Before getting into the details, imagine your finished travel journal.
Perhaps a little worn, with pages curled from the water on a ferry, edges yellowed by the Greek sun, a metro ticket tucked between two pages. It’s not just a notebook, it’s a sensory capsule, a portable memory, your mark on the world.
So how do you get there? Let’s take a step back.
1. The right equipment to start your travel journal
What you’ll need:
- A bound or spiral notebook (A5 is ideal, but use whatever size you prefer)
- Erasable ink pens (yes, like FriXion pens!)
A small set of coloured pencils or fine felt-tip pens
Glue stick (much more practical than liquid glue, trust me)
A few envelopes or pockets to store loose mementos (tickets, dried flowers, etc.)
2. What to put in your notebook? Let your instincts guide you
Write, draw, stick, cross things out.
There are no hard and fast rules, but here are a few ideas to mix things up:
- Mini stories about your day (even the bad ones — especially the bad ones!)
- Hand-drawn maps or ones traced from Google Maps
- Sketches of places, faces, local dishes (no need to be Leonardo da Vinci)
- Spontaneous reactions: to a local song, a strange smell in a market, an unexpected storm…
3. Layout: the art of organised chaos
You don’t have to create a beautiful page every day. It’s not a graded assignment.
Mix formats: a double page for an eventful day, a stamp stuck in the middle for a quick note.
A few tips:
- Vary the fonts (handwritten, script, capital letters, etc.)
- Leave blank spaces to allow the page to breathe
- Use colour codes according to country, atmosphere or mood
- Around 72% of solo travellers keep a notebook — and nearly 40% reread it every year (source: Le Routard, 2023).
4. The rhythm of the notebook: no need to write every day
We often feel guilty about ‘not writing enough’. Spoiler alert: it’s okay.
You can write for three days in a row, then take a week’s break. The most important thing is to capture what moves you, not everything that happens to you.
Quick tip: take notes on your phone during the day, then copy them out in the evening, accompanied by a local drink
5. Bonus: think about your future self
You’re creating this notebook today, but it’s you in ten years’ time who will be reading it. Leave little messages for your future self:
‘Remember that smell’,
‘You were so tired that evening’,
FAQ: How do I make a travel journal?
What format should I choose for a travel journal?
A5 is a handy size to carry around, but choose whatever suits your style. A bound notebook will generally last longer.
What should I put in a travel journal?
You can include stories, drawings, collages, impressions, tickets, photos, maps, quotes, etc.
Do I have to write every day?
No, it’s better to write when you feel like it or when something really strikes you.
What type of pen should I use?
A erasable ink pen such as the Pilot FriXion allows you to make corrections without damaging your pages.
Can I make a digital travel journal?
Yes, but nothing beats the feel of paper, ink that smudges a little and the little marks that life leaves behind.
