The 15 Best Travelers Notebooks

If you’re looking for the best travelers notebook, you want something sturdy and reliable. Organization is also a plus. Depending on your plans, you might also want a compact travel journal that can come with you on outings.

Our top pick for the best travelers notebook is the Personalized Leather Travel Journal. This gorgeous option is bound in leather and is a compact A5 design. What’s even better, you can refill the travel diary with new pages on every trip.

The 15 Best Travelers Notebooks For Your Next Adventure

Antique Personalized Leather Journal

Best Overall

This travel journal makes the top of the list because it has everything you could want. The genuine leather binding is waterproof and durable enough to last for decades. Inside, the paper is refillable, so you can replace it and create new memories once the first stack is filled.

You can also personalize the journal with your initials or name. For a slightly higher fee, you can even incorporate your business logo or artwork.

The A5 size is large enough to capture a lot of information, but compact enough to carry easily. Also included is a pen holder to keep your writing utensils safe.

Product Specs

• 112 sheets of A5 size paper
• Genuine leather construction
• Pen holder included
• Refillable with most A5 notebooks

Hardcover Travel Journal

Best Hardcover

Though this hardcover journal has been around since 2006, it stands the test of time. The front panel folds over the paper and secures with a magnet, keeping your writing safe. The cover and the endsheets both have travel collages, making this an inspirational choice to take on your journeys.

Inside, there are 144 lined pages with room to take notes and doodle. The acid-free paper has a smooth finish and is designed to weather pencil and pen without feathering.

Thanks to the compact size, you can easily take it anywhere. An interior pocket can hold receipts, papers, photos, and cards.

Product Specs

• Compact 5” x 7”
• 144 smooth-finish lined pages
• Travel collages on the cover
• Magnet closure and interior pocket

Related: Stay Safe With These 12 Best Reflective Backpacks

Moleskine Traveller’s Journal

Best Moleskine

Moleskine is one of the most popular journal companies thanks to their beautifully bound notebooks. This passion journal is designed to hold information about your latest passion. In addition to travel, you can use it to record recipes, books, and fitness goals.

The cover has the same durability as leather and closes with elastic. Meanwhile, the ivory pages are ideal for using a ballpoint pen or pencil. This particular journal is available with eight different covers, one of which is specifically dedicated to travel.

Product Specs

• 8.25” x 5”
• 400 ivory pages
• 8 cover options
• Durable faux leather cover

Handmade Guided Travel Journal

Best Guided Travel Journal

This handmade travel journal isn’t just a book of blank paper. Instead, it is filled with prompts that help you to zero in on your experiences.

There are over 100 prompts with over 100 blank creative spreads. The hardcover design is bound with linen cloth and includes a ribbon bookmark.

Every one of the writing prompts is unique, encouraging you to think differently about your trip. The seller recommends that people use a new journal with every trip. But you have the freedom to write exactly as much or as little as you want.

Product Specs

• 7” x 5”
• 101 writing prompts
• 102 blank spreads
• Linen cover with ribbon bookmark

Travel Bullet Journal

Best Bullet Journal

This bullet journal is personalized with a laser engraving of your name or initials. You also have the option to purchase an engraved pen alongside it. There are 112 lined pages inside, so you can create your own organizational system.

The beauty of bullet journals is that you can create your own navigation. Most start with a table of contents, and then are updated with page numbers.

You can jot down thoughts about your travels, keep track of important schedules, and write freeform thoughts about your experiences.

Product Specs

• 8.25” x 5.25”
• 112 lined pages
• Laser engraved
• Optional engraved pen

MALEDEN Spiral Bound Travel Journal

Travel Journal with Pockets

This travel journal design from Maleden resembles an old-timey travelers log. The cover is crafted from soft faux leather, so it’s durable enough to withstand rough times.

Inside, the craft paper is sturdy and designed to manage pen ink without bleeding. There are also a whopping six card slots, along with a zippered pocket.

The journal initially comes with 180 blank pages, allowing you to doodle or write or draw. But once you fill those pages, you can remove and replace them with new ones. If you want lined pages instead of blank ones, Maleden sells lined refill sheets.

Product Specs

• 7” x 5”
• 6 card holders
• Zippered pocket
• 180 refillable pages

Related: Stay Organized With These Best Travel Neck Wallets

Duncan and Stone Travel Journal for Scrapbooking

Best Travel Notebook for Scrapbooking

This handmade journal is large enough to hold your photos and scrapbook items. It comes with 110 pages and a pocket in the back. The cover is bound with linen cloth and edged with gold foil. It ships wrapped in cellophane for maximum protection.

Rather than being a blank slate, this journal includes simple prompts and questions. You can lay out each page according to the theme, or you can go off script.

Regardless, you have room to paste your photos and write about your adventures to remember in the future.

Product Specs

• 9.25” x 7.75”
• 110 prompted pages
• Linen cloth cover
• Back pocket for storage

Customizable Digital Travel Journal

Best Digital Travel Journal

When you’re on the go, chances are, you have your electronics with you. Some people prefer to do their journaling and organizing on their tablet or laptop. After all, they don’t take up extra space, and app-based journals can be easier to navigate.

This customizable travel journal was built to use with Goodnotes. Also included are Keynote and Procreate files to create your own templates.

Pages can be customized, duplicated, and altered exactly how you want them. There are three customizable tabs, along with four default tabs that bring you back to your travel overview and daily logs.

Product Specs

• 14 page PDF
• Keynote and Procreate files
• Compatible with Goodnotes
• 7 navigation tabs in total

Pocket Sized Travelers Notebook

Best Pocket-Sized Travelers Notebook

Some people want a journal that’s so compact they can keep it in their pocket. That’s where this compact notebook comes in.

When you have an observation to jot down, you can simply take it out. The design can be personalized with your color of choice and name.

Every notebook is crafted using genuine leather, so it will stand the test of time. Also included is a free memo book for field notes. The paper can also be refilled once you reach the end, and the seller has perfectly-sized refills.

Product Specs

• Pocket sized 6.4” x 3.75”
• Personalized with 7 letters maximum
• Genuine leather binding
• 6 colors available

Refillable Leather Adventure Journal

Best Refillable Travelers Notebook

This is one of the most versatile and beautiful leather notebooks on the list. You can choose from five different leather colors and add up to 42 characters of personalization. You also have a choice of lined, unlined, dotted, or graph paper.

The compact notebook can be slipped easily into your luggage or purse. Inside are 40 refillable pages. Inside, elastic holds the notebook in place, making it super simple to swap out.

When not in use, you can secure the journal with the leather buckle.

Product Specs

• 4” x 6”
• 5 colors
• 4 page designs
• Up to 42 character personalization

Refillable Travelers Notebook

Best Budget Travel Notebook

This is one of the most inexpensive options on the list, but it’s also very high quality. Thanks to the synthetic leather, the price is significantly reduced. The compact notebook has a vintage appearance. It is available in three different shades of brown.

Inside, there’s a side pocket with three card inserts. It can hold up to three name cards. There are also two lined notebook inserts, both of which can be refilled.

In total, there are 80 sheets with 160 pages. It’s easy to write, draw, and sketch. The fine paper and interior organization also make this an ideal budget gift for the traveler in your life.

Product Specs

• 4.72” x 7.87”
• 160 refillable pages
• 3 cardboard holders
• Back interior pocket

Colorful Customized Travelers Notebook

Best Customized Travel Notebook

This customized leather journal comes with your choice of design, color, and an engraving of your name. There are 12 total designs and a whopping 13 colors, which gives you 156 options alone! Then you can have the journal engraved with your name or initials.

The journal is ideal for writers and travelers who want to capture their experiences. The durable leatherette material is laser engraved with your personalization.

Inside, there are 112 lined pages to record your adventures. There’s also a satin ribbon bookmark to help you keep your place.

Product Specs

• 5.25” x 8.25”
• 112 lined pages
• Vegan leatherette cover
• Personalized engraving

Customized Road Trip Travel Journal

Best Travel Journal for Road Trips

This travel notebook is specifically designed for those who hit the open road. Emblazoned with a warm image of a camper in a forest, the journal brings to mind long summer adventures. You can personalize your item with your name and the date. There’s also the option to write a message inside the front cover.

You have a choice between wire-bound and paperback covers. The paperback is more inexpensive, but also less sturdy.

You can also choose to customize the cover image with your vehicle color, van type, and the environmental background.

Product Specs

• 8.27” x 5.9”
• Custom cover image
• Personalized message
• 2 binding choices

Kids’ Travel Journal

Best Travel Journal for Kids

This travel journal is designed specifically for kids ages 6 and up. It’s a great way for them to remember their vacations and to practice writing.

Not only are there prompts to capture the day, but there are also tons of supplemental references. The back pocket can hold scrap paper and keepsakes.

Just some of the included fun involves games, puzzles, maps, other languages, metric conversion, quotes, fun facts, and even full-color photos. The archival paper won’t degrade, so your journal will be safe for years.

It has 96 total pages and a hardcover binding. An elastic closure keeps it secure when not in use.

Product Specs

• 8.25” x 6.25”
• 96 acid-free pages
• Interior pocket
• Elastic closure

Best Travelers Journal Buying Guide

Type of Journal

Blank

Blank journals like the Maleden Travel Journal give you space to write exactly what you want, when you want. They’re ideal if you already have an idea of what to capture.

Guided/Prompts

Guided journals like the Guided Travel Journal are ideal if you have trouble figuring out what to say about your trip. The prompts help you think about and capture your experiences in a new way.

Page Format

Lined

Lined pages make it easier to write prose or make bullet points.

Unlined

Unlined pages make it easier to sketch, doodle, or otherwise divide up the page.

Prompts/Guided Journaling/Activities

These page formats have prompts and activities, followed by space for you to answer them. Options like the Travel Journal for Scrapbooking also include space for photos.

Size

Pocket-sized options like the Pocket Sized Travel Notebook are the easiest to carry around. But they’re not the easiest to write in. Standard sizing gives you more space to paste photos, draw, and write long prose.

Organization/Pockets

The inside of the journal may have pockets, card holders, or a combination of the two. The Travel Journal with Pockets has a zippered pocket, which keeps your scraps and valuables extra safe.

Type of Cover

Hard

Hardcover notebooks tend to be more durable and easier to write on. They’re more likely to lay flat when open. However, they can also be pricey.

Soft

Soft cover notebooks are more flexible and inexpensive. But they’re also prone to wearing down and becoming creased.

Moleskine

Moleskine covers are known for being beautiful and durable made from moleskin. The Moleskine Passion Journal is our top pick for the best travelers notebooks.

Leather

Genuine leather comes at a cost, but it’s also the most long-lasting and durable binding material among our list of the best travelers notebooks. Our top pick overall uses genuine leather. The synthetic leather used by the Budget Travel Notebook has the same durability and waterproof quality, but it’s prone to wearing down more quickly.

Physical Planner vs Digital Planner

A physical planner lets you unplug and access it at all times. You also get the tactile satisfaction of writing by hand. But digital planners like the Digital Travel Notebook are easier to customize and navigate.

Refillability

Options like this Refillable Notebook can be used over and over again. You just swap out your used pages with a new stack of sheets. If you want to keep using the journal in the future, a refillable option is your best bet!

Budget

If you’re on a tight budget, you need to decide which features matter most to you. Make sure that your travel journal is sturdy, reliable, and has high quality paper. It also helps if there are interior organization pockets.

FAQ

Bottom Line on the Best Travelers Notebooks

The best travelers notebook is one that lets you record everything about your trip for posterity. Depending on what you want, you have different options available. Some allow for scrapbooking, some are free-handed, and some have guided prompts.
Our top pick overall is this leather journal. Not only is it beautifully bound and personalized, but you can also refill the pages. That means that you can bring the journal with you on trips to last a lifetime.