Hello my friends!
When planning a big trip I find it handy to write down as many details as I can in my travel journal. I’m going to share some of the things I like to keep jotted down in my travel journal when I am planning for a trip.
Why I use a travel journal for planning my trips
Honest answer? It’s just the most convenient for me. It allows me to keep all of my important travel information together in one place.
- I also like that I can customise the look and feel, while also including the planning stages as part of my journaling for a trip.
This is my favourite type of travel journal to use: Black Voyager Journal (this link is not affiliated or sponsored.)
Flights/Trains/Travel Arrangements
How are you getting to your destination? Are you flying, driving or taking the train?
Write down all of the details of your flights/trains/travel arrangements:
- If you’re flying: Airline + Flight Numbers
- If you’re taking a train: Train Company + Train Number. Also the address of the train station.
- Make a note of any layovers or breaks – the duration of the layover and where it will be occuring.
Some things to consider:
Will you be driving to the airport/train station?
If so, do you know where you will be parking your car? How much will the parking cost?
If you are parking away from the airport/train station, do you know how you will get to the airport/train station? Is there a shuttle.
These are all things to consider making a note of in your journal.
Other details to note for traveling:
What is the baggage allowance for your trip? (This can include how many bags you are allowed to bring with you as well as how much they can weigh.)
What time do you need to leave home/your hotel to get to your flight/train on time?
Hotel/AirBnB/Accommodations
Write out the detail of your accommodations:
- Any confirmation or reservation numbers.
- Address of your accommodations and directions (if needed)
- Maybe a map as a cute addition.
- Check-in and check-out times. Does your hotel have early check-in or late check-out?
- Does your hotel serve breakfast? What time is breakfast served?
Write out any important phone numbers, especially if you are traveling internationally. Numbers like: your bank, your Embassy, your Hotel, Local Emergency Services.
Do some research on the area immediately surrounding where you plan on staying, make notes on anything interesting or important that is close by. This can include restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops.
Weather
A quick point, but if you are traveling somewhere that is unfamiliar to you, make a note of what the weather is usually like at the time of year that you will be there. Of course this won’t be 100% accurate but it at least gives you an idea.
- I’ve found that just having this helps when it comes to writing packing lists.
Local Transportation
Is your accommodation close to the local transportation?
Make a note of what the local transportation is – bus, train, subway, tax, or do you have to walk everywhere?
How do you get to this transportation from where you are staying? For example, can you walk to the local subway station, or would you have to take a taxi?
Is there anything that you need to take care of for the local transportation? E.g. If you plan in renting a car, do you need an international driver’s permit? Other things might include rail passes.
Make sure to download an apps you might need for local transportation before you leave for your trip. These might include directions, public transit schedules or maps. I like to make a note for myself in my journal – usually along with a checklist.
Make a Packing List
Make it as detailed as you can, include even little things that might seem really obvious or trivial. You’d be surprised at how often often those are the things that you forget, or leave behind.
I tend to include two check boxes in my packing lists so I can tick things off as I pack them for my trip, as well as for the trip back.
I will usually separate out my packing lists by bag and category – so for example, I will write out a list of clothes that need to be packed in my suitcase, then a list of the toiletries that need to be packed in my suitcase, so on and so forth until everything in my suitcase is accounted for, then I will move onto the next bag.
Itinerary Overview
This doesn’t need to be detailed. This is just a brief overview.
Write out the things you know you will be doing on your trip. Include any important information such as ticket numbers, confirmation or reservation numbers for meals or other other booked experiences.
- I’ve found that this helps to find the holes in your trip that you can fill with more spontaneous activities.
Write down a list of places that may interest you to visit, so you have something to reference if you find yourself looking for something to do.
Detailed Itinerary Runthough
If you already have detailed days planned out, then I would write those out separately from your overview (which I discussed in the last section). This can include your travel days.
Things to note in your detailed itinerary runthough:
- Wake-up times – this can be useful on days when there is a lot of traveling, or if you are on a specific time schedule.
- Things to bring with you/pack in your bag.
- Opening times (if applicable)
- Places you’re planning on stopping to eat (include reservation info if you have them)
- Brief directions (if needed)
- Times of tickets/experiences/tours (if applicable)
- Bedtimes
- Meal times
- Activities (Shopping/Games/Museum/Tours/Zoo etc.)
Other stuff you might want to include:
Make a list of important things that you need to do before you leave:
- Do you need to call your bank?
- Do you need to clean out your car?
- Do you need to turn your cellular data off?
- Have you printed out all of the paperwork you might need?
- Have you downloaded all of the apps that you might need?
If you have dietary restrictions, or preferences – write down any restaurants that you know cater to your specific requirements.
– In this same vein, write down how to tell your server about any allergies that you may have in the native language of the country you are visiting, if this is applicable.
Write out any phrases that you might need to know – such as asking about the bathroom or asking for directions.
If it something that interests you, write out a basic currency conversion chart so you can have a basic idea of how much things cost.
Make sure you write out any reminders that you may need for yourself, such as picking up tickets or asking for information, for example, a reminder to call the airline to ask about vegetarian/vegan meal options.
And that is about everything that I like to include in my travel journal when planning a trip! I hope you found this little guide helpful!
Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading and remember to stay kind and nerdy my friends!
White Elorda
Introvert, nerd and lifestyle blogger.
Check me out on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Patreon (Chibi Art) | My Resin Shop
White Elorda’s Nerdy Lifestyle Blog 