travel diary project

What Is a Travel Journal + How to Make One with Examples

Traveling to new places and journaling about your exciting and enriching experiences is beyond rewarding. Whether you're exploring a bustling city, immersing yourself in nature's wonders, or embarking on a cultural adventure, capturing your travel experiences is a great way to preserve memories and reflect on your journey. One popular and creative way to document your travels is through a travel journal . In this article, we'll cover what a travel journal is, the benefits of keeping one, how to choose the best travel journal among different types, and provide you with tips and examples on how to make your own.

Ready to discover how to capture your travel experiences in different places, explore creative travel journal ideas and travel journal prompts, and more? Let the adventure begin!

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal is a personal diary that allows you to record your thoughts, feelings, and experiences during your travels. It serves as a visual and written account of your adventures, providing you with a tangible keepsake that you can cherish for years to come. Unlike a regular journal, a travel diary focuses specifically on your journeys, including details about the different places you visit, the people you meet, the food you try, and the sights you see.

Benefits of Keeping a Travel Journal

Keeping a travel journal offers numerous benefits beyond simply documenting your experiences. Here are some additional reasons why you should consider starting one:

1. Emotional and Mental Well-Being

Journaling has been shown to have positive effects on emotional and mental well-being . When you write about your travel experiences, you have the opportunity to process and reflect on your emotions, helping you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your reactions to different situations via your journal entries. It can be a therapeutic outlet for releasing stress, anxiety, or even excitement, allowing you to better manage your emotions throughout your journey.

2. Enhanced Memory Retention

Writing about your travels helps improve memory retention. By actively engaging with your experiences and recording them in detail, you reinforce the neural connections related to those memories. This makes it easier to recall specific moments, sights, sounds, and even the feelings associated with them in the future. Your travel diary becomes a valuable tool for preserving and retrieving cherished memories.

3. Cultural Exploration and Appreciation

A travel journal encourages you to be more observant and attentive to the details of the places you visit. It prompts you to delve deeper into the local culture, traditions, and customs. By documenting your interactions with locals, sampling regional cuisine, and exploring hidden gems, you develop a greater appreciation for the unique aspects of each destination. Your journal becomes a testament to the richness and diversity of the world around you.

4. Personal Growth and Self-Reflection

Writing in a travel diary allows for introspection and personal growth. As you reflect on your experiences, you gain insights into your own values, beliefs, and perspectives. You may discover new passions or interests, challenge preconceived notions, or develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding for others. The process of self-reflection through journaling can lead to personal transformation and a deeper connection to the world.

5. Travel Planning and Preparation

Your travel journal can serve as a practical resource for future trips. By documenting your itineraries, accommodations, transportation details, and recommendations, you create a valuable reference guide that covers your experiences more fully. You can refer back to your journal to jog your memory or provide recommendations to fellow travelers. It becomes a repository of knowledge that can streamline the planning process for future adventures.

6. Connection with Loved Ones

Sharing your travel journal with friends, family, or future generations can be a meaningful way to connect and bond. Your journal becomes a storytelling tool, allowing others to experience your journey vicariously through your words, sketches, and photographs. It can spark conversations, ignite curiosity, and inspire others to embark on their own adventures.

7. Creative Expression

Engaging in the creative process of journaling stimulates your imagination and artistic abilities. Whether you're writing prose, sketching landscapes, creating collages, or experimenting with different art mediums, your travel diary becomes a canvas for self-expression. It encourages you to think outside the box, explore new artistic techniques, and develop your creative skills.

Keeping a travel journal goes beyond simply recording your experiences. It has profound benefits for your emotional well-being, memory retention, personal growth, and cultural appreciation. It serves as a tangible reminder of your adventures, a tool for planning future trips, a means of connecting with others, and a creative outlet for self-expression. So, grab a journal and embark on your journey of exploration and self-discovery through travel journaling.

Types of Travel Journals

There are different journals for just about any goal or activity you can think of – from travel journals to fitness journals , from gratitude journals to garden journals , and more. Similarly, there are various types of travel diaries to suit different preferences and styles. We cover the best travel journals below so you can find one perfect for you.

1. Guided Travel Journals

Guided journals provide travel journal prompts and structured sections to help you capture specific aspects of your journey. Guided journals often include questions, blank pages to fill in, and guided activities to guide your journaling process. Using a guided journal or planner , can ensure you cover all the essentials, without missing any crucial details you’ll want to revisit later.

2. Traditional Handwritten Journals

These are classic journals or notebooks with blank pages where you can freely write, draw, or glue mementos. Traditional journals offer the most flexibility in terms of customization for creative journal entries.

3. Photographic Travel Journals

For those who prefer visual storytelling, a photographic travel journal focuses on capturing moments through photographs. You can include pictures alongside brief descriptions or captions to narrate your journey visually.

4. Scrapbook Travel Journals

Scrapbook-style journals combine photographs, tickets, postcards, and other memorabilia with handwritten notes and decorative elements. They provide a visually appealing way to preserve your travel memories.

5. Sketchbook Travel Journals

If you have artistic inclinations, a sketchbook journal allows you to sketch and paint scenes, landmarks, and people you encounter during your travels. It's a great way to capture the essence of a place through your own artwork.

6. Digital Travel Journals

In the digital age, many people opt for digital travel journals, using apps or online platforms to document their adventures. Digital journals offer the convenience of easy editing, multimedia integration, and the ability to share your journey with others online.

7. Travel Bullet Journals

A popular trend in journaling, travel bullet journals combine organization and creativity. Based on the bullet journaling system, these journals use symbols, icons, and trackers to help you plan and record your travels. You can create sections for itineraries, packing lists, daily logs, and more, all while adding artistic touches and personalization.

You can also use a monthly planner with ample note pages and customize it as a travel calendar journal.

Whether you prefer the structure of guided journals, the freedom of traditional handwritten journals, the visual impact of photographic or scrapbook journals, the artistic expression of sketchbook journals, the convenience of digital journals, or the organization of travel bullet journals, there's a type of travel journal that will resonate with you and enhance your travel experiences. Choose the one that suits your style and embark on a journey of creativity and self-expression.

How to Make a Travel Journal

Now that you have an idea of the different types of travel journals, let's explore how to make your own.

1. Selecting the Right Journal

Consider the type of journaling experience you desire. If you prefer writing and sketching, a traditional blank-page journal or sketchbook might be ideal. If you want structure and guidance, opt for a guided travel journal. If you're tech-savvy, explore digital journaling options.

2. Gathering Essential Supplies

Depending on the type of journal you choose, gather supplies such as pens, pencils, markers, glue, scissors, washi tape, stickers, and any other decorative elements you'd like to incorporate. If you're going digital, ensure you have a suitable device and any necessary apps or software.

3. Planning Your Journal

Before your trip, plan how you want to organize your journal. Consider creating sections for different aspects like itineraries, accommodation, food, and sightseeing. This will help you stay organized and make it easier to find information later.

4. Documenting Your Journey

During your trip, actively engage in your journaling process with regular (yet not restrictive or rigid) journal entries. Write about your daily experiences, jot down interesting conversations, glue in ticket stubs or postcards, and take photographs to complement your entries. Let your creativity flow and capture the essence of each moment.

Travel Journal Page and Layout Examples

The layout and organization of your travel journal pages play a crucial role in bringing your travel experiences, from all the different places you’ve visited, to life. By incorporating various elements and sections, you can create a visually appealing and informative journal that captures the essence of your journey. From practical pages for itineraries and packing lists to creative spreads for reflections and bucket lists, here are some ideas to help you design engaging and meaningful pages for your travel diary.

1. Packing List and Pre-Trip Planning Pages

Dedicate a page or spread to jot down your packing list and pre-trip preparations. Include essential items, travel tips, and any special considerations for the destination. You can even add checkboxes or symbols to mark off items as you pack, ensuring you don't forget anything important.

You may also want to check out these helpful travel and packing tips .

2. A List of Local Words and Phrases

Learning a few basic words and phrases in the local language can greatly enhance your travel experience. Create a page dedicated to practicing and referring to these words and phrases. Include translations, pronunciation guides, and space to practice writing them. This page can be a helpful tool for connecting with locals and immersing yourself in the local culture.

3. Itinerary Pages

Design pages dedicated to your daily itineraries. Include the places you plan to visit, opening hours, transportation details, and any additional notes or reservations. You can add maps, photographs, or illustrations to make the page visually appealing and easy to navigate.

4. Accommodation and Restaurant Reviews

Reserve pages to review and rate the accommodations and restaurants you experience. Include details like the location, ambiance, service, and any standout dishes. You can even attach business cards, menus, or photographs to accompany your reviews. These pages will not only serve as a reference for future trips but also help fellow travelers discover hidden gems.

5. Post-Trip Reflection and Wrap-Up

Allocate space in your journal for post-trip reflections. Create pages to summarize your overall experience, highlight your favorite moments, and reflect on the lessons learned during your journey. Include photographs, sketches, or quotes that capture the essence of your adventure. These reflection pages will serve as a reminder of the growth and memories you gained from your travels.

6. Travel Bucket List

Create a dedicated page to list destinations, landmarks, or experiences you aspire to visit or accomplish in the future. You can divide the page into different categories like countries, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or adrenaline-fueled activities. This page will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for your future travels.

7. Travel Budget, Savings Goals, and Tracking

If budgeting is important to you, design pages to track your travel expenses, savings goals, and tips for saving money during your travels. Create tables or graphs to visually represent your budget and savings progress. These pages will help you stay accountable and ensure you're making the most of your financial resources.

Your travel diary is a personal and creative space to capture the memories, emotions, and experiences of your journeys. Through carefully designed pages and layouts, you can transform your journal into a visual and written narrative of your adventures. Whether you choose to incorporate practical elements like itineraries and packing lists or focus on creative expressions like reflections and bucket lists, the possibilities are endless. Let your imagination guide you as you create pages that reflect your unique travel style and personality. With each turn of the page, your travel diary will become a treasure trove of cherished memories and a gateway to relive your journeys again and again.

Creative Travel Journaling Ideas and Prompts

Stuck on what to write or include in your travel diary? Here are some creative travel journal ideas and travel journal prompts to get you started:

• Write a letter to your future self reflecting on your travel experiences and what you hope to remember.
• Describe the scents, sounds, and tastes that stand out in each place you visit.
• Create a "People You Meet" page, where you can jot down brief descriptions or draw portraits of interesting individuals you encounter during your journey.
• Write a short story or poem inspired by a specific location or experience.
• Make a to-do list of activities or experiences you want to accomplish at each destination. Challenge yourself to complete as many as possible and check them off as you go.
• Write a gratitude list, noting the things you're grateful for during your travels. It could be the stunning sunsets, the kindness of locals, or the serendipitous encounters.

A travel diary is a beautiful way to document and cherish your travel experiences. Whether you opt for a traditional handwritten journal, a photographic account, or a digital platform, the process of journaling will enhance your journey and provide a lasting memory of your adventures. Experiment with different styles, layouts, and prompts to make your travel journal uniquely yours. So, grab a journal and start capturing your travel memories today!

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How To Write A Travel Journal: Ideas, Tips, Prompts & Resources (2023 Definitive Guide)

Before I give you the A-Z on creating your travel journal, I have an interesting thought experiment for you…

Can you imagine packing up your life into ONE SINGLE duffel bag?

That’s exactly what my wife and I did when we first moved onto our sailboat  Sea Otter : one duffel of personal items each, and one small box of other items stored at our folks back home.

It turns out over  90% of the “stuff” we all own can happily be given away  or tossed in the bin.

Look around you right now. How much of the things you see are truly meaningful enough that you’d NEED to keep if all you could leave your home with was ONE duffel?

You’ll like this…

One of the  DEAD SIMPLE decisions you’d face with a “purging” like this is with your travel journals  because I can GUARANTEE it wouldn’t take more than a nanosecond for them to be placed delicately in your bag so you could keep them forever (which is exactly what I did with mine).

That’s how important your  travel diary  will become to you. It will become a cherished vault of memories…

…stories you’d have forgotten if you didn’t jot them down…

…memories you’ll look back on for the rest of your days with an ear-to-ear grin…

…a memento you can pass along to future generations so they can bask in your adventures.

And today you’re going to see  how to write a travel journal of your very own , including travel journal ideas, writing prompts, tips and all the best resources around!

What Is A Travel Journal?

Simply put, a travel journal is a diary of your time on holiday or vacation. It’s a place to jot down the things you never want to forget: people you met, important details, funny events, raw experiences.

And as we’ll discuss, it can take many forms, such as a paper notebook, a DIY scrapbook, an app, a website, and everything in between.

Is There A Difference Between A Travel Journal, Trip Diary, And Travel Log?

People often get confused about whether there’s a difference between these terms, but the answer is that they’re all the same thing.

Whether you prefer to call it a diary or a log doesn’t matter because you enter inside is the same: the stories of your travels.

And here’s an interesting fact you might enjoy: 

The term “travel log” (otherwise known as “travelogue” or “travelog”) originally comes from the term “ship’s log,” which was how sailboats and other seafaring vessels tracked the details of the voyage. They called it a “log” because of a wooden float that they used to drag behind the boat to measure speed.

…You know, in case you were really wondering. 😉

Why Keep A Journal While Traveling?

The experience is priority one.

Followed closely by a way to remember that experience.

You know this conundrum:

If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?

Now how about this doozie:

If you forget most of the things you did on your trip, did they really happen?

Well of course they did! But wouldn’t it be so much sweeter if you KNEW you would remember that adventure for the rest of your life? Hell yeah!

THAT is why it’s SO important to keep a journal while on your trip: to remember the best days of your life — those days spent abroad exploring new places, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures.

What Are The Different Types Available?

If you want the best travel journal, you first need to know what  type  you would prefer.

There are  2 main types  to consider, and they are very different:

1. A paper notebook style journal 2. A digital, multimedia style journal (such as an app)

Let’s take them one by one:

A Paper Travel Journal:

These are, most often, simple notebooks that you tailor to your travels. Blank page after blank page, ready for ink to cover the lines.

The main benefits of a paper notebook style journal are:

• Some people like the physical act of writing, as opposed to typing on their phones or tablets.
• It’s physical. You can hold it in your hands. It can sit on your bookshelf and physically take up space. 
• They make really cool gifts (especially  personalized travel journals ). 
• You scrapbook with it by gluing in boarding passes, ticket stubs, and anything else you want to keep a hold of.

A few shortcomings of a physical journal are:

• You can lose it! 😩
• You can only write it in, not easily add pictures or videos from your phone.
• You can’t track or tag locations automatically.
• They take up physical space (if you are a diehard minimalist).
• You can’t share your stories online.

A Digital Travel Journal:

Digital journals are usually apps and websites that work well for journaling. That said, you could also DIY it by simply documenting your travels in a simple text doc on your computer or the ‘Notes’ app on your phone (just make sure you back them up properly!).

The main benefits of a  travel journal app :

• The best ones store all your entries securely to the cloud, so you never have to worry about losing your memories.
• You can add pictures directly from your phone’s camera.
• The best ones allow you to add videos too!
• You can collaborate with travel-mates to the same journal, which makes sure you get ALL the stories from all angles (and pics too).
• The best ones automatically tag locations for you and show your routes on a map.
• The best ones allow you to  ‘publish’ your journals online for your friends and family to follow along .

A few shortcomings of a digital journal are:

• It’s in the cloud, so you can’t place it on your coffee table and peruse when you’re in the mood (although the best ones do allow you to print your journals too).
• You can’t glue in physical mementos you want to hold on to.
• They’re harder to give as gifts because the “ unwrapping ” just isn’t the same.

As you can see, there are tradeoffs with each style and the answer to which is better truly lies in what you find as more important. Do you want to  share it online  or are you happy to  keep it privately written  on your bookshelf? Are you cool with just being able to write or do want to add pictures, videos, and maps ?

Think about what’s best and go for it! Remember, you can always choose a different style next time!

5 Of The Best Travel Journal Notebooks To Buy

There are loads of travel journals available for you to buy online. Some with simple ruled pages, others with prompts and other interesting things inside, and some are personalized for that extra cool touch.

Here are our top 5 favorites (including a few of our best selling personalized journals, of course 😊):

1.  The Extraordinary Life & Adventures Notebook (Personalized!)  by Journo Travel Goods

2.  Refillable Leather Journal Traveler’s Notebook  by Moterm 3.  Personalized ‘Comrades in Life, Love & Adventure’ Couples Travel Journal  by Journo Travel Goods

4.  Simple Premium Leather With Monogram  by OxAndPine

5.  The Custom Boarding Pass Travel Journal  by Journo Travel Goods

There are plenty of options out there. The best of which comes with personalization and are an ideal size for hauling around on a trip.

What Is The Best App For Journaling?

I founded  Journo  to do ONE THING: help fellow travel junkies track, remember and share their adventures like they couldn’t do ANYWHERE else.

It all started while at anchor in a secluded bay in The Bahamas, when I was trying to describe in my paper journal the most strikingly red sunset I’d ever seen. But I couldn’t find the words.

…and  I felt like I was going to miss out on that memory  if the only way I was trying to document it was on paper.

The very next day the idea for  Journo  was born. It’s taken on a life of its own since – developing a huge community of incredible travelers and winning “Best Travel App” by IMA Awards. 

National Geographic Travel put it simply:

“Sharing memories from a trip can get messy. Journo removes the pain.”

Journo  is loaded with cool capabilities that make it so much easier to document your trips. And even comes with your very own travel blog so your friends and family back home can follow along (and endlessly drool at your adventures 🤤).

Journo is  available on iOS for iPhones and iPad , with Android coming soon. Of course, there are a few other travel journal apps out there and I encourage you to compare with Journo and use whichever you think is best. 

What do you write in your journal? 10 Fun Travel Journal Ideas To Inspire You!

A little nudge can go a long way when you’re first starting out. So to get your mind running, here are 10 of our favorite ideas to include in your trip diary:

1. Start before your trip.  Jot down your  pre-trip planning list , where you’re going, who with, what items are on your  must-see and must-do lists . Write about anything you’re most excited about, even if it’s simply relaxing on the beach and going through a couple of  great books !

2. A picture is worth a thousand words.  If you’re using a travel journal app like Journo, the simplest thing to do is start in your photo album. Look through, grab a pic that catches your eye, add it to your Journal and then write the story about it! If you’re using a paper journal, consider bringing along  a mini polaroid like this , and then paste in your pics!

3. A video is worth all the words.  This one only works with a limited number of apps that allow for video (like Journo, of course 😉), but including a video of a memorable moment can really take your entries up a notch.

4. Oh, the sights!  We often say, “ Don’t be a tourist. Be a traveler. ” But we always recommend seeing the big sights, even if they’re in massive tourist traps. They’re big sights for a reason – they’re incredible! Add them to your journal. Write about if they lived up your expectations or not.

5. It’s all about the people.  I guarantee some of the longest-lasting memories you’ll have from a trip are of the people you meet. We, humans, are built for connection, and so a beautiful connection with a new friend or complete stranger can have a lasting impact. Document it!

6. Let’s not forget about the food.  Even the most non-foodies amongst us love to talk about  amazing food experiences abroad . I’ll never forget my squid ink spaghetti on The Amalfi Coast, or navigating my way through Cuy (Guinea Pig!) in Cuzco, or my daily  street dumplings  in Shanghai. Take pics of your favorite dishes, jot down the restaurant (or pin it on a map in Journo), and describe the food in detail! 😋

7. Map it!  If you’re anything like me, you love the look of a cool map. Now, doesn’t that map get even sweet when it’s of YOUR travel route? Yep! Draw it and color it if you’re using a paper journal (gives you something to do when in limbo or on a  long train ride ). If you’re using an app, it should  pin your route for you .

8. Paste in awesome mementos.  This one is best for the paper journalers amongst us because you can literally glue in cool stuff from your adventures, like maps, ticket stubs, bottle labels, coasters, postcards, foreign dollar bills, candy wrappers, etc. Whatever you find interesting, toss it in! If you’re using an app, just take a pic of it!

9. Write about yourself.  No better place for a little bit of introspection than on a trip. And that’s usually because – if you’re doing it right – you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and growing as a person. Write about that. Write about your feelings, changed opinions, ups, and downs, whatever it may be that you’re going through!

10. Team up!  We created Journo as a collaborative journaling tool because it’s a ton of fun for you and your travel-mates to be journaling in the same place ( here’s my wife, Mak, and my collabo Journo from a sail a while back , as an example). You get all the stories and, oftentimes, a hilarious new angle on a shared experience. If you’re using a paper journal, just pass it around, maybe even taking turns documenting the days.

>> New: 100 travel journal prompts for ever part of your adventure.

And whatever you do… don’t overthink it! It’s better to just roll with it than overthink it. It’s just an entry, after all. Just write!

One thing we’ve discovered from our community of travel journalers is that it can be hard to find the time  while on a trip  to keep up with your journaling. Here’s some help with that…

4 Writing Tips To Fill Your Travel Journal With Ease WHILE Vacationing

1. Start with today.  With limited time, and being pretty beat after a long day, it’s tough to keep up. So just don’t worry about previous days, just start with today (and catch up as soon as you can or when you get home and maybe  feeling the post-trip blues ).     

2. Think “highlight reel.”  The quickest way to get that entry rolling is to think about the top 1-3 things that went down today. Add those, then expand later if you want. 

3. Start in your phone’s photo album.  As mentioned above, it’s simplest to start by pulling up the date in your phone’s photo library, find the best pics, add them to your journal and write a short snippet of it.     

4. Consider giving your friends back home a touch of the #TravelEnvy bug.  😜 With Journo, you can publish your entries to your very own travel blog with a couple of taps. This will both  make your friends drool  and also keep you on track with adding more stories of your adventures.

I hope you found this helpful in getting started with traveling journaling. Remember, the most important thing is to simply begin.

Step one is to grab the right journal  for you  (thanks for considering Journo in your decision).  Step two , if you have time before your departure date,  is to start writing now ! That easy!

Ok here’s one last helpful tip for you…

Try to develop the habit of daily journaling now will make it even easier while on your trip.  Here is a free downloadable journaling prompt exercise book for you: The 21-Day Journo Challenge.

Inside you’ll get ONE word or image, and all you need to do is write about WHATEVER comes to your mind as you read the word or lay your eyes on the pic.

Have any tips we didn’t mention? What do you love travel journaling about the most?  Tell us in the comments below!

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Create & write a travel diary - tips, tricks & apps for perfect holiday memories

by Sascha Tegtmeyer

Writing a travel diary is always fun for me, promotes my creativity and helps me to reflect on the experiences of my vacation. The practical notebooks are available in every color and shape imaginable - and of course now also as electronic app versions. You can let your imagination run wild when creating holiday memories. What should you keep in mind when writing a travel diary? And why is writing while traveling so incredibly useful? I'll give you valuable tips, tricks and inspiration for designing a very individual notebook for your next trip.

The great explorer Alexander von Humboldt kept a diary on his travels in the 18th century. The detailed ones Travel journals like his American travel diaries are still read today. Nowadays, however, many world explorers are rather lazy about writing. Opinions differ even when it comes to an ordinary diary - some love it, others could never bring themselves to do it. On a well-deserved two-week vacation or even on a longer one Travel Picking up a pen and writing in a notebook again and again is out of the question for many vacationers. After all, you want to recover.

Video – This is how you can design your travel diary

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Practical advantages of writing a travel diary

But writing a travel diary offers a whole range of practical advantages and is actually recommended for every holidaymaker. The notebooks are available in every color and shape imaginable. When designing, you can let your imagination run wild and design your memories however you want.

Of course, there are now also digital versions that you can install as an app on your smartphone or tablet, for example. Whether you prefer the printed or digital version is purely a matter of taste. Why should you write a diary, what should be in the travel diary and what variants are there?

Buy travel diary

Why should you design and write a travel diary.

Once you've arrived on your well-deserved vacation, you often want to relax and unwind - or, on the contrary, be active and have adventures. Sitting down with pen and paper and writing an essay is usually not one of the vacationers' favorite pastimes. But the travel diary has a whole range of practical advantages and not only provides nice memories after the trip. You can let off steam creatively on the trip, stimulate your brain and review your experiences of the day once you're there.

In the travel diary you can record very individual experiences and information that cannot be found in any holiday travel guide and are based entirely on your experiences. A sketch of the route from your hotel to the dream beach through the forest, the promising business idea that you want to put into action after your vacation, the phone number for the cheap rental car rental company or the insider tip restaurant that can't even be found on the Internet yet – maybe in a few years your travel diary will become your very personal travel guide.

You stimulate your imagination

With a travel diary you stimulate the imagination and review the day's experiences directly on site. This will do two things: First, you will be even more open to having great experiences on the trip and even more open to discovering the next adventure. Because the travel diary shows you the beautiful things you have already experienced - that makes you want more.

You remember what you experienced again

On the other hand, you recapitulate what you experienced during the day. This will make the experience seem even more intense to you later at home than it already was. Because of the repetition, the great experience of the day is burned even deeper into your brain and will be even easier to recall as a great memory at home. And every time you look at your travel diary at home, the memory will flare up again. The bottom line is that you will experience the experiences on your great trip much more intensely and sustainably than if you don't keep a travel diary. I feel the same way when I write travel reports for Just Wanderlust.

Apple Use iPad with keyboard and pen for a travel diary

What belongs in your travel journal.

Some vacationers and travelers decide to keep a travel diary and then sit in front of the blank sheets of paper with a ballpoint pen on vacation. They are already ashamed of the words that they have not yet written. So what should be in the travel diary and how do you start writing? Open a cold beer or a good bottle of red wine and make yourself comfortable.

Basically, you can write anything that comes to mind in the travel diary. There are no limits to creativity and imagination here. You can also paste photos, make sketches and write important dates and information about the travel destination. The names and contact details of friendly people you met along the way can also be noted in the travel diary.

I use a Moleskine travel diary with a Lamy ballpoint pen

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Starting a travel diary – How do I start writing successfully?

Now you know what you can include in the travel diary - but you don't know how to start writing it yet. You sit with the pen in front of the blank pages and can't bring yourself to write the first word. That's why it makes sense to do a little brainstorming in your head and imagine the day's experiences again. Go into great detail and recapitulate as precisely as possible what good things happened to you during the day.

Translate experiences into words

And then try again to put these experiences into words. You can try a purely factual description such as “Today I visited a wonderful dream beach with crystal clear, turquoise water and white sand.” This is just an example – you can of course go into much more detail. Or you start with a description of your emotional world: “Today I had a totally relaxing day on the dream beach. For the first time, I was able to really let go of the stressful work and feel comfortable in my own skin again.”

Take yourself back to the past day

Once you've settled into the past day, it should be easy to start writing. You don't need to write a very long essay now. If in doubt, even a single sentence in which you include all the important information will do. An entry in your travel diary must be exactly as long as it needs to be - and that's up to you to decide. If you feel the need to write ten pages about one day of your trip, that's of course fine.

Travel diary or noble notebook - what is the best choice?

Many people wonder whether they should use a special travel diary to record their vacation or whether they would prefer to use a high-quality notebook. To be precise, there are about a million different variations you can choose from. There are countless versions of special travel diaries, which are often visually designed with travel motifs or have a special division.

Depending on your point of view, the advantage or disadvantage of these travel diaries is that a lot of things are already pre-printed in them and you often just need to fill them out. Some find them practical – others find them rather kitschy. In contrast, there is the option of using a very simple notebook. This is certainly the stylish version with more understatement. Anyone who chooses a high-quality copy with a leather binding and lined and checked sheets usually has the freedom to design their notes. All you need is a suitable pen that writes well and you're ready to go.

Travel diary apps – digital memories on your smartphone or tablet

If you don't feel like dealing with all the paperwork and are more of a minimalist, you can now rely on a whole range of practical travel diary apps in which you can record your travel experiences. Whether you would rather have a printed book or a digital diary is largely a matter of taste. A handwritten book is of course more stylish. The travel diary app is more practical - and probably better for the environment too.

You can enter a lot of useful data into most programs, while other data such as the date, temperature, location, fitness data and much additional information are automatically added by the program. You can also be very creative here, insert photos and videos, incorporate quotes and voice memos and use many practical features. The app is usually saved on the smartphone or tablet - I always have my iPhone and iPad with me for this purpose. I've been using the Day One app as a travel diary for years - it's proven itself. I have listed other recommended and promising diary apps (for iOS and Android) below:

• Journalist: This easy-to-use app offers a variety of features, like adding photos, maps, and even sharing trips with friends and family.
• Polar Steps: An app that automatically tracks your route, adds photos and allows you to share your travel experiences with others.
• Itinerary: An intuitive app that enriches journaling with multimedia elements such as photos, videos and audio recordings.
• tripcast: This app not only offers diary features, but also the ability to share your travels with friends and family in real-time.
• Slide: A versatile app that can be used as both a travel journal and a personal journal, with features to organize, categorize and sync your entries.

Choosing the right travel journal app depends on your individual needs and preferences. Try different apps to see which one suits you and your travel style best, and enjoy the convenience and eco-friendliness of capturing your memories digitally.

1. Day One - the versatile and attractive travel journal app

Day One is an authentic diary app that can be used perfectly as a travel diary. The app impresses with its extensive functions and attractive design. It automatically records important information about your vacation destination, such as: B. Time, date, location, weather conditions and signs of life so you can concentrate on recording your personal impressions.

Download Day One for iOS

2. Ulysses - the concentrated companion for written travelogues

Ulysses is a classic, distraction-free writing app that's great for writing travel blogs or as a text-based travel journal. The app features a minimalist design and an intuitive user interface that allows you to focus on writing and capturing your travel experiences. The app offers a number of useful functions that make it easier to write travel reports. These include a clear outline feature, flexible formatting, and the ability to organize notes and ideas. With Ulysses you can export your texts in different file formats and easily integrate them into other apps or platforms.

Download Ulysses for iOS

3. Apple Pages – versatile writing program for creative travel reports

Apple Pages is the in-house writing app for Mac, ideal for creating travel journal entries on Mac, iPad and iPhone. The app is characterized by its user-friendliness and extensive range of functions, which offers you a variety of creative options. In Apple Pages, you can not only write attractive texts, but also access a variety of templates and formatting options to give your travel journal a personal and professional touch. You can also easily add photos, videos, charts, and interactive elements to bring your travel experiences to life.

Download Pages for iOS

4. GoodNotes – the ideal tool for handwritten travel diary notes on the tablet

GoodNotes is an excellent app for anyone who wants to create their travel diary on their tablet using the stylus. With the app you can write handwritten notes that you can enrich with a variety of creative design elements and additional materials. GoodNotes' intuitive interface lets you capture your travel experiences in a natural and authentic way. With the pen you can not only write texts, but also make sketches and drawings to make your travel memories even more vivid and vivid. The app also offers numerous tools such as different pen types, colors and shapes that you can use to customize your entries.

Download GoodNotes for iOS

List – More travel journal apps

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FAQs Writing a travel diary – the most important questions and answers

Write a travel diary or maybe you would rather create a travel blog and become a travel blogger: in? I have put together the most important questions and answers about travel blogs and travel diaries for you.

How often should I write in my journal?

Write in your diary as often as you want. Whether it's once a week or every day, it doesn't matter. The most important thing is that you enjoy writing and that it helps you. I write about one to five times a day. A post can be one word or a thousand – it doesn't matter either.

What should I write about in my diary?

Basically about anything you want! For me, journaling only became really valuable when I started to write down every idea that came to me immediately, later to describe it in detail and to link it to other ideas. Basically, write about what comes to your mind – and use it afterwards. Write about your day, your thoughts, your feelings, your plans, or anything else that's on your mind.

How long should my diary entries be?

It doesn't matter. From one word upwards, anything is possible. A post in your diary should be as long as it needs to be. As long or as short as you want. Some people like to write page by page, others just a few sentences. It depends on you.

Do I have to write my diary in full sentences?

You don't have to do anything to write a diary. You can also paint your diary. You don't have to write in full sentences. You can write in whatever way feels natural to you.

Can I use a pen or pencil instead of a computer?

Yes of course. Many people prefer to write by hand because it feels more personal. But if you prefer to write on a computer or smartphone, that's fine too. As I have explained, the cross-device use of smartphones, tablets and notebooks has the greatest advantages. Handwritten journaling is fun and stylish, but has many disadvantages compared to writing on a computer.

Can I use a diary app instead of a physical diary?

I would recommend using a diary app instead of a physical diary because you can use your entries later - add to them or even use them for blog posts or social media postings. And yes, there are many great journaling apps out there. Day One and Ulysses are two of the most popular options that I use on a daily basis. I also use the pre-installed notes app on my tablet to take handwritten notes with my stylus.

Should I keep my diary private or share it with others?

That is up to you and depends on what you write in your journal. I would not share my deepest, most private feelings. But when I gain insights that are also valuable to other people, I share them. Some people like to share their journals with friends or family, while others prefer to keep them private. It depends on you.

How do I start journaling?

Just start writing! When in doubt, a single word will suffice. You can also draw something. Familiarize yourself with your journal by simply starting without much thought. There's no right or wrong way to do it. Just start with whatever is on your mind and then start to elaborate on it.

I'm not a good writer. Can I still keep a diary?

Yes of course. Journaling is for everyone, no matter how good you are at writing. Just write in a way that feels natural to you and how you get the most value from your journal.

Do I need to buy a special diary?

No, you don't need that. You can use any notebook or paper you like. But if you want to treat yourself, there are many beautiful diaries. However, I recommend using a digital diary. I would recommend using a diary app instead of a physical diary because you can use your entries later - add to them or even use them for blog posts or social media postings. And yes, there are many great journaling apps out there. Day One and Ulysses are two of the most popular options that I use on a daily basis. I also use the pre-installed notes app on my tablet to take handwritten notes with my stylus.

Can I decorate my journal pages?

yes if you want that Some people like to add drawings, sketches, or photos to their journal pages. Lists, tables, diagrams and schematic representations are also conceivable. Others prefer to keep it simple and just write. That's up to you.

What are other benefits of journaling?

Not only is journaling fun and relaxing, but it can also improve your writing skills, boost your creativity, and provide clarity and focus. Diary is a particularly powerful tool for progression.

Create a travel diary – preserve unforgettable memories or become a travel blogger straight away?

My conclusion

A travel diary is a practical and creative way to experience your vacation even more intensively. This practical holiday gadget belongs on the packing list just as much as a travel wallet, the video drone and the high-quality photo camera. If you let off steam imaginatively on your trip and take lots of notes, you'll get more out of your vacation in the end.

Because after the trip only memories remain and they are much clearer and clearer if you wrote in a travel diary during your vacation. Which variant you choose for your recordings is up to each individual. Whether it's a specially designed travel diary, a simple notebook or an electronic app for your smartphone and tablet - it's crucial that you record your experiences.

Do you already write a travel diary regularly or are you thinking about starting in the future? Let me know in the comments.

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Travel Journaling Guide: How to Write the Ultimate Travel Diary

Travel journaling allows you to preserve your travel memories for life. It’s a fact of life that memories fade over time. Some may disappear within seconds, while others can stay clear for hours, days or weeks. Travel memories that are written down, however, are there for life.

If you’ve been tracking down waterfalls in the Cuban jungle, it’s only a matter of time until you forget the blood-red feathers of the Cuban trogon you stumbled upon. What about the name of that man you met on the Paris Metro? The ins and outs of your journey on a night bus in Vietnam? The accidental shortcut you found in Switzerland?

As a travel writer, I’ve been travel journaling in one shape or form for my whole life. However, you don’t have to be a writer to start a travel journal. It can be as simple, as short or as complex as you like, with the following travel journaling guide.

Whether you bullet-point everything or smash out several pages of prose per day, your travel journal doesn’t just preserve precious travel memories. It’s a place to self-reflect on your journey, record facts and quotes, and creatively display your travels so far. The best part? All you need to start travel journaling is a notebook, a pen and a travel plan.

Table of Contents

What is travel journaling?

Travel journaling is the act of keeping a written record of your travels. While this typically refers to keeping a chronological (hour-by-hour and day-by-day) travel diary, some travel journalers might also sketch, create collages or draw infographics to tell a story.

Travel journaling is unique to each storyteller, but at its core, it’s about relaying your experiences for an imaginary or real reader and recording your adventures for your future self to look back on.

The only piece of equipment you need to begin travel journaling is a notebook. This could be as simple as a basic lined or unlined notebook. However, some notebooks are designed specifically as travel diaries and aim to prompt the author, such as the  Travel Listography Diary  and the  You Are Here Mindful Travel Journal .

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Travel Journaling: Should I keep a travel journal?

Anyone can keep a travel journal, whether you’re creating a travel journal to share memories with family and friends when you return home, or just for yourself. It’s a souvenir of sorts, but one that has a personal meaning to you and captures your exact thoughts and feelings at a specific time and place in your journey.

You might want to keep a travel journal if…

1. You want your memories to become sharper and more meaningful.

At school, teachers often advise students to write down facts to remember them. The same goes for memories. Writing about a memory stimulates your brain to recall and remember specific details from that moment.

When you revisit a memory like that, it sends your brain a signal that that particular memory is important. It is prioritised above other, more insignificant memories from the day, the week or the year. As a result, you’re more likely to be able to recall it in the future.

At the same time, revisiting a memory allows you to add meaning to your experience. By exploring the thoughts and feelings that came along with the physical sensations, you’re able to bring a unique, personal meaning to what happened.

2. You’d like to relive a memory a second time.

When I urged a friend I met on my travels to try recording his memories on paper, one of the most significant things he said was, “It’s like I get to experience it all over a second time.”

That’s one of the best parts about travel journaling. In your own, unique way, you get to experience something in detail for a second time. You might feel the same rush of adrenaline, the same apprehension or the same ‘lightbulb moment’.

3. You want to jot down contact details of new friends.

Sometimes you meet people on the road and they have a huge impact on you in some way or another: a blasé comment that stuck with you, a new perspective on a topic you thought you’d already figured out, or an unexpected friend in a moment where you really needed it. Just as often, you forget to ask for their contact information or you lose it in the mayhem.

Anything can happen to your phone when you’re travelling: loss, theft, damage, or unexpected memory wipes. Jotting down important contact details in your travel journal creates a second, permanent copy of their details. You never know, you might want to share some of the entries they starred in as a way to reflect on your fleeting time together.

4. You want to work through complex thoughts and feelings.

There’s a reason why many therapists and life coaches suggest writing down how you’re feeling. It’s a very effective way of processing complex or difficult emotions.

You might have had a travel experience that has shook you up slightly – an illness or a missed flight, perhaps – and want to get your immediate frustrations out on paper. Maybe you’ve come to a big realisation about the way you handle stress or adversity. Either way, your travel journal is a great way to work through the feelings.

Bottling up emotions isn’t good for anyone, so this is a particularly handy use for a travel diary if you’re a solo traveller who doesn’t have anyone to vent to immediately. This can all boost your self awareness, protect yourself from future mishaps, and generate a greater understanding of yourself.

5. You want to reflect on your travels so far and what you’d like out of the rest of your trip.

Travel can be a whirlwind. However, by reflecting on your travels so far, you can assess what have been the most meaningful experiences in your trip so far, and seek out similar experiences in the future.

Similarly, it can help you to realise if you’ve been focusing on one particular experience so far – for example, hiking or visiting historical sites. It might influence you to try something new, like attending a cultural festival, going on a village walk or engaging in some  offbeat travel  experiences.

6. You want to save ideas for an online travel diary or social media posts.

Whether you’re a content creator, a digital nomad, or simply someone who likes to share your travels with friends and family, travel journaling can be a great way to fine-tune ideas for future stories, whether written or visual.

You might be planning to create your own blog or post photos on Instagram with in-depth captions. Setting up your own website is relatively inexpensive to do nowadays with websites such as  Bluehost  offering cheap, affordable domains and hosting plans – this is the site I used to set up my own blog.

Draft ideas for stories and captions in your travel journal, and use a highlighter to pick out your best ideas.

7. You want to improve your writing skills

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a complete beginner, the simple act of travel journaling every day (or every other day) will give you more practice in the art of the written word.

This will carry over into your studies, essay-writing, creative writing, email-writing, or general communication skills. It also boosts your confidence as a writer.

8. You want something tangible to share with family or friends.

Unless you’re planning on keeping your travel journal to yourself, a travel diary is a great hand-me-down that will give your ancestors a taste of your travels and personality. It’s also an excellent way to connect with friends and families back home, and give them the run-down on what you got up to. If you travelled with a partner or a friend, it’s also an excellent shared keepsake.

Travel Journaling: What should a travel journal include?

When it comes to the question of ‘what should a travel journal include?’, I use the word ‘should’ lightly. Your travel journal is uniquely yours. It doesn’t  have  to include anything you don’t want it to.

However, there are many things that you might want to include in your travel journal, so the following list should provide some inspiration.

Pick and choose the ideas you like and  experiment  to see what works for you. What works for you will be different than what works for other travel journalers.

1. Brainstorming

You don’t need to wait until your departure date to begin travel journaling. It can also be used to plan your trip. Before anything else, you might want to dedicate a page (or a few) to brainstorming.

Do you want a budget or a luxury trip? Do you want to see the beaches, mountains, jungle, lakes, rivers, or deserts? Which countries match your non-negotiables? Who might you invite, or who can you connect with out there? This sort of brainstorming can streamline the planning process and help you to get the most out of your trip.

2. Trip research

After brainstorming comes the more nitty-gritty trip research. Your travel notebook is ideal for this too. It’s easy to open up a dozen or more tabs on your laptop or mobile device, so you can use the physical notebook to jot down key destinations and activities that have captured your attention. This will help you to narrow down your itinerary once and for all.

3. A trip plan

You can take this a step further and write a complete plan for your trip. If you don’t want your notebook to get too messy, you can simply add your finalised itinerary. This will be very helpful when you’re actually travelling, because you can store all of your booking information and your travel timeline in one place.

This is what I do, and it keeps my mind clear and my travel plan organised. I also include back-up ideas for activities and alternative transport options should anything go awry.

4. A travel diary

When you start to gather first-hand travel experiences, you can begin to record a diary of the events. You might want to write in prose, which is the best way to let your thoughts flow freely onto the page.

An alternative option is to take bullet points, which help you to get down information quickly before you forget it. You might also want to alternate between the two, writing in bullet points when you’re short on time and writing in prose when you feel particularly inspired.

5. Other travel memorabilia

Your travel journal doesn’t just have to be a written diary. You can collect – and glue down – other travel memorabilia such as ticket stubs, receipts or dried flowers.

Just remember to pack a small glue stick or double-sided tape and scissors (in your checked bag, not your carry-on bag).

Some travel memorabilia that you might want to stick into your travel diary include:

• Ticket stubs.
• Foreign bank notes.
• Newspaper clippings.
• Dried flowers.
• Food wrappers.
• Luggage tag labels.

6. Sketches

If you’re particularly artistic, sketching the scenery, wildlife, or people you see on your journey is a great way to bring your diary to life. If you’re not artistically inclined, a small caricature might be more accessible and just as fun.

Others might prefer to paint in watercolour; there are a number of  watercolour travel journals  available.

Travel journaling: How do you write a travel journal entry?

When you start recording your first travel journal entry, my first piece of advice is simply to start writing.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to make sense to anyone but you. If you work better with an outline, the following prompts should get you started.

1. Write down the date.

The most important thing to do, and perhaps the only rule of travel journaling, is that you should start by writing down the date of your entry. If you can, include the day of the week too, as this can often give extra context – for example, if it’s the weekend, it might explain why the crowds in your destination were so lively or the public transport delayed.

I recommend using the format: Thursday, 21st July, 2022. You want to be able to look back on the date of the entry and see how much time has passed since it took place.

2. Write down your location.

The second most important thing to write down is your location. It’s a good idea to be as specific as possible. Include the town, the village or even the hotel or hostel you’re staying at.

This makes it easier to re-imagine the scenario when you’re reading your diary back. It also makes the entry more accurate and places the event somewhere tangible.

3. Decide whether you’re going to write in prose or use bullet points.

As a rule of thumb, it’s best to get your memories down on paper when they are still fresh. If you’re pressed on time, you might want to take bullet points rather than write in prose. If more than a couple of days have passed, you’ll start losing some of the sharper details.

4. Start writing chronologically.

It might be tempting to jump right into the drama that happened in your evening. However, writing your travel diary chronologically is the easiest way to keep it understandable.

The version of events can get confusing if the narrator is constantly skipping from 7pm to 10am, then to 3pm and back to 10am again.

Begin by writing about your morning. What time did you wake up? What did you eat for breakfast? Who did you talk to? Where did you go from there? It’s also easier to recall memories this way and follow a clear train of thought.

5. Be specific.

As a rule of thumb, the more specific your writing is, the better. This is because the smaller details such as street names or direct quotes are some of the first things that will fade from your memory.

If you really want to bring the memory back to life, focus on the details:  location, names, times, dates, quotes, and specific thoughts.

The following prompts might come in handy:

• What did you eat? Where did you dine? How did it taste? What was the texture of the food?
• Who did you speak to? What were their names?
• Did you discover anything new today? Are there any facts you can recall? Did your destination meet your expectations?
• What was your favourite part of the day?
• What was your least favourite part of the day?
• Did you have any realisations throughout the day? What did you learn about yourself?
• How did you feel mentally? Were you energised, homesick, nervous, excited, or content?
• How did you feel physically? Were you in full health, hungry, full, sore, sleepy, or hormonal?

6. Be truthful.

Not every day is all roses and butterflies. At the same time, not every day is packed with drama and turbulence. It can be tempting to over-exaggerate your version of events, for a number of reasons.

You might want to make your trip sound more positive, add drama to your diary, or impress your real (or imagined) readers.

Remember, journaling isn’t just about creating a story. It’s about gaining self-awareness, improving your understanding of the world and working through the feelings that arise as a result of your travels. You can’t do that if you’re trying to paint your journey in a specific light the entire time.

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Travel journaling tips

1. decide whether you want to use a dated diary or a general notebook..

There are pros and cons to purchasing a dated diary over a general notebook. The problem with a notebook is that it’s just a notebook.

A general notebook:

+ There are no restrictions on how long your entries are.

+ It’s more space-efficient for those travelling long-term, as you don’t have to start a new entry at the top of a page.

+ More freedom to doodle.

– Less incentive to make an entry.

– It can get scruffy quickly.

Purchasing a dated diary can make you feel more motivated to write your entries on a regular basis. They often include prompts, which can help you to get started. Many tailored travel journals also have additional pages dedicated for jotting down thoughts and notes, whereas a general notebook can quickly get messy.

A dated diary:

+ Looks more aesthetic.

+ Acts as a reminder not to miss a day.

+ Looks like a traditional diary.

+ May motivate you to write more often.

+ Often includes helpful prompts to spark your creativity.

– Can waste line space.

– May limit the space you have to write about each day.

At the same time, a general notebook might be the best option for long-term travellers who are short on space, because you don’t need to start a new entry at the top of a page. Starting a new entry mid-page saves precious line space. Unless your dated diary has blank spaces where you can insert the exact date, you’re also limited on the amount of space you have to write about each day.

2. Put aside 15 minutes every day to journal.

If one thing is for sure, it’s that travel can get hectic. As a result, it’s easy to get out of the routine of travel journaling every day. Since you want your memories to be as fresh as possible when you’re writing an entry, one of the best ways of keeping on track is by putting aside a specific time slot every day to journal.

You might decide to journal for 15 minutes each morning while you wait for breakfast to be served or for the 15 minutes before you go to bed.

If you have a daily commute – to the beach, to your temporary job, or to your friend’s hotel, for example – take your journal with you and utilise the spare time.

3. Journal while you’re in transit.

If you’re constantly travelling, it’s probably not going to be long until you have a lengthy train, bus or flight ahead of you. As long as the road (or airspace) isn’t too bumpy and you’re not prone to motion sickness, I’ve found that this is the perfect time to get some travel journaling done.

Having a good chunk of time to dedicate to writing is excellent. Plus, if you do get preoccupied on your travels and go off track with your journaling, the plane ride or boat ride back home is a good stretch of time to pick up where you left off and get down everything you can remember in chronological order.

4. Try to write within at least two days of the events.

The sooner you write about a memory, the better chance you have at remembering the niche details. The ideal situation would be to write about your day at the end of the day before you sleep, but that’s not always realistic.

Instead, try to set yourself a goal of writing about a day or an event 48 hours after it happens. If you still fall off track, write about your travels within a week of the date they happened.

5. Don’t feel the pressure to be perfect.

The pressure to get something perfect is often the first obstacle in getting started. Life is messy – and so is writing a travel journal. It’s not going to be perfect the first try. Besides, what is perfect anyway?

Your travel journal is for you. It doesn’t matter how many spelling or grammar mistakes there are, as long as it’s legible. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the motivation to write.

Bullet points or a few short paragraphs are better than a blank page. Otherwise, you won’t have anything to look back on at all.

6. Get creative with it.

Harnessing your creativity goes hand-in-hand with letting go of the need for perfection. You could draw caricatures of the interesting people you meet on the road. You could sketch a bird you spotted this morning. You could even make a chart or a diagram of your spendings so far.

Here are some ideas:

• Dedicate a few pages to creating caricatures of people you meet along the road.
• Create a ‘quotes’ section and jot down the most meaningful things people have said to you.
• Make a chart or a diagram of your spendings.
• Put together a recipes section where you write down your favourite meals and their key ingredients (don’t be shy about asking).
• A ‘rant’ section dedicated to unedited writing.
• Glue ticket stubs to the relevant pages.
• Make a collage out of ticket stubs, photographs and other memorabilia.

7. Keep your travel journal safe.

While a journal might not look that attractive to potential thieves, it’s probably invaluable to you. Therefore, it’s very important to take measures to stop it from getting stolen, lost or damaged.

Prevent water damage

Whether it causes smudged ink or crinkled pages, water damage can have a catastrophic effect on your journal. It’s also one of the most common ways that travel journals get damaged, as they’re prone to rainwater and liquid leakages in your luggage.

Some travel journals have waterproof covers, which add some extra protection, but this isn’t a foolproof solution.

Storing your travel journal in a waterproof pouch or pocket is the most effective way to prevent water damage.

A plastic bag is effective too. However, it’s more prone to getting punctured by sharp objects and it’s less durable (and less eco-friendly) than a permanent waterproof pouch.

The following waterproof bags and pouches will protect your travel journal:

• Syncwire Waterproof Pouch Bag
• Eono Waterproof Waist Bag
• Waterproof Dry Bag Set

Keep it in a safe or a locked locker

If you’re not planning on travel journaling while you’re on the go, it’s probably best to leave it locked securely in your accommodation. Many hotels provide safes; it will usually be listed on the list of features on booking websites such as  Booking.com  or  Hostelworld.com .

Some hostels and homestays may provide a locker instead. For this, you will often need to bring your own padlock. I’d recommend bringing a set of  TSA-approved combination padlocks .

Carry an anti-theft backpack

It’s unlikely your travel journal will get swiped from your backpack. Thieves are far more likely to target a mobile phone.

Still, you should carry your valuables (journal included) in an anti-theft backpack. They come with features such as secret pockets, durable zippers, and designs that make it hard for thieves to gain access.

Anti-theft backpacks:

• Della Gao Anti-Theft Laptop
• TcIFE Ladies Backpack
• Oscaurt Theft Proof Travel Backpack
• Waterfly Anti-Theft Backpack

8. Don’t forget a pen (and back-ups).

A pen is one of the easiest things to forget on your trip. While they should be easy to get a hold of, there are some locations where you might find it tricker (Cuba, the middle of the jungle, or a small town, for example).

I’d recommend using a clickable pen, because this is less prone to leaking ink than a regular ballpoint. Bring spares if you can, because the ink might run out mid-journey or just when inspiration strikes.

Travel journaling examples

As someone who preaches about travel journaling, I’ve decided to share a few entries from my own travel diary so that you can get an idea for the sheer variety of what you can write about and how you can record the details.

Entry 1: Havana, Cuba (Saturday 22nd January, 2022)

Anisah and I arrived in Cuba late, around 7pm. It was already dark outside and thunder-storming – lightning, heavy rain that soaked through my papers.

The airport was very basic and very stringent with Covid (masks, stalls and many checks) but we cleared security swiftly and had only our backpacks as a carry-on.

Outside, there were taxi drivers holding names, and, surprisingly, they weren’t at all pushy. Our hostel was supposed to arrange a driver to take us directly there, but upon ringing twice (and spending a daunting £3 per minute on the calls), it appeared the driver was stuck in his house due to the storm.

We ended up in a yellow, licensed cab (which cost 25 euros – but down to 20 when the lady hosting us paid on our behalf).

I felt a little unnerved in the taxi, probably because I was exhausted, and because without maps, the driver relied on memory and locals in Havana for directions – and there weren’t many outside due to the torrential rain.

Entry 2: Ubud, Bali (Thursday 20th June, 2019)

Woke at 1am for the Mount Batur sunrise trek.

• Mount Agun nearby “coughed” up lava three weeks ago, according to our guide.
• 1,700-metre climb – our time was 1h35 but it felt way longer.
• Very steep, gravelly, and one of the toughest climbs I’ve done in my life. At one point, I told Jess, “Go on without me”.
• I ate a boiled egg and a banana at the top. I was still starving.
• Monkeys and dogs were fighting on the mountaintop.
• Monkeys almost stole my bag. They successfully stole a purse from another lady.
• We lost Pablo (Goncalo’s cousin) at the top of the mountain. The guide (jeans and sandals) was going to leave him behind, but we refused.

Entry 3: Havana, Cuba (Monday 31st January, 2022)

Our host gave us the cheque. We were short by 700 pesos. We went to hunt down an ATM. The ATM declined my card, as did the second ATM… and then the third ATM.

We started to panic, so we went to the Kempinski Hotel in Plaza Mayor to use their WiFi to contact my bank. It quickly emerged that the WiFi had completely cut out city-wide. At this point, we really started to panic. We had to leave for the airport in one hour.

We’d used up all of our options, so I told Anisah we’d have to ask someone for money. She was very dubious. We were walking down my favourite street when I spotted an older man and a younger woman, both blonde, looking lost and carrying cameras and bags.

I took off my mask and asked ‘Ingles?’. Nope, they spoke Spanish. In broken Spanish/English, I started to explain ‘plane’ (hand motion), ‘Londres’ (London), ‘desperate’, ‘taxi to airport’, and ‘short by 700’.

They replied, ‘No, a taxi should be 20’. They thought I meant euros! I said, ‘No, no. 700 pesos’. He nodded, ‘Oh, good price!’. To my disbelief, he pulled out a fat wallet filled with US dollars and pesos, and handed me a 500 and a 200. I nearly cried, but settled for tapping the lady’s arms and doing a prayer hand motion. People are truly good at heart.

Travel journaling: How do you make a memorable trip?

There are two halves to creating a travel journal. The first half is the part where you  explore, observe and investigate .

The second half is the part where you  write or create .

If one half of the formula is missing, you won’t have a travel journal at all.

Similarly, a travel notebook that documents seven days spent beside a swimming pool, tanning and reading a book, is unlikely to be as riveting as a travel journal that documents a journey into Dubrovnik’s old town, a bus ride through central  Vietnam , wild swimming through waterfalls in  Cuba  or a cruise over the backwaters in  Kerala , for example.

• Guide to the Parque Guanayara Waterfalls in Cuba
• Things to do at Alleppey and its backwaters

1. Research your trip.

A great motto, and one I live by, is ‘plan to travel without a plan’. If you want to make your trip memorable, it’s just as important not to over-plan as it is to dive in headfirst without a scooby of what you are doing.

Research enough so that you have a huge backlist of itinerary and destination ideas. Make a list of local accommodations that you like the sound of. Book essential, long-distance travel only.

You don’t know what will happen on the trip: delays, unexpected new acquaintances, weather events, romances, and so on.

Sometimes, the most interesting stories form from following your heart or your intuition, so if you’ve planned every single detail, you’ll end up boxed in.

Here are some ideas for your research:

• Research blogs to get practical advice from those who have visited a destination or attraction previously.
• Confirm the main modes of transport, currencies, and WiFi accessibility in your chosen destination. Practical details matter.
• Create a list of destinations and activities you’d like to engage in.
• Highlight your non-negotiable activities, desirable itineraries, and nice-to-have experiences. That way, you know which activities are the most important to you.
• Try to avoid tourist traps and opt for more authentic, local or offbeat travel experiences. These are often the most interesting experiences to write about.

2. Book your flights.

After your research is complete, the first thing you need to do is to book your flights.  Skyscanner  should be your go-to tool to search for flights. It scans the internet for the cheapest deals, routes and even the most eco-friendly transport options.  Google Flights  is another useful tool, which you can use to confirm that you’ve found the best deal.

3. Book interesting accommodation.

The accommodation you book has a direct impact on your travel journal entries. It can create drama, it can spice things up a little, or it can act as a relaxing backdrop.

Unique accommodation might liven up your entries: search for things like treehouses, camping tents, shepherd’s huts, and themed resorts.

The following sites are my go-to websites for booking accommodation that will jazz up my travel journal entries:

Booking.com : Booking.com has a wide selection of accommodation, including eclectic stays. I also find that it generally has the best price, compared to other booking websites advertising the same hotel or accommodation.

Hostelworld : Staying in a hostel is one of the best ways to introduce new, wise and quirky characters into your diary. As most hostels have communal spaces, it’s very easy to delve into a deep conversation with a stranger, which is often one of the most interesting parts of travel journeys.

The act of staying in a dorm room or shared accommodation is eventful in itself; you don’t know what sorts of stories you might get out of one night spent in a dorm room. Was there a fight for a particular bed? A sleep talker? Late-night card games and conversations?

Homestay :  Homestay specialises in accommodation where you stay in the home of a local. This is a brilliant option for those who are writing a travel diary, because it enables you to connect with the community, learn about local customs and have a more authentic travel experience.

4. Engage in more offbeat travel experiences.

Generally speaking, you won’t get as much of a story out of a tourist trap as you will out of a more unusual or hands-on travel experience. After six years of travelling, this is the biggest lesson I have learnt, and exactly why my blog specialises in offbeat travel experiences.

So, how do you find offbeat travel experiences for your travel journal?

• Ask at your hotel or hostel for local-led activities. Questions such as ‘where do you eat?’ or ‘where do you go to party?’ are also great ways to find local spots over tourist traps.
• Search for unique travel experiences on  GetYourGuide . They list local-led travel experiences, which are a great way to meet fellow interesting travellers and get an insight into the offbeat sides of a destination.
• Use tour organisations that label themselves as ‘local-led’, ‘experiential’, ‘offbeat’ and ‘immersive’. These are tailored towards giving travellers unique, hands-on experiences, and not taking you on the usual tourist trails.

Travel journaling: How do you write a travel journal that is worth reading?

Not everyone wants to share their travel journal. However, if you do want to write your travel diary for an audience – whether that’s family, friends, an online following or a potential future publisher – it’s going to need to be worth reading.

1. Make your first draft in a physical travel journal.

Writing in chronological order and as soon as possible after the events happen, make your first draft in a physical travel journal.

Remember, that you’re going to edit your travel journal when you’re back home, so the most important thing isn’t writing perfectly. It’s about being consistent with your writing schedule and getting the details down on paper.

2. Be as specific as possible.

Specificity is even more important if you’re going to share your travel journal in one form or another.

Use exact times, exact dates, full names, ages, and detailed physical descriptions. This will bring your story to life, especially for those who weren’t there to watch it unfold in person.

3. Feature specific characters.

Just as a novel would be incomplete without a series of in-depth and interesting characters, your travel diary should also feature characters.

It doesn’t matter if they’re fleeting and disappear after an entry or two. The important thing is that your reader can envision and relate to your character.

That might mean describing them physically, disclosing their name (or pseudonym) and age, as well as describing their little quirks and mannerisms.

You should try to quote them directly when possible, and explore their mindset and their backstory.

4. Write up your travel journal.

When you arrive back home, write up your travel journal into a digital format, correcting spelling and grammar mistakes as you go. This will create a second copy of your journal, just in case anything happens to the physical copy.

5. Edit your travel journal.

If you’re going to be sharing your travel journal, the most important part is the editing process. Your journal may only need a light edit, which corrects any spelling or grammar mistakes and makes it more legible.

However, it may need a deeper edit if you’re truly going to post it online or send it to a publisher. The execution, plot, and characters will be more important in this case.

Traveling journaling: Types of travel journals

There are several types of travel notebooks, and they all have their specific advantages and disadvantages.

There are also some clear criteria you should be looking for out of a high-quality travel notebook:

Number of pages:  The number of pages you’ll need will depend upon the length of your trip. If you’re travelling long-term, it’s better to have a notebook with a large number of pages rather than several, smaller notebooks which will take up more space overall.

Paperback or hardback:  While a hardback notebook is more durable, a paperback journal is more lightweight. If you’re limited by space or weight limits, opt for a paperback. Size:  Notebooks come in a variety of sizes, such as A4, A5, or A6. In general, an A5 notebook is ideal for a travel diary because it’s compact enough to carry in your packed or day luggage, but not so small that you’ll run out of space quickly.

Line size:  Unless you have large handwriting, a journal with fairly narrow line sizes is ideal, because you can fit more writing onto one page, and therefore into one notebook. You could also choose a notebook without lines at all, which gives you more freedom over the size of your handwriting, but can end up with messy, undulating lines.

Paper thickness:  Thinner paper is usually ideal, unless you are planning on painting, colouring-in or using heavy ink. Still, bear in mind that ink can bleed through the paper if it’s too thin, ruining other pages in your diary.

Binding:  The binding of your notebook is important too. Ideally, you want a notebook that can spread out flat while you write and one where you don’t need to hold the edges of the pages down. A spiral-bound notebook is ideal over a smaller, tightly-bound notebook, in this case.

Traveling journaling: A6 travel diaries

Best for: weekend trips.

• Sovereign-Gear Antique Brown Refillable Travellers Notebook : This A6 notebook has a leather case and a refillable design, which includes three packs of paper (one unlined, one lined and one made from kraft paper). Even better, it has a PVC water-resistant zipper pocket for your valuables.
• Avocado and Spice Hardback A6 Notebook : With a hardback cover and 200 pages, this A6 notebook is an aesthetic travel diary that comes with its own protective velvet bag. It comes with the option of dotted, lined or blank pages, and has a built-in pen holder and a bookmark.
• Antony Olivier Leather Journal : With unlined paper and vintage brown leather, the Antony Olivier Leather Journal is a premium A6 notebook. There are 200 pages, all unlined.
• Newestor Pocket Notebook : The Newestor Pocket Notebook is small enough that you can tuck it into your back pocket. It’s probably not ideal for those who are going to be writing in long prose, but those who are planning on documenting their travels with bullet points or short paragraphs will have 144 pages at their disposal.

Travel journaling: A5 travel dairies

Best for: longer trips.

• EMSHOI A5 Notebook : With the option of lined, dotted or squared pages, the spiral-bound EMSHOI notebook has 640 A5-sized pages. It also has a water-resistant PVC cover.
• Antony Olivier Leather A5 Notebook : This is an A5-sized version of the high-quality, leather Antony Olivier notebook. It includes unlined 200 pages and a journal enamel pen.
• Silvine A5 Executive Soft Feel Notebook : The Silvine 15 Executive Notebook has 160 pages with a sewn case, inside pocket and ivory paper.

Travel journaling: Watercolour travel journals

Best for: artists.

• Seawhite A5 Travel Journal : This notebook has 60 pages and a back pocket. It’s also completely vegan.
• Hahnemuhle Watercolour Book A5 : This sturdy hardback book has 30 sheets of natural white fine-grain paper, ideal for panoramic paintings.
• Tumuarta Watercolour Journal : Designed as a travel watercolour notebook, this journal has 48 pages, made of 25% cotton. The pages can tolerate light washes and they’re micro-perforated, so you can tear out a page if you need to.

A travel journal is a great place to jot down travel affirmations if you experience anxiety or nerves before or during a trip or to write down packing lists and other plans. See where I’ve been to start planning your next trip.

Katie Treharne

I’m Katie, the owner of Escape Artist Katie. I have been travel writing since 2018, including writing for luxury travel magazines and publications such as Wanderlust.

As well as being a digital nomad who works and lives abroad permanently, I’m a big advocate for  offbeat travel  and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

I hope you found my article useful – find out more  about  me here or keep up with my travels on  Instagram .

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Travel Journal: Ideas, Tips, and How To Write a Travel Diary

• Travel Journal

Traveling has the potential to be wildly fulfilling. It exposes you to new cultures, different perspectives and unique experiences. The further you travel the more you are pushed out of your comfort zone. And the more you are pushed out of your comfort zone, the more you learn about yourself and the world around you.

One of the most popular types of journals is a travel journal. By having a travel diary, you can keep all these new experiences and knowledge in one place where you can reflect on them.

What is a travel journal?

Travel journals are a place where you can write about trips you have taken, what you learned during and the experiences you had. It is a collection of adventures, stories, memories and discovery.  It doesn’t matter where you're going or who you’re traveling with, an online trip journal can come anywhere. 

Why Write A Journal When Traveling?

There are many benefits of keeping a journal when traveling, but here are a few to start with:

Remember More

By writing down the things you want to do on your trip and the things you have done during it, you won’t forget the reasons you wanted to go and will remember more of your visit.

When traveling somewhere new, you will learn a lot about that place’s culture, customs and people. By having a place to write down your observations, you will absorb more of your surroundings.

Reflect More

A journal is a place to record new things you have discovered while exploring various places you visit. By having all these new findings in one place, you will be able to look back and reflect on what you have learned and apply it to other parts of your life.

How To Write Travel Journals: 5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Journaling

You don’t need to be traveling to Timbuktu to write a travel diary. Your writing can start with a family vacation or a weekend getaway. All you need is a destination and your holiday journal can begin!

1. Use your journal to plan your trip

Your trip journal can begin before your trip has even started. Use your journal to start planning the things you want to do. It can be anything from a cool restaurant you want to eat at, a hike you want to go on or different sights you want to see. Write down whatever is on your trip check-list, so you don’t forget it.

Once you know what you want to do, do some research and figure out the best way to do it. If you want to go see a special monument, figure out the best way to get there and put it in your journal. If you want to do some cool activities, write down the contact information of the people, places or tours that facilitate them. Your journal is also a great place to keep the contact information of your accommodations and transportation.

2. Write about what you imagine it will be like

Sometimes when you travel, your destination is wildly different than what you expected. Maybe you expected the local food to be bad and it turned out to be delicious. Maybe you imagined the town to be smaller than it actually is. Maybe you thought you would be more comfortable with the language. Whatever it is, think about writing it down before you arrive. It will be interesting to compare these predictions to what you actually experienced.

3. Write during your trip

It is always easier to remember things when they are fresh in your brain, so try and write as much as you can while traveling; every day if you can. Your journal entries don’t have to be long, but let them highlight what you feel was most important or exciting. How did you feel during your visit to the local market? What did you smell, taste and hear? Did you learn something new from the person you spoke to at the bar? Were you surprised by the clothes people were wearing? What was the view from the top of the mountain like? Before you go to bed, try and recall what you did that day, what you thought and how you felt. This will serve as a great way to remember more from your trip, but will also help you reflect and grow from what you encountered.

4. Add pictures to your journal

Even though your journal is meant for writing, pictures are still worth a thousand words. Combining pictures with your first-hand accounts of what they represent, or what happened when they were taken, will make for an even more comprehensive narrative of your travels. Don’t worry about glueing or taping anything either. Penzu allows you to upload pictures straight into your online travel journal, so you can keep your pictures and words connected and organized.

5. Write about your trip after you leave

Since you write about your trip before you arrive, you should also write about it after you leave.

• What was it like?
• What did you learn?
• What surprised you?
• What disappointed you?

It is important to reflect on your travels, so you can retain new understandings and apply them to future adventures. This is also a great way to learn about yourself, other people you may have travelled with and how you can grow. Step back from all the things you did and try to see the big picture. It may surprise you.

10 Travel Journal Ideas To Inspire You

The blank pages of your travel journal may not be serving as great inspiration, but your new trip should! Here are 10 travel journal ideas to get those creative juices flowing, kick-start your writing and help you get the most out of your travels. We hope these journal prompts help!

1. Why are you going?

Not every trip needs an explanation and not every vacation needs a justification. People travel for all sorts of different reasons or for no reason at all, but if your travel has purpose, write about it. Even if you’re traveling for the sake of it, that is a reason worth talking about too.

2. Write about your expectations.

As we mentioned above, expectations can wildly differ from reality, especially when going somewhere you’ve never been or going with someone you have never travelled with before. Jot down what you think the trip will be like, or hope it will be like.

3. What are you going to do?

Write about the things you want to do, the sights you want to see, the music you want to dance to, the food you want to taste. Writing it all down will get you excited and help you not to forget.

4. Write about the people.

Did you meet anyone new? Did you make a new friend? Were the locals welcoming? Did you learn something new from a stranger? Did you learn something new from a friend? People can really make a trip. Whether you came with them, or met them there, write about how the people you encountered affected your experience.

5. Write about the food.

Just because you call it your travel diary, doesn’t mean it can’t double as a food diary . If there are any foods you loved, dishes you hated or recipes you can’t live without, write them down to remember them all. Maybe some new fare you tried will influence your tastes when you return home.

6. The ups and the downs.

What did you like most about the trip? What did you like the least?

7. Write about yourself.

Reflect on the new experiences you had, what made you uncomfortable and what enticed you. Did you learn anything new about yourself on the trip? Did being somewhere else expose something you hadn’t seen in yourself before? Traveling can help people grow. Think about your journey and if it helped you grow in any way.

8. Write a travel guide.

If you knew friends were going to the same place, what would you tell them to do? Write down your recommendations and the stuff that should not be missed.

9. What would you have changed?

Is there anything about the trip you would have changed? Is there anything else you wish you did? Anything you wish you didn’t do? Write about your travels and how you can improve them for the next time you go away.

10. Where do you want to go next?

We all have a wish-list of places we want to go. Write yours down and try to start checking them off.

Using Penzu for Your Travel Journal

Penzu’s journal software allows you to access your journal from any computer, smartphone or tablet. Penzu will be your travel journal app ; all you need is your mobile phone or tablet and can write in in it, with or without wifi. You never have to miss an entry or forget a moment, as Penzu can come with you around the world. No internet necessary.

Now that you know what to write in a travel diary and how to write one, all you need to decide is where to go. Pick a place get start your online journal today!

There's no time like the present - start your free online journal today!

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• Journal Types
• Travel Journal

Are you planning a trip? Looking for a way to document your adventure? Look no further than a travel journal! A travel journal serves as a personal memoir of your journey, capturing moments, emotions, and experiences. Not only does it preserve your memories, but it also allows you to reflect on your trip long after it's over. In this article, we will explore travel journal ideas, templates, tips, and how to write a travel journal that will become a cherished keepsake.

What are travel journals?

Travel journals help you to write and document about the experience you had during your trips. You can include the written description of the place that you have visited, list down your itinerary, the photos that you took during your trip and even voice recordings that you have made during your time. Travel journal is one of the most popular journal amongst the different types of journals.

What is the purpose of travel journal

1. discover and learn more things.

Traveling usually leads one to gain new experiences and discoveries. By writing down your experience, you will get to understand your surroundings better, reflect and remember the discoveries that you have made during the trip.

2. Travel memories not to be forgotten

One of the main purposes of a travel journal is to preserve memories and experiences. By documenting your travels using a diary software , you are creating a record of the places you visited, the people you met, the sights you saw, and the activities you participated in. It provides a way to capture the essence of your journey and preserve it for years to come. As time passes, memories may fade, but a well-documented travel journal helps keep those memories alive.

3. Write a shared travel journal

A travel journal can also serve as a means of sharing your experiences with others. Whether it's with friends, family, or fellow travelers, sharing your travel journal can inspire, educate, or entertain others. You can pass on valuable recommendations and insights about destinations, provide practical tips, or simply share your adventures through storytelling. Your travel journal can become a source of inspiration for others who are planning their own trips, encouraging them to explore new places and create their own memories.

How to Write Travel Journals: 3 Amazing Tips to Get Started

Embarking on a travel journal may initially feel like a daunting task. The idea of documenting your adventures, emotions, and experiences can be overwhelming, especially with the sheer volume of memories and details that come with traveling. However, with a few helpful tips, maintaining a travel journal can transform into an exhilarating and fulfilling endeavor.

1. Find the perfect travel journal

To start, finding the right journal is crucial. Look for one that is durable, portable, and compact, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of your travels without taking up excessive space. Additionally, consider a journal with blank or lined pages that will accommodate both writing and creative elements such as sketches, doodles, or collages.

In addition to traditional pen-and-paper journals, modern technology offers a convenient alternative for keeping a travel journal: smartphone apps. One such app that is particularly useful for travel journaling is the Journey app. Journey is a digital journaling platform that allows users to keep track of their experiences, thoughts, and memories.

Just like a physical journal, the Journey app provides a space to jot down detailed notes about your travels. It allows you to capture not only the sights and sounds of your adventures, but also emotions and reflections that make the experience truly memorable.

With Journey, you can easily create multimedia entries by adding photos and videos to your journal. This feature enables you to visually document your journey, adding depth and vibrancy to your memories. The app also provides the option to geotag your entries, allowing you to easily organize your experiences by location.

You also don't need to be in the country you will be traveling to in order to start your first journal. A travel journal can be used to plan your upcoming trips as well. Using the journal travel template in Journey, you can add the places you would like to visit, followed by itinerary plans, tours, and more, creating a travel wishlist!

2. Write about your expectations of this vacation

Before you set foot in the first city, you can write about your expectations of the trip in your journal. By listing down your expectations about how the holiday will be, you can heighten your pre-departure excitement and feel as if the vacation has already begun. At the end of your vacation, you can compare the expectations noted in your journal with what you actually experienced during the trip.

3. Write a reflection after your trip

Writing a reflective journal of your travel journey can be useful as it is a great way to recap what you have learned about the people you were with, yourself, and the trip in general. It is something that we advise you to do after a specific event, trip, or activity as it helps you gain insights and apply them to your future vacations.

Travel journal ideas that inspire you

Not sure how to start the first page of your new travel journal? Refer to some of the travel journal prompts to kick-start your first journal of the trip!

Pre-depature ideas

• Why are you going?
• What are the places that you are most excited to visit?
• What are your expectations for the trip?

Post-holiday ideas

• Write about the people that you have interacted with.
• Write about the food.
• What did you like/dislike most about the trip, and why?
• Reflect and write on your experience of the day.
• What is something that you wish to do the next time you visit again?
• How would you recommend the trip to your friends and family? Write a travel guide for them!
• Where’s your next stop that you would like to travel to?

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Focus on the positive things in your live.

Write one line a day for the next five years.

A bible journal is one that holds your thoughts and reflections after a religion class and feelings that concerns life.

Record your dreams on a regular basis and keep track of the dream's themes and patterns.

Document your adventures, road trips, places that you have visited, and discoveries that you made along the way.

A self-reflective journal helps you to create your life with intention.

Cultivating inner strength and resilience using stoic journal.

Reignite your relationship, deepen communication, and strengthen your bond.

Write a personalized experience of your pregnancy journey.

Equip yourself with on a journey towards improving your sleep

Managing anxiety through structured journal reflection.

Secure, encrypted and private journaling technology.

Ideas for Diaries

A guide to starting your very own school diary

Keep a log of all your daily meals to ensure a balanced nature diet.

Get motivated, organized and productive by journaling

Private journal secured with a lock for confidentiality.

A guide to starting your health and fitness journey

Streams of consciousness writing done first thing in the morning.

Journal Prompts

Inspiring list of over 100 prompts for enhancing journal creativity.

Prompts to guide reflection and gratitude entries in a daily journal.

Collection of prompts to inspire expressive writing for mental health.

List of 100 self-care journal prompts designed to inspire emotional wellness.

Healing through journaling guidance.

Invigorate your mornings with over 100 thoughtful and inspiring prompts.

Prompts inspire kids to write creatively about diverse topics daily.

Stay calm with 60 journal prompts for anxiety relief.

Explore beginner journaling with daily prompts for reflective writing practice.

Digital Planners

A way to organize your time and your life

Create your own faithful digital planning companion

Find the planner for you

Make every week your best week

Master time management with a productivity planner

A faithful guide on your fitness journey

Free printable travel journal template: One Question A Day Diary

Are you going on a trip soon and do you want to keep track of all your fun memories? Great news! In today’s post, I’m going to show you how to make a simple DIY travel journal. It’s really easy, low-key, and fun! Plus, if you’re not feeling crafty, you can even download my free printable travel journal template that I made just for you.

Like many travelers, I used to forget the small, fun details of my trips. So, I started keeping track of memories with this one-question-a-day journal.

The idea is simple.

You just answer one fun question every day for a week. And the week after, you’ll answer the same one. It’s not like those big, heavy journals that are hard to carry. And you won’t have to write a lot, just one interesting question each day. This way, you can remember all the neat things that even photos can’t show, without any effort.

So stick with me, and I’ll show you how this easy idea can make your trips even more memorable. Let’s start making your very own travel journal!

In This Post:

Save this free printable travel journal template

Don’t forget to save this template on Pinterest so you’ll know where to find your downloads for your next trip!

Why you should keep a travel journal

Alright, I know you are dying to get started with this DIY travel journal, but just before you grab your crafts and head off, allow me to share a few more reasons why journaling is a game-changer for your travels.  Trust me, after reading these reasons, “forgetting” to journal will be a thing of the past!

• Document memories: Revisiting your adventures through a journal is super fun. Those quirky anecdotes and hidden gems you discovered? They will all be in your journal waiting to be re-lived.
• Record thoughts and ideas that you might otherwise forget: Ever had a brilliant idea or a profound realization while traveling, only to forget it later? A travel journal ensures those thoughts are captured forever.
• Reflect and learn: Journaling allows you to ponder over your experiences, offering insights and learnings that can be transformative.
• Unleash creativity: It’s not just about writing; it’s about expressing your creativity. Doodle, paste ticket stubs, or write a poem – your journal, your rules!
• Enhance your journey : A journal adds depth to your travels. It encourages mindfulness and helps you appreciate the journey on a deeper level.

Ready to make your travels more memorable and meaningful? Let’s get started and make your own travel journal!

A question-a-day: How does it work?

If you’re unfamiliar with the one-question-a-day format, let me give you a quick rundown, so you can make the most out of our free template.

Traditionally, these journals are used for an entire year, containing 365 unique questions – one for each day. The idea is to keep the journal for five years, answering the same question on the same date each year. This way, you end up with a fascinating record of how your thoughts and experiences evolve over time.

What I love about this format is the ease and simplicity. Answering just one question a day is a breeze, making it effortless to maintain a consistent journaling habit – often the biggest challenge for many travelers who want to keep a travel journal.

I adapted this concept for travel. Instead of spanning years, it covers your trip’s duration, with the same set of questions repeated each week. This approach is perfect for travelers who start journaling with enthusiasm but find the task daunting as their journey progresses. With just a short question to answer daily, it’s easy, fun, and incredibly rewarding.

So now that you understand the concept, let’s find out how to make your own travel journal.

I will share two options below; A DIY version and a free printable one . Neither one is better, just pick whichever one suits you best!

Option1: DIY travel journal

The first option I’ll share is a true DIY travel journal. You start with an empty paper or notebook and craft your own.

If you are looking for the free printable, scroll down to the free printable travel journal template section.

Materials needed

• Paper (A4 that you fold in two to make a booklet or any type of notebook)
• Crafting materials (if you want to make it look nice, but this is not necessary)

How to make your own travel journal

Step 1: find a notebook.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter if you just fold A4 paper in half and use a stapling machine to bind it. If you buy a simple notebook, or if you go all the way and buy a beautifully designed travel notebook.

I’m a big bullet journal fan, so I just make a collection and dedicate a few pages of my daily bullet journal to this Question-a-day journal. That way it’s integrated with all my other work and travel notes.

But feel free to do whatever fits you. All that matters is that you actually start and that you enjoy working on it. If you need a beautiful design to feel inspired, then by all means go for it. But the design should not be a reason to not get started.

The size of the notebook doesn’t matter either. I usually prefer an A5 format, because it’s small and easily fits in my backpack. But really, anything works. Lined, dotted, squared, or blank paper, all is fine.

Step 2: Make the pages

At the top of each page write one of the questions below, followed by a prompt for the right date. So weeks 1, 2, 3, etc (depending on how long you’ll be traveling)

• What did you eat today?
• Who or what made you smile today?
• What did you do today?
• Did you learn something new today? What was it?
• What is the most beautiful thing you saw today?
• Did you come across any challenges today? What was it? How did you overcome it?
• What was your favorite moment of the past week?

Of course, there are many different variations of questions you could ask. I found these seven the most interesting ones. But check the section about other prompts below for more question ideas.

I usually don’t add the answer sections for each week yet (I only showed it in the example above to give you an idea), because I don’t know how much space I’ll be needing for my answers. But you could add those if you want to make sure everything fits on one page.

Step 3: Decorate your travel journal

Now, I’ll admit. I am not the most creative person out here.

I can’t draw and I have the handwriting of an 8-year-old. So when I get crafty with my journal without any template, stickers, stamps, or premade anything, it will look like a mess. And that’s why I go for simplicity,

But if you are nothing like me, this is where you can get crazy. Get out your markers, crayons, glitter, and whatnot to make this travel journal feel like you. You could even add more blank pages so you have more options for photos, doodles, and other fun keepsakes from your trip.

Step 4: Start answering the questions every day

Now that your journal is finished, all you need to do is answer one simple question a day. No endless essays, writer’s block, or not feeling inspired. You’ll know exactly what to write and it will only take a few seconds.

What I like even more, is that even if I forgot to journal one day. I can easily trace back and still answer that one question from yesterday.

Option 2: Free printable travel journal template

Alright, if you’re looking for a printable travel journal, then I’ve got you covered too. Find out how to make your own travel journal from my free printable PDF below!

• Paper (white A4 that you fold in two to make a booklet)
• Printer (that can print in a booklet, though most printers nowadays have this setting)
• A free printable cover
• Free printable questions

How to use the free printable travel journal pdf

Step 1: choose and download your cover.

For you to use this journal every day and make the most out of it, you need to be super enthusiastic about it. And one way to get you excited is to help you find a design that matches your personality. And that’s why I came up with five different covers so that you can pick one that matches your spirit best.

Choose your favorite down below, or head over to Canva and make your design, as long as you print it on the right side of the paper in landscape shape, it will work too.

Step 2: Print the cover

Print it on an A4 paper and fold it in two. I deliberately put it on landscape and on the right side of the paper, so you can fold it in two and use it as the cover.

Step 3: Print the questions

Now that we have your cover, it’s time for the questions, which you can download here .

They are in A4 PDF format, but you can easily print them as a booklet by using the right printer settings, I explained below.

Print instructions

• Click print once you’ve downloaded and opened the PDF on your computer
• Go to printer settings and select booklet
• Print double-sided

With these settings, your printer will automatically put them in the right order, so that when you fold it in two, you will have a book from question 1-7, and extra notes in the back.

The settings might look slightly different on your computer, but it works the same for every printer.

Feel free to add more blank paper so you’ll have more notes. Or simply print more of the last “notes” page.

DIY travel journal tips

There are a few things that can help you to make the most out of this travel journal.

• Make this journal your own: the more it feels like your own project, the more enthusiastic you will be to write every day
• Set a specific time or moment when you will answer the question
• Start each answer with your current location followed by “:” and the answer. As travelers we visit so many different places that sometimes just seeing the name of a city you were at helps you set the mood and remember the content when you’re reading your travel journal years from now

DIY travel journal variations

As you probably already noticed, there are about 1000 different ways in which you can style your travel journal.

I just shared five printable travel journal templates with you, as well as my super simple but effective handwritten method. But remember. This journal is about you. It should be a design that invites you to write every day and create a beautiful travel memoir for your future self.

So go wild and use which ever design you want.

Besides differences in designs, you can also add different questions that are important to you, or that you want to remember from your trip. I’ll share a few of my other questions below.

I use these when I make my monthly travel journal for longer trips (more about this monthly journal below).

• Who did you meet today?
• Did you travel with someone today? Who is it?
• What was the weather like today?
• When was the last time you did something kind for someone else?
• What surprised you today?
• When was the last time someone did something kind for you?
• Did you fall for any tourist traps this week?
• What was your favorite accommodation up until now?
• Did you do something that scared you this week?

The printable travel journal prompts I shared with you today are for a five-week trip, but of course, you can also use them for a two-week vacation or any other duration.

If you’re traveling longer than 8 weeks, I would advise you to make a journal with a question for each day of the month. That way you’ll have more variation in the types of questions asked and the things you will remember from your trip.

Just check out my list of questions above for more inspiration. And if you want more help, or if you’re not feeling creative, Shoot me a message and I will send the full list of monthly questions as well as a free monthly printable that I use as well!

More DIY travel ideas

Did this project release your inner Martha Stewart?

Then you’re in good luck! We’ve got more super DIY travel projects for you to try.

• The 45 best DIY travel projects
• Homemade voucher book for your loved ones staying behind

Save these free templates

Did you save these free printable travel journal templates on Pinterest yet?

Final notes about this simple DIY journal

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time explorer, I hope that this free printable travel journal template will make your adventures more memorable.

So, grab your pen and start capturing those precious travel moments, one question at a time!

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How To Make A Travel Diary

With summer around the corner, today I show you how to make a travel diary.

So if you’re wondering:

• what a travel diary is
• how to make a travel diary
• what to write in a travel diary
• how to write a travel diary

If you’re looking for amazing but simple travel diary layout ideas, then keep reading.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It means that I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase a product that I have recommended. It won’t cost you any extra money.

What’s A Travel Diary

Basically, a travel diary is your travel daily log.

In general, there’re a couple of ways of keeping a travel diary.

It all depends on your goals, personality, creativity, artistic techniques, etc.

As a rule, you can choose to make your travel diary as:

• a journal, where you express your opinions, feelings, emotions
• an art journal with watercolor urban illustrations, everyday life sketches, simple travel doodles, drawings
• a travel scrapbook, where you include your travel props (for example, polaroids, flight tickets, receipts, postcards, menu, napkins, tea bags, postage stamps)
• a photo book (see some project life examples as an inspiration)
• a travel bullet journal with planning pages, bucket lists, trip overviews, etc

First and foremost, let’s talk about travel diary supplies.

As the matter of fact, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer.

With this in mind, below you can find a list of the best travel diary supplies, depending on the type of travel journal.

Travel Journal

• Blank Paper: No lined feature, you can draw mind maps, sketch ideas or write notes...
• Refillable Notebook: Take out pages that aren't important and swap in for blanks to...
• Leather Journal: Made of high quality PU leather,soft in hands,durable for travel or...

• Ballpoint Pen: Our black ballpoint pens combine the smooth, vivid writing of a gel...
• uni Super Ink: Water- and fade-resistant ink helps you compose long-lasting,...
• Quick-Drying Technology: Our quick-drying black pen ink resists smudging and...

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Let’s face it, you can easily start travel journaling with a simple school pen and notebook.

However, sometimes you may need a small boost of motivation to keep a travel diary daily.

Definitely, one of my favorite way to stay motivated is by getting a little bit fancier travel journal supplies.

For example, a leather travel journal with a notebook looks so cool.

Not only, do these notebooks have an amazing design, but also most of them are refillable.

Basically, you buy them once. When your notepad is full, you just refill a new one.

Additionally, don’t forget that travel journals should be small enough to fit in your backpack.

Also, in most cases, you can use travel notebooks as a wallet.

Some journals have a section designated for credit cards, tickets, etc.

By the way, this is a great gift idea – if you know any passionate traveler, now you know what to get.

Along with this, don’t forget about your favorite pen that allows you to write fast and cleanly.

Art Journal

• 95LB / 200 GSM WATERCOLOR PAPER JOURNAL - Start your journal creation with this...
• 30 SHEETS/60 PAGES - You'll love that both sides of the paper can be used which gives...
• BOUND IN DURABLE NATURAL LINEN -Each watercolor sketchbook is exceptionally well made...

• ???? Adopted High Quality Arabic Gum: The arabic gum can increase the gloss and...
• ???? High-pigmented: The set has great color selection, high pigment quality, mixes...
• ???? Well-designed Package: Comes with sturdy metal case with easy to open/close lid,...

Imagine sitting in a cute, local coffee shop in Paris.

You want to capture this magic moment in your art journal.

In this case, getting a blank sketchbook and a travel-size favorite medium is the best option.

Travel Scrapbook

• VARIETY OF DESIGNS - 14 piece washi tape set in simple beautiful grid patterns that...
• DIMENSIONS - A full set of 14 rolls with different colors. Each roll of washi tape is...
• HIGH QUALITY TAPE - Made from high quality washi paper with an adhesive that sticks...

• And many more letters, numbers etc
• Sayings are many, some are Let's Take a Vacation, Life is Short the World is Wide,
• Some icons are planes, cars, balloons as well as globes, Big Apple and cameras

• Sheet size: approx 23*14cm (9.0*5.5 inch)
• Made of silicone material,Reusable and durable friendly clear stamps
• Naturally able to cling to gross surface, especially acrylic block.

Definitely, it’s the most light-weighted way of keeping a travel diary during the trip.

Basically, all you need to do is to collect all kinds of tickets, menus, maps, receipts, napkins, and postcards, and take photos during your trip.

After coming home, you get a random notebook (alternatively the fancier one with craft paper) and include your favorite travel props in it.

As a decoration feel free to use vintage stamps, washi tapes, stickers, and other scrapbooking elements.

Also, you can write down your thoughts, and memories or include simple travel doodles .

In case you want to keep your travel memories in one place, but you don’t want to invest your time and energy in creating a DIY travel journal, this option will probably work the best for you.

Unquestionably, having a lot of travel photos may be so overwhelming.

However, turning them into a photo book is a great way to select the best ones and tell your summer story.

Travel Bullet Journal

• The A5 MEDIUM notebooks are the perfect size with a wide range of colors making them...
• Thread-bound to open flat which helps make reading the contents easy and adds...
• Features 80g/m² acid-free paper with high ink compatibility to help prevent bleed...

• Precise archival pens create fade resistant, waterproof, bleed free marks for...
• Includes 6 black ink Pigma Micron pens in point sizes 005 (0.20mm), 01 (0.25mm), 02...
• Pigma Micron ink is pH neutral, quick drying, and approved by ACMI toxicologists;...

• Versatile creative tool! With a broad chisel tip at one end and fine bullet point at...
• Bring your bullet journal or Bible study to life! Zebra Pen Mildliner Highlighters...
• Layer ink for extra creativity! Translucent, water-resistant ink in soft colors...

• Water-based pens ideal for coloring, fine art, illustrations, doodling, journaling,...
• Set of 10 Tombow Dual Brush Pens
• Flexible brush tip and fine tip in one marker.

• Washable & scented.
• Versatile art supplies

Personally, the simplest way to create a travel diary is to make it in an everyday bullet journal.

Basically, you can create travel spreads within your everyday bujo notebook , by using your favorite bullet journal supplies .

Travel Diary Examples

Aesthetic Travel Diary Inspiration

It's amazing how a simple, basic planner can be transformed into an aesthetic travel diary by using stamps, a map, and other scrapbooking elements.

Also, there's enough space to write your favorite travel memories, random thoughts, and inspiration.

Traveler's Notebook Inspiration

Another great example of a traveler's notebook is this minimalist blank notebook, where you can put plane tickets, polaroids.

Along with this, you have a lot of space for travel journaling.

Traveler's Notebook Memories Ideas

On the other hand, you may want to use a blank notebook as a kind of photo album aka project life inspired pages.

In this case, instead of using personal photos, you can collect postcards of tourist attractions.

Additionally, if you add some information, your travel notebook becomes a great source of knowledge.

Also, feel free to use decorative washi tape to keep all photos in one place.

Travel Diary Ideas

Similarly, here you can see postcards as well.

However, the travel journal page was completed by food photos.

In fact, sometimes you can't remember what did you see, but you always remember stunning taste of local meals.

DIY Travel Diary Ideas

As well as that, if you're into monochromatic looks, here's a great example of designing a DIY travel diary with a blue color palette.

You can easily incorporate a monochromatic look by using specific photos, washi tapes, stamps, and other decorative elements.

Travel Diary Inspiration

Besides, there's nothing wrong with combining two kinds of journals: a bullet journal with a traveler's notebook.

Indeed, creating a travel bucket list with photos, cute doodles, craft paper, and washi tapes gives this unique scrapbook bullet journal vibes.

Travel Bucket List Notebook Page

In the same way, these two notebook pages include the "favorite places I've been to" page, "a place I want to go one day" with the "places I'm going this year" page.

For me, it's a combo of travel memories, a vision board, and this year's travel planner.

City Information Travel Diary Page

Alternatively, keeping a travel diary as an art journaling allows you to unleash your creativity, practice doodling, and gather memories.

Indeed, get a pocket-size watercolor set, order coffee in a local coffee shop, and start painting.

Travel Scrapbook Ideas

Moreover, including top-rated tourist attractions, small sketches make your travel diary unique and personalized.

By the way, it doesn't have to be perfect. However, these London's main attractions sketches are amazing.

Travel Journaling

Last but not least, here's a vintage travel journal.

By adding polaroids, tickets, and stamps, you create a travel scrapbook for your summer adventures.

What To Write In A Travel Diary

So now when you get your dream travel diary supplies, you probably get stuck.

Undoubtedly, coming up with what to write in a travel diary can be a real struggle.

Not to mention, the fear of ruining the first page of your brand-new travel notebook.

With this in mind, I gathered travel journal prompts and page ideas you may want to include in your traveler’s notebook.

Trip Overview Page

Basically, it’s a space for all the important information about your travel and the destination you chose.

Firstly, note your flight, and accommodation.

Secondly, write down basic foreign phrases like good morning or thank you.

Definitely, it can be a real icebreaker to communicate with the locals.

Country Fact Spread

Before you start your travel adventure, you should research the destination.

Read more about culture, religion, weather, safety, top places to see, local experiences, and unique things to do, and write them down.

Also, check the currency and exchange rate.

Before You Go Checklist

As a rule, this stage of a trip is my least favorite part.

Do you know this awful feeling that you forget something to do?

That’s why the checklist is a real-life-saver for me.

During a hectic time, you want to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Write down everything you need to do before you leave home.

Travel Outfit Planning

Is it only me or when you go on a trip you pack just about everything in your backpack?

Not only do you pay additional fees but also you have to carry a heavy bag.

For example, I decided to create a travel capsule wardrobe.

Basically, you plan your outfit ahead.

Therefore, you get rid of a “what-to-wear-today” everyday issue.

Also, you can take photos of each outfit (just like before every fashion show).

Packing List

Along with this, writing the travel packing list keeps you organized when you travel.

Just divide your things into categories like clothing, toiletries, beauty products, electronics, entertainment, and miscellaneous.

Trip Planning

In fact, I’m not a big fan of planning every single hour of a trip.

However, writing down what you want to do and see each day helps to stay on track and better manage your time.

Ok, maybe the term: time management combined with vacation sounds weird, but you want to explore new things as much as you can.

Budget Spreads

Speaking of planning, let’s talk about money.

You can find online many articles about how to travel on a budget.

For sure, creating budget layouts helps you afford to travel without going broke and organize your expenses.

Memories Page & Daily Logs

• SMARTPHONE MEMORIES MADE REAL – Using the Polaroid ZIP is fast and easy. Just...
• STUNNINGLY VIBRANT PRINTS – ZINK ZERO INK printing technology eliminates the need...
• FREE POLAROID MOBILE APP – Take your photography to the next level by downloading...

• Stunningly Vibrant Detail : Premium quality photo paper recreates every Color and...
• Earth Friendly Photos : Zink paper eliminates the need for costly film and wasteful...
• Memories that last a LifeTime : Zink paper is Treated with a glossy, protective...

Last but not least, it’s time for the most fun and creative part.

Here you may want to capture the most amazing moments in a travel diary.

Indeed, fill your travel bullet journal with memories by using tourist maps, flyers, stamps, and polaroids.

You can even get a polaroid zip mobile printer with proper photo paper and keep up with daily journaling.

How To Write a Travel Diary

• include travel journaling time in your morning or evening routine (yes, it’s possible even if you’re staying at the most random places)
• keep your travel diary in an easily accessible place – you never know when your craziest adventure begins
• use your train-bus-car traveling time to complete your travel notes
• manage your inner perfectionism and let all your misspellings, mistakes, etc go
• keep in mind that it’s your travel diary – you don’t have to share it online or show it to anybody so it’s your safe space
• work on your journal – life balance (basically, don’t feel pressure to capture absolutely everything)
• try to add some variety to your travel diary by combining storytelling, doodles, polaroids, packing list, travel maps, etc
• describe how local meals taste, how the air smells, how the streets look like, what people wear – it’s so interesting to get to know a foreign country more than the most popular tourist attractions
• there’s no right or wrong way to keep a travel journal

Download Free Travel Bullet Journal Printables

How To Make a Travel Diary – Final Thoughts

To sum up, now you know what a travel diary is, how to make one that works for you, what to write in it, and how to make a journaling habit stick.

Undoubtedly, keeping a travel journal is a great way to collect memories and save them.

No matter if you choose an art journal, travel bullet journal, or scrapbook, making a travel diary can be so much fun.

Sometimes all you want to do is to write down your thoughts, organize polaroid photos, or simply plan your next trip.

Or mix the different types of travel journaling in the ultimate travel diary you can start even before your travel begins.

And the best part is you can really personalize your notebook.

Just gather your favorite travel journal inspiration, write your moments down, collect props, and put your travel diary together.

I hope you like these few easy tips on how to make a travel journal I gathered in this blog post.

Enjoy your trip and good luck!

What’s Next? Check Out These Bullet Journal Page Ideas:

Bullet Journal Page Ideas Perfect for Your 2023 Bujo

Bullet Journal Self-Care Ideas: Get Your Life Together in 2023

Budget Bullet Journal Layouts To Master Your Finances in 2023

Travel Diary

Create your own travel journal with stories and photos

Capture your most beautiful travel memories in a travel journal with the easy-to-use Travel Diaries software. With just a few clicks you can start your own online travel diary where you can upload photos, stories and route maps. Share your travel stories online as a blog, and order your travel diary as a printed book once it's finished.

Why you should make an online travel diary

Have you always wanted to keep a travel blog to share your fantastic adventures with the rest of the world? This can be done easily by using our software. All you have to do is add text and choose a style, then add photos and maps in our numerous layouts. This is how you can make a digital travel diary to be proud of. Even if you don't have a laptop with you when traveling, you can continue working on your diaries at any time thanks to our user-friendly app for iOS and Android .

Unique to Travel Diaries is the ability to keep track of your route on a map, and the use of "empty boxes": empty spaces where you can later paste paper keepsakes in. At the end of your trip, you can have your travel diary printed into a beautifully designed book. On a drizzly winter day, curl up on the couch with a big cup of tea and your travel diary under a blanket, and relive your most beautiful, sunniest, and most adventurous travel moments.

Creative ideas for your travel diary

Make your travel diary extra special with the following tips:

• Collect tickets, receipts, maps, postcards, flyers, and other paper reminders along the way. Photograph them, or leave room in your travel journal to paste them in later. • Bring pencils and paper and draw special buildings or views along the way. • Draw or describe what you will take with you on your trip. • You might sometimes forget it, but remember to also take photos of the people with whom you experience special moments along the way. • (Legally) pick a plant and dry it between sheets of toilet paper in a book. Later, stick the dried plant in an "empty box" in your travel journal. • Ask people with whom you have a special time to write a short note to you and stick it in your printed travel diary. • Add recipes of your favourite dishes so that you can tickle your taste buds at home and relive your holiday moments. You can also make a combination of a photo diary and a recipe book from your travel diary.

Create your own (online) travel diary in four steps

On our website, you can create your own travel diary in four simple steps. Choose a style that you like and then you can go wild writing texts and uploading photos.

1. Create an account

Create an account with Travel Diaries and start your career as a travel blogger. You can work on your travel diary on any device. The online web editor works on every computer and tablet. Do you also find it useful to work on your diaries on your smartphone? Download the Travel Diaries app, which is available for both iOS and Android . Come up with a nice title for your travel diary and decide per chapter whether you want to share it. When you share your travel diary, we convert each chapter into a blog page, which you can share with friends and family. You can also choose to only put certain chapters online.

2. Add all the information about your trip

Add a map of your travel route, marking all the places you have visited along the way. Upload your best photos and write your experiences along the way per chapter. With the Travel Diaries app, for iOS and Android , you can easily add photos and stories on the go, so that you don't forget anything and don't have to spend hours at the computer to type everything out when you get home. For example, write down the best memories of that day every night before going to sleep, and share them with your friends and family if your diary is public. Add unlimited stories, photos, and different maps in this digital diary.

3. Style your travel diary according to your own taste

With a choice of 38 different layouts and many fonts, you can create your travel diary in your own style. Choose from one of our standard styles or create your own style by choosing from different fonts and font sizes for your texts. You can even choose a colour for your title, and determine where the location and date should be displayed. When you have finished setting your style, click "save" and the style will be applied to your entire journal. Then it is time to further fill in your travel diary with texts, photos, cards, and empty boxes. Is your diary finished? Choose the best photo of your trip for the cover, and your travel diary is complete.

4. Have your travel diary printed

After your trip, you probably can't wait until you can reminisce with your travel diary in your hands. That is why we suggest having your diary printed. Prices start at €23.40 for a soft-cover book from 24 pages. Add as many extra pages as you need to tell your travel story: Travel Diaries prints diaries up to 298 pages. Then, choose the format and type of cover for your travel diary. Did you travel with other people? Then you can order an extra copy of your book with a nice discount and give this photo album as a gift . Do you also want to keep your diary digitally? Order a PDF of your travel diary for only €5.95. This way you can forward it to anyone you would like to share your adventures with, and browse through your beautiful book on your phone, computer, or tablet.

Baby book, recipe book, or your life story on paper

Tip: Travel Diaries can also be used perfectly for other types of books. Record your life story in a diary, create a recipe book with your favourite family recipes, or what about a pregnancy diary from the beginning of your pregnancy to the birth of your baby with our new label Baby Diaries ? After that, you can continue working on a baby journal , in which you record all the special first moments of your child.

Start creating your own journal today

traveldays is your minimalist travel diary.

See an example or start creating your own album ..

Awesome Travel Journal Ideas for Kids {with free printable!}

By: Author Jacquie Fisher

Posted on Published: June 6, 2019

Categories Travel Fun

Use these travel journal ideas & free printable pages to help kids document their next vacation or trip!

Since we’re heading out on a big road trip this summer, I thought I would include some travel journal pages in our Road Trip Binder (which already has 40+ Free Printable Road Trip Activities you might want to check out!)

Summer travel is the perfect opportunity to inspire kids to do a little writing not to mention record some great memories!

Travel Journal Ideas for Kids

I think downtime during the summer months is really important for kids but I’ve also seen what happens when they don’t pick up a pencil for a few months ( yikes !)  It can be a rude awaking when they head back to school so I’m always looking for fun ways to encourage them to write a little throughout the summer.

We’re all about DIY which is why I like to create a Road Trip binder and include things that are very specific to our trip.

If you’re just starting to travel with your kids, check out Why Kids Need to Travel & What They Learn on the Trip for inspiration!

In my search for travel journal templates, I can across so many wonderful options that I didn’t limit it to just one ( I’m never good at narrowing things down 😉

So here are some awesomely creative ways to keep your kids writing while you travel — whether you have a child that’s 5 or 15!

Free Printable Travel Journal Pages

These free printable travel journal pages are the perfect way for kids to record all their favorite things each day!  Be sure to leave a note to thank the amazing people who created these free printables pages!

Before My Vacation journaling page from TSLBooks is perfect to use the week before you head out! 

We 3 Travel has some awesome Travel Journal Pages for Kids — 3 varieties which include drawing pages for younger kids and fill-in vacation details for older ones!

I adore this Travel Journal for Kids over at the Travel Turtle .

B. Nute Productions has a printable Trip Journal Page that’s very colorful & your kids will really enjoy!

The Unlikely Homeschool has a beautiful Field Trip Log printable for any side trips you have planned.

Creative Travel Journal Ideas & Books

If your child prefers a book-type travel journal, here are some of the ones we would recommend:

My favorite is The Ultimate Travel Journal for Kids which includes TONS of colorful pages, games, boredom busters and fun ways to kids to record their travel memories.  It’s perfect for kids ages 6 – 10 years old.

Another really cool option is The Children’s Travel Journal which is sketched out in black and white so kids can color all the pages while they travel!  Details include food journals, people you meet on the trip, spaces to draw your favorite memories and so many more ways to record the trip.

Go! A Kid’s Interactive Travel Journal is for pint-sized artists!  Each page has a colorful prompt where kids can draw in experiences from their trip.  The journal also includes games, stickers and other fun prompts too.

Lonely Planet also publishes a great Kids Travel Journal that’s packed with prompts, lists, fill-in areas and more!  This is a great journal option for older kids

If you’re looking for something a parent & child can fill out together, check the My Travel Journal: A Journal for 5 Family Vacations. It’s perfect for kids ages 5 – 9 years old and allows you to keep the details from multiple vacations in one spot.

If you’re getting ready for a road trip, be sure to visit our popular travel posts for lots of tips to help you get organized before you go & on the road:

10 Things to do Before Your Next Road Trip {which includes a free printable checklist!}

The Ultimate Guide to Family Road Trips

More Travel Activities & Ideas

40 Printable Road Trip Activities

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6 Top Digital Travel Journals & Travel Log Apps

Written by Alison Kotch on August 28, 2022

Alison Kotch is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn.

If you’re hitting the road you’ll want to document every moment. These are the best digital travel apps that just might replace your journal.

Asked your boss for well-deserved time off? Good! Depending on the reason for your break (and how long you'll be away from work), you might not want to spend every second documenting your travels ... and every travel photo you post might not be Insta-worthy. Even though there’s something to be said for packing your daypack with a pen and a paper journal and writing about your trip, it’s a lot easier to keep friends and family in the loop while you’re on the road if you do it digitally.

How to Choose an Online Travel Diary App

Every trip is different, and so is every traveler. If you're headed out for a short two-week trip, you may choose a travel diary app that offers features to integrate into your life as well—more of an online journal. But if you're traveling around the world on a one-year trip, perhaps a dedicated app that could transition into a blog is more your speed. Either way these are a few considerations before you sign up and start journaling.

• Ease of use : If the travel journaling platform is online but offers no app, that might be a deal breaker if you're only traveling with a smartphone! Look for apps that allow you to quickly open it up, upload photos, and jot quick notes.
• Company history : How long has this company been offering digital journaling services? The last thing you want to do is invest time and effort into journaling only to discover the app has shut down, and you need to export all of that hard work.
• Social features : Do you want an app that excels first and foremost at getting you right to the journaling, or are you interested in digital travel communities with a social element? If you love one of the travel diary apps on this list, but it doesn't feature a built-in community, consider how you could use Instagram or a Facebook page to fulfill that need.
• Cost : Some of these are free, while others offer limited services on the free platform and require paid upgrades to make it fully featured.

Best Digital Travel Journal Apps

Here are the best digital travel diary apps that will help you document your next journey.

Day One Journal

The best part about Day One journals? You don’t necessarily need to be taking a cross-country or international trip to use it; you can just make a habit of capturing things that inspire you. Journaling novices will likely be content with the free version, which allows you to write diary entries by hand, with Apple Pencil, or your finger. You can look back through entries via calendar, timeline, or photos, while also being reminded of specifics of that day, like temperature, weather, moon phase, and altitude. Upgrading to the premium version of this digital travel diary gives you even more incentive to make journaling a habit: It allows unlimited photo storage and journal entries, cloud-based storage, audio recording, and a 25 percent off book printing discount … perfect if you’d prefer to page through your memories in paper form after collecting all of your epic travel stories.

Travel Diaries

The free Travel Diaries app has everything a traveler could want in a digital diary: Customizable layouts that allow you to enhance your text with photos and maps marking all of the places you visited, with the option to keep entries private or share them with family and friends. Inspired to turn your diary into a travel blog? No problem: The app can convert your entries from diary to blog automatically, which you can share via social media or email. Need to see your entries in print? That’s an option, too. Choose to print all (or a portion of) your trip; books are available for printing in as few as 40 pages (or as many as 320), in hard or soft cover formats.

Tripcast markets itself as the place you "share your travel photos with the people who want to see everything, not just the highlights." It's designed as a social network for those who love to spend time on the road. The app supports photos and videos and encourages your friends and family to comment, like, and interact with your updates—perfect for solo travelers who will love knowing their loved ones back home are along for the ride. The iPhone app is highly rated, and users generally rave about the variety of features to journal through the website or on iPhone or Android. You'll love the feature where it uploads all your travel photos to a map, so you can see the world populated with your best memories.

Even though it’s currently only available for iPhone users, Bonjournal is ideal for travelers who want a simple interface for documenting their activities, whether that means road-tripping up the West Coast or chilling on a deserted island. Not sure if you want to share every moment of your trip? Its privacy settings allow you to keep some entries to yourself. Need inspiration for your next trip? Follow friends (or fellow travelers), curl up in your travel blanket, and be inspired by their entries.

Are you not traveling but want to live vicariously through someone who is? Polarsteps is a photo-lovers dream. It provides the capability to track your travel route automatically when on the road (and uses minimal battery power while doing so) and transforms each travel journal into a visually stunning coffee table book. The coffee table books are complete with modern-looking layouts of the countries visited, miles and/or kilometers covered, and the number of photos taken.

Even if you don’t have any life-changing trips planned, Momento is worth downloading either way. Momento can organize your social network activity from up to 11 different platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Swarm, Flickr, and YouTube) into one neat, cohesive package. You can make it private, which is great if you’re using its pregnancy feature that allows you to journal your experience of nine months of pregnancy and beyond. You can also explore people who have tagged themselves enjoying similar experiences. No vacations (or pregnancies) in your future? This travel diary also doubles as a work/project journal, allowing you to track project notes, milestones, and meetings so you’re always prepared, whether working in-office or in another time zone.

When you use a digital travel journal you need only slip your smartphone into your waistpack and let the travel adventures get under way.

Travel Diary Apps: FAQs

What is a travel diary app.

You have all your essential tech for travel , like your smartphone to share photos with friends and family, but are you using it to document your experiences? Now, you can use app-based travel diaries to track and capture your experiences. Travel diaries allow you to document every fun and exciting thing you do while traveling the world. However, thanks to the many travel log apps available, you no longer have to carry a journal. Instead, you can create a travel journal on your smartphone to capture your best memories and create your own personalized travel book.

These apps also allow you to share your travel scrapbook with the touch of a button. You can share them either as a blog or on social media. Common features of travel diary apps include:

• Photo and video sharing
• Journal entries
• Snapshots of temperature, weather, altitude, and more

Are there any free travel diary apps?

Yes, there are tons of free travel diary apps you can use, including some mentioned on this list, such as Day One Journal and Travel Diaries. Additionally, many paid travel journals come with free versions with limited features. However, if you love traveling and sharing your experience with others, we recommend using paid versions to track your travels, upload photos, and share entries with your followers.

Can I use a travel diary app offline?

Some travel journal apps allow you to create entities offline in case you lose service, while others let you share pictures without the internet by selecting photos and creating private posts offline. However, whether you can use a particular travel diary app offline depends on the app, so you should research which apps you can continue to use when you don’t have any service.

That said, if your app doesn’t allow you to create new entries without service, you can continue to take photos on your smartphone and update your entry later.

Can I add photos and videos to my travel diary entries?

Yes! Most travel journal apps allow you to add photos and videos to document and remember your experience. Additional features may include turning your diary entries into social media posts and blogs, taking a snapshot of the time and weather, customizing layouts, and more. However, some apps are more photo-based than others, so consider what you want your travel diary to be. For example, if you prefer to create a scrapbook with photos and captions, you might choose Polarsteps, which allows you to create a coffee table book-style photo journal.

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6 Free Travel Journal Apps to Create a Beautiful Trip Diary

Use these free travel journal apps to note your thoughts, add photos, map your locations, and share your travel diary with friends.

They say that the trick to remembering anything you learn, think, or feel, is to write it down. Travelling is all about learning, thinking, and feeling, and these free travel journal apps make it easy for you to maintain a trip diary, which you can embellish with photos and share with friends.

1. Find Penguins (Android, iOS): Auto Track Your Travels and Post Updates for Friends

Find Penguins is a smart app that automatically tracks your movements during your trip, while your phone is in your pocket. It also updates the weather, temperature, and altitude, providing a quick snapshot of what the conditions were like that day.

All the data that the app gathers is presented in cool statistics and interactive maps. It's fun to see how you traveled represented on a map as a trail and posts about the noteworthy events. Find Penguins also updates your profile along the way, noting how many countries you went to, how many trips, and so on.

Each post in Find Penguins is called a footprint, which can include text, images, videos, or a combination of these. The app is a bit like using social media, and you can control who sees your posts. If you discover something you want to do while browsing a friend's feed, you can add it to your "bucket list" and save it for later. If you're traveling with someone else, you can add them to your trip to get joint updates on your statistics.

Download: Find Penguins for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Travel Facets (Web, Android, iOS): Turn Your Camera Roll Into an Automatic Album

Travel Facets turns all the photos you take on a trip into an organized album of your travels. The app reads the geotagging location data in each picture you've taken with your phone, matches the date and time with weather records, and maps out the trail. You won't have to lift a finger throughout this process.

Once the album is ready, you can edit it to add captions or additional data. These are called waypoints, and you can even add non-image waypoints manually to note something worthwhile.

You can also skip the entire automatic album maker and make a trip manually. You get more control over each waypoint and how it represents your trip. You'll want to use this mode if you want a robust travel diary, adding your thoughts to create a memorable journal.

Share albums with other Travel Facets users or privately so that only those with the link can see your trip.

Download: Travel Facets for Android | iOS (Free)

3. TravelMap (Web): Simplest Way to Create a Map of Your Travel Blog

Sometimes, you don't want the complexities of an app, social news feeds, auto-tagging, and all that jazz. Instead, all you want is to create a map where you add places of interest to plot your trail, along with photos and journal entries. TravelMap is that simple, free solution.

The simplicity of this web app is its best part. Sign up, create your mini-site with a unique address, and start creating your map. The map is your homepage, where you add places by searching or clicking placemarkers. You can always reorder these too.

Then, add images to your map or write posts and link them to the placemarkers you've already mapped. The result for a viewer is a neatly ordered map showing your journey, with a sidebar that displays images or posts to reveal more about your adventures.

The free version of TravelMap should be enough for most people, as its restrictions are still pretty high (like a maximum of 100 images). However, the premium version removes all such limitations if you need it. You can also check out a cool demo of TravelMap to see its full possibilities.

4. Jauntlet (Web, Android, iOS): Journal That Looks Like a Travel Blog Timeline

The Jauntlet web and mobile app look a bit dated compared to others in this list, but the final output looks so good that it deserves a recommendation. It's a mix of a travel journal and a travel blog, presenting your trip in a neat timeline.

When you sign up, Jauntlet asks you to also connect your Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. This lets the app import photos from your different profiles. When you make any new post of a city you've been to, add the location to plot it on a map, write a journal entry of what you saw and felt, and select photos to add to the entry.

The final result looks fantastic, as seen in the image above. It's a timeline of where you've been, showing a map on the left, the city and date at the top, and your thoughts and photos on the right. Viewers can also comment under the entry. The whole thing can be played as an automatic slideshow, taking readers through your entire journey.

Download: Jauntlet for Android | iOS (Free)

5. Travel Diaries (Web, Android,iOS): Create an Actual Diary and Optionally Print It

Travel Diaries is a free app to design what a travel journal of your trip will look like and optionally print it too. The app is a virtual open book where you can write beautifully formatted entries.

For each page, you can apply one out of 38 custom layouts, choosing how text and images will appear on the page. Based on the layout, select and upload images from your camera roll, and write text in the simple text editor.

Travel Diaries isn't the best app for on-the-fly travel journaling while you're on the trip. It's more a place to reflect on your journey and compose a good-looking travel diary that you would be proud to show to friends. If you like what you've created, you can pay to download a PDF of the journal or ask the app makers to print and ship the travel journal to you directly.

Download: Travel Diaries for Android | iOS (Free)

6. Traveldays (Web): Travelogue of Photos With Location, Time, and Captions

Traveldays is one of the best online photo album creators to show off your trips and vacations. It's shockingly easy to use, as it takes your photos and automatically turns them into a picture journey of your travels, almost like showing postcards or polaroids to friends.

Upload your pictures in the order you want, and Traveldays will seek their geotagging information to pin it to a Google Map. You can also write small captions on each image. Share the link with your friends, and you're done.

Try a Physical Travel Diary

So which travel journal app should you go for? There's no one-size-fits-all app here. As a rule of thumb, Find Penguins, Travel Facets, and Jauntlet can better log your thoughts while on the trip. TravelMap, Travel Diaries, and Traveldays are better to create a travel diary after you're back from the trip.

But as much as we love these apps, there is a case to be made to use a physical travel diary instead. Not only do many travelers swear by the little diary they carry with them, but How Life Unfolds offers a detailed guide on how to use a travel journal while you're on a trip to make it more memorable than ever before.

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Travel Log: Everything You Need to Know (FAQs)

9 Tips For Keeping a Perfect Travel Log

How to Create a Travel Log (Tips and Examples)

45 travel log templates and examples (100% free).

A good friend of mine once said she learned more about the world, its history, its cultures, and its beauty from traveling than she ever did in school or from books or videos. Experiencing something out of your comfort zone is an exhilarating experience. Exposure to new cultures and their food and customs teaches us to accept those cultures and appreciate the world around us.

Once you are home and friends ask you about your trip, at first, it is all current, and you have lots to talk about, but within a few weeks or months, some places you visited may be forgotten, or the names of cities, museums, different foods are hard to recall. This is where a travel log is very useful to help everyone appreciate the trip even years later. A Vlog or video log on a social media platform can provide instant gratification to you and your friends. They can keep tabs on you and experience your experiences almost as if they were with you.

Preparing a great travel log in booklet form or video form takes some effort and organization; however, it is worth having this record that can be referred to over and over again. In this post, we will explore some of the concepts about travel logs, how they are used, and tips for maintaining a travel log.

What Is a Travel Log?

Both companies and individuals use travel logs to track their travel. Many companies ask their employees to complete spreadsheets or online tracking systems to track the dates, locations, and expenses for their travel. These travel logs are data-driven and used by the company to track their employee’s travel, to repay employees for their expenses, and to claim these expenses on their annual tax filing.

Travel logs for individuals may contain all of the same information and a lot more. They are also known as travel journals. In a personal travel log or travel journal, travelers write about their experiences on their trips, the places they visited, meals they enjoyed, events, and historic locations they visited. Many will also include pictures of these locations and people they met along the way. These memories, stories, and adventures are captured in their travel log/journal and referred to for years after they return from their trip.

What is a Travel Log Template?

A travel log template is a blank, editable sheet that helps users create a friendly business travel log or personal travel journal according to their needs. Travel log templates save time and provide consistency for both employees and individuals who want to keep track of their travel and expenses. Companies use templates and make them available to their employees to use whenever they are traveling and need to report their expenses. Company travel log templates include basic information such as the date, time, expense, location, the reason for travel, and miscellaneous such as project or tracking codes needed for tax purposes.

Individuals traveling around the world on various trips use a travel log template to save them time and help them keep track of their budget, memorialize their experiences, and include both narrative and photos. The template can be used to begin a new record on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Why Keep a Travel Log When Traveling?

There are many reasons to keep a travel log while traveling. They include the following:

• Staying Organized
• Managing Stress
• Remembering Your Trip
• Achieving Goals
• Improving Memory
• Improving Writing Skills

Staying Organized – writing in a travel log helps everyone organize their thoughts and focus on things they still want to see or do. You may plan to see a variety of events in a given location. Writing about them helps compare and keep track of what you have seen and what you need to prioritize in the remaining time you have before moving on to the next location.

Managing Stress – many people find that writing about their day, both good and bad is a great way to vent and obtain relief from stressful situations. Writing about your experiences is a great way to reduce tensions that many people would internalize otherwise.

Remembering Your Trip – over time, we all lose memories of important details about our trips and experiences. Writing about your experiences, especially those that made an impression at the time, helps you to remember them by referring back to your journal regularly.

Achieving Goals – many travelers write down their goals for their trip, the places they want to see, and the activities they want to do. As you complete them, tick off these items, write about them and review those goals you still have to complete.

Improving Memory – seeing something, talking about it, and then writing about it is considered one of the best ways to strengthen memories of your experiences.

Improving Writing Skills – when we write something, we also know that other people may also read this material. Our pride ensures that we take the time to write well, clearly with good punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

Business Travel Log Vs. Personal Travel Log

Business travel log.

A business travel log is a record of business expenses, purposes, and outcomes of a business trip. You can use a business travel log for official reasons, such as tax deductions by the IRS.

Personal Travel Log

A personal travel journal is a time capsule of your experiences, emotions, scenes, and reflections of your vacation. You write any exciting details of your trip in a personal travel log.

Essential Elements of a Travel Log

Essential elements of a travel log for companies often include basic information compared to a tourist travel log. Corporate travel logs include:

• Reason for travel and
• Miscellaneous items – Project or tracking codes – Tax information

Individuals include much of the same information; however, there is more focus on their experiences on the trip as well as planning details for their trip. In addition to the above topics, including items such as:

• Destination plans
• Room for documenting experiences
• Room for adding photos and other items of interest

How to Keep a Travel Log (Video)

How to keep a business travel log.

Before writing a travel log, you need the proper documentation essential for any tax benefits or compensation.

Step 1) Mileage Records

Record all mileage expenses during your trip. Use a well-calibrated odometer to document the distance traveled using a car. Alternatively, when using air, water, or train transport, record travel duration and indicate the start and endpoints of your journey.

Warning: Don’t use estimates to record your mileage. The IRS has the mandate to review your log during tax inquisitions ; therefore, only write what you can prove.

The case of the Moores (Moore vs. Comm’r, TC Summ. OP. 2012_16) shows the grave nature of mileage records. The tax court and the IRS declined their deduction in the ruling due to questionable and erroneous entries. Mr. and Mrs. Moore recorded all their mileage on a logbook for their real estate brokerage firm on 12 separate pages, one for each month of the year.

Tip: Use reputable mileage apps that record accurate mileage.

Step 2) Other Expense Respites

In addition to mileage records, gather hotel, food, stationery, and other minor expense receipts. Separate the receipts from personal expenses and the business’s expenses.

Step 3) Chronological Order

A well-designed business travel log employs good chronological order. No rule restricts you to using the exact sequence of events; however, when referencing your journal in the future and you are pressed for time, it saves the hassle.

Step 4) Review and Verification

Review the cost at the end of each trip and send the log to the accounts department for verification.

It is good practice to have multiple copies of the travel journal. Always keep the original business trip log in a secured file cabinet .

How to Start a Personal Travel Journal

There is no right way to keep a travel journal. Whether you are artistic or prefer to keep things simple, all you need is your thoughts, a good pen, and a notebook. Let’s guide you through how to set up an evocative travel journal.

Step 1) Collect Data

Collect all your photos, brochures, maps, plane tickets on the table.

Step 2) Collect Essentials

Choose a good pen that doesn’t blot the paper. Also, buy a travel journal, scissors, highlighters, and glue.

Step 3) Start Writing

Write your thoughts about the journey and attach descriptive photos and illustrations. Write about the smells of street food, the texture of the sand, and any sensory aspect you feel will best document your experiences.

Step 4) Attach Mementos

Pressed leaves, flowers, and rock fragments are some mementos you can include. Downsize the larger pictures and fix them on the matching page of the trip.

Step 5) Review

Review your log after every trip and constantly update it. The early evening before dinner is an opportune time to update a personal travel journal.

Tip: You can write the expectations of your trip beforehand and then compare the notes with the actual experience after on for a more exciting journal.

Travel Log Templates and Examples

• Travel Logs (MS Excel)
• Travel Logs (MS Word)
• Travel Logs (PDF Format)

Travel Log Templates (MS Excel)

Travel Log Templates (MS Word)

Travel Log Templates (PDF)

Materials You May Want to Purchase for Your Travels

Buy a hardcover lightweight journal that has a strong binding and can also hold photos and postcards. Include pens , markers , and highlighters to write about your trip and highlight some of those you want to draw attention to. If you are so inclined, include tools for sketching as well. You will need adhesives to attach photos, postcards, and other mementos to your journal. Other tools include scissors for trimming items, a ruler , a clear folder to collect and hold mementos, a map of the area you are visiting, and writing as you go in your journal.

How to Prepare a Travel Log

Follow these general steps the first time you use a travel log on one of your trips. After you gain some experience with travel logs, feel free to make adjustments to fit your likes and dislikes, travel style, and time to make entries in your travel log.

Remember that you are traveling and may not have room for extensive materials . Take the essentials and be prepared to replenish them along the way, particularly if it is a long trip . The following will help you prepare for beginning your trip with your travel log.

Start by planning your trip and use your journal to record your travel plans. Places to visit, restaurants you want to try, and various sights that are on your itinerary.

Leave room to add those you discover along the way. You can also record contact information for hotels and places you will be staying as well as transportation.

Write as you travel. It is easier to recall your experiences if you write about them immediately. Even after a few days, you may not recall details that were important to you at the time. You will not miss them if you write about them in your journal.

Jotting things down in point form will help the memory and make it easier to expand on each point later on. Add pictures to each point or section if possible.

Friends and family who read your journal will appreciate it if you write about what it was like to visit a location, what you learned, the things that surprised you, and what you found disappointing. Everyone gets so much more out of a journal when they can immerse themselves in your trip vicariously.

Tips for keeping a Travel Log

The following are a collection of tips that many readers may find useful:

• Begin writing in your journal before you leave home about the planning and the places you intend to visit
• Instead of making lists of things you did, tell a story about your experiences
• Include information about what you thought or felt about the places you visited
• Include the not so great experiences
• Write your thoughts while they are still fresh in your mind
• Take lots of pictures to help you recall your many experiences
• Summarize the best parts of your trip
• Include your experiences – the food, the people, excursions, impressions, and things of beauty around you
• Include funny moments
• Set aside time every day to write in your journal and summarize your day
• Jot down points if you are tight for time. These will be great memory joggers for later when you have time to fill out your journal

Other Types of Travel Logs

Technology and social media have progressed significantly. Today’s smartphones can take excellent photos, narrate videos, and convert spoken words into text. Various platforms support Vlogs and videos that can be uploaded in real-time. Your followers can see and hear your experiences instantly. Using a smartphone is convenient, and many provide excellent quality images which can be labeled with titles and notes. You may still want to carry a journal to make manual notes to help you, later on, add audio and text to your videos and pictures.

There are also purpose-built apps that can be downloaded to your smartphone to help document your travels. Add notes, videos, and photos along with captions to your images. Links to images can be added for your readers to explore online websites if they want more information. These apps also automatically capture the current weather conditions and the GPS location, which helps create a detailed online log for your readers and yourself.

Once you are home, you will have all of the details to update your manual journal with notes and images.

Travel Log Ideas to Inspire You

It helps to think about why you are keeping a travel journal. Of course, you are writing for yourself so that you can refer to your trip notes many times after you return home. Add sufficient details and information that will trigger great memories of your trips years later when you are doing a trip down memory lane.

• Many people find inspiration from comments they receive from others. Family members and friends enjoy reading about your travels. Writing interesting content in your travel log, which inspires your readers to keep coming back for more, drives many travelers to create excellent content.
• Add content as you go every day, even if it is just a quick note to jog your memory later. Add a date to each entry, the location, and any details that are important to you. Aim to set aside a time each day to complete your travel log to avoid getting behind and missing details that would be interesting to you and your readers.
• Inspiring others to travel and visit some of the locations you talk about in your journal can be very motivating. Add addresses, describe what you saw and experienced. Readers with like-minded travel objectives will appreciate this information and build their trip around your information.
• Creativity is the spice of life. Get your creative juices in gear and inspire others through your writing, images, and videos. Edit the images and videos to portray the most attractive and interesting content. In a way, you become the director and producer of creative content that will be appreciated by many.

Best Apps for Creating a Digital Travel Log

There are many digital travel apps available. They are handy and easy to use, and always available since most travelers always carry their smartphones with them to stay in touch and make travel plans. Family and friends appreciate that they can stay updated with your travels and even add comments on social media platforms. The following is a list of some of the best travel apps for smartphones currently available.

• Day One Journal
• Travel Diaries

Day One Journal – is available in a free version format and a premium format. The premium version provides unlimited storage for photos and journal entries, cloud-based storage, recording by audio, and the ability to print your journal in book format. The free version allows entry by hand and observes entries by calendar, timeline, or photos.

Travel Diaries – comes with lots of features such as enhancing text with photos, keeping entries private or public, the ability to convert the diary to a blog, and sharing automatically on social media platforms. It also has a book creation and printing capability from 40 pages up to 320 pages.

Drifter – the app was created by travelers who wanted a social network that supports photos, videos and encourages travel advice and reviews. It is great for solo travelers and folks that like to share experiences. There is still room for improvement, and the developers appreciate feedback and support.

Bonjournal – is available for iPhone users and provides a simple interface to record activities while on your trip. There are privacy settings to control what content is seen by whom. A great app for keeping track of your journey and sharing photos and ideas.

Momento – organizes your social networks connecting to eleven different platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, Swarm, and YouTube. Your information can be kept private, or you can add your travel information publicly for your friends and family to see. Momento can also be used as a work/project journal to keep track of meetings, milestones, and project notes.

Mistakes to Avoid When Keeping a Business Travel Log

1. not including the business purpose.

Error: It is a business travel journal for a reason. Telling us the sequence of events for the entire trip does not make us better understand your travel log without the purpose for the trip. Writing a business travel journal without the business purpose is a common novice mistake that makes you seem inept as the go-to person for a business trip.

Solution: Succinctly outline your business purpose at the beginning of the travel log. Usually, the managerial cadre will review your travel log after a business trip. Keep that in mind and provide them with a guiding light to what your trip entails via a reason. No one wants to read up to page seven of any document unless it promises them an undervalued asset in crypto that will 100x in the next month. After you have established your aim for business travel, you can document.

2. Documenting every Tom, Dick, and Harry you meet

Error: “I met Ryan Reynolds today, and we bonded over our mutual friend Ryan Gosling.” We understand that it isn’t every day you meet the Ryans on a business trip; however, telling us your interaction with them while disregarding their relevance to the business is outright trivial.

Solution: Write down if you meet an exciting person who introduces you to a new business model. However, if you meet Ryan Reynolds and he doesn’t tell you how to maximize your business’s productivity, save that for a personal journal. Only write insightful interactions about people who affect your business trip purpose.

3. Using estimations

Error: Using business trip estimations instead of the actual cost.

Solution: Save all the slips. In the journal, stick all the tickets for all your purchases relevant to the business. Please do not ignore the minor expenses as they accrue over time and cause a significant dent in the company’s travel budget. Include any other proper documentation, such as online transaction records, in the business travel log.

4. Being ‘Fanciful.’

Error: Including too much business jargon that your business travel log readers have a difficult time comprehending.

Solution: Write your travel log in straightforward language and brief sentences. Try to write only business trip details such as a conference by the sea. Don’t write, “The Sea was cerulean while the orator propagated his voice.” However, do not sacrifice your unique writing style in a bid to use modest vocabulary.

5. A business travel journal without a travel itinerary is a scrapbook

Error: Failing to include the travel itinerary makes tracking through your business trip challenging.

Solution: Attach your travel itinerary that is relevant to the business purpose. Try to make the itinerary brief.

The following are some of the frequently asked questions that many travelers have when they are making decisions about using a travel log and sharing the information with friends and family.

A travel log is either a hardcopy travel book/binder or an online system to keep track of interesting experiences about your trip. Include all of your adventures, stories, and memories to help remember everything you experienced and also share with your friends and family.

There are many names used in the industry in addition to the travel log. These include: ᐅ Travel Journal ᐅ Journey Log ᐅ Journey Plan ᐅ Log Book ᐅ Travelers notebook

Purchase a diary, writing tools, and any other materials you may need for your travel adventure. Use your diary or journal to plan your trip. Make notes of the places you want to see, places you want to stay, and how you will travel – by car, bus, train, air. Add other notes as appropriate for your trip. You may decide on using a combination of both written tools and online social media systems. Download the app and become familiar with the app before your trip. Enter all of the same information into the app. During your familiarization of the app, confirm that your smartphone has all of the required features needed to meet your travel log entries.

A travel log is either an online app or a document containing all of the details regarding your trip. A travel log can be used by companies for corporate travel as well as for folks embarking on a vacation. The travel journal can contain whatever you want it to. Most people add some or all of the following depending on their needs: ᐅ Date ᐅ Place ᐅ Memories or stories and adventures ᐅ Places they stayed ᐅ People they met ᐅ Budget and/or cost ᐅ Photos ᐅ And more

What you need for a travel journal depends to some extent on what your objectives are, what you think you would like to remember and whether you are using a social media system/smartphone or a physical journal, or a combination of both. Items that you may need for your travel journal include: ᐅ Durable, lightweight journal. Hardcovers are considered better than soft covers ᐅ Art materials if you plan to add sketches of your travel ᐅ Adhesives to secure photos, postcards, and other mementos to your journal ᐅ Include a straight edge such as a ruler and a small pair of scissors ᐅ Include a map that can be added to your journal ᐅ Choose an app for your smartphone and verify compatibility with the phone and the social media system you use

Many people tend to add photos, maps, postcards, and mementos picked up along the way. Add notes about your experiences and plan to write every day to avoid missing essential memories about your trip.

Some folks will paste a map on the front of their journal for easy reference as they travel. Others add decals commemorating the locations and events they attended. Sketch artists add their portrayal of their trip, especially places they visited that made an impact on them.

One of the activities associated with planning your trip is to choose a travel journal for your trip. Give some thought about what you want to record and who you are writing for. How much time do you have, will you share some or all of the information online, and is it to be kept private or with limited sharing? Once you have determined the audience for your journal, write accordingly and provide information that will be interesting to those readers.

Some consumers use diaries and travel journals interchangeably. However, they are different and are aimed at different purposes. A diary is a structured book used to enter records as they occur or to plan for events in the future. Many people use a diary as a daily planner to stay organized, while others use them to jot down notes and thoughts every day. A journal is unstructured used most often for recording ideas, creative ideas, and jotting down notes on thoughts, travel, and goals. Many people add their structure based on how they intend to use the travel journal and their travel plans.

A traveler’s notebook can be softcover or hardcover, with pockets to keep mementos in and add pages if you need to add more writing space. Some include elastic bands to hold additional smaller notebooks and documents.

Documenting a road trip should be handled like any other trip unless, of course, you are the driver. Take breaks along the way to make notes in your travel log, take a few pictures, and add decals or mementos that you pick up along the way. Spend some time each night after you stop for the day to add notes to your travel log about your experiences and thoughts for the day.

• Deciding why you are keeping a travel log will help you to make choices about materials to purchase and the type of travel journal you wish to purchase.
• Decide who you are writing for, yourself, family, friends, and/or the public. Writing about personal items may dictate that you do not want to share all of your information publicly.
• Will you use a written journal, or online social media system, or both? Your decision will help you decide what materials to purchase and how you will make recordings daily.
• Use your log/journal for planning your trip in advance, and then add notes as you complete your travels.
• Many people find the best approach is to write in their logs each day. Your memories and thoughts are fresh from the day’s events, and you avoid missing key details that you found interesting.
• If you are using a physical travel log, ensure that you have room to add photos and mementos as well as decals from your trip.
• Evaluate a travel log app before you travel and add the app to your phone. Test drive the app and ensure you are comfortable with it before you leave.
• Many people use their smartphones to take photos and videos and then upload them to a social media platform or a dedicated online travel log. Before traveling, test your phone with the app you plan to use and become familiar with the app. You don’t want to waste time while traveling to figure out how to use your phone with the travel log app.

Travel logs are a great way to recall memories about your trip for many years. You and your family members will refer to your travel log/journal many times, especially if you want to compare notes with a friend who traveled with you.

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This is a personal travel diary web application that displays various images of places visited, their locations and categories. The application is built on Django 4 framework, uses PostgreSQL database and deployed to Heroku for live view

bignimz/travel-diary

Folders and files, repository files navigation, travel-diary, project preview.

Technologies Implemented in this Project

• PostgreSQL Database

User Stories

These are the behaviours/features that the application implements for use by a user.

Users would like to:

View all images submitted. Click on images to display more details. Search for images by category. Copy links to images to share with their friends

Setup & Installation

Prerequisites.

• Virtual environment
• requirements.txt

In your terminal:

$ git clone https://github.com/bignimz/travel-diary

There are no known bugs currently but pull requests are allowed incase you spot a bug

Contribution

Pull requests are welcome. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.

Please make sure to update tests as appropriate.

Project Author

Name: Nimrod Musungu Email: [email protected] Website: nimrodmusungu.com

• Python 29.3%
• JavaScript 2.5%
• Procfile 0.2%