1. Go with a friend you trust and who understands why you might feel anxious about parts of your travelling
Travelling can be a stressful experience; it's why the phrase ‘I need a holiday from my holiday’ is so widely thrown about these days. So, one thing you can do to make your trip as relaxing as possible is to invite a friend who you like. Someone who understands you and your thought processes.
I know what you’re thinking, shouldn’t you like all your friends? And to answer that, yes, yes, you should. But spending days or possibly weeks in someone’s company can really test a friendship. I have friends who I love, but no sum of money could convince me to travel with them – no offence.
People have different daily routines and things they enjoy/don’t enjoy doing. For example, if you’re an early bird who likes to go exploring so there’s no anxiety over crowds of people, and you’re travelling with someone who sleeps in till 1pm... yep, welcome to hell my friend.
With the addition of being Trans, you may encounter more niche situations. Such as, having a wave of dysphoria suddenly hit in the middle of the day, or getting really stressed out at airport security. Being with someone who understands why you’re feeling like this and who can respond in a way which calms you down is important. Similarly, your friend also needs to feel heard and supported by you.
Being able to have active conversations, make compromises, and be kind to each other when things get rough is a must. Sounds simple right? Well, if anything, it’s unsurprising that there’s a saying which reads: ‘if your friendship lasts through a trip, it can last through anything’.
2. Research local laws/culture/social attitudes
It's almost a no brainer for one of the first things you check before considering a holiday destination is the current social/political climate. It’s an unfortunate but necessary step when you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, or any minority group for that fact. One website I would strongly recommend having a look at for this information is Equaldex. It shows all LGBTQ+ rights by country and creates an ‘equality index’ by categorising them into two measures: a ‘legal index’ and a ‘public opinion’ index. It basically does all the research for you – pretty handy.
However, looking into the culture and social attitudes can be a bit trickier than simply reading statistics. I’ve found that the best source of information you can get is from the people who live there themselves. So, off to YouTube and Reddit.
Before I solo tripped to Hong Kong or Thailand, I binge watched youtubers like my life depended on it. Mapping out places which seemed safe to go out as a trans person, seeing what the people are like towards tourists, and the cultural do’s and don'ts - such as how expressive you can be through clothing.
Looking at Reddit can be a useful tool for searching any questions you may have about a country you want to visit and checking responses. With certain topics which aren’t widely talked about, like travelling with hormones, Reddit is a life saver. I remember researching whether flying soon after having top surgery was okay (I had top surgery in South Africa and had to fly back to the UK a week and a half after). I got some useful tips and information which aided my anxiety a lot. And being honest, just hearing that I wasn’t alone in those worries was healing in a way. Some Reddit channels which may be useful to have a look at are as follows: r/asktransgender, r/FtM and r/MtF.
3. Check requirements of the country of entry, including sex markers on passport, hormones, GP letters
The most notable place to check the requirements for entry into a country as a trans person will be on the government website of the country you're visiting. These should be constantly kept up to date on new laws and legislation. They will include topics like travelling with hormones (testosterone/oestrogen), the requirement of GP letters, sex marker on passports etc... If you are based in the UK, you can find these here. When on this website, choose your country of choice. After that, there should be an option for advice for LGBT+ travellers - click onto this.
Another useful site for information would be, yet again, Reddit. People are very thorough in their responses, and due to it being an anonymous site, people don’t shy away from being as in depth as possible. Just search what you want to know and hundreds of people who are also in your predicament will have helpful responses. Example. I am always surprised by the willingness of strangers to help out.
4. Check lgbt apps for events or accommodation that cater to the LGBT+ community
Events
One app which I’m sure every gay knows (and deeply loves) which is surprisingly helpful when travelling is Grindr. Though its normally perceived as an app to find some mutual fun every now and then... When in more conservative countries, Grindr can be a useful tool to find where the LGBTQ+ nightlife is when it seems non-existent. From underground gay clubs to hidden jungle parties, it may just persuade you to keep your Grindr account alive for a little while longer.
Another helpful app for finding queer spaces is ‘Everywhere is Queer’ (EIQ). EIQ is an app which has a map that pinpoints locations of queer run businesses near you. So rather than spending an hour on google maps, you have it all already jotted down on the app. It includes hairdressers, general events, tattoo artists, cafe’s etc... And now more than ever, queer run spaces need our support, so why not give it a go.
Accommodation
Now to the dreaded accommodation. Personally, one of my most stressful parts when planning a holiday. Not knowing who you’re bunk mates will be if you’re hostelling, worrying that you’ll be locked out of the air BnB when you arrive, or if the host will be a bit funny when two people of the same gender show up at their little shepherd's hut getaway. To ease some of this tension, I would recommend looking at MisterB&B and Quouch.
MisterB&B is a gay air BnB site where you can choose between hotels, apartments, villas, private rooms etc... But the big pull to the site is that all the accommodation listed is by LGBTQ+ people or allies.
Useful tip - people often use MisterB&B to book a private room at someone's place to receive tips from local gays (aka the host). And hey, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, there’s even a dating mode on the app.
Quouch would be a more ideal option if you’re travelling solo and, on a budget, – think couch surfing hosted by LGBTQ+ people for LGBTQ+ people. What's not to love?
5. What to pack
There are your obvious essentials when packing for a holiday as a trans person, such as; any medication or hormones you take, prescription notes, and gender affirming clothing like binders/tape/packers or prosthetics. But here are some miscellaneous additions you may want to add to your packing list:
Sports bras/light compression binders; If you wear binders and are planning on being relatively active on holiday, be sure to switch out your standard daily binder for something with lighter compression e.g. Spectrum’s binder light or a sports bra. Alternatively, you can also simply size up on your standard binder if this will make you feel more secure going about your day. This is to prevent restricted breathing.
Breathable clothing; Even though being fashion forward on holiday is a high priority for some, ensuring you’ve packed clothing ideal for the climate is a must. While capri jeans are cute, pairing them with a humid country is not a good idea (and yes, I am talking from experience...) although you’ll look cute, the excessive sweating is not worth it! So exchange those jeans and polyester shirts with cottons, linens and sweat wicking fabrics. You’ll thank yourself later I swear.
Sun protection; Those tattoos are not going to protect themselves as much as you believe they will. As well as it just being good for your skin in general, SPF is your best friend for tattoos and any surgery scars you may have. Putting sunscreen onto your scars prevents permanent discoloration and protects collagen while the skin heals. Even if the place you’re going to is not forecasted for sunny weather – bring and wear suncream!
Comfort items; Whether it’s your go to teddy bear that helps you sleep, or headphones that help you relax after a hectic day, it’s truly the little things that make a big impact when travelling. Pack things that are going to help you wind down from a possibly taxing day.
