travel log examples

Travel journal examples and how to get the most out of a travel journal

A travel journal: your new best friend.

Travel journal examples can spark ideas for your own journal. This matters a great deal because a travel journal can be one of your most helpful travel — make that life — tools. It can serve myriad purposes from recording your thoughts, emotions (an important aspect many overlook) and experiences to being a repository of creative ideas and even artwork. You can use it as a scrapbook, planning tool, contact book, organizer, reference book (for vital information such as passport numbers, hotel addresses, places to visit, etc.) and even a place to hide certain valuables.

It’s simple enough to put information into your travel journal. The hard part is being able to find or extract that information easily later on. But don’t worry. I’ll show you travel journal examples, techniques, hacks and tips for that and more based on decades trying a wide variety of travel journals and approaches. You’ll find these useful whether you’re an old pro at journaling or even if you’ve never used a travel journal before. And be sure to read all the way through this article since the Additional Resources section at the end is loaded with inspiring and helpful travel journal examples and ideas.

Getting started

The first and most important thing to remember is that there is no one right way to set up your travel journal. In fact, I’ve found that the best approach is to just start with something and learn as you go. My first travel journal was basically a daily diary: “Today I did this, etc.” Now, however, I use it in a very different matter. But it all comes down to this: What is the purpose of your travel journal?

Two typical entries from my first travel journal on my first trip to Europe in high school. I have upped my travel journal game a bit since then, or so I hope.

This is such an important question because it will guide what kind of notebook/journal/sketchbook you use, how you organize it and how you interact with it. If you’re just starting out, you may not even know your purpose other than to record your experiences. That’s fine. Start there. Then refine over time.

For me, I see my travel journal as a collection tool for travel drawing and notes where I gather ideas, sketches, some to-do’s, trip details and anything else that interests me. But the main difference between this and most journals is that as a tool, I want to use my journal after I return. Not just for nostalgic reminisces on my trip, but to glean from it what I’ve learned, gained and become. I’ll explain this more momentarily.

Picking the right journal

Again, I’m not sure there is a universal “right” travel journal. Your goal is to find what works for you. You can start by determining if you want a blank notebook or a travel journal that comes with prompts, quotes, organizing categories, etc. Here’s a helpful list of 17 travel journals to give you a sense of travel journal examples and possibilities. Mostly, consider if you want to do travel drawing or even painting in your travel journal. If so, you’ll want thicker paper that won’t warp with the water or bleed through with ink. You likely will want blank pages, as opposed to lines, grids or dots.

Just as there’s no right or wrong size (just what works for you), so too is the orientation up to you. As you can see here, I sketched holding the journal in a portrait orientation (left page) but wrote (right page, partial) using a landscape orientation. Both work.

If you want to use it as a form of a scrapbook, get one with pockets or that is expandable enough for when you’ve doubled the thickness with all those tickets, stamps, samples of currency, bottle labels and other elements you’ve glued to the pages.

Buying a nice looking or feeling notebook or journal can be motivating. But getting too nice of a notebook to use can be intimidating: You’ll be afraid to do any travel drawing or mess it up. Thus, I suggest starting somewhere in the middle. Find a journal or notebook that will hold up well (hard covers help in this regard), but isn’t so expensive you’ll only want to use it on special occasions. 

Even fancy patterns on your pages can be fun. I tend to prefer blank pages, but sometimes I’ll try different patterns just to mix things up.

Your travel journal is more of a workhorse than a show pony (though sometimes a bit of that too later on). You’ll get far more out of one you use all the time, where you write, do travel drawing or urban sketching, doodle and record with the intent that only you will ever see it. If you choose to show it to others later, fine. But don’t make that your main goal, at least as a beginner, or you’ll never get the most out of your journal.

How will you use your travel journal?

Back to purpose, you can choose to have a general-use journal or one devoted only to your trips (or to a particular trip). I have done both, and there are pros and cons to each. A journal for all situations allows you to connect everything you do so that if a great work idea hits you on a trip, you can reference back to a meeting about that, etc. You can also find things easier in some ways since your whole life, trip or home/work, is laid out in a chronological fashion in one book.

Here’s a recent journal of mine that I use daily, as well as for trips. You can see the basic outline for this article here that I wrote on the plane on a business trip. How do I know it was on a trip? From the notation that the sketch was done from a photo in the airplane’s magazine somewhere between Baltimore (BWI) and Seattle (SEA)

A really popular approach these days to general journals is the Bullet Journal . Many people swear by this way of organizing their journal and their life. I love many of the ideas found in bullet journaling. But I choose not to follow that approach completely. Why? Bullet journaling is primarily intended as a productivity tool. I personally don’t find it helpful in that regard because, for example, tracking all my calendar events and moment-by-moment to-do’s in a journal slows me down.

Combine digital and analog

Instead, I use a combination of Outlook, Trello , Evernote and Scrivener (the latter two for organizing ideas and writing projects or content) on my phone and computer. The main reason for tracking tasks digitally is that they roll over automatically. I don’t have to constantly move them manually from one day, week or month to-do list to the next.

But the main reason I don’t use the bullet journal methodology for my travel journal is that when I travel, productivity is not my goal. Exploration and discovery are. I use my travel journal to capture what I learn as I explore the world around me and the world within me wherever I go.

On a trip, I’m less interested in productivity than in explaining why this sketch was hard to do well.

In the last few years, I’ve taken up sketching and even watercolors, so for me, I now maintain a separate travel journal for each major trip. I use one that has thicker watercolor paper, so on a three-week trip, I can pretty much fill up the whole book. But for shorter trips, I do use my day-to-day journal. And I’ve even done both: Used my day-to-day journal to record words and a smaller sketchbook for travel drawing or watercolors. Again, no right or wrong way to do this. Just start with an approach and build from there.

Organizing your travel journal

What follows is how I organize my travel journal. It’s the same way I do my day-to-day journal but with some additional pages in the end for travel-specific information. My purpose, remember, is to capture ideas, information and experiences and then to be able to use these later. For that reason, the most helpful part of my journal is the index. I’ll explain that in a moment along with travel journal examples, but here’s what else goes into my journal.

Starting with a brand new empty journal

The first thing I do with a new journal is to put my name, cell phone number and email address on the inside cover.

Next, if the journal doesn’t have a rear pocket, I make one or glue/tape in a small envelope that fits on the inside of the rear cover.

If you glue in your own, consider hiding a few large denomination bills, both dollars and the local currency, behind the envelope or anything else you tape or glue inside the covers. It’s a great place for hiding back-up money. It works because once you start using your travel journal regularly, you’ll find it is one of your most precious possessions. You’ll learn to guard it like your wallet, passport or phone.

These are just some of the many travel journals I’ve filled up over the years.

In addition to the pocket or envelope in your journal, consider bringing a quart or gallon-sized zip lock bag to hold all the small items you pick up along the way. I used to shove them into pockets in my carry-on bag, but having a single location now keeps them from getting lost or mangled. And it keeps my travel journal from looking like George Costanza’s wallet on Seinfeld . This same bag can hold a glue stick, paper clips or anything else you want for adding items to your journal.

Start in the front and work back

I track everything chronologically noting the date at the top of each day’s entry. If it spans multiple pages, I’ll write “(cont.)” after the date on later spreads so I know to keep looking for the start of that day when I review the entry later.

I work in this chronological fashion for recording most of my entries because I find it flows better to write the item down right away and then figure out how to classify it later. I set up indexes in the back for classifying and locating the entry. But that comes as a review step, not a creative or collecting function.

What to write

Starting at the front section of the travel journal, I may use the very first page as a title page if the journal is devoted to a single trip. Otherwise, I skip over that page and then start with the date of the start of the trip and then just keep going from there. Here are the types of content I write/draw along with some of my travel journal examples:

Sometimes, I’ll devote a whole page or spread to nothing but sketches.

• General thoughts . These make up the majority of my journal and are what you’d expect in any journal.
• Sketches . I’m still just a beginner, but I’ve committed to one sketch per day, at home or on a trip. Sometimes they are involved. Others (most of the time), are just a quick gesture. But the discipline helps improve my skill.
• A daily log . At the end of each day, I do a very quick list of summary activities, where I went, who I met, what I did. I actually note it like this: “(Log 11/27/19 – Wed.):” so that I can see at a glance what were log entries versus other ideas. For logs, the shorter the better. Here’s where bullet journal techniques can help: Record a few words as a bullet rather than full sentences. At the end of every daily log, I also record two specific items in addition log entries themselves, gratitude points and what I’ve read or watched.
• Gratitude points : I jot down what I call a Goodness Journal (abbreviated as GJ) entry. This is the highlight of my day for which I am most grateful. On trips, this can often end up being multiple points.
• Read/Watched : The second additional component is what I call Read/Watched (R/W) where I list any books I’ve read that day or any movies, programs, concerts, etc. that I watched. It can include podcasts and anything else you want to track. Before I started doing this, I’d get to the end of the year and couldn’t recall all the books I’d read. Now I can just by referring back to these entries.
• Insights and Ideas . Most of my journal at home is filled with these. On trips, these happen more on plane, train or bus rides than every single day. But they could happen any time which is why I keep a pocket-sized travel journal with me or at least a note card or my phone so I can write the idea down immediately.
• Quotes . These can be formal written ones I encounter or snippets of conversations I overhear. As a writer, I want to always be gathering dialog examples or clever turns of phrases.
• To-dos. Yes, I said I record these digitally for the daily tasks. But sometimes on trips, you have opportunities for dreaming and planning. I mark all to-do’s with a checkbox I can fill in later. I like the bullet journal way they do this as well (a dot instead of a box).

I had a gentleman in China demonstrate his woodblock stamps by stamping some examples in my journal. You can paste in stamps, tickets, receipts, postcards or any other artifacts from your trip onto your journal pages as you go (if you remember to bring some glue or paste).

• Descriptions . These are either quick notes on what I’m seeing, hearing, tasting or tasting, or longer ways to capture the details of a place. See Look Closely for details on how to do this as a way to learn to see details better or to write better based on your travels. I also make sure to write down the names of places, people, food, local expressions and anything else I want to write about later. Don’t assume you’ll remember it or can look it up later. Write it down.
• Miscellaneous . I’ve had artists draw in my journal, had people stamp it (see photo above), record different colors of beverages spilled or intentionally dripped on it and a wealth of other things added. Be open to how you can use your journal. Or for fun, try this exercise: Come up with as many ways as you can think of to use your travel journal on your next trip.

The back of the journal

The front of the journal is used for a chronological input of information each day (or whenever you choose). The goal there is to record the idea, insight, drawing or information just like in a diary. The back of the journal is where you’ll organize it all for later retrieval.

Working from the last page backwards, I set up a series of index or topic pages (see the list below) where I record anything related to that topic either verbatim (if I have the time and forethought to write it down there such as contact info or a quote I came across) or as a page number reference and summary line from the front of the journal (hence the reason these back-of-the-journal pages are called Index Pages).

For me, I find that most index sections only require one page (e.g. for Contacts or Travel Details) but I leave two pages for Ideas or Vocabulary since they tend to have more entries. I write small (some would say ridiculously small), so if you don’t, you may want to leave more room.

Review your entries and record them for easier retrieval

I don’t assign page numbers as I write in the front of the journal. Instead, I jot down a page number later, maybe daily, maybe weekly, as I review my journal. Writing down the page number during the review phase shows me which pages have been indexed. No page number indicates it still needs to be indexed. As I review each page, I also code the entries themselves on the journal pages by highlighting the topic or assigning a word or letter to let me know what it is. For example, if there’s a quote, I will write “Quote” and circle it right before the quote. For blog ideas, I’ll write “blog” and circle that, etc. If  an idea that has distinct merit, I’ll draw a star next to it. Particular project ideas get a corresponding code, e.g. if it’s about  my book on Hidden Travel,   I’ll write “HT” and circle that. The whole point is to make it easier to spot the entry when you’re reviewing the page later.

Here you can (hopefully) see how I’ve written and circled page numbers at the top and put a box around the word “Quote” on the left page and “Visual appeal article” on the right page. Then, on the Quotes index page, I’ll write “108” and circle it with a quick notation like, “E.B. White on saving/savoring the world.” On the Ideas index page, I’ll write “109” and circle it with the notation, “Visual Appeal article questions.”

In case you’re wondering why the index/topic pages go in the back and not in the front like a table of contents, it’s because I often add topics as I progress through the journal. Working from the back gives me room to add new pages whereas if I’d started from the front and I didn’t guess correctly, I’d be out of room before running into my journal entries.

Travel journal examples of Pre-Trip Items

Some of my index/topic pages get filled in (or at least started) before my trip either as planning or to load my travel journal with important information to have on my trip. Here are some travel journal examples of the key sections.

Here’s a travel journal example of a shot list from my China trip journal. I tend to write pretty small in the back section of a journal! The whited out area was my passport number in code. Writing key information on pages with other entries makes it even less obvious this is something valuable.

• Vocabulary. On trips to countries where I’m learning the language, I’ll add new vocabulary words here usually starting long before the trip. These are key words to practice, as well as new ones I pick up as I travel.
• Shot list . When planning my trip, as a photographer, I make a list of specific places, scenes, techniques I want to try or even times of day I want to shoot. Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Making Awesome Travel Photos for more on this and other travel photo techniques. In addition, as I review guidebooks or articles, I’ll add interesting places to this list. Even if you’re not a photographer, you can make a list of “must see” places or “must do” experiences or activities. Writing them down really helps because it makes it so easy to find all these in one place rather than hunting through a guidebook or other pages on your trip.
• Themes and Moments . This is yet another pre-trip fill-in page. I try to come up with a theme or quest for each trip. Writing down ideas about that or defining it really adds to the anticipation of the trip. On this page, I’ll also jot down ideas for creating magic or defining moments for others on the trip. This includes ideas for the activities or contact info for places or people that will be part of the activity.

Travel journal examples of elements to add as you travel

Here are some typical index/topic pages in the back of my travel journal that get filled in as I go:

• Contact information . I keep a separate page to record the names, email addresses, etc. of people I meet along the way. If, in a hurry, I just write down a name and email address in the front-of-the-book journaling section. I’ll later record the page number and contact name on the page here so all I can find all my contacts in one place later.
• Ideas . This becomes a catchall for any creative ideas I’ve had. I normally start with the page number(s) followed by a brief summary such as “27 – 29: Dining room chair design” or “73: Article on architecture styles in Morocco.”

Here’s a specific travel journal example, the Ideas Index Page from my China trip journal. I had started the page on the left as a vocabulary list but made room from more ideas when I ran out of space on the page on the right.

• Books and Movies . This too is a catchall for any form of entertainment I want to read. I constantly get book and movie (and even song or podcast) recommendations as I travel that I add here with an open check box. I also record books I’ve finished to this list noting those with a checked box.
• Quotes . As noted above, these may be written quotes I come across or snippets of dialog I pick up. I either write the quote here directly or reference the journal page where I wrote the quote with a reminder such as “53-quote from Leipzig waitress on timing.”

You can do a trip highlights page on the flight home, but sometimes it helps to record a summary of details in the midst of your trip of things that stand out to you.

• To-do’s. I said I like to keep my travel journal free from productivity and time management, but I always have big-picture to-do activities that arise on a trip. I’ll record these as I go in the journal section, but for longer-term ones I don’t want to lose track of, I sometimes add a to-do index as well in the back of the journal. This can also be a great place to record future planning ideas for things you want to accomplish after your trip.
• Trip highlights . I’ll normally note the big moments in the journal section as they occur. But often on the flight home, I like to review these and capture them all in one place with the page reference and a brief notation. I may also add in additional ones at this point because sometimes, you don’t realize how powerful or meaningful a moment was at the time.

When your journal is full

Eventually, you’ll fill up your journal with entries. You’ll then review and have every page numbered with key entries noted in your index pages. Then what?

I use Scrivener (for writing projects) and Evernote (for others) as software/apps to track ideas over time. Thus, when I finish a journal, I go copy the content from my index pages into one of these digital programs.

There are several reasons for this. First, it helps to have all your ideas over time in one place so you can view them easier. Second, with the online tools, I can tag content by subject making retrieval later much easier. Most of us focus our efforts on having ideas and maybe writing them down. But those ideas won’t serve you well if you can’t find them later. Finally, putting everything into one place helps me see patterns and related ideas which, in turn, sparks new ideas.

It all relates to the concept of Collect, Connect and Share. If all you’re doing is collecting, you’re missing out on the main value of your journal.

Make a copy

This may be overkill to some, but my journals are precious repositories of life. I would hate to lose them. I could dictate the contents and transcribe that, but I don’t have that kind of time. Instead, Evernote comes to the rescue.

The Evernote app has a photo function. I open the app and take pictures of every spread or page of my journal. I save the results as an Evernote file and can even tag it by date, country or other criteria. It then resides on the cloud (and I also do a back-up on a drive at home). That way, if the original gets lost, I know that all those memories are secure.

Let’s review

Here’s a summary of the key points:

• Know the purpose for your journal
• Choose the type of journal based on your intended purpose.
• Start with something that’s not too nice so that you’re not afraid to mark it up.
• Keep daily entries in the front and a list of index pages in the back of the journal.
• Periodically review your journal entries. As you do, number each page and record that page number and a brief reminder on the appropriate index page.
• At the end of each journal, photograph each page and save to a secure location. Then enter the index information into whatever tool you use for tracking all of your ideas over time.

Additional resources and travel journal examples

Here are other resources and travel journal examples to both inspire and help you get the most out of your travel journal:

• A helpful article with visuals of different travel journal examples
• Writer and artist Austin Kleon’s comments on notebooks 
• Travel journal examples (and notebooks) of author Robert MacFarlane 
• Some additional travel journal examples and notebook types
• The Sketchbook Projec t, one of my favorite places to visit in Brooklyn, NY and a great source of inspiration for sketchbooks. If you’re looking for a single place for travel journal examples, it is this one. Here are just a few screen shots of some random travel journal examples I looked up by Julia Yellow . There are thousands of such journals at this site.

• If you really enjoy the travel drawing aspect of a travel journal, you might want to connect with the whole Urban Sketchers movement and see travel journal examples that include urban sketching. Here’s an example of an urban sketch by Stephanie Bower . I took some of her architectural sketching courses online at Bluprint and they were excellent.

Parting thoughts

Finally, if you want even more travel journal examples and information, be sure to read Lavinia Spalding’s excellent book on the subject, Writing Away: A Creative Guide to Awakening the Journal-Writing Traveler. Here’s one of many great quotes from the book:

“If we’re committed to honest investigation, the travel journal can be a cornerstone of growth and a catalyst for great work, providing a safe container for astonishing discoveries and the life lessons we take away from them. We write words in an empty book, and an inanimate object is transformed into a living, breathing memoir. In turn, as we write, the journal transforms us. It allows us to instantly process impressions, which leads to a more examined layer of consciousness in both the present and the future. It’s a relationship, and let me tell you, it’s no cheap one-night stand.”

You might want to consider writing that quote down in your travel journal. Either in the daily entries or on the quotes index page. Or however you want to do it. It’s your travel journal and the possibilities are endless.

Thanks Steve! Informative and creative. Your sketching is lovely, too! Merry Christmas to you and the fam

Thanks, Alan. I was just editing a section in my upcoming book, “Hidden Travel,” on the subject of sketching and the advice I was given by Gabriel Campinario, founder of Urban Sketchers. He told me to never apologize or say, “Oh, I’m just a beginner” when someone compliments your sketching because no matter how bad you think it is, it is still better than that of the 99% of the population who never attempts to draw. So I will leave it at, “Thank you!”

[…] I mainly get inspiration from a Reddit group called Journaling, and also I get a few ideas on making travel journals. Despite it being fun to do having a physical notebook, at times it can be difficult to finish them […]

You’ve inspired me to resume creating tiny travel journals, with scrapbook like additions. I use photo double sided stickies, not glue. Someone asked what do I do with these? As if creating isn’t pleasurable. I often use them as primary sources to create photobooks. Along with my Bird lists.🐦😁.

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Free Printable Travel Log Templates [PDF, Excel, Word]

A travel log can quickly become an un-tracked mess if you don’t organize it. But you’ll soon realize that keeping a travel log is almost like a lifestyle for anyone who goes on many trips. There’s so much to write down, from flights to hotels and miscellaneous expenses.

Table of Contents

What is a travel log?

A travel log is a way of documenting your travels, whether personal or professional. A travel log can be beneficial in helping you recall memories of your trips and also act as an excellent guide to help you plan your next. It enables you to keep track of all the information you need on each trip so that when it comes to following up with it, you can do so.

The travel log only travels within the framework of a route. Rather than ordinary diaries, it is an object that tries to convey the ambiance of the places visited. People can keep a travel diary for themselves or share their journey with a community. The language to be preferred in travel diaries is entirely up to the individual, but if shared with a community, fluency in the language to be created and the chronological order of events are of great importance.

Travel Log Templates

Document your adventures and keep track of your travel experiences with our comprehensive collection of Travel Log Templates . A travel log is a journal or diary where you can record details about your trips, including destinations, activities, accommodations, and memorable moments . Our customizable and printable templates provide a structured framework for organizing and preserving your travel memories. Whether you’re a globetrotter, an avid explorer, or a digital nomad, our templates offer various layouts and designs to suit your style.

By utilizing our Travel Log Templates , you can capture important details, reflect on your experiences, and create a personal keepsake of your journeys. With visually appealing designs and user-friendly layouts, our templates make it easy to document and share your travel stories. Enhance your travel documentation, relive your adventures, and create a lasting record of your wanderlust with our user-friendly templates. Download now and embark on a journey of preserving your travel memories with our Travel Log Templates .

How to write the perfect travel log?

“How to write a travel log?” It is the most logical option for travelers searching for an answer to the question to start by obtaining a notebook set first. One of the notebook sets should be divided into days directly with its pages or sections, and the travel notes for each day should be transferred to the relevant sections. Other essential features of the travel book are that it is easily portable, has a stylish structure, and is of high quality. The successful storage of the notes obtained during the trip will be possible with the travel book.

• Flow is a significant detail in a travel diary to be created from scratch. To prepare the flow according to the route and to make the events consist of a pattern, the “chronological” order is of great importance. Just before the creation of the travel book or diary, there are various notes, photographs, sound recordings, etc., that individuals must do. It is to obtain records that will facilitate the recall of the moments put into the memory with the elements. Thanks to these records, creating the final version of a travel diary will become much more perfect.
• Of course, every traveler takes a lot of photos during travels, and from time to time, he may not even be able to find a space to fit his photos. While preparing a travel diary, the inability to fit the images on the pages is a bigger problem than the pictures cannot be stored in the digital space. It is of great importance that the images of the days are chosen very well in the travel diaries. The most crucial photo of the day should be on the page related to that day, not to exceed a few.
• What’s a good travel log be like? Individuals looking for an answer to the question should pay attention that photographs tell much more than words. On the other hand, it is a much better reminder of the details of that moment. Therefore, doing a little photography training before preparing a travel diary or even before traveling will improve your travel diary. Afterward, it will be straightforward to decide on the photos to be chosen while organizing a travel diary and the photos taken at critical moments and times during the trip. Then, the travel diary can obtain photographs that contain the most important and most profound meanings of the days or contain the most details and describe much more than words.
• A street, a monument, a museum, a garden, a historical place, etc. You may have visited many places. Unfortunately, boring your diary with details while talking about these visited areas will make it difficult to read. It will disrupt the flow of the log and make it boring. Only the necessary details should be included in the travel diary to avoid such a situation.
• Avoiding telling personal details will be one of the best moves when writing a travel journal. For example, I did my hair like this today, chose that color bag, etc. Instead of unnecessary details, more details should be given about the cultures of the places visited during the trip or the ambiance of the events at that moment. With accurate descriptions, one of the primary purposes should be to make the reader live that moment in his mind with the diary and feel himself in that journey.

To better convey the feelings or experiences you have experienced while traveling a place, you need to include the sense organs in writing. Details such as talking about the smell of the environment during the trip, indicating the condition of the air temperature, giving information about the taste of what you eat and drink, conveying the details that catch your eye, and being descriptive about the general sound of the environment are the elements that should be included in the diary when writing a travel log.

Have you learned how to write but haven’t gone anywhere yet? Then hit the road, travel, roam, and share your experience with us!

How do you write a trip log?

A trip log records details during travel, including dates, locations, transportation, accommodation, activities, food, costs, weather, and personal experiences. Write down notes each day in a journal or log template. Supplement with photos, ticket stubs, etc.

What is the travel log?

A travel log is a diary where travelers document details about their trips, often including where they went, what they did, who they met, how they felt, and more. It helps preserve memories from vacations and adventures.

How do I create a key log spreadsheet?

To create a key log spreadsheet, make columns for the date, employee name, key number, time checked out, time returned, purpose/area accessed, and notes. Use rows to log each instance a key is used. This tracks key usage.

What is a log template?

A log template is a pre-made document with fields to enter repetitive data over time, allowing the user to track details, patterns, and progress. Logs help organize information like project tasks, exercise routines, work hours, expenses, etc.

What are the benefits of keeping a detailed travel log?

Benefits include preserving memories, recording expenses, writing down tips for future travelers, reflecting on experiences, maintaining a catalog of places visited, and appreciating how much you accomplished.

Should you write in your travel log during or after your trip?

It’s best to write frequent, brief log entries during your trip so details are fresh, then expand on them afterwards. In-the-moment notes capture true thoughts.

What makes a good travel log?

A good log is consistent, personalized with stories and anecdotes, has fun mementos attached or inserted, highlights new discoveries about people/places/yourself, and evokes the feeling of the experiences.

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How To Write A Travel Journal: Ideas, Tips, Prompts & Resources (2023 Definitive Guide)

Before I give you the A-Z on creating your travel journal, I have an interesting thought experiment for you…

Can you imagine packing up your life into ONE SINGLE duffel bag?

That’s exactly what my wife and I did when we first moved onto our sailboat  Sea Otter : one duffel of personal items each, and one small box of other items stored at our folks back home.

It turns out over  90% of the “stuff” we all own can happily be given away  or tossed in the bin.

Look around you right now. How much of the things you see are truly meaningful enough that you’d NEED to keep if all you could leave your home with was ONE duffel?

You’ll like this…

One of the  DEAD SIMPLE decisions you’d face with a “purging” like this is with your travel journals  because I can GUARANTEE it wouldn’t take more than a nanosecond for them to be placed delicately in your bag so you could keep them forever (which is exactly what I did with mine).

That’s how important your  travel diary  will become to you. It will become a cherished vault of memories…

…stories you’d have forgotten if you didn’t jot them down…

…memories you’ll look back on for the rest of your days with an ear-to-ear grin…

…a memento you can pass along to future generations so they can bask in your adventures.

And today you’re going to see  how to write a travel journal of your very own , including travel journal ideas, writing prompts, tips and all the best resources around!

What Is A Travel Journal?

Simply put, a travel journal is a diary of your time on holiday or vacation. It’s a place to jot down the things you never want to forget: people you met, important details, funny events, raw experiences.

And as we’ll discuss, it can take many forms, such as a paper notebook, a DIY scrapbook, an app, a website, and everything in between.

Is There A Difference Between A Travel Journal, Trip Diary, And Travel Log?

People often get confused about whether there’s a difference between these terms, but the answer is that they’re all the same thing.

Whether you prefer to call it a diary or a log doesn’t matter because you enter inside is the same: the stories of your travels.

And here’s an interesting fact you might enjoy: 

The term “travel log” (otherwise known as “travelogue” or “travelog”) originally comes from the term “ship’s log,” which was how sailboats and other seafaring vessels tracked the details of the voyage. They called it a “log” because of a wooden float that they used to drag behind the boat to measure speed.

…You know, in case you were really wondering. 😉

Why Keep A Journal While Traveling?

The experience is priority one.

Followed closely by a way to remember that experience.

You know this conundrum:

If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?

Now how about this doozie:

If you forget most of the things you did on your trip, did they really happen?

Well of course they did! But wouldn’t it be so much sweeter if you KNEW you would remember that adventure for the rest of your life? Hell yeah!

THAT is why it’s SO important to keep a journal while on your trip: to remember the best days of your life — those days spent abroad exploring new places, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures.

What Are The Different Types Available?

If you want the best travel journal, you first need to know what  type  you would prefer.

There are  2 main types  to consider, and they are very different:

1. A paper notebook style journal 2. A digital, multimedia style journal (such as an app)

Let’s take them one by one:

A Paper Travel Journal:

These are, most often, simple notebooks that you tailor to your travels. Blank page after blank page, ready for ink to cover the lines.

The main benefits of a paper notebook style journal are:

• Some people like the physical act of writing, as opposed to typing on their phones or tablets.
• It’s physical. You can hold it in your hands. It can sit on your bookshelf and physically take up space. 
• They make really cool gifts (especially  personalized travel journals ). 
• You scrapbook with it by gluing in boarding passes, ticket stubs, and anything else you want to keep a hold of.

A few shortcomings of a physical journal are:

• You can lose it! 😩
• You can only write it in, not easily add pictures or videos from your phone.
• You can’t track or tag locations automatically.
• They take up physical space (if you are a diehard minimalist).
• You can’t share your stories online.

A Digital Travel Journal:

Digital journals are usually apps and websites that work well for journaling. That said, you could also DIY it by simply documenting your travels in a simple text doc on your computer or the ‘Notes’ app on your phone (just make sure you back them up properly!).

The main benefits of a  travel journal app :

• The best ones store all your entries securely to the cloud, so you never have to worry about losing your memories.
• You can add pictures directly from your phone’s camera.
• The best ones allow you to add videos too!
• You can collaborate with travel-mates to the same journal, which makes sure you get ALL the stories from all angles (and pics too).
• The best ones automatically tag locations for you and show your routes on a map.
• The best ones allow you to  ‘publish’ your journals online for your friends and family to follow along .

A few shortcomings of a digital journal are:

• It’s in the cloud, so you can’t place it on your coffee table and peruse when you’re in the mood (although the best ones do allow you to print your journals too).
• You can’t glue in physical mementos you want to hold on to.
• They’re harder to give as gifts because the “ unwrapping ” just isn’t the same.

As you can see, there are tradeoffs with each style and the answer to which is better truly lies in what you find as more important. Do you want to  share it online  or are you happy to  keep it privately written  on your bookshelf? Are you cool with just being able to write or do want to add pictures, videos, and maps ?

Think about what’s best and go for it! Remember, you can always choose a different style next time!

5 Of The Best Travel Journal Notebooks To Buy

There are loads of travel journals available for you to buy online. Some with simple ruled pages, others with prompts and other interesting things inside, and some are personalized for that extra cool touch.

Here are our top 5 favorites (including a few of our best selling personalized journals, of course 😊):

1.  The Extraordinary Life & Adventures Notebook (Personalized!)  by Journo Travel Goods

2.  Refillable Leather Journal Traveler’s Notebook  by Moterm 3.  Personalized ‘Comrades in Life, Love & Adventure’ Couples Travel Journal  by Journo Travel Goods

4.  Simple Premium Leather With Monogram  by OxAndPine

5.  The Custom Boarding Pass Travel Journal  by Journo Travel Goods

There are plenty of options out there. The best of which comes with personalization and are an ideal size for hauling around on a trip.

What Is The Best App For Journaling?

I founded  Journo  to do ONE THING: help fellow travel junkies track, remember and share their adventures like they couldn’t do ANYWHERE else.

It all started while at anchor in a secluded bay in The Bahamas, when I was trying to describe in my paper journal the most strikingly red sunset I’d ever seen. But I couldn’t find the words.

…and  I felt like I was going to miss out on that memory  if the only way I was trying to document it was on paper.

The very next day the idea for  Journo  was born. It’s taken on a life of its own since – developing a huge community of incredible travelers and winning “Best Travel App” by IMA Awards. 

National Geographic Travel put it simply:

“Sharing memories from a trip can get messy. Journo removes the pain.”

Journo  is loaded with cool capabilities that make it so much easier to document your trips. And even comes with your very own travel blog so your friends and family back home can follow along (and endlessly drool at your adventures 🤤).

Journo is  available on iOS for iPhones and iPad , with Android coming soon. Of course, there are a few other travel journal apps out there and I encourage you to compare with Journo and use whichever you think is best. 

What do you write in your journal? 10 Fun Travel Journal Ideas To Inspire You!

A little nudge can go a long way when you’re first starting out. So to get your mind running, here are 10 of our favorite ideas to include in your trip diary:

1. Start before your trip.  Jot down your  pre-trip planning list , where you’re going, who with, what items are on your  must-see and must-do lists . Write about anything you’re most excited about, even if it’s simply relaxing on the beach and going through a couple of  great books !

2. A picture is worth a thousand words.  If you’re using a travel journal app like Journo, the simplest thing to do is start in your photo album. Look through, grab a pic that catches your eye, add it to your Journal and then write the story about it! If you’re using a paper journal, consider bringing along  a mini polaroid like this , and then paste in your pics!

3. A video is worth all the words.  This one only works with a limited number of apps that allow for video (like Journo, of course 😉), but including a video of a memorable moment can really take your entries up a notch.

4. Oh, the sights!  We often say, “ Don’t be a tourist. Be a traveler. ” But we always recommend seeing the big sights, even if they’re in massive tourist traps. They’re big sights for a reason – they’re incredible! Add them to your journal. Write about if they lived up your expectations or not.

5. It’s all about the people.  I guarantee some of the longest-lasting memories you’ll have from a trip are of the people you meet. We, humans, are built for connection, and so a beautiful connection with a new friend or complete stranger can have a lasting impact. Document it!

6. Let’s not forget about the food.  Even the most non-foodies amongst us love to talk about  amazing food experiences abroad . I’ll never forget my squid ink spaghetti on The Amalfi Coast, or navigating my way through Cuy (Guinea Pig!) in Cuzco, or my daily  street dumplings  in Shanghai. Take pics of your favorite dishes, jot down the restaurant (or pin it on a map in Journo), and describe the food in detail! 😋

7. Map it!  If you’re anything like me, you love the look of a cool map. Now, doesn’t that map get even sweet when it’s of YOUR travel route? Yep! Draw it and color it if you’re using a paper journal (gives you something to do when in limbo or on a  long train ride ). If you’re using an app, it should  pin your route for you .

8. Paste in awesome mementos.  This one is best for the paper journalers amongst us because you can literally glue in cool stuff from your adventures, like maps, ticket stubs, bottle labels, coasters, postcards, foreign dollar bills, candy wrappers, etc. Whatever you find interesting, toss it in! If you’re using an app, just take a pic of it!

9. Write about yourself.  No better place for a little bit of introspection than on a trip. And that’s usually because – if you’re doing it right – you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and growing as a person. Write about that. Write about your feelings, changed opinions, ups, and downs, whatever it may be that you’re going through!

10. Team up!  We created Journo as a collaborative journaling tool because it’s a ton of fun for you and your travel-mates to be journaling in the same place ( here’s my wife, Mak, and my collabo Journo from a sail a while back , as an example). You get all the stories and, oftentimes, a hilarious new angle on a shared experience. If you’re using a paper journal, just pass it around, maybe even taking turns documenting the days.

>> New: 100 travel journal prompts for ever part of your adventure.

And whatever you do… don’t overthink it! It’s better to just roll with it than overthink it. It’s just an entry, after all. Just write!

One thing we’ve discovered from our community of travel journalers is that it can be hard to find the time  while on a trip  to keep up with your journaling. Here’s some help with that…

4 Writing Tips To Fill Your Travel Journal With Ease WHILE Vacationing

1. Start with today.  With limited time, and being pretty beat after a long day, it’s tough to keep up. So just don’t worry about previous days, just start with today (and catch up as soon as you can or when you get home and maybe  feeling the post-trip blues ).     

2. Think “highlight reel.”  The quickest way to get that entry rolling is to think about the top 1-3 things that went down today. Add those, then expand later if you want. 

3. Start in your phone’s photo album.  As mentioned above, it’s simplest to start by pulling up the date in your phone’s photo library, find the best pics, add them to your journal and write a short snippet of it.     

4. Consider giving your friends back home a touch of the #TravelEnvy bug.  😜 With Journo, you can publish your entries to your very own travel blog with a couple of taps. This will both  make your friends drool  and also keep you on track with adding more stories of your adventures.

I hope you found this helpful in getting started with traveling journaling. Remember, the most important thing is to simply begin.

Step one is to grab the right journal  for you  (thanks for considering Journo in your decision).  Step two , if you have time before your departure date,  is to start writing now ! That easy!

Ok here’s one last helpful tip for you…

Try to develop the habit of daily journaling now will make it even easier while on your trip.  Here is a free downloadable journaling prompt exercise book for you: The 21-Day Journo Challenge.

Inside you’ll get ONE word or image, and all you need to do is write about WHATEVER comes to your mind as you read the word or lay your eyes on the pic.

Have any tips we didn’t mention? What do you love travel journaling about the most?  Tell us in the comments below!

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Travel Journal: 100+ Prompts, Ideas, and Tips

• March 30, 2023

Home » Day One Blog » Travel Journal: 100+ Prompts, Ideas, and Tips

Keeping a travel journal can be an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience, whether you’re an avid traveler or someone who’s embarking on a new adventure. From documenting unforgettable memories to fostering personal growth and reflection, a travel journal can be a window into the unique journeys you take in life.

In this guide, we’ve put together an extensive list of 100 travel journal prompts, tips, and ideas to help you create a travel journal that truly captures the essence of your adventures. Get ready to explore new cultures, savor the beauty of the world around you, and create a one-of-a-kind keepsake that will forever be a reminder of your incredible experiences.

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal is simply a personal record of your experiences, thoughts, and feelings during your travels. Travel journaling is a wonderful way to document and reflect on your travel experiences, capturing memories of the places you visit, the people you meet, and the adventures you have.

Travel journaling can take various forms, depending on your preferences and needs. You can choose to write in a traditional notebook or sketchbook, or create a digital journal or blog. Some people use their travel journals not only to record their experiences but also to plan their trip, track expenses, and organize important information such as flight details, reservations, and contact information for locals they meet along the way.

Keeping a travel journal can be a valuable tool for reflecting on your travels, preserving memories, and sharing your experiences with others.

10 Convincing Reasons to Keep a Travel Journal

Keeping a travel journal or travel diary offers several benefits, both during the trip and long after your travels have ended. Some of the key reasons to keep a travel journal include:

1. Preserve your memories.

A travel journal helps preserve memories of your experiences, sights, and encounters that might otherwise fade with time. You can look back and reminisce about your adventures, learning from and enjoying them all over again.

2. Be more present.

When you write about your travel experiences in real-time, you tend to be more focused on the present moment. This can help you to be more present and mindful during your travels, and can also improve your memory of the trip.

3. Sharpen your observational skills.

Journaling pushes you to pay closer attention to your surroundings, which can improve your observational and descriptive abilities. This heightened awareness can lead to a more enriching travel experience.

4. Organize your thoughts and experiences.

A travel journal serves as a central location to record important information, such as trip itineraries, contact details, and to-do lists. This can help you stay organized and focused during your travels.

5. Enhance your creativity.

Writing about your experiences encourages creativity and storytelling skills. You can experiment with different writing styles, descriptions, or even drawings to capture the essence of your trip. Since traveling has links to creativity , keeping a travel journal allows you to expand these benefits in both ways.

6. Encourage self-reflection.

Traveling can be a transformative experience, and a travel journal can serve as a tool for self-reflection . Writing about your experiences can help you process your emotions, thoughts, and feelings, and gain insights into yourself and your place in the world.

7. Boost your personal growth.

Recording your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to new experiences can provide insight into your own personal growth and development. You can track how your perspectives and attitudes have evolved over time and learn more about yourself.

8. Reduce stress.

Studies have shown that even short vacations can improve stress levels , and writing in a travel journal can be therapeutic, allowing you to process your emotions and experiences in a healthy way. Travel journaling can also help you work through challenges and setbacks that may arise during your trip.

9. Create a unique keepsake.

A travel journal is a personalized souvenir that tells the story of your adventures. What you write can become a special item to share with friends and family or pass down to future generations.

10. Encourage deeper gratitude and appreciation.

Writing about your experiences while traveling can foster a deeper sense of gratitude for the opportunities and experiences you’ve had, helping you appreciate the journey and the people you’ve met along the way.

What to Write About In A Travel Journal

There are many things you can write about in a travel journal. A travel journal usually involves writing a personal record of your thoughts, feelings, and observations throughout your journey. You can also include details about the food you try, the sights you see, the cultures you encounter, and the emotions you experience.

Here are a few things to write about in a travel journal:

• Daily activities: Write about what you did each day, including any sights you saw, people you met, and activities you participated in.
• Observations: Record your observations of the places you visit, including the landscapes, architecture, and culture.
• Food and drink: Describe the local cuisine and drinks you try, and note any favorites or new discoveries.
• Thoughts and feelings: Reflect on your thoughts and feelings about your experiences, including any challenges, surprises, or moments of joy.
• Cultural insights: Document your learnings about the local culture, customs, and traditions.
• Travel tips: Share any travel tips or advice that may be useful for others planning to visit the same places.
• Accommodations: Write about your accommodations, including any interesting details or experiences you had there.
• Write about the people you meet: Describe the locals, fellow travelers, and any interesting characters you come across. Note any conversations or interactions you have with them.
• Reflect on your growth: Traveling can be a transformative experience, and writing about the ways in which you’ve grown and changed can be a powerful exercise in self-reflection.
• Budget and expenses: Keep track of your expenses and budget, including any unexpected costs or money-saving tips.
• Memorable moments: Jot down any particularly memorable moments from your trip, including those that took you by surprise or left a lasting impression on you.
• Challenges and triumphs: Write about any challenges you faced during your trip, and how you overcame them. Celebrate your triumphs, big and small, and the sense of accomplishment they brought.
• Sights, sounds, and smells: Use all your senses to describe the places you visit. Write about the sights, sounds, smells, and textures that make each destination unique
• Overall impressions: Sum up your overall impressions of each place you visit, including what you liked, what you didn’t like, and what surprised you the most.

13 Tips for Keeping a Travel Journal

Keeping a travel journal can be a great way to document your experiences and memories from your travels. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Find a travel journal that suits your needs.

When choosing a travel journal, consider not only the size and weight but also the durability of the journal. If you plan to carry it with you all the time, it’s best to choose one that can withstand wear and tear. Additionally, think about whether you want a plain notebook or one with prompts and questions to guide your writing. Some journals may have pre-designed sections for you to fill in with information about the places you visit, what you did there, and what you learned.

2. Consider a journal app with travel journal features.

Using a travel journal app like Day One is an excellent way to capture your travel experiences conveniently. You can quickly jot down notes, take pictures, and record your thoughts and feelings, even if you don’t have your physical journal with you. The app’s Map View is especially useful, as it allows you to see where you’ve been and what you’ve done in each location. Plus, if you’re traveling internationally and plan to limit your data usage, Day One will store your entries and uploads locally on your device until you connect to WiFi.

3. Decide on your travel journaling style.

When deciding on your travel journaling style, consider what you want to focus on. Do you want to describe the places you visit in detail, or do you want to focus more on your thoughts and emotions during your travels? Writing daily entries can be a great way to capture everything that happens, but if you prefer to write less frequently, consider making notes of significant events or experiences.

4. Set a journaling goal.

Setting a goal for your travel journal can give you a sense of direction and purpose while writing. Your goal could be as simple as writing in your journal every day during your trip, or more specific, such as recording a unique experience or learning something new about the culture of the places you visit. Create a list of goals before you begin your travels so you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your journal.

5. Slow down.

When traveling, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new sights and experiences. However, taking the time to slow down and observe your surroundings can help you appreciate the small things that you might otherwise miss. Take a moment to sit down and watch the world go by, or go for a leisurely stroll to take in your surroundings.

6. Include as many details as possible.

Include details such as the names of the places you visit, the foods you eat, and the people you meet. The more specific and detailed your writing is, the more vividly you’ll be able to recall your experiences later.

7. Use your senses.

Using your senses is a powerful way to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Try to pay attention to the smells, sounds, textures, and tastes of the places you visit. Describe the scent of a local market, the sound of a street musician, or the texture of a historic building’s walls. Using your senses to describe your experiences can help bring your travel journal to life.

8. Ask questions.

Asking questions can be an excellent way to learn more about the places you visit. Locals and tour guides can provide valuable insights into the history, culture, and traditions of the places you’re exploring. Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations on things to see and do, or for tips on where to find the best local cuisine.

9. Stay in the present moment.

When you travel, it’s easy to get caught up in planning, taking photos, and checking items off your bucket list. However, it’s important to take the time to slow down and appreciate the present moment. Take a few deep breaths and focus on your senses, noticing the sights, smells, sounds, textures, and tastes around you. Take time to observe the people you meet and the interactions you have with them. Engage with the local culture and try to understand their way of life.

10. Take photos and videos.

Taking photos and videos can be a great way to capture details that you may not be able to describe in words. Use your camera or phone to snap pictures of interesting sights, people, and places. These photos and videos can provide valuable inspiration when you’re writing in your travel journal later.

11. Stay curious.

Staying curious while traveling means keeping an open mind and embracing the unknown. Try new things, explore new places, and take risks. Step outside your comfort zone and embrace the unfamiliar, whether that’s trying new foods or engaging in new activities. Keeping a sense of curiosity can inspire your writing and help you capture unique experiences that you may have otherwise missed.

12. Keep your journal safe.

Your travel journal is a precious record of your travels and experiences, whether it’s in a physical or digital format. Consider investing in a sturdy, waterproof journal or storing your journal in a plastic bag or waterproof cover to protect it from moisture. It’s also a good idea to keep your journal in a safe place when you’re not using it, such as a backpack or hotel safe. Consider making a backup copy of your digital travel journal, whether it’s on your phone, tablet, or laptop. For example, the Day One app offers secure cloud-based backups and file exports. Additionally, you can encrypt your digital journal to protect it from unauthorized access. This way, you can ensure that your journal is safe and secure, and you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your memories are protected.

13. Make it fun.

Remember that travel journaling should be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Use your journal as a creative outlet to express yourself and capture your unique perspective on the world. Experiment with different writing styles and formats, such as poetry, short stories, or essays. You could also include sketches, paintings, or other visual art to enhance your journal entries. And most importantly, don’t worry too much about making your writing perfect or adhering to a strict structure. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process of documenting your travels in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling to you.

20+ Travel Journaling Ideas

A travel journal is a fantastic way to capture memories, thoughts, and experiences from your trips. To get started, here are some creative travel journal ideas to help you get started with travel journaling:

1. Record your itinerary and travel plan.

Record your trip itinerary, including transportation details, accommodations, and planned activities.

2. Organize your packing list.

Create a packing list for your trip and reflect on what items were useful and which ones you could have left behind.

3. Create a bucket list.

Create a bucket list of activities or experiences you want to have during your trip, and check them off as you complete them.

4. Recap each day.

Write about your daily experiences, such as the places you visit, the people you meet, and the local cuisine you try.

5. Use journal prompts.

Using journal prompts can be a helpful way to spark creativity and reflection in your travel journal. Choose a travel journal prompt below that resonates with you and write freely without worrying too much about structure or perfection.

6. Sketch and doodle.

Illustrate your memories with drawings of the landscapes, architecture, and other interesting sights.

7. Capture quotes and phrases.

Jot down memorable quotes from locals or interesting phrases you learn in the local language.

8. Include your favorite travel photos.

Include photographs of your favorite moments, places, and experiences from your trip.

9. Collect ticket stubs and mementos.

Attach ticket stubs, maps, postcards, brochures, or other small mementos to help you remember your trip. If you prefer to go the digital route, scan items or take a photo of these items.

10. Write about your feelings.

Traveling can be an emotional experience, and writing about your feelings can be a cathartic and introspective exercise. Reflect on how the trip is making you feel and what emotions are arising.

12. Go deeper by reflecting.

Write about your personal growth and what you’ve learned during your travels. Reflect on how your travels have impacted you, whether it’s a new perspective on a cultural issue, a realization about yourself, or an enhanced sense of empathy and understanding. Think about the ways in which your travels have shaped your worldview and how you can apply these lessons to your life back home.

13. Express your gratitude.

Express gratitude for the experiences you’ve had and the people you’ve met along the way.

14. Keep a food diary.

Record the local dishes you’ve tried, including their names, ingredients, and your thoughts about them during your trip.

15. Add notes on culture and customs.

Describe the local culture, traditions, and customs that you encountered and found fascinating.

16. Write about your travel challenges.

Write about any challenges you faced during your trip and how you overcame them.

17. Include maps and routes.

Trace your travel route on a map, or draw your own maps to remember the places you’ve visited.

18. Write about the people you meet.

Traveling provides opportunities to meet new people and learn about their lives. Use your journal to document these interactions and what you’ve learned from them.

19. Use poetry and creative writing.

Use your travel experiences as inspiration for poems, short stories, or other creative writing exercises.

20. Keep track of your budget and expenses.

Document your travel expenses to help you plan better for future trips, or to help stay on track with your budget.

20. Include ratings and reviews.

Rate and review accommodations, restaurants, attractions, and other experiences to help you remember the highlights of your trip.

21. Make a travel wishlist.

Write a list of destinations you’d like to visit and why they appeal to you.

22. Plan for a post-trip recap.

After returning home, reflect on your trip as a whole, including your favorite moments, any personal growth, and what you’ll take away from your journey.

23. Print your digital travel journal.

Having a physical copy of your travel journal can provide a tangible reminder of your travels and serve as a cherished keepsake for years to come. By printing your travel journal, you can create a physical record of your adventures that you can hold in your hands and share with others. It can be a meaningful way to preserve your memories and reflect on your journey, long after your travels have ended.

50 Travel Journal Prompts to Try

Still not sure what to write about in your travel journal? Journal prompts are a great way to spark your creativity and dive deeper into your travel experiences.

These travel journal prompts are designed help you capture the essence of your trip, and encourage introspection before, during, and after your adventure. So, whether you’re exploring new cultures, savoring local cuisine, or simply taking in breathtaking landscapes, let journal prompts guide your writing, enrich your narrative, and ultimately, help you create a captivating and memorable travel journal.

Journal Prompts For Before You Leave

Preparing for a trip can be just as exciting as the trip itself. Before you head out, consider using journal prompts to help you focus your thoughts and prepare for the adventures ahead. The following travel journal prompts can help you dig deeper into your travel expectations, identify potential challenges, and set meaningful goals for your journey. By reflecting on these prompts, you can better prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the exciting journey that lies ahead.

• What are my expectations for this trip? What do I hope to gain from it?
• What are the places I want to visit and why are they important to me?
• What am I most looking forward to experiencing on this trip?
• How do I think this trip will change me?
• What are my travel goals, both short-term and long-term?
• Can I describe my travel companions (if any) and why I chose to travel with them?
• How am I preparing for my trip (mentally, physically, logistically)?
• What are my top three fears or concerns about the trip?
• How will I react if the trip takes an unexpected turn?
• What am I most looking forward to about this trip?
• How do I plan to challenge myself during this trip?
• What role do I hope this trip will play in my personal growth and development?
• What specific moments or experiences do I hope to capture in my travel journal or through photography?
• How do I plan to stay open-minded and present during my trip? What steps can I take to cultivate this mindset?

Journal Prompts For While You’re Traveling

While traveling, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of the moment and forget to take time to reflect on your experiences. By using travel journal prompts to capture your thoughts and observations during your trip, you can deepen your connection to the places you visit and the people you meet. The following prompts are designed to help you stay present and engaged during your travels, and to encourage you to take a closer look at the world around you. Reflect on these travel journal prompts to create a meaningful record of your journey.

• How did I feel when I arrived at my destination? What were my first impressions?
• What was the most memorable moment of my day?
• What beautiful or interesting sight did I encounter today?
• What new foods did I try and how did they taste?
• How would I describe the atmosphere of a specific location I visited today (e.g. café, beach, market)?
• How have the locals treated me and what are my experiences interacting with them?
• What was a conversation I had with a local or fellow traveler?
• What cultural differences or similarities have I noticed during my trip?
• Can I describe a piece of art, architecture, or natural wonder that left an impression on me?
• What local tradition, festival, or event have I witnessed or participated in?
• How is my trip living up to my expectations so far?
• What were some unexpected challenges I have faced during my trip so far?
• Can I share an act of kindness I’ve experienced or observed during my trip?
• What was a moment when I felt outside my comfort zone and what did I learn from it?
• What’s a funny or embarrassing moment that has happened during my trip?
• What has been my favorite and least favorite aspects of the destination(s) so far?
• How has my perception of the world changed during my trip?
• Who is an inspiring person I’ve met on this trip and what is their story?
• What new skills or knowledge have I gained on this trip?
• If I could give advice to someone visiting the same destination(s), what would it be?

Journal Prompts For After You Arrive Home

Returning home after a journey can be bittersweet. While you may be happy to be back in familiar surroundings, it’s also common to experience a sense of loss or nostalgia for the experiences you had while traveling. These travel journal prompts can help you reflect on your journey after you’re home, so you can continue to process your experiences and keep the memories alive. The following prompts are designed to help you unpack your thoughts and feelings about your trip, to identify the ways in which it has changed you, and to set goals for future travel. By reflecting on these prompts, you can continue to grow and learn from your travel experiences long after the journey has ended.

• What will I remember most about my trip experience?
• What was the biggest highlight of the trip?
• What is a food or drink that I tried during my trip that I still think about?
• What moment from my trip challenged me in a significant way?
• What did I learn about myself during this trip?
• How has my trip influenced my perspective on life and my priorities?
• What souvenirs or momentos did I collect on this trip? What were their significance?
• What was my favorite photo of the trip? What is the story behind it?
• What was my favorite destination on my trip? Why?
• What was the most valuable lesson I learned from this trip?
• How have my travel goals changed after this trip?
• What aspects of the local culture would I like to incorporate into my daily life?
• What places would I I want to visit in the future?
• What was a place or experience that I wish I had more time to explore?
• How has my trip influenced my outlook on the world and my place in it?
• How did my trip impact my sense of identity? Did I discover anything new about myself?

Wrapping Up: Your Travel Journal Awaits Your Next Adventure

Travel journaling is a fun way to preserve your memories, foster personal growth, and enhance your travel experiences. With the travel journal tips, prompts, and ideas we’ve shared in this post, we hope you now feel well-equipped to embark on your own travel journaling journey. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to capture your adventures—the most important aspect is to embrace the process, stay curious, and allow your unique voice to shine through. So, grab your journal, explore the world, and let your creative spirit soar as you document the unforgettable moments, the hidden gems, and the personal discoveries that make each journey truly yours. Happy travels and happy journaling!

About the Author

Kristen Webb Wright is the author of three books on journaling. With a passion for writing and self-reflection, Kristen uses her experience with journaling to help others discover the benefits of documenting their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In her role at Day One, she helps to promote the power of journaling so people from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of journaling.

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Travel Journal Examples & Sample Pages

Posted on Published: January 13, 2018  - Last updated: March 31, 2023

When I took the plunge to downsize a few years ago, I promised myself that I would see more of the world. Initially, I was turned off to the idea of solo travel,  so I put my travel plans to the side. That was two years ago. In the time since, I’ve grown in my ability to navigate unfamiliar spaces and, through following a few solo travel blogs, warmed to the idea of solo travel and visited over a dozen countries on solo adventures.

In April of 2017, I began planning my first solo journey- 25 days that summer in Italy, Croatia, and Bosnia. At some point, as I dreamed about travel and adventures, I began to imagine what it might be like to honor my artist self with something that all classically trained artists receive: a chance to study the masters.

I dreamed, cautiously, of spending hours in museums during my trip, sitting in front of the iconic work of the masters and translating their work into my style. I did this with caution because, as anyone can tell, I’m not a classical artist. Realism in art defies me, and I was acutely aware of the exposure that sketching in a museum carries. Could I bring the courage I’d need to sit in some of the best museums in the world, before works of the masters, and doodle? Cautiously, I packed my bags, created a travel art kit, and set off on my journey.

DAY 1. Michelangelo’s David At Gallery Academia

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, I was in Florence, and the only thing on my to-do list was to make it to the Academia Gallery by days end. 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 partners 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.

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

DAY 2. Botticelli’s “Birth Of Venus” At Uffizi Gallery 

Cruelly, Uffizi did not provide benches with a view of this piece, but I was able to stand with it for a time, studying, and then snap a photo to sketch her from a bench in a nearby hallway.

It was fun to study this piece as a student of psychology and someone doing a lot of personal work in the area of body image currently. Renaissance art bodies are so beautiful to behold, and great reminders. Here’s how I captioned this shot on Instagram:

Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. It is lovely to be reminded that thigh gaps and flat tummies are a fleeting ideal. This painting was made in a society that thought art should be in service of faith with a very narrow view of what that meant. I love that this image of a round woman’s body was one of the first to say the beauty of bodies, God’s creation is good.

DAY 3.  Florence Parks & Truffle Hunting

On Day 3 I strayed a bit from my “no itinerary” plans and booked an : Air BnB Experience . In a brilliant move on Airbnb’s part, in my opinion, they are using their network of local hosts as a source from which to curate local guides. Only available in limited cities at the time of this writing, Airbnb made booking the tour really easy (since I already had an account) and I loved, love, loved that it really was the offer of a memorable “experience” instead of an information-based tour.   Of the three day tours I joined during my 3 week journey, the Airbnb experience was my favorite.

I didn’t actually get the chance to doodle this one until I was in Croatia, and it’s not one of my favorite travel doodles- but it captures the experience- and that’s what my travel art journal was 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 .

Buildings of Florence

Florence was my first opportunity to use my doodling to collect a record of the places I visited, not just the art I saw, through recording streets and buildings.

A partially-finished painting of the street where I stayed in Florence

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Architecture is a point of interest for anyone visiting Italy, and the not-very-popular but still beautiful Piazza Del Liberta was a great spot to sit in the cool of the evening and practice architectural doodles. This turned out to be the first of many architectural doodles during the trip, but it’s still one of my favorites. I kept a separate hardcover booklet of heavy watercolor paper  in my pack for these kind of watercolors.

There and Back: Italy on the Return

My trip began and ended in Italy, with two weeks of exploring Croatia and Bosnia in the middle. On the return trip to Italy, I spent four days in Rome.

In Rome, I got to doodle Carravagio’s “Inspiration of St Matthew”. (Which turned out weirdly like a bible themed coloring page- but ok, everything is a learning process)

By the time I reached Rome I was so tired, but the doodles I made time for were lovely ways to remember what I saw during my solo time in Italy.

City Scapes and Overlooks

Self Portraits as a Traveler

Journal accent pages.

Fountains and Structures of Rome

In Rome more so than Florence, it was the architecture rather than the galleries that demanded most of my awe.

And the Iconic Trevi Fountain, too grand to capture in its fullness so represented in my doodle of a side portion of the fountain

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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.

Sunday 14th of January 2018

so lovely to see them all collated :) . any chance you might share your info/discoveries/ sources on single person travel?

Thursday 18th of January 2018

Thanks for your comment! This is my art blog and I have a blog about non-art stuff, like solo travel, over at wanderbig.com I've written about some of my adventures traveling as a single person there!

Travel Journal: Ideas, Tips, and How To Write a Travel Diary

• Travel Journal

Traveling has the potential to be wildly fulfilling. It exposes you to new cultures, different perspectives and unique experiences. The further you travel the more you are pushed out of your comfort zone. And the more you are pushed out of your comfort zone, the more you learn about yourself and the world around you.

One of the most popular types of journals is a travel journal. By having a travel diary, you can keep all these new experiences and knowledge in one place where you can reflect on them.

What is a travel journal?

Travel journals are a place where you can write about trips you have taken, what you learned during and the experiences you had. It is a collection of adventures, stories, memories and discovery.  It doesn’t matter where you're going or who you’re traveling with, an online trip journal can come anywhere. 

Why Write A Journal When Traveling?

There are many benefits of keeping a journal when traveling, but here are a few to start with:

Remember More

By writing down the things you want to do on your trip and the things you have done during it, you won’t forget the reasons you wanted to go and will remember more of your visit.

When traveling somewhere new, you will learn a lot about that place’s culture, customs and people. By having a place to write down your observations, you will absorb more of your surroundings.

Reflect More

A journal is a place to record new things you have discovered while exploring various places you visit. By having all these new findings in one place, you will be able to look back and reflect on what you have learned and apply it to other parts of your life.

How To Write Travel Journals: 5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Journaling

You don’t need to be traveling to Timbuktu to write a travel diary. Your writing can start with a family vacation or a weekend getaway. All you need is a destination and your holiday journal can begin!

1. Use your journal to plan your trip

Your trip journal can begin before your trip has even started. Use your journal to start planning the things you want to do. It can be anything from a cool restaurant you want to eat at, a hike you want to go on or different sights you want to see. Write down whatever is on your trip check-list, so you don’t forget it.

Once you know what you want to do, do some research and figure out the best way to do it. If you want to go see a special monument, figure out the best way to get there and put it in your journal. If you want to do some cool activities, write down the contact information of the people, places or tours that facilitate them. Your journal is also a great place to keep the contact information of your accommodations and transportation.

2. Write about what you imagine it will be like

Sometimes when you travel, your destination is wildly different than what you expected. Maybe you expected the local food to be bad and it turned out to be delicious. Maybe you imagined the town to be smaller than it actually is. Maybe you thought you would be more comfortable with the language. Whatever it is, think about writing it down before you arrive. It will be interesting to compare these predictions to what you actually experienced.

3. Write during your trip

It is always easier to remember things when they are fresh in your brain, so try and write as much as you can while traveling; every day if you can. Your journal entries don’t have to be long, but let them highlight what you feel was most important or exciting. How did you feel during your visit to the local market? What did you smell, taste and hear? Did you learn something new from the person you spoke to at the bar? Were you surprised by the clothes people were wearing? What was the view from the top of the mountain like? Before you go to bed, try and recall what you did that day, what you thought and how you felt. This will serve as a great way to remember more from your trip, but will also help you reflect and grow from what you encountered.

4. Add pictures to your journal

Even though your journal is meant for writing, pictures are still worth a thousand words. Combining pictures with your first-hand accounts of what they represent, or what happened when they were taken, will make for an even more comprehensive narrative of your travels. Don’t worry about glueing or taping anything either. Penzu allows you to upload pictures straight into your online travel journal, so you can keep your pictures and words connected and organized.

5. Write about your trip after you leave

Since you write about your trip before you arrive, you should also write about it after you leave.

• What was it like?
• What did you learn?
• What surprised you?
• What disappointed you?

It is important to reflect on your travels, so you can retain new understandings and apply them to future adventures. This is also a great way to learn about yourself, other people you may have travelled with and how you can grow. Step back from all the things you did and try to see the big picture. It may surprise you.

10 Travel Journal Ideas To Inspire You

The blank pages of your travel journal may not be serving as great inspiration, but your new trip should! Here are 10 travel journal ideas to get those creative juices flowing, kick-start your writing and help you get the most out of your travels. We hope these journal prompts help!

1. Why are you going?

Not every trip needs an explanation and not every vacation needs a justification. People travel for all sorts of different reasons or for no reason at all, but if your travel has purpose, write about it. Even if you’re traveling for the sake of it, that is a reason worth talking about too.

2. Write about your expectations.

As we mentioned above, expectations can wildly differ from reality, especially when going somewhere you’ve never been or going with someone you have never travelled with before. Jot down what you think the trip will be like, or hope it will be like.

3. What are you going to do?

Write about the things you want to do, the sights you want to see, the music you want to dance to, the food you want to taste. Writing it all down will get you excited and help you not to forget.

4. Write about the people.

Did you meet anyone new? Did you make a new friend? Were the locals welcoming? Did you learn something new from a stranger? Did you learn something new from a friend? People can really make a trip. Whether you came with them, or met them there, write about how the people you encountered affected your experience.

5. Write about the food.

Just because you call it your travel diary, doesn’t mean it can’t double as a food diary . If there are any foods you loved, dishes you hated or recipes you can’t live without, write them down to remember them all. Maybe some new fare you tried will influence your tastes when you return home.

6. The ups and the downs.

What did you like most about the trip? What did you like the least?

7. Write about yourself.

Reflect on the new experiences you had, what made you uncomfortable and what enticed you. Did you learn anything new about yourself on the trip? Did being somewhere else expose something you hadn’t seen in yourself before? Traveling can help people grow. Think about your journey and if it helped you grow in any way.

8. Write a travel guide.

If you knew friends were going to the same place, what would you tell them to do? Write down your recommendations and the stuff that should not be missed.

9. What would you have changed?

Is there anything about the trip you would have changed? Is there anything else you wish you did? Anything you wish you didn’t do? Write about your travels and how you can improve them for the next time you go away.

10. Where do you want to go next?

We all have a wish-list of places we want to go. Write yours down and try to start checking them off.

Using Penzu for Your Travel Journal

Penzu’s journal software allows you to access your journal from any computer, smartphone or tablet. Penzu will be your travel journal app ; all you need is your mobile phone or tablet and can write in in it, with or without wifi. You never have to miss an entry or forget a moment, as Penzu can come with you around the world. No internet necessary.

Now that you know what to write in a travel diary and how to write one, all you need to decide is where to go. Pick a place get start your online journal today!

There's no time like the present - start your free online journal today!

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What Is a Travel Journal + How to Make One with Examples

Traveling to new places and journaling about your exciting and enriching experiences is beyond rewarding. Whether you're exploring a bustling city, immersing yourself in nature's wonders, or embarking on a cultural adventure, capturing your travel experiences is a great way to preserve memories and reflect on your journey. One popular and creative way to document your travels is through a travel journal . In this article, we'll cover what a travel journal is, the benefits of keeping one, how to choose the best travel journal among different types, and provide you with tips and examples on how to make your own.

Ready to discover how to capture your travel experiences in different places, explore creative travel journal ideas and travel journal prompts, and more? Let the adventure begin!

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal is a personal diary that allows you to record your thoughts, feelings, and experiences during your travels. It serves as a visual and written account of your adventures, providing you with a tangible keepsake that you can cherish for years to come. Unlike a regular journal, a travel diary focuses specifically on your journeys, including details about the different places you visit, the people you meet, the food you try, and the sights you see.

Benefits of Keeping a Travel Journal

Keeping a travel journal offers numerous benefits beyond simply documenting your experiences. Here are some additional reasons why you should consider starting one:

1. Emotional and Mental Well-Being

Journaling has been shown to have positive effects on emotional and mental well-being . When you write about your travel experiences, you have the opportunity to process and reflect on your emotions, helping you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your reactions to different situations via your journal entries. It can be a therapeutic outlet for releasing stress, anxiety, or even excitement, allowing you to better manage your emotions throughout your journey.

2. Enhanced Memory Retention

Writing about your travels helps improve memory retention. By actively engaging with your experiences and recording them in detail, you reinforce the neural connections related to those memories. This makes it easier to recall specific moments, sights, sounds, and even the feelings associated with them in the future. Your travel diary becomes a valuable tool for preserving and retrieving cherished memories.

3. Cultural Exploration and Appreciation

A travel journal encourages you to be more observant and attentive to the details of the places you visit. It prompts you to delve deeper into the local culture, traditions, and customs. By documenting your interactions with locals, sampling regional cuisine, and exploring hidden gems, you develop a greater appreciation for the unique aspects of each destination. Your journal becomes a testament to the richness and diversity of the world around you.

4. Personal Growth and Self-Reflection

Writing in a travel diary allows for introspection and personal growth. As you reflect on your experiences, you gain insights into your own values, beliefs, and perspectives. You may discover new passions or interests, challenge preconceived notions, or develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding for others. The process of self-reflection through journaling can lead to personal transformation and a deeper connection to the world.

5. Travel Planning and Preparation

Your travel journal can serve as a practical resource for future trips. By documenting your itineraries, accommodations, transportation details, and recommendations, you create a valuable reference guide that covers your experiences more fully. You can refer back to your journal to jog your memory or provide recommendations to fellow travelers. It becomes a repository of knowledge that can streamline the planning process for future adventures.

6. Connection with Loved Ones

Sharing your travel journal with friends, family, or future generations can be a meaningful way to connect and bond. Your journal becomes a storytelling tool, allowing others to experience your journey vicariously through your words, sketches, and photographs. It can spark conversations, ignite curiosity, and inspire others to embark on their own adventures.

7. Creative Expression

Engaging in the creative process of journaling stimulates your imagination and artistic abilities. Whether you're writing prose, sketching landscapes, creating collages, or experimenting with different art mediums, your travel diary becomes a canvas for self-expression. It encourages you to think outside the box, explore new artistic techniques, and develop your creative skills.

Keeping a travel journal goes beyond simply recording your experiences. It has profound benefits for your emotional well-being, memory retention, personal growth, and cultural appreciation. It serves as a tangible reminder of your adventures, a tool for planning future trips, a means of connecting with others, and a creative outlet for self-expression. So, grab a journal and embark on your journey of exploration and self-discovery through travel journaling.

Types of Travel Journals

There are different journals for just about any goal or activity you can think of – from travel journals to fitness journals , from gratitude journals to garden journals , and more. Similarly, there are various types of travel diaries to suit different preferences and styles. We cover the best travel journals below so you can find one perfect for you.

1. Guided Travel Journals

Guided journals provide travel journal prompts and structured sections to help you capture specific aspects of your journey. Guided journals often include questions, blank pages to fill in, and guided activities to guide your journaling process. Using a guided journal or planner , can ensure you cover all the essentials, without missing any crucial details you’ll want to revisit later.

2. Traditional Handwritten Journals

These are classic journals or notebooks with blank pages where you can freely write, draw, or glue mementos. Traditional journals offer the most flexibility in terms of customization for creative journal entries.

3. Photographic Travel Journals

For those who prefer visual storytelling, a photographic travel journal focuses on capturing moments through photographs. You can include pictures alongside brief descriptions or captions to narrate your journey visually.

4. Scrapbook Travel Journals

Scrapbook-style journals combine photographs, tickets, postcards, and other memorabilia with handwritten notes and decorative elements. They provide a visually appealing way to preserve your travel memories.

5. Sketchbook Travel Journals

If you have artistic inclinations, a sketchbook journal allows you to sketch and paint scenes, landmarks, and people you encounter during your travels. It's a great way to capture the essence of a place through your own artwork.

6. Digital Travel Journals

In the digital age, many people opt for digital travel journals, using apps or online platforms to document their adventures. Digital journals offer the convenience of easy editing, multimedia integration, and the ability to share your journey with others online.

7. Travel Bullet Journals

A popular trend in journaling, travel bullet journals combine organization and creativity. Based on the bullet journaling system, these journals use symbols, icons, and trackers to help you plan and record your travels. You can create sections for itineraries, packing lists, daily logs, and more, all while adding artistic touches and personalization.

You can also use a monthly planner with ample note pages and customize it as a travel calendar journal.

Whether you prefer the structure of guided journals, the freedom of traditional handwritten journals, the visual impact of photographic or scrapbook journals, the artistic expression of sketchbook journals, the convenience of digital journals, or the organization of travel bullet journals, there's a type of travel journal that will resonate with you and enhance your travel experiences. Choose the one that suits your style and embark on a journey of creativity and self-expression.

How to Make a Travel Journal

Now that you have an idea of the different types of travel journals, let's explore how to make your own.

1. Selecting the Right Journal

Consider the type of journaling experience you desire. If you prefer writing and sketching, a traditional blank-page journal or sketchbook might be ideal. If you want structure and guidance, opt for a guided travel journal. If you're tech-savvy, explore digital journaling options.

2. Gathering Essential Supplies

Depending on the type of journal you choose, gather supplies such as pens, pencils, markers, glue, scissors, washi tape, stickers, and any other decorative elements you'd like to incorporate. If you're going digital, ensure you have a suitable device and any necessary apps or software.

3. Planning Your Journal

Before your trip, plan how you want to organize your journal. Consider creating sections for different aspects like itineraries, accommodation, food, and sightseeing. This will help you stay organized and make it easier to find information later.

4. Documenting Your Journey

During your trip, actively engage in your journaling process with regular (yet not restrictive or rigid) journal entries. Write about your daily experiences, jot down interesting conversations, glue in ticket stubs or postcards, and take photographs to complement your entries. Let your creativity flow and capture the essence of each moment.

Travel Journal Page and Layout Examples

The layout and organization of your travel journal pages play a crucial role in bringing your travel experiences, from all the different places you’ve visited, to life. By incorporating various elements and sections, you can create a visually appealing and informative journal that captures the essence of your journey. From practical pages for itineraries and packing lists to creative spreads for reflections and bucket lists, here are some ideas to help you design engaging and meaningful pages for your travel diary.

1. Packing List and Pre-Trip Planning Pages

Dedicate a page or spread to jot down your packing list and pre-trip preparations. Include essential items, travel tips, and any special considerations for the destination. You can even add checkboxes or symbols to mark off items as you pack, ensuring you don't forget anything important.

You may also want to check out these helpful travel and packing tips .

2. A List of Local Words and Phrases

Learning a few basic words and phrases in the local language can greatly enhance your travel experience. Create a page dedicated to practicing and referring to these words and phrases. Include translations, pronunciation guides, and space to practice writing them. This page can be a helpful tool for connecting with locals and immersing yourself in the local culture.

3. Itinerary Pages

Design pages dedicated to your daily itineraries. Include the places you plan to visit, opening hours, transportation details, and any additional notes or reservations. You can add maps, photographs, or illustrations to make the page visually appealing and easy to navigate.

4. Accommodation and Restaurant Reviews

Reserve pages to review and rate the accommodations and restaurants you experience. Include details like the location, ambiance, service, and any standout dishes. You can even attach business cards, menus, or photographs to accompany your reviews. These pages will not only serve as a reference for future trips but also help fellow travelers discover hidden gems.

5. Post-Trip Reflection and Wrap-Up

Allocate space in your journal for post-trip reflections. Create pages to summarize your overall experience, highlight your favorite moments, and reflect on the lessons learned during your journey. Include photographs, sketches, or quotes that capture the essence of your adventure. These reflection pages will serve as a reminder of the growth and memories you gained from your travels.

6. Travel Bucket List

Create a dedicated page to list destinations, landmarks, or experiences you aspire to visit or accomplish in the future. You can divide the page into different categories like countries, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or adrenaline-fueled activities. This page will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for your future travels.

7. Travel Budget, Savings Goals, and Tracking

If budgeting is important to you, design pages to track your travel expenses, savings goals, and tips for saving money during your travels. Create tables or graphs to visually represent your budget and savings progress. These pages will help you stay accountable and ensure you're making the most of your financial resources.

Your travel diary is a personal and creative space to capture the memories, emotions, and experiences of your journeys. Through carefully designed pages and layouts, you can transform your journal into a visual and written narrative of your adventures. Whether you choose to incorporate practical elements like itineraries and packing lists or focus on creative expressions like reflections and bucket lists, the possibilities are endless. Let your imagination guide you as you create pages that reflect your unique travel style and personality. With each turn of the page, your travel diary will become a treasure trove of cherished memories and a gateway to relive your journeys again and again.

Creative Travel Journaling Ideas and Prompts

Stuck on what to write or include in your travel diary? Here are some creative travel journal ideas and travel journal prompts to get you started:

• Write a letter to your future self reflecting on your travel experiences and what you hope to remember.
• Describe the scents, sounds, and tastes that stand out in each place you visit.
• Create a "People You Meet" page, where you can jot down brief descriptions or draw portraits of interesting individuals you encounter during your journey.
• Write a short story or poem inspired by a specific location or experience.
• Make a to-do list of activities or experiences you want to accomplish at each destination. Challenge yourself to complete as many as possible and check them off as you go.
• Write a gratitude list, noting the things you're grateful for during your travels. It could be the stunning sunsets, the kindness of locals, or the serendipitous encounters.

A travel diary is a beautiful way to document and cherish your travel experiences. Whether you opt for a traditional handwritten journal, a photographic account, or a digital platform, the process of journaling will enhance your journey and provide a lasting memory of your adventures. Experiment with different styles, layouts, and prompts to make your travel journal uniquely yours. So, grab a journal and start capturing your travel memories today!

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A travel log is a sheet which contains a record of a traveler’s record. Initially, it was only used for non-formal purposes i.e. by travelers to record their experiences. But today, many companies and individuals establish a travel log for their professional records. A personal travel log can help one plan a trip and write about the memories. Adding pictures and writing about one’s own self can make travel log unique and personalized. Professional or business related travel log helps one in maintaining a record of their travel and in preparing an accurate expense report for reimbursement. Travel logs help companies in preparing a sheet of traveling expense incurred by them in a specific period.

This article will cover templates, examples, and samples of different types of travel log used around the globe in day-to-day life.

Travel Log Examples & Templates

1. sample travel log.

Size: 551 KB

It becomes essential for organizations to maintain an accurate record of the trips conducted through company vehicles. Such records help in preventing the misuse of the service and in obtaining a clear expense record. This file is an example of the Travel Log format by the Motor Fleet Management Division, Raleigh for permanently assigned vehicles. It is a one-page document capturing information about the individual responsible for the vehicle, agency supervisor, and other details about the vehicle. The log is divided into three sections viz. trip dates, office travel, and mileage. Sufficient space is provided to enter trip details for an entire month and convenient calculation options are provided at the bottom to summarize the log.

2. Daily Travel Log Sample

A daily travel log is a sheet maintained by an individual to record details about the personal/professional trips. Such travel logs help an individual in maintaining a record of the miles traveled by his/her own car and in keeping an exact track of the total time spent in traveling. This file is a blank general template of daily travel log available for download free of cost in PDF format. The log is divided into three sections viz. Mileage reading, number of miles, and purpose of the trip. It is a one-page log and can easily accommodate travel data for an entire month.

3. Vehicle Travel Log

Size: 17 KB

The above file is an example of the vehicle travel log issued by the St. Louis Area Regional Response System. It is required to be filled and submitted on a semi-annually basis by the owners who have vehicle purchased with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. One must enter basic details like department, VIN Number, License Number, and vehicle details at the beginning before entering information in the log. It captures information like date of travel, operator, the purpose of the trip, destination, beginning & ending miles, gasoline purchased, and miscellaneous remarks. It is a three-page blank log sheet which is sufficient enough to accommodate travel details for 90 days.

4. College Supervisor Travel Log

Size: 278 KB

College and universities have a systematic process of reimbursing the travel expenses to student interns. Such processes are strictly monitored and recorded by intern supervisors to promote transparency. This file is one such example of the travel log of the student intern. The information capturing log sheet is divided into three sections viz. Date, School Travelled to & from, and Mileage. The log also includes instructions at the end of the sheet for supervisors on guiding them about the procedure for filing a reimbursement to the management. One can download this travel log and use it as a reference to prepare a similar log.

5. Travel Card Log Sheet

Size: 58 KB

This file is a general template of a purchase/travel card log. It is neatly designed and the formatting is basic. It is a one-page editable PDF file with top section allotted for general purchases and the bottom section for travel expenses. One must provide information about the card and the card holder in the space provided at the extreme top and the bottom of the document. One can download this file and explore the formatting style and standard pattern of a travel card log.

6. Student Team Travel Log Expenses

Size: 16 KB

Universities fund the traveling & food expenses of a sports team representing the college at different competitions. For reimbursement of the expenses a student team travel log expenses is issued by the university which has to be filled and submitted along with relevant receipts to demand a claim. This file is one such example of the student team travel log issued by the University of Nevada, Reno.

7. Occupational License Travel Log

Size: 148 KB

Officials often demand travel logs from the occupation license holder during the renewal of their existing license or in the suspension investigation case of their regular license. This file is an example of the travel log for occupation license holders. It is a one-page PDF document available for download free of cost. It can capture information like date, start time, end time, reason, from, and destination.

8. Automobile Travel Expenses Log

Travel costs are paid by an organization for a political or marketing campaign of a company. It demands a travel expense log from the drivers or executives who have initially paid for the same, and then initiate a reimbursement. This file is a similar example of an automobile travel expense log sheet. The entire sheet is divided into two sections i.e. travel expense and repayment. The sheet can capture information about both the travel expense and payment records.

9. Guardian Travel Log

Size: 50 KB

This file is a one-page general PDF log sheet for recording the guardian/parent travel details. One can add travel information up to five trips in this sheet. The sheet can include details like date, destination & purpose, mileage, and amount. The total reimbursement demanded is subjected to approval from the director of special services as mentioned in the sheet.

10. Monthly Travel Log Sheet

Size: 14 KB

This file is an example of the monthly travel log issued by a university to be filled up respectively by assigned drivers to certify that the mileage driven by the vehicle was for official university purpose only. The log is designed in a standard format and can easily capture required information related to tracking the travel of a vehicle.

11. Travel Log Form Sample

Size: 202 KB

The above file is a general blank template of travel log form available for download free of cost in PDF format. It can include information like date, the location from, location to, number of miles, and purpose of travel. It can be instantly downloaded to record the travel details for personal or professional purpose.

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Free printable travel journal template: One Question A Day Diary

Are you going on a trip soon and do you want to keep track of all your fun memories? Great news! In today’s post, I’m going to show you how to make a simple DIY travel journal. It’s really easy, low-key, and fun! Plus, if you’re not feeling crafty, you can even download my free printable travel journal template that I made just for you.

Like many travelers, I used to forget the small, fun details of my trips. So, I started keeping track of memories with this one-question-a-day journal.

The idea is simple.

You just answer one fun question every day for a week. And the week after, you’ll answer the same one. It’s not like those big, heavy journals that are hard to carry. And you won’t have to write a lot, just one interesting question each day. This way, you can remember all the neat things that even photos can’t show, without any effort.

So stick with me, and I’ll show you how this easy idea can make your trips even more memorable. Let’s start making your very own travel journal!

In This Post:

Save this free printable travel journal template

Don’t forget to save this template on Pinterest so you’ll know where to find your downloads for your next trip!

Why you should keep a travel journal

Alright, I know you are dying to get started with this DIY travel journal, but just before you grab your crafts and head off, allow me to share a few more reasons why journaling is a game-changer for your travels.  Trust me, after reading these reasons, “forgetting” to journal will be a thing of the past!

• Document memories: Revisiting your adventures through a journal is super fun. Those quirky anecdotes and hidden gems you discovered? They will all be in your journal waiting to be re-lived.
• Record thoughts and ideas that you might otherwise forget: Ever had a brilliant idea or a profound realization while traveling, only to forget it later? A travel journal ensures those thoughts are captured forever.
• Reflect and learn: Journaling allows you to ponder over your experiences, offering insights and learnings that can be transformative.
• Unleash creativity: It’s not just about writing; it’s about expressing your creativity. Doodle, paste ticket stubs, or write a poem – your journal, your rules!
• Enhance your journey : A journal adds depth to your travels. It encourages mindfulness and helps you appreciate the journey on a deeper level.

Ready to make your travels more memorable and meaningful? Let’s get started and make your own travel journal!

A question-a-day: How does it work?

If you’re unfamiliar with the one-question-a-day format, let me give you a quick rundown, so you can make the most out of our free template.

Traditionally, these journals are used for an entire year, containing 365 unique questions – one for each day. The idea is to keep the journal for five years, answering the same question on the same date each year. This way, you end up with a fascinating record of how your thoughts and experiences evolve over time.

What I love about this format is the ease and simplicity. Answering just one question a day is a breeze, making it effortless to maintain a consistent journaling habit – often the biggest challenge for many travelers who want to keep a travel journal.

I adapted this concept for travel. Instead of spanning years, it covers your trip’s duration, with the same set of questions repeated each week. This approach is perfect for travelers who start journaling with enthusiasm but find the task daunting as their journey progresses. With just a short question to answer daily, it’s easy, fun, and incredibly rewarding.

So now that you understand the concept, let’s find out how to make your own travel journal.

I will share two options below; A DIY version and a free printable one . Neither one is better, just pick whichever one suits you best!

Option1: DIY travel journal

The first option I’ll share is a true DIY travel journal. You start with an empty paper or notebook and craft your own.

If you are looking for the free printable, scroll down to the free printable travel journal template section.

Materials needed

• Paper (A4 that you fold in two to make a booklet or any type of notebook)
• Crafting materials (if you want to make it look nice, but this is not necessary)

How to make your own travel journal

Step 1: find a notebook.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter if you just fold A4 paper in half and use a stapling machine to bind it. If you buy a simple notebook, or if you go all the way and buy a beautifully designed travel notebook.

I’m a big bullet journal fan, so I just make a collection and dedicate a few pages of my daily bullet journal to this Question-a-day journal. That way it’s integrated with all my other work and travel notes.

But feel free to do whatever fits you. All that matters is that you actually start and that you enjoy working on it. If you need a beautiful design to feel inspired, then by all means go for it. But the design should not be a reason to not get started.

The size of the notebook doesn’t matter either. I usually prefer an A5 format, because it’s small and easily fits in my backpack. But really, anything works. Lined, dotted, squared, or blank paper, all is fine.

Step 2: Make the pages

At the top of each page write one of the questions below, followed by a prompt for the right date. So weeks 1, 2, 3, etc (depending on how long you’ll be traveling)

• What did you eat today?
• Who or what made you smile today?
• What did you do today?
• Did you learn something new today? What was it?
• What is the most beautiful thing you saw today?
• Did you come across any challenges today? What was it? How did you overcome it?
• What was your favorite moment of the past week?

Of course, there are many different variations of questions you could ask. I found these seven the most interesting ones. But check the section about other prompts below for more question ideas.

I usually don’t add the answer sections for each week yet (I only showed it in the example above to give you an idea), because I don’t know how much space I’ll be needing for my answers. But you could add those if you want to make sure everything fits on one page.

Step 3: Decorate your travel journal

Now, I’ll admit. I am not the most creative person out here.

I can’t draw and I have the handwriting of an 8-year-old. So when I get crafty with my journal without any template, stickers, stamps, or premade anything, it will look like a mess. And that’s why I go for simplicity,

But if you are nothing like me, this is where you can get crazy. Get out your markers, crayons, glitter, and whatnot to make this travel journal feel like you. You could even add more blank pages so you have more options for photos, doodles, and other fun keepsakes from your trip.

Step 4: Start answering the questions every day

Now that your journal is finished, all you need to do is answer one simple question a day. No endless essays, writer’s block, or not feeling inspired. You’ll know exactly what to write and it will only take a few seconds.

What I like even more, is that even if I forgot to journal one day. I can easily trace back and still answer that one question from yesterday.

Option 2: Free printable travel journal template

Alright, if you’re looking for a printable travel journal, then I’ve got you covered too. Find out how to make your own travel journal from my free printable PDF below!

• Paper (white A4 that you fold in two to make a booklet)
• Printer (that can print in a booklet, though most printers nowadays have this setting)
• A free printable cover
• Free printable questions

How to use the free printable travel journal pdf

Step 1: choose and download your cover.

For you to use this journal every day and make the most out of it, you need to be super enthusiastic about it. And one way to get you excited is to help you find a design that matches your personality. And that’s why I came up with five different covers so that you can pick one that matches your spirit best.

Choose your favorite down below, or head over to Canva and make your design, as long as you print it on the right side of the paper in landscape shape, it will work too.

Step 2: Print the cover

Print it on an A4 paper and fold it in two. I deliberately put it on landscape and on the right side of the paper, so you can fold it in two and use it as the cover.

Step 3: Print the questions

Now that we have your cover, it’s time for the questions, which you can download here .

They are in A4 PDF format, but you can easily print them as a booklet by using the right printer settings, I explained below.

Print instructions

• Click print once you’ve downloaded and opened the PDF on your computer
• Go to printer settings and select booklet
• Print double-sided

With these settings, your printer will automatically put them in the right order, so that when you fold it in two, you will have a book from question 1-7, and extra notes in the back.

The settings might look slightly different on your computer, but it works the same for every printer.

Feel free to add more blank paper so you’ll have more notes. Or simply print more of the last “notes” page.

DIY travel journal tips

There are a few things that can help you to make the most out of this travel journal.

• Make this journal your own: the more it feels like your own project, the more enthusiastic you will be to write every day
• Set a specific time or moment when you will answer the question
• Start each answer with your current location followed by “:” and the answer. As travelers we visit so many different places that sometimes just seeing the name of a city you were at helps you set the mood and remember the content when you’re reading your travel journal years from now

DIY travel journal variations

As you probably already noticed, there are about 1000 different ways in which you can style your travel journal.

I just shared five printable travel journal templates with you, as well as my super simple but effective handwritten method. But remember. This journal is about you. It should be a design that invites you to write every day and create a beautiful travel memoir for your future self.

So go wild and use which ever design you want.

Besides differences in designs, you can also add different questions that are important to you, or that you want to remember from your trip. I’ll share a few of my other questions below.

I use these when I make my monthly travel journal for longer trips (more about this monthly journal below).

• Who did you meet today?
• Did you travel with someone today? Who is it?
• What was the weather like today?
• When was the last time you did something kind for someone else?
• What surprised you today?
• When was the last time someone did something kind for you?
• Did you fall for any tourist traps this week?
• What was your favorite accommodation up until now?
• Did you do something that scared you this week?

The printable travel journal prompts I shared with you today are for a five-week trip, but of course, you can also use them for a two-week vacation or any other duration.

If you’re traveling longer than 8 weeks, I would advise you to make a journal with a question for each day of the month. That way you’ll have more variation in the types of questions asked and the things you will remember from your trip.

Just check out my list of questions above for more inspiration. And if you want more help, or if you’re not feeling creative, Shoot me a message and I will send the full list of monthly questions as well as a free monthly printable that I use as well!

More DIY travel ideas

Did this project release your inner Martha Stewart?

Then you’re in good luck! We’ve got more super DIY travel projects for you to try.

• The 45 best DIY travel projects
• Homemade voucher book for your loved ones staying behind

Save these free templates

Did you save these free printable travel journal templates on Pinterest yet?

Final notes about this simple DIY journal

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time explorer, I hope that this free printable travel journal template will make your adventures more memorable.

So, grab your pen and start capturing those precious travel moments, one question at a time!

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A Little Journal… These Digital Travel Diary Apps Are Worth Your Time

Last updated on July 7, 2024 by Shannon

As travel enthusiasts, we yearn to capture the essence of extraordinary travel moments and freeze them in time. We even want those mundane details preserved—what was the name of that hilarious taxi driver who shuttled you from the airport to your guesthouse?

If you’ve logged those details in a travel journal, you don’t have to remember—that’s where travel journaling apps come in, offering a digital travel scrapbook that easily documents even the craziest travel adventures.

I’ve been traveling the world for 15 years, writing, photographing, and sharing my travel stories from the first day. That means I have pretty high expectations when it comes to using digital travel diaries meant to preserve the memories of your expeditions. Here’s what you need to know about the best online travel journal apps available.

Table of Contents

What are Digital Travel Diaries?

While journaling about your travels via a paper notebook used to be called a travel log, the more modern equivalent is an online travel journaling app. That said, even diary app is just a new way to log the most important moments of your travels—and the mundane ones too.

Travel journals essential just document your experiences, capturing your memories as you travel the world. By logging your travel memories in real time via a journaling app, you ensure the smaller details are captured.

Was it a torrential downpour on the day you had booked an “any-weather” tour of the Norwegian fjords? Log that and then share how you felt at that very moment, otherwise the details fade with time.

That’s the real magic of keeping a travel log in any form, a beloved notebook, an app, or a blog. I’ve used all three over my 15+ years of travel. This travel blog was my primary travel log, but at times I’ve used these travel apps to capture moments more immediately.

And no matter my online travel journal app of choice, I always, always have a small physical journal. Even if you diligently record all of the best moments of your trip in your digital travel diary app, you should also carry a small travel journal that acts as your travel log—you use it to jot down funny off-the-cuff moments, or even just mundane details.

Perhaps you press between the pages ticket stubs, a pretty flower from your world wanders, and other small memorabilia that can’t be captured in a journaling app. It becomes a place to log currency conversions you can surreptitiously glance at when haggling at a market, or jot down lists and travel plans.

I never travel without a pocket Field Notes waterproof notebook and this Moleskine travel journal —its these two things that have allowed me to share such rich details on this blog, my personal travel log that’s been running 15 years and counting.

How to Choose an Online Travel Journal App

Travel journal apps are not one-size-fits-all. The best apps offer the exact range of features you need and at a price point you can afford—which can mean free! Many journaling apps offer a free version that may just meet your needs. Often its the more sophisticated features that require a paid upgrade.

Given that you’re probably snowed under travel planning, don’t waste your time downloading every travel diary app here. To pick the right app for your travels, consider these things before you download it:

When choosing an online travel diary app, there are several factors to consider that can help you find the one that best fits your needs. Here are some tips to help you make a decision:

• Features : Review what the journaling app actually does—what are the key features these app developers believe are the hallmarks of their app? That will tell you a lot about functionality. Standard features of most digital travel diaries include: text entry, photo and video uploading, geotagging, and weather data. Decide which features are important to you and ensure that the app provides them. Maybe you want an awesome map interface because you’re hopscotching around the world for a year ? Or you’re studying abroad you might want an app with more functionality around text and photo entries.
• Platform Compatibility : Check if the digital journaling app is available on your preferred platforms, such as iOS, Android, web-based, and desktop. If you’re bringing both a smartphone and laptop on your travels , you may wan a travel diary app that seamlessly switches between the two devices.
• Syncing and Backup : Consider whether the app offers syncing and backup options—and if those are free or paid features. You want access your travel diary across multiple devices, and you want it securely backed up to the cloud.
• Export and Sharing Options : If you plan to share your travel diary with others or would like to have a backup of your entries outside of the app, check if it offers export options, such as PDF or other file formats.
• Company Story : If the travel journaling app you’re considering using hasn’t been around for at least two-to-five years, run in the other direction. Companies, especially app makers, fold quickly. The last thing you want is an email saying you have a matter of days to download your cherished memories before they’re all deleted.

Best Travel Journaling Apps

Day One tops most of these lists because it’s actually that good—and it’s been around since 2011, so you know your travel memories are safe with this online diary app. The company has invested in a high-quality product, and updates over the years have responded to user reviews and feedback—which is enthusiastic across the board.

Its clean interface and seamless integration with iOS (both iPhones and Macs) and Android make it a joy to use. You can effortlessly capture each destination through text and photos, while popping in location data too.

Best app features : The “On This Day” functionality is neat because it doesn’t pull in the best of anything, but rather that exact moment years ago when you were on an incredible adventure out there in the world—or maybe you had logged a tasty hot chocolate at a hipster spot near that landmark you were visiting.

Either way, you’ll be transported back there in an instant and that app feature is maybe one of the strongest motivators to journal about all the big (and small) things that happen as you travel.

Cost : The free version is enough to see if you like it, but if you’re using this as your main digital travel journal then the one photo per entry restriction on free plans isn’t going to cut it. Premium is affordable though, at just under $3 per month, which buys you unlimited photos, videos, audio, drawings, and more.

If you go all in on Journey as your travel journal app, it will become your trusted companion. Rather than being a journaling app that’s great for travel, this travel-centric journaling app goes above and beyond with its extensive features.

Geotagging allows you to pinpoint the exact location of you experiences, while the inclusion of weather data and “mood” status adds depth to entries. You can import photos from your camera roll directly into journal entires, creating vivid visual narratives of your travels.

This robust app works on iOS devices and Android phones, Mac or Windows computers, and there’s even a web app! Basically, it’s an accessible and essential tool for any travel writer seeking to document their adventures with style and precision. Not only because of the features, but also because it allows multi-media exports in PDF or doc format.

It’s also a bit cheeky and has a handy guide to what Journey offers versus Day One or Daylio .

Best app features : Stand out for many will be the features that let you automatically sync and import social media content from Instagram and the like—what a time saver! And the full text editing screen is nice—you can bold, bullet, color, or link to anything you’d like right inside the text. Surprisingly, that’s not in every diary journaling app.

But one of the neater travel-focused elements are the three views for your journal—media (where you scroll by photos), map (which shows your entries pinpointed on a map of the world) and calendar (journals organized by date).

Cost : Unlike essentially all competitors, Journey offers a one time purchase license—currently $18. You can buy a membership for ~$4.20.

3. Journalfy

The Journalfy Travel Journal app is a new contender on the market with a lot of potential. It entered the market earlier this year, so the company has a short track record, but it’s beautifully designed with a lot of thoughtful touches—including an analog, old-school travel journal that you can back up using their app.

I love using a physical travel journal, so it’s a neat differentiator that you can use these either together or independently (the paper journal is as beautifully designed as the app). If you use the app without the physical journal, the free plan allows you to upload up to 10 photos per entry, which is plenty for most travelers. The free and paid plans include the same features, however, you can just add more photos and create more entries with the paid plan.

Best app features: The share function is seamless—friends and family can view entries without the app. The writing prompts are helpful, and the intuitive, ad-free layout makes it easy to record travel memories on the go. The PDF export feature is handy, though adding images to the exports would be an improvement.

Cost: The free version is probably enough for most, however, they do have a monthly option for $2/month or an annual plan for $18.65/year.

Daylio , billed as a “simple micro-diary app,” adds an interesting twist to a travel journaling routine. As a mood and activity tracker, it enables you to record daily experiences and emotions with ease—and without writing anything. It’s an interesting way to to reflect on how your travel adventures have impacted your overall well-being .

It’s not for the hardcore travel writer, but rather, Daylio captures the essence of the travel experiences in a uniquely personal way. It’s a good companion for those seeking to intertwine their emotional journey with their physical travels. And for those who want a more streamlined diary app with fewer features and just straight to the meat of what you want to do.

Best app features : This app is dead simple to use and can be updated in under a minute thanks to the tap interface. It’s certainly not going to be the only way you record you travels, but if you’re already planning to share extensively on a Facebook or Instagram page , then this ease of use may just ensure that you use it every day.

Cost : You could get pretty far with the free version, or upgrade for just $3 per month—only the premium version supports exporting to PDF.

5. Evernote

Real talk: The digital travel journal of your dreams may be something you’re already using. When it comes to versatile note-taking, Evernote reigns supreme. Its functionality goes beyond simple journaling, allowing the creation of multimedia-rich entries.

I’ve organized my entire life via Evernote—travel pans, stories, etc—and its robust features make a compelling case for this being one of the best journaling apps out there, period. Not just in travel, but in general.

As one of the best digital diary apps, you can update it seamlessly across iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows.

Best app features : Well, you could use Evernote to basically plan and execute your trip, in addition to using it as a digital journal. You can also stay ruthlessly organized.

Cost : The free version offers 60 MB monthly uploads, which is constraining for travelers looking for an online app where they could add photos and videos to Evernote itself—this would like be better if you’re embedding YouTube videos, for example, versus storing them in Evernote.

The Personal version offers a more reasonable 10 GB in monthly uploads, but costs $11/month for that perk. If you’re already paying for Evernote for other reasons then this could be an excellent online travel journal, otherwise some of the other ones are likely better priced for a traveler.

6. Travel Diaries

For those seeking a dedicated travel journaling app, Travel Diaries hits the mark. It’s really a truly solid option. As a travel writer, I’m captivated by its interactive features. You can easily create immersive travelogues, complete with photos, maps, and annotations.

It’s also a captivating way to showcase your journey to fellow travelers (and your family and friends back home, of course!). The ability to share your travel stories and explore others’ adventures on the platform adds a sense of community not available in the other digital travel journaling apps.

It’s available as software for web, iOS and Android, but will only work with an internet connection (either cell data or wifi)—which means this might not be the best journaling app for those going far off-the-beaten path .

Best app features : A broad range of fonts and styles allow you to design your travel diary according to your own taste, and your travel log can include itineraries, travel photos, and a traveling map. The layout as an actual travel journal is a fun and personal touch that makes it feel like your digital diary is just as capable of creativity as a blank page in front of you.

Cost : There is no free version of Travel Diaries—it’ll be a subscription for as long as you want access to your travel journal. The basic plan costs $1 a month and includes unlimited storage and is really all most travelers will need for a robust travel journal. If you want to export your stories to PDF, you’ll have to upgrade to $3 per month.

Diaro App is a reliable companion for millions of people, not just globetrotters. This comprehensive diary app offers an array of features that elevate a travel journaling experience. Sometimes the best travel journal is, well, just a great online diary that you happen to use to document your travels.

The ability to add text, photos, tags, and organize entries into folders keeps this app well-organized—you can effortlessly find specific memories or delve into specific themes from your trips. It has a map of entry locations, which is especially important for those using this as a travel journal diary.

Diaro’s sleek interface and user-friendly design make the process of documenting adventures a true pleasure. Available on web, iOS or Android devices (with cross-device syncing via Dropbox) Diaro is a go-to app for travelers who want to capture the essence of their trip with elegance and efficiency.

Best app features : The multilingual UI (30+languages) may be a real boon for those for whom English is not their native language, but the shining standout features is just how easy it is to create a robust diary accounting for all of the key moments on your trip.

Cost : The free version has robust functionality. Upgrading to Diario Pro costs $10 per month and offers more customizability.

8. Polarsteps

Polarsteps is a great travel journal app that offers automatic tracking of your journey, making it effortless to document and share your trips. With its GPS technology, the app traces your route in real-time, creating a visually appealing map of your adventure without requiring any manual input.

This feature sets Polarsteps apart from other travel journal apps, as it eliminates the need for constant updates and allows you to focus on enjoying your trip while the app takes care of recording your route—and uses minimal data and power to do so.

What truly makes Polarsteps unique is its ability to create a beautifully presented travel log that showcases your journey. This app is made for the travel photographers out there also wanting a digital travel log of their journey.

Along with the automatic tracking, the app allows you to add photos, captions, and personal insights to your entries. These elements are then combined to create a visually stunning travel journal that can be shared with friends, family, and fellow travelers. I think this is one of the prettier apps—the maps alone are just a step up from the others.

Best app features : The GPS tracking is easily the standout here. You’ll know the precise spot you took a photo, and can then include a quick note—an inside joke you shared with a friend while there, a tidbit about the day, and more. This kind of precise location data is invaluable in the months and years after you travel.

Cost : It’s free! Polarsteps offers you a printed travel journal of your trip, which is how it’s monetized.

9. Waffle Journal

Waffle Journal stands out from the rest as a a collaborative journaling app that allows you to document and share your travel experiences with others—probably those on your same trip. Its unique approach fosters collaboration, allowing friends, family, or fellow travelers to contribute to your journal. With the ability to add stories, photos, and memories, everyone can create a collective travel diary that captures the essence of your adventures.

The app goes beyond traditional journaling by integrating multimedia elements. You can include photos, videos, and audio recordings. It’s not a travel journal specifically, so you’re not going to have any of those map features the travel apps have integrated into the experience, but it could be a great option for those travel in a group, or a group of friends who just love to share their travel adventures with each other. Social sharing features make it easy to showcase your travel adventures on social media platforms or via email.

BONUS: RIP: Bonjournal

Bonjournal captured my attention many years ago for its visually stunning approach to travel journaling. As you penned your travel stories, this app transformed them into beautifully presented narratives—and it made you choose just one photo to represent your day. Which was really quite neat.

This travel journal app is no longer available! Even though other websites are still recommending it as a travel diary app, the gorgeous app that debuted more than a decade ago is no longer up and running. Instead, a new app with the same name launched in 2021—it’s not a viable alternative. This new Bon Journal diary app is glitchy and poorly rated—storing your cherished travel memories there is not a good idea.

Don’t forget a paper journal as well.

This Moleskin travel journal is well made and worth the space it will take up in your bag. There will be times you just want to put pen to paper—you’ll be glad you have an analog record of your travels too.

How to Safely Store Travel Photos and Videos

These travel journaling apps are a terrific way to document your journey for personal memories, and to share with others. Although some long-term travelers create a travel blog to record their trips, using a travel diary instead is a great alternative.

You get amazing functionality and the ability to share your travel stories without the hassle of running a blog—which can get pricey and generally lacks the ability to share some stories privately with family, or keep other journal entries entirely private.

One thing all of these apps have are general constraints on how you upload, store, and present your travel photos and videos. Although some of these apps offer paid subscriptions with unlimited uploads, you’re likely safer if you store your actual travel photos elsewhere, too. Here’s a quick review of other places you can store travel photos, and the perks of using them in addition to, or instead of, a travel diary app.

• Facebook pages : Rather than use your personal profile, consider setting up a Facebook page for your trip—then you can share unlimited stories, photos, and videos. And you’re creating and sharing in a place where it’s likely your family and friends are already hanging out.
• Instagram : This is a great way to share photos, but videos and stories are a little more constrained on this platform. This might be a good option in addition to a digital travel diary.
• SmugMug : If you need a place to both store and display all of your travel photos, SmugMug is a great option. I’ve had an annual plan for more than a decade and it offers unlimited storage for all of my photos from all over the world for $88 per year. And it’s totally customizable—you can create gorgeous albums on a custom domain name if you own one.
• Google Drive : If you just need a backup solution without the need to share then Google Drive is a good option (I find Google Photos a chore to use). It’s just $2 a month for 100GB of cloud storage.

Ready for some travel inspiration? These are the best travel stories of travelers to follow now, inspiring books from historic travels, and short reads, too.

Travel Log Template

What is a travel log.

Why do people use travel logs?

How to use the travel log, 1- for planning trips:, 2- for writing expectations, 3- for tracking expenses, template for a travel log, what are the benefits of a travel log template.

• It keeps you organized: Using the travel log keeps the person organized. Writing down everything in the log helps a person know what to expect and what to be prepared for. In this way, people stay focused and they know what to do while they are traveling and how. Furthermore, such people never fall short of anything while traveling because they have everything with them that they thought they might need while traveling.
• It helps manage the finances: People frequently traveling often face the problem of lack of money because they spend more than they ever expected. Wise people always use the log and make a list of all the expenses. They can also mull over their expenses and can have good control over their budget.
• It makes travel more enjoyable: Those who plan everything ahead of time usually stay stress-free while traveling. This peace of mind comes with a travel log for such people.
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• Journal Types
• Travel Journal

Are you planning a trip? Looking for a way to document your adventure? Look no further than a travel journal! A travel journal serves as a personal memoir of your journey, capturing moments, emotions, and experiences. Not only does it preserve your memories, but it also allows you to reflect on your trip long after it's over. In this article, we will explore travel journal ideas, templates, tips, and how to write a travel journal that will become a cherished keepsake.

What are travel journals?

Travel journals help you to write and document about the experience you had during your trips. You can include the written description of the place that you have visited, list down your itinerary, the photos that you took during your trip and even voice recordings that you have made during your time. Travel journal is one of the most popular journal amongst the different types of journals.

What is the purpose of travel journal

1. discover and learn more things.

Traveling usually leads one to gain new experiences and discoveries. By writing down your experience, you will get to understand your surroundings better, reflect and remember the discoveries that you have made during the trip.

2. Travel memories not to be forgotten

One of the main purposes of a travel journal is to preserve memories and experiences. By documenting your travels using a diary software , you are creating a record of the places you visited, the people you met, the sights you saw, and the activities you participated in. It provides a way to capture the essence of your journey and preserve it for years to come. As time passes, memories may fade, but a well-documented travel journal helps keep those memories alive.

3. Write a shared travel journal

A travel journal can also serve as a means of sharing your experiences with others. Whether it's with friends, family, or fellow travelers, sharing your travel journal can inspire, educate, or entertain others. You can pass on valuable recommendations and insights about destinations, provide practical tips, or simply share your adventures through storytelling. Your travel journal can become a source of inspiration for others who are planning their own trips, encouraging them to explore new places and create their own memories.

How to Write Travel Journals: 3 Amazing Tips to Get Started

Embarking on a travel journal may initially feel like a daunting task. The idea of documenting your adventures, emotions, and experiences can be overwhelming, especially with the sheer volume of memories and details that come with traveling. However, with a few helpful tips, maintaining a travel journal can transform into an exhilarating and fulfilling endeavor.

1. Find the perfect travel journal

To start, finding the right journal is crucial. Look for one that is durable, portable, and compact, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of your travels without taking up excessive space. Additionally, consider a journal with blank or lined pages that will accommodate both writing and creative elements such as sketches, doodles, or collages.

In addition to traditional pen-and-paper journals, modern technology offers a convenient alternative for keeping a travel journal: smartphone apps. One such app that is particularly useful for travel journaling is the Journey app. Journey is a digital journaling platform that allows users to keep track of their experiences, thoughts, and memories.

Just like a physical journal, the Journey app provides a space to jot down detailed notes about your travels. It allows you to capture not only the sights and sounds of your adventures, but also emotions and reflections that make the experience truly memorable.

With Journey, you can easily create multimedia entries by adding photos and videos to your journal. This feature enables you to visually document your journey, adding depth and vibrancy to your memories. The app also provides the option to geotag your entries, allowing you to easily organize your experiences by location.

You also don't need to be in the country you will be traveling to in order to start your first journal. A travel journal can be used to plan your upcoming trips as well. Using the journal travel template in Journey, you can add the places you would like to visit, followed by itinerary plans, tours, and more, creating a travel wishlist!

2. Write about your expectations of this vacation

Before you set foot in the first city, you can write about your expectations of the trip in your journal. By listing down your expectations about how the holiday will be, you can heighten your pre-departure excitement and feel as if the vacation has already begun. At the end of your vacation, you can compare the expectations noted in your journal with what you actually experienced during the trip.

3. Write a reflection after your trip

Writing a reflective journal of your travel journey can be useful as it is a great way to recap what you have learned about the people you were with, yourself, and the trip in general. It is something that we advise you to do after a specific event, trip, or activity as it helps you gain insights and apply them to your future vacations.

Travel journal ideas that inspire you

Not sure how to start the first page of your new travel journal? Refer to some of the travel journal prompts to kick-start your first journal of the trip!

Pre-depature ideas

• Why are you going?
• What are the places that you are most excited to visit?
• What are your expectations for the trip?

Post-holiday ideas

• Write about the people that you have interacted with.
• Write about the food.
• What did you like/dislike most about the trip, and why?
• Reflect and write on your experience of the day.
• What is something that you wish to do the next time you visit again?
• How would you recommend the trip to your friends and family? Write a travel guide for them!
• Where’s your next stop that you would like to travel to?

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Get access to your diary wherever you are – download the free Journey app for your all of your iOS and Android devices today!

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I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens

ALERT: On Aug. 26, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, in Texas v. Department of Homeland Security,  Case Number 24-cv-306 administratively stayed DHS from granting parole in place under Keeping Families Together for 14 days.

To comply with the district court’s administrative stay, USCIS will:

• Not grant any pending parole in place requests under Keeping Families Together.
• Continue to accept filings of Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens.
• Continue to schedule biometric appointments and capture biometrics at Application Support Centers (ASCs).

The district court’s administrative stay order does not affect any applications that were approved before the administrative stay order was issued at 6:46 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 26, 2024.

Use this form to request a discretionary grant of parole in place under  Keeping Families Together .

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• Keeping Families Together

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Form I-131F must be filed online.

File Online

You can find the filing fee for Form I-131F by visiting our  Fee Schedule  page. There is no fee waiver available for Form I-131F.

Starting Aug. 19, 2024, you may file Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, online with the applicable filing fee. There is no fee waiver available for Form I-131F.

Each requestor, including noncitizen stepchildren, must file a separate Form I-131F requesting parole in place, and each requestor must have their own USCIS online account. A parent or legal guardian may create an online account for their minor child if the purpose is to submit a form on behalf of the minor. If a parent or legal guardian is not available, a primary caregiver or legal assistance provider may also help a child create their own USCIS online account. Information on creating a USCIS online account is available on the  How to Create a USCIS Online Account page.

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Travel Log: Everything You Need to Know (FAQs)

9 Tips For Keeping a Perfect Travel Log

How to Create a Travel Log (Tips and Examples)

Traveling gives you a fulfilling feeling that you will live to remember. It offers you unique experiences, different perspectives and introduces you to new cultures globally. When you travel far away, you are likely to find yourself out of your comfort zone, and this will enable you to learn more about the world around you and yourself.

A travel log is a favorite type of travel journal. Suppose you are going on a vacation. Ensure you carry this type of travel journal with you since it allows you to keep new knowledge and experiences together. In addition, it enables you to organize and plan your trip effectively. This article will give you an insight into a travel log, including everything you need to know about it.

What Is a Travel Log?

A travel log is a specific document that features all the information concerning your trip. On the other hand, companies and organizations can use this travel journal to monitor their clients or even employees. However, this log was used originally by travelers to rate their trip experiences and for personal reasons.

What are some other names of Travel Log?

Below are a few other names of a travel log:

• Travel journal
• Travel story
• Travel diary
• Journey plan
• Trip report
• Journey log

What is the main purpose of a travel log?

A travel log usually assists you in writing as well as documenting your trip experiences. Here, you can also include a brief description of places you managed to visit, the voice recordings that you managed to record on your vacation. You can also list down the photos you took during the trip and the itinerary. Bear in mind that a travel journal falls among the most famous and common journals among the various journals.

How to start a travel log?

You do not have to travel miles away to use a travel log. You can commence writing on your journal when on a weekend getaway or family vacation. In a nutshell, you only need a destination to use your holiday journal. Below is an overview of how to start your travel log:

Use the travel log to plan and organize your trip

You can comfortably start writing your travel log before you officially embark on your trip. Take your time to plan and organize your trip efficiently. This includes varying sights you would love to see, the hike you would love to experience, and the food you would love to eat. Document everything that is on your checklist to avoid forgetting, especially when you start your vacation.

After knowing what you would love to do on your trip, thoroughly research how you can achieve them effectively. You can proceed and write down the contact information of individuals who facilitate places you want to visit. Ensure you keep your transportation and accommodation credentials in your travel log.

Writ about your imagination

When going on a journey, your expectations are usually high. But sometimes, what is on the ground can disproof your expectations. However, you must state your expectations in your travel journal, and you can compare your expectations with what you experienced later after your trip.

Ensure you write during your trip

If your brain is fresh, you can easily remember things. As a result, ensure you jot down as much as possible when traveling. Ideally, please write down each day. Furthermore, whatever you write in your journal should not be too long, and it should highlight what you think is crucial and exciting. Before you sleep, try and recall some of the things you achieved during the day, this will enable you to remember more on your vacation. Through this, you will grow and reflect on what you encountered.

Add pictures to your journal

Most people use journals to write their expectations and experience, but pictures signify more than writing. A combination of your writing and pictures makes a detailed narrative of your trip. Several photo printers feature stickers which makes it pretty easy for you to stick your photos. Ensure that you keep your words and images organized and linked.

Document something about your trip after you leave

After your trip, you should also have something to write about, more so your experiences, what you learned, what surprised you, what it was like, and what disappointment you met on your trip. Reflect on your vacation and write down a guide that would help you in the future. This guarantees you a chance to learn about yourself and the colleagues you journeyed with.

How to close a travel log?

How you end your travel log matters because it is the last thing you will read on your travel journal, and probably not you alone but also the people that will use your journal as a guide. An outstanding ending leaves your reader anticipating more about your trip and yawning for one. Therefore, below are several ways you can use to close your travel log.

Callbacks: Link your opening to the end

As you conclude your travel journal, ensure you connect it to the opening and relate the end with how you started it. This technique will help you to end your travel journal with style. And please make it as relevant as possible.

Close with a revelation, discovery, or a lesson

When closing your travel log, you must state what you have learned and whether your trip has given you a new experience and changed your perspective. This is something you should talk about in the body of your journal and at the end. You can also state what you discovered on your vacation. Remember, such details can guide others when going for a trip or even yourself the next time you go for a vacation.

Emphasize your point using memorable images, details, and facts

To make the end of your journal captivating, you should summarize your entire trip using outstanding photos, details as well as facts. Ensure you drive home the key points.

What is the travel journal?

A travel journal is a place to organize and plan your trips. Here, you can add the paper mementos from your trip and state your experiences. Do not forget your small and large memories, what you learned, and who you met on your vacation.

Why should I keep a travel journal?

Here are multiple reasons as to why you should keep your travel journal:

Tips and references

When you keep your travel journal well, you can also use I to help others. Likewise, you can use it to share and give tips to your friends, family, and colleagues about the places to visit, foods to eat, and what to see while on holiday. You can assure them of a pleasant stay in varying countries or cities through sharing tips and references.

Photo memories

You will take many photos on your trip, which will make a magnificent addition to your travel journal. Whenever you go through your travel log, fresh memories will always run in your brain. Furthermore, there are many things you will not remember after your trip, but you will be able to remember both small and big experiences with the photos.

Essential contacts and information

Ensure that you keep properly essential information, especially if you are going for a long vacation with varying destinations. Keep your traveling information in your travel journal. This information includes vital contacts, accommodation, flight info, and timetable.

It gives you a chance to create a list of places you would love to visit and the activities you would love to do when on your trip. This allows you to save on time and concentrate on your trip. As a result, state down the excellent restaurants to eat, best cultural things and food.

Learn more about yourself

You must know whatever you are writing is not for your audience but your soul as well as yourself. Therefore, you need to be confident about yourself and what you write without fearing that someone will judge you. Avoid negative thoughts and watch everything flows.

What do you include in a travel log?

A travel log should include a voice recording that you made during your free time, the photos you took during your vacation, a list of the itinerary, and a brief written description of places you toured.

How can I decorate my travel log?

You must be figuring out what it takes to decorate your travel log. Below are a few things you can use to decorate your travel journal:

• Pictures cut from brochures
• Food wrappers
• Beer bottle labels
• Entrance tickets
• Train/ cable car/ bus tickets

Everyone looks forward to writing a travel log that is worth reading. Thus, below are travel journal tips that will guide you write a travel journal that is worth reading:

• Send yourself a postcard and add it to your travel journal
• Design the custom travel journal cover
• Include attractive food packaging and stickers
• Find something unique and put it on your travel log
• Include colors from amazing outstanding places
• Feature great journal ideas, such as flowers and leaves
• Postage stamps for a special travel journal
• Glue money on the travel journal
• Add sketches to your travel log
• Record special interaction with the people you meet
• Include maps and tickets, which make perfect travel journal ideas

What is the difference between a travel log and a diary?

Most people usually think that a diary is the same as a travel log, but that is not the case. There is a difference between the two. A travel log is a book you can use to document ideas that take shape, while a diary is a book you can use to record events when they happen.

On the other hand, travel logs are never constrained on a calendar and dates because they feature random song lyrics, memories, doodles, pictures, ideas, lists, as well as thoughts that cross your mind. At the same time, a diary is a book you can use daily to record certain things, which happened on a specific day. It can be emotions, moods, or feelings. Besides, it also has the potential to track data and assist you in making crucial discoveries.

How do you make an online travel journal?

It is easy to make an online travel journal. The steps below will guide you make an online travel log:

• Create your story by writing it down
• Add images to your travel journal
• Show maps of your trip
• Watch travel log samples on the website
• Print your travel journal

What can I use for a travel journal?

Now that you are well familiarized with the travel journal, below are a few things you can put in your traveling diary:

• Sketches and doodle
• Places to tour
• Travel itinerary
• Packing list
• Expectations
• Business cards
• Food labels
• Postage stamps
• Pressed flowers and leaves

What should you look for in your travel journal?

A travel journal features crucial components that you can easily find, such as postcards, tickets, doodles, sketches, photos, places to visit, travel itinerary, packing list, and expectations, among other components.

What is bullet point journaling?

A bullet point journaling is a sort of a daily planner mix, diary, and to-do list. It is an analog journaling system developed by Ryder Carroll, a New York-based designer. Moreover, he describes journaling or the planner approach as a method you can use to track the past, arrange or organize the present, and focus on your future plans.

Are bullet journals a waste of time?

Suppose you follow the initiator’s reasoning; bullet journaling is never a waste of time; instead, it is a time saver. However, you can choose other options if you do not find them interesting. Before you use it, ensure you find out more about it to enhance our productivity.

How do you write a trip essay?

Writing a trip essay needs less creativity since the trip features extraordinary activities, cultural findings, and dramas. This means the essay does not require you to do a lot of thinking. However, turning your trip experience into an essay can be pretty challenging since you might leave much information uncovered. Here is an overview of practical guidelines that will assist you in writing an outstanding essay:

Choose your favorite destination

Before planning for a trip, you should choose your favorite destination. You must do thorough research before you decide on the city you would love to visit. Try and read about varying regions and see what is likely to inspire you more. You can share with your friends to help you choose the best city, and this will make them long for your essay after your trip.

Select several attraction sites

After choosing your city, take your time to select a few tourist attraction sites. Instead of writing about every place you passed during your trip, it would be better that you focus on the attraction sites to avoid being boring. Ensure that you focus on two or three places and offer your audience comprehensive information. Please do not concentrate on famous attraction sites since almost everyone has written about them. Instead, focus on unknown areas since many people usually want to hear something they have no idea about.

Create a compelling introduction paragraph

The first paragraph, which introduces your essay, is crucial because it convinces your reader how much you enjoyed your vacation. This means it must be catchy. Here you can start with the new tradition you witnessed, a cultural misunderstanding you experienced during your journey, or even an exciting dialogue you had on your trip. Utilize your sense of humor and stay innovative. Make sure that you engage the reader to make them want to read your essay until the end.

Show as you tell the story

An essay can be boring if feelings do not accompany it, painted imagery pictures of the space, more so in the reader’s mind. Ensure you become specific about your descriptions. Additionally, readers will barely understand fantastic buildings, fabulous roads, or incredible parks without you showing them. When you show the reader, it feels like they have been there with you.

Images make the reader understand your essay more and imagine better. 1 to 2 images are perfect. Therefore, try and choose the best images, which are more related to your essay or narrative. Choose vivid shots instead of black and white. These types of images are captivating and can make the reader curious.

Ensure your essay is simple

Ensure that your essay is simple since it is meant to entertain the reader. Hence avoid using highly academic structures and vocabularies. Try and use a friendly tone and an active voice to make your narrative engaging.

Talk about what you achieved on your vacation

Suppose your trip gained you nothing and did not bring a positive change in your entire life. Then our trip was a waste of money and time. Bear in mind that great experiences usually come with incredible achievements. This includes making new friends and shifting of belief. Whatever you achieve, ensure you tell your reader.

Offer the reader a food finale

Each interesting essay starts with a good and catchy point, reaches a climax, and ends with a perfect conclusion. Ensure you plan your paragraphs before writing. Make sure you have a strategy for starting your essay. You can commence by exercising a rising action and gradually slowing it down to let your reader know they are reaching the end of your narrative.

When planning for a vacation, you must not miss crucial details. This explains why you need a travel log. It assists you in planning and organizing your trip, and you can also jot down your experiences during your trip. With your travel journal, you can tell your trip stories to your friend, family, and even your grandchildren in the future.

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Travel Log: Definition, Essential Elements, and Examples

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Right to disconnect

Eligible employees have the right to refuse employer or third-party contact outside of working hours in some circumstances.

On this page:

Awards and agreements, tips for discussing out of hours contact, protections, tools and resources, related information.

For small business employers and their employees, the right to disconnect provisions apply from 26 August 2025 .

Employees of non-small business employers have the right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact (or attempted contact) outside their working hours, unless doing so is unreasonable. This includes contact (or attempted contact) from an employer or a third party.

Third party could include clients, suppliers, staff from other businesses, or members of the public.

Contact could include a range of communication channels used to engage with employees, such as calls, emails, texts, social media and messaging services.

Employers and employees are encouraged to discuss contact out of hours and set expectations that suit the workplace and the employee’s role. Find Tips for discussing out of hours contact .

When working out whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable, the following factors must be considered:

• the reason for the contact
• how the contact is made and how disruptive it is to the employee
• being available to perform work during the period they’re contacted, or
• working additional hours outside their ordinary hours of work
• the employee’s role in the business and level of responsibility
• the employee’s personal circumstances, including family or caring responsibilities.

Other matters may also be considered.

It will be unreasonable for an employee to refuse to read, monitor or respond if the contact or attempted contact is required by law. 

Example: Employee’s personal circumstances make out of hours contact unreasonable

Selim is a consultant and is working on a major project for a client. Selim has 2 young children. He has flexible working arrangements and his working hours are 7.30 am to 4 pm so that he can pick up his children from daycare.

At 4.30 pm on a Tuesday afternoon, Selim’s supervisor, Ava, is copied into an urgent email to Selim from the client. Ava considers whether to contact Selim and ask him to action the client’s request. It’s urgent and Selim is very familiar with this aspect of the client’s work. However, Ava knows that Selim is on his way to pick up his children and it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to deal with the request.

Ava asks another consultant to help the client and will update Selim when he returns to work. Ava’s decision is appropriate given Selim’s family responsibilities and the fact that another employee could resolve the issue.

Example: Employee is compensated for reasonable out of hours contact

Elizabeth is an associate at a medium-sized architecture firm where she usually works 8.30 am to 5 pm.

Elizabeth has been asked to fill in for her manager who is taking 3 months leave. During this period, Elizabeth will need to lead the delivery of a project for a major client. She is receiving extra pay while acting in her manager’s role.

Her supervising partner, Devi, has let Elizabeth know that a reasonable amount of out of hours contact and work will be required during her acting period to deliver the project. She is also told that this has been factored into her higher pay.

Devi gives her a copy of the firm’s policy on out of hours contact and asks if she has any questions.

In her second week in the role, Elizabeth leaves work at 5 pm. Shortly after, Devi finds out that Elizabeth’s team needs to urgently provide the client with additional documents for the project by 10 am tomorrow. It will take around 3 hours to prepare the documents. Devi tries to call Elizabeth on her personal mobile and sends her a text message explaining the situation.

Elizabeth doesn’t answer the calls as she’s about to go to the gym and then run some errands. She reads the full message at 8 pm but decides that it’s too late to respond to Devi. Based on the circumstances, Elizabeth’s refusal to monitor or respond to Devi’s contact could be unreasonable.

Awards, enterprise agreements and other registered agreements can also include additional right to disconnect provisions.

All awards include a right to disconnect term.

Award changes

The Fair Work Commission added right to disconnect terms to all awards on 26 August 2024. Learn more at Variation of modern awards to include a right to disconnect .

In some situations, an employee may be required to monitor, read or respond to contact (or attempted contact) from the employer outside their working hours in accordance with an award term.

More award information will be available on this page soon. Check back for further updates. In the meantime, you can check your award for right to disconnect rules that apply for your industry or occupation.

If you're covered by an enterprise or other registered agreement, check the terms of your agreement for information about the right to disconnect. To find an enterprise agreement, go to the Fair Work Commission’s website .

Regular and open communication helps maintain a harmonious working environment. It can also prevent workplace problems from happening. Both employees and employers are responsible for open and effective communication at and about work. Learn more about good workplace communication practices.

Employers and employees are encouraged to discuss out of hours contact and set expectations that suit the workplace and the employee’s role. Where possible, there are benefits to having these conversations before out of hours contact happens.

A discussion about out of hours contact could include:

It’s important employees know when they can disconnect from work and when they may be expected to monitor, read or respond to contact.

For example, a specialist technical engineer is told that while out of hours contact isn’t common, they may be contacted out of hours in response to a critical technical outage. They don’t need to monitor emails, but will be expected to answer or return a phone call about a serious outage.

It’s important to check the relevant award, enterprise agreement or employment contract for entitlements that may apply. Learn more about Pay and wages and Employment conditions .

For example, if there’s a serious issue, an employee may prefer to be called on their personal phone so that they don’t have to monitor a work phone or email account.

For example, managers and supervisors may formalise arrangements for out of hours contact and communicate those arrangements with senior leaders. For external clients, managers and supervisors may consider whether and how they should discuss expectations about communication with their clients.

For example, the arrangement could be reviewed on a regular basis or when there’s a change in an employee’s hours (such as a change to hours or work due to a flexible work arrangement).

Employers should also consider:

For example, managers can develop their skills by:

• completing our Difficult conversations in the workplace manager online course .
• reading our Consultation and cooperation in the workplace guide.

Employees can develop their skills by completing our Difficult conversations in the workplace employee course .

For example, updates to position descriptions to reflect expectations for out of hours contact.

For example, recording the arrangement in writing.

Tip: Guidance on the right to disconnect

The Australian Public Service Commission has published guidance on the right to disconnect in the public service sector .

The Fair Work Commission has published a video on understanding the new right to disconnect as well as a Right to disconnect fact sheet . They’re also required to make guidelines about the operation of the right to disconnect. These are not yet available.

Disputes about an employee’s right to disconnect should first be discussed at the workplace level to try to resolve the dispute.

If that isn’t successful, employees or employers can go to the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) to deal with the dispute. The Commission can make orders or deal with the dispute in other ways. This includes making orders to stop an employee from refusing contact or to stop an employer from taking certain actions.

You can read more at the Commission’s Right to disconnect disputes page.

Tip: We’re different from the Fair Work Commission

A reminder that the Commission is the national workplace relations tribunal and registered organisations regulator.

We’re the Fair Work Ombudsman. Our role is to give you advice and assistance on workplace laws.

Learn more about the difference between us (the Fair Work Ombudsman) and the Fair Work Commission .

The right to disconnect is a workplace right under general protection laws . These laws are protected rights employees have under the Fair Work Act.

Sources reference: Fair Work Act 2009 s.333M–333W, s.340

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Printed from fairwork.gov.au Content last updated: 2024-08-26 © Copyright Fair Work Ombudsman

Hosts have ruined Airbnb with excessive fees, high demands, and bad customer service, travel experts say

• Travelers appear to be abandoning Airbnb because of high costs, excessive fees, and poor host service.
• Airbnb was once a disruptor offering affordable stays but some say it has lost its charm.
• Travel experts say hosts' greed and lack of customer focus have tarnished Airbnb's reputation.

As the founder of a travel site, Michael Rozenblit has stayed in hundreds of Airbnbs over the past decade with his partner, Maggie.

"We love the convenience of having our own space," Rozenblit told Business Insider. "Particularly when it comes to cooking our own meals and having a bit more comfort than is found in a typical hotel room."

But Rozenblit said that after recent trips, they'd both "fallen out of love" with the platform. They've found that places to stay on Airbnb are now more expensive than hotels and that hosts aren't even providing toilet paper, trash bags, and coffee anymore.

Rozenblit said cleaning fees were also extortionate, despite hosts demanding that guests do the chores. One host previously told BI he was charging $400.

"There are almost always over-the-top cleaning requirements for checkout, often including the requirement to take out the trash and strip the beds at the minimum," Rozenblit said.

Travelers have become wise to this apparent shift. Airbnb was once hailed as a major disruptor of the vacation industry, allowing people to stay in cities all over the world in comfort and at a price tag much lower than costly hotels.

But the pendulum has swayed the other way, with some vacationers now tired of the endless fees and difficult hosts who can make their stays miserable, travel experts say.

Locals in tourist hot spots, including Barcelona and Athens , have also protested overtourism this year, taking aim at the platform's hosts buying up properties and pricing them out.

Airbnb warned investors of dwindling customer demand in an earnings call earlier this month, BI reported , and lowered its projected earnings for Q3 from $3.8 billion to between $3.67 billion and $3.73 billion.

The company's profit is also down 15% compared with this quarter last year, from a net income of $650 million to $555 million.

Airbnb's stock has since tanked, falling 14% in one day earlier this month.

The company pushed back in a statement to BI, saying that the horror stories aren't representative and that bookings are still up.

Hotels have meanwhile bounced back, with former Airbnb fanatics returning and some seeing pre-pandemic levels of occupancy, according to Statista . The industry is expected to see an annual growth rate of 3.72% until 2029, when it's anticipated to be worth $511 billion, according to Statista data.

Travel experts say hosts have a lot to answer for in Airbnb's downfall.

Related stories

All about profit?

Grace Moser, who owns the women's lifestyle blog Chasing Foxes and has been a full-time traveler since 2016, said hosts had played "a huge role in Airbnb's crash."

"Airbnb essentially allows anyone to sign up to be a host, which will always prove to be problematic," she told BI. "Because when you have people flooding in year after year who are seeing it as a way for them to make quick cash, you're going to be met with bad customer service."

Moser said the majority of hosts had stopped prioritizing the guest: "It's just another income stream where they do the bare minimum and know nothing about customer relations."

"There's no training, only feedback to the host after the fact," she said. "If that customer either leaves a positive or ambiguous review, or none at all, they probably won't improve for the next person."

Jessica Dante, a travel expert and the founder of Love and London , told BI it was the personal connection that guests and hosts would make that made Airbnb such a success in the early days when it launched in 2008.

"Most listings were with hosts that would be staying in the property with the guest or who were leaving for a few days and renting their place for a bit of extra income," Dante said. "Hosts would leave binders filled with local recommendations, be there to help with anything that guests needed, and you'd hear stories of guests and hosts that became great friends after a stay."

She said that these days, the majority of hosts were staff or property owners who were "solely focused on maximizing revenue."

"They charge cleaning fees while asking for chores to be completed, they aren't readily available where there's a problem, and they see guests as just a number," Dante said. "The personal connection has been lost."

Nightmare hosts

Stories about bad Airbnbs frequently hit the headlines, in part because wronged guests can go viral on TikTok with their experiences.

In January, one traveler said the trailer she rented was so cold she could see her breath . Another described his " Airbnb from hell " as "the most pathetic excuse for a house" he'd ever stayed in, with the toilet not attached to the wall and a bed in the garage.

Last year, a woman booked a New Orleans Airbnb for Taylor Swift's Eras tour this fall, but she said the host later tried to triple the price when they realized they could charge a premium.

Other horror stories include a guest saying their host dumped all their belongings , including their passport, into the street after mixing up the checkout date and a woman saying her host didn't refund her booking when she had to cancel it after learning her mom was dying .

Duncan Greenfield-Turk, the chief travel designer at Global Travel Moments , told BI that hosts had "without a doubt" played a big part in Airbnb's unpopularity.

He said inconsistent quality and service had led to growing dissatisfaction and a lack of trust in the platform.

"Unlike hotels, which generally adhere to industry standards, Airbnb experiences can vary widely from one property to the next," Greenfield-Turk said. "While some hosts provide excellent service, others have been accused of being greedy or neglectful, focusing on maximizing profits at the expense of guest satisfaction."

Greenfield-Turk said stories of hosts setting unreasonable rules, cutting corners, and being unresponsive when issues arise were becoming more common.

"These negative experiences contribute to a tarnished reputation for the platform as a whole, making the reliability of traditional hotels more appealing," he said.

In a statement to BI after publication, an Airbnb representative said the stories in this article were "cherry-picked" and anecdotal.

"The number of nights booked on Airbnb continues to grow each quarter, as does the number of listings around the globe," the rep said.

"While the vast majority of Airbnb stays are positive, just like others in the hospitality industry — including hotels — we are not infallible and work quickly to address issues when they arise and have taken action to ensure we have high-quality stays on our platform, including the removal of over 200,000 listings that failed to meet our guests' expectations."

Hotels are bouncing back

When Airbnb was new, it offered authentic, community-driven travel experiences, Greenfield-Turk said. But, he said, it had become full of full-time, profit-driven businesses, meaning the original charm had gone.

Airbnb's loss is the hotel industry's gain. Hotels are making the most of the backlash by offering more personalized services and often matching or undercutting Airbnb prices.

Rozenblit said travelers were more aware of the problems that could come with Airbnbs and were seeing the benefits of hotels, where they had "little of these requirements placed upon them."

Greenfield-Turk said that for Airbnb to regain its footing, it would have to implement stricter guidelines for hosts, enforce transparency with its pricing, and reconnect with the community-driven values that set it apart in the first place.

"This shift toward commercialization has alienated a segment of travelers who were drawn to the platform for its promise of unique, personal experiences," Greenfield-Turk said.

"Instead, they are now often met with impersonal, hotel-like stays — without the consistency and reliability that hotels offer."

August 27, 2024: This story has been updated to include a comment from Airbnb.

Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb.

Watch: Marketing is at the forefront of customer insights and the "voice of the client back to the business" says PwC global CMO Antonia Wade

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