Lonely Planet

Tony and Maureen Wheeler began the Lonely Planet phenomenon in 1972 with Across Asia On the Cheap, which they wrote at their kitchen table. Since then, the LP guides have taken over the world, becoming bibles for legions of backpackers. In 2007, the Wheelers sold a 75 % share of Lonely Planet to BBC Worldwide, but maintain an active involvement in the running of the company.

The LP website, which is available in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Japanese, is a great place to go for travel advice and information. You can book airfare and rail travel as well as make hotel reservations. You can read mini guides to destinations, use the Pick & Mix service to download individual guidebook chapters or order the guidebooks directly from the site. You can also check out political upsets that might affect your holiday.

The LP community is lively and diverse with users posting stories and sharing experiences. The Thorn Tree forum is where you go to post up queries, which will be answered by fellow travellers. Bluelist is where users write or read recommendations on everything from a great café to a friendly hostel.

If that's not enough, you can also watch Lonely Planet TV, have a look at the latest features, read Tony Wheeler's blog and subscribe to the LP newsletter. This is an excellent site and invaluable if you are planning a trip.