I love travel books and have spent a great deal of time browsing the travel section of my local book store looking for new and interesting reads. These are a few books I’ve found to be particularly inspiring and helpful for travelers and adventure seekers.
The Rough Guide First-Time Around the World: A Trip Planner for the Ultimate Journey
Great info on how to prepare for a trip around the world, but also really useful for any kind of extended travel. Include tips on traveling solo vs with a companion, budgeting, buying air passes and RTW tickets, packing, preparing your home, handling culture shock and how to handle returning home.
2nd Edition / March 2006 / 336 pages
Buy at Amazon
Vagabond: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Pots
A light read which discusses taking time out of normal life to discover and experience the world on your own terms aka ‘Vagabonding’. Has some interesting insight into one mans journey and presents his thoughts on long-term travel. A generally inspiring book for anyone interested in departing for the usual 9-5 lifestyle.
1st Edition / December 2002 / 224 pages
Buy at Amazon
Lonely Planet – Career Break Book
If you are planning on leaving your job to travel for an extended time, this book has all the information you need. Includes topics on how to deal with a mortgage, kids, finances, taking a sabbatical vs quitting your job and how it will affect your career. The information in this book is much more focused on the mature crowd wanting a ‘career break’ rather than a ‘gap year’.
1st Edition / January 2005 / 288 pages
Buy at Amazon
Other Reads:
There are many other great travel books. For the South American traveler ‘The Motorcycle Diaries‘ by Ernesto Che Guevara is a classic and ‘Long Way Down‘ by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman is a must for motorcycle enthusiasts. Check out the travel section at your local book store for more inspiration!
