by Brent Pinheiro
brent.pinheiro@guardian.co.tt
Trinidad & Tobago has been named one of the 10 must-visit countries on Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 list.
The international publication listed T&T alongside the likes of Armenia, Paraguay, Fiji, and Cameroon as countries that travellers should visit for their “topicality, unique attributes and experiences, including food, history, architecture, art, vibrant local culture and natural beauty, along with their ongoing commitment to sustainability, community and diversity.”
T&T’s food scene in particular is highlighted with Lonely Planet calling it is a “panoply of flavors with African, East Asian, French, Spanish, English, Dutch, Chinese and Indigenous influences.”
The Best in Travel 2025 list is broken up three categories of which 10 destinations are featured per category – countries, regions, and cities. Trinidad & Tobago is the only Caribbean nation featured on the entire list.
Lonely Planet says the list was curated by its team of international experts, including editors, writers, and other contributors from around the world. One such contributor, Tenille Clarke, a Lonely Planet guidebook author, award-winning publicist, and Trinbagonian, told Guardian Media she nominated T&T for the Best in Travel 2025 list well over a year ago.
While she says it was an easy decision to put forward destination T&T for consideration, to see the judges agree with her take on T&T’s “special essence” she says is a great honour. Clarke is hoping it will encourage people from all over the world to visit T&T. “Whether you are a carnival chaser, or a nature lover, or foodie explorer, or a sun, sea, and sand seeker, we have the best of everything the world has to see,” she says.
Nitya Chambers, Lonely Planet’s SVP, Content and Executive Editor says “Best in Travel 2025 is the latest edition of Lonely Planet’s annual love letter to the world. While mindful of our responsibilities and impact as travelers, we’re proud of the destinations, journeys and experiences featured here, and we are excited to share the local expertise and insight at the heart of these recommendations.”