trip journal for sale

20 Best Travel Journals to Document Your Trips

Some include prompts and templates to help get you started.

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Last-minute planning of a trip can consist of chaotic lists in your phone's notes app while the chronicling of said trip may look like sporadic photos in your camera roll. But what if there was a collective place you could plan in advance and jot down funny moments along the way? A travel journal can culminate the ups (and downs) of your vacation with guided prompts and templates.

Our experts at Good Housekeeping Institute extended our expertise in the best photo book makers and best wedding planning books to research the best travel journals, a category we have not yet formally tested. We rounded up the best travel journals of 2023, whether you want a self-designed bullet journal or a notebook with fun maps and stickers. At the end of our list, you can find advice on how to start your travel journal as well as read more about why you can trust Good Housekeeping. And if you have a frequent traveler in your life besides yourself, check out our guide to the best travel gift ideas (although a journal is a great idea too!).

The Art of the National Parks: Park-Lover's Journal

Perfect for the outdoors enthusiast in your life, this journal celebrates each of the 63 parks. It's 175 pages long and comes with prompts that'll help them chronicle their journey. It doesn't hurt that this journal has gorgeous illustrations of each park by real artists.

Papier Off Piste

Whether this is your first or fifth travel journal, or a gift for the college student in your life who's about to go abroad, Papier's notebooks will check all of the boxes. One GH editor has the Off Piste journal and loves the cover, a simple design that includes a meaningful quote, and appreciates the helpful templates you'll find inside the notebook. You'll be able to document up to six trips with templates for your budget, packing list, transportation, accommodation, itinerary and a journaling space for freestyle writing. There are also pages dedicated to a travel wishlist as well an illustrative map you can color in as you mark off countries you've visited.

Peter Pauper Press Page-A-Day

Journals can ring in at a variety of prices, but you can find a great travel journal for under $10 that will still give you enough space to write about your wanderings around the world. This leather-bound journal dedicates one page to each day of your trip, with spaces to add in the date, location and weather conditions (we especially like the delicate drawings for types of participation which you can circle with your pencil or pen). Dotted lines on the page will keep your entries neat and organized and an included ribbon bookmark will keep track of where you left off last. Even though this journal is pretty basic in design and on the smaller side, we think it's a great option for someone who doesn't want to spend too much on their first travel journal.

Clever Fox Vacation Planner

Amazon's Choice with a 4.6-star rating across over 900 customer reviews, this travel journal comes with more than just a notebook. You'll also get 150+ fun stickers to embellish your entries, plus the journal also has a pocket to hold the pages of stickers and an elastic band for your pen. But what makes this journal really stand out is its extensive range of templates geared towards helping you plan your trip. For five trips, you'll get pages for research and budget, a packing checklist, transportation and accommodation details and an expense tracker, plus a map and more journaling pages. If you like to plan out every detail, this is the perfect travel journal for your needs. We wish you could fit more than five trips in the journal, but for the price, it's a great value.

Peter Pauper Press Kids Travel Journal

Perfect for the adventure-inclined kiddo, this 96-page travel journal lets young travelers record everything from general entries about a trip to a packing list. Kids can even paste in photos, tickets and more and store the rest in the journal's back pocket. The journal is also full of games, maps, helpful phrases in other languages, metric information, quotes and fun facts. Not only is this kid-friendly journal a creative means to document their early adventures, but its accessories encourage international learning.

Leatherology Medium Spiral Snap Journal

Available in four hues including black onyx (pictured), brown, azure and lilac, this journal is made from gorgeous dyed leather with light gold hardware. You can choose from a spiral or bound format, but note that the spiral option has 130 perforated pages while the bound journal has 265 ruled sheets (or 128 pages). Regardless of which style you choose, you'll will get the benefit of a snap closure and a built-in pen loop, although the writing utensil is not included. We appreciate the versatility of this journal given the blank pages that let you doodle and write freely over the course of your next trip.

Mark and Graham Leather Bound World Travel Journal

This beautiful leather bound journal not only has pages for writing about your trips, but it also includes full-color maps of major cities plus world weather information, international dialing codes and more. A perfect gift for the international traveler, you can also add a foil debossed monogram to the cover if you want to add a personal flare to the notebook. We wish that the journal was available in more than one color, but the rust orange is a versatile enough choice that will stick out in a dark suitcase or bag.

Duncan & Stone Paper Co. World Trip Adventure Book

An almost-perfect five-star rating on Amazon and the titular Amazon's Choice badge is enough to make you add this travel journal to your cart. The layflat design makes it easy to open and write on, and you'll have enough pages to reflect on 15 trips plus a back pocket for extra photos and blank pages for notes and random musings. What we love most about this journal are the helpful prompts that guide newbies through the process of journaling, with questions like "Where did you stay?." and "Something I learned from this destination/culture..." From basic to more thought-provoking questions, you'll have a boost of inspiration to help you document your journey.

Day One Day One

While the majority of picks on this list are physical journals, you can also document your trips through an app if you prefer a digital format or have minimal space in your luggage . Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director at the GH Institute Rachel Rothman , says Day One is a solid choice with ample positive reviews from consumers. You can download the app for free on your iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. You'll get one journal for one device with the ability to add a photo per entry, plus templates, export capabilities and tags. If you want unlimited journals, devices and photos plus the option to add videos, audio recordings and more, opt for Day One Premium which rings in at $2.92 per month.

Extreme Assistants Classic Notebook

If you travel a lot, or tend to squish as much as you possibly can into your carry-on (we have all been there), you'll want a durable journal that can withstand being tossed around and bumping against other items in your bag. A faux leather hardcover and thick paper ensure your journal will stay intact as you travel to and fro. The manufacturer adds that the cover is designed to be easy to clean, which is helpful if you are journaling on the airplane or train and accidentally spill your drink. We also appreciate that you can add a photo or logo to the cover for an element of personalization, especially since the notebook is more basic in style.

Deanna Didzun The Traveler's Playbook: A World Travel Journal

Journaling of any kind can be intimidating as you don't always know where to start — even a notebook with guiding prompts can lead to partial writer's block. If this sounds like you, then opting for a book that has more structure and a variety of templates is the way to go. This popular travel journal has a 4.3-star rating on Uncommon Goods is designed by explorer Deanna Didzun who created illustrations and lists to help jog your memory of your most recent journey. You can give overall star ratings for each destination and write down food and drink highlights if you so please.

Smythson Travels and Experiences Panama Notebook

There are journals and then there are journals — and this beautiful handcrafted leather journal falls into the latter category. Bound in crossgrain lambskin and available in a light blue or scarlet red, you'll have 128 pages of lined Featherweight paper to fill. This notebook is all about quality and is designed to last, but with that comes a higher price tag. It would be a great gift for the writer in your life who loves to travel, but given its simple layout and lack of templates other travel journals can have, it may not be splurge-worthy for every traveler.

DesignWorks Ink Suede Travel Journal

If you or a friend is traveling to Santorini, Mexico and/or Sydney in the near future, you may want to opt for this travel journal inspired by each of those stunning cities. You can add personal information in the first page of the notebook and the 240 pages are lined with spaces to include the subject and date. Although the journal does not include prompts or templates, we love the eye-catching gold design and appreciate the ribbon bookmark to keep track of your last entry.

Moleskine Traveller's Journal

Moleskine, the established brand that has been around for over two decades, is synonymous with traditional, high quality notebooks — and this travel-specific journal is no different. There are three sections for a travel wish list, short trips and long trips plus two sheets of stickers and a ribbon bookmark. The journal has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon across over 3,200 consumer ratings. One five-star review calls this notebook "the traveler's best friend," and notes how helpful it can be to keep track of places, restaurants and sites so you don't forget.

JB Leather Personalized Travel Notebook

For a personalized touch, this pick lets you choose from over 1,000 charm and stamp combinations including astrological charms, meaningful quotes and more . There are also three different vegan leather hues to choose from: cinnamon, cedar and sandy brown. The notebook has 18 plastic card slots, a zippered pocket for storage and a total of 152 lined pages. You can also refill the notebook as you cross places off your travel wish list. A best-seller on Etsy with a perfect five-star rating, this customizable notebook is popular among customers. Multiple reviews comment on the fast delivery, and its high-quality, beautiful appearance.

Transient Books Custom Travel Journal for Kids

With this journal, you can customize the cover color, font and cover map, as well as choose between 100- and 200-page books with lined, unlined and prompts variations. We love the various ways you can personalize this kid-friendly journal, making little ones that more excited to explore new places. The five-star seller has over 3,000 customer reviews on Etsy. And the travel journal doesn't just have to be a gift for the kids: Adult customers also said they enjoyed using the notebook for camping trips and vacations around the globe.

Compendium Everywhere You Go

We have included travel journals on this list that have prompts but none like the unexpected ones in this notebook that will get your creative wheels turning. The questions may catch you off guard, but prompt thoughtful reflection: they range from "If this place had a perfume, it would smell like..." to, "If this place had a soundtrack, these songs would be on it." The notebook is Amazon's Choice and has a 4.5-star rating, with multiple customers calling it the perfect gift for the traveler in your life, whether you need a gift for a teen or a present for a thirtieth birthday .

PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook

Keeping a bullet journal is a popular trend that can easily translate to an aesthetic yet meaningful travel journal. This popular bullet notebook has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon with over 18 color options to chose from including mustard yellow (pictured), burgundy, lavender, royal blue and more. The 5.7-by-8-inch dotted pages lend themselves to open-ended creativity. While it can be hard to start designing and writing a journal from scratch, you have the benefit of customizing how much space you want for each list or entry.

Polarsteps Travel Tracker

Physical journals are not everyone's cup of tea, which is where an app like Polarsteps comes into play. Available for iOS and Android devices, Polarsteps lets travelers track their journeys. You can utilize over 300 helpful guides created by travel editors, as well as use the itinerary planner to dream up your perfect vacation and check the transport planner when unsure of what mode of transportation to use from one destination to another. Once you begin your trip, plot each site you visit and slowly form a personalized map that you can embellish with photos and videos. From there, share your map with friends and family or turn it into a travel book to look back on for years to come.

Glad & Young Studio The Traveler's Journal

If you have a bookshelf with rows of novels, photo albums and notebooks, you may want an aesthetic-looking travel journal that fits your style. This leather notebook has 60 pages to document your travels, and is available in a neutral shade (pictured) as well as two marbled patterns that are unique to each purchase. We personally love the brightly colored assorted pattern that has swirls of lavender, yellow, fuchsia and blue. The lined pages are great for daily entries and you can also note the day and weather. Note that to clean, you'll want to wipe away and spills or messes with a soft cloth.

Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.

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Savvy Travel Advice

14 Best Travel Journals for Travelers – Guide to Choosing the Perfect Travel Journal

Last updated: January 19, 2024 - Written by Jessica Norah 32 Comments

A travel journal can be a great way to record one’s memories and experiences while traveling. Laurence bought his first travel journal in 1999 to use on a trip to Namibia. I bought my first travel journal back in 2012 for a trip to France. We have both been keeping travel journals on most of our trips ever since.

Although I don’t do it often, I love re-reading my old travel journals. They bring back a lot of memories, and help me remember all the little things that happened that I may have forgotten, the good, the bad, and the hilarious.

I also find my old journals very useful in recording details, such as a guide’s name, the duration of a hike, or which restaurant we ate in during a trip which may not be something I can tell from a photo. This has helped us add details to travel blog posts, return to favorite spots, and give more specific travel advice to friends and family.

Over the years, we have used a lot of different journals for travel writing, from basic composition notebooks to custom handcrafted journals. We have used, gifted, and reviewed dozens of different types of journals.

This guide was written to help travelers find the best travel journal for them. Whether you are looking for a personal journal for an upcoming trip or looking for help in buying a travel journal as a gift, we’ll give you all the information you need to choose the best travel journal.

We’ll share what to look for when buying a travel journal, including things like size, page count, paper quality, closure types, and sustainability. Then we review a wide selection of different travel journals so that you can find one that suits your criteria, style, and budget.

Table of Contents:

14 Things to Consider When Buying a Travel Journal

Travel journals all have a lot in common, but there are also a number of differences. We’ll discuss the main factors you’ll want to consider when choosing a travel journal.

For many people, a journal for traveling is no different than a regular journal or diary. But there are things that may be more important to you for a journal that you take on a trip rather than one that stays next to your bed. These may include factors related to portability (size and weight) and durability (cover type, binding quality, closure type).

There is no perfect journal for travelers. My favorite travel journal is not necessarily the right one for you. Also the ideal journal may also depend on the type and length of your trip. A journal that is good for writing about short weekend trips may not work well on a month-long backpacking trip.

As you read this, I’d recommend making a list of the things that are most important to you in a journal. What size is right? What type of paper does it need to have? Do you want a guided or unguided journal? These notes can then help you narrow down the journals on our list and find the one that is perfect for you.

Journal Size

One of the more important factors to consider when buying a travel journal is its size or dimensions. The size of the journal that is best for you will depend on your needs.

For instance, someone who wants to be able to carry their journal in their back pocket or jacket is going to want a small journal. Those who plan to sketch or glue things onto pages (e.g., tickets, photos, flyers) of their journal may want to think about what size will be best suited to that.

I would recommend grabbing a book, journal, or piece of paper that you have handy at home and measuring them to get an idea of what size you prefer. You can fold or tear a piece of paper until you get the size that you think would be ideal, then you can search for journals with similar dimensions.

In most of the world, you likely see a lot of travel journals with sizing that says A5, A6, or B5 which are a standard size measured in millimeters. These are referring to the International Standard (ISO) paper sizes . For instance, A5 paper is 148 mm X 210 mm (5.8 inches X 8.3 inches).

However, if you are in North America or Central America, you are less likely to see journals advertised in ISO sizes. Countries such as the United States and Canada generally use North American paper sizes such as letter and legal paper sizes, which are measured in inches. You are much more likely to see journals that are designed to inch measurements, such as 5″ X 7″ or 7″ X 9″.

Generally if looking at measurements for journals, the first number will refer to the width and the second number refers to the height. So a 120mm X 170mm journal would be 120mm wide and 170mm high.

There is no “best” size for a travel journal, it just depends on your needs. I would just recommend not going any smaller than 3.5″ X 5″ or larger than A4 or letter-sized paper.

For some guidance from popular journal brands, Paperblanks has said its Mini (4″ X 5.5″) and Midi (5″ X 7″) sizes are the most popular. Moleskine has said that its brand’s “Pocket” (3.5″ X 5.5″) and “Large” (5″ X 8.25″) sizes are two of its most popular sizes. Leuchtturm1917 says its Classic A5 (5.75″ X 8″) and B5 (7″ X 10″) are two of its most popular sizes.

If you are looking for your first travel journal and have no idea what size to go for, I’d suggest either A5 (5.8 inches X 8.3 inches) or a “Mid-sized” one. So something that is approximately 5 inches X 7 inches (127 mm X 178 mm) to 6 inches X 8 inches (152 mm X 203 mm).

I have used a variety of journals of different sizes and tend to prefer more medium sized ones. We keep ours in our day bags or backpacks.

My current favorites are the Slim sized notebooks from Paperblanks which are 90 mm X 180 mm (3.54″ X 7″). Laurence typically uses the Midi sized ones which are 130 mm X 180 mm (5.1″ X 7″).

Journal Weight

Weight is another factor to consider when choosing a travel journal. The weight is going to be affected by the cover type, the number of pages, and the overall size of the journal. Generally, journals with hard covers are heavier than those with soft covers.

Note that most journal brands do not note the weight of their journals online or on the labeling. But most journals are designed to be lightweight and portable, so this is probably mostly a factor to consider for those wanting a larger sized journal.

The weight of a journal is going to be more important for those who are backpackers or light packers. Those looking for a more lightweight journal, should consider a soft cover journal that is smaller in size. A refillable journal may also be a good option as you can control the amount of paper in it.

Most standard or mid-sized journals are fairly lightweight so this is not normally a big factor of consideration for us. Our travel journals generally range between 150 grams to 400 grams (6 oz to 14 oz), with most of my journals being around 8 ounces or 230 grams.

Number of Pages

The number of pages you will want is going to depend on how much you write, the length of your trip, and the size of the journal pages. It is also good to think about whether you want a travel journal for a single trip or if you want one that will last for several trips.

The number of pages will affect the thickness and the overall weight of your journal. So we would generally recommend trying to keep the page count under 250 pages.

It is important to note the difference between sheets and pages. A sheet of paper has 2 sides that you can write on. So if you see a journal specification that says it has 96 sheets, this means it would have 192 pages. Most journals will just advertise the number of pages you can write on, but you do occasionally see it noted in sheets.

I generally write 3-5 pages per day, so if going on a 2-week trip, I’d want to make sure to have at least 70 pages. If going for a month, 150 pages. For instance, a 176-page Paperblanks Slim journal lasts me about a full month of travel.

If you are not sure how many pages you want in a journal, most journals contain between 120 and 200 pages. So I think any journal with a page count in that general range is probably a good place to start.

If you are going on a particularly long trip, say over 3 months in length, you might want to consider starting with one journal and then getting new journals along the way as you fill them up. You might want to mail home your completed journals (recommend backing them up digitally first through) to avoid lugging them around the world.

Type of Paper

The type of paper is something most people will want to consider when buying a journal. The main question for me would be how do I plan to use the journal. For example, you will likely want a different type of paper if you would like to use your journal for both sketching and writing versus someone who solely wants to be able to write in it.

Here are some of the things you might consider regarding the type and composition of the paper in a journal:

• Is the paper blank, lined, dotted/bulleted, or squared/graph paper?
• For lined/dotted/squared paper, does the spacing between lines or dots matter to you?
• Is it designed to be written on both sides of the pages (e.g., is both sides lined/dotted)?
• Is it smooth or textured?
• Is the paper acid-free? (acid-free paper ages better)
• Is it designed primarily for writing or sketching?
• What color is the paper?
• Is it made from wood or cotton?
• Is the paper made from a certified sustainable source (e.g., Forest Stewardship Council [FSC] certified)?
• Is it suitable for certain types of writing instruments such as fountain pens, pencils, or charcoal?
• Is the paper perforated?

Most journals are made of acid-free uncoated paper with a smooth texture that is designed to be used on both sides. Most paper used in made from wood pulp and is generally white, off-white, ivory, or cream in color.

Of all the above listed factors, the most important thing for most travelers is probably the type of page ruling in the journal (whether lined, dotted, blank, etc.). You probably already have a preference for the type of paper you write on. For example, I always choose journals with lined paper.

Note that a dotted, dot grid, and bullet journal are generally all referring to the same type of paper. Similarly, graph, grid, and squared paper are generally referring to the same type of paper.

The other thing you should consider is the type of writing instrument you plan to use. If using a regular ballpoint pen (the most common type), most journals should work just fine. Those with gel pens or fountain pens may want a slightly heavier than usual paper to avoid the ink going through the pages.

Those wanting to use pencils or draw with charcoal may prefer more textured paper. Those planning to use watercolor will need much thicker paper.

I would recommend avoiding notebooks with perforated paper unless you definitely plan to tear out pages. Perforated paper is much more likely to tear and come out of your journal.

I personally only use my journal for writing and strongly prefer lined paper. All of my travel journals have lined smooth acid-free paper that is designed to be written on both sides. But some people may prefer unlined paper or bullet journals; it really just depends on how you plan to use your journal.

Paper Quality

There are different things that you can look at in terms of evaluating paper quality such as the material, weight, thickness, finish, grain, etc. The majority of these things are not going to be that important to most people.

The paper used in travel journals is almost always made from wood pulp, but you might also see some premium journals or handmade journals using cotton or linen paper.

The main thing to look at when assessing page quality is the weight of the paper which is typically measured in grams per square meter and may be denoted as the gsm, g/m², or g/sq m. This is the most common indicator of paper quality that is provided to consumers.

Note that in North America you’ll likely come across the U.S. paper basis system where paperweight is measured in lbs (such as 70lb or 70#). But normally measurements are also given in the metric gsm as well. For example, 70lb paper is typically equal to about 100 gsm.

As you look at journals, you’ll notice a fairly wide range of paper weights from about 60 gsm to 140 gsm. I would recommend looking for a journal with paper between 70 gsm and 120 gsm.

Note that the size of the journal can affect the paperweight with thinner paper often used in smaller journals. For example, the smaller sized Paperblanks journals often have 85 gsm paper whereas the larger ones have 120 gsm paper.

For most people, the gsm of the paper isn’t going to matter very much. But if you plan to use a fountain pen, marker, etc. then the paperweight and type is going to be much more important. For example with a fountain pen, heavier weight papers are generally better able to resist feathering, ghosting, and bleeding.

We have had journals with a range of paperweights, from 70 gsm to 120 gsm, with most being around 85 gsm. On most of our journals, we have just written with various ballpoint pens and had no issues.

I also have a Platinum #3776 Century fountain pen and it seems to perform fine on most paper in this weight range but it can vary. The biggest factor seems to be how smooth the paper is, as the pen generally does better on smoother paper.

Fountain pens users may want to read reviews by fellow fountain pens users to judge performance of any particularl journal. However, the way that a fountain pen will perform on a specific journal will depend not only on the paper, but also on your specific ink, nib, and the pressure applied during writing.

Bound Journal Versus Refillable Journal

Most travel journals are bound, but another option to consider is a refillable journal system. These are where you purchase a journal cover that normally comes with a closure, replaceable paper inserts, and rubber bands to affix the inserts. You can then purchase additional paper inserts as you need them.

The refillable paper inserts are typically affixed inside using an elastic or rubber band, a cord, or a ring binder. Most refillable journals are designed to hold a total of 3 compatible paper inserts.

As you would expect with refillable journals, the paper inserts are not going to be as durable as a bound book. These inserts are often bound using saddle stitching and/or staples. But if you are just using these for one trip and then storing them at home, this is probably not that important to you.

Although a refillable journal is typically more expensive than a bound journal, they tend to be less expensive over time versus buying a new bound journal for each trip. They can also be a more sustainable option if you keep using the same cover and just replace the paper inserts. They also allow you to have the same journal cover and writing experience for a long time.

Investing in a refillable journal is probably best for people who already know they enjoy journaling, know the size of journal they prefer, and know the type of journal they like. You don’t want to invest in a system you are not sure you are going to like.

Another benefit of refillable journals is that you easily personalize them and change the type of paper you are using. With many brands, you can also add things like folders, pouches, pen loops, decorative charms, etc.

A couple of popular brands making refillable journals are The Traveler’s Company (Midori) and Wanderings . Most brands use leather covers but you can also find faux leather covers out there as well. You just want the material to be durable enough to last through years of wear and tear from traveling.

If you decide on a refillable journal, things to consider are the quality/durability of the cover, extra features (e.g., pockets, ribbon, etc.), and the availability of correctly-sized paper options for your chosen journal. You’ll also want to check to see how the paper refills are inserted and check to see if it will lie completely flat when you write in it.

Journal Binding

If you are planning to buy a bound journal, you will want to consider how the journal is bound. The journal binding can affect the durability of your journal. It can also affect how it opens, such as whether you can open and lie it down completely flat or not.

There are a lot of different book binding methods and the options available may depend on the type of cover (soft versus hard cover) and the thickness of the journal. Common journal binding methods include Smyth sewn binding, case binding, glue binding, spiral binding, and saddle stitch binding.

For many people, the type of journal binding may not be very important as most people just want to make sure that their journal is strong enough to last the duration of their trip.

But if you are wanting something more durable, I recommend journals that have been bound using Smyth sewing. This is considered the best type of binding in terms of quality and durability. But these journals are also a little more expensive than ones that have been bound using other techniques.

Smyth sewn means that groups of folded pages have been stitched together with binder thread, and then multiple groups are joined together. This makes it more durable than those that have just been glued for instance and it is much less likely that pages will come out. It also allows for the book to be opened completely flat.

If you don’t like the Smyth sewn bound journals or are looking for something a bit less expensive, you might look at a good quality spiral-bound or coil-bound notebook. These are usually fairly inexpensive, lie flat, and the pages won’t fall out. However, spiral notebooks tend not to be designed as travel journals (often they are designed for school or work use, an exception being the Write it Down journals ) and often don’t have any type of closures, but you can create your own binding with a piece of elastic.

The type of bound journals I generally avoid are those bound using only glue, staples, or basic stitching. These tend not to be that durable and you may have an issue with the pages coming out, especially for the ones where pages are just glued to the spine. But if you are going on a short trip or just need something to jot notes in, these will work just fine.

Journal Closure

Another thing to consider is whether you want a journal with a closure or not, and if so, what type of closure you prefer. I would strongly recommend having some kind of way to close your travel journal. This will help protect the pages and binding of your journal from getting bent, torn, or soiled. If you plan to shove your journal into your backpack or purse on your trip, we’d definitely recommend one with a closure.

Probably the most common type of closure for a journal is an elastic band that stretches lengthwise over the journal to keep it closed when not in use. Other types of closures include magnetic wrap, magnetic strap, snap, metal clasp, leather strap, hook, button wrap, and ribbon tie closures. The more creative ones, such as ribbon ties and button wraps, are more typical on handmade journals.

The type of closure may or may not be important to you. I always buy a travel journal with a closure; however, I don’t have a strong preference for a specific type of closure. I have used travel journals with a variety of closures, including magnetic strap, metal clasp, elastic band, and magnetic wrap. All of these worked fine. My favorites are probably the magnetic strap and metal clasp ones.

The only issue that I have found with elastic band closures, which are very common, is that they can with use over time lose their stretch and/or wear little grooves into the edges of the cover. These are minor issues but something to consider if planning to use the same journal for a longer period.

Note that many guided travel journals don’t come with a closure for some reason. So if you are looking for a guided journal and you want a closure, be sure to check the description carefully.

If you have a notebook or journal you like, but it doesn’t have any type of closure you could consider adding one. For example, some companies like Midori Traveler’s Company and Wanderings sell replacement closure straps for their journals that might work for your journal. Or if you have some DIY skills, you could consider adding an elastic band, ribbon, or magnetic closure of your own. For example, this is a DIY video of someone adding an elastic closure to a hardcover Wire-O bound journal.

When choosing a travel journal, another feature you might consider is the type of cover. The main two options are a softcover or hardcover journal.

A softcover journal is generally lighter, more flexible. and slimmer, whereas hardcover journals are generally sturdier, heavier, and thicker. Hardcover journals generally allow for more pages for those looking for journals with a lot of pages.

Most popular journal brands such as Moleskine, Paperblanks, and Leuchtturm offer both softcover and hardcover journals. For example, Moleskine offers a selection of both softcover and hardcover journals. Most of their hard covers are made of polypropylene, while the soft covers are made of polyurethane.

Covers can be made of a variety of materials including binder’s board (chipboard), plastic, cardboard, kraft paper, leather, and cork.

Leather journals (or vegan alternatives) are a popular choice for refillable journals as they tend to be both durable and age well.

Unguided Versus Guided Journals

A guided journal is a journal that includes prompts, questions, or exercises of some kind to inspire and encourage one’s writing. An unguided journal is just full of blank pages for people to free write as they wish.

Most people use just a regular journal or notebook as a travel journal. But you can also get journals that are designed exclusively to be used as a travel journal and include things like travel-related writing prompts, questions, quotes, and trip planning exercises.

If this is your first journal experience, you might enjoy things like writing prompts and lists that can help guide your writing and help you get into the habit of daily writing. They can also help make sure that you remember to write about all the different aspects of your trip.

Some of the really focused travel journals may come with a lot of specific travel-related features like memento pouches, waterproof covers, maps, packing lists, planning checklists, etc. So they can also be used for planning activities before your trip.

Some examples of guided travel journals include the Everywhere You Go Journal , the Promptly Minimalist Journal , the Duncan & Stone Journal, the Clever Fox Planner & Journal , the Write it Down journals , and the One Line Voyage Travel Planner & Journal .

Most journals designed for kids and teens are also guided and generally include a lot of exercises and activities in them as well.

I personally just use regular unguided journals as my travel journals as these allow me as much space as possible to just write. So if you are someone who writes a lot and likes to write about whatever topic comes to mind, you’ll probably want to avoid these types of journals. But if you are someone who is new to journaling, these can be a great first journal.

Travel journals are sold at a wide variety of price points, from a few dollars to over $50. You’ll pay more for premium refillable journal systems, handmade journals (particularly those with leather covers), and personalized journals. Guided journals also tend to be more expensive than unguided.

Price will depend primarily on the type and quality of the materials used, the binding method, the size of the journal, where it is manufactured, and any included personalization

You don’t need to pay a lot for a travel journal. Most of the journals we have used over the years have fallen in the $10 to $20 range, although inflation has been driving up prices. The last journal I bought cost me about $16.

But I’ve also used a simple composition notebook that cost a few dollars on one trip. If you have a small budget, don’t worry too much about finding a fancy journal, just find something that is the right size and has the kind of paper you want. The most important thing is that you have something that you can and will write in during your travels.

For instance, if you have a small budget you can get a school notebook or memo pad for a few dollars. Field Notes is a great USA-based brand focused on selling packs of pocket-sized notebooks at good prices. You can easily find basic journals for under $10 at a local store or online such as the Amazon Basics Journal .

Paying more for a journal sometimes results in better quality, but sometimes not as more well-known brands can charge more than less popular brands for similar quality. So we definitely recommend paying attention to the details if you are looking for something a bit nicer.

Sustainability

There are a lot of factors you might consider when it comes to evaluating a brand’s sustainability. These might include the materials used to produce the journal, where its products are manufactured, where its products are shipped, the company’s ethos, the staff working conditions at the company, whether the journal is reusable or recyclable, the journal’s durability, etc.

You’ll have to do your own research on a specific brand, some brands are very transparent whereas others provide very little public information regarding their sustainability practices. Some brands that specifically market themselves as being more sustainable are Dingbats , Karst (a B Corp), Rocketbook (reusable), and Field Notes .

One factor will depend on where you are based. If you are based in the USA for instance, a journal made of American materials and manufactured in the USA, such as those by Field Notes , is likely going to be more sustainable than one that is produced in Europe or Asia. See the next section on country of origin for some tips on finding brands produced in your own country.

Refillable journals would also likely be more sustainable over time than a bound journal as you can keep using the same cover for many years. You just need to replace the paper refills rather than the whole journal. You would just want to make sure the cover is well-made and durable so it will last for a long time.

For those looking for vegan travel journals, many journals are not vegan due to either the glue or dye used or the use of leather as part of the cover or binding. Even many companies that sell faux leather journals are not fully vegan (due to glues, inks, or dyes).

However, there are still several vegan-friendly journal options out there. Dingbats and Scribbles That Matter , for example, are two brands that only produce vegan-friendly journals. So if you are vegan or buying a journal as a gift for a vegan, I’d check out those two brands first.

Country of Origin

Travel journals are made in countries around the world with many being produced in China since it is cheap to manufacture products there. If you are concerned about quality control, sustainability, working conditions, or carbon footprint, you may want to pay attention to where products are made and from where they are shipped. Some companies even provide details of their whole supply chain.

If you have a hard time finding where a product is made on a journal description or company website, it is typically made in China. Some companies will use phrases like “British design” or “Italian heritage” but this typically just means their products are designed in Europe but are actually produced in China.

For example, while a lot of companies are based in North America or Europe (e.g., Moleskine, Paperblanks, Leuchtturm1917), most manufacture their journals in China and/or Taiwan. This also goes for smaller more “indie” brands like BaronFig, Scribbles That Matter, Archer & Olive, and Beechmore Books, which all produce their journals in China.

It can be difficult to find a journal produced in one’s own country or region, but here are some journal brands listed by where they produce their products (to the best of my knowledge) to help get you started:

• United States : Field Notes , Write it Down , Appointed , Leather and Earth Co ., Roaring Spring , and Word. journals are made in the USA.
• United Kingdom : Bespoke Bindery , Pink Pig , The Stamford Notebook Co ., Billy Tannery , and Citrus Book Bindery make their journals in the UK.
• Canada :  MacLellan Books and Ecojot produce their journals in Canada.
• Germany : Nuuna and X17   both manufacture their journals in Germany.
• France/Morocco : Rhodia journals are made in France (although it appears their Webnotebooks are currently being made in Morocco but still use the French Clairefontaine paper)
• Italy : Epica , Ciak , and Belcraft produce their journals in Italy.
• Australia : Notely makes their notebooks in Australia.
• Turkey : Dingbats journals is based in Lebanon but journals are currently made in Turkey
• Japan : Midori MD journals, and those of their subsidiary The Traveler’s Company.  are made in Japan (leather covers made in Thailand).
• Nepa l: The Kathmandu Valley Co makes its journals in Nepal.
• Any Country : Try Etsy to find homemade journals and notebooks produced in your own country or region. You can filter by shop location and then research where it is made.

The above is by no means a comprehensive list of journal brands, and if you have a brand of journals you’d like to recommend that is manufactured in your own country, feel free to leave us a comment.

Other Travel Journal Features

There are a lot of other features you might see on different travel journals. Some are just general journal features and some are specifically tailored to travel journals.

Some common features that you may see are attached ribbon markers, interior pockets or folders, rounded corners, pen loops, foldouts, writing prompts, stickers, waterproof covers, memento pouches, travel or packing lists, etc.

• Ribbon bookmarks
• Interior pockets or folders
• Rounded corners
• Numbered Pages
• Daily writing prompts
• Waterproof covers
• Travel info / maps
• Travel packing lists

One nice design feature can be rounded corners, as these are designed to protect the cover and pages from wear and tear compared to sharp corners. Rounded corners are common in travel journals; most journals produced by popular brands Moleskine and Leuchtturm1917 have rounded corners.

Some of the really focused travel journals come with a lot of specific travel-related features like maps, memento pouches, waterproof covers, travel specific writing prompts, packing lists, etc.

For me, the only feature of the above that I always look for is an attached bookmark ribbon to keep my place in the journal during a trip. Other features can be nice but are not must-haves for me.

14 Best Travel Journals 

Below is our list of 14 different travel journals and notebooks. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, styles, price points, and countries of origin. All can be purchased online.

We are fairly certain that most people will be able to find the perfect travel journal for them on this list!

These 14 travel journals are listed in no particular order.

1. Moleskine Classic Journal

Moleskine is one of the best-known journal brands, particularly for travel journals. Most Moleskine journals feature rounded corners, a ribbon bookmark, an expandable inner pocket, and an elastic band closure. The journals are Smyth-sewn and bound to be able to lie flat.

The journals are available in both hardcover and softcover versions, with a choice of blank, lined, squared, or dotted paper, and in a number of colors. They come in a wide range of sizes from XS (2.5 inches X 4.25 inches) to XXL (8.5 inches X 11 inches). Most Moleskine journals come with ivory-colored 70 gsm acid-free paper.

Don’t worry, no moles were harmed in making these journals! Most of Moleskin’s hard covers are made of polypropylene, while the soft covers are made of polyurethane. They also offer more expensive leather-covered and silk-covered versions of the Classic Journal.

The regular Moleskine Classic Journals have 192 pages, but the expanded versions have 400 pages. So be sure to double check if you are concerned about weight or number of pages.

In addition to their original Classic collection, Moleskine also offers a wide range of other journal options, including journal collections designed for those who want to sketch, draw, and/or watercolor. They have also released a number of limited editions and collaborative notebooks.

Moleskine journals are designed in Italy and most are manufactured in either China or Taiwan.

A lot of people think it is a heritage brand with a long history, but it was actually introduced in 1997 by the Italian company Modo & Modo. The name was inspired by the type of journals that English travel writer Bruce Chatwin used which he called “carnets moleskine” in his book The Songlines .

Chatwin specifically used small notebooks bound with black shiny oilcloth covers which were wrapped in an elastic band. He also notes that he used squared paper. According to Moleskine founder Francesco Franceschi, many famous writers and artists used these “moleskine” type little notebooks, including Ernest Hemingway, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. These notebooks were produced in France and purchased in paper stores in Paris.

While the modern versions are certainly not the same thing, the version that was inspired by these 19th and 20th century journals of Chatwin and others is the Moleskine Classic notebook line. The closest to Chatwin’s journal would probably be the black softcover pocket-sized Moleskine journal with squared pages.

Due to their popularity, Moleskine journals receive both a lot of praise and criticism. Probably one of the biggest criticisms is that they use a fairly low paperweight (70 gsm) compared to their main rival Leuchtturm1917 (80 gsm to 100 gsm on their classic journal). This means a bit less quality, but it does mean a more lightweight journal and they are able to sell them at a lower price than Leuchtturm1917.

My personal opinion is that they are good journals and perfectly fine for most people to use as a travel journal. They are decent quality, lightweight, readily available (both online and in stores), and come in a variety of colors, sizes, and styles.

One of the great things about Moleskine is they are widely available in many bookstores and stationery stores, at least in Europe and North America. This means you may be able to easily go check them out in person and although color choices and sizes are usually limited in stores, the most popular ones are usually kept in stock.

If you are considering a Moleskine travel journal, but are not sure which to try, I would recommend starting with one of their regular Classic Notebook ones . You can then choose between a softcover or hardcover and the type of paper you prefer. If unsure of which size to get, Moleskine has said that it brand’s “Pocket” (3.5″ X 5.5″ | 9 cm X 14 cm) and “Large” (5″ X 8.25″ | 13 cm X 21 cm) sizes are two of its most popular sizes.

I’ve personally used both a large Classic soft cover (Large size, lined paper, 192 pages) and a medium Classic hardcover (Medium, lined paper, 208 pages) journal in two recent trips, which both happened to be to Italy. Both worked well as journals, but my clear favorite was the medium lined hardcover journal—I liked both the hardcover and the slightly smaller size.

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2. Leuchtturm1917 Classic Journal

Leuchtturm1917 is another popular journal brand; it is based in Germany. The brand first released its journals in 2005, although the company’s history loosely dates back to 1917 when it began printing coin and stamp books under the brand KaBe.

Leuchtturm1917 journals are Smyth sewn and feature rounded corners, an expandable inner pocket, and an elastic band closure. A few features that the brand is known for are its numbered pages (most journals come with page numbers, some feature dates), 2 attached book markers, table of contents page, stickers for labeling and archiving, and having some perforated sheets at the back of each notebook that are easy to remove if needed.

The buff-colored paper in the Classic journals ranges between 80 gsm and 100 gsm, depending on the size of the journal. The heavier paper is used in the larger sized journals. Available paper choices are blank, lined, squared, or dotted.

The Leuchtturm1917 Classic journals come in several sizes from Pocket (A6, 9 cm X 15 cm | 3.5″ X 6″) to Master (A4+, 22.5 cm X 31.5 cm | 8.8 inches X 12 inches). Its most popular sized notebook is its Medium A5 (5.75″ X 8″).

Both hardcover and softcover journals are available, but the availability depends on the journal size. Some sizes are only available with one type of cover. Their main hardcover journal covers are made of acrylic paper and their soft covers are made from polyurethane.

Note that the page count in Leuchtturm1917 journals depends on both the journal size and whether they have a hard cover or soft cover. For example, the Classic A5 journal in the soft cover format has 123 pages and the hard cover format has 251 pages.

They come in a rainbow of colors with a wider array of color choices than many other brands. I believe the Classic journals are available in 24 colors in total, but not in every size or color type. You’ll need to shop online to find the full color range.

In addition to their classic notebooks, they also have a range of bullet journals, change journals, sketch journals, and limited editions. Their “Official Bullet Journals” have been popular in recent years with the bullet journal (BuJo) community.

Leuchtturm1917 journals are designed in Germany, and made in Taiwan and China.

The brand launched its journals in 2005 to compete with brands like Moleskine. So many of the features between the two brands are similar. Differences include the extra bookmark, heavier paperweight, page numbering, archival stickers, and more color options. The heavier paperweight is often a feature preferred by fountain pen users. But Moleskine notebooks are generally a little more lightweight than Leuchtturm1917 (and sometimes less expensive); they are also easier to find in certain parts of the world.

If you are considering a Leuchtturm1917 and not sure which to try, I’d probably recommend starting with the Classic A5 journal. It is available with either a hard cover or soft cover, with 4 paper choices, and lots of color options.

One thing I don’t love about the Leuchtturm1917 notebooks is that the number of pages and size options vary by cover types. So a softcover and hardcover journal of the same size will probably have a different number of pages. So just be sure you check the page count if you are considering various options.

I think Leuchtturm1917 journals are nice journals and are likely to work well for most people wanting a travel journal. If you are trying to decide between a Moleskine and one of these, the paper is a bit nicer than that in the Moleskine Classic journals and they offer a few more features, but the differences are not likely to make a huge difference to most people.

3. Paperblanks Journals

Paperblanks is another popular brand of journals and notebooks. The company was founded in Vancouver, Canada in 1992. In 2022, it became part of the Hachette UK publishing group.

Paperblanks journals are all Smyth-sewn and use acid-free ivory paper. The paper weight used varies from 85 gsm to 120 gsm, depending on the journal size and type. The majority of journals contain a bookmark ribbon (some contain two) and an inside memento pouch. Most of the journals contain either lined or unlined (blank) paper, but they do have a few options for dot grid or gridded (squared) paper.

Paperblanks is unique in that there is no “classic journal” in their collection, and they don’t really make any plain-looking journals. They are much more focused on the journal’s cover designs and many are an homage to old manuscripts, artists, or writers. They also offer a variety of journal styles, sizes, and closure types.

So I think with Paperblanks, the first thing to decide is what size you like, and then whether you prefer a softcover or hardcover journal. That will then narrow down your choices so you can see the available designs.

The sizes of Paperblanks journal range from Micro (7 cm X 9 cm | 2.75″ x 3.625″) to Grande (21 cm x 30 cm | 8.25″ x 11.75″), so most people should be able to find a size that suits them. If you are looking for a “standard travel journal” size, I’d recommend their Midi sized journals .

The page count varies depending on the size and design, but most Paperblanks journals contain between 144 pages and 208 pages.

Paperblanks journals are designed in Canada and made in China.

Personally, I love their hardcover Slim sized journals and Laurence prefers either the Mini or the Midi. The Slim size format, which I really like, has led to me buying a lot of these journals over the years as this size of journal is not common. I also enjoy their old manuscript designs over the more plain designs of most journals.

If you are having trouble finding Paperblanks journals available in person or online in your area, we’d also recommend checking out similar journal designs by Peter Pauper Press . These journals are easier to find in North America whereas Paperblanks are easier to find in Europe.

4. Rhodia Webnotebooks

Rhodia is a French brand that has been selling paper products since 1934. The company was acquired in 1997 by Clairefontaine which has been making paper at its own mill since 1858 and stationery products since 1890.

While not as well known as some of the other brands on this list, Rhodia is a brand that is often recommended to fountain pen users and those wanting a journal with high-quality smooth paper. Their most well-known product is the Rhodia Webnotebooks, also affectionately known by users as “Webbies”.

The Rhodia Webnotebooks are Smyth-sewn and feature 90 gsm ivory acid-free Clairefontaine paper, rounded corners, an inner pocket, a ribbon marker, and an elastic band closure. Each has 192 pages (96 sheets), and is available with a choice of blank, lined, or dot grid paper.

The classic Rhodia Webbies are hardcover notebooks with a faux leather black and orange cover. However, they now offer hardcover Webnotebooks with a variety of cover color choices as part of their Rhodiarama range.

The Webbies come in two main sizes: Pocket size (A6) which is 9.5 cm X 14 cm (3.5 inches X 5 inches) and the larger size (A5) which is 14.5 cm X 21 cm (5.5 inches X 8.25 inches).

In addition to the Rhodia Webnotebooks, Rhodia makes a variety of other types of journals, writing pads, and notebooks. These include softcover journals, wire-bound notebooks, pocket memo pads, calligraphy pads, etc. The brand Clairefontaine is well known in France for its quality school notebooks.

Rhodia journals are designed and made in France using Clairefontaine paper. Many of the Rhodia products are made in the Alsace region. However, some of their journals, including the last Webnotebook I bought, are now made in Morocco but still use the French paper.

Rhodia journals can be more difficult to find in stores outside of Europe, so I would recommend looking online.

These are nice quality notebooks with smooth paper, and the Webbies are often recommended to those wanting to write with a fountain pen. Those who enjoy smaller journals will likely want to try one of the pocket A6 size Webbies and those wanting a more typical travel journal size will likely want to try one of the A5 size Webnotebooks .

5. Amazon Basics Classic Journal

If you like the classic simple design of a Moleskine journal but not the price, consider a Amazon Basics Classic Journal. It has many of the same features as the Moleskine journal but comes at a significantly lower price, usually priced under $10.

The Amazon Basic journal has a hard cover with off-white, acid-free paper and rounded corners. It is bound to lie flat and it has 80 gsm paper and 240 pages (120 sheets).

Simple design but does include a black elastic band closure, an attached bookmark ribbon, and an expandable paper pocket in back. Available with lined/ruled, blank (classic), and grid paper options.

It comes in one main size of 5 inches X 8.25 inches (close to an A5 size) and comes in several different colors. Amazon journals are made in China.

So compared to my Moleskine classic hardcover with ruled paper, the Amazon Basics journal has many of the same features such as rounded corners, elastic closure, back pocket, and ribbon bookmark. It has the same number of pages as the Moleskine Classic Large hardcover journal. The Amazon one has darker lines and says it has 80 gsm paper (versus 70 gsm in Moleskine). So there are many reasons to recommend the Amazon one.

Now the price difference does mean that the quality isn’t quite the same. The Moleskine cover does feel nicer and “softer”, seems to be better constructed, and the Moleskine includes a “In Case of Loss” page in the front. So if you value the feel and construction, the Moleskine is definitely nicer and feels and looks more premium. You also get a lot more choices in the size, color, and cover in a Moleskine.

However, if you like the style, size, and color options of the Amazon Basic journals, then there is little question that it is a good value buy in comparison to the Moleskine. I am currently using an Amazon journal for daily notes and keep it in my backpack or purse, and it has been a good journal so far.

The Amazon Basics Classic Journal is a great budget buy if you are looking for a simple hardcover journal. It can be purchased online directly from Amazon.

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6. Field Notes Journals

Field Notes is an American brand that specializes in pocket-sized notebooks and memo pads. If you are looking for a pocket-friendly journal or looking for a journal made in the USA, this is a brand to consider.

Field Notes started in 2007 and was inspired by the simple 20th century agricultural field notebooks used by farmers across rural America. Field Notes staple product is a pocket-sized memo book with a kraft brown cover.

The Original Kraft memo book measures 3-1/2″ wide by 5-1/2″ tall (89 mm X 140 mm), uses 90 gsm acid-free bright white paper, is bound by a rugged saddle stitching and three staples, has rounded corners, and has a kraft brown cover. They are available with blank, lined, or squared paper. Each memo book contains 48 pages and are typically sold in packs of 3.

These pocket-sized memo books are probably better suited to those who prefer to jot down notes rather than to write out long daily journal entries. Although these little memo pads can still be great for short trips even for those who tend to write a lot. For those looking for a more traditionally sized travel journal, you can check out some of the other options from Field Notes.

Field Notes are known for their limited edition covers and designs that change regularly. They also now offer a much wider variety of memo book and notebooks with a variety of covers, sizes, and styles. These include larger sized formats, wire flip notebooks, waterproof editions, perforated notebooks, and notebooks designed for left-handed writers.

If you are looking for a more durable or larger journal that is more like a typical travel journal, I’d check out their Field Notes Pitch Black Note Books which have sturdier black covers. These are offered in the regular pocket size in 3-packs with each containing 48 pages. They are also offered in a larger size at 4.75 inches X 7.5 inches (121 mm X 191 mm) and sold in packs of 2, each containing 64 pages.

Adventure travelers may also be interested in their durable and waterproof Expedition Edition notebooks. These feature a waterproof and durable hi-vis cover and synthetic waterproof paper.

All Field Notes brand products are printed and manufactured in the USA. The company provides some of the most detailed information I’ve seen for a company about its materials, printing, and manufacturing process.

If you are looking for simple, lightweight, smaller notebooks, these are a great option to consider. They are also very budget-friendly as you can get a 3-pack for under $15. If you are a fan of Field Notes regular kraft memo notebooks, you can get a journal cover case to help protect them when traveling.

I’d also recommend Field Notes if you are looking for a brand that prints and manufactures all its journals in the USA. These are mainly sold online and can be hard to find outside of North America.

7. Midori Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebooks

Midori started making paper and stationery products in Japan back in 1950. In 2006, they released their Traveler’s Notebook, a refillable travel journal, and it became very popular. In 2015, they changed the brand name of these travel notebooks from Midori to Traveler’s Company.

The Traveler’s Notebook is essentially a reusable leather cover with replaceable rubber band connectors, elastic and metal clasp, and paper notebooks. Each journal also comes with a cotton storage bag. The Traveler’s Notebook is designed to last for a very long time and all the elements are repairable or replaceable.

Each Traveler’s Notebook comes with one paper journal insert. The inserts are saddle stitched and each contains 64 pages. Paper inserts are available in a variety of paper types including blank, lined, squared/grid, watercolor, kraft, sketch, calendar, and thin paper. It depends on the insert but the paperweight of the paper inserts is normally 80 gsm.

The paper inserts can be replaced and changed out, and you can use a variety of different inserts at once if you wish. Depending on the insert, you can fit up to 5, but most people report using 2-3 inserts at once.

The Midori Traveler’s Notebook comes in two sizes: Regular and Passport. The Regular size is 120mm X 220mm (4.7 inches X 8.7 inches) and they also have a smaller Passport size which is 98mm X 134mm (3.9 inches X 5.3 inches). The leather covers come in a several different colors.

The company also sells a number of accessories you can add to personalize your Traveler’s Notebook. These include pen loops, kraft envelopes, zipper pockets, cases, stickers, charms, etc.

The products are designed and made in Japan. The MD paper is made in Japan. The leather covers are made in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I personally got a Traveler’s Notebook for the first time only last year to try it out since I had heard so much about it. I have the regular sized one in the dark brown (tea color) . It came with a dust cover, band, and a blank paper insert. I have since purchased several lined paper inserts, a craft folder, a zippered case, and a band refill set.

Overall, I really love my Traveler’s Notebook. I like the feel of the leather cover, the paper is good quality, and I like being able to personalize what I put into the journal. The downsides have been that the Regular size is a bit larger than the journal I typically choose (and the Passport smaller) and I wish they had more size options. It has also been hard to find and buy some of the accessories (they are often sold out).

There have been a lot of copycat products of the Midori Travel Company’s Traveler’s Notebooks. So if you want this specific product, be careful to check product descriptions and photos carefully to ensure it is actually from this Japanese company.

Note that Midori has gone through a lot of company name changes and now has multiple brand names which can be confusing. But The Traveler’s Company, Midori, and MD Paper are part of the same overall company which is now called Designphil.

8. Wanderings Refillable Journals

Now, the success of Midori’s Traveler’s Journal (discussed above) has spawned a number of similar products, often competing at a lower price than the Japanese brand. Wanderings is one such company which is based in the USA and has been around since at least 2016. The company mainly sells its products online via Amazon.

The Wanderings travel journals have a full-grain leather cover that comes with replaceable rubber bands to hold inserts and an elastic and leather closure band. The covers are made of Crazy Horse cow leather and come in a few different color options. Each comes with the company’s compass rose logo on the front.

Some of the covers also have pockets that can be used to hold money, paper, credit cards, passport, etc.

Each notebook cover is designed to hold up to 3 refillable inserts. The replaceable paper inserts contain 100 gsm paper and are available with lined, blank, dotted, scrapbooking, calendar, or squared (graph) paper. The inserts are easily added and removed and secured using elastic bands.

The total number of pages varies based on journal size, but each journal is designed to hold between 180 to 240 pages (90 to 120 sheets) in total.

The Midori Traveler’s Company inserts and Wanderings refillable paper inserts are interchangeable and can be used in either brand’s journals of the same size.

The journals are available in several sizes: Pocket/Passport (4″ X 5.1″ / 9cm X 12.5cm), A6 (4″ X 5.7″ / 10.5cm X 15cm), Regular (4.5″ X 8.5″ / 11cm X 22cm), A5 (6″ X 8.5″ / 15cm X 22cm), and Grande (7.5″ X 11″ / 19cm X 28cm).

There are also the Wanderings 6-ring binder journals that come in various sizes and are very similar to the folio ones above except the paper inserts are kept in place inside by a set of 6 metal binder rings instead of elastic bands. The binders come with 120gsm paper inserts, internal pockets, and a pen loop.

Most of the Wanderings products are made in China. Although the owner notes that some of the products are also made in India.

if you are looking for a refillable leather journal, the design of the Wanderings travel journals is very similar to the Traveler’s Journals from The Traveler’s Company. Some people prefer one to the other in terms of design and quality. Some advantages of the Wanderings version is that they are less expensive, easier to purchase outside of Japan, and are available in more sizes.

For those looking for a similar refillable journal that is not made of leather, check out the refillable faux leather journals called Atlas Journals made by Tribute Products.

9. Guided Travel Journals with Prompts

If you are new to journaling and/or traveling, you may prefer a travel journal that gives you some writing prompts, asks questions, and gives suggestions for writing topics. These guided travel journals can also make nice gifts for someone who is new to traveling.

Travel themed prompts often ask about what you’ve seen, the weather, your transportation methods, people you met, food you tried, new words you’ve learned, best/worst experiences, etc. Many of these journals also leave room for drawing, sketching, pasting mementos, and adding photos.

Some journals also contain a planning section that can be used for pre-trip planning such as packing lists, maps, budget sheets, safety tips, etc. These can be used to help you plan out your itinerary, accommodation, budget, transportation, etc. Just note that planners tend to have fewer pages for actual journaling.

There are a lot of travel journals with prompts, and when searching you’ll often see them listed as guided travel journals or travel journals with daily prompts.

Here is a list of popular travel journals with prompts to get you started:

• Everywhere You Go Journal (112 pages)
• Waypoint Goods Pocket Travel Journal (58 pages, designed for up to 14 days of travel)
• Promptly Minimalist Journal (88 pages, designed for up to a month of travel)
• Duncan & Stone Journal (100 pages, up to 15 trips/destinations)
• A Guided Journal (77 pages, up to 10 trips/destinations)
• Letterfolk Passport Sized Trip Journal (48 pages, up to 20 days of travel)
• Clever Fox Planner & Journal (129 pages, planner/journal, up to 5 trips/destinations)
• One Line Voyage Travel Planner & Journal (72 pages, planner/journal, up to 4 trips)
• Honeymoon Planner & Journal for Couples (112 pages)

When choosing a guided travel journal, you’ll want to consider all the factors we listed for a normal journal, including size, paper quality, number of pages, type of closure, etc.

Travel journals with prompts are a great gateway into journaling. They give you plenty of ideas and ways to record your trip and your memories so you’ll have them for years to come. They can also be a good introduction to find out if you are the kind of person who enjoys keeping a travel journal or not.

10. Promptly Guided Journals

Promptly travel journals are hardcover guided journals that are designed to be used before, during, and after your trip. Their journals have a minimalist design and their slogan is that their travel journals are great from “boarding to exploring”.

Their main journals have a hardcover covered in either a lightly textured faux leather (leatherette) or a linen cover. They are debossed on the cover and spine. The journals are designed for a single trip and contain 86 total pages.

These include a world map, 4 general travel planning pages with questions, 8 pages for a trip itinerary for up to 31 days, 5 memorable moments, several pages to denote trip highlights with prompts, 2 pages for transportation, 5 accommodation reviews, 6 food experiences, 2 pages for travel companions, mementos sections, 2 pages cultural observations, 2 pages for trip takeaways, and then 10 lined pages at the end that you can use for free journaling/extra notes/address book etc.

The Promptly hardcover journals are 6″ X 9″ (15cm X 23cm). They do include a ribbon marker, but do not include a closure or any pockets.

Note that Promptly also have smaller 4-pack paper softcover journal packs available that are designed for shorter 14 day trips. As well as a  children’s journal version 4-pack designed for kids age 5-12 which be a nice addition if you want to get journals for your kids too. So just be sure you know which variation you are buying.

The company is based in Salt Lake City, Utah and the journals are made in China.

These journal are only going to work well for someone wanting to use it for a single trip (up to 31 days), and I would not recommend for someone wanting to use it for multiple trips. Since there are a number of pages where you can paste photos (or other flat mementos like tickets), then it is probably ideal for someone who wants to add photos to the book after the trip.

I personally have bought one of the faux leather ones, and these journals feel and look nice. They make it easy to follow along from trip planning to completion, and are thin and easy to pack. I think this is a great travel journal gift option for someone going on a trip of 2-4 weeks.

Price : Check the latest prices here

11. Dingbats Vegan Journals

Dingbats* was started in 2016, although it is part of a larger family-run paper trading company that has been operating in Lebanon since 1800. Dingbats sells vegan-friendly journals and is notable for its focus on sustainability and eco-friendly products.

Most of the Dingbats journals feature acid-free, coated 100gsm cream paper, a ribbon bookmark, an attached pen loop, an expandable back pocket, an elastic closure, and a vegan leather (polyurethane) cover. They are hardcover and Smyth-sewn, and most versions contain 192 pages (96 sheets).

Dingbats journals are available with your choice of lined, dotted, blank, or squared paper. Some journals contain perforated pages.

The Dingbats journals are available in a variety of colors, and each Dingbats journal features an embossed animal or natural element on the front, such as an elephant, whale, cactus, wolf, Great Barrier Reef, or deer.

Dingbats journals are designed in Lebanon and produced in Turkey. They are 100% vegan. They also say that most of their products are fully recyclable in most countries.

Most of the Dingbats journals range in size from approximately A6 (9.5cm X 14.5 cm / 3.7″ X 5.7″) to A4 (21.5cm X 30cm / 8.5″ X 11.8″). Most open like a book, but they also have a smaller reported-style flip-style notebook as well. There is also a Pro Collection of Dingbats journals which are larger in size (B5), use higher quality paper (160gsm), and nicer textiles.

The Dingbats journals are really nice and will especially appeal to wildlife lovers and vegans. Dingbats journals can be difficult to find in stores in many countries but they can be purchased online.

In terms of choosing a size for a travel journal, their A6 sized journals are good if you are looking for a pocket-sized travel journal and the medium A5 sized journals are perfect if looking for a more standard-sized travel journal. If you are wanting something bigger, like a school composition notebook size, then you might be interested in their B5 Pro Collection journals .

12. Leather and Earth Co. Handmade Journals

If you are looking for something more handmade and crafty looking, I highly recommend going onto Etsy and seeing what you can find there. There are a number of talented artisans making various kinds of journals and notebooks.

Leather and Earth Co. is one such small business run by a mom of 4 kids named Laura in Nebraska, USA. She has also recruited a couple of other local moms to help her as well. Together they hand-make, sew, and personalize leather journals.

The paper used is a thick 90lb (185 gsm) mixed media paper available in blank, lined, music writing, or recipe formats. There is also an option for a thicker watercolor paper.  All the journals are designed to hold up to 140 pages of regular paper or 60 pages of watercolor paper.

They offer both bound and refillable journals. The hand sewn bound journals are hand stitched together with a linen thread. The refillable journals include 3 elastic straps where you can add and remove up to 3 paper inserts.

All journals can be personalized with text on the front cover. For example, you can have initials, your name, a date, or trip destination embossed on your journal. You can also design a custom title page if you wish.

The journals are available in several sizes: 4″ X 6″ (10 cm X 15 cm), 5″ X 7″ (12.5 cm X 17.5 cm), 6″ X 9″ (15 cm X 23 cm), or 9″ X 12″ (23 cm X 30.5 cm).

These journals, including the leather and paper used in them, are made in the USA. Note that these journals currently only ship to addresses in the United States.

If you are looking for more handmade journals from around the world, check out the options on Etsy , where you can search for those made in your own region. For example, Bespoke Bindery is a great option if you live in the UK. Most handmade journals can be personalized just for you.

13. Travel Journals for Children & Teens

If you are traveling with children, then getting them their own travel journal can help them record their own memories. Travel journals and activity books can also keep kids entertained when there is downtime on your trip.

Each of these travel journals are designed for children of a certain age range and reading level. Depending on the age level, they may have colorful illustrations, travel-related activities and games, writing prompts, areas for drawing or coloring, stickers, quotes, fun facts, maps, memento pockets, etc.

There are a number of travel journals for children out there and you can find a lot of them online on Amazon. Here are some good options to consider:

• Lonely Planet Kids Journal (ages 6-8)
• Peter Pauper Kids’ Journal (ages 6-11)
• Awesome Activity Journal (ages 6-10)
• Promptly Kids’ Activity Books & Journals (ages 5-12, typically sold in packs of 4)
• Happy Fox USA Road Trip Activities & Journal (ages 7-10)
• Lonely Planet Older Kids Journal (ages 9-12)
• Teen Journal (age 10-14)
• Clever Fox Planner & Journal (teen to adult)
• Refillable Vegan Leather Journal with Map (teen to adult)
• A Guided Journal (teen to adult)

Each travel journal is generally designed for children of a certain age range. So you’ll want to take your child’s age, reading level, writing ability, and general interests into consideration when choosing a journal.

Some journals are also tailored to a particular region (e.g. USA or Europe) or a specific type of travel (e.g., road trip), so it is good to read the full description and user reviews.

14. Page-A-Day Journal

This next journal is made by Peter Pauper Press which is an American company based in New York, which has been selling books and other paper goods since 1928. Today, the company sells a number of journals, books, puzzles, etc.

The Page-A-Day Journal is intended to give you enough space to write and take note of memorable places and events on your travels, but is still brief enough that writing in it doesn’t take up too much time. As the journal name suggests, it is intended that you write one page per day.

This journal is Smyth-sewn and features smooth acid-free 120 gsm paper, rounded corners, an attached ribbon bookmark, a back memento pocket, and an elastic band closure. The brown faux leather cover is embossed with “Page-A-Day Travel Journal” and has a globe design. The endpapers have a cloud design.

Each page provides space for you to put the date, location, and weather as well as a number of blank lines to write down whatever you want. The paper is lined (gray dotted lines).

The journal is 5″ X 7″ (82 cm X 114 cm) and contains 176 pages in total. So the journal will last you about 170 days of travel if you write one page per day. But you can also use multiple pages per day if you wish as you can just put the same date. For most people, this journal will last for multiple trips.

The Page-A-Day journal is designed in the USA and printed in China.

If you are on the fence between a guided journal and an unguided journal, this may be a perfect solution. This journal gives you a small bit of structure and a page per day to write whatever you want.

** You can also see many of the travel journals we recommend above in a single page on Amazon here with current prices for a handy reference. Just note that not every journal on the list is available via Amazon. **

So that is our list of the best travel journals for travelers! Which is your favorite?

Planning to purchase a travel journal in the near future, but not now? Pin this article to Pinterest to read later:

What do you think about travel journals? Have you kept a travel journal or diary while traveling? Is your favorite travel journal brand on the list? Tell us below!

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There are 32 comments on this post.

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Logan Gross Post author

May 28, 2024 at 7:42 am

This is such a great & thorough article! You guys put so much effort into these it’s honestly inspiring to see. I had to do some research on travel journals and this wa SUPER helpful.

I sincerely appreciate all the work you’ve put into this!

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

May 30, 2024 at 10:17 am

Thanks for your kind comments, and glad to hear our travel journal reviews and research were helpful to you in your own search. If you have any questions about journals, just ask!

Best, Jessica

Olivia Post author

September 26, 2023 at 3:43 pm

Hi there! Could you tell me what the little blue and gold journal is in your photos? It is beautiful and would love to buy one like that for myself! Thanx

September 26, 2023 at 5:00 pm

I think the journal you are referring to is the Paperblanks Azure Journal, it is specifically a lined journal in the Slim size with a metal clasp closure. I love this journal and used it for years but have been unable to find any in the Slim size for a couple of years on their website or on Amazon. But you can get the Azure journal design in the Mini and Midi sizes, and you can see those here .

If you prefer something the same size as the one I had, the most similar one that is a newer design is the Paperblanks Blue Rhine journal as part of their River Cascade collection. You can see the Slim version here and it is available in a few sizes. I took it on a recent trip around Europe and really liked it.

Hope that helps! Jessica

ADAM HINES Post author

September 12, 2023 at 5:49 pm

Hi Jessica, My gf and I are preparing to leave for a trip to Mexico in a couple of weeks. Your review has helped me figure out what I want in a travel journal, but I am struggling a bit on the prices. Want one line (me), one grid (her), black, simple design, some kind of closure, bookmark, archival quality pages, “normal size”.

We need two journals and I think the Leuchtturm and Moleskin both fit the criteria and those look nice. But the prices are a bit high for us and I am wondering what you think would maybe be a good cheaper option for those? Have you tested the Amazon Basics or Paperage ones as those look to fit what I am looking for as well and are both under $10 right now. Thank you!

September 13, 2023 at 6:46 pm

First, so glad you know what you want in a travel journal and that our article was helpful in that. I think knowing that info can help make sure you choose a journal you are actually going to take and use on your trip. And certainly you don’t need to pay much for a journal (anything with paper will work!), I would definitely recommend sticking to your budget. Basically I would say just find something that meets your needs and that you will use and will want to keep.

Now, I can’t comment on the Paperage brand journals as I haven’t personally tried them (I suspect they are very similar to the Amazon Basics ones since they are comparable in price), but I can comment on the Amazon Basics journal versus a Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 journal. Specifically I would say that the Amazon Basics journal is closer to a Moleskine than a Leuchtturm1917 journal as its more simple and doesn’t have any of the extra features that you see in a Leuctturm1917 journal.

The Amazon Basic journal (this is specifically the one I am reviewing and one I have in hand) seems to currently come in mainly one size (5 inches X 8.25 inches, close to an A5 size). I have it in black so you can definitely get that color. It has a hardcover with off-white, acid-free paper and rounded corners. Designed to lay flat. I think most are 240 pages (120 sheets). Says made with 80 gsm paper. Simple design but does include a black elastic band closure, an attached bookmark ribbon (gray in mine), and an expandable paper pocket in back. I have the ruled or lined version but it does also come with grid or blank paper so will work for your gf as well in terms of paper types. Made in China. I think I paid about $9 for mine.

So compared to my Moleksine I have in my hand for comparison (hardcover black classic ruled paper), the Amazon Basics journal is a bit thicker and has more pages (my Moleskine has 208 pages and the Amazon 240). The Amazon one has almost all the same basic features with the closure, rounded corners, back pocket, ribbon bookmark. Some of the differences are that the Moleskine’s cover feels nicer and “softer”, seems a bit better constructed, and there is a front title page with “In Case of Loss” info. The color of the paper and line ruling width is about the same although lines are darker and easier to see in the Amazon Basics. The Amazon Basics says 80 gsm paper while most Moleskine journals use 70 gsm. Both are made in Asia.

So yes, my opinion would be that if you like the color, style, and size of the Amazon Basics (since there is not much choice or variety), then there is little question you are getting a good value with the Amazon Basics versus the Moleskine. In a few areas, the Amazon could be a better choice depending on what you want most. Now if you valued the touch, feel, and construction, then obviously the Moleskine does look a bit nicer (and certainly feels nicer, I can tell its a more premium journal just by picking it up). But in terms of value for price, I think the Amazon Basics journal is a great choice to consider for what you are wanting and seems to tick all the boxes.

Hope that helps, and wishing you and your girlfriend a wonderful trip to Mexico!! Jessica

Anika Post author

June 14, 2023 at 11:54 am

hello, do you know where I can buy field notes in the uk or eu or have suggestions for similar simple little notebooks like this? need some for big upcoming trip. thanks for advice!!!

June 15, 2023 at 2:02 am

Happy to try to help. So the Field Notes if you purchase directly from their website they do offer international shipping options but it can take a long time and be more expensive but that is an option. But you can find them on Amazon in some parts of Europe, so on Amazon UK, for example, they have a couple of the Field Notes notebooks available. You can see those options on Amazon UK here .

If shopping on Amazon or similar, there are a lot of copycat products so if you want something by Field Notes brand, make sure it says “Field Notes” on the cover and in the description.

But if you can’t find the Field Notes product you want and are looking for similar sorts of pocket-sized or memo notebooks, some you might consider are the Moleskine Cahiers , Silvine Originals Pocket notebooks (UK made, ones with thread better than ones with staples), and Portage pocket notebooks . VENTED also has pocket sized notebooks, but they have cotton or recycled leather covers so may not be the best fit if wanting a kraft paper sort of cover.

There are other brands as well and you’ll see more if you search Field Notes notebooks in Amazon. If shopping in person you’ll have less selection but if you drop into a Waterstones (if in the UK) or similar large bookstore or stationary store, you can usually find one or two options of that type of pocket notebook or memo pad.

Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip!

June 16, 2023 at 10:22 am

much gratitude and thanks Jessica, such a detailed answer. I can’t wait to check these pocket journal options out and get travelling again!

June 16, 2023 at 10:32 am

You’re very welcome Anika, and I hope you find a travel journal that works best for you.

Wishing you many future happy travels! Jessica

Lorna Post author

June 2, 2023 at 5:16 am

I am a longtime Moleskine user here but am thinking about possibly trying another journal and found your great and thorough article. Thoughts on one to choose that is similar but maybe a bit of an upgrade? Hard cover and either ruled/lined or squared paper.

Also, I always thought that Moleskine journals were made in Italy. Is that not true??

June 2, 2023 at 9:52 am

So I would say Leuchtturm1917 (see description above in article) is probably the most similar journal brand and they have hardcover notebooks and most of the sizes are similar. They have a few more features than Moleskine, offer more colors, and I think they have slightly nicer paper and covers. And they offer journals with both the ruled/line or squared/checked paper. So you could try one of them out and compare them with the ones you already have and see which brand you prefer. Prices are similar but depends where you buy it and in what country.

The Rhodia Webnotebooks (see description above) is another one to consider. But I didn’t love the quality of the last one I ordered (they started making them in Morocco) and it arrived with a dent and wasn’t as good as past ones.

So Moleskine journals are designed by a company started in 1997 and is based in Milan, Italy. The journals are designed in Italy but they are not made in Italy. According to their website they are manufactured in the “Far East” which is oddly vague. But they tend to mainly be manufactured in China or Taiwan (same as Leuchtturm1917 and many other journal brands). Although the last Moleskine I bought (while in Italy actually) says it was designed in Italy and manufactured in Turkey. I think during COVID-19 a lot of companies moved manufacturing to countries like Turkey to keep up with demand as China basically shut down for so long. But the journals are popular in Italy as we have seen several Moleskine stores while traveling in Italy.

Ciak is an Italian brand and is made in Italy so another one you could consider if wanted one made in Italy but these are a bit different in style than a Moleskine and offer fewer options in terms of sizes, paper types, and cover types.

Anyone hope that helps!

Deb Post author

June 1, 2023 at 5:23 pm

Wooooow! I just got pumped up reading about the benefits of keeping a travel journal but wasn’t really sure which journals were worth the time and money. This post was crazy helpful, thank you!!

June 2, 2023 at 5:03 am

So yes, travel journaling can certainly be helpful. We find by far the biggest benefit is being able to look back on what we did, where we went, and our thoughts/feelings along the way from past trips. It is also a nice excuse to relax with a coffee or drink and take a break when traveling 😉

Glad that you found our travel journal reviews helpful in finding a travel journal that works best for you! If you have any questions, just ask!

Hari Sitaula Post author

May 16, 2023 at 11:12 pm

Very helpful, been looking for a good travel diary! We appreciate you sharing this.

May 18, 2023 at 9:37 am

Glad you found our travel journal reviews helpful and I hope you find a perfect travel diary for you and your travels!

Martha Wells Post author

April 16, 2023 at 5:15 am

Oh, thanks so very much for this very thoughtful and detailed reply to my very specific questions. I have ordered this kids’ travel journal for my grandson (it sounds perfect!) and will be getting a different travel related coloring book for the granddaughter as she is only 4 and prob too young to make much out of the PPP one.

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a detailed reply to my questions about this journal!!!!! Martha

April 16, 2023 at 6:10 am

You’re very welcome Martha, hope your grandkids love the travel journal and coloring book!

April 14, 2023 at 7:13 am

Hello! Do you think the Kids Journal by PPP that you list would be Ok or a 9 (almost 10) year old? Does it close? How many pages of the actual journal writing part does it have? sorry if you don’t know this, just trying to buy a gift for grandkids and having lots of questions, thanks

April 15, 2023 at 4:09 am

I think you are asking about the Kids’ Travel Journal by Peter Pauper Press, this one here ?

So if that is the correct journal, we have bought that one before (as a gift) and had the chance to review it. So I do personally think it would be a good fit for a 9 or 10 year old. I think that is probably an ideal age as they should be able to read it and do the activities on their own.

It has a printed hard cover and it does close. It has a red elastic closure to keep it closed when not in use.

The book has a total of 96 pages. It contains pre-planning pages, packing lists, contact info pages, maps, games, puzzles, post-trip thoughts, fun travel-related facts, etc. In terms of pure journaling pages for writing, there are 15 pages dedicated to a daily journal so ideal for say a 2 week trip. But it also has other pages that ask questions that you can fill in about your trip related to who you met, where you stayed, type of transport, what you ate, etc. as well as some pages for free writing, drawing or pasting things. There is also a memento pouch.

If you are thinking about buying this for more than one grandchild, given the more personal and individual nature of the book and the journal, probably best to give one per child rather than having them share unless they are the type of kids who like to write and do these types of activities together.

A couple of things to note is that it has no ribbon bookmark so including a thin bookmark with the Kids’ Travel Journal might be nice if it is a gift. It is also more geared to American travelers (uses American English and terms) and for those traveling somewhere in either North America or Europe (as many of the facts are about these places), although it could, of course, be used by anyone really.

Anyway, hope that helps answer all your questions about this travel journal and will help you decide if it is a good gift for your grandchildren or not.

ROHIT PATLE Post author

March 23, 2023 at 9:22 am

Traveling is not just about reaching a destination, it’s about the journey and the experiences along the way. It opens your eyes to new cultures, people, and ways of life.

March 24, 2023 at 11:32 am

That is definitely true, and keeping a travel journal can be a great way to remember all those experiences along your travels!

conner Post author

March 9, 2023 at 4:46 am

wow, so many of these journals sounds great. could your recommend a travel diary option made in italy available online in US – looking for a gift for the gf for a month long college trip to Italy. I think she prefers lined paper and something sort of mid-sized (so no pocket or huge ones). option to put her initials in it would be great but not absolute. thanks for any help!

March 9, 2023 at 5:46 am

Happy to try to help!

So the Italian brand that is probably best known & available in the USA is Moleskine. They are really popular as travel journals. However, Moleskine journals are designed in Italy but made elsewhere (I think mostly in China, Taiwan, & Turkey).

If you want a journal made in Italy, the most available brand in the USA would probably be Ciak. I have one of them and it has really great paper quality (most have 110 gsm paper) and they have a variety of different types and colors of covers. So you can check their website for options, not sure if they deliver to the US or not, but you can also buy many of their products online via Amazon here or online stationery shops. Hard, but not impossible, to find in person depending on where you live. They offer plenty of lined journal options in a variety of sizes. I don’t think the company offers the option to add initials or personalize individual journals but you may be able to have someone locally add personalization.

Also, a note about buying the Ciak journals via third parties, they are often listed as leather bound, but I think the company primarily uses faux leather (so expect faux leather). If looking for actual leather bound journals, I’d check out Belcraft or Epica which have a lot of leather options.

Two other Italian brands you might want to check out are Epica and Belcraft , which both produce their journals in Italy. I believe both companies offer the ability to personalize a journal, including adding initials via embossing, engraving, and/or branding.

Hope that helps. I am sure your girlfriend will enjoy whatever journal you get her!

Aimee Fionda Post author

March 8, 2023 at 4:14 am

This is such a knowledgeable, in depth article about travel journals and we thank you so much for mentioning us! We love to think of our hand bound leather travellers journals journeying with their owners across the globe! We are always happy to create a bespoke journal too, as we make everything from scratch!

Thanks again and happy travels! The Stamford Notebook Company

March 9, 2023 at 4:49 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment, and glad you liked our article on travel journals. You’re very welcome for the metnion.

For those reading this, The Stamford Notebook Company is a great place to check out for all those looking for UK made journals or notebooks!

Seana Turner Post author

February 26, 2023 at 4:33 am

In spite of everything being digitized these days, I do love all things paper! I prefer the dotted pages because they give me just enough guide to keep my journals looking orderly without having too many lines making them look like homework.

I do like the ones that have a strap to keep them closed. Not that journals falling open is really an issue, but I just like the feel of pulling that elastic over the book. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.

On a side note, I’m just so happy that we are talking about traveling again. All of the flights I’ve been on recently have been packed, and I find this encouraging. Go travel! I imagine you will have to revisit many places now and give us updated, post COVID information!!

February 26, 2023 at 6:56 am

Yes, so good to be talking about and more importantly traveling again. We are currently in Rwanda and plan to be doing a lot of traveling in 2023! And yes, COVID has sadly changed or closed a lot of places so updates are certainly needed.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on journals – everyone has such different preferenes. I am a lined girl myself but I know a lot of people prefer dotted pages. I guess they probably do remind a lot of people of their school notebooks 😉 But without lines, I have a hard time writing in a straight line – Laurence is even worse.

For me, since I mostly use my journal while traveling, they have to be able to be shoved in and out of my day bag and backpack so being able to securely close it an important feature for me. When I’ve had notebooks without a closure, they were more likely to get bent and the pages damaged if I didn’t put them in the “right way”.

Wishing you a year full of fun travels!! Jessica

Colleen Post author

February 25, 2023 at 11:37 pm

I have been using Moleskine journals for many years now…I think the Large size ones with lines. I use black ones for travelling and then I have colored ones that I use for my everyday/work notes. This article gave me some other brands that I am definitely going to consider the next time I need a journal like the Rhodia and Dingbats. My daughter is a vegan so I think I may surprise her with a Dingbats one as that elephant is so precious!!!

February 26, 2023 at 1:16 am

Hi Colleen,

Thanks for taking the time to share the brand of travel journal you use.

Yes, Moleskine is a very popular option for a travel journal. I like that you can always seem to find them as it is easy to find them in most bookstore and stationery shops (at least in the US and UK) whereas other brands can be more difficult to buy in person. Yes, you may definitely like the Rhodia Webbies and Leuchtturm1917 Classic notebooks as they are very similar but have slightly heavier paper – you may or may not notice the difference though if you are already happy with Moleskine. I think it makes the most difference to those using fountain pens etc.

Dingbats is a great choice for anyone looking for a vegan-friendly journal and the animal designs are really cute!

ALAN JOHN COOK Post author

February 25, 2023 at 12:13 pm

This article is completely unnecessary. I’m so pleased I didn’t waste my time reading more than the first few paragraphs. As a vastly experienced traveller and professional writer you don’t need all this stuff about bindings and paper quality and decoration. All you need – if you don’t have a laptop computer or similar – is a spiral bound notebook and a few cheap pens. I say spiral bound as they lay flat and can be folded back on themselves which is handy (although not essential). You can buy them almost anywhere and they are cheap. Also easy if you need to rip out a page to use for something like a shopping list or to give someone your contact details. It’s not the look of the journal that counts for anything – it’s what you write in it that’s important.

February 26, 2023 at 1:10 am

Thanks for sharing your opinions on journals. As I noted in the article, any journal or notebook can work fine as long as it is something you can and will write on during your trip. For someone who is on a tight budget or using it as you are (tearing pages out for shopping lists etc.) then a composition book or spiral school notebook or something will work fine. I have used one before and they work, although I found it less than ideal in many ways compared to other options which are designed to be actual journals.

We’ve tested dozens of notebooks and journals and definitely think that there are much more ideal options for those looking for something nicer and better suited for travel. Most people aren’t using their journal to tear out pages but are wanting to keep it to look back at later.

Many people want a journal that is a bit more durable & lasting, and do care about the paper quality, binding, cover, having a closure, etc as they want it to last and to store it to read again later. Many do care about what their journal feels and looks like and some care about how and where it is made. Also some travlers also use them for sketching or scrapbooking in which the page type, quality, and size are more important, along with those like myself who have a fountain pen (it will bleed through the paper on most cheap notebooks).

Our guide is designed to help those who are new to journals or who want to upgrade their current travel journal to find the perfect notebook for them or to give as a gift. Whether it is an inexpensive spiral bound notebook or a fancy leather custom journal. There are lots of options out there and we are just sharing information and our thoughts about this so people can make an informed decision.

We are happy you have found the journal type that works for you!

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Home » Gear » Best Travel Journals

The BEST Travel Journals of 2024! | Leather, Bullet Journals, Refillable Notebooks + More!

Looking for something special in which you jot down memories of your travel adventures? Then our list of the  best travel journals  out there is definitely going to help you out.

In our world of smartphones and social media, anything remotely physical – like writing down stuff on a page – feels super old fashioned. But just because you could type it or tap out your thoughts on a touch screen, it’s still good to connect with physical objects.

The main thing about having a travel journal is how one-of-a-kind it feels. Having memories of your year-long backpacking journey around the world actually physically written in a book would be amazing to read back in years to come; likewise, having somewhere to note down ideas whilst you’re on the go and use for inspiration later feels more organised than some character-less notes on your phone.

So whatever you are looking for – be it a smart journal that you can use for short city breaks, something cute to encourage your children to write about their travels, or a classic travel journal that’ll last you practically forever – our handy list has you covered.

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Quick Answer: These are the Best Travel Journals of 2024

Best travel journals of 2024, #1 – best travel journal for bullet journaling, #2 – best travel journal for scrapbooking, #3 – best travel journal for painting, #4 – best travel journal with pockets, #5 – best midori-style travelers notebook, #6 – top choice for beautiful leather travel journal, #7 – best moleskine travel journal, #8 – best vacation diary, #9 – best travel diary for kids, more best travel journals of 2024, buyer guide – how to choose the best travel journal for you, faq about the best travel journals, final thoughts on the best travel journal, #1 leuchtturm1917 a5 notebook – great travel journal for bullet journaling, #2 siixu colorful blank notebook – best travel journal for scrapbooking, #3 conda hardcover spiral sketchpad – best travel journal for painting, #4 refillable leather journal traveller’s notebook  – best travel journal with pockets, #5 traveler’s notebook by traveler’s company  – best midori-style travelers notebook, #6 travel passion journal by moleskine – best moleskine travel journal, #7 travel journal by promptly journals – best vacation diary, #8 fofun leather travel journal  – top choice for beautiful leather travel journal, #9 kids’ travel journal  – best travel diary for kids.

Leather Journal by FOFUN

• Price > $28.95
• > 100% Full-Grain Leather
• > Hand-made and durable

Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook

• Price > $24.40
• > Great travel journal
• > Pages are gridded

Siixu Colorful Blank Notebook

• Price > $14.59
• > Stitch-bound notebook
• > Pastel-coloured

Conda Hardcover Spiral Sketchpad

• Price > $12.99
• > Hard cover
• > Spiral-bound

Refillable Leather Journal Traveller’s Notebook

• Price > $36.99
• > With all sorts of compartments
• > Opening accordion-style

Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company

• Price > $47.99
• > Minimal design exterior

Travel Passion Journal by Moleskine

• Price > $27.88
• > Journal specifically for travel
• > 400 pages

Travel Journal by Promptly Journals

• Price > $32.99
• > Four pretty high-end colours
• > Comes with a map

Mudpuppy Kids’ Travel Journal

• Price > $11.99
• > Wire-bound book

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The Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook is a classic – and if you ask us, very cool – notebook that we think is ideal for bullet journaling.

With enough space to put all your organization and creativity into the 249 (numbered) pages, this great travel journal for bullet journaling is compact enough to fit into day packs and filled-to-the-brim backpacks alike; the pages are standard A5 size (obviously), but the notebook itself measures in at 5.57″ x 8.25″. It’s secured with elastic.

This classic, mid-century modern notebook comes in 17 punch colours for even the most discerning traveller. From muted navy blue and olive green to bright raspberry and popping yellow, you will definitely be able to find one for your personality.

Inside, the book itself has three blank tables of contents, which means you can organise your outpourings, scribblings and note-taking by creating your very own index – which is definitely what makes it the best travel journal for bullet journaling. The pages are also gridded: perfect for bullet points, even better for geometric doodlings.

Price: $19, Amazon

The Siixu Colorful Blank Notebook is a colorful canvas with lots of space for you to unleash your own creativity.

The 192 pages in this stitch-bound notebook come with pastel-coloured, watercolour-style backgrounds for vibrancy, which are the perfect base for pasting, sticking and doodling all of your travel memories.

Other than the watercolor pattern, the pages in this 5.3″ x 7.2″ are blank and sizable enough to fit all your used tickets, memories and doodles onto the pages, but compact enough for carrying around the world. It’s easily our top pick for the best travel journal for scrapbooking.

The notebook comes in two designs: one with added quotes on the pages for charming character, the other with simple washes of colour on each page. Another plus is how budget friendly this travel journal is!

Price: $11.59, Amazon

Coming in a classic spiral-bound sketchbook style, this journal from Conda is ideal for anybody looking to get crafty with their paints whilst they’re gallivanting around the world.

It’s a traditional hardcover sketchbook, with 120 blank pages of 90gsm paper – thick enough that it’ll take acrylics, oils and watercolors without bleeding through. The pages are also perforated, meaning you can tear ’em out and offer people your drawings and paintings as gifts, or to send back home.

This is a pretty sturdy book, so it should be able to withstand your travels, being shoved into a daypack, and general day-to-day wear and tear. The hard cover is also waterproof, which will help to protect your precious pieces of art. For the sturdiness alone, we’re saying this is the best travel journal for painting.

Though it may not come in different colours, it does come in different sizes, starting at 8.5″ x 11″ and with larger available for you to really get your Picasso on.

Price: $9.29, Amazon

Refillable Traveller’s Notebook by September Leather

The ultimate in travel journaling, this stylish notebook is a chic buy for you, or as a gift! It’s genuine leather, which is cool, but it’s all the stuff you get in addition to the journal itself that makes this easily one of our favourite travel journals out there.

You get a lot of bang for your buck when you opt for this notebook: a binder clip, a pen and penholder that attaches neatly to the book, lined, plain and grid inserts, a kraft folder and zipper pouch.

In addition to the storage space, this journal is refillable, so you can swap out the pages when you’ve run through them without having to buy a whole new book. You know we love to lessen our travel footprint however we can, so we’re really into that!

Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company

The best Midori-style travelers notebook out there simply has to be the aptly-named Traveler’s Notebook, created by the aptly-named Traveler’s Company (also a Japanese outfit).

This aesthetically minimal, mahogany leather notebook is handmade in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. It comes as a package of goodies: a spare elastic band and a fine fabric bag to keep it safe from scuffing – if that’s your thing.

This is a pricer notebook, but, it’s refillable, so there’s no end to the travels you can take it on. Our favourite thing about the Traveler’s Notebook is how the leather ages and changes with daily use and general travel wear, becoming a real companion on your travels around the world. We love it.

Price: $49, Amazon

So you’re looking for a beautiful leather travel journal? Well, stop right here, because this is the one for you. Complete with wrap closing (also leather), it’s chic enough to not look like some scrappy backpacker’s scribbling pad, but rugged enough to last some pretty rough journeys in a long-term travel backpack.

Coming from the folks at FOFUN, who make a whole range of leather journals and notebooks, this one features 288 pages of top quality 100GSM lined kraft paper, all covered in full grain leather cowhide. It’s A6 size, which is 5″ by 7″.

The cool thing about this top leather travel journal is how leather ages over time, gaining personalised character as it gets scuffed and worn with use. We love that sort of thing.

When you think “notebooks,” you think “Moleskine,” so this stunning 5″ x 8.5″ journal made especially for travellers had to make our list.

Perfect for everything from weekend getaways to longer backpacking voyages, the inside of the book comes packed with an 8 (!) year calendar, a travel planning timeline, a wishlist, check-lists, lists of must-see travel destinations, and even space for that all-important travel budget .

Don’t worry, though: at 400 pages, there’s lots of free space for all of your travel memories – Moleskine estimates you can fit 6 long trips or 20 short ones into this notebook. Oh, and did we mention it comes with stickers?

Moleskine has created this journal specifically for travellers, so you can turn it into an archive of your trip once you’re back home – it even comes with a keepsake box for storage.

Price: $29.95

This elegant journal by Promptly clocks in at 88 pages, so you can fill it up in a single trip – and fill your bookshelf up with a whole series of your trips! You’ll want to display it, too – the fabric covers of this journal definitely make it the most attractive vacation diary going.

Inside the journal, there are handy thought-starters(true to the company name) to help you more easily note your favourite restaurants, hotels, sights and more. There is also space for you to keep your mementoes like train tickets, museum stubs, and photos, and a roomy back pocket for everything else.

Measuring at 9.2″ x 6.1″, the covering fabric of this top vacation diary also comes in four pretty high-end colours: grey tweed, solid grey, deep blue and dusty rose.

As a bonus, this Promptly journal also comes with a map, to help you plan your journeys, star wishlist destinations, or otherwise decorate or use as you see fit. Neat!

Price: $20, Amazon

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Kids’ Travel Journal

Wouldn’t you love to look back on your childhood travels as a grown-up? Give that gift to the kiddos in your life with this travel diary for kids by Mudpuppy.

This cool company is all about moving kids away from digital devices and into tactile creativity. This time around, they’ve created this travel journal designed specifically with kids in mind.

It’s sturdy (very important when it comes to children), and colourful (also important), spanning 128 pages so that your kids have plenty of room to channel their inner explorer. Inside the wire-bound book, there are various sections, illustrations and prompts to help children document their travels, whilst still including enough space for creativity.

One of our favourite parts are the prompts, in fact: the best and worst parts of a trip would be hilarious to read later on, as would “memorable quotes from mom and dad.”

Price: $9.99, Amazon

Soft Cover Notebook by Sloane Stationery

This offering from British brand Sloane Stationery is a very sleek and stylish notebook, perfect for the stylish travellers among us.

A softcover journal with gold-embossed pages and a vibrant orange crocodile cover, it’s definitely is one of the most high-end-looking travel journals we’ve seen – especially for $15!

Even though the exterior of the book is flashy, the pages are blank so you can get on with doodling, making diary entries, taking notes, or whatever! Size-wise, it’s 5.9″ x 8.3″, the perfect size for both a backpack and chic handbag.

Just think how stylish you’re going to look sat on a terrace cafe, coffee in hand, with this journal on the table, writing about your adventures in foreign lands. Add to cart!

You Are Here: A Mindful Travel Journal by Emma Clarke

The internet makes it easy to succumb to the pressure of being rushed from spot to spot, Instagramming the heck out of your trip – this can really take you out of the moment.

You Are Here: A Mindful Travel Journal by writer Emma Clarke, aims to put you back in the moment and helps you get the most out of your experiences while you’re experiencing them.

Clarke (fun fact: she’s also the voice of the Bakerloo and Central Lines of the London Underground) says: “No one has ever seen this place in the same way you’re seeing it right now, right here, in this moment.” Amen!

The book is a mixture of prompts to keep you grounded and mindful, as well as blanks to fill in and, of course, pages for you to fill with notes, all of it spread over 190 pages. Plus, a portion of the proceeds go to charity. Talk about a feel-good purchase!

Rite In The Rain Notebook

You go through a lot when you’re travelling. Downpours, heat, snow, skiing, hiking, swimming – there are all sorts of weather conditions and situations that you can get yourself into. Not to mention open water bottles knocking around in your backpack – an easy way to ruin months of journalling!

This bad boy from Rite In The Rain (which has been going since 1916) is the answer to all sorts of adverse conditions you might encounter. Plus, at 6″ x 8″, it can slot right into even small day packs.

The tough but flexible outer shell of this notebook is waterproof, and notebook’s 64 pages  will repel water, grease, sweat, mud, and all manner of other grossness. It will even go through the laundry without turning into mush!

Just use a pencil (water-based inks aren’t waterproof) and your notes will stay intact through it all. And unlike other synthetic papers, the Rite In The Rain Notebook can be recycled!

Price: $6.55, Amazon

Rifle Paper Co. Memoir Notebook

This floral notebook from the distinctly feminine Rifle Paper Co. is  the perfect choice for lovers of design, color and kitsch.

Printed on linen-based paper, the 8.5″ by 6.25″ Memoir Notebook comes in five beautifully illustrated covers – Juliet Rose, Tapestry, Sun Print, Terracotta and Jardin de Paris – you can choose which of the bold colours to suit you. The 130 inside pages feature beautiful illustrations as well.

Price: $15, Amazon

Marco Polo My Way Travel Journal

This notebook from Marco Polo is actually part of a whole series of travel products in their My Way line – but this journal has to be our favorite of the lot.

Marco Polo have made taking notes of your journeys easy by including fun emoji stickers, a pocket for mementoes, and fill-in-the-blank guides and travel tips. By the time you’ve filled this book, you’ll have created your very own IRL infographic of your trip. Cool!

At 160 pages and 4.8″ x 7.2″, this notebook is smaller and lighter than some notebooks – and, super affordable!

Price: $3.44, Amazon

I Was Here: A Travel Journal for the Curious Minded

Making waves in all sections of the journaling world, I Was Here designs journals for the curious, prompting travellers to take in the big picture and all the small and meaningful details of their trip.

Inside, the book has all sorts of spaces for notes, spaces for local tips, addresses, and wacky pages where you’re encouraged to do things like start a collection of random convenience store-bought items from the countries you visit.

In a word, I Was Here is fun! It may not be the most practical travel journal out there, but it is a cute way to collect memories and remind even jaded travellers that stopping to smell the roses (or stare at the bugs) shouldn’t be something you leave behind on the road.

Price: $10.86, Amazon

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So there you have it: those are our favorite travel journals for every kind of writer – but by no means the end of your options! Whether you’re buying for yourself or considering purchasing a travel journal as a gift, there’s lots to consider in the world of stationery.

From colourful covers and page prompts, to durability and simply whether or not pages are lined or blank, there are actually a surprising amount of factors that go into the decision making process.

Closure on journals is important, especially when they might be knocking around a suitcase or a backpack for longer stretches of time. If you don’t want your pages to get crumpled, and especially if you’re someone who likes to store mementos between the pages of your journal, a solid closure is a must.

Moleskine, for example, have that classic elastic band closre that keeps things safe and sound, whereas others come with a stylish leather or fabric bound tie that not only adds to the design detail but also means you’ll be able to slot things in between the pages.

The cover of a journal is pretty important. But first of all, what the cover of a travel journal is actually made out of will make a big difference as to what notebook you actually opt for.

Vegans will probably not want to go for a leather bound notebook, and may want to go for something like a fabric covered hardback book or more durable waterproof notebook instead.

If you’re open to leather, you’ll find it to be a durable option, and it will weather over the weeks, months and years to look worn and rustic.

You should also consider soft vs. hardcover – softcover is lighter, and easier to fit into a tightly-packed suitcase, but hardcover will give you a writing surface wherever you go. For something simple (and undoubtedly budget friendly), a card covered notebook or journal may be the best option for you.

What type of paper is used for the pages of a travel journal will also play a part in your decision making. It’s easy to think that paper is paper and that’s that, but in fact, there are many different types of paper for many different uses.

A thicker gsm of paper, for example, is something that’s more likely to be used in a sketchbook (90 gsm or higher), and is good if you don’t want permanent pens to bleed through, if you plan on painting, or sticking things in.

Then again, if you want something that’s a little more stylish and classic than bleached, white paper, then maybe more classy, cream-coloured pages will be what you want in your travel journal.

It’s also possible, as the Rite In The Rain brand shows, to have waterproof, weatherproof paper, in case you plan on writing in adverse weather conditions.

Essentially it comes down to what you will be doing on those pages: painting, sketching, doodling, making notes, or whatever. Consider the effect of your planned use will have on different sorts of paper and then make your choice.

4. What’s on the page?

Though in the past, travel journals were pretty simple affairs (either a spiral bound journalists’ notebook, a Midori-style travel journal or something similar), things are a little bit different now.

Even just a few years ago, pages only came either blank, ruled or squared. Nowadays, pages in travel journals sometimes come pre-decorated. This may be cool for some people, but for others it may feel like any pre-existing writing or illustration on the page takes away from your own memories.

Prompts in some books can be fun: they encourage you to make lists of things you otherwise wouldn’t have considered, like your favourite foods, favourite hotels, and even random convenience store items you find in the countries you visit. Other times, text on the page acts as a prompt to get you thinking, maybe even getting you to write something more in-depth than you were planning to.

All in all, the choice is whether you want a completely blank page to start with – which can be daunting for a lot of people – or if you want to be gently nudged into creating an awesome travel journal for yourself. Either way, though different, is totally legit.

It’s very simple and very basic, but this is going to be a pretty huge (no pun intended) deal when it comes to deciding exactly what travel journal you are going to purchase for yourself.

If you’re heading off on a year-long backpacking trip around the world and you feel like you’ve got your one bag travel down to a T, then you’re going to want something compact and light.

However, if you want to really get into creating a scrapbook-style travel journal full of memories, sketches and tickets, then you are going to want a big enough book to fit all of that in.

If your plan is to use your travel journal for things like city breaks and two week-long vacations – in which instance you may be using a suitcase – then you may not worry too much about the size, with room in a large suitcase for a larger travel journal, naturally.

Another thing to consider is what you’re going to look like if you feel like writing your travel journal in public. It may not be practical to be lugging around an A4 sized travel journal, or to get it out if you want to make note of the tiny cafe you’re in, or trying to write on a cramped seat on a train or bus. Compact in these cases may be a lot better!

6. Length of your trip

Next to size, when thinking about what sort of travel journal is going to be right for you, a lot of people often circle back to this factor: just how long is the trip?

The thing is, some travel journals are more geared up towards one single trip: a month in Thailand, two weeks exploring Italy, a six week long road trip through the USA. That sort of thing, in which case, you won’t be needing (or wanting) a zillion pages.

Other travel journals are for numerous trips, such as the lengthy options offered by Moleskine and Midori-style notebooks (the latter of which have no structure, and for which you can buy paper-only refills for the leather cover), mean that you can dip in and out, adding different details to your various adventures, referring back to past travels: a weekend in Berlin here, an epic hike in Nepal there.

Essentially, the fewer the pages, the more likely the travel journal in question will be good for a single, perhaps lengthy trip. For the serial travellers and backpackers out there, something longer and more permanent may be the travel journal for you.

7. Organization

No longer simple collections of pages between two hard (or soft) covers, the best travel journals of today sometimes boast a whole load of interior organization to help keep you and your trip on the right track.

From simply adding an interior pocket, where you can keep a few important tickets and pictures safe, to going all out and adding plenty of envelopes and places to slip in all manner of small, special physical memories from your travels, it can vary quite a bit.

But organization isn’t just about pockets. There are other things to think about, too. Some travel journals come complete with calendars, spaces for to-do lists, maps, itineraries and even packing tips. These kind of added extras mean that the journal turns into more of a planner all round scheduling.

Obviously. Money, money, money: it’s going to be a big factor in whether you choose to buy such and such a travel journal over another one. Let’s face it, you can’t buy what you can’t afford.

Even if you can afford it, $48 might just seem – to some people – like too much to ask for a travel journal. On the other hand, some people may not trust that a sub-$8 travel journal will be any good in terms of durability.

The fact of the matter is that cheap things can be surprisingly good, and expensive things can be surprisingly bad. When it comes to budget, it’s best to choose something mid-range that has good reviews and that meets the needs of what you’re looking for in a travel diary: don’t skimp out just because it’s $5 more than you wanted it to be. If it sounds like you, then treat yourself.

Still have some questions? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

Why should I get a travel journal?

Journaling during travels, whether that’s just for a couple of days or for weeks, is a great way to remember travel stories, clear your head and add some routine and structure to your day. It’s always great to look back on it once you finished your travels.

Which is the best leather travel journal?

These are our favorite leather journals: – Refillable Traveller’s Notebook by September Leather – Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company – Leather Journal by FOFUN

Do waterproof journals exist?

Yes they do! And the Rite In The Rain Notebook is one of the best. Each page is water repellent while the cover is fully waterproof.

What is the most minimalistic notebook?

We love the Traveler’s Notebook by Traveler’s Company for it’s simplicity, yet stylish design. It’s a leather notebook that is handmade in Chiang Mai.

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There you have it, budding Jack Kerouacs: the very best travel journals out there right now! With our list, you’re all set to venture out into the wide world, then pop in your headphones and record all your thoughts, feelings and observations like the explorer you are.

For the best, all-round travel journal out there, the Leather Journal by FOFUN is a great choice. This is a stylish, timeless sort of journal that’s going to be a good choice for anybody.

Then again, if you’re thinking of something a little less traditional, I Was Here – with its kooky prompts and quirky way of working – may be more what you’re looking for.

And if there’s something we’re missing the travel journal world, let us know in the comments!

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Clair Cathryn

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Oh my gosh, I’m a sucker for a pretty journal! Can I document my travels in 3 or 4 of these?! ? Thanks so much for the killer suggestions.

100% you can use a number of these as travel journals, Deb!

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The 15 Best Travel Journals For Your 2023 Trips

15 travel journals to bring along on your 2023 trips, more from travel, r29 original series.

33 Terrific Travel Journal Ideas, Tips + Prompts!

Looking for the best travel journal ideas to help you remember your next trip–plus some prompts to help you think of what to write?

You’ve come to the right place!

As a lifelong lover of both journaling and travel, I have experimented with all kinds of travel journals over the years, ranging from the time-consuming to the simple, from the unique to the very basic.

I absolutely love the travel journaling system that I use now (more on that below), but depending on your habits and writing style, there is no limit to the number of ways to preserve your travel memories on the written page.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

This guide to travel journal ideas and prompts covers everything from the physical kind of travel diary to use, to tips on journaling effectively, to travel journaling prompts to help you get your writing started.

Remember, though, that the #1 rule of travel journaling is that there are no rules!

Anything that helps you preserve the intense memories of your travel experiences counts.

That being said: here are some of the best travel journal ideas out there!

Table of Contents

Terrific Travel Journal Ideas

Travel journaling tips, inspiring travel journal prompts, planning a trip.

While there are plenty of beautiful travel journals on the market, don’t feel like you need one to keep a memorable travel diary!

I’ve kept travel journals in everything from a $0.99 composition notebook to elaborate leather-bound notebooks to the Notes app in my phone, and I can confidently say that the best travel journals come from the heart–the physical place you put them is the least important function.

That being said, if you are looking for beautiful travel journal examples, I highly recommend these!

One Line a Day Journal

This is my current favorite travel journaling system, and I’ve been using it for nearly 5 years now!

Here’s the format: each page in this diary has a date at the top (say, August 17), and 5 small sections to write 1-2 sentences below it.

For 5 years, keep a daily journal of a memorable moment, and at the end, you’ll be able to look back and, on a single page, see what you did on all your August 17ths.

While this isn’t specifically a travel journal, I absolutely adore using it as one: the tracking of time through both days and years simultaneously is incredible, and the short time commitment is perfect for my lifestyle that already includes lots of writing.

I do still try to keep a long-form travel journal once a week or so, too, but I love my One Line a Day Journal so much that I recently bought two more, just to ensure I have the next decade covered if they stop making them!

Page A Day Travel Journal

Looking for something formatted for you, but with more of a travel theme and more of a long-form approach?

The Page A Day Travel Journal is perfect for that!

In addition to space to write about your day, there are spaces to note your destination and event the weather.

Classic Leather-Bound Journal

What reading-and-writing nerd among us hasn’t dreamed of owning a leather-bound journal to track their travels in?

I have always enjoyed this journal style and have owned a few in my life!

There are tons of similar ones on the market these days, given how popular they are, but I love the compass detail and great reviews on this one .

Postcards To Yourself

Looking for more unique travel journal ideas?

Consider sending postcards to yourself from the road!

In many destinations, you can mail yourself (or someone else) a postcard right from the souvenir shop where you purchase it–so bring a pen along, write some quick thoughts about your day, and drop it in the mail.

By the time you get home, you’ll have a collection of memories delivered right to your front door that you can save forever.

Travel Checklist Journal

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to make sure they don’t forget a thing, the Travel Checklist Journal is the perfect choice!

With daily prompts covering everything from the restaurants you ate at that day to your most memorable moment of the day, it’s an in-depth log of your adventures.

I’ll be honest: I could never keep up with this much travel journaling on a daily basis.

But, some people absolutely can!

If you find yourself not sure what to put in some sections, though, don’t worry about it–better to skip a prompt than make your journal feel like work instead of fun.

Bullet Journal

A classic bullet journal like this makes a fantastic travel journal idea!

In addition to writing, consider including drawings, hand-drawn maps, charts, and more.

Standard Notebook

You don’t need anything fancy to keep a beautiful, memorable travel journal!

Anything from a simple composition notebook to the back of a receipt will do in a pinch, and I would never recommend putting off writing because you don’t have the “perfect” vessel to store your memories in.

If you’re looking for a fairly standard, lined notebook that is durable without including much formatting to get in the way of your creativity, though, I love these notebooks .

I’ve owned them in various colors and designs for years, going out of my way to replace my old ones with the same brand when they get full.

Buy one on the road!

While I definitely recommend keeping a travel journal from hour one (airports and train stations are great places to write!), there’s also something special about buying a diary on the road.

If you find a journal you love while you’re traveling, consider picking it up and journaling there from then on.

On Your Computer or Phone

I’ll admit, I’m very biased toward analog travel diary ideas–it’s just my style!

But if you prefer typing to writing, or you just don’t want the hassle of carrying a physical journal on the road, you can easily keep a detailed travel journal on your phone or laptop!

Evernote is a fantastic app for journaling on your phone, though a basic Notes app works fine too.

A Word document or Google Doc can work as well.

Alternatively, you can type and send emails to yourself and store them in a certain folder in your inbox!

There is no wrong way to keep a travel journal–whatever works for you, is more than fine.

That being said, based on my personal experience of keeping travel journals over the years, here’s my best advice for preserving your memories!

Try to write as often as possible.

Here’s the sad truth: you will forget much of your vacation.

Even if you remember the basics such as where you went, what you did, and who you were with, the passing years will steal the sensory details from your memory, jumble the order of events, and soften the edges of your stories, making it hard to recapture the emotions of your travel experience.

While some of that is the inevitable result of living a full, exciting life packed with beautiful memories, a travel journal can absolutely help preserve those experiences for you for decades to come.

The period of time that I was worst at keeping a travel journal– the first year of our full-time travels –is also the one where memories have faded the most.

It’s my #1 travel regret that I didn’t keep a detailed travel journal that year!

Imperfection is better than procrastination.

Don’t have time to write pages and pages?

Can’t find the right words to capture exactly how you felt seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time?

Don’t worry about it: a couple of sentences jotted down that afternoon while waiting for your coffee to arrive will capture your emotions far better than waiting weeks to find the right words.

Write what you can’t see.

Photographs and videos can do a lot to preserve visual and even auditory memory–but they can’t capture scents, or the feeling of the humidity lingering in the air, or how soft the dog you stopped to pet was, or the expression on the waiter’s face as you managed to order lunch in a language that you barely speak.

These kinds of recollections, paired with photos and videos, are invaluable for helping place you back in that moment of travel, even years after it has passed.

You don’t have to be a “good” writer.

Forget the English essays of your youth: whether you consider yourself a skilled writer or not, you can absolutely keep the world’s most perfect travel journal for yourself.

Because travel journaling is nothing but a conversation with your memory, and you know exactly how to talk to yourself!

It doesn’t matter if you wouldn’t want to publish it as a memoir or that other people wouldn’t understand what you’re trying to say, because you’re the only audience!

Trust me, as a professional writer of sorts, the things that I write publicly–even in more personal blog posts like this –are not nearly as unguarded as the conversations I have with myself when preserving my own travel memories.

Don’t edit yourself.

This goes somewhat with what I wrote about being a “good” writer, but it’s a solid tip for travel journaling even if you’re a very confident one.

Each of us sees the world in a completely unique way and will use entirely different experiences and criteria to jog our memories.

If none of the travel journal prompts in this blog post speak to you, ignore them.

Write about literally anything you like–anything that speaks to how you experienced your day.

The uniqueness of how we each see the world is never more obvious to me than when I compare the things that Jeremy writes in his travel journal to what I write in mine–many times, we each remember things that the other person didn’t even notice!

Save more than words.

Ticket stubs, brochures, boarding passes, postcards, even foreign currency–anything small and tactile that you can tuck into your travel journal is a fantastic addition.

If you print out any photos along the way or purchase any of the cheesy-but-fun souvenir photos for sale around the world, those can be great components of a travel diary, too.

Full maps are often too big to save in a traditional travel journal, but you can save them separately–or cut out your favorite section(s) and place them in your journal!

Sadly, the ink on receipts tends to fade within a couple of years, but you can try storing a few memorable ones for a while as well.

Depending on your travel journaling style and how much you collect, you may want to tape these extra items to individual pages or keep them tucked into a separate pouch (cheap and fun cloth zip pouches can be found at souvenir markets across the world–maybe you can buy one along the way!).

For something more fun than basic tape, buy a few souvenir stickers along the way and use those to secure your mementos to the page!

Avoid spiral notebooks.

If you want a very inexpensive place to save your memories, opt for a composition notebook over a spiral one–trust me.

Between the spirals being pulled out of place from being moved around so much during your adventures to the fact that they’ll scratch up anything they’re stored near (like your laptop, for example), they’re just not worth the trouble.

I learned this lesson the hard way and will never use a spiral notebook (without a cover, that is) for anything while traveling again!

Always keep your travel journal in your carry-on.

I’ll admit, I’ve broken this rule before, but it’s terrifying checking your travel journal–especially when, like my current one, it contains years worth of irreplaceable memories.

Much better to keep careful watch over it in your carry-on/hand luggage!

Wondering what exactly to write down in your travel diary?

These travel journal writing prompts will get you started!

Choose any of these travel journal topic examples from below and expand upon it in detail, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself jotting down details of memories that would otherwise be lost to time.

As always, the point of travel writing prompts like this isn’t to limit what you write–it’s to provide a jumping-off point.

If you find yourself veering off in a different direction after a few sentences, just roll with it!

What did you do today that you’ve never done before?

Make a list of everything you bought today, from food items to metro tickets.

Describe the most memorable person you interacted with today.

What was your favorite thing you ate today?

What new thing did you learn today? How did you learn it?

Describe your morning routine in detail: what was different from home?

What was your most memorable form of transport today?

What animals did you see or interact with today?

What was the weather like? How did it impact your day?

What were you wearing today? How did it impact your day?

Did you use any words in a language you don’t speak today? What were they?

What’s the big news where you are right now? Is it the same as at home?

What’s the funniest thing that happened today?

What’s the most memorable thing that you physically touched today?

What did you eat for breakfast?

Look up, and describe everything that you see in detail.

If you took a tour: describe your tour guide, including their name!

What did you do today that you didn’t expect to do before your trip?

What’s an interesting story or legend from your destination?

Describe your route from where you’re staying to your first destination of the day.

What’s your favorite word to say in the language of your destination?

What was your least favorite moment of the day?

What was the most surprising thing you saw today?

What interesting conversation did you overhear today?

None of these travel journal ideas or prompts speak to you?

Have something different in mind?

There’s no wrong way to keep a travel diary–whatever feels right when you’re on the road, that’s the best travel journal for you.

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

1 thought on “33 Terrific Travel Journal Ideas, Tips + Prompts!”

Thanks for posting this up , this is a very informative article surely.

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Happy Travels, Archer & Olive community! It’s May Flaum here and today I am thrilled to tell you I’ve finally sorted out my travel notebook conundrum. You see, for years I’ve been collecting information, researching, and generally gathering data on places we want to visit or think we’d like to visit. The problem? I simply have failed over and over to find a format and system that I’m happy with!

You see - this is my number one happy time hobby. I research places to stay, things to do, history, and other information about places we might some day visit. It is such a joy to me which should be no surprise - I’m a travel planner in both my education (not my occupation - long story for another time!) and as a joyful hobby.

Identify the Purpose

My biggest obstacle has been that this isn’t a trip book, this isn’t a setup for a travel journal. This is theoretical future travel that I hope to take someday, this is information to help me someday decide where to visit, when, and for how long. As well as nearby things to do and places to see, historical context, and more. This is also the biggest mistake and frustration I’ve had in (failed) attempts - I’m trying to be a fortune teller and guess which places we’d likely see and group them accordingly vs geographically.

So where does that leave me? I know I want city (or region, depending) by city coverage and I know I want it grouped by location for the easiest reference. I know this is meant to be a guide book, a reference for when I am able to plan a dream trip and actually execute a plan! I want to include things like TV shows/videos available on the places, additional resources, and space to add more as years go by. This is meant to be a guide book like you’d buy in a store - except all of the information will be specifically targeted to my husband and myself, and our interests.

Organizational Pause

Next up - I had to pause and really think about how organizing such a series of books (as I assume this will become) would work, and what would make sense. I’m going to be truthful here - while I’ve spent the last month diving deep for this article I’ve actually been on pause from my travel journals for a year! I had to fully stop when I realized the format and plan I was working with was terrible, and wouldn’t work. This is when I realized I should be going both by country and by region.

So for example, I wouldn’t put Washington DC next to Paris next to Tokyo in this book. Those places are very far apart, and not likely to be a part of one singular trip that I’d be referencing. For sake of my sanity and based on what I have the most resources on, I’ve decided this project will begin with Europe. I’ve also decided I will not say (or know) how many countries or regions will fit in one book until I get working! So what I came up with for myself is: Starting with Europe, A for Austria I will go alphabetical by country, allowing as much space as I need depending on how many places I have interest in, and within country will sort either alphabetically (if very few places) OR by region (if many places). 

I will leave space for:

• History/About Interesting facts Local Specialties (art, foods, drinks, things they make…)
• Sites to not miss (monuments, parks, things of significance)
• Deeper diving should a trip here happen resources (shows, sites, experts)
• Things to do (music scene, museums, etc)
• Nearby finds (that don’t have their own city/chapter)

I decided things like specific hotels and restaurants have no place here - it could be 10 years or more before I visit, so I would wait on such details until a trip would actually be planned… but the way I have this going I could opt to add-in still.

Would you like to see how my first book is coming along? Here is a video where I am setting things up!

What I really love is that I’ve given myself a framework, and I’ve given myself a structure but it is still very loose and I’m not literally or figuratively putting myself into small boxes that would be hard for me to feel happy about. I am leaving room for future musings, findings, and data as I come across it and building a really fun reference tool while I’m at it.

What supplies?

A&O notepads help me with rough info gathering, A&O notebooks is where I’ll be storing the info and details. Now this may be controversial - but I’m not going to commit to one size. Like many of us, I have many blank notebooks and I want to use what I have as I need a new one. I do have several Traveler Notebook sized, and I do intend to start with that. I’m also using adhesive, cutting out pages/pictures from all sorts of sources (brochures, from online, old guidebooks, etc) and black pen. If I happen to own a sticker or washi tape or other decorative element that I want to use - I’ll add those in as available.

What if I have more to add?

Depending on the place, I’m leaving 3-6 blank pages in each entry. Enough to add on as much as I might have without going too overboard. If the day comes that I decide I’m done I can always remove the excess pages much easier vs taking them out.

Why research this hard?

My first school project memory was a report on where I’d vacation and why, and I chose Austria to see the famed Lipizzaner stallions in action along with eating some schnitzel and desserts. I remember being so determined to visit (I still haven’t!) - but also finding so much joy in learning about other cultures, foods, sites, and history.

That love has stuck with me and a few years ago during lockdown when I felt so very alone and trapped in my house - the fire and passion of researching travel just for the sake of it came back with a vengeance! Since then I’ve logged countless hours reading and watching and learning… but had no great place to store it all. Right now I’ve got guide books filled with post-it notes of my thoughts!

So for me, this is a form of therapy. This is wellness and self-care in a way that is just for me - and useful or not the joy is in the learning and it’s never a bad idea to dig in and discover new things to love, new places to aspire to visit. I have created a printable for you her e, in case you’d like to join me in dreaming of travel to distant lands and enjoying fantastic cuisine while seeing sights you’d only pictured in movies or on travel sites.

My end game here?

The joy of making something that helps me elevate my dreams, keeps me motivated when life seems mundane, and that will be useful to my future self when the time comes to plan some big travel adventures. The process is going to be one of my most joyful pastimes, and now that I have a structure and a formula to follow I won’t feel like I’m just aimless dreaming and doing things in a useless way. It will feel good and who knows - perhaps I’ll someday visit all the places I include!

Have you ever tried to make a travel notebook or planning journal like this? Do you make planner notebooks for upcoming trips? Do tell! Leave a comment here, or message me on social media - I’d love to hear what you have to say. If you post inspired by this blog post please tag myself @craftwithmay on social media and also tag @archerandolive, @archerandolive.community as well as using hashtags #AOShare and #archerandolive.

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Dreaming of Discovering the New

Do you remember your last extraordinary vacation? How you skipped taking a travel journal with you because you knew you’d remember it all?

How a new place impacted your body and soul, suffusing you with wonder?

Surely you’ll recall the name of the cliff where you snapped that splendid sunset photo.

Or the trattoria where you had a perfect cappuccino and almond torte. Embrace the morning sun enveloping you as listen to the silky sounds of Italian—forever in your memory.

Or how about that momentary connection with—what was her name? Afina—while hiking the rocky coastal terrain of the Cinque Terre National Park?

Travel Journals are Indispensible

Tiny details define a trip, and you’re positive you’ll remember each one.

I know. As a writer, I know I’ve memorized the most impactful parts of my adventures. After a few weeks of routines at home, notable moments start to fade. While pictures provoke some memories, I discover I’m missing tiny details.

The first travel journal came about after a trip my sister Jackie and I made to Wales in 2016 . We shared adventures on trains and buses, rode with a crazy taxi driver or two (one good, one not so much). What incredible people we met at more than one soul-captivating location, sharing conversations that enriched the trip.

The completely blank travel journal I had wasn’t helping my brain track crucial encounters. Wondering how I could prompt better recall resulted in this book’s design.

My unique journals encourage tracking historical sites, fun people,  photo locations, and more special moments.

The Travel Journals Include

I’ve included excerpts from my travel blogs to inspire you to see and to learn about the new. I hope my essays inspire you to take the changes that travel can bring into your heart.

Travel Journal Specifications:

Please order via by messaging me at [email protected]

*Follow my author page on Amazon ! Travel Journals on Amazon are perfect bound only–they do not provide spiral. Effective June 2023, Amazon prices have increased to $8.00** and $15.00*** due to Amazon’s increase in printing fees.

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Oprah’s Go-to Comfy Shoe Brand Is Up to 60% Off at Amazon — Shop the 12 Best Deals From $40

Who knew orthopedic shoes could be this stylish?

Travel + Leisure / Amazon(3)

It’s not every day that you find a pair of shoes that effortlessly marries style and comfort — let alone an entire line of them. But that’s exactly what Vionic, a podiatrist-approved brand, has done. It even earned a spot on Oprah’s ‘Favorite Things’ list back in 2016 and 2017 in the process. Each pair of shoes is designed with impressive attention to detail, so whether you struggle with plantar fasciitis, high arches, or anything in between, you’ll be able to find a pair of summer sandals , sneakers , or slides that take your travel wardrobe to the next level.

Right now, the brand is celebrating summer by hosting a major sale at Amazon, even offering up to 60 percent off top-rated styles, and you’re not going to want to miss out. So, keep reading to discover the 12 best Vionic shoes receiving the discount treatment right now. If they’re good enough for Oprah, they’re good enough for us. 

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From fancy dinners to days of sightseeing and shopping, you’ll never regret packing a pair of sleek wedges to style with anything from flowy pants to a breezy maxi dress. Fortunately, this ultra-comfy option from Vionic is currently on sale for 42 percent off, and seeing as they’re made with orthotic insoles alongside a beachy woven exterior, they’re going to be the first shoes you add to your suitcase. Sturdy rubber soles promise to keep you feeling balanced and stable on any terrain while you’re out and about, and thanks to the cushioned insoles you can expect to do away with the traditional discomfort of heels once and for all.

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Allowing your feet room to breathe shouldn’t mean sacrificing support, and these smartly made sandals are a shopper-loved remedy that are now on sale for just $70 for a limited time. Deep cup soles built into the sandals cradle your feet with every step, while unique alignment technology keeps everything from the feet to your legs at an angle that won’t cause pain or discomfort. And if you’ve ever struggled to find comfortable sandals while dealing with plantar fasciitis, your search may be over because these shoes offer a great deal of support.

Vionic Women’s Beach Malibu Casual Slip-on Sneakers

Slip-on sneakers are practically made for travel days thanks to their handy design that makes going through TSA a breeze, and at just $50, you won’t want to leave this simple white pair from Vionic unclaimed. The canvas exterior is breathable and lightweight (a dream for summer wear), plus, they still boast highly-cushioned insoles. The true highlight, however, is that these shoes are machine washable, so if you return home from your trip with more remnants of your destination than you’d like, you can rest assured that a quick spin cycle will leave them looking as good as new.

Vionic Women’s Aloe Sandals

When you think of flip-flops, it’s not likely that a stylish pair of shoes comes to mind — until now, that is. These summer-ready leather sandals are ready to wear from the beach to the city streets, and with a sale price of $81, you won’t have to break the bank in the process. In true Vionic form, these sandals are made with well-cushioned insoles that alleviate pressure while supporting your feet from all angles, effectively doing away with the pesky foot pain that you may have come to expect from typical flip-flops. They’re even elevated with a metal ring affixed to the leather straps, adding intrigue to an otherwise simple shoe.

Vionic Women’s Uptown Slip-on Loafers

Functional, sleek, and incredibly versatile, loafers are an invaluable addition to any good packing list no matter where you’re headed. If you’re in need of a fresh pair, look no further than this slip-on option from Vionic. A 100 percent leather exterior lends itself to the high-quality structure of these built-to-last shoes, while EVA footbeds provide cushioning and impressive comfort from the moment you take them out of the box. Designed to absorb shock, eliminate foot pain, and generally elevate all of your favorite outfits, these are a gem for year-round travel.

Vionic Women’s Winny Oxfords

The value of a good pair of white sneakers simply cannot be overstated, and this well-made leather option is about to become your new favorite selection for everything on your travel agenda. Contoured footbeds within each shoe absorb shock while remaining flexible and lightweight, and in fact, these shoes have even earned a “Seal of Acceptance” from the American Podiatric Medical Association . Whether you style them with a maxi dress or a simple pair of shorts and T-shirt, you can’t go wrong.

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衣類圧縮ポーチ、その名も“圧しゅくん”！　ファスナーで簡単に圧縮できるので、旅行中のかさばる荷物もスッキリ。Tシャツなら10枚も入るという実力派。

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最近娘とウォーキングを初めたのですが、ランナーたちの装備を見てランニングポーチの進化に驚愕！　こんなにコンパクトなのに携帯やペットボトルも入る脅威の収納力。すぐにポチって軽装備で歩きたいです。

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「エアロプレス」の圧力抽出コーヒーメーカーを狙っています。先日これを使って味噌汁の出汁を取っているのを見て、さらに購買意欲倍増。アウトドアでも使えるのがポイント。

「ウーフォス」 リカバリーシューズ “OOahh”

欲しい欲しいと思いつつ、ゲットできていなかった「ウーフォス」のリカバリーサンダル。定番の“OOahh”は、普段のファッションにも合わせやすくて通勤にも最適。

「サクラクレパス」 ミーティングバッグ

子どもの学校のプリントや習い事の資料など、かさばりがちな書類を整理整頓してきれいに収納できるグッズを発見。持ち運びもできるうえ、そのまま棚に収納も可能。色違いで購入予定です。

「ホリウチ ミラー（HORIUCHI MIRROR）」 卓上ミラー

シニアエディター SAYAKA

ガラスの色に影響されない、自然光で見た肌の色をありのままに映すミラー。他の鏡で見るのとホリウチミラーで見る肌の色、結構違います！　ファンデーションの色味もきれいに映してくれるのでメイクの仕上がりチェックに欠かせない。フォールディングタイプを愛用していますが、卓上タイプも発見。デザインも◎。

「リフェクス」 割れない軽量な鏡（40×150cm）

小さい子どもがいるので、大きくて重い姿見は安全面でちょっと心配。そんな悩みを解決する「リフェクス」のミラーは、フィルムタイプなので指一本で持ちあがるぐらい軽量。映りもきれいで満足しているので、クローゼット用にもう一枚欲しい！

「ルルルン」 濃厚保湿タイプ フェイスマスク（32枚入り）

今年から始めた毎晩のシートパック。導入してから肌の調整がよいです。毎日使うので、気づいたときにストック。

「アイスブレーカー」 ライフスタイル ライト クルー ソックス

ニュージーランド産の高品質で限られたメリノウールを使用しているアンダーウェアブランド、「アイスブレーカー」。PRの方より、吸湿性の高さから夏にも快適！　とリアルな声を聞き、欲しくなっています。

「イッタラ」 Lempi グラス（2個セット）

夏休みは家飲み、ホムパの機会が増えそうなので、来客用にグラスを増やしたい！

「オン」 ランニングシューズ Cloud X 3

エディター MASAKO

一度履いたらやみつきになる「オン」のスニーカー。ジム用シューズとしても欲しいなと思っていて、トレーニングからランニングまであらゆることに対応してくれそうな“Cloud X 3”を狙い中。

「テクラ」 ハンドタオル

子ども用にストック買いしている「テクラ」のハンドタオルを、この夏は総入れ替え予定。タオルラックにいろんな色が並んでいる様もかわいいんです。30×30センチの大きめサイズが使いやすくておすすめ。

「ヘインズ」 綿100％ Tシャツ

もはや夏の制服のように着倒してしまう「ヘインズ」のパックT。細部までこだわりが詰まった“SHIRO”をサイズ違いでいくつか購入したいと思っています。

「プチバトー」 ハートプリント 半袖 パジャマ

「プチバトー」の子ども用パジャマはオーガニックコットンの肌触りが娘も心地良さそうで、キュートなデザインがでるたびに収集しています。アイコニックなハート柄は、そういえばまだ持っていなかった！　ので、今回WISH LIST入りに。

「バニラビーンズ」 ショーコラ 12個入

最近のリモートワークのお供に欠かせないのが、「バニラビーンズ」の“ショーコラ”。サクサクのクッキーに分厚い生チョコがサンドされていて、食べごたえたっぷり。疲れた時にはこれをひとつ食べるだけでハートがひとつ回復します（笑）。いつも夫と取り合いになるので、一番大きいサイズをチョイス！

「スリーエム（3M）」 ネクスケア 靴ずれ保護テープ

エディター CHISATO

「靴ずれは仕方ない。できてしまった後に、いかにきれいに治すかだ！」と、靴ずれ発生に関しては諦めて生きてきたこれまでの人生。「ネクスケア」の靴ずれ保護テープをSNSで見かけ、何の気なしに買ってみたが最後、これなしではもう過ごせません！　「あ、ここ靴ずれ起きるかも」な場所に出かける前に貼るのもよし、「なんだか怪しいぞ？ これは痛くなるかも？」な予感がしたら外出先で貼るもよし。薄くて軽く、半透明なので目立ちづらい。手で簡単にカットできるので超絶便利！

「マタドール」 防水トイレタリーケース

旅行＆出張が多い人に全力でおすすめしたい「マタドール」の防水トイレタリーケース。完全防水かつ中の水分を蒸発させるので、旅先で濡れたままの洗顔料やクレンジングなど、バスルームまわりのものを入れても大丈夫。もともとキャンプギア＆アウトドアギアブランドなので、機能面は言わずもがな。アウトドアにもよし、サウナや温泉、フェスなんかにもおすすめ！

「クオリティファースト」 ダーマレーザー スーパーVC100 マスク（7枚入り）

普段愛用しているパックは、とにかくまとめ買いのチャンス。夏は紫外線ダメージをはじめ、とにかく肌がさらされる環境は過酷！　「ダーマレーザー」のパックはひたひたに美容液が入っているので、体力の限界でスキンケアもできない……なんてときにいつも頼ってしまいます。

「テクラ」 ゲストタオル（30×50cm）

「テクラ」のゲストタオルは何枚あってもうれしい。洗っても素材がへたれることもなく、ビジュアルも良し、大きさも良し。人気すぎてセールにかかることも少ないですが、見かけるとついポチってしまいます。

「ウォンジョンヨ」 モイストアップレディスキンパック（50枚入り）

夏のメイク前、肌温度を下げるとメイク乗りがよくなる説は本当でした！　「ウォンジョンヨ」の大人気パックは、使いたいところをめがけて使える部分用なので手軽で使いやすい。特に夏は部屋が涼しくても肌温度は高い、なんてことも多々なので、朝のメイク時に重宝しています。

ELLE LOVES SHOPPING (TOP)

デザインも楽しめる、おしゃれな虫よけグッズ11

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エディターが試着レビュー！ 「レイバン」の売れ筋サングラス35選

「今月、何買った？」エディターのお買い物リレー【Fashion編】

フラットサンダルが夏のパートナー！ パリジェンヌの最新サマーコーデ6

パリジェンヌの愛用水着＆ブランドを調査！日本との選び方の違いとは？

【エディターが明日、着たい服】一点投入でサマームード満点な“かごバッグ”

ズレない！ 蒸れない！ 高機能ストラップレスブラ16選

「イーストパック」×「チカ キサダ」コラボバッグの予約販売がスタート！

2024夏決定版！いますぐ欲しいトレンドシューズおすすめ6タイプ

心に寄り添う“コンフォートネックレス”。パリジェンヌが大切にするお守りジュエリー

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Ossipee Valley Fair, Moxie Festival and more happening this weekend

The Maine International Film Festival starts Friday in Waterville.

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Now that we’re all comfortably settled into the rhythm of summer, let’s do a classic summer thing and go to a fair!

Jeremy Schoff of York leads his oxen, Pete and Red, during the ox pull on Thursday at the Ossippe Valley Fair in 2021. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

The Ossipee Valley Fair starts today and runs through Sunday. We especially love the Farmer Olympics because the hay bale toss and blind wheelbarrow obstacle course competition is fierce. Ray Routhier has details about Ossipee Valley and several others fairs happening this summer in Bangor, Waterville and Acton, among other locales.

Go a little farther afield and find a Maine summer fair for you

Aretha Aoki & Ryan MacDonald (right, in bear suit) performing IzumonookunI (stet capital letter at the end). Aretha Aoki & Ryan MacDonald will be bringing this dance program to the Bates Dance Festival July 12 and 14, 2024 at the Schaeffer Theatre on the Bates College campus in Lewiston, Maine. Photo by Colin Kelly

Another summer tradition is the Bates Dates Festival in Lewiston . Performances are underway, and arts writer Megan Gray has the scoop on “IzumonookunI” by Aretha Aoki and Ryan MacDonald. See it tonight and Saturday.

Topsham couple’s Bates Dance Festival performance is inspired by kabuki, punk rock and their 7-year-old

Big Yellow Taxi. Photo by Julian Parker Burns

I’m headed to One Longfellow Square on Friday night to see the Massachusetts-based Joni Mitchell tribute band Big Yellow Taxi. They’ll be playing Mitchell’s 1974 album “Court and Spark,” along with other tunes.

Tribute to Joni Mitchell celebrates 50 years of ‘Court and Spark’

“3 Vendors of Ipanema” is directed by Lewiston native Jonathan S. Lee. Courtesy of JSL Films

We weren’t kidding when we said there’s a lot going on right now. The 27th annual Maine International Film Festival starts on Friday and runs through July 21 in Waterville. Our film writer, Dennis Perkins, offers up his picks for 12 screenings worth your while.

12 hidden gems of this year’s Maine International Film Festival

Spectators watching a previous year’s Moxie Festival Parade in Lisbon Falls. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

Our weekly events roundup includes the East Bayside block party in Portland and the Moxie Festival in Lisbon Falls. Should you make it to the festival on Saturday, don’t miss “American Idol” alum Julia Gagnon singing at 1:30 p.m.

Kennebunks garden tour, Moxie Festival, East Bayside block party

One with Everything from Gunnar’s Icelandic Hot Dogs. Photo by Ray Routhier

Need a break from standard-issue hot dogs? We love them too, but sometimes a new twist is just what your taste buds need. Ray Routhier stopped by Gunnar’s Icelandic Hot Dogs cart . If you like what you read, you can find it parked from 4-9 p.m. Thursday at Apres in Portland, then on the roof of Bayside Bowl on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Sick of red snappers? Try an Icelandic hot dog instead

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Who is JD Vance? What to know about Donald Trump's VP pick

Former President Donald Trump  tapped J.D. Vance  to be his running mate Monday at the Republican National Convention, catapulting the Ohio GOP senator even more into the national spotlight.

Here’s what you need to know about Vance:

More: Trump made MAGA happen. JD Vance represents those who will inherit it

Where is JD Vance from?

Vance grew up in Jackson, Kentucky and Middletown, Ohio. He described a childhood consumed by poverty and abuse in his best-selling 2016 memoir , "Hillbilly Elegy." Vance's mother struggled with drug addiction, so he spent many of his formative years with his grandmother – known to him as Mamaw.

How old is JD Vance?

Vance is 39. If elected, he would be the youngest vice president since Richard Nixon. His birthday is Aug. 2, 1984.

More: Vice presidential contender has multiple ties to Columbus

Did JD Vance serve in the military?

Vance joined the Marines Corps after high school and served as a public affairs marine in Iraq.

Is JD Vance married?

Vance's wife, Usha Vance, is a litigator for a law firm based in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The pair met as students at Yale Law School and got married in 2014, one year after they graduated.

The couple has three young children: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.

Where does JD Vance live?

Vance and his family live in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati. The senator also bought a $1.5 million home in Alexandria, Virginia, last year, Politico reported .

How long has JD Vance been in politics?

Vance was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 after defeating former Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan for an open seat in Ohio.

What’s the history between Vance and Trump?

Vance openly criticized Trump in 2016 as pundits used his memoir to explain the former president's popularity with white, rural voters. He previously suggested Trump could be "America’s Hitler," called him noxious and compared him to an opioid.

But Vance changed his tune as he geared up for his 2022 Senate run, deleting controversial tweets and crediting Trump for the work he did in office. He secured Trump's endorsement in a chaotic Republican Senate primary and is now one of the former president's most loyal allies.

JD Vance didn't vote for Donald Trump in 2016

In one NPR interview , he joked that he would rather write his dog on the ballot than vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton.

"I think that I'm going to vote third party because I can't stomach Trump," the "Hillbilly Elegy" author said at the time. "I think that he's noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place."

What are Vance's policy positions?

Vance personifies what's known as the New Right , a populist conservatism that rejects many traditional Republican views. He supports tariffs on trade and opposes U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts, particularly the war between Russia and Ukraine. He's also spoken out against potential cuts to Social Security.

Who is JD Vance? Vice presidential candidate has multiple ties to Columbus

Some of Vance's work in the Senate has been bipartisan. He introduced a rail safety bill with Sen. Sherrod Brown after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. He also worked with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on legislation to hold executives accountable for failed banks.

At the same time, many of his other bills reflect conservative views. For example, Vance introduced legislation to ban gender-affirming care for minors and a bill to eliminate diversity programs in the federal government.

Where does JD Vance stand on abortion?

Vance opposes abortion and often says the government should find ways to encourage people to have children.

Like other Republicans, however, Vance changed how he discusses the issue after Ohio and other states voted in favor of abortion access last year. In a December CNN interview , he said Republicans must "accept that people do not want blanket abortion bans."

More recently, he told Meet the Press that he supports access to the abortion drug mifepristone.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Bykovo Manor
• Balashikha Arena
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Saturn Stadium