Guidebooks, phrasebooks and travel tales

We love travel books. While it’s true that you can get most of the travel info you need online, books are great for dreaming and planning. It’s also good to stick a guidebook in your day pack when you head out for a day’s exploring.

It’s easy to overspend on books before you go - remember you can swap with other travellers along the way. That said, here are a few books we think are worth their weight in gold. Enjoy...

Our top 5 recommended books

Before You Go Click to buy >>	Virgin Travellers' Handbook Click to buy >>	Lonely Planet: Australia Click to buy >>	Rough Guide: Southeast Asia Click to buy >>	Lonely Planet: Europe Click to buy >>

Buy books   Tom Griffiths' books   Country guides   General reading   Book Bin   Backpacking books   Gap year cookery   Travel safety   Work abroad   Aged 25 plus   gap year specific   Travel routes   Phrase books   Female relevant   Volunteering   Travel fiction   Travel stories   Music / Travel music   The writers

Advice General advice How to choose the right guides, FAQs etc. >> Community New! Check out our brand spanking new round the world books section! >> Charlotte's Lonely Planet We talk to Lonely Planet travel writer Charlotte Hindle, author of The Gap Year Book >> Book of the month A cool new book crammed full of tales from gap year travellers - a must-read! >>