Marianne C. Bohr's favorite books for satisfying your wanderlust

What sets this book apart is its writing style and is pretty much what you'd expect from Bourdain: direct, honest, and irreverent.

He doesn't sugarcoat his opinions, and his sense of humor keeps things fun along the way. And of course, there's food. Lots of it and his passion for it. He’s always on the hunt for the best local bites, and whether he’s slurping noodles from a street cart in Southeast Asia or savoring a long, indulgent meal in Paris, his enthusiasm is contagious. He’s clearly a foodie, as am I, and great food is always the best part of a travel story.

The book is organized by region, which I really liked, with each section packed with stories, tips, and recommendations to inspire your next adventure. 

I savored every word of this gorgeous account of one couple's walk of a lifetime—the GR5 (the Grande Randonnée, or Big Hike #5), from the Netherlands all the way south to Nice, France.

In luminous prose, Elkind makes a compelling case that adventure and physical challenge have no expiration date, a reminder I find both timely and deeply reassuring since I am a committed hiker. Like all the best travel literature, it left me itching to lace up my boots and go.

Whether you're seriously contemplating a long-distance trek or simply love losing yourself in the journey of others, this book delivers. I found it inspiring, beautifully written, and impossible to put down.

Nearly every line of this memoir stopped me in my tracks.

I read most of it at a local café, teacup in hand, blinking back tears more times than I care to admit. Gilbert's precision and beauty on the page are simply breathtaking. She doesn't describe the world so much as conjure it, and she pulled me in until her cobbled Roman streets and dusty Indian pathways felt like my own. I tasted that whole pizza with her, felt the sun’s warmth on her shoulders, and ached through each layered heartbreak as though it were mine.

She doesn't merely tell her story. She throws open the door to her innermost self and refuses to let you look away. I wept. I laughed. And when the last page came, I sat quietly for a long moment, reluctant to leave her and her world behind.

I absolutely loved this book and could have finished it in 2 sittings! But I wanted the book and the author’s journey to linger, so I paced myself. It’s one of my favorite travel memoirs ever. 

I have traveled to Europe many times and love it more each time I visit, so when I was taken with the cover, I was eager to share Steinbach's adventure. Sometimes I’ve traveled alone and know how lonely it can be. Being with Alice was a pleasure. I loved her voice and instantly felt like she was my friend. I’d been to all the places she visited and loved going back with her.

When I finished the book, I felt as if I was returning from a trip. Beautifully written.

I read this book thirty years ago and was fascinated by the author’s description of Central America and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

So much, in fact, that I’ve traveled to San Miguel twice. I loved the book so much that I re-read it after visiting the town for the first time. This book captures the spiritual quality of Mexico. It drew me in and wouldn’t let go.

The author's inner musings as a young woman spoke to me, as did her vivid descriptions of the village and those she meets over the course of a year. They are so alive that I felt I really knew them. The braiding of her inner journey with her physical journey is beautifully crafted and written.

Mary Morris's travel narratives are essential reading for any woman thinking about traveling alone.