dot travel journal

Savvy Travel Advice

14 Best Travel Journals for Travelers – Guide to Choosing the Perfect Travel Journal

Last updated: January 19, 2024 - Written by Jessica Norah 30 Comments

A travel journal can be a great way to record one’s memories and experiences while traveling. Laurence bought his first travel journal in 1999 to use on a trip to Namibia. I bought my first travel journal back in 2012 for a trip to France. We have both been keeping travel journals on most of our trips ever since.

Although I don’t do it often, I love re-reading my old travel journals. They bring back a lot of memories, and help me remember all the little things that happened that I may have forgotten, the good, the bad, and the hilarious.

I also find my old journals very useful in recording details, such as a guide’s name, the duration of a hike, or which restaurant we ate in during a trip which may not be something I can tell from a photo. This has helped us add details to travel blog posts, return to favorite spots, and give more specific travel advice to friends and family.

Over the years, we have used a lot of different journals for travel writing, from basic composition notebooks to custom handcrafted journals. We have used, gifted, and reviewed dozens of different types of journals.

This guide was written to help travelers find the best travel journal for them. Whether you are looking for a personal journal for an upcoming trip or looking for help in buying a travel journal as a gift, we’ll give you all the information you need to choose the best travel journal.

We’ll share what to look for when buying a travel journal, including things like size, page count, paper quality, closure types, and sustainability. Then we review a wide selection of different travel journals so that you can find one that suits your criteria, style, and budget.

Table of Contents:

14 Things to Consider When Buying a Travel Journal

Travel journals all have a lot in common, but there are also a number of differences. We’ll discuss the main factors you’ll want to consider when choosing a travel journal.

For many people, a journal for traveling is no different than a regular journal or diary. But there are things that may be more important to you for a journal that you take on a trip rather than one that stays next to your bed. These may include factors related to portability (size and weight) and durability (cover type, binding quality, closure type).

There is no perfect journal for travelers. My favorite travel journal is not necessarily the right one for you. Also the ideal journal may also depend on the type and length of your trip. A journal that is good for writing about short weekend trips may not work well on a month-long backpacking trip.

As you read this, I’d recommend making a list of the things that are most important to you in a journal. What size is right? What type of paper does it need to have? Do you want a guided or unguided journal? These notes can then help you narrow down the journals on our list and find the one that is perfect for you.

Journal Size

One of the more important factors to consider when buying a travel journal is its size or dimensions. The size of the journal that is best for you will depend on your needs.

For instance, someone who wants to be able to carry their journal in their back pocket or jacket is going to want a small journal. Those who plan to sketch or glue things onto pages (e.g., tickets, photos, flyers) of their journal may want to think about what size will be best suited to that.

I would recommend grabbing a book, journal, or piece of paper that you have handy at home and measuring them to get an idea of what size you prefer. You can fold or tear a piece of paper until you get the size that you think would be ideal, then you can search for journals with similar dimensions.

In most of the world, you likely see a lot of travel journals with sizing that says A5, A6, or B5 which are a standard size measured in millimeters. These are referring to the International Standard (ISO) paper sizes . For instance, A5 paper is 148 mm X 210 mm (5.8 inches X 8.3 inches).

However, if you are in North America or Central America, you are less likely to see journals advertised in ISO sizes. Countries such as the United States and Canada generally use North American paper sizes such as letter and legal paper sizes, which are measured in inches. You are much more likely to see journals that are designed to inch measurements, such as 5″ X 7″ or 7″ X 9″.

Generally if looking at measurements for journals, the first number will refer to the width and the second number refers to the height. So a 120mm X 170mm journal would be 120mm wide and 170mm high.

There is no “best” size for a travel journal, it just depends on your needs. I would just recommend not going any smaller than 3.5″ X 5″ or larger than A4 or letter-sized paper.

For some guidance from popular journal brands, Paperblanks has said its Mini (4″ X 5.5″) and Midi (5″ X 7″) sizes are the most popular. Moleskine has said that its brand’s “Pocket” (3.5″ X 5.5″) and “Large” (5″ X 8.25″) sizes are two of its most popular sizes. Leuchtturm1917 says its Classic A5 (5.75″ X 8″) and B5 (7″ X 10″) are two of its most popular sizes.

If you are looking for your first travel journal and have no idea what size to go for, I’d suggest either A5 (5.8 inches X 8.3 inches) or a “Mid-sized” one. So something that is approximately 5 inches X 7 inches (127 mm X 178 mm) to 6 inches X 8 inches (152 mm X 203 mm).

I have used a variety of journals of different sizes and tend to prefer more medium sized ones. We keep ours in our day bags or backpacks.

My current favorites are the Slim sized notebooks from Paperblanks which are 90 mm X 180 mm (3.54″ X 7″). Laurence typically uses the Midi sized ones which are 130 mm X 180 mm (5.1″ X 7″).

Journal Weight

Weight is another factor to consider when choosing a travel journal. The weight is going to be affected by the cover type, the number of pages, and the overall size of the journal. Generally, journals with hard covers are heavier than those with soft covers.

Note that most journal brands do not note the weight of their journals online or on the labeling. But most journals are designed to be lightweight and portable, so this is probably mostly a factor to consider for those wanting a larger sized journal.

The weight of a journal is going to be more important for those who are backpackers or light packers. Those looking for a more lightweight journal, should consider a soft cover journal that is smaller in size. A refillable journal may also be a good option as you can control the amount of paper in it.

Most standard or mid-sized journals are fairly lightweight so this is not normally a big factor of consideration for us. Our travel journals generally range between 150 grams to 400 grams (6 oz to 14 oz), with most of my journals being around 8 ounces or 230 grams.

Number of Pages

The number of pages you will want is going to depend on how much you write, the length of your trip, and the size of the journal pages. It is also good to think about whether you want a travel journal for a single trip or if you want one that will last for several trips.

The number of pages will affect the thickness and the overall weight of your journal. So we would generally recommend trying to keep the page count under 250 pages.

It is important to note the difference between sheets and pages. A sheet of paper has 2 sides that you can write on. So if you see a journal specification that says it has 96 sheets, this means it would have 192 pages. Most journals will just advertise the number of pages you can write on, but you do occasionally see it noted in sheets.

I generally write 3-5 pages per day, so if going on a 2-week trip, I’d want to make sure to have at least 70 pages. If going for a month, 150 pages. For instance, a 176-page Paperblanks Slim journal lasts me about a full month of travel.

If you are not sure how many pages you want in a journal, most journals contain between 120 and 200 pages. So I think any journal with a page count in that general range is probably a good place to start.

If you are going on a particularly long trip, say over 3 months in length, you might want to consider starting with one journal and then getting new journals along the way as you fill them up. You might want to mail home your completed journals (recommend backing them up digitally first through) to avoid lugging them around the world.

Type of Paper

The type of paper is something most people will want to consider when buying a journal. The main question for me would be how do I plan to use the journal. For example, you will likely want a different type of paper if you would like to use your journal for both sketching and writing versus someone who solely wants to be able to write in it.

Here are some of the things you might consider regarding the type and composition of the paper in a journal:

• Is the paper blank, lined, dotted/bulleted, or squared/graph paper?
• For lined/dotted/squared paper, does the spacing between lines or dots matter to you?
• Is it designed to be written on both sides of the pages (e.g., is both sides lined/dotted)?
• Is it smooth or textured?
• Is the paper acid-free? (acid-free paper ages better)
• Is it designed primarily for writing or sketching?
• What color is the paper?
• Is it made from wood or cotton?
• Is the paper made from a certified sustainable source (e.g., Forest Stewardship Council [FSC] certified)?
• Is it suitable for certain types of writing instruments such as fountain pens, pencils, or charcoal?
• Is the paper perforated?

Most journals are made of acid-free uncoated paper with a smooth texture that is designed to be used on both sides. Most paper used in made from wood pulp and is generally white, off-white, ivory, or cream in color.

Of all the above listed factors, the most important thing for most travelers is probably the type of page ruling in the journal (whether lined, dotted, blank, etc.). You probably already have a preference for the type of paper you write on. For example, I always choose journals with lined paper.

Note that a dotted, dot grid, and bullet journal are generally all referring to the same type of paper. Similarly, graph, grid, and squared paper are generally referring to the same type of paper.

The other thing you should consider is the type of writing instrument you plan to use. If using a regular ballpoint pen (the most common type), most journals should work just fine. Those with gel pens or fountain pens may want a slightly heavier than usual paper to avoid the ink going through the pages.

Those wanting to use pencils or draw with charcoal may prefer more textured paper. Those planning to use watercolor will need much thicker paper.

I would recommend avoiding notebooks with perforated paper unless you definitely plan to tear out pages. Perforated paper is much more likely to tear and come out of your journal.

I personally only use my journal for writing and strongly prefer lined paper. All of my travel journals have lined smooth acid-free paper that is designed to be written on both sides. But some people may prefer unlined paper or bullet journals; it really just depends on how you plan to use your journal.

Paper Quality

There are different things that you can look at in terms of evaluating paper quality such as the material, weight, thickness, finish, grain, etc. The majority of these things are not going to be that important to most people.

The paper used in travel journals is almost always made from wood pulp, but you might also see some premium journals or handmade journals using cotton or linen paper.

The main thing to look at when assessing page quality is the weight of the paper which is typically measured in grams per square meter and may be denoted as the gsm, g/m², or g/sq m. This is the most common indicator of paper quality that is provided to consumers.

Note that in North America you’ll likely come across the U.S. paper basis system where paperweight is measured in lbs (such as 70lb or 70#). But normally measurements are also given in the metric gsm as well. For example, 70lb paper is typically equal to about 100 gsm.

As you look at journals, you’ll notice a fairly wide range of paper weights from about 60 gsm to 140 gsm. I would recommend looking for a journal with paper between 70 gsm and 120 gsm.

Note that the size of the journal can affect the paperweight with thinner paper often used in smaller journals. For example, the smaller sized Paperblanks journals often have 85 gsm paper whereas the larger ones have 120 gsm paper.

For most people, the gsm of the paper isn’t going to matter very much. But if you plan to use a fountain pen, marker, etc. then the paperweight and type is going to be much more important. For example with a fountain pen, heavier weight papers are generally better able to resist feathering, ghosting, and bleeding.

We have had journals with a range of paperweights, from 70 gsm to 120 gsm, with most being around 85 gsm. On most of our journals, we have just written with various ballpoint pens and had no issues.

I also have a Platinum #3776 Century fountain pen and it seems to perform fine on most paper in this weight range but it can vary. The biggest factor seems to be how smooth the paper is, as the pen generally does better on smoother paper.

Fountain pens users may want to read reviews by fellow fountain pens users to judge performance of any particularl journal. However, the way that a fountain pen will perform on a specific journal will depend not only on the paper, but also on your specific ink, nib, and the pressure applied during writing.

Bound Journal Versus Refillable Journal

Most travel journals are bound, but another option to consider is a refillable journal system. These are where you purchase a journal cover that normally comes with a closure, replaceable paper inserts, and rubber bands to affix the inserts. You can then purchase additional paper inserts as you need them.

The refillable paper inserts are typically affixed inside using an elastic or rubber band, a cord, or a ring binder. Most refillable journals are designed to hold a total of 3 compatible paper inserts.

As you would expect with refillable journals, the paper inserts are not going to be as durable as a bound book. These inserts are often bound using saddle stitching and/or staples. But if you are just using these for one trip and then storing them at home, this is probably not that important to you.

Although a refillable journal is typically more expensive than a bound journal, they tend to be less expensive over time versus buying a new bound journal for each trip. They can also be a more sustainable option if you keep using the same cover and just replace the paper inserts. They also allow you to have the same journal cover and writing experience for a long time.

Investing in a refillable journal is probably best for people who already know they enjoy journaling, know the size of journal they prefer, and know the type of journal they like. You don’t want to invest in a system you are not sure you are going to like.

Another benefit of refillable journals is that you easily personalize them and change the type of paper you are using. With many brands, you can also add things like folders, pouches, pen loops, decorative charms, etc.

A couple of popular brands making refillable journals are The Traveler’s Company (Midori) and Wanderings . Most brands use leather covers but you can also find faux leather covers out there as well. You just want the material to be durable enough to last through years of wear and tear from traveling.

If you decide on a refillable journal, things to consider are the quality/durability of the cover, extra features (e.g., pockets, ribbon, etc.), and the availability of correctly-sized paper options for your chosen journal. You’ll also want to check to see how the paper refills are inserted and check to see if it will lie completely flat when you write in it.

Journal Binding

If you are planning to buy a bound journal, you will want to consider how the journal is bound. The journal binding can affect the durability of your journal. It can also affect how it opens, such as whether you can open and lie it down completely flat or not.

There are a lot of different book binding methods and the options available may depend on the type of cover (soft versus hard cover) and the thickness of the journal. Common journal binding methods include Smyth sewn binding, case binding, glue binding, spiral binding, and saddle stitch binding.

For many people, the type of journal binding may not be very important as most people just want to make sure that their journal is strong enough to last the duration of their trip.

But if you are wanting something more durable, I recommend journals that have been bound using Smyth sewing. This is considered the best type of binding in terms of quality and durability. But these journals are also a little more expensive than ones that have been bound using other techniques.

Smyth sewn means that groups of folded pages have been stitched together with binder thread, and then multiple groups are joined together. This makes it more durable than those that have just been glued for instance and it is much less likely that pages will come out. It also allows for the book to be opened completely flat.

If you don’t like the Smyth sewn bound journals or are looking for something a bit less expensive, you might look at a good quality spiral-bound or coil-bound notebook. These are usually fairly inexpensive, lie flat, and the pages won’t fall out. However, spiral notebooks tend not to be designed as travel journals (often they are designed for school or work use, an exception being the Write it Down journals ) and often don’t have any type of closures, but you can create your own binding with a piece of elastic.

The type of bound journals I generally avoid are those bound using only glue, staples, or basic stitching. These tend not to be that durable and you may have an issue with the pages coming out, especially for the ones where pages are just glued to the spine. But if you are going on a short trip or just need something to jot notes in, these will work just fine.

Journal Closure

Another thing to consider is whether you want a journal with a closure or not, and if so, what type of closure you prefer. I would strongly recommend having some kind of way to close your travel journal. This will help protect the pages and binding of your journal from getting bent, torn, or soiled. If you plan to shove your journal into your backpack or purse on your trip, we’d definitely recommend one with a closure.

Probably the most common type of closure for a journal is an elastic band that stretches lengthwise over the journal to keep it closed when not in use. Other types of closures include magnetic wrap, magnetic strap, snap, metal clasp, leather strap, hook, button wrap, and ribbon tie closures. The more creative ones, such as ribbon ties and button wraps, are more typical on handmade journals.

The type of closure may or may not be important to you. I always buy a travel journal with a closure; however, I don’t have a strong preference for a specific type of closure. I have used travel journals with a variety of closures, including magnetic strap, metal clasp, elastic band, and magnetic wrap. All of these worked fine. My favorites are probably the magnetic strap and metal clasp ones.

The only issue that I have found with elastic band closures, which are very common, is that they can with use over time lose their stretch and/or wear little grooves into the edges of the cover. These are minor issues but something to consider if planning to use the same journal for a longer period.

Note that many guided travel journals don’t come with a closure for some reason. So if you are looking for a guided journal and you want a closure, be sure to check the description carefully.

If you have a notebook or journal you like, but it doesn’t have any type of closure you could consider adding one. For example, some companies like Midori Traveler’s Company and Wanderings sell replacement closure straps for their journals that might work for your journal. Or if you have some DIY skills, you could consider adding an elastic band, ribbon, or magnetic closure of your own. For example, this is a DIY video of someone adding an elastic closure to a hardcover Wire-O bound journal.

When choosing a travel journal, another feature you might consider is the type of cover. The main two options are a softcover or hardcover journal.

A softcover journal is generally lighter, more flexible. and slimmer, whereas hardcover journals are generally sturdier, heavier, and thicker. Hardcover journals generally allow for more pages for those looking for journals with a lot of pages.

Most popular journal brands such as Moleskine, Paperblanks, and Leuchtturm offer both softcover and hardcover journals. For example, Moleskine offers a selection of both softcover and hardcover journals. Most of their hard covers are made of polypropylene, while the soft covers are made of polyurethane.

Covers can be made of a variety of materials including binder’s board (chipboard), plastic, cardboard, kraft paper, leather, and cork.

Leather journals (or vegan alternatives) are a popular choice for refillable journals as they tend to be both durable and age well.

Unguided Versus Guided Journals

A guided journal is a journal that includes prompts, questions, or exercises of some kind to inspire and encourage one’s writing. An unguided journal is just full of blank pages for people to free write as they wish.

Most people use just a regular journal or notebook as a travel journal. But you can also get journals that are designed exclusively to be used as a travel journal and include things like travel-related writing prompts, questions, quotes, and trip planning exercises.

If this is your first journal experience, you might enjoy things like writing prompts and lists that can help guide your writing and help you get into the habit of daily writing. They can also help make sure that you remember to write about all the different aspects of your trip.

Some of the really focused travel journals may come with a lot of specific travel-related features like memento pouches, waterproof covers, maps, packing lists, planning checklists, etc. So they can also be used for planning activities before your trip.

Some examples of guided travel journals include the Everywhere You Go Journal , the Promptly Minimalist Journal , the Duncan & Stone Journal, the Clever Fox Planner & Journal , the Write it Down journals , and the One Line Voyage Travel Planner & Journal .

Most journals designed for kids and teens are also guided and generally include a lot of exercises and activities in them as well.

I personally just use regular unguided journals as my travel journals as these allow me as much space as possible to just write. So if you are someone who writes a lot and likes to write about whatever topic comes to mind, you’ll probably want to avoid these types of journals. But if you are someone who is new to journaling, these can be a great first journal.

Travel journals are sold at a wide variety of price points, from a few dollars to over $50. You’ll pay more for premium refillable journal systems, handmade journals (particularly those with leather covers), and personalized journals. Guided journals also tend to be more expensive than unguided.

Price will depend primarily on the type and quality of the materials used, the binding method, the size of the journal, where it is manufactured, and any included personalization

You don’t need to pay a lot for a travel journal. Most of the journals we have used over the years have fallen in the $10 to $20 range, although inflation has been driving up prices. The last journal I bought cost me about $16.

But I’ve also used a simple composition notebook that cost a few dollars on one trip. If you have a small budget, don’t worry too much about finding a fancy journal, just find something that is the right size and has the kind of paper you want. The most important thing is that you have something that you can and will write in during your travels.

For instance, if you have a small budget you can get a school notebook or memo pad for a few dollars. Field Notes is a great USA-based brand focused on selling packs of pocket-sized notebooks at good prices. You can easily find basic journals for under $10 at a local store or online such as the Amazon Basics Journal .

Paying more for a journal sometimes results in better quality, but sometimes not as more well-known brands can charge more than less popular brands for similar quality. So we definitely recommend paying attention to the details if you are looking for something a bit nicer.

Sustainability

There are a lot of factors you might consider when it comes to evaluating a brand’s sustainability. These might include the materials used to produce the journal, where its products are manufactured, where its products are shipped, the company’s ethos, the staff working conditions at the company, whether the journal is reusable or recyclable, the journal’s durability, etc.

You’ll have to do your own research on a specific brand, some brands are very transparent whereas others provide very little public information regarding their sustainability practices. Some brands that specifically market themselves as being more sustainable are Dingbats , Karst (a B Corp), Rocketbook (reusable), and Field Notes .

One factor will depend on where you are based. If you are based in the USA for instance, a journal made of American materials and manufactured in the USA, such as those by Field Notes , is likely going to be more sustainable than one that is produced in Europe or Asia. See the next section on country of origin for some tips on finding brands produced in your own country.

Refillable journals would also likely be more sustainable over time than a bound journal as you can keep using the same cover for many years. You just need to replace the paper refills rather than the whole journal. You would just want to make sure the cover is well-made and durable so it will last for a long time.

For those looking for vegan travel journals, many journals are not vegan due to either the glue or dye used or the use of leather as part of the cover or binding. Even many companies that sell faux leather journals are not fully vegan (due to glues, inks, or dyes).

However, there are still several vegan-friendly journal options out there. Dingbats and Scribbles That Matter , for example, are two brands that only produce vegan-friendly journals. So if you are vegan or buying a journal as a gift for a vegan, I’d check out those two brands first.

Country of Origin

Travel journals are made in countries around the world with many being produced in China since it is cheap to manufacture products there. If you are concerned about quality control, sustainability, working conditions, or carbon footprint, you may want to pay attention to where products are made and from where they are shipped. Some companies even provide details of their whole supply chain.

If you have a hard time finding where a product is made on a journal description or company website, it is typically made in China. Some companies will use phrases like “British design” or “Italian heritage” but this typically just means their products are designed in Europe but are actually produced in China.

For example, while a lot of companies are based in North America or Europe (e.g., Moleskine, Paperblanks, Leuchtturm1917), most manufacture their journals in China and/or Taiwan. This also goes for smaller more “indie” brands like BaronFig, Scribbles That Matter, Archer & Olive, and Beechmore Books, which all produce their journals in China.

It can be difficult to find a journal produced in one’s own country or region, but here are some journal brands listed by where they produce their products (to the best of my knowledge) to help get you started:

• United States : Field Notes , Write it Down , Appointed , Leather and Earth Co ., Roaring Spring , and Word. journals are made in the USA.
• United Kingdom : Bespoke Bindery , Pink Pig , The Stamford Notebook Co ., Billy Tannery , and Citrus Book Bindery make their journals in the UK.
• Canada :  MacLellan Books and Ecojot produce their journals in Canada.
• Germany : Nuuna and X17   both manufacture their journals in Germany.
• France/Morocco : Rhodia journals are made in France (although it appears their Webnotebooks are currently being made in Morocco but still use the French Clairefontaine paper)
• Italy : Epica , Ciak , and Belcraft produce their journals in Italy.
• Australia : Notely makes their notebooks in Australia.
• Turkey : Dingbats journals is based in Lebanon but journals are currently made in Turkey
• Japan : Midori MD journals, and those of their subsidiary The Traveler’s Company.  are made in Japan (leather covers made in Thailand).
• Nepa l: The Kathmandu Valley Co makes its journals in Nepal.
• Any Country : Try Etsy to find homemade journals and notebooks produced in your own country or region. You can filter by shop location and then research where it is made.

The above is by no means a comprehensive list of journal brands, and if you have a brand of journals you’d like to recommend that is manufactured in your own country, feel free to leave us a comment.

Other Travel Journal Features

There are a lot of other features you might see on different travel journals. Some are just general journal features and some are specifically tailored to travel journals.

Some common features that you may see are attached ribbon markers, interior pockets or folders, rounded corners, pen loops, foldouts, writing prompts, stickers, waterproof covers, memento pouches, travel or packing lists, etc.

• Ribbon bookmarks
• Interior pockets or folders
• Rounded corners
• Numbered Pages
• Daily writing prompts
• Waterproof covers
• Travel info / maps
• Travel packing lists

One nice design feature can be rounded corners, as these are designed to protect the cover and pages from wear and tear compared to sharp corners. Rounded corners are common in travel journals; most journals produced by popular brands Moleskine and Leuchtturm1917 have rounded corners.

Some of the really focused travel journals come with a lot of specific travel-related features like maps, memento pouches, waterproof covers, travel specific writing prompts, packing lists, etc.

For me, the only feature of the above that I always look for is an attached bookmark ribbon to keep my place in the journal during a trip. Other features can be nice but are not must-haves for me.

14 Best Travel Journals 

Below is our list of 14 different travel journals and notebooks. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, styles, price points, and countries of origin. All can be purchased online.

We are fairly certain that most people will be able to find the perfect travel journal for them on this list!

These 14 travel journals are listed in no particular order.

1. Moleskine Classic Journal

Moleskine is one of the best-known journal brands, particularly for travel journals. Most Moleskine journals feature rounded corners, a ribbon bookmark, an expandable inner pocket, and an elastic band closure. The journals are Smyth-sewn and bound to be able to lie flat.

The journals are available in both hardcover and softcover versions, with a choice of blank, lined, squared, or dotted paper, and in a number of colors. They come in a wide range of sizes from XS (2.5 inches X 4.25 inches) to XXL (8.5 inches X 11 inches). Most Moleskine journals come with ivory-colored 70 gsm acid-free paper.

Don’t worry, no moles were harmed in making these journals! Most of Moleskin’s hard covers are made of polypropylene, while the soft covers are made of polyurethane. They also offer more expensive leather-covered and silk-covered versions of the Classic Journal.

The regular Moleskine Classic Journals have 192 pages, but the expanded versions have 400 pages. So be sure to double check if you are concerned about weight or number of pages.

In addition to their original Classic collection, Moleskine also offers a wide range of other journal options, including journal collections designed for those who want to sketch, draw, and/or watercolor. They have also released a number of limited editions and collaborative notebooks.

Moleskine journals are designed in Italy and most are manufactured in either China or Taiwan.

A lot of people think it is a heritage brand with a long history, but it was actually introduced in 1997 by the Italian company Modo & Modo. The name was inspired by the type of journals that English travel writer Bruce Chatwin used which he called “carnets moleskine” in his book The Songlines .

Chatwin specifically used small notebooks bound with black shiny oilcloth covers which were wrapped in an elastic band. He also notes that he used squared paper. According to Moleskine founder Francesco Franceschi, many famous writers and artists used these “moleskine” type little notebooks, including Ernest Hemingway, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. These notebooks were produced in France and purchased in paper stores in Paris.

While the modern versions are certainly not the same thing, the version that was inspired by these 19th and 20th century journals of Chatwin and others is the Moleskine Classic notebook line. The closest to Chatwin’s journal would probably be the black softcover pocket-sized Moleskine journal with squared pages.

Due to their popularity, Moleskine journals receive both a lot of praise and criticism. Probably one of the biggest criticisms is that they use a fairly low paperweight (70 gsm) compared to their main rival Leuchtturm1917 (80 gsm to 100 gsm on their classic journal). This means a bit less quality, but it does mean a more lightweight journal and they are able to sell them at a lower price than Leuchtturm1917.

My personal opinion is that they are good journals and perfectly fine for most people to use as a travel journal. They are decent quality, lightweight, readily available (both online and in stores), and come in a variety of colors, sizes, and styles.

One of the great things about Moleskine is they are widely available in many bookstores and stationery stores, at least in Europe and North America. This means you may be able to easily go check them out in person and although color choices and sizes are usually limited in stores, the most popular ones are usually kept in stock.

If you are considering a Moleskine travel journal, but are not sure which to try, I would recommend starting with one of their regular Classic Notebook ones . You can then choose between a softcover or hardcover and the type of paper you prefer. If unsure of which size to get, Moleskine has said that it brand’s “Pocket” (3.5″ X 5.5″ | 9 cm X 14 cm) and “Large” (5″ X 8.25″ | 13 cm X 21 cm) sizes are two of its most popular sizes.

I’ve personally used both a large Classic soft cover (Large size, lined paper, 192 pages) and a medium Classic hardcover (Medium, lined paper, 208 pages) journal in two recent trips, which both happened to be to Italy. Both worked well as journals, but my clear favorite was the medium lined hardcover journal—I liked both the hardcover and the slightly smaller size.

Price:  Check the  latest prices here

2. Leuchtturm1917 Classic Journal

Leuchtturm1917 is another popular journal brand; it is based in Germany. The brand first released its journals in 2005, although the company’s history loosely dates back to 1917 when it began printing coin and stamp books under the brand KaBe.

Leuchtturm1917 journals are Smyth sewn and feature rounded corners, an expandable inner pocket, and an elastic band closure. A few features that the brand is known for are its numbered pages (most journals come with page numbers, some feature dates), 2 attached book markers, table of contents page, stickers for labeling and archiving, and having some perforated sheets at the back of each notebook that are easy to remove if needed.

The buff-colored paper in the Classic journals ranges between 80 gsm and 100 gsm, depending on the size of the journal. The heavier paper is used in the larger sized journals. Available paper choices are blank, lined, squared, or dotted.

The Leuchtturm1917 Classic journals come in several sizes from Pocket (A6, 9 cm X 15 cm | 3.5″ X 6″) to Master (A4+, 22.5 cm X 31.5 cm | 8.8 inches X 12 inches). Its most popular sized notebook is its Medium A5 (5.75″ X 8″).

Both hardcover and softcover journals are available, but the availability depends on the journal size. Some sizes are only available with one type of cover. Their main hardcover journal covers are made of acrylic paper and their soft covers are made from polyurethane.

Note that the page count in Leuchtturm1917 journals depends on both the journal size and whether they have a hard cover or soft cover. For example, the Classic A5 journal in the soft cover format has 123 pages and the hard cover format has 251 pages.

They come in a rainbow of colors with a wider array of color choices than many other brands. I believe the Classic journals are available in 24 colors in total, but not in every size or color type. You’ll need to shop online to find the full color range.

In addition to their classic notebooks, they also have a range of bullet journals, change journals, sketch journals, and limited editions. Their “Official Bullet Journals” have been popular in recent years with the bullet journal (BuJo) community.

Leuchtturm1917 journals are designed in Germany, and made in Taiwan and China.

The brand launched its journals in 2005 to compete with brands like Moleskine. So many of the features between the two brands are similar. Differences include the extra bookmark, heavier paperweight, page numbering, archival stickers, and more color options. The heavier paperweight is often a feature preferred by fountain pen users. But Moleskine notebooks are generally a little more lightweight than Leuchtturm1917 (and sometimes less expensive); they are also easier to find in certain parts of the world.

If you are considering a Leuchtturm1917 and not sure which to try, I’d probably recommend starting with the Classic A5 journal. It is available with either a hard cover or soft cover, with 4 paper choices, and lots of color options.

One thing I don’t love about the Leuchtturm1917 notebooks is that the number of pages and size options vary by cover types. So a softcover and hardcover journal of the same size will probably have a different number of pages. So just be sure you check the page count if you are considering various options.

I think Leuchtturm1917 journals are nice journals and are likely to work well for most people wanting a travel journal. If you are trying to decide between a Moleskine and one of these, the paper is a bit nicer than that in the Moleskine Classic journals and they offer a few more features, but the differences are not likely to make a huge difference to most people.

3. Paperblanks Journals

Paperblanks is another popular brand of journals and notebooks. The company was founded in Vancouver, Canada in 1992. In 2022, it became part of the Hachette UK publishing group.

Paperblanks journals are all Smyth-sewn and use acid-free ivory paper. The paper weight used varies from 85 gsm to 120 gsm, depending on the journal size and type. The majority of journals contain a bookmark ribbon (some contain two) and an inside memento pouch. Most of the journals contain either lined or unlined (blank) paper, but they do have a few options for dot grid or gridded (squared) paper.

Paperblanks is unique in that there is no “classic journal” in their collection, and they don’t really make any plain-looking journals. They are much more focused on the journal’s cover designs and many are an homage to old manuscripts, artists, or writers. They also offer a variety of journal styles, sizes, and closure types.

So I think with Paperblanks, the first thing to decide is what size you like, and then whether you prefer a softcover or hardcover journal. That will then narrow down your choices so you can see the available designs.

The sizes of Paperblanks journal range from Micro (7 cm X 9 cm | 2.75″ x 3.625″) to Grande (21 cm x 30 cm | 8.25″ x 11.75″), so most people should be able to find a size that suits them. If you are looking for a “standard travel journal” size, I’d recommend their Midi sized journals .

The page count varies depending on the size and design, but most Paperblanks journals contain between 144 pages and 208 pages.

Paperblanks journals are designed in Canada and made in China.

Personally, I love their hardcover Slim sized journals and Laurence prefers either the Mini or the Midi. The Slim size format, which I really like, has led to me buying a lot of these journals over the years as this size of journal is not common. I also enjoy their old manuscript designs over the more plain designs of most journals.

If you are having trouble finding Paperblanks journals available in person or online in your area, we’d also recommend checking out similar journal designs by Peter Pauper Press . These journals are easier to find in North America whereas Paperblanks are easier to find in Europe.

4. Rhodia Webnotebooks

Rhodia is a French brand that has been selling paper products since 1934. The company was acquired in 1997 by Clairefontaine which has been making paper at its own mill since 1858 and stationery products since 1890.

While not as well known as some of the other brands on this list, Rhodia is a brand that is often recommended to fountain pen users and those wanting a journal with high-quality smooth paper. Their most well-known product is the Rhodia Webnotebooks, also affectionately known by users as “Webbies”.

The Rhodia Webnotebooks are Smyth-sewn and feature 90 gsm ivory acid-free Clairefontaine paper, rounded corners, an inner pocket, a ribbon marker, and an elastic band closure. Each has 192 pages (96 sheets), and is available with a choice of blank, lined, or dot grid paper.

The classic Rhodia Webbies are hardcover notebooks with a faux leather black and orange cover. However, they now offer hardcover Webnotebooks with a variety of cover color choices as part of their Rhodiarama range.

The Webbies come in two main sizes: Pocket size (A6) which is 9.5 cm X 14 cm (3.5 inches X 5 inches) and the larger size (A5) which is 14.5 cm X 21 cm (5.5 inches X 8.25 inches).

In addition to the Rhodia Webnotebooks, Rhodia makes a variety of other types of journals, writing pads, and notebooks. These include softcover journals, wire-bound notebooks, pocket memo pads, calligraphy pads, etc. The brand Clairefontaine is well known in France for its quality school notebooks.

Rhodia journals are designed and made in France using Clairefontaine paper. Many of the Rhodia products are made in the Alsace region. However, some of their journals, including the last Webnotebook I bought, are now made in Morocco but still use the French paper.

Rhodia journals can be more difficult to find in stores outside of Europe, so I would recommend looking online.

These are nice quality notebooks with smooth paper, and the Webbies are often recommended to those wanting to write with a fountain pen. Those who enjoy smaller journals will likely want to try one of the pocket A6 size Webbies and those wanting a more typical travel journal size will likely want to try one of the A5 size Webnotebooks .

5. Amazon Basics Classic Journal

If you like the classic simple design of a Moleskine journal but not the price, consider a Amazon Basics Classic Journal. It has many of the same features as the Moleskine journal but comes at a significantly lower price, usually priced under $10.

The Amazon Basic journal has a hard cover with off-white, acid-free paper and rounded corners. It is bound to lie flat and it has 80 gsm paper and 240 pages (120 sheets).

Simple design but does include a black elastic band closure, an attached bookmark ribbon, and an expandable paper pocket in back. Available with lined/ruled, blank (classic), and grid paper options.

It comes in one main size of 5 inches X 8.25 inches (close to an A5 size) and comes in several different colors. Amazon journals are made in China.

So compared to my Moleskine classic hardcover with ruled paper, the Amazon Basics journal has many of the same features such as rounded corners, elastic closure, back pocket, and ribbon bookmark. It has the same number of pages as the Moleskine Classic Large hardcover journal. The Amazon one has darker lines and says it has 80 gsm paper (versus 70 gsm in Moleskine). So there are many reasons to recommend the Amazon one.

Now the price difference does mean that the quality isn’t quite the same. The Moleskine cover does feel nicer and “softer”, seems to be better constructed, and the Moleskine includes a “In Case of Loss” page in the front. So if you value the feel and construction, the Moleskine is definitely nicer and feels and looks more premium. You also get a lot more choices in the size, color, and cover in a Moleskine.

However, if you like the style, size, and color options of the Amazon Basic journals, then there is little question that it is a good value buy in comparison to the Moleskine. I am currently using an Amazon journal for daily notes and keep it in my backpack or purse, and it has been a good journal so far.

The Amazon Basics Classic Journal is a great budget buy if you are looking for a simple hardcover journal. It can be purchased online directly from Amazon.

Price:  Check the  latest price here

6. Field Notes Journals

Field Notes is an American brand that specializes in pocket-sized notebooks and memo pads. If you are looking for a pocket-friendly journal or looking for a journal made in the USA, this is a brand to consider.

Field Notes started in 2007 and was inspired by the simple 20th century agricultural field notebooks used by farmers across rural America. Field Notes staple product is a pocket-sized memo book with a kraft brown cover.

The Original Kraft memo book measures 3-1/2″ wide by 5-1/2″ tall (89 mm X 140 mm), uses 90 gsm acid-free bright white paper, is bound by a rugged saddle stitching and three staples, has rounded corners, and has a kraft brown cover. They are available with blank, lined, or squared paper. Each memo book contains 48 pages and are typically sold in packs of 3.

These pocket-sized memo books are probably better suited to those who prefer to jot down notes rather than to write out long daily journal entries. Although these little memo pads can still be great for short trips even for those who tend to write a lot. For those looking for a more traditionally sized travel journal, you can check out some of the other options from Field Notes.

Field Notes are known for their limited edition covers and designs that change regularly. They also now offer a much wider variety of memo book and notebooks with a variety of covers, sizes, and styles. These include larger sized formats, wire flip notebooks, waterproof editions, perforated notebooks, and notebooks designed for left-handed writers.

If you are looking for a more durable or larger journal that is more like a typical travel journal, I’d check out their Field Notes Pitch Black Note Books which have sturdier black covers. These are offered in the regular pocket size in 3-packs with each containing 48 pages. They are also offered in a larger size at 4.75 inches X 7.5 inches (121 mm X 191 mm) and sold in packs of 2, each containing 64 pages.

Adventure travelers may also be interested in their durable and waterproof Expedition Edition notebooks. These feature a waterproof and durable hi-vis cover and synthetic waterproof paper.

All Field Notes brand products are printed and manufactured in the USA. The company provides some of the most detailed information I’ve seen for a company about its materials, printing, and manufacturing process.

If you are looking for simple, lightweight, smaller notebooks, these are a great option to consider. They are also very budget-friendly as you can get a 3-pack for under $15. If you are a fan of Field Notes regular kraft memo notebooks, you can get a journal cover case to help protect them when traveling.

I’d also recommend Field Notes if you are looking for a brand that prints and manufactures all its journals in the USA. These are mainly sold online and can be hard to find outside of North America.

7. Midori Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebooks

Midori started making paper and stationery products in Japan back in 1950. In 2006, they released their Traveler’s Notebook, a refillable travel journal, and it became very popular. In 2015, they changed the brand name of these travel notebooks from Midori to Traveler’s Company.

The Traveler’s Notebook is essentially a reusable leather cover with replaceable rubber band connectors, elastic and metal clasp, and paper notebooks. Each journal also comes with a cotton storage bag. The Traveler’s Notebook is designed to last for a very long time and all the elements are repairable or replaceable.

Each Traveler’s Notebook comes with one paper journal insert. The inserts are saddle stitched and each contains 64 pages. Paper inserts are available in a variety of paper types including blank, lined, squared/grid, watercolor, kraft, sketch, calendar, and thin paper. It depends on the insert but the paperweight of the paper inserts is normally 80 gsm.

The paper inserts can be replaced and changed out, and you can use a variety of different inserts at once if you wish. Depending on the insert, you can fit up to 5, but most people report using 2-3 inserts at once.

The Midori Traveler’s Notebook comes in two sizes: Regular and Passport. The Regular size is 120mm X 220mm (4.7 inches X 8.7 inches) and they also have a smaller Passport size which is 98mm X 134mm (3.9 inches X 5.3 inches). The leather covers come in a several different colors.

The company also sells a number of accessories you can add to personalize your Traveler’s Notebook. These include pen loops, kraft envelopes, zipper pockets, cases, stickers, charms, etc.

The products are designed and made in Japan. The MD paper is made in Japan. The leather covers are made in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I personally got a Traveler’s Notebook for the first time only last year to try it out since I had heard so much about it. I have the regular sized one in the dark brown (tea color) . It came with a dust cover, band, and a blank paper insert. I have since purchased several lined paper inserts, a craft folder, a zippered case, and a band refill set.

Overall, I really love my Traveler’s Notebook. I like the feel of the leather cover, the paper is good quality, and I like being able to personalize what I put into the journal. The downsides have been that the Regular size is a bit larger than the journal I typically choose (and the Passport smaller) and I wish they had more size options. It has also been hard to find and buy some of the accessories (they are often sold out).

There have been a lot of copycat products of the Midori Travel Company’s Traveler’s Notebooks. So if you want this specific product, be careful to check product descriptions and photos carefully to ensure it is actually from this Japanese company.

Note that Midori has gone through a lot of company name changes and now has multiple brand names which can be confusing. But The Traveler’s Company, Midori, and MD Paper are part of the same overall company which is now called Designphil.

8. Wanderings Refillable Journals

Now, the success of Midori’s Traveler’s Journal (discussed above) has spawned a number of similar products, often competing at a lower price than the Japanese brand. Wanderings is one such company which is based in the USA and has been around since at least 2016. The company mainly sells its products online via Amazon.

The Wanderings travel journals have a full-grain leather cover that comes with replaceable rubber bands to hold inserts and an elastic and leather closure band. The covers are made of Crazy Horse cow leather and come in a few different color options. Each comes with the company’s compass rose logo on the front.

Some of the covers also have pockets that can be used to hold money, paper, credit cards, passport, etc.

Each notebook cover is designed to hold up to 3 refillable inserts. The replaceable paper inserts contain 100 gsm paper and are available with lined, blank, dotted, scrapbooking, calendar, or squared (graph) paper. The inserts are easily added and removed and secured using elastic bands.

The total number of pages varies based on journal size, but each journal is designed to hold between 180 to 240 pages (90 to 120 sheets) in total.

The Midori Traveler’s Company inserts and Wanderings refillable paper inserts are interchangeable and can be used in either brand’s journals of the same size.

The journals are available in several sizes: Pocket/Passport (4″ X 5.1″ / 9cm X 12.5cm), A6 (4″ X 5.7″ / 10.5cm X 15cm), Regular (4.5″ X 8.5″ / 11cm X 22cm), A5 (6″ X 8.5″ / 15cm X 22cm), and Grande (7.5″ X 11″ / 19cm X 28cm).

There are also the Wanderings 6-ring binder journals that come in various sizes and are very similar to the folio ones above except the paper inserts are kept in place inside by a set of 6 metal binder rings instead of elastic bands. The binders come with 120gsm paper inserts, internal pockets, and a pen loop.

Most of the Wanderings products are made in China. Although the owner notes that some of the products are also made in India.

if you are looking for a refillable leather journal, the design of the Wanderings travel journals is very similar to the Traveler’s Journals from The Traveler’s Company. Some people prefer one to the other in terms of design and quality. Some advantages of the Wanderings version is that they are less expensive, easier to purchase outside of Japan, and are available in more sizes.

For those looking for a similar refillable journal that is not made of leather, check out the refillable faux leather journals called Atlas Journals made by Tribute Products.

9. Guided Travel Journals with Prompts

If you are new to journaling and/or traveling, you may prefer a travel journal that gives you some writing prompts, asks questions, and gives suggestions for writing topics. These guided travel journals can also make nice gifts for someone who is new to traveling.

Travel themed prompts often ask about what you’ve seen, the weather, your transportation methods, people you met, food you tried, new words you’ve learned, best/worst experiences, etc. Many of these journals also leave room for drawing, sketching, pasting mementos, and adding photos.

Some journals also contain a planning section that can be used for pre-trip planning such as packing lists, maps, budget sheets, safety tips, etc. These can be used to help you plan out your itinerary, accommodation, budget, transportation, etc. Just note that planners tend to have fewer pages for actual journaling.

There are a lot of travel journals with prompts, and when searching you’ll often see them listed as guided travel journals or travel journals with daily prompts.

Here is a list of popular travel journals with prompts to get you started:

• Everywhere You Go Journal (112 pages)
• Waypoint Goods Pocket Travel Journal (58 pages, designed for up to 14 days of travel)
• Promptly Minimalist Journal (88 pages, designed for up to a month of travel)
• Duncan & Stone Journal (100 pages, up to 15 trips/destinations)
• A Guided Journal (77 pages, up to 10 trips/destinations)
• Letterfolk Passport Sized Trip Journal (48 pages, up to 20 days of travel)
• Clever Fox Planner & Journal (129 pages, planner/journal, up to 5 trips/destinations)
• One Line Voyage Travel Planner & Journal (72 pages, planner/journal, up to 4 trips)
• Honeymoon Planner & Journal for Couples (112 pages)

When choosing a guided travel journal, you’ll want to consider all the factors we listed for a normal journal, including size, paper quality, number of pages, type of closure, etc.

Travel journals with prompts are a great gateway into journaling. They give you plenty of ideas and ways to record your trip and your memories so you’ll have them for years to come. They can also be a good introduction to find out if you are the kind of person who enjoys keeping a travel journal or not.

10. Promptly Guided Journals

Promptly travel journals are hardcover guided journals that are designed to be used before, during, and after your trip. Their journals have a minimalist design and their slogan is that their travel journals are great from “boarding to exploring”.

Their main journals have a hardcover covered in either a lightly textured faux leather (leatherette) or a linen cover. They are debossed on the cover and spine. The journals are designed for a single trip and contain 86 total pages.

These include a world map, 4 general travel planning pages with questions, 8 pages for a trip itinerary for up to 31 days, 5 memorable moments, several pages to denote trip highlights with prompts, 2 pages for transportation, 5 accommodation reviews, 6 food experiences, 2 pages for travel companions, mementos sections, 2 pages cultural observations, 2 pages for trip takeaways, and then 10 lined pages at the end that you can use for free journaling/extra notes/address book etc.

The Promptly hardcover journals are 6″ X 9″ (15cm X 23cm). They do include a ribbon marker, but do not include a closure or any pockets.

Note that Promptly also have smaller 4-pack paper softcover journal packs available that are designed for shorter 14 day trips. As well as a  children’s journal version 4-pack designed for kids age 5-12 which be a nice addition if you want to get journals for your kids too. So just be sure you know which variation you are buying.

The company is based in Salt Lake City, Utah and the journals are made in China.

These journal are only going to work well for someone wanting to use it for a single trip (up to 31 days), and I would not recommend for someone wanting to use it for multiple trips. Since there are a number of pages where you can paste photos (or other flat mementos like tickets), then it is probably ideal for someone who wants to add photos to the book after the trip.

I personally have bought one of the faux leather ones, and these journals feel and look nice. They make it easy to follow along from trip planning to completion, and are thin and easy to pack. I think this is a great travel journal gift option for someone going on a trip of 2-4 weeks.

Price : Check the latest prices here

11. Dingbats Vegan Journals

Dingbats* was started in 2016, although it is part of a larger family-run paper trading company that has been operating in Lebanon since 1800. Dingbats sells vegan-friendly journals and is notable for its focus on sustainability and eco-friendly products.

Most of the Dingbats journals feature acid-free, coated 100gsm cream paper, a ribbon bookmark, an attached pen loop, an expandable back pocket, an elastic closure, and a vegan leather (polyurethane) cover. They are hardcover and Smyth-sewn, and most versions contain 192 pages (96 sheets).

Dingbats journals are available with your choice of lined, dotted, blank, or squared paper. Some journals contain perforated pages.

The Dingbats journals are available in a variety of colors, and each Dingbats journal features an embossed animal or natural element on the front, such as an elephant, whale, cactus, wolf, Great Barrier Reef, or deer.

Dingbats journals are designed in Lebanon and produced in Turkey. They are 100% vegan. They also say that most of their products are fully recyclable in most countries.

Most of the Dingbats journals range in size from approximately A6 (9.5cm X 14.5 cm / 3.7″ X 5.7″) to A4 (21.5cm X 30cm / 8.5″ X 11.8″). Most open like a book, but they also have a smaller reported-style flip-style notebook as well. There is also a Pro Collection of Dingbats journals which are larger in size (B5), use higher quality paper (160gsm), and nicer textiles.

The Dingbats journals are really nice and will especially appeal to wildlife lovers and vegans. Dingbats journals can be difficult to find in stores in many countries but they can be purchased online.

In terms of choosing a size for a travel journal, their A6 sized journals are good if you are looking for a pocket-sized travel journal and the medium A5 sized journals are perfect if looking for a more standard-sized travel journal. If you are wanting something bigger, like a school composition notebook size, then you might be interested in their B5 Pro Collection journals .

12. Leather and Earth Co. Handmade Journals

If you are looking for something more handmade and crafty looking, I highly recommend going onto Etsy and seeing what you can find there. There are a number of talented artisans making various kinds of journals and notebooks.

Leather and Earth Co. is one such small business run by a mom of 4 kids named Laura in Nebraska, USA. She has also recruited a couple of other local moms to help her as well. Together they hand-make, sew, and personalize leather journals.

The paper used is a thick 90lb (185 gsm) mixed media paper available in blank, lined, music writing, or recipe formats. There is also an option for a thicker watercolor paper.  All the journals are designed to hold up to 140 pages of regular paper or 60 pages of watercolor paper.

They offer both bound and refillable journals. The hand sewn bound journals are hand stitched together with a linen thread. The refillable journals include 3 elastic straps where you can add and remove up to 3 paper inserts.

All journals can be personalized with text on the front cover. For example, you can have initials, your name, a date, or trip destination embossed on your journal. You can also design a custom title page if you wish.

The journals are available in several sizes: 4″ X 6″ (10 cm X 15 cm), 5″ X 7″ (12.5 cm X 17.5 cm), 6″ X 9″ (15 cm X 23 cm), or 9″ X 12″ (23 cm X 30.5 cm).

These journals, including the leather and paper used in them, are made in the USA. Note that these journals currently only ship to addresses in the United States.

If you are looking for more handmade journals from around the world, check out the options on Etsy , where you can search for those made in your own region. For example, Bespoke Bindery is a great option if you live in the UK. Most handmade journals can be personalized just for you.

13. Travel Journals for Children & Teens

If you are traveling with children, then getting them their own travel journal can help them record their own memories. Travel journals and activity books can also keep kids entertained when there is downtime on your trip.

Each of these travel journals are designed for children of a certain age range and reading level. Depending on the age level, they may have colorful illustrations, travel-related activities and games, writing prompts, areas for drawing or coloring, stickers, quotes, fun facts, maps, memento pockets, etc.

There are a number of travel journals for children out there and you can find a lot of them online on Amazon. Here are some good options to consider:

• Lonely Planet Kids Journal (ages 6-8)
• Peter Pauper Kids’ Journal (ages 6-11)
• Awesome Activity Journal (ages 6-10)
• Promptly Kids’ Activity Books & Journals (ages 5-12, typically sold in packs of 4)
• Happy Fox USA Road Trip Activities & Journal (ages 7-10)
• Lonely Planet Older Kids Journal (ages 9-12)
• Teen Journal (age 10-14)
• Clever Fox Planner & Journal (teen to adult)
• Refillable Vegan Leather Journal with Map (teen to adult)
• A Guided Journal (teen to adult)

Each travel journal is generally designed for children of a certain age range. So you’ll want to take your child’s age, reading level, writing ability, and general interests into consideration when choosing a journal.

Some journals are also tailored to a particular region (e.g. USA or Europe) or a specific type of travel (e.g., road trip), so it is good to read the full description and user reviews.

14. Page-A-Day Journal

This next journal is made by Peter Pauper Press which is an American company based in New York, which has been selling books and other paper goods since 1928. Today, the company sells a number of journals, books, puzzles, etc.

The Page-A-Day Journal is intended to give you enough space to write and take note of memorable places and events on your travels, but is still brief enough that writing in it doesn’t take up too much time. As the journal name suggests, it is intended that you write one page per day.

This journal is Smyth-sewn and features smooth acid-free 120 gsm paper, rounded corners, an attached ribbon bookmark, a back memento pocket, and an elastic band closure. The brown faux leather cover is embossed with “Page-A-Day Travel Journal” and has a globe design. The endpapers have a cloud design.

Each page provides space for you to put the date, location, and weather as well as a number of blank lines to write down whatever you want. The paper is lined (gray dotted lines).

The journal is 5″ X 7″ (82 cm X 114 cm) and contains 176 pages in total. So the journal will last you about 170 days of travel if you write one page per day. But you can also use multiple pages per day if you wish as you can just put the same date. For most people, this journal will last for multiple trips.

The Page-A-Day journal is designed in the USA and printed in China.

If you are on the fence between a guided journal and an unguided journal, this may be a perfect solution. This journal gives you a small bit of structure and a page per day to write whatever you want.

** You can also see many of the travel journals we recommend above in a single page on Amazon here with current prices for a handy reference. Just note that not every journal on the list is available via Amazon. **

So that is our list of the best travel journals for travelers! Which is your favorite?

Planning to purchase a travel journal in the near future, but not now? Pin this article to Pinterest to read later:

What do you think about travel journals? Have you kept a travel journal or diary while traveling? Is your favorite travel journal brand on the list? Tell us below!

Share this Post!

There are 30 comments on this post.

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

Olivia Post author

September 26, 2023 at 3:43 pm

Hi there! Could you tell me what the little blue and gold journal is in your photos? It is beautiful and would love to buy one like that for myself! Thanx

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

September 26, 2023 at 5:00 pm

I think the journal you are referring to is the Paperblanks Azure Journal, it is specifically a lined journal in the Slim size with a metal clasp closure. I love this journal and used it for years but have been unable to find any in the Slim size for a couple of years on their website or on Amazon. But you can get the Azure journal design in the Mini and Midi sizes, and you can see those here .

If you prefer something the same size as the one I had, the most similar one that is a newer design is the Paperblanks Blue Rhine journal as part of their River Cascade collection. You can see the Slim version here and it is available in a few sizes. I took it on a recent trip around Europe and really liked it.

Hope that helps! Jessica

ADAM HINES Post author

September 12, 2023 at 5:49 pm

Hi Jessica, My gf and I are preparing to leave for a trip to Mexico in a couple of weeks. Your review has helped me figure out what I want in a travel journal, but I am struggling a bit on the prices. Want one line (me), one grid (her), black, simple design, some kind of closure, bookmark, archival quality pages, “normal size”.

We need two journals and I think the Leuchtturm and Moleskin both fit the criteria and those look nice. But the prices are a bit high for us and I am wondering what you think would maybe be a good cheaper option for those? Have you tested the Amazon Basics or Paperage ones as those look to fit what I am looking for as well and are both under $10 right now. Thank you!

September 13, 2023 at 6:46 pm

First, so glad you know what you want in a travel journal and that our article was helpful in that. I think knowing that info can help make sure you choose a journal you are actually going to take and use on your trip. And certainly you don’t need to pay much for a journal (anything with paper will work!), I would definitely recommend sticking to your budget. Basically I would say just find something that meets your needs and that you will use and will want to keep.

Now, I can’t comment on the Paperage brand journals as I haven’t personally tried them (I suspect they are very similar to the Amazon Basics ones since they are comparable in price), but I can comment on the Amazon Basics journal versus a Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 journal. Specifically I would say that the Amazon Basics journal is closer to a Moleskine than a Leuchtturm1917 journal as its more simple and doesn’t have any of the extra features that you see in a Leuctturm1917 journal.

The Amazon Basic journal (this is specifically the one I am reviewing and one I have in hand) seems to currently come in mainly one size (5 inches X 8.25 inches, close to an A5 size). I have it in black so you can definitely get that color. It has a hardcover with off-white, acid-free paper and rounded corners. Designed to lay flat. I think most are 240 pages (120 sheets). Says made with 80 gsm paper. Simple design but does include a black elastic band closure, an attached bookmark ribbon (gray in mine), and an expandable paper pocket in back. I have the ruled or lined version but it does also come with grid or blank paper so will work for your gf as well in terms of paper types. Made in China. I think I paid about $9 for mine.

So compared to my Moleksine I have in my hand for comparison (hardcover black classic ruled paper), the Amazon Basics journal is a bit thicker and has more pages (my Moleskine has 208 pages and the Amazon 240). The Amazon one has almost all the same basic features with the closure, rounded corners, back pocket, ribbon bookmark. Some of the differences are that the Moleskine’s cover feels nicer and “softer”, seems a bit better constructed, and there is a front title page with “In Case of Loss” info. The color of the paper and line ruling width is about the same although lines are darker and easier to see in the Amazon Basics. The Amazon Basics says 80 gsm paper while most Moleskine journals use 70 gsm. Both are made in Asia.

So yes, my opinion would be that if you like the color, style, and size of the Amazon Basics (since there is not much choice or variety), then there is little question you are getting a good value with the Amazon Basics versus the Moleskine. In a few areas, the Amazon could be a better choice depending on what you want most. Now if you valued the touch, feel, and construction, then obviously the Moleskine does look a bit nicer (and certainly feels nicer, I can tell its a more premium journal just by picking it up). But in terms of value for price, I think the Amazon Basics journal is a great choice to consider for what you are wanting and seems to tick all the boxes.

Hope that helps, and wishing you and your girlfriend a wonderful trip to Mexico!! Jessica

Anika Post author

June 14, 2023 at 11:54 am

hello, do you know where I can buy field notes in the uk or eu or have suggestions for similar simple little notebooks like this? need some for big upcoming trip. thanks for advice!!!

June 15, 2023 at 2:02 am

Happy to try to help. So the Field Notes if you purchase directly from their website they do offer international shipping options but it can take a long time and be more expensive but that is an option. But you can find them on Amazon in some parts of Europe, so on Amazon UK, for example, they have a couple of the Field Notes notebooks available. You can see those options on Amazon UK here .

If shopping on Amazon or similar, there are a lot of copycat products so if you want something by Field Notes brand, make sure it says “Field Notes” on the cover and in the description.

But if you can’t find the Field Notes product you want and are looking for similar sorts of pocket-sized or memo notebooks, some you might consider are the Moleskine Cahiers , Silvine Originals Pocket notebooks (UK made, ones with thread better than ones with staples), and Portage pocket notebooks . VENTED also has pocket sized notebooks, but they have cotton or recycled leather covers so may not be the best fit if wanting a kraft paper sort of cover.

There are other brands as well and you’ll see more if you search Field Notes notebooks in Amazon. If shopping in person you’ll have less selection but if you drop into a Waterstones (if in the UK) or similar large bookstore or stationary store, you can usually find one or two options of that type of pocket notebook or memo pad.

Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip!

Best, Jessica

June 16, 2023 at 10:22 am

much gratitude and thanks Jessica, such a detailed answer. I can’t wait to check these pocket journal options out and get travelling again!

June 16, 2023 at 10:32 am

You’re very welcome Anika, and I hope you find a travel journal that works best for you.

Wishing you many future happy travels! Jessica

Lorna Post author

June 2, 2023 at 5:16 am

I am a longtime Moleskine user here but am thinking about possibly trying another journal and found your great and thorough article. Thoughts on one to choose that is similar but maybe a bit of an upgrade? Hard cover and either ruled/lined or squared paper.

Also, I always thought that Moleskine journals were made in Italy. Is that not true??

June 2, 2023 at 9:52 am

So I would say Leuchtturm1917 (see description above in article) is probably the most similar journal brand and they have hardcover notebooks and most of the sizes are similar. They have a few more features than Moleskine, offer more colors, and I think they have slightly nicer paper and covers. And they offer journals with both the ruled/line or squared/checked paper. So you could try one of them out and compare them with the ones you already have and see which brand you prefer. Prices are similar but depends where you buy it and in what country.

The Rhodia Webnotebooks (see description above) is another one to consider. But I didn’t love the quality of the last one I ordered (they started making them in Morocco) and it arrived with a dent and wasn’t as good as past ones.

So Moleskine journals are designed by a company started in 1997 and is based in Milan, Italy. The journals are designed in Italy but they are not made in Italy. According to their website they are manufactured in the “Far East” which is oddly vague. But they tend to mainly be manufactured in China or Taiwan (same as Leuchtturm1917 and many other journal brands). Although the last Moleskine I bought (while in Italy actually) says it was designed in Italy and manufactured in Turkey. I think during COVID-19 a lot of companies moved manufacturing to countries like Turkey to keep up with demand as China basically shut down for so long. But the journals are popular in Italy as we have seen several Moleskine stores while traveling in Italy.

Ciak is an Italian brand and is made in Italy so another one you could consider if wanted one made in Italy but these are a bit different in style than a Moleskine and offer fewer options in terms of sizes, paper types, and cover types.

Anyone hope that helps!

Deb Post author

June 1, 2023 at 5:23 pm

Wooooow! I just got pumped up reading about the benefits of keeping a travel journal but wasn’t really sure which journals were worth the time and money. This post was crazy helpful, thank you!!

June 2, 2023 at 5:03 am

So yes, travel journaling can certainly be helpful. We find by far the biggest benefit is being able to look back on what we did, where we went, and our thoughts/feelings along the way from past trips. It is also a nice excuse to relax with a coffee or drink and take a break when traveling 😉

Glad that you found our travel journal reviews helpful in finding a travel journal that works best for you! If you have any questions, just ask!

Hari Sitaula Post author

May 16, 2023 at 11:12 pm

Very helpful, been looking for a good travel diary! We appreciate you sharing this.

May 18, 2023 at 9:37 am

Glad you found our travel journal reviews helpful and I hope you find a perfect travel diary for you and your travels!

Martha Wells Post author

April 16, 2023 at 5:15 am

Oh, thanks so very much for this very thoughtful and detailed reply to my very specific questions. I have ordered this kids’ travel journal for my grandson (it sounds perfect!) and will be getting a different travel related coloring book for the granddaughter as she is only 4 and prob too young to make much out of the PPP one.

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a detailed reply to my questions about this journal!!!!! Martha

April 16, 2023 at 6:10 am

You’re very welcome Martha, hope your grandkids love the travel journal and coloring book!

April 14, 2023 at 7:13 am

Hello! Do you think the Kids Journal by PPP that you list would be Ok or a 9 (almost 10) year old? Does it close? How many pages of the actual journal writing part does it have? sorry if you don’t know this, just trying to buy a gift for grandkids and having lots of questions, thanks

April 15, 2023 at 4:09 am

I think you are asking about the Kids’ Travel Journal by Peter Pauper Press, this one here ?

So if that is the correct journal, we have bought that one before (as a gift) and had the chance to review it. So I do personally think it would be a good fit for a 9 or 10 year old. I think that is probably an ideal age as they should be able to read it and do the activities on their own.

It has a printed hard cover and it does close. It has a red elastic closure to keep it closed when not in use.

The book has a total of 96 pages. It contains pre-planning pages, packing lists, contact info pages, maps, games, puzzles, post-trip thoughts, fun travel-related facts, etc. In terms of pure journaling pages for writing, there are 15 pages dedicated to a daily journal so ideal for say a 2 week trip. But it also has other pages that ask questions that you can fill in about your trip related to who you met, where you stayed, type of transport, what you ate, etc. as well as some pages for free writing, drawing or pasting things. There is also a memento pouch.

If you are thinking about buying this for more than one grandchild, given the more personal and individual nature of the book and the journal, probably best to give one per child rather than having them share unless they are the type of kids who like to write and do these types of activities together.

A couple of things to note is that it has no ribbon bookmark so including a thin bookmark with the Kids’ Travel Journal might be nice if it is a gift. It is also more geared to American travelers (uses American English and terms) and for those traveling somewhere in either North America or Europe (as many of the facts are about these places), although it could, of course, be used by anyone really.

Anyway, hope that helps answer all your questions about this travel journal and will help you decide if it is a good gift for your grandchildren or not.

ROHIT PATLE Post author

March 23, 2023 at 9:22 am

Traveling is not just about reaching a destination, it’s about the journey and the experiences along the way. It opens your eyes to new cultures, people, and ways of life.

March 24, 2023 at 11:32 am

That is definitely true, and keeping a travel journal can be a great way to remember all those experiences along your travels!

conner Post author

March 9, 2023 at 4:46 am

wow, so many of these journals sounds great. could your recommend a travel diary option made in italy available online in US – looking for a gift for the gf for a month long college trip to Italy. I think she prefers lined paper and something sort of mid-sized (so no pocket or huge ones). option to put her initials in it would be great but not absolute. thanks for any help!

March 9, 2023 at 5:46 am

Happy to try to help!

So the Italian brand that is probably best known & available in the USA is Moleskine. They are really popular as travel journals. However, Moleskine journals are designed in Italy but made elsewhere (I think mostly in China, Taiwan, & Turkey).

If you want a journal made in Italy, the most available brand in the USA would probably be Ciak. I have one of them and it has really great paper quality (most have 110 gsm paper) and they have a variety of different types and colors of covers. So you can check their website for options, not sure if they deliver to the US or not, but you can also buy many of their products online via Amazon here or online stationery shops. Hard, but not impossible, to find in person depending on where you live. They offer plenty of lined journal options in a variety of sizes. I don’t think the company offers the option to add initials or personalize individual journals but you may be able to have someone locally add personalization.

Also, a note about buying the Ciak journals via third parties, they are often listed as leather bound, but I think the company primarily uses faux leather (so expect faux leather). If looking for actual leather bound journals, I’d check out Belcraft or Epica which have a lot of leather options.

Two other Italian brands you might want to check out are Epica and Belcraft , which both produce their journals in Italy. I believe both companies offer the ability to personalize a journal, including adding initials via embossing, engraving, and/or branding.

Hope that helps. I am sure your girlfriend will enjoy whatever journal you get her!

Aimee Fionda Post author

March 8, 2023 at 4:14 am

This is such a knowledgeable, in depth article about travel journals and we thank you so much for mentioning us! We love to think of our hand bound leather travellers journals journeying with their owners across the globe! We are always happy to create a bespoke journal too, as we make everything from scratch!

Thanks again and happy travels! The Stamford Notebook Company

March 9, 2023 at 4:49 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment, and glad you liked our article on travel journals. You’re very welcome for the metnion.

For those reading this, The Stamford Notebook Company is a great place to check out for all those looking for UK made journals or notebooks!

Seana Turner Post author

February 26, 2023 at 4:33 am

In spite of everything being digitized these days, I do love all things paper! I prefer the dotted pages because they give me just enough guide to keep my journals looking orderly without having too many lines making them look like homework.

I do like the ones that have a strap to keep them closed. Not that journals falling open is really an issue, but I just like the feel of pulling that elastic over the book. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.

On a side note, I’m just so happy that we are talking about traveling again. All of the flights I’ve been on recently have been packed, and I find this encouraging. Go travel! I imagine you will have to revisit many places now and give us updated, post COVID information!!

February 26, 2023 at 6:56 am

Yes, so good to be talking about and more importantly traveling again. We are currently in Rwanda and plan to be doing a lot of traveling in 2023! And yes, COVID has sadly changed or closed a lot of places so updates are certainly needed.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on journals – everyone has such different preferenes. I am a lined girl myself but I know a lot of people prefer dotted pages. I guess they probably do remind a lot of people of their school notebooks 😉 But without lines, I have a hard time writing in a straight line – Laurence is even worse.

For me, since I mostly use my journal while traveling, they have to be able to be shoved in and out of my day bag and backpack so being able to securely close it an important feature for me. When I’ve had notebooks without a closure, they were more likely to get bent and the pages damaged if I didn’t put them in the “right way”.

Wishing you a year full of fun travels!! Jessica

Colleen Post author

February 25, 2023 at 11:37 pm

I have been using Moleskine journals for many years now…I think the Large size ones with lines. I use black ones for travelling and then I have colored ones that I use for my everyday/work notes. This article gave me some other brands that I am definitely going to consider the next time I need a journal like the Rhodia and Dingbats. My daughter is a vegan so I think I may surprise her with a Dingbats one as that elephant is so precious!!!

February 26, 2023 at 1:16 am

Hi Colleen,

Thanks for taking the time to share the brand of travel journal you use.

Yes, Moleskine is a very popular option for a travel journal. I like that you can always seem to find them as it is easy to find them in most bookstore and stationery shops (at least in the US and UK) whereas other brands can be more difficult to buy in person. Yes, you may definitely like the Rhodia Webbies and Leuchtturm1917 Classic notebooks as they are very similar but have slightly heavier paper – you may or may not notice the difference though if you are already happy with Moleskine. I think it makes the most difference to those using fountain pens etc.

Dingbats is a great choice for anyone looking for a vegan-friendly journal and the animal designs are really cute!

ALAN JOHN COOK Post author

February 25, 2023 at 12:13 pm

This article is completely unnecessary. I’m so pleased I didn’t waste my time reading more than the first few paragraphs. As a vastly experienced traveller and professional writer you don’t need all this stuff about bindings and paper quality and decoration. All you need – if you don’t have a laptop computer or similar – is a spiral bound notebook and a few cheap pens. I say spiral bound as they lay flat and can be folded back on themselves which is handy (although not essential). You can buy them almost anywhere and they are cheap. Also easy if you need to rip out a page to use for something like a shopping list or to give someone your contact details. It’s not the look of the journal that counts for anything – it’s what you write in it that’s important.

February 26, 2023 at 1:10 am

Thanks for sharing your opinions on journals. As I noted in the article, any journal or notebook can work fine as long as it is something you can and will write on during your trip. For someone who is on a tight budget or using it as you are (tearing pages out for shopping lists etc.) then a composition book or spiral school notebook or something will work fine. I have used one before and they work, although I found it less than ideal in many ways compared to other options which are designed to be actual journals.

We’ve tested dozens of notebooks and journals and definitely think that there are much more ideal options for those looking for something nicer and better suited for travel. Most people aren’t using their journal to tear out pages but are wanting to keep it to look back at later.

Many people want a journal that is a bit more durable & lasting, and do care about the paper quality, binding, cover, having a closure, etc as they want it to last and to store it to read again later. Many do care about what their journal feels and looks like and some care about how and where it is made. Also some travlers also use them for sketching or scrapbooking in which the page type, quality, and size are more important, along with those like myself who have a fountain pen (it will bleed through the paper on most cheap notebooks).

Our guide is designed to help those who are new to journals or who want to upgrade their current travel journal to find the perfect notebook for them or to give as a gift. Whether it is an inexpensive spiral bound notebook or a fancy leather custom journal. There are lots of options out there and we are just sharing information and our thoughts about this so people can make an informed decision.

We are happy you have found the journal type that works for you!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of replies to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise!)

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips

We only ask for your e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. To do this, we store the data as outlined in our privacy policy . Your e-mail will not be published or used for any other reason other than those outlined above.

21 Creative Travel Journal Ideas & Prompts for Your Next Trip

February 29, 2024

Journaling is a great way to make the most of any trip. Here are some of our favourite creative travel journal ideas.

Travel Journal Ideas

Photos and videos aren’t the only ways to capture your travels. A travel diary can help you enjoy the trip you’re on and help you relive all those memories once you’re home. After all, how often do you look back through your phone’s photos?

I’ll be honest. Completing a travel bullet journal is something I often dream about more than I manage to complete, particularly when travelling with young children. But over the years, the travel journals I have managed to complete have brought me great joy and prompted my ageing brain to remember sights, smells and tastes more vividly than ever.

So, don’t get hung up on making it pretty and perfect. Just concentrate on enjoying your trip and use these travel journal ideas to deepen that enjoyment. Don’t let them turn into one more burden or chore to complete!

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal is whatever you want it to be, baby! Or in more standard talk:

A travel journal is a personal, written account that documents an individual’s experiences, observations, and emotions during their journeys. It serves as a dedicated space for recording details such as daily activities, cultural encounters, and reflections on the places visited.

Typically, travel journals include a mix of narratives, anecdotes, and practical information. Whether handwritten or digital, a travel journal is a valuable tool for preserving travel memories, fostering self-reflection, and creating a tangible record of one’s explorations and discoveries around the world.

Although, don’t think you need to write reams. We’ve plenty of creative travel journal ideas if writing doesn’t happen to be your thing. We’re all about the easy way to fill those travel journal pages.

Where to Find the Perfect Travel Journal

The romantic in me says that the best travel journal is found on the road. But the practical side of me knows that it’s easier if you pick one up before you go.

In my experience, you want a book that will stay flat when you fold it open and ideally have a tie or piece of elastic to hold it together again, to stop things falling out.

I also like travel journals with a space for a pen as that makes it more likely that you will actually have a pen with you when the time comes to write. In my experience, the best way to make sure that something happens is to remove as many obstacles as possible.

Personally, I prefer blank pages but I know that many prefer grids or lines. And I’ve never got to grips with a digital journal but if they work for you, then great!

A hard cover can protect from the bumps and bruises of life on the road but, then again, a soft cover is lighter to carry around.

Here are some lovely travel journal examples you can find on Amazon:

• Vegan Leather Beechmore Travel Journal
• Adventure Travel Journal with Prompts
• Moleskine Hardcover Travel Journal

Note: if you buy through any of the links on this page, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Why Bother Keeping a Travel Journal in the First Place?

Firstly, because it’s fun! However, keeping a travel journal also has a number of other benefits.

Such as…

Memory Enhancement:

• According to a study published in the journal Memory, the act of writing helps to consolidate and enhance memory. By documenting your experiences, in your own travel journal, you’re more likely to remember details of your journey. And that fits with what I learned when I was studying Neuroscience at Cambridge.

Stress Reduction:

• A study by the American Psychological Association suggests that expressive writing can help reduce stress and promote overall well-being. Journaling about your travel experiences allows you to process emotions and relive positive moments.

Increased Cultural Awareness:

• Research conducted by the Cultural Intelligence Center indicates that keeping a travel journal can contribute to the development of cultural intelligence. Writing about local customs, traditions, and interactions with residents fosters a deeper understanding of different cultures.

Reflection and Personal Growth:

• Psychologist James W. Pennebaker’s research on expressive writing reveals that reflecting on experiences through writing can lead to personal growth and self-discovery. A travel journal provides a space for introspection and learning.

Enhanced Creativity:

• Again, the busy American Psychological Association suggests that engaging in creative activities, such as writing, can boost cognitive function and creativity. Documenting your travels in a journal encourages creative expression.

Capturing Details:

• Studies on eyewitness testimony indicate that people tend to forget details over time. Keeping a travel journal helps in preserving the specifics of your experiences, ensuring a more accurate recollection later on. Not that we hope you’ll end up in court. More, that we hope you’ll remember the highlights of your trip.

Improved Communication Skills:

• Journaling encourages the practice of effective communication. Documenting your thoughts and experiences helps refine your ability to articulate ideas and stories.

Digital Detox and Mindfulness:

• A study by the Pew Research Center found that 85% of adults in the United States use the internet. Keeping a physical travel journal offers a break from screens, fostering mindfulness and a deeper connection with your surroundings. Little details can bring about a big sense of calm.

Goal Setting and Achievement:

• Again, the good old American Psychological Association notes that setting and achieving small goals, such as completing a journal entry each day, can boost motivation and self-esteem. A travel journal provides a structured way to set and accomplish writing goals.

Legacy and Sharing:

• According to a study by Ancestry.com, 77% of adults believe it’s important to preserve their family history. A travel journal can serve as a legacy, allowing future generations to gain insights into your experiences and perspectives.

So, how about that? Not just a pretty page after all.

21 Gorgeous and Creative Travel Journal Ideas

OK, let’s get to the fun part! Creative travel journal ideas!

Collect Ticket Stubs

Ticket stubs may not seem so glamorous at the time but they’re one of those travel journal ideas that’s quick and easy to do, with great rewards later on. If you find yourself too busy on the trip, just shove (ahem, collect) them as you go along in one envelope. Once you’re home, you can then arrange them in a scrapbook or bullet journal along with notes and photos.

Carry Some Lightweight Supplies

It’s easier to keep up with your travel diary if you have the right tools with you. No-one needs to carry about an entire artist’s briefcase but a few pens, pencils and a roll or two of washi tape can help make it manageable.

Not sure what washi tape is? It’s like sellotape only comes with a pattern and is much more forgiving when unrolling and using it. You can pick up some washi tape here . It’s a great option to make sure things don’t always fall out along the way.

Brush up on Some Writing Tips

A travel diary shouldn’t feel like homework. But it will be more rewarding to write and definitely more pleasurable to read if you brush up on some writing techniques before you go.

We run a range of writing courses to get you started, including:

• Freelance Writing Masterclass
• Write Better, Write Now
• The Writing Boost

So, whether it’s a quick weekend away or a road trip journal that spans several months, you’ll feel more confident about what goes into your own travel log.

Pick up Some Postcards

This is one of my favourite creative travel journal ideas.

Now, we’re not talking about standard tourist postcards here (although, obviously, that’s fine if that’s what you want to do. It’s your travel diary, right?!)

We’re talking about flyers and postcards for art galleries, live music, exhibitions and special events. Business cards from cafes. Anything you saw and enjoyed and which gave you a taste of the place.

Collect the Cash

Spend more than a few days in a destination and the local money soon becomes a background event that you stop noticing. But when you’re back home, it’s a connection to the place.

So, if you can spare some of the lower denomination notes, it’s a great idea to tape a few into your travel journal.

Keep the Maps

You know those maps that are folded back and forth, torn, soggy and scribbled over? Keep them! It’s amazing how quickly you forget the detail of a place but a scribbled note and the white fluff along a folded map seam brings it back right away. New places, new maps.

Make the Food to Go

At the risk of sounding like a hoarder, look out for sweet wrapper, chopstick wrappers, beer labels and more that really fit the local food you had in a destination.

I always look out for local flavours in particular, so this method of scrapbooking (sounds better than hoarding) works well for me.

Flower Press Stress

Sometimes, pressing flowers or leaves works wonders. And, sometimes, it just makes a mess. This is one of those travel journal ideas that you need to do just right: ideally with a big patch of sellophane rather than just a strip of washi tape.

Be careful, though. Some countries, most notably New Zealand and Australia, are very strict about flowers and seeds crossing their borders. Probably best to avoid this if you plan on heading there.

Sketch Skills

Small sketches and beautiful drawings can really bring a travel diary to life. If you can draw, that is.

If not, never fear. While we can’t all be the best at everything, we can all master a few basic techniques.

It’s a good idea to just relax and have a go.

Learn the Lingo

As everyone knows, with a few local phrases, you’ll get a better reception wherever you go. Yet, with age, it’s alarming how quickly that knowledge fades.

Write down those phrases while they’re fresh! It’s a fun way to nurture those brain cells.

Stick in Those Lists

Have you used a packing list? A leaving the house checklist? A bucket list? To-do list? If so, stick them in! They’ll be surprisingly interesting to look at come the end of your trip. Don’t let your trip planning go to waste!

And if you don’t? Check out our collection of packing lists and pre-travel checklists here .

Use Some Travel Journal Writing Prompts

When inspiration fails, fall back on these. Don’t worry if you feel cheesy. No-one has to read this but you.

Travel Journal Prompts Before You Go

• Outline your expectations and goals for the upcoming journey. What do you hope to achieve or experience during this trip?
• Share your pre-trip excitement and any pre-travel rituals or preparations you engage in before embarking on a new adventure.
• Detail the research you’ve conducted about the destination, including its culture, history, and notable attractions. What aspects are you most eager to explore?
• Reflect on any pre-trip concerns or uncertainties. How do you plan to address them or prepare for potential challenges?
• Describe the anticipation you feel about trying the local cuisine. Are there specific dishes you’re looking forward to sampling?
• Outline your itinerary and the key activities you have planned for each day. What landmarks or attractions are a must-see for you?
• Consider the local customs and etiquette of the destination. How do you plan to respect and engage with the local culture?
• Share your thoughts on the packing process. What essentials are you making sure to bring, and what strategies are you using to pack efficiently?
• Reflect on any language barriers you might encounter. Have you learned a few basic phrases or expressions in the local language to enhance your experience?
• Write about your overall mindset and emotions as you approach the trip. What are your hopes, fears, and anticipations for the upcoming adventure?

Travel Journal Prompts For on the Road

1. Describe your initial impressions upon arriving at your destination. 2. What local cuisine or dish did you sample, and how would you rate your experience? 3. Reflect on a memorable encounter with a local resident or fellow traveller. 4. Share a moment when you stepped out of your comfort zone during your journey. 5. Detail the sights, sounds, and scents of a particular place that left a lasting impression on you. 6. Write about a unique cultural tradition or festival you experienced during your travels. 7. Describe a hidden gem or off-the-beaten-track location you discovered. 8. Share a humorous or unexpected anecdote from your trip. 9. Reflect on a challenging situation you encountered and how you overcame it. 10. Write about a place that surpassed your expectations and why. 11. Document a day spent exploring nature, whether it’s a hike, day at the beach, or wildlife encounter. 12. Discuss the impact of local art, music, or architecture on your overall experience. 13. Capture the essence of a local market or shopping district you visited. 14. Reflect on how the local history and heritage influenced your perception of the destination. 15. Write about a moment of tranquillity or relaxation during your journey. 16. Share your thoughts on the transportation methods you used and any interesting experiences. 17. Describe a sunrise or sunset that left you in awe. 18. Document a day focused on immersive cultural experiences, such as workshops or language classes. 19. Write about a place you’d love to revisit and explore further in the future. 20. Reflect on the personal growth or insights gained from your travel experiences.

Travel Journal Prompts for Once You Get Back

• Reflect on the overall experience of your journey. Did it meet, exceed, or differ from your initial expectations?
• Capture the emotions you feel upon returning home. What aspects of your routine are you excited to resume, and what do you miss from your travels?
• Share your favourite moments from the trip and how they contributed to your overall satisfaction.
• Write about any unexpected discoveries or surprises that occurred during your travels.
• Reflect on the impact of the journey on your perspective and personal growth. In what ways do you feel changed or enriched?
• Describe the local cuisine that left a lasting impression on you. Are there any dishes you wish you could recreate at home?
• Outline any challenges you faced during the trip and how you successfully navigated them.
• Consider how the cultural experiences have influenced your worldview. What lessons or insights will you carry forward from your travels?
• Share your thoughts on the souvenirs or mementoes you brought back. Do they hold special meaning or memories?
• Write about your plans for future travels. Are there destinations you’re now eager to explore based on this recent experience?

We hope you’ve enjoyed this collection of creative ways to catalogue different places and, more importantly, what they meant to you.

For all we’ve talked about the benefits of travel journaling, the important thing is that it’s fun. Don’t let your travel journal become a chore. Like all goals and tools, it’s just a way to help you fall even more in love with life.

Journal entries should make you think or make you smile. And that’s enough.

Why not bookmark this article on creative travel journal ideas on Pinterest for later?

More on Preparing for Your Next Trip

• The Only International Travel Checklist You Need
• Printable Holiday Packing List PDF: The Only Checklist You Need
• The 21 Best Souvenir Ideas for 2024
• 27 Long Haul Flight Essentials and a Flight Checklist for You
• The Best Flight Booking Hacks For Savvy Travellers
• The 10 Travel Skills Every One of Us Should Know
• The 50 Best Travel Websites and Travel Resources
• The best travel journal ideas for kids

Why not pin these creative travel journal ideas on Pinterest for later?

The Best Travel Quotes

• 150+ Best Short Travel Quotes for Instagram
• The Best Family Travel Quotes
• Powerful Quotes for Travelling Alone 
• The Best Hiking Quotes and Instagram Captions to Love the Great Outdoors
• The Best Sunset Captions, Sunset Lyrics and Sunset Quotes

Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

25 Easy Dot Journal Ideas For Beginners (Let’s Dive In!)

Ever found yourself in the notebook aisle, totally overwhelmed?

You’ve got your plain pages, your lined pages, and, of course, those grid pages that remind me a bit too much of math class (no thanks!).

But, Wait… There’s Another Player in Town, The Dot Grid Journal!

What’s this dot grid journal, you ask? Picture a grid notebook and then play a game of ‘connect-the-dots’ minus the lines.

Just dots where those grid lines meet.

That’s your dot grid journal. It’s the new cool kid on the block because it’s super unobtrusive but still keeps your scribbles and doodles in line.

In this blog post, we’re going to dive into what makes these dotted wonders tick and why they might just be your new best friend for journaling, drawing, or, hey, random thought collecting!

Table of Contents

Why Opt for Dotted Journals?

Ever stood in the store, staring at the sea of journals, scratching your head? Let’s break it down:

• Plain paper : A wild, lawless land where my handwriting roams free (and not in a good way!).
• Lined paper : It screams ‘homework’ and, honestly, I’m not here for it.
• Grid paper : Perfect for alignment but kinda feels like you’re drawing on a math worksheet.

Enter, Dot Grid Paper !

It’s like the Goldilocks of journals – just the right amount of guidance without stealing the spotlight from your creativity.

And if you’re into showing off your pages on Instagram, those dots can magically fade away, making your handwriting look effortlessly perfect. Pretty neat, huh?

Most dot journal lovers swear by the A5 size – it’s like the perfect travel buddy that fits just right in your bag.

Sure, there are other sizes, but A5? That’s where it’s at for bullet journal aficionados.

How to Write on Dotted Paper?

No rocket science here, friends! Just treat those

dots like they’re invisible lines. Line up your words with the dots horizontally, and you’re golden.

Want to skip a line for some dramatic effect? Go for it!

The best part? With a little practice, your writing will look as neat as it does on lined paper, minus the actual lines.

Those dots are like little secret guides that blend into the background.

Getting Creative with Your Dot Grid Journal

Now, for the fun part! Your dot grid journal is like a blank canvas – but with a bit of structure.

You can sketch, doodle, track habits , or even create those fancy spreads you see on Pinterest.

And guess what? No artistic degree is required. Just let your creativity flow and watch those dots guide you to create something uniquely yours.

Remember, the dot grid journal is all about making journaling fun, easy, and super flexible.

So, whether you’re jotting down daily reflections, sketching your dream vacation, or just making lists of your favorite things (chocolate, anyone?), your dot grid journal is there to keep things just tidy enough – without cramping your style.

Ready to Start?

Now that we’ve talked about the wonders of dot grid journals, it’s time to get your creative juices flowing.

Whether you’re a seasoned journaler or a newbie, I’ve got something special for you. I’ve put together 25 easy dot journal ideas to kickstart your journey.

Trust me, once you start, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without this little gem!

So, grab your dot grid journal, and let’s get started!

25 Dot Journal Ideas to Get You Started

Let’s dive into these 25 easy dot journal ideas that are perfect for anyone looking to add a splash of order and creativity to their day.

And who knows, maybe you’ll find a new favorite hobby along the way!

1. Daily Schedule Wizardry

Picture this: Your day, mapped out with colorful dots and lines. It’s like having a crystal ball that tells you exactly where you need to be and when.

No more missed appointments or forgotten errands!

2. The Meal Planner’s Cookbook

This is for the foodies!

Sketch out your weekly meals like a gourmet chef planning a 5-star menu.

Jot down recipes, grocery lists, and even your favorite takeout spots for those ‘can’t-even’ days.

3. Project Tracker for the Busy Bee

Deadlines? Meetings? Keep track of all those pesky work details in a neat, organized manner. Color-code each project for extra pizzazz!

4. Goal Tracker List

Set your sights high each month and track your progress. Whether it’s learning a new language or hitting the gym, your dot journal is your cheerleader.

5. Habit Journaling Like a Pro

Want to drink more water? Maybe meditate daily? Track your habits and watch yourself transform into the healthiest version of yourself!

6. Expense Tracker – Your Financial BFF

Where does all that money go? Now you’ll know! Keep tabs on every latte and impulse buy. Your wallet will thank you.

7. Password List – The Keymaster

Because who can remember all those passwords? (Hint: Not me.)

8. Movie/TV Show Critic Corner

Rate your latest binge-watch. Draw tiny popcorn or stars next to your reviews. It’s like having your entertainment column!

9. Travel Journal – The Wanderlust Chronicles

Maps, ticket stubs, photos… create a collage of your adventures. It’s your personal travelogue!

10. Daily Mood Log – Emotional Barometer

Happy? Sad? Meh? Track your moods and uncover patterns. It’s like being your own psychologist.

11. Playlist Compiler

Run to the beat, study with focus, or chill with style. Document your killer playlists and never be without the perfect tune.

12. Health Tracker – Your Body’s Diary

Blood pressure, sugar levels, you name it. It’s not just about being healthy; it’s about knowing your health.

13. Dreams/Goals Vault

Keep your aspirations front and center. This is your dream factory.

14. To-Do List – The Taskmaster

From mundane errands to life-changing decisions, check them off one by one and feel that sweet, sweet satisfaction.

15. Time Tracker – The Clockwatcher

Where does the time go? Track it and find out. Maybe you’ll finally figure out how to add more hours to your day!

16. Inventory List – The Organizer’s Dream

Keep track of everything from books to spices. It’s like having your own personal store catalog.

17. Priority Checklist – What Matters Most

Focus on what’s important daily. It’s your guide to not getting lost in the chaos of life.

18. Dream Log Journal – The Nighttime Narrator

Those weird, wacky, and sometimes profound dreams? Write them down. Who knows, you might be the next big dream prophet!

19. Finances Tracker – The Money Mindset

Budgets, bank balances, savings goals. Get on top of your finances like a boss.

20. Happiness Journal– The Joy Finder

Remember the good times, especially when life gets tough. It’s your personal ray of sunshine.

21. Fitness Planner – The Workout Warrior

Plan your squats and smoothies. You’re crafting the blueprint for your fittest self.

22. Self-Care Planner – The Zen Zone

Bubble baths? Yoga? Reading? Plan your me-time and recharge your batteries.

23. Shopping List – The Ultimate Errand Buddy

Say goodbye to those ‘oops’ moments! With your dot journal, you can create the ultimate shopping list.

Whether it’s groceries, household items, or even those little indulgences (hello, chocolate!), jot them down and stride through those store doors like the organized shopping ninja you are.

24. Reading Lists – The Bookworm’s Guide

Create personalized reading lists in your dot journal for all the books, articles, and maybe even those long-lost web pages you’ve been meaning to read.

Organize them by genre, author, or even mood. Want to tackle the classics? Or dive into some self-help goodness?

Your reading list can be your roadmap through the vast world of literature and information.

25. Prayer Journal – The Spiritual Connect

Keep your prayers, thoughts, and reflections close. It’s a serene space for your spiritual journey.

So there you have it, friends – 25 dot journal ideas that are more than just dots on a page.

They’re mini gateways to organizing your life, exploring your passions, and maybe even discovering parts of yourself you didn’t know existed.

Whether you’re a dot journal newbie or a seasoned pro, there’s always something new to try.

And remember, your dot journal is uniquely yours. It’s a canvas for your thoughts, dreams, and daily grind.

So grab those pens, unleash your creativity, and most importantly, have fun with them! Who knew a bunch of dots could be this exciting, right?

Happy journaling, everyone!

Dot Your Way to Dream Journals

As we wrap up this dot journal journey, I can’t help but get a bit excited about what lies ahead for you.

With these 25 ideas, your journal is about to become an extension of your vibrant self. But wait, there’s more!

I’ve got a little surprise for you – a free bullet journal template!

It’s tailored to help you effortlessly weave through these ideas, from tracking your mood swings to planning your fitness routine.

Imagine having a structured guide to kickstart your journaling adventure. No more staring at blank pages wondering where to begin.

This template is like having a journaling coach by your side, nudging you toward your most organized, creative self.

So, are you ready to turn those dots into dreams? Download the free template now and watch your journaling transform from routine to remarkable.

Let’s make those pages come alive!

FAQ’s

What do you do in a dot journal.

Dotted paper gives you the freedom to get your thoughts down on paper in whatever way makes sense. 

Use the dots to create flow charts to help you map out business plans or projects.

Write sideways and upside down, or use thought bubbles and boxes to separate themes and ideas from each other.

Is a dot journal the same as a bullet journal?

not completed as with bullet journaling. Think of dot grid journals as the more free form journal for tasks, ideas, creativity, etc.

However, within the daily logs of bullet journaling dot grid journaling can come into play to jot down daily notes and to-do lists.

What is the purpose of dotted paper?

Essentially the dots on the paper are to help you space bullet points and draw grids. But I found that there were lots of other uses for them.

Here are my top five uses for dot-lined paper.

Are dotted journals better?

Notebook paper with a dot grid, as opposed to traditional lined paper or plain paper, is the overall favorite for writing in journals.

The dots offer the perfect balance of structure and open space, giving you the freedom to create.

Leave a Comment

Teal Notes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2024 Teal Notes

What Is A Dot Journal and How To Use It?

If you journal every day, you might already be familiar with different standard notebook options. There are plain pages, line pages, and grid pages. But did you know, there is another journal option – Dot grid?

Since dot grid journals are new in the market, let us discuss what actually is a dot journal. 

Imagine a grid paper without the lines and just the dots at the grid intersections. That’s how a dot paper looks like. Therefore, the dot grid journal is an alternative to traditional lines and boxes. 

These journals became famous as the dots aren’t invasive yet provide you with subtle guidance in keeping your writing and drawings straight.

A dot journal is basically a planner + to-do list + dairy all in one spot. You can organise it the way that works for you, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. If you are anything like me and want a little guidance on how to get started with it, just keep reading.

Why Choose Dot Grid Journals Over Other Journals?

Have you ever been in a dilemma of which journal you should pick? Because with plain paper, your writing will be all over the place. Lined paper will make you look like a scholar (I am now having flashbacks of perfect penmanship and those endless essays in school and college). Grid paper is correctly aligned, but don’t you think it is a bit busy for drawing and decorating the page? I feel like grid paper is a bit distracting from my work.

So, what should you choose? That’s where our knight in shining armor, Dot Grid Paper, comes into action.  Download Free Printable Dot Paper here .

Dot grid paper has just the right amount of print that helps you in keeping things aligned and, at the same time, is not distracting from your creativity and writing. Also, the best part is, if you want to show off your skills in social media, it is effortless to fade the dots, so it looks like you have the perfect penmanship without any help. 

Dot journals are also available in A5 ( 5″ X 8.3″) size. A5 size in the perfect size as they are large enough to work in and yet small enough to take it anywhere. 

Dot Journal Ideas To Get You Started

Grab a jot gridded journal and a buckle up with some pens, of course as the following note-taking tips might just rock your journal world. Here are the six simple dot journal ideas to get started with your journey.

An index page is where you will record topics and their corresponding page numbers so that it will be easy for you to flip to them late on. If you dot grid journal is pre-numbered, it is good, but if it is not, it is perfect because it is where you can be creative and number the pages yourself. 

For example, in my journal, I have written my 2020 goals on page 4, my habit tracker on page 6, and my mood tracker on page 8. So I will just make a note of them in my index. Easy peasy, right?

Creating A Key

I personally feel like creating a key is the heart of dot-journaling. A key is basically a set of symbols or colors or short cuts you create yourself to make your note-taking more comfortable and efficient. 

Here is an example set of commonly used symbols by journalists to indicate the status of your task.

● indicates “to do.”

x indicates “done.”

> indicates “migrated.”

> indicates “scheduled.”

/ indicates “canceled.”

– indicates “note.”

You can also take this a step further with color to categorize. But don’t over-complicate it. For me, I classify my tasks using colors. I use red to indicate “work,” pink to indicate “personal,” yellow to indicate “fitness,” black to indicate “event/ social,” etc. 

Read – Bullet Journal Key Ideas For Beginners

Deciding On The Layout

After the index and key page, the next important thing to do is deciding on the perfect layout for your dot journal. Picking up the layout depends on various factors – 

How big is my handwriting?

You need to consider the size of your letters before drawing columns. Because, rather than squeezing in your handwriting to fit in the columns, it is better to change the column size according to your writing.

How far do you want to plan?

When deciding on the layout, I recommend you think about how you plan your days because some people choose a-day a page to include the half-hour appointment time-slots. While others need monthly wall calendars, and some hardly even use a dairy. 

• Daily-monthly mix layout is perfect for the high-paced lives, and daily logging like restaurant managers, journalists who need to book appointments and deadlines.
• The weekly-monthly mixed layout is suitable for thinking of a week in advance and having a lot of things to jot down and keep track of like freelancers or students.
• An only-monthly layout is good for the people with routine – who don’t have much to plan or who don’t have time for journaling.

The journaling layout needs a lot of experimenting. If one doesn’t work out, don’t worry! You can always change it whenever you want.

Deciding On What Fonts To Use

Although the original journaling system is intended to be minimalistic and clean style, many bullet journalists use their journals as a tool to spark creativity. So, make your journal a mix of planner and a creative outlet. You can also improve your handwriting and calligraphy skills. Search the web and pick some fonts and try it yourself!

Deciding On What Pens To Use

You can’t go wrong with a quality pen and a good notebook. So pick pens that are reliable, good quality, and make your writing in the journal a joy instead of a task. Since there are many options available in the market, I don’t want you to spend a lot of money and time experimenting with each other. So, I have listed the pens that are a safe bet.

• Sharpie art pens and Sharpie fine pens
• Paper mate flair felt tip pens
• Faber-Castell manga tip pens
• Staedtler pigment liner sketches
• Pilot Metropolitan

One of the best things I love about other people’s journals is their monthly themes. I think these themes make people more fun, engaging, and easier to understand. Whether you want the theme to be minimalistic or decorative, there are many bullet journal ideas to take inspiration from.

Jot Journal Ideas

Jotting down tasks and to-don’ts list.

Some times, don’t you think your to-do things will hold us back rather than the things we are not doing? If your to-do list makes you overwhelmed, try making a to-don’t list. It simplifies your life. I feel like a to-don’t list is a way to remind myself of the things I have to stand for. This is really helpful in working towards my goals.

Tracking Weekly Habits

Did you know the fastest way to reach your goals is to track your habits that will help you get there? A weekly habit tracker will help you in reminding us to act. It acts as a visual cue. All you have to do is merely jotting your typical day down the side and the days of the week across the top. Then check each day you have done the task. You can also divide into the morning, evening, or whatever makes tracking more fun. 

Learn more about habit trackers

Log Monthly Utility Bills

Keeping track of utility bills is the best way to monitor your spending. Giving a page in your journal to jot your utility bills will help you in having a clear idea of how much you are spending and how much more you have to pay in the future. 

Track What You Eat

Are you the one who would like to maintain a healthy lifestyle by having healthy meals but fail to do so? Don’t worry; our meals tracker will act as a visual reminder and help you stay on task.

Savings Tracker

When you have two to three savings accounts, it is hard to keep track of your money. You will easily spend the money that is designated for something else. Here is the best way to keep track of your savings.

Write Down Your Top Goals

Goal tracker is one of the fun ways to keep you ambitious all the time. These goal pages don’t have to be monthly, even yearly or lifetime goal pages are a great way to keep you on track. You have to pick a theme of your choice are start working on it.

Never Forget Your Friend’s Birthday Or Your Parents Anniversary

This page doesn’t need much time for the layout, but it is one of the pages we look back on throughout the year. Now, you might argue, why this page when we have the Facebook app and birthday reminders to remind you of special occasions. But, this act of writing can make you remember the dates and who wouldn’t have a phone and social media detox now and then?

Making A Clean Routine

Who wouldn’t want a clean house? Breaking up to stages will make your household chores seem more manageable. Firstly, get out of the idea of cleaning your entire home in a day. Then, figure out which tasks need to be when and chart them out. Do keep the plan realistic to make most of your layout.

Gratitude Time

If keeping a structured gratitude journal isn’t your thing, we can always add it to your dot journal using a simple format. You can simply jot the one or more items you are grateful every day. You can also write the one thing you are praying for that day or one prayer that was answered that day. Doing this every day will help you feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve your health, build strong relationships, and deal with adversity. ( 1 ).

Random Reminders

You can also create a spread where you can include all of your random reminders like review goals, revisit budget, etc.… This spread gently reminds you to revisit the things that are important to you. 

Are you ready to get going with the dotted journal? You can spice up your journals using sparkling stickers, washi tape, and fancy pens.

Printable Dot Paper For Bullet Journal

Want to be creative and make your own DIY dot gridded journal? You are more than welcome here. Below is a printable dot grid paper which is free to download . I have created it to practice my dot journal spreads at it works wonders.

The dots on this paper are perfect – light and not too large. You can pin several pages of this printable together to make it into a mini journal. You can also print it out on loose-leaf paper for a ring-bound planner.

Best Dot Journals

There are many dot grid journals available in the market, but only a few became popular. Why? Because of their quality and smoothness of the paper, the intensity of the dots, and the overall layout of the notebook. 

The following are my favourite dot grid journals.

Leuchtturn1917 has risen to be the cream of the crop. It has glossy pages and a more full size than an A5 notebook. It has lightly colored dots, which helps you in keeping things straight and, at the same time, doesn’t impede your writing.

Rhodia Dot Grip Notebook has an excellent quality of the paper, but the dots are a bit darker when compared to the other journals. So if having darker dots isn’t your concern, then you can happily choose the Rhodia Dot Grip Notebook. 

Dotted Notebooks are perfect if you are looking for a more affordable dot notebook. These notebooks have thicker paper, lay-flat design. Dotted notebooks have excellent reviews on Amazon.

Moji Double-ring Dot Notebook is a clean and straightforward 70-page dot gridded notebook with an elastic closure and spiral binding. This notebook is a bit price conscious when compared to other dot notebooks, but you don’t have to let that dissuade you from purchasing. Muji notebooks are well known for their quality and smoothness of the paper.

Minimalism Art Classic Notebook , made in San Francisco, is a classic A5 dotted notebook. The best part is it has a back pocket and a wide elastic band to keep it firmly closed. The book is available in various bright, fun colors for you to choose from. People love how thick the paper is and how affordable the books are when compared to other journals.

Dotted Grid Journal is another excellent book for journal lovers. It has thick archival paper and is affordable too. Dotted Grid Journal also receives top reviews on all online shopping websites.

FAQ’s about Dot Journal

What is a dot journal paper used for.

Dot grid paper, notebooks, and journals are trendy among people who love to do hand lettering, calligraphy, drawing, and, above all, bullet journaling. 

You don’t have to be a great artist to love doodling. Doodling is a fun way to relax and let your mind flow. Dot grid paper is best for doodling.

Does journaling help with anxiety?

Journaling is highly recommended as a stress management tool. One of the best ways journaling can relieve stress is by working through your anxiety feelings. The feeling of anxiety, when left unchecked, is what leads you to stress and rumination. The levels of anxiety can be minimized through a little-focused examination. Bullet journaling, if used in the right way, can act as a powerful tool to examine and shift your thoughts from anxious and ruminative to empowered and action-oriented. ( 2 )

How many pages should a dot journal have?

The number of pages your dot journal should have is utterly dependent on how much you use. If you use it regularly, then you may have a look for a notebook with more pages (185 – 250). However, if you use just ten pages a month, then you will be fine using a journal with 100 – 180 pages.

Is there a bullet journal app?

You can use any note-taking application as a digital bullet journal. But if you start with an app that has the right ingredients for keeping a bullet journal, then it is a lot less work for you. My best bullet journal recommendations are:

All these applications make rapid logging painless and have ready-made icons for tasks, events, etc. These apps also give you a quick way to search through your journal entries.

• How do I keep my journal private?

The following are some tips to keep your journal private

• You can start with a blank page or a spread that shows your desire not to be read.
• Use abbreviations or code words where you need to. For example, if you are writing a negative thought or some private matters, you can use code words to portray the people involved.
• If you are using a digital journal, try protecting it by keeping a password for the file. 
• If you want to get creative in protecting your journal, go “undercover.” My first journal was a three subject notebook with the word “History” written across the front. 
• The best way to protect your journal from other’s eyes is by hiding them. So always keep it tucked away in your bag. Keeping your journal out of visual reach prevents roaming eyes most of the time.

Is keeping a journal good for depression?

In simpler words, journaling is nothing but jotting down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly. Therefore, keeping a journal is an excellent idea if you struggle with stress, depression, and anxiety. It helps you in gaining control over your emotions and improving your overall mental health.

I personally was resistant to try dot journaling at first, but I have come to find that it is famous for a reason. Dot journaling will help you in staying on top of your goals. It sets good habits while letting you indulge in the nostalgia of filling the notebook. Some people put a lot of thought and effort into the design of each module. They use dot journaling as a kind of creative output. You can see the results easily on social media, and they look so cute and pretty!

References:

• Gratitude and well being – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3010965/
• Treatment of anxiety disorders – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573566/

Sowmya Cherukuri

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Trending Post : The Mega List of Free SVG Files

The Ultimate Guide to Keeping a Travel Journal

Create a travel journal for your next adventure.

Let’s talk about creating a travel journal for your next trip that you’re planning.

Traveling starts long before an actual trip begins. 

It usually starts with a dream. 

A dream of a different place, new scenery, a vacation or a getaway.  It can  even just start with a feeling.  We call it Wanderlust….

Planning a trip is just as much a part of traveling as the trip itself.

A travel journal can be start all the way at the beginning of the idea of the trip and then be a keepsake when the adventure ends.

~This post may contain affiliate links.  If you click one and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.  This helps us fund creating great content for you! For more information  click here  ~

Why Keep a Travel Journal?

When you travel, you are collecting memories. 

When you bring those memories back home with you it gives you a chance to relive them, and share them, and maybe even learn from them. 

Travel can expand your view of the world around you, even if you don’t go very far from home and it gives you a chance to escape from your daily routine.

I know that we all use our phones to organize things thees days, I love having everything at my fingertips too, but there’s something romantic and special about writing things down in a journal. 

This is your chance to disconnect from your daily habits and try something new.

A travel journal can be a great keepsake and also a great resource after your trip has ended.  How much easier will it be to remember the name of that fantastic restaurant if you’ve got it written down in your journal?

By keeping a travel diary you have a reflection of your experiences that you can revisit anytime.

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal is your diary of a trip, or multiple trips.  It’s where you can write about your experiences and how you felt about them.  It’s the place for you to collect your stories and memories of your trip.

Your travel journal is yours.  It’s personal and it can include anything that you want to jot down about your trip or during your trip.  It’s also a great place to store memento’s.

Using Your Travel Journal to Plan Travel

You can use your travel journal before your trip even begins.  Keep a travel bucket list of places you want to see and things you want to experience.  This is a great list to refer to, and to update and see if it changes as you travel and have more experiences.

You can keep your packing list in your travel journal.  Make notes on what things worked best on your trip and what things you didn’t need.  This can help you plan your packing for future trips. 

Remember that one thing you always forget?  Write it down for next time!

Travel Journal Tips

Plan your trip in your travel journal.

Use your travel journal to plan your trip.  Write down your ideas while you’re researching your trip or talking with fellow travelers.  Is there a great hike you heard about or a restaurant you want to try? 

Put them in your planning pages.

This is a great way to keep track of your ideas before the trip to help you plan your time during the trip.  You can keep contact information and planning all in one central location.

If you’re moving around to different places you can keep your itinerary and lodging information in your journal.

Write During Your Trip

You don’t want this to feel like a chore, but you do want to get a few notes down while they’re fresh in your memory.  Try to spend a few minutes each day putting your thoughts on paper.  Even if it’s just a few lines to be able to jog your memory later, getting some notes down will help you put your story together.

Try to use all your senses when you’re writing – how did you feel, what were the smells and tastes  you experienced.  All these details will help you retain a more vivid picture of your trip and experiences.

There’s always an aspect of wonder when you travel too. 

Try to put down a few of your feelings so that you will be aware of how the trip changed you.  Travel is a great chance to experience personal growth.

Add Keepsakes to Your Journal

You can glue in photos, menus, napkins; really anything that strikes your fancy can be included in your travel journal. 

I like to keep ticket stubs and entry bracelets and write about the places that we’ve visited.  After we return home I might add a few photos that go along with the trip.  If we pick up a tourist brochure for someplace we visit I like to keep those too.

Finish Up When You Return

When you get home be sure to take a little time to look back through your journal.  You may have some memories that you want to add or you may just want to relive a few moments from your trip.

It can also be a great stress reliever to review your journal after you’ve been home awhile.

The Benefits of Keeping a Travel Journal

It’s a great way to beat boredom.

If you’re traveling a great distance, or traveling alone, your journal gives you a nice distraction when you need something creative to work on.  You can write anything you want in your journal, it doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you when it’s all said and done.

But don’t feel that you have to write about every little thing.  You journal belongs to you and it can just be a keepsake of your favorite things, or notes for future travel.  Remember that it’s always supposed to be fun and not a chore.

You’ll Remember More

Writing helps us commit things to our memory. 

By putting down your thoughts and memories in a journal you will remember more about your trip.  It’s also a great place to jot down notes when you visit with the people you meet along the way.

Ask the local’s the best place to eat and jot it down.  Ask a fellow traveler about what they saw that was unexpected and make a note of it.  Sometimes these are the things that will you get off the beaten path and have experiences that you didn’t expect.

It’s a Great Keepsake

When your trip is all said and done you’ll have a live scrapbook about it.  It can be a great resource when planning another trip or offering tips for someone traveling to the same area. 

It’s also a great place to revisit some memories later.

I always like picking up little things, bottle caps, napkins and other small items.  This gives me a great place to hang onto them so that they’re memories and not clutter.  It’s always fun to keep a bit of the local currency and ticket stubs. 

But don’t be limited to that, you can keepsake most anything.

It also helps me keep different trips and places straight.  I can look back and tell my friend where we ate or the name of the hotel.  It’s all written down and easy to find.

Travel Journal Prompts

Do you need some ideas for thing to include in your travel journal?  Sometimes staring at a blank page can be a hard way to begin.  Here are some prompts to help get you writing.

Where are you going and why?

It can be as simple as taking a vacation or it can be traveling for a service project.  There are no right or wrong answers, it’s your trip.  Tell about why you chose the place and what you hope to find there.

Some trips are mainly for relaxation and some are to enjoy a great activity.  They are all equally important.

What are you planning to do?

Maybe some drinks by the pool, or maybe you’re building a school.  Hey Dr. Seuss, what do you want to do on your trip?  This is something you can write about before you leave and then follow up with while you’re traveling.

Don’t forget to talk about the food  you want to try.

No matter where we travel, we always make it a point to eat locally and not at chain restaurants.

Pick something to focus on

I have a thing about doors. 

I love to see all the beautiful painted and patinaed doors and I make it a point on every trip to take door photos.  At this point I could probably publish a book of just those alone, but it’s also something that ties many of our trips together.

If you have a similar fascination it’s a great focus.  Do you visit all the beaches?  Do you collect sand from each one?  It’s amazing how different beach sand can be.

Write about the Food

You can use your travel journal as a food diary too.  Trying new foods can be a great experience when you travel, or it can be a funny tale in the future.

I know that we only eat beignets in New Orleans.  In my mind they are part of that city and the food there is part of the whole experience.  Conch fritters in the Bahamas, Red Stripe beer in Jamaica.  Is there a food that’s native to the region that you want to try while you’re visiting?

Make a Highlight Reel

If a friend was visiting, what experiences would you tell them to not miss.  What restaurants would you send them to?  Where’s the best place to see the sunset, go dancing, etc. 

Devote a page to just your favorite’s from the trip for reference.

Next time you visit

Every time we visit a place we make a list of things we’d like to do the next time we are there.   The best part of traveling is feeling like there are still things to discover when we return.

Where do you want to go next?

Did this trip give you more ideas of places to visit?  Is it someplace that you can’t wait to visit again?  Did it change your mind about other places you thought you were interested in? .

Travel Journal Inspiration

Here’s a great example of a journal spread for your packing list.

Here is a great example of a memory page in a travel journal.

Here’s a map spread so you can keep track of where you’ve been or where you want to go!

As you can see there’s no end to the creativity you can use in your travel journal.

Do you already keep travel journals or are you planning to start? Let us know in the comments below!

Follow us on Pinterest and on Instagram for lot’s more ideas and inspiration!

Similar Posts

10 Easy Doodles to Inspire Your Creativity

What is a Bullet Journal and Why Do You Need One?

12 Amazing Bullet Journal Gifts for Your Friends

How to Use Your Bullet Journal to Be More Productive

Find Out Why You Need a Mood Tracker – and get your free printable now

How to Use a Vision Board to Improve Your Life

This was quite useful for me. I already purchased a nice notebook for my next travel plans. I would like to receive more ideas about this. Thank you very much. Mariana

Mariane: We’re so glad that you found this helpful – I bet your travel journal is going to be amazing! WildOnes

Your post on Pinterest says ‘Hot to make a journal…” instead of ‘How’

Thanks so much for letting us know!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

25 Dot Journal Ideas for Beginners

• Dot Grid Journaling
• December 16, 2023

Dot journaling is a popular method of journaling that has taken the world by storm. It is a great way to stay organized, track progress, and keep track of goals. Dot journaling is particularly useful for beginners who are looking for a simple and effective way to start journaling.

One of the great things about dot journaling is that it is highly customizable. There are a variety of dot journal ideas for beginners that can be used to create a journal that is unique and personalized. Some popular ideas include indexing, creating a future log, and using different colors and symbols to organize information.

Another important aspect of dot journaling is the use of bullet points. Bullet points are a simple and effective way to organize information in a clear and concise manner. They can be used to track progress, set goals, and create to-do lists. By using bullet points, beginners can quickly and easily organize their thoughts and ideas in a way that is easy to understand and follow.

Getting Started with Dot Journaling

Dot journaling is a highly customizable and versatile way of organizing your thoughts, tasks, and goals. It is a combination of a planner, to-do list, and diary, all in one spot. If you’re a beginner, getting started with dot journaling might seem overwhelming, but with a few basic supplies and understanding of the dot grid system, you’ll be on your way to creating a personalized journal that works for you.

Choosing Your Dot Journal

One of the essential things to consider when starting dot journaling is choosing the right notebook . There are many options available in the market, but the most popular ones are the Leuchtturm1917 and Rhodia dot grid journals. Both of these journals have high-quality paper, a sturdy cover, and a dot grid system that is perfect for bullet journaling .

Basic Supplies for Beginners

Apart from choosing the right journal, there are a few basic supplies you’ll need to get started with dot journaling. A pen is the most important one. You can use any pen you like, but it’s recommended to use a pen that doesn’t bleed through the pages. The Micron pens are an excellent option for beginners.

Understanding the Dot Grid System

The dot grid system is what makes dot journaling unique. It is a grid of dots that allows you to create different layouts, designs, and trackers. The dots are evenly spaced, and you can use them to create lines, boxes, and other shapes. Understanding the dot grid system is essential to creating an organized and functional dot journal.

Gtting started with dot journaling is easy and fun . By choosing the right journal, basic supplies, and understanding the dot grid system, you’ll be on your way to creating a personalized journal that works for you.

Dot Journal Ideas for Beginners

Dot journals are a great way to organize your thoughts, goals, and to-do lists. They offer a flexible and creative way to keep track of your daily life. Here are 25 dot journal ideas for beginners:

Daily to-do lists

To start a daily to-do list in your dot journal , create a simple layout with sections for each day of the week. Each section should have enough space to write down tasks. Use bullet points to list your tasks, and consider adding symbols to denote task priority or completion status. This visual organization can help manage your daily responsibilities effectively.

Weekly or monthly goals

For weekly or monthly goals, dedicate a page at the beginning of each week or month. Write down clear, achievable goals and break them down into smaller steps if necessary. Use checkboxes to track completion, and reserve a space to reflect on your progress at the end of the time period. This can help keep you motivated and focused on larger objectives.

Habit tracker

Create a habit tracker by drawing a grid with dates on one axis and the habits you want to track on the other. Fill in the grid daily to monitor consistency. This visual aid is excellent for building new habits or maintaining existing ones, giving you a sense of accomplishment over time.

Gratitude journal

Start a gratitude journal section by reserving a few lines for each day to jot down things you’re thankful for. This practice can shift your focus to positive aspects of your life, fostering a sense of contentment and well-being. You can embellish this section with drawings or stickers to make it more personal and enjoyable.

Meal planner

To begin meal planning, create a weekly layout with separate sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Plan your meals ahead of time and make a corresponding grocery list to streamline shopping and reduce food waste. This can also help you maintain a balanced diet and save time during busy weeks.

Fitness tracker

For a fitness tracker, design a layout that allows you to record different types of physical activity, their duration, and intensity. You might also want to track your progress over time with personal records or milestones. This can be a great motivator and help you stay committed to your fitness goals.

Water intake tracker

To keep track of your water intake, draw a series of water drop icons or glasses for each day, and fill them in as you drink throughout the day. Staying hydrated is crucial for health, and this tracker can remind you to drink water regularly.

Sleep tracker

For a sleep tracker, create a chart where you can log the time you go to bed, wake up, and any notes on sleep quality or disturbances. Over time, this can help you identify patterns and make changes to improve your sleep hygiene.

Reading list

Start a reading list by dedicating a page to books you want to read, are currently reading, or have finished. Include columns for the title, author, start and end dates, and a rating system to keep track of your literary journey.

Movie or TV show tracker

Create a section for the films and series you wish to watch, with space for the title, release year, and your own rating or review. This can help you keep track of recommendations and your thoughts on what you’ve watched.

Quotes or affirmations

Dedicate a page or section to write down inspirational quotes or daily affirmations. You can refer to this section whenever you need a motivational boost or a reminder of your personal values and goals.

Budget planner

Set up a budget planner with columns for income, fixed expenses, variable expenses, and savings. Regularly updating this planner can help you manage your finances more effectively and work towards financial goals.

Savings tracker

Design a savings tracker with goals and milestones. You could use a bar graph or a drawing that you fill in as you save towards your goal. This visual representation can be a powerful motivator to stay on track with your savings.

Travel planner

Create a travel planner with sections for destination research, itinerary planning, booking confirmations, packing lists, and budgeting. This can make the process of planning a trip less overwhelming and ensure you don’t forget any important details.

Bucket list

Start a bucket list to keep track of your dreams and aspirations. Write down experiences or achievements you want to pursue, and check them off as you accomplish them. This can serve as a reminder of your broader life goals and inspire you to take action.

Keep a running list of gift ideas for friends and family. Note occasions, interests, and budget to make gift-giving easier and more thoughtful. This can save you time and stress when special events or holidays come around.

Cleaning schedule

Create a weekly or monthly cleaning schedule to keep your living space tidy and organized . Assign tasks to specific days, and check them off as you complete them. This can help you establish a routine and ensure that cleaning tasks don’t pile up.

Home improvement ideas

Start a section for home improvement ideas where you can brainstorm projects, list needed supplies, and plan out timelines and budgets. This can help you transform your living space incrementally without feeling overwhelmed.

Garden planner

Design a garden planner with space to sketch out your garden layout, list plant types, and track planting and harvesting dates. This can help you create a beautiful and productive garden.

Mood tracker

Create a mood tracker with a simple key for different emotions and fill in each day accordingly. Tracking your mood can help you identify patterns and triggers, which can be valuable for personal growth and emotional well-being.

Self-care routine

Dedicate a section to your self-care routine, listing activities that help you relax and recharge. Regularly updating and following this routine can promote better mental and physical health .

Brainstorming ideas

Reserve a space for brainstorming sessions where you can freely jot down creative or professional ideas . Use mind maps, lists, or sketches to explore your thoughts without judgment.

Project planner

Set up a project planner with space for outlining objectives, action items, deadlines, and progress updates. This can help you manage personal or work projects more efficiently.

Notes from books or podcasts

Dedicate a section for taking notes on key insights from books or podcasts. This can enhance learning and retention, and provide a reference for future reflection.

Doodles or sketches

Allow yourself a creative outlet by including a section for doodles or sketches. This can be a relaxing activity and a way to express yourself artistically within your journal.

These dot journal ideas can be customized to fit your individual needs and preferences. You can use different colors, fonts, and symbols to make your dot journal more visually appealing and organized. With practice, you can create a dot journal that reflects your personality and helps you stay on track with your goals.

Setting Up Your First Pages

When starting a dot journal, the first and most crucial step is setting up the first few pages. This section will guide beginners on how to set up their dot journal’s first pages .

The Key to Your Symbols

Before starting a dot journal, it is essential to create a key to the symbols that will be used throughout the journal. These symbols will help the user to organize and categorize their tasks, notes, and events quickly. The key can be as simple or as elaborate as the user desires, but it should be consistent throughout the journal.

Creating an Index

The Index is an essential part of the dot journal, as it allows the user to locate specific pages quickly. To create an Index, the first two pages of the journal should be labeled “Index.” If the pages are not numbered, the user should number them before creating the Index. As the user fills the journal with new pages, they should add the page’s name and number to the Index.

Crafting Your Future Log

The Future Log is a way to keep track of upcoming events, appointments, and deadlines. To create a Future Log, the user should dedicate a few pages to the log and divide the pages into months or quarters. The user can then add the events, appointments, and deadlines to the appropriate month or quarter.

Structuring Your Layouts

When it comes to dot journaling, one of the most important aspects is structuring your layouts. This involves creating monthly, weekly, and daily spreads that work for you and your schedule. By organizing your layouts in an effective way, you can stay on top of your tasks and goals while also incorporating creative elements that make your journal unique.

Monthly Spread Essentials

When designing your monthly spread, it’s important to include essential elements such as a calendar, a habit tracker, and a mood tracker. The calendar allows you to see your schedule at a glance, while the habit tracker helps you keep track of daily routines or goals. The mood tracker allows you to track your emotions throughout the month, which can be helpful for identifying patterns or triggers.

Effective Weekly Spreads

Weekly spreads should be designed to help you plan out your week and stay on track with your goals. This can include a to-do list, a space for meal planning, and a section for notes or ideas. By breaking down your week into manageable tasks, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay focused on what’s important.

Daily Logs and Trackers

Daily logs and trackers are a great way to stay organized and productive. This can include a daily to-do list, a gratitude log, and a section for notes or ideas. By keeping track of your daily tasks and accomplishments, you can stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Structuring your layouts is an essential part of dot journaling . By incorporating monthly spreads, weekly spreads, and daily logs and trackers, you can stay organized and productive while also incorporating creative elements that make your journal unique.

Personalization and Creativity

When it comes to dot journaling, personalization and creativity are key. This method of journaling allows beginners to make their journal their own, incorporating themes, colors, and artistic touches to create a unique and personalized journaling experience.

Incorporating Themes and Colors

One way to add personalization to a dot journal is by incorporating themes and colors. This can be done by choosing a color scheme for the journal, or by incorporating a specific theme throughout the pages. For example, a nature theme could be used by incorporating green and brown colors, along with drawings of trees, leaves, and other natural elements.

Adding Artistic Touches

Another way to personalize a dot journal is by adding artistic touches. This can be done by incorporating drawings, doodles, and other artistic elements throughout the pages. This not only adds personalization to the journal, but also allows beginners to practice their artistic skills and creativity.

Utilizing Stickers and Washi Tape

Stickers and washi tape are great tools for adding personalization to a dot journal. These can be used to add color and design to pages, or to highlight important tasks and events. Stickers can also be used to create a specific theme or to add a personal touch to the journal.

Personalization and creativity are essential to dot journaling . Incorporating themes and colors, adding artistic touches, and utilizing stickers and washi tape are all great ways for beginners to add their own personal touch to their journal and create a unique and personalized journaling experience.

Advanced Techniques and Tips

Bullet journaling for productivity.

Bullet journaling is an excellent tool for boosting productivity . By creating a to-do list and breaking down goals into smaller tasks, you can accomplish more in less time. One advanced technique for productivity is creating a daily log. This log allows you to track your tasks, appointments, and events for the day. Another tip is to use a habit tracker to monitor your progress with daily habits.

Bullet Journaling for Mental Health

Bullet journaling can be a valuable tool for managing mental health. One technique is to create a mood tracker to monitor your emotions and identify patterns. You can also create a self-care log to track activities that help you feel calm and relaxed. You can use your journal to practice gratitude by writing down things you are thankful for each day.

Bullet Journaling for Life Management

Bullet journaling can also help with managing various aspects of life. For home management, you can create a cleaning schedule and meal plan. For travel, you can create packing lists and trip itineraries. For students, you can create a study schedule and track assignments. For moms, you can create a family schedule and meal plan.

Bullet journaling is a versatile tool that can be used for various purposes. By implementing advanced techniques and tips, you can take your journaling to the next level and achieve your goals .

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some creative layout ideas for a beginner’s dot journal.

A beginner’s dot journal can be overwhelming, but there are several creative layout ideas to help them get started. Some of these ideas include creating a monthly or weekly spread , habit tracker, mood tracker, gratitude log, and a reading list. Using different colors and stickers can also make the journal more visually appealing.

How can a student effectively use a dot journal for academic planning?

A student can effectively use a dot journal for academic planning by creating a semester overview, weekly schedule, assignment tracker, and exam schedule. They can also use the journal to take notes during lectures and review sessions. Color-coding and using symbols can help them keep track of important dates and tasks.

What are some unique dot journaling concepts for adults to organize their daily life?

Dot journaling can be used by adults to organize their daily life in several unique ways. Some ideas include creating a meal planner , budget tracker, travel log, and a self-care tracker. They can also use the journal to track their fitness goals, daily water intake, and to-do lists.

What are the essential pages to include when starting a bullet journal?

When starting a bullet journal, there are several essential pages to include. These pages include an index, future log, monthly log, daily log, and collections. An index is used to keep track of the pages in the journal, while the future log is used to record future events and tasks. The monthly log is used to plan out the month, while the daily log is used to log daily tasks and events. Collections are used to group related information together.

What’s the difference between dot journaling and bullet journaling?

The main difference between dot journaling and bullet journaling is the use of dots instead of lines. Dot journaling uses a dot grid to create layouts, while bullet journaling uses a blank or lined notebook. Dot journaling also tends to be more artistic and visually appealing, while bullet journaling is more focused on productivity and organization.

Can you provide examples of how to personalize a dot journal for the year 2023?

To personalize a dot journal for the year 2023, one can create a “year in review” page, a “goals for 2023” page, and a “bucket list” page. They can also include a page for important events and milestones, such as birthdays and anniversaries. Adding personal touches, such as favorite quotes and photos, can also make the journal more meaningful.

I'm Ben, a data engineer who adores journaling. My passion for recording life experiences inspired me to develop Otto's Journal, an online diary app. Join me as I blend data and storytelling in the ever-changing tech world, making journaling more accessible and exciting.

Table of Contents

Recent posts.

What Is A Dream Journal

  If you’re interested in exploring the contents and meanings of your dreams, starting a dream journal can be an

How to Keep a Dream Journal: Tips and Techniques

  Keeping a dream journal is a great way to explore the depths of your subconscious mind and get in

How to Start a Dream Journal And Prompts To Use

  If you’re interested in delving deeper into your subconscious mind, starting a dream journal is an excellent place to

Benefits of Dream Journaling: 15 Reasons To Start

  Dream journaling is a practice that involves recording your dreams in a journal. It can help you remember more

55 Mindfulness Journal Prompts For Adults

  If you’re looking to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine, journaling can be a great way to start. Mindfulness

45 Mindful Journal Prompts For Students

  Mindful journal prompts can help students develop a sense of awareness and focus, as well as improve their mental

• Term And Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Newsletter

We will never spam your inbox

                                   All Rights Reserved © 2023

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Get notified about latest news and journaling tips

Dot Journal | An Easy Peasy Guide to Creative Self-Expression

Are you ready to start your own dot journal? Or maybe you’ve just seen one and are curious to learn what all the hype’s about? Prepare yourself for a step-by-step beginner’s guide to all things dot journaling!

The Basics of Dot Journals

The purpose and benefits of bullet journaling.

Dot journals, often referred to as bullet journals, are a versatile and customizable way to organize your thoughts, tasks, and goals. They can serve as a planner, to-do list, and diary all in one.

The purpose of a dot grid journal is to provide a flexible system that encourages creativity while helping you stay organized. Benefits of bullet journaling include increased productivity, stress reduction, unlocking your creative potential, and cultivating mindfulness through reflection.

Dot Grid vs Lined and Plain Paper

When choosing a journal, picking the right paper type is crucial. The three main types of paper are dot grid, lined, and plain.

• Dot Grid Paper : This type of paper provides a framework for your writing and drawing while still allowing your imagination to flow freely. Dots are typically spaced about 5mm apart, offering guidance without being obtrusive. Dot grid paper is perfect for creating everything from bulleted lists to intricate doodles and has become a favorite amongst bullet journal users. They’re especially popular in  A5 size  journals.
• Lined Paper : Lined paper is more traditional and commonly used for journaling, note-taking, and other writing activities. The lines provide a clear structure, making it easy to maintain neatness and organization. However, some may find the lines limiting when it comes to sketching, doodling, or creating more complex layouts.
• Plain Paper : Plain paper offers the most freedom for creativity, as it doesn’t have any lines or dots to guide you. While plain paper is a great choice for artists and illustrators, it may not be the most convenient option for organizing thoughts and tasks.

Dot grid paper is the preferred choice for dot journals because it provides a balance between structure and flexibility, enabling both organization and creativity.

Understanding Key Symbols and Layout

The key to success in a dot journal is understanding and using symbols and layout effectively. These elements help you navigate and organize your journal efficiently. Here are some standard symbols and layout options:

• Symbols : Symbols are small icons that are used to represent tasks, events, notes, and more in your bullet journal. For example, a bullet point might indicate a to-do item, while a circle represents an event. By using symbols consistently, you can quickly scan your journal and understand the content more easily. Be sure to make a key or legend at the beginning of your journal to remind yourself of each symbol’s meaning.
• Layout : The layout of a dot journal consists of spreads, which are various pages or sections dedicated to specific organizational purposes. Common spreads include calendar views (daily, weekly, or monthly), goal-setting pages, habit trackers, and more. Remember that a dot journal is highly customizable, so you can create spreads based on your personal preferences and needs.

Choosing the Right Dot Journal

Popular dot grid notebook brands.

When selecting a dot grid journal, it helps to start by looking at the popular brands available. Some of the well-known brands include  Leuchtturm1917 , Rhodia , and Moleskine .

They can be found at stores like Target or online retailers such as Amazon. Before purchasing, consider reading customer reviews and comparing features to find the one that suits your needs best.

Important Features to Consider

When browsing for the perfect dot grid journal, here are some important features to consider:

• Size and format : A5 is a popular size for dot grid journals, measuring 210 x 148 mm or 8.27 x 5.83 inches. This size is versatile, portable, and offers plenty of space for your plans and designs. You can find journals with spiral binding for easy flipping, as well as those with an elastic closure to keep your pages secure.
• Dot grid pattern : Note that the dot grid pattern may vary between brands. Some brands provide a margin, while others print the dot grid right up to the page’s edge. Depending on your preferences, choose a journal with a grid style that works best for you.
• Paper quality : Opt for a journal with archival-quality paper to ensure your creations will last for years to come. It’s also important to consider the paper’s thickness, as you want to avoid excessive ink bleeding or ghosting from one page to the next.
• Additional features : Several dot grid notebooks come with built-in features like a back pocket for storing loose notes, stickers, or other items. This added convenience can make your journaling experience more enjoyable and efficient.

Remember that the perfect dot grid journal for you is one that meets your specific needs and preferences. Take some time to explore the various options available, and you’ll be on your way to creating an organized and personalized space for your thoughts, plans, and drawings.

Setting Up and Customizing Your Dot Journal

Creating layouts and themes.

To set up your dot journal, start by selecting a layout that suits your needs. You can opt for basic templates or create your own unique layouts for different spreads.

Decide on a theme for your journal and use it consistently across all pages. To add a touch of personality, use doodling techniques and emojis in your journal.

Color and Calligraphy Tips

When customizing your dot journal, colors play a vital role in making your pages visually attractive. Invest in a set of colored gel pens and try different combinations to find your favorite color schemes.

For writing headers and texts, experiment with various calligraphy styles to give your journal a distinct look. Don’t be afraid to mix and match; your journal should reflect your personal style.

Adorning Your Pages with Stickers and Washi Tape

To further personalize your dotted notebook, use stickers and washi tape to decorate your pages. These embellishments not only add visual appeal but also help differentiate sections within your journal. For instance, using different-colored washi tapes can help you separate your monthly and weekly spreads easily.

In summary, customizing a dot journal is all about finding a balance between aesthetics and functionality that works for you. Remember to have fun while personalizing your journal, as it’s a reflection of your creativity and uniqueness.

Effectively Using Your Dot Journal

Managing to-do lists and goals.

When you’re using your dot journal, you can create a section specifically for managing your to-do lists and goals.

Start by designing a key or legend to represent different tasks and priorities. This will help you quickly identify items in your journal.

Organize your lists by categories or deadlines to ensure you stay on top of your priorities. Break down large projects into smaller, achievable tasks so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Take a moment to regularly review and update your lists as needed.

Incorporating Planner and Calendar Features

Dot journals not only help with to-do lists and goals but also function as planners and calendars.

Begin by creating a layout that suits your needs, whether you prefer a weekly, monthly, or yearly overview. Plan ahead by marking important dates, appointments, and events.

You can also include a section for notes, reminders, or reflections related to that time period. Remember, your journal is versatile and flexible, so feel free to experiment with your layout until you find the one that suits your personal preferences best.

Maximizing Creativity and Personal Expression

Your dot journal is an excellent outlet for your creativity and personal expression. Use a variety of writing styles, doodles, or calligraphy to add visual interest to your pages.

You can also incorporate various types of media, such as stickers, washi tape, or pictures to create a more personalized look. The dotted grid allows you to experiment with different formats for your entries, like thought bubbles, boxes or even writing sideways or upside down.

Don’t be afraid to try new ideas and make your journal an expression of your unique style.

Tracking Moods and Personal Growth

In addition to managing tasks and events, your dot journal is perfect for tracking your moods and personal growth. Regularly document your emotional ups and downs with a mood tracker, giving you valuable insight into patterns and triggers.

Your journal can also include sections for mindfulness practices, gratitude logs, habit tracking, or personal reflections. By dedicating space in your journal to these aspects of your life, you’ll not only become more self-aware but also support your journey toward personal growth.

Remember, you can always refer to the index of your journal to locate different sections or information easily. A dot journal is truly a versatile tool for staying organized while expressing your unique style.

Navigating the Dot Journaling Community

Finding inspiration and guidance on social media.

Social media platforms like  Pinterest  are great sources of inspiration for your dot journal journey. You can find countless examples of beautifully designed layouts, intricate handwriting, and creative drawings. Browsing through the plethora of ideas can spark your own creativity and help you navigate the world of dot journaling more easily.

Feel free to follow artists and curators who resonate with your style, but remember not to overwhelm yourself by trying to recreate every single idea you come across. Instead, focus on incorporating elements that genuinely enhance your planning, organization, and self-expression.

Connecting with Other Dot Journal Enthusiasts

As you delve into the dot journaling community, you’ll discover that there are many like-minded individuals who share your passion for this creative outlet. Look for Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and Instagram hashtags dedicated to dot journaling to connect with fellow enthusiasts.

By engaging with others, you can:

• Get advice on techniques, materials, and layouts
• Exchange tips on how to incorporate handwriting and drawings
• Find guidance and support when feeling overwhelmed
• Share your own experiences and knowledge

Remember that everyone’s journaling journey is unique, and it’s essential to respect each other’s preferences and creative styles.

Sharing Your Dot Journal Journey

One of the best aspects of the dot journaling community is the opportunity to share your progress with a supportive and understanding audience. Don’t hesitate to post your layouts, preferred tools, and even your challenges or struggles on social media.

Whether you’ve created an elaborate spread or a minimalistic one, your contributions can inspire others, while you receive inspiration from their content as well. By embracing the collaborative spirit of the dot journaling community, you can thrive in your practice and enjoy the vast array of resources, guidance, and support that this creative world has to offer.

Additional Dot Journaling Applications

Exclusive and minimalist approaches.

In your dot journal, you can opt for a more exclusive and minimalist approach. This can help you focus on what’s essential in your life and reduce clutter.

To achieve this, only include the most important tasks, events, and notes in your journal. Limit your color palette and design elements, and stick to simple layouts.

With a minimalist dot journal, you can streamline your planning process and make it more efficient. It enables you to quickly review your tasks and evaluate your progress.

Remember, the primary purpose is to be functional, so simplicity should be your guiding principle.

Creating a Business

Your dot journal can also be an effective tool for creating a business. It can serve as a central hub for everything related to your startup, including:

• Business goals
• Marketing plans
• Networking contacts

Organize your business pages smartly, and don’t hesitate to use different sections for various aspects of your venture. Having this information in one place ensures you can access it easily, stay on track, and visualize your progress.

Strategies for Success

Finally, your dot journal can be a powerful resource for strategies for success. This can encompass personal development, habit tracking, career planning, or even academic goals. Some ideas for effectively using your journal include:

• Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals
• Listing daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that contribute towards your goals
• Implementing habit trackers for healthy routines
• Reflecting on your achievements, struggles, and learning opportunities
• Identifying #inspiration sources or trusted resources

By using your dot journal as a strategic tool, you’ll be better positioned to achieve your objectives and make informed decisions in both your personal and professional life. This tailored approach ensures your journal aligns with your exclusive needs while maintaining a minimalist design.

No matter what brand of dot journal you choose, or how you set it up or use it, you’ll love the organization, productivity, and creativity it brings to your life. Happy journaling!

Sharing is caring!

Daily Planner | Your Ultimate Guide to Staying Organized

Saturday 27th of May 2023

[…] or dot journals: For those who value flexibility and prefer a more open […]

Bullet Journal Weekly Spread | A Spread That Will Scream YOU!

[…] journal journey, the first thing you’ll need is a notebook. The most popular type is the dot journal. But don’t worry, you can also choose from plain, lined, or grid notebooks if you prefer. […]

Dot Journaling—A Practical Guide: How to Start and Keep the Planner, To-Do List, and Diary That’ll Actually Help You Get Your Life Together

Get The Best Deal

See special price, buy from amazon.

Organize your life, record what matters, and get stuff done! What the heck is a dot journal? It’s a planner, to-do list, and diary for every aspect of your life: work, home, relationships, hobbies, everything . Early adopter Rachel Wilkerson Miller explains how to make a dot journal work for you —whether you find the picture-perfect examples on Pinterest inspiring or, well, intimidating. You decide how simple or elaborate your journal will be, and what goes in there:   Lists of your to-dos, to-don’ts, and more Symbols that will make those lists efficient and effective Spreads to plan your day, week, month, or year Trackers for your habits and goals (think health, money, travel) Accouterments  such as washi tape, book darts, and more!

Search Site

Recent posts.

• Sticky Notes Set, Hommie Colored Divider Self-Stick Notes Pads Bundle, Prioritize with Color Coding, 60 Ruled (3.7×6), 48 Dotted (3.7×3), 48 Blank (3×3.7), 48 Per Rectangular, 25 Per PET Color
• Exclusive Bamboo Desk Organizer Cube with Pencil and Pen Holder | Phone Stand, Paper Clip Caddy and Push Pin Container | Unique and Fun Office Supply for Table Top, Cubicle, Front and Reception Desk
• Chris-Wang Multifunctional 3-Compartment Wooden Desktop Office Supply Caddy/Pencil Holder/Desk Mail Organizer/Succulent Plants Planter(Classic Brown)
• Kikkerland Concrete Desktop Planter, Small (PL02-S)
• Cheliz Keyboard Wrist Rest Pad and Mouse Wrist Rest Support Mouse Pad – Durable & Comfortable & Lightweight for Easy Typing & Pain Relief-Ergonomic Support(Colorful Flower)
• KuDiff Cool USB Charging Station with Power Strip 4 USB 8 AC Outlets and 10 Ft Cable 2000W High Power Cute Pig Toy 3D Cube Housing Fireproof Smart Charging for Home Use Gift Choice for Lady and Kids
• Fishhotel Fishbowl White

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Privacy Overview

• Search for:

Organize your life, record what matters, and get stuff done!

What the heck is a dot journal? It’s a planner, to-do list, and diary for every aspect of your life: work, home, relationships, hobbies, everything .

Early adopter Rachel Wilkerson Miller explains how to make a dot journal work for you —whether you find the picture-perfect examples on Pinterest inspiring or, well, intimidating. You decide how simple or elaborate your journal will be, and what goes in there:

• Lists of your to-dos, to-don’ts, and more
• Symbols that will make those lists efficient and effective
• Spreads to plan your day, week, month, or year
• Trackers for your habits and goals (think health, money, travel)
• Accoutrements such as washi tape, book darts, and more!

Rachel Wilkerson Miller is the editor-in-chief of SELF and author of The Art of Showing Up and Dot Journaling—A Practical Guide . Previously, she was a senior editor at BuzzFeed and Vox and a deputy editor at VICE. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Huffington Post, and SELF, and she’s been a guest on NPR, the Today show, and Good Morning America. She lives in Brooklyn with her girlfriend.

20 Best Travel Journals to Document Your Trips

Some include prompts and templates to help get you started.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Last-minute planning of a trip can consist of chaotic lists in your phone's notes app while the chronicling of said trip may look like sporadic photos in your camera roll. But what if there was a collective place you could plan in advance and jot down funny moments along the way? A travel journal can culminate the ups (and downs) of your vacation with guided prompts and templates.

Our experts at Good Housekeeping Institute extended our expertise in the best photo book makers and best wedding planning books to research the best travel journals, a category we have not yet formally tested. We rounded up the best travel journals of 2023, whether you want a self-designed bullet journal or a notebook with fun maps and stickers. At the end of our list, you can find advice on how to start your travel journal as well as read more about why you can trust Good Housekeeping. And if you have a frequent traveler in your life besides yourself, check out our guide to the best travel gift ideas (although a journal is a great idea too!).

The Art of the National Parks: Park-Lover's Journal

Perfect for the outdoors enthusiast in your life, this journal celebrates each of the 63 parks. It's 175 pages long and comes with prompts that'll help them chronicle their journey. It doesn't hurt that this journal has gorgeous illustrations of each park by real artists.

Papier Off Piste

Whether this is your first or fifth travel journal, or a gift for the college student in your life who's about to go abroad, Papier's notebooks will check all of the boxes. One GH editor has the Off Piste journal and loves the cover, a simple design that includes a meaningful quote, and appreciates the helpful templates you'll find inside the notebook. You'll be able to document up to six trips with templates for your budget, packing list, transportation, accommodation, itinerary and a journaling space for freestyle writing. There are also pages dedicated to a travel wishlist as well an illustrative map you can color in as you mark off countries you've visited.

Peter Pauper Press Page-A-Day

Journals can ring in at a variety of prices, but you can find a great travel journal for under $10 that will still give you enough space to write about your wanderings around the world. This leather-bound journal dedicates one page to each day of your trip, with spaces to add in the date, location and weather conditions (we especially like the delicate drawings for types of participation which you can circle with your pencil or pen). Dotted lines on the page will keep your entries neat and organized and an included ribbon bookmark will keep track of where you left off last. Even though this journal is pretty basic in design and on the smaller side, we think it's a great option for someone who doesn't want to spend too much on their first travel journal.

Clever Fox Vacation Planner

Amazon's Choice with a 4.6-star rating across over 900 customer reviews, this travel journal comes with more than just a notebook. You'll also get 150+ fun stickers to embellish your entries, plus the journal also has a pocket to hold the pages of stickers and an elastic band for your pen. But what makes this journal really stand out is its extensive range of templates geared towards helping you plan your trip. For five trips, you'll get pages for research and budget, a packing checklist, transportation and accommodation details and an expense tracker, plus a map and more journaling pages. If you like to plan out every detail, this is the perfect travel journal for your needs. We wish you could fit more than five trips in the journal, but for the price, it's a great value.

Peter Pauper Press Kids Travel Journal

Perfect for the adventure-inclined kiddo, this 96-page travel journal lets young travelers record everything from general entries about a trip to a packing list. Kids can even paste in photos, tickets and more and store the rest in the journal's back pocket. The journal is also full of games, maps, helpful phrases in other languages, metric information, quotes and fun facts. Not only is this kid-friendly journal a creative means to document their early adventures, but its accessories encourage international learning.

Leatherology Medium Spiral Snap Journal

Available in four hues including black onyx (pictured), brown, azure and lilac, this journal is made from gorgeous dyed leather with light gold hardware. You can choose from a spiral or bound format, but note that the spiral option has 130 perforated pages while the bound journal has 265 ruled sheets (or 128 pages). Regardless of which style you choose, you'll will get the benefit of a snap closure and a built-in pen loop, although the writing utensil is not included. We appreciate the versatility of this journal given the blank pages that let you doodle and write freely over the course of your next trip.

Mark and Graham Leather Bound World Travel Journal

This beautiful leather bound journal not only has pages for writing about your trips, but it also includes full-color maps of major cities plus world weather information, international dialing codes and more. A perfect gift for the international traveler, you can also add a foil debossed monogram to the cover if you want to add a personal flare to the notebook. We wish that the journal was available in more than one color, but the rust orange is a versatile enough choice that will stick out in a dark suitcase or bag.

Duncan & Stone Paper Co. World Trip Adventure Book

An almost-perfect five-star rating on Amazon and the titular Amazon's Choice badge is enough to make you add this travel journal to your cart. The layflat design makes it easy to open and write on, and you'll have enough pages to reflect on 15 trips plus a back pocket for extra photos and blank pages for notes and random musings. What we love most about this journal are the helpful prompts that guide newbies through the process of journaling, with questions like "Where did you stay?." and "Something I learned from this destination/culture..." From basic to more thought-provoking questions, you'll have a boost of inspiration to help you document your journey.

Day One Day One

While the majority of picks on this list are physical journals, you can also document your trips through an app if you prefer a digital format or have minimal space in your luggage . Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director at the GH Institute Rachel Rothman , says Day One is a solid choice with ample positive reviews from consumers. You can download the app for free on your iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. You'll get one journal for one device with the ability to add a photo per entry, plus templates, export capabilities and tags. If you want unlimited journals, devices and photos plus the option to add videos, audio recordings and more, opt for Day One Premium which rings in at $2.92 per month.

Extreme Assistants Classic Notebook

If you travel a lot, or tend to squish as much as you possibly can into your carry-on (we have all been there), you'll want a durable journal that can withstand being tossed around and bumping against other items in your bag. A faux leather hardcover and thick paper ensure your journal will stay intact as you travel to and fro. The manufacturer adds that the cover is designed to be easy to clean, which is helpful if you are journaling on the airplane or train and accidentally spill your drink. We also appreciate that you can add a photo or logo to the cover for an element of personalization, especially since the notebook is more basic in style.

Deanna Didzun The Traveler's Playbook: A World Travel Journal

Journaling of any kind can be intimidating as you don't always know where to start — even a notebook with guiding prompts can lead to partial writer's block. If this sounds like you, then opting for a book that has more structure and a variety of templates is the way to go. This popular travel journal has a 4.3-star rating on Uncommon Goods is designed by explorer Deanna Didzun who created illustrations and lists to help jog your memory of your most recent journey. You can give overall star ratings for each destination and write down food and drink highlights if you so please.

Smythson Travels and Experiences Panama Notebook

There are journals and then there are journals — and this beautiful handcrafted leather journal falls into the latter category. Bound in crossgrain lambskin and available in a light blue or scarlet red, you'll have 128 pages of lined Featherweight paper to fill. This notebook is all about quality and is designed to last, but with that comes a higher price tag. It would be a great gift for the writer in your life who loves to travel, but given its simple layout and lack of templates other travel journals can have, it may not be splurge-worthy for every traveler.

DesignWorks Ink Suede Travel Journal

If you or a friend is traveling to Santorini, Mexico and/or Sydney in the near future, you may want to opt for this travel journal inspired by each of those stunning cities. You can add personal information in the first page of the notebook and the 240 pages are lined with spaces to include the subject and date. Although the journal does not include prompts or templates, we love the eye-catching gold design and appreciate the ribbon bookmark to keep track of your last entry.

Moleskine Traveller's Journal

Moleskine, the established brand that has been around for over two decades, is synonymous with traditional, high quality notebooks — and this travel-specific journal is no different. There are three sections for a travel wish list, short trips and long trips plus two sheets of stickers and a ribbon bookmark. The journal has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon across over 3,200 consumer ratings. One five-star review calls this notebook "the traveler's best friend," and notes how helpful it can be to keep track of places, restaurants and sites so you don't forget.

JB Leather Personalized Travel Notebook

For a personalized touch, this pick lets you choose from over 1,000 charm and stamp combinations including astrological charms, meaningful quotes and more . There are also three different vegan leather hues to choose from: cinnamon, cedar and sandy brown. The notebook has 18 plastic card slots, a zippered pocket for storage and a total of 152 lined pages. You can also refill the notebook as you cross places off your travel wish list. A best-seller on Etsy with a perfect five-star rating, this customizable notebook is popular among customers. Multiple reviews comment on the fast delivery, and its high-quality, beautiful appearance.

Transient Books Custom Travel Journal for Kids

With this journal, you can customize the cover color, font and cover map, as well as choose between 100- and 200-page books with lined, unlined and prompts variations. We love the various ways you can personalize this kid-friendly journal, making little ones that more excited to explore new places. The five-star seller has over 3,000 customer reviews on Etsy. And the travel journal doesn't just have to be a gift for the kids: Adult customers also said they enjoyed using the notebook for camping trips and vacations around the globe.

Compendium Everywhere You Go

We have included travel journals on this list that have prompts but none like the unexpected ones in this notebook that will get your creative wheels turning. The questions may catch you off guard, but prompt thoughtful reflection: they range from "If this place had a perfume, it would smell like..." to, "If this place had a soundtrack, these songs would be on it." The notebook is Amazon's Choice and has a 4.5-star rating, with multiple customers calling it the perfect gift for the traveler in your life, whether you need a gift for a teen or a present for a thirtieth birthday .

PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook

Keeping a bullet journal is a popular trend that can easily translate to an aesthetic yet meaningful travel journal. This popular bullet notebook has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon with over 18 color options to chose from including mustard yellow (pictured), burgundy, lavender, royal blue and more. The 5.7-by-8-inch dotted pages lend themselves to open-ended creativity. While it can be hard to start designing and writing a journal from scratch, you have the benefit of customizing how much space you want for each list or entry.

Polarsteps Travel Tracker

Physical journals are not everyone's cup of tea, which is where an app like Polarsteps comes into play. Available for iOS and Android devices, Polarsteps lets travelers track their journeys. You can utilize over 300 helpful guides created by travel editors, as well as use the itinerary planner to dream up your perfect vacation and check the transport planner when unsure of what mode of transportation to use from one destination to another. Once you begin your trip, plot each site you visit and slowly form a personalized map that you can embellish with photos and videos. From there, share your map with friends and family or turn it into a travel book to look back on for years to come.

Glad & Young Studio The Traveler's Journal

If you have a bookshelf with rows of novels, photo albums and notebooks, you may want an aesthetic-looking travel journal that fits your style. This leather notebook has 60 pages to document your travels, and is available in a neutral shade (pictured) as well as two marbled patterns that are unique to each purchase. We personally love the brightly colored assorted pattern that has swirls of lavender, yellow, fuchsia and blue. The lined pages are great for daily entries and you can also note the day and weather. Note that to clean, you'll want to wipe away and spills or messes with a soft cloth.

Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Product Reviews

The Best Cooling Mattresses

The Best Swimsuits for Women Over 50

The Best Swimsuits for Big Busts

The Best Luggage for International Travel

6 Best Car Phone Holders of 2024

The Best Inflatable Hot Tubs

The Best Nespresso Machines

The Best Bras

The Best Hair Dryers

Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum Review

The Best Walking Shoes

40 Creative Travel Journal Ideas & Writing Prompts to Save Your Best Travel Memories

It’s so easy to let our travel photos get buried in our camera roll or to say “I’ll remember this night forever” and forget the details that made it so special just a few months later. That’s where keeping a travel journal becomes such an important part of your trip! These travel journal ideas & writing prompts will make you fall in love with trips all over again and keep your favorite memories alive.

Travel journaling is therapeutic, fun, and provokes self-reflection and creativity. While we travel, we can be pretty busy – exploring different places, sleeping on planes, meeting new people. But just because you’re busy during your trip doesn’t mean you can’t keep a travel journal!

Keeping a travel journal is even more rewarding when you can make it personal with mementos (and other travel journal ideas I’m sharing below!)

And if you’re just here for the prompts, you can jump to the bottom of the post or download the free ‘Where She Goes’ Travel Journal Prompts list from The Travel Library .

Email address

Let’s get into everything there is to know about travel journaling and the creative ways you can go about your trip memory-keeping.

Some of these links are affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure !

All About Travel Journaling: What It Is, How To Do It, & Should You Keep A Travel Journal?

Keeping a travel journal is simply about recording memories from a trip. You can even keep track of and plan future trips in a travel journal (which I, as someone in love with lists, do often!)

There’s no one way to journal about travels. You could write during or after your trip, keep a travel bullet journal, track you running bucket list, save travel tips for your next trip – the important thing is to be creative and reflective!

Travel journaling is an amazing tool to see how travel has influenced us to grow as a person, from conquering fears to gaining self-confidence.

It can be used to beat the lonely times of solo travel or try to escape the post-trip blues by reliving those memories just made.

While we travel, there are so many highs, lows, emotions, funny moments and more that we say we will never forget. But to really never forget them, we have to reflect on them and document them! That’s where keeping a travel journal comes in handy.

The Best Travel Journals

There are lots of different options for travel journals. You could use a plain basic notebook or write in a travel diary with printed prompts and exercises. So, how do you know which one to choose?

The truth is, you can go through a lot of travel journals. Maybe you’ll get the chance to experience multiple different kinds! If you are naturally more creative, choose a mostly blank travel journal to which you can add personal touches.

If you struggle with what to write about, opt for journals with prompts built into them (or scroll down to the prompts below and download the list!)

Two travel journals that are both cute and interactive are the Wander Always Journal and the Page A Day Journal . These have prompts and activities within them, so there’s a bit less room for creativity. But, it also makes the process easier and faster with these bonuses.

Another travel journal that is perfect for those wanting a more sleek and clean look is the WNDRD Trip Planning Journal . As it says in the name, you can use this notebook for journaling and for trip planning with the specially printed planner pages.

Travel journals can also be great sentimental gifts for friends and family (or for yourself – I won’t tell!)

Travel Journal Apps

Everything has an app these days, right? Travel journaling can even be done on your phone! Some apps for travel journaling include:

• Travel Diaries

There’s also a sweet app called Journi, where you can create photo albums with diary entries and track your trip on a map. Then you can print or share these mini albums! You can group your photos while traveling or after so that they are easy to find. This way won’t be lost in your camera roll!

Creative Travel Journal Ideas

If you want to do more than just write in your travel journal, then there are many ways to make it special and personalized!

These unique travel journal ideas are meant to get you thinking about how to make your love for travel or the travels themselves come alive.

Look for inspiration everywhere. Maybe you have a ton of extra coins lying around from your trip to Italy . Or you saved those flowers you picked near the coast of France and they are now dried. These can all be accessories used to bring your travel memories back to life in your journal!

Photo Pocket

The first travel journal idea is to add a photo pocket to the back or front of your journal. This is a super simple way to create a little storage of your photos without having to spend time doing a complete album!

Simply take a piece of cardstock or stiff paper and cut it into a rectangle large enough to hold your photos. You can even create a scoop like mind so they peek out.

Then add adhesive to the bottom and sides and attach it to wherever there is a sturdy spot on your journal. Voila, you have a place to put all those photos instead of letting them get buried in your phone!

Scrapbook Layout

While the first idea to making your travel journal more creative was a simple way to include photos in your journal, this version takes a bit more time and creativity.

In your travel journal, you can either leave space on the pages as you write or write and layout photos at the same time to create a commemorative mini travel scrapbook.

You’ll need small adhesive, scissors, and some creative juices flowing to transform blank pages into something beautiful.

Decorating your travel journal is another way to give it more personality and bring out the fun of your trips.

You can opt for inexpensive sheets of stickers or find specific decals you fall in love with to tell the story of your trip!

Good places to buy unique stickers and decals are Etsy , Amazon , and Society6 .

Here are some of my favorites for an aesthetic travel journal cover and pages!

• Go Travel Decal
• Trip Planning Stickers
• Vintage Vinyl Stickers
• Gold & Black Aesthetic Travel Stickers

Add Your Own Art

Take the design of your travel journal to the next level by channeling your inner artist. Use paint to decorate the outside. Doodle your favorite places on the pages or the cover to bring you back to a place.

Whatever artistic addition you can make to your travel journal, the more personal to and reflective of you it will be.

Preserving Tickets, Passes, & Other Mundane Mementos

One of the best travel journal ideas is to preserve all of the extra bits from your trip – things like train tickets, museum passes, and local maps – to add to your writing entries.

They may seem useless after your trip, but these tokens of your travels are the real elements that bring your memories to life. Seeing a word can help you imagine a place, but physically touching your metro pass or gallery ticket takes you right back to the moment you used it.

Tape these small papers to page corners, stuff them in the photo pocket, or even use them as little bookmarks to organize your journal.

Choose Something to Collect

Make your travel journal completely unique by sticking with a theme. This idea for travel journals will take some time to execute throughout your travels, but it can be a special way to remember each place you’ve been to.

Whether it is stamps, postcards, or boarding passes, build up a consistent collection of them from wherever you travel.

Then when it comes time to assemble your journal, you have a cute consistent theme and a visually appealing diary to document every place you have been.

Travel Journal Prompts for Reflection & Memory-Keeping

Travel journal prompts are ways to combat writer’s block and inspire creativity. To make these prompts easier to reference, you can download the free printable of ‘Where She Goes’ Travel Journal Prompts from The Travel Library, where you’ll also have access to resources like my girl’s packing list and Lightroom photo presets.

The Journey

• What was the journey like to be here? What happened on the way to your destination?
• Did you learn anything new on the journey?
• Who did you meet while traveling to this place?
• What was your favorite part of the journey?
• Did you reach here by car, plane, train?
• Was it a long journey? How did you feel once you reached your destination?
• What songs did you listen to on the way that take you back to this trip?

The Destination

• Describe your current surroundings.
• How does this place make you feel?
• Why did you want to be here? Did you want to be here?
• What surprised you most about this place?
• Who are you traveling with?
• What have you learned about this place since arriving?
• What’s a funny story you would tell your friend about this trip?
• Where did you explore off-the-beaten-path?
• Did you try any unique foods?
• How would you describe this place to a friend or family member?
• Name one thing you never want to forget about this place.
• What is a memory you’ll cherish forever from this trip?
• Did you enjoy your trip? If not, why?
• What did you learn about yourself after visiting this place?
• What could have gone better?
• How do you feel after leaving? Would you return?
• Name three things you are grateful for from this trip.
• Describe your favorite photo from this trip.

General Memory-Keeping

• Write about the first travel memory that comes to mind.
• Doodle a monument or favorite place you have visited that made you want to pinch yourself.
• Describe your first travel experience. What were you feeling? Scared? Excited? Anxious?
• Make a list of all the people you’ve met while traveling.
• What’s one thing you would change about travel?
• What’s one thing you want to do better while traveling?
• Where’s your favorite place to travel with family? Describe it in vivid detail.
• Describe a place you’ve visited through using all five senses.
• If you could choose one place you’ve been to stay forever, which one would it be?

Final Tips for Travel Journaling

Hopefully with all these travel journal ideas and writing prompts, you feel more comfortable and excited to document your travels! Here are some extra tips to make travel journaling work for you:

• Keep your travel journal with you as you are on the go. This may seem obvious, but when you think about it, we don’t want to pause our day to go write about what’s happening that very second. Instead, have your journal with you to doodle your surroundings or write down specific feelings you have at the moment. You can elaborate later!
• Write down keywords to escape writer’s block. If you have trouble getting started, jot down a few words that come to mind when you are looking at a prompt. Often when writing, we get overwhelmed by what the finished product should look like that we can’t even start! Start as small as keywords and as your ideas come in the writing will flow.
• Use every sense for details. An easy way to get more creative and describe a moment well is to think about it from the perspective of all five senses you experienced with. What sounds did you hear, things do you see, flavors did you taste?

Let me know what you think of these travel journal ideas, prompts, & tips with a comment!

Save this guide to Pinterest for later reference!

The more memories we make, the more important it is to jot them down so we have them forever. Tell me if you’re excited about travel journaling like me!

Michela is a travel writer and photographer living in northern Italy. She is passionate about helping people make the most of their travels by sharing advice gained from her personal experiences, off-the-beaten-path destinations and time-saving quick itineraries. Browse her top articles or have her help you plan your itinerary to your dream destination!

Find me on: Web | Instagram

You may also enjoy:

The beis luggage review you need to read before you buy: worth …, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Website URL

Sign me up for the newsletter & access to resources from The Travel Library!

JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP

Check this out

• The Travel Library
• Privacy Policy

BUY ME A COFFEE

I love creating free resources for your travels and personally responding to your questions over chat and email.

Planning a trip to Italy?

Looking for Something?

• Meet the Team
• Work with Us
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Scandinavia
• Philippines
• South Korea
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Budget Travel
• Work & Travel
• The Broke Backpacker Manifesto
• Travel Resources
• How to Travel on $10/day

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

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

Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook

• > Great travel journal
• > Pages are gridded

Siixu Colorful Blank Notebook

• > Stitch-bound notebook
• > Pastel-coloured

Conda Hardcover Spiral Sketchpad

• > Hard cover
• > Spiral-bound

Refillable Leather Journal Traveller’s Notebook

• > With all sorts of compartments
• > Opening accordion-style

Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company

• > Minimal design exterior

Travel Passion Journal by Moleskine

• > Journal specifically for travel
• > 400 pages

Travel Journal by Promptly Journals

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

Mudpuppy Kids’ Travel Journal

• > Wire-bound book

REI is one of America’s biggest and most-loved outdoor gear retailers.

Now, for just $30, get a lifetime membership that entitles you to 10% OFF on most items, access to their trade-in scheme and discount rentals .

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

Do You Want to Travel FOREVER??

Pop your email in below to get a FREE copy of ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day!’.

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.

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

Pop your email here & get the original Broke Backpacker Bible for FREE.

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

Share or save this post

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!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.

Pack Hacker is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Best Travel Journal to Track Your Adventures

From tiny and compact to easy-to-read and leather-bound, we’ve got 15 travel journals for every wanderer, including digital nomads, retirees and kids.

In this digital age of selfies, live streams, and social media, does anyone put pen to paper anymore? The answer is yes! News feeds are fleeting, and character limits keep you from jotting down everything you want to recall about your trip. And after getting the dopamine hit of a hundred likes, do you ever go back and look at the photos and memories of your vacation again? Probably not, unless a “memory” pops up.

Luckily, you can remember any time when you bring along a dedicated travel notebook. These range from pocket-size to multiple bound volumes, depending on how often you travel and how much you want to write. Some travel journals come with preprinted questions and writing prompts to jog your memory, while others are a blank slate, with perhaps just lines, grids, or dots to provide a little structure for your thoughts and sketches.

Which is right for you? Check out our round-up of more than a dozen travel journals, notebooks, and diaries to find the best one to suit your needs and upcoming trip.

• Moleskine Classic Large Soft Cover Dot Grid Notebook
• Papier Travel Stamps Travel Journal
• DUNCAN & STONE PAPER CO. Travel Journal
• Rifle Paper Co. Five Year Keepsake Journal Set
• Clever Fox Travel Journal (Pocket Size)
• Baronfig Vanguard Softcover Notebook
• Letterfolk Trip Passport
• Peter Pauper Press Kids’ Travel Journal
• Field Notes National Parks Series
• Write It Down! Vacation – The Traveler’s Journal
• newestor Refillable Leather Journal
• Rite in the Rain Outdoor Journal
• Lochby Pocket Journal
• Upgraded Us Traveler’s Journal (A5 Size)
• Don Johnson Cruise Alaska Journal

If you’re looking for a travel notebook that will last, the Moleskine Classic will get the job done. Although it’s nothing fancy, it’s a workhorse that has held up well throughout years of travel, even while jostling around a backpack as we travel the world.

Its compact size fits in the tablet sleeve of your travel backpack or daypack , and the soft synthetic leather cover is lighter than a hardcover book. There’s an attached bookmark to mark your place and an elastic strap to hold everything together while you travel. Plus, it lays flat, so it’s easy to get your thoughts on paper without running into the gutter.

It comes in three sizes—pocket, large, and extra large—and three layouts—blank, ruled, and dot grid. We like the dot grid because it allows enough structure for writing but doesn't get in the way of sketching. You'll find a small paper pocket in the back of the travel notebook. While it’s far from sturdy, it can easily hold your passport, a few business cards, or the phone number of that attractive bartender you want to see again.

• Cover holds up well through travel
• Simple design provides flexibility for writing, sketching, and expense tracking
• Back pocket rather flimsy, so it might not hold tight to mementos you want to keep
• No writing prompts for inspiration

If you want to be inspired by your travel notebook, the Travel Stamps Travel Journal will get you excited about your next trip. The hardcover travel diary is covered with images of international stamps, and each one comes personalized, so you can label it with a name, the year, or just a fantastic quote from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

There’s space to record memories of six trips, with pages to make a travel budget, create itineraries, draft packing lists, and plenty of space to paste photos and record what you did on your trip. It’s not too big or heavy to bring along with you to take notes as you go, and if you get bored during a road trip , there are games in the back to keep you or your travel companions busy. You can also channel your inner child when you color in the countries you visit on the included map of the world.

• Every journal is personalized to create a nice keepsake of your trip
• There are instructions and a contact page in case you lose it
• Space for six trips may not be enough for frequent travelers
• It doesn’t lay flat when open and writing can get difficult toward the binding

When you want your travel journal to be something you can revisit in your golden years, you may want one that will look great on your bookshelf. While the Travel Journal is on the larger side to pack in your luggage, it’s the perfect size for sharing your memories with family and friends later on. It’s easy to jump to a specific trip since they’re each labeled with colored tabs printed at the top corner of each page, and an attached bookmark will let you know where to start recording your next adventure.

The linen hardcover travel diary comes in classy colors like Sage Green, Rose, and Sand, and you’ll find space to record up to 15 adventures inside. Since it has dedicated pages for photos as well as prompts to help you remember where you ate, what you did, and where you shopped, you can save your memories in one place instead of scattering them throughout photo albums, scrapbooks, and hard drives. Who knows? Your great-grandchildren could be inspired to start their own journeys after reading about your trip to Bali.

• Questions and prompts help you gather your thoughts easier than a blank page
• The embossed linen cover creates a high-quality keepsake of your travels
• It’s pretty large to bring along on a trip
• You may run out of room if your trip includes stops in multiple destinations

When your coworker is retiring to travel the world (or you are! In which case, congratulations!), gift them the Five Year Keepsake Journal Set to record their adventures. The cloth-bound books lay flat so it’s easy to record your memories each day, and they come together in a box set that will look great on a shelf once you return home. Sticker packs are also available to embellish your travel diary and make it your own.

Each page in this travel journal has space to record two days, so while it’s formatted more like a traditional journal, you can also use it to keep track of what you did each day of your trip. The journals also include a place to record your goals, so you can create a bucket list of places to see that year, plus places to keep track of special moments you celebrated and everywhere you’ve been. Each book has 200 pages, so you’ll have plenty of space to record your journeys wherever life takes you.

• It has room to record years of adventures
• It’s undated, so you can start journaling at any time
• It takes up more space than a single journal
• The layout is less travel-focused than other options

A pocket-size travel notebook can be easier to bring along on your next trip, and if you’re looking for a durable yet lightweight option, you might like the Clever Fox Travel Journal. Cute travel icons, from palm trees to paper airplanes, pattern the vegan leather cover, and an elastic strap holds it closed. Plus, there's a bookmark and another elastic to hold a pen in place.

This travel diary includes safety tips, a pre-printed packing list, and a travel checklist. You can also create personalized lists for five trips and fill out calendars, budget charts, and expense trackers. It even has dedicated pages to write down the transportation you took and the places you stayed. If that seems like a lot of preplanning to you, don’t worry—there are also pages to freeform record your adventures and stickers if you like to bedazzle your travel diary. A rear pocket is a great spot to slide ticket stubs and transportation cards to reminisce later about the day you got lost on the subway in New York.

• It’s small and lightweight to carry with you on a trip
• You can also get it in an A5 size if you prefer larger pages
• Most pages are dedicated to specific information
• Although there’s a pen holder, one is not included

A basic notebook with quality paper may be all you need in your next travel notebook. After all, if you have great ideas of how you want to remember your trip, or you like to sketch and doodle as well as write, it’s nice to have a journal that gets out of your way so the creative juices can flow. Choose from blank, ruled, or grid dot pages, depending on your preference and whether you need some guidance to write straight or prefer to go a little more freeform.

You can get this softcover notebook singly or in a set to make sure you don’t run out as you backpack across Europe. It’s lightweight and comes in three sizes: Pocket, Flagship, and Plus (or small, medium, and large), so you can pick the one that’s right for you. We really like the feel of the lush yet functional acid-free fine-grain paper, although we like the stitched binding a little less so. While it’s nice that it lays flat while you’re writing, it can unravel after some use.

• The paper feels really good to the touch
• It has a clean, minimal design so you can record whatever details you like
• The soft cover crinkles easily and it may start to show its age after lots of use
• The binding may not stand the test of time

Long-term travelers may appreciate a pocket-size travel diary to keep track of their world travels, and the Trip Passport fits the bill. This travel journal is about the same size as your passport, so you can slide it into the same pocket of your travel backpack. Then you can use the time in line to record a few thoughts about your trip while waiting for customs to stamp your passport.

Each record includes two pages: one with spaces to note who you were with, what you ate, and how you felt, and one dot grid page to write down your favorite memories in word or picture form. The soft cover is flexible, so you can slide it in a back pocket without feeling like you’re sitting on a brick, although it can easily bend and wrinkle. Of course, like the smile lines on your face, any crinkles and creases are just marks of your fun experiences and won’t detract from the memories you jot down.

• There’s space to record 20 trips
• Other versions let you keep track of museums or theme parks you visit if you want more specificity
• You have to write really small
• There are only two pages for each trip

It can be tempting to put off a once-in-a-lifetime trip with children if you worry they’ll be too young to remember the fun you had. With the Kids’ Travel Journal, they’ll have a great way to look back on that bucket-list trip, even as their memories begin to fade. This child-focused travel diary gives them a space to keep a detailed record of their trip, with pages to jot down where they go, when, who they’re traveling with, what they plan to see and do, and what actually happened. The hard cover will protect their memories when the journal gets shoved in the bottom of their backpack, and an elastic keeps it all together, even if they stuff it full of special candy wrappers, pressed flowers, and maps.

Games and fun facts in the back will keep them busy during a long road trip or overnight flight and may even save you some Googling when they ask how to remember the five Great Lakes or how long the Great Wall is. There are also conversion charts from Imperial to Metric, which comes in handy if your 8-year-old is insistent on putting on a coat because it’s 30 degrees in Rome. (Hint: that’s too hot for a hoodie!)

• This will help children remember a milestone trip
• Games and maps help keep kids occupied while traveling
• You may need a new one for every trip
• Design may be a little young while requiring more writing than little kids can handle

If your travel bucket list includes hitting all the U.S. National Parks, you might want to select a travel notebook with designs inspired by some of the most popular spots. The National Parks Series of Field Notes notebooks is available in six packs of three parks each, covering a total of 18 National Parks. Do you plan to visit Zion, Yosemite, and Acadia? Pick up the Series A Pack and record your adventures at each park in one notebook.

When you get home, you’ll know exactly where to find that funny story about almost stumbling into Old Faithful. Inside the front cover of each notebook is also a spot for your official National Park Passport Stamp, as well as a place to record when you went and who the notebook belongs to so a good Samaritan can send it home if you drop it outside of Dollywood on your trip to the Great Smoky Mountains (that's in Series C).

• You’ll have a good-looking record of your visit to a U.S. National Park
• Field Notes come in a variety of other styles and cover colors if you want something more generic
• They’re blank inside except for a grid pattern
• The soft covers can get worn-looking after a lot of use

Maybe you’re a camper who wants to keep track of every park you visit with your RV, or you want to note what you saw in small towns along Route 66. If so, the Traveler’s Journal may be for you. This thick travel notebook has a wide spiral binding to make it easy to write in and a durable cover that won’t bend or flip up.

Each of the 200 pages in the journal has prompts on the front to help you remember your trip, such as who you traveled with, what you enjoyed doing the most, and places to remember for next time, while the reverse side is left blank (but lined) for you to record other thoughts and notes. Even though it’s only one page, you have plenty of space to note what you want to remember since this travel diary is about the size of a school notebook. And if you have more to say, you can always go into more detail on the next page, although you’ll be giving up space for a future trip.

• It’s spiral bound and lies completely flat for easy writing
• There’s space to record many trips
• The same prompts repeat throughout the book
• The large size makes it more difficult to pack

You’ll appreciate the aesthetics of the Refillable Leather Journal if you love the feeling of soft leather in your hands or want to get medieval vibes as you record your journeys. It includes enough accessories to still your beating organizational heart, from a pen and holder to a distressed metal binder clip, elastic bands to keep everything together, three 96-page notebooks, and a card holder.

The notebooks slide through elastics on the spine to stay in place, making them easy to add and remove as you fill them with memories. You can get refills in ruled, grid, or dot patterns to record future travels and jot down your bright ideas. The leather protects their soft covers and holds everything together as you toss it in your travel tote for a day of exploring. You’ll have to come up with your own ideas of what to write, but we have faith you can do it.

• You can add additional notebooks to the leather cover
• It’s an all-in-one set to get started with a travel journal
• The leather cover will naturally distress over time
• It might be a bit bulky if you only need one notebook at a time

Bird watchers, nature photographers, and Seattle residents take note: this is the travel notebook for you. Rite in the Rain’s Outdoor Journal will allow you to, you guessed it, write in the rain. The all-weather paper repels water, grease, sweat, and mud, and Rite in the Rain claims it can even survive a spin in the washing machine. However, since the Outdoor Journal is the size of a traditional notebook, it’s unlikely to fit in your pants pocket where you could forget it anyway. On the other hand, that means it will most certainly hold up to spilled beverages, so you can bring it to keep track of what you imbibe as you drink around the world (even if that’s just around EPCOT).

Inside, the paper is printed with a grid pattern that features horizontal lines and vertical dashes, so you can take note of your favorite restaurant in Florence or get to work designing a better backpack as you wait for the train. There’s also a built-in ruler and some handy survival tips on the cover, in case you need to find the right size hiking stick. And we like that this travel notebook is made from recycled materials that can also be recycled when you’re through if you’re not saving it for posterity.

• Water beads right off the paper
• Bright cover makes it easy to spot at the bottom of your bag
• It’s on the larger side, but still easy to pack
• The all-weather paper feels a bit waxy to the touch

What if we said you could have your cake and eat it too? Or at least a travel notebook with some convenient travel wallet features? (OK, sorry if you’re hungry now, but some of the best analogies come with food!) If you want to get the best travel journal for international travel, the Lochby Pocket Journal can hold a little bit of everything you need. It comes with a 72-page pocket notebook wrapped in a durable waxed canvas cover.

What’s great is that the cover doesn't just hold a notebook; it has extra pockets, too. While you slip the back cover of the notebook into the right side of the cover, the left side has a pocket that can hold a passport, two more that fit cards, and a mini pen slot. On the front of the cover is a longer pen slot, a slightly thicker slot that can fit concert or festival tickets, and a larger pocket on the back secured at the top with a hook-and-loop closure. It’s potentially a good place for cash and coins because the opening is fairly tight.

• The waxed canvas cover appeals to a rugged aesthetic
• It’s refillable with another pocket-sized notebook when you’re through
• You may have to add additional wax yourself if it’s not coated enough for your preference
• The pockets are a little tight when brand new

When planning to travel long-term, you need more than just a few pages to record your trip. The Traveler’s Journal from Upgraded Us is a hardcover travel diary that lets you record up to 31 days for three trips. With pages for research and planning, budgeting, and more, you can remember why you decided to eat at that dive restaurant (Guy Fieri recommended it!) or where you wanted to be sure to watch the sunset. There are also reflection pages to record memorable moments and the best meals you ate, plus an expense tracker so you don’t go over budget two weeks in.

The hardcover travel journal is made with durable materials to handle the rigors of travel, and you can keep it all together with an elastic around the end. With the ability to record trips longer than a few days or weeks, we think this is a great choice if you’re taking a sabbatical, heading to see the world in retirement, or working for a few months overseas as a digital nomad .

• It’s good for long-term travel to a few destinations
• Each section includes a 31-day journal
• There’s space for three trips
• You’ll have to divide up the journal pages for more, shorter trips

Does your travel bucket list involve walking on a glacier or seeing polar bears in the wild? If so, a trip to Alaska could be in order, and many people choose to see it while on a cruise. Since it’s such a popular destination, finding a travel journal tailored to such a trip is not surprising. The author makes journals tailored to other popular destinations, too, so you may want to check them out when planning your next trip.

Although it only covers one trip, this is a detailed way to keep track of all of your transportation, what you want to do at each port of call, and your itinerary. There are even paragraphs of detailed information about places that cruises typically depart from, like Seattle and Vancouver, and typical stops, like Anchorage, Juneau, and Ketchikan. In the port excursion planner section are prompts to help you remember what you liked at each destination so you can tell friends and family. Hopefully, you’ll make new travel friends on the cruise, and if you do, there’s a place to record all their contact information so you don’t have to remember if their last name began with C, S, or Z when scrolling through your phone.

• It has detailed information tailored to the first-time Alaskan cruiser
• This travel journal creates a great memento of your trip
• It’s only helpful if you’re taking an Alaskan cruise, though there are travel journals tailored to other destinations available, as well
• The soft cover is a little flimsy

With so many choices, you’re bound to find a travel journal to remember your next trip. Whether you prefer more of a blank slate or want to follow detailed directions, there’s a travel diary out there for every type of traveler. Find yours, and you’ll never forget an experience.

August 8, 2023

Author: Kristyne Defever

Kristyne loves theme parks, tropical islands, and hitting the road in the camper with her family. Whether running through Walt Disney World, walking the shores of Lake Michigan, or hiking the Smoky Mountains, she's happiest exploring the outdoors. She enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband, daughter, dog, and cat.

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

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

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

What is a Travel Journal?

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

Benefits of Keeping a Travel Journal

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

1. Emotional and Mental Well-Being

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

2. Enhanced Memory Retention

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

3. Cultural Exploration and Appreciation

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

4. Personal Growth and Self-Reflection

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

5. Travel Planning and Preparation

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

6. Connection with Loved Ones

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

7. Creative Expression

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

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

Types of Travel Journals

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

1. Guided Travel Journals

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

2. Traditional Handwritten Journals

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

3. Photographic Travel Journals

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

4. Scrapbook Travel Journals

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

5. Sketchbook Travel Journals

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

6. Digital Travel Journals

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

7. Travel Bullet Journals

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

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

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

How to Make a Travel Journal

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

1. Selecting the Right Journal

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

2. Gathering Essential Supplies

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

3. Planning Your Journal

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

4. Documenting Your Journey

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

Travel Journal Page and Layout Examples

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

1. Packing List and Pre-Trip Planning Pages

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

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

2. A List of Local Words and Phrases

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

3. Itinerary Pages

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

4. Accommodation and Restaurant Reviews

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

5. Post-Trip Reflection and Wrap-Up

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

6. Travel Bucket List

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

7. Travel Budget, Savings Goals, and Tracking

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

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

Creative Travel Journaling Ideas and Prompts

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

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

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

Join the Conversation

Newsletter signup, shop now. pay in 4. always interest-free..

Add your favorites to bag

Select Afterpay at Checkout

Log into or create your Afterpay account, instant approval decision

Your purchase will be split into 4 payments, payable every 2 weeks

You must be over 18, a resident of the U.S. and meet additional eligibility criteria to qualify. Late fees may apply. Estimated payment amounts shown on product pages exclude taxes and shipping charges, which are added at checkout. Click here for complete terms. Loans to California residents made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license. © 2020 Afterpay

Pay in 4 interest-free payments

No impact on credit score and no late fees. Available for purchases of $30 to $1,500.

• Choose PayPal at checkout to pay later with Pay in 4 .
• Complete your purchase with a 25% down payment.
• Use autopay for the rest of your payments. It's easy!

Pay in 4 is available to consumers upon approval for purchases of $30 to $1,500. Pay in 4 is currently not available to residents of MO or NVMissouri or Nevada. Offer availability depends on the merchant and also may not be available for certain recurring, subscription services. When applying, a soft credit check may be needed, but will not affect your credit score. You must be 18 years old or older to apply. PayPal, Inc.: Loans to CACalifornia residents are made or arranged pursuant to a CACalifornia Financing Law License. GAGeorgia Installment Lender Licensee, NMLS #910457. RIRhode Island Small Loan Lender Licensee. NMNew Mexico residents:

Find more disclosures related to Pay in 4.

Jennie Moraitis

Dedicated to helping you nurture your God-given creativity

How to Start a Dot Journal

Please note this post may include affiliate links. For more information,  read my disclosure policy here .

I received a complimentary copy of the book, Dot Journaling: A Practical Guide to review. All comments and opinions are my own.

Are you a planner girl? A list writer? A journalista? I am all the above but when I saw the dot journal movement start up a few years ago, I kind of rolled my eyes. I felt like I wasn’t the type to start a dot journal. I mean, I LOVE to create and make things so you would think that creating layouts for my planner would be super fun.

But when I scrolled through the bullet journaling (also called dot journaling) images on Instagram and Pinterest, all I could conjure up was feelings of overwhelm. I have to use a ruler? These pages are PERFECT and GORGEOUS and wow, I don’t have time for that.

So I put it off.

Buying A Billion Planners When I Only Needed ONE

I kept on buying fancy planners a couple of times a year plus a regular journal. I also continued my bad habit of writing really important things on teeny tiny scraps of paper. When was my dentist appointment again? I know I wrote it on the corner of a pink piece of paper, so if I could find that . . .

But something happened last year. I was using a ginormous planner at the time that came with cute stickers and tabs but for some reason, was NOT working for me. I loved that planner, but it didn’t love me back. I needed a place to jot down information from a parent-teacher meeting. And a place to write my grocery list. And I didn’t want all of those budget sheets because I do that in Excel. Argh.

I mentioned above that I would buy planners a couple of times a year because what usually would happen is I would get really excited about one brand and then halfway through the year, I would hit this frustrated place. And around that time, I would be at Target and a new planner would call out to me. I will solve all your problems! Look! I have lots of empty spaces for you to write in!

Starting a Dot Journal for the First Time

Anyway, there came a day when I decided to just go for it and try a dot journal. I had a blank composition book handy, and I figured if I absolutely hated it, I could just go back to my big planner. (Oh, the other problem about my aforementioned awesome planner was it was huge! Didn’t fit in any purse or bag. :()

I started bullet journaling and shared my experience here . It evolved back into a planner at the beginning of this year. That still wasn’t flexible enough for me so I was incredibly grateful when the publishers of Dot Journaling: A Practical Guide reached out to me. Talk about perfect timing!

When I first glanced through the book, I felt that feeling of perfectionism and overwhelm hit me again. Not gonna lie. Her layouts are so neat and wonderful. My dot journal was ashamed to sit next to this book. At first.

Then I began reading and was grateful as the author assured us that dot journaling is whatever you want it to be, that her layouts are guidelines and ideas. She even admitted that everything looked perfect in this book because it’s her job to make it look nice. Which makes sense.

I’ve been slowly incorporating her methods into my current bullet journal and have been really pleased. I like how she shares SO MANY different ideas of what you can do in a dot journal. And I appreciate how she has spreads that are very minimalist all the way to more detailed versions. If anything, looking through this book got me dreaming of what I want to do in my dot journal.

My hands-down favorite thing about dot journaling is how it is completely mine. I love that I have quotes on one page, notes from a webinar on the next, and my to-do list on the next page. It is a better representation of what is really going on in my life, that’s for sure. I also love that I can easily see how I’m progressing on different goals and how I’m incorporating my values into my life and business. All of these things are housed under the same cover (whereas they used to all be in separate places, usually never to be seen again! :/)

I still haven’t broken my habit of writing on tiny slips of paper, but now I washi tape them straight into my dot journal (if I still need them.) It adds some color and I can find the note again.

I appreciate how the author carefully explains all the ins and outs of dot journaling so you can literally get a blank book and start immediately. That’s my kind of book.

You can pick up your copy of Dot Journaling: A Practical Guide on Amazon or in any bookstore.

Related Posts

121 responses to “how to start a dot journal”.

Jennie, I feel the same way! I have tried so many different planners, always trying to make it fit into my life, and always without success. I end up writing my dates, plans, lists and recipes all over the place and I’m still not organized! The dot journaling method sounds like it would work. If it works for you, I am willing to give it a go!

I just got into bullet journaling — so far, I love it! I bought a bunch of books on how to draw cute things, like kawaii. I used to draw as a kid, but got out of the habit so now I stink at it haha. But, I’m getting much better! Thanks for a nice review. 🙂 I’m going to check the book out of the library if they have it.

I always wanted to try bullet journaling too, but I put it off because I have this weird fear with notebooks that if I screw up a page, I can’t just rip it out without runing the notebook! So lately I’ve been trying a bullet journal method of sorts, but in a small planner binder with lined pages – now I can rip pages out or move like pages together. We’ll see how it goes! 🙂

How very lovely and generous of you! I can’t wait to get started Dot Journaling. I think it fits my lifestyle better than traditional planners.

Would love to have this book to get started. :).

I’d love to win a journal!

Looks awesome! I would love to win!

I had the same problem with normal planners. I would only use parts of them. When I would think about it. 80% would go unused. I have been trying bullet journaling for the past couple of years and parts of that are working but not all of it.

Wow! This is inspiring! I’ve been wondering how this all worked and the book looks like an incredible resource.

This book looks beautiful!

Wow I would love a copy of this book! I’m very intimidated by dot/bullet journaling!!! I see spreads on Pinterest & am like oh I could never do something so perfect!!!

I’m such a planner addict wannabe. I love everything pen, paper, writing, journaling, but can’t seem to find a real system that works well for me. I’d love the chance to give this a try!

I tend to be a perfectionist, so I bought a spiral bound graph paper so that my squares would be easier to draw out. Just makes it easier for me.

This looks interesting. I always love ideas for layouts!

This sounds like a style of planner/journal I could actually do! I have been intrigued by the idea of bullet journaling for a while now but I was also intimidated by the perfectionism and creativity. I will have to give this a try and see if I can stick with it. Thanks for the chance to win!

Oh my goodness it’s like I could have wrote this. I totally relate to everything you’re saying. I bullet journal and I was crazy about it but after about three months I quit and now I have five notebooks (and 7 planners) I use that I bought on sale thinking I would use them. I totally need this book.

I have never heard of dot journaling but love the idea! Thanks for the chance to win! [email protected]

Oh, my goodness, your planner journey sounds so much like mine! Time to try dot journaling…

I would love to learn how to DOT JOURNAL!!

Dot Journaling could very well save my sanity this homeschool year for all the reasons you described and more! I hope I win the book!

So cool! I would love to get into this! 🙂

I just checked out this book on Amazon and it looks like one that would help me get it together! Also ordered your Retreat book, love it!! ?

This book sounds great!

I would love to check this dot journaling thing out!

Eek! As a fellow lover of all things bujo, I’m super excited to learn about this book! Thanks for the chance to enter to win, Jennie and Rachel.

I love books and bullet journals!

When I was younger, I used to journal, but haven’t done that in a very long time. I have notes everywhere too so having one notebook to use sounds exactly what I need.

I have been so interested in dot journaling but was also daunted by the beautiful layouts. I love making things I write in beautiful and as a result have NO planning going on, despite having 2 planners and 4 journals!

I’m fascinated by the concept of dot journaling, but I haven’t tried it. I seem to be stuck about the idea of combining everything in one place, although I can see where that would be very convenient. Would love to check out the book!

Would love to win this! Dot journaling seems to be a good fit for me!

Love your website! I do a form of this in my phone/Mac in Notes. I have been trying to transfer to Evernote so I could do more but have yet to do that. I love having everything at my fingertips on my across all my platforms and devices.

I really need to get back to my journal. I was doing great for four months and now it’s been four months since I wrote in it. Would love to get reinspired.

I just bought my journal to bullet journal but I’m having a hard time setting it up. Would love to win this book.

I need some serious help in this dept! I have notepads everywhere …

Yes, I’m that “pieces of scrap paper” type of journalsta and I’ll bet a place to put them would be helpful! Now I just stick them in a “pocket” of some kind and hope I retrieve them as needed! Help!

I haven’t tried dot Journaling yet, but would love to give it a go!

Thanks for the reminder about not being a perfectionista. That is my default mode! Ugh! Thanks for the chance to also win a book! [email protected]

I have wanted to try a dot journal but I’m so afraid of it not looking good enough. You have inspired me to give it a try!

I have been trying to use my bullet journal and I feel more organized just by having all my ideas in one place. I also jot on pieces of random paper, I copy the info into my notebook.

I related to so many things you wrote in this post! I have a journal and multiple planners as I am constantly in search of the “perfect” one, yet also have a separate daily “to do” list tossed on our kitchen counter as well as scraps of paper with tons of little notes or appointments that somehow occasionally get lost. Dot journaling seems like it just might be the answer for me, yet I have been overwhelmed by the ones I saw on Pinterest. Perhaps this book will help me finally find a system that I will stick with and will then work for me….no more notes on scraps of paper…..hooray! Thanks for offering this contest for all of us perfectionista planner and journal writer wannabes.

Sounds fab Jennie – thanks for the chance to win! 🙂

Dot Journaling!! I sure would like to try it. It would be wonderful to have everything in one place. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book 🙂 Good luck to everyone!

I’ve been kind of doing this for a year but had no idea it actually had a name. I started with a binder but downgraded to a simple spiral-bound notebook. It’s not at all cute or fancy, so maybe I’ll work on getting creative with it. This would be a good place to start! 🙂

Wow, sounds interesting, you’ve got my attention! I have not tried a planner, too expensive for me and can’t get past the perfectionism. I have tried a bullet journal, but again allowed perfection to get the best of me and dropped it. All I use now is a calendar by the home phone, but don’t take it with me to places, so I tend to forget my plans. I like the idea of having something portable, besides my smartphone ? which I hardly use for planning. Being a creative person having something personal and tangible is the way to go. Thank you for sharing your thoughts ?

The older the brain the more WRITING it down matters. Would love this book

I moved from a bulky planner to a slimmer, simpler one mid -year: so much better! I wonder where dot journaling could take me!

I do a very messy version of dot/bullet journaling. I even have a hard time calling it that! Maybe this would help me clean up my act!

As a notebook addict, I’ve thought about dot journaling many times but haven’t yet taken the leap because they seem so time consuming. Perhaps this book can inspire me!

I’ve had the same experience as you! Lots of planners, tried the bullet journal, and nothing really works for me. This books sounds like it would be very inspiring!

I have always been intrigued by this method of journaling. I’d love to win the book and implement it!!!

Dot or bullet Journaling is everything is cracked up to be. Started in a composition book and now use a graph notebook. My son has now started using bullet journaling to keep his job and college requirements on track. This book would be a great help.

Oh, how I need this book! I’m at a loss with what to do with all that blank space in my bullet journal!

I have just started a bullet journal and am very interested in learning more about using a dot journal. I am tired of having random notebooks filled with lists and important information that I can never find when I need them.

Thanks for the review. I’ve been interested in the idea of bullet journaling for awhile but it just seemed like too much work. I’m definitely going to check out the book, sounds really interesting and of course I would love to win it 🙂

This sounds like a journal that would actually work for me! I’d love to win!

Dot journals look right up my alley since I love using graph paper for everything.

I too have tried many types of planners. I am currently trying to get used to a Travelers journal, would love to try the dot system.

Thank you for sharing with us! I’m intrigued even though it seems too perfect. I love using washi, paints and tip ins when I plan/journal but maybe this is something that one can still do in dot journal?!? Very interested in reading all about it 🙂

I have been putting off trying bullet journaling. Didn’t want to fail at something else! I would love to try this, thanks.

Since I have a tendency to make lists and write things on random papers, then spend time searching for those random papers, maybe this is exactly what I need.

I have been sort of dot journaling for a couple of years using a comp book too. Sometimes I feel like it’s missing something. Your website and this book just might help! Thanks!

thanks for the post! can’t wait to give this a whirl 😀

You are so right, don’t want to use the ruler, not artistic, those on Pinterest are overwhelming. Sign me up!!! Pick me!!! I need all the help I can get.

AHH! This is incredible. I’ve been wanting to start bullet/ dot journaling and I could really use this! I have tried other normal planners but they don’t seem personal to me. Bullet journaling does. Thank you so much for this inspiring post!!

I have been wanting to start a bullet journal, but struggle with being paralyzed with not knowing where to start….maybe this book would be the kick-start that I need!

I have put off using the bullet journal because it didn’t seem to meet my needs. This book sounds like it would help me do that!

Last year I started a bullet journal – didn’t work because I tried to be perfect. Now I’m back with a planner but I can’t carry it everywhere – it’s too big! I know many of us have that problem. Dot journaling sounds wonderful – would love to win 🙂

This may be the answer to my bullet journaling, private journaling and planner…. all the things!

• buy a notebook • buy colored pens • enter contest for dot journaling book • wait to win the “book” • cruise over to BuzzFeed

I’d love to win this – I have materials to start journaling but worry to much about messing it up!

I LOVE this sort of thing. Drooling over here…

I started my first bullet journal a month ago. There were so many pretty bujo spreads that was overwhelmed. This book would be a great learning tool for me. I would love to win a copy and put it to good use.

I love this, I have Lyme disease and have taken to list making to help with the “brain fog” but this is terrific. Everything all together in one pretty volume. I would love to win and learn more about dot journaling!!!

Jennie, I’d love to win this book! But, even if I don’t, you gave me the brillaint idea to washi tape any of my random scrap papers into my bullet journal! Thank you!

I’d love to have a dot bullet journal!

I’ve so wanted to try but it seemed a little overwhelming. I think the book would totally help. Thanks for the chance.

I have yet to try this type of journaling but it looks and sounds awesome. I think I could really benefit from it!

I have been interested to try dot journaling, but haven’t yet.

This sounds perfect for me and my 2 teen daughters to do for our crazy lives. We will definitely be trying to use this method this year. I love your blog and all the helpful organizational tips you share.

I am new to bullet (dot) journaling and I actually love it. I have to manage my time better to use it to my advantage. Growing up, I did al lot of journaling. I like how the bullet journal combines all aspects of my life into one book. I would love to win this resource to become better at doing this.

I love dot/bullet journaling but I also love my Happy Planner Mini. I keep going between the two but I’d love to get away from buying planner stuff and get better with dot/bullet journaling. This book looks awesome!

This sounds great. I’d love to learn more.

This sounds so. perfect. Wow wow!!

I can relate to so many things that you said in this post and I’ve been looking for a book like this! It seems so helpful and nice to keep handy. 🙂 Thanks for hosting the contest! <3

A very timely post! With school around the corner I’ve been searching for a method that will work better for me than my traditional planner. I’d love to win the book to help me hone it further! Thanks for the informative review!

I have tried several times to start this process. I get a few days, or even weeks, in and then abandon it. Only to pick it back up and try to update and consolidate all my little scraps of paper. Maybe this book will help me succeed!

This book sounds like it could help me. I’m constantly writing things on any scrap paper (especially the back of envelopes) and losing it ugh!

This looks like such a fun book! I just started learning about dot/bullet journaling and would like to learn more.

I have so many planners, journals, scraps,of paper, calendars… The list is humongous!!! You’d think, at my age (59 3/4!) I would have figured it out!! I was always certain I needed different books for each thing/adventure/list…. well I’m sure you get it.

I would LOVE a copy of this book to help me organize my ideas. And life in general!

Puleeeze. I’m in the same boat, and 64. I really do believe it’s better late than never.

This is perfect I need to get back to tracking things and keeping notes as I get older it is so much more useful to keep track of everything!

This is so cool! I’d love to change my planner out for this approach. Thanks for sharing!

Fun! Thanks for the review, I’ve been curious about this book. I’ve been making a Traveller’s Notebook and started using it as a braindump and bullet journal and have wondered about other ways to use it. Like so many others – I get overwhelmed with all the fancy dancy layouts that I know I would never keep up on. Love that this has tons of examples and options.

Your initial feelings about dot/bullet journaling summed mine up completely. The perfectionist in me is panicked to start. BUT I LOVE LIST-MAKING!! Perhaps this book will help me start!

I’d love to have a go and try it with a book! It seems a nice way to have a quick overview of everything, and I do prefer one concise book then to have to wander all over the web for the same info! E

wow, thanks! i have been interested in this for a while

This definitely sounds worth trying!

I would love to try this!

Looks helpful! Thank you.

Ha! I recognize myself in this post. I just bought another planner. In some ways I’m already doing this in the blank pages of my planner. I like planners with lots of blank space for this reason

This is EXACTLY what I need. I’ve wanted to try bullet journaling forever but I’m so overwhelmed that I quit before I begin. I have the journals, the notebooks, the composition books and more but no matter how much the books call out to me to give it a try, I just can’t make myself follow through.

What timing! I’m starting to look into a new planner style because the ones I’ve bought for the past 6-8 years is now changing the layout! WAH! AND I’ve been hearing a LOT about bullet journaling and how helpful it is, so your blog posts have been very helpful and inspiring! ( I read the older posts you linked to, as well!) I’m happy to throw my hat in the ring to win this book to learn more and try this style of journaling if it means I can customize it in ways that I live that will also work in my favor to help me stay on track of my life/business! Here is my email: [email protected] Thanks for this opportunity to win the book because I need all the help I can get these days! 😉

Looks like a great book, I’d love to read it!

I have a powder blue Leuchturm journal that has been blank for nearly a year because I don’t know how to get started with it. I would love to have this book!

Bullet journaling seems WAY too hard for me to try it…however, I do love the concept. I’m just afraid to try it. I too, have tried many different planners. This year, I made a ‘traveler’s journal’ and so far- it is working fairly well. Would love to have a copy of her book to see if I could actually do a ‘dot journal’! Thanks for the opportunity to win one !

I don’t know how many partially used planners I have laying around. This sounds like it may be my “salvation” in the planner realm. Fingers crossed!

That looks like a really good read!

I have wanted to start journaling and this looks easy enough for me to tackle – thanks for the great ideas

I have the Happy Planner now and while I love it, it isn’t quite perfect for me. I’ve struggled myself with finding the perfect planner. Now I’m thinkinking about incorporating some “dot” journal techniques into my happy planner. That is my favorite part about the Happy planner, it is able to be personalized if you have the punch. I like the idea of dot journal’s but I actually like everything in order so the moveable feature of the Happy Planner combined with the dot journal ways, may be my final planner.

This looks cool!

I would love to try this because I have tried so many different planners and systems. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you so much. Looks so helpful. Need the help.

Exactly what I need! I have started a few pages but low and behold it gets put to the side. Would love to start a dot journal and keep up with it ?

I was just looking at a beautiful planner on line and thinking maybe this will work for me when I read this post. I have been wanting to try a bullet journal/dot planner but have been intimidated by the perfect ones I see on Pinterest. This is the push I need.

Love dot journaling so far. Trying to still get a feel for it. Praying that one day it just flows. Thank you.

Sounds like just what I need!

Looks great! would love to peruse this book! 🙂

I would really like to start this method. Just like you, the fancy planners always call my name, once I try them, they do not work for me. Thank you for the offer

Wow. This article pretty much sums up my feelings about planners. I have a Pinterest board full of pretty pages for inspiration but I have yet to actually implement any of the ideas. Maybe this book will be the kick in the pants I need.

I have the same problem with planners. I love so many, but they don’t love me. I’ve tried store-bought planners, dozens from Pinterest, and have even tried creating my own, but am still in search of the perfect planner for me. It’s as bad as dating or trying to find a therapist! This book sounds veeerrry promising…

Featured Posts

Create Your Own Artist Retreat with Art Journaling

Create Every Day — Brush Lettering Practice

Bullet Journaling the Easy Way

I love it when you pin and share tutorials and articles that resonate with you. However, please remember that everything on this blog: articles, photos, drawings, and artwork are created by Jennie Moraitis and are under copyright. Please do not remove watermarks, crop, or edit any of my images or artwork without first receiving written permission from me. You may use one photo to share but please link to the original post on my site. The printables I offer are for personal use only. Please do not email the pdfs to others. Feel free to share the original post link for the printable with your friends and family so they can come over and download one of their own! Thanks so much for stopping by!

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

• Travel Journal

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

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

What is a travel journal?

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

Why Write A Journal When Traveling?

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

Remember More

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

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

Reflect More

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

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

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

1. Use your journal to plan your trip

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

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

2. Write about what you imagine it will be like

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

3. Write during your trip

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

4. Add pictures to your journal

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

5. Write about your trip after you leave

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

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

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

10 Travel Journal Ideas To Inspire You

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

1. Why are you going?

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

2. Write about your expectations.

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

3. What are you going to do?

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

4. Write about the people.

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

5. Write about the food.

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

6. The ups and the downs.

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

7. Write about yourself.

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

8. Write a travel guide.

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

9. What would you have changed?

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

10. Where do you want to go next?

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

Using Penzu for Your Travel Journal

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

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

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

Loved by millions!

Get access to your diary wherever you are – download the free Penzu app for your all of your iOS and Android devices today!

Related Articles

Best Travel Journal App

Journal Basics

What is a Journal?

Journal Entries

Benefits of Journaling

Journal Types

How To Start and Write a Journal

• Journal Examples
• Journal Prompts

Ideas for Journals

5 Year Journal

A five year journal can help you remember the people and events that matter to you.

• Dream Journal

Dream journals are instrumental in fields as diverse as psychology, natural science, creative arts and advanced mathematics. What is your subconscious trying to tell you?

How To Create a Reflective Journal

A reflective journal is the perfect place to jot down some of life's biggest thoughts.

• Bible Journal

Bible journals can provide you with a therapeutic way to better cope with everyday situations, understand your feelings and establish a connection between your life and the biblical content.

• Pregnancy Journal

A pregnancy journal helps you remember important information about your health and make better decisions while you're expecting.

• Free Signup
• What is a Journal
• Reflective Journal
• Five Year Journal
• Secret Diary
• Electronic Diary
• Diary Templates
• Wedding Diary
• School Diary
• Health Diary

Copyright Penzu Inc. 2024

Artjournalist

How to Start a Travel Journal: 8 Rules for the Road

Learn how to start a travel journal with these 8 rules to make travel journaling simple, easy and fun process, no matter where your adventures may lead you.

It’s May, summer vacation season is just a few weeks away and the travel bug is biting me hard as I think about different places I want to go – So today I thought it might be fun to talk about how to start a travel journal – even if you don’t have any immediate plans for adventure.

Starting a travel journal isn’t much different from starting any other kind of journal, but I do think there are a couple of things you can do to make the whole process a LOT more fun and way less stressful.

I know the hardest part of any type of new journal sometimes can be just getting started, so my hope is these 8 tips will help you get on the right path to decide what you want to do and what works best for you.

#1. There Are No Rules for What a Travel Journal Is or Has to Be or How to Use It

If you search for “travel journal” online – you’ll find all sorts of different things and examples. You might see pretty planners , you might see scrapbooks, you might see junk journals , art journals , sketchbooks, traveler’s notebooks, travel writing prompts, digital photo apps – and the list goes on.

Just trying to define what a travel journal is exactly can cause a lot of confusion! Fortunately, there really aren’t any rules for what your personal method for documenting a trip looks like.

I know the title of this blog post says “8 Rules of the Road”, but I assure that is only for alliterative purposes. There are NO rules when it comes to journaling. The only thing that matters is it is something you enjoy doing.

Your trips and adventures are unique to you – and so it only makes sense the way you want to document, record, or experience them would also be unique to you.

There’s no wrong way to keep a travel journal, and don’t worry about trying to make it look like the bazillion beautiful examples you might see online.

Don’t feel like you have to make elaborate sketches if you can barely draw a stick figure. Don’t worry about writing detailed journal entries of the day if writing is not your thing. You don’t even have to collect ephemera if it’s not something you enjoy.

Now this “rule” is out of the way, let’s go to the next one – it might surprise you! 

#2: You Don’t Have to Go Somewhere Exotic to Enjoy a Travel Journal

One of the biggest things that stopped me from starting travel journals in the past is that we weren’t really traveling anywhere all that exciting. 

Most people I know regularly go to all sorts of cool destinations. They tour Europe, they visit glaciers, they backpack & hike through canyons, they sip cocktails on the beaches of Mexico… 

In contrast, we’ve been doing things like going camping and the occasional drive to Ohio and Philadelphia for family events. Considering we live in Pittsburgh, it’s safe to say we weren’t exactly jet-setting across the world – we barely left the turnpike!

If I actually do the math of how much I traveled in the past year, I think I covered more miles just by taking the kids to school every day and running errands.

Like Theodore Roosevelt is famous for saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Don’t get me wrong – I definitely do appreciate the few trips we’ve made in recent years. It just made me wonder, Who on earth am I to keep a travel journal? What would I even write in a travel journal if I wasn’t going anywhere exciting? 

And then, while on one of our camping trips I had a revelation when I stumbled across this little gem of a brochure for a place called Historic Pithole City.

Yes, really, there is a place named Pithole city. Or rather, there was a place known as Pithole City. To be bluntly honest, it’s not even a city. It’s mostly just a field. A big, empty field.

This well-timed irony of a tourist attraction is what made me realize travel doesn’t necessarily have to be somewhere exotic to be interesting or journal-worthy.

The site of a vanished ghost town might not exactly be Barbados, but that doesn’t make it any less inspiring or not worthy of documenting. 

This brochure helped me come to my senses and realize you don’t have to go anywhere all that exotic to have a good time exploring the world. This brings me to the next important thing to remember when keeping a travel journal…

#3. You Are Here: Traveling is a State of Mind

After my revelation that you can explore the world without trekking any far distances, I realized maybe travel isn’t so much a physical place to be as much as it is a mental and emotional state of being.

It’s the attitude of wonder, an insatiable curiosity, a desire to explore…and that of course is what makes a lot of us the creative artistic types of people that we are!

I really like the wisdom in this quote:

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

Realizing this made me really excited to make all sorts of different travel journals – no passport required. Best of all, should I eventually start making plans to visit more exciting places, I will have lots of practice because I love documenting and recording the different things I discover.

#4: Start Filling the Journal Before You Go

If you are anything like me and love any reason to start a new journal, there’s no reason to wait to arrive at your destination!

Some trips can take months of planning and preparation, especially if you need to book far in advance around busy seasons and holidays. This is a great time to start documenting all those plans. To-do lists, checklists, lists of lists – these all make fun ways to get past a blank page.

The excitement and anticipation of planning a trip can be just as much fun as actually being on the trip, especially if it is a place you’ve always wanted to visit and you enjoy researching different places to see and things to do.

If you love the idea of a journal filled with pictures and artwork, you could even start filling the pages with different photos, vintage travel images, traveling quotes, etc long before you even leave. This can reduce the amount of things you need to take, especially if it’s already on the page.

There are all sorts of great ways to start filling and prepping your journal ahead of time. You can also include printed out information for directions or flight information or simply just make some notes.  All these things will be nice ways to remember what you did before the trip.

#5: You Don’t Need to Bring Everything, Or Even Anything

Where you plan to go and how you are getting there is probably one of the biggest deciding factors on what kinds of journaling supplies you should pack or if you even want to pack anything. 

I’m the kind of person who could have a beautifully prepped journal ready to go, and then forget it at home in the rush of getting 5 people in the family everywhere we need to be.

I’m also the kind of impromptu traveler who believes you truly only need to pack 3 things: Keys, Wallet, Phone.

While there are plenty of great art supplies and special journals perfect for traveling, don’t be tempted to lug everything with you.

I’m a total minimalist when I go places – I would be quite content with nothing more than a composition notebook, a ball point pen and a glue stick in a backpack. 

Note: If you are going to different countries, you will also definitely need to consider things like going through customs and making sure the things you bring in and out are not going to cause any issues. Sometimes it’s easier to just get the supplies you want once you get there. 

#6. Be a Collector

As someone who loves to collect all sorts of types of ephemera, I love picking up anything on my travels that can fit in a notebook. Marketing brochures, maps, ticket stubs, receipts, magazine and newspaper pages – if it’s flat I’m going to put it in my journals.

These little things can really help you preserve a lot of memories you might not necessarily remember years from after the experience is over. It’s also a great way to share your adventures with a friend.

One important thing to remember if traveling abroad and going through customs is many items such as food, plants, and other things can be heavily regulated. This is important to keep in mind, because some things might be better to just take a picture of rather than actually bring back with you.

You definitely don’t want your journal confiscated, be detained for hours, or risk a $10,000 fine for having a seemingly innocent thing like an undeclared tea bag you forgot you taped onto a journal page!

If you are a U.S. Citizen and or visiting the U.S. from another country, you definitely want to make sure you are familiar with the CBP guidelines and regulations. It might even be helpful to include a checklist in your journal so you don’t accidentally forget what things can and can’t be brought back into the country or need to be inspected first. 

Going through customs can sometimes be a stressful experience, but usually if you are prepared and familiar with all the different rules and regulations, you should be able to visit most places with relatively little issue.

#7. Don’t Make Journaling a Chore

Everybody has different styles of how they like to travel. Some people like a trip jam-packed with a lot of activities, others might like a more laid back approach.

Some people like me consider journaling to be as essential as breathing, eating, and sleeping. Another person might think the thought of keeping a journal sounds too much like homework or a chore. 

When you go somewhere new, it’s important to not stress about whether or not you are actually able to write every single thing down or even have time to draw and write as much as you want.

For example, if you plan on painting with watercolors, it only makes sense to use a journal with mixed media or watercolor paper. If you mostly plan on making a smash-book junk-journal style book you could probably get away with a simple composition notebook.

It’s all a matter of personal preference and what you plan to do – so don’t stress it too much! Worse case scenario, you can always jot things down in a simple notebook while you’re traveling and then transfer it over into something a little more cohesive and organized once you get back.

#8. You Can Always Add More Once You Arrive Back Home

In the spirit of packing minimal supplies and keeping things simple so you can actually enjoy the trip, another thing to remember is you can always add more to the journal once you are back home.

For sure it is better to capture and document as much as you can while the memories are fresh, but a lot of the “making it pretty” can be done once you are back home and have the luxuries of your favorite art supplies readily available. 

Waiting until you get home to jot down some reflections on the trip and add in finishing touches like washi tape and stickers will give you a great opportunity to remember the moments that made it special.

Another thing you might want to do once you get back from the trip is actually print out any photos you may have taken and include them on your pages. A travel journal is a great way to motivate yourself to actually do something with all the photos you’ve taken!

Have you ever kept a travel journal? What are some of the things you do to make it easy and fun? What are some of the places you’ve traveled to? And of course if you have any travel journal tips you would like to share or questions I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Sharing is caring!

Join our facebook group!

Share what you’re creating and working on, ask questions + connect with over 4000 creative artjournalists for inspiration + ideas!

I love travel journals! And yes, the key is to prep one before you go! Also, we have actually been to Pithole City when we lived in Erie, PA. We thought it was very interesting, too. A little historic gem. Thanks for your travel journal ideas!

That’s too funny Ann – It is very interesting place for sure! Travel journals are definitely fun to make!

Nice post! I hope to start one this year once we can start travelling again!

I did the same thing, wasn’t using or putting a travel journal together because I wasn’t going to a major destination, and then even when I did (Alaska, East & West Carribean cruises) I STILL didn’t journal, I did pick up maps, magazines & kept all our tickets, have tons of photos! I recently managed to put everything related to those trips in a ArtBin storage bin and I’m finally putting it all together – what I learned from this is, definitely better & less stressful to put your travel journal together prior to your trip, as you go thru your trip, write down things you see, or places you went that you enjoyed, maybe a specific memory! I’m looking at some photos going where was this? Very frustrating! So I’m really regretting not jotting things down just as a reminder. So then, we went away Dec ’19 and I was prepared! What a difference! Looking back at that journal I can flip thru the pages & enjoy it! Thank you for putting this together, it’s very helpful! ~Silvana in FL (oh, and sorry for all the rambling lol)

Hi Silvania, I’m so glad you made one for your trip last year and hopefully the ones from past trips will come together quick now you’ve got everything sorted. And no worries about rambling, i think all of us as artists do it, I always enjoy every comment like yours, they make me smile. 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

bullet journal shop

• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Get In Touch
• e-club Resources (VIP)
• Spread Ideas & Tutorials
• Free Printables
• Favorite Supplies
• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

The Petite Planner

Bullet Journal, Printables & Doodles

join the e-club!

Get the latest updates and resources in your inbox!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

5 Travel Planning Spreads for Your Bullet Journal + Free Printables

Are you planning a vacation? These 5 fun and practical travel planning spreads for your bullet journal will help you stay organized in your adventures.

** This post is sponsored by Moon Travel Guides . They kindly gifted me the book, Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe . This post reflects my personal thoughts and opinions.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure for more information.

When I think about travel, I think of endless possibilities. Experiences. Cultures. And, food, of course.

International travel has always been a dream for me. I want to see the world and get to know other cultures and explore the landscape.

And recently, I was invited to check out a new book called Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe by Moon Travel Guides. This book is breathtaking .

It’s one of those books you put on your coffee table and admire. And when you have company over, it can provide 30 minutes of entertainment while you finish cooking or are busy with other guests.

I was eager to show this book to all of my family and friends because of the exquisite pictures from around the world, fun facts, and impressive attention to detail.

The book is categorized so you can easily find the best beaches, city life, food, street art, national parks, and more. Every page has full-color photos and history-laden excerpts. Being 100% transparent , this is the best travel guide book I have ever laid my eyes on.

As we approach the holiday season, consider giving Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe as a gift. Do you know someone who loves traveling or the idea of traveling? This is the best gift idea for travelers.

Also, it’s a perfect gift for someone who is hard to shop for. It will literally draw in anyone from any walk of life with the immense amount of information and eye-catching photos.

So, by now you might be aware that my little family and I are headed to Mexico at the beginning of 2020. It will be our first international vacation. And we could not be any more excited.

As soon as we booked our flights and hotels, I started creating travel planning spreads in my bullet journal. Planning this trip has ignited a burning desire for adventure in me.

And now, I am thrilled to share these travel planning pages with you. I’m also including TWO free printable travel bullet journal spreads .

You May Also Like : Free Printable Travel Planning Stickers

Whether you in the beginning stages of vacation planning and just creating a travel bucket list or are ready to book your flight and start narrowing in on planning your travel, these travel planning spreads are a great place to start.

5 Travel Planning Spreads for Your Bullet Journal

Before we dive into these spreads, take a few minutes to watch the video below. This video was created with Moon Travel Guides and explores some of the pages within Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe and also walks you through how and why I created a few of the travel spreads you are going to see in this post.

Travel Bucket List

Whether you are gearing up for a big trip or just starting to dream of far off lands, having a travel bucket list is inspiring.

I created this spread with the top places I would like to travel in my life, including Santorini, Thailand, the Maldives, and Dubai. I opted for a very creative approach with lots of travel doodles and the polaroid frames that include mini doodles of each location.

You could also create a running list of places that interest you. This approach would allow for travel destinations being added to the list.

If you need inspiration for your travel bucket list, be sure to check out the ’50 Wonders of the World to See in Your Lifetime’ section of Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe . In includes places like Iguazú Falls, The Great Barrier Reef, Mont Blanc, Niagra Falls, Bora Bora, and more.

Also, consider adding some wanderlust quotes from this blog post .

Be sure to snag the printable bullet journal travel bucket list at the bottom of the post.

Travel Savings Tracker

Once your travel plans start blooming into reality, you may consider creating a travel savings tracker in your bullet journal.

To start, you’ll want to have a ballpark number of how much your vacation is going to cost. Consider flights, airport parking fees, baggage fees, hotel, rental car, fuel, food, taxes, entertainment, and shopping.

You might not have an exact number right now, but come up with a number that allows you some wiggle room.

The next step is to decide your deadline. This will help you figure out how much you need to be saving on a weekly basis.

The formula for this style of tracker will be as follows.

Total Cost of Travel ÷ # of Weeks Until Deadline = Weekly Savings Amount

You could also swap out the number of weeks until the deadline with a specific weekly savings amount that works for your financial situation. In this case, the final number will be how many weeks you need to save.

Ultimate Packing List

This is one of my favorite travel planning spreads on the list because of its importance. Especially when traveling abroad, having all of your personal items and documents in order in advance is a huge relief.

Each person will have a different list of travel essentials, but you can use the printable packing list below to categorize your items to make it easier. Some categories to add to your list would be personal items (cell phone charger, wallet, fanny pack, watch, etc.), hygiene (hair care, makeup, feminine products, toothpaste, etc.), clothing, entertainment (tablet, books, journal, etc.).

I’m curious to hear what your international travel packing essentials are. Let me know in the comments below.

Be sure to snag the printable packing list at the bottom of the post.

Travel Plans

This spread was inspired by @meaganiluustrates on Instagram. It includes airports and flight times, weather predictions, entertainment, and food plans, and most importantly for myself, an outfit planner.

If you tend to overpack in the clothing department, and then get to your destination and unhappy with your selection of clothes, an outfit planner is key.

I created a box to doodle my outfit for each day we will be Mexico and added two extra boxes, for spares outfits. Once I have a better idea of the weather during our trip, I will begin planning outfits by trying things on and finding pieces that I like together.

This way there is no disappointment or wishing you had brought a different shirt.

You can fill in the entertainment, food, shopping, etc. sections in advance. But, wait until a couple of weeks out to fill in the weather prediction and outfits section.

Travel Memories

An important part of travel planning is creating a spread where you can record memories during or following the trip.

There are tons of different ways to incorporate memories in your bullet journal. In my spread shown above, I created a polaroid spread with space for words and doodles. I have labeled some of the memory spaces with titles such as yummy food, at the beach, etc.

You can also keep your travel memories in your bullet journal with an open spread where you can later paste photos.

Free Printable Bullet Journal Travel Planning Spreads

I hope you enjoy these free printables and can put them to use as you begin to build your travel planning pages in your bullet journal!

Both of these printables are A5 size with a light gray dot grid background and light gray cut lines for ease of use. Print them on matte sticker paper or use Tombow Mono Adhesive to add these free printables into your bullet journal.

>> Download the Travel Bucket List <<

>> download the packing list <<.

If you would like to gain access to all of my free printables , be sure to head over and sign up for the VIP Resource Library. There are stickers, weekly spreads, habit trackers, cover pages, etc. all free for you to download .

I’m curious about your dream vacation. Where would you go if time and money weren’t issues? Let me know in the comments below.

PIN THIS POST

Shop the Bullet Journal Store

Printables to doodles, find them all here.

meet mariah

I'm a self-employed mom of two who loves having a creative outlet. I'm a former elementary school teacher so getting organized and being creative has been part of my life forever! I'm excited to share my ideas with you!

our favorite products

• beginner supplies
• pens and markers
• paper products
• get organized
• stencils & more

Whatcha lookin' for?

10+ Creative Travel Bullet Journal Ideas in the Spotlight That You’ll Love!

Posted on Last updated: February 3, 2023

In my previous post on what a Bullet Journal is , you could read that I’m pretty obsessed by this new way of documenting your life.

While I am not the best designer and I don’t have a great handwriting (even though when I was a teacher years ago, I had to do a handwriting-on-chalkboard-exam and got a B, so it’s not horrible), I still find I like to get creative and find new ways to use the Bullet Journal other than just a monthly and daily bullet journal planner.

Scrolling through Instagram, I found quite a few cool examples of people using their Bullet Journal around travel-related topics, so today I’d like to give you some ideas on how to make your own journal a bit more interesting with these page spreads.

Make sure to pick up your own bullet travel journal , such as the Leuchtturm 1917 Notebook  or the  Moleskine Classic Notebook . 

Let me know what your favourite bullet journal travel layout is!

BEST CREATIVE TRAVEL BULLET JOURNAL SPREAD IDEAS

• Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5 Dotted Hardcover Notebook
• Planner Sticker Set
• iBayam Journal Planner Pens
• The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll
• Metal Stencil Bookmark for Bullet Journals

1. Travel Bullet Journal Idea: Trip Planning

Ah, just the thought of a new trip makes my heart always tick faster, how about you?

Here are some great examples of what you can do with a bullet journal for travel by the Bullet Journal “Queen” Kara from @Boho.Berry on how she created a the Bullet Journal Trip Planner to start planning her next vacation.

You can follow the hashtag #BUJOtravel on Instagram for more inspiration on places to go bullet journal spreads. 

What would you include in your bullet journal travel planning? Can you come up with more travel bullet journal spreads yourself?

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Kara 🌸 Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 10 Mrt 2016 om 6:14 (PST)

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Kara 🌸 Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 11 Jun 2016 om 11:10 (PDT)

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Kara 🌸 Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 5 Jan 2016 om 8:41 (PST)

Another few great planning pages by Katrin from @plansandletters:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Katrin (@plansandletters) op 21 Jan 2017 om 6:01 (PST)

Plan your favourite hotspots for your next trip, and create a vacation bullet journal like Jennifer of @inkbyjeng did here:

  Een bericht gedeeld door Illustrator • Jennifer Reyes (@inkbyjeng) op 1 Dec 2016 om 3:48 PST

  Een bericht gedeeld door Illustrator • Jennifer Reyes (@inkbyjeng) op 12 Okt 2016 om 10:36 PDT

  Een bericht gedeeld door Illustrator • Jennifer Reyes (@inkbyjeng) op 22 Nov 2016 om 9:22 PST

2. Bullet Journal Wish List: Create a Travel Log!

I love how Becky of @Painted_Illustrated has created all these pages in her journal where she can record the countries and states she visited on her travels.

Make sure to check her account for other parts of the world and customized bullet journal travel logs!

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Becky (@painted_illustrated) op 11 Jun 2016 om 2:37 (PDT)

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Becky (@painted_illustrated) op 12 Jun 2016 om 3:12 (PDT)

Another great travel planning bullet journal is by Christina from @christina77star, but of course you need some serious drawing skills to pull this one off:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Christina (@christina77star) op 13 Apr 2016 om 12:05 (PDT)

If you’re not such a good illustrator as Becky or Christina, you can simply print a world map from the internet and stick it in your journal, like this nice one by Inge from @Pens.and.Planners:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Inge 📖 (@pens.and.planners) op 5 Mei 2016 om 11:35 (PDT)

Here is another fun travel tracker bullet journal-style, created by Alexandra:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Alexandra Pflumm (@alexandra_bulletjournal) op 21 Mrt 2019 om 12:29 (PDT)

What I personally do, is keeping track of all flights I go on… it’s a lot, haha!

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Inge 📖 (@pens.and.planners) op 27 Mei 2016 om 1:24 (PDT)

3. Bullet Journal Packing Lists

Nothing better than a good packing list to make sure you don’t forget anything important on your next trip.

If you follow the hashtag #BUJOpackinglist , you’ll find some great examples of BUJO packing list ideas!

Have a look at these black-and-white packing list bullet journal ideas travel by Marie of journalspiration:

  Een bericht gedeeld door Marie (@journalspiration) op 15 Nov 2016 om 8:03 PST

And how about this cute one by Kara from Boho Berry:

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Kara | Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 27 Feb 2016 om 8:01 PST

4. Bullet Journal Places To Go – Travel Songs

Just by reading this list by Inge from Pens and Planners I feel like going on a road trip, how about you? Check out some more bullet journal travel spreads below on creating a places to visit bullet journal:

  I wasn’t really happy with my last travel music list, so I decided to change it up! :) . . . #bulletjournal #bujo #bujojunkies #dutchbulletjournaling #planner #planneraddict #planwithme #showmeyourplanner #traveling #music #vacation #leuchtturm1917 Een foto die is geplaatst door Inge Rouwmaat (@pens.and.planners) op 27 Mei 2016 om 1:24 PDT

5. Stamp Collection

What better way to invite the world into your home then through a great stamp collection. Love this page by Amanda from banjobaby83:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Amanda Lynn (@libra_lotus831) op 20 Apr 2016 om 8:00 (PDT)

6. Travel Souvenirs

Just returned from a trip and brought back a souvenir? You can use your bullet journal travel pages to record them (or record gifts you bought for everyone). Here is a peek into my own sand collection overview. Yes, this took me forever to draw, hahaha:

  Een bericht gedeeld door Nick & Nienke (@thetraveltester) op 9 Jun 2016 om 2:50 PDT

7. Creative Travel Journal Ideas

Of course there is nothing wrong with turning part of your travel journal bullet journal into a good old-fashioned journal!

Check the hashtag  #bujotravelersnotebook  to get inspiration for your travel log bullet journal-style.

Get creative, just like Rianne of Making Ideas Happen did here:

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Rianne / Rissy (@makingideashappen) op 9 Jun 2016 om 8:35 PDT

More great travel diary ideas include collecting stamps and postcards in your Travel Bullet Journal, like Carola of lolamamama did here:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Carola M (@lolamamama) op 25 Okt 2016 om 10:20 (PDT)

Or how cool is this little travel journal inspiration page by Cristina of my.life.in.a.bullet, where she keeps her memories bullet journal holiday-style:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Cristina (@my.life.in.a.bullet) op 16 Jul 2016 om 4:21 (PDT)

For a great and simple travel journal template, check out this post by Kiana, who made a love Iceland travel bujo:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Kiana (@abulletjournaladay) op 3 Apr 2019 om 2:37 (PDT)

I really wish I could draw like José Naranja:

  Een foto die is geplaatst door José Naranja (@jose_naranja) op 19 Okt 2013 om 6:02 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door José Naranja (@jose_naranja) op 19 Okt 2013 om 6:01 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door José Naranja (@jose_naranja) op 29 Sep 2013 om 5:44 PDT

8. Road Trip Book

Going on a Road Trip? Have Kids (or just want to entertain yourself?) Why not create a fun road trip activity book inside your bullet journal (along with your bullet journal travel itinerary), like Kara from Boho Berry did in such a cool way:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Kara 🌸 Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 14 Jun 2016 om 7:35 (PDT)

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Kara 🌸 Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 16 Jun 2016 om 10:29 (PDT)

9. Bullet Journal Bucket List

Don’t we all secretly love the bucket list? I know I do! Use your bullet journal memories pages to craft your own bullet journal travel bucket list!

Follow the hashtag  #bujobucketlist for tons of bucket list journal ideas. 

This is what Marie of journalspiration put on her London Bucket List bullet journal-style, can you come up with more bullet journal checklists?

  Een foto die is geplaatst door m a r i e (@journalspiration) op 8 Jul 2016 om 11:05 PDT

What do you think of this cute drawing by Bea from beagurban in her own version of a travel bucket list bullet journal-style:

  Een bericht gedeeld door Bea (@beagurban) op 21 Feb 2017 om 2:28 PST

Crossing all the US states of your Bucket List, for many people a dream! Great holiday bullet journal page ideas by Jennifer of inkbyjeng:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Illustrator • Jennifer Reyes (@inkbyjeng) op 19 Nov 2016 om 8:26 (PST)

If you feel that all these bullet journal vacation planning-pages look too difficult to make, here is a super easy and fun idea by Jessica from @lifeinjournal to record your Summer bucket list:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Jessica (@lifeinjournal) op 16 Jun 2018 om 4:57 (PDT)

10. Places I Want to Go Bullet Journal

Dreaming of all the places you still want to travel to? Create a spread like Noc Triwina did on this post:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Noc Triwina (@noctriwina) op 23 Jun 2018 om 1:33 (PDT)

Or create a bullet journal places to visit spread just like Annie from @ajournalbyannie did:

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Annie | Journaling & Artwork (@ajournalbyannie) op 12 Sep 2018 om 12:37 (PDT)

11. Travel Quotes

After all those bullet journal trip planning pages, I feel like nothing is more inspiring than a great travel quote!

I went to the hashtag #BUJOquotes to find inspiration for my own travel planning journal. 

Looking for more inspirational travel quotes? Have a look at this list of best Paulo Coelho quotes on life >>

Here is some inspiration for you, maybe they will give you even more travel diaries ideas:

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Christina (@christina77star) op 19 Nov 2015 om 9:17 PST

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Kara | Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 21 Sep 2015 om 7:10 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Kara | Boho Berry (@boho.berry) op 21 Mrt 2016 om 10:42 PDT

Make sure to check the account below for many, many more great Bullet Journal travel ideas for quotes and illustrations:

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Handrian Apriyanto (@hndrntype) op 22 Mei 2016 om 6:37 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Handrian Apriyanto (@hndrntype) op 11 Apr 2016 om 6:27 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Handrian Apriyanto (@hndrntype) op 8 Mei 2016 om 7:15 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Handrian Apriyanto (@hndrntype) op 6 Jun 2016 om 2:52 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Handrian Apriyanto (@hndrntype) op 2 Jun 2016 om 6:15 PDT

  Een foto die is geplaatst door Handrian Apriyanto (@hndrntype) op 20 Jun 2016 om 2:49 PDT

12. Travel Journal Cover Ideas

Finally, here are some creative ideas to create the cover page for your trip planning bullet journal (by @doodle_book14):

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door Doodle_Book (@doodle_book14) op 20 Mrt 2019 om 6:08 (PDT)

 And by @NadaPersonall

            Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram                         Een bericht gedeeld door NadaPersonal (@nnadapersonall) op 9 Jul 2018 om 9:34 (PDT)

I hope this post has given you plenty of travel notebook ideas! Have you found more great examples on Instagram? Let me know in the comments below!

> Bullet Journal Accessories

• Bullet Journal Sticker Set
• Bullet Journal Pens
• Metal Stencil for Bullet Journals

> Which Bullet Journal Notebook to Use?

Want to get started with the Bullet Journal Yourself? Here are some great books to kick off!

Because you’ll be drawing your own calendar, a notebook with dotted pages works best in my opinion, especially if you’re looking to get really creative and draw a lot.

But of course any journal will do!

The two journals that I’ve hear recommended the most are these two:

Moleskine Classic Notebook, Large, Dotted, Black, Hard Cover

Get the Best Deal for this Notebook on Amazon! >>

Leuchtturm 1917 Notebook A5 Hardcover Dotted Medium Black

MORE ABOUT TRAVEL JOURNALLING

• How to Make a Travel Journal ? Tips and Supplies
• How to Write a Travel Journal ? Best Writing Tips
• 65+ Travel Journal Prompts to inspire you
• 10+ Travel Bullet Journal Ideas you’ll love
• Best Bullet Journal Tips
• These Travel Journal Covers will amaze you
• Explorers’ Sketchbooks Review
• A Short History of Travel Writing
• 15 Signs you are born for Travel Writing
• Our Okinawa (Japan) Project Life Album
• Must-Have Travel Scrapbooking Supplies

LOVE THESE BUJO TRAVEL IDEAS? BOOKMARK THIS ARTICLE ON PINTEREST !

Shreya @ The Creatives Hour

Monday 26th of April 2021

These travel bullet journal ideas are super inspiring! Love the overall compilation!

Mateo Pedersen

Tuesday 12th of March 2019

What nice ideas ! Perfect for staying organized and be inspired!!

Wednesday 5th of September 2018

Nice article i loved so much. Thanks for sharing.

50 Bullet Journal Page Ideas (With Examples!) to Inspire You | Simply Brandi Renee

Friday 3rd of August 2018

[…] Source […]

Tuesday 30th of May 2017

Hello, Nice tips and inspiration. I am digital nomad working in travel industry. I always carry my magic book for fresh idea. I believe I have now more than 10 completed with my last 15 years traveling around the world. Keep discovering, Keep Testing. If you pass by Barcelona, this is my base for summer.

Nienke Krook

Thursday 1st of June 2017

Sounds Awesome Vince! So great to read them back after a couple of years!! Happy Travels!!

Sorry! It looks like we are experiencing a technical problem, please try again later.

Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site.

• Diaries & Planners

Free Returns

This proposal would help the DOT 'more easily penalize airlines' that damage wheelchairs

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg unveiled a new proposal Thursday aimed at improving air travel for passengers with disabilities.

Under the proposed rule set forth by the Department of Transportation, airlines would be mandated to adhere to stringent standards, guaranteeing prompt and dignified assistance for passengers with disabilities. Enhanced training protocols for airline staff (and their contractors), coupled with specified actions to safeguard passengers and their wheelchairs during transport, aim to underscore the DOT's commitment to passenger safety and accessibility.

"It's an important part of how we change the way that airlines operate and change the way that travelers with disabilities can move around the country and around the world," Buttigieg said during a call with media. "This news compliments a range of actions by the Biden-Harris administration to make transportation more accessible, including launching the first Bill of Rights for airline passengers with disabilities and publishing a final rule that will increase the size and accessibility of airplane bathrooms ."

The proposed rule would cover wheelchairs and assistive devices as defined by the DOT , like crutches, canes, walkers, prosthetics, and hearing aids, among others.

During USA TODAY's yearlong series highlighting the people behind airline damage to wheelchairs, over 30 respondents said some version of the phrase "breaking my wheelchair is like breaking my legs."

Airlines damaged thousands of mobility aids this year: Here's how 30+ flyers were affected

What does the proposed rule tackle?

• Penalties for mishandling wheelchairs, and other assistive devices: The proposal would make those mishandlings an automatic violation of the Air Carrier Access Act, allowing DOT to "more easily penalize airlines and hold them accountable when a passenger’s mobility device is damaged." It would also require airlines to promptly repair or replace damaged wheelchairs and provide a loaner.
• Safe assistance: The rule would require enhanced airline employee and airline contractor training that includes hands-on training, for those who physically assist passengers with mobility disabilities or handle passengers’ wheelchairs. This includes the prompt return of a delayed wheelchair to the passenger's final destination within 24 hours.
• Improved standards on planes: The rule proposes improved performance standards for onboard wheelchairs on twin-aisle aircraft and small aircraft and notifications after loading and unloading a wheelchair.

"This is about making sure that both the physical safety of passengers and the physical condition of mobility devices are contemplated and dignified," Buttigieg added.

The announcement has already garnered widespread support from Assistant to the President Stephen Benjamin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., disability advocates, aviation workers, and stakeholders convening for a discussion at the White House.

"This is really about helping passengers be better empowered to make use of the rights and protections that they already have," asserted Buttigieg.

The proposed rule will be seeking comments from the public for 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

US News ranked RI dead last in the country for transportation. Here's why.

New rankings from U.S. News and World Report place Rhode Island dead last when it comes to transportation.

And that's based on data that predates the failure of the Washington Bridge .

The ranking is based on four factors: Commute times, road quality, bridge quality and public transportation usage.

It does not take into account harder-to-measure factors, such as walkability and the availability of bike lanes.

How does Rhode Island rank in commute times?

When it comes to commute times, Rhode Island ranks 28th out of 50 states – roughly the middle of the pack.

That data comes from the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey , which found that the average commute time for Rhode Islanders who do not work from home was 25.4 minutes.

More: Rhode Island ranks among the best in the country for its natural environment. Here's why.

How does Rhode Island rank for road quality?

We fared worst when it comes to road quality, ranking 49th out of 50 states.

That dubious distinction is based on federal Department of Transportation highway statistics from 2022, which calculate "the percentage of evaluated road miles considered to be in poor condition," according to U.S. News.

Rhode Island Department of Transportation spokesman Charles St. Martin noted that the data includes all roads in Rhode Island, not just those that RIDOT is responsible for maintaining.

"About 80% of all the miles of roads in Rhode Island – about 5,000 miles – are maintained by cities and towns," he wrote in an email. "This is why Governor McKee last year begin the RI Ready Municipal Road Fund Program, providing $20 million in matching funds for municipalities to fix local roads (at a ratio of 1/3 state funds, 2/3 local funds)."

The program resulted in a total investment of $74 million in local roads, St. Martin said, and McKee included another $5 million in matching funds for the second year of the program.

RIDOT also is in the process of investing approximately $500 million over a five-year period for pavement projects on state roads, "thanks in large part to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," St. Martin said.

How does Rhode Island rank for bridge quality?

Rhode Island ranked 47th when it comes to bridge quality, which may not come as a huge surprise.

However, we're on track to move up in the rankings in the coming years, according to RIDOT.

U.S. News looked at the percentage of bridges that the Federal Highway Administration considered to be in structurally deficient condition as of March 2023. Since then, that percentage has dropped from 15.4% to 14.1%, according to St. Martin.

When the RhodeWorks program began in 2016, 27% of Rhode Island's bridges were considered structurally deficient, St. Martin also pointed out.

"It is important to note that it took decades to get to the poor state of bridges we had, and even with the massive amount of work RIDOT has done in the past eight years under RhodeWorks, it will take more than a decade to correct," he said.

The agency is "continuing on a trajectory" to reduce the number further, and reach its goal of having only 10% of bridges be considered structurally deficient within the next two years, St. Martin said.

How does Rhode Island rank for public transit?

Rhode Island fared better when it came to public transit usage, ranking 18th.

That ranking is based on the average number of miles per resident traveled via public transit in a year, according to U.S. News. To calculate that figure, the publication used 2022 statistics from the Department of Transportation National Transit Database and the U.S. Census Bureau.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: US News ranked RI dead last in the country for transportation. Here's why.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

US airlines are suing the Biden administration over a new rule to make certain fees easier to spot

FILE - Passengers arrive at Terminal C at Orlando International Airport, Monday, March 18, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. U.S. airlines are trying to kill a new rule requiring them to disclose fees more quickly when consumers shop for flights. The airlines filed a lawsuit in federal appeals court against the Transportation Department, which issued the rule last month. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, File)

• Copy Link copied

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines are suing to block the Biden administration from requiring greater transparency over fees that the carriers charge their passengers, saying that a new rule would confuse consumers by giving them too much information during the ticket-buying process.

The U.S. Transportation Department said Monday it will vigorously defend the rule against what it called “hidden junk fees.”

American, Delta, United and three other carriers, along with their industry trade group, sued the Transportation Department in a federal appeals court on Friday, asking the court to overturn the rule.

The trade group, Airlines for America, said the Transportation Department is going beyond its authority by attempting “to regulate private business operations in a thriving marketplace.” The airlines said the administration hasn’t shown that consumers can’t get information about fees already.

“Airlines go to great lengths to make their customers knowledgeable about these fees,” Airlines for America said Monday. “The ancillary fee rule by the Department of Transportation will greatly confuse consumers who will be inundated with information that will only serve to complicate the buying process.”

The Transportation Department announced the new rule on April 24. It would require airlines and travel agents to disclose upfront any charges for baggage and canceling or changing a reservation. Airlines must show the fees on the first website page where they quote a price for a flight.

The agency estimated that the rule will save consumers more than $500 million a year.

“We will vigorously defend our rule protecting people from hidden junk fees and ensuring travelers can see the full price of a flight before they purchase a ticket. Many air travelers will be disappointed to learn that the airline lobby is suing to stop these common-sense protections,” the department said Monday.

Among the nation’s six biggest airlines, only Southwest did not join the legal challenge, which was filed in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Southwest said the rule will have little to no effect on it because the Dallas-based carrier lets passengers check two bags for free and has never charged extra fees for changing or canceling reservations.

“Overall, we support every airline’s right to price its products but believe fees should be clearly and consistently disclosed, so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions,” Southwest said.

Will new airline consumer protection rules help you when you fly this summer?

You've probably heard about the new airline consumer protection rules that rolled out with a one-two punch last month. There were so many, it's almost hard to keep track. And maybe you're saying to yourself: Finally, I'll have some rights when I fly.

Please, don't get too excited.

"It's a good start," said Anthony Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor , a company that helps consumers file airline complaints.

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

The new rules address everything from junk fees to refunds, and although they may have some unintended consequences, they could help passengers – but those are expected to take effect until later, so not in time for the upcoming summer travel season.

Tipping is 'not an entitlement': Should travelers stop tipping for everything?

This type of vacation rental cancellation is on the rise. Are you next?

What did the government do?

Here's what's new:

◾ Two new consumer protection rules. The Department of Transportation released final versions of two new rules to protect passengers. One requires airlines to quickly and automatically refund tickets when they cancel or significantly delay a flight. The other requires airlines to disclose any fees for checked or carry-on luggage, as well as for changing or canceling a reservation, at the same time, they display a fare quote. 

◾ States will handle some airline complaints. The federal government also announced a partnership with 18 state attorneys general . The agreement allows states to investigate airlines and ticket agents and hold them accountable when they violate aviation consumer protection laws.

◾ New refund laws and minimum seat sizes. The latest version of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill contains a new rule that would require airlines to refund a domestic flight if it's delayed more than three hours. For international flights, it's six hours. It prohibits airlines from charging fees for families to sit together. Also on deck: a requirement that the FAA take another look at minimum seat sizes.

The new DOT rules go into effect in late June but have an implementation period of 6 to 12 months. Some, like the seat standards, might never happen. So don't expect to see new junk fees disclosed or to get a lightning-fast refund this summer – maybe next summer.

Turbulent skies ahead for new consumer protections

At least one of the rules may backfire, warn travel experts. Among the consumer protections is a requirement that a merchant of record must issue a refund for an airline ticket. That means unless you booked a ticket directly with the airline, your travel adviser – not the airline – would be responsible for a prompt ticket refund. In other words, the money would come out of your advisor's pocket and then force the agent to negotiate with the airline for the money.

"I'm already seeing travel advisers who had been providing flight booking services to their clients, who are now choosing not to offer that service," said travel adviser Brandi Taylor. "This will be a major inconvenience to consumers." 

So this summer, if you're booking a trip through a travel adviser, they might tell you to buy the airline tickets yourself. They don't want to be on the hook for refunding the money your airline has already received for your flights.

That's not the only problem. There's a conflict between the FAA bill and DOT’s new rule requiring automatic cash refunds for flight cancellations and delays. Congress doesn't want the refund to be automatic. Bill McGee, a senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project, said a lot of money is at stake in unpaid refunds.

"Airline lobbyists are fighting tooth and nail to ensure the onus remains on consumers to jump through hoops, rather than having carriers issue automatic refunds," he said. "The DOT has stepped up to protect passengers. Now it's time for Congress to do the same."

Asked about which rules would take precedence in the event of a conflict, a DOT spokeswoman said the agency's rule is "solidly rooted in DOT’s legal authority." So if there's a conflict the DOT rule would prevail.

'Expensive in every way': What travelers should expect this summer

Flying cars are coming! Here's how they could change the way you travel.

Will these consumer rules really help you?

"I'm skeptical," said Steven Rothberg, the founder of a job search site in Edina, Minnesota.

Like many experienced air travelers, he's seen this kind of thing before. The government promises protections, people get excited – and then there's no meaningful follow-through. 

Take seat sizes, for example. Airline seats are too small for the average passenger. So in 2018, Congress required the FAA to set minimum seat sizes. But to this day, there is no minimum seat standard, forcing air travelers to wedge themselves into tiny economy-class seats. 

There are also worries that airlines will quickly find a way around all these new rules, leaving passengers unprotected.

Travelers have every reason to be concerned. Airlines are clever and often find ways around new government rules. For example, if the government requires the disclosure of a junk fee like baggage charges, airlines will come up with a new charge not covered by the regulation to make up for it. It's a cat-and-mouse game, and the airlines always seem to have the upper hand. 

When will the new consumer rules go into effect?

So what's likely to happen? In the short term, not much.

Jonathan Feniak, a frequent traveler and attorney, said airlines will stall for as long as possible.

"I don’t expect airlines to adopt the new rules until they absolutely have to," he said. "Especially, during one of their busiest seasons, when delays and cancellations are bound to happen."

He said some forward-looking airlines may decide to adopt some of the requirements early, but it will also take some time for passengers to learn about their new rights.

On balance, he said the changes are a significant upgrade.

"It will mean fewer passengers being taken advantage of," he said.

A problem of enforcement

Here's the trouble with the new rules: There's some doubt the government will effectively enforce them. 

The DOT, which is in charge of enforcing the existing consumer rules, hasn't issued an enforcement action since December. It's one of the longest stretches of time without such action in years.

Think of enforcement actions as traffic tickets. And now there's a perception that airlines can get away with anything, according to Radchenko of AirAdvisor. Out of almost 300 complaints he filed in the last year, he said  DOT has not made any decision or issued enforcement action.

He said the government must prescribe penalties for airlines that ignore or fail to comply with the new rules for the new rules to work.

"They also need to provide the right to recover attorney's fees and legal costs for consumers bringing a lawsuit against an airline," he said.

What do we really need?

The bottom line for passengers is that almost none of the consumer protections will improve your summer flight. It may even be too soon for your Thanksgiving flight, and if there's a change of administration this November, some of these rules may never be implemented.

The gold standard for consumer protection, at least according to consumer advocates, is a rule in Europe called EC 261 . It requires airlines to assist passengers and compensate them when they're denied boarding or their flights are canceled or delayed.

For now, you have the same rights you always had when you flew in the U.S., which is to say, not many. 

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .