Trip tips

A day-long road trip around the beautiful island of St Lucia gives you an incredible insight into its natural beauty, numerous opportunities to stop for delicious food and the chance to experience the island as locals do.

Whoever said a friend is a friend forever has clearly never experienced a group trip that has devolved into a maelstrom of conflicting plans and bickering over restaurant bills. Traveling with your besties can be tricky. Here are some ways to do it without anyone getting unfriended.

Solo travel has the power to transform: Think of the memoirs “Eat Pray Love” or “Wild.” But you don’t have to circumnavigate the globe or hike 1,100 miles to see why some people choose to go it alone. The freedom to explore at your own pace, open to connecting with people you meet along the way, can feel as intoxicating as a tropical breeze. But solo travel can be daunting, too, especially when problems arise. And of course, solo travelers need to keep certain safety considerations in mind.

"You're not gay; you just hate men."

I usually travel with just a backpack. 

There's pretty much only one reason I ever step inside a 7-Eleven in the US, and it's when I'm craving the artificial sweetness of a blue-raspberry Slurpee. 

I'm a pretty goal-oriented traveler. I fill my days with as much sightseeing as I can handle. Forget the hotel pool. I'm checking off national landmarks and natural wonders from a carefully researched list.

Lonely Planet destination editor AnneMarie McCarthy recently returned from a flying visit to Palma de Mallorca. Here she shows you what you can squeeze into 24 hours in Mallorca's cultured capital by sharing highlights from her jam-packed day trip.

The key to a successful road trip wardrobe is comfort and versatility — you want to be ready for hiking in the morning and dining out in the evening. Well, fall is here, and Matador Network is ready to keep you cozy and kitted out with road trip essentials during your leaf peeping adventures. Instagram can make road trips look glamorous, but it’s no secret that traveling for hours may not be all it’s cracked up to be. That’s why grabbing the road trip essentials is just that, essential! Whether you don flannels or fleece, this fall road trip gear guide contains Matador Network’s recommendations for what to wear when on the road during golden season.

Endless miles of scenic highways that wind coast to coast and meander around breathtaking natural wonders and ever-changing landscapes make hitting the open road second nature in the US. When it comes to the Midwest there’s often a misconception that it’s all about flyover states and repetitive countryside. But away from the big cities, industrial centers, and sprawling farmland, you can stumble upon some of the most European cities in America.

Big Bend National Park shares a border with Mexico in a stunning stretch of southwestern Texas, where evenings are defined by orange skies reflecting against red-rock canyons.  While such stunning scenes are commonplace within Big Bend, the massive desert preserve remains overlooked among US national parks. It’s never had more than 500,000 visitors in a single year since it was made a national park in 1944, making it one of the least-visited parks in the lower 48.

Airbnb’s list of the most-wishlisted stays in every state will have you dreaming of a vacation away from home. To enjoy several of these Airbnb properties without having to travel cross-country, we’ve compiled the most wishlisted, coolest Airbnbs in the Pacific Northwest and routed them for you in this handy road trip guide. Pack up and be ready to be awed because these stays are as unique as their views are picturesque. (And if you’d rather spend some time in the Midwest, we’ve got you covered there, too)

Seville, the sun-drenched capital of Andalusia in southern Spain, is a city packed with cobbled alleys, terraza bars that spill into plazas filled with orange trees, and live flamenco. Known for its magnificent architecture, Seville is home to a stunning array of historical landmarks. The centerpiece is undoubtedly the Seville Cathedral, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, standing in the heart of the city. Seville’s culinary scene is a delightful journey through hole-in-the-wall tapas bars. At local tavernas like El Rinconcillo, the city’s oldest bar, you can savor traditional tapas such as espinacas con garbanzos (spinach with chickpeas) or solomillo al whisky (pork in whisky sauce), paired perfectly with a glass of crisp, local sherry or vermouth. Choosing where to base yourself in the city is depends what style you’re into. The old centre is a tangle of narrow medieval streets, while the neighbourhood of Triana, one of the birthplaces of flamenco, has become the city’s hippest hangout. To help you out, here’s a selection of top-rated hotels famed for their level of service, design aesthetic, and location close to must-see attractions.

The Galapagos Islands are about 1,000 km from continental Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. The archipelago comprises 127 islands, islets, and rocks. Its remote location has allowed many species to evolve in isolation from other parts of the world and is one of the most exciting places to visit if you are interested in fauna and flora. The biodiversity here has attracted brilliant minds of scientists such as Charles Darwin and Sir David Attenborough and is often considered so special that visiting would be out of the question. This is not the case. It is very expensive, to go, but you can stay on the Galapagos, and if you plan your trip in advance, you can find ways to keep costs at a minimum. One of the best ways to do this is to opt for an Airbnb Galapagos rental. Not only will you be able to live out a The Wild Thornberrys fantasy adventure, but you can cook at home and have a more comfortable, local experience. Here are some of the best Airbnb options on the islands for families, couples, and solo travelers.

It’s time for a road trip across the American Northeast. Whether you’re after a series of good hikes, fall foliage, or just some time for you and your partner to break away from it all and reconnect, these remote Airbnb properties will do the trick. The one common theme of the most wish-listed Airbnbs in the Northeast? Residents in and travelers to the region have a penchant for elevated crashpads — most of these popular New England Airbnbs are treehouses.

There’s so much more to Argentina than Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls, and Mendoza — you only have to take a road trip in Salta to find out. A two-hour flight from the capital, Salta is a somewhat off-the-radar region. Quaint colonial towns, dusty Andean villages, and wine bodegas sit framed by dramatic mountain peaks and fascinating red rock formations. Throw in some beguiling salt flats and the highest pass on any national highway in the world and it’s all rather spectacular.

Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, a vast area of over 976,000 square miles facing the Indian Ocean to the west and north and the Southern Ocean along its southern border. The state’s population is about 2.6 million, with 92 percent living in the southwestern corner where the capital of Perth sits. North of Perth, the state is sparsely populated, isolated, and perfect for those with an adventurous spirit who are looking for an epic road trip. Here, you can swim with whale sharks and visit Australia’s Coral Coast. Here’s how to make it happen, beginning in Perth.

The holidays are upon us, which means it’s time to load up our cars with seasonal joy to visit family and friends. While some of us revel in hours on the road, it’s no secret that holiday road trips can be tiring and stressful. Whether you’re heading across town or across the country, this road trip essentials guide covers Matador Network’s must-haves to make you, your kiddos, and your car extra comfortable and safe this holiday road tripping season.

By now, everyone knows that there’s a real-life Barbie DreamHouse in Malibu, California, that’s available on Airbnb in anticipation of the blockbuster Barbie movie that’s coming to theaters next month. But if Barbie taught us anything, it’s that no one is limited to just one thing. In Barbie’s case, that meant changing professions as often as she changed outfits. When it comes to travel, the doll’s do-it-all mentality is a nice reminder that we can go anywhere we want. The world is our bright pink proverbial oyster — at least in the case of these Barbiecore Airbnbs. If you’re planning a road trip this summer, why not do it in style at these bright pink Airbnbs?

Connecting San Diego with San Luis Obispo, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner weaves along 351 miles of golden California coastline. Although possible to get from A to B over the course of a day, breaking the route down lets you mix and match Southern and Central California’s finest cities, hiking trails, beaches, wineries, and amusement parks. Working northwards, these dreamy Airbnbs along Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner train route will inspire you to swap the highway for the railroad.

Last year, my mom suggested we take a river cruise called the Viking Skaga. Its eight-day "Paris & the Heart of Normandy" itinerary along the Seine starts and ends in Paris and includes small towns in Normandy — such as La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, and Rouen.