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In 1973, Tony Wheeler established the travel guide business together with his spouse.
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As one of the most revered figures in travel literature, Tony Wheeler has been guiding travelers through some of the planet’s most awe-inspiring destinations since the early 1970s, after he initially established Lonely Planet.
The holiday
sage
Now aged 78, he frequently shares his favorite spots and the locations he has no interest in visiting; his newest list has just been released.
Although some may not shock many, considering global politics, the remaining two that have landed on Wheeler’s prohibition list are major draws for tourists.
In a blog post on his website, the co-founder of Lonely Planet — who established the company with his spouse Maureen in 1973 before eventually selling it — mentioned this detail.
BBC
Globally, he shared an explanation detailing precisely what motivated his choices.
The post, entitled,
I’m Not Going There Anymore
reveals that traveling even once by airplane seems challenging due to the fear of
global warming
rises, yet acknowledges he ‘
keeps traveling and keeps feeling guilty about it’.
The initial pair of locations on the itinerary includes Russia and Saudi Arabia. Although the latter is pouring considerable resources into attracting visitors through upscale accommodations and premium projects, this fails to appeal to Wheeler—and he isn’t shy about expressing his opinion on the matter.
While he found his visit in 2002 intriguing, he has no desire to return, which mirrors his feelings towards Russia; the co-founder of Lonely Planet mentions political issues in these nations that have led him to vote with his feet.
The location that may astonish readers of his books could very well be the Indonesian island of Bali.
I apologize to Bali,” he says. “That Indonesian island has plenty of wonderful aspects, and I recently enjoyed an amazing gathering for travel writers there. However, due to the absurd traffic, I have no desire to return unless there’s a compelling reason to do so.
Although he claims to have an appreciation for the art, cuisine, shopping, and cultural sites in Bali, the traffic congestion between Kuta Beach and Ubud has deterred him from visiting for the foreseeable future.
Moreover, a location he has frequented many times still receives minimal attention, suggesting he might not achieve his aim of visiting all 50 states.
Indeed, the United States has fallen off the radar for the travel expert, whose trips to Missouri and North Carolina are expected to be his final ones for some time—possibly up until the next four years.
He clarified, “Even though I’ve spent almost a decade of my life in the USA and have numerous American friends, for now, I prefer keeping the USA at the lower end of my priorities.”
He discloses that it’s the present president who is deterring him: “With the so-called ‘orange one’ (and for others, specifically Donald Trump) and their cronies at the helm right now, I genuinely have no desire to visit there anymore.”
In 2007, Wheeler and his spouse Maureen offloaded Lonely Planet to BBC Worldwide for a sum of £130 million.
Nevertheless, the commercial sector of the BBC subsequently offloaded it to the American firm NC2 Media, resulting in a loss close to £80 million. In 2020, the brand came under the ownership of Red Ventures.
In last year’s lineup, the team of travel gurus from Lonely Planet released an enticing roster highlighting the top 30 destinations to explore in 2025, with the United States being among them.
The Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel 2025 publication highlights the top ten countries, regions, and cities worth visiting this year.
The rankings were compiled by Lonely Planet experts, global contributors, and publishing partners. The guide noted that these destinations were selected for their relevance, exceptional offerings, impressive appeal, as well as their steadfast dedication to sustainability, community involvement, and inclusivity.
Cameroon led the national rankings, followed closely by Lithuania in second position and Fiji securing the third spot.
Pittsburgh came sixth in the city ranking, which was topped by Toulouse in France. East Anglia was declared the eighth-best region in the world.
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