7 Good Travel Books That Will Give You Wanderlust

Looking to escape into another world?

Travel can transform your view of the world. Even if you don't intend to drop everything to travel the world, getting out of your bubble is an eye-opening experience. If you love books like Eat Pray Love, keep reading.

Get ready to be inspired by these 6 good travel books.

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

Have you ever felt like traveling around the world is one of those far-fetched dreams?

It’s a fantasy that can feel out of reach for most of us. Maybe you’ve even daydreamed about leaving home but you’ve accepted it's totally out of your budget.

Vagabonding dispels the myth that long-term travel isn’t possible for everyone. The biggest lesson I learned from this book is that it doesn't matter what your age is or how much money you make. If you want to board that plane and explore the world--you CAN make it happen.

The author shares his perspective on what makes long-term travel so fulfilling and how it can transform your perspective on life. The only downside? I guarantee you’ll catch the travel bug after reading this book.

 

2. Eat Pray and Love Made Me Do It: Life Journeys Inspired by the Bestselling Memoir 

Eat Pray and Love filled thousands of women with hopes of finding their own spiritual journey in life. This book is a collection of essays inspired by the famous memoir.

In fact, it features nearly 50 stories of women who took action towards changing their lives after finishing Elizabeth Gilbert’s book. Whether they followed similar steps or were inspired to find their own path, you’ll find short stories of people who felt unfulfilled in life and decided to change things.

What's great about this book is that the essays are all pretty short. On the other hand, this means you won't build a deep connection to any of the writers, but you do get to see how people from all different backgrounds transformed their lives in search of happiness.

 

3. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

At age 26, Cheryl Strayed was completely lost. After her mother died, she turned to drugs and impulsive sex to fill the void in her life. Once Cheryl realized she had fallen down a dangerous path, she decided to turn to the wild to find herself again.

I first discovered this book through the movie starring Reese Witherspoon, But if you enjoy travel inspired books like Eat Pray Love, I think you'll want to check this one out too.

Cheryl decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone. Without any hiking or backpacking experience to fall back on, her journey becomes extremely dangerous. It challenges her strength, willpower, and ultimately her spirit.

 

4. Life Nomadic by Tynan

 

Don't have any experience with travel but want to get started? You need this book. It's a quick read--one that you can finish in less than a day.

The author, Tynan, shares practical tips on how to travel around the world and live in multiple countries. He wrote it for the novice traveler, making it easy to digest.

Tynan is a nomad and shares advice geared towards his lifestyle...but that doesn't mean that in order to enjoy this book you must want to ditch your home to live in another country. He shares a lot of great advice on simply how to travel cheaper and get out there to explore the world.

 

5. No Place Like Home: A Memoir In 39 Apartments by Brooke Berman

Okay, this memoir doesn't seem to really be about traveling right off the bat. However, I thought I would include it on this list because it's the story of a journey toward finding a home. If you're a new graduate or young adult trying to find your way in life, this book is for you.

Brooke Berman is an 18-year old who left her hometown of Detroit and moved to New York City in pursuit of a common dream in the city: a successful career in theater.

Brooke doesn't have much money but she'll do anything to make her dreams work--even if means crashing on people’s couches and becoming a nomad in the city of New York.

 

6. How to Travel the World on $50 Per Day by Matt Kepnes

How can you travel the world on a college student budget? The author behind Nomadic Matt took the advice from his popular travel blog and transformed it into this book.

It packs a ton of advice that’s excellent for beginner OR experienced travelers. Heading to Europe? Want to take a backpacking trip? Matt Kepnes will show you how to hack your way to cheaper flights, discover low-cost accommodations, and explore other tips and tricks for saving money around the world.

 

7. This Book Is About Travel by Andrew Hyde

Andrew Hyde traveled to 15 countries in less two years.

While the title of this book implies it’s a guide, it’s really more of a collection of stories on his travel experiences. But that doesn’t mean you won’t catch the travel bug after reading it!

Andrew explains the significance of why we should all travel. Not to mention, he also shares how to decide what places to travel to (and how to budget for them).

Nonetheless, the most interesting chapters are where he shares the tales of entertaining yourself in an unknown country. (Wait until you read about what happened when he found himself with literally no money.)