Keeping travel journals
Whether you’re visiting a bucket-list destination, exploring a new restaurant in the city, embarking on a summer adventure, or venturing into a remote, off-the-grid location, a travel journal is invaluable for documenting your journey. Travel journals come in various formats, from basic ones featuring lined pages to more comprehensive options with lined and dotted pages, maps, stickers, and additional amenities. Whatever your travel style, there is a travel journal that’s best for you.
Do you like journaling
Do you like journaling? There’s something enjoyable about sitting down with a drink and recording the highlights of your day. I love coming back to my travel journals.
I’ve researched the internet and found the finest travel journals ideal for collecting your cherished memories.
The best travel journals
I’ve curated a selection of my preferred travel journals based on their style and features, but my top recommendation is the Voyager Refillable Notebook, prized for its adaptability, whether you’re jotting down notes, sketching, or engaging in various forms of creative expression. It offers a combination of lined, dotted, and blank pages and convenient pockets for extras. Continue reading to discover the most outstanding options available.
The best travel journals
Voyager Refillable Journal
The Voyager refillable journal is small and very versatile. You can use it for traveling, daily note-keeping, or drawing. What’s more, it’s designed to be refillable.
Voyager’s cover is made from faux leather, and on the inside, there are three separate 60-page sections: lined pages, dotted/grid pages, and blank pages. There are two clear storage pockets, one inside the front and one inside the back cover. Interior stretch bands with an elastic closure keep the notebook together and are compatible with most modular notebook refills. You have a range of colors to choose from, including the classic black and a subtle light blue option.
LEUCHTTURM1917
This Leuchtturm journal is a great choice to keep in a purse, backpack, carry-on bag, or even in your hiking daypack because it is made from durable material to protect your pages. The journal is made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper, and stickers are included for labeling. There are 251 numbered and dotted pages for your journaling. The best part is that it’s available in a rainbow of colors.
I love it because labels and numbered pages keep organization at the top of my mind.
Clever Fox Travel Journal
If you’re into decorating your journal with stickers or adding stickers to help you stay organized, you’ll love this journal from Clever Fox. It also includes a ribbon bookmark, a back pocket, and a pen loop. The travel planner pages are great for planning your itinerary, and a trip review section allows you to reflect on your adventures. Additional extras include the travel tips section, a glossary, a travel budget section, and an expense tracker spreadsheet. The downside is that the added sections mean less space for journaling.
Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook
This smart journal uses QR codes to safely store your entries in an app.
Simply scan the QR code printed on each page of the Rocketbook, and it will be uploaded to the corresponding app. It’s perfect if you love the experience of feeling pen on paper but want to save a few pages. This magic, eco-friendly notebook is a lot of fun as it is choosing between the variety of cover options it comes in. There are also a lot of different sizes available.
Letterfolk Trip Passport Journal
This little journal fits easily in your small purse, backpack, or anywhere.
Letterfolk makes these experience books for various occasions, including bucket-list trips, national parks, states, and countries. The journal has 48 pages, 20 entry pages to record trip memories, and eight bonus pages, including bucket lists, checklists, and other fun activities.
Also, the entry logs include prompts such as date, location, first impressions, sights, and who you went with to help you remember your journey’s details.
Promptly Journals
Sometimes, you need some prompting to get the creative juices flowing and help you remember small details from your travels.
Promptly journals are excellent for this, as they come with many prompts and questions to help you record your journeys with as much detail as possible, like “What did you love about the local culture?” and “What advice would you give others going here?”
Specific sections include memorable moments, transportation, food, highlights, and travel companions. Plus, you can add photos from your trip, too. Fill it out while on the road, or complete the journal post-trip to take a walk down memory lane. One thing to consider, though, is that each journal only covers one trip.
WANDERINGS
This travel journal is made from naturally tanned leather, has a vintage look, and can be used for years, thanks to refillable pages.
Wanderings Journal is a classic choice that ages beautifully through the years wherever you go. The journal comes with blank pages, so you can write, draw, make lists, and more, and then you can buy refill pages. A strap keeps the journal closed while traveling.
Refillable Handmade Travelers Notebook
This notebook comes with three different refillable insert options: lined, blank, and kraft papers, which is excellent for those wanting to journal, draw, sketch, and attach mementos.
The cover is made from naturally tanned leather and includes an elastic and leather closure to keep your journal safe. The paper is acid-free, resists light and air damage, and is suitable for most pen types.
A PVC cardholder pouch is attached for all your cards, receipts, and other small items. The small journal size means you can take it anywhere.
Moleskine Journey City Notebook
If you’re exploring big cities such as Paris, Rome, New York, or London, a sleek, classic Moleskine notebook is the way to go. The City Notebooks are excellent.
They come with a map of the city, a street index, and tracing paper so you can mark different areas, such as your favorite restaurants, attractions, or newfound discoveries. There are also personalized stickers, tabbed sections, and blank pages for drawing, sketching, and list-making.
The smaller size of this journal is great to carry in your purse or backpack, and numerous cities are available.
Rite In The Rain Weatherproof Notebook
If you’ll be out in rainy, snowy, muddy, or wet weather conditions, consider going with a weatherproof journal like this one from Rite in the Rain.
It comes with a paper that repels water, mud, and grease and can even survive a spin through the washing machine.
The cover is weatherproof and flexible to protect your notes from scratches and stains. Unlike standard spiral notebooks, the wire binding is impact-resistant, so don’t worry about the journal getting messed up in your hiking bag.
Tips for buying the best travel journal
Consider your needs
Are you visiting a bucket-list destination? Going on a road trip? Backcountry hiking? On a month-long cruise across the ocean? Consider where you’re going and for how long when picking a journal. If you’re going to be in extreme weather, you should choose a journal with some weather protection.
Need more suitcase space? Or you’re only bringing minimal gear. Consider a pocket-sized journal to maximize the precious packing room.
Pick the right page format and style
Check what type of pages come with your journal, and, if it is refillable, what types of page refills are available. If you’re used to writing on lined paper, you’ll want to ensure your journal has that. But if you’re looking for some blank pages to sketch or add photos, make sure the journal includes them, too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start travel journaling?
There is no right or wrong way to journal. Just start and let the words flow onto the pages. Talk about who you’re traveling with, the itinerary, what you ate, how you feel, etc. If you need help with journaling, choose a journal with prompts to help you get started.
What is a bullet journal?
A bullet journal is more for to-do lists, scheduling, organizing, and writing down ideas. Bullet journals usually include dotted pages instead of lined ones, but you can add your own bullet points to a lined journal if you wish. Bullet journals are great for quick notes while on the go or for organization in between long journaling sessions.
