All the Lonely Planet nitty-gritty in one easy place.
- How did Lonely Planet get started?
- What makes Lonely Planet stand out from other travel publishers?
- Where did the name Lonely Planet come from?
- How many guides does Lonely Planet publish?
- What are Lonely Planet's best-selling titles?
- How long does each guide take to write?
- Which languages does Lonely Planet publish in?
- How do I contact authors for country specific information and features?
- Can Lonely Planet provide photos for a story?
- What kind of traveller uses Lonely Planet?
- Where can I buy Lonely Planet guides?
How did Lonely Planet get started?
Lonely Planet was founded after Tony and Maureen Wheeler hit the road in search of adventure in 1972. They travelled overland from London across Asia and landed in Australia where, in response to incessant questions from would-be travellers, they compiled their journey notes and stapled together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Find out what happened next…
What makes Lonely Planet stand out from other travel publishers?
Lonely Planet is a leading global travel information company. It's renowned for its first-hand approach, up-to-date information and commitment to providing the best advice for travellers. The guides cover must-see spots but also encourage travellers to explore. Lonely Planet advocates responsible travel and donates a percentage of its turnover to various aid projects, human rights organisations and environmental programs.
Where did the name Lonely Planet come from?
Tony Wheeler was listening to 'Space Captain', a song from the Joe Cocker album Mad Dogs and Englishmen. The song actually says 'lovely planet' but he heard 'lonely planet', liked it, and here we are.
How many guides does Lonely Planet publish?
We currently publish around 500 titles, including country, city and regional guidebooks, activity guides, phrasebooks, reference books, travel literature and inspirational pictorials. Find out more about our books…
What are Lonely Planet's best-selling titles?
The top-selling list is constantly changing as travellers pick up on the destinations du jour, but those that have been up there for the past 10 years include China, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Thailand, Spain, France, Western Europe, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Southeast Asia on a shoestring and the French Phrasebook.
How long does each guide take to write?
For the larger guides, which need more authors and cover a greater area, the process of commissioning, researching, writing and editing takes about eight months. For smaller guides the process can take around four months.
Which languages does Lonely Planet publish in?
Our guidebooks are published in a number of key languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Spanish.
How do I contact authors for country-specific information and features?
Please contact the press office located within your region and they will be able to help.
Can Lonely Planet provide photos for a story?
Yes. Lonely Planet Images is a digital image library with a comprehensive collection of over 300,000 downloadable travel photographs taken by some of the best travel photographers in the business. Visit www.lonelyplanetimages.com for more information and to register.
What kind of traveller uses Lonely Planet?
Anyone, whether they're travelling for two days to a European city to sample the food and soak up the culture, or heading off for two months of backpacking around South America. All guides provide accommodation and listings across all budgets and tastes.
Where can I buy Lonely Planet guides?
Lonely Planet products are sold by bookstores and retailers worldwide and are available to purchase online.
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