Next year is shaping up to be the year to get out and explore. With much of the world firmly on the road to recovery, travellers are looking for different locations and experiences. The list celebrates the world in all its wonderful enticing variety. Each of the itineraries in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2023 shows how to leave the crowds behind and truly get the heart of a destination.Tom Hall (Lonely Planet)
Travel information, pricing and booking is still so fragmented and disjointed that I fully expect we’ll continue to see more brands developing and upgrading these types of features in the future.Madeline List (Phocuswright)
Turku is carving out its own gourmet niche, driven by invention and a superlative local larder. There’s foraged and fished delights from the vast archipelago that flanks the city, while Turku is also surrounded by Finland’s finest agricultural land, overseen by pretty clapboard farmhouses.Norman Miller (BBC)
Once China does reopen, experts warn demand will outstrip supply as airlines try to ramp up their reduced capacity. It may also be difficult to obtain seats to a desired destination, while airport staff and ground handling could be another issue.Matthew Parsons (Skift)
Heute ist die Schweiz eines der reichsten Länder der Welt, doch die Badis, ursprünglich Arme-Leute-Institutionen, sind noch immer essenzieller Teil des Schweizer Savoir-vivre. Hat ein Städtchen oder Dorf in der Eidgenossenschaft Kirche und Rathaus, hat es meist auch eine Badi oder zwei. Badi ist helvetisches Kulturgut.Michael Braun Alexander (Die Welt)
1. Qatar Airways; 2. Singapore Airlines; 3. Emirates; 4. ANA; 5. Qantas Airways, 6. Japan Airlines; 7. Turkish Airlines; 8. Air France; 9. Korean Air; 10. Swiss.Skytrax
In 2022, we don’t want to go faster.Philippe Molitor (Alstom)
As I carefully climbed the grand staircase leading to the flat upper floor, I could still see bits of bitumen between the broken bricks. I also spotted a small, inscribed brick that recognises Saddam Hussein for his partial reconstruction of the monument in 1980. The upper terraces and the colourful temple have long been destroyed and lost to time. But across the nearly flat expanse of desert, I could see small mounds scattered throughout the area waiting to be excavated, no doubt hiding a world of treasures yet to be discovered.Geena Truman (BBC)
Nearly every hotelier across the Continent is planning for soaring energy costs. Russia has slashed the supply of natural gas — which is critical for generating electricity and heat for many European businesses. Energy prices are at historic highs as countries work to boost supply. While European lawmakers promise about $280 billion (€280 billion) in relief to businesses and consumers, the crisis appears to be outpacing the planned aid.Sean O’Neill (Skift)
Unlike most airlines, which focus their branding on the tail, and sometimes the winglets, Condor went, well, all in. The look will even trickle down to striped scarves for crew members and stripy towels for business class passengers.Elissaveta M. Brandon (Fast Company)