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The Best Travel Guides (Online and Books)

Even in the digital age, travel guide books are an important part of my travel planning journey. I have read and tried many different travel books and online travel guides. And I pulled together a list of what I think are the best travel guides (books and online resources). 

I return to my favorite travel guides again and again with each trip that we plan. Once you find a travel guide series that you know and trust, it can really speed up the travel planning process.  

But which travel guides are the best? Keep reading for the full list!  

Need help with planning your trip? Check out our guide to the best travel planning resources .  

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  See disclaimer.

Are travel guidebooks still used now? 

Absolutely! Although you can find a wealth of travel planning help online, the good old-fashioned travel guidebooks are still very much available and in use. 

Some people prefer to use paper travel guidebooks. You can flag important sections and highlight things you want to remember. We’ve even ripped our books up (they’re meant to be used!) and traveled only with the sections covering the cities and sites we visited. 

E-books are also a great option for travel guides. If you use e-books, you can easily travel with several guides without adding a single ounce to your luggage. It’s a perfect option for those who travel carry-on only .

Rick Steves: best travel guides for Europe 

Rick steves guidebooks .

Some seasoned travelers look down their noses a bit at Rick Steves guide books . There’s no reason for that. Rick Steves knows Europe inside and out from decades of traveling, leading tours, writing books, and producing episodes of his wonderful series  Rick Steves’ Europe.  

Rick Steves books are excellent guides and well worth the money. I highly recommend them, especially for travel planning beginners or for anxious travelers who are looking for an expert to tell them where to visit and how. 

His books are kept up to date and quite detailed, even to the point of including full guided walking tours (often several) and detailed guided tours through major sites. 

• Steves, Rick (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 604 Pages – 09/06/2022 (Publication Date) – Rick Steves (Publisher)

Rick Steves online 

You can also get a lot of good free travel tips and help on the Rick Steves website, including the forums . There are forums specifically for countries, reviews, and several forums about general travel tips topics. 

They’re a great way to get insight and tips from other experienced travelers…even those who disagree with Rick Steves itinerary suggestions. (Shocked face.)

Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App 

I also highly recommend the Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App . It’s loaded with audio guides for walking tours and top travel destination sites like the Colosseum in Rome and The Louvre Museum in Paris.  

Download the audio tours for your destination so you can listen to them on your mobile device as you explore your destination. 

Rough Guides: my favorite travel guidebooks overall 

Super practical and easy to read, Rough Guides are my top choice for any destination that isn’t in Europe (for which I prefer Rick Steves guide books ). 

The UK-based company was founded in 1982 with the  Rough Guide to Greece . Since then, they have published travel guidebooks for well over 100 destinations all over the world. 

In addition to their main guidebook series, they also offer Pocket Rough Guides, On a Budget, Snapshots, phrasebooks, and inspirational guides like “Make the Most of Your Time on Earth.” 

• Guides, Rough (Author)
• 840 Pages – 10/18/2022 (Publication Date) – Rough Guides (Publisher)

Rough Guides website 

Rough Guides isn’t just a guidebook publisher though. Since 2017 they have offered tailor-made trips to over 70 destinations. created by local travel experts. 

Their website provides some basic itineraries, travel recommendations, and basic destination information for free that can help get you started on planning your travel itinerary . 

Fodor’s 

The great travel writer Eugene Fodor once said “You don’t need to be rich to travel well.” And that’s been kind of my mantra for the last several years. 

In 1936 Fodor wrote the first modern travel guide book . It was for British audiences and he wrote all 1200 pages himself. The book was O n the Continent: An Entertaining Travel Annual .

According to Fodors.com , “The guide went beyond reporting on the sights and for the first time included information about Europe’s culture and people, practical information like how to tip, and was the first to be annually updated.” 

Since  On the Continent  was first published, Fodor’s has been a trusted name in travel guides. They now claim that their travel writers have covered more than 8,000 destinations around the world . 

In addition to the Signature Guides, their other series include Fodor’s Inside, In Focus, and 25 Best. Fodor’s says that  Fodor’s   Italy  is the company’s top-selling guide book. 

• Fodor’s Travel Guides (Author)
• 896 Pages – 12/20/2022 (Publication Date) – Fodor’s Travel (Publisher)

Fodor’s website 

Fodors.com was one of the first travel websites when it launched in 1996 . Today the site offers destination guides, general travel content, and forums about specific destinations or general travel topics such as air travel. 

Frommer’s 

The venerated Frommer’s travel guides were launched by Arthur Frommer in 1957 with a guide to visiting Europe on $5 a day (yup. $5.). That guide followed his book about how to travel Europe as a GI (Frommer was in the Army at the time). 

Frommer’s quickly grew to become one of the most trusted names in travel guidebooks. 

Several years ago, Frommer’s was acquired by Google, which pulled the plug on their print books in the spring of 2013.

Arthur Frommer reacquired the company shortly thereafter and then quickly made a deal to get the books back in distribution. Frommer’s then started emphasizing their Easy Guides and Day by Day series, which were smaller and easier to read and carry than the typical large guidebooks they saw on the market. 

• Gordon, Yvonne (Author)
• 602 Pages – 08/23/2022 (Publication Date) – FrommerMedia (Publisher)

Frommer’s website 

Frommers.com is a fine place to start planning for a trip for free. Destination information includes city layouts, how to get around, and their top picks for hotels and dining. 

They also provide other general travel content and feature articles plus trip ideas for honeymoons, arts and cultural travel, national parks, family travel, road trips, and more. 

The Frommer’s Travel Show (podcast) 

Pauline Frommer, daughter of Frommer’s founder Arthur Frommer, hosts The Frommer’s Travel Show podcast . New episodes come out approximately once per week or several times a month. 

Bradt Guides 

Known for publishing guides for lesser-traveled destinations (though certainly not less deserving), Bradt bills itself as “the world’s leading independent travel publisher.”  

Bradt guides are the go-to for destinations not covered by other publishers. They say that “over two-thirds of Bradt guides still have no direct competition from other publishers.” 

The Bradts’ first book,  Backpacking Along Ancient Ways Peru & Bolivia , was the first to detail the Inca Trail.

Later they became known for writing guides to destinations “post-conflict.” These included Rwanda, Kosovo, and the Baltic States after the fall of the Iron Curtain. 

In addition to their destination guidebooks, Bradt also publishes a Slow Travel series of UK destinations, a Wildlife series, and general travel literature. 

• McIntyre, Chris (Author)
• 456 Pages – 06/01/2022 (Publication Date) – Bradt Travel Guides (Publisher)

Bradt Guides Travel Club 

Avid travelers can support Bradt by joining their Travel Club through Patreon. There are three tiers: Bradtpacker, Globetrotter, and First-Class Traveller. Each tier offers differing levels of subscriber benefits including things like e-books and access to their bespoke travel planning service. 

Lonely Planet  

Lonely Planet books for a long time were quite popular especially with younger backpackers looking to travel on a budget. The books can be light on the details that certain travelers (beginners, anxious travelers) might wish for when making good decisions about where to spend their travel dollars. 

Lonely Planet books are good for independent and adventurous travelers . Or for those who just want some recommendations but not a prescribed itinerary with a ton of detail.  

In addition to their popular guidebooks, Lonely Planet also publishes phrasebooks, general travel books, food books, and children’s books. 

• Mayhew, Bradley (Author)
• 288 Pages – 03/16/2021 (Publication Date) – Lonely Planet (Publisher)

Lonely Planet website  

You can get some basic, inspirational travel information to start your travel planning from the Lonely Planet website . Sadly, they set their forums to “read-only” some time ago. In my opinion, the forums were the best (and most valuable) part of the website. 

Marco Polo 

Marco Polo is best known for its compact and colorful pocket travel guides. They also offer spiral-bound itinerary-based guides, phrasebooks, folding maps, travel handbooks, travel journals, city maps, and road atlases. 

• Marco Polo Travel Publishing Marco Polo Travel Publishing (Author)
• 136 Pages – 10/15/2022 (Publication Date) – Marco Polo Travel Publishing, Ltd. (Publisher)

Marco Polo Discovery Tours App 

The free Marco Polo Discovery Tours app offers travelers a variety of guided itineraries through many destinations. For example, you can download a 23-day driving tour of New Zealand with a step-by-step driving tour over both islands. 

DK Eyewitness: among best travel books for visuals 

I enjoy reading DK Eyewitness guides, especially when I’m looking for information about the history and culture of my destination.  The glossy full-color books feature beautiful photographs and illustrations perfect for inspiring your travel itinerary. They cover more than 100 destinations. 

DK was founded in 1974 by Christopher Dorling and Peter Kindersley. They published their first travel book in the early 1990’s promising to show you “what others only tell you.”

They also cover all the usual grounds for travel guidebooks: itineraries, maps, dining and accommodations recommendations, top sites, etc. 

• DK Eyewitness (Author)
• 592 Pages – 04/26/2022 (Publication Date) – DK Eyewitness Travel (Publisher)

Where to Go podcast 

Produced by the team behind the DK Eyewitness books, each episode of the Where to Go podcast dives deep into a particular destination. New episodes come out every two weeks or so. 

Insight Guides 

For more than 40 years, Insight Guides have published guidebooks covering more than 200 destinations. 

In my experience, they’re quite a bit heavier on destination history and culture than any other travel guide I’ve encountered. So, if that’s not something you enjoy, then these guidebooks might not be your top choice. 

Insight Guides series include: Explore Guides, City Breaks, Pocket Guides, City Guides, and Experience Guides. 

• Guides, Insight (Author)
• 144 Pages – 04/01/2018 (Publication Date) – Insight Guides (Publisher)

Insight Guides website

You will find some travel information on the Insight Guides website , making it a decent place to start if you’re unsure of your destination.

The emphasis of their website seems to be on advertising their Insight Guides trip offerings…not that there’s anything wrong with that. 

Atlas Obscura 

Atlas obscura book .

Unlike all of the other travel guidebooks listed above, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders is not a series of guidebooks but rather one book that details an incredible array of oddities and wonders around the world. 

Here’s how the authors describe their book and website (more on that below): 

“The site, and this book, are a kind of wunderkammer of places, a cabinet of curiosities that is meant to inspire wonderlust as much as wanderlust. In fact, many of the places in this book are in no way ‘tourist sites’ and should not be treated as such. Others are so out of the way, so treacherously situated, or (in at least one case) so deep beneath the surface, that few readers will ever be able to visit them. But here they are, sharing this marvelously strange planet with us.  Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras & Ella Morton,  Atlas Obscura , revised second edition, (New York: Workman Publishing, 2019) vii

The revised second edition (published in 2019) added more than 100 new sites to the 2016 first edition. The book is delightful reading if you’re into oddities around the world. I definitely recommend picking up a copy. 

• Hardcover Book
• Foer, Joshua (Author)

Atlas Obscura website 

Make sure you stop by the Atlas Obscura website  during your travel planning if you like finding out-of-the-way sites, or unusual places to visit, or want to make it a priority to get off the beaten path. 

You can even take Atlas Obscura trips to some pretty unusual places and even with some unusual activities…such as assisting biologists with bee research at Redwood National Park. 

Atlas Obscura podcast 

Atlas Obscura launched a podcast in March 2021, which I’ve really enjoyed listening to. Early episodes covered sites such as the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan, the Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts, and the old Widow Jane cement mine in Rosendale, New York. 

Final thoughts on the best travel guidebooks 

The best travel guides will be the ones that you use and that help you plan a trip that you truly love. I personally like to use a combination of travel guidebooks and online travel planning resources. 

But don’t just follow my advice. Try these guidebook series and online travel guides for yourself and find the ones that you will like and use for your trip planning. 

What are your favorite travel guidebooks?

More articles related to travel guides 

• Travel planning resources  
• The top books about travel and self-discovery 
• Best books to read before you travel to Paris  
• The best books about the South 

Pin this post!  

Darcy Vierow is a busy professional and travel planning expert with years of experience maximizing travel with limited time and on a less-than-average salary. Her tips have been published by Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates. Read more about Darcy Vierow .

Michelin guides (the green books) are great!

I used to use the “Let’s Go: Europe” guides, which were great. They were targeting college age students mostly, but they had lots of good information re: trip planning for everyone.

Which guidebooks (and/or websites) are best for planning train/plane travel while in Europe? Any standouts?

Thanks for your very helpful information!

You’re welcome, Wayne. The Man in Seat 61 is THE expert in European train travel. His website is: https://www.seat61.com/ . He’s also pretty active on Twitter. I’d also recommend checking out https://www.rome2rio.com/ for helping with planning transportation for any trip. Thanks for reading!

My family had a great time in Paris. We had a wonderful time there and enjoyed the culture of the region. The nightlife was fantastic, and the city’s elegance is indescribable. We are in love with the place and explore so many places like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Cruise on the Seine, etc. After reading your blog I would like to revisit there.

Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for reading!

Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.

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Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

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Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

• Best Overall: Booking.com
• Best Budget: Skyscanner
• Best Price Predictor: Hopper
• Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
• Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
• Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
• Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
• Our Top Picks
• Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

 Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels. 

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive. 

Best Budget : Skyscanner

 Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

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15+ Tourism Books for Free! [PDF]

* If you have doubts about how to download free books from InfoBooks, visit our guide to downloading books .

If you are exploring the travel business and are interested in learning how the industry works, you can start with our collection of tourism books in PDF format . You will be able to have some basic knowledge and the first exploratory approaches to this fascinating sector of the economy.

This is a collection elaborated for all those interested in developing their business projects in this area, that is why we present it to you with enthusiasm because we know that with these tourism books in PDF format, you can start planning the realization of that idea.

There are places that seem to have no other purpose than to receive visitors and that is where the tourism industry acts to improve the experience. To do this, it must take into account some aspects such as capital, tourism resources, technology and human resources that must be present to make tourism a reality.

There are many reasons why people decide to travel to different places on the planet. Consequently, the types of tourism that are carried out can be evidenced. Below we will detail some of them:

Cultural tourism : the visitor wants to know much more about the history and culture of the place they are traveling to, so they will give priority to museums, temples, monuments and places where they can share openly with the locals.

Shopping tourism : the tourists plan their trip to buy goods they need for personal use, gifts or business. Priority is given to visits to shopping malls, markets and stores.

Business tourism : the visitor intends to establish commercial relations for the company they represent. It is characterized by visits to large cities, with a lot of commercial movement.

Vacation tourism: the tourist plans a family or individual vacation to enjoy, rest and relax. Preference is given to places that offer many indoor and outdoor activities, visits to parks, museums, excursions.

Rural tourism : it is related to visits to natural environments and the visitor performs activities related to the sector.

Take a look at these more than 15 tourism books in PDF format and take your first steps in this interesting world.

Here we present our complete selection of Tourism books:

Introduction to Tourism

Introduction and Historical Development of Tourism

Tourism Concept and Types of Tourism

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College

Tourism System Components Elements and Models

The Evolution of Alternative Forms of Tourism a Theoretical Background

Triarchi Ei,Karamanis K

Adventure Tourism

Rannva Samuelsen, Gunvor Riber Larsen

Anshay Singh

Cultural Tourism Concerning the Definition

Armin Mikos V Rohrscheid

Cultural Tourism The Success Story

Mrs Gail Dexter Lord

Globalization of Cultural Tourism

Salto Youth

Sustainable Tourism Development

Iwona Niedziolka

Alternative Tourism and Sustainable Development in the Small Island Caribbean Case Study of Dominica West Indies

Katerina Prochazkova

Is the Concept of Sustainable Tourism Sustainable

Lucian Cernat,Julien Gourdon

Tourism Sustainability in Archaeological Sites

E-Prints Complutense

Tourism and Archaeological Heritage

Douglas C Comer,Willem J H Willems

The Impacts of Tourism Industry on Host Community

Mansour Esmaeil Zaei, Mahin Esmaeil Zaei

A System Model of Sport Tourism with Implications for Research

Kuan Chou Chen,David L Groves,Julie Lengfelder

Archaeology and Tourism (Article)

Government of Tamil Nadu

Defining Cultural Tourism (Article)

Seyed Sina Mousavi,Naciye Doratli,Seyed Nima Mousavi

Cultural Tourism Development Scope and Prospects (Article)

Petya Ivanova

Here ends our selection of free Tourism books in PDF format. We hope you liked it and already have your next book!

If you found this list useful, do not forget to share it on your social networks. Remember that “Sharing is Caring” .

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Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality in BC

(6 reviews)

Morgan Westcott, LinkBC

Geoffrey Bird, Royal Roads University

Peter Briscoe, Vancouver Island University

Copyright Year: 2015

Last Update: 2020

Publisher: BCcampus

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Anita Zatori, Associate Professor, Radford University on 11/12/23

Overall, the textbook is well-written and it provides an effective glossary. Despite its few limitations in respect of the covered topics (discussed below), it represents a great source for teaching and researching academicians and undergraduate... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Overall, the textbook is well-written and it provides an effective glossary. Despite its few limitations in respect of the covered topics (discussed below), it represents a great source for teaching and researching academicians and undergraduate and graduate students.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The e-book has a diverse range of authors, including seasoned academics and industry experts, enriching its overall value and providing a comprehensive perspective on the subject.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The textbook is incorporating a multitude of reference sources from the last five years, keeping the content fresh and relevant.

Clarity rating: 5

The clarity and readability of the textbook is great.

Consistency rating: 5

The terminology throughout the text is consistent.

Modularity rating: 5

I did not notice any problems with the modularity of text or visual elements.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The topics within the chapters are presented in a logical and clear fashion for most of times. However, I noticed some minor discrepancies in same chapters and the flow of some topics.

Interface rating: 5

The navigation between the chapters is easy.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text does not contain grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The content of the textbook is highly relevant to the cultural heritage of the region. The textbook dedicates a separate chapter on Indigenous Tourism.

In its 600+ pages and 14 chapters, this textbook discusses the global and regional facets of tourism, particularly within the context of British Columbia, Canada. Offering valuable insights into the regional and local dynamics of Canadian and British Columbian tourism, the book, while rich in content, may have limitations as a textbook due to its focused approach. However, it proves to be an invaluable resource for those researching Indigenous Tourism and the socio-cultural impacts of travel. The textbook provides a detailed overview of the system of tourism from transportation, through hospitality and to the travel industry. While it covers various essential areas of tourism, it falls short on discussing general tourism theory and also on dedicating a specific chapter to Destination Management. Despite this, it compensates by providing a lot of useful information for prospective graduates, such as the insightful Chapter 13 on career building. I really liked that the book has so many case studies and links to interactive “check your knowledge” blocks throughout the chapters, and it’s incorporating a multitude of reference sources from the last five years, keeping the content fresh and relevant. The e-book has a diverse range of authors, including seasoned academics and industry experts, enriching its overall value and providing a comprehensive perspective on the subject. Overall, the textbook is well-written and represents a great source for teaching and researching academicians and undergraduate and graduate students.

Reviewed by Jangwoo Jo, Assistant Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 3/22/23

The textbook covers a wide range of topics, from industry overviews to accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services. This broad coverage ensures that readers gain a holistic understanding of... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The textbook covers a wide range of topics, from industry overviews to accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services. This broad coverage ensures that readers gain a holistic understanding of the tourism and hospitality landscape in British Columbia. However, the textbook's primary focus is on the tourism and hospitality industry in British Columbia. Consequently, readers from other regions or countries may find the content less applicable to their local circumstances. This narrow focus could limit the book's comprehensiveness for those looking for a more global perspective.

The authors have rigorously researched the content, ensuring that the information presented is accurate and up-to-date. The 2nd edition includes recent developments in the industry, such as advances in technology, sustainability practices, and cultural tourism trends. Nonetheless, the rapidly evolving nature of the tourism and hospitality industry means that some information may become outdated relatively quickly. Readers and instructors should be aware of this and seek to supplement their knowledge with more current resources when necessary.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The textbook maintains a strong focus on contemporary issues, such as the importance of sustainability and the impact of technology on the industry. By addressing these topics, the book remains highly relevant to the current landscape of tourism and hospitality. While the book covers essential topics and trends in the industry, it may not address all niche areas or emerging trends in-depth. As a result, readers might need to consult additional resources to gain a complete understanding of specific areas of interest.

The content is written in a clear and accessible manner, with each section organized in a logical sequence. The language is concise and easy to understand, making it suitable for readers with varying levels of experience. Although the textbook is generally clear and accessible, some readers may find certain sections or concepts more challenging to grasp. Instructors may need to provide additional support or clarification in these instances.

The book maintains a consistent format throughout, with each chapter following a similar structure. This consistency aids in the comprehension and retention of the material, but some readers may find that the level of detail provided in specific sections or examples is not always uniform. This could result in minor inconsistencies that may affect the learning experience.

The textbook is divided into six parts, covering essential topics such as industry overview, accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services, each focusing on a specific aspect of the industry. This modular organization allows readers to easily navigate the content and focus on topics that are most relevant to their needs. However, some chapters or sections might be too interconnected, making it difficult for readers to study specific topics in isolation.

The book's structure is logical and well-organized, with chapters grouped into thematic sections. This organization makes it easy for readers to locate specific information and follow the progression of concepts. However, some readers may prefer a more chronological or thematic structure that better highlights the connections between different aspects of the industry.

Interface rating: 4

The textbook is visually appealing, with a clean layout and appropriate use of images, charts, and tables. The interface enhances the overall learning experience and aids in the comprehension of complex ideas. Although the book has a visually appealing layout, some readers may find that the font size, color choices, or graphical elements make it difficult to read or engage with the content effectively.

The book is well-written and professionally edited, with no noticeable grammatical errors. The language is clear and concise, ensuring that the content is easily understood.

The authors have made an effort to include diverse perspectives in the book, such as the inclusion of indigenous tourism and its cultural significance. This cultural inclusivity enriches the content and showcases the unique aspects of British Columbia as a destination.

One of the standout features of this edition is its focus on sustainability and responsible tourism. With a rapidly changing global climate, the book emphasizes the need for sustainable practices within the industry and offers relevant case studies and examples from the British Columbia context. The authors also explore the impact of technology on tourism and hospitality, highlighting the role of digital marketing, social media, and data analytics in shaping consumer experiences and business strategies.

Another strength of this textbook is its integration of practical insights from industry professionals. Real-life examples, interviews, and case studies offer valuable perspectives and bring theoretical concepts to life. Furthermore, the inclusion of indigenous tourism and its cultural significance adds depth and diversity to the content, showcasing the uniqueness of British Columbia as a destination.

While the book is an excellent resource overall, it is worth noting that it is specifically tailored to the British Columbia context. As such, readers from other regions or countries might find it less applicable to their local circumstances. Nonetheless, many of the concepts, best practices, and case studies can still serve as valuable points of reference for those looking to understand and adapt these ideas in their own markets.

In conclusion, Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality in BC, 2nd Edition is a valuable and engaging resource for anyone seeking to understand the fundamentals of the industry within the British Columbia context. The authors' commitment to addressing sustainability, technology, and cultural diversity makes it a highly relevant and informative textbook for today's tourism and hospitality professionals. With its blend of theoretical frameworks, practical insights, and engaging content, this book is highly recommended for students, educators, and industry practitioners alike.

Reviewed by Krista Marvel, Tourism and Hospitality Lecturer, University of Southern Maine on 2/21/21

This high-quality text serves as an excellent introduction to the BC tourism industry. It covers a wide variety of topics related to hospitality, travel, and tourism. I found the chapter on Indigenous Tourism to be particularly interesting. read more

This high-quality text serves as an excellent introduction to the BC tourism industry. It covers a wide variety of topics related to hospitality, travel, and tourism. I found the chapter on Indigenous Tourism to be particularly interesting.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Much of the information is relevant only to the Canadian tourism industry, and British Columbia in particular. If you are looking for an introductory text on US or North American tourism and hospitality, this is not it.

The content is up to date in some areas. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of COVID-19 and its impact on Canadian tourism. However, there are some portions of the book that could use updating; for example, fuel prices are from 2013 and information on cruise ship waste disposal systems from 2008.

The text is organized and the topics flow nicely. The key terms listed at the end of each chapter is a good addition and the hyperlinks in the Take a Closer Look boxes are an excellent way to bring in additional content without distracting the reader.

Good consistency overall.

Modularity rating: 4

Portions of this textbook could easily be used to supplement other course materials, although much of the text is unique to British Columbian tourism.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Topics clearly outlined in each chapter and chapters are arranged in a logical order. The text is easy to read and any technical jargon is clearly defined in the key terms and/or glossary.

No issues with the text interface. It is not as professional-looking as some textbooks, but for an open access resource, it is fine.

Free from noticeable errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

It is suitable for use in British Columbia. I would have liked to see more depth in the chapter on global tourism, and maybe an additional summary chapter on tourism in the other Canadian providences.

This text has been developed by many hospitality professionals, and so has benefitted from their diverse experiences and voices. The scope of the text is suitable for an introductory text, however, use of this text is limited to studies of British Columbian tourism. That being said, I applaud the writers of this text and hope that their example will inspire US hospitality educators to create a similar product.

Reviewed by Daniel Bowan, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University - Pueblo on 12/23/19

The book did a good job of tackling a rather broad subject with comprehensiveness. read more

The book did a good job of tackling a rather broad subject with comprehensiveness.

The book was accurate, but a bit outdated in a rapidly evolving field.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

For an introductory book, a large focus on region and thus this limits this books relevance outside of British Columbia.

Clear, organized, and well-written.

Consistency rating: 4

Overall, good consistency.

Sufficient.

Good organization, the chapter learning objectives, and end of chapter exercises were very helpful and useful.

Font and online presentation was good, but could have been better.

Well written textbook.

This is a well researched and well put together book. The main critique is its utility outside of British Columbia. The organization and overall content is strong, however the rather large emphasis on a specific region limits this books relevance to tourism courses outside the geographic region.

Reviewed by Linda Oakleaf, Assistant Professor, Missouri Western State University on 5/21/18

This serves as a comprehensive view of tourism in British Columbia. Along the way, the text can serve as a solid introduction to tourism concepts more generally (e.g., what is tourism, travel and transport, hospitality services, marketing, etc.)... read more

This serves as a comprehensive view of tourism in British Columbia. Along the way, the text can serve as a solid introduction to tourism concepts more generally (e.g., what is tourism, travel and transport, hospitality services, marketing, etc.) The chapter on Aboriginal Tourism is particularly helpful.

The content is accurate and well sourced. The good use of sources to support the text helps greatly with the text's accuracy.

The content is up-to-date. It will need frequent updates, but this is not unique to this particular work. Tourism, marketing, and the ways in which people consume tourism products are constantly changing. The chapter on upcoming trends will obviously need updates from time to time, but other parts of the text can be updated without too much effort. Some of the case studies will also need to be refreshed so that they don't seem dated.

The book is clearly written in a way that will be accessible to most undergraduates. Although the text introduces terms that are relevant to the topic, each section includes a list of key terms to help students navigate this. These are also assembled into a glossary at the end. The jargon and special vocabulary that is used is necessary to understanding the topics under discussion.

The book seems consistent in tone. Each chapter has a similar look to it, making it easier for students to navigate.

Although not long for a printed work, the chapters seem a little long for an online text, which can sometimes benefit from shorter sections. It would be relatively easy to break readings out by subheadings if one wished to do so. The chapters are in a logical sequence, but if a professor wished to have students read them in a different order, this should not cause much trouble in terms of comprehension.

The chapters in the text are presented in a logical sequence. My only bone to pick is that the chapter on Aboriginal Tourism did not seem to flow well. This is partly because it is the only specific type of tourism that was specifically addressed with its own chapter. The topic is necessary and important. I am glad the chapter is there. However, since it is the only chapter of its type, it ends up feeling somewhat like an orphan in terms of the flow of the text.

The book works fine in terms of interface. I had no problems with navigation. The images were all clear. The text itself was formatted in a way that would be helpful for students, to highlight for them material that they should study. The format for the text was consistent throughout.

I did not find any grammatical errors.

The text seemed to be culturally sensitive. The photographs in the text rarely featured people at all, but when they did they reflected some diversity. The case studies could have been better used to highlight issues of diversity.

The text makes good use of case studies. The visual cues within the text serve as signposts for students. The text is clear and understandable. It covers important introductory concepts about tourism, in addition to concepts related specific to tourism in British Columbia, Canada. The chapter, Aboriginal Tourism, included material that is sometimes hard to find in other texts and thus was particularly valuable. This is a good textbook.

Reviewed by Mark Beattie, Clinacl Assistant Professor, Washington State University on 6/20/17

The text offers a wide variety of topics for an introductory course. Some chapters I found to be quite unique such as: Aboriginal Tourism and Environmental Stewardship. Excellent additions to a survey course! While the text is intended to be... read more

The text offers a wide variety of topics for an introductory course. Some chapters I found to be quite unique such as: Aboriginal Tourism and Environmental Stewardship. Excellent additions to a survey course! While the text is intended to be focused on British Columbia, it does limit itself by only offering an introduction and closing chapter with a larger context. Bottom line: for what the course covers, it is comprehensive. There is a glossary, but the text lacks an index.

I am not familiar enough with hospitality and tourism in British Columbia to assess the accuracy of all topics. What I can observe are the selection of authors are well-recognized as subject matter experts and the chapters are cited and documented thoroughly. Having toured in BC myself, the text enhanced my understanding of the Provence.

This text is focused narrowly on the British Columbia and as such limits its relevancy to those interested in study of the region. I reviewed both the printed copy and the online version of the textbook and noted there were several revisions and updates in the online version. This implies the authors’ commitment to the longevity by keeping content current.

The text has a nice layout to each of the chapters which adds to the clarity. These comments will flow through to the next section on consistency, so I am reviewing these in tandem. Each chapter begins with Learning Objectives, contains “Spotlight on” and “Take a closer look” inserts, and ends with Key Terms, Exercises and a Case Study. Finally, there is a complete bibliography for each chapter. From both a teaching and student perspective, having clear consistent content facilitates the learning process.

Following my previous comments on clarity, the construction of each chapter includes headings followed by concise topics. Photos, web links, and tables support further research by the students without creating distractions. In other words, the student will know what to expect each time they encounter a “Take a closer look” insert and can return to the main reading once they have discovered a bit more about the topic.

Each chapter is designed to stand on its own merit. I would open with the Ch. 1: History and Overview and conclude with Ch. 14: Back to the Big Picture chapters as the text is constructed. Outside of these bookends, I would feel flexible to mix and match the chapters in any sequence. While they can be presented independently, they are outlined to be presented in a nice flow in how it is presently designed.

This is truly the textbook’s strong point. It is organized with flexibility in mind, yet flows nicely start to finish. Each chapter is organized in the same fashion, making it consistent and provides smooth transitions between topics. This is important for both students and instructors.

I checked several links as I went through the various chapters. All that I checked worked and many had evidence of recent updates. The links in the featured boxes “Spotlight on” and Take a closer look” all were well placed and could take the reader out and back into the main body of the text without distractions. In this section, I would like to share my review of the exercises and case studies found at the end of each chapter. These are well-suited to discussions and activities in either a face-to-face or online course. I would find them particularly useful in a hybrid or “flipped” course delivery where the expectation would be that the student has come into the class meeting prepared to tackle activities and discussions using these tools.

The text is written in British English as it is a Canadian focused text. Given this, the grammar and spelling were consistent throughout the text and I noted few, if any, errors. It was easy to read without distractions of editing.

I am so happy to see the chapters on Environmental Stewardship and Aboriginal Tourism. These are fantastic examples of cultural relevancy and are a pleasant surprise to find in a survey course text. Well played! I found these chapters in particular to be very interesting and entices me to take advantage of some of the eco-tourism and visits to our First Nations to the north.

I selected this text to review as it was the only one available for Hospitality Business Management. I hope this will inspire others to model this kind of production for other courses relevant to our field. Hats off to BC for being an early adopter!

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1. History and Overview
• Chapter 2. Transportation
• Chapter 3. Accommodation
• Chapter 4. Food and Beverage Services
• Chapter 5. Recreation
• Chapter 6. Entertainment
• Chapter 7. Travel Services
• Chapter 8. Services Marketing
• Chapter 9. Customer Service
• Chapter 10. Environmental Stewardship
• Chapter 11. Risk Management and Legal Liability
• Chapter 12. Aboriginal Tourism
• Chapter 13. Careers and Work Experience
• Chapter 14. Back to the Big Picture: Globalization and Trends

Ancillary Material

About the book.

This textbook is an introduction to the tourism and hospitality industry in British Columbia, and is written with a first year college and university audience in mind. It is a collaborative work with input from educators, industry leaders, employers, and past graduates of BC's tourism and hospitality management programs. All chapters have been reviewed by experts in the field.

Each chapter is organized thematically moving from a global, then national and finally provincial context. Some chapters are quite global in focus while others concentrate primarily on British Columbia. Chapter content is based on available data and research, and input from collaborators.

Each chapter features “Spotlight On” text boxes that highlight an organization, business, or other key component of the chapter's theme. “Take a Closer Look” features encourage students to do further reading on particular subjects.

At the end of each chapter, key terms are presented in alphabetical order to help students gain confidence with terminology. These are followed by chapter exercises and a case study for in-depth exploration of the subject matter. Key terms are summarized in a Glossary at the end of the textbook.

About the Contributors

Morgan Westcott served as project manager and lead author for this textbook and is responsible for Chapters 1, 2, and 7. A graduate of the BCIT tourism marketing program, Morgan holds a B.A. in English, an M.A. in tourism management. She has management-level experience in cultural tourism, food and beverage operations, and special events.

Morgan is the general manager for LinkBC: the tourism and hospitality education network. She oversees operations, staff, and strategic direction and ensures delivery of signature events including the Student Case Competition and Student-Industry Rendezvous.

Morgan has been an instructor at Capilano University and Royal Roads University and has served as an author on the revised British Columbia Tourism 11 and 12 curriculum. She lives in East Vancouver with her husband, Matt; daughter, Fraser; and son, Douglas.

Geoffrey Bird is associate professor of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and the program head for the Master of Arts in Tourism Management at Royal Roads University. His research interests include heritage tourism, remembrance tourism, community development, poverty alleviation, sustainable tourism, cultural landscapes, tourism HRD policy and practice, and the visitor experience. Geoff has worked on three CIDA-funded tourism training projects in Vietnam and Malaysia. While living in Kuala Lumpur, he was president of the Malaysia Canada Business Council.

Prior to working at Royal Roads, Geoff spent seven years with the Ministry of Advanced Education coordinating the public postsecondary tourism and hospitality programs. He managed the international implementation of the SuperHost programs at Tourism British Columbia and American Express as well as operating his own tour business. He also served as convenor of the tourism management diploma and degree programs at Capilano University for seven years. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Brighton where he studied the relationship between battlefield tourism and remembrance. He also holds an M.Sc. in training from the University of Leicester, where he studied tourism education policy and planning. His B.A. Honours degree in international development, with a minor in French literature, is from the University of Guelph

When not immersed in the world of tourism and education, Geoff’s leisure repertoire includes kayaking and skiing. He continues to enjoy the opportunity to travel for pleasure and for research purposes, particularly in North America, Europe, and Vietnam.

Peter Briscoe  has taught hospitality, tourism, and event management at the postsecondary level for over two decades, with faculty appointments at Okanagan University College, College of New Caledonia, Thompson Rivers University, and Vancouver Island University, where he is currently the chair of the bachelor of hospitality management program and the wine business program. He holds a master’s of business administration degree from Southern Cross University, specializing in hotel and tourism management, and he is an approved tutor for the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust. His research interests have led him to international destinations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific. He is particularly interested in food, wine, and events and their role in shaping cultures and societies, and the continually changing nature of the hospitality experience.

Previous to working in academia, Peter held various management positions in hotels and food service organizations. His passion is people and their success, and he prides himself in expecting the best from both himself and others. He currently resides on Gabriola Island with his wife Lynda, where they enjoy time with friends and family, particularly their grandchildren.

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Inside the Literary Travel Boom

Book butlers! Curated libraries! Custom cruises! Literary-themed vacations are the hot new trend in tourism.

In January, when packing my bags for a “reading retreat” in the Dominican Republic, I agonized about which books to bring. A few days later, bellied up to the beachside bar at the all-inclusive Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana resort (where, in place of barstools, swings are suspended from the thatched ceiling), I sipped a mojito, cracked open James Salter’s Light Years, a novel I reread annually, and knew that I’d chosen well.

But if I’d had any regrets, summoning a new paperback would’ve been as easy as ringing for a book butler. I was down in the DR to experience Pages in Paradise, a collaboration between the publisher Penguin Random House, Belletrist Book Club (the brainchild of actress Emma Roberts), and Apple Vacations (no relation to the iPhone maker). For readers who like to beach, the retreat left no page unturned. The programming kicked off even before check-in: Ahead of arrival, guests could log in to the resort’s app to reserve beach reads from an on-site library curated by Belletrist. Housed in the airy hotel lobby, the collection included buzzy contemporary fiction by the likes of Zadie Smith and Curtis Sittenfeld. Guests could also order books via room service (or personal butler) anytime or select one from the chic library carts located at the adults-only pool. The property’s various bars featured the “Pages Pour,” a specialty cocktail themed to the program’s inaugural book-of-the-month selection, Jenny Xie’s debut novel, Holding Pattern . They called the drink a gin-fashioned—a fruit-forward riff on the old-fashioned, zippy with pineapple-cinnamon syrup.

Exotic as this tropical gathering of book lovers might have been, it’s just one example of a fast-growing business trend: literary-themed travel. We have the pandemic to thank. Reading surged in the early days of Covid, and the habit stuck as lockdowns eased: The biggest two years on record for print book sales in the U.S. were 2021 and 2022. Hotels and tourism companies, eager to lure back travelers, seized on the surge and began featuring books in their marketing. What began as a travel perk has become a full-blown movement to cater to readers with an explosion of new programming, from big-ticket experiences promising author access to solitary retreats. I know, I know—planning a trip around your reading list may never replace your annual golf weekend, but when else will you get the time to actually enjoy that stack on your nightstand? And if it all sounds like giving yourself homework, don’t worry—there definitely won’t be a quiz, and did I mention the drinks?

As a professional book recommender, the question I’m asked most often is “What book should I bring on my vacation?” ​But now there’s a new question to consider: What kind of literary vacation should I plan?

Not every reader is content to lie by the pool and read for days on end. Some are looking for a more kinetic experience—one that lets them interact with fellow readers, and even their favorite writers. Enter the “ Gone Girl cruise.” In fall 2022, author Gillian Flynn set sail down the Danube with some of her biggest (and most well-heeled) fans as part of Avalon Waterways’ Storyteller Series, cruises that offer literary travelers a chance to voyage in close quarters with authors and other storytellers. When Flynn tweeted about the cruise, it quickly became a viral sensation. On-board accounts detailed a true-crime extravaganza, with guests returning to their rooms each night to discover blood-spattered notes, themed to Flynn’s novels, on their pillows. Sure, it’s a little dorky—but we’re all fans of something, and if crime novels are your thing, what could be better?

For readers who can’t splash out for getaways abroad, there are literary destinations closer to home, too. In the artsy hamlet of New Hope, Pennsylvania, the historic luxury hotel River House at Odette’s offers Riverside Reading (in partnership with Bedside Reading), a program that pairs complimentary access to a curated library (via digital app or hard copies throughout the hotel) with intimate author experiences. With bookshelves stationed on each floor and authors rolling through seasonally, guests can dip in and out of the programming as they please.

When I visited River House deep in the grips of a harsh Pennsylvania winter, I discovered a reader’s paradise: My room boasted a fireplace, a private balcony, and serene views of the rushing Delaware River. After turndown service, I found a keepsake leather bookmark on my pillow. That evening, a few dozen guests gathered for a talkback with the novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz. In a ballroom festooned with red carnations (a nod to the cover of her latest book, The Latecomers ), Korelitz fielded rapid-fire questions about her inspiration, her writing process, and her hit novel The Plot . After the formal conversation concluded, starstruck guests crowded around her at the bar. “When people come up to you and say, ‘I loved your book,’ that really means something to writers,” Korelitz told me. As the owner of BookTheWriter, a service connecting authors and readers through pop-up book clubs hosted in New York City apartments, Korelitz knows a thing or two about making connections. In the recent boom of literary travel experiences, she sees a broader post-pandemic trend of readers craving the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite writers. “The ways of access to authors have multiplied exponentially,” she said. “I find it to be very inspiring.”

For an early-career author like Xie, who was at Pages in Paradise, seeing her novel highlighted was both exciting and transformative. That’s the thing about literary travel—it allows us to transcend our ordinary lives in more ways than one. “There’s a certain sense that we don’t have the space to read unless we’re traveling or living outside of our day-to-day,” said Xie. “A book takes you outside of your physical environment and your lived experience. Travel does that, too, so they join together in this really beautiful way to truly transport you.” That’s a journey worth taking.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR OWN LITERARY VACATION

Ready to take off on a bookish getaway? Literary travel isn’t “one size fits all,” so whatever type of reader you are, we’ve got a prescription for it. Choose your own adventure below.

For the fan

The Gone Girl cruise is over, but Avalon Waterways isn’t slowing down anytime soon: Its upcoming slate of Storyteller Cruises includes actor Graham McTavish (sailing down the Rhine River) and Outlander phenom Diana Gabaldon (voyaging down the Danube).

For the R&R chaser

Looking for a more relaxed experience? At the Reeds at Shelter Haven, an upscale resort on the Jersey shore, guests can participate in Reeds’ Reads, a seasonal book club featuring guided discussions, with authors sometimes joining via Zoom for Q&A sessions.

For the aspiring writer

Chances are, your favorite author is side-hustling by leading retreats in pastoral Europe. To get in on the action, pay close attention to their social-media feeds, or search for guided trips through an experiential-tourism outlet like TrovaTrip.

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7 of the best all-inclusive experiences to book this year, from a travel planner

• As a travel planner, my clients seem to be increasingly interested in all-inclusive trips .
• Some of my favorite luxury resorts are in Costa Rica, the Maldives, and Isla Mujeres.
• Cruises, group tours, and adults-only lodgings can also come with all-inclusive options. 

As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels , I know vacations are expensive — especially if you're looking to go somewhere this summer . But all-inclusive travel is often a great way to get the most value out of a luxury experience.

I've been on several all-inclusive vacations with my family, friends, and work, and I've helped other people book them in destinations around the world .

Here are some of the best all-inclusive experiences I'm recommending to my clients this year.

Try a split-stay vacation to see the best of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is one of the most sought-after vacations , and for good reason. It's great for both relaxation and adventure.

I recommend booking a split stay, starting at an all-inclusive resort in Guanacaste near the beach for some fun in the sun and moving to a resort near the famous Arenal Volcano for a jungle adventure.

Some of my favorite resorts in Costa Rica are the Westin Reserva Conchal and the Dreams Las Mareas. And if you're looking for an even more unique experience, check out the glorious swim-out suites with private pools at Dreams.

Baglioni Maldives is one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts.

The Maldives, a remote set of islands in the Indian Ocean, offers a plethora of resort options for couples and families, but Baglioni Maldives is my favorite.

For many in the US, getting to the islands can be daunting — there are very few direct commercial flights, and it can take almost an entire day. But it's hard to beat the country's luxury accommodations and gorgeous landscape.

The Maldives also has some of the most beautiful marine life and coveted spots for snorkeling and scuba diving.

No matter where you go, overwater bungalows are the ultimate all-inclusive splurge.

Overwater bungalows — villas standing on poles over open ocean water — are prevalent at all-inclusive resorts in destinations like the Maldives, Fiji, and Bali.

But I've also come across the luxurious accommodations at select adults-only Sandals Resorts throughout the Caribbean.

I think having a private villa on the water is the perfect way to unwind and relax.

Adults-only vacations are on the rise.

Traveling with kids can be a blast, but I also think it's important for adults to take a much-needed break on their own.

Adults-only resorts have been a total respite for me and my husband after hectic months of juggling work with our kids' school and sports schedules.

If you're looking to unwind with a partner, relax on a girls' trip, or even connect with your adult children, there are countless adults-only, all-inclusive resorts to choose from, depending on where you're looking to visit.

Some properties, including Sandals and Beaches Resorts, also offer butler service. Designated staff members can help with anything from room requests and dining reservations to cabana rentals and transportation coordination.

I upgraded to the service at my favorite adults-only spot, Le Blanc Los Cabos, and I felt totally pampered.

Isla Mujeres is pure luxury.

Isla Mujeres, a small island off the coast of Cancún, is known for its crystal-clear, turquoise water and peaceful vibe. It's also home to Playa Norte, one of the best beaches in Mexico .

Impressions Isla Mujeres by Secrets is a gorgeous all-inclusive resort on the island. It offers luxury at its finest, but with only 125 rooms, it has a boutique feel.

One of my favorite features of the resort is the waterslide that leads right into the beautiful ocean.

There are plenty of all-inclusive packages at sea.

Cruising is one of the most popular vacations , whether it's an epic adventure on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, a couples-only journey on Virgin Voyages, or a regal tour of Europe on Viking River Cruises.

Although cruises aren't traditionally considered all-inclusive, with the right booking, they can have the same feel as a luxury resort.

Most cruise bookings include food, nonalcoholic drinks, and live entertainment. If you add beverage packages and excursions in advance, your trip should be fully paid for before you depart.

Book a small-group or private tour if you're looking for adventure.

Group travel is a great way to explore new places while soaking up culture and history.

Popular destinations include Italy, Japan, Costa Rica, and Alaska, and many travel companies take care of everything for you, essentially making it all-inclusive.

I like Adventures by Disney , which offers small-group travel all over the world facilitated by seasoned guides. All the trip details are taken care of, including experiences, food, lodging, and transportation.

Additionally, Kensington Tours offers luxury private travel where every facet of the trip is meticulously planned for you.

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We have a very strong contracting team on the ground to ensure that we offer the best possible rates without compromising on quality.

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Apart from the rates, we have some of the inclusions which are unique and it gives the traveller a lifetime experience.

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The cars used during the trips are of the highest quality. We provide cars with ample spaces and for groups we make sure they do not feel cramped and soak in the beauty and culture of the destination.

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“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves”-Ray Kroc We believe in the above quotation as a principle. We would not give any accommodation facilities to the guests where we would not like to stay if we were travelling. We visit the properties in a half yearly inspection and then contract the rates.

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Our turnaround time to revert to queries is very quick. We strive to revert to every query within 45 minutes to 60 minutes. For Groups we would revert within a day or two.

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Kedarnath, a key Hindu temple in the Himalayas, offers spiritual significance. Accessible by foot or helicopter, the 2024 booking via IRCTC Heli Yatra involves registration, operator selection, OTP ve...