“Travelogue”

Objectives:

 To define what is Travelogue and it’s 6

specific traits
 To understand how travelouge is written
and how to create one
What is travelogue?
 If you think that “travelogue” only refers to
something in a written form decorated with a
few pictures, you would be wrong. Of course,
a piece of writing is the first thing that we
imagine when we hear this word. Still, a story
about the journey can also be demonstrated
as a motion picture, lecture, or talk
accompanied by photos or a presentation. In
our guide, we’ll talk about a travelogue with
an essay-type structure. However, you are
free to use certain tips for other forms of
travelogues.
 "Travel literature is travel writing of a non-
fiction type. Travel writing typically records
the experiences of travellers in some
interesting places and circumstances. It
will include vivid descriptions, illustrations,
historical background, and possibly maps
and diagrams."
6 Specific traits of a
travelogue
Entertaining Format
 Good travelogues inspire people for
visiting the described destinations; they
provoke strong feelings and stimulate the
imagination. You may use jokes, irony, or
even flirt with your readers if this helps
make reading your travelogue more
exciting.
Personal Experience
A great travelogue is not an instruction or
concise description with a bunch of
helpful tips. Your writing should be
emotional and create life-like pictures in
the minds of your readers. This is possible
only when you share your personal
experiences.
Helpful information
 Travelogues should be entertaining and
helpful at the same time. Keep the
balance between facts, price lists, and
emotional descriptions of local food. If
your piece of writing is without valuable
information, it won’t be a real travelogue.
First person narrative
There is no reason to create some kind of
narrator and follow his or her steps. Readers
should follow your own steps! The words “I,”
“me,” and “mine” are welcome in any
travelogue. Just don’t focus exclusively on
yourself. This is not your autobiography!
Simple Language
 We’llremind you one more time: a
travelogue has nothing to do with
academic writing! Keep complex words
and scientific terms for your research
papers. Readers should easily follow your
thoughts without googling every minute.
Use simple language and avoid unusual
grammatical structures.
Well-structured narration
 Asa rule, creative writing has no
limitations. Still, a travelogue is not a
poem. You don’t write it only to express
your deep feelings and philosophical
beliefs. You are writing it for a certain
audience, so make sure that they will
enjoy reading your travelogue, and that it
has a logical structure and is written in
chronological order.
How to create a travelogue
step by step

 Research: Before you leave for your amazing

destination, do your research in order to visit
all interesting places and attend events you’d
like to write about in your travelogue.

 Must-visit list: Provide your readers with an

exhaustive list of all interesting places they
should visit. If you don’t want to make your
readers surf the internet, add short
descriptions with the address, ticket prices,
time schedule, and a few keywords.
 Seasonal differences: If you visit the place just
once, try to talk with locals about climate, major
seasonal events, and a number of tourists during
the year. Describe every season and recommend
the most appropriate time for a visit.

 Transport: Transportation is the most painful aspect

of all trips. Tourists not only have to get to the
destination but also to travel around the city or
country. Don’t forget to mention all possible
options, including local exotic transport.
 Detailed descriptions: Detailed descriptions will not
just stimulate your readers’ imagination, but will
also serve as a helpful addition to any touristic
guide. This works for tourists who are not very good
at orienteering but have a good imagination and
visual memory.

 Cultural background: ust don’t overcome

reasonable limits! Your travelogue is not
a history book. Add only interesting cultural and
historical facts and avoid too many dates.
Nobody loves dates.
 To-do list: Highlight the experiences that your
readers can get only in a particular place and the
experiences that would feel much better in a
particular place. You can eat croissants every
day, but they taste better when you’re in Paris.

 Warnings: This is the NOT-to-do list. Every country

has specific laws or unwritten code that work not
only for locals. If you don’t want your readers to
get in trouble or simply look disrespectful, mention
these rules in your travelogue.
 Major events: There is always something
interesting to do, especially in big cities:
concerts, festivals, performances,
exhibitions, etc. Provide your readers with
a wide collection of events so they’ll be
able to choose one according to their
budget and tastes.
Example on how to write a
travelogue: