Creating a Travel Notebook

Posted on 18. Oct, 2009 by Steph in Trip Planning

Creative Commons License photo credit: Vanbest

There are people who love to plan, and people who don’t. While I admire the fly by the seat of their pants set, I definitely fall into
the planner category. For me the initial stages of planning a trip: deciding where I will go, learning about the history and culture, anticipating all the delicious possibilities is half of the fun. I’m the girl who checks Lonely Planet guides out of the library for fun (yes, I seriously do this- don’t judge).

I realize not everyone is as obsessive as me, but if you a planning anything more than a weekend trip you are probably going to find yourself doing at least some research. There is an almost infinite amount of information out there and you’re going to want a way to organize your thoughts. This is where the travel notebook comes in. It’s a simple resource where everything is written in one place that you can easily flip back to for reference.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy either. Mine is a plain, college ruled, spiral bound affair similar to the ones you probably used to take notes in class. Some people might prefer something elaborate with sections or even a word document (although this is hard to use if you are taking notes out of a book). What’s important is keeping all your notes in one central database where you can refer back to them.

Creative Commons License photo credit: theilr

The notebook helps you to focus on what’s important for you to see and do, so that you can start to carve out a possible itinerary for yourself. You can write down URL’s, bus schedules and other minute details which would probably fall right out of your brain. You can make notes of things you need to follow up on later (a hotel near the center of town, a tour company in Egypt) and record all of your reservations.

It’s such a simple thing, but having one central database which you can easily refer to makes trip planning so much easier. And it will save you a lot of energy you might have otherwise spent chasing down that cocktail napkin on which you wrote the name of that really cool hostel.

My next big trip is still far away, so right now I’m in the brainstorming stages. Since I want to go most everywhere, I’m working on figuring out what’s realistic and what’s non-negotiable. From time to time I’d like to share some excerpts from my travel notebook with you, so keep an eye out for that in the future.

What about you, are you a planner or a (fly by the seat of your) pantser?

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Tags: inspiration, planning

21 Responses to “Creating a Travel Notebook”

Andrew
18. Oct, 2009
I am a little bit of both. Sometimes I like to plan a trip on a Thursday and run off Friday afternoon or Saturday morning with no plans. But if the trip entails flying overseas or is longer than 3-days then I definitely like to plan some of it out.
I used to be a real planner, but over time I have decided to not be so strict with my schedule and just enjoy the city I am visiting. People at times get too wrapped up in visiting a “must see” and not just taking in the moment.
I am definitely like you with the wanting to go everywhere. Damn lack of cahs always gets in my way. =)
Andrew
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- Steph
  18. Oct, 2009
  I think there’s an important balance to find between planning enough to feel comfortable and being flexible enough to adjust your plans on the go for maximum enjoyability. I’m still working on finding that balance.
  As for the wanting to go everywhere I just keep telling myself I have to be patient… all in time…
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Candice
18. Oct, 2009
One of my profs once told me to never spend more than $5 on a notebook, otherwise you’ll be too concerned about keeping it pretty to actually write something worthwhile in it.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..$126??!!!!!!!!!! =-.
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- Steph
  18. Oct, 2009
  That makes so much sense to me! It’s so much easier for me to write in a plain old spiral bound from Staples… less pressure.
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Gray
18. Oct, 2009
I’m an uber-planner as well. For me, probably 50% of the fun of travel is planning for it. I like to create Word and Excel documents of notes and information to carry on my travels with me, so I don’t have to carry a whole guidebook. I slip the pages into a plastic (see through) sleeve binder so they don’t get wet. I find that the more I have booked or planned ahead of time (lodging, transportation, activities, meals), the better I am able to relax and enjoy things once I arrive.
.-= Gray´s last blog ..Touring My Own Backyard: Shelburne Farms =-.
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neha
19. Oct, 2009
I like researching sights and spots (read food places). I take copious notes about what to eat, where to eat, where to find … but I’m lousy at finding hotels and tickets. That I leave to the others!
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Shannon OD
19. Oct, 2009
I admit, I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pantser!! But I do like to make a list of ideas and generate rough plans of activities I would like to do and a rough route for my travels…not that I stick to it!
.-= Shannon OD´s last blog ..A Little Music…Fringe’s Singing and Dancing =-.
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Steph
20. Oct, 2009
Wow, it seems like there is a wide range of planning styles here, from most every detail to very little at all.
I tend to plan all of the basics ahead of time but to be open to change when I arrive (sometimes I have to remind myself of this). You never know what oppurtunities might come your way!
Has anyone’s travel style evolved over time?
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craig zabransky
27. Oct, 2009
I like to consider it my travel journal (notebook is too academic)..I load it with some preplan research although very little as I mostly use mine for when traveling….writing email addresses, directions to hostels, mobile numbers, and of course to journal in…my thoughts, feelings, ambitions.
And I disagree some…I say spend on it…these are usually books that rest on your library shelf for years; books you read again.
stay adventurous,
Craig
.-= craig zabransky´s last blog ..StayAdventurous: @argentinatours si es posible. text, email, fb, o twitter? – todo es posible. pero es mejor cuando usuar el telefono. =-.
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- Steph
  27. Oct, 2009
  Good points Craig, a journal can be really practical while you are on the road as well.
  I’ve tried to keep a journal on the road on several trips with varying levels of success… I tend to get impatient with writing out my experiences (a poor trait in a travel blogger!).
  Reply to this comment
Kelsey
06. Feb, 2010
I am generally a totally unplanned person. When I travel abroad, I only make one reservation – for my first two nights in a location. If I know when I’m leaving, I will also often make a reservation for my final night in a location, but I don’t often know quite when I’m leaving.
It has only bitten me in the ass a few times, mostly in Korea. I found that I would go to a location, knowing very little about it, and since Korea is disorganized and it can be difficult to know what is interesting about a place, much less how to get there, I found that I spent a lot of time wandering around aimlessly in various locations.
.-= Kelsey´s last blog ..One Blog, Two Blogs: To Split or Not To Split? =-.
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- Steph
  07. Feb, 2010
  I’ve been trying to be less manic in my planning of this upcoming big trip. Lots of information, less reservations has been my motto.
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aisha
11. Mar, 2010
I’m definitely a planner.
I too check travel guides out of the library for fun. Several at a time. Glad to know I’m not the only one. but I’m trying not to be too crazy about it, like if something goes as “not planned”I want to be okay with it.
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Ali Treliving
06. May, 2010
When traveling don’t just keep a notebook with you but remember to have a pen handy as well!
I always carry a small spiral notebook in my back pocket with a pen on a piece of string tied to it.
That way along with any tips, booking references or phone numbers I’ve written down when planning I’m always able to jot down any extra info I come across on the road
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- Steph
  06. May, 2010
  That is a really good point- a notebook is useless without a pen!
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Ian [EagerExistence]
04. Aug, 2010
I have to admit, I’m not a planner. You could say I ‘fly by the seat of my pants’. My trip to Europe is in 1 month, and I only have very vague details of what I have planned:
* 2 year working visa (approved)
* oktoberfest
* hogmanay festival
The rest is up in the air.
It’s kind of bad. Since I don’t even know which city I should land in :-s I can’t decide where to go before I hit up Oktoberfest…
Want to share research? I’ll just read over your guys blogs until I find something that sparks my interest.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve tried the planning thing. I splurged $300 on travel books, but can’t sit still long enough to read through one. It’s the nitty-gritty details of booking accomodation/flights, finding seasons to visit, whats on/when, etc. that I can’t focus on. I’d much rather a conversation to find out the information I need.
I walked past a bookstore the other day and saw some beautiful mokeskin travel notebooks. I wanted one, but knew that I wouldn’t use it very much for planning… so kept on walking.
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- Steph
  04. Aug, 2010
  Hey Ian, have you tried getting your information online, somewhere like wikitravel? Might be easier for short attention spans. I’ve not been to Oktoberfest so I can’t be much help there, but I think Europe is a pretty good place to fly by the seat of your pants.
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Vanessa
06. Oct, 2011
I like to do a bit of both – I plan and have details of major sights/events and all that on me, but I go with what I feel like doing when I get there. If I’m not in a museum/zoo/whatever modd while I’m there, then I leave it off.
The plus to that method is you can go “Oh no, I missed it last time. Now I have to return!”
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Astrid
06. Oct, 2011
I am definitely a planner. But on my plans I have a slot for “come-what-may” moments just to make the trip not that strict. My notebook travel companion is my red moleskine
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Rachel
06. Apr, 2012
Hi Stephanie! I’m a planner, in terms of how I’m going to get places, and I have a general idea of the “must-do” activities while i’m there (i.e. the Eiffel Tower)… but I usually like to wait until I arrive to plan specific days out. I find that’s how I end up in the most interesting situations, after learning where to go from the locals.
In terms of a notebook, I prefer to keep one during my travels – writing down experiences, keeping all of the ticket stubs, museum passes, restaurant cards, etc. together to jog my memory later on.
I wonder how your planning experience has evolved in the two years since you wrote this…?
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- Steph
  06. Apr, 2012
  I’ve definitely become much more relaxed over time. I’m headed to Rosario and Cordoba next week and I haven’t read a single thing yet! Guess I should get on that….
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Creating a Travel Notebook

21 Responses to “Creating a Travel Notebook”

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