The Art of Journaling While Traveling
August 27, 2025
The Art of Journaling While Traveling Capturing Memories and Emotions for Growth Journaling is the simple act of writing down
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Angelica Hazel Toutounji is an Australian freelance travel writer published in The National and other lifestyle platforms. Based in South Australia, she writes about family travel, cultural identity and meaningful destination experiences through a personal lens. A wife, mother and proud Muslim convert, she enjoys exploring different cultures, discovering local cuisines and visiting mosques around the world. She is also the host of the travel podcast The Travel Date, where she shares personal travel stories and conversations about global journeys.
When people ask travel questions in our community, they usually start with itineraries.
What to see? How many days? What not to miss?
But very quickly, the conversation shifts to something just as important.
Where should we stay?
Not just any hotel, but a place that actually helps you feel the city.
Many international hotel chains are excellent. You know the standard, the comfort, the amenities. But they often sit slightly outside the historic heart, and the experience can feel detached from the place itself.
That’s where boutique hotels quietly shine
Some of our community members still talk about staying inside the old city of Marrakech, in a riad within the medina. No large pool, no corporate lobby, but full of character. Stepping out straight into narrow lanes, calls of shopkeepers, evening prayers drifting through the air.
Others loved boutique hotels near Khan el Khalili in Cairo, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Busy, intense, alive. You walk out and history is right there, not a taxi ride away.
In Bukhara, staying close to Lab e Hauz or near Registan Square Samarkand, some chose boutique hotels with stunning blue tile work, inner courtyards, and traditional design. Most sightseeing was done on foot. No schedules, no rush. Just slow exploration.
That’s the real advantage of boutique hotels when they’re located right next to the old city. You trade a few large scale amenities for proximity, walkability, and atmosphere.
Most travellers know international chains very well. Boutique hotels, on the other hand, are local, specific, and often discovered only through word of mouth.
So over the coming weeks, we are starting a new series.
We’ll be sharing reviews of boutique hotels around the world, based on real experiences from real travellers in our community. What worked, what didn’t, and who these places are actually best for.
If you have stayed in a boutique hotel that genuinely added to your travel experience, share it in the comments or message us. Your story might help someone plan their next trip better.
The Art of Journaling While Traveling Capturing Memories and Emotions for Growth Journaling is the simple act of writing down
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