A travel journal can be a simple or complicated as you want to make it. Personally I have experimented over the years, from a simple and cheap notebook to gorgeous bound journals, it doesn’t matter what you use as long as it works for you. Bookshops sell beautiful journals often with sections for your itinerary, people you meet, things to remember, packing lists, places you stayed, and various other checklists, prompts and quotes.

There are a few decisions to make before choosing your journal, which require a little bit of thought.

• Do you want a themed travel journal with sections and prompts? Or would you prefer a blank notebook to fill as you wish?
• Do you want lined paper, blank or even squared?
• Do you plan to sketch or paint in your journal? This would affect the type and thickness of paper needed.
• Would you like to add tickets, business, cards, photos and other bits and pieces into your journal? This may affect the type of binding you choose, spiral bound or stitched books with room to expand work best for this.
• Do you plan to keep your journal with you all the time? Or keep it at your accommodation to write in the mornings or evenings? This may affect the size of book you want to carry.

I know it’s a lot to think about before you go away, but it’s worth it to make your journalling experience more fun and best suited to your tastes and preferences.

(This article is part of a series on keeping a travel journal, to read the previous article click here.)