How To Make A Travel Diary

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

Last update on 2024-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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

Last update on 2024-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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

Last update on 2024-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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

Last update on 2024-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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

Photo Credit: @fromrachelxo

Aesthetic Travel Diary Inspiration

It's amazing how a simple, basic planner can be transformed into an aesthetic travel diary by using stamps, a map, and other scrapbooking elements.

Also, there's enough space to write your favorite travel memories, random thoughts, and inspiration.

See More

Photo Credit: @mydocumentedlife

Traveler's Notebook Inspiration

Another great example of a traveler's notebook is this minimalist blank notebook, where you can put plane tickets, polaroids.

Along with this, you have a lot of space for travel journaling.

See More

Photo Credit: @wenyea

Traveler's Notebook Memories Ideas

On the other hand, you may want to use a blank notebook as a kind of photo album aka project life inspired pages.

In this case, instead of using personal photos, you can collect postcards of tourist attractions.

Additionally, if you add some information, your travel notebook becomes a great source of knowledge.

Also, feel free to use decorative washi tape to keep all photos in one place.

See More

Photo Credit: @kathwrites

Travel Diary Ideas

Similarly, here you can see postcards as well.

However, the travel journal page was completed by food photos.

In fact, sometimes you can't remember what did you see, but you always remember stunning taste of local meals.

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Photo Credit: @@papercaffeine

DIY Travel Diary Ideas

As well as that, if you're into monochromatic looks, here's a great example of designing a DIY travel diary with a blue color palette.

You can easily incorporate a monochromatic look by using specific photos, washi tapes, stamps, and other decorative elements.

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Photo Credit: kaylareads.tumblr.com

Travel Diary Inspiration

Besides, there's nothing wrong with combining two kinds of journals: a bullet journal with a traveler's notebook.

Indeed, creating a travel bucket list with photos, cute doodles, craft paper, and washi tapes gives this unique scrapbook bullet journal vibes.

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Photo Credit: @doodle.dude_

Travel Bucket List Notebook Page

In the same way, these two notebook pages include the "favorite places I've been to" page, "a place I want to go one day" with the "places I'm going this year" page.

For me, it's a combo of travel memories, a vision board, and this year's travel planner.

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Photo Credit: @constancechel

City Information Travel Diary Page

Alternatively, keeping a travel diary as an art journaling allows you to unleash your creativity, practice doodling, and gather memories.

Indeed, get a pocket-size watercolor set, order coffee in a local coffee shop, and start painting.

See More

Photo Credit: thatadventurer.co.uk

Travel Scrapbook Ideas

Moreover, including top-rated tourist attractions, small sketches make your travel diary unique and personalized.

By the way, it doesn't have to be perfect. However, these London's main attractions sketches are amazing.

Continue Reading

Photo Credit: @lihaopaper

Travel Journaling

Last but not least, here's a vintage travel journal.

By adding polaroids, tickets, and stamps, you create a travel scrapbook for your summer adventures.

See More

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

Last update on 2024-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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

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Budget Bullet Journal Layouts To Master Your Finances in 2023

Travel Diary