Back to Travel Notebook Read Your Way Around The World
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
—St. Augustine
Today’s bibliophiles can mix great reads, a sense of place, and community as they travel to storybook settings … sometimes, quite literally. Literature and travel have long complemented each other, deepening connections to the tales we love and illuminating the places we visit. Today’s bookish travelers are seeking out literary destinations, book festivals, famous bookstores and libraries, and more, in search of the perfect plot line for their next journey.
We’ve asked our hotels and DMCs to share their must-read titles for those headed their direction, and to suggest the can’t-miss sites, including the London neighborhood that inspired Mary Poppins, the muse-worthy farm estate in South Africa, and Eloise’s famous hotel address in New York City.
These travel experiences are designed especially for passionate readers and the advisors who guide them. Elena Ferrante’s beloved characters come to life in Naples, and libraries become havens of discovery (and keepers of gorgeous sea views in the case of Athens’ National Library of Greece). In East Africa, a read of Dian Fossey’s Gorillas in the Mist turns a safari into a pilgrimage. If your clients find solace, joy, and imagination between the pages of a book, these experiences open doors to deeper, more resonant travel.
And everywhere, there is opportunity to seek out quiet literary corners, whether it’s selecting a book from the shelves lining the Hari Bar in London, or sipping Ceylon tea in a plantation bungalow in Sri Lanka while paging through The Tea Planter’s Wife. It’s a chance to turn away from the gravitational pull of technology and turn inward to tales that transport in much the same way as travel.
Get comfortable and come with us as literature comes to life. We hope you’re inspired to create a new storyline for your reading travelers or immerse them in the narratives that moved them long before their bags were packed.
For book-loving travelers, The Hari is the perfect London literary escape. Explore the city’s hidden gems inspired
by famous authors, then unwind with a new read from the Hari Bar.
The Hari, London, England – A Novel Way to Explore London
With a rich literary history, London is the perfect destination for book-loving travelers. What is less known is how The Hari offers the ideal base to explore the hidden and quieter aspects of London’s literary spots. In the heart of Belgravia, the hotel is surrounded by streets and settings that inspired some of England’s most celebrated authors.
Mary Shelley, who wrote the Gothic classic Frankenstein, lived on the same street where The Hari now sits. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, the classic spy tale, lived around the corner on Ebury Street.
P.L. Travers, the mind behind Mary Poppins, was also a neighbor, only a 15-minute walk away, at 50 Smith Street. It’s rumored that her real-life address inspired the Banks family home on fictional Cherry Tree Lane. Just as the book’s protagonists, guests of The Hari can let themselves be carried by the east wind to explore the literary quirks the city offers.
For travelers looking for a quieter, but no less exciting trip, The Hari invites one to step into these stories and into the minds of these celebrated authors. At the same time, guests are encouraged to travel beyond the hotel’s physical walls by immersing themselves in a good book, available in the Hari Bar.
Love, Life, and Elephants: Daphne Sheldrick and fellow conservationists walk with
baby elephants, embodying a lifetime dedication to these gentle giants.
Exeter Safaris Company, East Africa – Turn the Page, Step into Africa: A Literary Safari Adventure
At Exeter Safari Company, a safari goes beyond the sights and becomes a memorable story in which wildlife and landscapes come alive. For travelers seeking a deeper connection, few books capture the spirit of Africa like Daphne Sheldrick’s Love, Life, and Elephants. Her moving autobiography recounts her journey founding the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, rescuing orphaned elephants, and dedicating her life to conservation, offering readers an intimate perspective on these gentle giants.
Gorillas in the Mist: Dian Fossey’s pioneering work with mountain gorillas in Rwanda,
a testament to her dedication, courage, and passion for these magnificent creatures.
Equally unforgettable is Dian Fossey’s Gorilla in the Mist, a timeless account of her pioneering work with mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Fossey’s dedication, courage, and passion immerse readers in the misty forests and the intimate world of gorillas, making each encounter more meaningful when visiting their habitats.
Pairing a safari with these stories transforms every sighting into a narrative, deepening one’s appreciation of Africa’s extraordinary wildlife. Exeter Safari Company can craft itineraries that bring these books to life, from visiting elephant sanctuaries inspired by Sheldrick’s work to exploring gorilla trails echoing Fossey’s conservation legacy. With the right story in hand, your clients’ journeys become an unforgettable exploration of wild hearts.
Photo credit – Pexels/Banana Nardini
American Stories Travel, East Coast, United States – New York City: A Storybook Destination for Readers of All Ages
If your client loves getting lost in a good book, New York City might be their next favorite chapter. Stories come alive on every block, inside every bookstore, and through the writers who found inspiration here. For generations, readers have followed in their footsteps.
Why not begin the adventure before they even leave home with a book that brings New York to life? Recommend that families share Eloise at the Plaza with little ones and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler with older kids, and (re) read The Great Gatsby themselves. Once they’ve read these tales, they’ll step into the stories, exploring the Plaza Hotel, wandering the halls of the Met, or taking a day trip to Gatsby’s Gold Coast. Suddenly, the city feels less like a backdrop and more like a living storybook.
When in town, arrange for visits where stories live and breathe. Send them to take a photo with the marble lions at the New York Public Library, to browse The Strand, or to settle into McNally Jackson or Books Are Magic for a cozy recommendation.
Time your readers’ visit with a festival, and the magic multiplies. The Brooklyn Book Festival in September fills the city with panels and signings, while the Harlem Book Fair in July celebrates African American voices. In the city that has inspired generations of writers, your clients’ visit is a part of the story.
A Farm Full of Pages: Unfold the story of Babylonstoren with this beautiful keepsake book,
a visual journey into the workings of an active fruit and wine farm, its gardens, people, and heritage.
Babylonstoren, Franschhoek Wine Valley, South Africa – A Farm Full of Pages
Stories are woven into the fabric of Babylonstoren, from its historical garden, winery, and farm to the farm-to-fork restaurants, luxury hotel, spa, and workshops.
The magnificent, eponymous coffee table book captures the essence of Babylonstoren in a collection of stories about the farm and its people, presented in the format of a beautiful keepsake book. Babylonstoren gives readers a glimpse into the workings of an active fruit and wine farm, delving into the delightful details and the stories of the masters and artisans working behind the scenes.
Unwind with a good book at Babylonstoren, where every corner, from the suites’ bookshelves to the quiet
Butterfly Room library, invites you to lose yourself in a story.
Books Abound at Babylonstoren
Each of Babylonstoren’s suites includes a bookshelf filled with a wonderful selection of books, which include both local and international favorites. The Butterfly Room is a lounge and library for the use of Farmhouse guests. It offers a good selection of books and board games, as well as a choice of drinks. A rare collection of birdwing butterflies, collected over many years by entomologist Henk Geertsema, is exhibited here.
The Franschhoek Literary Festival
If you are planning a client visit to Babylonstoren during May, be sure to add the Franschhoek Literary Festival to the itinerary. Usually scheduled around the third weekend in May, the festival brings together a cross-section of renowned South African and international authors and thought leaders to inspire, delight, inform, and challenge audiences.
The classic Italian story: part myth, part magic, and all adventure.
Vakay in Tuscany, Italy – An Italian Tale, Unfolding in Real Time
Venice reveals its most whimsical secret in the Libreria Acqua Alta, where books spill from gondolas and staircases made of novels rise toward hidden balconies. This surreal shop has become a refuge for dreamers, and your bookophile clients won’t be able to resist climbing the book staircase to glimpse the canal view.
Meanwhile, in Naples, fans of Elena Ferrante can walk the streets described in her beloved novels. A Vakay guide can show them through the Quartieri Spagnoli, where laundry flutters overhead, and walls bloom with bold street art. Each mural tells a story as visceral as Ferrante’s words in a city where literature is alive on every corner.
Walking the Pages: Follow in the footsteps of Elena Ferrante’s beloved characters.
Laundry flutters overhead as bold street art turns the city into an unfolding Italian tale.
This is the Vakay difference: Whether curating a festive Milanese adventure, a Renaissance art journey in Florence, a private wine escape through Chianti, or a moonlit gondola ride in Venice, the expert team crafts Italian experiences that linger vividly long after the trip is over.
A Delicious Spot in the Global Narrative: With views over the grounds, The Library at Hartwell House
is a delicious spot to immerse yourself in a favorite novel or discover new works.
Historic House Hotels, Hartwell House & Spa, Buckinghamshire, England – Where Stories Live
Read your way around the world at Hartwell House, where history and literature intertwine in every cozy corner. Once the refuge of an exiled king, Hartwell is today a haven of tranquility where your clients are invited to reflect, read, and imagine within its storied walls. The Library, with its timeless atmosphere and views over the grounds, is a delicious spot in which to immerse oneself in a favorite novel or to discover new works inspired by country house life and royal history.
Beyond Hartwell, literary exploration continues for your bibliophiles. Oxford, with its Bodleian Library and Tolkien trails, offers a world of inspiration, while the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden provides a more playful perspective on storytelling. The Oxford Literary Festival and Henley Literary Festival, both close at hand, offer opportunities to engage with leading writers and ideas. With its heritage, its Library, and its proximity to such celebrated literary centers, Hartwell House is a must for passionate readers.
The Acropolis of Books: Relocated and magnificent, this modern, multi-story library near the sea is a must-see
for book lovers, combining ancient Greek knowledge with a spectacular contemporary view.
Curated Greece – From Page to Place: Exploring Greece Through Books
Written words on a page have a unique power, igniting our imagination and painting vivid images of people, places, and moments before we ever set foot there. Traveling then turns these imagined scenes into real colors and sounds we experience in an entirely personal way.
To bridge imagination with place before your clients set off for Greece, recommend they read Victoria Hislop’s The Thread. This moving novel set in Thessaloniki follows lives shaped by the turbulence of the 20th century, showing how bonds of love, friendship, and family endure through hardship. The city itself becomes part of the story, its streets and traditions revealing a spirit of resilience.
For a lighter, playful dive into Greek culture, Stephen Fry’s Mythos offers modern retellings of Greek mythology. Through short, humorous stories, gods and heroes are brought to life in an engaging and accessible way. Exploring temples and archaeological sites with Mythos in mind helps the myths behind these places feel memorable.
A must-see for book lovers, the National Library of Greece now sits near the sea at the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center. Relocated in 2017 to give its vast collections the space and technology they need, it features a panoramic reading room and programs for all ages, making it welcoming to families. As part of a Curated Greece journey, travelers can stop here en route to scenic Cape Sounio.
Surrounded by 4,000 carefully curated books, the library at Nolinski Venezia is a sanctuary of art, literature, and music,
designed to create emotions and wonderful memories. Photo credit – Mickael Cornelus
Nolinski Venezia, Venice, Italy – A Story in Every Room
In designing Nolinski Venezia, cofounder of EVOK Emmanuel Sauvage said, “Our job is to give pleasure, create emotions, and have a part in making wonderful memories. Venice couldn’t be more in tune with our values.” The same can be said of a truly great book. Each story is an opportunity to find joy in connection with characters, time, and place, to step outside ourselves and welcome new outlooks and feelings.
Evok collaborated with independent bookseller Anatole Desachy, who carefully placed limited-edition books in each of the collection’s hotels and suites, including 4,000 books in Nolinski Venezia’s bar-library. This remarkable library spans six meters of shelving, with an eclectic mix of art histories, photography, design, fashion, and rare antiquarian volumes alongside literature in Italian, English, and French. The extraordinary collection includes everything from Peggy Guggenheim and Murano glass monographs to decades of Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction catalogs and treasures such as a 1963 Berggruen Gallery catalog featuring an original Picasso woodcut.
Each of the hotel’s 11 suites and additional rooms extends the library with carefully chosen art and photography titles, ensuring guests experience an immersive journey through five centuries of Italian culture and Venice’s artistic legacy. Complementing the plethora of pages is art chosen by Evok Collection’s curator, Amélie du Chalard, from works on paper to Renaissance oil paintings, all working in dialogue with one another. Du Chalard has also placed more than 100 pieces in the 12-bedroom Cour des Vosges in Paris.