With Christmas fast approaching, so too does the eternal dilemma of what to buy your loved ones. And for those of us whose friends and family boast a penchant for travel, few things satiate said wanderlust as well as a brilliant travelogue. From coffee table tomes perfect for planning your next trip to chic travelogues with tips on travelling in style, to tales of down under from one of the world’s best-loved travel writers, we’ve curated six of the best books to inspire travel.
Books That Inspire Travel
Wanderful: The Modern Bohemian’s Guide to Traveling in Style
A brilliant fusion of style and travel inspiration, Wanderful, by fashion maven Andrea Lester Eato,n is the perfect present for the bohemian at heart with a thirst for wanderlust. Featuring nine different road trips – some by sea, some by desert; some by forest; Wanderful will inspire readers to embark on an adventure of their own with a slice of style. From Palm Springs to Joshua Tree, Wanderful will offer readers a glimpse into some of America’s best – and most stylish – hot spots.
From Excuses to Excursions
Whether you’re an aspiring travel blogger or simply someone who wants to up their travel game, From Excuses to Excursions is the book for you. Penned by full-time travel blogger Gloria Atanmo, From Excuses to Excursions is her journey – from the struggles to the successes of full-time travel. A book of four parts: The Dream, The Journey, The Adventure, and The Destination, From Excuses to Excursions will inspire you to rediscover your own purpose as you follow in the footsteps of someone who has done exactly that.
How Not to Travel the World: Adventures of a Disaster-Prone Backpacker
When it comes to books to inspire travel, you can expect some candid advice from someone who’s been there; done that, read How Not to Travel the World by Lauran Juliff. Offering sage travel advice and hilarious accounts of ill-fated trips, it’s an honest and hilarious account of the ins and outs of travel, from someone who makes a living from it.
Ultimate Travelist: 500 Best Places on the Planet
For bucket list travellers with an endless longing to see the world, the team at Lonely Planet has curated a list of the very best places to see before you die. From the Eiffel Tower to the Taj Mahal, Lonely Planet’s wide-reaching team of travel experts has had the arduous task of compiling the best sites in the world – from well-known tourist traps to hidden gems a plenty. A beautiful hardback perfect for your coffee table with awe-inspiring pictures to boot, the Ultimate Travelist will have you planning your next adventure pronto.
In a Sunburned Country
Perhaps the world’s best-known travel writer, Bill Bryson’s In A Sunburned Country is a wonderful portrayal of the land down under. A guided tour of an expansive country and its idiosyncracies – from the friendly inhabitants to the terrifying wildlife, few books convey the ins and outs of Australia quite so brilliantly as Bryson’s.
The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country
While many travel memoirs centre on balmy temperatures and beaches, Helen Russell’s The Year of Living Danishly does the opposite, and instead focuses on life in Scandinavia and the art of Hygge. A wonderfully informative and cozy read, it will no doubt motivate many travellers to explore an altogether different sort of travel.
Lucy Pearson is a certified bookworm, wanderluster, and qualified yoga teacher with a thirst for adventure and a love for life.
Lucy has her own blog, The Literary Edit, and also contributes to Stylist Magazine and Hip and Healthy.