Anyone can travel journal; it’s completely customisable and unique to each person. This is why some people don’t know where to start when it comes to writing a travel journal. It’s just a bit too much. What style to do, what medium to use, what details to include… There’s a lot of ways to do it. And I mean a lot.
Yet it’s a fantastic way to remember trip details that can be lasting memories for the rest of your life. It becomes reflective, allowing a deeper connection and understanding of travelling. Plus if you’re memory is bad – like mine – it’s great record keeping to remember dates and places.
I’ve been journaling about my travels since 2018, and it’s a joy to do.
So if you don’t know where to start, how about right here? In this beginner’s guide to travel journaling, I’ll take you through the basics. By the end of it, you’ll be ready to start your extraordinary journal that is exceptional – just like you.
What is a travel journal?
It’s a medium through which to record travels. A diary is another term or an account of events (journal sounds the nicest, right? Like the grown-ups we are, ahem). Use it to record anything you like about your travels. If it’s a world adventure or a staycation, every trip is worth remembering. It’s never too late to start, either.
Even if it’s just being a tourist in your city, make note of it. Make it into a fresh adventure! A lot of others would love to visit where you live. There are always ways to keep inspired when you can’t travel.
Why travel journal?
It’s a reflection, a safe space to write down what you truly feel.
What do you intend to do with your journal? There are a lot of options – keep it personal to read back on later in life; record information to start a blog or write a book; tell stories to recount to your friends and family when you return.
Each style would include different types of information or all of it. That’s the beauty of travel journaling – it’s completely up to you. And it can change over time, as you grow and change ideas. How awesome would it be to see that evolution of your journal when you read it in a few years?
Even if it’s just to record the price of every little thing, from plane tickets to street food… if that’s your thing, go for it!
Travel journaling helped me to remember details for my blog posts, and what a lifesaver it was.
What types of travel journal are there?
The list is only limited to your imagination! But don’t be overwhelmed, here’s a basic breakdown:
1. Online. There are online websites and forums to join. Just write your journal entry and upload it for others to read. These are also inspiring websites to get your creative juices flowing and get you motivated. Examples are Crazy Guy on a Bike for those who love to travel bike; and Bucketlist.net where you create your bucket list, tick things off, and view other people’s. Visit FeedSpot to see a list of travel forums.
2. Apps. Think Remote has a good article with free apps to use. And there are not too many choices there so it’s not overwhelming. I haven’t delved into this medium yet, but it’s handy when you always have your phone on you.
3. Notebook. Ah, the good old pen and paper. The classic style. Buy a pretty notebook that captures your attention and a pen that writes smoothly, and you’re good to go. I like to buy different notebooks from places I visit so each journal looks unique and funky. There are even bullet journals which allow you to completely customise each page.
4. Pictures. Perhaps photography is your medium. Use your love of capturing photos to create memories wherever you travel. Keep the pictures in labelled folders, upload them to social media with captions, or stick them in a photo album.
5. Sketchbook. Do you like to draw? Sketch the places you see and the emotions you feel whilst travelling. Take a small sketchbook around with you so you can draw whenever the mood takes you. Incorporate the names and places on the page, and even the date, to know the exact location.
6. Scrapbook. Are you a hoarder of plane tickets, business cards, museum maps, and the like? I am, and I have a draw full of bursting that just begs me to put these in a scrapbook. I even have leaves and flowers that I’ve saved from my travels. Make it your style. If you don’t have the time whilst travelling, save them in an envelope until you get home. Then have fun remembering your trip whilst you get creative. For this, I do recommend ring-binder journals so it has the space to grow.
The beautiful thing is if you can’t decide on one style, then mix and match! Have fun with it and see what happens. For example, you could have a larger journal that is a combination of writing, drawing, and scrap-booking.
What do I need for a travel journal?
A pen and a small journal/diary are a good place to start. Make sure the journal size is the right size; it shouldn’t be too small to write in or so big it’s cumbersome to carry around. An A5 size is a good start.
The journal should also be of good quality – good binding so it’s easy to open fully to write comfortably; and thick pages so the pen doesn’t bleed through the pages. Think about when and where you will be writing / drawing. It’s uncomfortable to be bent over a tiny journal that doesn’t open flat when you’re sitting in an airport.
If you’re using an app or website that needs internet, this needs to be taken into consideration too.
How do I start a travel journal?
So you’ve got the super nice notebook and fancy pen, you might be thinking, now what? Well, feel free to start the journal with your past travel experiences! Write down what you can remember before you forget. This is a great way to look back at past adventures and take a trip down memory lane. It’s fantastic for getting those creative juices flowing. Do you have any big travel memories that stick out from when you were a kid? That’s great, add those too!
Write about what inspired you to start travelling. Was it a documentary, or social media, or friends/family?
As with most things, the way to start is just to take that first step. Buy a journal / get an app / sign up to an online forum. Date the journal entry, then start writing. Begin by writing those memories and inspirations you already have to get that imagination fired up. Another idea is to introduce yourself, your age, and your interests.
Before you travel, write about the upcoming trip, itineraries, where you want to travel, and what you want to do. Then write regularly on your travels. If you do something interesting every day, then write every day. Write weekly summaries and ideas for future travels.
Your writing will evolve as you do, so don’t sweat it if you feel awkward at first. It’s about the journey, not the destination, right?
What do I write in a travel journal?
Write about what you saw, smelt, tasted, and how it made you feel. Use all of your senses. But also think about things. What did you think about what you saw? What’s your opinion on the culture you experienced? Go deeper.
Did you have any interesting conversations and interactions with people? Write in dialogue too, to mix things up.
Recording the price of things can also be interesting to look back on in later years. Then if you visit again, it’s interesting to compare. It’s also helpful if you want to use this information in blog posts.
Don’t write down the mundane things. If nothing interesting happens for a few days, that’s okay.
Further, write when you get inspired. Seize that moment to use your creativity to record how you’re feeling in that moment of inspiration. Don’t forget to date the journal entries too! This is helpful to remember the timeline of your trip. If you’re ever trying to remember something specific, this is super convenient.
Use your journal to make notes on your future trip – places you want to go, where to eat, etc. It’s a great place to record bucket list items for each occasion (don’t have a bucket list? Find out how to create one in my post here.)
Did anything go wrong on your trip? That’s part of your story too! Write it down so you can look back and laugh later on.
You can write down your itinerary for each location as well. This is a great memento for the trip, and it helps to have a plan in one place. It keeps you on track so you don’t forget anything.
Whatever you write in your journal, it’s yours, so don’t worry if it’s any good.
Some quick tips
Write often. The best is at the end of every day, so the details are fresh. This also gives you time to unwind and reflect on the day.
It doesn’t need to be too complicated. Online there’s a ton of content showing you how to make super pretty and artful things. The internet is saturated with stickers and decoration ideas that require a lot of effort. But you don’t have to do this. It can take up a lot of time and just trying to design the pages can be stressful. Especially if you’re writing on the go. Keep it simple, then add optional details.
If you don’t want to bring your journal out and about with you all day, bring a small notepad instead. This allows you to record tidbits and small details to write about later on. Or type it in the notes on your phone.
Every journal is unique to the person, so feel completely free to make it how you want.
After your travels
What to do with your travel journal after your trip / once it’s complete: Store it away from direct sunlight so the cover doesn’t fade. A good idea is to store it on a nice shelf or reading cubby. I dream of having a little shelf in my tiny house with all of my colourful journals on show.
This beginner’s guide to travel journaling is a great way to start recording your travels. If one way speaks to you then start with that. But don’t be afraid to experiment with different mediums until you find what fits your style.
I would love to see what style of travel journal you come up with. Please tell me all about it!
