Travel journal: [Trip name]
How to use this template
Fill in the trip and the route before you leave. Each evening, copy the day section, from its Day heading down to the divider under it, paste it below for the new day, and log what you spent under Money. Short on time? Write the scene: it's the part you'll reread. Delete this box and the example once you've started.
The trip
Dates | |
Route | |
Traveling with | |
Why this trip | |
Currency and rate |
Before I go
What you expect, what worries you, what you most want to do.
Optional: Packing and paperwork
Passport valid for six months after you return, and any visa or entry form done
Insurance policy number and emergency line saved on your phone
Tickets and bookings saved offline, with copies sent to someone at home
Bank told about the trip, and a card that works abroad
Offline maps downloaded for each place on the route
Chargers, a plug adapter and any medication packed
Route and stays
Dates | Place | Where I'm staying | Getting there |
See an example day
Day 4 · Thursday, May 14 · Porto
Weather: Grey morning, sun by two
Route: Lisbon → Porto, by the 9:09 train
Slept at: Casa do Rio, a top-floor room with a slanted ceiling and a view of the roofs
Mood: Tired, then happy
The day in brief: Three hours north by train. Dropped the bags and walked down to the river. We missed the last cellar tour by ten minutes, so we crossed the bridge on foot instead and stayed on the far side for the sunset.
One scene: Halfway across the top deck of the bridge, a metro came up behind us and we pressed ourselves against the railing, laughing. Below, the river was the colour of tea and the whole bank smelled of grilled sardines.
Quote: “Lisbon plays, Porto works.” A woman selling cherries from a crate, who then gave us a second bag for free.
Ate: A francesinha near the station, €13. Heavy, and worth it once.
Photos worth finding: IMG_2207–2231, the bridge at sunset
Spending log: Train, Transport, €31.20 · Francesinhas, Food and drink, €26.00
Day 1 · [Date] · [Place]
Weather | Route | Slept at | Mood |
The day in brief
Where you went and what happened, in order.
One scene
The moment you'd tell a friend about first, in full.
Something someone said today, word for word
Small things
Ate:
Learned:
Surprised me:
Photos worth finding:
Tomorrow:
Places
Place | Day | Why it mattered | Address or map link |
People I met
Name | Where and when | What they told me | Contact |
Money
Spending log
Day | What | Category | Local | Home |
Budget
Category | Budget | Spent | Notes |
Stay | |||
Transport | |||
Food and drink | |||
Activities and tickets | |||
Shopping and gifts | |||
Other | |||
Total |
Last day
Against “Before I go”:
Best day:
What I'd tell someone going:
The story I keep telling:
Would I go back: