Why Travelreads is Obsessed with Readaways (And You Will Be Too)
Travelers are rewriting the rules of vacation planning in 2026, trading packed itineraries for peaceful escapes centered around books. According to Vrbo's latest insights in the annual Unpack '26 travel trends report, 91% of travelers are seeking getaways centered around reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. The rise of Readaways, literary-themed vacations designed for unwinding with a good book, is reshaping how people plan their time off.
Not Your Average Beach Read Situation
Taking a stack of books on vacation isn't exactly groundbreaking. But Readaways represent something different entirely. "It's not new to take a stack of books on vacation, and that's not what Readaways are," says Melanie Fish, VP of Communications at Expedia Group. "These are restful retreats shared with fellow book-lovers, where the real adventures unfold on the page – from a quiet corner in a cozy library, a porch swing, or a pool lounger."
The reading is the point. Everything else, the location, the accommodations, the daily rhythm, gets designed around creating the perfect environment for getting lost in a good book. No museum sprints. No packed restaurant reservations. Just pages and peace.
Instagram Made Me Book It
The numbers tell the story. Pinterest searches for "book club retreat ideas" have surged by 265%. Vrbo has seen reading-related terms like "library" or "reading retreat" in guest reviews nearly triple globally. Travelers are actively hunting for properties that cater to their reading habits.
Social media deserves a lot of credit here. Bookstagram has turned reading into a visually stunning lifestyle choice. Scroll through the hashtag and there are thousands of perfectly styled shots: hardcovers stacked beside steaming mugs, paperbacks splayed open on vintage quilts, reading nooks bathed in golden hour light. These posts do more than showcase books. They sell an entire aesthetic and, increasingly, a vacation concept. Readers see those dreamy images of coastal cottages with floor-to-ceiling windows or mountain cabins with overstuffed armchairs, and they want in.
The Perfect Reading Spot is Everything
Here's the thing about a truly great reading spot: it transforms the entire experience. Sure, readers can technically enjoy a novel anywhere, but there's something magical about the right setting. A window seat with morning light streaming through. A hammock strung between two trees with a view of the mountains. A deep armchair positioned perfectly in a book-lined room. These aren't just nice amenities. They're the whole vacation.
Coastal homes with ocean views have that effortless drama. The sound of waves as background noise while flipping pages feels impossibly luxurious. Mountain chalets offer the opposite appeal, all cozy isolation and crackling fireplaces. Countryside retreats provide the kind of quiet where readers can actually hear themselves think. The location sets the mood for whatever story unfolds on the page.
Why Everyone's Suddenly Into This
The post-pandemic reassessment of how people want to spend their time keeps influencing travel choices. The pressure to see and do everything has lost its appeal. Turns out, actually feeling rested on vacation matters more than an impressive itinerary.
There's also the always-on problem. Modern life doesn't offer many guilt-free reasons to completely disconnect. But when the vacation plan centers on reading, there's built-in permission to ignore emails and let the phone battery die. Nobody questions why someone on a Readaway isn't posting constant updates or responding immediately to messages.
Plus, Readaways often cost less than activity-packed trips. No expensive excursions, no advance tickets, no pressure to hit every trendy spot. The money goes into the accommodation itself, which becomes the destination rather than just a place to crash between adventures.
What This Means
The rise of Readaways suggests that after years of hustle culture and overscheduled calendars, people are ready for slower, simpler pleasures. Sometimes the best vacation doesn't involve seeing new sights or checking items off a bucket list. Sometimes it just means finding a comfortable chair, opening a good book, and staying there as long as the story demands. No apologies necessary.
