art journal travel notebook

How To Keep A Travel Art Journal (With Tips, Ideas, And Writing Prompts)

A travel art journal is a visual journal where you record your traveling experiences, events, feelings, new things you’ve learned, etc., while making art.

Here are a few benefits of having a travel art journal:

• Keeping a travel art journal gives you a more profound experience of your trips.
• Also, you become more mindful of everything you see, taste, or feel while you travel.
• Even if you make the journal after you’ve come home, it still enriches your experience and lets you relive it again.

I want to share a few ideas on how to make an easy travel journal, what to include in it, how to pack your art supplies, etc.

How to make a travel art journal?

What is the best travel journal? Well, I think it’s the one that’s practical and not too big.

Why? Because when you travel, you don’t want your travel journal to make the trip feel like you’re a camel carrying loads of things on your poor back. You want the journal to be small enough so it can fit any bag, and then you can take it everywhere with you.

Having this in mind, let’s talk about how to make a light one. And we know how satisfying a DIY process is.

So, here’s what you need for a DIY travel journal:

• Sheets of thicker paper the size you want. I cut mine around 8×8 inches (approximately 20×20 cm) so I could fit 10×15 photos in it.
• A bone folder or a butter knife
• Hole puncher (I use an ordinary office one with two holes)

Step 1 : measure approximately 0.7 in (2 cm) from the edge of the paper. Mark the 0.7 in (2 cm) with a pencil.

Step 2 : take the ruler, align it with the pencil marks and take the folder/knife to create a folding line.

Step 3 : put the ruler along the folding line and gently fold the paper on the inside.

Step 4 : Then, punch the holes on each sheet of paper. You’ll put the twine through these holes to tie the papers together.

BUT, you can also leave the binding part last until you put things on your pages and decorate them, so you can move the pages as you like. Do what seems more practical to you.

And voila: a brand new notebook for your travel art journal, ready to record your best trip.

How do you organize travel art journals?

First of all, you decide whether you want to take a journal with you on the trip, or you’ll create one after you come back. Below is one page in my travel journal I made after visiting Barcelona.

Prepare your travel journal in advance

On the other hand, if you want to experience the joy of creating art in an unknown inspirational place, then pack your travel art journal kit!

Also, prepare an envelope to collect ephemera on your trip, like tickets, flyers, etc.

You can plan what you’ll collect or write on your trip. Make a few sections in your art journal so you have them prepared and ready. Here are some ideas:

• Places you’ve seen
• People you’ve met
• What’s the most inspiring and beautiful place you’ve seen
• The best local dish
• Your personal stories from the trip (funny and awkward ones included)
• What you’ve learned about the people, places or culture

Later on, on your trip, you can take photos of each of these sections.

You can paint pages or write titles for your sections, and then fill all these up while you travel.

Make a travel art journal after your trip

If you feel that art journaling during your travels will get in your way, then leave the journal home. Bring only a small notebook and a pen.

This way, you can write down anything during the journey and use it later in your journal. On your trip, collect different ephemera and put them in an envelope or a small bag.

If you collect tickets and other paper ephemera, you can write on the back about the places, dates and your experience.

Just be careful about taking organic things like tea or flowers, because they might cause some issues with the security and customs.

I usually make my travel journal when I’m back home. This way, I somehow have extra experience after the journey is over. By creating afterward, I relive the trip and enjoy the reminiscence.

What to put in a travel journal?

As in any art journal, it goes the same here: Whatever your journal can hold and whatever you want to put in it.

I love putting photos in my travel journals. I mean, photos of everything! Take photos of yourself and your company, buildings you love, streets, even people.

Also, look for interesting details like doors, doorknobs, windows, flowers, street signs, parts of statues, street name signs, street art, graffiti, food, window shops, etc.   

Tickets and other paper ephemera

Having these little details in your travel journal makes it more vivid and shows the overall feel of the trip.

I often take every ticket I buy and they usually have dates on them, so that’s pretty neat. Putting them in a tiny envelope on a page is also a fun idea. If you have a big ticket, make it part of the background.

For example, we always get a tourist guide booklet or a map on our travels, right? These are large so use them as backgrounds or cut them out in smaller pieces. You can strategically cut out the location of your hotel, or the most amazing place you’ve visited.

Also, you can make pockets out of these maps to save your smaller ephemera.

You can take flyers from museums, shops, or menus and also use them as backgrounds or embellishments.

For example, I’ve used the word wanderlust because of its meaning and because the word sounds amazing.

Postcards or postal stamps

Everywhere you go, you can buy a postcard of the place. And there are some pretty lovely and creative postcards.

If you get a bunch of them, you can make a small art journal if you bind them together. Then, how about journaling at the back of the postcards?

Also, you can glue postcards in your travel journal, especially if you couldn’t take a photo of that particular place.

If you learn new words in the local language and they kind of stick in your mind, why not use them in your travel journal?

Paper scraps or stickers

Use those small paper pieces lying around and include them next to your photos or write on them. They can add up to the overall atmosphere and colors of your journal if you use similar colors as in your photos, ephemera, etc.

And stickers ! They’re easy to use so they fit perfectly for a travel art journal.

What should you write in a travel art journal?

I like writing in small sections because it’s easier to skim those later. And it’s easier to organize my thoughts. Aaaand, small sections of text look great on the paper. Then you can doodle around them to frame them.

Here are some travel journal prompts for writing:

• I’ve visited….
• I like this place because…
• The most artistic part was…
• The people are…
• The new dish I’ve never tried before…
• The wonderful thing about the culture…
• The thing that surprised me the most…
• It was helpful to know…
• The most inspirational architecture…
• This is the most magical place…because…
• The most interesting words in the local language…
• What has inspired me most to create art?
• The most memorable experience on the trip…
• What was the weather like?
• What is the sunset like in that place?
• Have you fulfilled any of your life-long wishes on this journey?
• The weirdest and quirkiest thing about this place…

How to pack art supplies for travel?

You’d like to take a lot of supplies, right? But, it doesn’t sound very practical, I know.

So, to make this more practical, I would pack these:

• a small pouch to take your supplies
• a waterproof black pen
• a watercolor brush (they are practical for any trip because they hold water, so one thing less to worry about)
• watercolor pencils
• binder clips (so they can hold your pages while you work, let’s say, on a bench in Paris!)

I think this is not much to carry with you. Also, you can choose the pouch that can carry your travel notebook or your DIY journal, and all other supplies. Any bag or a rucksack can handle these, right? So, your back is safe.

Can I take art supplies on a plane?

With these supplies, you don’t have to worry about having any issues. On the other hand, if you decide to carry any liquids, pack them in your checked bag in heavy-duty zip-lock bags.

Or put all your supplies in your checked luggage, and then you’re safe.

This way, you’ll avoid any trouble with airport security.  

If you only have a carry-on, I still think you’ll have no trouble with these. However, you aren’t allowed to take liquids on a plane, or anything suspiciously sharp.

I’ve carried pens and pencils in my bag everywhere. They only took my tweezers once, which I’d give a lot easier than my art supplies.

Just to be sure, you can check the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) regulations site, where they have a search area called What Can I Bring? I’ve heard that TSA has an app, too, but I’ve never used it.

So, plan these things in advance if you don’t like awkward airport situations.

Travel journal idea: use quotes

Quotes are great. Love them. I use them all the time in my art journals. They can inspire us, trigger an emotion or leave us speechless.

I’ve collected some quotes about traveling that I think you might like and use in your travel journal.

A list of inspirational travel quotes

“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal.” – Paulo Coelho

“We travel because distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is still the same. But something inside our minds has changed, and that changes everything.” – Johan Lehrer

“Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.” – Jamie Lyn Beatty

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

“People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck

“Travel brings power and love back to your life.” – Rumi

“I’m in love with cities I’ve been to and people I’ve never met.” – John Green

“It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same. You realize what’s changed is you.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

Make your new travel art journal today

Maybe you already have a ton of photos from your last trip. Or different tickets scattered around your home. This could be the perfect time to collect them and make your travel scrapbook.

Or are you planning a trip? Start planning your travel journal as well. Make the trip even more fun and be more mindful of it by journaling about it. Connect your travel experience with art-making. It’s a great way to grow and learn.

RELATED TRAVEL JOURNAL POSTS

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Mindful art journaling ideas for self-awareness

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How to Travel Journal: Tips for Getting Started

Posted on Published: July 19, 2020  - Last updated: April 26, 2023

A travel journal is a powerful way to record your travels. In a time when destinations, souvenirs, and even iconic photo-ops barely vary from traveler to traveler, creating a personal notebook of your trip guarantees you’ll have a treasured souvenir that’s all yours. A journal filled with lists, photos, longhand reflections, ticket stubs, itineraries, doodles, and/or art is sure to be a treasured keepsake long after other souvenirs are lost or forgotten.

In this article, we’ll talk about getting started making your first travel journal or travel art journal. Including: supplies you’ll need, types of travel journals, how to decide which type is right for you, set up, post-trip storage, and a FAQ. It’s a long article, so feel free to use the table of contents below to jump around to find the information you need.

My First Travel Journal

I didn’t start my first travel journal until I was 30. I spent most of my 20’s working so hard I never made space for art and journaling, but after selling my business at 33 and returning to school for a Masters’s degree, I found myself often doodling in the margins of my notes. These margin doodles eventually turned into illustrated notes, so when I took my first big solo international trip the summer after my second year of grad school, it felt like a natural extension to begin the first of many solo international travels cataloged in mixed media art journals.

I created my first travel journal on my inaugural solo trip – a month-long trip from Italy to Croatia , then Bosnia and Herzegovina and back again. It was the PERFECT trip to experiment with my style and practice of travel journaling, since as a solo traveler I had the time to make my own schedule, and my trip included a little bit of everything- including famous art, iconic architecture, awe-inspiring visas, and a few amazing air B&B experiences to illustrate.

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Get this full article- plus all the information you need to create an amazing travel journal, via my free eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Travel Journaling . Download the PDF + eReader bundle below!

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Types of Travel Journals

The way I see it, there are five types of travel journals, explained below. Which style – or which combination of types – that you use is up to you.

How to choose? Consider what style works best for you, what skills you’d like to practice and grow through your travel journal, and what kind of memories you most want to put on record through art and illustrations.

The “Listicle” Travel  Journal

Half article, half list, the “listicle” is a top format for new sites, and it’s a format that works great for travel journals. A photo or doodle, paired with a brief description is a good way to organize a travel journal without spending too much precious travel time writing.

This style of journal works well with a bullet journal style format, and can even be started well before your trip. Using your travel journal before your trip to plot out things to do , itineraries, and points of interest you dream of traveling to can be a helpful way to organize your trip and set up journal pages that can then be filled out in more detail on-location. (Need some inspiration to start? Download my printable Bullet Style Travel Journal Template )

The “Sketch Note” Travel  Journal

In medieval times, scribes who were tasked with hand-copying sacred texts often added complex illustrations in the margins. Over time, these illustrations began to communicate context and tone in a language all their own. These text, which came to be known as “ illuminated texts ” were valued because they offered something that text alone could not- the visual experience of the story.

Similarly, this style of travel journaling draws on the inspiration of the naturalist illustrations of 19th-century environmentalists- who painstakingly recorded botanical or animal details, adding Latin genus and species and common names, to create records that to this day are used in biology textbooks.

The sketchnote style travel journal brings both of these traditions together in a format that combines short-format text mixed with small and medium-size illustrations. The travel journal page shown here describes my unforgettable day on a truffle hunting Airbnb Experience in Italy. It’s a combination of a landscape-style travel art journal page and a sketch note version.

In the illustration above, I capture a broad-stroke memory of the day via the landscape, add words, and include an educational close-up illustration – in this case, a little study of what I learned to look for in a good black truffle mushroom.

Sketchnote Travel Journals are best for:

Sketch note style journal pages are great for taking notes on things you want to remember. They can help illustrate your memory and review what you learned. This type is perfect for remembering details, key points, and specifics of your trip. It’s perfect for using your travel journal occasionally. If you’re in the food business, you can make notes about meals and ingredients to try back home, if you work in tourism/travel, you can take notes detailing what is/isn’t working about your current trip, etc.

How to create sketchnote style journal pages

• REFLECT. When you sit down to work on your art travel journal, think about what sticks out to you from your day – what objects or images are most poignant? What did you learn?
• ILLUSTRATE  2 to 3 of these items. Even if they’re just rough sketches, research shows that the process of translating the memory to a drawing (even a terrible drawing) helps us remember much better than we would if we wrote about it or didn’t record it all.
• ANNOTATE. Once you’ve done a rough doodle – or a full-on finished illustration, add a few notes to the drawing. Draw lines connecting important parts to relevant text and highlight what you’d want a reader to notice or know about the thing that you drew.

My Experience Sketchnoting in my travel journal in Italy

I didn’t actually get the chance to doodle the page above until I was in Croatia. To be honest, it’s not one of my favorite travel doodles but it captures that experience well- and that is what my travel journals are all about. The journal gave me space to capture what stood out about the experience- the texture of a truffle, our guide and his dog, and the views as we hiked through the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence. Space left for text allowed me to record a few things I learned about truffles. You can read more about my adventure truffle hunting in Italy on my post about it .

The architectural record travel art journal

If you’re a student of architecture, an artist practicing perspective, or just appreciate the hard lines of urban landscapes, including architecture in your art travel journal – or even creating a travel journal that focuses exclusively on architectural scenes, may be a fun way to create a personalized, unique record your trip and practice your architectural drawing skills.

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Steps to create an architectural focused travel art journal:

• PLAN. Decide if you will dedicate entire pages or if you will split pages to also include journal entries.
• PACK. If this is your focus, your travel art kit may need extra tools or, I recommend, just a goniometer . This fancy word actually just refers to a simple, hinged ruler that can replace packing a ruler, protractor, and a drawing compass. It makes it easy to draw straight lines, circles, and measured angles while weighing hardly anything and flexing enough to not break in your pen case.
• DECIDE whether to sketch live or by photos. Keep your eye out for sketchable scenes as you travel. For travelers with a lot of flexibility, you may wish to stop and find a park bench or café where you can sit and sketch. For others, it may fit better with your itinerary to take photos and later create a sketch from the photographs.
• BE INCLUSIVE. You’ll be tempted to put only iconic, majestic, or famous buildings in your travel art journal, but one of my favorite things to include in this type of travel art journal is ordinary rooms and buildings that were significant to my trip: the interior of an  Airbnb apartment overlooking an Adriatic coastal bay, or the exterior of my Florence Airbnb apartment, shown below, that blended so nonchalantly into the background of shops, vendors, and residents’ doors.

A travel printer is such a cool way to add easy visual elements to your art journal- creating a travel scrapbook as you go. Sometimes, like shown below, I print a photo of the scene I drew live, just to add more depth to my record of the experience.

Studying the Masters with a Travel Art journal

I started my very first travel art journal in Florence Italy. Starting my travel art journal in the city that is home to so many of the art world’s greatest masterpieces was an invitation I didn’t quite expect.

I didn’t start that journey expecting to create studies of these famous artworks, but I couldn’t resist the invitation to sit in the great hall at Galleria dell’Accademia with Michelangelo’s David or stand in front of The Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Gallery  without creating. After a jaunt over to the Dalmation coast of the Adriatic, I ended my trip in Rome and I got a repeat: again getting to create replicas of Caravaggio and the iconic Trevi fountain in my travel art journal.

If you’re a student of art- formal or informal- dedicating pages in your travel journal to creating your own versions of classic art isn’t just fun – it’s an important part of how art students have learned and honed skills for ages. It’s okay if you aren’t a dedicated art student, giving yourself the opportunity to learn in this way can both improve your skills and create a souvenir that’s far more personally significant than any of the replica tchotchkes sold in gift shops in the surrounding area.

How to create a travel art journal focusing on studying the Masters:

• MAKE TIME. Plan your travel itinerary so that you’ll have plenty of time for live sketching. Although you can technically do this through photographs later in the trip, there’s something really powerful about creating the work live. Plan to spend at least an hour creating your own version of the art. Some museums may have seating nearby, and others do not, so be prepared. (When I doodled David, I just had to wait for a bench to open, but the Birth of Venus had no chairs, so was created via a combination of standing-sketching and working from a photo from a bench in the hallway)
• MODIFY KIT. Modify your travel art journal kit for museum rules: NO scissors, NO paint, and ADD a hard-backed drawing surface since you won’t have a table. Although scissors and watercolors are must-haves in my travel art kit , there’s a chance that security will confiscate any art supplies that could damage valuable art – like scissors or, in the case of many museums, even watercolor and pen-style watercolor brushes.
• PREPARE to be, well, looked at. If you choose to sketch in a popular museum, you may become something of a tourist attraction yourself. My advice? Keep focused and let people look.
• PACK LIGHT. Most museums that house priceless artwork will not allow a large purse or even a tiny backpack. On museum days, pack yourself down to a tote bag or even a fanny pack to be sure that the essential art supplies you need will be with you in the museum. (I love Travelon’s travel purses because they are secure/zippered, hands-free, big enough for my whole art kit, but small enough that museum security waves them through without a glance.)

My Experience Studying Classical Art via a Travel Journal

Florence was my first big solo trip- and what a great place to start! I intentionally planned my days without an itinerary, so I had the freedom to wander, to bask, or to explore. On my first full day of my trip, the only thing on my to-do list was to make it to the Academia Gallery by day’s end. Galleria del Academia was built specifically to house their most famous piece:  Michelangelo’s David sculpture.

It was at this gallery that I discovered the best part about solo travel as an artist- the freedom to really pause and take in great art. Without having to be sensitive to a partner or group’s interest or boredom, I could sit for hours with David- and I did! After some study and some people watching I went to work on this little doodle shown above.

I had so much fun doing this sketched that when I stumbled onto Logia Del Lanzi plaza later that day, I sat and doodled one of those ancient sculptures as well:

Making a Landscape-focused Travel Art journal

Landscape travel art journals are perfect for capturing a broad glimpse of what it’s like to be in the place for you are. Unlike architectural-focused urban drawings, landscapes tend to feature natural elements or a combination of natural and urban, like this cityscape of the bay in front of the Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia.

A landscape travel art journal can be fun to create in cafés and restaurants in tourist spots. Often, prime locations with scenic overlooks feature cafes, making them a perfect spot to sit for a bit and rest while creating a piece for your travel art journal.

To create an artistic travel journal that focuses on landscapes:

• PICK supplies accordingly. Landscapes sometimes require different supplies than a basic travel art journal kit. For example, if you plan to get very detailed you may need multiple sizes of pen nibs.
• PLAN. Landscape travel art journaling is perfect to do as a midday break – especially since landscapes sometimes require climbing up to a vista point. A break is much needed and desired by the time I reach the pinnacle of a scenic overlook on foot!

“Self-portrait as a traveler” travel art journal

I’m not sure this exists as a genre outside of my own travel art journal, but some of my favorite art from my travel journal has been drawings of myself experiencing something significant from my trip. In the image below, it’s me wading into the Adriatic Sea on a beach about 20 minutes south of Dubrovnik near Cavtat, Croatia .

A self-portrait in your travel art journal offers the opportunity to create art that represents both internal and external landscapes . It says something about the place and it says something about you. At the time of this drawing, I was doing a lot of processing around what it means to be a human with a larger than average body and to live fully in that body in environments that aren’t always welcoming to it.

This little painting in my art journal is so special to me because it captures not just the beauty of the Adriatic seascape, but also something really beautiful that was happening within me as I waded into open water.

To create a travel art journal that focuses on self-portraits:

• Give yourself permission to represent yourself however it feels right at the time. When we do self-portraits can be tempting to feel that we have to be accurate or that we might be judged if other people look at our self-portrait and don’t determine it to be “close enough”. Allow yourself to create what you need to create, in the way that you need to create it – this is never more true and art and when it comes to your own journal and your own body.
• Work from photos or by feel . When I created this doodle at a little seaside café after my swim, I was looking at the water but obviously not at my own body. Instead, I drew the landscape as I saw it and sketched in my own body informed by feeling rather than what was in front of me.

Where to Start: Materials and Planning your Travel Journal

Best notebooks to use for travel journals:.

The two most important things when you’re looking at journals to use as a travel journal are (1) paper quality and (2) how flat the book lays when it is opened. Although strong binding can be helpful in other journals, for a travel journal it’s important that each page be able to lay completely flat in order for your art not to be distorted and for the paint to dry right where you put it.

The journal featured most prominently on this site is a blank staple-bound Fabriano EcoQua softcover notebook . The staple-bound binding (like a basic booklet) lets the notebook lay perfectly flat with no significant gap- enabling double-spreads. The hardcover spiral-bound version of this notebook offers more rigidity which may be helpful if you expect to create art on the fly without a table or flat surface. The paper quality in these journals is, to me, well balanced between texture, weight, and finish. Read on to learn more about paper quality for a travel art journal.

I like the paper in these notebooks because it’s smooth to write on but not too slick to accept simple watercolor washes. It’s thick enough to prevent bleed and minimize show-through between pages.

The paper that works best for you might favor pen and ink, or lend itself to standing up to more complex watercolor art. If you know you’ll be watercoloring a lot, you’ll want to choose thicker paper, but if your emphasis is pencil or pen sketches – even with a bit of watercolor wash, you’ll want to choose thinner, smoother paper. Notebooks in Canson’s Mixed Media Paper line have paper that is perfect for journaling and mixed art use, but I personally find their notebooks too bulky to make good travel journals.

Gathering & Packing Supplies for your travel journal

Whether you’re creating a traditional travel journal, a bullet journal, or a travel art journal, the supplies you bring will significantly shape the final look of your journal.

Free Bullet Journal Style travel art journal template

It can be hard to know how to get started when you are staring down a blank page. If you find that the blank page can be a little bit intimidating, I recommend starting with templates. A template can be as simple or as complicated as you need or wanted to be. Sometimes, rotating a few basic layouts can be a way to create visual interest while stimulating your own creativity within those blocks.

If you think a template might be helpful for you, you can start with my  travel journal template printable , which you can download and print for free. It includes page layouts for a typical size travel journal as well as some prompts of things that might be helpful to journal about during your trip.

If you like the idea of the support of template blocks, but don’t want to be tied into my single layout in the resource above, you can make your own templates to pack them to use in your travel journal.

How to Pack Art Supplies

My list for making your own travel art journal kit is designed to provide you with all the supplies you might need without triggering any issues and airport security or airline policy. Everything in the travel art journal kit is allowed in your carry-on on an airplane and allowed to be used in the airplane during your trip.

Use a pen case.

The best way to pack art supplies for your trip is inside of a pen case. A pen case often has interior straps that help keep art supplies in place to keep them from getting damaged during your trip.

Keep your art supplies in your carry-on.

Always keep your art supplies with your carry-on luggage. Scissors under 4 inches from the pivot point are allowed through any airport in your carry-on luggage (even if they are sharp scissors) however museums and UNESCO sites set their own rules and may x-ray bags and demand the surrender or paid-storage of scissors, paint, or even permanent markers before entry into their area. Art supplies are generally always allowed on a plane, within reason.

Place art supplies inside of an airtight bag before flying.

Be aware that some markers and pens can do funky stuff due to changes in air pressure (I’ve observed pens ooze ink uncontrollably after being uncapped mid-flight). To remedy this, many travelers carry their journaling supplies in sealed zip lock bags. This method can work to prevent potential issues caused by air pressure changes during takeoff and landing, but you should avoid opening the bag at any point during your flight . 

In years past, simply keeping pens capped helped avoid issues with pressure changes, but with most caps perforated to prevent choking, you’ll need to be a bit more proactive about protecting your pens from pressure changes in flight.

6 Things you should always include in a travel journal

Everyone’s travel journal will turn out different and will include different elements – after all, our journals are a reflection of who we are, where we went, and how we travel! Despite these huge differences, there are a few elements that every single travel journal should include:

• Date marking the day of your visit and the day of the art-making, if different.
• Location  – always identify where you made the piece.
• Location Depicted – if different from above.
• Your Signature – or an @username tag you plan to share on social media
• Something about your experience. If you don’t want to write a block of text about your day, just name something you touched, saw, tasted, smelled, or experienced.
• Anything else that’s important. I love adding Illustrative Highlights: see above in the sketch note style travel journal, it can be fun to add arrows and circles to highlight important things to remember within a larger piece of art in your travel journal.

1 Tip for Bridging Journals and Social Media

Although your travel journal exists as a way to keep the memory of your travel adventures, one of my favorite ways to bridge the gap between a travel journal and social media (which, for many, is a modern format for journaling life events like travel) is by merging the analog journal and the digital. I do this by taking photographs of my journal spreads on location, in front of the icon or landmark they depict.

Taking a photograph of your travel journal entry in front of famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the White House, or an Iconic mountain scene in Patagonia is a great way to digitize your travel journal – keeping it safe in case something happens to it and making it more accessible.

Why You Should Create a Travel Journal

To enhance memories.

Over time our memories of travel naturally fade. By creating an art journal as we travel, we can not only create an amazing unique record of our trip, but researchers have found that through making art, we can actually experience our trip in a different way- and remember more of it!

Taking photographs, it turns out , makes us less likely to remember an experience than just being present to the experience. Drawing an experience, however, increases the vibrance of our memories significantly. For this and so many other reasons, a travel art journal is an incredible way to enhance any travel experience.

In my professional life, I’m part researcher- so I’ve tracked the research (or rather, lack thereof) of travel-journal related research for a few years.

Finally, in early 2021, a research team from Hong Kong, the UK, and the Netherlands presented the results of the first study centering on how a journaling practice may or may not enhance the experience of traveler. You can read the full pape here , but essentially researchers found that travel-created happiness is generally short-lived, but journaling well (in the case of the study, through a guided journaling app designed by the researchers) increased the memorability and meaningfulness of participant’s travel experiences, which appeared to result in positive long-term benefits from travel.  

To create a totally unique souvenir

Except for the unique, antique souvenirs you can pick up at a good street market , most travel souvenirs are pretty unremarkable. 5-10 years after your trip, you’re probably going to donate that Starbucks mug emblazoned with “London” to a thrift store and toss out those laminated travel magnets, but a well-preserved travel journal creates a unique, quality souvenir that even your grandkids would likely treasure. Journal well and follow the journal preservation instructions below, and you’ll return home with a priceless and enviable souvenir of your travels.

To grow writing or art skills

We are often led to believe that the ability to make art or write well are skills that people are born with. While it’s true that some people are more artistically inclined, everyone has the capacity to develop their skills as an artist. Often, the way that we encourage children based on their natural inclinations determines what they dedicate time to, which determines what they become good at. Whether you are a skilled artist/writer or not, practicing will make you better at your craft .

Travel is an amazing opportunity for practice – it dovetails so well with exhausting days of endless walking as a tourist. Taking a very long break in a café to sip a hot drink and sketch- even very terrible sketches- allows you to experience a location in a completely different way while developing your skills.

To grow through personal reflection

Research is very clear that when we reflect on experiences, our ability to be mindful and make more thoughtful, emotionally mature decisions develops. Journaling isn’t just a great way to grow your art skills and create a cool souvenir, journaling can help you grow into a kinder, braver, more thoughtful human.

To share your experience with others

One of the hardest parts of traveling is not being able to share the experience with the people that we love. Even if we are traveling with a partner, a group of friends, or family, there are people we love back home that are only getting the Facebook version of our experience. Being able to come home and walk our loved ones through a travel journal is a gift both to them and to us. This has been especially true for my elderly grandmother who passed away just after I returned from my Transylvania trip , sending her postcards with foreign stamps and hand-scrawled doodles was an important way that we stayed connected over the many miles. ( Click here to read more about my story and how sending postcards to my grandmother from around the world was a way we stayed connected)

Steps to Make a Travel Journal or Travel Art Journal

How to Make a Travel Journal

Time required: 30 minutes

Pick a notebook and create a kit of supplies

Use our travel journal supply list as a guideline to create your own, compact journaling kit.

Take your journal everywhere

While traveling, always keep your journal in your bag. Use it to fight boredom on long layovers , jot down impressions of a place, sketch loved scenes, collect papers, and even to press flowers or leaves.

Create a routine

Your journal will turn out best if you create- and stay faithful to- a routine. When I’m solo travelin g, I often spend an hour or more after dinner relaxing, drawing, writing, painting, making a bullet list of the day’s itinerary, and printing photos on my travel printer for my journal.

Give yourself permission to make mistakes

Think of your journal like a record of your trip- and embrace the imperfect parts as part of the experience. In a travel journal, like in travel, perfectionism can ruin the fun.

After your trip, preserve your journal

Follow our tips to preserve your journal safely so you can return to it to remember your trip for many years to come..

Estimated Cost: 10 USD

• Blank notebook
• Pens and/or Art Supplies

Flip Through of a Mixed Media Travel Journal:

A travel journal can be an amazing way to record your adventures while traveling, help you grow as an artist, and improve the memory of your significant travel experiences. By creating a travel journal that focuses on- or combines- scenes of architecture, natural landscapes, studying the Masters of classic art, creating self-portraits, or creating a sketchnote styled doodle record of your trip, you can create a souvenir with priceless value that’s totally unique to you and will be cherished for years to come.

Lynli Roman’s unique approach to travel is informed by decades of experience on the road with a traveling family and, later, years spent as a solo international traveler. When she’s not writing about Seattle from her Pike Place Market apartment, Lynli writes on-location while conducting hands-on research in each destination she covers. Lynli’s writing has been featured by MSN, ABC Money, Buzzfeed, and Huffington Post. She is passionate about sharing information that makes travel more accessible for all bodies.

Friday 3rd of September 2021

"It’s ok for your art to reflect your experience of a place rather than create an exact record- you get to make the rules and document what is important to you" - truly, truly priceless advice. So very obvious in retrospect, but the sense of freedom it brings is astonishing. Thank you!

LynLi Roman M.A.

Saturday 4th of September 2021

Thanks for commenting Tammi! I'm glad that way of looking at it was helpful- it's definitely helped me feel freer to make MY travel art, whatever that will be!

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Your Visual Journal

Journaling + Sketchnotes + Bullet Journal Ideas

Traveler’s Notebook | Everything You Need to Know (+16 Brilliant Ideas on How to Use One)

Last updated on July 1st, 2022 • Journaling Supplies , Travel Journals

What is a Traveler’s Notebook? You may have heard Bullet Journalers rave about it, or maybe you’ve seen a few flip-through videos on Instagram . Why are people who use the Traveler’s Notebook obsessed with it? 

TL;DR: The Traveler’s Notebook is a journal created by the Traveler’s Company. It’s a simple leather cover with elastic bands that hold thin paper notebooks. 

Not obsessed yet? (wink)

Here’s why you might be soon…

The Traveler’s Notebook is an incredibly simple and customizable component-based system, without any of the bulk that six-ring or spiral notebooks create. 

This post is the ultimate guide to everything you want to know about the Traveler’s Notebook—which means it is a long post. Here are some jump links to take you to what interests you most: 

• How do Traveler’s Notebooks work? 
• What sizes does the Traveler’s Notebook come in?
• How to add inserts to your Traveler’s Notebook

What’s a Midori Traveler’s Notebook? (and what the heck is a Faux-dori?)

The best features of the traveler’s notebook, what can i use a traveler’s notebook for.

• How others use their Traveler’s Notebooks

Fall in love with your own Traveler’s Notebook

You can also download the ebook version of this post by subscribing here .

How does a Traveler’s Notebook work?

The beauty of the Traveler’s Notebook is that you choose the components, which means you’re able to design a notebook custom-crafted just for you. Let’s dive into all the options.

The cover is a flat, thick piece of leather with holes punched in it for elastic bands. It’s that simple. The longer you use your Traveler’s Notebook, the more of a patina the cover develops. The scratches it picks up over time make it look well-traveled, and the cover will form itself to your particular notebook configuration as you break it in (much like a baseball mitt shapes itself to your hand over time). It comes in four colors: black, brown, camel, and blue.

The elastic bands are an integral part of the Traveler’s Notebook system. There are bands that hold the inserts inside the cover, and another band that holds the Traveler’s Notebook closed. 

Pro tip: When your new Traveler’s Notebook arrives, it comes in a cardboard envelope held closed with a band. Save that! It’s a good spare for the band that holds the notebook closed. 

The company also sells thin, oversized rubber bands called “connecting bands” that you can use to connect inserts to each other so you can fit additional components inside your notebook. (Want to know how? Jump here.)

When you purchase your notebook, the default bands are usually the color of the cover you purchase, but you can buy a set of bands in different colors and replace them. 

The Inserts

Notebook inserts.

The core element of any journal is, of course, paper. The inserts for the Traveler’s Notebook come in a variety of styles ( lined, grid, or blank pages) and weights (watercolor, lightweight, kraft, and sketch). You can also make your own! Just choose the type of paper you’d like to use, cut it down to the right proportions, fold in half, and use a staple or two to hold it together book style.

Other Types of Inserts

In addition to paper notebooks, the Traveler’s Company offers other kinds of inserts, to add additional functionality to your notebook. 

• preprinted daily/weekly/monthly planners
• kraft file folders (perfect for loose papers and maps)
• a zipper case (to hold change, etc.)
• a card file (credit card/MTA card sized)
• three-fold file

The Accessories

• double-sided stickers
• brass clips 
• film pocket holder (for photos)
• sticky notes
• pocket holder (just the right size for a driver’s license or credit card)

If the variety of options feels overwhelming, we recommend keeping it simple: starter kits generally include all the basics in a cotton case:  leather cover, elastic band, and blank notebook—and sometimes even a few extras, like pens, stencils, or rulers. 

Recommended Starter Kits: 

• Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook Kit – Passport Size
• Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kit – Regular Size

A knock off kit that is actually pretty good:

• Sagoo Travel Diary from Amazon (multiple sizes)

What sizes are available for the Traveler’s Notebook?

The Traveler’s Notebook comes in just two sizes: regular and passport. The regular size notebooks are 220mm x 120mm (about 8.6” x 4.7”). The passport size notebooks are 134mm x 98mm (approximately 5.3” x 3.9”). Both are only around 10mm thick. The passport size notebook is perfect for travel, as it fits nicely in your pocket—and with the right accessories to keep it secure, it’s also a great place to store your passport! The regular size notebook is also quite portable while providing a little more room to write or create.

How to add inserts to your Traveler’s Notebook (using the connecting bands)

Inserts are added to your Traveler’s Notebook by opening them to the center and slipping them under the band that runs the length of the cover.

Want to add more than one insert using connecting bands? This quick one-minute video shows you how. 

This is a bit of a non sequitur, but these terms threw us when we were first learning about the Traveler’s Notebook. So here’s the scoop: 

The Traveler’s Notebook used to be called the Midori Traveler’s Notebook, until Midori rebranded as the Traveler’s Company in 2016. Some people still use the Midori name when talking about them. (It’s not a different type of notebook.)

Because the Traveler’s Notebook only comes with leather covers, hobbyists started making faux versions with vegan leather, or cardboard and cloth. So, fake Midori Traveler’s Notebooks garnered the nickname “faux-dori.” You can find a variety of “faux-dori” notebooks on Etsy .

It’s slim. 

The biggest win for the Traveler’s Notebook is that it is possible to customize it, yet keep it  thin. You choose how thick it becomes, depending on how many inserts you add. Ring binder systems are also customizable, but they start out bulky! (Plus, we might have a little PTSD from the loud click, because we got our fingers caught in the rings once.)

It’s tactile.

From the experience of opening your new notebook to using it daily, the Traveler’s Notebook is all about the physical feel—of both the cover and the paper. Writing on even the most basic notebook inserts is a pleasant experience. 

It’s easy to deconstruct.

If you don’t want to take your entire journal with you, it’s incredibly simple to slide a notebook out of a band and just carry that one notebook with you. This works brilliantly for capturing ideas, quick sketches, writing thoughts, carrying reference info, or just having your to-do list handy on something small enough to slip into your pocket.

It’s easy to reconstruct.

As your needs change, the Traveler’s Notebook adapts. Not using the folder that much? Take it out. Need a pre-printed calendar? Add it. 

It’s divisible.

Even if all you do is insert three of the same simple paper inserts into your Traveler’s Notebook, there are automatically three sections you can label. Use one insert for your task lists, another for sketches, and the third for journaling. Alternatively, use one as a calendar, one for work-related notes, and one to jot down personal notes. How you lay out each section is entirely up to you.

Due to its versatility, the Traveler’s Notebook is one of our favorite picks for a travel journal, so we included it in our post on Travel Journal Ideas . However, this journal can be used in a surprising number of other ways.

Bullet Journaling

The Travelers Notebook is perfect for bullet journaling. The tall, narrow pages of the notebook inserts lend themselves well to list-making, and the ability to add different sections makes categorizing your bulleted lists a breeze.

Processing your thoughts

There are literally dozens of ways to engage with your thoughts through journaling (for a comprehensive list, check out our guide on How To Journal ), but for now, here are five things to try first:

Morning Pages

Morning pages are exactly what they sound like. Every morning, sit down with your Traveler’s Notebook and just start writing. Don’t edit your thoughts or pause to think; simply write down everything that comes to mind until you’ve filled three pages. (To learn more about morning pages, check out The Artist’s Way , by Julia Cameron.)

Gratitude Journaling

Expressing gratitude for the good things in our lives can be one of the simplest and easiest forms of journaling. Just jot down a list of three things you’re grateful for every day, or—if you want a more in-depth record, write a short paragraph explaining why you’re grateful for each item on your list. Over time, you’ll create quite a positive collection of thoughts that are sure to bring you joy. And who knows? They might even make you rich .

Habit Tracking

We all have areas we’d like to improve (or habits we’d like to have but don’t). These can include everything from saving more money to going for a walk every day. Habit trackers can be incredibly helpful in measuring (and motivating!) our progress. Use a section of your Traveler’s Notebook to track the habits that are most important to you. (For inspiration and ideas, see our article on habit tracking .)

End-of- Day Recap

Use your Traveler’s Notebook to keep a record of your days. Just take fifteen minutes at the end of the day to write about your journey (metaphorical or literal), highlighting the things you most want to remember, or the lessons you gleaned from a particular experience. Research shows that when we take the time to reflect on our lives, we tend to be more productive, because we’re learning from the past.

Sketchnoting

Sketchnoting is simply using a combination of images and words to capture ideas. You don’t have to be an artist to sketchnote; even the most basic drawings will help concepts “stick” in your mind. Try sketchnoting during meetings as a note taking exercise, or use it as a tool to help you mindmap your dreams and goals. (Want to learn more? Pick up a copy of The Simple Guide to Visual Journaling (even if you aren’t an artist) .

Art journaling

Because the Travelers Notebook is customizable and portable, it’s a brilliant way to boost your personal creativity through art journaling. We’ve found it especially well-suited to:

Watercolors are ideal for art journaling because they dry so much more quickly than other kinds of paint. Watercolor painting techniques are relatively simple, so they’re easy to learn, and you can even find watercolors in pencil and crayon form! 

For advice on the best supplies and resources for learning how to watercolor, be sure to reference our Ultimate Guide for Learning to Art Journal . The Traveler’s Company makes watercolor inserts which are perfect for this use.  

Fountain pens

Is it any wonder that many journalers love fountain pens ? They seem to create a more connected experience between words, ink, and paper. The official inserts for the Traveler’s Notebook are made of finely milled paper that’s perfect for fountain pens, creating a gliding experience as you write. 

Plus, using a special fountain pen in your Traveler’s Notebook—one you filled with ink yourself—sends a cue to your subconscious that your thoughts have particular significance. Picking up a special pen—one that is more substantial than the average ballpoint pen you would use to sign a receipt at a public counter— signals to your brain that this kind of writing is important. 

Modern day calligraphy uses brush pens.  They’re available in a variety of colors, so it’s easy to create an eye-catching theme that will make finding things in your Traveler’s Notebook a cinch. While calligraphy itself can take a long time to master, using a brush pen makes the simplest hand-lettered fonts stand out.

Not sure how to up your font game? We’re happy to share some tips on creating beautifully easy bullet journal fonts .

Colored pencils

Colored pencils are one of the most elementary ways to add a splash of color to your Traveler’s Notebook pages. You can use them to create decorative borders to highlight information that you want to stand out, or just to add basic definition to sections on a page. (They’re also a lot quicker and less messy than paint or markers.)

Scrapbooking

This is where the accessories that are available for the Traveler’s Notebook are really helpful. Use the film pocket holders to add photos to illustrate your daily journal entries, or apply double-sided stickers to add curiosities that evoke memories from an epic vacation. The brass clips are ideal for including larger items (like maps and event tickets), and sticky notes are a fun way to add artistic commentary to your layout.

If you don’t enjoy writing, and aren’t that keen on drawing, gluebooking might be a good technique to try with your Traveler’s Notebook. Gluebooks require minimal writing and rely on collage. You can also add text, drawings, or paintings, but the main idea is wholly to glue things to the pages.

Using your Traveler’s Notebook as a home for a collage of ephemera provides you the opportunity to journal with small pieces of paper—like receipts, ticket stubs, flyers, postcards, labels, wrappers, etc.—to create a unique and artistic record of your life. 

Replacing your wallet

With the proper accessories, your Traveler’s Notebook can become a decent replacement for your wallet (and possibly more useful). Not only can you store your license and debit cards in the pocket or zippered accessories, but because of the Notebook’s versatility,  you can also include a calendar, your to-do list, and even the grocery list for your meal plan. Having everything in one place means that you only have one thing to remember on your way out the door.  You know, besides your phone. And your keys. And the kids. But hey, everything else is in one place.

Travel (not surprising) – but not just vacations!

The Traveler’s Notebook is one of our favorite travel journals, because you can Include multiple inserts: for example, you can use one for your itinerary and travel information, another for journaling your insights, and a third for sketches. It’s really handy for keeping all of your travel documents in one place when you’re traveling internationally, but it’s also useful on local trips think shopping and to-do lists while you’re out running errands). Want more travel journal ideas? Check out this post.

Curious how others use their Traveler’s Notebooks? Take a look.

• Looking for a quick two-minute flip through? Check out @cathy.hutchison’s Traveler’s Notebook video; it covers the basics.
• Want a deeper dive video? Seaweed Kisses has a ten- minute tutorial on YouTube.
• @Trinasnotebook shares her beautiful journey with fountain pens and insights from her journaling in her Traveler’s Notebook on Instagram.
• @Sannie_journal uses her Traveler’s Notebook as a glue book, with lovely results.
• @Shinyee_c takes an artistic approach to her Traveler’s Notebook.

A real Traveler’s Notebook is definitely an investment—but we think you’ll find it become a constant companion and source of support fairly quickly as you live your life. After all, the Traveler’s Notebook would be completely useless if it just sat on your desk, collecting dust. It’s designed to travel. (Seriously, it’s right there in the name.)

More importantly, your ideas, thoughts, and plans deserve their own space. Securing a great notebook in which to express them gives them that home.

Still not ready to make the leap? Start small, and just buy one of the inserts. Carry it around with you and experience how functional it is by committing to use it, just for a week or two. 

Your life will thank you!

Want this article in a handy pdf? Download it when you subscribe.

Reader Interactions

09/17/2020 at 12:48 AM

I’ve always wondered about these slim notebooks in shops and wondered what the heck they were.

Now I know. It’s really fascinating.

My daily journal is staying home on my next trip 🙂

09/18/2020 at 9:19 PM

Great article, Cathy. So informative!

01/03/2021 at 7:06 PM

Wonderful description and summary. Came across your summary through a simple Google. Your post will be my “go-to” to share with friends and colleagues when they ask why use a Traveler’s Notebook as an option for capturing lived experiences! Thanks for taking the time to share this.

01/05/2021 at 2:03 AM

Shirley thank you for commenting! I’m such a fan of this notebook. It was fun putting it together.

10/05/2021 at 2:09 PM

I Love using My Travelers notebook passport size as My Journal and EDC.

10/05/2021 at 8:18 PM

Kelly, I used a passport size for awhile then upsized! The features are just really cool.

04/01/2022 at 7:04 AM

A really well presented article Cathy, thank you. A few years ago I was in Foyles bookshop I came across their Midori section and checked out what they hell it was all about. I eventually invested in the both sizes of notebook, but actually the passport size is I find more practical as its compact and you can put it in your back pocket and go. IFrom a chap’s point of view the Midori is rugid, smart and great to adapt and maintain. It also looks the business! I also like the idea of its cultural origins from Japan and being a bit left of field and quirky in comparison to the usual personal organisers – which makes it stand out really. I recall I inadvertently placed my Midori on the table at a office meeting while opening my laptop and suddenly my female coworkers wanted to check out my Midori! (not me as I’m married!). :0) so yeah I’m now quite popular because of it.

04/03/2022 at 8:53 AM

I love your comment! And now I’m going to go back and break out my passport size midori. <3

08/29/2024 at 4:32 AM

I just began my travelers notebook journey today and so far I am already in love with it.

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Cathy encourages everyone to carry a notebook everywhere. 🖌 Get the free Quickstart guide to visual journaling here

Disclosures

How To Start A Dyalog Travelers Notebook Art Journal

By: Author Tara Jacobsen

Posted on Last updated: July 4, 2023

Categories Adult Crafts , Mixed Media Products

If you are looking for a fun (and portable) way to take your art journal with you, for sure you want to use a travelers notebook! Tips and ideas for how to set up and use a travelers notebook for your artwork.

Please note:  This article contains affiliate links, and that means that I may earn a commission if you buy something. Read my full disclosure here.

What Is A Travelers Notebook?

Full travelers notebook art journal video tutorial, how to start a travelers notebook, travelers notebook inserts for an art journal, how i organize my travelers notebook, what is the difference between a travelers notebook and a midori planner, how do you string your travelers notebook inserts in, what size is a standard travelers notebook, do you have just one notebook.

I was so excited when I found out about travelers notebooks!

Functionally they are a cover and bands that you can add different kinds of notebooks to inside.

I have had a number of different covers over the years, but I like the ones from Dyan Reaveley the best. Hers are made of cloth instead of leather (I am a bit of a tree hugger and a vegetarian!)

They are also “fatter” meaning you can shove more into them and still have the band around them close!

There are some cool, colorful covers and also a blank cover that you can make your own!

But then once I got all artsy fartsy I started an art journal insert in my travelers notebook… whoo whoo!

PRODUCTS USED IN THE VIDEO

• Dyalog Cover, Bands, Inserts & Folder
• Tissue Paper From Stash
• Sidewalk Stencils from Joanns
• Stencils from Stash
• Blender Tool
• Dylusions Glue Stick

So how do you start a travelers notebook?

First off you need a cover. You can use a cute printed cloth one like Dyan's or you can can use a leather cover (these are sometimes called Midori planners).

The covers come with the closure band so you don't have to worry about them!

Then you need bands to hold your notebooks in. These are usually rubber or elastic and are the way you put in your inserts.

Lastly you need the insert books which are a blank notebook. Dyan's art journal travelers notebook inserts come in different varieties like lined, grids or plain.

That is about all you NEED. That said, if you would like to see my favorite travelers notebook accessories, check out 5 Must Have Accessories for Your Travelers Notebook !

How Much Will A Travelers Notebook Art Journal Cost?

Okay, here is where the rubber meets the road… how much will this amazing art journal set you back? Not nearly as much as you think!

Here are prices for a beginner art journal with 3 inserts…

• Cover – $9.89
• Bands – $3.71
• 3 Dyalog Inserts – $21.78

So right around $35… BUT the cover and bands don't need to be replaced, so then it is just a few bucks for each insert you need!

Seeing as how the mixed media paper I buy is about $20 a pad, I have always thought that these are a bargain!

Okay, one last thing I want to talk about… the Dyalog inserts (the booklets).

Because Dyan is a mixed media artist herself (and a bit of a planner nerd too), her inserts are made from paper that will hold up to art journalling.

Even if you are not a layers nut like me, you will probably use markers, acrylic paint or even water in your art journal and most other inserts just can't hold up to the abuse that products we use give!

Travelers Notebook FAQs

I know I had SO MANY questions when I was thinking about getting a travelers notebook! Here are some of the things I worried about…

They are the same thing! “Midori” is just the brand name (trademarked) for one of the original styles of these planners when they first came out.

You may also see “faux dori” which is the way that sellers avoid violating their trademark if they are selling planner covers or inserts.

This is what confused me the most! I tend to just have lots of rubber bands that I hook my inserts in the middle or the front covers. There are already at least one or two elastic bands on the inside to “hook” to.

But you can “hook” two on each band and then slide them inside to use fewer bands. Here Dyan shows how to “thread” them!

The cover sizes vary depending on how “deep” the spine is. The dyalog covers are 5.875″ X 8.75″ so there is a little bit around the inserts.

The regular size inserts are 4.375″ X 8.25″. The cool thing about this for an art journal is that the “spread” you can use is about 8.5″ wide, giving you lots of room to make art on the spread journal page!

I have one cover that I use at a time, but I have books filled with different things. I have ones that I take notes in, one that is my art journal and now one that I am “fancy writing” in to practice my handwriting!

The cool thing about a travelers notebook is that you can pop inserts in and out depending on what you are doing!

For example, I might take my notes insert and my fancy writing insert if I am researching video ideas and messing around with my handwriting. I could leave the art journal insert home to make the journal smaller as I am running around!

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!

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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. 🙂

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Travel Sketching: Tips for Keeping an Art Journal

From 2015 to 2018, Ivan Chow made trips to and around Istanbul, Turkey, sketching many scenes along the way. In this excerpt from his upcoming book, “ Travel Sketching: Drawing Insights from Istanbul ,” he shares one of his favorite formats for drawing on location.

BY IVAN CHOW

Travel sketching, an ancestor of sorts to Instagram, has changed the way I observe the world. I have discovered that the act and art of converting visual observation into graphic representation has far surpassed the benefits afforded by digital photography. What I have learned and enjoyed from the practice of travel sketching has enriched my travel experiences as well as deepened my appreciation of different cultures and peoples.

A Fresh Approach to Travel Sketching

One of the most invigorating formats for travel sketching is one I have recently become more intentional about, and which has been received with a great deal of enthusiasm, especially when posted on social media in audio-visual form. On platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, posts of travel photos depicting scenes or people accompanied by captions attempting to describe said experiences are fairly typical. Posting travel sketches, however, is still unique and arguably more interesting. Adding written captions or commentary makes this approach of sharing travel experiences even richer and more memorable.

Enter the travel art journal. While not necessarily a new genre or form of expression, it has become for me a fresh approach to sharing experiences in an otherwise digitally saturated world. A travel art journal has the potential to transform travel sketching into a unique mode of expression, combining drawing with handwriting and composition to create a new “voice.” My forays into developing art journal sequences have been thoroughly rewarding, as I can combine my drawing skills with an interest in writing to communicate much more than either discipline can on its own. That’s probably why comic books and graphic novels have such appeal and why skillful cartooning can be so influential.

A travel art journal can be formatted in as many ways as there are personalities. My favorite format is an A5 size journal (about 5.5” x 8.5”), either in landscape or portrait mode, with sufficiently thick paper to stand up to waterproof ink lines and light washes. (80 lb. minimum, 140 lb. preferred) As with sketchbooks, an elastic closure strap and inside back cover pocket can be helpful. In addition to the usual array of tools I might have on hand for travel sketching, I would add a few choice writing instruments, such as a chisel-nib calligraphy pen or fountain pen.

As the name implies, a journal is a regular log of activities and events that occur roughly in chronological order. A travel journal might memorialize the daily travel schedule, places visited, people met, cuisine enjoyed, and souvenirs acquired. A travel art journal adds the element of artwork in the form of sketches, doodles, graphic illustrations, even glued-on collages using torn excerpts from brochures, tickets, receipts, and labels. I have found this last exercise quite a satisfying way of closing out a busy day of touring.

Travel-art journal entries are unique compositional challenges. In its simplest form, each page might contain a few sketch vignettes describing the activities of the day. Arranging the sketches on the page may require some foresight, consideration of the size, scope, and subject of each vignette and how they might tell the story of the day. Each entry becomes a graphic design exercise involving the layout of sketches, diagrams, titles, and text.

The addition of handwritten text to a composition of sketches is both an enriching enhancement and a potentially stressful endeavor. It is enriching because it adds information, flavor, and specificity to a sketch. Potentially stressful because, unlike the editability afforded by computer software programs, each phrase or caption needs to be somewhat thought through and composed before being physically written within the space available.

I love to write by hand and am constantly experimenting with different writing instruments with different tips, nibs, and inks. It’s almost an obsession with me, and I am easily disappointed when my writing falters. Having said that, I highly enjoy narrow, flat-nosed calligraphy pens for travel art journaling, especially used in a generally cursive lettering style. However, most fountain pen type writing instruments with reservoirs have no tolerance for waterproof ink, which tends to clog the fins and feed tubes. This often leaves me with little choice but to use the waterproof ink felt-tipped pens I used to sketch with for lettering as well. A real calligraphic treat is to use Speedball dip nibs with bottled India ink, although both have proven not to travel well.

This summertime sketch of the renowned Taksim Square (above) was completed in one sitting but from multiple positions. I had begun sketching seated on the pavement in front of the Taksim Mosque facing the square. Within 10 minutes, the local constabulary approached, ordering me to move. I continued the sketch while standing about 50 feet to one side, which required walking to and from my original position for reference, and back to the “safe zone” to continue sketching, clutching my watercolor kit and sketchbook in one hand, pages flapping in the breeze; brush in the other hand, pinky finger trying to hold down the page.

I ended up crossing the street into the square proper and finishing the 45-minute sketch seated on a low rail around the Republic Monument. Even under these conditions, I was pleased by how the sketch reflected the windy conditions, the movement of people and the “life” of this symbolic gathering place.

This interior sketch (above) was made while standing within the cavernous expanse of a 1,500 year-old Byzantine monument to Ottoman architecture and culture. The contrast from the warmth and bustle of the exterior to the hushed coolness of the inside almost mandated reverence.

This is where my Winsor & Newton professional watercolor travel kit came in handy, albeit restrictive. Being able to clutch both watercolor kit and sketchbook in one hand is a cultivated skill and immensely useful for situations like this. It was important to limit the scope of the sketches knowing that I would likely not be able to stand in place for much longer than 20 minutes at a time.

Do you keep a travel sketchbook or art journal? Tell us about it in the comments below!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ivan Chow is an architect, author and award-winning artist. He was born in England, grew up in Southeast Asia, and has worked in the United States and around the world as an architect, educator and artist for almost four decades. He has practiced in design firms of various sizes; managed a private real estate company; worked in academia as a department chair and dean; and served as artist-in-residence at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. He has degrees in architecture from Harvard and Berkeley and a degree in theological studies from Gordon Conwell.

Facebook: @ivanchowsketches Instagram @qkkdraw

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13 comments.

Your lines are lovely! I carry a 6×8 WC book and fine line pens as well as a travel WC set. A film can (remember those?) half filled with water is all I need to complete hasty or slow drawings and paintings wherever I go. In a ziplock, it fits under a car seat or in an airplane carryon. The water is small enough to pass security. Thanks for posting your images. I consider my pages suitable to be Urbansketches.

Hello Kath, please excuse my 5-month tardiness in replying, but I very much appreciate your comment. I still have a couple of film cans around! Have you tried posting on Instagram? (I am @qkkdraw) I learn so much from following other artists around the world.

I love travel sketching! I use the same size book you do, and I’ve found Lamy Safari sketching fountain pens to work wonderfully with waterproof ink. I have a small (Altoids tin) travel palette, and often use a water brush to add a little paint to a small ink sketch.

Leslie, I’m only now realizing there were comments to this September 2020 article! Sorry about the delay in response. The Altoids tine palette is such a good idea. Although I have a handful of water brushes, I tend to get annoyed and how the colors get muddles when I forget to rinse properly.

I have 2 types of travel journals. The first is done strictly with sepia Micron Pigma pens in a Moleskine journal. I do line drawings on the spot, or later in my hotel room from photos on my phone. I annotate the day with text. These pages allow me to look back and remember details of my trip. The second book is done strictly with watercolor. I use a Moleskine or HandBook watercolor journal. These paintings are always done plein air and without text. I love keeping travel journals and they have become treasured keepsakes.

Hi Marian, thanks for your comment; my response is unforgivably tardy, but hopefully still relevant. Interesting idea to keep two travel journals concurrent; I never thought of doing that. Makes sense though – almost like mood-based entries. I’ll try that on my next trip, assuming Covid gets dampened(!)

I started travel journal sketching on a 3 week trip through England. London, to western most area near Penzance and with to the Lizard. Then up to Bath, followed by a week in the Lake District. Now, I take it whenever we travel — though there’s been damn little of that lately!

KL, sorry about this delayed response. I really miss traveling; we used to make any excuse to visit our family all around the US and internationally but now stuck looking at the world through a laptop… I spent some time in the Lake District decades ago, before I took up travel sketching, and aim to go back some day armed with my weapons of art!

I have notebooks that I kept while serving in Germany where I sketched various church steeples as I took various bus tours. Every two weeks tours after joining reserves, I sketched and took photos

Hi Dixie. Thanks for sharing and please excuse my tardy response. Have you posted your steeple sketches on FB or IG! I learn so much from following what other urban sketchers are doing.

Ivan thanks for sharing the details. I have several different sketch books but need to start using one and go through it day by day . I usually try to sit down so I can put my watercolor pallet on the ground and bring a spritz bottle to keep them wet.

Hi Bruce, thanks for your response; there are no excuses for my super tardy one. The thing about these plein air experiences is that every one seems to be accompanied by lasting memories: the sounds, smells, hapticity of the moment. And the need to come up with inventive ways of setting the right ambience for each little sketch can be such an annoying yet rewarding travel experience.

Hi Ivan, great sketches and tips. I’ve kept illustrated travelogues and journals for a few decades now. Smaller sizes work best for me. It keeps the sketching from being too detailed, they are quick and leave just enough space for minor remarks. They are also discrete cause I don’t like to make a show. Check out my IG-feed @ivanseymus or visit my portfolio on http://www.ivanseymus.com . Good luck and take care! Ivan (yes, that’s my name too!)

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A Quick Response to Nature

Along our shores, featured artwork: justin vining.

Travel Journaling Guide: How to Write the Ultimate Travel Diary

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

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

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

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

Table of Contents

What is travel journaling?

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

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

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

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Travel Journaling: Should I keep a travel journal?

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

You might want to keep a travel journal if…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. You want to improve your writing skills

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

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

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

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

Travel Journaling: What should a travel journal include?

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

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

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

1. Brainstorming

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

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

2. Trip research

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

3. A trip plan

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

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

4. A travel diary

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

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

5. Other travel memorabilia

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

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

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

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

6. Sketches

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

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

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

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

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

1. Write down the date.

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

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

2. Write down your location.

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

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

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

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

4. Start writing chronologically.

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

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

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

5. Be specific.

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

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

The following prompts might come in handy:

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

6. Be truthful.

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

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

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

Travel insurance is essential for any trip abroad. If you’re in an accident or experience an emergency, you need adequate cover. I recommend  Staysure  for single or multiple trips per year and SafetyWing for digital nomads.

Travel journaling tips

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

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

A general notebook:

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

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

+ More freedom to doodle.

– Less incentive to make an entry.

– It can get scruffy quickly.

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

A dated diary:

+ Looks more aesthetic.

+ Acts as a reminder not to miss a day.

+ Looks like a traditional diary.

+ May motivate you to write more often.

+ Often includes helpful prompts to spark your creativity.

– Can waste line space.

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

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

2. Put aside 15 minutes every day to journal.

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

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

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

3. Journal while you’re in transit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Get creative with it.

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

Here are some ideas:

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

7. Keep your travel journal safe.

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

Prevent water damage

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep it in a safe or a locked locker

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

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

Carry an anti-theft backpack

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

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

Anti-theft backpacks:

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

8. Don’t forget a pen (and back-ups).

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

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

Travel journaling examples

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woke at 1am for the Mount Batur sunrise trek.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travel journaling: How do you make a memorable trip?

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

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

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

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

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

1. Research your trip.

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

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

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

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

Here are some ideas for your research:

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

2. Book your flights.

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

3. Book interesting accommodation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Engage in more offbeat travel experiences.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Be as specific as possible.

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

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

3. Feature specific characters.

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

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

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

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

4. Write up your travel journal.

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

5. Edit your travel journal.

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

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

Traveling journaling: Types of travel journals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Traveling journaling: A6 travel diaries

Best for: weekend trips.

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

Travel journaling: A5 travel dairies

Best for: longer trips.

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

Travel journaling: Watercolour travel journals

Best for: artists.

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

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

Katie Treharne

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

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

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

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How to Start (and Keep) a Travel Art Journal

Related to:.

I used to draw more often, but these days, I spend more time with my fingers tapping on a keyboard than wrapped around a pencil. Whenever I travel, my drawing spirit rises up again, but it always catches me unprepared. I’ve been known to draw on maps, receipts, even barf bags, but inevitably, these un-precious paper pieces get lost in the shuffle of moving from place to place. This is particularly true when I’m traveling light and outdoors on a backpacking or paddling trip, which is ironic since those are the times I’m most inspired to capture the scene.

Artist Sarah Uhl paints the desert. Photo by Becca Skinner , courtesy of Sarah. 

Photo: Artist  Sarah Uhl  paints in Castle Valley, Utah. Photo by  Becca Skinner .

On my next trip, I want to create something more lasting. Something not on a barf bag. So I reached out to some of the favorite artist adventurers on Instagram, Matt McAdow and Sarah Uhl, for a little advice. Here’s what I learned.

1. Find Inspiration and Follow It

Photo by Allison Salas

Photo: Matt McAdow of Camp Illustrated in the Sierras. Photo by Allison Salas.

Plein air (outdoor) painting isn’t new. Famous artists from Monet to Bierstadt to O’Keefe have taken their brushes outside for inspiration. The same goes for travel. Just think about Gauguin and Matisse. And there are artists alive and well keeping the tradition going. I found two of my favorites on Instagram by following outdoor adventure hashtags (read: proverbial rabbit holes). Of course, the ultimate inspiration comes from the places themselves, so you have to get out there, but in the meantime, it helps to get inspiration from talented and like-minded folks.

Matt McAdow, as Camp Illustrated , draws intricate scenes as he’s in them, and his work has been recognized and commissioned by major outdoor brands and events. I like following along to see where he is and where he’s going, appreciating his sketches of common, but (to me) perfect, scenes, like friends gathering around a camp stove or setting up a tent . Matt gets inspired by other vagabond artists. “There are a bunch of rad folks packing a sketchbook on trips,” Matt says. “ Geoff Holstad and Lizzy Dalton are just a few.”

I started following Sarah Uhl after seeing the inspiring short film “ Being Here ,” in which Sarah makes a cameo alongside her watercolors and an amazing view. (The film won a People’s Choice Award in 2016 at the  5Point Film Festival .) I love Sarah's lively swathes of color that seem to capture the spirit of a place. Sarah, in turn, admires the work of Jeremy Collins . “It’s not only because his artwork is beautiful to look at and incredibly inspiring,” she says. “It’s also because I know Jeremy cares deeply about the stories he tells through his art and the connections it creates for people to one another, a place, or a deeply empathetic question to ponder.”

While outdoor adventure artists inspire me, you’ll need to find the travel art and artists that inspire you. Love cities? The ocean? Cool architecture? Find your own rabbit hole and follow where it leads.

2. Just Go and Get Started

Photo: Sarah with her Peru Art journal, taken in Huaraz, Peru. Photo by Carl Zoch . 

Anyone who works in a creative discipline knows that you can lose your inspiration if you only create for others. I know this is certainly true for myself, and if your day job takes a lot of your energy, you have to set aside separate time to refill the well. Traveling can be that time. As a commercial artist , Sarah says, “I wanted to make sure I had an outlet for my own creativity to go wild, so I started taking watercolor paints along with me to the mountains so I could paint whenever I wanted, however I wanted.”

A travel art journal is about creating for yourself.

Matt started making art outdoors over time on backpacking and camping trips with friends. But as he began to travel more often, and often alone, his sketching increased. “Sketching became mission critical when I started taking more solo trips, such as a two week camp trip around Colorado, or a four-month trip in the PNW,” he explains. “I had a lot of time to fill and taking the time to sketch and really see a place became a way of mixing my art and outdoor passions.”

As for me, I love to make art and to travel outdoors, but I always seem to let other things get in the way. I’m recommitting to feeding those needs, and combining them seems like the right idea.

3. Spare the Easel

When you’re traveling, whether outdoors or by plane or train, it’s important to pack smart, including art supplies. The consensus: Keep it simple. “I don’t get all worked up about having the exact colors I anticipate I’ll need or even the highest quality paint or paper,” Sarah says. She prefers a Moleskin watercolor journal, a Mason jar for water and “a plastic pallet to mix my paints that probably cost about $1.”

For the backcountry artist in particular, it’s “all about being efficient,” Matt says. He packs a small watercolor set and a few pens, some watercolor paper notecards or maybe a watercolor notebook if he can spare the space and weight. “I probably skimp on other more important stuff, like crushed red pepper.” It’s a tough choice, art or spice, but I think he chose the right one.

4. Take Time for Making Time

Photo: Sarah Uhl in Castle Valley, Utah. Photo by  Becca Skinner .

It can be tough to carve out time in the daily grind for making art, so when you’re traveling, don’t pack your schedule so tight that you have the same problem. I love being in the wilderness because it takes me away from the little distractions that add up, like checking email and social accounts, flipping channels, and cleaning house. Outside, away, there’s more time and space to reconnect to the things I love, whether it’s other people or something inside myself. Art is one of the latter, and aside from just being overwhelmingly inspired by the amazing landscapes I’m in, when I’m disconnected in the backcountry for a few days, I become myself again.

Even if the outdoors isn’t your thing, you travel for a reason. Sarah says it best: “I think the best time to make art is when you feel inspired, at ease and relaxed.” For many of us, that’s when we get away, when we travel. So remember to bring along your sketchbook and pencil or whatever your medium may be.

“Make memories worth remembering,” Matt advises, “and if you have the time to capture them with pen and paper, do it! In my experience, flipping through an old sketchbook brings back a lot more about a time and place than several different shots of the same thing on a camera roll.”

And if you have artist's block, Sarah recommends "whiskey, good friends and a view you'll never forget!"

Yes, please.

Be sure to follow Sarah and Matt (Camp Illustrated) on Instagram, and check out more of Sarah's work on her website . 

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The Art of the Travel Journal

We also bring along watercolors, and watercolor postcards. Painting directly into the notebook isn't a good idea because it gets too messy.

Once the trip starts, I keep boarding passes, business cards, postcards, café napkins—pretty much anything that's flat and has something to do with the location I’m in—and tape them down as I go. (Or on the plane ride home!)

Lately I’ve been finding vintage maps online, printing them out, sometimes shrinking them down, and putting them on the cover of my journal. Sometimes I put a black-and-white copy of a map of where I’m going, highlight where we went, and put that in, too.

I aim to document daily—sometimes it’s several days before I get to doing it, but I try to do it, even at breakfast, even just a couple of sentences while the memories are fresh in my brain.

Wine labels, menus—all are great fodder for a travel journal.

I've finally convinced my 11-year-old daughter to make travel journals, too. It’s this nice thing we get to do together, from collecting the business cards to drawing and writing our memories side by side.

For more journaling inspiration, you have to check out my favorite journal ever from my dear friend Jenny Rosenstrach.

Yes, we try to write postcards when we are traveling, but often forget to buy stamps—so they become the perfect addition to our scrapbook.

In Antigua we gathered some fruit off the ground and drew still lifes of it with colored pencils. I don't know any other activity that slows you down as much as this.

Not all trips are created equal. I don’t keep a journal for a quick weekend away—to get a journal, a trip has to be at least a week long.

I’ve been doing them so long now, for at least the last ten years, that I have a whole shelf of them. When a friend asks me what the name of that antique barn is, just outside of Stockholm, I just consult the travel journal, which has the business card taped inside.

Rather than bringing home shells, we'll do watercolors of them and put them in the journal.

Business cards, coasters, menus, brochures...it all goes in here.

When possible, I put the itemized bill in from restaurants, so I remember what we ate.

My daughter's drawing of the dining room at the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz .

Pressing flowers, grasses, or herbs into the journal is another thing we like to do...although it's best if you bring a small little flower press, do that separately, and then add the flowers in later.

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Home » Gear » Best Travel Journals

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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#1 Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook – Great Travel Journal for Bullet Journaling

#2 siixu colorful blank notebook – best travel journal for scrapbooking, #3 conda hardcover spiral sketchpad – best travel journal for painting, #4 refillable leather journal traveller’s notebook  – best travel journal with pockets, #5 traveler’s notebook by traveler’s company  – best midori-style travelers notebook, #6 travel passion journal by moleskine – best moleskine travel journal, #7 travel journal by promptly journals – best vacation diary, #8 fofun leather travel journal  – top choice for beautiful leather travel journal, #9 kids’ travel journal  – best travel diary for kids.

Leather Journal by FOFUN

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

Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook

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

Siixu Colorful Blank Notebook

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

Conda Hardcover Spiral Sketchpad

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

Refillable Leather Journal Traveller’s Notebook

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

Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company

• Price > $47.99
• > Minimal design exterior

Travel Passion Journal by Moleskine

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

Travel Journal by Promptly Journals

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

Mudpuppy Kids’ Travel Journal

• Price > $11.99
• > Wire-bound book

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

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

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

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

Price: $19, Amazon

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

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

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

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

Price: $11.59, Amazon

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

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

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

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

Price: $9.29, Amazon

Refillable Traveller’s Notebook by September Leather

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

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

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

Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company

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

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

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

Price: $49, Amazon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Price: $29.95

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

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

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

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

Price: $20, Amazon

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Kids’ Travel Journal

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

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

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

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

Price: $9.99, Amazon

Soft Cover Notebook by Sloane Stationery

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

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

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

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

You Are Here: A Mindful Travel Journal by Emma Clarke

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

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

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

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

Rite In The Rain Notebook

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

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

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

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

Price: $6.55, Amazon

Rifle Paper Co. Memoir Notebook

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

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

Price: $15, Amazon

Marco Polo My Way Travel Journal

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

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

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

Price: $3.44, Amazon

I Was Here: A Travel Journal for the Curious Minded

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

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

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

Price: $10.86, Amazon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. What’s on the page?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Length of your trip

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

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

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

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

7. Organization

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why should I get a travel journal?

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

Which is the best leather travel journal?

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

Do waterproof journals exist?

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

What is the most minimalistic notebook?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How to Make Your Perfect Traveler’s Notebook Dashboards

Elephant Erin is showing us how to craft  stunning traveler’s notebook dashboards! They’re a great way to personalize your planner, travel notebook, Bullet Journal, or art journal.

Hi everyone, Elephant Erin back with a brand new post about my new obsession: Traveler’s notebook dashboards! Traveler’s notebooks are all the rage with the planner community. Having a notebook with my art journal, daily journal, and Bullet Journal all in the same place is what initially drew me to picking one up for myself. Something that comes along with using a travelers journal is personalizing and decorating it to make it true to who you are.

Dashboards are one of the easiest and fun ways to personalize your journal. It is basically a divider that will slip in behind your inserts that can be used for functionality and decoration. I have been experimenting with all different kinds of materials and tools in order to bring you the ultimate guide to creating your own traveler’s notebook dashboards!

First let’s talk about sizes: Traveler’s notebooks come in all different shapes and sizes. Chic Sparrow, a popular travelers notebook site has an awesome guide to figuring out the insert size that works best for each size notebook. Look at Chic Sparrow’s size chart here to determine what size your traveler’s notebook dashboards should be. I’m using an A5 size (same as the Leuchtturm1917), so I usually make my dashboards 1-2 inches smaller than the notebook itself. There is also always the options of tracing your inserts.  

Supplies & How to Use Them

When it comes to materials you can use in your dashboard, the sky is the limit! Instead of giving you a laundry list of possible supplies (we would be here all day!), I’m going to show you a few of my dashboards and the materials I used to make them:

1. Patterned Dashboards (Cardstock paper or scrapbook paper)

Scrapbooking papers top my list of absolute go-to materials. There are so many different patterns and images on them, and they sell them at craft stores, Target, and even Walmart. It’s also super fun to decorate them with pictures, stickers, or anything in your stash. I also recently picked up a laminator machine .  After I’ve created my dashboard design, I run the finished product through so it has extra durability. If you don’t have a laminator, you can also protect your dashboard with clear packing tape.

2.  Clear and Layered Dashboards (Acetate)

3. Shaker Dashboards (Project Life & We R Memory Keepers Pockets)

Shaker dashboards are one of my favorite ways to jazz up my planning. They’re similar to the other dashboards I’ve shown you, except they’re filled with photos, glitter, sequins, and other goodies! It’s so fun to see these flashy dashboards as you flip through your journal.

Here are a few materials I like using in my shaker dashboards. Don’t worry, I’ll explain how I use everything in a minute!

• Plastic photos sheets like Project Life or We R Memory Keepers
• Stickers for letters or decoration
• Glitter and confetti
• Double-sided scrapbooking paper
• Instant photos ( a Fujifilm Instax Mini camera , or HP Sprocket photo printer can be especially handy for these projects)
• A Fuse tool

After watching a ton of videos about making dashboards using a Fuse tool , I just had to pick one up for myself. Get your glitter ready because using the Fuse tool means you can create your own shaker dashboards! 

In the example above, I slipped a peice of two-sided scrapbooking paper inside an  8.5 x 11 Project Life pocket . Then I tossed in a few embellishments (I chose sequins and glitter) and sealed the end with the fuse tool. So easy!

Below are some smaller sized shaker dashboards I have been experimenting with. Just ensure that all sides are sealed with the fuse tool to keep the sequins and glitter in instead of all over the floor!  

There you have it! There are all kinds of materials you can use to create beautiful dashboards for your travelers notebook. Personalize them to your loves and give your traveler’s notebook a pop of color. Enjoy!

Your turn to share! How do you use traveler’s notebook dashboards to organize your planning routine? Comment below with your favorite supplies and techniques to add life to your traveler’s notebook.

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6 thoughts on “how to make your perfect traveler’s notebook dashboards”.

I haven’t used Traveler notebooks in the past, but… this post makes me want to jump right in. I’m not sure that’s a good thing as I am drowning in planners & notebooks as it is. ????????

Aren’t we all? LOL 😉

A travelers notebook is a great way to work through your stash, though! Just extra journals as inserts!

YES! When I first discovered travelers, I thought it meant leaving behind my old A5. So not true! They blend very easily. 🙂

Do I need a dashboard? Does the dashboard have a purpose like maybe to protect the books?

Unless you want to use dashboards, then no, they certainly aren’t required. Since they go inside the traveler cover, they really act more like dividers than protectors. Although, if you have sturdy laminated dashboards, they may add an extra layer of protection around your inserts, especially if you handle your notebook roughly. You could try one for fun. If it isn’t for you, you can always take it out! 🙂

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Watercolor Sketchbooks: Best Choices for Modern Artists

The watercolor notebook has long been the traditional medium for painters passionate about travel and watercolor painting.

A watercolor journal or sketchbook is an excellent tool, especially for beginners. It’s easier to get started and experiment with new techniques. 

To paint in a watercolor notebook, you don’t have to be a professional artist.

Read on to discover the best-mixed media sketchbooks. If you’re looking for the best sketchbooks for drawing or painting, you’re sure to find the right one for your needs.

Buying Guide to the Best Sketchbook

There are a few factors to keep in mind if you want a great sketchbook. Here’s what I look out for when buying good watercolor paper or a new sketchbook! 

Paper Surface & Texture

The feel of the paper is a significant factor to consider. Watercolor paper can vary from smooth to rough. It can feel very granulated and bumpy, or it can be almost shiny and slippery.

Watercolor paper comes in two main types – students’ or artists’ quality. Top-quality artists’ paper will be acid-free and last a long time without your paint fading.

But it’s also more expensive and might not be necessary for your sketchbook.

Paper Weight

Another critical factor is the weight of the paper. Thicker paper will absorb more water without it seeping through to the other pages. 

In a sketchbook, that’s an important thing to think about! You don’t want your other designs to get blurred or destroyed. 

But very heavy paper can be unwieldy and make your sketchbook weighty. You’ll also get fewer pages in your sketchbook overall. 

Light paper is more likely to ripple or tear if you use a lot of water. That doesn’t mean that light paper is of low quality. 

You can get high-quality thinner paper – but you’ll need to use more care with it!

How it Performs With Watercolor Paints

That brings up to how the paper will perform in use. Here are a few questions you’ll need answers to if you want to buy the best sketchbook:

• Does the paper absorb a lot of water? 
• Does the page ripple or buckle?
• Can you erase on it? 
• Is it better suited to watercolor paints, pencils, or markers?

Sketchbook Construction

As well as the paper quality, it’s a good idea to look at the construction of the sketchbook itself. Does it feel hardwearing? Are the pages sewn in, and do they lay flat? 

Sketchbooks can vary greatly. Some will be cheaper with cardboard covers while others are hardbound and premium. 

Spiral notebooks lay flat, giving you easy access to the page. But not everyone likes this design.

If you want to treasure your sketchbook for years, splash out on a more expensive journal. It’s the perfect way to preserve your artwork for years to come.

You can get sketchbooks with perforated pages so you can remove individual sheets. If you’d like to have the option of displaying your artwork , make sure to look out for this feature.

Don’t forget to double-check how many pages the sketchbook contains! This will also give you a good idea of the value for money of each option.

The Best Watercolor Sketchbooks

If you’re looking for the best sketchbooks or the best watercolor paper, read on. I’ve reviewed only the top products here so that you can be sure of their quality and suitability.

Are you looking for a low-cost sketchbook or a Moleskine watercolor notebook alternative? Whatever you need, you should find the right product below!

As an artist myself, I know how important it is to have the right materials. Here, you’ll find the best watercolor paper and journals for beginners and pros.

Canson XL Series Mix Paper Pad

(Image credit: Canson)

This spiral notebook contains heavyweight paper that is ideal for watercolor painting. As a mixed media sketchbook, you can also use it to draw, sketch, and even collage.

This versatility opens up more options, allowing you to try out different techniques. You can experiment and push your limits with this quality notepad.

The pad is a generous size at 14 x 17 inches. And with 60 sheets, there’s enough paper to keep you going for a long while.

You’ll also be pleased to hear that the paper is acid-free. That means that the paper will last a long time without fading or breaking. 

The smooth, fine texture allows for an easy, flawless blending of colors and adding layers. It’s even possible to erase on this notebook.

• Versatile mixed-media sketchbook with thick, heavy paper
• Lots of sheets of acid-free, long-lasting paper
• The pages can tear out by accident as they are perforated

Check price on

Arteza Sketchbook

(Image credit: Arteza)

Arteza is a well-known brand name among amateur and professional artists. This Arteza sketchbook would be a gorgeous addition to your materials.

Each sketchbook contains 34 sheets of cold press 110 lb. It feels silky yet weighty in hand and is designed for watercolors.

The attractive hardcover will protect your artwork and looks excellent. It’s ideal for traveling, as it’s durable and sturdy. 

This is a beautiful notebook crafted from natural linen in a cool gray shade. The elastic band holds it in place when not in use. The handy ribbon bookmark helps you find the right page with ease.

Little touches like this set this product apart from the competitors.

It’s also a practical size, and the paper is acid-free, as you’d expect. The pages lay flat when painting, so you can work comfortably.

Arteza is so confident in the quality of its products that it offers a 100% guarantee. You can send it back for a free replacement if it doesn’t meet your expectations.

You can’t beat this excellent customer service. The quality guarantee is all you need to assure you that an Arteza sketchbook is worth investing in.

• Fantastic, high-quality design with extra touches
• Cold-press, acid-free paper
• The paper does tend to buckle if you use a lot of water

Pentalic Art Journal Aqua Watercolor

(Image credit: Pentalic)

Here is another gorgeous watercolor journal that is a joy to use. It looks stylish and is perfect for landscapes and other paintings.

This Pentalic sketchbook contains thick, quality watercolor paper. It is 100% cotton, 140lb paper that has a neutral PH. The cold press paper is milled in the Netherlands to the highest standards.

All these factors combine to make it ideal for watercolor paints. It’s thick and sturdy enough that the pages shouldn’t warp, buckle, or bleed onto the next page.

This journal is designed to lay completely flat, making it easier to use. The ribbon marker makes it quick to find your place and even has a handy storage pocket.

This set also contains a set of watercolor paints and a brush. So, you have everything you need to get started, making it perfect for any beginner.

But it’s also suitable for experienced artists. It’s a great size for taking on your travels, and the elastic band will keep all your artwork safe.

• Beautiful, thick paper that won’t buckle or fail you
• It’s a good size and comes with extra features like a storage pocket
• The first page of the journal is a little loose

Paul Rubens Watercolor Paper Block

(Image credit: Paul Rubens)

This watercolor paper block is an excellent gift for any artist, including yourself. It’s suitable for everyone, no matter how much experience you have. And it’s a delight to use.

The classic black leather design makes this watercolor journal stylish and timeless. It has a hardback cover, which ensures that it should last for a long time.

The paper doesn’t disappoint, either. Hot pressed and 100% cotton, it’s incredibly smooth. That makes it the best sketchbook for markers by a long way. 

Grab this paper block if you like to dabble in watercolors and other media. Your sketches will look just as good as your watercolors and line drawings with markers.

The fact that the paper is acid-free guarantees that your designs won’t fade. 

It differs from a notebook or journal in that the paper is glued down on all four sides. The benefit of this is that it’s super easy to use on the road.

But it does mean that you can’t flick through and work on several pages in one session. You’ll need to remove the top sheet to move onto the next one.

Altogether, it’s a fantastic product for artists. The handy size allows you to express your creativity while remaining portable. So, you can draw and paint both at home and on the go.

• A paint block that has premium quality, smooth paper
• Easy to use at home and when traveling
• You’ll need to store your finished pieces somewhere to keep them safe – this is not a journal

Stillman & Birn Beta Series

(Image credit: Stillman & Birn)

Stillman & Birn is another respected brand that creates high-quality art materials. This premium sketchbook ticks all the right boxes and is affordable, too! 

At 270 gsm, the paper is extra-heavyweight. That means it’s designed to suit all sorts of media, from watercolor to markers and pencil sketches. 

You can even use gouache paints, and it can withstand many layers of paint.

The paper is thick enough to prevent any bleeding to the next page. But you can also erase on it without the paper tearing. That makes it the best paper for watercolor markers, too! 

The binding is sewn in the US, ensuring top-quality construction. This sketchbook is an excellent alternative to a Moleskine sketchbook.

• High-quality paper and construction
• The paper is both acid and chloride-free
• It’s quite small

Travelogue Artist Watercolor Journal

(Image credit: Unbekannt)

This travel-sized watercolor journal is perfect for anyone who likes to paint on the go. You should snap up this great journal if you travel frequently and want to document your trips.

At 5.3 x 8.3 inches, it’s compact and portable. So, you can pack it into your handbag, backpack, or suitcase with ease.

The paper is also high-quality and designed for avid artists. It’s cold-pressed and acid-free to prevent your designs from fading. And with a generous 60 pages, you can create as many masterpieces as you like. 

Plus, this journal looks beautiful with its natural linen cover. You’ll want to take this sketchbook everywhere with you!

• A fantastic travel-size sketchbook
• Gorgeous handbound linen cover and elastic closure to keep your sheets safe
• The paper isn’t as thick as some other sketchbooks

Below are sketches from my travel sketchbook.

(Image credit: Outmane Amahou)

The Wrap Up

A sketchbook is a worthy addition to your art tools and materials. It allows you to experiment and give free rein to your imagination.

It’s also an excellent way to see how you’re progressing as an artist. You can look back over the pages and preserve memories within.

The best artist sketchbooks for watercolor have high-quality paper and durable construction. You want a book that will last and hold all your paintings safe.

Grab any of the fantastic sketchbooks reviewed above. You won’t regret it! There’s something for everyone and every budget.

Then, sign up for the Proactive Creative newsletter! I’ll keep you up to date with all the best tips, articles, and reviews so that you can stay on top of your game.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Proactive Creative may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.

You may also like these articles

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2 thoughts on “Watercolor Sketchbooks: Best Choices for Modern Artists”

Thank you for this information, it is going to be useful in my research as a beginner in calligraphy and watercolor painting.

You’re welcome 🙂

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My Travel Journal Moscow: 6x9 Travel Notebook or Diary with prompts, Checklists and Bucketlists perfect gift for your Trip to Moscow (Russia) for every Traveler Paperback – December 21, 2019

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Are you looking for a beautiful, simple journal, diary or notebook for your trip to Moscow (Russia)? This is a travel journal with prompts and checklists that is a perfect Gift for someone planning their travel to Moscow. Use it as Notebook, Diary, to Journal or just like any other notebook. Other details include: 120 pages, 6x9, cream paper and a beautiful matte-finished cover. Make sure to look at our other products for more Travel journals.

• Print length 119 pages
• Language English
• Publication date December 21, 2019
• Dimensions 6 x 0.3 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1678892556
• ISBN-13 978-1678892555
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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (December 21, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 119 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1678892556
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1678892555
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.6 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.3 x 9 inches

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