Travel Book Review: Rediscovering Travel - A Guide for the Globally Curious by Seth Kugel

By Dirk Ebener - October 5, 2025

Travel books have always been more than stories—they are guides for the unknown. They remind us that travel is as much about our mindset as it is about the places we visit. Each book encourages us to step outside our comfort zone, where the most memorable experiences happen. They teach us to greet challenges with curiosity, whether navigating a new city, tasting new food, or bridging language barriers. Enjoy my Travel Book Review: "Rediscovering Travel - A Guide for the Globally Curious" by Seth Kugel.

Travel books reveal that every day on the road is a fresh page waiting to be written. Some days overflow with joy, others stretch our patience, but each one leaves its mark. The journey is rarely smooth; it’s the unexpected detours and rough patches that give our stories depth. These books become our guides, nudging us to stay open and adaptable.

Above all, they spark the belief that every journey is a personal adventure, whether it’s savoring breakfast at a sunlit corner café or sharing a smile with a stranger. The magic lies in the small details we notice, inviting us to be present, welcome the unknown, and delight in each discovery. In this way, travel books become as essential as tickets and passports.

When it comes to culinary experiences, travel books also encourage us to sit at tables we might have otherwise passed by. They remind us that food is not just sustenance but a cultural conversation served on a plate. A single meal can open the door to traditions, family stories, and flavors that stay with us long after the journey ends. By inspiring us to taste boldly, they turn each dish into part of the adventure.

Introduction: Why This Book Matters

In today’s world, travel often feels like it has been pre-packaged, filtered, and neatly wrapped for us. We consult review sites, follow algorithm-driven itineraries, and scroll endlessly through social media highlights before setting foot on foreign soil. The result? We often arrive with expectations so rigid that there is little room left for surprise. That is where Seth Kugel, former Frugal Traveler columnist for The New York Times, steps in with his witty, sharp, and refreshingly practical book Rediscovering Travel: A Guide for the Globally Curious.

Kugel reminds us that travel is not about checking boxes or chasing Instagram moments. It is about stepping boldly into the unknown.

His book and website invite us to use technology wisely and rekindle our sense of curiosity, humor, and spontaneity.

A Story that Resonates

I will  never forget a moment in Florence a few years back. I had spent weeks curating the “perfect” itinerary with apps, blogs, and starred map pins. Yet, one late afternoon, drained from checking boxes, I wandered off the main streets into a tiny trattoria with no digital footprint—no reviews, no photos, no English menu. The owner’s son guided me through dishes his grandmother had prepared that morning. I ate handmade pappardelle in a tomato sauce so rich I can still taste it years later. That unplanned encounter reminded me of the joy Kugel champions: travel as discovery, not duplication.

Reading Rediscovering Travel: A Guide for the Globally Curious was like bottling that Florence moment into a philosophy for every journey. Kugel is funny, self-deprecating, and honest about how technology can lead to safe yet sterile experiences—then shows how to break free.

What the Book Offers

Kugel serves up his lessons as bite-sized stories, lively anecdotes, and practical advice, equally relevant whether you’re a backpacker counting coins or a retiree seeking comfort.

• Technology with balance: Kugel doesn’t reject tools like Google Maps or TripAdvisor. He suggests using them sparingly—like seasoning in a dish—to enhance, but not overpower, the travel experience.

• Curiosity as currency: Ask questions. Talk to strangers. Take the bus, not Uber—even if slower—because the real reward is unexpected conversation.

• Embrace mistakes: Missing a train, ordering the “wrong” dish, or stumbling through language barriers can create the best memories. Kugel recounts mishaps with humor, making the book educational and entertaining.

• Universal appeal: Whether you’re a student, family, or older traveler, his advice applies. Travel isn’t about age or budget—but mindset.

Actionable Advice for Your Next Journey

At the heart of Kugel’s message is a call to rediscover unpredictability as the source of travel’s transformative power. His argument is that allowing for surprise and serendipity leads to more meaningful journeys. Here are some practical takeaways inspired by the book:

1. Limit your pre-planning: Research essentials like safety and lodging but leave space in your schedule for detours and spontaneous discoveries.

2. Talk to locals—without agenda: Do not just ask where to eat; ask about their daily lives. Conversations often lead you to authentic experiences no guidebook lists.

3. Embrace imperfection: If the bus is late, the restaurant looks questionable, or you cannot translate the menu—it’s part of the adventure. These moments become stories.

4. Eat off the grid: Skip the top-rated restaurants and walk into places where locals are eating. Be open to dishes you’ve never heard of; food is often the fastest route to understanding culture.

5. Disconnect strategically: Take photos, sure, but also spend entire afternoons without your phone. Walk without GPS. Let yourself get lost—it is a practice in presence.

   
   

Why Food and Travel Readers Will Love This Book

Kugel understands that food is central to travel, describing meals as gateways into culture. His advice to skip apps and talk to locals leads to dining experiences travelers dream about—family-run spots, unmarked stalls, or neighborhood favorites with generational recipes.

For readers of this blog, Rediscovering Travel: A Guide for the Globally Curious aligns perfectly with the philosophy that food is more than flavor—it’s memory, connection, and discovery. Kugel shows that the best meal you will eat abroad probably is not the one with 10,000 online reviews. It is the one you stumbled into because you trusted curiosity over convenience.

Compelling Conclusion: The Joy of Discovery

At its heart, Seth Kugel’s Rediscovering Travel champions the idea that the richest journeys come when we dive beneath the surface, break free from rigid plans, and let surprise lead the way. Kugel’s wit and humility make his invitation to rediscover true adventure all the more compelling.

This book prompted me to reflect on how my best journeys began when I let the unfamiliar guide me. Kugel challenges us: go beyond checklists—immerse, connect, and let travel shape your story.

Whether you are setting out for the first time or have a passport full of stamps, tuck this book into your bag. It will do more than guide you; it will help you savor every moment along the way.

Rediscovering travel is not measured by miles, but by the depth of your experience. In a world filtered by screens, that is the true adventure.

Dirk Ebener is the founder and creator behind the Food Blogger Journey website, drawing on over 40 years of international travel across more than 60 countries. His global adventures have deepened his understanding of regional cuisines, local customs, and the powerful connection between food and culture. From bustling street markets in Asia to quiet vineyard dinners in Europe, Dirk captures authentic culinary experiences through immersive storytelling. Through Food Blogger Journey, he invites readers to explore the world one dish at a time.

© 2025 Food Blogger Journey. All rights reserved. The experiences, opinions, and photos this blog shares are based on personal travel and culinary exploration. Reproduction or distribution of content without written permission is prohibited.

Follow the journey on Instagram @FoodBloggerJourneys.

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