115 Tony Wheeler's "Lonely Planet"

Travel with Rick Steves

Rick Steves

Rick Steves, Public Radio, 721132, Europe, Society & Culture, Places & Travel, Npr, Travel

4.3 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 25 November 2007

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Tony Wheeler, founder of what has become the world's largest travel empire, Lonely Planet, shares some of the tales that he chronicles in his new book, "Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story." Rick compares notes with Tony as he recalls the early travel adventures that formed the foundation of a pre-eminent publishing house known for helping independent travelers find their way through even the smallest and thorniest of countries. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0	When I'm heading off to Nicaragua or Papua New Guinea, any place where I don't expect to find many tourists,
0:05.5	I know there will be a carefully researched guidebook published by Lonely Planet to help me out.
0:10.5	Hi, I'm Rick Steeves. Just like my own travel company, Lonely Planet started out small
0:15.6	in the 1970s. The grapevine for backpackers traveling the hippie trail from Istanbul to
0:20.5	Cat Mandu. Today, that company publishes over 400 different guidebooks. And today on
0:26.3	travel with Rick Steve's lonely planet founder Tony Wheeler shares his story. He's an
0:31.1	Englishman who settled in Australia and considers the entire planet to be his home.
0:35.0	There is a real kick out of doing a guidebook that you know nobody else is doing.
0:39.0	I really like the fact that if you want a Mongolia guide, come and talk to us or you want an Iran guide
0:43.8	to come and talk to us.
0:44.8	Lonely planets army of researchers have empowered a new generation of travelers to discover
0:49.1	their own magic on the road.
0:50.9	Come along as Tony and I compare notes on the fun we've found in 35 years of exploring
0:54.9	our planet and writing about it.
0:57.0	It's all this hour on Travel with Rick Steves.
1:00.6	Travel with Rick Steves is brought to you by American Airlines. With their new Advantage Award booking tool, it's easier than ever to book to over 800 Advantage Award destinations online at AA.com.
1:12.0	American Airlines knows why you fly.
1:14.0	Hi, I'm Rick Steeves. From a humble start in the early 1970s along the old hippie trail
1:20.0	from Istanbul to Catman dew, Tony Wheeler and his army of researchers have covered the planet
1:25.4	bringing travelers hundreds of lonely planet guidebooks. Lonely Planet is famous for
1:30.0	providing information for independent travelers.
1:33.0	Their guidebooks gained fame for covering Asia in the developing world.
	...

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