Lonely Planet Journeys: professional travel-planning and itineraries

When Lonely Planet acquired Elsewhere in 2022 (it was solely a yr outdated!), founders Alexis Bowen and Craig Zapatka started a brand new chapter, a brand new journey. Over the previous two years, this scrappy start-up has grown from 50 locations to 80, considerably expanded the staff and community of consultants, and created 2300 bespoke itineraries. And as of right this moment, we’re giving Elsewhere a brand new title, formalizing the combination of this specialty travel-planning service into Lonely Planet’s journey merchandise. Welcome to Lonely Planet Journeys.

Now that the formal half is over, here is what Lonely Planet Journeys can do for you.

Advertisement

What is Lonely Planet Journeys?

At Lonely Planet, we have at all times believed that planning is likely one of the most fun components of the journey. But do you know that it takes 40 hours to plan a weeklong journey? 

With that in thoughts, we all know that there are occasions when, as a lot as you’d prefer to, you do not have time to plan, instances once you want recommendation from somebody who is aware of the vacation spot from the within and who will work with you and prioritize your journey objectives.

Maybe you are too busy to do all of the analysis or you don’t have any thought the place to start. It’s your honeymoon or your first safari, or you want to plan a multigenerational journey that considers the broad vary of pursuits in your group or set up an distinctive trip for a milestone birthday or anniversary. Why not hand off the heavy lifting to individuals who do nothing however plan these sorts of life-altering journeys?

For greater than half a century, Lonely Planet has been offering reliable info from native consultants to assist vacationers go to almost each vacation spot on earth, with our totally researched guidebooks and our staff of digital editors and writers supplying up-to-date recommendation on our web site about what’s occurring on the earth right this moment. Now with Lonely Planet Journeys, we’re providing a high-touch, person-to-person expertise and premium preplanned itineraries to the world’s most fun locations.

Advertisement

This is not any name heart or chatbot. Lonely Planet Journeys is powered by embedded skilled human beings (it’s getting arduous to inform the distinction, we all know), individuals who know the journey panorama and truly reside the place you wish to go to. These consultants supply a depth of experience and have plugged-in native contacts and the know-how that just about ensures seamless journey.

What makes Lonely Planet Journeys distinctive?

Built on the precept that vacationers and the locations they go to deserve a greater, extra considerate method, Lonely Planet Journeys is dedicated to supporting native communities: 87% of the price of a Lonely Planet Journey is funneled immediately into the vacation spot, towards high quality suppliers and initiatives that help native companies, fight overtourism and shield the atmosphere.

Furthermore, Lonely Planet Journeys works with in-destination consultants who undergo a rigorous screening and a sequence of interviews. Their enterprise practices are vetted. The companions they work with are scrutinized. They supply distinctive experiences that you just gained’t discover by googling, the kind of actions that remodel a regular trip into an unforgettable one. This course of is akin to making use of to an elite college – solely 5% of people that apply make the lower to turn into a Lonely Planet Journeys native professional.

How does it work?

Lonely Planet Journeys doesn’t fiddle. Just select a vacation spot and reply a number of inquiries to let our staff know once you wish to journey and the experiences you want. You share your likes, dislikes, the explanation in your journey and details about the household, buddies or colleagues becoming a member of your group. From there, you may be related with a neighborhood professional to speak particulars and worth.

Once you are matched, the true enjoyable begins. Your professional will craft the primary draft of your journey, and collectively you may refine the itinerary till it is perfected. You can ask for extra choices, get extra granular particulars about what to anticipate, work out varied logistics – no matter it takes. 

From the second you arrive, Lonely Planet Journeys offers 24-7 help. If you miss a practice, want a last-minute lunch advice or sprain an ankle, there’s at all times somebody on the opposite finish of the road to care for you. This isn’t journey insurance coverage; that is journey assurance.

The solely factor that you need to care for your self is ebook your flights – and you are able to do this earlier than, throughout or after consulting along with your professional. 

Are there preplanned and vetted itineraries I can purchase?

Yes! Lonely Planet Journeys has a group of already deliberate journeys that you could select from. It’s mainly shopping for a banger of an album, somewhat than a DJ creating your personal extremely customized playlist.

We’re pumped about our newest assortment of prearranged itineraries. Here are a number of:

This thrilling new chapter for Lonely Planet Journeys is the following evolution of how we journey within the twenty first century: with intention, with care, with curiosity, with kindness, with ardour. Take stress out of the equation. Save a while. Let Lonely Planet Journeys take you to the locations you’ve at all times wished to go, with once-in-a-lifetime experiences you couldn’t have imagined. What are you ready for?