But rather than grabbing another Grisham or Dan Browne (we know you wouldn't...), get acquainted with some new wordsmiths. To help you out, the below is a list of our favourite reads at the moment - all somehow travel-related to get you out of town, even if staying on the couch.

Foreign Babes in Beijing: Behind the Scenes of a New China - R. DeWoskin
DeWoskin's memoir of her time starring in the Chinese soap of the same name, it provides a humorous and insightful account of China's changing face - specifically post-Tiananmen to today.

Man of My Life - Manuel Vazquez Montalban
Uncover unseen aspects of Barcelona. This tale of an eccentric detective is
an excellent introduction to Spain's favourite crime author. Go go gadget arm!

Tourism - Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal
Misleadingly, not about travel at all, but navigating the ins and outs of London. Social climbing, scandal and hedonism - it's all in the debut from confessional columnist Liz Jones's hubby.

Stuart: A Life Backwards - Alexander Masters
If you've ever wondered who's the character behind the beggar, then A Life Backwards, which looks at the remarkable Stuart Shorter, will inspire you to ask next time.

And if you can't be bothered with bookstores, we recommend ordering The New Yorker on DVD. The best of the Big Apple's printed words, all on one disc.

Happy reading!