Travel Tattoos: Some Advice From Laura
Let's be real—I swore "never again" after each of my travel tattoos, yet somehow keep ending up in foreign tattoo shops with a needle buzzing against my arm. There's something about being in an Uber in Medellín or Mexico City that apparently makes me incredibly decisive about permanent body art. Who knew?
How many travel tattoos have you gotten?
I currently have four, and I keep saying this is my last one every single time. All of my tattoos have flowers incorporated into them. I love the temporary symbolism of flowers–they're not meant to last forever, and they're a reminder to embrace the now and enjoy the present moment.
Freshly inked skin after getting my most recent tattoo on a group trip in Mexico City in 2024.
Tell us about them! Where are they, where did you get them, why did you get them?
First tattoo: I got my first one in Medellín, Colombia in 2022. I'd always wanted a tattoo, but I could never think of something I'd want on my body forever. I even had recurring nightmares of getting horrible tattoos, like a giant lizard that went up the entire side of my body. But I'd also always wanted to take my group to get travel tattoos. So when they asked me to find a place for them to get them in Medellín at the end of our group trip, I started to consider getting one of my own.
My very first tattoo that I got on a group trip Medellín, Colombia in 2022.
I am an incredibly indecisive person–I struggle to commit to picking something to eat for dinner–so picking a tattoo was overwhelming. I usually have to be pressured at the last possible moment to make a decision, or I never will. So when we were in our Uber en route to get tattoos, I found a photo of a poppy and the Taurus constellation that just made sense to me at that moment in time.
Poppies are technically classified as weeds, but people recognize them as beautiful flowers. They're resilient and grow in even the most inhospitable landscapes.
Another shot of my first tattoo—a mash up of a poppy and the Taurus constellation.
Symbolism:
Resilience: Poppies are tenacious and can grow in harsh environments.
Grounded nature: Poppies symbolize the earth sign of Taurus.
Remembrance: Poppies are a symbol of remembrance, which is something a Taurus knows well.
I got this first one on my left forearm.
Second tattoo: Mexico City in 2022 on my right forearm, mere months after swearing I'd only get one tattoo (oops). This was my marigold tattoo with "recuérdame" (remember me) that I got to honor my grandmother and Day of the Dead traditions.
In the hot seat getting my second tattoo in Mexico City (2022).
Third tattoo: Frida Kahlo in Mexico City on the back of my left arm. Once again, I was not planning to get a tattoo. I was again in an Uber on my way to take my group, and as I looked at designs I wasn't sure what I wanted. I planned to tentatively get a tiny bull tattoo to represent the Taurus and living in Spain when I was young–something that is part of my greater story and guided me through my divorce. I also loved the idea of getting an abstract tattoo of Frida Kahlo, as she's always inspired me with her feminist art. She is considered a symbol of female empowerment and resistance, and she's a big part of my trips to Mexico City. I also loved the idea of getting a flower crown on my tattoo–a little nod to my many summers making flower crowns for the artists at Blue Ox Music Festival in EC.
About to get inked! Minutes before my third tattoo in Mexico City (2023) became permanent.
It's become a good conversation piece–people either tell me they love it, or they ask what it is (and often I find out that they have no idea who Frida is), or they ask me if I knew my tattoo has eyebrows.
Fourth tattoo: CDMX 2024 - Bull with flowers on my right forearm. This was a tattoo I considered getting the previous time and got Frida instead. I figured if a year later I still wanted this tattoo, I was safe! I love the fine lines and the Taurus reference + the flowers.
My most recent inking—done in Mexico City (2024).
What makes getting a tattoo while traveling different?
I can't speak to getting a tattoo while NOT traveling, but I would imagine that it just carries a bit more of a story than your average tattoo that you get in your city. It's not only a conversation piece, but every tattoo is a story of where I was when I got it, the people I was with, and the significance. We're all forever bonded by getting tattoos together. Plus, how many people get to say "I decided to get this when I was in an Uber in Medellín?"
What's something important to know if we haven't gotten a travel tattoo before?
Don't overthink it! Yes, tattoos are forever, but as long as you get something you love, you won't regret it because it's such an amazing memory and story. If you aren't 100% certain, get something small and get it in a place that's less visible.
Do your research on the tattoo shop/artist–nobody wants to get hepatitis in a foreign country. Make sure they follow proper sterilization practices and take that seriously. Look for photos of previous work, read reviews, and if it doesn't feel right, don't do it! Also don't be afraid to ask for changes until the design is exactly what you want. I have had them place the mockup on me and didn't like the placement, so they repositioned it to make sure it was perfect.
Think about your itinerary–are you going to the beach the next day? Maybe it's not the best time to get a tattoo. We generally get them at the end of our group trips so we aren't exposing them to sun/elements while we are traveling and it doesn't impact your trip.
Make sure you understand the meaning of foreign words/symbols before you permanently place them on your body. Nobody wants to find out that their tattoo actually means "chicken soup" instead of "courage." I have the word "recuérdame" (Spanish for 'remember me') on my arm, and I made damn sure it was spelled right and I knew what it meant before I had the artist draw it up. I am forever traumatized by seeing my cousin's giant tattoo of his son's name inked on his body and missing a letter.
How many people have you influenced to get travel tattoos with?
The question is how many have influenced me!? Haha. I have probably had at least 30 people get tattoos at the same time as me, and I've had at least 15-20 more get them in Cuba with my guide while I sipped mojitos at the beach with the rest of my group. If you’re questioning my influence—here’s a gallery to back me up.
What's your next tattoo?
I might be done for a while…but ask me again after my next trip to Mexico City. 🥲
Look, I'm not saying you need to come to Mexico City with me specifically to get a tattoo (although our October CDMX trip still has a few spots open!)—but I am saying there's something beautifully permanent about marking yourself with the places that have marked your soul. So maybe next time you're trying to decide between another magnet for your fridge or another t-shirt for your drawer, consider something a bit more... lasting. Your future self with the badass travel story to tell at parties will thank you.
