A few days ago, I wrote a post about giving adventure/outdoor magazines for the avid traveler on your list. If magazines are not their cup of tea, consider buying them a great travel book to help inspire them to travel. As an avid reader and traveler, I love receiving books as gifts. They are inexpensive and thoughtful.

Stumped? Here are a few ideas:

Travel + Leisure's "100 Greatest Trips" ($20) offers offbeat itineraries in otherwise familiar places. In New York City, go shopping in Harlem at Atmos, the Japanese sneaker store, and N, a designer emporium. In Mexico, follow the tequila trail in Jalisco, where the agave plant used to make the drink is grown. And in London, take the tube to the London Bridge stop and eat your way around Borough Market, where you can grab a venison burger at Westcountry Venison and a house ale at Brew Wharf.

"The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World" by Edward Hasbrouck (Avalon Travel, $22), an updated fourth edition, is described by the author in his preface as a "how-to handbook of advice and tips for independent, on-your-own travel ... especially suitable for anyone planning - or dreaming about - the big trip: 'gap year,' 'wander year' or 'trip of a lifetime' around the world."

Lonely Planet's "Bluelist: The Best in Travel 2008" ($23) is a planner, an inspiration and ultimately, a conversation, since fans can visit http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bluelist to submit their own lists of must-see places. The book includes a section on events around the world by month, like thue mimosa festival in January in Montenegro and the snow rodeo in Essex, Mont., in March. A "Golist" of places includes profiles of Mumbai, India; Chengdu, China; Cordoba, Argentina, and in the U.S., Miami, Colorado and Glacier National Park.