funny books about travel

27 Funny Travel Books That Will Have You Howling!

Last Updated on January 11, 2024 by Louisa

I love a good travel book, especially one that makes me laugh. While everyone has different tastes in humor, we can all agree that there is nothing better than a good belly-aching laugh at someone else’s expense.

While there are plenty of travel books that make us laugh out there, some are better than others.

I’ve read a lot of funny travel books over the years, and I’ve carefully curated what I believe at the best ones.

Get your tenor lady ready, these books will have you peeing yourself with laughter!

Affiliate Disclosure : This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through any of these links. 

Quick Answers: 3 Best Funny Travel Books!

Need a book fast but don’t have much time? Here are my top three favorites!

Our Favourites!

#1 Best Highly Acclaimed Novel

Lost Continent by Bill Bryson

• International bestseller
• Hailed as one of the best travel writers of all time
• A hilarious novel about journeying through small-town America

#2 Best Travel Memoir

Not Tonight Josephine by George Mahood

• A hilarious novel about a British man travelling around the backroads of America
• An up-and-coming author with lots of promise
• Well written, easy to read, and a lot of belly-aching laugh moments

#3 Best by a Comedian

How to Survive Family Holidays by Jack Whitehall

• From highly acclaimed stand-up comedian Jack Whitehall
• Part memoir, part advice-giving, with a few comments from mother and father Whitehall
• Hilariously written with a lot of dad jokes

Hilarious Non-Fiction Travel Books

I begin my list with some incredibly funny travel books that are based on real-life situations. Some of the scenarios you get into on your travels are so far-fetched, you can’t possibly make it up. And that’s what these non-fiction travel books demonstrate so well.

So here they are, my favorite funny travel books based on true events.

1. Not  Tonight,  Josephine : A Road Trip Through Small-Town America – George Mahood

I begin my list with my ultimate favorite funny travel book by George Mahood . His debut novel, Not Tonight, Josephine , literally had me in tears of laughter!

Mahmood shares a diary of the time he and his best friend, Mark, bought a banged-up station wagon in New York and decided to road trip across the small towns of America.

The vehicle, which they named Josephine, was unreliable, old, and had bullet holes in the back window. What could go wrong?

It turns out, quite a lot actually, which is what gives this novel its funny edge. But even though Mahmood went through some tricky situations.

There is no doubt that his travels across America were a blast and you really get a feel for how special it was to him.

Honestly, I was sad when the book was over. I also loved his book, Travel with Rachel: In Search of South America , which was his next trip after this one.

It’s more of a light read and can be finished pretty quickly, and I personally found Not Tonight Josephine funnier.

View it on:

2. Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales Of A Botswana Safari Guide – Peter Allison

This hilarious novel by Peter Allison is a brilliant collection of fascinating stories of hilarious happenings that took place while he was an African safari guide.

Allison has seen it all, confronting the most fearsome of creatures and tough African terrain, but the biggest challenge of being a safari guide is…the people.

These stories are so outrageous that you can’t possibly make them up. It’s surprising how stupid and reckless some people can be, including being asked to be charged by a lion so a tourist can videotape it.

These tales will have you howling with laughter, as well as slapping your forehead saying “I can’t believe these people exist.” We can all empathize with Allison, but in his misery, we find comedy.

3.  All Over The Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft – Geraldine DeRuiter

All Over the Place is the hilarious chronicle of Geraldine Deruiter, who after getting laid off from her job, decided to travel the world in search of adventure.

The only problem was, Deruiter wasn’t quite prepared for what was out there. Unable to read maps, has only a vague idea of where Russia is, and is terrified of pigeons. Not the toughest traveler material by any means.

However, from the experience, she learned a great deal and has a hilarious story or two to tell along the way.

She learned that traveling the world with someone you already know and love can make faraway places feel like home.

She learned about lost luggage and lost opportunities, and…well, getting lost in general.

But most importantly, she learned that you should always be yourself, no matter where you are and how silly you look.

4.  Footloose: Twisted Travels Across Asia, From Australia To Azerbaijan – Mark Walters

Footloose is the incredible story of how Mark Walters traveled from Sydney, Australia to Azerbaijan without flying and wearing flip-flops for the whole journey. He also doesn’t own shorts or a towel.

Using buses, train travel, and boats that ventured across three continents, Walters shares the exciting and hilarious tales of his travels. and the people he met.

From coming face-to-face with a risky gauntlet of terrorists and Chinese tanks, and having beers with a naked ex-Soviet officer, to eating hallucinogenics for breakfast in Amsterdam.

Walter’s journey is packed with adventures that are both comical and a little frightening!

5.  In A Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is a well-acclaimed funny travel writer, and choosing which of his funny travel stories should make this list of the funniest travel books of all time is not an easy task.

Especially since Bill Bryson has been hailed as one of the funniest travel writers in history.

His previous novel, A Walk in the Woods which tells the story of his journey around the Appalachian trail had such great success.

I was incredibly excited to read In A Sunburned Country , which takes the reader on a journey through off-the-beaten-track Australia in the eyes of Bill Bryson.

As Bryson talks about his time in Australia, he offers a great introduction to whimsical and cheerful characters.

In a country that has more deadly creatures than any other, Bryson’s comedy style of travel writing will have you longing for a trip to Australia.

6. Queenan Country – Joe Queenan

Joe Queenan is an American humorist who sought to answer one important question: what makes the Brits tick?

When Queenan’s English wife suggested cooking a chicken vindaloo on the 4th July for dinner instead of the traditional BBQ, after 26 years of marriage, he decided he had to find out what is going on in the mind of the Brits.

After taking a solitary pilgrimage to Great Britain to figure out why British people are the way that they are.

He describes all the traits and mannerisms that make British people different from the rest, including detailing all the quirky oddities that are unique to British culture.

Whether you’re reading this funny book as an American or a Brit, you can’t help but laugh at all the stereotypes and characters he meets along the way.

7. Westward Ha! – S.J. Perelman

Westward Ha! describes the misadventures of satirical journalist and former foreign correspondent S.J. Perelman.

In these madcap travel chronicles from Hollywood to China, Singapore, Thailand, India, and Egypt, as well as several cities in Europe, Perelman and his cartoonist companion, Al Hirschfield, tell of their hilarious adventure through former war zones.

Their journey takes them to faraway places, where they learn about other cultures during a time that was a little perilous being just a few years after WWII.

Hailed as one of the best comic writers of his generation, Perelman’s funny travel writing is considered zany, snappy, and with a little bit of self-mocking too.

There are some real belly-aching laughs in this story, which is on the whole lighthearted and enthralling.

8. Sisters Behaving Badly: The laugh-out-loud, feel-good adventure – Maddie Please

After an argument at a Carvery lunch, sisters Kitty and Jenny stop speaking to each other. But when both sisters inherit a rural French farmhouse, they are given an opportunity to right some wrongs.

Only the farmhouse is a mess and the farm animals have terrorized the garden.

This comical book set in France will have you holding your sides with laughter!

As the two sisters repair their relationship, Kitty is determined to enjoy herself with the handsome neighbor, while Jenny finds comfort in the fully stocked wine cellar.

This laugh-out-loud comedy travel book highlights how sometimes it feels good to be bad.

9. Going the Wrong Way – Chris Donaldson

Going the Wrong Way is a coming-of-age, travel book of self-discovery that tells the story of Chris Donaldson’s road trip from his home in Belfast across Europe, Asia, and the Americas on his Moto Guzzi Le Mans motorbike.

Going The Wrong Way takes the reader back to the 70s, during simpler times, before technology and social media. It’s raw, honest, edgy, and packed full of adventure and hilarious experiences.

In it, Donaldson reflects on his journey that took him all the way to the highs of the Andes and lows of the outback, traveling more than 50,000 miles, before returning to Belfast.

This is part humor and part thought-provoking memoir. This is not only a motorcycle adventure book, but also a compelling tale that will leave you with a sense of wanderlust and admiration for the author’s resilience and determination.

Donaldson will have you howling with laughter in some places, and biting your nails in anticipation in others.

His writing style is effortless to read, as though you are reading the mind of a friend, but his knack for storytelling is what really sets him apart as an author.

10. Dishwasher: One Man’s Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States – Pete Jordan

Pete Jordan’s Dishwasher is an amusing travel memoir of his adventures dishwashing his way across America.

Part adventure, part humor, and part journey of self-discovery, “Dishwasher Pete” talks about how he spent 12 years washing dishes from a bagel joint in New Mexico to a Mexican diner in Brooklyn before he gave it all up for love.

The premise is very simple, but it’s hilariously written and Jordan is clearly a very smart and funny guy. If you love a love story like the likes of Nick Hornby and Tom Perotta books, you’ll also love this.

11. Round Ireland with a Fridge – Tony Hawks

After losing a drunken bet, Tony Hawks set out on a hitchhiking journey around Europe with a fridge. 

As you can imagine, the experience of lugging a domestic appliance around the continent would lead to hilarious encounters, including meeting a real prince, a bogus king, and a priest who christened the fridge. 

They had been through a lot together, and as Hawks describes his adventures, you forget that at times he is talking about an inanimate object and not a best friend. 

This novel quickly became an international bestseller, with writing similar to that of Bill Bryson and Dave Barry.

12. That Bear Ate My Pants – Tony James Slater

Contrary to what the title suggests, a bear did not actually eat Tony James Slater’s pants, but it does give you an idea of the hilarious travel stories you’re about to read in this epic travel memoir. 

This part travel memoir, part self-help book, is the journey of Slater as he tries to better himself as he volunteers at an animal refuge in Ecuador. 

From battling a tree with a machete, finding numerous tarantulas (both alive and dead), and helping to sew the head back onto a partially decapitated crocodile, you wouldn’t believe the great stories that Slater has to tell!

13. Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before – Tony Horwitz 

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Confederates in the Attic, Tony Horwitz details his adventure as he retraces the voyages of Captain James Cook. 

In the 18th century, Captain Cook’s voyages were considered the last of the great adventures of the seas. He sailed 150,000 miles from North to South poles, from Oceania to North America, and from Easter Island to Siberia.

He was essentially responsible for drawing the map of the world.

Tony Horwitz was inspired and decided to embark on the same quest. In Blue Latitudes, he vividly recounts tales from Cook’s voyages.

The details from his own adventures, from places such as Tahiti, Savage Island, and the Great Barrier Reef.

After signing on as a crewman aboard a replica of Cook’s vessel, Horwitz has first-hand experience of the life, highs and lows of life on the high seas. 

In this insightful and hilarious novel, Horwitz brings the life and times of Captain Cook to life!

14. Hokkaido Highway Blues – Will Ferguson

Hokkaido Highway Blues is a memoir by Will Ferguson, who hitchhiked the length of Japan following the Cherry Blossom Front.

Along the way, he racks up a hilarious collection of funny travel stories which have you laughing as you read the entire book from start to finish. 

As well as the hilarious situations he gets into along his journey, you also learn a lot about Japanese culture.

Of course, he is largely poking fun at himself, but the cultural differences are what make this one of the top funny travel books of the 21st century.

15. Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure – Sarah Macdonald

Holy Cow is the hilarious account of journalist Sarah Macdonald’s return to India, after swearing an oath never to return after her backpacking trip there in her 20s. 

Now married and forced to live in New Dehli because of her husband’s job, so begins the funny travel stories of her time in India. 

Although these stories are funny, there is a nice balance between memoir and educating the reader about the spirituality and cultural traditions of India.

If you’re ever looking for travel inspiration about the mystical land of India, be sure to add Holy Cow to your reading list.

16. The Full Montezuma – Peter Moore

Peter Moore is one of those travel writers who never disappoints! One of my favorite books by him is The Full Montezuma . It tells the story of a time he traveled around Central America in a budding relationship.

Not the most exotic of destinations to take your new girlfriend, especially after it had just come out of decades of civil war and poverty, disease, and natural disasters were rife.

Since she is only referred to as ‘The Girl Next Door’ you get a good idea of how the journey turned out.

The good news is that six months of backpacking together made for hilarious stories and a truly great insight into what life in Central America is like. But hey, not everyone can endure hurricanes and mosquitos galore! 

For all the highs and all the lows, I’m here for it.

Funny Travel Books Written by Comedians

It would come as no surprise that the funniest travel guide usually comes from those written by comedians.

17. Made in Scotland: My Grand Adventures In a Wee Country – Billy Connolly

A Sunday Times Bestseller, Made In Scotland: My Grand Adventures in a Wee Country is a hilarious novel by Billy Connolly, Scottish comedian, and national treasure, as he journeys around his homeland and reflects on his Scottish roots.

In  Made in Scotland,  Connolly talks about what it means to be Scottish, both now and in the past, and how Scotland has affected his life.

Of course, being written by a professional stand-up comic means it is packed with Billy’s distinctive Scottish humor, but it is more than that. It’s also a heartfelt love letter to the land and people from his home of Scotland.

18. How to Survive Family Holidays – Jack Whitehall

Stand-up comedian and TV personality, Jack Whitehall shares his top secrets on How to Survive Family Holidays .

Part memoir, part Lonely Planet Guide Book, this is a middle-class family’s version of what it’s like to travel the globe as a family, and not tear each other’s throats out.

As you might expect, it also has some comedy anecdotes from Jack about his former family holidays, which are both witty and relatable.

With a few comments thrown in from Mommy and Daddy, this whimsical book is a short but hilarious book on travel that will leave you in stitches.

Best Funny Travel Books of All Time

Not all hilarious travel books are written by comedians and based on true events.

Some of the best travel books of all time simply need a good, imaginative story, and an excellent author behind the pen.

These are my all-time favorite funny travel books.

19. T. Rex Time Machine – Jared Chapman

Of course, I had to include a funny travel guide for children on my list! The T.Rex Time Machine is a hilarious children’s book that tells the story of two hungry dinosaurs that jump into a time machine and transport to the future.

What they see is unbelievable and surreal, as they come to terms with all the wonders of the modern world.

Written by author and illustrator, Jared Chapman, this hilarious novel is packed full of jokes and funny adventures.

His use of bold colors and the adventurous storyline will have your children entertained and giggling throughout.

It will be a book that will stay in your family for generations.

20. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy – Douglas Adams

While The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is not your conventional travel book, after all, it does take place in space, it is a hilarious cult classic novel about traveling and exploring new places.

After a bulldozer turns up at Arthur Dent’s home, he didn’t know it, but shortly after it would be the end of planet Earth, and he would find himself hitchhiking on a spaceship.

Along the way, he meets a variety of comical characters who help him come to terms with his new life of space travel and adventure.

The events in this funny travel book are both random and absurd, but pleasantly enjoyable and will have you laughing your socks off!

It’s a lovable story that was ranked number four on the BBC’s “Big Read” , an event designed to find the Nation’s top books.

21. The Sex Lives of Cannibals – J. Maarten Troost

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific  is a travelogue by author J. Maarten Troost who describes the two years he and his girlfriend spent living on Tarawa atoll, a remote South Pacific Island nation of Kiribati.

And no, before your mind goes wandering, it’s not really about the sex lives of cannibals…jeez!

It talks about how he and his girlfriend adjusted to everyday life on the remote island and built a life for themselves there.

Complete with some unusual people and bizarre and unfamiliar local customs, the author reminisces on his own American complacency towards America’s history.

He also describes his overwhelming fish-based diet, how he handled the extreme heat and ineffective government, the frequent electrical and water shortages, and many other hilarious idiosyncrasies of living on a small and remote island.

22. The Innocents Abroad – Mark Twain

The Innocents Abroad is a classic funny travel book by highly acclaimed author Mark Twain, famous for writing the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn novels.

It tells the story of a long excursion between Mark and a group of fellow travelers shortly after the Civil War. The humourous story takes the reader through Paris, Italy, Greece, Egypt, and the Holy Land, during the time of 1869.

During Twain’s life, The Innocents Abroad became his highest-selling book and is hailed as one of the best travel books of all time.

The story is riveting, hilarious, and entertaining, as well as enlightening.

23. Great Railway Bazaar – Paul Theroux

The Great Railway Bazaar is a travelogue by Paul Theroux, who traveled for four months across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, on the Trans-Siberian Railway. 

Part memoir, part Lonely Planet-style guidebook, this entertaining railway odyssey is a classic piece of travel literature.

As he travels halfway across the world on the trains, he details his observations and hilarious encounters in a comedic style of travel writing. 

While this book is a bit dated compared to the others on this list, it is no doubt a classic funny travel book that would make anyone’s heart fill with joy.

24. Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America – Bill Bryson

Ok, I know I said that I had to choose one of the best Bryson books for this awesome list of the best funny travel books but that was before I remembered The Lost Continent.

With an urge to discover his youth, Bill Bryson embarks on a journey through small towns in America across 38 states. 

As he’s rediscovering America, he paints a perfect picture of his boredom, meetings with strangers, and all the colorful experiences he has. 

Bryson’s humorous books are loved by the whole family and it’s no wonder he’s an international bestseller.

25. Best. State. Ever: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland – Dave Barry

From New York Times bestselling author, Dave Barry, Best State Ever is a brilliantly funny travel book that defends how Florida is the greatest place on Earth – at least, in the eyes of Barry.

Barry tells a story about how there is always something happening in Florida, and how somehow the state has been labeled as a place of subtropical stupidity. But loyal Floridian Barry begs to differ.

As Barry defends his homeland, he shares some of the most hilarious adventures he’s had in Florida.

It’s including going hunting for the legendary Skunk Ape; visiting the psychic capital of the world, Cassadaga, to have his dog’s aura read; enjoying the thrills of alligator wrestling; and what it’s like to visiting a clothing-optional bar in Key West.

Whatever your opinion of Florida is, you can’t deny that Barry has a very appealing case after reading this book.

26. Don’t Go There: From Chernobyl to North Korea – Adam Fletcher

Don’t Go There is an unusual and hilarious travel memoir by Adam Fletcher has he visits ten of the strangest places on Earth.

To understand why people keep telling him “Don’t go there” he embarks on a journey through a blizzard in China carrying only a pack of biscuits; through the radioactive aftermath of Chornobyl.

It is chased by the Croatian police as he tries to visit the world’s newest country, Liberland, and comes face-to-face with two supposedly dead dictators in North Korea…and so much more.

His journey is both fascinating and hilarious, packed with British humor, and a story that is absolutely unforgettable.

27. Last Chance to See – Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine

Last Chance To See is a 1990 novel by the acclaimed author Douglas Adams and co-author and zoologist Mark Carwardine.

In this novel, Adams and Carwardine take the reader on a journey to various locations that they have traveled to. On their travels, they try to find places where they will encounter endangered species on the brink of extinction.

This funny non-fiction travel book starts in Africa and continues on to Asia and the Northern tip of America.

On the hunt for animals, what they find were troublesome tourists, bureaucracy, and poachers.

While this three-year-long adventure highlights the imposing truth about how we need to work to save endangered species, Adams’s humorous travel writing style is evident throughout as he discusses his adventures with Carwardine.

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Final Words on Best Funny Travel Books

So there you have it, my all-time favorite funny travel books, from classic non-fiction biographies and memoirs to far-fetched make-believe. There’s something for everyone on my list.

If you enjoy travel books that are light-hearted and fun, then you might also like these books set in Hawaii .

Do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments!

About Louisa Smith

Editor/Founder - Epic Book Society

Louisa is the Founder, Editor, and Head Honcho of Epic Book Society. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and graduated from the University for the Creative Arts with a degree in Journalism. Louisa began her writing career at the age of 7 when her poetry was published in an anthology of poems to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Upon graduating university, she spent several years working as a journalist writing about books before transitioning to become a Primary School Teacher. Louisa loves all genres of books, but her favorites are Sci-Fi, Romance, Fantasy, and Young Adult Fiction. Read more Louisa's story here .

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17 Funny Travel Books Everyone Needs to Read

There are some fantastic funny travel books that simply do not get enough love. This article is all about giving some love to those travel books, and shedding some more light on the genre.

If there are two things I love in this world, it’s laughing and travelling, so writing about the top funny travel books seems like a highly logical piece of content for me to put together.

When I’m talking about “funny travel books,” I’m really referring to, for the most part, satirical style travel memoirs which look back on a particular time abroad. In general, I’m much more drawn to books which portray a set of funny travel stories that tend to be somewhat self-deprecating, and where there’s a lesson to be learned or a take-away of sorts.

Personally, I have a hard time with travel books which aim to get a laugh out of criticizing the “other.” That is, funny travel books which aim to get laughs at the expense of how silly or absurd people are that aren’t like them. That, to me, isn’t far from racism or, in some cases, overtly is racism.

I’ll be honest, it’s a bit of a tricky genre. There are a ton of “funny travel books,” which really are just manifestos of an out of control western tourist doing drugs and causing anarchy in another nation. I’m just not into that whole notion of the “world being your privilege playground,” so I’ve tried not include novels which might reasonably be put in that category. At the same time, I’m trying to create a definitive list of some of the top humorous travel books, so I will include a few that are fan favourites that I’m not necessarily in love with, but do think deserve to be there as it’s likely they may connect with others more than me.

It’s also worth noting that, unfortunately, a lot of the “classic” funny travel books are written by male authors - or, at the very least, these are the books which have been canonized in the genre. I also fully admit that I haven’t read enough funny travel books by female authors, so I admit to my own bias in this case. All that to say, I wanted to write this small paragraph acknowledging that, and if you know of some books you feel should be on this list from female authors, I would love to know, and I will happily read them and consider adding them. You can add a comment on this post, or just contact me on Instagram , Twitter , or Facebook . I should also acknowledge as well that I’m dealing with English funny travel books, but I’d love to hear of any authors who write in other languages with translations available.

Alright, let’s get going, and remember, these are fun travel books to read on your couch at home, but I also think they’re the best books to read while travelling because I find they keep me optimistic and smiling. So many of the most humorous travel books around all deal with mishaps on the road that they’ve found a way to laugh about, and that’s a good attitude to have in travel.

This list, by the way, is in no particular order, and you should choose what aligns with you more on the basis of what topics or regions interest you.

NOTE: This post may contain some affiliate links. That means, simply, that I may get commissions from some of my recommendations. That being said, my opinions are fully my own.

Alright, Enough Chatter, Here Are the Funniest Travel Books Around: The Perfect Books to Read While Travelling

The question is, do you want to be as happy as this couple reading funny travel books from this stock image? Because, dear friends, you can be.

Alright, let’s begin!

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

If you haven’t read many funny travel books, but you think you might like them, this Billy Bryson classic is the perfect place to start. If you don’t know much about humorous travel writing, Bill Bryson is probably the author of the genre, and this is his most famous book (and best, in my opinion). There’s plenty of quality information here about the history of the trail and region, but there’s also rarely a dull moment, including Bill’s run-ins with a few bears. It is, simply put, arguably the best laugh out loud travel novel ever written.

It’s sort of like man vs. nature when man fully accepts that nature has a few tricks up her sleeve.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

A British author moves into a two hundred year old house in rural France - what could go wrong?

Joking aside, if anything, this book confirms that his decision to move to Provence was a life-changing one very much in the positive. I’ve always felt that British authors seem to be just a touch wittier than the rest of us, and Peter Mayle beautifully fits that assumption. He brings you on a ride with him through the misery of winter in an old house, to experiencing a summer decidedly less grey than in the United Kingdom.

It’s a funny travel book that’s awfully endearing, and it’s probably one of the best books to read while travelling through France.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost

When a Dutch-American travel writer in his mid-twenties decides to move to Tarawa, a remote South Pacific Island, you end up with a title like this.

Troost is one of the bigger names when it comes to the publishing of funny travel stories, and I think a lot of that comes from the absurd situations he puts himself in. I give the man credit because he spent two years here getting to know this place, and, as you can imagine, he stuck out like a sore thumb. I don’t know anyone else who has done this, and that, for me, makes it a must include on my list of funny travel books. Troost is a real character, I’ll give him that.

Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw: Travels in Search of Canada

This selection is where I fully give myself away as a biased Canadian travel writer. Hey, at least you know you won’t see this on many other lists!

In many ways, Will Ferguson has ended up with the mantle of one of Canada’s top humorous travel writers (and writers in general, to be fair), and it’s well deserved. Canada, believe it or not, is a strange place, and I think Ferguson is able to capture just how unique and bizarre our country can be sometimes throughout this novel. I also, as a biased Canadian travel writer, love to see books about Canada written my Canadian authors - it just excites me, okay?

If you like this post, you might also like this post on the Best Travel Subreddits on Reddit!

Happyslapped by a Jellyfish: The Words of Karl Pilkington

You’ll likely know Karl Pilkington much better these days from his show, An Idiot Abroad , but before that, he did a fair bit of funny travel writing.

I’ve got to be honest when saying that I don’t always identify with his somewhat perpetual reluctance to do anything when he’s travelling without complaining about it, but he does offer a few clever musings and this book has a fair share of wit and cynicism. He very much embodies the whole bitter British mentality, which can be hilarious at times.

It makes the list for me merely because he’s one of the big guns when it comes to producing content around funny travel stories, so I’d be remiss to at least not let you decide whether he’s for you. It’s quite well reviewed as well.

I had to squeeze this one in here: it may not be comedy, but my latest Ebook on Toronto is full of some personalized tips and great information for your next trip to Toronto!

Offer valid until Jan.1, 2024

A Local Travel Writer’s Guide to Toronto tells you everything you need to know about Toronto in 100 pages. It’s the preeminent Toronto trip planner to use if you’re interested in doing some Toronto sightseeing based on a local’s advice, and not from a huge company. We cover restaurants, cafes, nightlife, events, insider tips and so much more.

Please note that all prices are in USD.

The Dark Tourist by Dom July

So, I haven’t personally read this book, but I’ve had a number of people recommend it, and, as such, I am passing along that recommendation. I like the premise in general, that Dom travels around the world going to lesser known places and lets the world knows what he sees, but I’m not sure, in general, I’m sold on the whole “dark tourism” thing.

Some folks say he’s hilarious and authentic, while others say he’s immature and a bit scattered, but, ultimately, you can be the judge. This list, as the title suggests, is about funny travel books everyone needs to read, not the top funny travel books period, so I thought this deserved an inclusion, then folks can decide if it’s for them. It seems people either love this one or hate it.

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

My guess is, the cover of this book might give away the fact that Australia is going to be at the forefront of this travel novel. So, for starters, we can just go ahead and so this is going to be one of the travel books to read while travelling in Australia.

It’s genuinely fun to follow Bill on his exploration of Australia, and I also appreciate that he manages to get well off the beaten path (which isn’t terribly hard to do in Australia, to be fair), and share unique stories that also happen to be rather hilarious. A lot of the time, funny travel stories are situational, and Bill Bryson does a remarkable job of bringing you along for the ride and sharing in that situational humour. There’s a reason Mr. Bryson is considered the world’s best when it comes to funny travel writing. As it turns out, you can get yourself in a fair bit of trouble down under, and it’s worth writing and reading about just that.

The Innocents Abroad - Mark Twain

This is the grandfather of all travel books, and one of the best selling travel books of all time, let alone funny travel books.

It follows Twain’s “Great Pleasure Excursion” through Europe and elsewhere, and basically is poking fun at a lot of the lofty, romantic travel literature that was coming out at the time. With some of the remarks about other cultures and just general commentary, one could say that this was indeed written in 1869, but it’s palatable if you clearly accept it as a product of its time. I’m more just saying that you should be prepared for a few eyebrow raising moments around comments that just simply would not fly in today’s world.

If you like this genre, and funny travel stories in general, then reading The Innocents Abroad will give you a good picture of famous humorous travel writing from North America in the early days. I also firmly believe it influenced a lot the entire concept of the humorous travel writer in general.

If you’re enjoying this post, you might also enjoy this post on the Most Amazing Bookstore in Greece

I Wouldn’t Start From Here: The 21st Century and Where It All Went Wrong by Andrew Mueller

Mueller has always been outspoken in proclaiming that he’s not a “journalist” in the classic sense of the word, and yet he’s been an awful lot of places with the aim of covering stories and sharing them with the world. So, um, journalism.

Honestly, he’s a bit of a madman in search of stories that others simply aren’t getting. His prose is biting and humorous, and you’ll rarely be bored considering the places he intimately knows that few others would even visit. I’m honestly amazed that Andrew Mueller is still alive, but good for him.

I suppose he’s willing to risk it all for those bizarre and funny travel stories, so the least we ought to do is read them.

Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

Before I even talk about Last Chance to See , I just need to stop and tell you that if you haven’t read The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , you need to that first. However, this book is actually incredibly acclaimed in its own right, and also very different.

This is a humorous, yet also poignant and heartfelt, novel about the remarkable creatures and plants on this planet that many of us may not even take the time to understand or appreciate, and who are nearly gone (and, in some cases considering the date of publication, totally gone). The important thing to note here is that Douglas Adams inserts his classic humour into this, but is careful not to let it dominate the theme of the book, unlike with The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy . Carwadine, the co-author on this, is a zoologist who accompanied Adams on this round-the-world trip, and contextualized things from his side, and the result is a pretty moving text.

Westward Ha! by S.J. Perelman

S.J. Perelman is, in my opinion, one of those larger than life figures. He wrote for many years for the New Yorker, but also wrote a fair few acclaimed books.

Not everyone is into his style, but that’s because it’s a style very much his own, so you’ll either love it or hate it, and most people tend to love it. In Westward, Ha, his satire is on point as he travels the world and offers his wild conclusions. He’s sometimes self-deprecating, and other times insulting, but that’s all part of the aura of S.J. Perelman, I suppose.

Funny travel stories, funny travel tips, and funny travel books - yeah, those are kind of his thing.

Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, and Vicki Pettersson

Alright, I’ve got to be honest here - I’m not typically a fan of anthologies. Rarely, if ever, do I feel fulfilled by anthologies or a collection of stories ( David Sedaris notwithstanding), but I had a fellow travel writer here tell me that I’d be remiss not to include Holidays Are Hell.

She told me all four of these authors are hilarious in their own right and paint stories of travel and particularly times with family that are unforgettable. As I alluded to in the intro, I’m sorely lacking in my reading of female humorous and funny travel writers, so perhaps this is a good place to start! On that note, I had another friend recommend Holy Cow by Sarah Macdonald , but, having been to India and reading some excerpts of Holy Cow , I didn’t feel great about the way she portrayed the nation (a nation I very much respect), as such I haven’t included it here.

One Year Off: Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey With Our Children by David Elliot Cohen

I don’t think One Year Off is a “classic funny travel book” in the sense that it’s not necessarily biting or satiric, or even humorous from an observational level. The humour in this book is more a derivative of what happens when a family decides to put aside all the distractions and be present for a year.

It’s more situational, as there are no shortage of mishaps along the way that Cohen isn’t shy in sharing. What I like about this is that, as a fellow travel writer, I see so many people who pretend like travel is just all dramatic moments and epiphanies when, in reality, travel is full of glaring mistakes and hilarious situations, and those are worth celebrating too. There’s a nice balance to this book though, which I think means it has a fairly broad appeal.

I also think, with some select travel influencers only pretending their travels are going swimmingly all the time, it’s important that books like One Year Off exist. This would be those funny books to read while travelling it you’re travelling with your family.

If this article is your jam, you’ll also appreciate The Top Travel Quotes from the Ancient World or the 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes

Dave Barry Does Japan by Dave Barry

I’ll be honest, I was hesitant to include a book from 1992 where an American humourist travels to another country and basically talks about how poorly he fits in.

However, it was actually a Japanese friend of mine who recommended I include this in the list, as he mentioned that people are capable of dissecting what’s true and what’s not - that’s the magic of humorous literature. He’s right - Dave Barry made a career on clever, funny writing that was based on outlandish exaggeration and sarcasm, and that, of course, permeates this book. For what its worth, my Japanese friend mentions that some of his remarks about Japanese culture are spot on and literally made him burst out laughing.

I haven’t personally read this one, but, basically, my aforementioned friend told me that if you want to read about how a loud American approaches a quiet culture full of unspoken rules, you’ve got your novel.

Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story by Chuck Klosterman

My goodness, fans of Klosterman are seriously devoted, and, just to avoid harassment, I thought that I ought to include this novel on the list. Seriously, if I didn’t include at least one Klosterman novel, I’d have a full inbox.

Anyway, what I’ve always liked about Chuck Klosterman is that he rarely, if ever, writes about the same thing twice, and this novel is nothing if not distinctive.

It essentially follows the story of him seeking out places where rock stars died, and seeing what he finds along the way, which you might imagine is a fair bit since this book spans almost 250 pages. As far as funny travel books go, this book is really something different, and might appeal to those who are lovers of both travel and music.

Rule No. 5: No Sex on the Bus: (Confessions of a Tour Leader) by Brian Thacker

It’s entirely possible that, as a former tour guide, I’m biased with this inclusion of this one, but I do think this book is filled with some legitimately funny travel stories, though some are pretty cringeworthy.

As an international tour guide, it’s fair to say that some of his tactics are a little bit, shall we say, unorthodox. I mean, feeding passengers burgers made from breakfast cereal and roosters’ testicles is a tad unusual, is it not?

It’s pretty much the story of a bitter tour guide with a penchant for humorous writing who finally sits down and asks what exactly happened during those tours he led. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few things were exaggerated, but you might find some joy in this - it is, admittedly, a touch on the immature side, but, again, just trying to provide a little variety here for everyone.

A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments by David Foster Wallace

In all fairness, this entire book isn’t concerned with travel, but there’s one story that deals with opinions related to travelling on a Caribbean luxury cruise ship that are hysterical.

The man is, simply put, a prolific writer, and I think he’s absolutely hilarious because he has such definite opinions about things. It’s not a classic “funny travel book,” but it does offer a different idea of what humorous travel writing can look like, plus I just like David Foster Wallace, so you’re going to have to deal with it, for better or worse, my friend.

Why Bother Reading Funny Travel Stories, Anyway?

For that matter, why put pictures of cute cats in reading glasses? Well, these are all questions, some of which have better answers than others.

In all seriousness, sometimes it’s important to just laugh, and to do things just because of the off chance that it might bring a smile to your face and some light into your day.

If you dissect the books above with a fine tooth comb especially under the light of the current hyper sensitive climate we’re in, then you’ll fine plenty wrong with them. However, I think it’s worth remembering that the underlying purpose of the books listed is, for the most part, to show that around the world life can be ridiculous, and it can be worth chasing that absurdity sometimes. And, why not, you know?

Some of my favourite travel stories aren’t the moment I reached the summit of a mountain, but rather when I’ve found myself in the basement of a shady establishment in a foreign land with no clear exit plan. The world, at times, can be too serious, and I’ve also always stayed calm in potentially alarming situations abroad by understanding that, if only I can make it through, this will be one heck of a tale to tell.

I don’t have a funny travel book just yet, but I could certainly write one, and I respect these individuals who not only wrote their stories, but told their stories and brought them to life. I’m not one who ever would promote laughing at the expense of others, but part of humorous travel writing is understanding that it is perfectly okay to laugh at yourself in a foreign land, and share that story with the wider world.

MY RIGHT SOCK

21 funny travel books with (serious) lol potential.

Funny Travel Books Everyone Should Read

Traveling is one of the best ways to get out and explore the world. It doesn’t matter if you have company or are heading out solo – travel offers a unique experience that can’t be replicated at home. But while traveling is great, it isn’t always easy. There are long flights, sleepless nights in a new bed and trying food for the first time (to name just a few).

Luckily there’s also laughter!

In this article I’ve compiled 21 outrageously funny travel books about places from around the world. Whether you’re:

•  looking to gift these to someone to make them laugh their head off, or
• want some fun, light reads for yourself during your next vacation

These books will have you laughing until your stomach hurts.

BEST FUNNY TRAVEL BOOKS TO CRACK YOU UP AND INSPIRE YOU

For me, books provide a mental getaway. They give me a chance to venture out and experience stunning, new places vicariously through the stories of others.

And it’s even better when these books tie a solid dose of humor into the story.

I promise, these 21 best funny travel books will 100% crack you up!

1. Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe (1991) – Bill Bryson

In the 1970s, as a college student, Bryson backpacked Europe with a friend. A decade later, he traveled through the continent again to revisit his experiences. Except that he was now craving the comfort of hotel beds, hearty breakfasts, and slower travel, rather than zipping through countries on the cheap.

Neither Here Nor There is one hilarious travelogue about the changes he saw, how he reflected on cultures, people, food, accents, and his personal growth through the years. And he’s remodeled all of this information into a ridiculously funny travel book.

While some of the jokes might feel a bit dated, this is such a great book to get a headstart on your Europe trip.

Get your copy here.

2. turn right at machu pichu (2011) – mark adams.

Adams built a career out of writing for travel and adventure magazines, so it was no surprise that he undertook a hike through the Andes mountains to arrive at Machu Pichu, on the 100th year anniversary of the citadel.

Except that Adams was not quite an adventure traveler himself. The book gets exceedingly funny and real as the writer navigates through the highs and lows of the journey, makes choices he’d never have made otherwise, and after a grueling excursion, he makes pretty interesting discoveries.

The icing on the cake is Adams’s cheery and funny writing style; he’ll put a smile on your face and it’ll stay till the end of the book!

3. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again (1997) – David Foster Wallace

This is a collection of essays by the late American author, David Foster Wallace, recounting his seven days on a Caribbean cruise ship. The book is filled with details of the extravagant but off-putting lifestyle of the staff and passengers, as well as his own attempts at enjoying himself despite them.

In the book, Wallace writes about his time on the luxury liner, describing it as “an extended moment of expressing through clenched teeth how badly something could be managed”.

His writing is social awkwardness mixed with a sort of desperate need to be polite and patient. It’s weird, funny and at times even a little bit heartwarming.

4. The Innocents Abroad  (1869) – Mark Twain

Twain’s journal of his travels through Europe and the middle-east in 1867 is a well-known classic. It’s the first book he ever wrote, and with it he demonstrated so much promise as a humorist.

This is the trip that made Twain into a world-renowned author, and for good reason. He was only in his early twenties when he wrote it, so the book has an innocence about it. But this also makes for great stories of adventures and all kinds of comical mishaps throughout his journey.

One of the interesting things about this book is its perspective; it was not written at a time when people were so mobile. This might make it a tad obsolete, but Twain’s writing captures the opinion of someone who had never before seen or experienced other cultures.

The travel book is not just funny; it’s especially worth a read for anyone who wants to know what traveling was like back in the day.

5. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America (1989) – Bill Bryson

Quirky, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny, The Lost Continent is an unconventional travelogue of small-town USA by bestselling author Bill Bryson. It’s the perfect companion for anyone planning a trip across the pond or around their own neighborhood.

In the book, Bryson talks about some places on American soil he had never visited before. He takes the reader through small American towns in the middle of nowhere, unknown places, hidden gems if you will.

Full of charming observations about American life from one of the world’s most beloved comic minds, The Lost Continent is Bill Bryson at his best.

6. The Sex Lives of Cannibals (2004) – J. Maarten Troost

Troost, the author, more than compensates for the strange title by throwing in punchlines after punchlines in this laugh riot of a book.

Outline:  Troost moved to a remote small island in the Pacific with his girlfriend, and he takes the reader through his journey, the people he meets and the way of life he gets used to.

Is the title what the book is truly about? Is there an investigation into sex lives, cannibals or not? I’ll leave that to your imagination(or as little bait to make you read this book). I’m not a fan of spoilers so I’m definitely not giving away the plot!

Of course there are some parts that are disturbing, but the world abounds with bewildering things that are done in the name of culture. The book draws an interesting contrast between our privileged Western lifestyle and the reclusive, virgin life on a far-out remote island.

What I can tell you is that, while reading this book, I laughed out loud (in public and otherwise) on many occasions and it takes a really good writer to elicit that kind of emotion, ESPECIALLY in public places – I’ve gotten quite a few stares on the bus. This one’s truly one of the funniest travel books to read!

7. Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City (2011) – Guy de Lisle

First of all, this is no ordinary travel chronicle.

It doesn’t drag on for pages upon pages of monologue, beefed up with the hardest words in a thesaurus. It’s actually a simple, breezy comic-strip illustration of life in a mysterious city.

Lisle moved to Jerusalem with his wife and kids, as an Expat spouse. As it happens, Lisle finds himself witnessing curious customs and strange dispositions in the city.

The book is written from the lens of a North American but the writer sure managed to keep the tone light and humorous. It consists of a series of essays, each piece being very different from the next, some about the history of places, others about daily life in Jerusalem. I think that works to its benefit because it allows for an unparalleled perspective on one of the most complex cities in the world.

Lisle writes about an assortment of people he meets—an Arab man selling falafel on Jaffa Street who takes his food very seriously, a controversial rabbi with antiquated views on women, a family of Armenian immigrants who run the best bakery in town.

Guy’s style of writing is insightful, wry, witty and iconic. And thanks to colorful illustrations, you’ll keep turning pages through this one, I’m telling you!

8. The Great Railway Bazaar (1975) – Paul Theroux

What happens when you give a famous travel writer four months, a rail pass, and the key to a small car? The result is this classic book that has made countless readers fall in love with train travel. Theroux packs his pages with colorful descriptions of the characters he meets on his journey across Asia by rail.

His writing is open and honest, and his observations can be both touching and hilarious. The book is filled with legendary train routes like the Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, and the Trans-Siberian Express.

Along the way, Theroux describes his interactions with fellow train passengers—the woman from California who takes forever to tell him her life story, the Cambodian who tries to steal his shoes, and the old Russian peasant man he befriends after sacrificing a chicken in his honor. The Great Railway Bazaar is a classic funny travel book that will make you want to pack your bags and start planning your next train journey.

9. Into the Heart of Borneo (1984) – Redmond O’Hanlon

Some of the scariest, funniest and bizarre things happen on this journey into the exotic jungles of Borneo, an Asian island. Naturalist O’Hanlon, accompanied by a friend and three native guides, sets out into the wild to learn about some of the world’s most primitive tribes.

O’Hanlon’s account is filled with funny observations about cultural clashes between modernity and primal nature. It’s written in a clever, fast-paced, and witty tone. It’s also filled with some very surreal, scary, and bizarre events, making this ridiculously funny travel book a hugely rewarding read.

10. Westward Ha! (1948) – by S.J. Perelman

This book is a collection of S. J. Perelman’s humorous travel writing, mostly from his time as a foreign correspondent in pre-war Paris and post-war Italy for “The New Yorker.” In this work, Perelman humorously reports on the absurd nature of certain cultural customs he encounters while traveling to places such as France  and Italy.

What makes this book so funny is Perelman’s witty tone of voice while telling his tales. The way he describes the people and customs he encounters often has a satirical edge to it, but there are moments when you can feel S. J.’s genuine love for these European locations. Part travelogue, part comic – and all funny – Westward Ha! is one of the top funny travel books everyone should read.

11. Vroom with a View (2003) – Peter Moore

This book is about Peter Moore’s experiences on the road, riding through the streets of Italy on a classic Vespa. What’s amazing is that he sets out on this trip to mark a milestone: his 40th birthday. All of us could stand to learn a little something from him, couldn’t we?

Along the way, Moore soaks in the beauty that is Italy. From Florence to Pisa, he gains a deeper appreciation for the country’s culture and history.

The book paints quite a picture of the Italian back roads and bucolic countryside. In addition to being candid, Moore’s narrative is peppered with humorous anecdotes. This is a very funny travel book that will leave you hankering for a road trip of your own.

12. Queenan Country (2004) – Joe Queenan

Joe Queenan pulls off a Bill Bryson and takes a trip around Great Britain to get a peek into the English way of life. Some of the things he shares his views on include football, pubs, class structure, popular slang, and architecture. Married to an English woman for 26 years, Queenan is a self-proclaimed “reluctant Anglophile”, and thus, he sets out on a journey of discovery to find out what exactly makes the uniquely English idiosyncrasies and oddities so fascinating.

Filled with some very interesting and humorous descriptions, anecdotes, and comments, Queenan’s book is an excellent read for anyone who is even mildly intrigued by the UK. Especially if you’re traveling to the island soon, don’t forget to pick this one up!

13. Notes from a Small Island (1995) – Bill Bryson

Yet another Bill Bryson book makes it to this list. Don’t tell me you’re surprised, though? He’s the undisputed king of the travel humor genre!

After living in Britain for 20 years, Bryson makes a farewell journey across the length and breadth of the country. He visits the smallest towns and the busiest cities. The entire book is packaged with umpteen jokes which are very “Bill Bryson”. He’ll make you burst into peels of laughter, sometimes snicker a tad, and he’ll often make you think really hard about how culturally diverse people can be even within the same coordinates.

Especially having spent time in London and having noticed some  typical English habits  that stand out, the book had tons of little nuggets that made me go, “Oh this is too accurate!”

So if you’re from Britain, or if the island holds a special place in your heart, make sure you read this awesome, side-splitting travelogue!

14. Holidays in Hell (1988) – P.J. O’Rourke

Holidays in Hell is a humorous take on the various countries that P.J. O’Rourke visited as a foreign correspondent, all of which were underdeveloped or had suffered through some sort of crisis (mainly war). The book follows his journey along with two other journalists as they explore these countries, interviewing locals and getting themselves into various sorts of fiascos.

This book is great for travel lovers and people who like both comedy and history, as it provides a lot of interesting facts about several countries that readers may not know at first glance. Holidays in Hell gives you the chance to step into someone else’s shoes (or sandals) while they explore these other cultures – and then laugh at their misfortunes.

15. Killing Yourself to Live (2005) – Chuck Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman’s book is not just about dying. It’s also about living. And sex, of course. And The Doors.

Looking to find an answer to the question, “Why are we living?”, Klosterman sets out on the road In a rented Ford Taurus, to visit the death sites of several of his musical heroes, including Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain. Along the way, he meets various people who help shape his thoughts about death, like a mortician, a pilot who crashed his plane, and a woman who lost her husband in the September 11 attacks. Klosterman also visits Graceland and spends time with an Elvis impersonator.

The writing is straightforward, witty, and bold. While this was never marketed as a travel book, Klosterman’s travelogue offers a fresh and unexpected perspective to anyone seeking to fuel their wanderlust. Not to mention, it has funny anecdotes aplenty.

16. A Walk In The Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (1998) – Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods is an extremely funny book about his hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail. After spending 20 years abroad, he attempts to reconnect with his homeland by hiking the famous trail.

There are wild encounters with everything from bears to blisters. A Walk in the Woods is a book about staying alive, but it is also about friendship. It’s also about heroes and their follies. It’s a story of Bryson taking on a challenge most people wouldn’t dare attempt. And it ends up being more than that: it’s an epic journey into the heart of America.

The best part about the book is the way Bill Bryson tells a story. His dry humor and attention to detail make this book hard to put down.

A Walk in the Woods has been a New York Times Best Seller book and has sold millions of copies worldwide. It’s one of those travel books that deserve every accolade they get.

17. Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with D. H. Lawrence (1997) – Geoff Dyer

Here is a book about a writer who wants to write about another writer. Dyer is trying to write a biography on D.H. Lawrence. However, the book is really about Dyer’s struggles with writing. He is a master procrastinator, and so he embarks on (not very well planned) travels to “research” on Lawrence. But he’s really just postponing work.

The book is divided into three parts, each about one of the places Dyer visits while trying to write the Lawrence biography. Through all this dilly-dallying, Dyer ends up spending time in Cornwall, then heading off to Australia, and then ending up in Mexico – still trying to work on the D.H. Lawrence assignment but walking away from it.

Again, not marketed as a travel book but Dyer’s writing makes it one. He has an excellent way of describing landscapes and people so they come alive.

Dyer is a gifted writer and Out of Sheer Rage is one of the funniest travel books ever. A total “genre bender”, you won’t be able to cast the book into a category, but you sure as hell will be snickering the whole time you’re reading it.

18. Are You Experienced? (1997) – William Sutcliffe

This is a novel with one of those done-to-death plots.. you know, your archetypal British private school educated prick who takes a gap year and goes on a trip to India to “find himself”. Except that this one is actually quite different.

Dave joins his friend’s girlfriend, Liz, on a visit to India, only, he is secretly in love with her. All’s well until the trip begins, and Dave ends up spending three harrowing months in the country. While Liz seeks spiritual enlightenment, Dave is more preoccupied with catching dysentery, bickering about the unfamiliarity, and breaking his scruples by cheating on his best friend.

There are times when this book is so ridiculous that you can’t stop laughing out loud. It’s also a great insight into the Indian culture – especially from a 90s lens.

Dry humor, a bit of a love story, a first-world sense of entitlement that plays out in hilarious ways, and an insider’s view on one of the most captivating countries in the world – This is a must-read for any travel lover!

19. Last Chance to See (1990) – Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

Last Chance to See is a book by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine about their travels through various countries to spot endangered species for the last time before they go extinct (as the title suggests).

As the author of the best-selling series “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, Douglas Adams has already established that he can write humorously about anything, and his wit is still stronger when writing about technology and science. Mark Carwardine, on the other hand, has traveled to over 100 countries for various zoological documentaries.

The two perfectly complement each other while writing this book, with Douglas Adams’ satirical narration intertwining with Carwardine’s serious personal experience.

The book reads like a memoir (and there is actually an additional chapter at the end, explaining what has happened to the animals since). It is packed with hysterical humor but also deep insight into the human influence on the planet and other life on it.

20. Round Ireland with a Fridge (1998) – Tony Hawks

Funny travel stories are a dime a dozen. But you don’t often chance upon a travelogue where the writer is also transporting a fridge with them. This is exactly what Tony Hawks did when he set out to circumnavigate the island of Ireland. Hawks wanted to prove a point (based on a drunken bet) that you can do anything if you put your mind to it, and honestly, he does make a solid case.

The fridge seems like a character in the book, as Hawks writes about it as if it was a person. Case in point: he is often joined by his sidekick, “Fridge”, at pubs, bars, in the streets, at parties, even while hitchhiking. Wherever he goes, the fridge always seems to turn heads and spawn conversation topics.

I think the novelty (and wackadoodle-ness) of the plot redounds to the wild popularity of this book. But it’s also Hawk’s witty, frank storytelling and his self-deprecating sense of humor that makes this such a great travel read. He paints a very vivid picture of Irish life and culture, which helps the reader get a good feel of what it’s like there.

The book is a laugh riot from start to finish – a mandatory read in any funny travel books list.

21. The Wrong Way Home (1999) – Peter Moore

In 1994, Peter Moore decided to travel from London to his homeland, Sydney, overland. It didn’t work out like that. The route he chose was one riddled with all kinds of terrifying adventures.

Moore wanted to take the ol’ hippy trail and travel on a shoestring budget. Of course he doesn’t do enough research and so his journey takes him to such places as Albania, Iran, Afghanistan, and China, instead.

Result: An uproariously funny travel book about things going wrong (as they often do).

Along the way, Moore almost runs out of funds, gets beaten up by a gang of Chinese thugs, befriends a man in Afghanistan who claims to have shot a Russian soldier, and finds himself at the center of a hostage situation in Albania.

Moore’s misadventures and his way of describing them will have readers in stitches. The Wrong Way Home has all the right things that go into making a brilliant travel humor read.

Have you read any of the recommendations above? Which funny travel books have you read that cracked you up? Any you’d like to recommend?

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10 Comments . Leave new

so much excellent info on here, : D.

I’ve seen or heard of the movies for a few of that’s and had no idea there were books too. I’m sure the books are much better though.

This seems like a great list, I need a new travel book in my life, especially right now when I can’t leave the country! I have only seen the movie “Wild”, maybe I should read the book too!

Looks like a fantastic list. I am adding the last two to my wishlist. Thanks for sharing.

I’d definitely buy those two Bill Bryson books, especially being a Dutch immigrant in the UK I’d be interested in reading his stories on Britain 🙂 But The Sex Lives of Cannibals sounds interesting too and your non-spoiler review intrigued me! Thanks for these great tips.

Such a mix of books, but your description of Wild by Cheryl Strayed really struck a chord with me… Will definitely check it out now!

Thanks so much for sharing! Some great suggestions. We get too caught up in YouTube travel vlogs and online blogs that we forget about incredible travel books.

Thanks for the list, I’ve added the first one and the one about penguin to my wishlist! I only read The Beach by Garland and didn’t like it at all, very boring and definitely not must-read. A big chunk of it is just a guy gallucinating weird things under drugs… Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

I’m an avid reader, or so I thought! I’ve only read one book on your list, Wild, and heard of John Steinbeck but the others are all foreign to me. It looks like I have some new books to add to my list! What is your favourite?

I usually read historical novels, but there are some books here that really caught my eye – The first from Bill Bryson, and the one about Jerusalem! Thanks for sharing this great list 🙂

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15 Best Funny Travel Books That Will Crack You Up!

• March 23, 2021
• Travel Planning & Tips

What's covered in this post

Collection Of The Best Funny Travel Books You Have To Read

Awful air travel activity book, andy robbins, would you rather book for kids: the book of silly scenarios, challenging choices, and hilarious situations the whole family will love, sunny panda, missions accomplished: and some funny business along the way, tim jenkins, the sex lives of cannibals, j. maarten troost, a walk in the woods: rediscovering america on the appalachian trail, bill bryson, neither here nor there: travels in europe, bill bryson, last chance to see, douglas adams & mark carwardine, the 100-year-old man who climbed out the window and disappeared, jonas jonasson, the ultimate hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, douglas adams, hokkaido highway blues, will ferguson, the wrong way home, peter moore, the great railway bazaar: by train through asia, paul theroux, lonely planet signspotting: absurd & amusing signs from around the world, doug lansky, the travel book: a journey through every country in the world, lonely planet, round ireland with a fridge, tony hawks, final thoughts about funny travel books.

One of the best things to do besides actually travelling is to read travel books, especially funny travel books! 

They bring you around the world, let you experience a trip through someone else’s eyes and makes you laugh. 

On long flights or layovers or at the departure lounge, reading not only helps to while away the time, it exposes you to new cultures in the comfort of an armchair. 

And of course, it is not restricted to just travellers, but to anyone who wants to learn more about our world, the casual readers and just about anyone in between. 

We specifically love reading those that are satirical in nature, admire writers who are not afraid of poking fun at themselves. 

These books bring about optimism and joy and thus, we are rounding up the funniest travel books for your reading pleasure! 

So in no particular order, please find below, *drum roll*, a collection of our favourite travel humour. 

Before you go on, it is our responsibility to inform you that the following may or may not contain affiliate links. What that means is we will earn a small commission if you decide to buy or book something through the links, and we got to emphasize that it is at NO extra cost to you at all. BUT, should you end up acquiring something, you get to make not ONE, but TWO person’s day, keep this blog alive, and score yourself a great deal! And then, you probably will have a really nice warm fuzzy feeling about yourself since you did something great. How awesome is that! Good on you mate! 

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Instead of filling up books with just words, this cute book by Andy Robbins comes with word puzzles, connect the dots and colouring pages! 

That is a whole lot of fun to keep you occupied as you wait for your flight or when you can’t sleep next to the snoring passenger beside you. 

No matter what activity you choose to do in this book, you are guaranteed a hilarious time! 

Do you want a ton of laughs together with your family? Look no further as this book is filled with lots of ‘would you rather’ questions plus surprising situations to play out. 

This will be great for game nights, hanging out with friends at the bar or any party! 

Have the kids read out the different scenarios and let them discuss and debate. It makes for an excellent educational tool! 

Tim Jenkins the author has traversed the world extensively and during his time on the road, collected hundreds of travel stories that deserves to be retold. 

And hence Missions Accomplished was born, filled with amusing short stories (50 to be exact). 

If you are like him, a travelling professional, you will find familiarity in his stories. 

Even if you are not, you will find great insight to what life is like on the road in the most hysterical ways! 

This one made the list as it has one of those funny book names. Just kidding.

The master of self irony, Maarten Troost is an underrated writer who should rank up there with Bryson for the best funny travel books. 

Join his adventures as he spends 2 years in Kiribati with his girlfriend, the place he describes as ‘end of the world’, where the food is unpalatable and the place is sprinkled with Hepatitis A, B and C. 

Strap in for a wild ride in this oldie goldie. 

This is a number on best seller for good reason: it will tickle all your funny bones and more. 

Follow Bill Bryson, the acclaimed travel writer known for his wit, on his walk on the Appalachian Trail. 

In this classic, he recounts his journey, complete with stories of hilarious characters, his walking buddy Stephen Klatz, and and a couple of bears.

While the humour is top notch, it almost serves just like a travel guide too.

Be warned, you might not be able to put this down once you start reading! 

Another classic by Bill Bryson, as he attempts to retrace his backpacking journey through Europe during the seventies twenty years later.

Imaginative writing and dry humour combines to make this one of the most important items you should pack in your bags. 

Bill reminds us that despite all the gloom and doom surrounding us, there is warmth and sunshine elsewhere. 

He is a brave traveler and his descriptions are on point. 

Make this top of your list my friends.

A New York Times bestseller, Douglas Adams teams up with zoologist Mark Carwardine to go in search of exotic and endangered animals around the world. 

The writing is on point and filled with marvelous and exciting adventures. These guys are seriously funny, but at the same time, they delivered a strong message about the plight of the animals. 

Although this book was written over 25 years ago, the details are more relevant than ever today. 

Don’t miss out this eye opener!

What happens when a man turns 100 years old and decides he doesn’t give a damn about the celebration? 

He goes out the window and heads for an adventure for the ages. 

This book combines what the protagonist Allan experiences in the present along with the stories he encounters in his youth. 

Perfectly written and creativeness rolled into one. There’s really no reason to miss this one. 

Take note this is part 1 of The Hundred year Old Man series. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that another book by Douglas Adams makes it to the list. He is a travel writing genius.

5 different books that brings you on a roller coaster ride, as Arthur Dent goes on a quest to bypass the intergalactic bypass. 

So many people have heard of this story, since it was remade into movies, video games and a TV series, but there doesn’t seem to be many who have actually read the series.

Be prepared to be thrilled and entertained thoroughly on this journey! 

Based on Will’s adventure hitchhiking across Japan, this is one of the funniest and eye opening look at the Land of the Rising Sun. 

Will is an excellent observer, and combined with his free wheeling style of writing, this is an original that must make it to your book shelves. 

While he may come across to some as disrespectful, you will need to read the entire book to really understand his method and in the process, learn more about the Japanese culture than anything else you can find. 

Written by the Australian travel writer Peter Moore, The Wrong Way Home expertly marries dry humour with travel entertainment. 

We love it for how he is able to capture different cultures and human behaviour in a rather strange but light way.

Follow him as he journeys through the Middle East, passing Europe and finding his way back home. 

This is one of those books that you cannot wait to finish as you want to know the ending! 

Although this book has been published since over 30 years ago, it doesn’t fail to entertain even the most modern traveller.

Paul takes us through an odyssey of train travel where he recounts his adventures; experience the great Orient Express through his eyes. 

We consider him to be one of the best travel writers out there, and this classic is where you should get started to understand his works. 

Surely at one point in time you have seen an amusing sign somewhere?

We sure did, and this Lonely Planet production is a great compilation of the funniest ones in the world!

We can’t imagine coming across these signs on our travels, since we as tourists often have to rely on them to get around. 

No matter which is your favourite sign, this book is sure to keep you laughing out loud!

We got to warn you though, this is not for you if you are easily offended!

Sorry folks, this is not a funny book. But it is an amazing one that we felt had to be shared with our readers. 

Lonely Planet produces high quality content, and this is no exception.

Filled with beautiful photos of all the countries in the world (according to the United Nations), this pictorial is essential to all travellers who wants to know more about world travel. 

It is mind blowing, and the pictures themselves are worth the price tag. 

Helmed by the hilarious British comedian Tony Hawks, not the skateboarder, this book is an unbelievable tale of how he hitchhiked across Ireland, with a fridge! 

You are guaranteed laughs at every flip of the book, as Tony bumbles across the Emerald Isle, encountering all sorts of curious characters. 

One of the sentences that left a deep impression was this: “One guy, seeing that I was hungry, insisted on buying me a huge lunch and when I thanked him for his kindness, he simply said, ‘Pass it on.'”

While the book might tickle you to no end, the lessons you learn from it are priceless too. 

There are literally more than a million books out there, and sometimes it is hard to decide which ones to start with. 

Hopefully in this short article, we have introduced to you a diverse selection of funny travel books to take you on your imaginary journeys. 

As we read and discover more, we will definitely add to this list, so come back here once in a while to check it out, or better yet, sign up for our newsletter (down below and get a free ebook!) where we update you on what’s going on with our site. 

Although there are only 15 books here, we are confident they will keep you screaming with joy! 

What are your favourite funny travel books? And who are your favourite travel writers? Leave a comment down below!

Also don’t forget to use the free 1 month Kindle trial  or 1 month Prime Trial if you prefer to read digital copies of these funny travel books!

For more travel inspiration, make sure to read these other articles: 

• 19 Travel Bucket List places
• 50 Family Trip Quotes
• Travel packing checklist
• List of 21 free things you can do in any city
• Travel Destinations Guide

Be sure to pin this article on Pinterest and share it on your social media! 

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15 must-read, funny travel books to inspire your next trip

November 13, 2021 | Posted in: Random

Sometimes we travel. Sometimes we research travel. Sometimes we just need a laugh. Although humor is such a personal thing, I went in search of funny travel books that made loads of different people laugh.

If you have some amusing travel stories to share or know of some other good humorous travel books, share them in the comments!  

15 funny travel books to put on your reading list

1. the lost continent. travels in small-town america – bill bryson.

After having spent 20 years in the UK, Bill Bryson goes to refamiliarize himself with his home country by hiking the US Appalachian Trail all the way from Georgia to Maine together with a friend. On his trek along the longest continuous trail in the world, he makes oftentimes hilarious observations of the flora and fauna he comes across but most of all, of his fellow travelers.

Bill Bryson is known for his funny travel writing and he delivers again with The Lost Continent . The memoir provides a ton of (historical) information on the areas he walks through – always presented in an entertaining way. This book will do more than just make you chuckle. It'll make you laugh out loud.

Get a copy of this hilarious book  

2. The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific – J. Maarten Troost

Aged 26, Maarten Troost's life really isn't going anywhere and when his girlfriend is offered a job on Tarawa, a remote island in the South Pacific, he decides to join her there and the base for this book was born. It tells in a humorous way of the many misadventures he experiences as he learns that the island isn't the paradise he'd hoped it to be and battles sunburn, heat, lice, bad electricity, and inefficient government officials – among many other things.

But as time goes on and Troost gains insight into the local culture, his feelings about the island and life there change for the positive. This is an easy read and with the different chapters mostly dedicated to different themes, ideal to read on the road.

Get your copy.  

3. Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales Of A Botswana Safari Guide – Peter Allison

Whatever You Do, Don't Run is a collection of essays written by the former safari guide Peter Allison who shares the most unbelievable and amusing stories of situations he's had to deal with in the bush. More often than not, these evolve around the whimsies and stupidity of wealthy tourists whom Allison considers a species far more dangerous and tiring than any other he has come across.

He might not be the best writer, but Allison's storytelling skills and the safari fun facts he shares certainly make up for that.

Get it here.

4. Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before – Tony Horwitz

Blue Latitudes is the story of Pulitzer prize winner Tony Horwitz's experience on board a replica of the famous Captain Cook ‘s ship. It's packed with easily digested historical information about the voyages and the life of one of the greatest marine explorers that has ever lived. At the same time, Horwitz tells of his own experience visiting the places Cook has visited and his interactions both with the locals there and his fellow travelers. It's in the narration of these encounters that Horwitz wit truly stands out.

Funny, well-written, and well-researched, this book will please travel and history lovers alike.

Get a copy.

5. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson

Allan Karlson ends up in a nursing home even though he's still in good health. There will soon be a party to celebrate his 100th birthday but Allan doesn't care for a party – and would like a bit more freedom – so he decides to climb out the window and goes on what will become a hilarious adventure which includes Allan accidentally stealing drug money and being chased by the police.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is a good-feel book that hangs on unlikely events and interesting characters.

Get it here  

6. All Over the Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft – Geraldine DeRuiter

Check the book out here.  

7. Don't Come Back – Adam Fletcher

Get this book.  

8. Two Old Fools Down Under – Victoria Twead

Get a copy here.  

9. Travels with Rachel: In Search of South America – George Manhood

Read more reviews here.  

10. Footloose: Sydney to London Without Flying – Mark Walters

Get it here.  

11. Round Ireland with a fridge – Tony Hawks

This International Bestseller is one that shouldn't be missed off your travel reading list.

Buy this book.  

12.Made In Scotland: My Grand Adventures in a Wee Country – Billy Connolly

Get a copy of the book.  

13.Swahili For The Broken-Hearted: Cape Town to Cairo by any means possible – Peter Moore

Check the book out for yourself.  

14.The Sun In My Eyes: Two-Wheeling East – Josie Jew

Buy this book here.  

15.The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

So whatever your taste in travel or your type of humor, hopefully, you found a book on this list which gets you laughing and who knows, maybe even inspire your next trip!

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Stella Wilson says

Nice list of travel books. Thanks for sharing :)

My pleasure!

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The Best Of Humorous Travel Writing

There are people who believe that discussing the merits of funny travel books is disrespectful. Culture, tradition, and customs are only meant to be appreciated and studied and should never appear in humorous books. But these people (often scholarly types who never travel) miss the point. No travel writer sets out to laugh at or mock other cultures. The travel writing genre is rooted in the observation of people and experiences, with the journey or country taking second place. Humour can be a way of dealing with difficult situations.

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According to Peter McGraw, an associate professor of Marketing and Psychology, humour only occurs when something seems wrong, unsettling, or threatening, but simultaneously seems okay, acceptable or safe. It would appear then that humour is the perfect weapon for exploring the differences between people, describing new situations in “strange” countries, and explaining feelings of discomfort in normal (for the locals) social situations.

Look at Bill Bryson . One of the greatest writers of all time in my opinion. His books on topics as seemingly mundane as houses, the English language, and walking, use humour to turn dry subjects into fascinating stories.

Paul Theroux , not generally regarded as a humorous writer, can switch on the right and left sides of the brain at the same time. Serious to funny in the same paragraph without ruining the idea. And that’s a skill I wish I had.

Something to remember about funny travel stories is that writers often embellish their stories. There’s no shame in this and it’s not seen as any kind of dishonest move. What’s better? A dead boring account of something that happened to you, or a hilarious version of the same story, albeit with some poetic license in the telling?

Most people don’t care about the truth in details. That’s why Fox News, the National Enquirer, and Instagram influencers are so popular. Most of us know it’s fake, but many of us still consume the stories.

We want to hear funny travel experiences, not dry reports. We all enjoy travel stories that make us laugh.

Many travel books are about hardships and the trials and tribulations of navigating your way through a foreign city. When things go wrong, it’s not a lot of fun. But it makes for great stories. I wonder how many travel writers hope that things go wrong?

As the great Paul Theroux once said, “Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.” My own, less eloquent version of this idea is, “Travel is only funny when told to your mates in the pub back home.”

Here are my picks for the funniest books about travel ever written (or at least the ones I’ve read).

A Walk In The Woods

Bill Bryson

I could fill an entire blog post with books written by Mr Bryson, but for the sake of diversity, only two Bryson books make the list.

A Walk In The Woods is less a travel book and more a funny hiking book. For the reader, the place names and locations are lost in the details. But you will remember the struggles, discomfort, hilarious misfortunes, and personality quirks of the author and his companion as they walk the Appalachians. It’s a book about hiking and the pleasure and pains of being in the outdoors.

Don’t expect to learn useful travel tips. This is not a guide book . It’s a hilarious account of someone taking on the challenge of walking the Appalachian trail with a (possibly fictitious) companion. The dialogue will have you laughing at some of the most mundane things. Bryson’s descriptions of situations will make you cringe. Read this and weep (with tears of laughter).

.ugb-9e54f56 .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} That’s the trouble with losing your mind; by the time it’s gone, it’s too late to get it back.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Douglas Adams

Not a real travel book. (I’d point that out before anyone writes a strongly-worded letter to the editor) A book that’s difficult to describe in less than a paragraph, The Hitchhiker’s Guide is a cult classic that every sci-fi geek and fan of the weird has read. The novel’s travel-related pop culture quotes and hilarious takes on the laws of physics, future technology, and the weirdness of the universe have become part of internet legend. For example, the Babel Fish from the book is a fictitious organic version of many of the apps we take for granted today. Babelfish.com is a website that translates, just like Google Translate. Google translate helps us understand the world’s most popular languages and even some obscure ones. The difference (apart from the billions of investment behind it) is that Babelfish has a cool name. Read Douglas Adams’s view of flying.

.ugb-fe16a91 .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

Think about that next time you’re sitting into your seat on the next plane.

Round Ireland with a fridge

Tony Hawkes

There’s only one reason people take on frivolous but all-consuming challenges like walking around Ireland with a large kitchen appliance. That reason is to write a book about it and make millions. I doubt if author Tony Hawkes has banked a million from the book but I don’t knock him for trying. Humorous travel writing doesn’t have to be real, meaningful, or deep. It just has to make us laugh while introducing us to a part of the world we might not know. (This is a part of the world I know well but not from the point of view of an ambulant fridge minder).

So what’s it about? In case you didn’t guess, Around Ireland with a Fridge is a travelogue with a difference. It’s the account of one man’s experience hitchhiking around Ireland with an enormous old refrigerator. All thanks to a drunken bet. And this is no modern appliance. It’s a monster of a fridge which makes the gimmick even more bizarre.

Without a doubt, everyone he meets is friendly, good-natured, and full of stories. That’s the fairytale image of Ireland and quite a lot of it is true. But the weirdness of the situation helped attract other interesting (weird) people to Hawke’s mission. Breaking the ice in any conversation is easy when you’re depending on strangers to transport you and your refrigerator around the country. I must say that breaking the ice in Ireland is an easy thing to do.

It’s the kind of book that makes you laugh when you least expect it. The most mundane situations turn out to be the funniest. And it’s a good companion to the next book.

McCarthy’s Bar

Pete McCarthy

This book generated more belly laughs than any of the others. It helps (a bit) to be Irish, as McCarthy’s observations of the Irish psyche are more hilarious when one realises how accurate they are. Author Pete McCarthy sets off around Ireland intending to have a drink in every bar with his surname over the door. No mean feat, as there are a lot of bars (or pubs as they are locally called) in Ireland . And there are plenty of people called McCarthy. With over 7000 pubs, plus 2,5000 restaurants.

According to the Revenue department, there are quite a few businesses in Ireland licensed to sell alcohol and have trade names that include the “McCarthy”. McCarthy is a man deeply in love with his ancestral homeland and it shows. He’s also an expert at crafting funny travel stories around mundane, ordinary things. Like going to a pub for a drink, for example. As funny travel books go, this is one of the best.

.ugb-4c2093f .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} I like reading in a pub rather than a library or study, as it’s generally much easier to get a drink.

Hokkaido highway blues

Will Ferguson

The book is twenty years old but little has changed in the human character. And that’s what this book is about. It’s less a tour of Japan, more a tour of the Japanese psyche.

While it’s not a love story to Japan, Hokkaido Highway Blues takes a reverent look at the Land of the Rising Sun from the passenger seat of cars, buses, and trucks as the writer hitches along the entire length of the country during cherry blossom season (Sakura). According to WikiTravel, thumbing your way around Japan is the only true budget way to travel. Transport is expensive, particularly for tourists so relying on the kindness of strangers will save you plenty of cash for sushi and sake.

While it’s technically illegal to stop traffic on the highway or even be on a highway as a pedestrian, Japan is a friendly place to hitchhikers. It’s also one of the safest countries in the world. This isn’t a book about danger and suspense. It’s a book about people. Anyone who’s been to Japan will know that in contrast to the polite, reserved nature of the locals, extraordinary characters are easy to find. Or they will find you. Hitchhikers tend to meet their fair share of oddballs driving the roads. And in Japan, this makes for comedy gold in the form of travel stories by a foreigner.

Every quirky thing you’ve ever heard about Japanese culture is turned up to level 11 as Paterson writes about his observations, encounters, and experiences in one of the world’s most interesting countries and cultures.

.ugb-19659ec .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} People don’t listen to karaoke, they endure it until it is their turn. It is the singularly most self-indulgent form of entertainment available.

The Full Montezuma

Peter Moore

This was one of the books that inspired me to travel around Central America. Released in 2000, the following year I was beating my way through jungles in Guatemala, remembering the tales in Moore’s humorous travel book. The title is a play on words inspired by the hit British movie “The Full Monty”.

Packed full of funny road trip stories, Moore’s book takes us on a Regular Joe, non-glamorous tour of a fascinating part of the world. While it’s almost 20 years old, the mix of cultural and funny travel stories makes for a great introduction to the region. If you’re planning to visit and are worried about dangers or security, Moore’s travel writing will ease your fears.

For more of Peter Moore’s funny books, check out The Wrong Way Home (1999), in which the author follows the hippy trail from London to Sydney overland. Hitting some well-known (pre-war) hippie haunts such as Afghanistan, the author finds humour in the most unlikely places.

The Great Railway Bazaar:  By Train Through Asia

Paul Theroux

Theroux’s dark humour and seemingly grumpy outlook (he’s nothing like this in real life) can be charming, once you get used to it. Ride along the tracks with Theroux for a while and you’ll begin to smile, chortle even, at the writer’s wit. This will never hit most people’s top ten list for the funniest travel books, but I find Theroux’s grumpiness amusing. Maybe you will too.

.ugb-62eb55b .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} I always found myself in the company of Australians, who were like a reminder that I’d touched bottom.

The Great Railway Bazaar is Theroux’s multi-month train journey in 1973 from London all the way to SouthEast Asia . He returns to London on the Trans-Siberian railway route.

.ugb-c76ec09 .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} The traveller is the greediest kind of romantic voyeur, and in some well-hidden part of the traveller’s personality is an unpickable knot of vanity, presumption and mythomania bordering on the pathological. This is why a traveller’s worst nightmare is not the secret police or the witch doctors or malaria, but rather the prospect of meeting another traveller.

Holidays in Hell

P.J. O’Rourke

P.J. O’Rourke’s non-fiction account of his visits to war-torn parts of the world can seem brash in today’s politically correct and “triggered” culture. O’Rourke visited El Salvador, Lebanon, and Nicaragua during the 80s when these places were hot spots for conflict.

If you’re easily offended, stay away. If you can take a joke, you might find O’Rourke’s travel writing devilishly funny. It’s not going to be any use as a travel guide, but that’s not why you’d read it.

O’Rourke doesn’t sugar coat anything and hits the offensive button many times. The book’s subtitle is ‘In Which Our Intrepid Reporter Travels to the World’s Worst Places and Asks, “what’s Funny about This?”’

So that will give you an idea of how he approaches the subject of travel in these countries. Tourist boards will disagree and to be fair, many of the places mentioned are no longer war zones. But again, this isn’t a travel guide. It’s part historical report and part quirky travel biography.

This is about as non-Lonely Planet Guidebook as you can get.

Neither Here Nor There

I’ve already mentioned the author and will probably quote him a million times more in my writing. He’s very quotable. Bryson is also the funniest travel writer there ever was. Yes, this is beginning to sound like the BB fan club, but trust me, if you haven’t read his books yet, stop what you’re doing (after you’ve finished reading all of my blogs), turn off Twitter, Tinder, Tik Tok or whatever you’re looking at these days, and read a book. It’s worth it.

.ugb-88d01d1 .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} …there is nothing like being trapped in a train compartment on a long journey to bring all those unassuageable little frailties of the human body crowding to the front of your mind – the withheld fart, the three and a half square yards of boxer short that have somehow become concertinaed between your buttocks, the Kellog’s cornflake that is teasingly and unaccontably lodged deep in your left nostril.

Bryson is the ultimate geek. He can write in-depth about the nerdiest of topics. He has an entire book about homes. Another about the English language. He has even written a guide to the universe. These topics might seem a little dry, but not only are they filled with wit and humour, Bryson’s books are page-turners. You will read them cover to cover.

Neither Here Nor There, a travelogue through Europe in 1990, is one of the author’s first published books. The book details Bryson’s journey to Sofia, Istanbul, Rome , Paris, Switzerland, the former Yugoslavia, and Amsterdam, among many other places. I have a copy of the 1991 version that I read every year and laugh out loud like it’s the first time.

.ugb-944f88d .ugb-blockquote__quote{width:70px !important;height:70px !important} In the evening I went looking for a restaurant. This is often a problem in Germany. For one thing, there’s a good chance that there will be three guys in lederhosen playing polka music….

If you ever wanted an overview of the best major cities in Europe, this is a good place to start. It’s a warts-and-all account of Europe that you won’t find in the Lonely Planet. A classic.

Do you read funny travel books? What’s your favourite? Which ones in this list do you love? All the above books are available on Amazon (paperback and kindle) and some you will find at your local book store. Load them up on your kindle or go the old-fashioned route and buy the paper version. Whatever you choose, laugh out loud as you go on an adventure into the weird world of travel.

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1 thought on “The Best Of Humorous Travel Writing”

Great list of offbeat travel books. I’ve read a few of them and will read the others as time permits. Coincidentally, at the same time in 1972 when Bryson and Adams were travelling around Europe, so was I. We may have even bumped into each other, though I visited no restaurants that had guys in lederhosen playing oompah music. I wonder is that why they are two of my favourite writers?

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11 Funny Books to Read on Your Next Trip

Sarah Schlichter

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor .

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at [email protected] .

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Vacation might seem like a good time to catch up on all those weighty classics you’ve been meaning to read, but is War and Peace really going to keep you entertained on a long international flight? Instead, treat yourself to some lighter fare—like one of the following funny books guaranteed to make you laugh out loud in your seat. (Ignore any odd looks from your neighbors. They’re just jealous that your book is more enjoyable than theirs.)

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail , Bill Bryson

You can’t make a list of funny travel books without including something by Bill Bryson, and A Walk in the Woods is perhaps his most beloved work. This classic travelogue of his hike along the Appalachian Trail—and the quirky characters he meets along the way—has been cracking readers up since it was first published more than 20 years ago.

What People Are Saying: “[Bryson] plunges into the wilderness and emerges with a consistently comical account of a neophyte woodsman learning hard lessons about self-reliance. Bryson … carries himself in an irresistibly bewildered manner, accepting each new calamity with wonder and hilarity.” – Publishers Weekly

Where’d You Go, Bernadette , Maria Semple

In this cleverly formatted novel, a woman goes missing after her 15-year-old daughter asks her parents to take her to Antarctica as a reward for her good grades. While the disappearance of a parent could be a grim premise, Where’d You Go, Bernadette treats its subject matter with a light, deft touch and a hefty dose of humor.

What People Are Saying: “The tightly constructed Where’d You Go, Bernadette is written in many formats—e-mails, letters, F.B.I. documents, correspondence with a psychiatrist and even an emergency-room bill. … Yet these pieces are strung together so wittily that Ms. Semple’s storytelling is always front and center, in sharp focus. You could stop and pay attention to how apt each new format is, how rarely she repeats herself and how imaginatively she unveils every bit of information. But you would have to stop laughing first.” – The New York Times

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life , Samantha Irby

Samantha Irby is willing to write about anything in We Are Never Meeting in Real Life , from family to intimate bodily functions. These essays are raw, refreshingly honest, and occasionally raunchy—but they’ll never fail to make you laugh.

What People Are Saying: “[This is] not a book for those who prefer their writing with a side slice of stirring, poetic lyricism. Nor is it for a reader who bemoans that female writers and comedians are becoming increasingly ‘unladylike.’ Anyone else happy to jump through those hurdles will find a deeply satisfying read on the other side.” – The Irish Times

The Jeeves and Wooster Series, P.G. Wodehouse

Follow hapless young Bertie Wooster as he bumbles his way through a series of misadventures from which only his irreproachable valet, Jeeves, can save him. These characters appear in more than a dozen volumes, including novels and short story collections. Start with one of the most popular novels in the series, The Code of the Woosters —or dive into The Inimitable Jeeves , a collection of some of Jeeves and Wooster’s most hilarious episodes.

What People Are Saying: “What makes Wodehouse wonderful … isn’t the preposterous lunacy of the plots, or even the easy nostalgia of the setting; it is his prose. At the core of all of his stories is the surprise of language at its most flexible, fresh and fun.” – The Guardian

I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beyonce , Michael Arceneaux

In I Can’t Date Jesus , journalist Michael Arceneaux writes humorously and incisively about pop culture, religion, dating, and growing up gay and black in the American South.

What People Are Saying: “Arceneaux has a biting sense of humor, referring to the persistence of Catholic guilt, for example, as ‘the herpes of your conscience,’ and a nasty roommate as ‘land’s answer to Ursula the Sea Witch.’ Arceneaux’s confident voice and unapologetic sense of humor will appeal to fans of Roxane Gay.” – Publishers Weekly

Bridget Jones’s Diary , Helen Fielding

The struggles of 30-something Bridget, a single woman struggling to lose weight and “form a functional relationship with a responsible adult,” feel so real you can’t help but laugh. If you enjoy Bridget Jones’s Diary , consider reading the sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason —which, for my money, is even funnier.

What People Are Saying: “Newspaper columnist Fielding’s first effort, a bestseller in Britain, lives up to the hype: This year in the life of a single woman is closely observed and laugh-out-loud funny.” – Kirkus Reviews

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim , David Sedaris

One of America’s favorite humor writers is in peak form in Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim , with essays touching on his quirky family, his partner Hugh, and his own embarrassing foibles.

What People Are Saying: “Beneath his sardonic wit, linguistically punchy one-liners and spirited eccentricities of individual characters, is an understated melancholy of fallibility, one that lingers under the occasional bluster and side-splitting laughs that make him a perennial bestseller and public radio fundraiser goldmine. This frail intricacy is easy to gloss over, especially when you’re laughing so hard, but it’s there, tucked away in even the funniest of stories.” – Pop Matters

Saving Fish from Drowning , Amy Tan

Saving Fish from Drowning is about a group of American tourists who embark on an Asian trip that turns into a comedy of errors and cultural misunderstandings. You’ll laugh—and cringe—to see the blunders these tourists make while traveling in a land so different from their own.

What People Are Saying: “ Saving Fish from Drowning is engaging and enjoyable. Tan’s warm-hearted humour and characteristically kooky characters serve to keep the reader hooked, while her clear-eyed questioning undercuts a tendency toward whimsical sentimentality.” – The Independent

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened , Allie Brosh

The illustrated essays in Hyperbole and a Half , many of which originated on the author’s popular blog of the same name, use wry humor and simple but evocative comics to tackle everything from dogs to depression.

What People Are Saying: “While [Brosh] self-deprecatingly depicts herself in words and art as an odd outsider, we can all relate to her struggles. Rather than laughing at her, you laugh with her. It is no hyperbole to say I love her approach—looking, listening, and describing with the observational skills of a scientist, the creativity of an artist, and the wit of a comedian.” – Bill Gates

Yes Please , Amy Poehler

This memoir by Parks and Recreation and Saturday Night Live veteran Amy Poehler offers a smart, funny glimpse into the comedian’s life, from what it’s like to impersonate Hillary Clinton to her experiences of motherhood and divorce.

What People Are Saying: “This is not a treacly self-help book or spiritual guide but rather motivation from a hilarious and kindhearted champion.  A wise and winning—and polite—memoir and manifesto.” – Kirkus Reviews

I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats , Francesco Marciuliano

Cat lovers will laugh with delighted recognition at these poems written from the point of view of their furry friends. Here’s an example from I Could Pee on This : “I lick your nose / I lick your nose again / I drag my claws down your eyelids / Oh, you’re up? Feed me.”

What People Are Saying: “This collection of tongue-in-cheek poems, all written by cats, made me alternately chuckle and laugh out loud. With titles like ‘Who Is That on Your Lap?,’ ‘This Is My Chair,’ ‘Kneel Before Me,’ ‘Nudge,’ and ‘Oh Christmas Tree,’ Marciuliano captures cats’ personalities purr-fectly.” – The Conscious Cat

More from SmarterTravel:

• 12 Best New Books to Read on Winter Trips
• 7 New Books You Can Download at the Airport
• 8 Best Travel Books and Their Real-Life Destinations

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BEST FUNNY TRAVEL BOOKS

The best funny travel books, the travel writers most likely to make you laugh.

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WHEN TRAVEL GOES WRONG: Best Funny & Humorous Travel Stories

In BLOG , FUN CORNER by Clelia Mattana 18 October, 2018 88 Comments

Contents - Open To Read

DO YOU WANT TO READ SOME AWESOME FUNNY TRAVEL STORIES? 

Then, my friend, you are in the right place because not only you’ll read some truly funny stories here, but I am actually The REAL MASTER OF DISASTER! They should give me an Oscar for  “Best Funny travel story” category. Yes, I’m that bad! 

But as someone wise once said:

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” 

  Mark Twain

A  good funny travel story is usually the result of something that has gone (terribly)wrong. So there shouldn’t be anything to laugh about right? Except for the fact that you not only survived the accident but now you’re actually secretly proud to tell your friends all about your funny story over and over. I know I’m right…Confess! 😀

Those “Huh oh” moments can be quite unpleasant experiences, but you instantly know that they will make to the collection of excellent  and interesting humorous stories for years to come ! Heck, you might even score a date or two if you find an ironic person (Just saying!)

I love funny travel stories so much! They show the less glamorous part of traveling and are an important part of travel itself. They represent the challenge, the adventure, the thrill. The real deal, not those perfect Instagram shots we ALL know are staged. DUH!

So to quiet them down a bit I started to write a few humorous stories on FB and now I’m trying to collect them all and transfer my funny moments (disasters) while traveling in here too. 

I just added the infamous one I had this year (2019 as we speak) when I first arrived in Australia for the first time 😀

But back to this article: I had a mission!

To search and collect all the funny or at least humorous stories related to travel around the web and put them together in a top ten post, easy right? Not quite!

To reach my goal I started extensive researches on blogs and various websites. I even searched the most remote pages of Google to spot them and it wasn’t as easy as I thought!

But, at least, what I found and selected in the end, is definitely worth reading ! Someof the ones I’ve discovered are incredibly funny and humorous stories, others are creepy or beautifully written, whilst some others are quite spicy (stay away if you are a prude).  

No matter how different they are, they all have one thing in common: They made me laugh or chuckle a bit . And in any case, if something goes REALLY WRONG, there are legal ways and consultancies services you can count on (which is a release! phewwww).

BEFORE GETTING TO THE FUN STUFF, A SERIOUS NOTE:

As a Master of Disaster other than the funny ones, I have so many horror stories to tell! I got injured and sick during my trips and they stole my possessions during a bus ride in Thailand once (including 1000 euros cash).

So a word of advice is in order: be extra careful when you choose the travel insurance for your trip ! (Click here to see what I use , they literally saved my life and finances more than once).

I never go without it and even if in some of these funny stories it might not be necessary, trust me that in other cases… it most certainly is!

SO BACK TO THE FUNNY STORIES FINALLY!

Yeah, that would be me, with a whole tomato in my mouth in a pub in Amsterdam. WHY? There is no why, I simply like being silly 🙂

For each story, I will insert a quick excerpt to give you a glimpse of what the fuss is all about, and I’ll put the relevant link to the article if you want to read the filthy details 🙂

BONUS MATERIAL:

Scroll till the end to find an article that seriously cracked me up! It’s not technically a story, but it’s definitely travel related!

1| 24 HOURS TO GET TO MELBOURNE (AND ALMOST SLEEP UNDER A BRIDGE)

Category: Funny Stories

“I had dreamed of that moment for hours… That fantastic moment where I was given the key to my room and I would have seen the most precious thing in the world: A BED. What I see instead is a sofa in the living room of an unknown house, located in between the entrance door and the kitchen door. I swear I was about to faint. “

This is a new series of my blog. Given that my friends and followers on Fb love the live chronicles of my horror-funny travel stories I decided to start posting them here.

In this occasion… well, this is how the land of Kangaroos welcomed me on my first night Down Undernight, after 24 hours in the air, lost in space-time and angry like a stray cat 😀

Source   Keep Calm And Travel :  Humorous Stories turned into horror ones: Me, David & The Taxi Driver

1| ALMOST KILLED BY A TURKISH HAIRDRESSER IN GERMANY

Category: funny stories

“The hairdresser proceeded to shave around the perimeter of my hairline, focusing mostly on the back of my neck. He moved the razor in quick little strokes, handling its edge with feline grace. I made the mistake of picturing how easily he could take my eye out, or how quickly he might give me a Sweeney Todd, and it was then my complexion faded from ‘Eggshell Uncomfortable’ to ‘Chartreuse Sputum.’”

This is an absolutely brilliant story, reporting how a simple question about politics can change the course of a simple hair cut from magic to tragic.

Will our hero succumb under the claws of the Turkish hairdresser?

SOURCE: Oh God My Wife is German

2 |THE MYSTERIOUS EUROPEAN SHOWER 

Category: Humorous Stories

“There were no knobs or handles of any kind that I could turn to get the water running. There was this little console inside, which I tried to use. At first, it seemed self-explanatory. It had dials for water temperature and water pressure, and a start/stop button! Plus, it was all in English ! Surely I could figure this out, right?”

The mysterious shower

A very Funny insight on how an innocent European shower can become a mysterious sinister object for the poor American Tourist.Will Geraldine figure out how to handle a “highly technological” European Shower? Click on the link below!

This is a must-read tale from a  super talented writer. Geraldine would be able to make you laugh even by writing on how she drinks her coffee!

Source: Everywhereist

3| CULINARY EXPERIMENTS

Category: Funny/Quirky stories

“While in Vang Vieng, Laos, two other travelers and I decided to visit the local market one evening. The idea was that we would each purchase some kind of food item to bring back to the guesthouse and share with the group for a nice local dinner”

The post I’m linking to is a collection of stories from Derek Baron. He decided to put together a list of the dumbest things he did during his 14 years of extensive traveling.

The result is a quite hilarious post where, among other funny experiences, Derek tells us how he decided to eat a Rat, in an attempt to try the local cousin. How did the experiment go? Read on to discover it!

Source: Wandering Earl

4| THAI MASSAGE OR THAI TORTURE?

Category: Humorous stories

Her black eyes examined me closely, wrinkles forming in her chestnut brown facial skin as she visually assessed me prior to my massage. “You big boy. I think you need two hours.”  “No, I’m good with one.”

Would you like a massage??!

Beware of who you put your trust in. A relaxation massage turned into a Karate match against an old Thai lady. Who is going to be the winner?

Source: One dad one kid

5 |CHASED DOWN A MOUNTAIN BY SOME LOCAL WOMEN

“Wow, these people are so friendly!” I thought to myself. This is exactly the kind of cultural encounter every traveler hopes for – walking down a mountain en route to a rural village, water buffaloes munching away on shrubs, women from a local hill tribe joining for a walk. Why this is the kind of stuff makes the feature story on the National Geographic! Right?

We’ve all been there: captured by the innocent smiles and kindness of the locals in a foreign land… Be careful when putting your pink glasses on, as you will also probably need a good pair of shoes to run away as fast as possible! Click below to read Audrey’s escape plan!

Source: That Backpacker

6 |DEATH ON THE BOAT

Category: Black humor / quirky Stories

“I immediately felt my chest tighten and my heart began to race as my mind replayed the events of the past few days – had I been using insect repellent? Had I been covered up? Had I been bitten?  I was suddenly convinced that I was about to die too”

Lauren Smiling before the nightmare begins

What would you do if you find yourself trapped on a slow boat with a poor dead body lying next to you? This is obviously not a funny story, but a rather creepy adventure on the Mekong river. Lauren has an entire anthology of weird and funny-tragic stories on her website.

There I am, bumming at the airport before my flight and reading Lauren’s book!

A must-read! And now she has a book! Well actually I also have her book because her stories are just super fun, I totally recommend it, check it out in here !

Source: Never ending Foot Steps

7 |”MONKEY BUSINESS”. ON A CHICKEN BUS…

Category: Spicy Travel Stories

“As the bus ride progressed and the chicken bus going like crazy everyone sliding back and forth in every direction I noticed something weird. I kept feeling his leg purposely touching my leg so I, of course, started making my leg touch his as well”

Warning: Spicy Adventure ahead! 🙂 Some travel bloggers are quite adventurous and brave enough to tell us all about their hot encounters…

This story is probably one of the most popular spicy tales of the past few years. No need to get embarrassed tough. I actually admire those people who can be very open about their life, and the story is pretty hilarious! want to know more? Put the kids to sleep first 🙂

Source: Breakaway Backpacker

8| FLATTERY GOES A LONG WAY

“Hello! You are beautiful,” he began. While my first reaction was to keep on walking, I stopped to listen anyway. Because you have to admit, the man had a valid point.

Honestly? I didn’t know which post to choose from Sally’s dozen funny stories! She just drags you into her clumsy funny world so easily!

This time, she writes about how flattery seems to be her weak point. Apparently, she can’t resist a compliment and she was convinced to join a group of Chinese tourists, that treats her like the star of the hour!

Do you want to know how she ended dressed like a local on a rice terrace? Click on the link to read about her adventure!

Source: Unbrave Girl

9| FUNNY STORIES: OUTRAGEOUS PICTURES

Category: Visual Funny stories

Instead, I’ve decided to share some of the more quirky, bizarre, outrageous, outlandish, humorous, funny, ridiculous, absurd & truly off-the-charts moments I’ve experienced while traveling over the years, as summarized in a photo essay.

Indian-Man-Cleaning-Genitals

In a post about funny/weird stories, I couldn’t certainly forget to add a photographic essay on some funny/irreverent pictures from around the world! Get ready to chuckle! 🙂

Source: Nomadic Samuel

10 |SPANKED AT A FISH MARKET

Category: Funny /spicy /Humorous stories

“It was hot. Korean summer hot. Melting makeup hot. Seriously, summer in Korea gets up into the 30s and feels like plus 40s with 100% humidity and not a drop of rain. I had undone the top of my shirt to let a little air in and I suppose I should mention my breasts”

This is a funny short travel story on how you need to be extra careful whilst traveling in a different cultural environment. Especially in terms of clothing! 🙂

Source: The Escapism Artist

THE MOST HILARIOUS LIST OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) “Flight attendant on a Virgin Australia flight “And today we have someone who is celebrating their 21 st birthday, please stand up xxxxxxx……Fancy that, 21 and never been in a Virgin.”

2) “Please feel free to leave behind any of your items in the overhead compartment; I’m having a yard sale this weekend.”

3) “Hi, I’m Captain Amanda Smith. Yes, I’m a female pilot and as a benefit, if we get lost on the way I won’t be afraid to stop and ask for directions.”

4)On an early morning flight, “I noticed a few ladies who forgot to put on their makeup this morning. I’ll be dimming the lights for your convenience.”

5)“How about that landing? Not bad for his first day.”

Do you want to read more?! Check out the full article, to die for!

Flights and Frustration

So here they are, the 10 of the funniest/weirdest travel stories  I found on the web and let me tell you, It’s been a real challenge to find them!

Why is that? don’t people write enough about their weird adventures? am I a bad researcher or it’s just Google trying to hide them really well??

Whatever the reason, it’s a pity because these are the kind of stories that transform the average traveler in a real Indiana Jones!

If you have a very funny or humorous Travel story to share, please leave a comment with your link or a quick recap! I’d love to discover other Crazy adventurers out there! Come out from your shell and share your stories with us! 

Superb and valuable knowledge information because of useful updated for me, thank you so much for share this wonderful article.

this is freaking funny but this is common hacks everyone faces thanks for this interesting article.

Oh God My Wife is German :p What was it???

Hahahah That story is pretty hilarious 😀

Wow, wonderful weblog format! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The total look of your site is magnificent, let alone the content material!

Thanks Sonia, I’ve been blogging for 7 years and it’s not easy at all especially considering that English is not my native language, but I try my best 🙂

What a nice experience when traveling !

A Great Info about to travel and so Funny. Happy to share this info to my friends which are very useful. Thanks for sharing

Sooooooo funny! Great share!

Thank you! Glad you liked it 😉

It is truly a great and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

Such a Great Information about to Travel I really liked your article, your article is very frightened me in the learning process and provide additional knowledge to me, maybe I can learn more from you, I will wait for your next article, I’ve really enjoyed reading it throughout. Thanks for Sharing.

Thank you for your kind words! here is always something new to learn when traveling, even for veterans 🙂

This was an awesome post. it inspires me to send it my mother whenever I decide to travel overseas alone. She freaks out everytime.

hahahah I’m 41 and my mother still freaks out! No matter that I left my parents house at 19, we are always kids for them 🙂

Nice post! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Anna! Glad you liked it!

This makes my day. I enjoy every single story in this post.

ADMIN NOTE: Please don’t include any link to commercial websites in the comment section as they will be removed. Thank you!

Loved every single story! I’ll have to write down some accidents that happened to me while travelling as well.

Hey Vincent, thanks for your comment! I’m sure you’ll have plenty of travel story, everyone has them and they are the best part of the trip 😀

Your post had gave me ideas that how to share funny video. Thanks for sharing

The index is really helpful. I love how you edit the post Glad you find the information useful. Thank you very much for share this great helpful information with us.

Uhmm there is no index? maybe you should read the article first 😉

I’d love to travel too! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

Dear Lord! 4 years since the post was published but the comments just keep coming and for a good reason! Thanks for putting together this list and interesting read! The accident on the boat is truly a creepy experience!

Ahahah yeah, Travel gone wrong is an evergreen topic! 🙂

Superb and funny post..! Really loved it… Keep posting….

Thank you 🙂

Love this blog…the main reason being is as travelers we ALL have something happen during our adventures. Regardless if they are truly bad or bizarre my thoughts on these events turn out to be some of our biggest highlights! These are the stories we will find ourselves repeating to eager ears back home and on the road, if you visit Vietnam, you will get it !

Hey Hong, you’re so right, these are the stories people want to hear 🙂

I’ve had so many crazy experiences travelling. Once in Cambodia I was caught on a bus where the drivers were smuggling drugs behind my chair! Just last week I was hitch hiking and I got caught up in the middle of a street race on a single motorbike with two other people, two bags and no helmets. You can read about it on my blog

Admin note: Please avoid linking to articles (even if they can be of good quality, it allows spammers to do the same and it would become a real nightmare). People can already check out your website by clicking on your name in the comment. Thank you for your understanding! Clelia

Thanks for adding your own travel nightmares! 🙂

Brilliant stories! If you’re doing anything similar in the future, hit us up, we have a lot to tell from our worldwide experiences! Great site by the way 🙂

Thanks Katie!

Yeah, Thank you for sharing, greating..:)

Thanks for stopping by!

I can totally relate about the European showers. During my trip to Europe, I was flummoxed by them.

Ah Sophie! I didn’t realize that the European shower could be so complicated 🙂

Nicely put…i like the MYSTERIOUS EUROPEAN SHOWER 🙂

ahahah Is it a mysterious tool for you too Vicky? 🙂

Hello my name is Daniel I’m a stand-up comedian from Edinburgh Scotland.

Admin note : I removed the link as I don’t allow them in my comments as per my comment policies. If you want to help another user, please leave your email and ask to be contacted directly.

Thank you! Clelia

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I love the way you interpreted other people’s blogs with yours. Not only it is smart for your website but it gives a link to other website giving that person more followers. My blog is about traveling but in my eyes and the events that have happened to me during vacations.

Hey Tailor, thanks! I actually wasn’t thinking about my own website when I wrote this piece. I just loved the stories and wanted to share them all in one place 🙂

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Between last minute visa cancellation and getting stuck in a cave with a cobra I had my fair share of bad experiences, but I can see that I’m in good company! LOL!

Oh, and that announcements are hilarious! Ahahah

Gettin stuck in a cave with a COBRA?! Oh my!! 😀

Your style is very unique in comparison to other folks I’ve read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.

Thank you for your kind comment! 🙂

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I thought travel always goes wrong. Maybe that’s just me…

Not always..it depends on how much risk are you willing to take!

Even tho I’m European I can totally relate to European shower trouble 😉 Love this post!

European showers rock! 🙂 glad you liked the post Anna!

Is that a rat? Ewww!

Yes it is! I have to say Earl was very brave to try it 🙂

Funny stories and unforeseen mishaps are always part of traveling. This is what makes it more memorable for us. Despite these, I know we can all say that without these funny stories, your travel wouldn’t be as fun as it was.

Hey Helen, if you have any funny story to add, feel free to do so 🙂

I love funny travel stories – and writing about them. My favourite lately was called the Perils of Potties in Japan – or something like that – featuring a hitech toilet that wouldn’t stop spurting water all over the place.

Hey Anabel, i’ve heard tat Japanese toilets are deadly.. I will search for the article, must be quite something!

I went on a road trip in Iceland in June and absolutely loved it! I would tell people (and did in a blogpost) to register with a free app that alerts search and rescue people if you vanish. Register at http://www.safetravel.is and download the free 112 Iceland app before you go. It could literally save your life – a lot of people wander off and get themselves in bad situations every year but if you use this they will save you from yourself (for free but a hearty donation should be considered if it’s your own fault!).

Thanks for the tip Kay!

Thanks for collect these stories.Will subscribes to get more story from you.

Glad you enjoyed it Louis!

Cool tales. I only travel so I don’t run out of dinner party conversations.. ;P The things that don’t go quite right are often the best stories!

true…people are more interested in the accidents than our amazing travel tales..

Love this blog…the main reason being is as travelers we ALL have something happen during our adventures. Regardless if they are truly bad or bizarre my thoughts on these events turn out to be some of our biggest highlights! These are the stories we will find ourselves repeating to eager ears back home and on the road. Of course they seem devistating as they are happening but we always have to look for the best in these situations and the most positive way out of these awkward moments. Cherish them – One Life, One Planet. @monkeyslick

Hi Evan, Very true…these are the best stories to showcase upon our return home!

We’d got our own funny travel stories following experiences close to home. Here’s one from when we visited a hotel in the south of the island: http://www.puretravel.com/Guide/Travel_writing_competition/Travel_Writing_Competition_2012_Entries_Page2/Cock_and_ball(s) . After reading, you’ll be relieved to discover that there are no photos.

ahah i’m actually pretty relieved yes 🙂

Thought you might be.

I saw your request in our FB group and was sorry I couldn’t contribute any! These are hilarious though; the image of Talon and the old lady cracks me up 😀

Hei Aleah, pity you couldn’t contribute, i was hoping to have a top 20 but was quite difficult!

I appreciate the mention above and link to my post!

My pleasure!…Eating a rat is not something you see everyday for sure!

Thanks for featuring my story Klelia!

These are a great collection of quirky tales.

Great finds! I love these quirky stories and that could well be me trying to figure out how to use that shower!

Yeah some of them are really brilliant, it surprised me that i couldn’t find more of them on the web!Oh and for the shower…even if i’m european, i struggled with it at first too!

Thanks also for including my funny quotes article, they certainly make flying more enjoyable.

As for the Thai massage I can certainly vouch for that. I had a one hour head massage and was screaming pain with every touch. I promise you, never, ever again!

hahaha tell me about the Thai Massage, I totally understand why you don’t want to try again! I also had some quite unpleasant experiences…now I only go for a more relaxing oil massage 🙂

Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollll…when finished barking loudly with laughter, I might share a story or two…

Fire away! You can’t imagine how difficult has been to find these stories around! 🙂

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Funny Travel Books

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8 Funny Travel Books

There is nothing better than finding a reason to laugh on the road. The following eight books are some of the funniest travel books ever written. The list includes something for every sense of humor and range from the Victorian period to the present day.

1. The Innocents Abroad (Mark Twain)

2. In a Sunburned Country (Bill Bryson)

3. Holidays in Hell: In Which Our Intrepid Reporter Travels to the World’s Worst Places and Asks, What’s Funny About This (P. J. O’Rourke)

4. Travels with Alice (Calvin Trillin)

5. The Clumsiest People in Europe (Todd Pruzan)

6. There’s No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Traveled (Doug Lansky, Editor)

7. Westward Ha! (S. J. Perelman)

8. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)

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• June 1, 2011
• In Destinations , Features , Travel Gear
• books Funny Travel Books gennaro salamone Humor

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14 Comments

I love Bill Bryson’s books especially A Walk in the Woods and In a Sunburned Country. I never knew Twain wrote a travelogue. That’s something that I’ll definitely pick up. Sounds great.

Nice list — haven’t heard of a lot of these. Hitchhiker’s Guide is great. The Clumsiest People in Europe sounds wicked. A children’s author? Funny.

There really is nobody funnier or more knowledgeable on geography, history and English than Bill Bryson. I have all of his books and hope there are more coming . . .

Andi of My Beautiful Adventures

Can’t wait to check out the books I haven’t yet read on this list, nice!

Michael Hodson

there are some great ones here that I need to add to my new Kindle 3!! 😉

Runaway Brit

I like travel books with a sense of humour so I’ll check these out. I really enjoyed ‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’ by Tony Hawks – made me laugh out loud a few times 🙂

@Alice and Dianne – Agreed. Bryson is very funny.

@Runawat Brit – Another funny book. Thanks for the recommendation.

Great Travels

I have to admit I have not read any of these despite being an avid reader. I have heard of #8 though – the movie, that is. And #6 sounds already funny and promising. Short stories are best when travelling.

tom strandberg

a short walk in the hindu kush – eric newby had me laughing a lot!

@Great Travels There’s No Toilet Paper is great for short stories.

@Tom Strandberg Good one, thanks for sharing.

Great list. When I finish my current freelance book assignment, which by the way, is not even remotely related to travel or humorous, I’ll give a few of these a read.

Thank you for this great list. I love Bryson and The Hitchhikers Guide has been on my must-read list for years.

Chris Booth

I really enjoyed Nicholas Bouvier’s ‘The Way of the World’. There are some great comedy moments in there as well as a lot of thought-provoking tangents. I’d recommend it to anyone.

There are heaps out there! Thanks for the suggestions. My favorites come from Peter Moore, Brian Thacker and Tony Hawk (not the skateboarder!)

Around the World in 80 Laughs: 10 of the Funniest Books About Travel

Ever found yourself squished in a middle seat on a long-haul flight, sandwiched between a snorer and a chatterbox, and thought, ‘This could be a comedy sketch’? Or perhaps you’ve navigated a foreign city with a map that seemed to be playing a practical joke on you?

Well, you’re not alone in these travel tribulations, and luckily for us, some brave souls have documented their hilarious journeys, turning misadventures into laughter.

For those who love to explore the world through the written word, or are on the hunt for the perfect gift to tickle the wanderlust (and funny bone) of a loved one, we’ve rounded up the funniest travel books that promise to deliver gut-busting laughter with every page turn.

So, buckle up (or recline your seat if you dare) as we embark on a literary journey that proves travel isn’t just about the destination—it’s about the countless laughs along the way!

The Dark Tourist

Comedian Dom Joly’s unconventional childhood in war-torn Lebanon sparked a fascination with dark tourism. In this hilarious and harrowing travelogue, Joly visits destinations that most tourists avoid, from skiing on segregated slopes in Iran to spending a weekend in Chernobyl. He tours assassination sites in America, gains rare access to North Korea, and uncovers a surprising connection to Osama Bin Laden in his hometown of Beirut. With witty observations and sharp commentary, Joly sheds light on the absurdities and horrors of the human experience in the world’s most unsettling places. “The Dark Tourist” is a fearless and darkly humorous adventure that ventures beyond the beaten path.

...And Then You Die of Dysentery

…And Then You Die of Dysentery

This travel book takes you on a trip down memory lane. “…And Then You Die of Dysentery” features 50 witty and snarky life lessons gleaned from the game’s most memorable moments, all presented in a delightful 8-bit style. From the perils of exhaustion to the importance of responsible hunting, this book offers a fresh and entertaining perspective on the trials and tribulations of pioneer life. Packed with clever pop culture references and tongue-in-cheek humor, it’s the perfect trip down memory lane for anyone who ever braved the digital frontier.

Holidays in Hell

In “Holidays in Hell,” celebrated humorist P.J. O’Rourke embarks on a wild, no-holds-barred adventure through the world’s most desperate and dangerous places. From war-torn Belfast to communist strongholds in the Philippines, O’Rourke fearlessly uncovers the absurdities and horrors that lie beneath the surface of nations in turmoil. With his signature wit and biting satire, he charges through student barricades, goes undercover in the Gaza Strip, and exposes the banality of American culture. Packed with classic riffs on global politics and culture, “Holidays in Hell” is a rollercoaster ride of dark humor and insightful commentary that showcases O’Rourke’s unparalleled storytelling abilities.

Terrible Maps: Hilarious Maps for a Ridiculous World

Prepare for a side-splitting journey through the world of absurd cartography with “Terrible Maps,” the perfect gift book for geography enthusiasts and humor lovers alike. From the average jean color across the US to the perils of Antarctic train travel, this book showcases the most bizarre and entertaining maps from the popular social media feed. Discover the connections between oddly-named places, countries that eat their national animals, and nations that have hilariously declared war on birds. With witty commentary accompanying each terrible map, this book is guaranteed to have you laughing out loud and marveling at the world’s cartographic curiosities.

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush

In “A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush,” Eric Newby recounts his iconic 1956 journey from London’s haute couture scene to the remote wilderness of Afghanistan. Alongside his friend Hugh Carless, Newby embarks on a month-long adventure through the breathtaking Hindu Kush mountains, northeast of Kabul, despite their lack of experience and preparation. With wit, charm, and keen observation, Newby’s narrative captures the essence of travel, adventure, and the indomitable human spirit. This classic memoir, featuring new photographs, an epilogue by Carless, and a prologue by Evelyn Waugh, cements Newby’s status as one of Britain’s most beloved travel writers.

The Geography of Bliss

In “The Geography of Bliss,” Eric Weiner, a former NPR correspondent, embarks on an unconventional journey to uncover the secrets of happiness. Guided by ancient wisdom and modern science, Weiner explores the world’s most contented places, from Iceland to Bhutan, seeking insights into the essential ingredients for a fulfilling life. Through witty observations and thought-provoking reflections, Weiner challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of happiness and the influence of place on our well-being. Part travelogue, part philosophical inquiry, “The Geography of Bliss” offers a captivating exploration of the human experience, inviting readers to join Weiner on his quest for true contentment.

Hokkaido Highway Blues: Hitchhiking Japan

In “Hokkaido Highway Blues,” Canadian author Will Ferguson embarks on an unprecedented 1,800-mile hitchhiking journey through Japan, following the annual Cherry Blossom Front. As he rides with a colorful cast of characters, Ferguson gains a unique perspective on the country, witnessing a side of Japan that guidebooks often overlook. Through witty and insightful observations, he delves into the heart of this intriguing nation, where the arrival of cherry blossoms triggers intense celebration and reflection. Ferguson’s warm-hearted and satirical narrative style makes for a laughter-filled and enlightening read, reminding us that the true essence of travel lies in the journey itself.

Notes From a Small Island

Before returning to the U.S. after twenty years in Britain, writer Bill Bryson embarks on a farewell tour of his adopted homeland. Traveling by public transport and foot, he encounters charming villages, lively cities, and eccentric characters. With humor and insight, Bryson shares his affectionate observations on the idiosyncrasies of British life, from the joys of a proper tea to the frustrations of erratic schedules. Both a travelogue and cultural study, Notes from a Small Island is a hilarious and illuminating portrait of a nation that will leave readers laughing out loud while yearning to explore Britain themselves.

Round Ireland with a Fridge

When Tony Hawks drunkenly accepts a bet to hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge, he embarks on a hilarious and unexpected adventure. As Tony and his appliance companion traverse the Emerald Isle, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, from genuine royalty to curious onlookers. The duo’s unusual journey leads them to surf together, join a bachelor festival, and even have a brush with romance. Round Ireland with a Fridge is a heartwarming travelogue that showcases the infectious humor and resilient spirit of the Irish people, delivering an irresistible tale of an extraordinary adventure in a captivating locale.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals

Disillusioned with his mundane existence, 26-year-old Maarten Troost embarks on a journey to the remote South Pacific island of Tarawa, hoping to find paradise. Instead, he encounters a world of relentless heat, toxic fish, and a lack of modern amenities. Alongside his girlfriend Sylvia, Troost battles incompetent officials, giant critters, and unreliable electricity, all while surrounded by the incessant music of “La Macarena.” Amidst the chaos, they meet a cast of eccentric characters, including “Half-Dead Fred” and a drunken, self-proclaimed Poet Laureate. The Sex Lives of Cannibals is a hilarious and original travelogue that celebrates the absurdity of life in the most unexpected places.

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18+ Inspiring Books About Travel

If you’re looking for some incredible reads to inspire your next great adventure, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve rounded up all the best travel books right here. From lighthearted tales to inspiring stories, there’s a little something for everyone. But be warned – theses books will instill some serious wanderlust!

Best Books About Travel

Here are my favorite books about travel - stories to help inspire your next great adventure.

Love with a Chance of Drowning

Torre DeRoche is a city girl with an intense fear of deep water, and the last person you would imagine sailing the stormy Pacific aboard a leaky sailboat. That is, until she meets Ivan, a handsome Argentinean man with a humble sailboat and a dream to set off exploring the world.

She can either choose to watch the man she's in love with sail away forever, or head off on the watery journey with him. This story tells of their year-long voyage across the Pacific, and teaches us that some risks are worth taking.

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and One Unexpected Adventure

When, Rachel Friedman, a play it safe, good student, recent college grad decides to book a trip to Ireland by herself on a whim, everyone is surprised (including herself)!

Setting out to escape pending life decisions, she unexpectedly forms a bond with a free-spirited Australian girl. This relationship spurs a yearlong adventure that takes her to three continents and instills a love for traveling and spontaneity she never knew she had.

Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff

Determined to take a solo trip down the Egyptian Nile in a small boat, Rosemary Mahoney wasn’t afraid of the current civil unrest among other obstacles she would face along the way.

Enduring extreme conditions dealt to her by nature and the culture in which she sailed into, Mahoney captivates her readers by keeping her wits about her along the way.

Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail

Aftering graduating college, Jennifer sets out on the Appalachian Trail, a 2175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine in hopes that it will give her time and clarity to figure out what she wants to do next with her life.

She sets out alone to hike the trail over a four month span that becomes the most mentally and physically exhausting and challenging time of her life.

On this journey of self-discovery, she finds herself in situations she never imagined before and learns to depend on the help of others in times of need.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

In this inspiring narration, a father and son embark on a summer motorcycle trip together, which becomes a personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions on how to live.

Narrated by the father, this inspired and original story is full of insights into our most perplexing modern dilemmas.

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert was a modern American woman who, on the outside, had everything a woman could want - husband, country home, successful career.

On the inside, though, she struggled with feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. Consumed by panic and confusion, she left it all behind and embarked on a journey to explore three different aspects of her nature.

Her quest is set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.

Into the Wild

In April, 1992, a well-off young man named Christopher Johnson McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley.

McCandless  had given $25,000 to charity, abandoned his car and possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. McCandless had left behind the maps, his desperate parents and sister, and vanished into the wild.

Into the Wild is the unforgettable story of how he came to die, his body discovered by moose hunters months later.

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

After a backpacking trip around India in her twenties left journalist Sarah Macdonald with a strong disdain for the country, she never intended to return.

So when an airport beggar read her palm and told her she’d return for love , she blew him off and went on with her life. Years later, when her love and partner is posted to India, she quits her dream job to move to the most polluted city on earth, New Delhi.

Holy Cow is Macdonald’s often hilarious chronicle of her adventures of making the ultimate sacrifice for love.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

In this memoir by Cheryl Strayed, she takes her readers on a journey of self discovery through her 1,100-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail .

With no prior hiking experience, Strayed sets out with only blind will and the belief that she had nothing left to lose. She powerfully tells the story of how this journey ultimately healed her.

Wild reached No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, and was the first selection for Oprah's Book Club 2.0.

Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy

When poet, cook, and travel writer Frances Mayes bought and restored an abandoned villa called Bramasole in the Tuscan countryside, she took her readers on the journey with her and inspired generations.

This memoir teaches about taking chances, the beauty of living in Italy, pouring love into a house, and enjoying amazing food.

The Alchemist

A modern classic tale of self-discovery that tells the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. On his journey he finds something much more valuable.

His story has transformed readers for generations, teaching us how to listen to our hearts, recognize opportunity and learning to read the signs along the way.

The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country

When Helen Russell takes the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, she discovers that Denmark is the happiest place on earth. Giving herself a year to uncover the secret to why the Danish are so happy, she takes her readers on a journey of discovery.

In the end, she discovers what they do right, what she believes they get wrong, and how we could all stand to live a little more Danishly ourselves.

Three Weeks with My Brother

Follow along with Nicholas Sparks, author of The Notebook , as he travels the world with his brother learning about faith, loss, connection, and hope. This unique memoir, written with his brother, chronicles their three-week trip around the globe.

Showing their genuine humor and rare candor, and including personal photos, Three Weeks With My Brother reminds us to embrace life with all its uncertainties, and to cherish the time we have with the people who matter most to us.

Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

Finding herself on the verge of divorce in her late forties, Rita Golden Gelman leaves behind her elegant L.A. life to follow her dream of travelling the world.

This true story of an ordinary woman living an extraordinary existence all over the world  encourages us all to dust off our dreams and rediscover the trust spirit we may have buried deep inside.

Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart: A Novel

A beautiful novel written by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple, Possessing the Secret of Joy, and The Temple of My Familiar. Kate, a well-published author who has been married many times, has always been a wanderer.

At age fifty-seven she leaves it all behind, including her lover, Yolo, to embark on a new adventure. Yolo takes his own parallel voyage and they emerge at a place where nothing remains but love.

The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.

When three friends realize they are about to reach their thirtieth birthdays and have not hit all the typical life milestones they pressure themselves to (big promotion, find a soulmate, start a family), they instead make a pact to quit their jobs and leave it all behind.

Jen, Holly, and Amanda embark on a yearlong round-the-world search for inspiration and direction.

The Signature of All Things: A Novel

This fiction novel, set in the 18th and 19th centuries, follows the story of the extraordinary Whittaker family. Led by the enterprising Henry Whittaker—a poor-born Englishman who makes a great fortune in the South American quinine trade, eventually becoming the richest man in Philadelphia.

Exquisitely researched, The Signature of All Things takes readers across the globe—from London to Peru to Philadelphia to Tahiti to Amsterdam, and beyond. The story is packed with unforgettable characters: missionaries, abolitionists, adventurers, astronomers, sea captains, geniuses, and the quite mad. This deep and spellbinding tale is certain to capture the hearts and minds of readers.

Around the World in 80 Trains: A 45,000-Mile Adventure

Monisha Rajesh, packing a bag and her fiancé, embarks on an unforgettable adventure that will take her from London's St Pancras station to the vast expanses of Russia and Mongolia, North Korea, Canada, Kazakhstan, and beyond.

From the author of Around India in 80 Trains, this witty tale celebrates the glory of train travel.

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15 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust

The end of the year is just that time for favorites lists – and I’ve written about the best travel books many times over! I love talking about travel books. Why? Because part of the tool belt of any traveler is a good book. Long bus, train, or plane rides can get pretty boring and can give you a lot of “dead” time if you haven’t mastered the art of the 10-hour blank stare. Additionally, reading travel books helps you learn about the destinations you are visiting. The more you know about a place, the more you can understand a place.

I am a voracious reader and even used to have a book club on this website where I shared all the books I read. Today is another one of those days where I share some of the books I’ve read recently! If you’re looking for some great reads, here are my current list of the best travel books to inspire you to travel to far-off lands:  

1. The Alchemist , by Paulo Coelho

2. Love With a Chance of Drowning , by Torre DeRoche

3. The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca  by Tahir Shah

4. On the Road , by Jack Kerouac

5. Looking for Transwonderland , by Noo Saro-Wiwa

6. The Lost City of Z , by David Grann

7. The Beach , by Alex Garland

8. Vagabonding , by Rolf Potts

9. In A Sunburned Country , by Bill Bryson

10. Dispatches from Pluto , by Richard Grant

11. Turn Right at Machu Picchu , by Mark Adams

12. A Year of Living Danishly , by Helen Russell

13. The Art of Travel , by Alain de Botton

14. From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home , by Tembi Locke

BONUS: Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler’s Journey Home , by me!

Books about travel inspire us to go visit far-off lands and imagine us doing incredible things. Bryson’s In a Sunburned Country inspired me to visit Australia! I hope these travel books inspire you to travel the world and feed your wanderlust. If you have any suggestions that I can add to this best travel books list, leave them in the comments.

If you’d like to see some of the other books I’ve recommended (or are currently reading), check out this page I created on Amazon that lists them all!

You can also find them listed in our Bookshop store, which helps support locally-owned bookstores. If you’re in the US, click here to check out my Bookshop store!

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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How to travel alone without feeling lonely.

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Therapists say it's normal to have pangs of loneliness while traveling alone.

Even the most enthusiastic solo travelers know that loneliness can sneak up on you while traveling the world. While your initial reaction may be to avoid those feelings, therapists say it helps to embrace the emotion.

“Just like you’re choosing to travel to experience new things, give yourself permission to feel different things throughout your journey,” says Samantha Bender , LCSW-S, a therapist at Octave based in Texas. “So often, the most exploring you do when you travel is within yourself.”

Her first suggestion is to ask yourself what you want to get out of your travel experience. Are you traveling solo because you want peace and quiet, and a feeling of independence? Or are you traveling solo so that you have the freedom to meet a lot of different people? Perhaps it’s a bit of both.

While you could tailor a trip to spend most of your solo travel adventure alone, there’s also group trips led by tour companies like Kensington Tours and Abercrombie & Kent that give you an opportunity to meet other travelers with similar interests.

Why Do You Feel Lonely When Traveling Solo?

When we experience amazing moments in our lives, like travel, we want to share it with others, explains Colleen Marshall, MA, LMFT, and Vice President of Clinical Care at Two Chairs .

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“There is even research from the positive psychology world that when we do share something we are savoring or enjoying with others it increases our experience of happiness and sense of joy,” Marshall says. “When we are traveling, solo sharing is harder to do because those we care about are not readily available to share with or talk with.”

Solo travelers can come up with a plan before their trip for how they'll handle loneliness.

Her advice?

Think about how you will share your travel or experiences with others ahead of time.

“Maybe set up a video call with a loved one during a meal or end your day with sharing what you enjoyed,” Marshall says.

7 Ways To Avoid Feeling Lonely When Traveling Solo

While it’s normal to feel pangs of loneliness while solo traveling, you don’t want the feeling to overshadow your trip entirely. With that in mind, therapists and seasoned solo travelers share their top tips to avoid feeling lonely while traveling.

1. Before Your Trip, Come Up With A Plan To Handle Your Loneliness

Some tactics, Bender says, that can be part of your plan include:

• Bring some journaling prompts
• Download your favorite podcasts or songs for a mood lift
• Start a travel journal where you can collect mementos and photos

As part of your plan for preparation, create a plan for when you return home. Schedule an appointment with your therapist where you can share new revelations or insights that you gathered while on your trip.

2. Write Postcards While On Your Trip

Writing can be very therapeutic especially if you’re feeling lonely or dissociated, Bender says.

“When we write, it helps us feel present in our reality,” she says. “Try writing a letter or sending a postcard to a loved one while you’re on your trip. You can even send a note of gratitude to yourself so that you have something waiting for you in the mail to remind you of your experience.”

3. Consider Low-Energy And High-Energy Options To Address Feelings Of Loneliness

If you find yourself lonely on a trip, consider your energy level, and go over different high-energy and low-energy options you have, Bender recommends. This practice is applicable for daily life, but even more important when you’re traveling because it can be so tiring.

A high-energy option would be signing up for a group activity, such as a guided tour or a cooking class, she says. That is a structured way to introduce yourself to others while learning a new skill, and both can be healthy distractions or preventions for loneliness.

Taking a cooking class is a great way to meet people when you are traveling alone.

People-watching is a low-energy thing you can do to feel less lonely while you travel, she says. Embrace that time to people-watch as a way to connect to the world and the people around you.

4. Look For Opportunities To Connect With Others

While traveling, look for activities where you can connect with other travelers or locals, Marshall suggests. For example, rather than going through the museum alone, join a tour guided experience.

“Connection is all around us, we just need to join in,” she says.

Some other ways to meet people organically while traveling solo is to go to local cafes, markets, community events and learn about their culture, says Reen B. Patel , a Licensed Educational Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Participate in group excursions like day trips and tours, she suggests.

5. Co-Work in A New Place

Try checking out a co-working space in a new city.

Ahead of your travels, check out your LinkedIn to see if you have any connections in the destination that you’re traveling to, suggests Katya Varbanova , says CEO of Viral Marketing Stars. If you’re a digital nomad or traveling for bleisure (business plus leisure), rent a desk at a coworking space and meet some fellow travelers or locals. Another option is being a part of a member’s club like Soho House, she points out. The “Every House” membership unlocks access to the houses all around the world, including their amenities, like spas, screening rooms and events.

6. Book an Airbnb Experience

Musician Alissa Musto has taken dozens of solo trips over the past few years and recommends booking an Airbnb experience, which are hosted by locals and are popular among solo travelers who you can connect with over shared interests. These types of experience range from city tours to the ins and outs of beekeeping to learning the art of origami.

7. Volunteer With Other Travelers

Volunteering while traveling is a great way to meet like-minded people.

Another idea? Give back to the place you’re visiting. The Hawaiian islands, for example, started the Mālama Hawai'i program to better connect tourists with Hawaiian land and culture.

“I’ve also found that volunteering is a great way to be part of a community for a day, and do something good with your time and talent,” Musto says. “I’ve met several interesting people from all over the world as a volunteer and they’re always happy to have additional help and meet new friends.”

Good Destinations For Solo But Social Travel

Surprisingly, I’ve found that some of the best places for solo travelers to socialize are not big cities at all, but less popular tourist destinations and national parks, Musto says.

“Big tourist destinations and cities often attract groups of friends traveling together, couples or families that are more into doing their own thing,” she says.

Paddling the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

On the flipside, quieter, outdoors-centric destinations attract many solo travelers trying to enjoy nature, but open to socializing with other-like minded individuals and people tend to be welcoming, inviting and happy to strike up a conversation or share a meal.

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Traveler’s guide to the city of Omsk, Western Siberia’s secret gem

Omsk was founded in 1716 when a wooden fort was constructed to house a Cossack unit in the area to protect the expanding Russian frontier from Central Asian nomadic incursions. It served various administrative functions throughout the 1800s and became infamous as a place of exile and incarceration. The city was rundown when selected as a hub for the Trans-Siberian railway in the 1890s. Many international trade companies and foreign consulates relocated here and the remnants of their offices can still be found in the city today.

The mystery of Kolchak’s gold

Kolchak was entrusted with a large portion of the Tsarist’s gold reserves, yet amazingly lost much of it. Supposedly 250 million rubles were lost (about $8 million at the time). Legend has it that they were buried near the village of Taiga, yet numerous excavations have turned up nothing. The area still attracts the occasional fortune seeker.

Kolchak’s headquarters are located at what is today the Omsk Regional Archives at Broz Tito St., 3. Nothing shows how much times have changed as the imposing Kolchak statue that was unveiled in 2012 around the corner. The statue guards Kolchak restaurant , a four-story culinary complex featuring a steak house, an Irish pub, a Central Asian café and an Italian eatery.  For more details on where and how to dig Kolchak's gold, see Top Ten Mysterious Lost Treasures of Russia  

Dostoevsky and the Tsar

Most foreigners have heard of Omsk via writer Fyodor Dostoevsky who spent four years here as a prisoner (1849-1853). He spent most of his time in Omsk in squalor and chains and with no books besides the Bible, however, it left an indelible mark on his memory and influenced his future literary output. There is a statue of the writer in chains grasping a Bible at the corner of Partizanskaya and Spartakovskaya streets, where Dostoevsky undoubtedly stepped many times. A museum dedicated to the author's time in Omsk is located nearby at Dostoevskogo St. 1. The local university is also named for him.

Tarskaya Street is one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares. It features a monument to victims of Stalinist repressions and the Tara gates, originally built in 1792 as one of the four entrances to the Omsk fort. Nearby stands the Assumption Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Siberia. Future Tsar Nicholas II laid the first stone here in 1891 when making his way back to St. Petersburg after his Eastern journey.

In Omsk you are never more than a few steps from the village, made clear when one exits the center to the north, where most houses are wooden and roads unpaved. Stroll along Bulatova and Rabinovicha streets, a well-preserved ensemble of wooden architecture.  

Omsk’s cultural heritage

One of Omsk’s most famous sons is Symbolist painter Mikhail Vrubel (1856-1910). Vrubel ignored contemporary trends and focused on themes from fairy tales, demons and religious subjects and also designed a majolica frieze for the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. Omsk’s Fine Arts Museum is named for him and features a number of his works .

Over the years a number of tourists have tripped over the monument to Stepanych. This bust of a plumber rising from a sewer was the idea of Omsk’s former mayor after a trip to Slovakia in the 1990s. Stepanych has become one of the symbols of the city.

Omsk is a hockey town, with one of the major teams, Avangard , in the KHL, Russia’s premiere professional league. Russian champions on several occasions, check out a match at Omsk Arena. But if you can’t catch a game there’s a large kiosk featuring the team’s merchandise at the airport.  

Siberian punk, jazz and the classics

Perhaps Russia’s most famous punk band, Grazhdanskaya oborona (Civil Defence), was formed here in 1982. The band was active until 2008 when lead singer Yegor Letov died of heart failure at age 43. Letov is buried at the Staro-Vostochnoe cemetery. A sprawling graveyard with thousands of graves, fans should stop at the administration for help in locating his grave.

One of Omsk’s longest running live music venues is Jazz Cafe Party Piano . With live jazz and rock every night of the month, it’s legendary throughout Siberia. Take a taxi as it’s hard to find. Other options for live music include the Viking Folk Bar and Harat's Pub .  

How to get there

The southern and northern branches of the Trans-Siberian Railway converge here with about 10 trains going to or from Moscow on any given day (37-47 hours each way) and many trains travel to and from the Far East (4-5 days) daily. Aeroflot, Transaero, and S7 fly to Moscow daily (3 hours). Less frequent flights connect to Saint Petersburg (3 hours), Krasnoyarsk (2 hours), as well as Frankfurt, Hannover and Köln in Germany (5 hours). For more information check out aeroomsk.ru

Where to stay

Central hotel choices include Tourist with rooms starting from 1800 rubles (about $47) and Ibis Sibir with rooms starting at 4000 rubles (about $104).

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