Take it slow on the rails 🚂

See the most exciting sleeper train routes of 2024

View in browser A Trip Around the Planet December 23, 2023 SPONSORED BY This week: Your guide to midnight trains going anywhere Riding the rails in 2024 What’s your definition of freedom while traveling?  For me, it was a day this summer, with the entire day to get from Italy’s Adriatic coast to Zürich in Switzerland, traveling by train the whole glorious way. Leaving Pesaro’s station at 5:47am certainly required an early start, but it opened up what felt like the possibilities of the entire continent. I was certainly grateful for the on-train espresso served in the Frecciarossa dining car. Two changes and half a day later I arrived – on time – by the Limmat River in Zürich, scrolling through photos of some of Europe’s finest scenery taken en route.  Making this day’s memories even sweeter was the thought that even with a lifetime of rail travel behind me, I’d barely got started with seeing the world’s views from a train window. We are, happily, in the middle of a rail renaissance. After almost ten years, the iconic night train link between Paris and Berlin restarted on December 11, prompting a cross-continental good feeling. It’s a worldwide story: from China to Indonesia, Morocco to Turkey, high-speed lines and reinvigorated local services have opened up appealing new options. Lonely Planet is coming along for the ride, with books, articles and inspiration to tempt you onto the tracks. Here are some ideas of where you should get on board in 2024. — Tom Hall, Lonely Planet Read Tom's route picks for 2024 The week's top stories Goa vs Kerala  Goa and Kerala are both great spots for a winter getaway. But which is best? We couldn’t possibly decide so we asked two writers to square off. Check out the case for each.  Check out the case for each Why you should see Southern Scotland You’ve probably never been to Southern Scotland – and that’s precisely why you should go. Gaze up at some of the UK's darkest skies and reconnect with nature among spectacular landscapes littered with castles and forests. Explore Southwest Scotland Hit the slopes in Colorado  Ski season is when Colorado starts to shine. Before you hit the slopes in the Rocky Mountains, check out our guide to the state’s 8 best ski resorts. More on Colorados best ski resorts Take a day trip from Bangkok Bangkok is electric, full of sights, sounds and smells that will dazzle all your senses. It’s also a great launching point for day trip into the wider region. Check out some the best ones Trending destination South Africa Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg – South Africa's big cities offer endless opportunities for those who can’t sit still. But where do you go to step off the beaten path and unwind? Three South African experts show you how to see the diverse landscapes and rich tapestry of the Rainbow Nation like a local. Where locals go in South Africa Here’s a New Year’s resolution to consider for 2024: avoid getting nickel and dimed by those pesky foreign transaction fees when you travel. Apply for Apple Card* and along with no foreign transaction fees, you’ll get Daily Cash back on all your purchases. Terms apply. ADVERTISEMENT    *Content sponsored by Apple Card. We may receive compensation when you click through select Apple links. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by our partners. Love travel inspiration in your inbox? Share with a fellow travel lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you? Subscribe by clicking here. This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2023 Lonely Planet Unsubscribe|Privacy Policy