Two more sleeps 'til Christmas! 🎄

A holiday wish for more shared memories though travel.

Friday Around  the Planet December 23, 2022  This week:  A holiday wish for more shared memories though travel.  Austria: birthplace of "Silent Night" In 2017, my family stayed at Hotel Berner at Zell am See, Austria for Christmas. It remains one of my warmest memories.   If this picturesque hotel – run by the Berner family for three generations – ever shows up as the backdrop of a Hallmark Christmas movie, I would not be surprised. My heart warms thinking about the mulled wine, candlelit Christmas tree, incredible meals and sleigh rides. The best gift of all, though, was time with my family.   I hope in the coming year you have opportunities to create shared memories with the people you love through travel.   P.S. Since we’re speaking of Austria, did you know “Silent Night” was written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg in 1818? Here's the true story of one of the world’s most famous Christmas carols. Read more Conversation starters and last-minute gift ideas  News and guides to help you through your holiday gatherings 9 of the quirkiest holiday celebrations around the world Long before Elf on a Shelf, Krampus kept Austrian kids in line by punishing them for misbehaving. Here are some other unconventional Christmas and holiday celebrations.  Read more Stay in a snow globe Artistically created from cut blocks of ice, the 33rd iteration of Sweden’s Icehotel is open – and reason alone to take a trip to Swedish Lapland. Check out the pictures of its enchanting rooms and ice bar. Read more Scrambling for last-minute gift ideas Waited until the last minute and still stumped on what to give that travel lover in your life? Check out our gift guides for some ideas. (Gift idea…or shameless plug: wrap one of our guidebooks to put under the tree with the promise of planning the actual trip in the coming year.)  Read more More hot topics from the week UK airports to phase out liquids rule Help me, LP! Where can I travel with teenagers that won’t bore them? What does France’s new short haul ban mean for travelers? Inside Paris’s new opulent reading room (and other book-lover havens) Trending destination this week Vancouver  Vancouver's been in the news for heavy snow this week. Typically, it has a milder winter than most Canadian cities making it a wonderful winter destination for those looking to ski in the morning but enjoy the charms of an exciting coastal city in the afternoon.  Read more Plan a trip  8 essential Vancouver experiences to add to your itinerary  Best day trips from Vancouver 25 best free experiences in Vancouver This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2022 Lonely Planet Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy

How the solstice can shine light on your next trip

More light-filled days are a reason to celebrate. Here's where you'll find the best celebrations

Friday Around  the Planet December 16, 2022  This week: With the upcoming solstice, we're thinking about all the celebrations that happen worldwide.  Celebrating the winter solstice When the sun sets before dinnertime, to me it feels like the day is over. When I lived in Berlin, I appreciated that the twinkling lights of the Christmas markets added a bit of sparkle (as well as motivation) to appreciate the crisp winter evenings and forget the sun had set before 4pm.    In the northern hemisphere, we are just days away from the winter solstice on December 21, when the light begins its path to overtaking the darkness. For centuries, that has been a reason for people to celebrate. Here’s a look at where you’ll find the best celebrations around the world.    – Melissa Yeager, senior editor Read more Plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the northern lights with this step-by-step guide We'll also tell you how to take a magical night train and when to see the cows come home. Trust us, you don't want to miss it.  Chasing aurora borealis If you’ve ever wanted to gaze at the beauty of the northern lights but felt overwhelmed with how to organize such a journey, don’t worry.  Icelandic writer Egill Bjarnason takes you step by step through planning this trip of a lifetime to make sure you don’t miss this natural phenomenon. Read more Night train from London to Stockholm There’s something magical about traveling by night train – shutting your eyes to sleep and waking up to daylight shining on a new city. Lonely Planet's resident train expert Tom Hall explains how to make the most of this unique slow travel experience. Read more Celebrate the cows coming home The Almabtrieb in the Austrian Alps celebrates the end of summer by bringing cows (decorated with flowered headdresses and with bells on) back down the mountain and into the stalls and farms where they’ll spend the winter. Vienna-based Emily Schulteis writes about how both climate change and shifting economics threaten this beloved tradition Read more Still need some New Year’s Eve plans? Haven't decided where to ring in the New Year? We've assembled the definitive list of the best places to celebrate around the world, from Rio to Rome. Read more More hot topics from the week 12 unforgettable hikes around the world Help Me, LP: Why do I have a new fear of flying? Indonesia’s strict new sex ban will impact visitors. Here’s what to know Want to visit India? Here’s how to get a visa Trending destination this week Vietnam With spectacular natural beauty, dynamic megacities and a diverse culinary scene, a trip to Vietnam is unforgettable. Read more Plan a trip When to go to Vietnam 10 best places to visit in Vietnam What to eat and drink in Vietnam 8 treks for discovering Vietnam’s rural heartlands This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2022 Lonely Planet Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy