What can we say: we love big packages! But not the kind you have to transport in an airport if you know what I mean… Trying to fit everything in such a small space is
What can we say: we love big packages! But not the kind you have to transport in an airport if you know what I mean… Trying to fit everything in such a small space is difficult (even if we have a lot of practice). We always have a hard time separating the essentials from the vanity items. Choosing the clothes we want to take with us is always the easiest part. After all, queer people are known for their fabulous dress sense.
So when it comes to planning our outfits (or lack of outfits!) for a trip, we have no problems. But we get so caught up in the excitement of what we’re going to wear that we often forget some basic items- and some of them are painfully obvious! We’ve compiled a list of all the essential items you must not forget and thought we’d share them with you. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the items every queer traveler should have with them on vacation.
1. A strong suitcase!
We like hard, sturdy things and are able to take a quick pound… Of course, we are talking about our suitcases… what else? It goes without saying that you can’t go far without a suitcase when traveling. And while it may seem obvious, the most popular question we get asked regularly is what we take with us on our trips. We like good, solid suitcases that last a long time and stand up to customs and baggage screening. The wheels should also be sturdy.
We also want suitcases that are not only waterproof but also made of a strong, lightweight polycarbonate shell with scratch-resistant surface technology. And they should be beautiful, elegant, and refined- but if you want one distinctive and stands out, you can choose from a range of colors. Travel tip: Pack a brightly colored suitcase so you can recognize it immediately when you pick up your luggage.
2. Storage cube organizer
Packing cubes are changing the world. Gone are the days of lazily packing all your clothes in the same suitcase, toiletries, books, and photography gear. We shudder at the thought of doing this now. With packing cubes, we can divide/organize all of our items into different zippered “cubes” so that everything in our suitcase is neat and organized. If you have OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder) like me, this is a godsend and helps me sleep soundly.
We like to use a large cube for clean clothes, a separate cube for dirty laundry, another for shoes, a medium cube for electronic devices and gadgets, and a cosmetic bag for all our toiletries. We also recommend using adhesive labels or stickers to place on each box so you can identify the contents of each bag. This makes a big difference because you can quickly open the right box to find your toothbrush, for example, instead of spending hours tearing everything open until you find it!
3. Protection!
Like all queer people, we love protection (in every sense of the word) and The Golden Girls. To quote the immortal Bea Arthur:
“Condoms, Rose! Condoms, condoms, condoms”!
Whether single or not, it’s super important to use one when you’re intimate with someone. After all, everyone loves a souvenir from a stranger… but not one that lives in your pants. Also, make sure you pack enough lube- and remember, it’s a liquid, so either keep it in your suitcase or, if you pack it in your carry-on, make sure it’s less than 3.4 oz/100ml to avoid any problems at the airport security check.
We also recommend that you take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medication that protects against HIV. Find out the guidelines for your destination, as PrEP medications are unfortunately still stigmatized in many places, and the amount you can bring into the country is limited.
4. Universal plug
In a perfect world, we would have peace, love, equality… and universal electrical outlets. But alas, we don’t live in a perfect world and live in this one. Outlets in the US are different from those in the UK and Ireland, which are different from those in mainland Europe, which are different from those in Australia, which are different from those in Asia… You see the picture!
This is undoubtedly the element that we forget the most. We often arrive at the hotel ready for anything to charge our cell phones and laptops, only to find that our plugs do not fit into the socket. In this situation, there’s no bigger hero than the hotel front desk, which has plenty of them in stock. But you can’t always rely on them. That’s why we tell everyone we meet to invest in a universal travel adapter that covers all your bases. We all love a good plugging!
Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about queer people on vacation.