Gifts for Travelers Who Love To Read
- Updated: 11/20/2024
- Janice
If you are a passionate reader, you know the thrill of discovering new worlds through the pages of a book. Sharing that joy through the gift of a thoughtfully chosen book is just as rewarding. In this carefully curated collection, which includes many titles I have read personally, you’ll find stories to entertain, books that educate, and tales to inspire. All offer unique insights into the destinations you or someone you love dreams of exploring.
Whether treating yourself or seeking the perfect gift, this list of over 150 travel books is your ultimate resource. Fuel your wanderlust and wow the travelers in your life with these exceptional reads.
Table Of Contents
Prefer to shop my travel-inspired book lists directly? Visit my Amazon and Bookshop.org stores.
There are over 30 titles in my “Gifts: The Best Books to Inspire Travelers” list shown below, helping book lovers who travel figure out where to go next. With these books, they can page through pretty pictures while dreaming of adventure. Or pick up a gripping story that transports them to a fascinating time and place.
The only thing missing—is a cozy blanket like this one that your lucky traveling reader will want to wrap up in when settling down to enjoy their new gift.
For travelers who value reliable and detailed planning information, this resource covers the top 15 travel guidebook series. It includes well-known favorites like Lonely Planet and Frommers and lesser-known gems like Moon, Bradt, or CultureSmart!
Get the pros and cons of each, considering factors like accuracy, depth of coverage, user-friendly layout, and unique features. In it, learn what sets these guidebooks apart, which will help you gift the best one for an upcoming trip or select it for yourself.
We are avid home cooks and try our hand at replicating the flavors of dishes we have enjoyed around the world in our kitchen at home. Plus, while traveling, we regularly take cooking classes to better connect to the culture, meet locals, and learn new recipes. So many other travelers do the same.
In the list below, find excellent international cookbooks recommended by travel experts. These picks are perfect for inspiring anyone who enjoys discovering and cooking new cuisines. Or skip straight to shopping and browse the books on this list on my Amazon travel shop.
When the reality of time, budget, or responsibilities keeps travelers anchored close to home, these books offer a welcome dose of wanderlust. In this curated list, “Historical Fiction and Fantasy Books Travelers Will Love,” shared below, find nearly 50 historical fiction and fantasy books I have read and highly recommend.
For readers who love to travel, as I do—reading one of the books shared in the list below feels like getting a free (or cheap) adventure from the comfort of your couch. Perfect for those times when the demands of life require passports be put away and exploring set to pause.
The list, “Gifts: Best Books for Traveling Kids,” shown below, includes over 30 vividly colorful and dream-worthy books packed with maps, fascinating facts, and adventurous activities that kids will love. These books teach, inspire, and encourage children’s natural curiosity. Plus, traveling parents will love them, too.
Over the years, my husband and I have found playful ways to occupy our kids’ brains while traveling. As a low-tech alternative to screens, we turned to lateral-thinking puzzles and card games like the ones shared on our list of favorite travel games. During long drives, hot hikes, or the inevitable waiting that comes with travel—these games have helped keep our kids’ minds engaged and their complaints forgotten.
Being part of an inspiring business book group in Oak Park, Illinois, has been among the best resources in my journey as a travel entrepreneur. This dynamic group of women—who offer creativity, insight, and camaraderie—has profoundly influenced my success with my travel blog, Gather & Go Travel.
Over the years, we’ve taken many trips and read countless insightful titles that have guided us in growing our businesses and realizing our goals. Below is a list of 29 books our group has loved—each offering invaluable lessons for small business owners.
Do you love to link your reading to the destinations you visit? So do I. Get more book recommendations for popular places like Rome, Ireland, Switzerland, Hawaii, and more. I include guidebooks, fiction, and nonfiction titles I have read or want to read in these lists. View them all on my Amazon or Bookshop.org stores.
Or check out these “Best Books to Read Before a Trip” articles for places like Hawaii, Vermont, or Asheville, North Carolina.
Are you looking for more gift ideas for travelers? Check out these travel gift guides for inspiration. You can also shop directly from my curated gift lists on my Amazon and Bookshop.org stores.
Unlock your travel toolkit! Join my monthly newsletter for 5 free templates to plan, pack, and budget like a pro. Sign up here.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. After attending the University of Michigan undergraduate business school and following a career in retail strategy and event management, she returned to focus on her first love—travel. Read her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter to get her latest travel recommendations and how-to’s.
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, a world traveler to 50+ countries, a travel writer/blogger, and a book lover. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me. Get my latest updates, how-tos, and trip ideas in my monthly Discovery Newsletter.
Instagram...
Unlock your travel toolkit! Join my monthly newsletter for 5 free templates to plan, pack, and budget like a pro.
