This year’s Must Read Travel Book list from Dan and the Travel Trends Podcast team brings together a thoughtfully curated mix of new releases and timeless classics that go far beyond traditional travel writing. Spanning memoir, business and leadership insight, psychology, destination branding, and global cultural perspective, these books reflect the many ways travel shapes and is shaped by how we think, lead, and connect with the world. Some are deeply personal, others practical or philosophical, but all have influenced conversations on the podcast and within the broader travel industry. Together, they offer a richer understanding of why we travel, how experiences transform us, and what the future of business and global exploration looks like, making them essential reading for curious t…
This year’s Must Read Travel Book list from Dan and the Travel Trends Podcast team brings together a thoughtfully curated mix of new releases and timeless classics that go far beyond traditional travel writing. Spanning memoir, business and leadership insight, psychology, destination branding, and global cultural perspective, these books reflect the many ways travel shapes and is shaped by how we think, lead, and connect with the world. Some are deeply personal, others practical or philosophical, but all have influenced conversations on the podcast and within the broader travel industry. Together, they offer a richer understanding of why we travel, how experiences transform us, and what the future of business and global exploration looks like, making them essential reading for curious travelers and travel professionals alike.
Here are our Top 6 Travel Books for 2026 that ALL deserve a spot on your shelf!
1. Why we Travel by Ash Bhardwaj
Ash Bhardwaj’s Why We Travel is a thoughtful, introspective exploration of the deeper motivations that drive us to explore the world. Blending personal memoir with universal insight, Ash examines what compels humans to seek new landscapes, cultures, and experiences—and how travel helps us make sense of who we are. A guest on The Travel Trends Podcast in Season 5, Ash brings the same clarity and storytelling depth found in his conversation on the show to the page. The result is an inspiring, reflective read that offers both perspective and purpose, making it a standout choice for anyone craving meaningful travel in 2026.
More Details: https://a.co/d/8Wzcjou
listen to Ash’s conversation on Season 5 of The Travel Trends Podcast, where he explores how storytelling shapes the way we understand the world.
2. The Transformation Economy: Guiding Customers to Achieve Their Aspirations by Joe Pine
Joe Pine’s The Transformation Economy arrives at exactly the right moment. A past guest on The Travel Trends Podcast and co-author of the landmark book The Experience Economy, a work that inspired Dan (and countless others) to build careers in travel. Joe has long been ahead of the curve in understanding how experiences create lasting value. Pine outlines how industries, including travel, are moving beyond entertainment and convenience toward true transformation: designing experiences that help people grow, learn, and fundamentally change. As we believe 2026 will mark the rise of Transformative Travel, The Transformation Economy is both timely and essential reading.
Pre-order now: https://a.co/d/i3TkmrS
Listen to Joe Pine on The Travel Trends Podcast. Joe joins Jake Haupert to explain how the transformation economy is reshaping tourism, experience design, and the future of travel.
3. Staying On Track by Frank Marini
Frank Marini, CEO of Railbookers, blends practical life lessons with leadership insights in a book shaped by decades in the travel industry. Frank shares real-world stories about navigating change, staying focused through uncertainty, and making long-term decisions that protect both people and performance. The book is highly relevant for travel leaders operating int this era defined by rapid technological change with AI and rising customer expectations. Frank’s book is essential reading for travel founders, executives, and managers looking to build businesses that endure.
More details: https://a.co/d/2aN2qW8
Plus Frank’s keynote at the Travel Trends AI Summit was the most popular of the event, praised for its authentic emphasis on company culture, people-first leadership, and the thoughtful use of technology to build resilient, future-ready organizations. That same balance of humanity and innovation runs throughout the book, making it essential reading for travel founders, executives, and managers looking to build businesses that endure—not just scale.
Listen to his episode on The Travel Trends Podcast, recorded live at ITB Berlin
4. Nation and Place Branding: An Applied Approach to Building the Image of Countries, Regions, and Cities by José Filipe Torres and Dr. Richie Karaburun
Nation and Place Branding: An Applied Approach to Building the Image of Countries, Regions, and Cities explores a powerful but often overlooked side of travel: how destinations deliberately shape the stories the world sees. Co-author Dr. Richie Karaburun (Dr. K), a past guest on The Travel Trends Podcast and professor at NYU’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, brings an applied, real-world perspective to the academic foundations of place branding. This new book examines how countries, regions, and cities build global reputations that influence tourism, investment, and cultural perception, ultimately shaping how travelers experience a place before they ever arrive. It’s essential reading for travel professionals, destination leaders, and curious travelers alike. Fittingly, Dan will be bringing his ideas full circle when he delivers a guest lecture at NYU’s Tisch School of Hospitality in 2026.
Dr. Richie joins a lineup of travel innovators to offer a concise academic perspective on the trends. Order now: https://a.co/d/cGZBjos
5. The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
This is one of Dan’s all-time favorites books, and he quotes this often. This landmark work is essential reading for travel lovers. The ‘Art of Travel’ blends philosophy, psychology, and real-world journeys to explore how and why we travel and what makes certain trips transformative. Instead of focusing on destinations, he examines the emotions behind anticipation, the beauty of the ordinary, and the inner experience of exploration. It’s a thoughtful, elegant and very relatable. This will make a great gift for the travel lover you know!
More Details: https://www.alaindebotton.com/travel
6. World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain saw more of the world than nearly anyone, and World Travel brings that lifetime of experience together in an entertaining, practical, and refreshingly honest guide. From hidden corners of New York to destinations across South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Bourdain shares unfiltered advice on where to go, what to eat, where to stay, and what to avoid, all in his unmistakable voice. The book is enriched with essays from friends, family, and collaborators, along with illustrations by Wesley, offering deeper context into why these places mattered and what made them unforgettable. A favourite of Dan’s, this is a standout gift for anyone who values authentic, opinionated travel storytelling.
More details: https://a.co/d/3X6nmYt
So whether you’re looking for personal inspiration, strategic insight for your travel business, or a deeper understanding of why we travel at all, this Must Read list brings those worlds together. Each of these books, paired with conversations from leading thinkers, authors, and innovators featured on The Travel Trends Podcast, offers a meaningful lens on the future of global travel. Together, they reflect the ideas shaping how we travel, how we build experiences, and how the industry continues to evolve.
Thank you for joining us on this journey! We look forward to sharing many more thought-provoking conversations, insights, and voices with you in 2026.