Bougie Girl Basics

Dear Bougie Girl,

Welcome to the wonderful world of travel. Once the travel bug bites you, it’s hard not to jump on a flight every chance you get. Before you become a world-renowned traveler (I know it’s coming!), let’s discuss some basic travel tips.

1.    Neck Pillow

You need a quality neck pillow, preferably not an expensive one you’d buy in a pinch at the airport. Why are neck pillows so important? Because whether it’s a short regional flight or a long-haul international flight, Bougie Girls want to be comfortable.

2.    Designated Travel Clothes 

Having designated travel clothes is a must for travel. Why? Because while preparing for your trip, you don’t want to waste energy worrying about what you’ll wear on the plane. Designated travel clothes should adhere to three rules:

First, they must be comfy. You’ll be loading and unloading luggage and maneuvering around people. It will be an active day, so you’ll want to be comfortable with lots of mobility.

Second, it needs to be versatile. Airports and planes are notorious for having extreme weather. The only thing worse than a freezing plane is a sweltering one. You want an outfit that is adaptable and allows you to make minor adjustments to acclimate to the departure and arrival weather and everything in between. Bonus points if it has a hood.

Lastly, it must be stylish. Bougie Girl, while we want to be as functional as possible, we also want to look good!

My go-to designated travel outfits are: (1) a black Savage Fenty sports bra with matching leggings that I cover with a jacket that I can button up or take off depending on the temperature change, or (2) a red Savage Fenty hoodie and jogger set.

3.    Quality Luggage

Bougie Girl, it’s time to invest in some quality luggage. Luggage is literally the backbone of any trip. When my coins were shorter in stature, I had crappy luggage: bags that didn’t roll properly and pieces that looked good but didn’t withstand the test of time. Beyond a headache, bad luggage can make your trip logistically harder. I remember the time my now husband, then boyfriend, and I took an 18-day trip to Europe. Since we were traveling around the country, we only brought carry-on luggage and a book bag. While in Venice, we started buying gifts for family and needed more luggage for everything. We bought what we thought was a good quality bag – for a decent price. Turns out, it was just a cheap bag. Within two days the rollers on the bag broke, and we spent the rest of the trip dragging the broken luggage behind us. From that moment forward I vowed I would only buy good-quality bags.

I’m a loyal member of the Away Luggage family. The pieces are reasonably priced and include lifetime warranties. My husband and I have called on the return policy a time or two, and it’s always an easy and hassle-free process. This year, my bag got a small dent. The company replaced it with a brand-new one. You’ll have to invest money to have good, quality pieces.

4.    Loyalty to An Airline

Loyalty is the name of the game if you want extra perks like free drinks, entry to membership-only airline clubs, and the coveted free upgrades to business or first class. Being loyal to one airline will provide you with perks that will make your trip more enjoyable. What airline you pick should be a strategic decision. What airline flies from your location most frequently? Which one flies to the places you go the most? Who has the most reasonably priced flights? If you plan to be a semi-frequent flyer, being loyal to one airline is a no-brainer.

5.    Give Your Credit Cards a Heads Up

If you aren’t yet a frequent traveler, your credit and debit card company needs to know you plan to be. Why? Because if you go to a new city or country and use your card, the company may flag it as fraud and suspend it. The last thing you want is to be in a store, ready to buy the perfect pair of heels, only to have your card deny the purchase. I’ve had it happen to me, and I don’t want it to happen to you. Alerting your card company is easy and can be done online or via phone.

As always, Bougie Girl, I’m here in your corner, rooting for you to have the best trip ever. And if you ever want to step your travel game up, I’m only a call away. 

XOXO,
Truscenialyn