How to start a Memorable Travel Journal ? Beginner’s guide Part -02

I always keep my Travel Journal by side to quickly record anything I feel needs a special attention in my pages . For me travel journals are not just paper , they are memories that I can relive anytime I want to . Making a memorable Travel Journal is the best investment .

For a very long time I felt I was using my travel journals wrong but few years back I realized that there is no right or wrong way to use it .

If you are someone you don’t know what is a Travel Journal have a look at this blog : What is a Travel Journal and Why use it ? – Beginners guide Part – 01

How to Start a Memorable Travel Journal ?

Here are few tips that i want to share to get you started with memorable travel journal in a way where you feel comfortable .

Choose your favorite Journal

Choosing a planner that you love is an essential step . I always had another level of motivation when I get to work in my favorite journal. You favorite journal might have your favorite color , you might like how prefect its pages are and how it looks when you write on those pages . Feeling is the greatest secret to any creative work . So try to choose a planner that you love in every way .

For me A5 size with plain pages work perfectly . I can draw , paste , doodle , paint , splash colors and write on blank paper easily as compared to any other page like dotted or lined . I had seen many other creators who prefer dotted journals as they get pre-made grid on page which helps alot in layout of the page .

Pro tip : Never judge yourself for your choices , just select one Journal that you love in everyway and always feel ready to open every time you see it .

Gather your art supplies

I am really passionate when it comes to buying stationery and I could spend all my money on them . For me having all my art supplies near me is the starting point even before the inspiration hits.

If you are beginner and don’t want to buy bulk stationery , its alright . Just play around with basics you already own . Keep it simple and don’t forget to carry your favorite pen every time you travel with your travel Journal.

I always carry small cake paint box with 2 brushes , 2 black pen , 1 pencil with eraser , 1 ruler , 1 gluestick . I keep my travel stationery very simple and minimal . You can too make a little travel stationery kit for yourself.

Choose what , when and where to Journal

You can start journaling even before you go for an actual trip . You can plan your trip in your journal and make yourself accountable . Making a to do list , shopping list , things to pack etc can be few things to start with . You can include your pre -trip research about the places you want to visit.

I always loved writing in cafes or camps . Cafes have the vibe of slow travelling that let my creative juices flowing . I generally write about the current trip and the most memorable events and people I had met , I stick a lot of photos and stickers to make my spreads pop out .

And what about writing in airplanes and train ? I absolutely love it ! Watching nature’s beauty through window with soft music and my favorite pen and journal to pour out my feelings onto paper is the best feeling .

Mention the details of TIME

Always mention day , date and time to beat the ravels of passing time . Looking back at your journals , the first thing you would search for would be date . Try to keep your travel journal like a diary entry , it helps !
Your Future Self will always thank you !

Be Present , Observe and Feel it

It easy to get lost especially when you have million things to look at but Journaling helps you stay observant . Try to write everything you feel . For example , when I visit any local market of at a foreign place , I write about colors that where most prominent, how people were talking , how did that local water tasted etc. .

Being present in the moment automatically helps you being observant about yourself and your surroundings .

Write about People x Cultures

The most amazing thing about travelling is meeting new people and interacting with different cultures . You always get to see something new that amaze you in different ways. Writing about different people you met and what cultures you had touch is like a treasure box of words.

I always write about different people I met during travel and what cultures I admired . I write details about what rituals they follow and how they talk . I gives a lot of insight about that city /country/ region .

Use your Travel Journal as Creative outlet

Draw , paint , write , splash colors , scribble , crumble paper , paste etc. do anything you want ! Literally travel journals could be such a good outlet for creative people . I personally do this role play of an urban sketch artist and feel as if I am the best urban sketcher and make anything that is in front of me . This elevates my mind and serves as an outlet for any unopened emotions within me . At night when I am about to sleep , I write about how my day went and where did I travelled ,I start sticking stickers to layout my page for words .

Travel journal Prompts to get started

It’s Okay if you don’t know where to start ! Here I got you few prompts covered , you can start answering them in detail and you would automatically know what all you want to write in your journal and what you don’t like

• What were your expectations for this trip? Is it living up to your hopes?
• What’s your itinerary, and what have you done spontaneously?
• Describe a person you’ve met – their character and personality, their mannerisms, their appearance and clothing.
• Write about a new food or restaurant you’ve tried.
• Describe the best and worst part of your day.
• Describe a place you’ve visited. What’s the history, the atmosphere and the smells and sounds of the place?

What you can include in your Travel Journal ?

1. Planning
2. Memory Tracking
3. Expense tracker
4. Savings page
5. Donation Page
6. Places to visit
7. Souvenir
8. Photos
9. Making your travel partner write
10. Story Time
11. Things to do on a trip
12. Lessons learned during trip
13. Important contacts
14. Hotel and reservations
15. Travel itinerary
16. Travel Roadmap
17. Packing list
18. Doodles and sketches
19. Tickets and bills
20. Business cards
21. Pressed flowers and leaves
22. Food labels and tissue paper
23. Postage stamps
24. Postcards
25. Unique Currency and exchange rates

I hope this Blog help you in getting started with your memorable Travel Journal journey !
Feel free to tag us on Instagram , we would love to see your creations .