Keep the period in mind people

Ladies, as much as we can plan all of the ins and outs of a trip, there are some things out of our control. Our period is one of them. I have met a lot of girls who will just skip certain pills in their birth control packs so they can have a period free vacation. I’m not sure how healthy this is for you but good for you ladies. I envy you. Me on the other hand, I go the all natural way and have my period every single month like clockwork, which can actually be a good thing. No surprises. Most of the time. Which means I always have to consider it when planning a trip, regardless if it is a short or long one. Over the years while traveling and having my period in various countries, kind of a flex if you ask me, I have learned a few things that I wish I had known sooner. Here are my ultimate travel period tips and hacks:

• Pack a black bathing suit

  • This is imperative for any trip really, even if you are not planning a beach vacation. You never know when you’ll need one. Do not let your period stop you from doing the raddest and coolest shit ever on your trip. You may have even booked a trip to Antarctica where you planned on being bundled up the whole time, but lo and behold there’s an opportunity to jump in a freezing glacier pool. Just pack it even if you don’t plan on using it.

• Track how many products you use on your period normally before you head out

  • Period products are not always readily available depending on what country you are in. It took me ages to find tampons in Nepal. To be fair, I was in Namche Bazaar on the Everest Base Camp trek so it was extra slim pickings. But still, you never know. You can’t assume tampons are accepted everywhere. And you also don’t want to overpack on the tampons, save room in your bag for more fun souvenirs.

• Pack period proof outfits

  • I bought a loose fitting black maxi dress that has literally save my ass (technically vagina) on numerous occasions. I can dress it up for a night out or dress it down as a comfy airport outfit. The more versatile, the better. Aside from a period proof outfit for fancy occasions, you also need a casual fit. I got my period in Zanzibar at a yoga hotel I was staying at. Do you think I let that stop me from my classes? Hell no! I just wore my all black workout outfit that hides any leakage. And if I had chose to skip out, I would have missed out on the opportunity of meeting an incredible group of women who made my time in Zanzibar memorable. The downward dogs also did wonders for my cramps.

• Don’t only pack your sexy panties

  • I know we all need a few cute pairs for ourselves and our international honeys, but don’t let them be the only pairs you pack. Nothing is worse than ruining a nice set of underwear and just tossing it. I know it’s wasteful, but in some travel situations, it is the easiest and cleanliest thing to do. There is a pair of very cute and expensive blue lace panties in a Cape Town club bathroom somewhere that I’d rather not talk about. That is why you need to include some of your older pairs that you care less about. It can even be a win win when you toss them because now your bag is even lighter.

• If you can, plan your activities accordingly

  • Yes of course you can do anything while on your period, you are an absolute girl boss. Hooha! However, some things may be more comfortable and enjoyable if you did them on period free days. You won’t always have the luxury of choice, but if you can choose between a spa day or an all day scuba excursion, I’d know what I choose now and what I would save for a later day in the trip.

• Always carry at the least a panty liner

  • If you are like me, you are going to want to do some extreme shit on your trip. This means hitting high altitudes and putting your body through newfound stress. If it’s trekking a mountain or scuba diving, you may have an early and unexpected surprise. These activities, or the stress of traveling in general, can affect when you get your period and can induce spotting. It is always better to be safe than sorry (as my dad always says, not in reference to periods but in general I’d assume).

• Educate yourself on how other cultures view it

  • In some countries, periods are very taboo, and there are even certain places you are not allowed to enter if you are on it. In Bali for example, you shouldn’t go into any temples. They believe no unsanctioned blood should enter a temple. Even if you do not believe in these sorts of customs, it is always best to respect cultural traditions and customs. Educate yourself beforehand to stay a respectful traveler and do not have bad juju following you around.

• Period PJS

  • Honestly the only pjs I bring are my period pjs. Old gym shorts or even a silk black night dress are clutch even when you’re not on your period.

• If you are bringing a new reusable product with you, test it out before hand

  • There is a diva cup somewhere in Thailand that I threw away in a heat of frustration. Not only was it a wasteful stupid choice to toss it, but it also didn’t help me when I needed it to. Test your products beforehand, some of them have a slight learning curve. But don’t let that stop you from trying them out! They can be more eco friendly and save room in your suitcase since you only need one of them.

Women cannot be stopped by anything in this world, especially not by our periods. Never ever let it stop you from traveling or booking an exotic excursion you always wanted to do because the timing didn’t line up. Life is short and so is my tolerance for a world that makes a person think they need to cancel a trip because of their period. Book the damn trip. Just pack accordingly.

P.S. if you don’t have a period but your partner does, doesn’t hurt to throw a pad or tampon in your bag either