When you're planning to set off on an adventure, browsing through photos on Instagram or YouTube clips can only get you so far. Reading a book or a guide written by someone who's been there and done that can be much, much more helpful.
There are so many travel ebooks to choose from, so how do you which ones are worth both your time and your money? Good news: there are plenty of fantastic options out there.
Travel books can give you tips on everything from budgeting to packing economically, to navigating local customs if you're traveling somewhere culturally different. You can learn a lot by absorbing the experiences of someone who knows what they're talking about!
In this article, we'll take a look at the best travel books on the market. They'll help ease your travel nerves with plenty of handy tips, tricks and advice, and also immerse you in the culture and customs of where you're headed before you've even left the house.
Books or Ebooks: Which is the Best Option When Traveling?
If you're contemplating buying physical travel guides instead of ebooks, we're here to tell you to think twice.
We know—there's nothing more satisfying than cracking the spine of a new hardcover book and jumping in. But sometimes, ebooks are just the better choice. For travel guides, this is most certainly the case.
Ebooks are, above all, more convenient. You can carry a hundred different travel guides on a single tablet without breaking a sweat, while the physical version would require checking an extra bag with the airline.
Ebooks weigh nothing, take up no space, and let you find everything you need easily. With an ebook, you can just search for the specific thing you're looking for—there's no need to sift through hundreds of pages.
A lot of ebooks also come with interactive features, like maps and more up-to-date area guides. After all, it's a lot easier to insert a new or updated chapter into an ebook than a physical one.
Physical books may look great on a shelf, but if you need it on the go then you're better off going digital.
Top 15 Travel Ebooks for Every Traveler
We've scoped out all of the most popular travel ebooks and come up with a list that has something for everyone. These 15 ebooks explore the range of travel literature, whether you need budget-conscious tips or want advice on the best countries to explore next.
Digital nomad, world traveler, first-time explorer—there's something in here for everyone. Let's dig in.
1. Take More Vacations: How to Search Better, Book Cheaper, and Travel the World
There are a lot of noteworthy ebooks on this list, but this one just happens to be a USA Today bestseller! Written by Scott Keyes (founder of the Going, formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), this book specializes in flights and how to not overpay for them.
"Take More Vacations" encourages you to get out and appreciate the world by outlining tips and tricks that make the process both easier and cheaper. This involves going into the history of airline prices and leads you through the process of understanding why airfare pricing is so volatile.
The moral behind the book is that being able to take more vacations for less money will make you a happier person, but there's room for introspection as well. Keyes devotes an entire chapter to over tourism and considering the impact emissions have on the world.
Topics covered:
- History of airline pricing
- Flight booking myths debunked
- Searching for a flight
- Advanced flight-booking tactics
2. Lonely Planet: The Digital Nomad Handbook
Lonely Planet's "Digital Nomad Handbook" is the perfect travel companion for anyone who's done clocking into their office job and wants to hit the road. This is a 400-page guide split into two sections. The first one is a digital nomad lifestyle guide, and the second one covers how to maintain that lifestyle once you're on the road.
This handbook helps anyone wanting to get started by answering questions like what kind of job should a digital nomad do, how to sort out taxes while traveling, and personal safety in a foreign country.
The source couldn't be more trustworthy, either. Lonely Planet has been putting out resources for travelers since 1973, making them an industry staple. They consider themselves "agents of positive change" and the community of travelers they've fostered supports that goal.
Another great way to get involved in a community built around a shared interest is Whop! Creators on Whop often create communities for their members, and there are digital nomad communities with actionable tips for you.
Topics covered:
- Loneliness on the road
- Visas and paperwork
- Tech-safe travel
- Learning the lingo
3. World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever
"World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" is written by one of the most irreverent and beloved chef travelers in history. Anthony Bourdain, along with Laurie Woolever, weaves biographical tidbits through this travel guide in a way that will leave you as charmed as you are informed.
The book is divided by country and then city, starting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and traversing the globe all the way to end in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Given Bourdain's passion for food and wine, the book spends equal focus on the hard facts of a place as the food culture of it.
This guide is less about maps and itineraries and more about understanding why Bourdain loved certain places. It's also about absorbing enough of his passion that you just have to go there yourself. This is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to walk in his shoes and experience some of the best food the world has to offer.
Topics covered:
- Bourdain's first-hand opinions on places he traveled
- Behind the scenes from restaurant owners
- Essays from Bourdain's friends and family as they traveled with him
4. Fodor's Travel Guides
Fodor's Travel guides are another staple of the travel industry, and Fodor's "Essential" guide series earned the organization's accolade for Best Travel Guide Series in 2020.
This series covers all of the essentials you need to know about a city or a country before you head off. This includes the best of where to stay, eat, and shop. It also guides you through various natural wonders, beaches, what you should know about a place before you travel, and how to plan your trip to make it as action-packed as possible.
Fodor's Travel Guides have been in existence for over 80 years, with guides published guides for more than 8,000 locations. If you want something straightforward that won't let you down, definitely search for a Fodor's Travel Guide for your destination.
Topics covered:
- Trip planning tools
- Recommendation features from local writers
- Multiple itineraries per location
- Rating system for sights, shops, dining, and attractions
5. So You Want To Be A Travel Influencer? by Rachel V Hill
This is a different kind of book for aspiring travelers—it's for those who want to not just travel, but turn it into a lifestyle and a job. Becoming an influencer requires its own guidebook, and self-proclaimed "travelpreneur" Rachel V. Hill offers you that along with her advice on traveling.
Travel influencers are known for making big bucks and having free opportunities and accommodations tossed at them. Hill explains how it isn't always that simple.
Along with some hard truths on what is and isn't great about being a travel influencer, Hill gives strategic advice to anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps. Read this travel guide if you want to learn how to market yourself, stand out in an industry full of wanderers, and enjoy every opportunity you get.
Topics covered:
- Travel industry brand deals
- Monetizing travel content
- Creating a travel blog
- Social impact of being a travel influencer
6. Rough Guides
Where Fodor's may be the series for someone who enjoys fine dining, casual walks around the top attractions, and a shopping spree, Rough Guides is the exact opposite. The Rough Guides series focuses on the traveler who appreciates sightseeing off the beaten path.
Rough Guides do still share the basics you need. You'll find itinerary suggestions, recommendations of can't-miss sights and activities, and where to get the best lunch. The "fact file" inserts will also keep any trivia-loving brain satisfied.
You'll also find more practical information, including visa requirements, tips on the culture and etiquette, and even how to best travel with kids. You'll also get an overview of the local culture and even a few tips on how to communicate with the locals in their language.
Topics covered:
- Best seasons to travel in
- Practical location information
- Insider recommendations
- Sustainable travel
7. How to Travel on a Budget by Aventuras De Viaje
Not everyone has a bank account that will allow them to drop mad cash on the trip of a lifetime—but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to take amazing trips. This is a guide all about how to travel even if your wallet is leaner than you'd like.
In this guide, author Aventuras De Viaje gives 50 tips to help you travel on a budget. These will help you find the best place to stay without paying an arm and a leg and plan an itinerary full of sightseeing that doesn't cost you a penny. This book even shows you how you might be able to get paid to travel.
This book won't bore you with fillers. If you want a straight-to-the-point guide with practical tips, you're in luck—this is it.
Topics covered:
- Booking cost-effective airline tickets
- Cheap or free accommodations
- Attractions that don't cost money
- How to get paid for booking trips
8. DK Eyewitness Guides
The DK Eyewitness is a series of travel guides written by Dorling Kindersley, spanning over 200 locations. If there's one thing this series is known for, it's striking a balance between beautiful visuals and useful tips.
The detailed maps are one of the highlights of the DK Eyewitness books. Destination guides always include overall maps of the area, in addition to specific walking maps that will take you through the best scenery or attractions.
There are gorgeous photos on every single page of a DK Eyewitness guide; sometimes, there are more pictures than actual text. If you want a travel guide that's pretty to look at, or one that's heavier on maps and visuals than information, this series may beat out the rest.
Topics covered:
- History of landmarks and attractions
- Maps and walking guides
- Destination photography
9. International Travel Secrets: Take Shorter Trips, More Often, for Less by Michael Wedaa
Here's one for the international travel crowd. Michael Wedaa's guide is packed with tricks for traveling outside your home country, covering everything from vaccinations and where the water is safe to the best options for currency conversion.
Wedaa offers his wisdom on how to avoid the fees that most travelers are plagued with, like baggage fees, ATM fees, and paying for wi-fi. He also has a lot to say on what types of insurance are worth it when you travel, and which ones are just an unnecessary expense to line someone else's pocket.
If you're a savvy traveler who wants to know the ins and outs of everything the travel industry will try and sell you, don't miss this one. You'll learn a few things and save a few dollars!
Topics covered:
- Common travel scams
- Travel and medical insurance
- Avoiding common fees
- Cell phones abroad
10. Culture Smart!
Culture Smart! is another travel guide series, this time focusing on—you guessed it—the culture and customs of your dream destinations. Understanding the local culture before you travel is important to a lot of people, and Culture Smart! delivers exactly what you'll want to know before you touch down.
Each guide covers a history of the land and the people, summarizes local politics, and teaches you all about the values and attitudes upheld by the people. The section on customs and traditions covers local holidays and celebrations, clothing choices you might need to make, and even things like superstitions and omens.
Studying the culture of a country or city is a great way to impress the locals, too. Even if you can't quite nail the accent, people will understand the effort you make in not just visiting a place but appreciating it, too.
Topics covered:
- Local sports and entertainment
- Common greetings and humor
- How to make friends
- Cultural activities
11. Budget Travelers, Digital Nomads & Expats: The Ultimate Guide by Levi Borba
Levi Borba is a 5-star airline specialist with a book series in which he offers his expertise on working abroad, becoming a digital nomad on a budget, and how to run a business from another country.
The second of these books is the one that made our list. This guide is all about travel hacks before and during your trips. Borba also offers resources to make living abroad easier, including his top tricks for scoring some freebies during your hotel stays.
Throughout the practical advice sections, you'll also learn more about Borba himself and the many adventures he's been on. From trouble with the cops in the Middle East to five-star hotels in Istanbul, this one is full of advice with a side of humor.
Topics covered:
- Avoiding baggage fees
- How to get hotel upgrades
- Get Airbnbs for less
- Low budget tips
12. A Weekend or the World: A Complete How-To Travel Guide by Andre Watson
"A Weekend or the World" is a travel guide for the person who wants to get up and go, but doesn't quite know where to, or how they want to get there. It's full of practical experience from author Andre Watson, who did exactly that by spending seven months on the road in his mid-twenties.
He describes his guide as the answer to the questions everyone asked him once he got home. Watson will help you get rid of the anxious what-ifs by recounting his own experiences while loading you up on practical advice.
This guide will go with you from the first spark of a desire to see somewhere new, all the way to coming back. Side by side with practical advice like dealing with health and financial issues, it offers a more psychological approach to coping with loneliness, burnout, and feeling alienated when you arrive home.
Topics covered:
- Traveler archetypes
- How to pick a destination
- Day-to-day time management
- Travel psychology
13. How to Live a Life of Travel by Derek Baron
"How to Live a Life of Travel" may not be the most recent book on this list (it was written in 2012), but it's full of timeless wisdom for any traveler. Author Derek Baron spent three months traveling Asia at the turn of the millennium. From that experience, Baron created a reference book for anyone wanting to travel the world.
Baron's book offers practical advice on supporting yourself while traveling, veering toward those who want to be a little more hands-on with their surroundings. The book has a heavy focus on finances and how to achieve travel even if you're in debt or don't have a steady stream of income.
This is a great option if you're nervous about traveling solo or about various expenses since it walks you through all the reasons not to wait. There's even a chapter on how to deal with people who think you're irresponsible for wanting to travel!
Topics covered:
- How to earn money around the world
- Eating and sleeping for free
- Best immunization and health insurance options
- Ways to stay connected while traveling
14. The Art of Slow Travel by Bhavana Gesota
For some people, travel is all about the adrenaline rush and seeing how much you can get done in as little time as possible. Packing the memories in and making sure you live every moment is certainly worth it for those people—but it's not for everyone.
"The Art of Slow Travel" offers a different kind of travel perspective. Author Bhavana Gesota emphasizes a type of travel that focuses more on slowing down and deepening your understanding of the world as you make your way across it.
In the author's own words: "Slow travel is an offbeat, slow, and responsible manner of travel in which everyday life unfolds within the framework of a different culture." If the idea of traveling with a stacked itinerary and embodying Bhavana's mantra of "doing less is more" sounds great to you, then this is one travel eBook you should pick up.
Topics covered:
- Cultural immersion
- Cybersecurity
- Packing checklist
- Unplugging from home
15. Specter's What NOT To Do Travel Guides
Sometimes you don't need a guide to tell you what to do when you travel; you need a guide to do just the opposite! Specter's "What NOT To Do" series of travel guides will help you avoid some of the most common travel mistakes.
These mistakes range from ways to prevent being ripped off to how to avoid crowds and what not to eat. While there is some initial background on where you're traveling to, the majority of the guide centers around these helpful do's and don'ts.
Published by Specter, these guides are written by seasoned multi-decade traveler Sarah Brekenridge. Brekenridge has a special interest in sustainable travel and an appreciation for preserving this planet we love to make our way around.
Topics covered:
- Culture and cuisine
- Year-round attractions
- Sacred and historical sites
- Mistakes to avoid making
Looking For Travel Advice? Why Not Join An Online Travel Community?
Travel ebooks can teach you a lot, but sometimes, there's nothing better than having a conversation with someone who's already had the experiences you want to have. A book, while helpful, can't answer your questions, provide tailored tips, or encourage you if you're feeling unsure.
But where do you get all those useful tips if you're still hundreds or thousands of miles away from your destination? It's simple—join a travel community and talk to fellow travelers.
Joining a travel community unlocks a wealth of advice and experience that no book will ever be able to replicate. You'll be able to chat with people who have been where you're planning to go. You might even meet some locals!
Here are some of the benefits of finding a space online where you can connect with other travelers:
- Connections can lead to friendships and travel partners
- Trade money-saving travel advice
- Give each other security tips and support for emergencies
- Learn from each other's mistakes
- Get real-time feedback on your questions or concerns
- Stay tuned when it comes to deals and best ways to avoid overpaying
One prime example of such a community is Girl Boss Abroad.
Girl Boss Abroad is a community for digital nomads run by Natasha Ibrahim. The community connects you with other like-minded women, helping to 'connect with a supportive network of fellow digital nomads and cultivate meaningful relationships across the globe'. If you want to delve deeper into digital nomad life, you can pay for the Girl Boss Abroad course - but the community itself is completely free.
Such travel communities are usually run by seasoned travelers who have been there and done that. You might be able to score some expert advice or inside information. Whether you want to know the best local restaurants or learn which airlines are the safest, there's no better place to ask.
Find Travel Ebooks, Communities, and More on Whop
We hope you enjoy the travel ebooks we've recommended—they're certainly a strong start. But to learn even more and make sure that your trips are a smashing success, browse Whop for actionable advice from world travelers.
Whop is home to content creators, travel influencers, and passionate travelers who all come together to share their vast experiences. You'll find travel ebooks, helpful communities filled with your kind of people to hang out with, and useful advice that's always up to date with current trends. You'll even score exclusive deals spotted by the members of the community, saving you money in ways an ebook can never achieve.
And don't forget—you aren't limited to just joining a Whop community. There's also nothing stopping you from starting your own travel-based community or writing an ebook about your travels.
Enjoy the empowerment of taking your own experiences and using them to improve someone else's future travels. What's more, you'll get paid for it and turn your passion into a fantastic income stream. You can do all of this through your own whop hub.
Making your own whop only takes a few minutes, so sign up and start sharing your adventures today.
