Wide World Books & Maps

Don’t think you can get lost in a map store, think again. What a great shop.

Excellent travel bookstore! I always try to hit this place before any trip. They have a great rewards program, too; seems like I’m often getting money back on purchases.

Was This Travelers books? if so, too bad. as I was going to visit. Does Leon in Co still run this?

What a neat find in Wallingford! I was in the area for lunch and ended up walking around checking out all the various shops Wallingford has to offer. This is definitely a re-​visit kind of store. With world travel in mind, they carry everything from books to maps to luggage and gear – I even noticed some travel-​friendly (wrinkle resistant) clothing on my way out.
There are novels and memoirs on top of travel guides. Personally, I got sucked into one about street foods from around the world. Mmm.
There are are all sorts of little things on top of the big things to look at. For example, clear, ultra lightweight silicon bags for your toiletries. Clothes bags that are compressible. Theft-​proof purses and bags.
I was checked on once but left alone to peruse, play with all the gear, and, ultimately, dive into that book on street foods.
I might add that the CD of world music really set the tone. Loved my visit to this great neighborhood find!

I’ve been a huge fan of this shop for many years — having lived in Wallingford in the ’80’s. I have bought many travel books and accessories there over the years — it’s my «go to» place when I’m planning a trip. I have always found the people to be wonderfully helpful.
In July 2013 I traveled to Turkey and stopped in a few days beforehand. I bought a number of items including a backpack, books, etc. The woman helping me was wonderful and she updated my contact info on her database so I could get credit on their frequent purchaser program (I’ve recently moved to the Bay Area).
While in Turkey, the backpack zipper failed. I returned it the day after I got home and they gave me a full refund even though I didn’t have my receipt. They were able to easily do this because all my contact/​personal info, including purchase history, was updated in their database. And here is where things get interesting.
When I got home to the Bay Area 2 days later, I realized I had left my ear buds ($ 150 value) in the returned backpack. Dummy me — I thought I’d cleaned everything out… So I was thrilled when I called and I was told that yes, they found them right after I’d left the shop. Yay! But, when she looked for them in their lost/​found, they weren’t there. Odd… She said she’d asked around, but said also that they «hadn’t known how to get ahold of me» … (huh?). I know for a fact they have all my current contact info, and had pulled up my record specifically to process the return. In short, they simply didn’t call me – I could have easily went back to pick the earbuds up.
She said she’d ask around to see if someone knew what had happened to the earbuds. I waited. A week. Then I called. I called again. I have now left 3 messages. I’m very surprised I never received the call when they found the earbuds, and I haven’t received a return call to follow up after looking for them. In my last voicemail, I asked (because they didn’t offer), if they would be willing to reimburse me for the cost to replace the earbuds. Still no response. Even if they offered to give me a credit or split the cost, it would be a huge gesture of goodwill.
I’m extremely disappointed in this poor level of service. I would have easily given them 5 stars except for this. I do know that I’ll be hard pressed to visit this shop again. Which is a bummer since they have such great travel books.

I really, really love this store. It’s like REI got a little playful with Barnes and Noble. I like this store for it’s abundant resources, for it’s daydream inspiration, for the broad selection of women’s travel clothes, and the list goes on.
It’s a cozy place to visit before a trip, while imagining trips, after you get home from a trip and still have that travel bug, and really just any day at any time. if you haven’t been yet, grab a Trophy cupcake across the street and meander through Wide World Books and Maps. I bet you’ll fall in love, too.
Really, the only thing that could make me fall in love with this store even more would be puppies.

I can’t say that I’m an expert traveler but I have lived in Europe and Asia and have traveled solo and with friends in both continents and several places around the Americas. I also work for a travel company. So, when I drove by Wide World Books & Maps on a quest to kill time, I knew I had to walk in. I can’t vouch for how helpful the staff is on travels since I didn’t really talk to anyone, but I did like what I saw in the store.
They sell everything from clothing to travel knick-​knacks, maps, globes, and a ton of travel books and books about travel. I was hoping they’d carry some stationary since I needed thank you notes but instead I gathered a few postcards (at $ 1 a pop! a bit pricey but I was desperate). I also picked up two books, one was used for $ 5 and another was an anniversary sale price for $ 10! Awesome! I can’t wait until I get a bigger apartment because their maps and globes for sale will definitely have a place in our future home. They also have children books related to traveling which will make fantastic gifts for the little ones in my life (gotta start them young on that sense of adventure!).
I was a little dismayed at their «Asia» section, though. While I understand the demand for Europe travel books are more popular, traveling in Asia is definitely gaining momentum, especially with recent-​grads who are going abroad to teach English. So, I know that the Asia sections certainly deserves more than a few shelves when Europe gets a whole wall. Nonetheless, I was able to pick up a mystery novel based in 1970’s Korea that I am excited to read!
Overall, I think this shop is quite charming and wonderful and I plan to frequent it to superficially appease my need to jetset every few months.

In this digital age, Wide World Books & Maps is truly a jewel. In an unassuming storefront across from Wallingford Center, the store has only been in the current location for 8 years, but feels like it has been there forever (they were in a different location previously for many years). What I loved about the store is the service, as the people there are passionate about travel and customer service — if they don’t know or have the item, they will do their utmost to help, as witnessed by the staff calling Metzger Maps to help a customer who was there that day. They also have a great selection of books and travel-​related items, which was the reason why I went there in the first place, as I needed another adapter for Europe. The store is packed with useful and practical items, including many which I didn’t even know that I needed! I’ve only been there once, but I will definitely go back to support a local business that is truly passionate about what they do and have the quality and selection to back it up.

Wide World has been my first pre-​planning stop for most of my international adventures for many years now. With the arrival of the kids, it had been a while since my last visit, and when I took my brother there so he could find some maps and literature for his upcoming trip to India and Nepal I was immediately overcome with a wanderlust like I hadn’t experienced in quite some time.
The space is actually quite sizable but manages to feel a little cramped due to how much stuff they’ve packed into the joint. For books, you’ll find the usual suspects (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Moon) organized by continent, region, and country, along with more specialized books and a range of maps from Michelin, NatGeo and other cartographers of repute. If you can’t find something to help you plan a trip across the state or around the world, you’re either going somewhere incredibly exotic or you’re doing it wrong.
Crowded around the book filled nerve center of the shop you’ll find an array of other travel necessities like bags, clothes, toiletry and first aid kits, journals, calendars, clocks, and travel appliances. At one time the entire front of the shop was just filled with globes, which was always one of my favorite places to browse. That section has been taken over by quick dry/​no-​iron pants and the globe selection isn’t nearly as interesting, but is still a fun browse.
You can usually find street parking within a couple blocks, and be sure to sign up for their frequent buyer program to earn credits towards future purchases.

Great selection of travel gear, books and maps. There are cozy corners to sit for a bit and peruse. While the travel sized toiletry section is not very extensive, they carry the basics. The same goes for the bag selections. Security wallets and packable blankets are abundant and spaced throughout the store.

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this place earlier. Wide World is one of Seattle’s shopping gems. They always have the travel book I want and if they don’t, they’ll order it. The travel literature is always so tempting I can hardly ever get out of the shop without some and they also have a great selection of all the travel gizmos you could ever want. (Travel cocktail shaker that turns into either two cups or an insulated cup? Yes please!!) If you haven’t been here, you really should go, even if you aren’t traveling soon, letting your mind do the traveling is an enjoyable way to spend an hour.

I love this place. My out-​of-​town friends and family love this place. The book selection is top of the line … I dare you to try and leave without buying one. Tempting travelogues, fiction, nonfiction… And if you are looking for travel guides, it’s a no brainer. They have everything.
I’ve found the staff to be nice.
They also have cool events — sign up for their newsletter! Writers in-​store, travel groups, etc.

Id give this place a zero based on customer service. No hello, no smiles, couldn’t even get someone to make eye contact with us, wife and I.
We were really excited to shop here and to talk to «knowledgeable staff» about our 3 month trip across 11 countries, but no one there would give us the time of day, we went in at 4:30 on a Saturday.
We were ready to do some shopping, buy books, bags, and travel accessories, we are ready to spend and wanted to do so locally but the bitter hags don’t speak to people of color, or young people who aren’t dressed up to go shopping there. One lady was too busy stocking and the other two helping other patrons. One lady in particular kept bumping into me and wouldn’t excuse herself or even smile.
I never pull the race card, but my impression of this place is that if you don’t look the part (there to spend money and all dressed up) then browse and go home.
It’s a wonderful store for travelers but the owners and employees need an attitude check, perhaps customer service re-​training.

This place is expensive, the guidebook I bought definitely cost significantly more here than on amazon, but it’s my local shop, and the storekeeper was helpful in finding it. More updates on a later date when I return for something else.

Wide World is one of those shops that you walk into and can’t help but smile. They always have any travel guide I’ve needed and browsing for hours is never a problem. The sales clerks are always available behind the desk but they don’t hassle you while you stand mesmerized at a bookshelf.
I love supporting this local business which has a much larger selection than B&N or Borders. I haven’t noticed much of a price difference between the bigger stores though
is usually slightly less expensive.
Make sure you add your name to their frequent shopper list. Several times past, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with an instant $ 10 discount provided at checkout.
They’re very flexible with returns as well. They only give a 2 week grace period but they’ll take books back, no questions asked.
Check out the back left corner of the shop for the clearance shelf for last year’s travel guide.
Parking is easy to find on the surrounding side streets which aren’t zoned.

Not only maps but travel books, travel supplies, and events in a non-​pretentious yet informative setting. And it is comfortable to be there, while it is a small store you could surely spend hours pouring thorough the hand chosen books, dreaming up a travel adventure, or reviewing history through the lens of an old map.
The day I happened in I immediately started going through the prints of vintage maps and various lists of events. I felt like Rory Gilmore as soon as I realized they have a book club and a hug-​a-​world.
So if you need a moleskin journal, some travel stories to read, or information on the numerous travel companies around, I highly recommend Wide World Books & Maps, and if you see a brunette engrossed in a book about the Camino de Santiago, it is probably me.

I’ve been visiting Wide World Books & Maps for about 5 years. They always have exactly what I need and never ever try to sell me anything I don’t want.
When I needed a new pack, I did my research & then went to Wide World to try things on. They had exactly what I needed and made sure it fit well. Whether it’s a large purchase like this or a small (but vital) thing like electronic adapters, you’ll find it here and you’ll be treated well while you’re looking.
They will also share their advice and personal experience about how to be safe and comfortable during your trip. If you have questions about travel restrictions, ask them. You can also ask for advice/​suggestions about sleep & health aids.
Wide World is a great store, well worth the trek to Wallingford and the slight increase in price over chains/​amazon.

I am updatingt his and adding a star.
It’s New Years.
I had so many years of good involvement.
The staff will learn, from this review or somewhere or not.
The owner is very active and caring about peoples’ travels. The store is a huge service to travelres from Seattle,

Sometimes I just hang out here, even if I don’t plan on buying anything and am not planning any trips in the near future. It’s a nice place to eavesdrop on other people’s travel plans and to daydream about trips you can take when you have the time and money.
They never seem to mind.

I am planing a trip to Europe in about a month. I stopped in here with N to look at the travel books and gear.
They have a bunch of knick-​knacks for traveling and packs and such, seems pretty pricey though.
I ended up finding a really cool map of the world for $ 10. I was exited to buy it but they were out of stock. The helpful employee told me it would be in stock in a few days and took my number and told me he would give me a call when it comes in. NICE!
I witnessed something pretty cool while I was in there. A gentleman came in and was saying how much he loved the pack he bought there, but after only one trip there was a small hole in it. He was looking for some advise on where to get it repaired. The Employee called the manufacturer to see what the deal was, and a few moments later said, here you go… a brand new pack, and handed him a new one off the shelf.
Good customer service!