How to: Start a travel bullet journal | Creative Travel Bullet Journal Ideas for your next adventure

With exotic travel destinations in mind and seeing countless travel posts on Instagram, your bucket list must be overflowing with vacation spots, each with a to-do list of its own!

As a travel enthusiast, you must have a travel diary, collected memories and documented your adventures. But have you been looking for ways to get a little more creative, organized and aesthetic with your bucket list? A travel bullet journal (BuJo) is all you need to start!

A travel bullet journal is a personalized journal that combines the functionalities of a planner, diary, and scrapbook. It allows you to plan your trips, record your memories, and express your creativity all in one place. In this article, we will explore a list of creative travel bullet journal ideas that will inspire you to take you travel journaling to the next level.

Whether you're a seasoned journaling aficionado or a beginner looking to start your first travel journal, this article is a dose of inspiration and practical tips you'd find handy before your next trip.

Get Started: Start your travel bullet journal spread

1. Gather Supplies: Collect all the necessary supplies for your travel bullet journal. This typically includes a notebook or journal, pens, markers, stickers, washi tape, and any other decorative elements you'd like to
2. Choose a Journal: Select a journal that suits your preferences. Consider factors such as size, paper quality, and durability. A dotted or grid journal is often preferred for bullet

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1. Plan Your Layouts: Decide on the types of layouts you want to include in your travel bullet journal.
   • Determine the types of layouts: Consider the specific layouts you want to incorporate into your travel bullet journal, such as cover pages, packing lists, itineraries, daily logs, expense trackers, maps, and memory pages. These layouts will help you organize and document your travel experiences.
   • Sketch a rough outline: Create a rough outline or plan of the different layouts you want to include in your journal. This can be a simple sketch or a written description of each layout. Having an outline will provide a visual guide and ensure you cover all the essential elements in your journal.
   • Customize your layouts: Once you have a basic outline, personalize each layout to suit your preferences and travel style. Add decorative elements, use different fonts or colors, and incorporate travel-related images or motifs to make your layouts visually appealing and reflective of your unique travel experiences.
2. Set Up Key Pages: Start by creating key pages that will serve as references throughout your journal. These may include an index or table of contents, a key or legend to indicate different symbols or icons, and a future log to jot down upcoming travel plans.
   • Create an index or table of contents: Designate a page or section in your travel journal for an index or table of contents. This will help you easily locate specific entries or information within your journal.
   • Develop a key or legend: Design a key or legend that assigns symbols or icons to different categories or themes in your journal. This will provide a quick reference guide for understanding and navigating your journal entries.
   • Establish a future log: Dedicate a page or spread to create a future log where you can jot down upcoming travel plans, destinations, or important dates. This will help you stay organized and plan ahead for your next vacation.
3. Create a Travel Bucket List: Begin your travel bullet journal by listing all the destinations you want to visit. This can serve as your travel bucket list and provide inspiration for future trips. Add illustrations, photos, or descriptions to make it visually appealing. Consider thematic travel journals like:
   • Destination-Based Journal: Customize your travel bullet journal to a specific destination, incorporating iconic landmarks, local cuisine, and travel tips.
   • Travel Style Journal: Design a journal that reflects your preferred travel style, featuring elements like adventure activities, and cultural and culinary exploration.
   • Interest-Focused Journal: Tailor your travel bullet journal to your interests, such as local cuisine, landscape photography, regional fashion, wildlife, or history, highlighting experiences and collections related to your passion.

1. Customize Your Cover Page: Design a captivating cover page that represents your travel theme or showcases your favourite travel quote. Use colours, drawings, map outlines, or collage techniques to make it visually striking and reflective of your personal style.

   Design a unique and eye-catching cover page for your travel journal using colourful patterns, hand-lettering, or travel-themed artwork.

• Hand-drawn maps: Add a personal touch to your journal by sketching maps of the places you visit. Highlight landmarks, routes, and memorable locations to create a personalized visual representation of your travel journey.
• Travel-inspired illustrations: Incorporate illustrations that reflect the essence of your travel experiences. Draw iconic landmarks, local cuisine, or cultural elements that capture the spirit of the destinations you explore.
2. Design Packing Lists: Dedicate pages to create packing lists for different types of trips or destinations. Include essentials, clothing items, toiletries, and any specific items you need for particular activities or climates. You can also use symbols or checkboxes to track your packing progress.
   • Assess trip requirements: Consider the trip duration, climate, and activities to determine specific packing needs.
   • Categorize items: Organize your packing list into categories like personal hygiene products, electronics, and documents.
   • Use symbols or checkboxes: Enhance organization by adding symbols or checkboxes to track packing progress and highlight important items.
3. Craft Itineraries and Daily Logs: Plan your trip day by day with detailed itineraries and daily logs.
   • Research and gather information: Gather information about your destination, attractions, and activities to create a comprehensive itinerary.
   • Structure your itinerary: Plan your trip day by day, including activities, sightseeing spots, meals, and transportation details. Use bullet points or time blocks to organize your schedule effectively.

1. Document Memories: Capture your travel memories in your bullet journal. Incorporate pages for photos, sketches, or written descriptions of memorable moments. Use washi tape, stickers, or drawings to embellish these pages and make them visually appealing.
• Memory Collage: Create visual memory collages with photographs, tickets, and mementos to preserve your travel memories creatively.
• Daily Journaling: Write daily entries to capture the essence of your travel experiences and activities.
• Reflection Pages: Reflect on lessons learned and personal growth through dedicated journal pages.
2. Track Expenses: Create an expense tracker to monitor your travel budget. Record your spending on accommodation, transportation, meals, attractions, and souvenirs. Calculate totals and compare them with your initial budget to stay on track.
   • Set up a dedicated expense tracker page: Designate a page in your travel journal specifically for tracking your expenses. Divide the page into columns or sections to record different types of expenses.
   • Record all expenses: Whenever you spend money during your travels, write down the date, item or service purchased, and the amount spent in your expense tracker. Be diligent in noting even the smallest expenses to maintain an accurate record.
   • Categorize and summarize expenses: At regular intervals, such as daily or weekly, review your expense tracker and categorize your expenses into relevant categories (e.g., accommodation, transportation, meals). Summarize the total expenditure in each category to gain insights into your spending patterns and adjust your budget accordingly.
3. Reflect and Review: Dedicate a section of your travel bullet journal for reflections and reviews. Write about your favourite experiences, challenges faced, lessons learned, and recommendations for future travellers. This will serve as a valuable resource for future trips and allow you to revisit your travel memories.

Tips and travel journal ideas to get creative and stay aesthetic

1. Collage pages: Use cutouts from travel brochures, magazines, or your own photos to create collages representing your trips.
2. Wanderlust quotes: If you are a word-i-vore, then try and deck out your journal with inspiring travel quotes.
3. Journaling Your Travel Memories: Capture your travel experiences through detailed journal entries and reflections. Explore different journaling techniques and prompts to help you express your thoughts and emotions effectively.
4. Food diary: Trying local cuisine is sometimes the highlight or the reason of a vacation. Add images or cutouts of the delicious cuisines you try or want to try from your travel destination.
5. Travel-inspired artwork: Showcase your artistic skills by creating travel-themed drawings, whimsical doodles, or paintings in your travel bujo.
6. Organizing Travel Tips and Recommendations: Create sections in your travel bullet journal to store useful travel tips, recommendations, and resources. Organize information about accommodations, local attractions, and transportation options to have a handy reference during your trips.
7. Keeping Your Journal Safe and Portable: Learn tips for protecting your travel bullet journal during your journeys and making it easy to carry. From selecting the right travel-friendly supplies to using protective covers, discover strategies to keep your journal safe and accessible.
   • Choose a sturdy and compact travel journal with durable pages.
   • Use protective covers or sleeves to safeguard your journal from damage.

A travel BuJo is not just a simple notebook; it's a gateway to creating lasting memories and organizing your travel experiences. By incorporating these creative travel bullet journaling ideas, you can elevate your journaling practice and make your adventures even more memorable. From planning your trips, listing things you want to experience, and to documenting your memories in a visually appealing way, a travel bullet journal provides a space for self-expression and organization. So, grab your journaling supplies and embark on a journey of creativity and exploration with your very own travel journal.