In Emily Henry’s book “People We Meet on Vacation”, the protagonists take several trips, including an important trip to Croatia.
This summer, travel company EF Ultimate Break will offer a 12 day trip to croatia Based on the book. part of a new BookTok-inspired series In the voyages, the itinerary shadows the storyline with visits to Dubrovnik and Split and adds a cruise among the Croatian islands, enhancing the romance of a beach destination that is steeped in history.
“You can imagine where the story is going,” said Alyssa Sands, the company’s director of market development.
No word on “The White Lotus.” After “set-jetting” comes “book-cation”: trips that visit the location of a favorite book, a place where an author lived or simply where conditions are favorable for reading.
In its 2026 travel trends report, the flight-tracking site skyscanner found that 55 percent of travelers had booked a trip or would consider a trip inspired by a book. Vacation rental platform Vrbo coined the term “readaways,” or book-inspired group travel, said in its trend report that 91 percent of respondents recorded interest in travel dedicated to reading and relaxing.
A growing number of resort book clubs, hotel libraries, and literary festivals are also offering bookshops new ways to engage readers. This comes despite a recent finding that the share of people reading for pleasure has fallen by 40 per cent since 2003.
It helps that the holidays often provide time for reading.
“It’s about turning off the computer and the phone and quieting yourself,” said Jen Ubel-Meyer, founder of . bedside readingA service that partners with hotels to provide free access to a digital library of over 200 books. “I think a book helps you with that.”
Book tours are nothing new — think of the legions of tourists flocking to Pamplona, Spain, inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” or of the Janeites who traveled to England last year to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, or who are trekking there this year for the centennial of Winnie-the-Pooh’s birth.
Amy Alipio, founding member of , said, “A book can give you the significance of a place in a way that a guidebook or travel article can’t.” Travel Book ClubA Substack-based reading circle.
Book tours offer a new way of looking at something familiar.
“Literature gives us a purpose,” said Renee Haight of Phoenix, who has visited New York and plans to travel with them to England. novel journeysA company that organizes literary tours. “I’m 84 years old and I’ve seen a lot of old buildings.”
Sometimes a good book can make you nostalgic for a place you’ve never visited.
Director Sarah Moriarty said, “Books open doors to other worlds.” Charleston Literary Festival in Charleston, SC “It’s no big surprise that many people would make the leap to travel with their feet.”
When they do, the following travel companies help bring the pages to life, or at least create ideal reading conditions.
Hotel with habit of reading
Many hotels, such as Chowk In New York, the house of “Eloise” and a scene from “The Great Gatsby” are linked to the books. Others, like Betsy-South Beach in miami, which hosts writer in residenceChampion them.
More hotels are jumping on the literary bandwagon. This month, Avani Hotels & Resorts Launched a book club at 44 of its properties, including on-site book corners where guests can borrow books that reflect the destination (such as “The Miniaturist”). Avni in Amsterdam), A website Listing titles by location and author events.
Many of these events aim to unite guests through a love of reading. book Club But Scribner’s Catskill Lodge In Hunter, NY, a book is selected each quarter and readers are invited to stay at the lodge to meet the author.
in maldives, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort Name a book of the month that guests can borrow, designed to encourage conversation.
At the new three-night reading retreat Lake Austin Spa Resort In Austin, Texas, alternate reading time with yoga and mindfulness sessions and author meet-and-greets.
Many hotels offer stunning titles. Guests who sign up for the “Literary Relaxation” package Williams Inn They will receive books in their room, selected by a local bookstore in the Berkshire area of Massachusetts and based on their preferences.
four qualities of Kennebunkport Resort Collection Maine offers books wrapped to hide the title and identified by clues such as “compelling and profound” or “friendly and enlightening.”
“People aren’t just traveling to stories; they’re traveling to situations where they can actually read again,” said Ms. Ubel-Meyer of Bedside Reading, which provides access to books in more than 60 hotels nationwide.
literary tours
The surge in book tours ranges from day-trips to week-long vacations.
last autumn, nickel plate expressA heritage railway opens in Noblesville, India read and ride: A two-hour tour that invites bookworms to read while enjoying the rural Indiana scenery. Expect the journey to be library-cool in a pair of 68-seat cars.
based in england Ladies Who Lit Operates like a traveling book club. Instead of gathering at a member’s home, the club might gather 12 to 14 readers over five nights in Barbados or the Swiss Alps and discuss the book on the final night.
While Ladies Who Lit books are chosen to foster conversation, other tours take a literal approach to a place. timbuktu trip Offers custom itineraries based on Nelson Mandela’s “Long Walk to Freedom” in South Africa and Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat Pray Love” in India.
“The writer is usually asking you to move quickly rather than sit in one place,” said co-founder and CEO Jonny Prince. “The customers we see choosing book-led trips are breaking out of the highlight reel and considering something else.”
two years ago, novel journeys Began running a tour in New York involving the historical fiction of Fiona DavisWhose novels, including “The Lions of Fifth Avenue”, are often based on New York buildings. Most tours are limited to 14 readers and include a book discussion, sightseeing, and a conversation with the author.
departure for 2027 egypt It has a pre-trip reading list that includes Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile,” Mary Benedict’s “Daughter of Egypt” and Ms. Davis’s “The Stolen Queen.” The titles are united in discussion by the question: Whose history is alive?
“Travel becomes more meaningful when you already have a feeling for the destination, which books give you,” said Corinne Levin, founder of The Travel Guide. novel journeys.
book events
Literary festivals add fame to the gathering of like-minded people.
last autumn, first Aspen Literary Festival It aims to attract readers during the cool season of the hill town with a program that covers a range of genres. Most of the events were free, drawing approximately 2,000 attendees from across the country.
Its second iteration, from September 25 to 27, will feature a lineup that will also include authors tayari jones, Robert Kolker And Jennette mccurdy.
“We wanted to create a celebration for anyone who has ever fallen in love with a book,” said Adrienne Brodeur, executive director of the book. aspen wordsNon-profit organization that runs the festival.
From 2023, Santa Fe International Literature Festival It has the joint presence of well-known writers (including this year). Isabel Wilkerson And Ocean Vuong) with literary day trips (recently). Taos, NM“Lady Chatterley’s Lover” to recall the author’s travels, DH Lawrence) and culinary programs. The 2027 festival will take place from 14 to 16 May.
Now in its 10th year, the Charleston Literary Festival (November 6 to 15) features nearly 50 events and has hosted authors, including Joyce Carol Oates And david szalayWho won the Booker Prize last year.
The program offers VIP experiences, including exclusive parties as well as a book club concierge dedicated to helping literature-loving groups coordinate their stay. Most events take place in a 500-seat arena Dock Street Theater.
