How to keep a travel journal

Many people start a travel journal with good intentions but after a few days because they over stimulated, too busy, distracted and too tired they stall. Other people manage to write but when they re-read it they are disappointed because they feel it is pale compared to the vivid memory of their experience.  Here are few tips to help you create a great travel journal that you feel satisfied with when you return home. 

Sort out why you want to keep a travel journal

Everyone has a different reason for keeping any sort of journal. Know why you want to do this. For my Take on this check out my article Why you need a travel Journal. Try not to be influenced by what you see on Instagram and Pinterest as many of these images are not real travel journals. Much of what you see on social media is the work of influencers who have made a few page spreads in a studio in order to sell you products. Or these days the images can be AI generated. These are not ‘inspirational’ they place false expectations in peoples minds.

Reach to be authentic and think about why the idea of a travel journal attracts you.  Do you write to make sense of today? Or are you recording your trip to share with friends and family. Are recording these wonderful memories to help you remember. You will look back on it not just next year but in 5, 10 or 20 years time. You are making this book for your future self and perhaps your family. Be aware of why you write as this will influence what you write. If you know you likely to share your travel journal with family you may edit some information about your experiences. If you are writing for future generations you may want to take extra notice of things that are changing about a particular place. 

While you are planing your trip  

Start a pre-trip journal before you depart. This will help you over the first hump which is often a fear of the first blank page.  Use a pre-trip part of your journal to track your preparation. When you arrive at your destination it feels natural to be journaling and recording your day. Start with a packing list and pre-trip to do list. Then move on to other notes like where you have booked accomodation. You can take note of some basic words in the language such as please, thank you, etc. In your pre-trip journal write about why you want to go on the trip, what are your plans? Do you have any expectations and if so what are they? Use your journal to track your emotions about the trip and it will be interesting to review when you return home. 

Before you leave establish a journal practice. 

Practice helps! If you are in the habit of noticing things in your everyday life and writing about the mundane you will write a better travel journal. Use it as much as feels right. If journaling is a new habit start writing  twice a week or so, then increase it.  Attempt to establish a pattern so you can learn about what you want from a journal. If you regularly write a journal, the more you do it the easier it becomes.

I encourage people to try and  write daily even when that day is full and you are tired. If by the time you depart, you have established a few journal habits you will find it is easier to record your travels, even when you are tired or simply over stimulated. You will find that as a regular journal writer you already mentally taking note of what you might write about throughout the day. Noticing ephemera you might use in a journal and so on. Half of the thought processes needed to write a journal entry will have been done because you are in the habit of doing it in your everyday journal writing. 

Digital or notebook? 

One question you need to sort out is do you want to keep a notebook or keep a digital journal? There are many phone apps and computer software packages that are available to use. Before you travel you can test these and see how they bed down into a busy day. I am always testing odd apps and options none of which I have embraced yet, only because in the past I have traveled to some places where keeping a phone charged can be a challenge.

The first time we walked the Camino de Santiago which is an  800 kms (500 miles) across Spain we were staying is pilgrim hostels. It was a wonderful experience but recharging a phone each night was a bit of challenge at times. This has since changed, but then, a digital travel journal was not an option because I needed a charged phone for emergency use and maps. The trip before that we drove across Australia and in that case we had about 1200 miles with no phone coverage let alone internet so any journaling app had to be standalone to work. Digital for me is not always an option but it may be for you so do check it out before you leave. 

If you decide to use a notebook choose a book that is sturdy, with durable hardcover so that you can write while your journal is on your lap. Make sure it is lightweight and not too large as you will be carrying it around most days. I have always enjoyed adding memorabilia to my journal – so much so that I now choose a notebook that has a page spread that will house a A4 flyer or leaflet. So when I choose a travel journal it is usually about  5 and half inches by 8 inches or A5. 

Test your choices with a pre-trip journal.

Test your choice of notebook in your everyday life. Carry a journal with you everywhere and learn to use it. Test everything about it. At this stage what you are trying to do is sort out any stall points before you leave. Make sure you can open the journal and page lay flat. There is nothing more awkward than trying to write a journal perched on the side of your bed and the pages wont open flat! Does it stand up to wear and tear? The binding should be strong. Is the journal sturdy enough or do the pages shift rub and slip? Loose pages indicate a problem.  Is the paper OK to write on or does ink seep through? If you sketch will it take the media you want to use? In pre-trip journal test everything. 

If you have decided to go digital, before you leave test your choice. Will the app work offline? Do you need to be connected to internet to use it? Does it include photos etc easily. Does the app chew up a lot of power? ( I once tested an app that had a GPS tracking that demolished my battery life) Can you export your journal easily? Once you come home you want to be able to transfer the data to something safer. You may want to print it out or even turn it into a print on demand book. Does the software allow it? You don’t want to hit a stall point because you have not tested your choice. This is part of planing a trip and to be honest I find deciding what journal to use or testing this sort of stuff is fun.     

Use your journal for planing and research 

Research the place you are going to and gather all the information you might need in one place. If like most of us you are saving for this holiday this phase of research will motivate you to stick to the budget and save your money.  Before you go, you will spend a lot of time poking about the net and reading books about the place you are going to visit. Record the interesting snippets of information you encounter.

Also use your journal to make a note of the attractions you might want to visit, opening times etc. Once your itinerary is sorted and you know exactly where you are going and how much time you have you can transfer any key information into the back of your travel journal. That way if you lose your phone or it is stolen you have a back up of key information in your travel journal.  

Reading about the place, reflecting and writing about the place  you are going to visit also means you will be an informed traveller. There is the practical information such as knowing the drinking water is not safe and there is also knowing a little about the history and culture. Knowing a little more about the place you are visiting will enhance your travel and bring greater meaning.   

Before you leave

In your new travel journal on the front page write your name and contact (phone/email) details so if you lose it there is chance it will make its way back to you! Also record any medical information on the first page. 

Record why you are traveling. 

Journeys have different reasons for being made. Obviously the journey I made back to Perth to bury my mother was totally different journal, to the journal I kept when I went to the USA to teach. The journal I kept while I walked the Camino de Santiago is different from a journal I kept while sketching with Urban sketchers in Cambodia. My trip to China is very different from the month we spent in Paris. All journals track events in my life but they have different reasons to be written and to exist.  

Add your itinerary and important information to your journal. 

Front or back pages it does not matter which add It is handy to have it there and add any notes such as addresses, contacts details etc. Take note of your travel itinerary, transport and flight details, accommodations with address and contact information and any booked tours and guides with contact information.I know people have such information in their smart phones but in the future you may not own that phone or still have that data. And there is always the risk when travelling, of having your phone stolen. 

During your trip 

Start your journal entry identifying the place and the date. State where you are writing the entry – the hotel, or cafe, or train station etc. Remember to record the facts of your travel such as the number of the bus that took you to what attraction. Record the cost of a ticket and how it was purchased.

When in Japan, I often did not know where I was, so I counted the number of stops the train made and recorded that. This type of information can be recorded in dot points you don’t need to write it all out in prose. Simply list important facts in dot point form at the start of an entry. You will be surprised how often in the future friend or family will ask where you stayed or what train you took etc. This sort of information is very useful to be able to share. 

Write your journal on location, on the day.

Write while your experience is fresh, as it will be more vivid. Many people plan to write a travel journal but because they have not established a habit of doing so, they end up keeping a travel journal for one or two days then ‘write it up’ later. A journal written on the spot will always have more life than something constructed after the event.

A journal written on the day, on location may be rough, raw and not perfect but for me that feels real, and for me has more meaning. For me it is often in the process of writing that I make sense of incidents in the day. This is one of the huge advantages to keeping a travel journal. Instead of trips being just a blur, a travel journal allows me to process parts of my journey as I travel. Obviously, if I wrote after the event those thoughtful insights gained while I travel would not happen or would not necessarily be remembered.  

Write every day.

Even recording just small details, will help maintain your journalling momentum. If you miss a few days, don’t try and ‘catch up’ as this can mean you put it off and the catchup will only get larger. Just pick up your journal – be honest and say you missed a couple of days and continue writing your journal. It is better to have a journal with a few days missed than none at all.

Carry your journal everywhere!

Just as you carry your phone carry your journal too. Take advantage of odd quiet moments such as cafe stops, waiting for a tour bus, on transport such as buses and trains, and waiting in lines to add to your journal. Your journal does not have to be written all at once at the end of the day. You can catch moments adding to your journal entry 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there sort of updating your journal on the go.

Keep notes through the day on your phone

If you are new to journalling you may get to the end of your day a little dazed at what you have seen and done. You sit down with the question “Where do I start?” Most people take photos throughout the day. They can be your first series of prompts.

Another trick is take a non tourist photo on your phone and jot down a few key words as a note on your phone. Or use the dictation feature on your phone to make a few notes on the go. Nobody thinks twice about someone talking into their phone. It is a very easy way to take notes or start to structure your journal entry for the day. For instance while waiting in a line describe what you see as if telling a friend and bingo you have a lively journal entry. When there is a lot of things happening I often take notes throughout the day and write in the quiet of the evening.

The downside of this is that you need to recharge your phone or carry a small power pack. 

Pay attention to your senses

When you sit to write, stop a moment and ask yourself: what can I hear? (Traffic noise, music, a call to prayer etc) What can I smell? (The smell of cooking, pollution, flowers, wood smoke, scented hotel room etc)  What do I see? What does it feel like to be here? ( Hot, sweaty, sore feet, tired legs, a chill wind) What did your last meal or drink taste like?  Write about those things and you will find that quickly describe the place. If you write about the sounds, smells, tastes and sights of the day you will have a great travel journal entry without having to resort to ‘I did this or that’ type of story telling. It is an effective way to enrich your experience, by describing how the place has affected you through your senses.  

Five things.

If you are really pressed for time or your energy levels are at the absolute lowest focus on a limited number of events. Rather than trying to describe absolutely everything in a day, try focusing on five things. You are doing interesting stuff! Pick the top 5 and describe why it is interesting or fun or different from your normal life. 

Take a glue stick

Paste in ephemera you gather through the day. It can be anything from bus, ferry, train or plane tickets, a local newspaper, paper serviettes from a cafe you had coffee at, leaflet and flyers from places you visit, tickets from museums, a business card from where you had dinner, sweet wrappers, maps and even postcards all help to capture the moment. This type of printed memorabilia really brings life to a travel journal. I have always enjoyed adding this type of memorabilia to my journal. 

I have noticed as more and more apps and digital resources are available to travellers there is less ephemera to collect. Even tickets for flights are now on our mobile phones. My point is that this type of material is encountered less often and there will be day when paper scrap is not part of traveling. In future these ticket stubs and bits of paper will be interesting to the next generation so remember to keep them! If you’re flying, don’t put scissors in your carry-on bag. You’ll have to surrender them to security. Buy a cheap pair when you get there if you do not check your baggage.

Focus on the positive.

Many travel journals focus on sore feet, scammers, bad taxi rides or the grotty bathrooms – or having to go there too often! Of course mention these things but make it a rule that for every negative, record a positive. Otherwise, when you return home you will remember all the bad things about travel and none of the good.

So if you are going to write about an arrogant French taxi driver remember to talk about the flower shop you passed too. We once spent a month in Paris and 2 weeks of that time I had very bad gastric troubles. Although I did record I had health troubles, my journal reflects all the places we visited and things we did as I was aware that we had worked and saved a long time for that holiday and for many people we were living their dream. Look for the good moments in each day and record them. 

Use the old compare and contrast trick.

When travelling constantly, compare where you are and what you see with your regular life and what you have experienced in the past. We understand our experiences by contrasting one with another. Don’t just compare a place with home, compare it to other places you have visited. The trick to writing this type of entry is to compare and contrast without being judgemental – or perhaps you want to remember yourself as judgemental! 

Have fun with it

It’s your travel journal so have fun with it if you want to record strange signage, fill it with pictures of window boxes or anything you notice. That’s fine and makes for a unique viewpoint. Have fun with it and really look around. I often draw or take photos along a theme so it may be I spend time looking out for amusing or strange signs, or door knockers, or fountains or sewage covers!  Usually at the start of trip I notice something then spend the whole trip finding other examples. It is just something that attracts my attention and I go with it. 

Take time out for a longer journal entry

This is not always possible in a busy schedule but if you can, try to make some time to describe how you are feeling and what your mental landscape is like. These types of entries can be very revealing when you get home. Sometimes you will have a block of time such waiting for a flight, a long train ride, which are ideal for times to journal. Others are situations where you have to wait such in the laundromat doing washing.   

Illustrate your journal

Not everyone feels able to do this and I admit it can be difficult when traveling to accomplish but drawing a place will etch it into your memory, and help you to observe it closely. To be honest sketching a place is quite demanding but if it is something you want to do my tip is to start practicing long before you travel and make it part of a journal habit adding such a personal visual element to your journal is wonderful. If you sketch regularly already definitely bring this skill to your travel journal too.

Take photos and have them printed

I leave a blank page here and there so I can add photos. In other words I make sure, that some of the numerous photos I take find their way off my phone and into my travel journal. There are travel sized printers which I have tried but to be honest I now leave them home. Some countries have print photos from your phone services or I simply leave room in my journal and get photos developed when I get home. 

When you have arrived home

As you unpack set aside some time for a journaling session which is a recap on your experience. You will be busy, but stop and see what you can learn from the trip. Look back and read what you have written about your expectations and plans and record your insights. Also take time to record the highlights. Think about what will live with you, what struck you as beautiful, or strange. Where did you fee awkward or what was difficult or distasteful? Did you grow or change in any way? How are you feeling emotionally and spiritually?

Repeat this journalling exercise 10 days after you arrive home  you will have different thoughts about your journey. It is also a good time to review your packing list – what would you take differently next time? What worked? and what was less useful? Later still re-visiting your journal, read and respond to what you wrote other memories will be provoked

Write in your journal before, during, immediately after your trip again and again to process your travels.On each occasion your focus and thoughts will be different and noticing how this internal texture of life shifts as result of traveling is interesting. Writing about it clarifies the process and as you write you will understand more about the experience and about yourself.  

Enjoy your travel journal long after the trip.

A travel journal is the best souvenir. Enjoy creating yours! Have you kept a travel journal? Have any tips on getting past travel journal stall points? Leave a comment below I would love you to share it.