Ditch that bulky travel journal in favor of the Journi app

If you don’t want to carry a heavy journal on your next trip, check out this app for documenting your vacation.

Name: Journi app

What it does: Builds a story (or mobile blog entries) using the photos in your smartphone. Add text and click on the map icon to see highlights from your travels. If you’re an armchair traveler, it allows you to view trips from the either the app or the website.

Available: In the App Store, requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. In Google Play, requires Android; varies with device.

Cost: Free

What’s hot: A quick and easy alternative to setting up a website for a single trip. Allows your friends and family to follow your adventures in real time using the Web, app and email. My favorite feature: I can build my story while offline. It also marks the time and place the photo was taken. Group journaling is another option, a great tool for multi-generational trips or reunions. Your Journi can be made public or private. To see examples and follow other travelers go to journiapp.com, where I found fun travels from Italy, Thailand and Germany.

What’s not: I wanted to switch the order of my diary entries (called “Moments”), but I wasn’t able to do that because the app uploads chronologically. The makers say manual adjusting is coming soon.