Posted on 10/25/22 | October 25, 2022
When I started traveling the world, I kept a journal. I wrote down everything that happened to me, who I met, what I felt and how much I spent.
When I started writing my memoirs a few years ago, this journal was indispensable. There, between its pages, were 18 months of long-forgotten memories, feelings, and activities. It was a trip down memory lane that made me relive my original journey in a way I never thought possible. After reading this diary, I realized how much I had forgotten.
I hear all the time from people who would like to keep some kind of record of their travels. Memories fade and become distorted over time. Having a written record allows you to remember the reality of the moment.
That's why we created My Travel Diary.
This new magazine has been in production since March, and after several months of finalizing the design and studying the quality of the paper and the entire printing process, we sent our "manuscript" to the printer in June.
"Okay, great," they said, "you'll come in October."
"Can I get the practice before it's printed?" I asked.
They said no.
With all the printer supply issues and the fact that many of them are now moving production from China to the United States, they just haven't been able to "one-shot" it. All I could find was a simple paper design instead of the material we used for the final copy.
When two very good friends of mine used this company and said they never had any quality issues, I said. “Okay, print it out. I'm going to Europe and we really want to launch this product for the holidays.”
Last week I finally got my hands on the finished magazine.
The paper quality is excellent, the composition is flawless, the printing is flawless. All are perfect except one.
Our idea was to create a Moleskine-style journal with travel tips. There was to be a page for each day of the year. That's 365 pages plus quotes.
This is what I have. I thought with 180+ sheets (365 days front and back) it would be thinner than Moleskins which are 240 pages.
Except that Moleskins have 240 pages and are only 120 sheets thick. Why I calculated correctly for my journal but not for the Moleskine is beyond me. So our magazine is about 200 pages long. That means it looks like this:
Wow, this is... great, I thought to myself. So we got what we wanted. This is a magazine with recommendations for every day of the year. It still looks great and has the high quality we wanted. Just thicker than expected.
That's why we consider it our "big" special edition, perfect for long-distance travelers, people studying or living abroad, or anyone who just wants to keep a journal in one place all year round.
Everything you need is here.
- You can use the tips for travel or everyday life.
- You can get inspired by quotes.
- You can use this as a reminder that sometimes things don't go as planned, but all you can do is make the best of the situation.
As you can see below, we've made the diary as simple and organized as possible so you can remember all those great moments. This will help you get used to keeping a journal. This is what the inside of a log looks like.
Our thinnest magazine (aka "regular") comes out in the spring. But until then, we have a great product that will still make a great journal or gift for travelers and expats.
We're selling this "big" magazine of ours at cost ($15 plus shipping) until November 4th to help reduce inventory (7,000 copies takes up a lot of space).
You can get it through our website here. Use code JUMBO.
One of my fondest memories of my first trips is my travel journal. By writing down my thoughts and feelings during the trip, I was able to relive those trips again and again in the years to come. I cannot recommend journaling while traveling at high enough altitude.
So download this limited edition. This is especially useful for those who live abroad or travel for long periods of time, as well as those who like to illustrate their journals with postcards, train tickets, etc. If you have any questions, email me at matt@nomadicmatt.com.
Book a ride. logistics tips and advice
book a flight
Find cheap flights with Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines worldwide, so you always know that no stone has been left unturned.
book accommodation
You can book a hostel on Hostelworld. If you want to stay outside of a hostel, then use Booking.com, because they always offer the lowest prices for guesthouses and hotels.
Don't forget travel insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It's comprehensive protection in case something goes wrong. I never travel without it because I have had to use it many times before. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for everyone)
- Insure my trip (for over 70s)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation)
Ready to book your trip?
Check out my resources page for the best companies to use while traveling. I list all the ones I use while traveling. They are best in class and you can't go wrong with them on the road.
The post Memorize Your Travels With This Travel Journal appeared first on Travel Website Nomadic Matt.