Travel has been a big part of our relationship from the very beginning. Our first trip together was a rambling drive down the California coast, sleeping in our truck…. running out of gas…using our last pennies to buy fish’nchips, beer and cigarettes. Soon we stepped it up and crossed the border into Mexico for a month of bus travel.

Nowadays we travel several times a year and have definitely racked up a stack of great memories and hard learned lessons!

The most important pieces of advice we have can be summed up easily:

1. Research country laws before you hop on the plane!

2. Keep your cell phone charged

3. Keep emergency $ and a copy of your passport stashed

4. Do Good, look good, be good

First Things First

Not knowing the laws and travel rules before boarding a plane to a new country can get you in a lot of trouble.

First of all, many countries have visa requirements such as “proof of onward travel”. You can get your ass sent right back to the USA if you are unable to provide proof of onward travel upon entrance to many countries. This is why it’s important to do your research!

As budget travelers we often have one way tickets without clear plans of when we are leaving. To bypass any issues we buy a 100% refundable airline ticket and cancel it after we get through customs.

Doing your research is extra important for sex-workers.

You may live in a place where your work is not only legal but moving towards being de-stigmatized… but the country you are traveling to may be very different. Camming/ Selling clips, all those pics on your phone and computer, that is considered pornography. And pornography is illegal in many places still, including Thailand.

I spoke personally with a traveling self-producing couple who were thrown in jail after police barged into their room while they were filming in Thailand. We had contact after they were released from prison and trying to come up with money to pay the fines, it was truly scary. They feared for their lives. You can read their full story Here . (Full disclosure, this couple had also overstayed their visas.)

While you may hear stories of people getting away with breaking laws… we always err on the side of safety. By doing this we feel more relaxed while traveling and stay safe!

It’s important to do your own research during travel planning. I’m going to include some graphics with examples of the laws as of 2019… Just so you can get an idea of how different the laws can be worldwide.

The following maps visualize the legality of pornography, sex toys, prostitution, and VPN’s worldwide. The penalties for getting caught breaking these laws can range from fines, to imprisonment, public flogging, and the death penalty. So – PLEASE- educate yourself before you travel as a sex worker! Knowledge is key to having a fun and safe time.

Legality of Pornography Worldwide

Legality of Prostitution World Wide

Countries where SEX TOYS are Illegal:

• Vietnam
• Thailand
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Malaysia
• India
• The Maldives

Pack your bags!

Alright. So you’ve done your research, booked your tickets, and you are ready to have a good time. Your next step is to make sure to pack for maximum fun and minimum hassels.

I ALWAYS recommend traveling as light as possible. I know it’s a personal preference, but if you can get away with just a comfortable carry-on backpack your life will be so much easier!

That being said I acknowledge most people (especially sex workers) don’t travel as light as I do. So anyways. Standard advice is to pack no more than 1 weeks worth of clothes, and plan on going to a wash and fold and having laundry done part way through. Really there’s no need for more than one checked bag unless you are bringing some major camera equipment.

I personally just use my cell phone as a camera when traveling. It’s way more discreet and I feel way less anxious carrying around a crappy old phone vs an expensive camera. I do however bring my laptop for editing and streaming. We also bring one LED light panel and stand, which typically gives us enough light without bulking out our luggage or drawing too much attention.

All sex toys should be checked if possible. Remove batteries and seal them in clear plastic bags, that way if you do get searched it’s more comfortable for everyone. Plus it just helps organize and keep everything clean and together. We usually travel with just a dildo and a cute plug… don’t over pack sex toys or costumes. Get creative with locations and roleplay ideas instead!

Make shit easier on yourself

A few things you can do while at home and not worry about later.

Order a bit of cash from the country you are traveling to from your local bank. Save time and money and just have that shit ready to go when you get there.

On that same note, make sure you have a debit card with no foreign transaction fees! We started a CapitalOne 360 account and love it for travel. It saves us so much money.

Another thing we have learned to do is to make a color copy of our passports. We carry those with us while out and about should we need it (some countries you MUST carry ID on you at all times) and keep our passports locked up somewhere safe. Write the emergency #’s and the us embassy’s number on it and carry it with you at all times. I got stopped bike a moto cop while smoking a joint one time. I pitched it but he knew. I swear the only reason I got to walk away was because I had ID on me an also those numbers conspicuously written on it.

Throw in a cheap poncho… never know when you might need it, or when you might need to keep you bag/computer dry! We also bring a large black trashbag for this purpose. Or there are fancy pack covers.

For longterm travel we make sure to add an ultralight water filter or filtration pen, quick dry travel towels, plenty of emergen-c, bandannas, a small first aid kit, and a few big external batteries to our pack. These items can make travling go so much smoother!

Preparing for the inevitable.

I know. Poop talk isn’t sexy. But I’m gunna be real with you. I always end up eating all the street food and at some point getting super sick. But I have learned to be better and be prepared! And now life is so much better. And I am here to share the good word with you… you don’t have to suffer!

Two step solution:

Step 1. Take pepto preventatively for a few days before and during your trip. This is as prescribed on the bottle. It is the best defense against travelers diarrhea… besides avoiding all the most fun and delicious foods… but who wants to do that?!

Step 2. If you slack off on the pepto or just get sick anyways *treat it immediately!* I don’t know why people wait so long and ruin their trip. Just take some loperimide as directed on the package at the first sign of trouble and save your vacay! Make sure you stick a few pills in your first aid kit before you leave so you don’t have to go searching for a pharmacy.

Destination Party Island

Alright. You land. Everything goes super smooth. You’ve got 50 bucks in your shoe, cell phones charged, light luggage, and you are ready to rock and roll!

Now it’s time to put our fourth and most important piece of advice into action.

“Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good”

It’s really self explanatory… but these words can really guide your trip into a beautiful, fun and safe experience.

Look Good:

Take a shower everyday when possible. Brush your hair. Research and respect cultural norms for the area you are in as far as clothing/coverage goes. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or watches. Dress simply, comfortably, and modestly. Especially until you understand the vibes of the area. When your hair is neat and you appear clean you attract good people and good opportunities ❤ And you will feel better too!

Feel Good:

You are already clean and looking good. You are in a beautiful new place full of things to do. Take care of your body so you can enjoy it! Stay hydrated, abstain from overindulging in booze or drugs, keep a clear head and an adventurous attitude! We are actually sober travelers- we don’t drink at all, just occasional weed in areas where it is legal or decriminalized. It is the best thing we have ever done for our travels! I know it sounds hard to fathom when you are a habitual pinacolada on the beach drinker… but all that sugar and cheap booze does not make for a fun early morning sunrise hike! You can nurse hangovers in your bed at home… allow yourself to fully experience your travels and don’t feed into the idea that you have to overindulge when traveling. The cheap booze in them bogo drinks is going to RuiN.Yo.DaY if you drink too many! An added bonus is you tend to get away with more sober. Get busted making out on a private beach sober? Show the cops a copy of your ID, apologize profusely, and get sent on your way. Get busted in the same situation drunk? Potentially get hauled to jail for public intoxication… no bueno!

Do Good:

So now we are looking clean and put together, we have a clear head and are feeling good. How can we make this the safest and most satisfying experience? By always “doing good”. It’s actually really easy. Whenever in doubt- do the “good” thing. Public sex/ sex in sacred areas? Naw brah. Should I leave a good tip? YES! Should I try to buy illegal drugs and risk jail? NO! Should I go to a cultural center to learn more about the area I am visiting ? Hell yeah! Should I hookup with this person? They seem buzzed… Hell Naw! Should I purchase these handmade items to benefit building a new library in town? Helll yas and leave a little donation too!

Just be Good. Be a good representation of your country. Be a good representation of humanity. This is not just to protect the world around you… this will elevate your experience. People notice when you “look good, feel good, do good”. New opportunities arise, you stay out of trouble, you make really cool friends, and you avoid problems. This is the most important piece of advice I have. This is pretty much how I have come out alive from all the crazy, sketchy things I have done while traveling. I surround myself with good people. I make good choices (mooostly). And good things happen to me.

Last piece of advice:

Alright. I know. I sound like your mother. I am actually a fan of going hard when traveling! Late nights,early mornings, saying yes to crazy things… I just like to keep my experiences positive and I want you to travel safely as well. My last piece of advice has literally saved my life before (another story for another time…) : make a few quick contacts on couchsurfing.com before you head down! Get out of your comfort zone and meet up with a local at a coffee shop. Get their advice and perspective on the city. It is also handy in case of emergency to at least have a couple local numbers if you need them. Most people on the app speak English and are happy to help fellow travelers!

Alright babes! Do you have any travel tips/ tricks of your own? Leave it in the comments below!

Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good!

Love, Bonni B Good ❤