Simon Calder at 25: The most impressive travel innovators

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Simon Calder: 25 years of Independent travel Show all 5 Maureen Wheeler, Lonely Planet co-founder open image in gallery Maureen Wheeler fishing off the Kimberley Coast in Western Australia Across Asia on the Cheap was the first Lonely Planet guidebook – the ‘how we did it’ account of the journey by the original UK backpackers, Tony and Maureen Wheeler. “Of course there was slapstick – Nick walking into a pool fully clothed, carrying a glass of brandy as he tried to make out constellations in the southern sky, and there was no entendre left undoubled as one wag put it, but the combination of people and place was magic.” Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder open image in gallery Richard Branson Virgin Atlantic celebrated its 10th birthday in 1994, having transformed the long-haul aviation experience – but Sir Richard gets the award for services to rail passengers. The most important thing is to concentrate on having plenty of fun – and the time flies by.” Happiest travel memory: “Time I’ve spent with the people closest to me. Travel tip: “If you travel frequently to or through the USA to somewhere else, get an Esta Global Trusted Traveller certificate as it saves you one hour of nightmares in US Immigration, every trip!” Happiest travel memory: “I was visiting a marvellous training project in South Africa, called Green Futures, based at a beautiful hotel called Grootbos near the township of Gansbaai about 90km east of Cape Town.