API FAQ

  1. Why is Lonely Planet making Explore API available?

We think we have the best, most passionate staff and authors in the world but we also know that there are lots of innovative and creative people who don’t work for Lonely Planet. We want to give you the opportunity to use our content to build great services for travellers. Lots of people have great ideas, and are often denied the opportunity to realise them. The idea of Explore API is that you can have a chance to showcase your ideas and together we can enrich the travel experience.

  1. Who is Explore API available to?

We are making Explore API available to individual developers and designers for their non-commercial use. Explore API is not for big business! We normally sell this content commercially, so this is not intended for anyone who wants to use Lonely Planet content to make money. For example, you cannot use Explore API to simply syndicate our content on web or mobile pages. We offer a commercial content licensing service for that purpose. Similarly, if you provide a travel-related service and wish to use our content as part of your service, please contact Lonely Planet Business Solutions.

  1. How do I access Explore API?

Go to developer.lonelyplanet.com and follow the instructions to register for an API key. Once we provide you with an API key, consult the API documentation and away you go!

  1. What is an Application?

An Application is anything that you design, create, develop or build using Explore API.

  1. What sort of Application should I create?

We’re making Explore API available to you so that you can test your ideas and be creative and innovative, so there is not much point doing the same stuff that we have already done. In fact, the Terms of Use do not allow you to make an Application that is substantially the same as one of our existing products (see Terms of Use). Check out www.lonelyplanet.com and m.lonelyplanet.com to see what we’re up to, then go ahead and do something unique and different!

Of course, this doesn’t stop you using example code we provide you via the Blog  or Documentation to see how we do things but it does mean you can’t just use that code to re-create Lonely Planet’s existing products.

  1. How can I use the content?

You can access the content by your Application interfacing with the API. In short, you can use and display the content in new and creative ways, including combining our content with third party content. However, you can’t combine our content with any content that is obscene or defamatory or make any editorial changes to the content. See the Terms of Use  for a clear statement on what you can and can’t do with the content.

Importantly, when deciding how you want to use Explore API, remember that your Application must make calls to the API each time it requires content. You are not allowed to make copies of the content for use outside of your Application, including for offline use.

  1. Do I have to give Lonely Planet access to my Application and how do I do so?

Yes, we require you to make your Application available on the URL that you registered with us so that we can see what you’ve created. We may decide to use your Application for marketing and promotional purposes (see Terms of Use). For anything else we need to seek your permission. Also see "How can I make money from my application" . If you’re creating something that can’t be showcased through a URL (eg a mobile phone application), you will need to let us know how we can get a look at it!

  1. What can I do with my Application?

You own the intellectual property in your Application. However, the Terms of Use limit what you do with your Application to the extent that it includes any part of Explore API (including any Lonely Planet content, code or the API) (see Terms of Use ).

You can’t commercialise your Application if it includes any part of Explore API. See "What is commercialisation?". You can make them available for free on a website. It’s okay for the website to have generic advertising, so long as you don’t receive advertising revenue and/or any advertising is not specifically related to your Application. For example you could put your application up on Facebook.

  1. What is commercialisation?

Commercialisation would include you:

  • selling Lonely Planet’s content or your Applications;

  • charging a fee to access Lonely Planet’s content or any Application that includes Lonely Plant’s content; and

  • receiving advertising revenue for advertising displayed in conjunction with Lonely Planet’s content or any Application.

Making your Application available to others for free would not be commercialisation.

  1. Why can’t I put my Application on a page with ad sense or something similar?

The fact is we normally sell this content commercially. We have to protect that business so we can go on producing great content for travellers. See "How can I make money from my Application?".

  1. How can I make money from my Application?

If we want to use your Application for purposes other than marketing and promotional purposes, we will get in touch with you.

If we don’t contact you but you would like to commercialise your Application, you will need to contact us to discuss licensing our content.

  1. How do I correctly attribute Lonely Planet?

You must attribute Lonely Plant on each page of your Application. You should attribute Lonely Planet using the following credit: “Content by Lonely Planet”.

  1. How do I link back to Lonely Planet?

You must include the link www.lonelyplanet.com on each page of your Application.

  1. Who hosts Applications?

You host your Applications.

  1. How and why would Lonely Planet end my access to Explore API?

We may end your access to Explore API and take down your Application by disabling your API key. We may disable your API key if, for example, you contravene the Terms of Use . We know that most people will respect the service and use it in the spirit of cooperation and playing nice. But unfortunately there may be some who will try to use our content for their own commercial use or abuse the service to the detriment of other users. We reserve the right to make a judgement about what to do when we think that might be happening. If you have any doubts about something you’re thinking of trying, the best thing to do is get in touch!

  1. How do I complain?

Send us an email at exploreAPI@lonelyplanet.com. Make sure you include your API key and preferred contact details as well as details of what’s bugging you.

  1. Where do I go for help?

First check out the Blog and Documentation. If that doesn’t help, feel free to drop us a line at exploreAPI@lonelyplanet.com. In time, we’ll be adding other services to help you collaborate with other developers.

  1. Why can’t Lonely Planet guarantee access to Explore API?

This is totally new territory for us and while it’s exciting, we’re not exactly how people will use this service. We don’t want people relying on the service to their detriment and have to be clear that we can’t be responsible for anything that happens if the service is unavailable. We’ll do our best to keep it up and running, but the fact is this service is not guaranteed to always operate.

  1. Will the API change?

Yes. We’re in the midst of some exciting developments at Lonely Planet that will add new features and enhancements to these API’s not to mention additional content. So, there will be changes as well as new API’s along the way. We’ll obviously be trying to minimise the disruption to your Applications.