Must-Read Books for Your RTW Trip Prep

Planning and saving for a long-term travel adventure takes months, or even years. Lots of research goes into deciding where you’ll go, how you’ll get there and how much money to bring, not to mention what to pack.

And while travel blogs and websites (like Her Packing List!) can be helpful for specific and up-to-date knowledge, there are also some great books that stand the test of time and focus on other parts of your travel experience not listed in your guidebook.

Here are a few that I recommend for travelers getting ready for their first big rtw adventure.

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts

I bought my sister this book for Christmas one year and she returned the favor by buying me a copy before I left for my year in Australia. It’s the ultimate guide to long term travel and my copy has been dogeared to death. Vagabonding differs from traditional guides that prepare you for your destination, as it prepares you for your experiences. In it you’ll find tips on how to quit, or take a sabbatical, from your job, how to find work overseas and advice from travelers who have been there.

>> Grab a copy of “Vagabonding” on Amazon.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter by Matt Kepnes

Now in its second edition, this book by “Nomadic Matt” Kepnes teaches travelers how to keep travel affordable for nearly everyone, starting with cutting down on expenses, selling some of the excess and changing your living situation. Other sections prepare you for life on the road, no matter how short the trip, and offer advice on how to save money on accommodation, food and drinks, activities and transportation. He even goes into what’s worth seeing in nearly every part of the world and has appendices on your frequently asked travel questions on vaccinations, recommended tour operators and the almighty packing list.

>> Grab a copy of “How to Travel the World on $50 a Day” on Amazon.

The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau

This book is more of a guide to nontraditional living, but has plenty of wisdom to be applied to travel by an author who has visited 192 countries. Guillebeau notes that most people are living their lives on autopilot, not stopping to think that things could be different. From there, he goes onto discuss going after the crazy dream of yours, whether it be starting your own business or quitting your job, selling your house and traveling the world indefinitely. You can go from thinking, “I wish I could do that” to actually doing it by making it a priority.

>> Grab a copy of “The Art of Non-Conformity” on Amazon.

If those weren’t enough, you can also check out The Rough Guide to First-Time Around the World.