Tony Wheeler: Lonely Planet founder carries an extra bag but no excess baggage

WHEN TONY and Maureen Wheeler set out on the hippie trail in 1972, the intention was to get the travel bug out of their system. That never happened. Drawing on their experiences, they went on to write the Lonely Planet guides, the backpackers’ bible. Tony Wheeler no longer has a formal role in the company ever since BBC Worldwide completed its acquisition of Lonely Planet last year. But that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to spread the Lonely Planet gospel. At 65, he is on the road four months a year, flying business class, and staying in plush hotels—a far cry from his travels in the ’70s.