Best Bullet Journals for Travelers

Looking for something special in which you jot down memories of your travel adventures? Then our list of the best bullet journals for travelers should really going to help you out.

Thanks to Instagram and Youtube, bullet journal popularity has skyrocketed. With beautiful layouts, gorgeous covers, and layouts that you can mix and match, there’s no wonder they are becoming one of the most popular ways to journal, plan, or capture artwork.  

In our world of smartphones and social media, anything remotely physical – like writing down stuff on a page – feels super old-fashioned. But if you’re here, you know by now that I love stationery and I’m assuming you do too. I mean, just because you could type it or tap out your thoughts on a touch screen, it’s still good to connect with physical objects.

There are studies that show people remember things more when they physically write them down as opposed to entering them in a digital medium.

But, today we’re talking about travel. Having memories of your year-long backpacking journey around the world actually physically written in a book would be amazing to read back in years to come; likewise, having somewhere to note down ideas whilst you’re on the go and use for inspiration later feels more organized than some notes on your phone.

I don’t know about you, but even though I have my phone on me for most of the day, the things I write down in it are somehow lost more so than what I write on paper. I finish the writing project I jotted a few lines from, or finished the task I need to remember when I have it physically in my hand. 

So for travel planning, bullet journals are great too because you can write out your schedule and your trip plan and actually remember what you’re doing or what you’ve already planned instead of everything being unorganized in your emails or wherever you digitally keep track of your itinerary.

So, whatever you are looking for – be it a smart journal that you can use for short city breaks, something cute to encourage your children to write about their travels, or a classic travel journal that’ll last you practically forever – our handy list has you covered.

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So What are Bullet Journals?

If you’re into stationery or looking for a new planning system, you’ve probably come across the term bullet journal or bujo (bullet journal for short). But what is a bullet journal?  It is an analog system created by Ryder Carrol, a designer based in New York. As he says, a bullet journal is meant “to help you track the past, organize the present, and plan for the future.” It’s a unique system that can be used in any way you see fit to keep track of anything and everything.  It can be a task manager, sketchbook, journal, idea catcher, planner, and more. The sky really is the limit with this system.  

You can read more about the creation in the bullet journal book by clicking here. 

More simply put, it is a system of writing, planning, or drawing in a dotted grid notebook. The dotted grid helps keep the page open and unrestricted while also helping you segment the page and keep lines straight.

But, what about those of you who know what a bullet journal is but have never heard of a specific bullet journal for travel.

Types of Notebooks for Bullet Journaling

A bullet journal can come in many forms, from the official bullet journal book to bullet journaling notebooks you can create yourself, spiral bullet journal, and apps for bullet journals. I have options for each type below. There are also plenty of sizes to choose from: standard sizes like A5 bullet journal or A6 bullet journal, or thin Traveler’s Notebook sizes.  There is an endless possibility of options, so I’ll narrow down how to find the one that’s best for you. 

How to find the best Travel Bullet Journal for you

There’s a lot to look at when deciding what bullet journal best works for you. Like I said above, there’s no limit to the types of notebooks used to keep track, write, or create in the way that works best for you.  So I’ll quickly break down the different specifications in various bullet journal notebooks.

For a more in-depth look at bullet journals, see our post on the best bullet journal notebooks.

1. Size

Choosing your bullet journal size is possibly one of the most important things when selecting the best notebooks for bullet journal.  For travel you’ll most likely want a smaller size that fits more easily into your bag or at least won’t weigh you down too much on the road.

By far, the most popular bullet journal size is a medium, also known as an A5 notebook (5.75” x 5.25”). It’s a great size for most people because it provides ample space for writing or drawing but will also fit easily into a backpack or handbag.

There is also the A6 size that is half the size of the A5, so super easy to carry but much less space on the page.  

You can even go up to an 8×10 size which is about the size of a standard sheet of paper in the U.S.  Personally, I would think this is too big for even every day but especially for travel.

There is also an A5 slim size like the Traveler’s Notebook.  These are perfect for slipping into a purse or backpack.

2. Binding

Many people, including myself, have very strong opinions on how their journals are bound. The binding is obviously what holds the notebook together.  It seems like a small detail, but it can make a huge difference in how you use your journal or how easy it is to use and carry. There are stitched bindings, discbound, and coiled notebooks. For travel, I would choose stitched binding because coils or discs could get caught on things in your bag and possibly damage things or itself while you’re on the go.

Again, to really get into what each of these is, look at my bullet journal notebook guide.

2. Cover

When looking at bullet journal covers, there are two main options, hard and soft covers.  There are benefits to both, but the best for you will depend on your intended use.  There are soft cover and hard cover options. I usually pick hard covers, especially for travel, because you can write anywhere, even without a hard surface, while the soft cover option might make that more difficult. However, soft covers are usually lighter, thinner, and may more easily be slipped into your bag so it’s your personal preference.

Now that more bullet journals are coming out, you have a wide variety of colors and designs to choose from on top of just the feel of the cover.  You can choose a more subdued look like a black Moleskin or a colorful and fun option like the Scribbles That Matter.

4. Paper 

The paper quality can vary significantly between bullet journal brands and price ranges.  The paper type is measured by gsm (grams/square meter), and the style you choose will depend on what you decide to do in your bullet journal. The lower density the paper, the more your markers, and pens will be seen through or even bleed.  But the higher density, the thicker it will be, so the larger and heavier the notebook will be. 

It’s really a personal preference as I prefer a thinner paper, but many like the weight of thick paper to protect against shadowing or bleed through. Most bullet journal notebooks are between 70gsm and 160gsm.  For travel, I would definitely go on the lighter side to keep the weight down and maximize the number of pages you have to fill up with great travel memories.

5. Page Design

As the name suggests, bullet journals are typically made with dot grid paper. But you can also use paper that has a standard grid paper or even blank pages. I wouldn’t recommend blank pages unless you’re a really great artist who doesn’t need the assistance or if you don’t like the look of the dots.  I think the dots help to keep your lines a little straighter (especially if you use a ruler) and help you evenly divide or mark off the paper for your pages, like in a monthly calendar layout.   

6. Additional Features

Some journals come with additional features on top of the grid or dot pages that file the majority of the notebook. These aren’t a make or break for your bullet journal success but they might make things easier at the beginning or they are just handy tools even if you are a bullet journal veteran.

• Page Markers
• Pockets
• Elastic Closures
• Page Numbers
• Additional/Speacial Pages

What is a Travel Journal?

A travel journal has the same purpose as that of a daily planning bullet journal, but specifically for planning. 

It is essentially a journal where you can plan your trips, create an itinerary, write journal entries regarding your experience, add photographs and small mementos from your trip to look back at later, and reminisce the good times.

Some travelers prefer using journals only for far-away places like when visiting a new state, city, or country. Others, want to record memories from even the short-day trip or road trip they take on a Saturday.

No matter what the duration or location of your trip, it is worth writing about in your travel journal, so you can look back at those entries and feel positive and good about the amazing time you spent exploring the world.

Why Should You Use a Travel Journal?

Most people think of vacation or traveling as their time off and not an opportunity to discover something new about themselves, the world, or the people around them. 

They are only trying to take their mind off mundane things to relax for a moment, which is perhaps the sole purpose of traveling, but just imagine if you could take a different approach to travel.

Traveling should be considered a process of self-growth and evolution. Don’t just take traveling as spending hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars, to go to a fancy spot, chill for some time and then come back to the same old stressful routine.

Traveling should be your chance to outgrow your current condition and learn more about yourself. Consider it as an opportunity to reflect on yourself, your past, and your habits, and think about your future, while you absorb yourself in new surroundings.

To make these experiences more impactful, a travel journal can be used to plan your trip, write down your thoughts and anticipation before the trip, keep a track of memorable incidences during the trip, and record moments of reflection during, and when you are back.

Planning

Most people plan before travelling, but very few have adopted some sort of a system to make planning a trip less stressful, and useful, in case you intend to visit the same place again. This is where a travel journal comes in.

Travel journals can be your own help guide, you can write about where you will be staying, what places you will be visiting, budget for the trip etc.

Once your travel destination is final, start enlisting all the possible spots you can visit, where you will be staying, the finances, what to pack, and any thoughts or reflections you have before traveling.

Planning can seem a daunting task for a lot of people. Travel journals will help you feel less scared and more prepared for your trip.

Instead of relying on last-minute decision-making, you can avoid that stress by planning your trip ahead of time, using a travel journal. 

Thoughts

Before traveling, you might have some expectations about the place, the food, the people there, and your whole experience.

Don’t just keep those thoughts trapped in some corner of your brain.

Write them down in your travel journal, so that after the trip when you are done reflecting on it, you can take a look at what you anticipated from the trip. 

You will be astonished to see the difference in your expectations from the trip and your actual experience, and how mindful and evolving it was.

To get you started, you can answer questions like these:

• What do you think your experience will be like?
• Do you think people there would be different from you, and where you live?
• What do you think about this place’s culture?
• What do you expect to gain out of this trip?
• What do you plan on doing different for this trip, compared with others?

With this fun activity, you can make your traveling experience more anticipated and enjoyable. Rather than considering the time before traveling as a stressful experience, you can make it a period of self-reflection.

Memories

After every trip, you bring back home abundant memories and learning experiences. But, within a year or two, you would forget half of those and some of you might wish to have recorded those memories somewhere, and how you felt in those moments.

To save you from future regret, when you begin traveling, take note of all the pleasant moments that you encounter.

Write them down.

Write down your good and bad memories. What made you feel good about yourself and the trip, and which experience taught you something meaningful.

You would enjoy revisiting those memories later on.

Even better if you add paper mementos like business cards from people you met, ticket stamps from places you visited, dried flowers, and a bunch of other things that could serve as a sweet memory in your travel journal.

Top tip: If you want to print photos as you go to add to your travel journal, look at getting an HP sprocket which is a mini portable printer you can connect to your phone!

What to Include in Your Travel Bullet Journal?

Now that we have discussed why you should keep a travel journal, let’s move on to what you can and specifically should include in your travel journal. 

Some of these things are pretty useful for planning and will save you from the hassle of traveling, others will help in bringing out the creative side of you and make the overall traveling experience more enthralling. See our post on everything you could include in your travel bullet journal to get more ideas and inspiration.

For more inspiration, plus photos and guides for each, check out our post on what to include in your travel bullet journal.

• BUDGET TRACKER
• THINGS TO DO
• ITINERARY
• SAVINGS TRACKER
• PACKING LIST
• VACATION COUNTDOWN
• JOURNAL
• TRAVEL WISHLIST

10 Best Bullet Journals for Travel

Finally, we’re going to get into our top 10 list to see which is the best bullet journal 2022 

1. Moleskine Classic Notebook  
2. Leuchtturm1917  
3. Lemome Notebooks 
4. Keegood Notebook
5. Dingbats Notebook 
6. Archer and Olive 
7. Rhodia Notebook 
8. Miliko Notebook 
9. Scrivwell Notebook 
10. Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook 

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Moleskin Classic Notebook

Moleskin is a really well-known brand and can be found all over the world. It’s a favorite of writers and artists, not to mention bullet journalers. 

Moleskine was created in 1997, bringing back to life the legendary notebook used by legendary thinkers and artists like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Bruce Chatwin.

Features

Moleskin wasn’t created to be a notebook for bullet journal, so there aren’t any add-ons like index pages or page numbers. However, Moleskin is a quality notebook made to last for as long as you can use it.  

It does have a pocket in the back, lay flat design, bookmark, and elastic closure.

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Leuchtturm1917

Leuchtturm1917 is one of the first brands to make journals specifically for bullet journaling.  

Founded in 1917 (hence the name), this German brand is still family-run and focuses on quality craftsmanship.  They recently teamed up with the creator of the bullet journal method, Ryder Carroll, to create the “official” Bullet Journal Leuchtturm.  So not only is Leuchtturm a great notebook brand, but it was the first bullet journal, so you know the founder liked what was going on in this notebook.

Features

Taking a look at the inside of this planner, it has a table of contents in the front, lay flat design for easy writing, two bookmarks, a pocket in the back, and an elastic band to keep your pages secure. 

Bullet Journal Notebook, Black, 346703

It also has three index pages in the front to locate information on the 249 numbered pages.

The notebook also comes with stickers for archiving after you have finished using it.

Leuchtturm also makes an official Bullet Journal Leuchtturm version which includes the index pages, key, and how to use it as designed by Ryder Carroll.

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Lemome Notebooks

The Lemome dotted hardcover notebook is a favorite for beginners and bujo veterans alike.  With the understated classic look, the thick 160gsm bullet journal paper, the versatility of the inside pages, and the low price tag, you can see why the Lemome Notebook is our choice for the best budget bullet journal. 

Features

Lemome notebooks feature a built-in pen loop, a lay flat design, tight elastic band, and firm binding.

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Keegood Notebook

If functionality and style combined, it would be the birth of this traveling bullet journal. With more than 190 pages premium quality pages, two ribbon bookmarks, a pocket at the end, a sewn elastic pen holder, and a band for closure, this bullet journal is one of the best options for travel enthusiasts. 

The binding is strong enough to withstand turbulence and damage and the compact size is perfect for carrying it around.

Features

The lay flat binding allows for easy and convenient writing. The rounded corners help to protect your pages from folding. There is also a pen holder, expansive cover pocket, high-quality elastic band to keep the book closed, and two colored ribbon bookmarks.  

Inside the notebook, there is an index page, key code page, pre-numbered pages, and a pen test page. The STM book is arguably the best notebook for bullet journaling because of all these features created specifically for bujos.

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Dingbats Notebook 

Dingbats is a Lebanese brand that produces vegan and eco-friendly notebooks.  They use recycled and other eco-friendly materials while producing their notebooks.

Their idealogy extends to their notebook design and has two lines of notebook wildlife and earth. The “wildlife” notebooks have images of animals on their covers, while the “earth” books will feature trees. Right now, the Earth books are only available in the A5 size, but we’ll get into the sizing options below.

Features

All notebooks have an elastic closure, expandable back pocket, one ribbon page marker, lie-flat design, and pen holder.

The Wildlife notebooks have no premade pages.

The Nature books have all of the above plus an extra bookmark, three index pages, two key pages, and a future log.

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Archer & Olive 

Now this a bullet journal. Archer and Olive is by far the most aesthetic bullet journal out there.  If you’ve ever searched “aesthetic bullet journal ideas” or just “bullet journal spreads,” you’ll no doubt come across an Archer and Olive Notebook.  They are one of the best bullet journal notebooks out there, but they are expensive. However, anyone who has bought one admits that they are worth it. 

Features

Arguably the best bullet journal books out there.  But, the reason it’s ranked lower on our list is because of its expense.  Unless you’re a serious journaler, have a good amount of money to spend, or just really love the look of this bullet journal brand, you might want to look somewhere else as one book can be triple the price of our less expensive options.  However, the money may be worth it. 

Each book is bound by hand and ensured to lay flat, features a page marker with ampersand charm, a pocket in the back, and comes in an eco-friendly protective box that would make any stationery lover swoon.  Surprisingly there are no other add-ons such as index pages or page numbers. But, that doesn’t seem to decrease its popularity.

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Rhodia Notebook 

Rhodia is a stationery company with a wide range of notebooks, notepads, and, yes, bullet journal notebooks.  Many of the notepads from Rhodia work for bullet journals as most come in grid notebook, or dot grid journal options (as well as blank and lined options if that interests you). The Rhodia Classic Orange & Black Notebooks, Rhodia Webnotebooks, Rhodia Webotepad, and Rhodia DotPad Notebooks could all work in your bullet journal system. But, I would suggest the Rhodia Rhodiarama Notebooks as they are the most like a typical bullet journal notebook, and they come in multiple cover colors and styles.  And that’s what I’ll be talking about below.

Features

Rhodia truly is a blank canvas for you to create anything you want.  Because of that, it lacks some of the additions, such as an index page or page numbers that the other bullet journals have.  However, it does have very creamy paper, a lay-flat sewn binding, an orange elastic band closure, an orange ribbon page marker, and an expandable pocket inside the back cover.

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Miliko Notebook 

Miliko was founded in New York in 2015 that creates a wide variety of stationery items, including softcover notebooks, greeting cards, and washi tapes.  One of their best-selling products is the Miliko Transparent dot grid Notebook. Still, they have a wide variety of spiral bound bullet journal notebooks, and both softcover and hardcover sewn-binding books.  Beyond the wide range of options, the Miliko Notebooks are inexpensive and perfect for beginners who want to test out the bullet journal waters.

Features

No page numbers, index pages, or any additional pages can be found in the Miliko notebooks.  The hardcover and softcover sewn notebooks both come with an elastic closure, a bookmark ribbon, and an expandable inner pocket with a label sticker.

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Scrivwell Notebook 

Scrivwell is a newer stationery shop that gets a lot of its inspiration through nature and the outdoors. The founder, Melina, wanted to make a notebook strong enough for the outdoors and be environmentally responsible.  All Scrivwell products are made with faux leather covers and paper that is FEFC certified. It’s a reasonably basic bullet journal, but it is a cheap bullet journal notebook that is environmentally friendly and can be used in countless ways, from daily writing, planning your schedule, travel journaling, or of course, bullet journaling.

Features

All Scrivwell bullet journals come with two page marker ribbons, elastic closure, and a pocket folder on the back cover.  

The hardcover journal is made of vegan leather and has plenty of size options.  

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Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook 

Traveler’s Notebook might surprise some people by being on this list. But I wanted to include it because it’s a favorite notebook of many travelers and artists.  The great thing about the Traveler’s Notebook system is that you can buy one relatively expensive cover (unless you get addicted and need more colors or sizes) and buy the less expensive inserts as you need them. Then you can mix and match as you please or as you finish each insert, all while still using your favorite cover. For more info about the Traveler’s Notebook system, you can see my guide Here.

Features

The grid paper inserts from Traveler’s Notebook are pretty minimal.  They have no index pages or page markers. Still, Traveler’s Notebook has many accessories you can add to your bullet journal system like pocket stickers, pen loops, page markers, and of course, more inserts with almost unlimited paper options. You can even have a bullet journal binder with the ability to swap inserts in and out, thanks to their binder accessory.

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Bonus: Digital Bullet Journal 

Digital Planner Layouts on Etsy

If you want the whole bullet journal experience but don’t want to let go of your digital lifestyle (or weigh down your travel backpack), you can try out a digital printable that can easily be found on Etsy.  These printables can be downloaded on your iPad or iPhone and used the same way you might plan in a physical notebook.  The difference is you can delete, erase, or change things at any time, plus you can add images and customize in ways that aren’t as easy or even possible in a physical planner.  There are also bullet journal apps that are less customizable but still a good option for a free or inexpensive planner. 

The best bullet journal app has got to be Trello. With an unlimited amount of boards you can create and the freedom to let your mind organize your plans as you see fit, it’s no wonder so many people love to stay organized on Trello.  It’s highly rated amongst all of the apps for bullet journal lovers and is the best bullet journal for iPads or iPhones in particular.  

Best Bullet Journal Starter Kits

Stationery Pal Kits

Stationery Pal has some amazing stationery and supplies, including some of the best bullet journaling supplies. The great thing about Stationery Pal is their great kits that have everything you would need to get started. It’s basically bullet journal 101. 

There are many different kit options that are usually color-coordinated, but most come with over 20 options.  The Sakura Collection comes with:

Use Coupon Code MACKENZIEJERVIS for 10% off your next order.

• A bullet journal-A5 size
• Plus Norino Double-sided Adhesive Glue Tape – Red
• Rose Gold Paper Clip 120-Pack
• Stabilo Boss Highlighter Pastel – Pink Blush
• Kokuyo Karu Cut Washi Tape Cutter – Pink
• Plus Air-In Mount Fuji Eraser – Pink
• Star & Moon Washi Tape
• Pink Gingham Washi Tape
• Tombow Dual Brush Pen – 743
• Pure Color Sticky Notes – Pink
• Zebra Sarasa Clip Gel Pen – Milk Color – 0.5 mm – Milk Pink
• Pilot Juice Gel Pen 0.5 mm – Pastel Pink
• Uniball One Gel Pen 0.5mm – Pink
• Solid Color Washi Tape – Pink
• Book Cover Pen Pouch – Pink
• Muji Cap Type Gel-Ink Pen 0.5 mm – Pink
• Rectangle Square Circle Stickers (Set of 4) – Pink
• Uni Propus Window Double-Sided Highlighter – Pink – 2020 New Color
• Twilight Fantasy Washi Tape – Pink
• Pentel Fude Touch Brush Sign Pen – Pale Pink – 2020 New Colors

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Bullet Journal Course: Learn More Bullet Journal Skills

I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of bullet journaling here, and hopefully, I’ve helped you narrow down which notebook you’d like to purchase.  But, if you want more help, you may want to take a bullet journal class or read bullet journal books.  

You can find bullet journal courses on Skillshare that will help you learn the bullet journal basics. 

You can also read The Bullet Journal Method- buy on Amazon- written by the creator of the bullet journal method.  

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Alternative Planners

The concept of bullet journaling can be daunting for beginner bullet journalers, or even those who have been doing it for a while but find their life has suddenly become more hectic.  If you want to have the same benefits of freedom and creativity that a bullet journal can give you, try another journal such as the Hobonichi Techo.  

I have a complete guide to understanding the Japanese planner system.  One great thing is the large, open gridded pages that allow for the same personalization as the bullet journal. But they also have dated pages and calendar layouts already marked for you so you can make sure you’re staying on track of your to-do list even if you don’t have time to create a whole layout for that day or week.   

If you feel overwhelmed about starting after just reading this bullet journal review, a Hobonichi might be the choice for you.

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Bullet Journal FAQ

• What are the best notebooks for a travel bullet journal?

If you’ve skipped down to the bottom for this question, I would head back up and look through our list.  Any notebook on this list will be a great option, but you should look over our comparison for each journal to see which would work best for you.

• Where can I buy bullet journals?

Once you’ve found your favorite bullet journal, where to buy is probably your next question.  The good news is you can find dot grid notebooks anywhere.  The bad news is it might not be the journal you want.  The easiest place is Amazon, of course. You can find almost any bullet journal there.  The next option is the official website for the company.  After that, you can find journals and Target, Walmart, or your favorite stationery store.

• Should I buy an AliExpress Bullet Journal?

Like anything on AliExpress, the quality is not guaranteed.  You can very much easily find a cheap bullet journal on AliExpress, but it may not be the best bullet journal to buy. There are some inexpensive options on our list that are guaranteed to be good quality, so I would start there. 

Bullet journals are one of the best ways to plan, write, or create in the way that best fits you.  With unlimited covers, styles, and quality, you can choose the best bullet journal notebook that works for you. So choose one of our recommendations for the best bullet journals for travel and you won’t be disappointed.