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Tips, tales and highlights from the Lonely Planet traveller community

Home for the holiday

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

xybermatthew

It’s Thanksgiving in the United States and our Get Stuffed forum on Thorn Tree is overflowing with delicious threads about turkeys, table settings and twists on tradition.
I had a chat to one of our resident US community experts, nutraxfornerves, about what Thanksgiving means to her and how it’s tied up with ideas of home and…

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No photos here!

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

DraconianRain

The portability and power of today’s cameras make it easy to snap a picture anywhere, anytime. The trouble is certain people and places have rules about what you can and can’t shoot. They can change at will and, as many travellers will have experienced firsthand, they’re not always well communicated.
It’s a subject that crops up…

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A packing list for Nolan

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

kittypack

Our mapping guru, Canadian Ken, will soon enjoy a visit from his Canadian cousin Nolan. It’ll be Nolan’s first time in Australia, and he isn’t sure what to pack. We thought we’d give him some tips, with your help.
 
The Australia branch of the Thorn Tree has some clear ideas about what to haul to Oz.…

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Love travelling, hate flying?

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

There's something on the wing!

Dying to travel, but afraid of flying? It’s a pretty awkward conundrum, and one faced by community member AndrewGD.
Rather than letting his fear keep him grounded, Andrew turned to fellow travellers for alternative ideas, but he admits to being envious of travellers in the past who had no choice but the overland slog.
If you’re in a similar boat, our…

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Relationship baggage

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

steve-punter

Hitting the road with your partner can be a shock to the system in more ways than one.
The nature of your relationship (unmarried, mixed race or same-sex, for example) may invite attention or criticism in certain parts of the world where social and cultural norms differ.
You might modify your behaviour to avoid tension – hardly…

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Where is paradise for book lovers?

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

koshyk

The Guardian recently announced its top ten places for book browsing around Britain, chosen by Anna Tims. Inspired, we want to know yours. And not just for Britain.
The Daryaganj Kitab Bazaar in Delhi makes Thorn Tree member shortlists for those who love to forage for reading on the road. Sozo in Vietnam gets the thumbs up.
If you’re…

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Does travel change you?

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

lurifernandes

Does travel fundamentally change you? That’s a question our community members are currently pondering.
Sure, it can alter your perspective on things, at least for a while. But can a trip truly transform you, or is that just feel-good nonsense?
The consensus seems to be that you have to be at least a little open-minded to be changed…

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Rubble-rousers

venessapaech Lonely Planet author

lonsdalehouse

 
Some travellers like the shape of things. Buildings, specifically. Are you one of those people who geeks out on architecture when you’re visiting a new city?
Do you go somewhere explicitly to immerse yourself in buildings from another era?
You might not take it as far as architecture tours, but for many of us, walking around and…

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Street food: the best and the worst

Andy Murdock Lonely Planet author

tacotruck

What is the street food like where you’re from? What is your pick for the best street food in the world?

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10 tips for preventing theft during travel

Andy Murdock Lonely Planet author

pickpocket2

Travellers are often targeted by thieves – it’s sad but true. If you frequent the Thorn Tree forum you’ll hear tales of pickpockets, scams, dishonest cab drivers, items stolen from hotel rooms and similar skullduggery.
When you’re on holiday, you naturally want to relax, but letting your guard down can make you a target and have…

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