Lonely Planet has launched its independently author-reviewed and recommended online accommodation booking service, Lonely Planet Haystack.

Published: 20 Dec 2006

Lonely Planet has launched its independently author-reviewed and recommended online accommodation booking service, Lonely Planet Haystack.

The new service, http://haystack.lonelyplanet.com, is a unique 'invitation only' booking one. It features properties that have been visited, reviewed and recommended by a Lonely Planet author. All Haystack properties are hand-picked by Lonely Planet authors and the site features detailed author reviews and
information on each property, complemented by reviews from independent travellers.

Lonely Planet Haystack launches with over 390 properties from 20 countries and
will develop rapidly from launch. At launch, Haystack features properties from
the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Canada, Ireland, Italy,
Spain, Indonesia, Fiji, Micronesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Egypt, Peru,
Argentina, and Columbia.

Dan Christian, Lonely Planet's Haystack product manager, "Haystack truly is a
unique service in that every property listed is recommended as a great place to
stay. Furthermore, all property reviews are 100 percent independent and written
by experienced travel writers."

Haystack includes a wide range of accommodation options for different budgets.
Fifty-percent of the properties that have already joined the service were not
previously bookable online through any other service.