u/TravelBaddiePodCast

Hey girl! So, after 20 years, I finally said goodbye to that trusty luggage set I snagged from Ross when I was just 18. It was my travel buddy everywhere, and it held up like a champ! But last year, I thought it was time for an upgrade and got myself the NOBL All-In-One Carry-On and matching checked bag.

But get this less than 14 months in, and my checked bag already had a cracked corner and a dent and the all-in-one got a giant dent on the side when the airline had made me check it due to the overhead bin space was full! And the company…. Well they went into ghost mode, not even trying to fix it. So now, I’m on a mission to find a new luggage brand that’s got my back.

If you’re a true travel baddie, what luggage do you absolutely love? I’m looking for something super durable, well-built, and with a company that actually honors its warranty. Drop your faves (and any brands to steer clear of) in the comments!

Oh, and ladies, if you know of any fun colored options, let me know! I’m all about those vibrant suitcase vibes. I’m so over the basic blacks, browns, and whites. I’ve literally seen people grab the wrong luggage off the carousel and from the overhead bin. So, I need something that pops and stands out!

After 20 years, I finally retired the luggage set I bought from Ross when I was 18. It traveled everywhere with me and held up incredibly well. Last year, I decided to upgrade and purchased the NOBL All-In-One Carry-On and matching checked bag. Unfortunately, in less than 14 months, my checked bag developed a cracked corner and a dent, and the company hasn’t been willing to resolve the issue. So now I’m on the hunt for a new luggage brand! If you travel often, what luggage do you swear by? I’m looking for something durable, well-built, and backed by a company that stands behind its warranty. Drop your recommendations (and any brands I should avoid) in the comments!

Travelers,

After 20 years, I finally retired the luggage set I bought from Ross when I was 18. It traveled everywhere with me and held up incredibly well. Last year, I decided to upgrade and purchased the NOBL All-In-One Carry-On and matching checked bag. Unfortunately, in less than 14 months, my checked bag developed a cracked corner and a dent, and the company hasn’t been willing to resolve the issue. So now I’m on the hunt for a new luggage brand! If you travel often, what luggage do you swear by? I’m looking for something durable, well-built, and backed by a company that stands behind its warranty. Drop your recommendations (and any brands I should avoid) in the comments!

I’m curious, what do you do to stay safe while traveling?

For me, I always share my iPhone location with my family, check in with them daily, and use a special code word so they know it’s really me and not someone pretending to be me. I also never share cabs with strangers (yes, even the attractive ones 😂), and I don’t tell people where I’m staying. If you’ve ever watched Taken, you probably understand where I’m coming from!
I also like to blend in as much as possible when I’m traveling. Before I visit a country, I do a little research on what people typically wear there. I don’t try to stand out as a tourist if I can help it. I love dressing like the locals and keeping things simple and practical. And let’s talk bags for a second because I love a good crossbody bag or cute little fanny pack worn across the chest. My current favorite is a basic black Michael Kors bag. Nothing flashy, but cute and functional. There are also some really great anti-theft bags on the market if that’s your style.
One of my favorite travel accessories is a Clutch Loop. It’s an anti-theft tether that attaches to your phone and extends when you want to take photos, then retracts back toward you. It gives me extra peace of mind in crowded areas, especially in big cities.
Funny enough, I buy a lot of my anti-theft gear from rave stores. I also enjoy going to music festivals and raves, and phone theft is a huge issue in those spaces. A lot of the anti-theft products designed for festivals work incredibly well for travel too.
Another thing I do is never post my travels in real time. You won’t find me posting on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter/X, TikTok, or anywhere else while I’m actively traveling. I wait until I get home before I start posting photos and videos from my trip.
Honestly, it confuses people all the time especially my coworkers and some of my family too.
I’ll come back from vacation and someone will say, “Wait, name, you went somewhere? You didn’t post anything?”
Then, I’ll start uploading photos, and suddenly, they’re like, “What the heck? When did all of this happen?”
I just laugh and tell them I never post in real time.
Part of that is for my own safety while traveling, but it’s also to protect my home. If people know you’re out of town, they also know your house might be empty.
To help with that, I have a doorbell camera and additional cameras inside my apartment to keep an eye on things while I’m away. They’re only in common areas like the living room and hallway never in bedrooms or bathrooms. They help me keep an eye on my home, my pets, and anyone house-sitting for me, who is usually a family friend or one of their kids. Everyone knows the cameras are there, and it gives me peace of mind when I’m on vacation.
These are some of the ways I stay safe and help my family know I’m okay while I’m out exploring the world.
So now I’m curious:
What safety tips, routines, or habits do you use when traveling?
I’d love to hear what works for you and maybe pick up a few new ideas for future trips! 🌍💜✈️

I’m curious, what do you do to stay safe while traveling?

For me, I always share my iPhone location with my family, check in with them daily, and use a special code word so they know it’s really me and not someone pretending to be me. I also never share cabs with strangers (yes, even the attractive ones 😂), and I don’t tell people where I’m staying. If you’ve ever watched Taken, you probably understand where I’m coming from!
I also like to blend in as much as possible when I’m traveling. Before I visit a country, I do a little research on what people typically wear there. I don’t try to stand out as a tourist if I can help it. I love dressing like the locals and keeping things simple and practical. And let’s talk bags for a second because I love a good crossbody bag or cute little fanny pack worn across the chest. My current favorite is a basic black Michael Kors bag. Nothing flashy, but cute and functional. There are also some really great anti-theft bags on the market if that’s your style.
One of my favorite travel accessories is a Clutch Loop. It’s an anti-theft tether that attaches to your phone and extends when you want to take photos, then retracts back toward you. It gives me extra peace of mind in crowded areas, especially in big cities.
Funny enough, I buy a lot of my anti-theft gear from rave stores. I also enjoy going to music festivals and raves, and phone theft is a huge issue in those spaces. A lot of the anti-theft products designed for festivals work incredibly well for travel too.
Another thing I do is never post my travels in real time. You won’t find me posting on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter/X, TikTok, or anywhere else while I’m actively traveling. I wait until I get home before I start posting photos and videos from my trip.
Honestly, it confuses people all the time especially my coworkers and some of my family too.
I’ll come back from vacation and someone will say, “Wait, name, you went somewhere? You didn’t post anything?”
Then, I’ll start uploading photos, and suddenly, they’re like, “What the heck? When did all of this happen?”
I just laugh and tell them I never post in real time.
Part of that is for my own safety while traveling, but it’s also to protect my home. If people know you’re out of town, they also know your house might be empty.
To help with that, I have a doorbell camera and additional cameras inside my apartment to keep an eye on things while I’m away. They’re only in common areas like the living room and hallway never in bedrooms or bathrooms. They help me keep an eye on my home, my pets, and anyone house-sitting for me, who is usually a family friend or one of their kids. Everyone knows the cameras are there, and it gives me peace of mind when I’m on vacation.
These are some of the ways I stay safe and help my family know I’m okay while I’m out exploring the world.
So now I’m curious:
What safety tips, routines, or habits do you use when traveling?
I’d love to hear what works for you and maybe pick up a few new ideas for future trips! 🌍💜✈️

All right, everyone, so I am a biracial woman with wavy, curly hair, and I know when I travel, I hate having my natural hair out. I usually will go with box braids or I do braids into long ponytails that I can turn the braids into buns because when I have my natural hair out, I have to pack a hairbrush, shampoo, conditioner, hair, creams, gels, mousse, and a hairbrush. I just have to pack so much stuff for my hair that I swear my hair needs its own little suitcase. That’s why I choose braids. They’re so much easier for me to deal with, and on top of that, I only need two items: a silk bonnet and a shower cap. So, ladies, how do you keep your hair when you’re traveling?

Edit….

I would love for y’all to show me what you guys look like. Send a photo with your comment. Let’s see that beautiful hair.

All right, I have a question for everybody. I am biracial with curly hair and I’m just curious what do you do? How do you have your hair when you travel? I know for me I hate having my natural hair out and about when I’m traveling because I end up having to bring a ton of products, shampoo, conditioner, styling products, creams brushes, spray bottle, all that fun jazz. so I started getting braids done so then all I have to bring is a shower cap and a silk bonnet. I’m just curious what does everybody do when they travel with their hair curly hair, braids, weaves, or wigs

Solo female travelers, I’ve got a question for you! ✈️📸
When it comes to taking photos and videos while traveling, what do you use? I’m an iPhone girl 99% of the time, and honestly, it does a great job. I recently bought the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and have been loving them for getting unique angles and hands-free videos. They’re especially great when you want to capture a moment without constantly holding your phone. I also just invested in the DJI Pocket 3, which has been amazing for my podcasting and travel vlogs. The stabilization and video quality are incredible, and it’s small enough to throw in my bag. I used to carry a Canon camera, but these days it feels a little too bulky for the way I travel. Lately, I’ve been thinking about picking up one of those compact 4K cameras that can fit in a purse. I noticed a lot of travelers using them while I was in Rome, and I’ve seen them all over social media, especially from creators in Asia. The photos and videos always look fantastic.

So tell me, ladies—what are you using these days? iPhone? Sony? DJI? Canon? Fujifilm? One of those cute compact cameras everyone seems to have? I’d love to hear your recommendations and why you love them!

Hey solo travelers! I have a question for the group; what’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you while traveling? I’d love to hear your stories, but let me start with mine first.

This happened about 10 years ago when I first got into the airline industry. I was working nonstop, over 100 hours every two weeks, and I was completely burnt out. So I did what any exhausted airline worker would do I booked a last minute 24-hour trip to Las Vegas. No real plan, just a flight, a hotel, and the desperate need to decompress.
Once I got there, I kept it simple. Saw a show, had a good meal, and sat down at the slots. I wasn’t even a big gambler, I just wanted to unwind. Things were going fine until this guy came and sat down next to me. I wasn’t suspicious at first when he said hello, I said hello back. Normal human stuff. He asked if I was visiting and I told him it was a work trip and that my coworkers and I were all doing our own thing for the night. Standard solo traveler deflection. But something felt off. He was rubbing me the wrong way and my gut was telling me to move. So I cashed out, said a polite goodbye, and switched to another slot machine. He followed me. At that point I was done. I cashed out again and headed toward the elevators for the night partly because I was ready to go and partly because he was seriously messing up my winning streak. This hotel had a system where once you’re inside the elevator, you have to swipe your key card to access your floor. I stepped in alone, swiped my card, selected my floor, and right as the doors were about to close, this man stuck his hand in and slid inside. I looked at him and said, “Go ahead and swipe your key card.” He smiled and said, “Oh, we’re on the same floor.” He never reached for a key card. Didn’t even pretend to have one. That was enough for me. I quickly swiped my card again, hit a completely different floor, and the second those doors opened I walked out fast. He actually stepped off behind me. So I found the staircase and at that point I was flat out running down the stairs, through the lobby, out onto the Strip, back into the hotel through a different entrance, into a different elevator, and finally up to my actual floor. I made it to my room, locked the door, and just sat there for a minute taking it all in. It was the first time I had ever genuinely felt unsafe while traveling, and honestly it changed the way I move when I’m alone.

Here’s what I do now to keep myself safe:
Headphones in doesn’t matter if anything is playing. They send a clear “do not approach” message.
Fake wedding ring mine is a sapphire ring with a princess tiara band and it genuinely looks like the real thing. I’ve actually had people compliment my “husband’s” taste, so I know it’s working lol.
Trust your gut this is the big one. That uneasy feeling isn’t paranoia, it’s your instincts doing exactly what they’re supposed to do. Listen to it every time.

I’d love to hear your stories too because this stuff happens to all of us and the more we share, the safer we can all be out there. Drop your experiences and your safety tips below! 🧡✈️

I’m curious—what do you do to stay safe while traveling solo?
For me, I always share my iPhone location with my family, check in with them daily, and use a special code word so they know it’s really me and not someone pretending to be me. I also never share cabs with strangers (yes, even the attractive ones 😂), and I don’t tell people where I’m staying. If you’ve ever watched Taken, you probably understand where I’m coming from!
I also like to blend in as much as possible when I’m traveling. Before I visit a country, I do a little research on what people typically wear there. I don’t try to stand out as a tourist if I can help it. I love dressing like the locals and keeping things simple and practical.
And let’s talk bags for a second because I love a good crossbody bag or cute little fanny pack worn across the chest. My current favorite is a basic black Michael Kors bag. Nothing flashy, but cute and functional. There are also some really great anti-theft bags on the market if that’s your style.
One of my favorite travel accessories is a Clutch Loop. It’s an anti-theft tether that attaches to your phone and extends when you want to take photos, then retracts back toward you. It gives me extra peace of mind in crowded areas, especially in big cities.
Funny enough, I buy a lot of my anti-theft gear from rave stores. I also enjoy going to music festivals and raves, and phone theft is a huge issue in those spaces. A lot of the anti-theft products designed for festivals work incredibly well for travel too.
Another thing I do is never post my travels in real time. You won’t find me posting on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter/X, TikTok, or anywhere else while I’m actively traveling. I wait until I get home before I start posting photos and videos from my trip.
Honestly, it confuses people all the time—especially my coworkers.
I’ll come back from vacation and someone will say, “Wait, Dominique, you went somewhere? You didn’t post anything?”
Then I’ll start uploading photos and suddenly they’re like, “What the heck? When did all of this happen?”
I just laugh and tell them I never post in real time.
Part of that is for my own safety while traveling, but it’s also to protect my home. If people know you’re out of town, they also know your house might be empty.
To help with that, I have a doorbell camera and additional cameras inside my apartment to keep an eye on things while I’m away. They’re only in common areas like the living room and hallway—never in bedrooms or bathrooms. They help me keep an eye on my home, my pets, and anyone house-sitting for me, who is usually a family friend or one of their kids. Everyone knows the cameras are there, and it gives me peace of mind when I’m on vacation.
These are some of the ways I stay safe and help my family know I’m okay while I’m out exploring the world.
So now I’m curious:
What safety tips, routines, or habits do you use when traveling solo?
I’d love to hear what works for you and maybe pick up a few new ideas for future trips! 🌍💜✈️

Hello, my fellow solo female travelers! 🌎✈️
I’m curious—what do you do to stay safe while traveling solo? For me, I always share my iPhone location with my family, check in with them daily, and use a special code word so they know it’s really me and not someone pretending to be me. I also never share cabs with strangers (yes, even the attractive ones 😂) and I don’t tell people where I’m staying. If you’ve ever watched Taken, you probably understand where I’m coming from! These are some of the ways my family knows I’m safe while I’m out exploring the world. What safety tips or routines do you use when traveling solo? I’d love to hear what works for you and maybe pick up a few new ideas for future trips! 😊✈️🌍