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11 Best Books by Travel Bloggers

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Dreaming of travel? Check out these books by travel bloggers. Get inspired and learn practical travel advice from these expert travelers!

For many years I have loved reading travel blogs. I don’t remember when I first found out they existed. But it was sometime during college that I came across  Adventurous Kate  and got inspired by her story of quitting her job at age twenty-six to travel the world.

I became obsessed with reading travel blogs in college while working at internships where I would count down the hours until I left. It became a routine during my lunch hour to read travel blogs and dream of the day when I could do the same thing.

And eventually, it happened to me too. I finally started my own blog, which turned into running several successful blogs and earning enough money that I could quit my corporate job at twenty-five to travel for a year.

That would have NEVER happened for me if I hadn’t come across travel blogs and gotten the inspiration. Both from travel stories and practical how-to guides that let me know it was possible.

While I love reading blogs themselves, many travel bloggers have also gotten book deals or self-published their own books.

So if you are looking to curl up with a good travel book that will inspire your wanderlust, check out these excellent books written by travel bloggers.

You’ll find a mix of travel memoirs and useful guides that will help you travel more.

These are the best books by travel bloggers to add to your reading list:

Best Books by Travel Bloggers

How Not to Travel the World by Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is the blogger behind Never Ending Footsteps . After finishing school, she decided to abandon her plans of becoming a physicist, and embark on a trip around the world instead.

A self-proclaimed “disaster-prone backpacker” she has had her fair share of misadventures along the way. Her memoir chronicles some of the funniest travel mishaps from her years on the road.

Buy on Amazon | View in Goodreads

Ten Years a Nomad by Matt Kepnes

Matt runs the popular travel blog Nomadic Matt where he shares practical travel advice and stories from his journeys around the world with millions of readers each month.

After traveling more than 500,000 miles, staying in 1,000 hostels, and visiting 90 different countries, he returned home and wrote this book about his favorite stories and memories from a decade of travel.

He also wrote the helpful guide  How to Travel the World on $50 a Day .

A Thousand New Beginnings by Kristin Addis

Kristin is the founder of  Be My Travel Muse  which is a travel blog for solo female travelers. Her memoir chronicles her decision to leave her comfortable life, dependable job, and boyfriend at age twenty-six in order to embark on a solo journey around Southeast Asia.

Love With a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

Travel blogger Torre DeRoche has a website called  Fearful Adventurer  that’s all about pushing past fear, worry, and anxiety in order to travel.

Her book is about falling in love with an Argentinean traveler who’s about to embark on a sailboat voyage around the world. She spontaneously joins him on the adventure of a lifetime, despite her intense fear of deep water.

She is also the author of  The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World .

All Over the Place by Geraldine DeRuiter

After getting laid off from her copywriting job, Geraldine took a leap and started traveling, leading to the creation of her blog  The Everywhereist . 

Her memoir goes more in-depth into the five years she spent traveling the world after losing her job. Along the way, she built a new career, had many adventures, and learned plenty of life lessons.

The Solo Female Travel Book by Jen Ruiz

Jen Ruiz created Jen on a Jet Plane  which is a travel blog for solo female travelers. A former attorney, she is now a full-time traveler and blogger helping other women see the world safely and confidently. Her book is a guide for women to help them prepare for their first solo trip.

Jen has also written two other books for travelers:

• The Affordable Flight Guide: How to Find Cheap Airline Tickets
• You Need a Vacation! How to Travel More with a Full-Time Job

The Carry-On Traveller by Erin McNeaney

Erin is the blogger behind  Never Ending Voyage  which she runs with her husband. Together, they sold all their belongings and became full-time travelers. After more than a decade of travel, they’ve mastered the art of living out of a small suitcase.

Erin’s book is a practical guide on how to pack light and travel with just a carry-on suitcase. Perfect for chronic over-packers!

How to Travel the World on $10 a Day by Will Hatton

Will is an extreme budget traveler who founded the blog  The Broke Backpacker  to help others see the world cheaply. His book offers a practical guide to traveling the world on a low budget, including how to find cheap accommodation and extend your travels by working and volunteering.

Roaming America by Renee Hahnel

Perfect for all the national park enthusiasts out there, this coffee table book from travel blogger Renee of Renee Roaming contains gorgeous photographs of America’s natural beauty. These beautiful photos will have you planning a trip to the national parks ASAP.

Uncover more beautiful travel coffee table books .

#wanderlust by Sabina Trojanova

Another travel coffee table book on this list, this beautiful centerpiece was created by solo travel blogger Sabina from Girl vs. Globe .

Inside the book, you will find more than 500 full-page gorgeous photos that will transport you around the world without leaving home.

How to Quit Your Job and Travel by Lia Garcia

The final entry on this list comes from Lia Garcia, the founder of  Practical Wanderlust .

This book shares the practical knowledge you need to save money to quit your job and travel long-term. It also includes anecdotes from Lia’s own travels, including the year-long honeymoon she took with her husband Jeremy after they got married when she first started her travel blog.

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Books by Travel Bloggers

Have you read any of these books by travel bloggers? Do you have any favorite books from bloggers that I should add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!

More Great Travel Books

Are you looking for even more travel books to inspire your sense of adventure and transport you to faraway places without leaving the comfort of home?

Here are some more recommendations for great travel books to pick up next:

• Brilliant Travel Memoirs by Women
• Best Travel Adventure Books
• Beautiful Travel Coffee Table Books

And if you are interested in more to  read from countries across the globe , I have plenty of suggestions for the following destinations:

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3. Collected Works of Isabella L. Bird

Victorian explorer, Isabella Bird, suffered from ill health for much of her life, but it didn’t stop her having an array of adventures all over the world. During a period when women explorers were a rarity, she was the first female to become a ‘fellow’ of the Royal Geographical Society. These works include her travels in Japan, Hawaii and North America. Both keen travellers and history buffs will be riveted by the intrepid nature and vivid descriptions of her journeys.

4. Wild: A Journey From Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed

The Pacific Crest Trail was on my radar long before this book published, but this best seller re-ignited my resolve to undertake the 2,650-mile hike. Cheryl started walking after her life fell apart following the death of her mother to ‘find her way back to being the person she used to be’. Faced with sweltering deserts, snow-covered mountains, rattlesnakes and bears, the author walked 1,100-miles of the trail which starts at the Mexican border and finishes in Canada. A personal and captivating book which will resonate with anyone whose world has been devastated by the loss of a loved one.

5. Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck was 62 when he travelled all over the US in his campervan with his beloved French Poodle, Charley. Together, the pair embarked on adventures from Maine to California in the early sixties. Both a travelogue and an insight into a great American writer, Steinbeck’s observations are honest, humorous, and beautifully evocative. The book is a gentle journey into the America of another era and will appeal to anyone with a penchant for travels of a bygone era.

6. Lone Rider: The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World by Elspeth Beard

This is an absorbing and deeply personal story of a young woman who set off on a motorbike journey around the world in 1984. Taking place in a pre-internet era, the journey spanned two and a half years and 3,500 miles. It’s a rollicking ride and Elspeth doesn’t hold back when she describes the accidents, horrendous weather, and sexism she experienced en route. I was swept along on her awe-inspiring journey which definitely fell into the ‘un-put-downable’ category. Anyone with a vaguely adventurous spirit will enjoy this book, whether a motorbike enthusiast or not.  

7. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts

If you don’t want to catch a severe case of wanderlust, don’t pick up this book! Vagabonding will have you dusting off your backpack and booking your flight to a far-flung location before you reach the second chapter. Peppered with various quotes from travellers and writers, Rolf Potts offers practical and motivational advice aplenty. The author focuses on how travel can enrich your life and why you don’t need to be wealthy to embark on long-term adventures. It’s a particularly great read for first-time travellers who need that extra push to get out there and explore the world.

8. Giant Steps by Karl Bushby

Karl Bushby is aiming to be the first person to walk an unbroken path around the world, starting at the tip of South America all the way to his home in Sheffield, England. The book covers the first segment of the journey which took him across the Bering Straits on foot. Karl shares both his emotional and physical challenges, from loneliness and romances (of which there are many) to the unique encounters along the way. A gripping page-turner for adventure junkies and armchair travellers alike.

9. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

This beat-generation classic was written in the fifties by the original King of the Road, Jack Kerouac. The book is a novel based on the author’s road trip across the USA with his quirky, adventurous buddies. The freedom of the open road is romanticized with dazzling descriptive writing and the message is that life out there to be lived. It’s a timeless read that remains invigorating and inspiring, and will appeal to anyone with nomadic tendencies.

10. World Stompers: A Global Travel Manifesto by Brad Olsen

This is an offbeat guide for those planning a big adventure. Combining practical advice with words of motivation, it is accompanied by rudimentary, but engaging artwork, and has a funky youthful vibe. The author, who travelled to twenty-eight countries after graduating business school, shares his top tips on the best party destinations and key highlights of each continent. It’s aimed at backpackers on a shoestring budget, and while it’s not too deep, it’s a fun alternative to mainstream travel guides.

11. To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins

In a thoroughly modern memoir, Jedidiah quits his job and sets off on a journey by bicycle from Oregon to Patagonia. During the course of his journey he attempts to reconcile his sexual identity with his conservative Christian upbringing. An engrossing account of his exploits and quest to live a life without regret, it’s a story that will push others to trade the rat-race for a spiritual and physical journey of their own.

12. The Moonlight Chronicles: A Wandering Artist’s Journal by Dan Price

Dan is a true nomad who records his adventures in both words and drawings. Whether he is hiking the trails close to his hobbit house, or surfing in Hawaii, his life is about simplicity and connection with nature. He practices mindfulness, drawing things that most people are too busy to see as they rush through life. The Moonlight Chronicles offer a fresh perspective in the way we see the world around us.

13. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Chris McCandless is a hero to many a drifter. As a young graduate, he rejected his middle-class family, abandoned his car and gave away all of his money before hitting the road to the remotes of Alaska. IBased on a true story, Into the Wild tells his story which tragically came to an untimely end when he died whilst living in an abandoned bus in Alaska. Including his own quotes and those of his favourite writers, this book is an inspiring insight into the mind of a true free spirit.

14. I Travel Light: The Man who Walked out of the World by Adam Greenman

Written in a simple yet effective style, Greenman recounts a decade of world wanderings. From building a treehouse on a Brazilian beach, to becoming a fisherman in India, to staying in a ruined cottage in the Spanish mountains, Adam survives on very little money and a wealth of self-sufficiency. Ultimately, the nomad renounces all his worldly goods and heads out to explore Eastern Europe. Brimming with enthralling exploits, it’s an ideal book for those aspiring to travel sustainably.

15. How to Live in a Van and Travel by Mike Hudson

For many years, Mike spent day after day gazing out of his office window thinking that there must be more to life. These days, his van is his office and he has created a life of adventure for himself on the road. In this book the author provides the scoop on van life and how to live and work on the move. Along with practical tips, he also provides oodles of motivation to anyone who has ever considered the free-wheeling life of a van dweller. 

16. The Boy Who was Afraid of the World: A True Story of Fear and Hitchhiking by Jamie Bowlby-Whiting

Suffering from irrational fears and panic attacks as a child, it wasn’t until age twenty-five that Jamie decided to conquer his demons. Burnt out by a mundane 9-5 lifestyle in England, he decided to hitchhike, cycle, and raft his way across Europe. Not only is the book about pushing psychological boundaries and going beyond the comfort zone, but it’s also a riveting adventure story. An ideal read for anyone who needs a little help in overcoming their fears.

17. Running With the Moon: A Boy’s Own Adventure – Riding a Motorbike through Africa by Jonny Bealby

This adventure takes place a couple of years after Jonny’s fiancée died unexpectedly while travelling in Kashmir. Heartbroken, the author sets off across Africa in an attempt to find some meaning in his life. His tales of the landscapes, villages, people he meets along the way are vivid and lyrical. It’s a bittersweet tale of bravery, love, loss, and exploration which sweeps readers along on a journey of the heart.

18. Odyssey: Ten Years on the Hippie Trail by Ananda Brady

Back in the seventies, hippies blazed a trail for the backpackers who followed, and the rest is history. Ananda was one of the original hippies, and he recites the tales of his escapades in this engrossing memoir. Whether he was living the high life next to a lake in Guatemala or hanging out with Bedouins in North Africa, he immersed himself in culture, spirituality, and the company of his fellow seekers. Beautifully written, it’s a glimpse of an evocative era in the history of travel. Anyone with an appreciation for adventure and the counterculture will be enchanted by Ananda’s recollections of life on the Hippie Trail.

19. How not to Travel the World: Adventures of a Disaster-Prone Backpacker by Lauren Juliff

Despite Lauren’s long list of unfortunate experiences whilst backpacking around the world, her book is about following your dreams and finding humour in adverse situations. It’s a funny and relatable account of her travels and how she fell in love with life on the road in spite of her repeated mishaps. Although the book is about the highs and lows of travel, it’s ultimately life-affirming, and a light-hearted look at backpacking that will tempt readers into embracing their own misadventures.

20. The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless across America by Mike McIntyre

Mike left home to cross the USA without cash or credit cards, relying on the kindness of strangers for rides, food, and shelter. People from all walks of life offered him help, and he discovers, as many travellers do, that those who give most are the ones with least to share. Taking tributary roads through America’s small towns, Mike meets a host of characters, each with their own story to tell. The book is both a travel narrative and an insight into humanity. Mike’s story is told with sensitivity and humour and is a reminder of the goodwill that still exists in the world.

I would love to add another book in this collection.

“Grit, gear and gravel” by Dhruv Bogra-

Thanks – I have just downloaded it! 🙏

Mike Hudson’s book is absolutely amazing, read it not so long ago 😀

Ah, yes! I have this – definitely an inspiring read!

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The 40 Best Travel Books of all time

The 40 best travel books of all time.

Need some Inspiration to Travel? Looking for Adventure and Excitement? Seeking a little Soul-Searching?  We have the book for you.  We put together one of the largest lists of the best travel books that has something for everyone.  From scary real-life adventures to fictional child books, our list of the best travel books will give you something to sink your literary teeth into.  Just click on any book icon to see it on Amazon. 

Click on one of the categories below to help you find your best travel book!

Adventure and Excitement

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The best travel books for Adventure and Excitement

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Into the Wild

Starting our list of the Best Travel Books is this cautionary real life story follows a young man from a well-off family who, after college, donates all his $25,000 of savings to charity, burns the cash in his wallet, and hitch-hikes to Alaska where he seeks to live of the land in the wild.  A literary classic and recommended reading for most high-schoolers, this book will keep you on your seat and help you overcome any fears you have about starting your next travel adventure.

On the Road

Through colorful characters and shifting landscapes, Kerouac uses his fictional characters to tell an ever shifting friendship that zig-zags the United States. From bus rides to hitch-hiking, these characters travel west with hopes of finding excitement from stable “normal” life. The search for Normal life is one that is never satiated.

Into Thin Air

A true story about one of the deadliest days on everest where several groups get pinned down by a terrible blizzard. This emotional and gripping story will transplant you from your comfortable location to one of the least hospitable locations on the earth. Once a few chapters in, you will likely have an increased heart rate and late nights until you finish the book.

The Martian

This Martian, which is now major motion picture, is any Sci-Fi lover’s dream. This story is about an astronaut, Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars. His struggle to stay alive and all the problems that he incurs are complex but exciting. You’ll be holding your breath, and the book tightly as surprizes and the struggle to stay alive are palpable. The method of writing is as if the reader is reading his journal, which allows you to understand the stress and emotions the character, Mark Watney, is experiencing.

A walk in the Woods

A humorous travel memoir from Bill Bryson, which is now a major motion picture with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. Bill’s journey through the wilderness along the Appalachian Trail, with no outdoor experience, is a recipe for disaster. Additionally his friend, Stephen, has no experience either. The two of them attack this, mid-life-crisis journey as the best two out of shape men can. Humor, wit, and a few taxi’s help them along the way.

Alone on the Ice: The greatest survival story in the history of exploration

As part of the Australasian Arctic Expedition in January 1913, Douglas Mawson, leader of the expedition, finds himself alone and near starvation. His will to survive is driven by a line of poetry that drives him, sometimes only crawling, back to his team. This thrilling and unbelievable account showcases how the human will to survive is one of the strongest forces in the universe.

This is the Coldest book on our list of best travel books.

Amazing Adventures of a Nobody

Determined to change his unhappy life, Leon Logothetis, decides to partake in a strange life-changing journey across the US. Allowing himself only five dollars per day, he is challanged with surving on people’s kindness alone. Along his journey he meets some loving and some not-so friendly characters. Many Americans would say this journey is impossible, but Leon shows that the basics of humanity, love and kindness, are still prevelant and ubiquitous.

The best travel books for a Long Flight

Fear and loathing in las vegas.

Most people know this as a Johnny Dep movie but it started out as Hunter S. Thompson’s best literary work.  It is the best chronicle of drug-soaked, addle-brained, rollicking good times ever committed to the printed page. As two friends partake on one of the strangest weekend long journeys in American pop culture.

Most travelers aren’t dreaming of a trip to Las Vegas but this barbiturate filled book will open your mind to the craziness of travel and how partners can be a blessing and a curse at times. (but mainly a blessing)

Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy

If you’re looking for inspiration to travel the world, why not read about people who’ve traveled the galaxy. Follow Author, a normal “earth-person” and his alien friend through all sorts of far-fetched issues and new worlds . This travel book will help you get over the idea of traveling 8 hours on a flight to Brazil or packing your bag for Yosemite National Park.

Playing for Pizza

Stepping out of his comfort zone, John Grisham writes a very different story about a “has-been” football player who moves to Italy to play Italian football. This story journeys through the character, Rick’s, struggle. If you’re traveling to Italy, it’s a must read. Through this journey, you’ll swear you can smell the pizza and the vinyards of the tuscan area. A lively and enjoyable transition of Rick’s character as he initially is only interested in his American ways and the Italian women.

Out of Africa

Out of africa is a memoir by Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke that recounts events when Bilxen first made Kenya her home. Living on a struggling coffee plantation and troubled with an unfaithful husband, she finds herself at a crossroads of life. Independent and capable she must find her new voice and way of life.

The Time Travelers Wife

This classic story follows two childhood sweethearts through a unique love story. Henry is diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: peiodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity in his life. His frequent and random disappearances are straining on Henry and Clare’s marriage. The story shares the effects this disorder has on their passionate love from both sided of the relationship.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Another book that taps into our childhood wonder, The adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a must read for anyone, traveler or not. If you haven’t read this, catch up on you 7th grade syllabus and follow this wonderfully imaginative re-creation of boyish adventures along the might Mississippi River. This “childrens” book addresses some very deep issues, such as, slavery, civilized society, and dignity among human beings. This quotable story, will white wash you with humor and ford new creativity across the river of life. Not only is this one of the best travel books it’s also one of the best childrens books.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

With a quest for life, in 1937, Ernest Hemingway traveled to spain to cover the civil war for the North American Newspaper Alliance. This trip helped inspire Ernest, one of American’s best literary authors, to write this timeless classic. It follows an American, Robert Jordan, who is fighting in the mountains of spain, through his trials of loyalty and courage. Struggles of love and defeat are intertwined in this dramatic story. Reading this story pays tribute to the trailblazer Ernest Hemingway was.

The best travel books to Inspire Travel

Tales of a Female Nomad

Nomads come in all ages, Rita Golden Gelman, at 48 and on the verge of a divorce, decided to dissolve here possessions and follow her dreams of traveling the world. This story, a New York Times Best Seller and one of the best travel books, follows her while she lives in a Mexican village, sleeps with sea lions in the Galapagos, and calls a small tiki hutt home. This life fulfilling journey reminds all of us to throw caution to the wind, and pursue our dreams, whatever they may be.

Vagabonding

A trailblazer himself Rolf Potts has traveled the world numerous times on a shoestring budget.  As he states it, “Vagabonding is about taking time off from your normal life—from six weeks to four months to two years—to discover and experience the world on your own terms.”  This book is a must for any potential or current traveler.  Written in a unique style, this book can be read from front to back and referenced as a ‘How to’ for traveling problems.

This is a book you will read multiple times, before and during your next trip.

Spellbinding and hallucinogenic,  The Beach   by Alex Garland — both a national bestseller and his debut — is a highly accomplished and suspenseful novel that fixates on a generation in their twenties, who, burdened with the legacy of the preceding generation and saturated by popular culture, long for an unruined landscape, but find it difficult to experience the world firsthand. – Amazon

The Geography of Bliss

This humorous self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the you from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the crabby author’s case, moments of “un-unhappiness.” The book uses an interesting mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is. Are Swiss people happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy? With engaging wit and surprising insights, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.

The Art of Travel

Most people explain where to travel, through a unique and witty way, Alain explains why and how to travel. De Botton uses late artists to help motivate us to gain the gumption for travel. In a unique fashion he uses painters, Van Gogh, to help us see where to travel and philosophers to help us with our own self-help.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu

Determined to identify the truth about the “hero” who found Machu Picchu, Mark Adams retraces the steps of the original explorers. While Mark is an experienced travel editor, this journey streches his comfort zone as he experiences camping and rustic guides during this full of life adventure.

Gulliver’s Travels

Another literary classic that many read in grammar school, is about the journeys of a ship’s surgeon Lemuel Gulliver. Throughout his travels, he finds himself in a world where he is a giant among ant-sized humans and in another world where he is ant-sized among giant men. This book, written for children, is an excellent read for any potential traveler. We all grow up physically, but this book helps us hold on to our childhood wonder during our time of wander.

Short walk through the Hindu Kush

Traveling through a land that is now untouchable by many westerners, Eric Newby travels through some of the most beautiful and remote wildernesses on earth. During his legendary trip from Mayfair to Afganistan, Eric endures countless hardships that would have sent any experienced adventurer retreating for safety. This 1956 journey, allows us to see the beauty in a world that, now, seems ugly and tainted by religious and political turmoil.

The best travel books for Soul Searching

The great railway bazaar.

This literary classic still remains current even though it was published more than 30 years ago. It’s a strange, unique, and very entertaining railway odyssey that has become a favorite among travelers.  Theroux recounts his experience while on Asia’s fabled traines, the Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Frontier Mail, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Mandalay Express, the Trans-Siberian Express while he travels from London to Tokyo then back via the Trans-Siberian.  Filled with humor and wit this book will help your travel time pass with ease.

Written after Paulo Coelho’s famous Alchemist, this fantastical story finds the main character, also called “Paul Coelho” traversing the Trans-Siberian Railway yearning to fill his empty spiritual tank. Along the journey he meets a young female violinist named Hillal, who he realized he had a past with…..

Traversing 7 timezones this story will make for a seamless and enjoyable timezone passing.

Eat, Pray, Love

Like most travelers, Elizabeth was seaking meaning; meaning to her marriage, meaning to god, and the meaning to life. Leaving her troubled marriage at the start, this spritual journey takes Elizabeth across the world experiencing life through the practice of over indulging. She over indulges in food in Italy, over indulges in prayer in India, and over indulges in love in Bali. This best selling book has guided many new travelers to seek foreign lands. In some places it has built new tourist locations as cult-type follwers pursue to trace her footsteps. This book is great for anyone looking for inspiration to try new lands and cultures!

In Patagonia

After his grandmothers death, Bruce Chatwin traveled to a spot he had always dreamed about, Pategonia. This was the “farthest place to which man walked from his place of origin’ During his journey he meets decendants of the nomadic men and women who originally established the southernmost part of Argentina and Chile as home. His journey through history is at times chaotic but still inspiring and philosophical.

Seven Years in Tibet

This real life story about Heinrich’s experiences in Tibet between 1944 and 1951 has been made into a major motion picture. The Dalai Lama said, “Heinrich Harrer will always be remembered by the Tibetan People.” Heinrich, a adventure junky who loved mountain climbing and skiing which takes him to India to scale Eiger North Face wall. With Britain and Germany at war, he ends up in a detention camp. After escaping, he travels to where “no outsiders were allowed inside”, Tibet. His facination with this country fuels his passion to acomplish his unattainable goal of enter Tibet. While in Tibet, he is befriended by the Dalai Lama himeslf and becomes his tutor and becomes a salaried employee of the government. This story also highlights China’s invasion of Tibet and the horrible treatment of the local people all in pursuit of valuable minerals and land.

The Motorcycle Diaries

Taking a break from med school in 1952, Enersto Guevara “Che” and his friend Alberto Grando decide to take an 8000 km trip and travel South America on a motorcycle. As a collection of diary entries written during the trip, the story illustrates the events of Che and Alberto’s journey. This life-changing trip, Che and Alberto, experience the gritty part of cities which change and mold the views of a future revolutionary leader.

The Alchemist

The only Author with two books in our list of the best travel books, Paul Coelho continues to reshape lives and minds with his wonderful writing. The Alchemist has changed countless peoples lives and reshaped shaped culture with it’s inspirational message. This magical story follows Santiago as he finds numerous treasures which help teach the reader about wisdom, listening to our hearts, reading omens, and like most traveling wishes, following our dreams.

“I experienced that sinking feeling you get when you know you have conned yourself into doing something difficult and there’s no going back.” Armed with only 4 camels and a dog for company, Robyn endured swelting heat, poisonous snakes during her journey across the hostile Australian desert. A compelling and candid story, Tracks is the story of her odyssey of discovery and transformation.

Empire Antarctica

Spending fourteen months in one of the most remote locations in the world, Antarctica, Gavin, with few distractions and little human interaction experiences the darkness of winter and the pertetual sunshine of the sumer. Here he explores the hardships of living at temperatures of 50 below and unwelcoming weather changes. Through all these hardships, he identifies closely with the friendship the penguin community offers on this lonely continent.

The best travel books for Travel tips and Life Tips

The Magic of Thinking Big

Yes, this isn’t a “travel” book but it is a mind changing book and that’s what travel is all about, Right?  This book will help change your thought process on problems and your capability.  It helped motivate us to take the leap to vagabonding.

In this book Dr. Schwartz presents a carefully designed program for getting the most out of your job, your marriage and family life, and your community.  He challenges your thought processes and gives you the tools to change your mindset towards successful thinking.

The Adventure Capitalist: Carpets, Camels, and Coffee

In a wold where we want financial stability, Conor Woodman bucked the trend as he quit his job, sold his house, and took up the ultimate commercial challenge; to get around the world in 80 trades and come back with a profit. Inspired by historical merchants Marco Polo and Iban Battuta, his adventure is filled with bartering for Sudanese camels, Zambian coffee, Chinese Jade, and South African Wine.  This book will make you realize that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

1001 Places to see Before you Die

More of a coffee table book than a novel, this New York Times best seller is a must for any travelers home. It will act as a bucket list of places seen and to be seen. This book will help you plan your next trip, be it to the Andes or to India. With 1001 sites, the list would be a major guantlet for anyone to complete.

Do Travel Writers go to Hell

Unlikely Destinations – The Lonely Planet Story

Born in 1973, Lonely planet has quickly established itself as a major publisher. This part autobiography, part business history, and part travel book traces Tony and Maureen’s bumpy story into travel history. As trailblazers they wrote Across Asia on the Cheap which was a major success and a pseudo-bible for backpackers. Fast forward 30 years, this couple has seen tough times and great times that help build their business motto. The journey of Lonely Planet and it’s rise to success is a must read for any business person, traveler, or traveling-business person.

This must read for any travler is the perfect guide to intelligent travel. De Botton argues, “where we go, is far less important than an awareness of why we are on the move at all.” A fundamental understanding of any long term travelers. The Art of Travel is an enjoyable thought provoking book filled with inspiration of past explorers, philosphers, and artists. De Botton’s tone is playful but informative and clear.

Deep Economy

Bill McKibben is an environmentalist who promotes sustainable economy in close knit communities. His idea of Deep Economy, defined by Mckibben as one that “cares less about the quantity than about quality; that takes as its goal the production of human satisfaction as much as surplus material; that is focused on the idea that it might endure and considers durability at least as important as increases in size.” In this book he challenges the long-standing presumption that “more” is “better” for economic growth. He also challenges that it is unstainable and unrealistic.

Four Hour Work Week

A demi-god among many vagabonders, Tim Ferriss was a trailblazer for new anti-establishment movement of the tropical 9-5 workers. This entertaining, New York Times best seller, self-help book should be opened with caution. Many people have quit their jobs and changed their lifestyles after reading the Four Hour Work Week. In this book, Ferriss utilized successful case studies to prove that the typical 9-5 does not have to be followed by everyone. This book gives you the tools and motivation to start your own business and travel the world. It is a must read for anyone unhappy with their current job or a future traveler.

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A list I wholeheartedly agree with! I am a big fan of your stuff. I am always looking for new and trendy travel books and blogs. Thanks for sharing this amazing post with us.

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25 Best Fiction Travel Books That Will Make You Want To See the World

Published: 11/20/2023

The Best Fiction Travel Books To Read Before Traveling

How many times have you finished reading a novel and immediately added the book’s setting to your travel bucket list ? If you’re anything like me, this happens all the time . To be brutally honest, I’m not sure I’ve taken a single trip in my life that wasn’t somehow been influenced by books.

Long before I had any notion of being a travel blogger (it was the 90s and blogs didn’t even exist!) Ann M. Martin’s descriptions of New York City in the Baby-Sitters Club book series inspired my love of the city. I read the American Girl Felicity books and longed to visit Colonial Williamsburg . As I got older, my studies of English literature inspired travels all over the British Isles . Closer to home, I picked up Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible and immediately knew I needed to visit Cincinnati .

I truly believe the best way to learn about a destination before traveling is through a good fiction book. For this post, I’ve teamed up with other travel bloggers to round up the novels that have inspired our travels .

Whether you’re headed to Cincinnati or Chile, we’ve founded the perfect book to pair with your travels . By reading these books before your trip, you’ll feel like you’re visiting an old friend when you finally reach your destination.

P.S. These novels also make excellent gifts for any travelers on your holiday gift list !

Pin these Travel Fiction Books and never wonder what to read next!

Best Fiction Travel Fiction Books to Read Before You Go to . . .

• Botswana: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
• Morocco: Salt Road by Jane Johnson
• Istanbul: Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
• Mumbai: Shantaram  by Gregory David Roberts
• Thailand:  The Beach by Alex Garland

Barcelona: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Eastern Europe: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

France: Languedoc Triology by Kate Mosse

• Greece:  Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
• Ireland: The Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn

Paris: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

• Naples:  My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
• Tuscany:  The Temptation of Gracie by Santa Montefiore
• Whitby, England:  Dracula by Bram Stoker

Central America

• Panama: The World in Half by Cristina Henríquez

North America

Alaska: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Cincinnati: Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

• Martha’s Vineyard: The Identicals by Elin Hildebrand
• Mexico: The Battles In The Desert by José Emilio Pacheco
• Michigan:  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
• New York City: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
• North Carolina: Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
• Seattle:  Where’d You Go, Bernadette   by Maria Semple

South America

• Chiloe Island, Chile:  Maya’s Notebook  by Isabel Allende

Pacific Islands

• Hawaii: Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

Best Fiction Travel Books Set in Africa

Hi! I’m Ada, a travel writer based in northern Minnesota, on a mission to see the world. I use this travel blog to provide practical, no-nonsense travel tips and itineraries for both domestic and international travels.

Home Airport:

European Christmas Markets

Where I’ve Been:

Botswana: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

When you pick up the first book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency you’ll meet Precious Ramotswe. Mma Ramotswe is a single woman in her 30s, born, raised, and living in Botswana, Africa .

After losing her beloved father, she’s faced with the task of deciding what to do with her life. She makes a bold choice and takes you along for the ride.

Throughout this interesting, funny, and heartwarming series – over 20 books and counting – the characters will become your friends. You’ll get to know the people in Mma Ramotswe’s life – her friends, her colleagues, her late father Obed Ramotswe. And you’ll get to know Botswana.

The series is written by Alexander McCall Smith, who includes the country of Botswana in the story as if it’s another character. Seen through the eyes of Precious Ramotswe, it’s a character you’ll fall in love with. She describes her home country with strong affection, and the gratitude she expresses for having grown up in the beautiful land will make you wish you’d grown up there too.

If you have plans to visit Botswana yourself, read at least a couple of these first. You’ll feel a bit like you’re going home.

Contributed by Deb of Introvert with Itchy Feet

Morocco: The Salt Road by Jane Johnson

The sense of place in Jane Johnson’s books never fails to transport you to the featured far-flung destinations, and The Salt Road in particular really captures the imagination.

The story focuses on the ancient trade route that ran from the Moroccan souks to the desert. Isabelle is the modern-day protagonist, embarking on a quest along the Salt Road , in search of answers about her past. Following in the historic footsteps of a Tuareg women, she traces this iconic route through many of Morocco’s most beautiful landscapes.

If you’re traveling to Morocco , reading this book before your trip will paint a vivid picture of the places you’ll likely visit. It focuses on lesser-known areas as well as the bustling medina in Marrakech and the Saharan desert . Of particular note is the Anti-Atlas Mountains region, a stunning area that’s rarely featured in other novels set in Morocco . You’ll learn about the rural way of life in this rugged land, as well as some of the best spots for hiking and climbing. The town of Tafraout is a focal point, and a great spot to base yourself for your own Anti-Atlas Mountains adventure.

Contributed by Heather of Conversant Traveller

Best Fiction Travel Books Set in Asia

Istanbul: museum of innocence by orham pamuk.

Museum of Innocence by Nobel-prize winner for literature Orhan Pamuk, is a tale of unrequited love and the complexities of human emotions, all set against the backdrop of a changing city. The story is set in Istanbul and revolves around the obsessive love of Kemal, a wealthy businessman, for his distant relative, Fusun. The novel is narrated from Kemal’s perspective and spans several decades, beginning in the 1970s.

The novel explores themes of love, memory, obsession, and the passage of time. It provides a detailed and intimate portrait of Kemal’s inner world and a vivid depiction of Istanbul’s evolving social and cultural landscape over the years.

As Kemal’s infatuation with Fusun deepens, he becomes increasingly fixated on preserving mementos and objects associated with their relationship. Every night, he visits her family for dinner and starts stealing little things from their house, ranging from teaspoons, hairpins and cigarette butts. Over the decades, these accumulate to thousands of little items/memories.

But Pamuk doesn’t stop there. He went ahead and actually opened a real museum with all the items Kemal had carried off over the years in the novel. An entrance ticket is printed in the novel’s final pages, allowing readers free entrance to the Museum of Innocence in the Cukurcuma neighbourhood.

For those who have read it, visiting the Museum of Innocence will likely be the highlight of your Istanbul itinerary .

Contributed by De Wet of  Museum of Wander

Mumbai: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram is the story of Lin, a convict who escapes prison in Australia and ends up living in Mumbai, India . Lin becomes embedded in the underworld of the Mumbai mafia, all the while looking for love and a purpose in life. It’s a real page turner, very loosely based on the author’s experiences.

The city of Mumbai comes alive in Shantaram and is a central character to the story. The author lived in Mumbai and writes about the city as only an insider could.

Mumbai is already fascinating and well worth a visit, but after reading Shantaram you will be inspired to see Mumbai in a new way. Sites like the Taj Mahal Hotel , Leopold’s Cafe , and the iconic Air India building are already well known, but after finishing the book you’ll want to visit the more off the beaten path locations mentioned. Most memorable are the haunting and atmospheric Afghan Church , the Haji Ali mosque which is only accessible a few hours a day, vibrant Sassoon Dock and the walk along the Mumbai sea wall from Gateway of India to the Radio Club.

Many of the places mentioned in Shantaram are located in the Colaba area of Mumbai, the southernmost section of the city. There are many Shantaram tours available, but all of these sites are easily found and accessible on your own.

Contributed by Suzanne of Suzanne Wanders  Delhi

Thailand: The Beach by Alex Garland

The Beach by Alex Garland is a thrilling tale that takes readers on an unforgettable journey through Thailand’s exotic landscapes, including the fictional island of Koh Phi Phi . This captivating adventure novel tells the story of Richard, a young traveler searching for authenticity who discovers a mysterious hidden paradise.

Reading this book before venturing to Thailand is an excellent idea to soak up the magic of these places and to be ready to set off and discover the wonders of Thailand.

First, The Beach offers a fascinating insight into Thailand’s little-known places, encouraging travelers to explore beyond the traditional tourist destinations. The book reveals secret beaches, charming local restaurants, and off-the-beaten-track activities such as a night under the stars or a hike through the jungle, offering an authentic and memorable experience. Indeed, the book encourages people to interact with the locals, discover their culture, and participate in traditional celebrations.

The most striking aspect of this novel is how the island of Koh Phi Phi becomes a character. Garland describes the lush landscapes, secluded beaches, and crystal-clear waters with striking accuracy, creating an immersive atmosphere that makes the reader feel transported there.

Contributed by Victoria of Guide Your Travel

Best Fiction Travel Books Set in Europe

No, it’s not a fairy tale. You really can visit the medieval castles and other European haunts described in your favorite novels. Cité de Carcassonne , pictured above, features heavily in Kate Mosse’s Languedoc Triology. Now the historic town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that belongs on any French itinerary.

Photo credit: melissa kruse of mountains & mahals .

As soon as I finished the last chapter of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind , I immediately got on Google flights and searched for tickets to Barcelona .

In The Shadow of the Wind , Daniel, the son of widowed bookseller, happens upon the last copy in existence of a book by Julián Carax. Daniel falls in love with Carax’s writing, but his efforts to find more books by the same author takes him on a harrowing, unexpected adventure through Barcelona.

While this novel is anything but realistic, Zafón transports readers to the Spanish city in 1945. You’ll follow main character Daniel through Barcelona’s passageways, shops, churches, and hilltop mansions. In fact, Zafón depicts Barcelona in such specific detail that you can actually go on The Shadow of the Wind walking tours which take you to places like the Church of Santa Maria del Mar , Els Quatre Gats Café , Baixada de la Llibreteria and even the real-life locations of the novel’s fictional bookshops.

Even if you’re not a fan of gothic novels (I’m not), if you’re headed to Barcelona soon, give The Shadow of the Wind a try. I promise that Zafón’s haunting descriptions of the Spanish city will stay with you.

For anyone who loves historical fiction mixed with a dash of gothic thriller, The Historian will sweep you away to Eastern Europe in a modern retelling of the vampire myth. The plot centers around the idea that Vlad the Impaler – Dracula himself – never actually died, and follows three different characters through different time periods across Europe as they try to discern the truth.

You won’t get tips on where to stay or eat from this book, but the rich descriptions of places like Romania and Bulgaria ; Budapest and Istanbul will transport you. From ancient academic libraries in Istanbul to monasteries in Bulgaria to scenes in communist Hungary, this book uses place and history as an ancillary character.

While most of the plot takes place in Europe in the 1950s and 1970s, the majority of the places the author richly describes still exist today – and this book was the reason my first trip to Europe included Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria!

The history and folklore in this story are well-researched, and the sometimes-chilling addition of the potentially-undead makes it a really fun read. Just beware that you, too, may find yourself with a desire to see places like Wallachia , the Hagia Sophia , or Rila Monastery after reading this book.

Contributed by Amanda of A Dangerous Business Travel Blog

Kate Mosse’s Languedoc Triology consists of three historical fiction novels that intertwine the past and present with elements of mystery and adventure: Labyrinth , Sepulchre , and Citadel . The rich history of Carcassonne comes to life through Mosse’s vivid descriptions of the French setting and intricate architecture, making the medieval city a character of its own in the books.

Despite the books’ historical setting, visiting modern day Carcassonne will make you feel like you stepped back in time the same way Mosse’s writing transports you through time. The city is known for its stone wall fortifications and fairytale-like architecture. Mosse even includes a walking guide at the end of Labyrinth to take you to all the key sites that inspired her writing.

You can explore the cobblestone streets of the Cité de Carcassonne , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit Chateau Comtal to learn more about the history and legends of the city. Another famous landmark mentioned in the books is Pont Vieux . This pedestrian bridge provides picturesque views of the fortified city and is a great spot for a sunset stroll between the old and new city. 

Carcassonne is the perfect destination for readers who enjoy Mosse’s enchanting stories and want to experience history first-hand.

Contributed by  Melissa of  Mountains and Mahals

Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn is an inspirational, fictionalized account of the life of Irish High King Brian Boru , a beloved hero who banished the Viking invaders from Ireland for the last time. As you read  Lion of Ireland , you’re sure to plant the seeds for an epic Irish adventure!

If you’re a fan of things that are old and ancient, this is a must read. The book is a wonderful mix of fact and folklore. As you read about the rolling green hills traveled by the King, you’ll start longing to visit the Emerald Isle. Happily, there are plenty of sites from the King’s realm you can still see today.

For example, no Ireland itinerary is complete without a visit to the Rock of Cashel , the seat of the ancient Kings of Munster. Boru ruled Ireland from a fortress atop this hill. After reading this book, you’ll also want to plan a trip to the Hill of Tara , the ancient ceremonial site where the rulers of Ireland were “crowned.” Visit the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey , located in Killarney National Park , where Boru studied as a youth. 

Naples:   My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

For a page-turning series that you won’t want to put down (except to book flights to Italy ), look no further than Elena Ferrante’s captivating My Brilliant Friend series.

Told across four volumes, My Brilliant Friend catalogs the intense, lifelong friendship between Raffaella (Lila) Cerulla and Elena Greco, starting with the women’s upbringings in a very poor and isolated part of Naples in the mid-20th century.

After meeting in elementary school, the girls’ fates diverge significantly: despite both characters being intensely academically gifted, only Elena is able to pursue her education into adolescence and beyond, while Lila is prevented from doing so by economic and cultural circumstances. The consequences of this, for each woman individually as well as for their relationship, spin out for decades.

Exploring themes of friendship, family, ambition, feminism, and more, the series also brings to light 20th-century Italy in a vivid way, from political debates (fascism, communism, and beyond are more than academic considerations for many characters) to dazzling views of the Mediterranean Sea enjoyed from the island of Ischia .

While the city of Naples , from its poorest neighborhoods to its shopping districts to its food, is a  central heartbeat of the series, the Amalfi Coast , Ischia, Pisa , Florence , Milan , and more are also featured.

To understand Italy’s–and especially Naples’–cultural background before visiting, My Brilliant Friend does a phenomenal job of contextualizing recent history, while also including spellbinding descriptions that will leave you anxious to hop on a plane and bite into your first sfogliatella .

Contributed by Kate of Our Escape Clause

Any reader of Dan Brown’s  The Da Vinci Code will immediately recognize the glass pyramid outside of Paris’s Louvre museum.

If you enjoy reading mystery novels and are considering a trip to the French capital , a must-read is Dan Brown’s highly acclaimed novel, The Da Vinci Code ! The story begins in the heart of Paris , following Robert Langdon as he endeavors to solve a mysterious murder that occurs within the Louvre Museum .

While the premise might sound like a typical murder mystery, what sets The Da Vinci Code apart is the skillful and deliberate manner in which Brown blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction. Brown also captivates his readers by delving into the more enigmatic aspects of religion, challenging established norms and authority.

Simultaneously, he immerses readers in his world through engaging puzzles, intriguing facts, and historical insights of several famous landmarks, including the Louvre, Church of Saint-Sulpice , Champs-Élysée s, and other places across Europe.

So, if you’re planning a trip to Paris, be sure to check out The Da Vinci Code ! It makes exploring the city feel like you’re stepping into Dan Brown’s world and uncovering hidden secrets.

Contributed by Kristin of Global Travel Escapades

Tuscany, Italy:   The Temptation of Gracie by Santa Montefiore

The Temptation of Gracie takes place in Tuscany, Italy and makes you long to travel there and experience its romantic and vivid ambiance. It’s about an elderly woman who, although she lived abroad in Italy as a young woman, has not travelled much at all since then.

The story takes place partially in the present day while she’s in her late 60s, but mostly through flashbacks to when she was young, in love, and living in Tuscany. In the present day, although it’s been 40 years since Gracie has set foot in Italy, she decides (to the surprise of her family and friends) that she is going on a tour to Italy to learn how to cook Italian food. Given that her family and friends have never known her to do anything adventurous, this comes as a surprise to them.

The beautiful Tuscan town and countryside in the book is so vividly described that you will almost taste it, hear it and feel like you’re there. It is sure to make you crave delicious Italian foods, wines and being able to wander through cobbled roads with old buildings, and experience Italy with loved ones.

The story is about lost love, friendship, second chances, and how travel bonds us. The Tuscany region in Italy includes beautiful countryside, as well as cities like Florence and Pisa – which make a great visit for solo travellers, couples and even families with kids.

Contributed by Kristin of Tiny Footsteps Travel

Whitby, England:   Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula by Bram Stoker is the novel which brought the idea of vampires into popular culture. Published in 1897, the novel follows lawyer Jonathan Harker as he travels to Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase an English estate. Dracula travels by sea to Whitby,  England, where he preys on Harker’s fiancée. Harker joins Professor Van Helsing to find and destroy Dracula at his castle in Romania.

Whitby is a fishing town and beach resort in North Yorkshire . It has an imposing, ruined abbey on a cliff overlooking the town, which can be reached by climbing 199 stone steps up the cliff side. Bram Stoker visited Whitby and was inspired by the town. In fact a history of Romania that he picked up in Whitby’s library provided the name for his creation.

The scene where Dracula arrives in Whitby is iconic; a deserted ship crashes into Whitby’s pier and a creature resembling a large black dog leaps ashore, running towards the 199 steps and the abbey.

Whitby would be a great place to visit even without its Dracula connection, but it makes the most of its creepy reputation, with events like Whitby Goth Weekend and regular ghost tours. 

Contributed by  Helen of Helen on her Holidays

Best Fiction Travel Books Set in Central America

Panama: The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez

The World in Half by Cristina Henríquez is a captivating novel that tells the story of Miraflores, a young woman living in Chicago.  When Miraflores discovered that her supposedly deceased father is actually alive in Panama , she secretly plans a trip there to uncover the mysteries of her family’s past.  

Reading The World in Half before traveling to Panama offers readers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the country’s history, culture, and diverse population. It provides insights into the social and political dynamics of Panama. Readers will be able to enhance their travel experience with a greater understanding of the local customs and traditions.

What sets the book apart and makes its depiction of Panama special and memorable is Henríquez’s ability to capture the country’s essence. Through her writing, readers are transported to the lush landscapes of Panama. You feel like you are immersed in its vibrant street markets, lively festivals, and in the presence of lovely, gracious local people.

Contributed by Eleanor of Elevate Your Escapes

Best Fiction Travel Books Set in North America

Don’t write off Cincinnati as a sleepy Midwest city. After reading Curtis Sittenfeld’s  Eligible , I knew I needed to explore the Ohio city and I’m so glad I did! 

Wanna know the real reason I ended up in Alaska in winter ? I read Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone the autumn before. After reading her beautiful depictions of life on the Kenai Peninsula , I knew I needed to get to Alaska asap.

In The Great Alone  (which takes its name from a line from a Robert Service poem) tells the story of the Allbright family in the 1970s. Ernt Allbright, a PTSD-suffering Vietnam veteran who abuses both alcohol and women, decides to escape suburban Seattle for the wilds of Alaska. He brings his wife and 13-year-old daughter on an Alaskan adventure that includes battling the elements and each other while also learning to trust, love, and let go.

I’ve read a lot of Kristin Hannah and The Great Alone is one of her best. The novel reads a little like a love letter to Alaska. Although the novel features a fictional town, you can find the landscapes Hannah describes in The Great Alone in the Seldovia area. This tiny town is located across the bay from Homer at the tip of the Kenai Peninsula outside of Anchorage.

You might not expect Cincinnati’s famous Skyline chili to make an appearance in a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice , but Curtis Sittenfeld somehow manages to pull it off.

In Eligible , Sittenfeld transports the Darcy family to modern-day Cincinnati, OH . Mr. Bingley is a reality tv star, Mr. Darcy is Bingley’s long-suffering childhood friend, and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are irresponsible parents crippled by medical debt.

As much as Eligible is a clever adaptation of the Austen classic, it’s also a bit of a love letter to Cincinnati. Cincinnati is Sittenfeld’s hometown and she’s clearly fond of it. The Bennets reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood in a decrepit Tudor House and Sittenfeld spends most of the novel giving an extensive tour of Cincinnati with stops in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, dinner dates at Orchids and Boca restaurants, and some favorite attractions like the Freedom Center and Mercantile Library .

If you’re headed to Cincinnati soon, I highly recommend this fun rom-com romp through the city!

Martha’s Vineyard: The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

The Identicals , by Elin Hildebrand is the story of Harper and Tabitha Frost, twin sisters separated when their parents’ divorce.

Laid-back Harper grows up on Martha’s Vineyard with their father while reserved and serious Tabitha lives on Nantucket with their mother. This story about these rival sisters fits perfectly with the complicated and long-held rivalry between these two Massachusetts islands .

Elin Hildebrand has been writing about Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket for over a decade. The ease at which she incorporates local restaurants, beaches and landmarks into her stories could only be accomplished by someone who knows the island intimately.

Within the first few chapters Hildebrand manages to weave in the names and descriptions of favorite island locations. She reveals a hidden-gem beach at Cedar Tree Neck Preserve and a serene Japanese Garden on Chappaquiddick Island to escape the summer crowds. She also describes practical details like where her characters rent a car ( AA Island Auto Rental ) or go for a romantic sunset dinner ( The Outermost Inn ).

Hildebrand’s lived experience of Martha’s Vineyard, its people, and its hidden gems adds authenticity to the setting and makes the island feel like a character in its own right.

Contributed by  Maria of Martha’s Vineyard Travel Tips

Mexico: Battles in the Desert by Jose Emilio Pacheco

The Battles In The Desert is one of Mexico’s most treasured books about Mexico by a Mexican author. It is set in the Colonia Roma of Mexico City in the post-WWII era of President Miguel Alemán’s rapid modernization. Battles In The Desert has been translated into multiple languages (including English), adapted into a movie, and a song by the rock band Café Tacvba.

Intermediate-level Spanish learners will enjoy reading the story in the original Spanish if they choose to do so. José Emilio Pacheco was a celebrated poet whose prose is as enjoyable as the story itself. The main character is an elementary school student named Carlos who lives in the culturally diverse Colonia Roma with his middle-class family.

There are multiple references to the Avenida Alvaro Obregón , the most famous street in the Colonia Roma that every visitor to Mexico City has to explore The story feels like a love letter to the pop culture of the era. Carlos’ mother is an extremely religious figure in his life who does not like people who are not from Jalisco. Her family is from Guadalajara and was forced to leave because of the Cristero Religious Wars.

At school, Carlos is friends with a boy named Jim who was born in the United States . Jim invites Carlos to his house one day where Carlos meets Jim’s mother Mariana. She is a beautiful 28-year-old woman who makes sandwiches for the boys with a kitchen appliance imported from the United States. Carlos quickly becomes infatuated with his friend’s mom. He skips school to tell her his feelings which bring a number of repercussions.

Battles In The Desert is one of the most common books read in Mexican middle schools. It is a part of the local popular culture and something that is easily accessible to travelers. I highly recommend reading this book before traveling to the Colonia Roma in Mexico City.

Contributed by  Paul of Playas y Plazas

Michigan:   Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Although this lovely book by Ann Patchett begins in a gymnasium in a small New Hampshire town and spends a few years in California, the heart and soul of  Tom Lake , which bounces back and forth in time, takes place in northern Michigan .

Part of it—at a fictional and idyllic summer stock theatre. And the other at a generations-old Michigan cherry farm on the shores of Lake Michigan and near Traverse City .

It is a beautiful story of love, friendship, loss, and relationships intricately woven into the play— Our Town . The main character of this book, while young, performs as Emily, the lead role, and is a natural, accidentally and briefly falling into the life of a professional actress. In the book, and later in life, she recollects her experiences and her short but intense relationship with a now famous movie star, an unknown at the time, to her three young adult daughters, all improbably home during lockdown in the summer of 2020 and helping with cherry picking.

Patchett does a masterful job of telling this gorgeous story and of conveying the startling beauty and peace of a northern Michigan in full bloom, which you will undoubtedly want to see for yourself after relishing this must-read.

Contributed by Janice of Gather and Go Travel

New York City:   Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn is a fun fiction book about two strangers who meet because of a notebook that one of them leaves at The Strand Bookstore in New York City’s Union Square .

Lily decides to leave a red notebook with a message in it in the stacks of books at The Strand when her family goes away for the holidays and she is alone in NYC. Dash finds the notebook, and returns it to the bookstore after completing his dare.

The characters pass the book back and forth as they wander through New York City before meeting each other in real life. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares is a quick YA read with a sweet message and is a fun way to “see” New York City in December . The characters go to popular New York City attractions as well as to off-the-beaten path restaurants as they make their way through the city. 

As this book is the first in a trilogy, fans can continue to travel with Dash and Lily as they continue in New York City during The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily and when they travel to London in Mind the Gap Dash and Lily .

Contributed by Lanie of Make More Adventures

North Carolina:   Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Written by an actual zoologist, Where the Crawdads Sing depicts a murder mystery set in the marshy coast of North Carolina in the mid-1900s. The story follows Kya, a young girl living isolated in the marsh and her connection to nature. Her narrative is fragmented with flashes forward to the present-day investigation of Chase Andrew’s murder.

The setting of the marshes in North Carolina ’s coast play a huge role in the book, and will bring reader’s back to a time of simple nature, before beach towns developed in popular spots on the shore. Author Delia Owens is well-aquanted with detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna in the area and does an incredible job of putting readers right into the environment with Kya.

North Carolina’s coastline is a beautiful destination for travelers looking to enjoy untouched nature. Where the Crawdads Sing depicts this soft, quiet marshland in such an alluring way, while at the same time bringing excitement and mystery through its plot.

Contributed by Michele of Adventures Abound

Seattle:   Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

While most of Maria Semple’s popular novel, Where’d You Go Bernadette , is focused on planning a trip to Antarctica, I actually think this is the perfect novel to read before visiting Seattle, WA . In it, Semple tells the story of Bernadette Fox, a brilliant architect who has lost her way in the minutia of being a stay-at-home mom living in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle.

Keep in mind, this is no love letter to Seattle. Bernadette’s pretty miserable about all aspects of her life including the city where she currently resides. She makes no secret that she straight up hates the people of Seattle.

But critics often show the world in the most striking detail. The book mentions several Seattle restaurants by name include Lola and Wild Ginger . You’ll also see the city’s Chihuly sculptures through Bernadette’s eyes and visit popular Seattle tourist attractions like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market . 

Semple chose to use fictional emails, articles, and other correspondence rather than prose to tell the story of Where’d You Go, Bernadette. Unique and fast-paced, I definitely recommend this fiction book before you travel to the Pacific Northwest.  

Best Fiction Travel Books Set in South America

The beautiful landscapes of South America have inspired countless novels. Pictured is an Incan ruin in Peru’s Sacred Valley.

Chiloe Island, Chile:   Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende

Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende is a book that will introduce you to the magical mystic land of Chiloe Island , in the north of Patagonia .

The book follows Maya, a troubled young adult running away from her tumultuous life in America and settling in Chiloe Island with her grandmother. The book has two different storylines, the past and the present, introducing the land to the reader. One storyline is focused on Maya and her life, whilst the other on the rustic life in Chiloe, with its traditions, mysticism, and local beliefs.

Maya’s Noteboo k is a fantastic introduction to Chiloe Island. Reading it before travelling to Chiloe will help you appreciate its culture much more, and also understand the local traditions. One of these traditions is the curanto , a Mapuche cooking technique that sees meat, seafood and vegetables cooked underground. Taking part in a curanto dinner alongside the locals is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the culture of the island. 

After you’ve read the book, walking on the streets of the towns in Chiloe will seem familiar. It will feel that you are part of Maya’s story.

Contributed by Joanna of The World In My Pocket 

Best Fiction Travel Books Set in the Pacific Islands

Nothing will get you longing for the lush tropical landscapes of Hawaii and other Pacific Islands more than a good novel set on one of the islands.

Hawaii:   Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

This novel is about three generations of women in Hawaii . In Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes, Hulali is a famous hula teacher, while Laka, her daughter, abandoned her family after winning the Miss Aloha Hula contest. The novel begins when Laka returns with her baby daughter, Hi`i in tow. As Hi`i grows, she wants to win Miss Aloha Hula more than anything, just like her mother did. But her relationship with her family and with Hawaii itself is complicated.

This is a book about community and belonging. It delves into the history of Hawaii, and it’s one of the great books to read before you go to Hawaii because it will make you more conscious of the nuances of Hawaii’s culture and history while also helping you be a more respectful tourist.

Contributed by Erin of Flying Off the Bookshelf 

Wrap-up: Best Fiction Travel Books To Read Before Your Next Trip

Hopefully this round-up of favorite novels helps transport you around the globe in more ways than one.

I’ve heard it said that a library card is the best passport you could ever have. Pair that library card with an actual passport and we’ve really got it made! Personally, I think reading is all the more rewarding when we first let a book transport us to a new place in the world and then later get to see that location with our own eyes.

I’m curious if a fiction book has ever inspired your travels. If so, please let me know what book you read and where you traveled to. Maybe we’ll do a round-up of favorite fiction books to inspire our travels every year!

If you enjoyed these 25 Best Fiction Travel Books, check out my other book-inspired travel!

  Ada is a travel writer based in northern Minnesota. She’s spent two decades as a freelance writer. She’s lived in three countries and has visited all 50 states. In addition to traveling the world, she runs a Boundary Waters outfitters and helps people plan canoe trips and other outdoor adventures in northeastern Minnesota.

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The Best Books of 2023

A Smithsonian magazine special report

The Ten Best Books About Travel of 2023

Take a trip without leaving home with these adventurous reads from this year

Laura Kiniry

Travel Correspondent

It’s often said that travel is all about the journey, whether it’s planning a remote island holiday or setting out on the adventure of a lifetime across the Arctic Ocean. But it can be almost as thrilling to roam the world from the comfort of our homes. Just take our pick of 2023 travel books, which include everything from humor-fueled essay collections and thought-provoking narratives to tomes brimming with full-page colorful photographs and tips on finding the most welcoming LGBTQ+ spots around the globe. They all share the uncanny ability to transport readers through time and space without ever having to open the front door.

Whether it’s a deep delve into a Balkan landscape of healing plants and foraging, or a more than 2,000-mile road trip through America’s racial history, here are ten travel books that are more than worthy of this year’s holiday wish lists.

Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance by Alvin Hall

From 1936 to 1967, the Green Book served as an annual travel guide for African Americans, helping them to identify welcoming hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses across the United States during the Jim Crow era. Compiled by Black New York City postman Victor Hugo Green , this essential reference publication included places like Manhattan’s Hotel Theresa , once considered the “Waldorf of Harlem,” and the Moulin Rouge Hotel in Las Vegas, frequented by celebrities like Harry Belafonte and Ella Fitzgerald during its five-month stint in 1955.

Award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall first learned about the Green Book in 2015, and he was immediately intrigued. Several years later, he and a friend, activist Janée Woods Weber , set out on a 2,000-plus-mile cross-country road trip from Detroit to New Orleans, visiting many of the establishments once featured in the guide’s pages. (Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has a nearly complete collection of the Green Book , which Hall utilized.) Along the way, Hall also gathered memories from some of the guide’s last surviving users.

The result, Driving the Green Book: a Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance , is a poignant 288-page journey along America’s open roads, delving into the country’s racial past, detailing the Green Book ’s life-saving history and bringing it all together in one remarkable read.

Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance

Join award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall on a journey through America’s haunted racial past, with the legendary Green Book as your guide.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-Mile Horseback Journey Into the Old West by Will Grant

In 2019, American journalist Will Grant embarked on a five-month, 2,000 mile journey on horseback from Missouri to California. His goal: to follow the historic route of the Pony Express , a legendary frontier mail system operating between April 1860 and October 1861, which used a series of horse-mounted riders and relay stations to deliver mail from one end to the other in just ten days. Although the express service went bankrupt after only 18 months, it remains an iconic symbol of America’s Old West.

Grant chronicles his 142-day adventure in The Last Ride of the Pony Express , a first-person narrative describing his trip across the Great Plains of Nebraska and the sagebrush steppe of Wyoming in the company of his two horses, Badger and Chicken Fry. While Grant reflects on the West’s modernization over time, it’s his vivid descriptions of the communities and local residents—including ranchers, farmers and migrant sheep herders—along the way that make the book a real page-turner.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West

The Last Ride of the Pony Express is a tale of adventure by a horseman who defies most modern conveniences, and is an unforgettable narrative that will forever change how you see the West, the Pony Express, and America as a whole.

Unforgettable Journeys Europe: Discover the Joys of Slow Travel

The latest in the Unforgettable Journeys series by DK Eyewitness, a publisher of nonfiction books known for its visual travel guides, Unforgettable Journeys Europe highlights the notion that travel really is all about the “getting there.” This inspirational tome details 150 of Europe’s best slow adventures, such as kayaking through Lithuania and crossing the Arctic Circle by train.

The bucket list is organized by modes of transportation, with sections titled “By Bike” and “By Rail,” for example. Illustrations, photos, maps and plenty of practical information (including start and end points for trails, difficulty ratings and website links) are then spread throughout the text, making the book as much colorful reference as it is inspiring read. In the “On Foot” chapter, there’s a description of Scotland’s Fife Pilgrim Way , a 56-mile trek along an ancient pilgrim route with cathedral and countryside views. Along with details on what to see during the multiday hike, the book features a selection of highlighted tips, like what to do (pick wild berries while passing through Clatto Reservoir ) and how to splurge (dinner and an overnight stay at the cozy, Michelin-starred Peat Inn ) en route.

Unforgettable Journeys Europe: Discover the Joys of Slow Travel (Dk Eyewitness)

Inspirational travel book covering 150 of Europe's most incredible journeys, including routes on foot and by bike, road, rail and water.

Elixir: In the Valley at the End of Time by Kapka Kassabova

After a decade of living in the Scottish Highlands, native Bulgarian Kapka Kassabova returned to her roots in southwestern Bulgaria’s remote Mesta Valley, a rural region known for its array of wild crops and their vast medicinal properties. Over several seasons (Kassabova’s move occurred at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic), the poet and writer set out to study the deep relationship between the area’s people and plants, as well as with the land itself. Her resulting text—with chapters like “Pine Syrup,” “Honey Sellers” and “Shepherd’s Superfood”—is an autobiographical exploration of one of the globe’s lesser-known corners, one brimming with forages, healers and a wealth of folk traditions.

“ Elixir is the vibrant, beautiful story of a singular, remarkable place,” writes Foreword book reviewer Catherine Thureson. “It issues a call to reclaim the physical, emotional and spiritual connection between humanity and the natural world.”

Elixir: In the Valley at the End of Time

In Elixir , in a wild river valley and amid the three mountains that define it, Kapka Kassabova seeks out the deep connection between people, plants, and place.

The Life Cycle by Kate Rawles

British writer and cyclist Kate Rawles has a penchant for raising awareness about environmental challenges through her own adventures—and inspiring action in the process. In 2006, Rawles cycled 4,553 miles from Texas to Alaska , interviewing Americans about climate change along the way. Her latest endeavor—an 8,288-mile, 13-month journey across the length of the Andes Mountains on a self-built bamboo bicycle she nicknamed “Woody”—is the basis for her new book, The Life Cycle .

During this largely solo endeavor in 2017 and 2018, the author crossed some of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems, including South America’s Atacama Desert and the Bolivian salt flats. Simultaneously, she found herself witnessing the devastating effects of extreme biodiversity loss caused by industries such as logging and gold mining, and met with activists and communities working to regenerate these habitats—sharing their concerns and insight throughout the narrative.

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Unravelling the Silk Road by Chris Aslan

An extremely well-researched story of three ancient trade routes that helped define a continent, Chris Aslan’s Unravelling the Silk Road “merges trauma with textiles to track the past and present experiences of the people of Central Asia,” writes author Clare Hunter . He explores the roles played by wool, a textile used by the region’s nomads for both yurts and clothing; silk, a commodity that was once more valuable than gold; and cotton, the cause of Russian and then Soviet colonization, since it provided cheap material for the global superpower.

Turkish-born Aslan interweaves his own personal experiences (the author once picked cotton with locals and worked with nomadic yak herders in Central Asia’s Pamir Mountains) with the history of each route and its impact on the lives of local residents ​​ —as well as the region itself. Aslan also examines how political and cultural changes are affecting new trade routes and the people who depend on them.

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The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise​​ by Pico Iyer

British-born essayist and acclaimed writer Pico Iyer is no stranger to travel journalism. The author—whose childhood was divided among English, Indian and U.S. cultures—is known for works like 1989’s Video Night in Kathmandu , a stark look at modern Asia, and The Global Soul , a 2001 collection of essays on finding home in a world of international airports and shopping malls. For more than 40 years, Iyer has traveled the globe, reflecting on the planet and our role within it.

“After years of travel, I’d begun to wonder what kind of paradise can ever be found in a world of unceasing conflict,” writes Iyer in his latest book, The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise , “and whether the very search for it might not simply aggravate our differences.” The result is a retrospective look at his own travels and encounters—from North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang to Jerusalem’s Ethiopian chapels—through the idea of “paradise,” what it means and whether it exists.

The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise

Traveling from Iran to North Korea, from the Dalai Lama’s Himalayas to the ghostly temples of Japan, Pico Iyer brings together a lifetime of explorations to upend our ideas of utopia and ask how we might find peace in the midst of difficulty and suffering.

The Pride Atlas: 500 Iconic Destinations for Queer Travelers by Maartje Hensen

Big, bold and colorful, The Pride Atlas is a valuable resource for LGBTQ+ folks and their allies, as well as a perfect coffee table topper. Compiled by queer author and photographer Maartje Hensen , its 400 pages are brimming with eye-catching photos and practical information, such as websites like Meetup and Couchsurfing that are useful for connecting with similarly minded locals and travelers, and resources regarding laws and cultural attitudes worldwide.

At the heart of the book are 500 destinations from around the globe, each one of them highlighting a way of engaging with LGBTQ+ culture. You’ll find drag shows, Pride parades, campsites, microbrew pubs and other places, from San Francisco’s Transgender District to Haircuts for Anyone , an inclusive and affirmative hair salon in Montreal that charges by sliding scale.

“Hopefully,” writes Hensen, “ The Pride Atlas expands your horizons and inspires you to go out into the world, to (un)learn from others … because, like gender, the world doesn’t fit into binary.” Indeed.

The Pride Atlas: 500 Iconic Destinations for Queer Travelers

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Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel by Shahnaz Habib

An enlightening and entertaining debut essay collection by a U.S.-based Indian Muslim author, Airplane Mode brings a unique and under-represented perspective to the world of travel. Shahnaz Habib approaches such topics as the origins of passports, colonial modes of thinking about travel—like safaris and pilgrimages—and terms like “pseudiscovery,” which she uses to describe an explorer’s claim of discovering something that’s existed for thousands of years, with both wit and curiosity, incorporating her own personal narratives to boot.

Perhaps Annabel Abbs, author of Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women , says it best in her praise for Airplane Mode, which has been long-listed for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence . She calls it “a fascinating, wide-ranging and insightful travelogue that poses some of the biggest questions of all: Who gets to travel, and what is it that makes us so keen to travel in the first place?”

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel

This witty personal and cultural history of travel from the perspective of a Third World-raised woman of color, Airplane Mode , asks: what does it mean to be a joyous traveler when we live in the ruins of colonialism, capitalism and climate change?

Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures by Connie Wang

The closest Chinese expression to “Oh, my god” is wode ma ya , which literally translates to “Oh, my mother.” It’s a declaration of astonishment, as well as the title for journalist Connie Wang ’s humorous and heartfelt book, Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures . Wang details the complicated relationship between herself and her stubborn and “wildly opinionated” mother, Qing Li, across nine essays, taking readers from time-share properties in Cancun and Aruba to a Magic Mike strip show in Las Vegas. “This is our memoir—a long personal essay, if you will—and it was forged through shared fact-checking,” Wang writes in the book. “Qing was the first person to read each chapter as it was written, and she is this book’s first editor.” According to Kirkus Reviews , the author “drives to the heart of how a daughter comes to know her mother as someone with a life beyond motherhood.”

Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures

A dazzling mother-daughter adventure around the world in pursuit of self-discovery, a family reckoning, and Asian American defiance

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Laura Kiniry | READ MORE

Laura Kiniry is a San Francisco-based freelance writer specializing in food, drink, and travel. She contributes to a variety of outlets including American Way , O-The Oprah Magazine , BBC.com , and numerous AAA pubs.

53 Best Travel Blogs and Bloggers To Follow (in 2024)

Written by Ankit Singla

3K Followers

Last Updated on:

by Ankit Singla

If you’re searching for the best travel blogs today, look no further.

As always, I created this list to help aspiring travel bloggers learn a thing or two from these established sites.

However, people who are only looking for travel ideas and tips will also enjoy this post.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top travel blogs to follow in 2024.

Best Travel Blogs

• Nomadic Matt
• Backpacking Matt
• Adventurous Kate
• The Blonde Abroad
• California Through My Lens
• Dan Flying Solo
• Travel With Lakshmi
• Fluent in 3 Months
• Cheapest Destinations Blog
• Alex in Wanderland
• I Am Aileen
• Wandering Earl
• Be My Travel Muse
• Followtheboat
• Matthew Woodward
• The Opposite Travellers
• We Seek Travel
• Bucket List Journey
• Migrationology
• The Cranky Flier
• Never Ending Footsteps
• A Dangerous Business
• Against The Compass
• Everything Everywhere
• The Longest Way Home
• Global Grasshopper
• Girl Gone Travel
• Oneika The Traveller
• The Adventurists
• Time Travel Turtle
• Hand Luggage Only
• Travel4Wildlife
• The Insatiable Traveler
• View From The Wing
• Uncornered Market
• Jessie On a Journey
• Legal Nomads
• TravelFreak
• The Everywhereist
• Keep Calm and Travel
• Practical Wanderlust
• Expert Vagabond
• The Voyageur
• Amateur Traveler
• Girl Eat World
• The Adventure Junkies
• A Broken Backpack
• The World Travel Guy
• Life Part 2

1. Nomadic Matt

By:  Matthew Kepnes

I have to be honest with you — I love everything about  Nomadic Matt .  

Everything from his website’s design to his personal writing voice makes for an engaging reading experience. Not to mention that the name “Nomadic Matt” really sticks with me. 

Matthew Kepnes, AKA Nomadic Matt, was once a cubicle worker who admittedly wasn’t always a big traveler. On his first trip back in 2004, he went to Costa Rica where his perspective in life transformed forever. 

A single trip — that’s how easy it is to fall in love with travel. 

Today, Matthew continues living the life he was born for. He primarily blogs about travel tips, encompassing topics like how to save for a trip and things to do in Singapore. 

Blog Topics 

• Travel Insurance
• Travel planning
• Saving money on travel
• Travel gear
• Destinations

Monetization Strategies

• Display advertisements
• Superstar Blogging online course
• Affiliate marketing ( Check: Best Travel Affiliate Programs )

2. Backpacking Matt

By:  Matt Kyhnn

I think there’s something about the name “Matt” that raises a person’s affinity for traveling. 

Backpacking Matt , owned and run by Matt Kyhnn, is a travel blog that has similar vibes with Nomadic Matt. It has a simplistic design, a memorable content tone, and striking travel photos that bring the blog’s stories to life. 

Matt Kyhnn also leverages videos — providing his audience a more immersive way to enjoy his content. 

Fresh out of college, Matt simply decided that he won’t settle for a 9-5 job. Instead, he spent months working and traveling across Ireland, Scotland, and other regions in mainland Europe. 

He then booked a one-way ticket to New Zealand where he now resides. In addition to his blog, Matt also runs his own travel planning and booking website — Planit NZ. 

Blog Topics

• Affiliate marketing
• Planit NZ travel planning and booking services
• Brand collaborations

3. Adventurous Kate

By:  Kate McCulley

Kate McCulley, AKA  Adventurous Kate , is a travel blogger with lots of adventures to tell.

She’s been to 83 countries, seven continents, and plenty of experiences to help women appreciate the traveling life. 

Kate’s blog was built during her time in Southeast Asia along with her freelance portfolio, which helped fund her travels. Her target audience is women who want to travel, but required guidance on how to do it safely and easily. 

The “Solo Female Travel” category on her blog consists of posts about travel safety, travel planning, destination guides, and more. She also compiled a list of travel resources that help turn her audience’s travel ideas into action plans. 

• Travel safety for women
• Sponsored posts

4. The Blonde Abroad

By:  Kiersten “Kiki” Rich

I covered Kiersten “Kiki” Rich of  The Blonde Abroad   in my list of the top lifestyle bloggers to follow in 2024. 

As her blog’s name suggests, she’s mainly a travel blogger who also discusses two other lifestyle-related topics — blogging and photography. 

Kiersten spent three, eye-opening months in multiple countries to re-envision the idea of “ success .” She succeeded in her goal and is now one of the most accomplished travel bloggers on the web. 

The Blonde Abroad covers a range of topics from travel photography to foreign cuisine. All of which draws wisdom from Kiersten’s personal travel experiences.

• Photography
• Travel destinations
• The Travel Shop
• Social media and influencer marketing consulting

5. California Through My Lens

By:  Josh McNair

Josh McNair, owner of  California Through My Lens , has a distinct writing style that vividly describes details of travel destinations. 

Unlike bloggers who discovered the love for travel in their adulthood, Josh has always been a passionate traveler at heart. He created California Through My Lens to document his adventures with the online audience. 

California Through My Lens is run by both Josh and his wife, Amy. The pair also has an active YouTube channel called Through My Lens where they share their experiences in video form. 

As you may have guessed, Josh’s content focuses on the beaches, caves, hiking trails, waterfalls, and various landmarks in California. Intricate details of each location, from hike distances to specific travel tips, are often included in his posts. 

• National parks in California
• Driving around California
• California destinations
• Selling eBooks
• Advertisements through YouTube 

6. Dan Flying Solo

By:  Daniel “Dan” Clarke

Dan Flying Solo   is by Daniel Clarke — a travel blogger, photographer, and creative director at his own Portugal-based media company. 

Dan’s blogging life was ignited by his passion for photography. He was originally a frustrated restaurant manager who wanted more out of life.

Like me, Dan is a self-taught blogger. He worked day in and day out by doing free online courses, YouTube tutorials, and heaps of informative guides. 

What makes Dan Flying Solo an extra noteworthy blog is its library of video content. Daniel also makes it clear that the site has no particular theme — not unlike everything else in life.  

“ There’s not one particular theme to this blog because I don’t think that’s how life really is. We change and what we enjoy changes.”

7. Travel with Lakshmi

By:  Lakshmi Sharath

Lakshmi Sharath worked on a desk job for multiple media organizations for 15 years. She then started her personal travel blog in 2005 — traveling to over 25 countries and across every corner of India. 

Travel with Lakshmi has only grown steadily ever since. It won multiple awards, including “India’s best travel blog of the year” award from Indiebloggie.  

As an Indian herself, Lakshmi made sure to highlight the country’s top travel destinations on the blog. She also documented her travels to foreign countries — from Abu Dhabi to the United Kingdom. 

As a way to support aspiring travelers around the world, Lakshmi also covers important tips on starting a travel blog. This includes essential tips on photography, travel planning, and travel writing.

• Social media marketing campaigns
• Content marketing and writing services
• Digital media consulting services

8. foXnoMad

By:  Anil Polat

foXnoMad   is a unique travel blog run by digital nomad Anil Polat.

Anil was exposed to travel at a young age because his parents were journalists. Other than routine trips between Turkey and the United States, they also visited multiple destinations around the world. 

Even in his professional life as a computer security consultant, travel was a big part of Anil’s life. He eventually decided to quit his job and fixate on one goal: to visit every country in the world.

What makes foXnoMad unique is that Anil utilizes his knowledge in tech to provide insightful tips on traveling smartly. He also develops apps that can help travelers in situations like determining water drinkability and calculating tips.

You can check out his podcast where he talks about current events, new product tech releases, and all things travel-related. 

Blog Topics                                           

• foXnoMad Shop
• Paid mobile apps

9. Fluent in 3 Months

By:  Brendan “Benny” Lewis

Fluent in 3 Months   by Brendan Lewis is created for travelers with a purpose. 

Apart from regular posts about travel planning and destinations, Brendan also writes a lot of guides on foreign languages. 

Remember, language is a crucial part of every culture. Brendan makes sure you learn dozens of useful words and phrases that will enrich your visit to any country. 

Some of the most prominent content formats in his blog are “ways to say” posts and phrase listicles. There are also fun, bite-sized stories like “How I Learned French on the Toilet in 6 Months.”

For more serious language learners, Fluent in 3 Months offers “The Challenge.” It’s a full-fledged online course that will enable you to hold a 15-minute conversation in a new language.

• How to speak foreign languages
• Language hacking 
• Traveling jobs
• The Challenge online course
• Speaking engagements

10. Cheapest Destinations Blog

By:  Tim Leffel

Cheapest Destinations Blog   is one of the oldest travel blogs on this list. 

It is created and run by Tim Leffel — an award-winning travel writer and author.  

Tim has made it his life’s goal to help people make the most out of travel while spending less. His blog contains posts that teach how to spend your travel money wisely and how to make every cent count. 

Other than Cheapest Destinations Blog, Tim also runs a handful of other blogs on different, travel-related topics. This includes Perceptive Travel, Travel Writing 2.0 Blog, and Cheap Living Abroad.  

• Travel budgeting
• Influencer marketing through 360 Degree Travel Network

11. Alex in Wanderland 

By:  Alexandra Baackes

Alexandra Baackes created  Alex in Wanderland   for two reasons. 

First, she’s been dealing with a case of wanderlust all her life. And second, she’s a fan of a beloved, fictional character — Alice in Wonderland. 

Alexandra is originally from Brooklyn, New York where she purchased her one-way ticket into the traveling life. She now blogs about the best travel destinations, outdoor activities, and her personal, travel-related gear.

One of the things I like about Alex in Wanderland is the presentation and categorization of content. 

On the “Categories” page, Alex makes sure articles are well-organized based on topics like travel inspiration, activities, and planning. This makes it easy for her audience to find the information they need at any given time. 

• Outdoor activities

12. Hey Nadine

By:  Nadine Sykora

Nadine Sykora of  Hey Nadine   is a popular travel blogger, YouTuber, and social media influencer.

Over the past 10 years, she has traveled across 55 countries, spoken on expert panels, and became a keynote speaker. 

Nadine’s goal is simple: share her travel experiences with the world and help others do the same. 

Hey Nadine contains a host of content on travel advice, hacks, destinations, and inspiration. As a seasoned YouTuber, you can expect her blog content to contain a lot of embedded videos from her channel. 

• Video production
• Advertisements through YouTube
• Sponsored content

13. I Am Aileen

Just like Kiersten Rich, Aileen Adalid is another travel blogger whom I also featured in my top lifestyle blogs listicle.

Aileen runs  I Am Aileen   — an award-winning blog that discusses just about everything there is to discuss in travel. She writes about destinations, the best travel activities, foreign cuisine, and more. 

What interested me the most about Aileen is her blogging background. At age 21, she quit her corporate job, which only paid $300 a month, to become a professional traveler. 

Since then, she’s been on a streak of smashing goals and breaking barriers. Thanks to her commitment to quality content, she’s recognized as one of the top bloggers in Asia. 

• Online shop

14. Wandering Earl

By:  Derek Earl Baron

Here’s a fun trivia about  Wandering Earl . 

Unlike most bloggers who use their first names, the “Earl” in “Wandering Earl” is actually a middle name. Blog owner Derek Earl Baron only thought that “Wandering Derek” didn’t sound as catchy.

Derek is a one-of-a-kind, adventurous soul who discovered his purpose as a modern nomad relatively early into adulthood. After graduating in 1999, he planned a three-month vacation across Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. 

That three-month vacation continues to this very day. 

And that’s how Wandering Earl was created — documenting Derek’s adventures in over 100 countries. He also shares valuable pieces of wisdom on travel planning, food, budgeting, gear, and so on. 

Wandering Earl has that “old-school” look and feel to it. On the plus side, the site’s design only highlights 

• Working while traveling
• Selling “eGuides”

15. Be My Travel Muse

By:  Kristin Addis

Be My Travel Muse  is a solo female travel blog created by Kristin Addis. 

She studied in Taiwan and kept an investment banking job for four years. The only problem was, her daily routine rendered her creative, dreamer side claustrophobic. 

Her first step was a one-way ticket to Bangkok — envisioning a life of writing and travel. That’s exactly what she accomplished with her blog, which now caters to millions of readers all over the world. 

Kristin believes that solo traveling is the best way for women to feel empowered and more confident. She prioritizes solo female travel tips on her blog, including guides on safety, packing, and maintaining relationships. 

Be My Travel Muse also has heaps of content on popular travel destinations and self-care for women. 

• Self-help for women
• Relationships
• The Photo Muse Masterclass online course

16. Followtheboat

By:  Liz Cleere and Jamie Furlong

Followtheboat   is a unique travel blog that focuses on a specific mode of transport: sailing. 

It is created with love by a travel writer Liz Cleere and photographer Jamie Furlong. There’s also Millie the rescue cat, which functions as a source of inspiration and encouragement for the blog’s human founders. 

Despite the focus on sailboats, Followtheboat’s content isn’t just made for sailors. The posts are tailor-made for travelers who also happen to be interested in the art and joys of sailing. 

Don’t be surprised at the humor and dynamic range of topics on the blog. You’ll find posts like “tools you need on a sailboat” and “is this the weirdest loo in the world?”

Followtheboat also has a library of podcasts, which record Liz and Jamie’s experiences on their travels. 

• Boat maintenance
• Patreon donations

17. Matthew Woodward

By:  Matthew Woodward

If Followtheboat is about boats, you can probably guess what  Matthew Woodward   is a blog about trains. 

Not to be mistaken for  Matthew Woodward  the internet marketer, Matthew Woodward the rail adventurer loved trains as a child. He owned model railway sets, traveled alone by train, and watched shows about trains on TV. 

In his time as a geography student, he explored Europe with his trusty Interrail pass. He set his passion aside to focus on his career, which he eventually gave up to become a travel writer. 

Today, he blogs about railway systems over different continents. He’s also an accomplished author of three books: “The Railway to Heaven,” “A Bridge Even Further,” and “Trans-Siberian Adventures.”

• Railway systems
• Traveling by train
• Selling books

18. The Opposite Travellers

By:  Ryan and Rachel Riel

The Opposite Travellers   were created by married couple Ryan and Rachel Riel. 

While both loved to travel, Ryan and Rachel had contrasting preferences when it comes to traveling. 

Rachel prefers to travel in style and luxury — through the accommodations and services offered by establishments and travel agencies. Ryan, on the other hand, leans toward daring adventures like biking and trekking — on $5 per night accommodations. 

The couple, however, utilized their differences as a selling point in The Opposite Travellers. 

As such, the website’s “Travel” section has two main categories: “Luxury Travel” and “Adventure Travel.” In other words, the blog has a diverse content library for travelers of all tastes and budgets.

The Opposite Travellers also boasts high-quality visuals taken and produced by Ryan Riel. All of the site’s videos are published on Ryan Riel Media — Ryan’s official YouTube channel.  

• Content production
• Social media marketing 
• Influencer marketing

19. We Seek Travel 

By:  Olly Gaspar

We Seek Travel is an adventure travel blog by traveler and adventure photographer Olly Gaspar.

Olly has been living out of his bags full-time since 2018, turning his passion for global adventure into a treasure trove of useful travel guides accompanied by his inspiring photography.

His travel blog serves as a window to extraordinary experiences around the world– from backpacking in India to climbing Himalayan peaks, crossing deserts on camelback, cycling over the Arctic Circle, hiking with gorillas in Uganda, and even fighting Muay Thai in Thailand.

But We Seek Travel is more than just a diary of adventures. It’s a resource-rich hub where Olly shares his firsthand experiences to help modern explorers discover unique outdoor adventures, off-beat hiking trails, travel photography gear, and helpful accommodation and digital nomad resources.

• Travel Planning & Accommodation
• Outdoor Adventure
• Hiking & Trekking
• Travel photography
• Travel Gear
• Photography licensing
• Adventure Photography shoots
• Tourism development

20. Bucket List Journey

By:  Annette White

Travel is all about adventures, and so is life. 

That’s the essence of the  Bucket List Journey   by Annette White. 

The blog’s tagline is “tools and inspiration to live your list.” It refers to a person’s “bucket list,” which is basically a list of goals and experiences they want in life. 

Annette didn’t always have such a positive outlook in life. She used to be diagnosed with anxiety, which caused her to miss out on life-enriching experiences and opportunities. 

Eventually, she decided that she’ll no longer become a prisoner of fear and uncertainty. She had courage and took charge of her life’s direction — something every aspiring blogger needs to do at one point. 

Bucket List Journey talks about bucket list-worthy destinations, motivation, money, and travel tips. Annette also imparts knowledge on people who also struggle with facing fear and making braver life decisions. 

• Overcoming fear and anxiety

21. Migrationology

By:  Mark Wiens

When I first visited  Migrationology , I wasn’t sure whether to classify it as a food or travel blog. 

Then I checked out Mark Wiens’s “About” page. There, I learned that he viewed food as a way to connect with people in various cultures. 

And to be exposed to these cultures, Mark dedicates his time, money, and efforts to travel. 

Mark makes sure the blog only focuses on content based on his personal travels. It’s made for people who want to experience the flavors of the world — in person or through Mark’s posts. 

Apart from general food travel blog posts and city guides, Migrationology also offers readers a “Food Tour” service. It is the result of a year of research done by Mark himself — in partnership with  Bangkok Vanguards . 

• Bangkok Food Tour

22. The Cranky Flier

By:  Brett Snyder

We already mentioned a blog about boats and another about trains. It’s time to talk about a blog on airplanes and air travel.

Cranky Flier   is a unique blog created by Brett Snyder — President and “Chief Airline Dork” of Cranky Flier LLC. 

Brett has been fascinated with airlines all his life. When he was young, he collected airline timetables and even spent a birthday with his grandmother watching planes land. 

As an adult, he spent several years in the airline industry fulfilling multiple roles. He became a sales intern at USAir, senior analyst at America West, marketing planning product at United, and so on.

Today, Brett publishes his opinions about the airline industry on Cranky Flier. He also updates several series, like “Worst Airline Ever,” “Airlines We Lost,” and “Across the Aisle Interviews.” 

I’ll let you determine what these series are all about based on what they’re called. 

• Airline industry
• Cranky Concierge service

23. Never Ending Footsteps

By:  Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is one of those bloggers who already knew what they wanted to be from an early age. 

She dreamt of traveling to new places, meeting new people, and exploring new cultures.  Never Ending Footsteps   is proof that she accomplished all three. 

The blog consists of posts about Lauren’s fulfilling travels to different countries. But unlike a lot of famous travel bloggers, she also talks about the downsides of being a digital nomad.

Never Ending Footsteps has a “The Incidents” blog section where Lauren discusses the not-so-sexy aspects of traveling. She has been scammed, attacked by monkeys, locked out of her room, lost her passport, and more. 

Despite these incidents, Lauren’s love for travel only grew. Such experiences increased her wisdom and travel acumen — resulting in some of the most insightful travel articles ever published.

Lauren also helps her audience get into the world of travel blogging. Check out “How to Start a Travel Blog” for information on web hosting, working with WordPress, and so on.

• Travel safety

24. A Dangerous Business Travel Blog

By:  Amanda Williams

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog   is a straightforward blog made to help people travel. 

It is created by Amanda Williams, who is a former journalist with degrees in journalism, hospitality, and tourism management.

Amanda first got into journalism by editing obituaries — eventually becoming a copy and layout editor at a newspaper company. She started A Dangerous Business Travel Blog in 2010 out of boredom and her need for a creative outlet. 

Fast forward to 2024, the blog now averages over 340,000 page views per month. Amanda also maintains a strong social media presence with thousands of followers across networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog contains posts about travel planning, packing, destinations, and inspiration. Everything is sprinkled with high-quality photos to keep readers engaged and enthused.  

The centerpiece of A Dangerous Business Travel Blog is “The 10-Day Adventure Project.” Put simply, it’s a collection of ready-to-use, self-guided itineraries that will shave hours off your travel planning process.

• Packing 
• DangerousBiz online course
• Freelance writing

25. Against the Compass

By:  Joan Torres

How do you make a travel blog stand out?

Joan Torres has a surefire answer: covering the most unusual and “off the beaten track” destinations.

Against The Compass   is a unique blog that talks about the travel routes and destinations you probably haven’t heard of. It covers destinations that people don’t normally include in their bucket list, like Pakistan, Tunisia, Syria, and other high-risk countries. 

Of course, Joan makes sure to highlight the importance of safety when traveling in relatively low-popularity destinations. He has comprehensive guides for solo female travel, travel insurance, and general travel safety.

• Travel insurance

26. Everything Everywhere 

By:  Gary Arndt

In travel blogging, a picture is undeniably worth a thousand words. There’s simply no excuse for any travel blogger to forego the inclusion of visual content in their posts.

Gary Arndt’s absolutely nailed it with his photography work for  Everything Everywhere .

Gary actually won multiple, major travel photography awards — more than any travel photographer. His photography is so good that I suggest you check the “Travel Photos” page on Everything Everywhere.

Go ahead, take a break and thank me later. 

Other than taking breathtaking photos, Gary also publishes detailed blog posts about the places he’s been. He’s been on the go for roughly 9 years non-stop, which means readers will never run out of material.

27. The Longest Way Home

By:  David Ways

The Longest Way Home   started as the personal travel journal of David Ways — a solo traveler in search of home. 

The blog originally started as David’s private, digital diary. As he journeyed across Europe and gained experience, it turned into a full-on blog with travel guides to specific locations. 

David finally found home in Nepal before traveling to other parts of Southeast Asia. 

He’s not the most nitpicky blogger in terms of grammar and spelling, but he’s definitely a brilliant storyteller. He’s also skilled in capturing and immortalizing moments into photos, which you can view on his blog’s gallery. 

The Longest Way Home has a library of content about various destinations, trekking, and travel planning. It also features in-depth travel guides to Nepal, Thailand, and overland travel — plus a mini-guide to Portugal.  

• Travel planning 
• Overland travel

28. Global Grasshopper

By:  Becky Moore

Global Grasshopper   is a travel blog run by Becky Moore and her team of professional travel photographers and writers. 

Becky’s first adventure was a six-month voyage in Southeast Asia. She considers herself a “semi-nomad,” traveling from country to country while nestling in Ireland, Australia, or parts of Southeast Asia. 

Global Grasshopper contains posts about popular travel destinations, hotels, and other places that deserve more attention. Readers will also enjoy the blog’s posts about dog-friendly travel — covering topics like dog booster seats and pet-friendly hotels. 

Since the blog is run by a team of experts, expect the content quality to be top-notch across the board. The team also organizes boutique tours, which readers can participate in for a memorable travel experience. 

• Traveling with a pet
• Boutique tours bookings

29. Girl Gone Travel

By:  Carol Cain

Carol Cain is an accomplished professional in the field of communications. She is a social media marketing expert, public speaker, branding agency owner, and award-winning travel blogger.

Girl Gone Travel   is the result of Carol’s innate passion for travel and knack for digital marketing. It is a well-designed, engaging, and filled with quality content that shines with Carol’s personality. 

Other than her travel-related posts, Girl Gone Travel also publishes a lot of posts about blogging and online branding. This makes it an excellent place to start for hopeful travelers who plan to have their own blog one day. 

• Destinations 
• Online branding
• Brave World Media company

30. HoneyTrek

By:  Mike and Anne Howard

Believe it or not,  HoneyTrek   is a travel blog about a honeymoon.

Yes — it’s probably the longest honeymoon ever.

Founders Mike and Anne Howard are a power couple with skills that can make any blog great. Anne is a former magazine editor whereas Mike’s a veteran digital media strategist and photographer. 

Together, they’ve honeymooned to over seven continents and 60 countries while creating the most romantic travel blog in the process. 

HoneyTrek contains a collection of posts about their travel destinations, experiences, and travel tips for all budgets. They also wrote two successful books: “Comfortably Wild” and “Ultimate Journeys for Two.” 

• Travel budgeting 
• Travel skills

31. Oneika The Traveller

By:  Oneika Raymond

Oneika The Traveller   is an award-winning travel blog by journalist, keynote speaker, and media personality Oneika Raymond. 

For those who don’t know Oneika, she’s the on-air travel and lifestyle correspondent for CTV Canada and NBC New York. Even more impressively, her blog won her a gold medal in the 2018 SATW Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition.

Oneika talks about travel destinations and her go-to tips for life on the road. With her experience in the field of journalism, she’s definitely one of the most engaging storytellers on this list.

• Fashion and style while traveling
• Traveling as a minority
• Personal opinions
• Social media marketing

32. The Adventurists

By:  Tom Morgan

The Adventurists   is hands down one of the most well-designed travel blogs in this post. 

The blog proves that integrating tons of video content into one page doesn’t have to affect its loading speed. In fact, the site loads surprisingly fast despite having several video panels on the homepage.

I’m not going to delve too deeply into this technical feat. What I’m going to focus on, however, is the brilliant team behind The Adventurists. 

The site is founded by “Chief Idiot” — Tom Morgan. Apparently, most of the crazy ideas featured on the blog were his. 

Every page on the site reflects Morgan and his team’s wackiness and passion for great adventures. They do, host, and document daring outdoor activities on air, land, and sea — plus, a whole lot of charity.

Their audience can also participate in these activities, which can be held in various parts of the globe. The “Monkey Run,” for example, is an event where participants race through dirt trails on tiny bikes.

The bottom line is, it’s hard to come up with unique ideas that set you apart in the blogging landscape. The Adventurists, on the other hand, managed to do so multiple times. 

• “The Adventures” events
• The “Shop of Stuff”

33. Time Travel Turtle

By:  Michael Turtle

Time Travel Turtle   is created by Australian Journalist Michael Turtle. 

Michael was born to be a storyteller and he knew it from an early age. 

In school, he ran the student newsletter and contributed a weekly column. He also filled the role of deputy editor of a university newspaper. 

Time Travel Turtle’s contains mainly posts on the locations that Michael has visited over the years. 

Like most renowned travel bloggers, Michael captures amazing photos that travel enthusiasts can fall in love with. He puts some of these photos up for sale to companies who’d like to feature those locations or properties. 

Michael continues to explore the world as a digital nomad. He also shares practical travel tips so readers can experience these adventures themselves. 

• Selling photography

34. Hand Luggage Only

By:  Yaya and Lloyd

Hand Luggage Only   is a hugely successful travel blog by couple Yaya and Lloyd. 

The site doles out travel advice, inspiration, photography tips, food reviews, and posts about must-see destinations. It also has a library of high-quality videos where Yaya and Lloyd describe their experiences in detail.  

Yaya and Lloyd started the blog in 2014 with a plan to share their travel stories with the world. Within a few hours, they published their first posts using photos they already took and edited. 

The moral of the story is, consider starting a blog if you already have a library of unused travel photos. 

35. Travel4Wildlife

By:  Christina Garcia and Hal Brindley 

It should only take anyone a second to figure out what  Travel4Wildlife   is all about. 

The blog is created by couple Christina Garcia and Hal Brindley out of their passion for wildlife. 

Hal is an experienced wildlife photographer for organizations like the Nature Conservancy Magazine, SEE Turtles, and RARE Conservation. Christina, on the other hand, is an experienced zoologist who worked on studies on wolves, cheetahs, and leopards. 

Travel4Wildlife’s goal is to increase awareness and increase the appreciation for wildlife. More importantly, it was Christina and Hal’s life goal to promote wildlife conservation through responsible tourism. 

Behind the scenes, the couple teams up to create compelling articles that focus on wildlife in specific destinations. The blog covers a range of species on different continents — from owls in South Africa to polar bears in Canada. 

• Wildlife tour reviews
• Responsible travel

36. The Insatiable Traveler

By:  Susan Portnoy

Susan Portnoy, also called  The Insatiable Traveler   on her blog, is a seasoned travel writer and photographer. 

Susan’s last full-time job was VP of corporate communications at Condé Nast. When that door closed, she took on a freelancing career as she learned the art of photography. 

Fast forward a few years, and she has enough accolades to make photography degree holders envious. 

Her photographic works were featured by organizations like National Geographic and companies like Bing. She also won awards like the SATW Lowell Thomas Award and the 2018 Gold in the Muster Photo Competition. 

The main focal points of The Insatiable Traveler include destinations, cruises, photography, and travel gear. Susan also covers the safaris in various regions, like Tanzania, Namibia, and Kenya. 

37. View from the Wing

By:  Gary Leff 

Just like Brett Snyder, Gary Leff of  View From The Wing   is an expert in all things air travel. 

Gary was named one of the “World’s Top Travel Experts” by Condé Nast Traveler since 2010. He also co-founded InsideFlyer.com — a community made by and for frequent flyers.

View From The Wing is a goldmine of timeless tips on airline miles, credit cards, hotels, and business travel. No matter your sub-niche in travel, I recommend checking it out for ways to maximize your frequent flyer miles. 

Gary also publishes posts called “Trip Reports” about establishments, food, and various attractions. 

• Hotel reviews
• Credit cards

38. Uncornered Market

By:  Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott

Dan Noll and Audrey Scott are a pair of adventurers, storytellers, and tourism advisors who advocate for responsible traveling. 

They created  Uncornered Market   — a responsible tourism blog — after leaving their secure and stable lifestyle in Prague. Prior to that, they lived in San Francisco and took a leap of faith for the sake of avoiding regrets.  

It’s clear that both Dan and Audrey believed that fulfillment can’t be found within the confines of your comfort zone. They explored, made connections, and shared their experiences through their travel blog. 

Some of the topics you’ll find in Uncornered Market are about destinations, sustainable tourism, food, and trekking. Dan and Audrey also write about personal growth and experiential travel. 

Uncornered Market is also a tourism development and marketing consultancy company. They help travel companies, destinations, and tourism organizations build their brands and deliver their message to a wider audience. 

• Responsible tourism
• Tourism development and marketing consultancy services

39. Jessie on a Journey

By:  Jessica “Jessie” Festa

Like plenty of bloggers, Jessica Festa needed a taste of life before discovering her true calling. 

In her youth, Jessie traveled to mostly cruises in the Caribbean and road trips in North America. She also experienced being a sightseeing guide in New York. 

Jessie on a Journey   is the result of her pursuing her dreams of getting paid to do something she loves. She now blogs about being a solo female traveler, blogging it, and profiting off of it. 

I’m sure a lot of big-name bloggers are all too familiar with how Jessie made the blogging vision a reality.

For a long time, she felt that the workaday lifestyle isn’t for her. It made her feel like she’s living everyone else’s life — not the kind of life she wanted to keep. 

Despite the disapproval of loved ones, Jessie decided to quit her secure job in favor of being a travel blogger. 

She was just as unprepared as most people before starting their own blog. The key difference is, she went out there and took her first step. 

• Travel blog consulting
• Tour company consulting

40. Legal Nomads

By:  Jodi Ettenberg

Back when Jodi Ettenberg was in law school, she never would’ve guessed she’d run a successful travel and food business. 

That happens to a lot of people, especially those who never thought of giving priority to their passions. 

It’s just a hunch, but I think the name  Legal Nomads   had something to do with Jodi’s background in law. 

Legal Nomads highlights destinations and local cultures just as insightfully as other travel blogs. What makes it different is that Jodi focuses on local cuisines to experience and tell the stories of each destination. 

A huge part of Jodi’s blog is about wellness and gluten-free eating. She then utilized her knowledge and experience to create detailed restaurant cards, which travelers can use when visiting certain countries. 

• Gluten-free restaurant cards
• The Legal Nomads Shop

41. Indiana Jo

By:  Jo Fitzsimons

Like Jodi Ettenberg, Jo Fitzsimons also used to practice law before becoming a successful travel and lifestyle writer. 

Indiana Jo   started way back in 2010 where Jo can comfortably type away her thoughts and musings. Fed up with her full-time job, she went out to see the world as a digital nomad.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Indiana Jo, however. According to her, she thought about quitting the blog several times before finally realizing that it’s a lifetime thing. 

Jo writes about her travel experiences, destinations, wine, and food. She also shares travel planning tips along with a long list of content about topics that personally interest her. 

• Travel health and safety

42. TravelFreak

By:  Jeremy Scott Foster

TravelFreak   is the brainchild of Jeremy Scott Foster who left America in the middle of a recession and to Australia. 

For a while, he racked up some savings as a traveling bartender. It took some time before he finally made the switch to be a digital nomad and online entrepreneur. 

Jeremy created the blog to help people create opportunities to achieve the fulfilling life they deserve. 

He writes about travel advice, destinations, gear, and ways to get your finances in order as you travel. This includes guides on how to land and keep a job abroad along with resources on reliable booking websites. 

I personally like the way Jeremy designed TravelFreak to provide the best possible user experience. Unlike a traditional layout, the site features a search bar so readers can jump right into the content they need.

TravelFreak has been featured in Forbes, National Geographic, The New York Times, and a few other big-name publications.   

43. The Everywhereist

By:  Geraldine DeRuiter

Before anything else, yes — that’s Rand Fishkin in the photo above. 

And yes, the next travel blogger on this list is Rand’s longtime sweetheart and wife. 

Geraldine DeRuiter was a former copywriter and went with Rand in his travels, which are often business-related. She then turned to the habit of documenting their travel experiences, which she described as “love letters” to her husband. 

Today, Geraldine works full-time on  The Everywhereist   — named by Time magazine as one of the best blogs in 2011. 

The Everywhereist contains posts about food and Geraldine’s travel experiences along with a comprehensive Philadelphia travel guide. The guide contains information on where to go, eat, shop, and stay. 

Geraldine also wrote a book called “All Over The Place.” It chronicles how she embraced her love for blogging after being laid off, which aspiring bloggers can draw inspiration from. 

• All Over The Place book sales

44. Keep Calm and Travel

By:  Clelia Mattana

Keep Calm and Travel   is a travel blog created by serial traveler Clelia Mattana. 

Ever since she was 19, Clelia is a certified sea lover and globetrotter. But like many travel bloggers, she was given a choice between a secure job and the traveling lifestyle. 

Clelia’s finalized her choice when she bought a one-way ticket to Asia. She then created Keep Calm and Travel to send a simple message:

“No matter what your age is, or your budget, or status, you can travel and live your life on your own terms.”

The blog’s topics include destinations across continents, photography, and travel gear. She also has a dedicated page for Sardinia, which is one of her absolute favorite travel destinations.

45. Practical Wanderlust

By:  Lia and Jeremy Garcia

Lia and Jeremy Garcia, who aptly labeled themselves a “travel couple” on Instagram, are the minds behind  Practical Wanderlust .  

Jeremy is a film degree holder whose passions include writing and directing. He also became a high school teacher who taught filmmaking and digital media art.

Lia, on the other hand, has a fashion design and apparel merchandising degree. She took on roles in corporate merchandising before becoming a business systems analyst. 

Why did I tell you all this? Simple: I want you to know what the pair had to give up pursuing their dreams of traveling. 

Practical Wanderlust’s goal is to help other people enjoy travel in the most realistic and sensible approach possible. The blog is filled with detailed content on planning memorable trips on a budget, where to go, and staying safe.   

Lia and Jeremy also host their own podcast, which is available on Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 

• Coaching and mentoring services
• Sponsored podcast episodes

46. Expert Vagabond

By:  Matthew “Matt” Karsten

Matthew Karsten, AKA the  Expert Vagabond , has been a travel blogger, photographer, and digital nomad for nine years.

He talks about budget travel tips, destinations, travel photography, and strategies to make the digital nomadic life work. 

Matt is a business degree holder who spent time freelancing as a nightlife and event photographer. While he admits it was fun, he knew that he wants and deserves something more. 

After a year of downsizing his life, eating homemade food, selling eBooks, and saving every penny, he was ready. He set out to obtain a different kind of wealth — that which is made with adventures and experiences.

• Nomadic living

47. The Voyageur

By:  Pauline Chardin

Pauline Chardin is a France-based fashion designer, photographer, and art director. 

She always had a soft spot for travel — driven by her appreciation for picturesque architecture, landscapes, and good food. She started  The Voyageur   to help people view the world through her voice and eyes. 

The Voyageur is a simple, yet aesthetic website achieved through Pauline’s incredible photography skills. Apart from itineraries and posts about hotels, food, art, and architecture, the site also has a sizeable photo gallery.

Images are accompanied by a brief article that describes the destination’s history and Pauline’s thoughts and emotions during her visit. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s something about this content format that’s truly engaging and relaxing. 

• Art and architecture

48. Amateur Traveler

By:  Chris Christensen

Don’t be fooled by the name —  Amateur Traveler   is by no means run by an amateur.

Chris Christensen is a skilled photographer, travel writer, and podcast host. The site also utilizes a long list of monetization strategies that I believe every blogger should learn. 

True, he wasn’t the most experienced traveler when he started the blog. Before he created Amateur Traveler, he was a full-time EVP of engineering and operations for a company based in Silicon Valley. 

In his defense, he grew up in a family that traveled a lot to national parks in a trailer. He also learned a lot of foreign languages, which he believes is a window into understanding and embracing different cultures. 

Amateur Traveler discusses destinations, travel budgeting, planning, gear, and booking. The site also features a weekly podcast on the top destinations around the world. 

• Amateur Traveler Shop powered by Etsy
• Podcast advertisements
• Social media and content marketing consulting services
• Content writing services
• Paid guest posts

49. Girl Eat World

By:  Melissa Hie

Melissa Hie is the “Girl” in  Girl Eat World  — a name that encapsulates what the whole blog is all about. 

You see, Melissa’s three passions are food, travel, and storytelling. She started the blog in 2015 as a digital diary for herself and friends who need travel tips. 

Prior to her blog’s success, she amassed quite a following on Instagram. This springboarded her blogging career, which she put in the back burner after focusing on her full-time career.

Girl Eat World is essentially a compendium of Melissa’s travel stories and travel planning guides. She also has an iconic style of capturing Instagram posts, which must be seen to be appreciated. 

50. The Adventure Junkies

By:  Antonio Cala and Amanda Zeisset

The Adventure Junkies   is definitely not your average travel blog. 

It’s not just about the travel stories of founders Antonio Cala and Amanda Zeisset. Upon visiting the blog for the first time, you’ll realize that it’s all about the community the blog has built. 

New visitors are encouraged to join “ Summit ” — a free community for people who seek adventures through travel and outdoor activities. There, members can connect, plan events, share posts, ask questions, form groups, and discuss anything related to travel. 

The Adventure Junkies also compile guides and resources about outdoor activities like diving, kayaking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. There’s also a section for visitors who’d like to learn about outdoor and underwater photography.

Antonio and Amanda started The Adventure Junkies as a personal blog about their three years of cycling. Over time, their readers began asking questions on how they can plan their own adventures. 

The couple then realized that they need to create something more than a personal blog. As such, they transformed The Adventure Junkies as a one-stop shop for adventurists.  

• The Adventure Junkies Store
• Paid digital guides

51. A Broken Backpack Travel Blog

By:  Melissa Giroux

Melissa Giroux used to be a social worker who only traveled once a year. 

Melissa created  A Broken Backpack   a year after her journey in the Canadian Rockies — hitch-hiking from point A to B. She continued working on her blog as a creative outlet while working on a farm in Australia. 

It didn’t take long before A Broken Backpack’s popularity gained momentum and gave Melissa a new frontier. 

The website contains crucial tips on travel gear, budgeting, destinations, and the life of a digital nomad. Melissa also put together in-depth guides on travel blogging, moving to another country as an expat, and backpacking.

• SEO eBook on Nomad Life 101

52. The World Travel Guy

By : David Leiter

David Leiter is an American travel blogger currently based in Bali, Indonesia, with his wife Intan (who’s a Bali local).

They travel around the world and try to document the most scenic destinations by creating articles, photos, videos, and guides for other travelers.

David runs  The World Travel Guy , an adventure travel blog that he started when he was a solo traveler, but now covers their travels around the globe as a couple.

In total, they’ve visited dozens of countries, while also checking off some bucket list adventures like a Komodo dragon safari in Indonesia, the Mount Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, and a bunch of world monuments like the Angkor Wat and Taj Mahal.

• Adventure Travel
• Destination Guides
• Budget Tips
• Travel Photography
• Drone Videos
• Affiliate Partnerships
• Display Advertisements
• Sponsored Trips
• YouTube Videos

53. Life Part 2

By:  Jonathan Look Jr. and Sarah Wilson

The last blog on this list that your best life can start at any time you choose. 

Let me tell you the story behind  Life Part 2   and the people behind it.

Jonathan Look Jr. and Sarah Wilson are both happy retirees with a simple mantra: “don’t waste your retirement.”

To them, retirement isn’t about being comfortable and secure. Rather, it’s all about the freedom to listen to your heart and follow where it takes you. 

Jonathan and Sarah met in Chiang Mai, Thailand where they both agreed to see the world as a couple. 

Life Part 2 is a mix of all things travel. At times, there’ll be a post about remote destinations and backpacking, and at other times, the theme is luxury travel. 

You will, however, notice that the content topics on the blog often revolve around retirement, minimalism, and travel. 

Planning to go on your own travel adventures? Perhaps you’re thinking of starting your very own travel blog?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a case of wanderlust or the desire to be a travel blogger yourself. 

The list above has some of the best travel blogs ever created. They can provide you with ideas and inspiration for your next trip or first-ever travel blog post. 

If you think I missed a great travel blog that everyone should read, let me know in the comments below. Good luck!

Ankit Singla

Ankit Singla is a full-time blogger, YouTuber, author, and public speaker. He founded and leads Master Blogging . With over 13 years of blogging expertise, he has assisted numerous aspiring bloggers in achieving their dreams of creating successful blogs.

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The 15 Best Books I Read in 2022

For the last five years, I’ve concluded the year with a list of my favorite reads. As a writer, reading comes with the territory. Writers just tend to read a lot. Then again, I’ve always been into reading ever since I was a little kid. I devour books. In a good year, I’ll read close to 80.

This year was not one of those years. I only read about 50 books.

As I compiled this list, I couldn’t help but notice that I gravitated a lot more to history, literature, and self-improvement than I had in the past. Though this is a travel website and I like to read a lot of travel books, I’ve found that so many fall into the same narrative arc that I just needed a break from another book on someone quitting their job to travel.

Instead, I’ve gotten a lot more into destination-specific travelogues rather than personal travelogues. That got me down a history rabbit hole and it’s where I’ve stayed most of the year.

I wonder if that will change in the new year. What will next year bring? Who knows!

Here’s what I loved this year though:

1. Sahara Unveiled , by William Langewiesche

2. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage , by Alfred Lansing

3. The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi , by Richard Grant

4. The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific , by Brandon Presser

5. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals , by Oliver Burkeman

6. Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving , by Celeste Headlee

7. Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life , by Luke Burgis

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

9. How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States , by Daniel Immerwahr

10. Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America’s Forgotten Border , by Porter Fox

11. The Song of Achilles , by Madeline Miller

12. How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together , by Dan Kois

13. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey , by Candice Millard

This book traces Theodore Roosevelt’s journey through the River of Doubt. After he lost the Presidential election in 1912, he had the opportunity to go down to Brazil. Originally supposed to be an easy trip, he opts to map the River of Doubt with Cândido Rondon, a Brazilian Colonel put in charge of him. Along the way, they get sick, have frightening encounters with natives, have to deal with murder, and experience a lack of provisions as they map this never-before-mapped river. It was an eye-opening read.

14. 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans , by Karl Pillemer

This book focuses on 30 lessons learned from people at the end of their life. Pillemer interviews hundreds of seniors to find out what their biggest lessons in life were and then distills it down to 30 that cut across work, life, relationships, marriage, money, success, friendship, and more. At 41, I have learned a lot of these lessons already but it was a good reminder of what is important and what is worth spending my time and energy on. It’s definitely a book anyone, especially those who are young, should read.

15. The Vagabond’s Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel , by Rolf Potts

Rolf is one of the original budget travel experts and his first book Vagabonding is a travel classic. His newest book is all about bringing your adventurous, curious, and open-minded travel mindset home with you. With insightful quotes and reflections, the book showcases just how much travel is a way of life and not just the act of “going somewhere.” After years of limited travel due to COVID, this book is the perfect reminder that travel is a mindset that should be embraced anywhere and everywhere you go.

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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Literary Travel: 13 Destinations for Book Lovers

Literary Travel: Must See Destinations for Book Lovers

Traveling and reading are two of my passions that don’t often overlap. Sure, you can always find books that inspire wanderlust, set in exotic locations with incredible descriptions. But, there’s nothing like actually traveling to experience a location in person.

For those like me, who want to bring books to life, I created this literary travel list. I included locations that have a distinct connection to literature. That could include literary travel to destinations described in iconic books, cities with incredible book shops, or walking in the footsteps of beloved authors.

Step outside the pages of books and get lost instead in these literary travel destinations!

*Disclosure – I earn a small commission for any products purchased through the literary travel links below. Thank you for supporting this book blog!

Literary Travel: Book Lover Destinations

Bath, england.

If you’re a Jane Austen devotee, make your literary travel trip to Bath in mid-September to experience the ten day Jane Austen festival . Each day is full of fascinating events including walking tours, plays, readings, and of course a Regency ball!

• Where To Stay – A reasonably priced option that incorporates local character but a familiar chain is Abbey Hotel in Bath, owned by Marriott. 
• Walking Tours – Learn all about the city’s history and see the most popular sites with a certified walking tour guide! 

Ashdown Forest, United Kingdom

Relive your childhood by visiting the forest that inspired the 100 Acre Wood from A.A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh books. Located just over an hour’s drive from London, this would be the perfect day trip from the city! There are various “Pooh Walks” to take through the forest that visit beloved spots in the 100 Acre Wood. You can even play Pooh Sticks on a designated Pooh Sticks bridge!

• Where To Stay – It’s extremely easy to get around the city using their metro system, The London Underground. So, you can stay pretty much anywhere and still have access to everything you want to see. To avoid insane prices, stay a bit further outside of the main touristy area, like at London Marriott Regent’s Park .
• 221B Baker St – Visit the fictional home of Sherlock Holmes at the Sherlock Holmes Museum actually located on Baker Street
• The George Inn – Frequented by Charles Dickens and even Shakespeare, this pub maintains an old world, literary atmosphere even today.
• Charing Cross Road – Famously home to a number of bookshops. Although many have closed down, there are still plenty to visit within blocks of each other!

Massachusetts

When you want a lot of bang for your buck, Massachusetts is the literary travel destination for you! There are tons of bookish sites to visit within a 1-2 hour drive. 

• Amherst  – Spend time strolling through the beautiful campus of Amherst College, where Robert Frost taught. The main library is named after him and contains a number of treasures. The Emily Dickinson museum / historic home is also located here.
• Concord – Visit the homes of famous authors like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, and Nathaniel Hawthorne! You can also stop by Walden Pond and explore the setting that inspired Thoreau. 
• Lenox – Stop by Lenox to see The Mount, the gorgeous house where Edith Wharton lived and worked. You’ll also want to grab a drink and a book at The Bookstore, a wonderful bookstore with a wine bar on-site.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

I’m assuming most of us who’ve read A Song of Ice and Fire have also seen the Game of Thrones TV show. If so, Dubrovnik is the setting for many of the King’s Landing scenes! Beyond the Game of Thrones connection, Dubrovnik is simply a stunning literary travel city full of gorgeous views and streets to explore.

• Where To Stay – Steps from historic Old Town is the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik . This Instagram worthy hotel offers luxury and location at a reasonable rate!
• What To Do – The most obvious choice for this literary travel post is the Game of Thrones walking tour ! Explore the sites where the show was filmed and learn about the city on this 3 hour tour.

Los Angeles, California

My fellow romance readers, this is the literary travel destination for you! The Ripped Bodice, a bookstore dedicated to romance books, is located just outside the city. They also participate in the LATimes Festival of Books, bringing some blockbuster romance authors in for signings and panels

• Where To Stay – Avoid the madness of downtown LA and stay nearby in Beverly Hills! It’s only a 10 min drive from the Ripped Bodice, so enjoy the glitz and glamor of this neighborhood at The Beverly Hilton .
• I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Sprinkles ATM in Beverly Hills! It’s the first ever cupcake ATM – located just outside of Sprinkles Bakery. Yum!
• Greystone Mansion is another must-visit. A sprawling Tudor mansion featured in dozens of films and TV shows is open to the public!

Anne Frank House, The Netherlands

One of the most memorable literary travel places I’ve visited is the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Most of us probably read The Diary of Anne Frank in school, but nothing prepares you for the overwhelming emotions of seeing where she wrote those words.

• Where To Stay – Less than a 15 min walk from the Anne Frank House (and only a few blocks from the main train station) is the Kimpton De Witt Hotel . This boutique European hotel is part of the IHG family and boasts a fantastic location and reasonable price.
• What To Do – Literature and art go hand in hand, so take in one or two of the astonishing art museums located in the city. The Rijksmuseum is the state museum, full of renowned Dutch artists, including Vermeer and Rembrandt. I also highly suggest The Van Gogh Museum to view the world’s largest collection of his paintings and drawings.

Portland, Oregon

One of the most iconic bookstores in the US is Powell’s City of Books in Portland. It’s one of those bucket list bookstores I’ve always wanted to visit and would be worth a trip to Portland for that experience alone!

• Where To Stay – The Hampton Inn Portland Pearl District is only 3 blocks from Powell’s and right beside North Park, one of the lovely green spaces in the city.
• What To Do – In addition to the visit to Powell’s, if you can plan your trip in November you could catch Portland’s annual book festival! For a bit of nostalgia, there’s also a park featuring statues of famous Beverly Clearly characters.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Walk in the footsteps and visit the cafe where J.K. Rowling penned portions of the Harry Potter books in Edinburgh! Enjoy getting inspired by the incredible architecture and old world feel of this very first UNESCO City of Literature.

• Where To Stay – If you want to go all out, there’s no place better in Edinburgh than The Balmoral . This is essentially a castle in the middle of the city AND it’s where J.K. Rowling finished the Harry Potter series. For a much cheaper option close to Old Town, try the Residence Inn Edinburgh by Marriott!
• What To Do – Visit The Elephant House Cafe where Rowling penned early parts of the Harry Potter books. You can also visit Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, a graveyard which contains gravestones with names that inspired character names in the books, including Tom Riddle! Then stroll to The Writer’s Museum, where artifacts and memorabilia from famous Scottish writers like Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns are displayed.

Chicago, Illinois

If you’re looking for a wide breadth of literary travel connections, what’s better than a writing museum! The American Writers Museum highlights famous Chicagoan writers like Sandra Cisernos and Ernest Hemingway as well as celebrating all aspects of the reading and writing in America.

• Where To Stay – The Virgin Hotel in Chicago’s Loop District is listed as the best place to stay downtown! Richard Branson’s hotel is full of unique touches and amenities that bring people back over and over again, for a reasonable price!
• What To Do – Take a break from books and learn more about Chicago’s sordid history with a crime / mob tour !

Prince Edward Island, Canada

Anne of Green Gable fans, step into this magical land where Anne Shirley delighted and exasperated all those around her. The island has embraced this connection and features many places to visit inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery’s stories.

• Where To Stay – Nothing completes a quaint visit to PEI like a stay in a charming cottage.  Swept Away has a variety of options that can be found here . Or select from all the cottages the island has to offer!
• What To Do – Prince Edward Island Tourism has put together a full Anne of Green Gables Itinerary ! So check off these places one by one for an immersive experience.

Eastern Townships, Quebec, Canada

One of the rare murder mystery series that has utterly captivated my heart is the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. The recurring location of Three Pines is mentioned or plays a significant role in the vast majority of the books. Although Three Pines is not a real place, you can take your literary travel route to Knowlton, Penny’s hometown and the inspiration for the charming town.

• Where To Stay – Imagine staying at the Three Pines B&B when you’re visiting one of these delightful options . 
• What To Do – Follow along this route to visit places that inspired various parts of the book series. 

Verona, Italy

This is one of the literary travel destinations I’ve actually visited! Located in the unassuming town of Verona is the balcony that inspired William Shakespeare to write the iconic scene in Romeo and Juliet. It’s tucked away off one of the streets in a tiny courtyard, making it all the more magical for it’s simplicity.

• Where To Stay – If you’re a Shakespeare fan, might as well enjoy the true experience and stay in the Hotel Giuliette E Romeo ! This boutique hotel is located steps from the famous balcony and in the midst of the historic center of Verona.
• What To Do – Since it’s not a large town, spend a day or two here in Verona exploring the historic part of the city, then venture by train to Florence or Venice!

Guided Literary Travel

If you’re looking for someone else to take over the planning and details of your literary travel, World Strides offers a variety of literary tours!

These tours offer options in Britain, Scotland, France, Germany, and more! Visit classic literary travel locations or places inspired by more recent novels like Harry Potter and The Da Vinci code.

Are there any literary travel destinations you would add to this list?

One Comment

I’ve been to Chicago a handful of times but have never been to the American Writers Museum! A great item to add to the bucket list, along with some others on your list that I’d never thought of before!

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Reader's Digest

15 Travel Books That Will Inspire You to See the World

Posted: September 5, 2023 | Last updated: September 5, 2023

The travel books that will transport you to a happy place

In a perfect world, we'd all get to take an epic vacation whenever we felt like it. But in the real world of hectic jobs, nonstop child care and other adulting responsibilities, jet-setting falls lower on the priority list. Sigh. This is exactly why travel books are so magical.

Soaking in the sights and smells of a new locale is dreamy, and travel books help us live vicariously through someone else's experience. From armchair-adventure memoirs to escapist beach reads , great travel books temporarily transport us whenever we can squeeze in time for another chapter—on the commuter bus, over a lunch break or in the bathtub.

Wondering what the best books are to grab if you're craving adventure or tropical vibes? We've rounded up 15 of the best travel books to suit this exact purpose. They will whisk you away, as will titles from new and favorite authors .

Psst ... once you're through with these, satisfy your Emily Henry fix, get tips for reading all the Elin Hilderbrand books in order and find out where to find books like The Summer I Turned Pretty .

Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.

When you pine for an outdoorsy vacation

The unlikely thru-hiker by derick lugo.

Setting: The Appalachian Trail (from Georgia to Maine)

It doesn't require a passport or a plane ticket, but the Appalachian Trail is a big change of scenery. It's also not for the faint of heart. In Derick Lugo's 2019 debut memoir , The Unlikely Thru-Hiker , he describes his long walk in the woods in vivid detail—and with heartwarming humor.

Before his foray into one of America's great wildernesses, Lugo had never gone camping. He had never really hiked either. And that's what makes this travel book such a perfect, immersive escape. Discover the iconic trek through a beginner's eyes, and don't be surprised if his tale inspires you to hit your own trails this summer.

If you want to live in France

A year in provence by peter mayle.

Setting: Provence, Southern France

Perhaps one of the most beloved travel books since its 2010 debut, A Year in Provence delivers what it promises: a welcome escape to sunny, lavender-filled, Mediterranean-hugging southern France. There, steeped in the daily wonders of Provençal life, author Peter Mayle describes his experience of moving into a 200-year-old French farmhouse in a small village. This witty, easy summer read is a book that even Julia Child would have approved of.

Looking for your next great book? Read four of today’s bestselling novels in the time it takes to read one with  Reader’s Digest Select Editions . And be sure to follow the  Select Editions page on Facebook !

If you're dying to visit India

The widows of malabar hill by sujata massey.

Setting: Bombay, India

Welcome to India! It doesn't take a memoir or travelogue to make an immersive travel book. Sujata Massey's imaginative mystery series set in 1920s Bombay will make you feel like you've stepped back in time to witness India in the final chapters of the British Raj. In the first installment, The Widows of Malabar Hill (2018), female lawyer extraordinaire Perveen Mistry fights back against crimes against women. Massey's perspective gives readers behind-the-scenes glimpses of daily life for women in both Muslim and Hindu households.

When you're wistful for a Roman holiday

Four seasons in rome by anthony doerr.

Setting: Rome, Italy

Anthony Doerr's 2007 Four Seasons in Rome will whisk you away to Italy's ancient capital in an instant. During his sojourn at a writing studio in Rome, Doerr drank deeply from Rome's culture, food and daily life. He plumbed the depths of the city's history and spent days traipsing up and down its countless alleys and streets. He visited temples and attended a vigil for Pope John Paul II. He befriended his neighborhood storekeepers and bakers. He immersed himself this way for an entire year, then wrote one of the best books all about it so you could experience it too.

If you want to hike the Himalayas

High by erika fatland.

Setting: The Himalayas (Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal and China)

Not everyone is up for remote lands with peaks and plateaus at dizzyingly high altitudes. Thanks to Erika Fatland's High , your mind can go where your body doesn't. Her well-researched and recorded travels through the Himalayas unveil a patchwork of subcultures, languages and religions. This travel book is a virtual getaway to cloud-piercing towns shrouded in thin, cold air and intriguing encounters with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and shamanic faiths—all part and parcel of the lives of the Himalayan highlanders.

When an Aussie adventure isn't in the budget

In a sunburned country by bill bryson.

Setting: Australia

Bill Bryson has written stacks of nonfiction books , but his droll, sharply observant travelogue through Australia is perhaps his most vivid. The so-called Land of Oz roars to life in Bryson's descriptions of traveling through its wild array of landscapes—bustling urban centers, scalding-hot mining country, scorching barren desert and wild, roiling coastlines. In a Sunburned Country (2000) is chock-full of exciting tidbits about the history and culture Down Under, as well as sidesplitting and terrifying encounters with locals and wildlife. Sure, he wrote a legendary Appalachian Trail memoir too— A Walk in the Woods —but we've already got that destination covered for you.

If you dream of exploring Egypt

Palace walk by naguib mahfouz.

Setting: Cairo, Egypt

Nobel Prize–winning author Naguib Mahfouz's 2011 start to his Cairo Trilogy, Palace Walk , places readers in the middle of 20th-century Egypt. They're swept into the drama of a middle-class family with struggles and tensions that mirror the greater turbulence of Egypt under the thumb of British rule. The father, al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad, rules his house with an iron fist. A vivid exploration of complex Cairo, plus reflections on how each family member deals with the controlling household and government, makes this a moving historical fiction work that is also one of the great travel books about northern Africa.

When you're craving an Italian escape

One italian summer by rebecca serle.

Setting: Positano, Italy

It's no secret that Rebecca Serle's 2022 captivating read, One Italian Summer , is dripping with European charm. Pair this book with an Aperol spritz or Italian soda for full effect. Part mother-daughter book , part fantasy book (with a bit of romance sprinkled in), the story takes place at the Hotel Poseidon, perched on Italy's Amalfi coast. A woman grieving her mother arrives at the door with a head full of questions. Is she happy? Does she even love her husband? What's the meaning of life? As the summer unfolds, the magic of Positano—and knowledge about her mother's past life—transforms her forever.

If you long for a peaceful Japanese getaway

Autumn light by pico iyer.

Setting: Japan

At first glance, a book called Autumn Light doesn't seem like the right fit for any summertime reading you may have planned. But the season you read this book doesn't matter a bit. There's so much going on below the surface, especially if you're craving the tranquility of a trip to Japan. Pico Iyer's 2019 memoir describes his return to Japan to attend to and process a loved one's death. He steps back into ordinary Japanese life and gently, graciously invites his readers along. You'll find yourself reflecting on age, life, death and the poetry of daily rituals. It's a quiet book but also a beautiful, transportive mental journey to somewhere far away.

When you can't decide where you want to go

Shape of a boy by kate wickers.

Setting: The world (including Mexico, Jordan, Borneo, Sri Lanka and more)

Sometimes a travel book, like travel itself, is more about the journey than the destination. That's the case with Shape of a Boy , the 2022 memoir by British travel journalist Kate Wickers. Reading this book is like jet-setting with a  trusted friend —with her three boys and husband along for good measure. Each chapter starts off with a new location on their round-the-world trip, describing their experiences and the lessons they learned there. It's a delightful smattering of stories sure to spark wanderlust for just about anywhere in the world.

If you want to spend summer in the Loire Valley

A perfect vintage by chelsea fagan.

Setting: Loire Valley, central France

Chelsea Fagan's first novel, A Perfect Vintage , debuts on June 6, just days before the summer solstice. Fagan lives in France, which gives her a leg up on delectable descriptions of French food and the sun-soaked land of France's Loire Valley. The perfect setting aside, the book details a summer in the life of Lea Mortimer, a successful 30-something woman who's too busy and independent to worry about relationships or starting a family.

She's been summoned by work to France to help transform an old French estate into a perfect boutique hotel. All's well until Lea begins to develop feelings for the considerably younger son of her new boss. It's a deliciously self-aware, beautifully set story of a modern woman struggling to have it all: money, deep friendships ... and maybe even love.

If you want a whirlwind trip around the globe

Wanderlust by elle everhart.

Setting: All over the world

Picture this: You're stuck in the office for the summer, plotting your next move up the corporate ladder. On a whim, you call in to the local radio station when they're running a once-in-a-lifetime travel sweepstake. And you win. The trouble is that you're sent packing with someone else, and he happens to be a guy you met at a bar just once. That's how Dylan and her almost-fling, Jack, travel together through Marrakech, Tokyo, Sydney and more. Elle Everhart's July 2023 debut novel, Wanderlust , is a perfect summer read—plenty of sexy enemies-to-lovers tension and enough immersive travel descriptions to feel like you got a whirlwind vacation too.

If you'd love a rugged adventure across Asia

Lands of lost borders: a journey on the silk road by kate harris.

Setting: Turkey to China, with plenty of stops in between

Modern explorer Kate Harris is a pro at wrangling remote, edge-of-the-world destinations into riveting armchair travel reading. In other words, this travel book might inspire and awe you even if it doesn't compel you to plan your own harebrained 10-month bike trip across Asia. The lush descriptions of her natural surroundings and sometimes bemusing, sometimes touching encounters with ordinary people along the way make Lands of Lost Borders come to life in full force.

If you're having Caribbean dreams

Where the rhythm takes you by sarah dass.

Setting: Tobago

Island life doesn't get much more romantic than this. Sarah Dass's 2021 novel is technically a young adult book , but Where the Rhythm Takes You offers tropical escapism for readers of all ages. Reyna's family owns Plumeria, a beachside resort in Tobago. It's a perfect paradise for guests, but ever since her best friend and first love left the island, Reyna dreams of escaping into the real world too. Only now that she's poised for departure, her flame is back—this time as a Grammy-nominated superstar. What will he think of his sheltered island friend now? Will his presence be enough to make her stay a little longer? Crack this spine on a hot summer day to fully soak up the distinct island vibes.

When a Greek vacation is all you think about

The second chance hotel by sierra godfrey.

Setting: The fictional Greek island of Astori

After getting fired from her corporate job and skipping out on her best friend's wedding, Amelia Lang needs a major life do-over. She's well aware of it, but she didn't expect it to come in the form of inheriting a hotel on a small Greek island. She also didn't expect to be physically attracted to one of the guests. The Second Chance Hotel (September 2023) is a lighthearted romance at heart. It's also a great travel book, thanks to its incredible descriptions of Greek island living, from the sun-ripened olives to the delicious gulps of sea air.

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