| This week: Book a trip to a place you’ve never been. |  | Lake Como, Italy | | | | First-time jitters, begone! | When I tell people where I work, after their initial “How cool is your job?” (answer: very cool), the next thing they say is, “I bet you get to travel a lot!” I do get to travel a lot and share my experiences, but I often visit places for the very first time, and when I do, I rely on Lonely Planet’s spectacular network of local contributors. While I can’t tell you the first thing about visiting Wairarapa, one of New Zealand's top wine regions, local travel writer Jacqui Gibson can. And while a safari in Botswana has long landed at the top of my travel list, I would have no idea where to start if it weren’t for longtime Lonely Planet writer Anthony Ham. I love our first-time guides because they do just that: show you where to start – whether you’re bound for cinematic Cannes or the lovely Italian lakes. | | | | | First time in Salzburg? Plan a musical tour | Sixty years after the Sound of Music premiered, the hills in Salzburg, Austria, are still very much alive. You can book many a guided film-themed tour, as most first-timers do, but it’s way more fun to DIY it. | | | | | Kyoto’s most iconic market | They call Nishiki Market “Kyoto’s Kitchen” for a reason. It has everything from kitchenware and powdered matcha to pufferfish sashimi. Tip: hit the stalls when the market opens at 10am if crowds aren’t your thing. | | | | | Sicily’s sun-spangled capital is one of those places that really gets under your skin, from the UNESCO-listed cathedral and shimmering royal palace to its fabled Mercato di Ballarò. | | | | | A town that has us California dreamin’ | Tucked behind California’s Santa Lucia Mountains, San Luis Obispo – or SLO as locals call it – is a sun-kissed haven of quality wineries, fresh food, outdoor activities and Golden State heritage. | | | | | Laguna Paron in the Peruvian Andes | | There’s no denying that Peru is a wonderland of adventure. The icy mountain peaks of the Andes draw trekkers and climbers, the untamed desert coast is lapped by world-class waves for surfers and for explorers, there’s the Amazon. If you're planning a trip to Peru, don't stress about using your mobile device. Check out the eSIM service, Saily, to get a reliable, affordable and secure internet connection when traveling. | Stories you loved this week | | | | Photography by: zxvisual/Shutterstock, Leanne Irwin/Shutterstock, Rintaro Kanemoto for Lonely Planet, OlgaBombologna/Shutterstock, HannaTor/Shutterstock, JOSEMANUEL246/Shutterstock | This email was sent to you by:
Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
