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Lonely Planet is planning on giving travellers a closer look at favourite city break destinations, relaunching its city series in a new livery, with additional content based on reader feedback, in what it is calling its most significant redesign of the city series yet.
The books are aimed at travellers between the age of 30 and 60 who are seeking individual experiences abroad, and will include a new “Top 10 Experiences” section, as well as “If You Like . . .” sections, with headings such as “Clubbing”, “Leafy Parks” and “Celebrity Chefs”, and lists of recommendations within that area.
They will also include a redesigned “Top Itineraries” section, with a new “Neighbourhoods” section taking readers through each city zone, and themed overviews introducing travellers to the city’s eating, drinking, entertainment and shopping scenes. “Top Sights” sections will give greater depth of information including images, floorplans and practical tips on the most famous sights. Maps with clearer scales and a full-colour map section will also be in each guide, and an “Understand” section will be added with in-depth cultural information specific to the city, such as its ethnic make-up and recommendations of films and books to pick up.
The first set of newly designed titles will be published in February 2012, with London, Rome, Venice and the Veneto, Amsterdam, Budapest, San Francisco, Singapore and Kyoto in the initial switchover. Moscow and St Petersburg will follow in March, with Boston, New York and Tokyo coming in the new look in August. September will see Bangkok, Abu Dhabi and Dubai released with the new content, with Barcelona, New Orleans and Prague following in November, and Seoul and Sydney rounding off the year in December. The guides will be priced between £12.99 and £14.99, with e-books to follow their print release.
Regional publisher Imogen Hall said the changes would help the guides to stand out in the current travel market, and were made to bring the city guides in line with the country guides, relaunched earlier this year. She said: “The guides [are] more accessible and easier to use . . . while retaining our commitment to comprehensive coverage, local knowledge and fresh on-the-ground research.”