There’s a specific kind of traveler I spot every time I’m in an airport: the one with a book tucked under their arm, already halfway through a chapter before they’ve found their gate. If that’s you, this post is for you.
I’ve always believed that a great book and a great trip have something in common — they both take you somewhere you weren’t expecting to go. So a few years ago I started pairing the two intentionally, and I haven’t looked back. Here are five books I love and the destinations that belong alongside them.
People We Meet on Vacation — Emily Henry
Two best friends who take ten summer trips together. A relationship that’s clearly more than either of them wants to admit. And a slow-burn story that makes you want to immediately book a flight somewhere beautiful with your favorite person.
If you haven’t read Emily Henry yet, this is a good place to start. The whole book is soaked in the feeling of summer travel — the particular freedom of being somewhere new with someone you love, with nowhere to be except wherever you want.
Pair it with Croatia. Charming coastal towns, long dinners by the water, afternoons that stretch out in the best possible way. Croatia has this quality of making ordinary moments feel cinematic, which is exactly what this book does on the page. I’ve had clients describe their Croatia trips the same way they describe finishing a really good novel — a little reluctant for it to be over.
The Guest List — Lucy Foley
A glamorous wedding on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Stunning scenery. Family tension that simmers all weekend. And one very unfortunate murder.
It’s a thriller, but it’s also a love letter to the drama of destination weddings — which, as someone who plans them for a living, I find very relatable.
Pair it with Ireland. The dramatic coastlines, the moody light, the landscapes that look like they were designed to be the backdrop for something significant. Ireland has this atmospheric quality that makes everything feel heightened, which is exactly the right setting for a book you’ll read in one sitting.
The Talented Mr. Ripley — Patricia Highsmith
Tom Ripley, obsessed with a glamorous American living the beautiful life in Italy. A psychological thriller that reads like an extended daydream about the Italian coast — until it doesn’t.
I’ve recommended this book to more clients than I can count, mostly because by chapter three they’re already texting me asking about flights to Italy.
Pair it with the Amalfi Coast. The setting is so quintessentially Italian — the sunlit terraces, the cliffside towns, the kind of beauty that makes people do irrational things — that reading it and visiting it feel like two chapters of the same story. If you’ve been on the fence about an Italy trip, this book will tip you over.
The Great Alone — Kristin Hannah
A family seeking a fresh start in the wilderness of Alaska. A setting so vivid you’ll feel the cold coming off the pages. A story about survival in more ways than one.
Kristin Hannah writes Alaska the way Alaska actually feels — immense and wild and breathtaking and slightly terrifying all at once. It’s one of those books that makes you want to experience a place rather than just see it.
Pair it with an Alaska cruise. Whether you’re sailing through Glacier Bay or spotting humpbacks from the ship’s deck, the scale of Alaska is something you genuinely have to witness to understand. I book Alaska trips for clients who’ve never considered themselves outdoorsy people, and they come home changed. The Great Alone captures exactly why.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — Taylor Jenkins Reid
A reclusive Hollywood icon. Seven marriages. Decades of secrets finally coming to light. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to find a poolside chair and not move for six hours.
If you haven’t read it yet, I’m slightly jealous that you get to experience it for the first time. And if you have, you already know it belongs somewhere fabulous.
Pair it with Palm Springs. Retro glamour, mid-century architecture, the ghost of Old Hollywood hanging over every boutique hotel. Palm Springs has this layered sense of history and style that mirrors exactly what makes Evelyn Hugo so compelling. It’s a destination that rewards people who appreciate a good story.
The Real Point of All This
Good books make you want to go somewhere. Good travel makes you want to sit still and actually absorb where you are. The two work together in ways that a packed itinerary and a highlight reel can’t quite replicate.
One thing I always tell clients who love to read: build some unscheduled time into your trip. A long afternoon with a book on the beach in Croatia, or a rainy morning in a cozy Irish pub — those are often the moments they end up talking about long after the trip is over. For anyone still figuring out where their next trip should take them, my guide to the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico for summer is a good place to start if a warm-weather reset is what you’re after.
If you love to travel and you love to read, the best thing I can tell you is: don’t separate the two. Let the books lead, and let the trips follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth reading a book set in your destination before you go?
Absolutely, and it works in both directions — reading before you go builds anticipation and context, while reading during the trip makes the setting feel even more alive. Some of my favorite travel memories are tied to books I happened to be reading at the time. A few clients have even built entire itineraries around a destination they first encountered through fiction.
What makes a good beach read?
The best beach reads tend to be immersive enough to pull you away from your surroundings but light enough that you’re not doing homework. A propulsive plot, characters you actually like, and a setting that complements where you are all help. That said, some travelers prefer to read something completely different from their destination — it’s really about what puts you in vacation mode.
Can a travel advisor help plan a trip inspired by a book?
Yes, and it’s one of my favorite ways to build an itinerary. When a client comes to me with a book they loved or a destination they discovered through reading, we have an immediate starting point: they already know the feeling they’re after. That makes it much easier to find the right resorts, pacing, and experiences to match.
If your beach bag is already packed with good books but your calendar is looking suspiciously empty, I’d love to help fix that. Reach out and let’s figure out which destination belongs on your reading list this year.
Ready to start planning? Click the link below!
Leave a Reply