Really, I’m here to ask for you recommendations for honest travel books (and, while we’re at it, I’m going to Melbourne next weekend – any suggestions?)

I used to spend hours (often, during class) soaking up every word on the Lonely Planet website. Cities I’d never heard of were at my fingertips and I loved reading the vivid introductions crafted for each town which imbued them with such distinct personalities that it seemed hard to find a place in the world that I wouldn’t want to go.

Alas, this is the difference between copywriting and writing. Copywriting sees the world through rose coloured glasses, which makes for beautiful reading but poor advice. I remember meeting a guy from a particularly dangerous city in Mexico. He sang the praises of his hometown’s food and lively culture but when I mentioned I wanted to visit Mexico he became very serious and attempted to forbid me from every visiting. Why? Because corruption and organised crime had meant that not even he felt safe, most of the time. Too many of his friends had been kidnapped, a handful of them had not survived. He didn’t want to be in any photo that might be shared on social media because he was painfully aware of the consequences of being wealthy enough to travel when he arrived back home.

I visited trusty old Lonely Planet, which often adds Travel Warnings to places considered dangerous. The review was glowing and encouraged me to go to dance the night away with the city’s party-crazy population. It sounded like a young person’s paradise.

To be fair, Lonely Planet isn’t responsible for doing my research when it comes to safety. It’s responsible for selling guidebooks. However, to me their credibility went through the floor.

I still browse through destinations on the ever-optimistic LP site, but for to find a starting point for unusual places to go, or for a very broad overview (to be taken with a grain of salt)

During a creative non-fiction class, I was introduced to long-form travel writing. Not short and snappy prose for selling holidays. Refreshingly authentic and opinionated writing proudly carrying the natural bias of the writer. As I was busy saving every cent for my next trip, I’d banned myself from bookshops.

Now that I’m not travelling overseas for at least 10 months, I’m going to sink my teeth into traveller’s tomes.

I’ve done a bit of research and these titles have grabbed my attention:

• The Great Railway Bazaar, Paul Theroux
• Almost French, Sarah Turnbull
• The Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner
• Winter in Arabia, Freya Stark
• The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
• Destinations: Essays from a Rolling Stone, Jan Morris
• Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France, Peter Mayle
• Toujours Provence, Peter Mayle
• In Patagonia, Bruce Chatwin
• The Road to Oxiana, Robert Byron
• Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe, Bill Bryson
• The Art of Travel, Alain de Botton
• In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson
• Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America, Bill Bryson

What are your favourite travel books? Please let me know in the comments below!

Genevieve Lauren

Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.

I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.

My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!

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