Audiobooks for Holiday Travel
When I travel, I read with my ears. Long flights, midnight layovers, train rides through the dark — that’s when audiobooks feel like company. I can close my eyes, rest my hands, and still fall into a story.
I started listening years ago to make long flights less numbing, and it’s now a ritual. I pick a few books that match the trip — something gentle for takeoff, something absorbing for the jet-lag hours.
If you’ve been curious about audiobooks, or you want to finish more books when you’re away from home, here’s what I’ve learned and what I actually listen to.
How Audible Works
Audible is Amazon’s audiobook platform — basically a library that travels with you.
You can sign-up for $0.99 for the first three months that includes one full-length audiobook and access to thousands of included titles. After that, you can keep listening through a monthly plan or pause anytime.
Your account syncs across phone, tablet, and laptop, so it picks up right where you left off.
Perfect for flights, commutes, cooking, or those jet-lag nights when your brain won’t turn off.
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My Picks
These are the audiobooks I come back to — stories that travel well, feel good in the ear, and make hours disappear.
✈️ For long flights
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – gentle, time-looped stories that make you think about who you’d see again if you could.
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai – layered, emotional, and beautifully narrated.
🧳 For train rides and commutes
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro – quiet, uncanny, and full of wonder.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata – short, funny, and surprisingly moving.
🌙 For nights away from home
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami – nostalgic, slow, and perfect for a quiet hotel room.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong – read by the author, tender and unforgettable.
All of these are available on Audible, and most are also on Libro.fm if you prefer supporting indie bookstores.
Audiobooks have changed the way I travel. They make the in-between moments softer. If you’ve ever wished for more time to read, start here.
Whether you’re boarding a red-eye or cooking something that reminds you of home, there’s always a story waiting to fill the quiet.