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6 Tips for Better Documenting Your Travels

Undoubtedly, when traveling we have experiences that will last a lifetime as we explore the world and dip our toes in unfamiliar cultures and customs. However, it can also be hard to keep track of all the thing we see, hear, and experience when exploring unfamiliar places, so we may need tricks in order associate our memories with certain places at a particular time.

I’m sharing my tips and tricks to help you better document your travels so that you go home with not only memories of your incredible trip (inevitable) but also bring back with you something a little deeper from the world you’ve just experienced.

 

Carry a journal

Bring a pen and a small notebook with you everywhere you go. You don’t have to be writer to jot down your thoughts. It’s a healthy thing to practice. I love pulling out my old travel journals, rereading things I wrote, and watching my transition in my thoughts throughout the years, recalling moments I’d almost forgotten.

 

Take photos

Take photos but only of the important things. There’s no need for constant snapping, but if there’s something that sticks out to you or something that you want to remember, then take a photo. Just remember to live in the moment and see things through your own eyes and not only through the lens of a camera.

 

Buy postcards

Buy postcards and write down your thoughts on the back of them. Whether it be specifically about what’s on the postcard or a funny or happy memory you experienced, it’s an awesome thing to do and something you’ll be able to look back on years later.

 

Take more videos

There’s something special about videos. The sounds of the place, the vibrance of it, the mood. It can have more depth than a picture sometimes has, and videos can help you recall moments you experienced due to the sounds and movements.

 

Take simple souvenirs

I love taking free postcards, business cards, magazines, etc from restaurants, cafes, and museums. Or if I see a show or performance, I tend to keep the ticket. If it’s a magazine, I’ll bring it back home, pick out and remove my favorite bits and stick them in a memory box with all the other items. They’re nice memorabilia. Plus, if you’re a travel blogger, it helps to keep the business cards when it comes time to write an article and you need to remember the address and name of the place you visited. Other simple souvenirs might be jewelry, pins, local emblems, and more.

 

Start a collection

Some people collect snow globes or magnets, others collect stamps or maps. I personally collect postcards. I spend a fair amount of time picking out the perfect postcards that symbolize my trip, or simply postcards that I find visually appealing. It’s up to you what you decide to collect, but it’s a nice thing to do if you’re not traveling long-term as all the extra goodies might weigh you down.

I look forward to the day I have a home (HAHA forever nomadic) that I can decorate with all my postcards from around the world.

Other ideas of things to collect: patches, small trinkets unique to the place you’re visiting, drink coasters, lapel pins, coins, etc. Find what stands out to you!

 


What do you do to document your travels? Share in the comments below! <3

My Top Travel Recommendations ♡

These are a few of my top travel tips that will save you time and money while setting up for an AMAZING trip.

Booking flights: I almost exclusively use Google Flights. They have a cool feature where you can type in your departure airport and discover where you could fly within a certain budget. Otherwise, you can also compare airports and see what day is best to fly in/out to help you save money and have the most efficient flight path.

Travel insurance: SafetyWing is my go-to choice for travel insurance. They have a global policy that covers 180+ countries. You can visit any doctor, cancel anytime, and you’re even covered for a few weeks after returning to your home country.

Anti-theft bag: To help protect against pickpockets, I like to carry my beloved Travelon bag. It’s slash-resistant, has locked zippers, and is very sleek and functional for traveling abroad.

Accommodation: I love using Booking.com to find places to stay when traveling. Booking has everything from hotels and hostels to b&bs and entire house/apartment rentals.

Travel Credit Card: I love-love-love my Capital One Venture One credit card. It has a $0 annual fee and no fees when using abroad or paying in a foreign currency. Plus you get 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $500 in your first three months when you get this card.

Car rentals: I use DiscoverCars.com when renting a car. Great deals, customer support, and range of comapnies. You can save up to 70% via the website instead of booking a car directly.

Tours: I don’t travel on complete tours as I like to travel on my own terms, but I do like to book experiences and walking tours on GetYourGuide. They have an amazing line-up of things to do in destinations around the globe. You can also access skip-the-line tickets.

Hi there!
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Hi, I’m Christa! Welcome to my sustainable solo travel blog dedicated to inspiring others to travel slowly, embracing a heart-forward and spirited approach to adventure. 

-The Spirited Explorer

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