Need a Holiday?
So, the Christmas and New Year festivities are over and most of us who were lucky enough to have some time off are back at the daily grind. Ho Hum. Not that I am complaining of course, I love my job, but on day two of my return to sitting at my desk and rushing around to interviews and meetings, I am already starting to think about my next holiday.
My mind rushes like crazy when I think about holidays and trips away. Where will I go? What will I do? What do I want to see? How long will be able to be away from work? Do I want to relax? Do I want an action packed trip?
Planning a trip takes a lot of time and effort, and of course, the costs involved in going on a holiday are usually pretty big, so when you eventually get to take that time off and get to your dream destination, you want everything to be as close to perfect as possible. Can you imagine planning a trip to beautiful Tasmania to visit all the markets, go to wineries, distilleries, partake of some fishing, only to find out that the time you have arrived is the worst time of year to visit – snow, hail, rain – yep, I did that! I still had a good holiday, but it would have been MUCH better had I done my research and planned to go there a month or two earlier or later.
To get the most out of your trip you need to know as much as possible about your destination, including the best time of year to go for what you are looking for. Lonely Planet has done all the hard work for you with the release of the ultimate trip planner for every month of the year – Where to Go When – featuring expert insights, gorgeous photography and helpful diagrams.
With more than 360 suggestions for destinations around the world and the best time of year to experience them, Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When will help travellers plan a lifetime of perfect trips.
“Where to go when is the most important question in travel,” authors Sarah Baxter and Paul Bloomfield write in their introduction to the book. “Maybe there’s an experience you’re desperate to have, and you want to make sure you have it when the conditions and circumstances are just right.”
Famous sightseeing train in Switzerland, the Glacier Express in winter – ©VogelSP/Getty Images
“Or maybe you have set dates for your next holiday,” Sarah and Paul continue. “With such restrictions, you need to know which destinations will offer your desired sun, sights, surf or wildlife-sightings when you’re free to visit.”
“Either way, this book will give you options and advice – and maybe make you consider places you’ve never considered before.”
Dog sledding is possible in Greenland year round, but are you ready for a Greenland winter? ©Lottie Davies/Lonely Planet
It’s Brazil’s Pantanal wetland that you’re more likely to spot wildlife – ©rmnunes/Getty Images/iStockphoto
How does Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When work?
The book is divided into 12 chapters, one for each month of the year. At the start of each chapter, Lonely Planet has included a flowchart. Answer the questions and follow the strands to help drill down the type of trip you want: do you want to chill out or challenge yourself? Do you want to find cultural sites, active exploits or your inner self? Do you want a quiet beach or a crazy one? By answering these questions, Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When will provide the ideal destination to fulfil your requests and time constraints.
Encounter migrating reindeer in Arctic Sweden in December – ©Gary Latham/Lonely Planet
Male red deer joust with their impressive antlers to secure control over the does in the Highlands of Scotland in October – ©Craig Easton/Lonely Planet
Where to Go When features 360 specially selected places – from family-friendly escapes to hard-core adventures, with plenty in between. The book also tells you the best time to visit each destination: perhaps it’s a can’t-miss festival; maybe it’s cheaper and calmer before peak season; or it might be when the manta rays/polar bears/butterflies are in town.
Snow dusting on rooftops of Old Town – ©Matt Munro/Lonely Planet
Vineyard and Alaverdi Cathedral with Caucasus Mountains in background – ©Andrew Montgomery/Lonely Planet
Australia is represented by 30 destinations and attractions: Lord Howe Island, Sydney, and Tasmania (January); Adelaide, Blue Mountains, Daylesford, and Gold Coast (February); Barossa Valley, Canberra, and Victoria’s High Country (March); Arnhem Land, Melbourne, and South West Australia (April); Northern Queensland, and Red Centre (May); Darwin, Hobart, and Ningaloo Reef (June); The Ghan, Hunter Valley, and Kangaroo Island (July); Kimberley, and Snowy Mountains (August); Kakadu & Nitmiluk, and Whitsunday Islands (September); Flinders Ranges, and Great Southern (October); Grampians and Sunshine Coast (November); Sapphire Coast, and a return appearance by Tasmania (December).
Hammocks strung between palm trees on Caribbean seaboard – ©Philip Lee Harvey/Lonely Planet
Whatever type of trip you’re looking for, whichever month you can get away, and whether you’re a hammock swinger, hiker, biker, gourmand, rail-lover, road-tripper or raver, Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When can help you decide exactly where to go.
Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When
RRP $39.99
