7 Books That'll Give you the Travel Bug

I haven’t always been the biggest reader. But as of late, it’s been something I’ve been doing a lot more of. Whether it’s to learn, to escape, or for something else, I like a good book.
 
And if you spend a lot of your time in a plane, train, or automobile (audio versions may be best for the latter), a good book should always be towards the top of the list when you’ve got time to kill. So if you’re looking for a good read or two, this list is one to bookmark:

Unlikely Destinations, by Tony and Maureen Wheeler

Written by the founders of one of the most influential travel companies around, Lonely Planet, it chronicles the story of how the Lonely Planet came to be:
 
“Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story is a unique mix of autobiography, business history and travel book. It traces Tony and Maureen Wheeler's personal story as well as the often bumpy evolution of their travel guide business into the world's largest independent travel publishing company.”

The Lost Girls, by Baggett, Corbett, and Pressner

​A once in a lifetime trip in book form. It’s written by three women who decided to put their lives on hold and take a trip around the world:
 
“Three friends, each on the brink of a quarter-life crisis, make a pact to quit their high pressure New York City media jobs and leave behind their friends, boyfriends, and everything familiar to embark on a year-long backpacking adventure around the world in The Lost Girls.”
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Cruising Attitude, by Heather Poole 

If you can’t tell by the title, this book is about life at 35,000 feet. Specifically, it’s about the life of a flight attendant and all the drama that comes with the job:
 
“Real-life flight attendant Heather Poole has written a charming and funny insider’s account of life and work in the not-always-friendly skies. Cruising Attitude is a Coffee, Tea, or Me? for the 21st century, as the author parlays her fifteen years of flight experience into a delightful account of crazy airline passengers and crew drama, of overcrowded crashpads in “Crew Gardens” Queens and finding love at 35,000 feet.”

Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts

If you need motivation to quit your day job (or take an extended vacation) and travel the world, this book just might do the trick:
 
“There’s nothing like vagabonding: taking time off from your normal life—from six weeks to four months to two years—to discover and experience the world on your own terms. In this one-of-a-kind handbook, veteran travel writer Rolf Potts explains how anyone armed with an independent spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel.”
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How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, by Matt Kepnes

Think you need to be rich to travel the world? Think again. This book shows you how to make your dreams come true when it comes to traveling on a budget: 
 
"Traditional media shows you expensive hotels, resorts, cruises, and packages because that's what makes them money. They make you believe you have to spend lots of money to have a great experience traveling.
 
This book will show you why that is a lie and how to use the system against itself to gain free flights, hotel rooms, find alternative accommodation, get into attractions for free, websites to find the best deals, and as well as detailed costs and saving tips for destinations around the world.”

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

You’ve probably heard of this book, even if you don’t know what it’s about. Over one million copies of this book have been sold worldwide. And there is no reason to think the book's popularity will dwindle anytime soon:

“Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.”

Cracking the Code to Travel Hacking, by me!

What? I'm not biased or anything about this book..

In all seriousness, this book teaches you the best way to travel on the cheap. This book has a lot of information you won't find on this blog. 

​"It’s one of the most common reasons why people don’t go on vacations: they’re too expensive. Unfortunately, they’re not wrong. Vacations ARE expensive. 

But what if I told you that there’s a way for anyone to travel for pennies on the dollar?

This book is your takeoff point... Whether it’s an elaborate vacation in the Maldives, or a jaunt up the coast, you’ll learn how to collect and redeem miles and points for free (or very cheap) airfare, and accommodations. If you want to make your travel dreams a reality this book is for you."

Bottom line
 
There are a lot of great ways to kill time. And reading is one way you can transport yourself somewhere - without actually going anywhere! The seven books on this list are certainly worth checking out!