With summer around the corner, today I show you how to make a travel diary.
So if you’re wondering:
- what a travel diary is
- how to make a travel diary
- what to write in a travel diary
- how to write a travel diary
If you’re looking for amazing but simple travel diary layout ideas, then keep reading.
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What’s A Travel Diary
Basically, a travel diary is your travel daily log.
In general, there’re a couple of ways of keeping a travel diary.
It all depends on your goals, personality, creativity, artistic techniques, etc.
As a rule, you can choose to make your travel diary as:
- a journal, where you express your opinions, feelings, emotions
- an art journal with watercolor urban illustrations, everyday life sketches, simple travel doodles, drawings
- a travel scrapbook, where you include your travel props (for example, polaroids, flight tickets, receipts, postcards, menu, napkins, tea bags, postage stamps)
- a photo book (see some project life examples as an inspiration)
- a travel bullet journal with planning pages, bucket lists, trip overviews, etc
How To Make A Travel Diary
First and foremost, let’s talk about travel diary supplies.
As the matter of fact, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer.
With this in mind, below you can find a list of the best travel diary supplies, depending on the type of travel journal.
Travel Journal
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Let’s face it, you can easily start travel journaling with a simple school pen and notebook.
However, sometimes you may need a small boost of motivation to keep a travel diary daily.
Definitely, one of my favorite way to stay motivated is by getting a little bit fancier travel journal supplies.
For example, a leather travel journal with a notebook looks so cool.
Not only, do these notebooks have an amazing design, but also most of them are refillable.
Basically, you buy them once. When your notepad is full, you just refill a new one.
Additionally, don’t forget that travel journals should be small enough to fit in your backpack.
Also, in most cases, you can use travel notebooks as a wallet.
Some journals have a section designated for credit cards, tickets, etc.
By the way, this is a great gift idea – if you know any passionate traveler, now you know what to get.
Along with this, don’t forget about your favorite pen that allows you to write fast and cleanly.
Art Journal
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Imagine sitting in a cute, local coffee shop in Paris.
You want to capture this magic moment in your art journal.
In this case, getting a blank sketchbook and a travel-size favorite medium is the best option.
Travel Scrapbook
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Definitely, it’s the most light-weighted way of keeping a travel diary during the trip.
Basically, all you need to do is to collect all kinds of tickets, menus, maps, receipts, napkins, and postcards, and take photos during your trip.
After coming home, you get a random notebook (alternatively the fancier one with craft paper) and include your favorite travel props in it.
As a decoration feel free to use vintage stamps, washi tapes, stickers, and other scrapbooking elements.
Also, you can write down your thoughts, and memories or include simple travel doodles.
Photobook
In case you want to keep your travel memories in one place, but you don’t want to invest your time and energy in creating a DIY travel journal, this option will probably work the best for you.
Unquestionably, having a lot of travel photos may be so overwhelming.
However, turning them into a photo book is a great way to select the best ones and tell your summer story.
Travel Bullet Journal
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Personally, the simplest way to create a travel diary is to make it in an everyday bullet journal.
Basically, you can create travel spreads within your everyday bujo notebook, by using your favorite bullet journal supplies.
Travel Diary Examples
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What To Write In A Travel Diary
So now when you get your dream travel diary supplies, you probably get stuck.
Undoubtedly, coming up with what to write in a travel diary can be a real struggle.
Not to mention, the fear of ruining the first page of your brand-new travel notebook.
With this in mind, I gathered travel journal prompts and page ideas you may want to include in your traveler’s notebook.
Trip Overview Page
Basically, it’s a space for all the important information about your travel and the destination you chose.
Firstly, note your flight, and accommodation.
Secondly, write down basic foreign phrases like good morning or thank you.
Definitely, it can be a real icebreaker to communicate with the locals.
Country Fact Spread
Before you start your travel adventure, you should research the destination.
Read more about culture, religion, weather, safety, top places to see, local experiences, and unique things to do, and write them down.
Also, check the currency and exchange rate.
Before You Go Checklist
As a rule, this stage of a trip is my least favorite part.
Do you know this awful feeling that you forget something to do?
That’s why the checklist is a real-life-saver for me.
During a hectic time, you want to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Write down everything you need to do before you leave home.
Travel Outfit Planning
Is it only me or when you go on a trip you pack just about everything in your backpack?
Not only do you pay additional fees but also you have to carry a heavy bag.
For example, I decided to create a travel capsule wardrobe.
Basically, you plan your outfit ahead.
Therefore, you get rid of a “what-to-wear-today” everyday issue.
Also, you can take photos of each outfit (just like before every fashion show).
Packing List
Along with this, writing the travel packing list keeps you organized when you travel.
Just divide your things into categories like clothing, toiletries, beauty products, electronics, entertainment, and miscellaneous.
Trip Planning
In fact, I’m not a big fan of planning every single hour of a trip.
However, writing down what you want to do and see each day helps to stay on track and better manage your time.
Ok, maybe the term: time management combined with vacation sounds weird, but you want to explore new things as much as you can.
Budget Spreads
Speaking of planning, let’s talk about money.
You can find online many articles about how to travel on a budget.
For sure, creating budget layouts helps you afford to travel without going broke and organize your expenses.
Memories Page & Daily Logs
[amazon box=”B00TE8XKIS, B008GVVTPU “/]
Last but not least, it’s time for the most fun and creative part.
Here you may want to capture the most amazing moments in a travel diary.
Indeed, fill your travel bullet journal with memories by using tourist maps, flyers, stamps, and polaroids.
You can even get a polaroid zip mobile printer with proper photo paper and keep up with daily journaling.
How To Write a Travel Diary
- include travel journaling time in your morning or evening routine (yes, it’s possible even if you’re staying at the most random places)
- keep your travel diary in an easily accessible place – you never know when your craziest adventure begins
- use your train-bus-car traveling time to complete your travel notes
- manage your inner perfectionism and let all your misspellings, mistakes, etc go
- keep in mind that it’s your travel diary – you don’t have to share it online or show it to anybody so it’s your safe space
- work on your journal – life balance (basically, don’t feel pressure to capture absolutely everything)
- try to add some variety to your travel diary by combining storytelling, doodles, polaroids, packing list, travel maps, etc
- describe how local meals taste, how the air smells, how the streets look like, what people wear – it’s so interesting to get to know a foreign country more than the most popular tourist attractions
- there’s no right or wrong way to keep a travel journal
Download Free Travel Bullet Journal Printables
How To Make a Travel Diary – Final Thoughts
To sum up, now you know what a travel diary is, how to make one that works for you, what to write in it, and how to make a journaling habit stick.
Undoubtedly, keeping a travel journal is a great way to collect memories and save them.
No matter if you choose an art journal, travel bullet journal, or scrapbook, making a travel diary can be so much fun.
Sometimes all you want to do is to write down your thoughts, organize polaroid photos, or simply plan your next trip.
Or mix the different types of travel journaling in the ultimate travel diary you can start even before your travel begins.
And the best part is you can really personalize your notebook.
Just gather your favorite travel journal inspiration, write your moments down, collect props, and put your travel diary together.
I hope you like these few easy tips on how to make a travel journal I gathered in this blog post.
Enjoy your trip and good luck!
What’s Next? Check Out These Bullet Journal Page Ideas:
Bullet Journal Page Ideas Perfect for Your 2023 Bujo
Bullet Journal Self-Care Ideas: Get Your Life Together in 2023
Budget Bullet Journal Layouts To Master Your Finances in 2023