New book

Been There, Done That

And have a story to prove it.

A travel book for anyone who knows the best stories rarely come from postcard views. Alistair Smith turns decades on the road into the mishaps, surprises, close calls, scams, strange companions, and unforgettable moments people really want to hear about when you talk travel.

Travel memoir

Real road stories

By Alistair Smith

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The World at Large, in Alistair’s own words

A fuller taste of the tone: candid, funny, and more interested in what actually happened than what the brochure promised.

Ask someone about their trip to China, and they’re more likely to tell you how they couldn’t get out of bed because of a bout of gastro than say, “The Great Wall really was great.” The stunning beauty of the Taj Mahal? No! “My taxi ran out of petrol in a grotty back street on the way there.”

In his decades as a travel writer, Alistair Smith has “been there, done that.” So now, instead of writing “inspirational” travel stories about destinations people might dream of visiting, he is ready, like everyone else, to share other tales from his time on the road:

Guides who get lost, brushes with death, weird travel companions, rip-offs and scams, jet lag, lost luggage, clashes at border crossings, pickpockets, disgusting toilets, riots and bombs. And he admits there could have been times when there’s a faint possibility that alcohol consumption may have clouded his judgement. The things people really want to hear about when you talk travel.

And, yes, of course it all really happened!

Early critical note

Alistair Smith’s travel humour style is characterised by self-deprecation, candid storytelling, and a focus on the mishaps and realities of travel. While he shares common ground with writers like Bill Bryson in tone and subject matter, Smith’s unique blend of industry insider perspective, meta-commentary, and relentless focus on the comedic potential of disaster sets him apart in the travel memoir genre.

“Been There Done That” is a memoir that uses humour, candid storytelling, and a critical eye to explore the unpredictable, challenging, and ultimately rewarding nature of travel. The main themes—mishaps, humour, cultural encounters, industry insights, and resilience—are woven through a series of vivid, self-deprecating anecdotes that both entertain and offer deeper reflections on what it means to journey far from home.

Chapters are self-contained anecdotes, often beginning with a seemingly ordinary situation that quickly devolves into chaos or absurdity.

The memoir is laced with wit, irony, and self-mockery, often turning personal embarrassment or discomfort into comedic anecdotes.

The author uses these mishaps to highlight the reality behind the romanticised image of travel, emphasising resilience and humour in the face of adversity.

This approach makes the stories relatable and entertaining, inviting readers to laugh at the universal foibles of travel.

The stories behind the postcards

This is travel writing turned inside out: less brochure polish, more memory, misadventure, and the moments that become funnier once you’re safely home.

Read the travel stories people actually ask for

A sharper, funnier look at life on the road — the delays, disasters, odd encounters, and true moments that stay with you long after the monuments blur together.

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