Why Book Retreats Are the Next Big Thing in Travel

For many travelers with busy everyday lives, taking a vacation provides an opportunity to finally pick up that must-read bestseller. Becoming engrossed in a good story can be just as relaxing as a trip to the spa or a dip in the pool. But what if you wanted to take things up a notch? Reading retreats — a step up from community book clubs — are quickly gaining popularity in the world of travel. Bespoke itineraries build in time for structured group discussions with like-minded readers, provide valuable reading time away from the distractions of home, and visit fascinating literary-inspired sites. Dive into the growing phenomenon of book retreats.

Reading as a Pastime Is in Decline

One of the more curious aspects of this trend is that reading as a pastime is becoming less popular. According to a recent survey carried out by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the proportion of the U.S. population reading for pleasure has shrunk considerably in the last two decades. The study found that 84% of Americans read for less than five minutes a day in 2023. Approximately 22% of Americans 55 or older read for more than 20 minutes of the day — a marked contrast to Americans who fell into the age 54 or younger category, for which the figure was just 10%. 

Other data paints a similar picture. In a 2022 survey, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) found that only 37.6% of Americans polled said that they read novels or short stories, down from 45.2% in 2012. With all of our modern-day tech distractions, it’s likely that more people just aren’t finding the time to make reading part of their daily routine anymore. 

Making Time for Reading

These findings don’t mean reading as a leisure pursuit has gone by the wayside, however. Trips that celebrate a love of literature are nothing new, as a slew of book festivals and conventions around the world can prove. For example, the Cheltenham Literature Festival has been held in that English city since 1949, making it the oldest of its kind in the world. 2025 was a record-breaking year for attendance, suggesting the prestigious festival continues to resonate with literature fans. 

But reading retreats are different — they take a more personalized approach and are often more intimate than festival events (though such exclusivity can sometimes come with a hefty price tag). Book retreats promise escapism and an opportunity to put aside the distractions of everyday life to focus on a neglected “to be read” list. They offer the chance for avid readers to forge connections with others who share their passion through conversations that dissect reading material and a variety of communal activities. 

Some retreats are focused on a single book, which retreat-goers commonly read in advance of the trip to discuss with other attendees (similar to a book club), while others simply encourage reading in a looser sense, allowing you to curl up with your favorite book during the trip. Companies such as Ladies Who Lit or Book a Break, for example, choose a particular book to focus on for their in-person retreats and offer a lineup of events themed around each selection. 

Tours Centered on Your Favorite Novel

While nothing compares to using our imagination to bring the words on the page to life, immersing ourselves in the real-life destinations that inspired your favorite writers can bring something special to a vacation. In these cases, it’s helpful to have someone lead the way. 

Paul Wright is the driving force behind Books in Places, which organizes literary-inspired tours to a wide range of destinations. Past trips have included reading the 1999 novel Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier in Delft — the Dutch town where the novel is set in the 17th century — and Agatha Christie’s 1937 classic Death on the Nile in Egypt.  

In 2026, Wright’s groups will read Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières in Kefalonia, Greece; Victoria Hislop’s The Island in Crete, Greece; and Karen Blixen’s memoir Out of Africa in Kenya. Trips range in duration from as short as three to four nights to a week or more and include accommodations.

Fostering Connections

Closer to home, PAGE BREAK fosters community connections in and around New York City through a shared love of reading. The fledgling organization, which launched in 2024, is committed to championing emerging and underrepresented authors. It pledges to donate 3% of the income received from every retreat booking to a relevant nonprofit.

Retreats take place in various locations, such as the Adirondacks and the Hudson Valley, and include accommodations. Brooklyn-based founder Mikey Friedman says the act of reading aloud at these retreats is at the heart of what makes PAGE BREAK a success, giving everyone in the group a voice and the opportunity to be heard. 

As well as encouraging the development of new friendships within the group, reading aloud has other benefits. For instance, research from the University of Waterloo in Canada suggests that saying the words out loud and listening to yourself as you do so aids memory. Signing up for a retreat such as those offered by PAGE BREAK could have lasting, positive effects.