo, and learn about centuries-old Mola textile crafts by visiting Guna artisans in the San Blas Islands. To live out your private-island Robinson Crusoe fantasies, book a stay at Islas Secas or Nayara Bocas del Toro. One visit is just scratching the surface of the isthmus nation; here are nine ideas for how to spend your next Panamanian holiday.

On my twenty-plus trips to Seoul, I generally steered clear of Gangnam, the district south of the Han River immortalized by the South Korean rapper PSY’s 2012 smash hit “Gangnam Style.” Something, however, shifted in me while planning my recent spring jaunt. Gangbuk, the district north of the Han River—where I’d typically plant myself—started feeling a touch too familiar. Plus: how could I judge a place I hadn’t actually spent quality time in?

Seeking the perfect gift this Father’s Day? Lonely Planet has released its top travel and lifestyle inspiration titles for Dads, from cycling adventures close to home to journeys exploring the offbeat side of North America to incredible train journeys around the world and inspiration for gardening enthusiasts. The global travel expert has the perfect book for every interest.

Some people go to Vegas to gamble; I go to eat.

Steamy natural thermal water simmers beneath the surface throughout almost the whole Italian peninsula. It bubbles up above the ground in the form of hot springs across the country, creating heavenly hot pools and balmy baths.

Whether it is the outstanding Renaissance monuments or authentic, regional cuisine, Italy’s appeal has long been far-reaching. As a country, it has never had to ‘hard sell’ itself to tourists, with the country being a perennial favourite destination for travellers. As well as having more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country (59 in total), its rich culture, architecture, art and beloved gastronomy is a source of inspiration for tourists across the world.

I first arrived in Chiang Mai in May of 1992. I came to visit a high school buddy who had married a local – a professor at Chiang Mai University. They introduced me to the local cuisine, and to their friends and family members who took me under their collective wing. 

It's hard to resist the allure of Europe, where travelers can find iconic historic sites waiting around seemingly every corner. But the continent's perennial popularity has also meant that many of those best-loved spots are impacted by overcrowding – and the visitor caps, ticketed entry and other restrictions that follow. 

While there aren’t many bargains in Munich, there are a surprising number of one-of-a-kind activities and sights that are completely free.

A stay at an airport hotel is usually booked with convenience in mind. You’ve got an early morning flight and want to be close to your departure gate or you’ve got a layover that’s too long to wait out in the lounge, yet too short to venture deep into a city. But some airport hotels go above and beyond with their amenities and design, and, Skytrax, a London-based air transport ratings organization, rates airport hotels each year.