Lonely Planet today announced the launch of their new travel video community site, lonelyplanet.tv. The site features a combination of user-generated travel videos and original programming from Lonely Planet TV.

We’re into the site’s clean interface and interested (if unsurprised) by the YouTube-inspired functionality that allows travelers to view, share, and rate posted videos. We like the way the site integrates Google Maps to identify where the video was shot. We found a few gorgeous clips, including this one taken from the summit of Mera Peak in Nepal.

With this new site launch, Lonely Planet does a cannonball into the pool of video social networking sites occupied by Travelistic and a handful of others. Welcome to the party, LP!

Popularity: 2% [?]

photograph courtesy of missmeow

Ok, so we’re getting hooked on travel podcasts. Dunno if that means we’re totally late to the party or if it just seems podcasts are getting better. Probably a bit of both.

In any event, yesterday’s Gadling ran a post with a link to a fascinating podcast interview of Lonely Planet’s founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler. The omniscient budget traveler himself, Rick Steves, puts together a consistently interesting podcast series that includes a free Paris audio tour. We’re so obsessed with podcasts that we found ourselves purchasing a giant microphone the other day.

Hmmmm.

Popularity: 1% [?]