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A first-time visit doesn’t have to be stressful! [View in browser]( [TikTok]( [instagram]( [facebook]( [Friday Around the Planet - Your source for all things travel news](www.lonelyplanet.com) Friday Around the Planet September 09, 2023 [SPONSORED BY](   This week: Your cheat sheet for planning your first visit. [Woman eating pasta]( A first-timer’s guide Ever been excited – but nervous – about going somewhere new, then completely over-researched and panic-purchased things you don’t really need for the trip, confident that a new gadget will help ease your travel anxiety? Yeah, me neither. (Haha.) Enter our First-Timer’s guides, an overview of what to expect on your first trip, with information that's sure to calm your travel nerves. Whether it’s showing you how to get around the charming pink city of [Toulouse]( figuring out what languages [they speak in Slovenia]( deciding what to see in [wild and rugged Donegal]( figuring out the [best time to visit Algeria]( deciding [how long to stay in Luxembourg]( or [budgeting for a trip to Italy]( we hope these will help answer some of your most common questions before you depart. One thing I love to do is to learn a few simple phrases in the local language. "Please" and "thank you" can do a lot to bridge language divides. Speaking of languages, for a limited time our friends at Babbel are offering an amazing end-of-summer sale: [60% off a Babbel subscription](. It’s a great way to access bite-sized 10-minute language lessons for real-world use – and build excitement instead of anxiety about your trip. — Melissa Yeager, Senior Editor [Read a First-Timer's guide to Italy]( Planning news you can use 5 shops you need to visit in Marrakesh Handcrafted souvenirs. Traditional Moroccan housewares. Chic kaftans. Lonely Planet writer Sally Kirby shows you the five independent shops you need to visit in [Marrakesh](. [Find out where to go]( [Leather bags on a shelf in Marrakesh](   Where locals go Thailand Droves of visitors head to [Thailand]( eager to visit its gleaming temples and glorious beaches. Before you plan your own trip, find out where the locals go for a little peace from the crowds. [See where our three writers picked]( [Sandy beach lined with palm trees](   Denmark or Finland? In this week’s Versus, two of our Lonely Planet writers square off, making impassioned cases for which Nordic country you should start planning to visit. Come for the hygge, stay for the northern lights. [Read their takes on these great destinations]( [Two people looking at the ocean from a sandy beach](   More travel news - [You’ve probably never been to Cilento, Italy. Here’s why you should go.]( - [How to travel to through Egypt, from trains to Nile River cruises]( - [Simple Pleasure: a local’s stroll through Lisbon]( - [How to choose between Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao]( Trending destination [The famous Punakha Dzong in Bhutan]( Bhutan If you’ve dreamed of seeing [Bhutan]( ancient fortress monasteries and immaculate mountain valleys, but the high price of the daily tourism fees gave you pause, there's some great news this week: the country is dropping the price. Joe Bindloss breaks down the new rules and how they will affect your travel budget. [Read about the changes](   ADVERTISEMENT   Visit get.babbel.com to view full terms and conditions. We may receive compensation when you click one of these links. Love travel inspiration in your inbox? Share with a fellow travel lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you? Subscribe by clicking [here](.   This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2023 Lonely Planet [Unsubscribe]( Policy](