There are lots of journals and planners out there. There are gratitude journals, diaries, planners and calendars, goal setting journals, bullet journals, blank notebooks...I could go on and on. A travel journal, much like the journals listed, is a place where you can keep notes, photos, and even souvenirs like stickers or ticket stubs. When used thoughtfully, it can pose not just as a way to record your best moments when you travel but can be an incredible resource to use when planning future trips or to offer recommendations to friends and family on destinations and attractions you've enjoyed.

 

The best part about a travel journal is that you get to document the activities and excursions you have spent so much on your disposable income. And unlike a standard journal, it is not something that you have to keep up with every day. You only pull it out when you travel or have new experiences worth remembering. Over time as you collect memories, you build out this incredible time capsule and living heirloom of your best moments that grows old with you.

When I was traveling, I found that there was no good travel journal that existed. I saw one of two things. One was a blank notebook that had some travel-themed quote on the cover. The other was a kitschy "21 questions" style book that often had questions or pages with prompts that had nothing to do with the kind of travel I was doing.

 

The problem with a blank notebook is just that... it's a blank notebook. They usually came lined, which was annoying for when I wanted to draw in it. The paper quality was lacking, making it hard to use markers or certain pens. Basic notebooks often had too many pages, and nothing makes you feel the guilt of failure, like buying a notebook or journal that you can't finish.