On the Road with Lonely Planet: April Edition

At Lonely Planet HQ, we have a Slack channel where team members share pics and highlights from recent trips they've enjoyed. It’s a fun place to hang out. There are food recommendations, photos from unique places they've stayed, money-saving tips and all sorts of useful, inspirational and lovely chatter. I like to go into that channel, take some of those recs and share them here with you. No gatekeeping. You’ll see from this newsletter that we've had a busy few weeks with my workmates heading to beautiful places including Italy, Costa Rica, Sedona and more. With so much to share, I couldn't fit it all in this month’s edition... so you'll have to come back next month for more.?

– Sasha Brady , Editor

A grand rail tour of Italy

I did a grand tour of Italy, traveling from Rome to Perugia, Florence to Venice by train! Highlights included the journey from Rome to Perugia aboard the restored 1960s Arlecchino train, exploring Perugia’s underground town, a life-changing sandwich from l’Bacaro De’Bischeri in Venice and getting lost in its canals.

My tip: When you book a regional train ticket, you have to validate it?before?you board your train.

– Ann Douglas Lott , Associate Editor

Cleansing chakras in Sedona

We spent our kids’ winter week in Sedona, complete with day trips to the Grand Canyon and Saguaro National Parks. We hiked, hiked and hiked some more and basked in the winter sunshine of Arizona. We stayed at the most perfect AirBnB in Sedona’s Chapel neighborhood and spent the week among the famed Red Rocks feeling big and small at the same time. Plus, I got a crystal reading, and I feel like my chakras are open and aligned. You’re welcome!

My tip: We learned that sometimes you get to the Grand Canyon and it’s filled with fog, but if you are patient, you might see a rainbow.?

– Nitya Chambers , Senior VP of Digital Content

BFF surf trip in Costa Rica

If a Q1 surf trip with your bffs doesn't sound like a good time, hit next (and get your head checked). Because spending a week in Costa Rica on waves and sand is just what I needed to cure my cold-weather blues. Santa Teresa is an unpaved (yet simultaneously upscale) expat town full of international restaurants, fun bars and surf shacks. This meant that in between surf lessons we got to gorge on fresh ceviche at top-notch spots like Playa de los Artistas in Montezuma.

My tip: To make the trip even more memorable, grab a group of friends and book a private farm-to-table dinner at Hacienda Okhra.

– Annie Georgia Greenberg , Sr. Director of Creative

Finding serenity in Japan

Japan offers the perfect blend of culture, food, architecture and hospitality. A major highlight was exploring the Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho alleys in Tokyo, where there's nothing quite like enjoying fresh tsukune and a quick bowl of ramen. I also loved historic Kyoto, where wandering every street feels like a journey to the past.

My tip: Visit Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari-Taisha early in the morning to savor its serenity without the crowds.

– Alfred Lorenzo Ruiz , Director of Product?

Scents of Athens

My week-long trip to Athens was defined by incredible smells. Between whiffs of orange blossoms on the city’s streets, we followed the honeyed scent of frying loukoumadhes – ball-shaped doughnuts served with honey and cinnamon – to Stani, and a smoky trail to souvlaki joint Kostas and grill house Steki tou Ilia. We also found the perfect counterbalance to energetic Athens on the tranquil, pine-scented island of Agistri, where we cycled around, stopping only for seafood and a swim.

My tip: Book accommodation with an Acropolis view - it’s worth it.

– Alex Butler , Managing Editor

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