I learned yesterday that I have about a month and a half of paid time off in 2019. Since I only work weekdays, that actually comes out to 6 9-day trips if I want it to. And oh boy, I think I do.
I’ve never read a travel book. I can think of a few super crazy popular ones off the top of my head. But now I’m curious. Are they any good? Honestly, I almost think a travel IG account would be more interesting than a book. Not those accounts with attractive people that get thousands of likes and followers because people find them attractive. But more of the regular person who gets to travel around and documents those activities through photos.
But back to books. Have you read any travel books? Secondly, have you read one before/after a trip and thought it would have created and better experience?
Johnny Reads 
I’ve traveled quite a bit and have used a lot of travel books. I’ve always found them useful. Rick Steves and Fodor are my favorites. I do more online reading these days for travel, but I do have two books to take with me on my trip next week.
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I guess I hesitate because I plan my trips myself with no input from anyone. That’s also why I’m probably way better traveling alone than with someone. Where are you going? Side note: I always take books with me on trips and I’ve never once read a single page. 😂
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We are going to Orlando and going to Disney and Harry Potter World. It’s been a while since we’ve been so I got the books to get suggestions on what rides to do before the crowds pick up. I do look at my travel books quite a bit on the trips. I also always take several pleasure reading books on every trip.
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I’ve wanted to go there since it opened. Still haven’t! This may be the year with the extra time I have. 🤔 But it’s so pricey.
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Although I did go to Orlando as a youngster. About 20 years ago now. Obviously no Harry Potter anything. But we were there for like three weeks. It’s the only family vacation I’ve ever been on.
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Bill Bryson’s travel books are hilarious. Try “A Walk in the Woods.” I laughed until I cried when I read that book!
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I’ll have to look it up!
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The Search for the Pink-Headed Duck” by Rory Nugent, “Borderlines” by Charles Nicoll, “A Shaggy Yak Story” by Peter Somerville-Large, “A Journey in Ladak” by Andrew Harvey, “The Farm on the River of Emeralds” by Moritz Thomson, “Motoring with Mohammed” by Eric Hansen, “Native Stranger” by Eddy Harris, although many of these might be out of print.
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Wow. That’s quite a few. Are they older then?
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Yes, but within the last 30 or so years, but still great travelogues. Eric Newby wrote some great travelogues, but they are even older, and one of the most fascinating books is My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Neel, th first European woman to enter Lhasa where she was 55 in 1923. Paul Theroux is one of the best known American travel writers, and his book The Great Railway Bazaar made him famous, He has written quite a few travelogues since then in addition to many novels. You might also find Peter Hessler’s book Oracle Bones, A Journey between China’s Past and Present, interesting.
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Oh, and of course Peter Matthiessen, The Snow Leopard. Sorry if I am overwhelming you with too many suggestions, but there are just so many great books out there.
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By the way, ost of the authors I mentioned have written several books, most of them quite intriguing.
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If you want an easy introduction to some journeys, I posted lots of descriptions of my trips on my blog, mostly with photos.
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I’ll definitely take a look.
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