My Dark Theories

Just a girl obsessed with books and movies sharing her thoughts.

How To Get More Reading Done While Traveling

Written in

May 30, 2018

Trang @mydarktheories

I decided super last minute that I would make my own Europe Tour (I’m from Canada)! I hesitated a lot on taking this trip but then I realized I should live my life to the fullest! I gathered enough money, this is the age where I have the most energy so why not 😀 Hello, traveling alone time !

Here I am, traveling 3 countries in a week!

And of course, who says, traveling, says, READING!! 😍😍❤️

During my first trip, I brought waay too many books for a months and I couldn’t finish it. Now in a week, I told myself I may only finish 1-2 books at most. So I brought 3 LOL JUST IN CASE I finish too fast, you know…

HOW DO YOU GET MORE READING DONE WHILE TRAVELING

This is an important question because I did struggle a lot to find time to read in my 10 years of traveling.But I gathered a few tips :

1. Bring e-books

I don’t own e-book readers yet but my phone’s screen is big enough to enjoy them. They are actually the perfect company because they don’t weight anything.

2. Back-up paperback copy

In case your phone/ e-reader dies OK 😂

3. The waiting time right after the security check-in. It’s perfect! People always tell me about the 3hours rule before flying. BUT HONESTLY, I’ve always been so frkn early every time. I can wait up to 1-2hours before boarding so that’s a good time to take out your book!

4. If you can travel by trains, go ahead! It’s a great way to see the views between the cities and a wonderful time to read. Especially when they have a sightseeing lounge, you should take advantage of that and read in front of a calm and peaceful sight.

5. The breaks between your city tours. If you like to wander around the visited cities like I do,you probably have noticed that it gets tiring after a few hours and you want to collect yourself in some nearby coffee shops. This is where I would order a peach iced tea or iced chocolate and open a book! It relaxes me and when I’m feeling reenergized, I continue the wandering 🙂

I am now in Athens! I promise I would do a whole post about my travels soon 😀 I will also be attending BookCon New York this weekend ! Keep an eye about that 😉

-Trang Tran

66 responses to “How To Get More Reading Done While Traveling”

booksofb

May 30, 2018

I travel a great deal for work – once a week on average – and I’ve never been on to work on the flight. It’s too cramped and there’s no privacy. As a result, it’s become prime reading time for me. Combine the flight time with that time after any business dinners and I’m often able to finish the better part of a book every trip. It’s one of my best times to read. Cheers, Brian

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  That’s it!!Hell yes, you understood life ahah 😀 I can never work on the airplane even if I tried to open my Mac the other person just looks at me like.. really? You’re doing that here? LOL reading it is ;D
  
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(Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea

May 30, 2018

How fun for you! Love that you decided to just go ❤ I always plan to read during trips but fail. Although I agree about train rides. I think once the kids are fully grown, I may be more successful 😉

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  LOOL DANIELLE! Oh yes the kids are probably not all sound asleep while traveling huh XD Thank you for supporting my decision ❤ HAH a lot of people would think that I'm crazy
  
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  1. (Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea
    
    June 23, 2018
    
    Not crazy, brilliant! Have to live life to the fullest 🖤
    
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Valerie

May 30, 2018

I’ve always been a little nervous (self-conscious lol) traveling by myself because what do I do with myself when I’m alone? Luckily I have a couple friends that are willing to put up with me, but it’s always super cool to plan a whole trip by yourself and then actually go on it!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Omg I know! When I was done booking the tickets I was very self-conscious about the fact that I’ll be traveling alone LOL what would I do if something happens to me… but hey! It all worked out 😀 I’m back home and safe hahah it was very eye opening for me because I realized I can do a lot of things by myself. It’s always nice to go with your friend, I would def do that next time!
  
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Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

May 30, 2018

I always think, “Yay, vacation! I can get more reading done now!” but it almost never happens! 😀

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1. OlaG
  
  May 31, 2018
  
  I do exactly the same 😉
  
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2. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  LOOL I know the struggle !! I used to do that until I’m like all by myself aahah you have more me time 😉
  
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Marie @ KookBookery

May 30, 2018

Number 1 and 2 is the most important. 😀 Enjoy your trip!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you so much!! I had a lovely trip 😀 !
  
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Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel

May 30, 2018

Have fun for your trip. I always carry e books while traveling. That makes them so much easier to carry around and also gives me license to buy more on my trip. Haha. Have fun. Looking forward to see the travel posts.

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you so much Susan! Yess that’s why I love ebooks 😀 I should really start buying a Kindle or something soon. I keep postponing it T_T It’s so useful!
  
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  1. Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel
    
    June 23, 2018
    
    It definitely is! And it doesn’t strain the eyes at all.
    
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Tammy

May 30, 2018

I rarely get any reading done on vacation, but I’m sure it’s easier when you’re along:-) Have fun at Book Con!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  HAHA no worries! A lot of people told me that tooo! Bookcon was less amazing than I imagined to be honest hahah
  
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nickimags @ The Secret Library Book Blog

May 31, 2018

Looks and sounds like a great trip, hope you’re having fun!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  I had a great trip! Thank you so much 😀 !!
  
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esterpiubeni.com

May 31, 2018

I always struggle to read while travelling mainly because I fall asleep very easily on trains or flights but also because I usually travel with other people so i don’t want to be anti-social. However, I love love love reading a book on a beach while listening to the waves of the sea! And yes, I totally understand the problem of deciding how many books to carry on holiday, I always bring too many as well!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  YESS I’m a deep sleeper so even on trains and flights I can dream for hours hahaha! Reading is the only way to keep me awake 😀 LOL I totally understand the asocial effect. That’s one of the perks for traveling alone XD but sometimes it can get lonely !
  
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savageddt

May 31, 2018

Enjoy the trip👍🏻

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you!
  
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Alex79uk

May 31, 2018

I was always against the idea of e-readers, nothing can replace the feel of a real book in your hands. But yeah, totally changed my mind a few years ago and now my Kindle comes everywhere with me. I read on my lunch break, whilst travelling, anywhere I can! It’s so much more convenient. I also read a lot of comics, and phone screens nowadays have got to a size I can comfortably read digital comics and carry entire collections in my pocket. I currently have over 40GB of comics on my phone, that’s literally thousands of the things! If someone had told me 20 years ago this would ever be thing I’d have laughed at them!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Me too! I’ve been against ereaders since I was in high school and I even did a debate on that hahah and totally changed my mind and realized how convenient it was 😀 Wow 40GB of comics :O What kind of comics do you read? I have a few on my phone too! But not that much … and pssssss where did you get them LOL did you buy all of it? On the normal bookstore?
  
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  1. Alex79uk
    
    June 23, 2018
    
    Hey 🙂 I’ve got a LOT of Batman, also currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman which is a fantastic adaption of the novel. I tend to hoard digital comics so have far more than I have time to read. 100 Bullets, Sandman, some Deadpool, all sorts really! Erm, some of them were bought and some were, erm, not…?
    
    I tend to seek out digital downloads of books I own too. For example, I have the entire Sandman library in paperback, but downloaded the digital comics to my phone for easy reading at work etc when I don’t want to take books out with me. There are some very good websites hosting an awful lot of comics for free, which are either incredibly awesome, or awesomely terrible, depending on your moral stance….!!
    
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  2. Trang (Bookidote)
    
    June 27, 2018
    
    Heyy! Omgad me too, I’m reading Amerian Gods Graphic novel by Neil Gaiman!! :O The art IS amazing wow. I heard great things about 100 bullets, how is it ? SANDMAN ❤ Such a classic, but am I the only one who got tired of the fonts LOL so confusing hahah. I need to finish that series. Can you give me some websites that host the comics for free ? :O
    
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  3. Alex79uk
    
    July 13, 2018
    
    Here one to start! https://getcomics.info
    
    When you search for a comic click title of it and you’ll go to a page with download links. Let me know if you get stuck!
    
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Inge | The Belgian Reviewer

May 31, 2018

Awesome that you’ve decided to take a trip alone.. I’m curious about your next destiny already and to see more pics and hear more about your travels! I always pack a back-up novel (or 2) myself as well!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Back-up novel is the safest way to travel so I don’t have a random panic attack realizing I’m almost done with my book XD Thank you so much!! It will be probably somewhere relaxing and where I can enjoy the beach for a whole week 🙂
  
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The Cozy Pages

May 31, 2018

Awesome. Great ideas for catching some reading times. Enjoy your trip. You’re absolutely right, you’re at a great time in your life for traveling and exploring! Looking forward to your next posts! 😄😊

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you so much!! 😀 And yess to more traveling and more exploring the world, I can never have enough hahah !
  
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Nadine – todaysechoes

May 31, 2018

Enjoy your trip and have fun at BookCon!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you Nadine!! 😀
  
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Marie

May 31, 2018

Have the best time on your trips, Trang, I’m so glad you took the leap, you should travel and enjoy it, that’s one of the best things to do, honestly haha. I love seeing your pictures and instagram stories, thank you for making me travel with you a bit 🙂
This is wonderful advice – I always take my e-reader with me whenever I travel, it’s so much more practical and I take a couple books at most, because I never take too much time to read, either 🙂

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  MARIEEE ❤ Thank you so much ahaha!! I'm glad you enjoyed the Insta stories and the pictures XD Yayy traveling for two!! I was very scared to take the leap but in the end I know it would do me more good to have some more me time, away from everything.
  
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Beth (Reading Every Night)

May 31, 2018

This is a great post, and I hope you’re having a brilliant time on your trips Trang, it sounds amazing and I really hope you love Europe. I’ve always wanted to visit Athens (one day) what other countries are you going to?
I read so many eBooks, because I travel on trains to and from work every day it’s easier carrying my Kindle than a paperback. 🙂
Great post, and happy travelling too. 😀 ❤

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you so much Beth!! ❤ Athens was amazing, I get to go to the Academy of Athens and bow down to the statues of Socrates and Plato :') it was great! Then, I took a ferry to Mykonos. Totally magical! If you had the chance to go, I would suggest Mykonos all the way. The vibe is so different 😀 E-books are one of the greatest inventions haha :D!!
  
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  1. Beth (Reading Every Night)
    
    June 24, 2018
    
    God it sounds amazing, and yeah I definitely want to go one day so I’ll keep that in kind! Thanks Trang. 🙂 ❤️
    
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tasya @ the literary huntress

May 31, 2018

A Europe trip? That sounds amazing! I always want to do one, I hope you’ll have an amazing time there! 😀

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you so much Tasya! I did have an amazing time there 😀 I hope you will get the chance to go one day. It’s so refreshing!
  
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lostartofreadingblog

May 31, 2018

This sounds like a lot of fun!! We did Italy last year for 17 days it was a blast. I managed to read one book that entire time. The only reading I really got done was on the trains. I feel icky on the flights and can’t really read. We didn’t do any tours so we took a lot of public transit and lots of walking so I found it so hard to squeeze in. But your right about airport time!!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you so much ! Italy was such a beautiful country 😀 I did Venice and Rome :O in 3 days hahha super rush LOL but at least I woke up early and went to see everything so it was great! yess the train is way more comfortable :O You also have more space and I guess that’s why I also prefer to read on the train.
  
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paulliverstravels

June 1, 2018

Kindles are great for travelling, but did you consider that your ereader breaking down is a good excuse to go book shopping?

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  *chhuuutt* LOL But yes definitely! I would do anything to go book shopping hahah it’s not even an excuse anymore 😉
  
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆

June 3, 2018

I hope you enjoy your trip, my gorgeous friend!!!💚💚💚 Happy Reading and have a blast!!!😘🌈

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  DANI!! ❤ Thank you so much dearr!! I had a blast 😀 I'll tell you all about it
  
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  1. Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆
    
    June 22, 2018
    
    Yay!!!!😍 I am happy for you!!!
    
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Lydia Tewkesbury

June 3, 2018

I hope you’re having an amazing time and I look forward to reading all about your travels!

I am planning a solo trip later in the year (scared! Eeek!), so this is v useful to me. I maaay have to finally get over myself and buy a Kindle.

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 22, 2018
  
  Thank you Lisa!! ❤ Yes, definitely worth it to invest in a Kindle if you want to read while traveling solo hahah 😀 I love the feel of the paper so thats why I have my backup novel or for when the kindle is out of battery. I was scared at the beginning too! The idea of being alone in another country is terrifying T_T
  
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Jackie B @ Death by Tsundoku

June 3, 2018

!! I hope you have a BLAST, Trang! This sounds fantastic. Which countries are you visiting? Obviously Italy and Greece… This is super exciting! I cannot wait to read your travel review post. 😀

You don’t own an eReader?! Gasp! I’m so impressed. I need one if only for the superior battery life. I don’t know what I’d do without it. But, I’m glad you have a phone you feel comfortable reading on. That said, you paperback copy idea is essential. You never know when the battery will die or you won’t have access to technology. When you write your travel review post, let us know how well your reading went!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 27, 2018
  
  Thank you Jackie!! I did have an amazing time 😀 Hopefully to get that travel post up somewhere this summer hahah. I visited France, Italy, Greece and accidentally end up in Turkey. LOL and noo sadly I don’t own an e-reader 😦 I need to buy one real soon to be honest.
  
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vijaywriting

June 4, 2018

hey this vijay, i read your reviews , you write pretty well. A fellow blogger of mine is organizing a blog tour .She requires Book bloggers like you ,if your interested you can check this link(https://digitalreadsblogtours.wordpress.com/contact/ ), you can also contact her through mail which is available in the link. Thank you

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Monthly Wrap-Up | May 2018 – BOOKIDOTE

June 4, 2018

[…] How To Get More Reading Done While Traveling […]

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Dani @ Perspective of a Writer

June 6, 2018

Sounds like you’re enjoying your trip. So glad you decided to take some me time. Your suggestions to fit in reading time were great. I take my iPad everywhere and use any spare time to read, even if only 5 minutes. The best part of traveling with an e-reader is you can slow your pace to fit your mood. ♥️

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 27, 2018
  
  Thank you Dani, my trip was great indeed ! 😀 The iPad is certainly an excellent option as well 😉 I, sometimes, steal it from my mom when she’s not looking hahah (chuut) Seriously, I need that pace option for everybook I read LOL
  
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Terez Szabo

June 11, 2018

I real everywhere! On buses, public transport, airports, hostels, restaurant. So many people kept coming up to me saying it is so nice to see someone reading, which after a while just got annoying. People it’s a book, not a new invention!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 27, 2018
  
  LOOOL I love that you getting annoyed hahah reading seems to be so rare for other people that when seeing a book, they’re getting all excited haha!
  
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theorangutanlibrarian

June 11, 2018

E books and back up paperbacks really help! And wow three countires in a week- that’s amazing!!! 😀 Hope you had an *amazing* time!!!

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1. Trang (Bookidote)
  
  June 27, 2018
  
  THank you! 😀 One of the craziest trips I had in my life to be honest! Are you traveling this summer too ? 😉
  
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With love, Caroline

June 14, 2018

Great tips! I always struggle to read when I’m travelling, I get distracted so much by everything that’s going on outside the window and I end up with like 1 or 2 pages read in a 3 hours trip… !

Can’t wait to know where you’ve been for your Europe’s tour! I already see you’ve been to Rome 😉

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The Plastic Pine Tree

June 16, 2018

I ❤️ Kindl 😁

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razorsedgetravel

June 24, 2018

I always bring 2 or 3 books on my travels to read- and I NEVER end up reading anything- maybe a few pages on the airplane (if I’m lucky). Thanks for the advice! Great post.

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The Agape Co.

June 25, 2018

Love reading while traveling! What’s your go to book? We also read while we wait to board lol

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daveyuenblog

June 27, 2018

Great read Trang. I bring my amazon kindle on travels so that I can catch up on reading while on the flights. And wow three countries in a week. I only did two countries in a week and I was so exhausted.

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seeking wonderful

August 2, 2018

I kind if stopped reading after high school, but last year I managed to finish around 20 books. This year I am not so good at it. 😄 what are you currently reading?

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