Here are six items you can use to remember your travels across the world. It is hard enough to try to remember every wonderful detail. Pick one of these tools to keep the memories alive.
I always struggle to recall specific memories on my journeys.
When I think back to trips over 10 years ago, I can recall the good times, but not necessarily the names of the restaurants I enjoyed, the correct name of the train I had to take, or even some of the town names I have visited.
Carrying around a pen and paper used to be the go-to for memory notation, but if that paper gets wet or lost, it’s goodbye memories.
Thankfully tools have been created to help you remember your travels and those good times.
1. Save locations on Google Maps
My most valuable tool to remember my travels is the ability to save locations on Google Maps.
This smartphone and web-based application gives you the ability to click on a location and flag it as “want to go”, “favorites” or “starred places”. You are even able to add a “label” to that location.
For example, if you taste the most delicious meal in Barcelona you have ever had in your life in a specific restaurant; you can flag it as “favorites” and add the label “best meal ever”.
Google Maps will still function even if you are not in a wireless setting. We cannot tell you how many times this tool has come in handy.
2. Use the notepad on your smartphone
When you have more to say than just “best meal ever”, use the notepad on your smartphone.
Most phones have this feature and it gives you the ability to jot down some notes, such as directions to a train station, or what to order at a restaurant that your local guide recommends trying.
Most notepads can also be set up to save to your Gmail account.
In the case that your phone goes sliding into a river on one of your trips, your notes will be backed up to your Gmail account.
Another application to remember your travels that is similar to your notepad is Microsoft One Note. This can also be used while offline.
3. Take “useless” Photos
When I say useless, I mean ones that I will not put in a photo album or place on social media.
Taking pictures of even the most random things helps to jog my memory. The most useful, yet unsaved photos I take, are where I park the rental car..
I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to flag the location of where we parked, but the GPS is slightly off now, and we end up losing where we parked the car.
Taking a picture of the cross streets is faster than jotting down notes. One click with your camera and you are off to enjoy the day without any fear of misplacing the car.
4. Back up Photos
Most people know how important this is, however some do not know the quickest way to do so.
I use Google Photos to back up my images.
Once you are in a wireless area, you can back up your images to Google Photos.
You can organize the images into folders and label them accordingly, all from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Once uploaded, you can then view them in a non-wireless setting to help you recall your awesome memories
5. Use good old pen and paper
Yes, this is an old-school way of taking notes, and yes, the pen can run out of ink and the paper can get wet, destroying all your hard work.
However, to this day I still carry a pen and at least two sheets of paper with me.
Throughout my travels, I have run into the occasional business owner, or traveler, who does not have access to a smartphone. To exchange contact information, or to receive directions from a local, the all mighty pen and paper has come to the rescue.
6. Save paper memories
Throughout my journey, I save train ticket stubs, napkins from specific venues, matchbooks from restaurants, walking maps of different neighborhoods, and any other paper item that will us remember our travels.
Before heading to the next destination, I go through our memory pile and take notes on each one in our notepad or save the location on Google Maps.
Saving these items stops us from also taking our smartphones out every five seconds to save the memories. We then discard what we no longer want to keep in our memory box.
I like to enjoy each location, without staring at my phone the entire time. It helps us to connect more with the destination and the locals!
Great ideas Gina. I use my smartphone notepad constantly. I also take tonnes of “useless photos” – generally signs and plaques. I like that I can sort my images by chronological order later which helps me get the timeline straight as well.
I feel like we write more notes then take pictures sometimes haha. Then we spend train rides organizing everything. We hate having our noses in our phones constantly so we try to do things when we on flights or trains so that we don’t take away from our experience!
Great work, nice information.
Thanks for sharing the information.
Thank you, we work hard to make sure you have the tools you need!
I usually do #2 & #3. However, if there’s too much info for me to put in my phone notepad (ie. when a tour guide is saying info really w=quick), I’ll record them or when I’m walking the city and am on the go, I’ll use a Voice recorder app on the phone and record myself anything memorable that day!
Great idea. We are still so old school with paper and a pen, but hey, whatever works!