Lonely Planet opens first brick & mortar store

The ubiquitous Lonely Planet guides have finally outgrown the dusty shelves of your local book store and have evolved into their own brand.

Sydney International airport will be the new home of Lonely Planet's first concept store, hosting a wealth of guidebooks, LP branded gear and other hobnobbery catering to a travelers whims. I suppose this location does make sense: Australia is home to the guidebooks and where else are you going to find more travelers than in an airport terminal?

Soon, you too will be craving those Lonely Planet fanny packs and visors as you check out the tour group of 70 elderley people herding past you at the Acropolis. Soon you can look down at your peers who only wear "Frommers" underwear because you know all of the chicks only dig LP boxer briefs.

You're going to have to wait until sometime next year though -- renovations are still underway in Sydney and its going to be another 12 months or so before the LP store is up and running. And after that? Who knows, there may be a store in your local mall within a year.

No word yet either on how much the autographed photos of Matthew Firestone and Willy Volk will cost nor whether the action figures will be anatomically correct. I hear they're all sold out until 2014 anyway.

Filed under: Books, Airports, Budget Travel