Why you should keep a travel journal

From Marco Polo’s tales from around Asia to Mark Twain’s satirical reflections, travel journals have taken many guises over the years. These days, journalling feels like a lost art, especially in the age of social media. Thankfully, attitudes appear to be changing.  

Brands like Japan-based Traveler’s Company and long-established British company Smythson have launched stylish travel journals, while online, people are sharing beautiful spreads of their journeys – brought to life by watercolours, cursive handwriting and pasted-in plane tickets. 

As slow travel continues to trend and people tailor their journeys for more meaningful experiences, journals offer a chance for self-reflection and personal growth. Studies have even shown that journalling benefits mental health – from managing anxiety to reducing stress. 

In the case of Lucy Bone, creator of JotJournaling’s popular travel journals , she’s been documenting her travels since she was a child. It was a pastime she and her grandmother shared, and it’s since become her business.“It's made me actively reflect on my trips, instead of stowing my images away in my camera roll forever… Journalling gives you the time to sit down, take a break, and do something healthy and creative,” she says. 

Tangible relics of your trip and honest snapshots of the person you were while travelling, journals urge you to express yourself more fully. Here’s how to get started, with top tips from Bone. 

How to get started

One of the most important things to do is choose the right travel journal. You can either opt for blank notebooks, like a Moleskine, for ultimate customisation, or go for a purpose-built journal like Bone’s which includes country checklists, country-specific pages and other options. 

Throughout your travels, it’s a good idea to keep notes on your phone of some of the key moments for you to reflect on later. Even just a few words are fine, as long as they jog your memory when you sit down to write. 

Bone also recommends collecting things along the way to bring your reflections to life: ticket stubs, postcards and more. For a more polished look, you can also come up with a colour scheme. Photographs also capture a thousand words and are worth including, alongside your written musings. 

How to make it visual

Websites like Pinterest are great for inspiration as you move on to planning your layout. Bone typically starts with the background, then arranges photographs on top. From there, you can start gluing things in.

Bone also includes less obvious mementoes, such as receipts or notes. “I love looking at elements in the background so I can remember the little things – where I went for dinner and what I ordered. These elements help to spark memories that may otherwise be forgotten.”

While some people choose to write their entries after they’ve returned from a trip, daily journalling sessions on the road allow you to reflect on your adventure in real time. It’s a nice way to relax after a day of sightseeing and practice gratitude. What’s more, you’re less likely to forget the more poignant details. 

The key is simply to keep it personal and stay true to your experiences. According to Bone, “Journaling keeps the thrill of the trip going and helps you reflect on your memories in the future.”

The best travel journal essentials 

JotJournaling small deluxe world travel journal 

This stunning hardcover journal makes written reflections easier than ever, with beautifully laid out sections and prompts ready for you to fill in, as well as illustrated maps for you to colour in to mark your past travels. The journal also includes checklists and spreads dedicated to specific countries, making it a great choice for beginners. 

Montblanc notebook #146 homage to Napoleon Bonaparte

This elegant notebook pays homage to the French general with a navy-and-gold cover. Ideal for the journal writer who prefers more thoughtful entries to the more visual scrapbook approach, it’s elegantly lined with a cobalt blue ribbon to help you mark your next page. 

Traveller’s notebook, camel regular size kit

These classic travel diaries remain true to their Japanese heritage, with a minimal aesthetic that’s also multi-functional. This kit will start you off on your journalling journey with a sleek brown leather case and blank pages. They're also customisable with diary calendars , zip up folders and watercolour paper inserts to unleash your inner artist.

Kodak P210RW Mini2 Retro 4PASS portable photo printer – White

Print your memories on the go with this pocket-sized device, created by photography experts Kodak. Simply connect your phone via Bluetooth, load up your paper cartridges and start printing. 

S.T. Dupont D-Initial Rollerball Pen 262215

A good pen is worth its weight in gold, and this scarlet pen is among the very best, designed to flow smoothly with what it claims is the “perfect grip”.