I don’t go anywhere without books. And as a literary traveller, that means that when I’m off exploring a new country, my luggage is usually half-filled with books set in that country.
Books are often listed as a holiday essential, but if you’re a major bookworm, your holidays will benefit from these extra tools and accessories. Holidays are a great time to catch up on the books you’ve been meaning to read so maximise your reading experience whilst away from home with these travel essentials.
Book Sleeve
I’m one of those people who can’t stand to bend the spine, fold the corner of a page or see any harm come to my precious books. No matter how careful you are, it’s impossible to avoid the corners of your book becoming slightly worn when carrying it around in a backpack. Enter book sleeves.
A book sleeve is basically a book-size padded pouch that you can slide your books into to protect them when you’re on the go. Pretty neat, huh?
Your book sleeve will be your saving grace when your bag gets thrown around in the luggage hold or when your water bottle leaks. The horror!
I now own a number of book sleeves and will put each and every physical book I bring with me on holiday in one. If you’ve only got one or are trying to cut down on space then make sure the book in your day bag is protected first.
I recently travelled to Wales without a book sleeve in my bag. Mistake. My water bottle exploded and my copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo spent the rest of the weekend sat under the radiator (it still came back wet!).
Learn from my mistakes.
Book sleeves have massively grown in popularity over the past few years and there are lots of different places to buy them. My favourite place to shop for book sleeves is Etsy as there are constantly new designs being added and you know that you’re supporting a super cool, small and independent business.
They come in lots of different sizes so rest assured that both your paperbacks and hardbacks can be tucked away in a padded book sleeve.
Have a browse of these Etsy shops:
Book Besties UK
Fabric Bound
Kindle
I’ll bring at least one paperback with me wherever I go, but I’ll also have a number of ebooks downloaded onto a kindle to lighten the load a little. I can’t deny that it’s more practical than stuffing your suitcase with the mass of books you plan to read on the beach.
RELATED: Kindle Unlimited vs Prime Reading
Whilst your suitcase will probably burst before you can get 100 books in there (and that’s a BIG suitcase), Kindles can hold thousands and thousands of books. If you’re travelling long term or trying to fit everything into a single backpack then this is especially handy for you.
If you’re wondering why you’d bother buying a Kindle or other e-reader when you can read on your phone just fine, remember that Kindles have anti-glare screens.
There’s nothing more annoying than relaxing under the sun but squinting, twisting and turning to get the right angle so you can actually see the words on your phone screen.
Put your phone away and opt for an e-reader instead! Your eyes will thank you for it.
Other bonuses are that it’s super easy to whip out your kindle when you’re queueing for an attraction and if you can always download more via the Kindle store so you can get reading immediately.
Try the Kindle Unlimited 30 day free trial
Reading Light
A reading light is essential for those dark overnight journeys or if you’re staying in a room with other people.
Unfortunately, not everyone you travel with will appreciate your need to find out what happens at the end of your latest read even though it’s past your bedtime so you’ve got to be prepared.
A small clip light that attaches to the back page of your book is ideal for lighting up your book without creating a distracting light that will keep your travel companions awake.
Consider buying one a rechargeable light rather than a battery-powered one so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery!
RELATED: 10 Best Book Lights for Reading in Bed
Audiobooks
Another great option for long journeys are audiobooks. If you’re travelling for hours at a time, you might feel too exhausted to think about picking up a book. That’s where audiobooks come in.
Sit back, relax and let the words wash over you. Just don’t forget your headphones.
RELATED: Scribd Review
Audiobooks are great for helping you fall asleep on uncomfortable bus journeys too. Most audiobook apps will have a special sleep mode so it plays for around 10-20 minutes before automatically turning off.
They’re also a great option if you don’t want to bother investing in a reading light as above. Listen in the dark and you won’t risk anyone being annoyed by your reading light.
Not sure if audiobooks are for you? Most audiobook brands offer a 30-day free trial so you can see if you enjoy this reading format. The two most popular are Audible and Scribd:
Try the Scribd 30-day free trial
Try the Audible 30-day free trial
RELATED: Scribd vs Audible: Which Audiobook Subscription is Better?
Bookish Tote Bag
I usually keep a tote bag in my day bag so if I end up popping to the shops, I don’t need to take a carrier bag.
But why would you need one on holiday?
Why to carry all your new book purchases of course!
You never know when you’ll stumble across a good bookshop, and if you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that’s what I spend most of my holiday time seeking out the world’s bookshops, so a bookish tote for any impromptu purchases ins essential!
My absolute favourite bookish tote bags come from Obvious State. They’re really good quality, thick bags that are perfect for carrying heavy books in.
Other funky bookish totes include:
Notebook
I usually like to keep track of my reading using Goodreads but, when travelling, it’s quite possible that you won’t have access to decent wifi. I have to scribble down my thoughts as soon as I’ve finished a book otherwise I start to forget exactly how I felt about it.
I can’t start a new book without writing my thoughts on the one just finished otherwise I know I’ll never get round to writing anything down about it!
That’s why it’s a great idea to carry a notebook around with you so that if you can’t get to Goodreads or your phone is out of battery you always have somewhere to jot your thoughts down.
Plus, if you’re a budding writer, you never know when inspiration for a story might strike. It’s also nice just to keep track of your daily travels and all the wonderful bookshops you discover.
Check out these bookish notebooks that I’m lusting after:
Magnetic Bookmark
As I said above, I hate dog eared pages. I simply don’t understand why anyone would want to ruin their books like that! If you’re on a similar wavelength, then a magnetic bookmark is a great, tiny accessory to remember to bring on your holidays.
If you’re walking to and from the beach or constantly getting your book out in cafes, you’re bound to lose a loose bookmark.
A magnetic one will stay in place no matter where you take your book so is a nifty little thing to make sure you pack.
Pin now, read again later!
If you liked this post, check out these:
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How To Create a Cosy Reading Corner
How to Declutter Your Bookshelves
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How I Read 75 Books a Year
Laura
Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?