The world’s largest street party changed my life. As I visit for a third time, here is everything you need to know to make sense of Carnaval 2024.
29.12.2023 - 20:39 / lonelyplanet.com
As 2023 draws to a close, there is nothing more exciting than the prospect of planning an unforgettable trip for the coming year. If travel is on your bucket list for 2024, you're not alone. Get some inspiration with these 21 unique events happening across the globe that are worth traveling for.
Key dates: February 9–17
If you're feeling the urge to start the year off on a high note, the Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil is a celebration not to be missed. In the week leading up to Lent, Brazilians don colorful, shimmering costumes and dance every night away in Rio’s packed streets. Expect samba dancing, music until the wee hours of the morning, and experiences unlike any other.
Key dates: April 29–May 5
Craving a desert escape with nonstop inspiration? AfrikaBurn is a six-day event that brings people from across the world to the arid landscapes of Quaggafontein in South Africa. Aiming to “create a world anew,” AfrikaBurn is an extension of Burning Man in the US, and is known for its radical inclusivity and endless opportunities for creative expression.
Key dates: Mid-July (2024 dates yet to be announced)
If Croatia had a national scent it could well be lavender, with the country's fields creating a mesmerizing purple spectacle worth catching a glimpse of. Each year, the island of Hvar honors its lavender plants with a festival where you can sample perfumes and lavender-flavoured pastries, attend concerts and visit exhibitions on the history of the flowering plant.
Key dates: First week of March
Calling all wine lovers: every grape-harvest season, the normally quiet city of Mendoza in Argentina transforms into a lively hub of celebration for the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia. From harvesting the grapes to sampling the finished product, you will get an insider look at the Argentinian wine industry. Beyond sipping on the local delicacy, you can enjoy Mendoza's cuisine, watch the massive parade and see folk songs and dances.
The festival can start as early as January, but the main parade and performances begin in the first week of March.
Key dates: July 11–15
Mongolia is known for its expansive landscapes and stargazing potential, but each year you can also experience ancient Mongolian traditions and celebrate its long history at the Naadam Festival. The main celebration takes place in Ulaanbaatar and features opening and closing ceremonies, plus competitions in Mongolia's "three manly sports" of wrestling, horse racing and archery.
The event in Ulaanbaatar will require tickets, but entrance is typically free to community Naadam Festival events across the rest of the country.
Key date: September 24
In South Africa, National Braai Day is an extension of Heritage Day. The country is known for its 11
The world’s largest street party changed my life. As I visit for a third time, here is everything you need to know to make sense of Carnaval 2024.
American Airlines has just announced a series of AAdvantage program updates for 2024. The forthcoming enhancements are said to offer increased flexibility and exclusive benefits for American Airlines passengers. The updated AAdvantage program introduces new ways to earn, redeem, and receive rewards.
From southeast Florida to northwest Washington to Hawaii, Lonely Planet editors have picked the top 12 beaches in the USA.
If 2024 is the year to complete a bucket-list trip to discover a destination that's a little different, or to travel to a one-off event, then here are a few ideas—new long-haul flight routes from the U.S., unmissable one-off global events, 'new' European places to discover and new cruise lines venturing into dramatic waters in Australia. Here's what's waiting to be ticked off on your 2024 travel bucket list.
Are you, like 300 million Americans and international visitors, thinking about visiting the US National Parks this year? Do you like to plan your summer vacation several months ahead?
Over the holidays, Keri Wilmot’s 14-year-old son was flying home alone from his Massachusetts boarding school to Texas when mechanical issues caused a delay that dragged on long enough that the flight crew timed out. Falling squarely at the height of one of the busiest travel periods of the year, flights were of course oversold, meaning his best option was to wait through the 12-hour delay. Since American Airlines’ rules for unaccompanied minors required a guardian (in his case, a school chaperone) to get a gate pass and stay with him at the gate until the flight took off, he was never left alone—and his dad picked him up safely in Dallas at 1:30 a.m.
Getting married is an expensive business. After all those celebrations, you just don’t feel like splurging.
The world's most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed — with the biggest shake-up in rankings we've seen in several years, including a never-before-seen six nations in first place.
For all its tropical charms, Havana isn’t the world’s most straightforward city for travelers.
Many Americans are starting to plan spring break or summer trips. But travel presents new dangers, like volcanic eruptions in Iceland to wars in the Middle East.
As 2024 kicks off, it's time to plan some of the most mind-blowing adventures the world has to offer – using the opportunity to uncover new parts of yourself along the way.
Air New Zealand has once again captured the title of safest airline in the world.