The Travel Journals We Take With Us to Record Every Trip

If you’re the type of person that’s always wanted to keep a journal, but the blank page is too intimidating, the I Was Here travel journal is the perfect solution. With travel-themed prompts and daily questions, this beautifully illustrated notebook makes journaling a snap. The journal also features fun ideas for experiencing destinations in different ways. One page suggests buying foreign toiletries while another proposes a photography bucket-list. There are places to record restaurant orders, conversation snippets, and local pop culture, helping travelers to capture a smattering of memories from different perspectives.  

Avid journal-keepers know different life events require different journals. Your trip to London, scribbling in pubs, needs a different notebook than your trek around Montreal, sampling poutine. When you need a fresh journal for your next jaunt, we recommend this lovely green one by The School of Life. The hardback-book design isn’t just elegant, it also protects your pages as they get stuffed in and out of backpacks or purses. Its dot-grid pages mean you can write in any direction, and the understated “Journeys” design on the cover with a few leaping A to B dots will help you distinguish your travel diary from the rest of your notebook collection.

Sure, there are a million apps to get organized, but some of us like to lay things out on a page. If you’re that type of traveler, the Moleskine Voyageur journal will be your favorite sidekick. Made by an Italian papermaker that knows a thing or two about quality journals, the Voyageur notebook covers all the bases. From planning to budgeting to journaling, the Voyageur acts as a command central with detachable packing lists, world maps, daily planning timetables, and places to record important names and addresses. There’s also an expandable inner pocket for storing tickets and travel documents. Plus, the Voyageur features fun extras, like vacation-inspired stickers and colorful ribbon bookmarks.

It’s tricky to buy a present for a travel-obsessed friend. After all, you can’t spring for a plane ticket or luxury luggage. But this beautiful leather-bound travel journal by William Sonoma affiliate Mark & Graham makes a great go-to gift. Its soft leather cover comes in a variety of colors and can be monogrammed with your friends’ initials (or home airport code!) for extra personalization. Inside, the journal features color maps of major cities, world weather info, and international dialing codes, along with plenty of blank pages for recording memories. 

Here’s the situation: You want to keep a journal during your travels, but you won’t have time indoors to do it. Enter, the Indestructible Field Book by Elan Publishing. Made from synthetic materials, this pocket-size waterproof, tearproof journal is completely indestructible. Take it rafting, kayaking, or scuba diving, or pack it with your fishing gear. It’s perfect for camping trips or boating excursions, or trips where you anticipate spending a lot of time in the rain. (Looking at you, Seattle.)

Journaling is all about touching the written page, and there’s no better feeling than gliding your hand across a leather-bound journal. If you love the idea of putting your trip notes into a well-worn folio, this Poromo Leather Journal is the perfect leather-bound vessel. The journal’s two-flap cover and leather rope ties give it an antique look — perfect when you want to feel like a great explorer documenting the day’s discoveries. And its lined, sepia-toned pages make it easy to stay organized.  

Magpie travelers who save every napkin, coaster, and hotel keycard need a journal that’s more than just blank pages for thoughts. Thankfully, this leather-bound notebook is up to the task. It’s equipped with three different types of paper and plastic pouches that can store pictures and tiny mementos. Use it as a miniature scrapbook, a sketchpad, or trip organizer. Its compact size makes it easy to toss in your pocket, backpack, or carry-on.

For those that love multi-hued bullet journals or color-coordinating entries with pure, rainbow abandon, this set of 18 colorful markers will bring you to your happy place. These Journal Planner Pens by iBayam are made with quick-drying, acid-free ink for minimal bleed and feature ultra-fine tips for writing and doodling. Use the markers for calendar organizing, note-taking, sketching, illustrating—or just drawing a million Skittles-hued loop-de-loops.

If you’re sketching, shading, or just want something with a big ol’ eraser to get rid of mistakes, you’ll want to keep a pencil handy with your journal. We’re fans of The Paper Mate Clearpoint Elite 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil that combines the appeal of a pencil with the comfort of a pen. Remember those painful finger calluses you developed as a kid in school? That’s not an issue here. Plus, the Clearpoint Elite’s jumbo twist-up eraser allows for easy, smudge-free do-overs, so go ahead and get the lead out.