Lose Yourself in a Book

One of the simplest and most meaningful things I like to do while traveling is take a midday break in a coffee shop to relax and read. It doesn’t have to be an expensive café—just a corner table, a warm drink, and a story in hand. The twist is that I choose a book set in the very country or city I’m visiting. There’s something magical about reading a story in the same streets, neighborhoods, or landscapes the characters inhabit. Suddenly, the setting isn’t just words on a page—it’s alive outside the window.

Before I leave home, I buy the book so I can start reading it on the plane. The story builds anticipation, giving me a preview of the culture, the rhythms of speech, even the scenery I’ll soon step into. By the time I land, I already feel more connected to the place.

Then, when I pause in a local café to read, the layers come together. A description of a plaza matches the one just around the corner. A passing detail in the book echoes the chatter at the next table. Travel can be hectic, but these quiet reading breaks give me a way to slow down and feel fully present.

And when you return home, that book becomes worth much more than the $15 price tag. Every word on the page fills your mind with the memories you made on your trip.