If you’re a memory keeper or a scrapbooker then you know the problem well… the one where you hoard all the papers and all the pictures for the scrapbook you’re going to make the second you get home from vacation? Yup, me too.
I love to scrapbook but I don’t always have the time. So this va-cay I’m taking a different approach and working in a Vacation Travelers notebook during my vacation. Swimming with the turtles? Put it in the book. Hanging out with Capt. Jack at Pirates Treasure? Put it in the book. Map of the cruise ship? Put it in the book.
I’m putting all my papers and tickets in the book and then when I get home we’ll work on an actual scrapbook with pictures! Yay!
So if you’re new to this whole vacation travelers notebook (like I am) I’ve put together a list of the 12 things to include in a vacation travelers notebook. Enjoy!
Schedule
If you are going on a scheduled Vacation (like a cruise!) there is already an outline for our schedule… where are you going each day! I like to add in the big picture first and then add in the little details as they come along. If you’re winging your va-cay then don’t sweat it… just title the days of your week and fill it in as you go.
Packing Checklist
This one is super important… especially if you have things like medicine or daily contacts that would difficult (if not impossible) to replace away from home. Write down allll the important cargo and then start on the things you could live without if need be… like that 6th pair of shoes.
*wink wink*
I like to start my packing checklist at least a week in advance so that I can add things to my list as I remember them!
Fun Quotes
Maybe it’s just me but I love love love adding fun quotes to my travelers notebooks. I’m still working on my brush lettering and doodles but I’m pretty darn excited about how this is all turning out. Here’s a hint… if you are just learning (like me!) try searching “how to draw a ship” on pinterest or “ocean quotes” then once you find one you like try copying it down as best as you can on practice paper. The more you practice the better you’ll be and then you can add your own touches.
One day I’ll know enough brush lettering to write all on my own but until then I still need to search “calligraphy T’s” when I write the word Travel.
Day by Day Journal Entries
I have kept a diary since I was a little girl and I absolutely adore writing daily entries about my life. It’s relaxing and it’s a wonderful way to look back on memories and see things you would normally forget. I have been adding simple journal entries to my Vacation TN all along…. I love how it’s turning out.
To mix things up try writing some entries in black ink, some in pink, some in blue and coordinating the colors with your headers. To be extra fancy use a bit of washi tape to add in a journaling card between two pages.
Ticket Stubs
I am a ticket hoarder. Everyone of my friends and family knows that if we go to the movies I want all the tickets afterwards. On vacation I like to save tickets from flights, movies, shows, raffles… anything that has fun information that you want to remember.
This trip Mom even went back to the flight desk and told them we “lost our boarding passes” so that we could get an extra set. Now with two sets of boarding passes I can put one in my Travelers Notebook and one in my Scrapbook when I get home!
I cannot wait to put together a large scrapbook when I get home… Carnival is selling two really cute ones here on the ship so I’m trying to restrain myself!
Maps
Alright y’all I know that with Siri on our phones we rarely pull out the good old fashioned paper maps anymore but here’s the thing A) they’re typically free B) you can show exactly where you walked, ate, slept the whole nine yards… just mark it on the map! I like including one for every place we go.
Think of maps for different cities, the cruise ship you’re on, the airport… anything that has a map! Then don’t be afraid to write on it… in 10 years you won’t remember what cabin you stayed in or what road you drove down.
Photos
I am absolutely saving my pennies for a sprocket portable photo printer… then I could add pictures right on the ship! Of course, you can always wait until you get back from vacation to add in pictures but I love working on my Travelers Notebook throughout the entire vacation so the ability to add in pictures is a huge plus.
Of course, if you’re like me and don’t have a sprocket yet you can always draw little illustrations to add to the story. I typically google things like “how to draw a trolly car” or a gondola or a cruise ship… and then draw it to the best of my ability! Look for images that have simple lines that you can follow… easy peezy lemon squeezy.
Conversations you Overhear
Now this is a fun one… sometimes you hear the funniest conversations when you’re on a trip with large amounts of people. Write them down so that years from now you can look back and laugh.
What the Weather is Like
Weather so often impacts our trips… why not keep track of it? Write down the days and the temperatures so that you can remember how it all fits together down the road. Plus this particular weather tracker is a great example of how to fix mess up’s… I drew a few reallllllly bad suns on this page and then needed to cover them up!
Without whiteout (I’m on vacation!) I went with the next best fix… stickers. There is always a way to fix a mistake, you just have to think outside the box.
What You’re Reading
I don’t know about y’all but I like to read every night before bed. The first thing we did on the ship was eat lunch but after that we went to the ships library to borrow a couple books. I started by reading Lauren Graham’s “Talking as Fast as I can” I love her from Gilmore Girls so it was interesting to read about her life. I started to read the book in the harbor of St. Thomas and in the first chapter of the book she talks about growing up on a houseboat in the harbor of St. Thomas… where I was reading the book!
I definitely had to add that little story in.
Of course, if you don’t have a specific journal entry for your readings a simple list of what titles you’re reading or the plot of your favorite book from your trip would be perfect.
What You’re Eating
It’s vacation time! Which means you’re probably splurging just a little bit on food (or a lot… either way!). Keep a record of your favorite means, the restaurants you ate at, who you sat with… the whole nine yards. Since we’re on a cruise we have had amazing food every day… I had steak the first two nights and tonight? Three lobster tails. Yum!
What You’re Wearing
Going on vacation means you’ve packed your suitcase down to an art… each piece of clothing was handpicked for this trip instead of handpicked off the bathroom floor. So write down your outfit combos! Draw a picture! Print off a Polaroid. So cute!
I actually brought most of my clothes from the Thred Up un-boxing I did last week… $250 worth of clothes and a brand new laptop Coach bag means I’m living it up!
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Traveler’s notebook are the best memory collectors during vacations. Once after the vacation when we hit our normal schedule back, this notebook serves me as best supplement to survive for months 😀