Travel journals are being talked about more and more, but it is not always clear what we mean. Sometimes we think of a diary for holidays; other times, of a compact travel notebook that lives with us in a backpack, in a bag or on the desk, where journaling, ideas and project notes coexist. And when you start looking, there are so many options that it is easy to feel stuck.
In this guide, we will look at what a travel journal really is as a system with a leather cover and interchangeable inner notebooks, how it differs from a conventional notebook and which details matter when choosing yours: format, material, paper and personalisation. The intention is not to find a perfect journal, but one that makes sense for your life and that you genuinely feel like using.
What is a travel journal
When we talk about a travel journal here, we do not mean only a diary for holidays, but a system: a leather cover with elastic cords inside where you can place different interchangeable inner notebooks. It is a format designed to move with you, whether you keep a daily journal, take quick notes or work on projects.
This system allows you to keep several uses inside the same travel journal or travel notebook at once: one inner notebook for journaling, another for work ideas, another for lists or for a travel diary when the moment comes. When one of those notebooks is full, you simply replace it with another one, without losing the cover that already carries your story.
- Leather cover with elastic cords inside.
- Several inner notebooks that you can combine and change.
- A single travel journal that adapts to your moment: everyday life, projects, trips.
Understanding the travel journal as a system, and not as a single closed notebook, helps you choose with the medium term in mind: how you want to write and stay organised over the years, not only in the next few weeks.
Why choose a travel journal instead of a regular notebook
A classic notebook is meant to be filled and finished. You start it, you end it, you put it on a shelf and you buy another one. A leather travel journal works differently. The cover stays with you, and it is the inner notebooks that change. It becomes a more stable object that ages with use and keeps the trace of different stages.
This kind of system also helps you organise what you write. You do not have to mix everything in the same block of pages. You can separate diaries, work notes, creative ideas, lists or a travel diary, and decide what goes inside your travel journal at each moment. That makes it useful both for journaling and for quick notes and projects.
- You can keep the same cover for years and change only the inner notebooks.
- It allows you to separate uses: diary, projects, lists, travel diary, ideas.
- It adapts to different stages without having to start from zero each time.
If you are looking for more than a pretty notebook and want something that can stay with you over time and evolve with you, a travel journal usually offers many more possibilities than a conventional notebook that is only meant to be filled and stored away.
Choosing a format: Muse (A5) or Nomad (passport size)
Within the travel journal system, format matters. It is not the same to have a journal that lives on the desk as one that always goes with you in a backpack, in a bag or in the pocket of a coat. In the same leather cover system you can find different formats, such as Muse in A5 and Nomad in passport size, and choosing between one or the other has to do with how you write and where you use it.
There is no single right answer. Some people need more space; others write better with a compact format. The important thing is to choose the travel journal that matches your rhythm and the places where you will actually open it.
Muse: travel journal in A5 format
An A5 travel journal is ideal if you write a lot, if you like to develop ideas calmly or if you want your journal to help you organise your projects and your weeks. It is a comfortable size for the desk, the bedside table or a backpack, with enough space to mix journaling, notes and sketches without feeling that you are short on room.
- More space to write, think and plan.
- Comfortable for working seated: desk, cafés, bedside table.
- Suitable if you want to keep daily journaling, projects and weekly reviews in a single travel journal.
If you are drawn to this kind of format, you can explore the Muse collection in A5 and see how it translates into a concrete travel journal in your everyday life.
Nomad: travel journal in passport size
A passport size travel journal is more compact and lightweight. It is designed to come with you in any backpack, bag or coat pocket, to write a few lines a day, take quick notes, capture project ideas or use it as a travel diary when you move around. It is that travel notebook that is always with you just in case, and that makes it easy to write on the go.
- Small size, easy to carry with you at all times.
- Suitable for short journaling, brief notes, lists and loose ideas.
- Works very well if you like to write in transit: on the train, on the metro, while waiting or on short trips.
If you prefer something light and always at hand, it makes sense to look at the Nomad collection in passport size and think about how it would fit into your routine.
Details that matter in a travel journal
Beyond format, there are details that shape your experience with a travel journal: the material of the cover, the paper, the configuration of the inner notebooks and how it feels in your hand. It is not about reviewing an endless list of features, but about choosing a few aspects that really matter to you.
- Cover material: a leather travel journal made with vegetable tanned leather ages with use, records your movements and gains character over time. If you value tactile feel and durability, this is essential.
- Type of paper: plain, dotted or ruled. If you mostly write text, ruled paper can feel more comfortable. If you mix text and diagrams, dotted paper tends to work very well. It also matters how it responds to the pen or ink you usually write with.
- Inner configuration: you can carry a single notebook or several at once. For example, one for your diary, one for work and another for lists or trips. Thinking about this structure before choosing helps you make better use of your travel journal from the very first day.
When you choose your travel journal, it can help to ask yourself how you would like it to be organised in the coming months. From there, it is easier to decide which format, paper and configuration make sense for you now, knowing that you can always adjust what you carry inside later on.
If you would like to go deeper into the writing side, it can also help to read an article focused on how to start a paper journal and keep it over time.
Personalising your travel journal
A travel journal stays very close to you. You open it every day, you carry it in your hand, you place it on different tables. That is why personalisation is not only aesthetic. It is also a way to feel it more like yours and to want to use it more often. Details such as the debossing, the colour of the leather and elastic cords, or the charms you choose, make a real difference.
- Debossing: initials, a name, a word that supports you or a meaningful date. A personalised travel journal feels more inviting to open and also works well as a thoughtful gift.
- Colours and charms: the combination of leather tone, elastic colours and the charms you add, such as symbols or small figures that represent something for you, makes your travel journal reflect your style without needing heavy decoration.
- Gift mindset: a travel journal can be a special gift for someone who is starting a new chapter, like a long journey, a new job or a move to another city. If it can also be personalised with debossing, colours and charms, it becomes a meaningful object that person can carry with them for years.
Personalisation does not have to be obvious or overloaded. Sometimes a few discreet initials, a colour combination you recognise as yours and a charm chosen with intention are enough for your travel journal to move from being just a beautiful object to a real companion.
Create your notāre
Choosing a travel journal is, at heart, choosing a system that you want to accompany you for years. A leather cover that ages with you, and inner notebooks that you will change according to what you need to write in each stage. You can think about how your days look now, how much you write, where you do it and which format would feel most natural for you. Maybe an A5 travel journal with more space, a compact passport size travel notebook or a combination of both.
You do not need to make a definitive decision from the beginning. It is about starting with a travel journal you feel like opening, that you can adjust over time and that helps you be a little more present in what you live and in what you write.
If you already have a clearer idea of what kind of travel journal suits you, you can discover all notāre travel journals and see how these criteria translate into concrete pieces.
