What you saw?

Daily travel experiences, and expenses.

Favorites-hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, locations, etc.

The funniest thing that happened.

The most difficult thing that happened.

In your travel journal you can add photos, receipts, memorabilia, maps, drawings, menus, any items that you want to add, and that fit space you have.

Travel Journals for Children

A great tool to involve whole family is to create a travel journal for children. They can use a notebook and record same items that you did, writing what their experiences were. They can also write a story telling what they experienced each day. You can create a game for them where they count cows they see, other children they met, or towns, etc., keeping that information in their journal.

Use idea of a travel journal to keep a written record of all your travels, all those adventures.

Copyright 2002 Doreene Clement All Rights Reserved

Doreene Clement, a cancer victor and author of The 5 Year Journal, is currently writing a new book, Blessed, about her life and her cancer experience. For more information www.the5yearjournal.com 480.423.8095 Copyright 2005 OMDC, LLC All Rights Reserved

If you are planning to do a lot of hostelling, it is wise to investigate situation from home first. The Youth Hostelling Association, for example offers a membership card that entitles you to a reduced rate whilst staying at recognised sites. Hostelling International (HI) is largest chain of hostels in world. All HI sites require a YHA membership card to be presented when you turn up. These cards should be purchased in your home country before you leave.

There are plenty of private hostels available as well, but tales of infantile curfews, bedbug infestations and slightly deranged owners abound so if at all possible; it is best to stick with recognised brand. If you are thinking of booking a private hostel, do Google search first so see if there is anything untoward written about it.

You may have realised that you and your friends are not only people that are going to be backpacking through Europe in summer. If you are travelling in July and August, it is best to try and book ahead for some places, especially popular cities like Rome, Paris, London and Venice. Although it is tempting to be completely spontaneous, you may find yourself without a place to stay, especially at weekend.