Pros and Cons of Kindles for Travel
If you’re planning a trip to Peru and weighing up the pros and cons of Kindles for travel, you’re in the right place. A Kindle can be a smart addition to your travel gear, especially if you want to pack light but still have plenty to read along the way.
I used to be firmly in the “real books only” camp and never thought I’d use a Kindle. But when I left my job to travel solo around the world, my coworkers gave me one as a farewell gift, and now I never travel without it!
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Pro’s of a Kindle for Travel to Peru
To be honest, I’ve found the benefits of using a Kindle far outweigh the drawbacks, especially when traveling through Peru. Sure, I still miss the feel and smell of a real book, but carrying a stack of paperbacks just isn’t practical on the road.
A Kindle is lightweight, takes up hardly any space, and gives me access to hundreds of books wherever I am. When my first Kindle finally gave out, I didn’t hesitate; I replaced it immediately. I genuinely can’t imagine exploring Peru without it now.
1. Light & Compact Kindle for Travel
With each new release, Kindle models continue to get lighter, and the standard original Kindle remains the lightest option available. Over the years, it’s become even more compact and slim, with a 6-inch screen that easily slips into a handbag or daypack.
It’s perfect for travel in Peru, whether you’re catching a long-distance bus, waiting at the airport, or simply enjoying a quiet lunch alone in a café. I always keep mine with me, and half the time I forget it’s even in my bag, until I want something to read.
2. No light is needed to read
What I love most about the latest version of the original Kindle is that it finally comes with a built-in front light, something that used to be reserved for the more expensive models like the Kindle Paperwhite. It’s a game-changer for budget travelers.
This feature has been especially useful during my travels in Peru. In many hostels I’ve stayed at, dorm beds don’t have personal reading lights, which used to make it hard to wind down with a book at night. Now, I can curl up with my Kindle and quietly read my Lonely Planet guide or lose myself in a fun novel without bothering anyone else in the room.
3. Carry thousands of Books on your Kindle
When you’re traveling, especially around Peru with just hand luggage, fitting a stack of books into your bag is nearly impossible. Space is limited, and every item has to earn its place. That’s why I love having my Kindle with me. It gives me access to thousands of books in one slim, lightweight device that takes up almost no room at all.
I don’t have to worry about the extra weight or sacrificing space for a single paperback. And if you’re someone who loves to read, having a book ready to go, whether you’re relaxing in a hammock in the Sacred Valley or waiting for a night bus, is an absolute must.
4. Buy more books online
One of the best things about traveling with a Kindle, especially through a place like Peru, is how easy it is to access new books while you’re on the move. Depending on the model, you can connect via Wi-Fi or 4G to download more books from Amazon’s massive library, which includes hundreds of thousands of titles. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime, you’ll also have access to a wide selection of books you can read at no extra cost.
What I really like, especially when I’m traveling on a budget, is the huge range of free books available. Sure, some are hit or miss, but I’ve discovered some fantastic new authors this way, perfect for reading on long journeys or during downtime in Peru.
5. Set the font to the size you need
After years of staring at computer and phone screens, your eyes might not be as sharp as they once were. I know mine aren’t! One of the features I really appreciate about the Kindle, especially when traveling in bright sun or low light like you might find in Peru’s mountain towns or jungle lodges, is the ability to adjust the font size to whatever’s most comfortable.
Gone are the days of squinting at tiny print or reaching for a magnifying glass, something my dad used to do before he finally gave in and got glasses!
6. No distractions with a Kindle
Reading on a Kindle feels a lot like reading a traditional book, there are no distractions, no buzzing notifications, and no temptation to check messages or scroll through social media. Unlike your phone, which constantly pulls your attention in different directions, the Kindle is designed purely for reading, helping you stay focused and relaxed.
This is especially valuable when you’re traveling in Peru and want to unwind after a long day of exploring. Whether you’re tucked into bed at a guesthouse in Cusco or swinging in a hammock in the Amazon, your Kindle lets you fully switch off. I’ve found it’s the perfect way to wind down and fall asleep without the mental clutter that comes from staring at a phone screen. Just remember, keep your phone out of sight for the full effect!
7. Easy on the eyes
One of the things I like the most about the Kindle, especially when traveling in sunny places like Peru, is how easy it is on the eyes. The screen is designed to mimic real paper, so you can read for hours without discomfort, just like with a physical book. It’s glare-free too, which means you can sit outside in bright sunlight and still see the text clearly.
8. Help the environment
When you consider that over 750,000 books are sold each year in the U.S. alone, it’s staggering to think about how many trees are used to produce all those printed pages. As much as I love the scent and feel of a real book, it does make you wonder, maybe switching to digital reading is one small step we can take to reduce the environmental impact of our reading habits. Fewer printed books could mean fewer trees cut down, and that’s something worth thinking about.
Cons of a Kindle
Honestly, I don’t think there are many downsides to having a Kindle, especially if you’re planning to use it while traveling through Peru. As much as I enjoy the feel and scent of a real book, the convenience and flexibility of a Kindle on the road is unbeatable. It’s lightweight, easy to pack, and lets you carry an entire library with you wherever you go.
1. It will never have the feel and smell of a real book
A Kindle can’t replicate the feeling, or the comforting smell, of a real book, and for me, that’s its biggest drawback. When I’m at home and not traveling, I hardly ever reach for my Kindle. Instead, I head to the library and check out physical copies from my favorite authors, it’s just part of the experience I still enjoy.
2. You can’t display your Kindle books in your home
One downside to using something like the Kindle Scribe is that you don’t get to keep a physical copy of the books you read; there’s nothing to add to your bookshelf or pass on to a friend. I’ve always dreamed of having a home with a wall full of books, a personal library of all my favorites.
But after giving away nearly all my books before setting off to travel to Peru, I’ve had to accept that space is limited. While I miss the feeling of holding a real book, having a Kindle is just much more practical for travel.
3. Technical books and books with photos are best in a physical copy
Kindles work best for reading text-based books; they’re not ideal for anything heavily visual. If you’re looking to read books with diagrams, graphs, or complex formatting like math equations, a physical copy is usually the better choice. While a Kindle can handle the occasional image or photo, the quality isn’t the same as what you’d get in print; it’s readable, just not as crisp or detailed.
4. You can’t easily find a page if you haven’t added a bookmark
One thing I’ve found a bit frustrating with a Kindle is how easy it is to lose your place if you accidentally tap the screen the wrong way. With a physical book, you often remember roughly where you were, halfway through, near the top of a page, or close to a certain chapter.
But with a Kindle, unless you’ve recently checked your reading progress, it can feel like guessing in the dark. I have mine set to show percentages, which helps a little, but it’s still not quite as intuitive as flipping through the pages of a real book.
5. Kindle books can be more expensive than physical books
Depending on where you are in the world and which Amazon site you’re using, it’s not always cheaper to buy the Kindle version of a book. In the UK, for example, I often find better deals on physical books in supermarkets or secondhand shops, sometimes for less than the Kindle edition on Amazon.
While traveling in Peru, though, it’s a different story. While it is easy to find bookstores, it is difficult to find books in English, and if you can find them, then they are pricey. That’s when having a Kindle really pays off; it gives you instant access to your favorite reads without hunting around or overpaying for imported paperbacks.
6. You can’t share books
One thing I really miss about Kindle books is the ability to share them. With physical books, it’s so easy to lend one to a friend or swap favorites, something book lovers naturally love to do. But with an Amazon Kindle, unless your accounts are linked or you’re part of a shared household library, it’s just not possible.
It’s especially frustrating when a friend says, “You have to read this,” and there’s no easy way for them to send it to you. There’s no secondhand Kindle book market either, no browsing charity shops or local stalls, which I love to do when I’m not traveling. And while exploring Peru, finding English books is already a challenge, so a Kindle is super convenient, but it does feel like it limits the joy of sharing books with others.
Helpful Kindle Information
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