Media Highlights - March 2025

Lonely Planet’s first ever LGBTQ+ Travel Guide took to the shelves earlier this month, and has been met with overwhelming success, receiving extensive media coverage across the globe. The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide is a comprehensive and inclusive exploration of over 50 LGBTQ+ friendly destinations worldwide. Written by Queer, neurodivergent travel writer Alicia Valenski, this guide is designed to help LGBTQ+ travellers navigate the world with confidence , safety, and pride.

It is no surprise that this book has been met with such a positive response as it offers a unique look into these Queer-friendly destinations. This book is more than just a list of Queer-friendly spots; it’s a collection of stories and first-hand insights gathered from LGBTQ+ locals who call these vibrant destinations home.

Since its release, Lonely Planet has carried out two successful book launches in Sydney and Edinburgh with live Q&A sessions with contributors from the book. Both events garnered widespread media attention, being featured in Attitude Magazine, DNA Magazine, The Sydney Star Observer and on UK LGBTQ+ radio station Gaydio.

In the US, The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide appeared on CBS’s morning talk show We are Austin. The book also received an incredible review in Publisher’s Weekly, which said: "...this will give queer travelers a serious case of wanderlust." Author Alicia Valenski joined the hosts of The Chatter podcast to talk all about The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide. The book also featured in US publications such as, Vacationer and Autostraddle.

The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide featured in a number of UK publications, including Globetrender, The Scotsman, Euro Weekly and The Standard. The book secured several articles in UK LGBTQ+ magazine Attitude, including an exclusive interview with author Alicia Valenski. Most recently, The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide has gotten an incredible review in the LGBTQ+ publication Pink News - who said the book is a ‘must have’.

Released just in time for Australia’s Mardi Gras, The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide was covered across major media outlets in Australia and New Zealand. Creem Magazine, Q News, and Your Ex all published online articles, with Books & Publishing writing an amazing review of the book.

The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide has also been circulating on social media, with notable LGBTQ+ content creators and bookfluencers sharing their love for the book. Currently, The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide has featured in 101 Instagram posts, gaining a total reach of 1.2 million. Nomadicboys (198K), Johneepixels7 (42.5K), Franksforeword (22.4K), _Cocojumbo (42.9K), and Panginaheals (941K) are some of the many content creators that shared The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide with their followers.