Joe relaxing at home

Joe is one of the world’s most respected and prolific travel writers. The author of over 35 books on regions as diverse as northern Laos and Texas, he is best known for his 25-year (and counting) Lonely Planet Thailand and Laos guidebook series.

Born to a traveling military family in New Orleans, Joe was raised in many different locales, including Washington DC, Texas, California and France, cementing his interest in globetrotting. Shortly after graduating college, the Peace Corps granted his request to be posted to Thailand, where he served as an English lecturer at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology in Thonburi, wetting his palate for the kingdom.

In 1981 he researched and wrote the first edition of Lonely Planet’s famous Thailand guide, perennially the company’s number-one-selling title. During this period he also completed a master's degree in Thai language and Asian art history at the University of California, Berkeley.

As a regional expert in SE Asia, he has consulted for UNESCO, the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA), the government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand's ministry of tourism. In the late 1980s he also led the first American group tour to Laos since 1975.

Joe regularly contributes to such publications as Condé Nast Traveler, the Guardian, Los Angeles Times, New York Times Special Editions, Outside, San Francisco Chronicle and Wall Street Journal. He has twice been honored with the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Gold Award, and in 2001 Mexico’s President Vicente Fox presented Joe with the Pluma de Plata (Silver Quill), an annual award for outstanding foreign journalism on Mexico.

His private, hosted experiences have attracted such luminous clients as Sir Mick Jagger, Chilean National TV and A Cook’s Tour, among many others.

Joe frequently indulges his passion for guitar, playing with his band The Tonic Rays at clubs throughout the kingdom, where he makes his home.

Smiling Albino is proud to call Joe a friend and extend his knowledge and experience to our guests. In addition to consulting and co-hosting some of our adventures we can arrange his services on request, truly making your experience in the region rich and unique.

Visit Joe's website.