Is this your first time starting a travel journal? Or simply looking for more inspiration for things you can include? Here are my top 10 things to include in every travel journal that are easy to find/use and fun to keep as memories!
1. Photo's
Duh, don't save these just for your photo album, but add them to your journal too! Photos serve as great visuals that capture the essence of your day and all the things you got to experience. They can bring your memories to life and will help you a lot to recall the sights and moments you cherished when you reread your journal in a couple of years.
You can also experiment with different styles of photos you want to use. I like to use a mix of Polaroid photos and photos printed with my HP Sprocket Plus.
2. Tickets
Keeping tickets are great ways to remember the places you went to see and activities you did during your trip. Different types of tickets you can add to your journal are plane-, bus- or train tickets and museum, art gallery, movie & theatre tickets.
3. Stickers
In every touristy place you can find gift shops or even gasstations that sell stickers. They are a fun way to decorate your journal.
4. Postcards
Including postcards in your travel journal is a fantastic idea for several reasons. For one, they usually are photo’s taken by a professional of an iconic landmark or scenic view without any distractions in it or they portray local art, culture and history of the places you visited. Writing personal notes or reflections on the back of postcards adds a layer of intimacy and sentimentality, preserving your thoughts and experiences in a unique format. Plus, postcards are compact and durable, making them easy to carry and ideal for pasting into your journal, as they withstand the wear and tear of travel better than many other souvenirs.
5. Business cards
Been to certain businesses/places you want to remember? Why not keep a business card. They are also perfect for when you want to advise a certain place to friends a family to visit because they have all the information you need!
6. Postage stamps
What about postage stamps! Everyplace you visit probably has a post office and postage stamps are so small they will definitely fit in every journal.
7. Foreign currency
When you are traveling you usually bring some cash with you, why not keep what you didn’t spend and include it in the journal. You can just add in the coins or if it’s to bulky to you liking, or make coin rubbings.
8. Bucket lists
If you are a person who loves researching things to do and see before going on a trip, why not take it a step further? Turn your research into bucket lists. This way, you can prioritize your must-see attractions and activities. It will add more excitement and structure to your travel adventures.
9. Travel quotes
You have a blank spot on a page and don’t know what to fill it with? It’s the perfect opportunity to include some inspirational or memorable travel quotes!
10. People you met
I got this idea from somebody I met on my travels. When I have a travel journal containing multiple notebooks I keep one just for people I meet along the way to write in. The way you set this up is completely up to you and depends on what you find important to remember. Personally I like to give people some room to leave me a note and give them a few questions to answer.
For example this is what it looked like in my very first journal:
Welcome !
If you are given this journal it means you are an incredible person and I want to remember you !
Just follow the prompts and feel free to add any personal touch.
The idea is quite simple. Just add these six points to your page: date, name, country of origin, age, where we met and your next destination.
You can also choose to answer all or some of the following questions:
- What is one piece of advice you will never forget?
- What is your life motto?
- What is something you learned the hard way?
- What is one dream you have yet to accomplish?