Explain Québec's complex history of French–English relations, sovereignty and identity in less than 125 words? Challenge accepted! (To be fair, I split them up in a few sidebars.)I crisscrossed Quebec from Montreal to Lac-Saint-Jean and Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine to write the 80-page chapter in the Lonely Planet Canada guidebook – my largest, and most personal, guidebook to … Continue reading Lonely Planet: Canada (Quebec Chapter)
Lonely Planet: Southwest USA (New Mexico)
After a painful pandemic, I hit the road again for Lonely Planet in September 2022 and here’s my first published guidebook (USA Southwest, New Mexico chapter) in the NEW style. Yes, Lonely Planet has changed its style in its 50th year, and while I’m not paid to say this, I think it’s a game changer. … Continue reading Lonely Planet: Southwest USA (New Mexico)
Lonely Planet: France 14
Lonely Planet just released a guidebook I updated: France! I did the section on Lyon & the Rhône Valley. Buy it here.
Lonely Planet: Morocco 13
After six weeks on the ground, 100s of tagines and 1000s of olives, stray cats and za3za3, blood, sweat and a busted ligament, the first Lonely Planet guidebook I researched was finally released today. Buy it at LonelyPlanet.com
Lonely Planet: Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan
Ever since my first backpacking trip to South America, I’ve wondered what kind of people write Lonely Planet books. I now know the answer. I finally received my copy of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan 6, which includes the chapter I updated following six weeks of research in Armenia. Buy it at lonelyplanet.com
Joel Balsam 