Don’t get me wrong, blogs are a great source of travel information. We love the diversity and experience the travel community has to offer and if you’re planning a trip, check out our resources page for other bloggers and websites we recommend. But, what if you want an old fashioned page turner?
We poured over what seemed like hundreds of books researching trips around the world. Each book had it’s own pros and cons but, when we put it all together, phew it was a lot of information! Here are some books we recommend if you’ve got some wanderlust or are planning a trip around the world:
1)Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World by Edward Hasbrouk
This book has a ton of information. It’s chalk full of advice and planning for your trip around the world, but don’t expect an actual how to do it. The advice is good though and he answers a lot of common questions like onward travel, transportation options and the practicalities of being on the road.
2)The Smart Traveler’s Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers by Budget Travel
Written by readers of Budget Travel, this books got tons of advice, some of which is entertaining. Although you might scoff at some of it as common sense, it was a variable treasure chest of quirky and interesting tips.
3)Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune by聽Tim Leffel
This book is subtitled Getting More for Less. It has a lot of common sense advice that he applies to travelers who are willing to pay more than the average backpacker. That doesn’t mean his advice doesn’t apply though, and we found it useful. Looking back on our trip now, the advice still make sense.
4)The World’s Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Money Is Worth a Fortune by Tim Leffel
Even if you aren’t traveling on a tight budget, this books are worth a read. Besides good tips, the books are a no-nonsense guide to what you can get for you money. What I thought was most valuable was his discussion on prices. Obviously they change over time, but knowing approximately what I can expect to get for my money is better than any traditional guidebook’s rating. He gives a real breakdown of costs, which is invaluable. You can also find this on our blog.
5)Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by聽Rolf Potts.
This isn’t a practical guide, it’s an inspirational guide to wanderlust. It’s basically a philosophical guide on enjoying the journey, thinking about taking time off, and experiencing the world. I wouldn’t necessarily call this a plan of action, rather an book to inspire action.
So, what books have you used to plan your trip or inspire your wanderlust? One lucky reader is going to win our copy of The Smart Traveler’s Passport!
Giveaway Rules
To enter: Leave a comment with your favorite travel planning book & why. Then like us on Facebook to complete your entry!
Extra entries:
Share our link with your facebook and twitter friends! 聽Each post will grant you one additional entry. 聽Just tag us so we know to count it!
Details: This giveaway ends Thursday, March 23, Midnight EST and is open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be announced on Facebook.
Kat says
My husband-to-be and i are saving up for a 6-8 month tour of Asia from India to Japan and we have an old, tattered copy of SE Asia On a Shoestring that we picked up at a book trade in a hostel in Singapore. It’s out of date, doesn’t include Burma, and warped from a water spill, but it inspires us to keep saving, keep reading, and keep the dream alive!
Jillian says
I love your description of it. As long as it keeps the dream alive I’d keep it!
Ben says
It’s not exactly a travel planning book, but I loved Alain de Botton’s Art of Travel. Like Vagabonding, it captures why we travel. Otherwise, I love reading fiction about the place I am going or by a local author. While history books are nice, generally novels will capture the feel of a place more than nonfictionthat gives the facts of a place. I just read The White Tiger, and now I am itching to go to India.
Danny says
If you think The White Tiger has you itching for India….. give Shantaram a try!!! Some of the places in that book were actual targets during the Mumbai bombings a few years back as well.
Ben says
I just ordered it, after your recommendation and the others that I read online that declared it the best book in the history of books.
Norbert says
Right now I’m planning my RTW but I haven’t used a book yet. I admit that blogs have been very useful in terms of finding information. I feel somewhat ashamed that I don’t know of a good travel planning book (except for the ones you mentioned here! 馃槈 )
Although not a travel book, I found Chris Guillebeau’s Art of Non Conformity book to be very inspirational in setting up the goals you really want in life and how to incorporate travel as an important part of your lifestyle.
Jillian says
Admittedly there is a ton of info out there on blogs now a days but don’t discount the books! There’s some great information in even “old” books about safety and communicating while on the road!
Your the third person that’s mentioned Chris in the last few weeks. Maybe it’s something I need to look into!
Claire & Laura @ Two 4 Travel says
We really like National Geographic’s Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips! It’s a great book with a ton of destinations and many different things to do. We love to just flip through the pages and find a new and interesting place! 馃檪
Jillian says
Sounds like a good one. Any adventures sticking out at the moment?
jade says
It’s funny because when we were planning our RTW trip we had no idea there were books for it! Too funny!
Jillian says
We did a ton of research, tagging articles in magazines of places we wanted to go/things we wanted to do, getting books on long term travel and reading a gazillion blogs. Blogs were definitely our information source of choice, but I can’t discount the information we got in books!
Raymond says
Hi Jillian and Danny,
I’ve always liked Peter Greenberg’s “The Complete Travel Dectective Bible” for the “insider” angle. A few tips on RTW, but mostly just great all around tips!
I’m Canadian so don’t count me in the competition…
Thanks!
Raymond
Jillian says
Complete Travel Detective Bible? Never heard of it, but it sounds intriguing. I’ll have to look it up, thanks for the tip!
Kelly says
I’m not usually a Lonely Planet fan, but their book for the Trans-Siberian railroad was really helpful when planning my trip!
Jillian says
Yea there’s so little information on planning a trip around that region sometimes you have to turn to LP!