Posted: 10/25/22 | October 25th, 2022
When I first started traveling around the world, I kept a journal. I recorded everything that happened to me, who I met, how I felt, and how much I spent.
When I sat down a few years ago to write my memoir, that journal was indispensable. There, among its pages, were 18 months of memories, feelings, and activities long forgotten. It was a trip down memory lane that made me relive my original journey in a way I never thought possible. Reading that journal made me realize how much I had forgotten.
I hear from people all the time that they wish they kept some kind of record of their trip. After all, memories fade and warp with time. Having a written record allows you to remember the reality of the moment.
That’s precisely the reason we created My Travel Journal.
This new journal has been in the works since March and, after a few months of tweaking the design and learning about paper quality and the entire printing process, we sent our “manuscript” to the printer in June.
“Ok great,” they said, “You’ll get in in October.”
“Can I get a sample copy before it goes to print?” I asked.
They said no.
Due to all the issues printers are having with supplies as well as the fact most are now moving production out of China and back to the States, there just wasn’t the capacity to do “one-offs.” All I could get was a mock-up using regular paper instead of the material we are using for the final copy.
As two really, really good friends of mine use this company and said they had never had a quality problem, I said, “OK, go to print. I’m off to Europe, and we really want to get this product out in time for the holidays!”
Last week, I finally got the finished journal in my hands.
The paper quality is beautiful, the cover is perfect, and the printing is perfect. It’s all perfect — except for one thing.
Our idea was to create a Moleskine-like journal with travel prompts. It was supposed to have one page for every day of the year. That’s 365 pages plus some for quotes.
That’s what I got. At 180+ sheets (365 days, front and back), I thought it would be thinner than Moleskines, which are 240 pages.
Except, while Moleskines do have 240 pages, they are just 120 sheets thick. Why I did the math right for my journal but did not do likewise for the Moleskine is beyond me! So our journal is about 200 sheets thick. Which means it looks like this:
“Wow! This is…big,” I said to myself. I mean, we got what we wanted. It is a journal with prompts for every day of the year. It still looks great and is the high quality we wanted. It’s just thicker than expected.
So, we’re thinking of this as our special “jumbo” edition — perfect for long-term travelers, people studying or living abroad, or those who just want a full year of journaling in one place!
It has everything you need:
- You can use the prompts for travel, or in your day-to-day life at home.
- You can get inspired by the quotes.
- You can use it as a reminder that sometimes things don’t work out as planned, but all you can do is make the best of the situation.
As you can see below, we’ve designed the journal to be as straightforward and streamlined as possible so that you can remember all those incredible moments. It will help you get into the habit of journaling every day. Here’s what the interior of the journals looks like:
Our thinner-sized (aka “normal”) journal will be out in the spring. But, until then, we have this beautiful product that will still make a great journal or gift for travelers and expats alike.
We’re selling this our “jumbo” journal at cost ($15 USD plus shipping) until November 14th to help us reduce the inventory in our warehouse (7,000 copies take up a lot of room!).
You can get it via our website here. Use the code JUMBO.
One of the best souvenirs I have from my earliest travels is my travel journal. Capturing my thoughts and feelings as I traveled has allowed me to relive those trips over and over again in the years since. I can’t recommend journaling while you travel enough.
So, be sure to jump on this limited-edition journal! It’s especially ideal for those living abroad or going on extended travels, or those who like to illustrate their journals with postcards, train tickets, etc. If you have any questions, email me at [email protected]
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
