Wanderlust Wednesday – Tips for Travel
Travel tips for Bookworms
Travelling around as a reader is a LOT easier now that Kindles and E readers are a thing. But on my travels, I have picked up a few habits from other travellers that I have found particularly helpful.
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E readers – An E Reader with a strong cover to protect the screen from scratches or dropping it. Waterproof too for reading beside any kind of water. Remember the charger and the cable AND the adapter…
Books – Take a book you don’t want to keep – second hand books or short books are good for this. I leave them in the hotel room with a note for whoever cleans the room. I sometimes leave books with reception.
Book protection – Cushioned covers are vital or wrapping them in a scarf which is what I tend to do. Don’t want to get those covers or pages bent.
Bookmarks – Oh don’t take a nice or new bookmark. They are so easy to loose when travelling. Ticket stubs or receipts are best.
Portable light – Whether the bed is close to a light or socket, it’s good to have a little light that creates a lovely warm glow for reading. The number of times I have been in a room where the light is so dim or the light beside the bed is just too jazzy.
Audio books – of course these are key. You can walk around and chill out. Try reading a book set in the place you’re in whilst you listen to it. It’s an experience like no other!
Packing – I always bring lots of books back so I have had to be quite creative in getting them through the airport.
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Carry one, pack one, put one in your pockets, strap one to your body like a baby……or just leave all your clothes behind and bring your books back instead. I have been known to do this so often only take the cheapest and oldest clothes on holidays.
Keflavík-airport-corridor (c) Lilja Sigurðardóttir
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Reading at the airport
The reading I do at the airport is one of my favourite ways to indulge in three of my favourite things. I read, watch people and drink coffee. All the while wondering where these people are going, why everyone is rushing around whilst I am fully immersed in the world my book has opened up.
Funny story
A recent visit to Madrid via Amsterdam was funny. I was stopped at customs for having ‘a lot of dark solid areas’ in my case. Of course it was opened up and there were just books in there. A few clothing items for their protection 😉
There are just books in this suitcase Madam. When I told him I had left my clothes behind, he looked at me as if I were mad. I only had hand luggage so wasn’t worried about a second case. (That’s expensive AND too tempting for me. Plus – I cant bear to let new books sit in the hold 😉
I also had a carrier bag of books in my hand that I had just bought. I got the strangest looks. Don’t think he was a reader….
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Susan x
