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Being a female traveler can take a little more effort than your opposing gender. There are so many things that we have to deal with when we travel, especially when we travel alone. I composed a list of items that I feel has come to my aid in uneventful situations that probably would have been devastating if I didn’t have them on standby. Hopefully, these items could be of aide to you as well.
#1. The Menstrual Cup
How many of you have been lucky, like myself, to have your favorite visitor visit on the same day you are supposed to board a plane for that long international flight? Oh, I know this story oh too well. The constant checks for leaks, the repeated visits to the closet bathrooms, odor concerns, and other related complications are our worst nightmares when we have to travel. I came upon a “lifesaving” female hack that you will thank me later for.
The menstrual cup comes in many sizes to suit the flow of your cycle. The sizes depend on if you ever had children, if you have heavy or light periods, or if you live an active lifestyle or not. Below are a list of pro and cons that I experience when using the cup.
Pros
- Can last up to 8-12 hours
- Comfortable
- Reusable
- Safe material/healthier for your body
- Saves money
- Some designs allow you to have intercourse while on your cycle
- Low risk toxic shock syndrome
- No rashes or bacterial infections
- Easier to pack
Cons
- Difficult to use at first (fitting & placement)
- A little messy between changes (sink or bottle water needed)
- Must keep clean before and after use
- Takes practice
- May be a little harder to get out than tampons
- Should be worn with liners/thin pads for possible leaks
I have purchased both the Diva Cup & The Lena Cup and found that the Lena Cup works best for me. I am very active, never had children, and have a medium athletic build. Pick the brand that works best for you and your body type.
#2. Sunglasses/ Shades
Long flights can be exhausting and the wear and tear of them will show on your face. Getting off of a long flight is like waking up out of bed, putting on your shoes, and walking out the door. Now you have to go and catch your connection and hopefully paparazzi is not standing outside your gate or your potential new bae. “Hide behind the glass” I say! Although, you may be rocking the same outfit you had an old timezone before, who says you can’t keep it fresh with the right pair of shades?
Pros
- No make up needed
- You can stare at people without them knowing
- They are stylish
- They are light weight
- Gives a weird sense of privacy
Cons
- Easy to lose/break
- May be hard to read in them
- May draw unwanted attention (people are always curious about who is behind those shades)
- Will have to remove going through security (lets hope potential bae is not there)
- They are very impersonal
#3. Portable Charger
Oh, how I worship my portable charger! I often found myself on flights with no working outlets to charge my phone, and some had outlets that had very weak power sources. Nothing is worst than getting off of a flight and not having a charged phone to take advantage of the WiFi inside of the airport. Imagine assuming you can charge your phone while you wait for your connection to only find out that you weren’t the only one with that idea. Now you are rummaging through the airport like a stray animal in search for food. Waiting for charging ports is no different from waiting for parking spots. You better not take your eyes off of it, and you better let it be known that you are next in line.
Pros
- Convenient
- No competition for outlets
- Use your device while charging
- Light, small, and easy to carry
- Compatible with most phones
Cons
- Can’t forget to charge before your trip or it will be useless
#4. Universal Adapter
This device comes in handy time and time again, especially, if you are a worldwide travel. Travelling to other countries, you find that not every country uses the same metrics system, temperature scales, or even electrical measurements. Plugging your electronic device into the wrong outlet may cause damage to your device or even fry its internal contents. A universal adapter is your best travel buddy. You can adjust it to any country you visit.
Pros
- You can use you electronics anywhere that has a power socket
- Protects your devices from damage
- Light, small, and easy to carry.
- Inexpensive
- Convenient
- Adjustable
Cons
- Limited devices can be plugged in at a time
#5. Female Disposable Urinal and Wipes
You haven’t learned to fully travel the world until you are forced into extreme circumstances such as, using a hole in the ground as a toilet outside with Mother Nature as your audience, or using your yoga skills to maneuver your way around bacterial particles left behind by who seems like the ancestors of cave men. On countless occasions, I have appreciated the convenience of disposable urinals and wipes for women and you probably would too when and if you stumble across a situation where its “woman vs nature”.
Pros:
- Easy to pack
- Portable
- Can use while standing
- Great for outdoor/camping trips
- Disposable
- Odorless
Cons:
- May be a bit of a struggle for plus size women
- Can spill if not used correctly
Like this read? Checkout the 6 Uncontrollable Occurrences That May Ruin Your First Travel Experience Overseas, Are You Ready?
