travel journal presentation

Get Free Travel Journal Templates In Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides

Travel Journal

Light Cloudy Travel Journal

Minimal Travel Journal

Green Travel Journal

Colorful Travel Journal

Cute Simple Travel Journal

Iceland Journal

Minimalist Gradient Travel Journal 2024

Sweet, sweet journey! But how to keep all beautiful sights in mind?

One way to do that is to start journaling! A travel journal is a written account of one's trips that serves as both a personal record and a way of sharing experiences with others. It is a medium for capturing the essence of a journey, both in words and in images. A travel journal can be as simple as a notebook filled with scattered thoughts and observations, or as complex as a professionally designed scrapbook. Regardless of format, a travel journal is a timeless way of documenting a journey and preserving memories for posterity.

The key advantage of a travel journal is that it gives travelers the opportunity to record their experiences in real time. This allows them to capture the essence of a place before time and memory cause it to blur and fade. It also allows travelers to observe and reflect on their world travel experience, to recall moments that may have escaped them, and to look more deeply into their short, but precious adventure.

However, creating a travel journal can be a time-consuming task that requires creativity, patience, and a good eye for design. That's where premade travel journal templates come in.

Start a Journaling Habit with Premade Templates!

If you are searching for a nice method of starting a journal, you are almost there! Using premade templates for travel journals can have lots of benefits that can make your travel experience more enjoyable and efficient. So let’s take a look!

Firstly, journal templates can save you time. Rather than starting from scratch and designing your journal layout from the ground up, you can simply choose a template that suits your needs.

Secondly, premade templates can help you save money. Here, on TheGoodocs, one may find only free resources without the necessity of a subscription and email confirmation. You are free to choose whatever template you need and save it quickly.

Another benefit is that our free travel journal templates can provide inspiration and structure. Sometimes when we're overwhelmed with the sheer amount of things to document from our travels, it can be hard to know where to start. A template can provide you with a starting point that can help you organize your thoughts and memories. Apart from that, templates are editable documents that can be changed multiple times and even provide access to previous versions. Thus, it is convenient to work on Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets.

Saving a Template

Here, on TheGoodocs, it is easy to find all kinds of templates, including different designs of free travel journal templates in Google Docs: bright, elegant, watercolor-themed, abstract, and illustrated.

Of course, when it comes to traveling experience, it is better to choose printable travel journal templates with nature and sightseeing elements.

To save a template, simply click the Edit Template button and follow simple instructions.

Let’s Customize the Journal!

And now it’s time to be creative (if you need that)!

Premade templates are customizable to fit your specific needs. Many templates come in formats that can be edited, meaning you can change the colors, fonts, and even the layout of the template to make it unique to your travel journal. This allows you to create a design that reflects your personal style and preferences.

If you are working with a travel journal template in Google Docs, it is easy to use the upper menu and the toolbar to insert images or add additional blocks to write. If you are a big fan of writing, simply copy the page and you will have the same formatted page to continue with!

Live, love, and travel! And don’t forget to use a free printable travel journal template to make lasting memories :)

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Free Travel Templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Make your presentations and lessons stand out with these free templates for Travel. 

Download them to use with PowerPoint or edit them in Google Slides and start creating!

Mood board free template for Google Slides and PowerPoint. Need a spark for your next creative project? Look no further than this SlidesMania free mood board template for Google Slides and PowerPoint! This versatile template lets you capture your unique vision with a collage of images, text, and color palettes. […]

Unlock your creative vision with this free Mood Board template.

Africa landscapes and animals free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme Africa Viva is perfect to talk about Africa, the savannah or the animal kingdom. It has beautiful sunset colors and papercut style landscapes made with different layers. I’ve included two different title slides, one with the African continent and […]

Africa Viva, free presentation template.

China inspired free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme This template was designed by my 12yo daughter. She had to make a presentation for school about Ancient China, so here it’s the result: Cherry blossom trees, a sketch of the Great Wall, lanterns, clouds and even a dragon. All this […]

A Chinese Tale. A China inspired presentation template.

Summer vibes theme with summer digital stickers free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme Summer is here! Celebrate the season with this fun Google Slides theme and PowerPoint template. Featuring bright summer colors, a grid background, and summer digital stickers like watermelons, lemons, beach balls, palm trees, sea stars, flamingo […]

Summer vibes, free summer presentation template.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Cool animated timeline, life is like a roller coaster! This interactive template works as an original infographic where you can highlight different milestones of your life or different events or steps of any given topic. This roller coaster theme comes with to sets […]

My Journey, interactive and animated fun timeline.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Free mood board template free for ppt download or Google Slides. A beautiful template to spark your creativity. Whether you want to envision your future or create a digital collage of ideas, this mood and vision board template will help you stay organized. […]

Vision board and mood board template.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Summer school slides theme. Free beach template. The school year is almost over and summer just around the corner! Bring the beach to your classroom with this summer template that features a tropical beach with palm trees, sand castles, flip flops, sun glasses, […]

Happy Summer free template, daily agenda slide and certificate.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Email marketing campaign template. Mailboxes, emails, letters and postcards slides. It doesn’t matter if you want to practice writing letters, postcards or even emails. This templates covers them all! Ask your students to write a letter to their future selves, or to send […]

You’ve got mail! Writing slides theme.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Free template for outdoor activities. Ready for a trip? Let’s go camping with this fun template! It comes with many illustrations: tents, campfires, and of course, smores and marshmallows! This time I’m not using theme colors, but if you want to customize it, […]

Let’s Go Camping! Outdoors slides theme.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Virtual field trips template. Collect badges or digital stickers. This is another special request, this one was requested by Jimena. A passport template for you and your students to collect stamps when you go to virtual field trips, or to collect badges or […]

Passport slides template.

Free Template for PowerPoint and Google Slides Presentations Asger Asger is a modern template, perfect for a presentation about world events, foreign trade, geography, demography, economy, etc. It has a beautiful blue gradient background and it includes maps, icons and many infographics for you to present your data and tell your […]

Asger Free Presentation template for Google Slides or PowerPoint

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. This is a real versatile slide. With its famous-cities skylines, it suits either an educational project, a multicultural professional presentation or even a photograph collection of your most recent trip abroad. It is available for PowerPoint and Google Slides. #Travel #City #Cities #Monuments […]

Bond, city landmarks slides theme.

Travel Journal

Explore the travel journal template to effortlessly document and share your journeys with loved ones, keeping memories organized and alive.

Share this Template

Exploring new places is exhilarating, and preserving those memories is just as important. The travel journal template offers an innovative and user-friendly solution for documenting your journeys. This template is a companion for your adventures, ensuring every detail is captured. With its intuitive design and customizable features, it's perfect for travelers, bloggers, and anyone looking to record their travel experiences in a structured, visually appealing way.

Key components of the travel journal template:

• Shareable memories: Share your travel memories with friends and family seamlessly. This feature allows you to easily share your journal online, fostering a sense of connection even when you're miles away.
• Use of cards: Transform your entries into captivating stories. The card system organizes your content beautifully, making your journal aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate.
• Incorporation of multimedia: Enrich your journal with photos and videos. This feature brings your experiences to life, making your travel journal more engaging and memorable.
• Daily log entries: Structured daily entries help you chronicle every aspect of your trip, from the small, intimate moments to the grand adventures.

The importance of travel journals:

Travel journals go beyond typical diaries, offering a way to preserve your experiences for the future. They help you reflect on your journey, remember the details that made your trip unique, and share your adventures with others. For travel enthusiasts, bloggers, or anyone with a story to tell, a travel journal is an invaluable tool for capturing the essence of your journeys.

Track your global adventures and cultural discoveries with our countries visited template .

Benefits of using the travel journal template:

• Ease of use : The Travel Journal template is designed with user-friendliness in mind, ensuring that even those new to digital journaling can start without any hassle. Its intuitive interface means you don't need to be tech-savvy to document your adventures. The simplicity of adding entries, photos, and notes allows you to focus more on enjoying your travels and less on figuring out how to record them.
• Customization: This template offers a level of customization that makes it easy to express your unique travel experiences. Whether you prefer a minimalist design or a more elaborate layout, the template adapts to your style. You can change fonts, colors, and layouts, ensuring that each page of your journal reflects the mood and tone of your travel story.
• Collaboration: Traveling often involves shared experiences, and this template allows for collaborative storytelling. You and your travel companions can contribute to the same journal, adding different perspectives to the narrative. This feature is especially beneficial for group trips, where each member can add their memories and photos, creating a rich, multi-faceted record of the journey.
• Long-term preservation: This digital format protects your journals from physical wear and tear, ensuring that your travel stories can be revisited and cherished for years, even decades, to come. You can rest assured that your travel memories are safe and retrievable anytime.

Plan your next adventure with ease and confidence using our travel itinerary template .

Who should consider using a travel journal?

• Avid travelers: Document your adventures and share them with your community.
• Travel bloggers : Elevate your storytelling with a structured, visually appealing format.
• Families on vacation: Create a collective memory book that captures everyone's experiences.
• Solo adventurers: Reflect on your personal growth and experiences during your travels.

Try this template now

Your adventures deserve to be remembered and shared. This travel journal template is the perfect tool to capture the spirit of your journeys. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting, this template will enhance your travel experience. Start your travel journal today and relive your adventures for years to come. 

Explore a world of possibilities for your next trip with our diverse collection of travel templates .

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Travel journal PowerPoint Templates and PowerPoint Backgrounds

DigitalOfficePro's Travel journal PowerPoint Template and Travel journal PowerPoint Backgrounds helps you engage your audience from top to bottom with artistically enhanced and visually stunning slides - aesthetically perfect to match today's audience expectations. Above all, it is pretty simple to customize text, color, font or layout of any of these PPT templates. Each of our templates comes with a set of PowerPoint Diagrams & Charts, Shapes and Icons too. Inspire & Engage your audience with Travel journal PowerPoint Background Templates. Travel journal PowerPoint Templates are available in both standard and widescreen formats.

So, what’s stopping you now? Use our Travel journal PowerPoint Templates to kick start your next PowerPoint show.

Travel journal PowerPoint Templates

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25+ Best Travel PowerPoint Templates for 2022: Free and Paid

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Huge nature presentation template bundle.

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Travel Presentation Bundle

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Japanese Presentation Bundle

Whether or not you’ve ever been to Japan is irrelevant. Because with this unique bundle, in which each travel slides template is made with soul, you can plunge into the culture of this country and the beauty of nature. Be sure to try this product to feel all the beauty of the country of the rising sun.

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Travel Journal + Free Templates

As I mentioned yesterday, the summer holidays are in full swing here in Edinburgh, so I wanted to share another holiday resource with you that I made for my own kids earlier this year. In February, we travelled to Japan for three weeks to visit my husband who was working in Yokohama for a couple of months. My eldest got special leave from school during term time for this, on the understanding that he would keep a travel journal and do a presentation to his class on his return. Now, I could have just bought him a blank notebook, but of course I couldn’t help myself, so I created some templates which we printed out in advance – to cover the length of our trip – and a folder to put them in. It was a great way to document our trip and a wonderful memento.

Here’s what I used to make the actual folder:

• An A4 slimline cardboard ring binder
• A transparent document wallet that can be zipped shut
• Print-outs of my templates
• A pair of scissors and a hole punch

I wanted to create an A5 folder, as the journal templates are size A5 too, but the best sized document wallet I could find was just a little bigger than A5. I didn’t want it sticking out of the folder, so I bought an A4 folder and cut it to size to that the document wallet would fit inside. Below you can see the purple folder, which is the original A4 size, compared to the blue folder which I have cut to size and the document wallet.

I rounded the corners to make it neater and to stop them catching or fraying. Then I hole-punched all the templates and the document wallet, and assembled them inside the folder. The document wallet is to hold all those little travel souvenirs like train tickets or admission tickets.

Let me talk you through the templates. First, there are some templates you only need one copy of, which includes a cover sheet and some pages to complete in advance of your trip and to cover the outward journey and arrival. Besides the cover sheet, these are: Getting Ready, Some books I read to prepare for my trip, Our Journey (sorry, I forgot to include that page in the photo), A picture of our journey, and Arrival.

Not all of these pages will be relevant to every trip, but it was great in helping to build up the anticipation, and to get on board with the journal keeping early on. We read a LOT of books about Japan in advance of our trip, so I printed out pictures of the book covers to stick in the journal. You could just write down the titles of books though too.

Then, once we were on holiday, I had printed out the daily journal pages, one for every day we were away. These consisted of two pages per day: One to record the date, weather, mood, and to write or draw a summary of what we did that day…

And then a page to draw his favourite part of his day…

As you can see above, we also took along some stamps, tape, and an Instax Mini camera to create some little extras to decorate the journal with. This is entirely optional though. As well as the daily pages, there were also some additional pages to record new food eaten and new words learned. Again, this won’t be relevant to every trip, and I didn’t print out one of these pages for every day, just half a dozen or so of each for our three week trip.

And then to complete the journal, I printed out another “Our Journey” page for the way back, and then the final page for “Back Home” to sum up his favourite parts of the trip and any souvenirs brought back.

If you would like to get your hands on my templates to create your own travel journal, I’ve created a PDF download with the eleven different pages, which I am offering as a thank you to anyone who signs up for my newsletter. The newsletter goes out roughly once a month, so it’s not a huge commitment, and you can of course unsubscribe any time if you change your mind.

Sign up to The Bear & The Fox Newsletter and receive your free Download

You are welcome to print off the Travel Journal templates for your own personal use, and if you do end up using them, I’d love to see some photos so please feel free to share with me or tag me in on  Twitter  or  Instagram .

3 July 2019

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12 april 2024, comments: 10.

This is a fantastic idea. If only all schools would be so forward in letting kids have time off. We would jump at the chance to do something like this. They learn so much through travel and these journals can hold memories too. Lovely!

These are a great way for kids to keep a memory but also keeps them up to speed with writing too! X

Lyndsey O'Halloran

Oh I love this idea. I think Erin would like to do this when she’s slightly older.

Sabina Green

It looks really great. I love this idea and hope to do something similar for our next holiday!

Mandi Morrison

It is great to have some templates. The perfect holiday activity for kids and great for the memories too.

Wow these are such a great idea for the children! We love travelling and this way you can make a special keepsake of every trip.

Laura - Dear Bear and Beany

That’s a great idea, my daughter would love to do one of these. What a lovely way to remember the trip.

Alexandra Cook

This is such a cute and fun idea. My girls would love this so much. Such a great way to remember their travel memories.

Pati Robins

oh wow love those templates ! such a great idea ! i be sure printing those

Http://Kadenceorlando.Com

Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this post plus the rest of the website is also really good.

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Travel Journal PowerPoint PPT Presentations

Travel journal examples and how to get the most out of a travel journal

A travel journal: your new best friend.

Travel journal examples can spark ideas for your own journal. This matters a great deal because a travel journal can be one of your most helpful travel — make that life — tools. It can serve myriad purposes from recording your thoughts, emotions (an important aspect many overlook) and experiences to being a repository of creative ideas and even artwork. You can use it as a scrapbook, planning tool, contact book, organizer, reference book (for vital information such as passport numbers, hotel addresses, places to visit, etc.) and even a place to hide certain valuables.

It’s simple enough to put information into your travel journal. The hard part is being able to find or extract that information easily later on. But don’t worry. I’ll show you travel journal examples, techniques, hacks and tips for that and more based on decades trying a wide variety of travel journals and approaches. You’ll find these useful whether you’re an old pro at journaling or even if you’ve never used a travel journal before. And be sure to read all the way through this article since the Additional Resources section at the end is loaded with inspiring and helpful travel journal examples and ideas.

Getting started

The first and most important thing to remember is that there is no one right way to set up your travel journal. In fact, I’ve found that the best approach is to just start with something and learn as you go. My first travel journal was basically a daily diary: “Today I did this, etc.” Now, however, I use it in a very different matter. But it all comes down to this: What is the purpose of your travel journal?

Two typical entries from my first travel journal on my first trip to Europe in high school. I have upped my travel journal game a bit since then, or so I hope.

This is such an important question because it will guide what kind of notebook/journal/sketchbook you use, how you organize it and how you interact with it. If you’re just starting out, you may not even know your purpose other than to record your experiences. That’s fine. Start there. Then refine over time.

For me, I see my travel journal as a collection tool for travel drawing and notes where I gather ideas, sketches, some to-do’s, trip details and anything else that interests me. But the main difference between this and most journals is that as a tool, I want to use my journal after I return. Not just for nostalgic reminisces on my trip, but to glean from it what I’ve learned, gained and become. I’ll explain this more momentarily.

Picking the right journal

Again, I’m not sure there is a universal “right” travel journal. Your goal is to find what works for you. You can start by determining if you want a blank notebook or a travel journal that comes with prompts, quotes, organizing categories, etc. Here’s a helpful list of 17 travel journals to give you a sense of travel journal examples and possibilities. Mostly, consider if you want to do travel drawing or even painting in your travel journal. If so, you’ll want thicker paper that won’t warp with the water or bleed through with ink. You likely will want blank pages, as opposed to lines, grids or dots.

Just as there’s no right or wrong size (just what works for you), so too is the orientation up to you. As you can see here, I sketched holding the journal in a portrait orientation (left page) but wrote (right page, partial) using a landscape orientation. Both work.

If you want to use it as a form of a scrapbook, get one with pockets or that is expandable enough for when you’ve doubled the thickness with all those tickets, stamps, samples of currency, bottle labels and other elements you’ve glued to the pages.

Buying a nice looking or feeling notebook or journal can be motivating. But getting too nice of a notebook to use can be intimidating: You’ll be afraid to do any travel drawing or mess it up. Thus, I suggest starting somewhere in the middle. Find a journal or notebook that will hold up well (hard covers help in this regard), but isn’t so expensive you’ll only want to use it on special occasions. 

Even fancy patterns on your pages can be fun. I tend to prefer blank pages, but sometimes I’ll try different patterns just to mix things up.

Your travel journal is more of a workhorse than a show pony (though sometimes a bit of that too later on). You’ll get far more out of one you use all the time, where you write, do travel drawing or urban sketching, doodle and record with the intent that only you will ever see it. If you choose to show it to others later, fine. But don’t make that your main goal, at least as a beginner, or you’ll never get the most out of your journal.

How will you use your travel journal?

Back to purpose, you can choose to have a general-use journal or one devoted only to your trips (or to a particular trip). I have done both, and there are pros and cons to each. A journal for all situations allows you to connect everything you do so that if a great work idea hits you on a trip, you can reference back to a meeting about that, etc. You can also find things easier in some ways since your whole life, trip or home/work, is laid out in a chronological fashion in one book.

Here’s a recent journal of mine that I use daily, as well as for trips. You can see the basic outline for this article here that I wrote on the plane on a business trip. How do I know it was on a trip? From the notation that the sketch was done from a photo in the airplane’s magazine somewhere between Baltimore (BWI) and Seattle (SEA)

A really popular approach these days to general journals is the Bullet Journal . Many people swear by this way of organizing their journal and their life. I love many of the ideas found in bullet journaling. But I choose not to follow that approach completely. Why? Bullet journaling is primarily intended as a productivity tool. I personally don’t find it helpful in that regard because, for example, tracking all my calendar events and moment-by-moment to-do’s in a journal slows me down.

Combine digital and analog

Instead, I use a combination of Outlook, Trello , Evernote and Scrivener (the latter two for organizing ideas and writing projects or content) on my phone and computer. The main reason for tracking tasks digitally is that they roll over automatically. I don’t have to constantly move them manually from one day, week or month to-do list to the next.

But the main reason I don’t use the bullet journal methodology for my travel journal is that when I travel, productivity is not my goal. Exploration and discovery are. I use my travel journal to capture what I learn as I explore the world around me and the world within me wherever I go.

On a trip, I’m less interested in productivity than in explaining why this sketch was hard to do well.

In the last few years, I’ve taken up sketching and even watercolors, so for me, I now maintain a separate travel journal for each major trip. I use one that has thicker watercolor paper, so on a three-week trip, I can pretty much fill up the whole book. But for shorter trips, I do use my day-to-day journal. And I’ve even done both: Used my day-to-day journal to record words and a smaller sketchbook for travel drawing or watercolors. Again, no right or wrong way to do this. Just start with an approach and build from there.

Organizing your travel journal

What follows is how I organize my travel journal. It’s the same way I do my day-to-day journal but with some additional pages in the end for travel-specific information. My purpose, remember, is to capture ideas, information and experiences and then to be able to use these later. For that reason, the most helpful part of my journal is the index. I’ll explain that in a moment along with travel journal examples, but here’s what else goes into my journal.

Starting with a brand new empty journal

The first thing I do with a new journal is to put my name, cell phone number and email address on the inside cover.

Next, if the journal doesn’t have a rear pocket, I make one or glue/tape in a small envelope that fits on the inside of the rear cover.

If you glue in your own, consider hiding a few large denomination bills, both dollars and the local currency, behind the envelope or anything else you tape or glue inside the covers. It’s a great place for hiding back-up money. It works because once you start using your travel journal regularly, you’ll find it is one of your most precious possessions. You’ll learn to guard it like your wallet, passport or phone.

These are just some of the many travel journals I’ve filled up over the years.

In addition to the pocket or envelope in your journal, consider bringing a quart or gallon-sized zip lock bag to hold all the small items you pick up along the way. I used to shove them into pockets in my carry-on bag, but having a single location now keeps them from getting lost or mangled. And it keeps my travel journal from looking like George Costanza’s wallet on Seinfeld . This same bag can hold a glue stick, paper clips or anything else you want for adding items to your journal.

Start in the front and work back

I track everything chronologically noting the date at the top of each day’s entry. If it spans multiple pages, I’ll write “(cont.)” after the date on later spreads so I know to keep looking for the start of that day when I review the entry later.

I work in this chronological fashion for recording most of my entries because I find it flows better to write the item down right away and then figure out how to classify it later. I set up indexes in the back for classifying and locating the entry. But that comes as a review step, not a creative or collecting function.

What to write

Starting at the front section of the travel journal, I may use the very first page as a title page if the journal is devoted to a single trip. Otherwise, I skip over that page and then start with the date of the start of the trip and then just keep going from there. Here are the types of content I write/draw along with some of my travel journal examples:

Sometimes, I’ll devote a whole page or spread to nothing but sketches.

• General thoughts . These make up the majority of my journal and are what you’d expect in any journal.
• Sketches . I’m still just a beginner, but I’ve committed to one sketch per day, at home or on a trip. Sometimes they are involved. Others (most of the time), are just a quick gesture. But the discipline helps improve my skill.
• A daily log . At the end of each day, I do a very quick list of summary activities, where I went, who I met, what I did. I actually note it like this: “(Log 11/27/19 – Wed.):” so that I can see at a glance what were log entries versus other ideas. For logs, the shorter the better. Here’s where bullet journal techniques can help: Record a few words as a bullet rather than full sentences. At the end of every daily log, I also record two specific items in addition log entries themselves, gratitude points and what I’ve read or watched.
• Gratitude points : I jot down what I call a Goodness Journal (abbreviated as GJ) entry. This is the highlight of my day for which I am most grateful. On trips, this can often end up being multiple points.
• Read/Watched : The second additional component is what I call Read/Watched (R/W) where I list any books I’ve read that day or any movies, programs, concerts, etc. that I watched. It can include podcasts and anything else you want to track. Before I started doing this, I’d get to the end of the year and couldn’t recall all the books I’d read. Now I can just by referring back to these entries.
• Insights and Ideas . Most of my journal at home is filled with these. On trips, these happen more on plane, train or bus rides than every single day. But they could happen any time which is why I keep a pocket-sized travel journal with me or at least a note card or my phone so I can write the idea down immediately.
• Quotes . These can be formal written ones I encounter or snippets of conversations I overhear. As a writer, I want to always be gathering dialog examples or clever turns of phrases.
• To-dos. Yes, I said I record these digitally for the daily tasks. But sometimes on trips, you have opportunities for dreaming and planning. I mark all to-do’s with a checkbox I can fill in later. I like the bullet journal way they do this as well (a dot instead of a box).

I had a gentleman in China demonstrate his woodblock stamps by stamping some examples in my journal. You can paste in stamps, tickets, receipts, postcards or any other artifacts from your trip onto your journal pages as you go (if you remember to bring some glue or paste).

• Descriptions . These are either quick notes on what I’m seeing, hearing, tasting or tasting, or longer ways to capture the details of a place. See Look Closely for details on how to do this as a way to learn to see details better or to write better based on your travels. I also make sure to write down the names of places, people, food, local expressions and anything else I want to write about later. Don’t assume you’ll remember it or can look it up later. Write it down.
• Miscellaneous . I’ve had artists draw in my journal, had people stamp it (see photo above), record different colors of beverages spilled or intentionally dripped on it and a wealth of other things added. Be open to how you can use your journal. Or for fun, try this exercise: Come up with as many ways as you can think of to use your travel journal on your next trip.

The back of the journal

The front of the journal is used for a chronological input of information each day (or whenever you choose). The goal there is to record the idea, insight, drawing or information just like in a diary. The back of the journal is where you’ll organize it all for later retrieval.

Working from the last page backwards, I set up a series of index or topic pages (see the list below) where I record anything related to that topic either verbatim (if I have the time and forethought to write it down there such as contact info or a quote I came across) or as a page number reference and summary line from the front of the journal (hence the reason these back-of-the-journal pages are called Index Pages).

For me, I find that most index sections only require one page (e.g. for Contacts or Travel Details) but I leave two pages for Ideas or Vocabulary since they tend to have more entries. I write small (some would say ridiculously small), so if you don’t, you may want to leave more room.

Review your entries and record them for easier retrieval

I don’t assign page numbers as I write in the front of the journal. Instead, I jot down a page number later, maybe daily, maybe weekly, as I review my journal. Writing down the page number during the review phase shows me which pages have been indexed. No page number indicates it still needs to be indexed. As I review each page, I also code the entries themselves on the journal pages by highlighting the topic or assigning a word or letter to let me know what it is. For example, if there’s a quote, I will write “Quote” and circle it right before the quote. For blog ideas, I’ll write “blog” and circle that, etc. If  an idea that has distinct merit, I’ll draw a star next to it. Particular project ideas get a corresponding code, e.g. if it’s about  my book on Hidden Travel,   I’ll write “HT” and circle that. The whole point is to make it easier to spot the entry when you’re reviewing the page later.

Here you can (hopefully) see how I’ve written and circled page numbers at the top and put a box around the word “Quote” on the left page and “Visual appeal article” on the right page. Then, on the Quotes index page, I’ll write “108” and circle it with a quick notation like, “E.B. White on saving/savoring the world.” On the Ideas index page, I’ll write “109” and circle it with the notation, “Visual Appeal article questions.”

In case you’re wondering why the index/topic pages go in the back and not in the front like a table of contents, it’s because I often add topics as I progress through the journal. Working from the back gives me room to add new pages whereas if I’d started from the front and I didn’t guess correctly, I’d be out of room before running into my journal entries.

Travel journal examples of Pre-Trip Items

Some of my index/topic pages get filled in (or at least started) before my trip either as planning or to load my travel journal with important information to have on my trip. Here are some travel journal examples of the key sections.

Here’s a travel journal example of a shot list from my China trip journal. I tend to write pretty small in the back section of a journal! The whited out area was my passport number in code. Writing key information on pages with other entries makes it even less obvious this is something valuable.

• Vocabulary. On trips to countries where I’m learning the language, I’ll add new vocabulary words here usually starting long before the trip. These are key words to practice, as well as new ones I pick up as I travel.
• Shot list . When planning my trip, as a photographer, I make a list of specific places, scenes, techniques I want to try or even times of day I want to shoot. Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Making Awesome Travel Photos for more on this and other travel photo techniques. In addition, as I review guidebooks or articles, I’ll add interesting places to this list. Even if you’re not a photographer, you can make a list of “must see” places or “must do” experiences or activities. Writing them down really helps because it makes it so easy to find all these in one place rather than hunting through a guidebook or other pages on your trip.
• Themes and Moments . This is yet another pre-trip fill-in page. I try to come up with a theme or quest for each trip. Writing down ideas about that or defining it really adds to the anticipation of the trip. On this page, I’ll also jot down ideas for creating magic or defining moments for others on the trip. This includes ideas for the activities or contact info for places or people that will be part of the activity.

Travel journal examples of elements to add as you travel

Here are some typical index/topic pages in the back of my travel journal that get filled in as I go:

• Contact information . I keep a separate page to record the names, email addresses, etc. of people I meet along the way. If, in a hurry, I just write down a name and email address in the front-of-the-book journaling section. I’ll later record the page number and contact name on the page here so all I can find all my contacts in one place later.
• Ideas . This becomes a catchall for any creative ideas I’ve had. I normally start with the page number(s) followed by a brief summary such as “27 – 29: Dining room chair design” or “73: Article on architecture styles in Morocco.”

Here’s a specific travel journal example, the Ideas Index Page from my China trip journal. I had started the page on the left as a vocabulary list but made room from more ideas when I ran out of space on the page on the right.

• Books and Movies . This too is a catchall for any form of entertainment I want to read. I constantly get book and movie (and even song or podcast) recommendations as I travel that I add here with an open check box. I also record books I’ve finished to this list noting those with a checked box.
• Quotes . As noted above, these may be written quotes I come across or snippets of dialog I pick up. I either write the quote here directly or reference the journal page where I wrote the quote with a reminder such as “53-quote from Leipzig waitress on timing.”

You can do a trip highlights page on the flight home, but sometimes it helps to record a summary of details in the midst of your trip of things that stand out to you.

• To-do’s. I said I like to keep my travel journal free from productivity and time management, but I always have big-picture to-do activities that arise on a trip. I’ll record these as I go in the journal section, but for longer-term ones I don’t want to lose track of, I sometimes add a to-do index as well in the back of the journal. This can also be a great place to record future planning ideas for things you want to accomplish after your trip.
• Trip highlights . I’ll normally note the big moments in the journal section as they occur. But often on the flight home, I like to review these and capture them all in one place with the page reference and a brief notation. I may also add in additional ones at this point because sometimes, you don’t realize how powerful or meaningful a moment was at the time.

When your journal is full

Eventually, you’ll fill up your journal with entries. You’ll then review and have every page numbered with key entries noted in your index pages. Then what?

I use Scrivener (for writing projects) and Evernote (for others) as software/apps to track ideas over time. Thus, when I finish a journal, I go copy the content from my index pages into one of these digital programs.

There are several reasons for this. First, it helps to have all your ideas over time in one place so you can view them easier. Second, with the online tools, I can tag content by subject making retrieval later much easier. Most of us focus our efforts on having ideas and maybe writing them down. But those ideas won’t serve you well if you can’t find them later. Finally, putting everything into one place helps me see patterns and related ideas which, in turn, sparks new ideas.

It all relates to the concept of Collect, Connect and Share. If all you’re doing is collecting, you’re missing out on the main value of your journal.

Make a copy

This may be overkill to some, but my journals are precious repositories of life. I would hate to lose them. I could dictate the contents and transcribe that, but I don’t have that kind of time. Instead, Evernote comes to the rescue.

The Evernote app has a photo function. I open the app and take pictures of every spread or page of my journal. I save the results as an Evernote file and can even tag it by date, country or other criteria. It then resides on the cloud (and I also do a back-up on a drive at home). That way, if the original gets lost, I know that all those memories are secure.

Let’s review

Here’s a summary of the key points:

• Know the purpose for your journal
• Choose the type of journal based on your intended purpose.
• Start with something that’s not too nice so that you’re not afraid to mark it up.
• Keep daily entries in the front and a list of index pages in the back of the journal.
• Periodically review your journal entries. As you do, number each page and record that page number and a brief reminder on the appropriate index page.
• At the end of each journal, photograph each page and save to a secure location. Then enter the index information into whatever tool you use for tracking all of your ideas over time.

Additional resources and travel journal examples

Here are other resources and travel journal examples to both inspire and help you get the most out of your travel journal:

• A helpful article with visuals of different travel journal examples
• Writer and artist Austin Kleon’s comments on notebooks 
• Travel journal examples (and notebooks) of author Robert MacFarlane 
• Some additional travel journal examples and notebook types
• The Sketchbook Projec t, one of my favorite places to visit in Brooklyn, NY and a great source of inspiration for sketchbooks. If you’re looking for a single place for travel journal examples, it is this one. Here are just a few screen shots of some random travel journal examples I looked up by Julia Yellow . There are thousands of such journals at this site.

• If you really enjoy the travel drawing aspect of a travel journal, you might want to connect with the whole Urban Sketchers movement and see travel journal examples that include urban sketching. Here’s an example of an urban sketch by Stephanie Bower . I took some of her architectural sketching courses online at Bluprint and they were excellent.

Parting thoughts

Finally, if you want even more travel journal examples and information, be sure to read Lavinia Spalding’s excellent book on the subject, Writing Away: A Creative Guide to Awakening the Journal-Writing Traveler. Here’s one of many great quotes from the book:

“If we’re committed to honest investigation, the travel journal can be a cornerstone of growth and a catalyst for great work, providing a safe container for astonishing discoveries and the life lessons we take away from them. We write words in an empty book, and an inanimate object is transformed into a living, breathing memoir. In turn, as we write, the journal transforms us. It allows us to instantly process impressions, which leads to a more examined layer of consciousness in both the present and the future. It’s a relationship, and let me tell you, it’s no cheap one-night stand.”

You might want to consider writing that quote down in your travel journal. Either in the daily entries or on the quotes index page. Or however you want to do it. It’s your travel journal and the possibilities are endless.

Thanks Steve! Informative and creative. Your sketching is lovely, too! Merry Christmas to you and the fam

Thanks, Alan. I was just editing a section in my upcoming book, “Hidden Travel,” on the subject of sketching and the advice I was given by Gabriel Campinario, founder of Urban Sketchers. He told me to never apologize or say, “Oh, I’m just a beginner” when someone compliments your sketching because no matter how bad you think it is, it is still better than that of the 99% of the population who never attempts to draw. So I will leave it at, “Thank you!”

[…] I mainly get inspiration from a Reddit group called Journaling, and also I get a few ideas on making travel journals. Despite it being fun to do having a physical notebook, at times it can be difficult to finish them […]

You’ve inspired me to resume creating tiny travel journals, with scrapbook like additions. I use photo double sided stickies, not glue. Someone asked what do I do with these? As if creating isn’t pleasurable. I often use them as primary sources to create photobooks. Along with my Bird lists.🐦😁.

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Why You Should Consider Train Travel in Europe

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Train system in Europe

Europe train map, booking train travel in europe, 3 ways to make your european train fare cheaper, smart money move: earn points on train travel, train travel in europe recapped.

If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Europe this summer and eating gelato in Italy or visiting the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Spain, good news: Airfare is down 8% compared to this time last year, according to Hopper’s 2024 Summer Travel Outlook.

And once you’re in Europe, you may be able to save money if you travel by train. Traveling by train in Europe is convenient and sustainable. Plus, some trains, like the Glacier Express in Switzerland, are designed to travel through scenic destinations so you can sightsee while you relax.

If you’re considering incorporating train travel into your European itinerary , here’s what you need to know about getting around and how to save money on tickets.

There are several train companies in Europe. Some only offer regional train service, while others offer trains between countries. As you plan your trip, familiarize yourself with the train companies that serve your intended destination so you can determine if traveling by train makes sense for you.

Here are some train companies that serve different countries in Europe:

Eurostar trains travel between the U.K., France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. (Although the U.K. is not in Europe, it's a popular destination on its own and often coupled with a European itinerary.) 

NS is the leading train company in the Netherlands. 

Renfe is the national train company in Spain. 

Deutsche Bahn (DB) offers long-distance and regional trains in Germany.

SNCF Connect offers high-speed train travel in France.

Trenitalia is the state-run train company in Italy.

Glacier Express offers scenic trains within Switzerland.

Some of these train companies have partnerships with each other to offer convenient connection options. For example, DB-SNCF is a joint venture between DB and SNCF that links travel between Germany and France.

If you Google search “Europe train map,” you’ll find many different maps based on regions, countries, or travel throughout the continent. Here’s a European train map offered by Trainline, which shows different destinations accessible by train.

The interactive map on Trainline’s website highlights popular routes across the country. If the country you’re looking for isn’t featured or you want to see regional trains instead, make your search more specific to check availability.

Buying train tickets in Europe is fairly straightforward. You can purchase your tickets through:

An online travel agency (OTA): Several OTAs that sell train tickets in Europe include Trainline, Rail Europe, Eurail and Omio.

The train company: If you know which train company serves your destinations, consider booking directly on the train company's website in case you need make any changes, since booking travel through an OTA adds an extra layer of complexity . 

At the train station: If you don’t know (or plan) your schedule in advance, you can purchase a ticket at the train station. Keep in mind purchasing at the train station is running a risk that the train time you want might be sold out, or more expensive, since it’s a last-minute purchase. 

Depending on when and where you buy your tickets, there are a few ways to save money on train travel within Europe.

1. Comparison shop

If the train company and an OTA offer tickets, compare prices to see where those seats are cheaper. We searched for a train from Paris to Amsterdam in August 2024 on the Eurostar site and on Trainline to see which option is cheaper.

Booking directly with Eurostar (price in U.S. dollars and euros)

Booking a Eurostar train on Trainline (price in U.S. dollars and euros)

If you pay in euros, tickets on Eurostar and Trainline are the same price (60 euros). But if you pay in U.S. dollars, the fare is slightly cheaper on Trainline ($68.30 versus $70). If you don’t have a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, you’d want to book the ticket from Trainline in U.S. dollars.

Generally though, if you’re going to Europe — or really anywhere outside of the U.S. — consider using a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees , because these pesky fees are usually between 1% to 3% and can quickly add up.

2. Take advantage of discounts

There are often discounts available for students, seniors and families.

For example:

Spanish train operator Renfe, offers up to a 30% discount on tickets for those ages 14 to 25.

Eurail offers a family discount, a 10% senior discount and up to 25% off for travelers age 27 or below. 

Eurostar offers discounted rates for those under age 26 and 60 and up. 

Other discounts or sales may be available, so be sure to shop around. Booking early can also score you a deal. For comparison purposes, we searched for a ticket from Rome to Milan on Trenitalia one week and three months out. Most of the available tickets a week out were priced at $108, while the tickets three months in advance hovered around $48.

3. Consider travel insurance

According to NerdWallet’s annual summer travel survey , an impressive 84% of Americans plan on vacationing in 2024, with 45% of Americans going on a summer trip (June-August). Summer travelers plan to spend $3,594, on average, for their flights and hotel stays.

When considering an expensive vacation, travel insurance can be a good option, particularly if your trip plans are nonrefundable and you want overseas medical coverage. Even if you have a credit card that offers complimentary travel insurance , most U.S.-based medical plans don’t protect you for medical care abroad.

In addition to travel medical coverage, a comprehensive travel insurance plan includes benefits such as trip cancellation , trip interruption , baggage delay and lost luggage coverage . If you don’t need travel medical insurance, and the coverage provided by your travel credit card is sufficient, you may not need to purchase a standalone travel insurance policy.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

If you have a credit card that earns extra points for travel, using it to buy train tickets makes sense since trains are part of the travel category. Here are some popular cards that earn additional rewards for travel and don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

on Chase's website

• 2 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 3 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on every purchase.

• 3 points per $1 on transit, including train travel.

Terms apply.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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On a similar note...

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is getting a new terminal — in 12 years. Why it'll take so long

A new terminal will be built at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego announced during her State of the City address on April 23.

But it will be a while before passengers can use it.

Because of rigorous and lengthy review processes, city aviation officials don't expect construction will begin on the West Terminal at Sky Harbor Airport until the early 2030s.

Jordan Feld, Phoenix's deputy aviation director; and Jay DeWitt, chief development officer of aviation, are working on the new terminal. Feld gave a presentation at a recent City Council meeting that revealed the terminal would be built west of Terminals 3 and 4, will have 40 to 60 gates and will begin construction in 2032 after design planning and an environmental review that will take at least six years.

The Arizona Republic interviewed Feld and DeWitt about plans for the West Terminal. Here's what they shared.

Proposed parking rate increase: Here's how much more you could pay to park at Sky Harbor

Environmental review required for new Phoenix airport terminal

The main reason it will take so long to build the new Phoenix airport terminal is a six-year environmental review process. Sky Harbor staff estimated that work will take place from 2025 to 2031.

The process starts with an airport layout plan review, which involves assembling a complicated regulatory map that the Federal Aviation Administration must approve before the environmental review can start. The airport layout plan takes about a year to complete.

Next, airport officials must complete a benefit-cost analysis, which Feld described as a detailed study that justifies the project and explains the design parameters that will likely be used.

After that comes the environmental impact statement, which is the longest part of the process.

Most of Sky Harbor's projects go through a shorter regulatory process, an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act, Feld said. But larger projects like new terminals require an environmental impact statement, which involves regular check-ins with regulators and extensive public outreach.

"When you add it all up, you get to five, six years pretty fast," he said. "There's no shortcut (for) EIS. In fact, the five-year timeframe for an EIS is actually relatively quick."

EIS reviews are typical for new airport terminal construction and other large-scale airport investments. Feld said Tucson International Airport had to go through the EIS to build new runways.

Feld and DeWitt estimate the West Terminal's construction will begin in 2032 and it will at least partially open in 2036.

New Phoenix airport terminal will be similar to Terminal 4 in size

Passengers can expect the West Terminal will have a similar size and layout to Terminal 4, including eight concourses, Feld said. Right now, the exact square footage is unknown.

The new terminal will have parking in its upper levels and a connection with the PHX Sky Train, which is free to ride and connects Terminals 3 and 4 to economy parking lots, the Valley Metro light rail and the Rental Car Center.

Additional parking beyond a terminal garage is part of the plan for the West Terminal. Feld floated the possibility of converting the surface lot at the 24th Street Sky Train Station into a garage, which would add more parking spaces.

The design of the terminal will be modular, which will allow staff to build more concourses as the need arises, Feld said.

"It's reasonable to expect the type of aircraft will get larger and larger and the technology will continue to get better and better," Feld said. "This seems like a great thing (with) a more seamless process so you can get planes in and out of the gates quicker and move through the airfield more efficiently."

One way terminal gates at Sky Harbor have evolved is how queuing for flights happens against the wall, allowing more room for seating, DeWitt said. This will be how the concourses in the West Terminal, as well as a new concourse under construction in Terminal 3 expected to open in 2027, are laid out.

Staff won't know until further in the process what airlines and planes will use the terminal. They base their plans on assumptions about the future market needs and what trends they anticipate. Feld envisions larger aircraft and higher passenger occupancy being the prevailing trend at Sky Harbor and other large hub airports in the U.S., things that must be factored into the design of the terminal.

"You don't want to miss a huge opportunity," he said. "It's like putting all your money into LaserDiscs and then you find out about DVDs in a couple of years."

Existing baggage system would exceed capacity in late 2030s

Feld told the Phoenix City Council in May that demand at Sky Harbor's existing terminals will exceed capacity by 2038. A chart displayed during the meeting showed the airport's baggage system would be incapable of handling the forecasted demand.

The baggage system is "very space consuming," he told The Republic. The only way to improve baggage operations is with newer facilities that will improve the system.

"There's only so much you can do to the baggage system ... you can optimize the facility, you can make some investments, you can try to expand it, but there's limits to it," Feld said. "If we continue to grow without improving functions like baggage, you wouldn't be happy with how long it would take to get your bag."

Airport staff plan to address the need by building a high-tech baggage system in the West Terminal that connects to Terminals 3 and 4, allowing bag processing to be shared between terminals, he said.

New customs facility would improve international flight needs

One of the first details to emerge about the West Terminal was it would have a state-of-the-art customs facility for processing international travelers more efficiently.

“Our forecast for international demand is continuing to grow," Feld said. "If you experienced the international facilities in Terminal 4, they're nice. But it would be hard to see how they could accommodate double that activity 20 years from now."

The impact of greater demand for international travel is evident at Sky Harbor through new routes, like Tijuana via American Airlines and Los Cabos via Frontier Airlines ; new planes like Condor Airlines' Airbus A330-900neo for its flights between Phoenix and Frankfurt, Germany; and new airlines, like Air France's newly launched nonstop service to Paris and Canadian carrier Porter Airlines announcing flights to Toronto .

Airport staff think an improved customs infrastructure will help attract new international flights, including long haul. Feld said the new customs facility will build resiliency into the airport's operations, as the existing Terminal 4 customs facility will continue operating.

How much will the new Phoenix airport terminal cost?

The total cost for the West Terminal construction is not yet known, but DeWitt thinks the scope of the project is comparable to Salt Lake City International Airport, where a new terminal was built to replace aging concourses, opening in phases in 2020 and 2023. The terminal cost $4 billion to build, according to Salt Lake City documents and Feld's City Council presentation.

Salt Lake City officials sought to meet fast-growing tourism demand as more people flew in, particularly during ski season. Transportation Security Administration officials stated the old airport was built to accommodate 10 million passengers per year, but was handling up to 26 million passengers before the new terminal's debut.

The goal with Sky Harbor's West Terminal is similar: Develop a state-of-the-art terminal that's better equipped to handle larger airplanes and more travelers.

Sky Harbor intends to apply for federal and state funding to help pay for the terminal construction, DeWitt said. He said grant funding historically wasn't available for airport terminal projects, but the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 changed that.

A $20 million grant from the infrastructure law supported the construction of 16 gates in the new Salt Lake City terminal. In Arizona, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in east Mesa received $14.4 million under the infrastructure law to build a new six-gate concourse, which opened in February .

Money for most of Sky Harbor's projects comes from airport cash, bonds and passenger facility charges, fees that air travelers pay any time they buy a plane ticket. Airport projects are not paid for using tax dollars.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:  @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today.

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Protection of natural infection against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant

• Article contents
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Hiam Chemaitelly, Peter Coyle, Mohamed Ali Ben Kacem, Houssein H Ayoub, Patrick Tang, Mohammad R Hasan, Hadi M Yassine, Asmaa A Al Thani, Zaina Al-Kanaani, Einas Al-Kuwari, Andrew Jeremijenko, Anvar H Kaleeckal, Ali N Latif, Riyazuddin M Shaik, Hanan F Abdul-Rahim, Gheyath K Nasrallah, Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari, Adeel A Butt, Hamad E Al-Romaihi, Mohamed H Al-Thani, Abdullatif Al-Khal, Roberto Bertollini, Laith J Abu-Raddad, Protection of natural infection against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant, Journal of Travel Medicine , Volume 31, Issue 4, May 2024, taae053, https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taae053

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Evidence at the level of neutralizing antibodies suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant demonstrates increased immune evasion compared to its parent lineage BA.2.86 and to recently circulating variants, such as XBB.1.5 and EG.5.1. 1 JN.1 has also exhibited a growth advantage over other variants and triggered large SARS-CoV-2 waves in various countries, 2 prompting the World Health Organization to classify it as a variant of interest on 19 December 2023. 2 We estimated the effectiveness of natural infection in preventing reinfection with JN.1 during a large JN.1 wave in Qatar using the test-negative case-control study design. 3 , 4

Qatar's national COVID-19 databases were analysed between 4 December 2023, when JN.1 dominated incidence ( Fig. S1 of the Supplementary Appendix), and 12 February 2024. These databases encompass all laboratory and medically supervised SARS-CoV-2 testing, infection clinical outcomes, COVID-19 vaccination and demographic details within the country (Sections S1-S2).

Cases (SARS-CoV-2-positive tests) and controls (SARS-CoV-2-negative tests) were matched exactly one-to-two by factors that could influence the risk of infection, including sex, 10-year age group, nationality, number of coexisting conditions, number of vaccine doses, calendar week of the SARS-CoV-2 test, method of testing (polymerase chain reaction versus rapid antigen) and reason for testing (Section S3). Previous infection was defined as a SARS-CoV-2-positive test ≥90 days before the study test. Subgroup analyses estimating effectiveness against specifically symptomatic reinfection, and by vaccination status, were conducted.

Figure S2 and Table S1 , respectively, show the study population selection process and characteristics. The overall effectiveness of previous infection in preventing reinfection with JN.1, regardless of symptoms, was estimated at 1.8% (95% CI: −9.3 to 12.6%) ( Fig. 1 ). This effectiveness demonstrated a rapid decline over time since the previous infection, decreasing from 82.4% (95% CI: 40.9 to 94.7%) within 3 to less than 6 months after the previous infection to 50.9% (95% CI: −11.8 to 78.7%) in the subsequent 3 months, and further dropping to 18.3% (95% CI: −34.6 to 56.3) in the subsequent 3 months. Ultimately, it reached a negligible level after one year. The effectiveness was estimated at 49.1% (95% CI: 20.4 to 67.5%) during the first year and at −2.5% (95% CI: −13.5 to 9.0%) thereafter.

Protection against reinfection with JN.1, irrespective of symptoms, overall (A) and by time since previous infection (A and B)

The effectiveness against symptomatic reinfection with JN.1 demonstrated a similar pattern to that observed for any reinfection ( Table S2 ). The overall effectiveness against symptomatic reinfection was −2.3% (95% CI: −14.4 to 10.3%). Subgroup analyses for unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals yielded results similar to those of the main analysis ( Table S2 ). Limitations are discussed in Section S3. The study was reported according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines ( Table S3 ).

The protection of natural infection against reinfection was strong among those who were infected within the last 6 months, with variants such as XBB*. However, this protection waned rapidly and was entirely lost one year after the previous infection. These findings support a considerable immune evasion by JN.1, and that this immune evasion led to the observed rapid waning of the protection against JN.1 ( Fig. 1 ), a pattern for the effect of immune evasion first characterized for SARS-CoV-2 following the omicron variant emergence at the end of 2021. 4 , 5

The authors are grateful for support from the Biomedical Research Program and the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Biomathematics Research Core at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, the Qatar Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medicine. The authors are also grateful for the Qatar Genome Programme and Qatar University Biomedical Research Center for institutional support for the reagents needed for the viral genome sequencing.

Hiam Chemaitelly (Data curation [Equal], Formal analysis [Lead], Methodology [Equal], Validation [Equal], Writing—original draft [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Peter Coyle (Data curation [Equal], Investigation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Mohamed Ali Kacem (Data curation [Equal], Investigation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Houssein Ayoub (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Patrick Tang (Data curation [Equal], Investigation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Mohammad Hasan (Data curation [Equal], Investigation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Hadi Yassine (Data curation [Equal], Investigation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Asmaa Althani (Data curation [Equal], Investigation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Zaina Al Kanaani (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Einas Al Kuwari (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Andrew Jeremijenko (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Anvar Hassan Kaleeckal (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Ali Nizar Latif (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Riyazuddin Shaik (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Hanan Abdul Rahim (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Gheyath Nasrallah (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Adeel Butt (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Hamad Al-Romaihi (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Mohammed H. Al Thani (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Abdul Latif Al-Khal (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Roberto Bertollini (Data curation [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]), Laith Abu-Raddad (Conceptualization [Lead], Data curation [Equal], Formal analysis [Equal], Funding acquisition [Lead], Project administration [Lead], Supervision [Lead], Validation [Equal], Writing—original draft [Equal], Writing—review & editing [Equal]).

The dataset of this study is a property of the Qatar Ministry of Public Health that was provided to the researchers through a restricted-access agreement that prevents sharing the dataset with a third party or publicly. The data are available under restricted access for preservation of confidentiality of patient data. Access can be obtained through a direct application for data access to Her Excellency the Minister of Public Health ( https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/OurServices/eservices/Pages/Governmental-HealthCommunication-Center.aspx ). The raw data are protected and are not available due to data privacy laws. Aggregate data are available within the paper and its supplementary information.

Yang S , Yu Y , Xu Y et al.  Fast evolution of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 to JN.1 under heavy immune pressure . Lancet Infect Dis 2024 ; 24 : e70 – 2 .

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World Health Organization . Excutive Summary Initial Risk Evaluation of JN.1 . 2023 . https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/18122023_jn.1_ire_clean.pdf?sfvrsn=6103754a_3 ( 31 January 2024, date last accessed .

Ayoub HH , Tomy M , Chemaitelly H et al.  Estimating protection afforded by prior infection in preventing reinfection: applying the test-negative study design . Am J Epidemiol 2023 ;kwad239. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwad239 .

Chemaitelly H , Tang P , Coyle P et al.  Protection against reinfection with the omicron BA.2.75 subvariant . N Engl J Med 2023 ; 388 : 665 – 7 .

Chemaitelly H , Nagelkerke N , Ayoub HH et al.  Duration of immune protection of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection against reinfection . J Travel Med 2022 ; 29 :taac109. https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taac109 .

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Uganda tackles yellow fever with new travel requirement, vaccination campaign for millions

A man receives a shot of yellow fever vaccine at Kiswa Health Center III in Kampala, Uganda Tuesday, April. 2, 2024. Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat. (AP Photo)

Ugandans queue to receive yellow fever vaccine at Kiswa Health Center III in Kampala, Uganda Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat. (AP Photo)

A man holds a vaccination card that proves he has received the yellow fever vaccine, at Kiswa Health Center III in Kampala, Uganda Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat. (AP Photo)

A Ugandan man holds a vaccination card that proves he has received the yellow fever vaccine, at Kiswa Health Center III in Kampala, Uganda Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat. (AP Photo)

A Ugandan woman receives a dose of yellow fever vaccine at Kiswa Health Center III in Kampala, Uganda Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat. (AP Photo)

A nurse prepares to administer yellow fever vaccine at Kiswa Health Center III in Kampala, Uganda Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat. (AP Photo)

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KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda has rolled out a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to help safeguard its population against the mosquito-borne disease that has long posed a threat.

By the end of April, Ugandan authorities had vaccinated 12.2 million of the 14 million people targeted, said Dr. Michael Baganizi, an official in charge of immunization at the health ministry.

Uganda will now require everyone traveling to and from the country to have a yellow fever vaccination card as an international health regulation, Baganizi said.

Ugandan authorities hope the requirement will compel more people to get the yellow fever shot amid a general atmosphere of vaccine hesitancy that worries healthcare providers in the East African nation.

The single-dose vaccine has been offered free of charge to Ugandans between the ages of 1 and 60. Vaccination centers in the capital, Kampala, and elsewhere included schools, universities, hospitals and local government units.

Before this, Ugandans usually paid to get the yellow fever shot at private clinics, for the equivalent of $27.

Uganda, with 45 million people, is one of 27 countries on the African continent classified as at high risk for yellow fever outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization, there are about 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths globally each year from the disease.

Uganda’s most recent outbreak was reported earlier this year in the central districts of Buikwe and Buvuma.

Yellow fever is caused by a virus transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The majority of infections are asymptomatic. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, headache, loss of appetite and nausea or vomiting, according to the WHO.

Uganda’s vaccination initiative is part of a global strategy launched in 2017 by the WHO and partners such as the U.N. children’s agency to eliminate yellow fever by 2026. The goal is to protect almost one billion people in Africa and the Americas.

A midterm evaluation of that strategy, whose results were published last year, found that 185 million people in high-risk African countries had been vaccinated by August 2022.

In Uganda, most people get the yellow fever shot when they are traveling to countries such as South Africa that demand proof of vaccination on arrival.

James Odite, a nurse working at a private hospital which has been designated as a vaccination center in a suburb of the capital, Kampala, told the AP that hundreds of doses remained unused after the yellow fever vaccination campaign closed. They will be used in a future mass campaign.

Among the issues raised by vaccine-hesitant people was the question of whether “the government wants to give them expired vaccines,” Odite said.

Baganizi, the immunization official, said Uganda’s government has invested in community “sensitization” sessions during which officials tell people that vaccines save lives.

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

Travel Journal: 100+ Prompts, Ideas, and Tips

• March 30, 2023

Home » Day One Blog » Travel Journal: 100+ Prompts, Ideas, and Tips

Keeping a travel journal can be an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience, whether you’re an avid traveler or someone who’s embarking on a new adventure. From documenting unforgettable memories to fostering personal growth and reflection, a travel journal can be a window into the unique journeys you take in life.

In this guide, we’ve put together an extensive list of 100 travel journal prompts, tips, and ideas to help you create a travel journal that truly captures the essence of your adventures. Get ready to explore new cultures, savor the beauty of the world around you, and create a one-of-a-kind keepsake that will forever be a reminder of your incredible experiences.

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal is simply a personal record of your experiences, thoughts, and feelings during your travels. Travel journaling is a wonderful way to document and reflect on your travel experiences, capturing memories of the places you visit, the people you meet, and the adventures you have.

Travel journaling can take various forms, depending on your preferences and needs. You can choose to write in a traditional notebook or sketchbook, or create a digital journal or blog. Some people use their travel journals not only to record their experiences but also to plan their trip, track expenses, and organize important information such as flight details, reservations, and contact information for locals they meet along the way.

Keeping a travel journal can be a valuable tool for reflecting on your travels, preserving memories, and sharing your experiences with others.

10 Convincing Reasons to Keep a Travel Journal

Keeping a travel journal or travel diary offers several benefits, both during the trip and long after your travels have ended. Some of the key reasons to keep a travel journal include:

1. Preserve your memories.

A travel journal helps preserve memories of your experiences, sights, and encounters that might otherwise fade with time. You can look back and reminisce about your adventures, learning from and enjoying them all over again.

2. Be more present.

When you write about your travel experiences in real-time, you tend to be more focused on the present moment. This can help you to be more present and mindful during your travels, and can also improve your memory of the trip.

3. Sharpen your observational skills.

Journaling pushes you to pay closer attention to your surroundings, which can improve your observational and descriptive abilities. This heightened awareness can lead to a more enriching travel experience.

4. Organize your thoughts and experiences.

A travel journal serves as a central location to record important information, such as trip itineraries, contact details, and to-do lists. This can help you stay organized and focused during your travels.

5. Enhance your creativity.

Writing about your experiences encourages creativity and storytelling skills. You can experiment with different writing styles, descriptions, or even drawings to capture the essence of your trip. Since traveling has links to creativity , keeping a travel journal allows you to expand these benefits in both ways.

6. Encourage self-reflection.

Traveling can be a transformative experience, and a travel journal can serve as a tool for self-reflection . Writing about your experiences can help you process your emotions, thoughts, and feelings, and gain insights into yourself and your place in the world.

7. Boost your personal growth.

Recording your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to new experiences can provide insight into your own personal growth and development. You can track how your perspectives and attitudes have evolved over time and learn more about yourself.

8. Reduce stress.

Studies have shown that even short vacations can improve stress levels , and writing in a travel journal can be therapeutic, allowing you to process your emotions and experiences in a healthy way. Travel journaling can also help you work through challenges and setbacks that may arise during your trip.

9. Create a unique keepsake.

A travel journal is a personalized souvenir that tells the story of your adventures. What you write can become a special item to share with friends and family or pass down to future generations.

10. Encourage deeper gratitude and appreciation.

Writing about your experiences while traveling can foster a deeper sense of gratitude for the opportunities and experiences you’ve had, helping you appreciate the journey and the people you’ve met along the way.

What to Write About In A Travel Journal

There are many things you can write about in a travel journal. A travel journal usually involves writing a personal record of your thoughts, feelings, and observations throughout your journey. You can also include details about the food you try, the sights you see, the cultures you encounter, and the emotions you experience.

Here are a few things to write about in a travel journal:

• Daily activities: Write about what you did each day, including any sights you saw, people you met, and activities you participated in.
• Observations: Record your observations of the places you visit, including the landscapes, architecture, and culture.
• Food and drink: Describe the local cuisine and drinks you try, and note any favorites or new discoveries.
• Thoughts and feelings: Reflect on your thoughts and feelings about your experiences, including any challenges, surprises, or moments of joy.
• Cultural insights: Document your learnings about the local culture, customs, and traditions.
• Travel tips: Share any travel tips or advice that may be useful for others planning to visit the same places.
• Accommodations: Write about your accommodations, including any interesting details or experiences you had there.
• Write about the people you meet: Describe the locals, fellow travelers, and any interesting characters you come across. Note any conversations or interactions you have with them.
• Reflect on your growth: Traveling can be a transformative experience, and writing about the ways in which you’ve grown and changed can be a powerful exercise in self-reflection.
• Budget and expenses: Keep track of your expenses and budget, including any unexpected costs or money-saving tips.
• Memorable moments: Jot down any particularly memorable moments from your trip, including those that took you by surprise or left a lasting impression on you.
• Challenges and triumphs: Write about any challenges you faced during your trip, and how you overcame them. Celebrate your triumphs, big and small, and the sense of accomplishment they brought.
• Sights, sounds, and smells: Use all your senses to describe the places you visit. Write about the sights, sounds, smells, and textures that make each destination unique
• Overall impressions: Sum up your overall impressions of each place you visit, including what you liked, what you didn’t like, and what surprised you the most.

13 Tips for Keeping a Travel Journal

Keeping a travel journal can be a great way to document your experiences and memories from your travels. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Find a travel journal that suits your needs.

When choosing a travel journal, consider not only the size and weight but also the durability of the journal. If you plan to carry it with you all the time, it’s best to choose one that can withstand wear and tear. Additionally, think about whether you want a plain notebook or one with prompts and questions to guide your writing. Some journals may have pre-designed sections for you to fill in with information about the places you visit, what you did there, and what you learned.

2. Consider a journal app with travel journal features.

Using a travel journal app like Day One is an excellent way to capture your travel experiences conveniently. You can quickly jot down notes, take pictures, and record your thoughts and feelings, even if you don’t have your physical journal with you. The app’s Map View is especially useful, as it allows you to see where you’ve been and what you’ve done in each location. Plus, if you’re traveling internationally and plan to limit your data usage, Day One will store your entries and uploads locally on your device until you connect to WiFi.

3. Decide on your travel journaling style.

When deciding on your travel journaling style, consider what you want to focus on. Do you want to describe the places you visit in detail, or do you want to focus more on your thoughts and emotions during your travels? Writing daily entries can be a great way to capture everything that happens, but if you prefer to write less frequently, consider making notes of significant events or experiences.

4. Set a journaling goal.

Setting a goal for your travel journal can give you a sense of direction and purpose while writing. Your goal could be as simple as writing in your journal every day during your trip, or more specific, such as recording a unique experience or learning something new about the culture of the places you visit. Create a list of goals before you begin your travels so you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your journal.

5. Slow down.

When traveling, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new sights and experiences. However, taking the time to slow down and observe your surroundings can help you appreciate the small things that you might otherwise miss. Take a moment to sit down and watch the world go by, or go for a leisurely stroll to take in your surroundings.

6. Include as many details as possible.

Include details such as the names of the places you visit, the foods you eat, and the people you meet. The more specific and detailed your writing is, the more vividly you’ll be able to recall your experiences later.

7. Use your senses.

Using your senses is a powerful way to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Try to pay attention to the smells, sounds, textures, and tastes of the places you visit. Describe the scent of a local market, the sound of a street musician, or the texture of a historic building’s walls. Using your senses to describe your experiences can help bring your travel journal to life.

8. Ask questions.

Asking questions can be an excellent way to learn more about the places you visit. Locals and tour guides can provide valuable insights into the history, culture, and traditions of the places you’re exploring. Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations on things to see and do, or for tips on where to find the best local cuisine.

9. Stay in the present moment.

When you travel, it’s easy to get caught up in planning, taking photos, and checking items off your bucket list. However, it’s important to take the time to slow down and appreciate the present moment. Take a few deep breaths and focus on your senses, noticing the sights, smells, sounds, textures, and tastes around you. Take time to observe the people you meet and the interactions you have with them. Engage with the local culture and try to understand their way of life.

10. Take photos and videos.

Taking photos and videos can be a great way to capture details that you may not be able to describe in words. Use your camera or phone to snap pictures of interesting sights, people, and places. These photos and videos can provide valuable inspiration when you’re writing in your travel journal later.

11. Stay curious.

Staying curious while traveling means keeping an open mind and embracing the unknown. Try new things, explore new places, and take risks. Step outside your comfort zone and embrace the unfamiliar, whether that’s trying new foods or engaging in new activities. Keeping a sense of curiosity can inspire your writing and help you capture unique experiences that you may have otherwise missed.

12. Keep your journal safe.

Your travel journal is a precious record of your travels and experiences, whether it’s in a physical or digital format. Consider investing in a sturdy, waterproof journal or storing your journal in a plastic bag or waterproof cover to protect it from moisture. It’s also a good idea to keep your journal in a safe place when you’re not using it, such as a backpack or hotel safe. Consider making a backup copy of your digital travel journal, whether it’s on your phone, tablet, or laptop. For example, the Day One app offers secure cloud-based backups and file exports. Additionally, you can encrypt your digital journal to protect it from unauthorized access. This way, you can ensure that your journal is safe and secure, and you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your memories are protected.

13. Make it fun.

Remember that travel journaling should be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Use your journal as a creative outlet to express yourself and capture your unique perspective on the world. Experiment with different writing styles and formats, such as poetry, short stories, or essays. You could also include sketches, paintings, or other visual art to enhance your journal entries. And most importantly, don’t worry too much about making your writing perfect or adhering to a strict structure. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process of documenting your travels in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling to you.

20+ Travel Journaling Ideas

A travel journal is a fantastic way to capture memories, thoughts, and experiences from your trips. To get started, here are some creative travel journal ideas to help you get started with travel journaling:

1. Record your itinerary and travel plan.

Record your trip itinerary, including transportation details, accommodations, and planned activities.

2. Organize your packing list.

Create a packing list for your trip and reflect on what items were useful and which ones you could have left behind.

3. Create a bucket list.

Create a bucket list of activities or experiences you want to have during your trip, and check them off as you complete them.

4. Recap each day.

Write about your daily experiences, such as the places you visit, the people you meet, and the local cuisine you try.

5. Use journal prompts.

Using journal prompts can be a helpful way to spark creativity and reflection in your travel journal. Choose a travel journal prompt below that resonates with you and write freely without worrying too much about structure or perfection.

6. Sketch and doodle.

Illustrate your memories with drawings of the landscapes, architecture, and other interesting sights.

7. Capture quotes and phrases.

Jot down memorable quotes from locals or interesting phrases you learn in the local language.

8. Include your favorite travel photos.

Include photographs of your favorite moments, places, and experiences from your trip.

9. Collect ticket stubs and mementos.

Attach ticket stubs, maps, postcards, brochures, or other small mementos to help you remember your trip. If you prefer to go the digital route, scan items or take a photo of these items.

10. Write about your feelings.

Traveling can be an emotional experience, and writing about your feelings can be a cathartic and introspective exercise. Reflect on how the trip is making you feel and what emotions are arising.

12. Go deeper by reflecting.

Write about your personal growth and what you’ve learned during your travels. Reflect on how your travels have impacted you, whether it’s a new perspective on a cultural issue, a realization about yourself, or an enhanced sense of empathy and understanding. Think about the ways in which your travels have shaped your worldview and how you can apply these lessons to your life back home.

13. Express your gratitude.

Express gratitude for the experiences you’ve had and the people you’ve met along the way.

14. Keep a food diary.

Record the local dishes you’ve tried, including their names, ingredients, and your thoughts about them during your trip.

15. Add notes on culture and customs.

Describe the local culture, traditions, and customs that you encountered and found fascinating.

16. Write about your travel challenges.

Write about any challenges you faced during your trip and how you overcame them.

17. Include maps and routes.

Trace your travel route on a map, or draw your own maps to remember the places you’ve visited.

18. Write about the people you meet.

Traveling provides opportunities to meet new people and learn about their lives. Use your journal to document these interactions and what you’ve learned from them.

19. Use poetry and creative writing.

Use your travel experiences as inspiration for poems, short stories, or other creative writing exercises.

20. Keep track of your budget and expenses.

Document your travel expenses to help you plan better for future trips, or to help stay on track with your budget.

20. Include ratings and reviews.

Rate and review accommodations, restaurants, attractions, and other experiences to help you remember the highlights of your trip.

21. Make a travel wishlist.

Write a list of destinations you’d like to visit and why they appeal to you.

22. Plan for a post-trip recap.

After returning home, reflect on your trip as a whole, including your favorite moments, any personal growth, and what you’ll take away from your journey.

23. Print your digital travel journal.

Having a physical copy of your travel journal can provide a tangible reminder of your travels and serve as a cherished keepsake for years to come. By printing your travel journal, you can create a physical record of your adventures that you can hold in your hands and share with others. It can be a meaningful way to preserve your memories and reflect on your journey, long after your travels have ended.

50 Travel Journal Prompts to Try

Still not sure what to write about in your travel journal? Journal prompts are a great way to spark your creativity and dive deeper into your travel experiences.

These travel journal prompts are designed help you capture the essence of your trip, and encourage introspection before, during, and after your adventure. So, whether you’re exploring new cultures, savoring local cuisine, or simply taking in breathtaking landscapes, let journal prompts guide your writing, enrich your narrative, and ultimately, help you create a captivating and memorable travel journal.

Journal Prompts For Before You Leave

Preparing for a trip can be just as exciting as the trip itself. Before you head out, consider using journal prompts to help you focus your thoughts and prepare for the adventures ahead. The following travel journal prompts can help you dig deeper into your travel expectations, identify potential challenges, and set meaningful goals for your journey. By reflecting on these prompts, you can better prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the exciting journey that lies ahead.

• What are my expectations for this trip? What do I hope to gain from it?
• What are the places I want to visit and why are they important to me?
• What am I most looking forward to experiencing on this trip?
• How do I think this trip will change me?
• What are my travel goals, both short-term and long-term?
• Can I describe my travel companions (if any) and why I chose to travel with them?
• How am I preparing for my trip (mentally, physically, logistically)?
• What are my top three fears or concerns about the trip?
• How will I react if the trip takes an unexpected turn?
• What am I most looking forward to about this trip?
• How do I plan to challenge myself during this trip?
• What role do I hope this trip will play in my personal growth and development?
• What specific moments or experiences do I hope to capture in my travel journal or through photography?
• How do I plan to stay open-minded and present during my trip? What steps can I take to cultivate this mindset?

Journal Prompts For While You’re Traveling

While traveling, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of the moment and forget to take time to reflect on your experiences. By using travel journal prompts to capture your thoughts and observations during your trip, you can deepen your connection to the places you visit and the people you meet. The following prompts are designed to help you stay present and engaged during your travels, and to encourage you to take a closer look at the world around you. Reflect on these travel journal prompts to create a meaningful record of your journey.

• How did I feel when I arrived at my destination? What were my first impressions?
• What was the most memorable moment of my day?
• What beautiful or interesting sight did I encounter today?
• What new foods did I try and how did they taste?
• How would I describe the atmosphere of a specific location I visited today (e.g. café, beach, market)?
• How have the locals treated me and what are my experiences interacting with them?
• What was a conversation I had with a local or fellow traveler?
• What cultural differences or similarities have I noticed during my trip?
• Can I describe a piece of art, architecture, or natural wonder that left an impression on me?
• What local tradition, festival, or event have I witnessed or participated in?
• How is my trip living up to my expectations so far?
• What were some unexpected challenges I have faced during my trip so far?
• Can I share an act of kindness I’ve experienced or observed during my trip?
• What was a moment when I felt outside my comfort zone and what did I learn from it?
• What’s a funny or embarrassing moment that has happened during my trip?
• What has been my favorite and least favorite aspects of the destination(s) so far?
• How has my perception of the world changed during my trip?
• Who is an inspiring person I’ve met on this trip and what is their story?
• What new skills or knowledge have I gained on this trip?
• If I could give advice to someone visiting the same destination(s), what would it be?

Journal Prompts For After You Arrive Home

Returning home after a journey can be bittersweet. While you may be happy to be back in familiar surroundings, it’s also common to experience a sense of loss or nostalgia for the experiences you had while traveling. These travel journal prompts can help you reflect on your journey after you’re home, so you can continue to process your experiences and keep the memories alive. The following prompts are designed to help you unpack your thoughts and feelings about your trip, to identify the ways in which it has changed you, and to set goals for future travel. By reflecting on these prompts, you can continue to grow and learn from your travel experiences long after the journey has ended.

• What will I remember most about my trip experience?
• What was the biggest highlight of the trip?
• What is a food or drink that I tried during my trip that I still think about?
• What moment from my trip challenged me in a significant way?
• What did I learn about myself during this trip?
• How has my trip influenced my perspective on life and my priorities?
• What souvenirs or momentos did I collect on this trip? What were their significance?
• What was my favorite photo of the trip? What is the story behind it?
• What was my favorite destination on my trip? Why?
• What was the most valuable lesson I learned from this trip?
• How have my travel goals changed after this trip?
• What aspects of the local culture would I like to incorporate into my daily life?
• What places would I I want to visit in the future?
• What was a place or experience that I wish I had more time to explore?
• How has my trip influenced my outlook on the world and my place in it?
• How did my trip impact my sense of identity? Did I discover anything new about myself?

Wrapping Up: Your Travel Journal Awaits Your Next Adventure

Travel journaling is a fun way to preserve your memories, foster personal growth, and enhance your travel experiences. With the travel journal tips, prompts, and ideas we’ve shared in this post, we hope you now feel well-equipped to embark on your own travel journaling journey. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to capture your adventures—the most important aspect is to embrace the process, stay curious, and allow your unique voice to shine through. So, grab your journal, explore the world, and let your creative spirit soar as you document the unforgettable moments, the hidden gems, and the personal discoveries that make each journey truly yours. Happy travels and happy journaling!

About the Author

Kristen Webb Wright is the author of three books on journaling. With a passion for writing and self-reflection, Kristen uses her experience with journaling to help others discover the benefits of documenting their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In her role at Day One, she helps to promote the power of journaling so people from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of journaling.

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Fishing for a good cause: Bass bash events on Oregon rivers target non-native smallmouth

Call it fishing for a good cause.

A series of fishing derbies and festivals have sprung up across Oregon with a singular goal: getting smallmouth bass out of the river.

While they’re a popular gamefish, the number of “smallies” have exploded in streams such as the John Day, Umpqua, Coquille, Upper Willamette and Molalla over the past handful of years.  

That’s fun for anglers, but it’s not ideal for native salmon and steelhead, said Mark Sherwood, executive director of the Native Fish Society.

“They’re definitely having a negative impact on native fish by eating salmon and particularly steelhead smolts,” Sherwood said. “They can have a huge impact.”

Brenda Meade, chair of the Coquille Indian Tribe, was even more blunt in an interview with KLCC.

“They are just eating machines on the river,” she said. “And they’re eating the salmon smolt.”

Removed bag limits, bass bash festivals

State wildlife officials have responded to the smallmouth spike by removing size and bag limits on all Oregon rivers. They’re even allowing spearfishing for smallmouth on the South Umpqua and Coquille as an “all hands on deck” way to get smallmouth out of the streams.

On the John Day, it’s not unheard of for people to catch 100 fish in a single day.

“If you’re really working at it, people catch 100 bass in one day with very little problem,” said Stephan Charette, the John Day District fish biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “The goal is for people to catch the small- to medium-sized ones and remove them, which helps improve the habitat and keeps them from venturing off to find new habitat and spreading into other parts of the river.”

‘Bass bashes’

Sherwood said his group has started hosting “bass bashes” as a way for anglers to have fun catching bass and filling their bellies.

NFS is hosting its first local bass bash on the Molalla River , at Canby Community Park, on June 22. They’re also hosting the third bass bash on the Umpqua River on the same day at Tyee Campground.

“People show up in the morning, then everybody goes out and fishes, catches and keeps as many smallmouth as they can,” Sherwood said. “Then, everyone comes back to a central gathering area and we even have people that will filet your fish for you. We have a fish fry later in the day and all the ingredients for fish tacos.”

There are many other events, including some that offer cash prizes, such as the derby on the Coquille River.

Sherwood said he didn’t expect such events to “decrease the smallmouth bass population in a huge way,” he said. “But maybe some people get the bass fishing bug, it gives you something to fish in the warmer months and you’re doing something fun that helps native fish.”

Register for the bass bash at: nativefishsociety.org .

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast . Urness is the author of “ Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon ” and “ Hiking Southern Oregon .” He can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.

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Home » Gear » Best Travel Journals

The BEST Travel Journals of 2024! | Leather, Bullet Journals, Refillable Notebooks + More!

Looking for something special in which you jot down memories of your travel adventures? Then our list of the  best travel journals  out there is definitely going to help you out.

In our world of smartphones and social media, anything remotely physical – like writing down stuff on a page – feels super old fashioned. But just because you could type it or tap out your thoughts on a touch screen, it’s still good to connect with physical objects.

The main thing about having a travel journal is how one-of-a-kind it feels. Having memories of your year-long backpacking journey around the world actually physically written in a book would be amazing to read back in years to come; likewise, having somewhere to note down ideas whilst you’re on the go and use for inspiration later feels more organised than some character-less notes on your phone.

So whatever you are looking for – be it a smart journal that you can use for short city breaks, something cute to encourage your children to write about their travels, or a classic travel journal that’ll last you practically forever – our handy list has you covered.

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Quick Answer: These are the Best Travel Journals of 2024

Best travel journals of 2024, #1 – best travel journal for bullet journaling, #2 – best travel journal for scrapbooking, #3 – best travel journal for painting, #4 – best travel journal with pockets, #5 – best midori-style travelers notebook, #6 – top choice for beautiful leather travel journal, #7 – best moleskine travel journal, #8 – best vacation diary, #9 – best travel diary for kids, more best travel journals of 2024, buyer guide – how to choose the best travel journal for you, faq about the best travel journals, final thoughts on the best travel journal, #1 leuchtturm1917 a5 notebook – great travel journal for bullet journaling, #2 siixu colorful blank notebook – best travel journal for scrapbooking, #3 conda hardcover spiral sketchpad – best travel journal for painting, #4 refillable leather journal traveller’s notebook  – best travel journal with pockets, #5 traveler’s notebook by traveler’s company  – best midori-style travelers notebook, #6 travel passion journal by moleskine – best moleskine travel journal, #7 travel journal by promptly journals – best vacation diary, #8 fofun leather travel journal  – top choice for beautiful leather travel journal, #9 kids’ travel journal  – best travel diary for kids.

Leather Journal by FOFUN

• Price > $28.95
• > 100% Full-Grain Leather
• > Hand-made and durable

Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook

• Price > $24.40
• > Great travel journal
• > Pages are gridded

Siixu Colorful Blank Notebook

• Price > $14.59
• > Stitch-bound notebook
• > Pastel-coloured

Conda Hardcover Spiral Sketchpad

• Price > $12.99
• > Hard cover
• > Spiral-bound

Refillable Leather Journal Traveller’s Notebook

• Price > $36.99
• > With all sorts of compartments
• > Opening accordion-style

Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company

• Price > $47.99
• > Minimal design exterior

Travel Passion Journal by Moleskine

• Price > $27.88
• > Journal specifically for travel
• > 400 pages

Travel Journal by Promptly Journals

• Price > $32.99
• > Four pretty high-end colours
• > Comes with a map

Mudpuppy Kids’ Travel Journal

• Price > $11.99
• > Wire-bound book

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The Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook is a classic – and if you ask us, very cool – notebook that we think is ideal for bullet journaling.

With enough space to put all your organization and creativity into the 249 (numbered) pages, this great travel journal for bullet journaling is compact enough to fit into day packs and filled-to-the-brim backpacks alike; the pages are standard A5 size (obviously), but the notebook itself measures in at 5.57″ x 8.25″. It’s secured with elastic.

This classic, mid-century modern notebook comes in 17 punch colours for even the most discerning traveller. From muted navy blue and olive green to bright raspberry and popping yellow, you will definitely be able to find one for your personality.

Inside, the book itself has three blank tables of contents, which means you can organise your outpourings, scribblings and note-taking by creating your very own index – which is definitely what makes it the best travel journal for bullet journaling. The pages are also gridded: perfect for bullet points, even better for geometric doodlings.

Price: $19, Amazon

The Siixu Colorful Blank Notebook is a colorful canvas with lots of space for you to unleash your own creativity.

The 192 pages in this stitch-bound notebook come with pastel-coloured, watercolour-style backgrounds for vibrancy, which are the perfect base for pasting, sticking and doodling all of your travel memories.

Other than the watercolor pattern, the pages in this 5.3″ x 7.2″ are blank and sizable enough to fit all your used tickets, memories and doodles onto the pages, but compact enough for carrying around the world. It’s easily our top pick for the best travel journal for scrapbooking.

The notebook comes in two designs: one with added quotes on the pages for charming character, the other with simple washes of colour on each page. Another plus is how budget friendly this travel journal is!

Price: $11.59, Amazon

Coming in a classic spiral-bound sketchbook style, this journal from Conda is ideal for anybody looking to get crafty with their paints whilst they’re gallivanting around the world.

It’s a traditional hardcover sketchbook, with 120 blank pages of 90gsm paper – thick enough that it’ll take acrylics, oils and watercolors without bleeding through. The pages are also perforated, meaning you can tear ’em out and offer people your drawings and paintings as gifts, or to send back home.

This is a pretty sturdy book, so it should be able to withstand your travels, being shoved into a daypack, and general day-to-day wear and tear. The hard cover is also waterproof, which will help to protect your precious pieces of art. For the sturdiness alone, we’re saying this is the best travel journal for painting.

Though it may not come in different colours, it does come in different sizes, starting at 8.5″ x 11″ and with larger available for you to really get your Picasso on.

Price: $9.29, Amazon

Refillable Traveller’s Notebook by September Leather

The ultimate in travel journaling, this stylish notebook is a chic buy for you, or as a gift! It’s genuine leather, which is cool, but it’s all the stuff you get in addition to the journal itself that makes this easily one of our favourite travel journals out there.

You get a lot of bang for your buck when you opt for this notebook: a binder clip, a pen and penholder that attaches neatly to the book, lined, plain and grid inserts, a kraft folder and zipper pouch.

In addition to the storage space, this journal is refillable, so you can swap out the pages when you’ve run through them without having to buy a whole new book. You know we love to lessen our travel footprint however we can, so we’re really into that!

Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company

The best Midori-style travelers notebook out there simply has to be the aptly-named Traveler’s Notebook, created by the aptly-named Traveler’s Company (also a Japanese outfit).

This aesthetically minimal, mahogany leather notebook is handmade in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. It comes as a package of goodies: a spare elastic band and a fine fabric bag to keep it safe from scuffing – if that’s your thing.

This is a pricer notebook, but, it’s refillable, so there’s no end to the travels you can take it on. Our favourite thing about the Traveler’s Notebook is how the leather ages and changes with daily use and general travel wear, becoming a real companion on your travels around the world. We love it.

Price: $49, Amazon

So you’re looking for a beautiful leather travel journal? Well, stop right here, because this is the one for you. Complete with wrap closing (also leather), it’s chic enough to not look like some scrappy backpacker’s scribbling pad, but rugged enough to last some pretty rough journeys in a long-term travel backpack.

Coming from the folks at FOFUN, who make a whole range of leather journals and notebooks, this one features 288 pages of top quality 100GSM lined kraft paper, all covered in full grain leather cowhide. It’s A6 size, which is 5″ by 7″.

The cool thing about this top leather travel journal is how leather ages over time, gaining personalised character as it gets scuffed and worn with use. We love that sort of thing.

When you think “notebooks,” you think “Moleskine,” so this stunning 5″ x 8.5″ journal made especially for travellers had to make our list.

Perfect for everything from weekend getaways to longer backpacking voyages, the inside of the book comes packed with an 8 (!) year calendar, a travel planning timeline, a wishlist, check-lists, lists of must-see travel destinations, and even space for that all-important travel budget .

Don’t worry, though: at 400 pages, there’s lots of free space for all of your travel memories – Moleskine estimates you can fit 6 long trips or 20 short ones into this notebook. Oh, and did we mention it comes with stickers?

Moleskine has created this journal specifically for travellers, so you can turn it into an archive of your trip once you’re back home – it even comes with a keepsake box for storage.

Price: $29.95

This elegant journal by Promptly clocks in at 88 pages, so you can fill it up in a single trip – and fill your bookshelf up with a whole series of your trips! You’ll want to display it, too – the fabric covers of this journal definitely make it the most attractive vacation diary going.

Inside the journal, there are handy thought-starters(true to the company name) to help you more easily note your favourite restaurants, hotels, sights and more. There is also space for you to keep your mementoes like train tickets, museum stubs, and photos, and a roomy back pocket for everything else.

Measuring at 9.2″ x 6.1″, the covering fabric of this top vacation diary also comes in four pretty high-end colours: grey tweed, solid grey, deep blue and dusty rose.

As a bonus, this Promptly journal also comes with a map, to help you plan your journeys, star wishlist destinations, or otherwise decorate or use as you see fit. Neat!

Price: $20, Amazon

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Kids’ Travel Journal

Wouldn’t you love to look back on your childhood travels as a grown-up? Give that gift to the kiddos in your life with this travel diary for kids by Mudpuppy.

This cool company is all about moving kids away from digital devices and into tactile creativity. This time around, they’ve created this travel journal designed specifically with kids in mind.

It’s sturdy (very important when it comes to children), and colourful (also important), spanning 128 pages so that your kids have plenty of room to channel their inner explorer. Inside the wire-bound book, there are various sections, illustrations and prompts to help children document their travels, whilst still including enough space for creativity.

One of our favourite parts are the prompts, in fact: the best and worst parts of a trip would be hilarious to read later on, as would “memorable quotes from mom and dad.”

Price: $9.99, Amazon

Soft Cover Notebook by Sloane Stationery

This offering from British brand Sloane Stationery is a very sleek and stylish notebook, perfect for the stylish travellers among us.

A softcover journal with gold-embossed pages and a vibrant orange crocodile cover, it’s definitely is one of the most high-end-looking travel journals we’ve seen – especially for $15!

Even though the exterior of the book is flashy, the pages are blank so you can get on with doodling, making diary entries, taking notes, or whatever! Size-wise, it’s 5.9″ x 8.3″, the perfect size for both a backpack and chic handbag.

Just think how stylish you’re going to look sat on a terrace cafe, coffee in hand, with this journal on the table, writing about your adventures in foreign lands. Add to cart!

You Are Here: A Mindful Travel Journal by Emma Clarke

The internet makes it easy to succumb to the pressure of being rushed from spot to spot, Instagramming the heck out of your trip – this can really take you out of the moment.

You Are Here: A Mindful Travel Journal by writer Emma Clarke, aims to put you back in the moment and helps you get the most out of your experiences while you’re experiencing them.

Clarke (fun fact: she’s also the voice of the Bakerloo and Central Lines of the London Underground) says: “No one has ever seen this place in the same way you’re seeing it right now, right here, in this moment.” Amen!

The book is a mixture of prompts to keep you grounded and mindful, as well as blanks to fill in and, of course, pages for you to fill with notes, all of it spread over 190 pages. Plus, a portion of the proceeds go to charity. Talk about a feel-good purchase!

Rite In The Rain Notebook

You go through a lot when you’re travelling. Downpours, heat, snow, skiing, hiking, swimming – there are all sorts of weather conditions and situations that you can get yourself into. Not to mention open water bottles knocking around in your backpack – an easy way to ruin months of journalling!

This bad boy from Rite In The Rain (which has been going since 1916) is the answer to all sorts of adverse conditions you might encounter. Plus, at 6″ x 8″, it can slot right into even small day packs.

The tough but flexible outer shell of this notebook is waterproof, and notebook’s 64 pages  will repel water, grease, sweat, mud, and all manner of other grossness. It will even go through the laundry without turning into mush!

Just use a pencil (water-based inks aren’t waterproof) and your notes will stay intact through it all. And unlike other synthetic papers, the Rite In The Rain Notebook can be recycled!

Price: $6.55, Amazon

Rifle Paper Co. Memoir Notebook

This floral notebook from the distinctly feminine Rifle Paper Co. is  the perfect choice for lovers of design, color and kitsch.

Printed on linen-based paper, the 8.5″ by 6.25″ Memoir Notebook comes in five beautifully illustrated covers – Juliet Rose, Tapestry, Sun Print, Terracotta and Jardin de Paris – you can choose which of the bold colours to suit you. The 130 inside pages feature beautiful illustrations as well.

Price: $15, Amazon

Marco Polo My Way Travel Journal

This notebook from Marco Polo is actually part of a whole series of travel products in their My Way line – but this journal has to be our favorite of the lot.

Marco Polo have made taking notes of your journeys easy by including fun emoji stickers, a pocket for mementoes, and fill-in-the-blank guides and travel tips. By the time you’ve filled this book, you’ll have created your very own IRL infographic of your trip. Cool!

At 160 pages and 4.8″ x 7.2″, this notebook is smaller and lighter than some notebooks – and, super affordable!

Price: $3.44, Amazon

I Was Here: A Travel Journal for the Curious Minded

Making waves in all sections of the journaling world, I Was Here designs journals for the curious, prompting travellers to take in the big picture and all the small and meaningful details of their trip.

Inside, the book has all sorts of spaces for notes, spaces for local tips, addresses, and wacky pages where you’re encouraged to do things like start a collection of random convenience store-bought items from the countries you visit.

In a word, I Was Here is fun! It may not be the most practical travel journal out there, but it is a cute way to collect memories and remind even jaded travellers that stopping to smell the roses (or stare at the bugs) shouldn’t be something you leave behind on the road.

Price: $10.86, Amazon

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

So there you have it: those are our favorite travel journals for every kind of writer – but by no means the end of your options! Whether you’re buying for yourself or considering purchasing a travel journal as a gift, there’s lots to consider in the world of stationery.

From colourful covers and page prompts, to durability and simply whether or not pages are lined or blank, there are actually a surprising amount of factors that go into the decision making process.

Closure on journals is important, especially when they might be knocking around a suitcase or a backpack for longer stretches of time. If you don’t want your pages to get crumpled, and especially if you’re someone who likes to store mementos between the pages of your journal, a solid closure is a must.

Moleskine, for example, have that classic elastic band closre that keeps things safe and sound, whereas others come with a stylish leather or fabric bound tie that not only adds to the design detail but also means you’ll be able to slot things in between the pages.

The cover of a journal is pretty important. But first of all, what the cover of a travel journal is actually made out of will make a big difference as to what notebook you actually opt for.

Vegans will probably not want to go for a leather bound notebook, and may want to go for something like a fabric covered hardback book or more durable waterproof notebook instead.

If you’re open to leather, you’ll find it to be a durable option, and it will weather over the weeks, months and years to look worn and rustic.

You should also consider soft vs. hardcover – softcover is lighter, and easier to fit into a tightly-packed suitcase, but hardcover will give you a writing surface wherever you go. For something simple (and undoubtedly budget friendly), a card covered notebook or journal may be the best option for you.

What type of paper is used for the pages of a travel journal will also play a part in your decision making. It’s easy to think that paper is paper and that’s that, but in fact, there are many different types of paper for many different uses.

A thicker gsm of paper, for example, is something that’s more likely to be used in a sketchbook (90 gsm or higher), and is good if you don’t want permanent pens to bleed through, if you plan on painting, or sticking things in.

Then again, if you want something that’s a little more stylish and classic than bleached, white paper, then maybe more classy, cream-coloured pages will be what you want in your travel journal.

It’s also possible, as the Rite In The Rain brand shows, to have waterproof, weatherproof paper, in case you plan on writing in adverse weather conditions.

Essentially it comes down to what you will be doing on those pages: painting, sketching, doodling, making notes, or whatever. Consider the effect of your planned use will have on different sorts of paper and then make your choice.

4. What’s on the page?

Though in the past, travel journals were pretty simple affairs (either a spiral bound journalists’ notebook, a Midori-style travel journal or something similar), things are a little bit different now.

Even just a few years ago, pages only came either blank, ruled or squared. Nowadays, pages in travel journals sometimes come pre-decorated. This may be cool for some people, but for others it may feel like any pre-existing writing or illustration on the page takes away from your own memories.

Prompts in some books can be fun: they encourage you to make lists of things you otherwise wouldn’t have considered, like your favourite foods, favourite hotels, and even random convenience store items you find in the countries you visit. Other times, text on the page acts as a prompt to get you thinking, maybe even getting you to write something more in-depth than you were planning to.

All in all, the choice is whether you want a completely blank page to start with – which can be daunting for a lot of people – or if you want to be gently nudged into creating an awesome travel journal for yourself. Either way, though different, is totally legit.

It’s very simple and very basic, but this is going to be a pretty huge (no pun intended) deal when it comes to deciding exactly what travel journal you are going to purchase for yourself.

If you’re heading off on a year-long backpacking trip around the world and you feel like you’ve got your one bag travel down to a T, then you’re going to want something compact and light.

However, if you want to really get into creating a scrapbook-style travel journal full of memories, sketches and tickets, then you are going to want a big enough book to fit all of that in.

If your plan is to use your travel journal for things like city breaks and two week-long vacations – in which instance you may be using a suitcase – then you may not worry too much about the size, with room in a large suitcase for a larger travel journal, naturally.

Another thing to consider is what you’re going to look like if you feel like writing your travel journal in public. It may not be practical to be lugging around an A4 sized travel journal, or to get it out if you want to make note of the tiny cafe you’re in, or trying to write on a cramped seat on a train or bus. Compact in these cases may be a lot better!

6. Length of your trip

Next to size, when thinking about what sort of travel journal is going to be right for you, a lot of people often circle back to this factor: just how long is the trip?

The thing is, some travel journals are more geared up towards one single trip: a month in Thailand, two weeks exploring Italy, a six week long road trip through the USA. That sort of thing, in which case, you won’t be needing (or wanting) a zillion pages.

Other travel journals are for numerous trips, such as the lengthy options offered by Moleskine and Midori-style notebooks (the latter of which have no structure, and for which you can buy paper-only refills for the leather cover), mean that you can dip in and out, adding different details to your various adventures, referring back to past travels: a weekend in Berlin here, an epic hike in Nepal there.

Essentially, the fewer the pages, the more likely the travel journal in question will be good for a single, perhaps lengthy trip. For the serial travellers and backpackers out there, something longer and more permanent may be the travel journal for you.

7. Organization

No longer simple collections of pages between two hard (or soft) covers, the best travel journals of today sometimes boast a whole load of interior organization to help keep you and your trip on the right track.

From simply adding an interior pocket, where you can keep a few important tickets and pictures safe, to going all out and adding plenty of envelopes and places to slip in all manner of small, special physical memories from your travels, it can vary quite a bit.

But organization isn’t just about pockets. There are other things to think about, too. Some travel journals come complete with calendars, spaces for to-do lists, maps, itineraries and even packing tips. These kind of added extras mean that the journal turns into more of a planner all round scheduling.

Obviously. Money, money, money: it’s going to be a big factor in whether you choose to buy such and such a travel journal over another one. Let’s face it, you can’t buy what you can’t afford.

Even if you can afford it, $48 might just seem – to some people – like too much to ask for a travel journal. On the other hand, some people may not trust that a sub-$8 travel journal will be any good in terms of durability.

The fact of the matter is that cheap things can be surprisingly good, and expensive things can be surprisingly bad. When it comes to budget, it’s best to choose something mid-range that has good reviews and that meets the needs of what you’re looking for in a travel diary: don’t skimp out just because it’s $5 more than you wanted it to be. If it sounds like you, then treat yourself.

Still have some questions? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

Why should I get a travel journal?

Journaling during travels, whether that’s just for a couple of days or for weeks, is a great way to remember travel stories, clear your head and add some routine and structure to your day. It’s always great to look back on it once you finished your travels.

Which is the best leather travel journal?

These are our favorite leather journals: – Refillable Traveller’s Notebook by September Leather – Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company – Leather Journal by FOFUN

Do waterproof journals exist?

Yes they do! And the Rite In The Rain Notebook is one of the best. Each page is water repellent while the cover is fully waterproof.

What is the most minimalistic notebook?

We love the Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company for it’s simplicity, yet stylish design. It’s a leather notebook that is handmade in Chiang Mai.

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There you have it, budding Jack Kerouacs: the very best travel journals out there right now! With our list, you’re all set to venture out into the wide world, then pop in your headphones and record all your thoughts, feelings and observations like the explorer you are.

For the best, all-round travel journal out there, the Leather Journal by FOFUN is a great choice. This is a stylish, timeless sort of journal that’s going to be a good choice for anybody.

Then again, if you’re thinking of something a little less traditional, I Was Here – with its kooky prompts and quirky way of working – may be more what you’re looking for.

And if there’s something we’re missing the travel journal world, let us know in the comments!

Clair Cathryn

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Oh my gosh, I’m a sucker for a pretty journal! Can I document my travels in 3 or 4 of these?! ? Thanks so much for the killer suggestions.

100% you can use a number of these as travel journals, Deb!

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