Country tips

For proof that good things come in small packages, one need only visit Slovenia. In an area half the size of Switzerland, this Central European country packs in breathtaking mountain scenery, lively coastal resorts, fashionable cities, crystal-clear lakes and rivers, and charming, isolated villages.

Thwack! My knee slams into the boxing pad my coach, Win, is holding up. “Power!” Win yells.  “More power!”  Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! My kneecap feels like it’s about to explode. Sweat dribbles off my nose and onto the mat, little raindrops of exertion. “Harder!” he says. “Stronger! You can do it!”

Senior Director of Content Laura Motta recently spent a week in Fukuoka, Japan. To make the most of her time in the country, she tacked on a four-day excursion to Osaka and Kyoto – a trip within a trip, which anyone can replicate.

I’ve been writing about Slovenia for Lonely Planet now for more than a decade.

It sounds like a dream: working on a laptop at a charming café, sipping some of the best coffee in the world while staring out over the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean or Aegean seas. Now, remote workers can make that lifestyle a reality thanks to Turkey's just-launched digital nomad visa.

Europe is a cornucopia of travel wonders. But as trends change and consumer demand ebbs and flows, what's the current hot destination on the Continent?

Travelers to Europe who get behind the wheel may soon be more accountable when they engage in risky driving. The European Union has made a major move to crackdown on foreign drivers who do not follow the rules of the road.

An amazing part of traveling is discovering a new place, but there’s something special about returning to a beloved destination—which also speaks volumes about what makes a place stand out as one of the best.

One of my very favorite parts of traveling the world involves discovering exceptional locations, properties, and brands that are unique, distinctive, rich in history - and unfamiliar to those from my part of the world. During my recent travels to South America, I became acquainted with one such brand – Fasano.

It’s a Biennale time in Venice, aka the Art Olympics, an every-two-year event where La Serenissima’s 118 islands are almost entirely dedicated to contemporary art from countries and artists around the world. What started out as small art fair in the Giardini, Venice’s public park, has turned into a six-month, all-island, non-stop blockbuster art fest of exhibitions in palaces, galleries, public spaces, and, of course, the Giardini and Arsenale. This year’s 60th Venice Biennale Stranieri Ovunque - Foreigners Everywhere brings it on strong with 331 artists, 88 national pavilions and 30 collateral events, not to mention other pop ups. That’s a lot of art to take in, and a lot of ground to cover. After years of visiting the Biennale as press and also including time working at the US Pavilion, I’ve finally figured out the best way to navigatee Venice Biennale.

Despite having met as college students in Los Angeles and currently living in New York City, Mitali Gupta and Nick Ruzicka have always known they’d get married in India. Mitali grew up in Delhi, and always assumed she’d return to her native country for her wedding one day. For Nick, who is half-Indian and grew up in the Bay Area, it was a bit more complicated: his mother left the country at age 17 and his exposure to the culture was limited to less frequent visits to his grandfather.

The 60th edition of the art extravaganza that’s the Venice Biennale runs until 24 November at the two main venues Giardini and Arsenale. as well as countless offsite locations, official and unofficial. There are 88 National participations this year, with four countries participating for the first time: Republic of Benin, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. Here are eleven of the must see country pavilions.

Hit and run tourism is everywhere on the news, with people bemoaning the bad behaviour of tourists converging on one picture or sculpture before rushing onto the next, or taking selfies in inappropriate locations and then moving on, leaving behind mounds of litter and noise. What's clear is that there are ways that tourists can be motivated to change their behavior and some traveler groups are trying to create consensus around what it actually means to visit a country.

You’ve played some of the best golf courses in the United States. Now, you’re looking to pack your clubs, rally some friends, and hit the links on an international golf trip. But which parts of the world boast the best collection of golf courses?

My overriding memories of crossing countries by train, on a trip from London to Albania, are of half-empty carriages and countryside sweeping past windows bathed in the soft orange glow of sunset. I remember cypress trees, red-roofed villages with square churches, farmland in neat strips and row upon row of vineyards.

Sausages with sauerkraut. Dumplings as big as snowballs. Schnitzels the size of boots. Pretzels bigger than your head. And foaming tankards of Bier – glorious Bier!

Cruise vacations are a wonderful way to visit multiple destinations in one trip and unpack only once. And while cruises may not give people multiple days in each destination, it acts as a sampler for people to discover new places that they may possibly want to return to later.

I'm an American from Philadelphia who has spent the better part of four years living in and traveling through Australia.

Without question, you can spend plenty of money in Slovenia. In every corner of the country, there are enough high-end resorts, wellness centers, hotels, vineyards and restaurants to make any five-star visitor feel at home. But it's also an ideal destination for budget travelers.

Packing healthy and nutritious snacks for the road helps travelers to avoid high-sodium and high-fat food often sold in airports. From snacks to supplements, beating jet lag and keeping a wellness routine going on the road are easier with the right diet and exercise. These products make great gifts for the frequent-traveling moms in your life.

Forty years ago, the Yugoslavian city of Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Many new structures were built, and the Games were seen as something of a reunion since many countries had boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow.