Lonely Planet’s Post

August's highlight? The Olympics! Sure, the sports were thrilling, but for me, the most moving scenes were competitors embracing each other after a game. Moments like boxer Yang Liu from China beaming with pride when her opponent, Algeria's Imane Khelif, won gold, or the men’s javelin competitors grinning in awe as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record. Sob! Sentimental much? Yes! But these moments felt like the world coming together to celebrate human achievement and connection. It's reassuring in the era of AI to know that we're still fascinated by all the cool things other humans can do. We still crave real experiences and the shared stories that come from them. That's what travel is about, too. Connecting us to the world through the stories we gather and share. Rather than AI-generated lists, we seek tips from locals excited to share their corner of the world with us and travelers who get a kick out of letting us in on their cool finds, itineraries and advice. My teammates are still buzzing from their amazing travel experiences in August. And you know what? Summer ain’t over yet. We still have the Paralympics to look forward to. And so much more. – Sasha Brady, Digital Editor

Is there a specific destination you keep returning to in your mind? Like when you feel stressed, that's the place you mentally escape to. For me, that place is Inis Mór in Ireland, my favorite island in Europe, all weather-beaten with tangy sea breezes, untamed beaches and thatched pubs. I dream about Greece a lot too, a place that's perennially high on my wishlist. You'll see from this newsletter that my colleagues have been to all sorts of similarly dreamy spots in June. The kinda places that would occupy your mind long after you’ve unpacked and cleared the sand from your suitcase. – Sasha Brady, Digital Editor

I haven't spent a lot of time in the US, but as my American colleagues chat about their Memorial Day vacation plans, I realize how much more I need to explore! Some are excitedly sharing the (truly) bizarre attractions they'll see on their road trips, while others contemplate easy, breezy car-free escapes. Those who aren’t traveling (and plan to relax at home with a good book) are dreamily discussing their US summer vacations or (chill) music festival possibilities instead. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back and see where our travels have taken us since last month… Enjoy! – Sasha Brady, Digital Editor