ALT-1 Best Travel Journals to Give as Gifts
I've been given a number of travel journals - it seems the obvious bon-voyage gift, particularly for someone who loves writing. I have to confess though that many of them never made it onto the plane with me. There were various reasons - one was too big to fit in my tightly packed pack, one was too heavy, one had hardly any writing space and was filled with pages of "information and international conversions" that I just didn't need. To match the perfect journal to your friend, you will need to consider the type of traveling they are doing and the type of person they are. Here are some points to help you along the way.
Weight and size.Every back-packer's first consideration - do I have the space and the weight limit to carry this around? Sadly hard covers add weight but they also add a protective element. Look for compromises such as plastic covers or light-weight card covers.
When it comes to size, you probably want it to fit into a pocket on the outside of the pack for easy access so don't go too big. The compromise on this is that you want it sufficiently large in page size that post cards, entry stubs etc can be taped inside.
Durability.A travel journal definitely needs to be durable. Check how the book behaves when you handle it. Books that come open too easily will end up with torn and bent pages throughout. A journal with a tie or clasp to keep it closed can help to protect the pages inside. To increase the durability of the cover consider adding your own plastic cover, particularly over the corners.
Convenience.A travel journal is not perched on a desk - it is propped on one's lap, leaned against train windows or balanced on one's pack. To accommodate this, you need a journal that easily opens and lays flat. A tightly bound book that springs shut at every chance is just not convenient. Spiral bound books can be good for this - the two covers can be flipped to face each other, minimizing the room that is required to have the book open. I also think it is more convenient to not have a day-per-page set-up. The reality of traveling is that one day will be an adventure worthy of a thousand pages while the next will be a long train trip through fields of wheat.
Features.I believe it is best to keep it simple. For someone who loves writing, ensure the pages are lined. For an artist, ensure some blank pages for sketching sights. While official travel journals usually have pages of "reference materials" such as metric conversions, embassy addresses, international dialing codes etc, this information is readily available on the internet and doesn't need to be carried. You can always personalize a plain notebook by writing a few key notes inside the cover. This will show that you've thought about where the person is going and their well-being.
One feature that may be useful is a plastic pocket for ticket stubs, beer coasters and other incidental souvenirs. I personally prefer to use my journal like a scrapbook and stick these in along the way but for someone who wants to bring them home where they can be more artistic in their scrap-booking, a plastic pocket is ideal.
Style.Backpacking definitely brings out the bohemian in people. Try to match your friend's personality as closely as possible but also allow for the fact that this is not their everyday, work-life personality - this is the personality of their free spirit. The more unique the better. There are some really interesting journals being made these days, choose something inspiring. Lonely Planet have a great range out with beautiful photos on the cover accompanied by a thoughtful quote. Rebound Books turn useless second hand books from last century into one-off journals. Or buy a plain journal and personalize its cover yourself - maybe with photos and mementos from the traveler's own town to remind them of home.
Finally, be sure to add some personal content to the journal. If it is from a group of people get them all to write their email addresses in the back page as a minimum. If it is from you individually, write a small message that will keep them inspired when the trials and tribulations of traveling get tedious. Flick through and write small but thoughtful messages on random pages for them to find as they travel - that way you are always with them.
Put a little consideration into the journal you buy and it is guaranteed to end up being a treasured keepsake for long after the original trip.
