How My Kindle Changed My Travel Reading

I used to be that person who'd carefully plan out the books I would take on a trip. Despite this, no matter how well I planned, I either wished I’d brought more or felt that I’d missed a book I wanted to read when I arrived.

Now? I travel with hundreds of books in my jacket pocket.

Here's how my Kindle transformed the way I read when I'm away from home.

📦 The Packing Problem, Solved

Before I had a Kindle, packing for a trip meant making impossible choices.

Do I bring the thick biography I'm halfway through, or something lighter for the beach? What if I finish all my books before the end of the trip? Should I pack extra, just in case?

Physical books take up space. They add weight. And once you've committed to bringing them, you're stuck with those choices for the entire trip.

With my Kindle Paperwhite, that problem disappeared overnight.

I can carry my entire library without thinking twice. Every book I'm currently reading, every book I might want to start, every backup option if my mood changes. All in a device that weighs less than a paperback and fits in my pocket.

No compromises. No regrets. Just options.

🔄 Switching Between Books

One of the biggest advantages of reading on Kindle while travelling is the ability to mix between books effortlessly.

On my recent trip to Austria, I had my three-book rotation with me: a biography, a non-fiction book, and a novel. Some mornings, I wanted something deep and engaging. Other times, I just wanted to escape into a thriller.

With physical books, switching means carrying multiple volumes and deciding which one to bring with you each time you leave your room. With a Kindle, it's instant.

Sitting on a plane? I can read my biography. Relaxing by the pool? Fiction. Waiting for dinner? Whatever matches the moment.

This flexibility means I'm never stuck reading the wrong book at the wrong time. And that means I read more, because there's always something that fits my mood.

✈️ Reading on the Move

Travel involves a lot of waiting. Airports, flights, transfers, queues. These are perfect reading moments, but only if you actually have your book with you.

A Kindle makes this effortless.

It fits in my jacket pocket, so I can pull it out anywhere without needing to dig through luggage. No worrying about bent corners or damaged spines. No trying to balance a hardback on a tiny tray table.

I've read more in airport lounges and on planes since getting my Kindle than I ever did with physical books, simply because it's always there and always ready.

📱 Better Than a Phone or Tablet

I already carry my phone and sometimes my iPad when I travel. So why bring another device?

Because a Kindle does one thing brilliantly: it lets you read without distraction.

No notifications. No temptation to check email or scroll social media. Just the book in front of you.

And unlike a phone or tablet, the e-ink screen doesn't strain my eyes, even after hours of reading. I can sit in bright sunlight on a mountain terrace and read comfortably for as long as I want.

It's a device built entirely around reading, and that focus makes all the difference.

🌍 Never Running Out

The worst feeling when travelling used to be finishing your last book with days left on the trip.

With a Kindle, that's impossible.

If I finish a book, I have my whole library downloaded and available to me at any time.

This happened on my Austria trip. I finished His & Hers and immediately wanted another thriller. Within a minute, I had seamlessly moved onto Run Away.

That instant access means I'm never without something to read, no matter where I am.

💡 What This Means for My Reading

Since I started travelling with my Kindle, I've noticed I read significantly more on trips.

It's not just because I have more time. It's because reading fits seamlessly into every moment of the day. The friction is gone.

I'm not deciding which book to bring downstairs for breakfast. I'm not leaving books behind because they're too heavy to carry to the pool. I'm not rationing my reading because I might run out.

I just read, whenever I want, whatever I want.

And that's made travel reading one of my favourite parts of any trip.

💭Closing Thoughts

I still love physical books. There's something special about a well-made physical book on a shelf at home.

But for travel? My Kindle has become essential.

It saves space, gives me unlimited choice, and makes reading easier in every situation. If you travel regularly and love reading, it's genuinely transformative.

Do you use a Kindle or e-reader when you travel? What's been your experience? I'd love to hear your thoughts at Hello@charliesamways.com.

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