Travel Books for Travel Lovers

I belong to a travel community which not only loves travelling, but also loves reading about travel – so travel books are always a topic of great interest to us.

And who better to deliver on trend travel books than Lonely Planet?

Not only do they publish fantastic guide books, but they are also bringing out a swathe of minority interest books to appeal to various sectors of the travel community.

The following travel books are not just about where to go and what to see, but rather encourage exploring in order to to refresh your life, or travelling as a vegan, and travelling with kids.

Refresh Your Life

With Explore Every Day, Lonely Planet presents an idea a day to refresh your life.

You don’t have to travel far to discover a world of new experiences in Explore Every Day.

Travel Books that help you Connect

From new ways to connect with friends, family and the community, to appreciating art and unleashing your creative side, Lonely Planet shows you how to explore new cultures, meet new people and have amazing adventures – every day.

“Think of this book not as a simple guide to fun things to do, but as an act of rebellion. As a stand against the forces that hold us back from exploring our creativity, our adventurousness and our communities.” author Alex Leviton writes in her Introduction. “You don’t need to fly to the Maldives and stay in an above-water bungalow or trek through the Himalayas for months on end to awaken that sense of adventure or connection.”

“You have no excuse, either,” Alex continues. “Some of these prompts take an actual, literal minute (‘breathe deeply’), others a full day or more (‘living-room camping’) but most take anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour. The vast majority of them are completely or almost free.”

“These 365 prompts (plus one leap prompt, of course) offer a dozen different types of archetypal experiences,” Alex says. “Do you want to connect with family (‘call a relative’), friends (‘hide a note for a mate’) or your community (‘use your volunteer skills’)? Do you want to appreciate art (‘mural walking tour’) or would you rather create something yourself (‘draw a map of your town’)? You can editorialise your home town (‘a travel-writing assignment’) or just use your imagination (‘dedicate today to your favourite person in history’). And yes, you can even recast your housework as fun (‘turn a chore into a game’).”

“When we think back to what gave us that spark of joy during the day, was it that time you spent on social media or reading the news?,” Alex asks. “Or was it the dusty orange sunset you saw on the way home, or that conversation you had with a new colleague? We can’t take away the former (well, we do try: ‘unfollow one social media account’; and ‘don’t read any news today’) but this book will help remind you to do more of the latter.”

The Vegan Travel Handbook

This December, Lonely Planet Food is sharing an inspiring and practical guide to vegan-friendly travel, from vegan cooking classes in India to wildlife watching tours in New Zealand, with the publication of The Vegan Travel Handbook.

Whether you’ve been vegan for years or are travelling as one for the first time, The Vegan Travel Handbook is packed with insight and advice on Lonely Planet’s favourite vegan-friendly destinations, tours and experiences, and tips on where to go when, how to confidently order food, and staying healthy on the road.

“Consider this book your primer for how to practise what you already do in your home town, on the global go,” Lonely Planet says. “And just as your career or favourite colour hasn’t been dictated by your diet of choice, don’t limit your potential travel destinations by their per capita offerings of what you prefer to scoop on to your plate when back in the comfort of your own home. You can be vegan anywhere, and a growing number of people worldwide certainly are. It’s just a matter of a little extra preparation and a flexible attitude. A sense of humour helps, too.”

In The Vegan Travel Handbook, Lonely Planet asks, “Are you an adrenaline junkie who happens to prefer tofu? A history buff with a thing for nuts? A beach bum who adores tempeh? A culture vulture taking a holiday from animal products? Choose a place that interests you first, and figure out what you’ll eat there later. Of course, if you’re a gourmand whose number one hobby is eating, there are plenty of destinations for you to choose from as well. Their locations might surprise you.”

Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Cities

Woo Hoo for Australia too! Featuring Melbourne (Top 10 Vegan-Friendly City); and Adelaide’s Staazi & Co (Top 10 Vegan Food Truck)

1. Berlin, Germany

2. London, UK

3. New York City, USA

4. Tel Aviv, Israel

5. Portland, Oregon, USA

6. Los Angeles, California, USA

7. Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

8. Warsaw, Poland

9. Toronto, Canada

10. Melbourne, Australia

Top 10 Vegan Food Trucks

1. GMonkey, Connecticut, USA

2. Gooddo, Udaipur, India

3. Totally Awesome Vegan Food Truck, Portland, Maine, USA

4. Club Mexicana, London, UK

5. Staazi & Co, Adelaide, Australia

6. The Cinnamon Snail, NYC, USA

7. Chez Veg’anne, Strasbourg, France

8. Soulgood, Dallas, Texas, USA

9. Rupert’s Street, London, UK

10. Shimmy Shack, Detroit, Michigan, USA

The Family Travel Handbook

I wish this handbook had been published when our kids were young. For any of you with granchildren this is a fabulous gift for your own grown up children – or for you – to get out and have adventures with the grandkids!

Everything you need to know to take unforgettable trips with your children

Full of practical advice, ideas and inspiration for every type of family, Lonely Planet’s The Family Travel Handbook gives you the lowdown on amazing travel experiences around the world – and how to plan and enjoy them with your children.

From fabulous destinations and navigating different forms of transport, to approaching new food and a change in routine, travellers will gain the confidence and know-how to plan family getaways like a pro.

The book’s Australian highlights include South Western Australia (‘Adventure Destination’), Brisbane (‘Top 10 Family Cultural Destination’), Sunshine Coast (‘Top 5 Destination for Infants & Toddlers’), Tasmania (‘Top 5 Destination for Multigenerational Travel’), Questacon in Canberra (‘Top 10 Science Destination’), Royal Botanic Gardens’ Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden in Melbourne (‘Top 10 Fun Ideas’), The Ghan (‘Ride the Rails’), Cylinder Beach, Stradbroke Island (‘Top 5 Beach Destination’), Great Barrier Reef (‘Top 5 Wildlife Holiday’), and a chapter devoted to ‘Camping in Tasmania’.

“Every day our writers and staffers share tips and recommendations focused on travel with kids,” Lonely Planet says. “Collectively we’ve covered thousands of miles with our children, from making the most of a local day trip to biking across continents, from a short trip to another city to relaxing on a farm stay in the middle of the countryside, and from learning to ski to enjoying the spectacle of a Disney cruise. You name it, we’ve probably done it. Now we’re sharing the knowledge we’ve gained from our experiences with you in this book. “

“Our aim,” Lonely Planet continues, “is to bring together all of our expertise in one useful handbook that you can refer to as much for ideas about exploring the great outdoors close to home as for advice on packing up everything and taking the kids on a round-the-world trip. Your family may be experienced jet-setters, or you may be unsure where to start when taking your kids on the road, but amazing opportunities for travelling together exist at every turn.”

What’s your favourite book about travel?

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