Holidays 
Cruises 
Flights 
Hotel Only 
Deals 
Destinations 
Extras
Travel information
Help CentreList
7 nights
The best holiday reads
Get our top picks for your holiday reading list.
It's the 20th anniversary of World Book Day on Thursday 2nd March 2017, so there really is no better time to seek out some novel inspiration.
Everyone knows that The Beach by Alex Garland is set on Thailand’s idyllic Koh Phi Phi island. And that Louis de Bernières’ Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is based on the Ionian paradise which is Kefalonia. Or that JK Rowling’s Harry Potter is set at Hogwarts… Ok, that last one’s fictional, of course though you can visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.
But what if you could sip piña coladas in the very bar referenced in your favourite paperback, or wander the cobbled backstreets which take centre stage in the latest New York Times’ bestseller? Well now you can.
Instead of ordering a travel guide book on Amazon ahead of your next holiday, pick up a page turner based in the destination itself, courtesy of TripFiction.
You can use the clever website to venture beyond the pages to the actual places that serve as the backdrop for your favourite reads. Search for your holiday destination - be it Italy or India, Malta or the Maldives - and it matches your hotspot to a book either written in or based on the destination in question.
It also lets you narrow your search by author and genre. So whether sci-fi in Sardinia’s your thing, or romance in Reykjavik is your bag, you can find a title to suit your holiday style.
There’s no better way to get under the skin of a destination than by immersing yourself in the pages of a novel set in the same backdrop. You’ll be able to get a real feel for a place’s charms and quirks by soaking it up in a storyline alongside some intriguing characters and a can’t-put-it-down narrative.
So before your next big trip, hit the local library, scour the shelves at Waterstones or surf Amazon to stock up on reading material to help you get to know the destination from another perspective.
Everyone knows that The Beach by Alex Garland is set on Thailand’s idyllic Koh Phi Phi island. And that Louis de Bernières’ Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is based on the Ionian paradise which is Kefalonia. Or that JK Rowling’s Harry Potter is set at Hogwarts… Ok, that last one’s fictional, of course though you can visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.
But what if you could sip piña coladas in the very bar referenced in your favourite paperback, or wander the cobbled backstreets which take centre stage in the latest New York Times’ bestseller? Well now you can.
Instead of ordering a travel guide book on Amazon ahead of your next holiday, pick up a page turner based in the destination itself, courtesy of TripFiction.
You can use the clever website to venture beyond the pages to the actual places that serve as the backdrop for your favourite reads. Search for your holiday destination - be it Italy or India, Malta or the Maldives - and it matches your hotspot to a book either written in or based on the destination in question.
It also lets you narrow your search by author and genre. So whether sci-fi in Sardinia’s your thing, or romance in Reykjavik is your bag, you can find a title to suit your holiday style.
There’s no better way to get under the skin of a destination than by immersing yourself in the pages of a novel set in the same backdrop. You’ll be able to get a real feel for a place’s charms and quirks by soaking it up in a storyline alongside some intriguing characters and a can’t-put-it-down narrative.
So before your next big trip, hit the local library, scour the shelves at Waterstones or surf Amazon to stock up on reading material to help you get to know the destination from another perspective.
BASED IN COSTA RICA: CAFÉ TROPICANA BY BELINDA JONES
This easy-to-read romance is set in the stunning jungles of Costa Rica, where turtle watching and swinging through rainforest canopies are normal date activities. Ava Langston swaps life in Bath for her dream job as head honcho for a beachfront café in the Latin American paradise. While frothing cappuccinos made from freshly-picked coffee beans, she finds herself embroiled in a love triangle between suave Santiago and rugged Ryan. Both admirers give her butterflies, but which one will she choose?
Find out when is the best time to visit Costa Rica.
Find out when is the best time to visit Costa Rica.
BASED IN CORFU, GREECE: MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS BY GERALD DURRELL
This classic novel was the basis for last year’s hit ITV series ‘The Durrells’. The funny, autobiographical account details Durrell’s childhood in Corfu, after his family swap cold, grey England for life on the sunny Greek island with an eccentric collection of pets. From olive groves and cypress trees to geckos and glowworms, he vividly details Corfu’s amazing natural attractions, and weaves them into humorous accounts of his family life. You can even visit the White House where Durrell and his family lived, which has now been turned into a local taverna.
BASED IN NEW YORK: SWEETBITTER BY STEPHANIE DANLER
This author’s debut novel was one of the best-selling books of 2016. The coming-of-age story is about a country girl called Tess who moves to New York and becomes a waitress at one of the finest restaurants in the city. As well as rubbing shoulders with elite members of Manhattan society, she learns all about her new hometown through the medium of food and wine, and even gets drawn into an illicit and exciting love triangle. If this culinary-centric title doesn’t give you an appetite for the Big Apple’s legendary foodie scene, nothing will.
Ready to visit the Big Apple? Here’s some surprising things to do in New York.
Ready to visit the Big Apple? Here’s some surprising things to do in New York.
BASED IN GOA, INDIA: THE LOVE DETECTIVE BY ALEXANDRA POTTER
A tangled web of secrets, a dreamy, tropical location and an escapist feel give this book all the ingredients for a great page-turner. Ruby Miller is a romance writer who loses her faith in love when she discovers her fiancé cheating, so her sister invites her on holiday to Goa to forget all about him. But, rather than the relaxing beach break she anticipates, she ends up engrossed in a thrilling holiday adventure involving stolen bags, her runaway sister and a mysterious American stranger. On her journey across India she explores fortresses, meets fortune tellers and ticks off famous landmarks.
BASED IN BARBADOS: COFFEE, TEA, THE CARIBBEAN & ME BY CAROLINE JAMES
This feel-good novel is centred on the friendship between Hattie and Jo, and is the sequel to Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy & Me. Jo has been recently widowed and is considering selling her huge Cumbrian manor-turned-hotel. Hattie convinces her not to make any life-changing decisions, and to take a break in Barbados where Jo’s son runs a bar. So they swap Cumbria for sipping cocktails on the beach and swaying to reggae beats. Then, the holiday in paradise sets off a course of events that bring mayhem to Jo and her family, and she discovers that life can begin again at fifty.
Fancy escaping to the Caribbean? Here’s how to do Barbados like a celebrity.
Fancy escaping to the Caribbean? Here’s how to do Barbados like a celebrity.
Ready to discover more books set in exotic destinations?
Visit tripfiction.com and plan your next holiday here.
Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Selina Akhtar and Emma Hunt
Last updated: 01.03.2017
Visit tripfiction.com and plan your next holiday here.
Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Selina Akhtar and Emma Hunt
Last updated: 01.03.2017