LONELY Planet is well known for its informative travel guides. Now it has produced a beautiful book designed more for the coffee table than for packing in your bags.

The Travel Book - a Journey Through Every Country in the World - is on sale for £40. We have a copy to give away to one lucky escape... reader.

Simon Westcott, global publisher of Lonely Planet Publications, says in his sleeve notes for this lavish (and very heavy!) book that creating it was a "labour of love".

It is not hard to see why. With 1,200 images, many of them incredible, and covering 230 countries, this book has been beautifully put together by hundreds of Lonely Planet staff.

For anyone interested in travel it is a delight.The text on each country is necessarily short but it manages to be informative and, as the authors claim, it gives a "slice of life" in a place. For example, in the section on Bangladesh you learn the best time to visit, six essential experiences such as 'spotting a Royal Bengal tiger in Sundarbans National Park', trademark views to look out for and a few of the country's surprises.

The authors suggest books to read and music to listen to in order to gain a feel for the place, whether it be the Cayman Islands, Honduras or the Federated States of Micronesia. .

The A - Z format means small countries are treated on a par with larger, more powerful neighbours.

As an appetiser to travel anywhere in the world this book is a delight. For your chance to win just answer the following question.

Q: How many countries feature in The Travel Book?

Answers on a postcard should be addressed to Sue Boyce, newsroom, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Maesglas, Newport NP20 3QN. Alternatively, e-mail us

Entries to be received no later than October 23.

Normal Argus rules apply.