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By: Mary Discenza, Director, The Writing Party

A Pre-travel Journal

It may seem counter-intuitive, but now may be the best time to plan that trip of a lifetime, your bucket-list journey that’s been relegated to the back of your mind for lo these many years or just sidetracked by the global pandemic. Writing a Pre-Travel Journal is a great way to get started.

“What?” you ask. “Make travel plans now, in the midst of COVID Cabin Fever, with stay-at-home orders, flights curtailed, borders closed, shops and venues shuttered, six-foot bubbles required, and masks de rigueur?”

“Yes,” I say. “What better time to exercise your imagination and put those thumb-twiddling times of enforced inactivity to work?”

Begin by planning your itinerary and preparing your travel journal—because you’re going to want to have one, for posterity—for the time when we all get going again and put this pandemic pandemonium behind us. It will also serve to pass the time and lift your spirits. In fact, because anticipation is often as much fun as realization (and sometimes more so) and what I’m proposing here is a pre-travel journal, unless you are reading this as you actually navigate that trip of a lifetime, you should find the following information useful for any time.

Finding a journal medium

No matter the theme of your travel ambitions (more about this later), you’ll want to decide on your preferred medium for recording your journey. The choices are numerous: a blank book, a purpose-made travel diary, a spiral notebook, a computer program, an app, or even a dedicated file on your laptop. Keep in mind, though, that if you opt for the more high-tech digital formats, these won’t accommodate any souvenir embellishments you might want to include later, such as ticket stubs, business cards, stickers, post cards, stamps, etc. That’s why I believe the more tangible system, paper pages bound somehow in a book or binder, is the most practical method for recording your wanderings.

Research your itinerary

Because you are writing your pre-travel journal, use the opening pages to plan your trip. If possible, include a map and your own custom-made itinerary, including the locales you wish to visit. Research excursions, restaurants, museums, landmarks, historical sites, amusement parks, special events, hiking or biking trails…whatever interests you most, and those special attractions specific to your travel destinations.

Defining your theme

Now let’s deal with what is probably the most significant section of your travel journal: the aforementioned theme. This will set your journal apart from the more mundane jottings of the what, when, and where of the places you visit.

A section titled “Preface” or “Introduction” entered in your journal before you embark on your trip will enable you to record why you are going and what you hope to gain. Now is a good time to ask yourself, what do I want to do and try, what do I think the experience will be like, what am I hoping to accomplish?

Make ahead-of-time lists in your journal, designed to be filled in during or after the trip. A list of the best and worst of any of your travel experiences, i.e. best/worst restaurant, weather, excursion, people-encounter, moment, etc. will cement those memories forever. Pre-planning in your book or program will enable you to jot these down easily, either as you travel, or after the trip is completed.

Setting yourself up for success

Challenge yourself now with ideas and insights which will assure your future travel includes a thorough record of your memories and perceptions. A blank page or two headlined and dedicated to a summary of your goals and how well you met them, along with how the trip changed you, will make your journal unique and provide both personal insight and more wide-ranging appeal. Set up this section to compare what you expected to what happened. Were there any surprises? If you were to go again, what would you do differently? Most importantly, what did you learn about yourself as you explored those far-away (or even close to home) places that you are dreaming about?

Finally, as a nod to the possibility that your journal will benefit relatives or friends who are eager to travel themselves, assign some pages to draw on your experience and make some recommendations—either very specific ones: what to pack, how to tip, general cultural etiquette; or more reflective ones: keeping a positive attitude, overcoming difficult situations, maintaining an open mind. These entries will inform others who access your travel diary as much about you as about the trip you took. Think of it as your travel legacy.

Time for some travel flights of fancy

As you navigate the parameters of our COVID-restricted existence, allow yourself some travel flights of fancy. Exercise your imagination as you make those solitary circuits walking around your neighborhood. Picture yourself on the jaunts and journeys you’ve always dreamed about. A trip to a tropical island? A tour of Europe, Asia, Australia, the Americas? Snorkeling in the Caribbean? An African safari? An ocean or river cruise? Trekking in Nepal? Camping in the woods? Make your plans now and you’ll find yourself one day ready to roam about, travel journal in hand, to explore what will surely be, in our post-pandemic world, the new normal.

Enjoy your trip tomorrow and relish the planning today!

For more writing ideas, order The Writing Party Inspirations or contact us to schedule a Writing Party event in your area, for your private group, or as a corporate team building event.

To see other writing inspiration ideas like Writing a Pre-travel Journal, check out The Writing Party Articles Page.

For more fun and games during these days of limited travel, try the If, Then Game and explore other family activities in Waiting Games and Amusements for Families.

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