An attractive little book for the backpack to relieve the burden of communication when in foreign lands. This book provides the easiest way for the traveller to quickly immerse him- or herself within a culture. A few words can spawn untold stories; crucially, they can make travel easier and ensure that you’re fed and watered wherever you are. So here are 69 of the most commonly used words, covering an array of 18 different world languages. The key areas of food, transport, accommodation and health are covered – enough to see you safe and settled in most foreign lands.

Jon Dutton and Kathy Ready have travelled the world and know from first-hand experience how far even just a limited vocabulary can take the traveller. They are also the authors of 69 Uses for a Water Bottle and 69 Tricks to Travelling.