If just the thought of traveling with sex toys leaves you blushing, you’ve probably already got a list going of good reasons to leave the playthings at home:

· I’d never risk having my vibrator exposed at the airport security checkpoint
· I’m traveling abroad and don’t think the electrical currents are compatible
· We’re traveling with the kids and I’d rather not have them find my stuff
· We’re visiting relatives and we don’t want them to find our stuff
· There’s no room in our suitcase for bulky toys

These are all valid concerns, so let’s just admit, it’s easier to leave your toys at home. But if sex toys are an integral part of your sex life, you’re depriving yourself of well-deserved pleasure. If you’re going on vacation, aren’t you entitled to the most enjoyable, satisfying, relaxing and rejuvenating experience possible? Even if you only play with toys now and then, think of how erotically charged they become in a foreign locale.

Imagine using a glow- in-the-dark vibrator on a camping trip, or slipping a duckie vibrator into the bath at your in-laws house.

In fact, traveling with sex toys needn’t be a hassle. With a little planning, some smart shopping, and a small attitude adjustment, you can nip the anxieties in the bud and have a vacation overflowing with pleasure.
Plan Ahead
You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble if you take a minute to plan ahead. So much of travel involves anticipating a variety of situations, so ask yourself these questions:

 · Will I be going through airport security? If so, pack any sex toys in your checked baggage as these are not scrutinized nearly as closely as the carry-ons.

· Are my toys compatible? If you’re bringing an electric vibrator to a foreign country, check to see if the electrical currents are compatible. If not, bring an adapter (especially if you’re traveling with other appliances like hair dryers or curling irons) or simply consider bringing along a battery vibrator.

· Will I have any privacy? How you answer this question will dictate what kinds of toys you pack. If you’ll be staying in your own room, you can pretty much bring whatever toys you like. If you’re staying with snoopy relatives or inquisitive kids, pack your toys in an overnight bag and put a lock on it. If you’re sharing a room, your best bet might be quiet toys or waterproof toys you can use in the bathroom.

· Am I packing light? Choose smaller toys if space is an issue. Whether you’re backpacking across Europe, you’re camping all summer, or you’re heading out on a short business trip, you don’t want to be lugging around hefty toys. Plenty of vibrators and dildos come in small, discreet designs now.

· Can I get my needs met another way? The answer to this depends a lot on what gets you off, where you’re going, and how creative you are. If you like the stimulation from a waterjet , hotel Jacuzzis or shower massagers might be all you need. If you’re a fan of bondage, a silk scarf might take the place of your favorite restraints.

Choose Judiciously And Adventurously
Unless you travel with your own valet, you probably don’t have the luxury of throwing all of your favorite toys into a suitcase and then playing with whichever one strikes your fancy. When it’s time to pack, choose your toys judiciously. Pick a couple of favorites and then select those that are most versatile. A vibrator/dildo combination will replace two toys with one. A fingertip vibrator will come in handy for masturbation (of either sex) and during partner sex.

Choose adventurously because travel affords you a unique opportunity to expand your erotic horizons. Think about your destination and whether or not you can enrich your experience with a sex toy. If you’re going somewhere tropical, bring along some waterproof toys, if you’re going on a road trip, give the navigator something to do besides read maps. If you’re going hiking, try a remote vibrator, some erotic massage oils, or a solar-powered vibrator. Before you go, visit some toy stores or websites to get a few ideas.


“I have a 35 minute commute each morning and evening, working in the city and living in a rural area. Before I leave work, I slip into the ladies room and insert my bullet-style vibe. As I'm driving home, I turn it on low and enjoy my drive. If I reach orgasm, that's fine, but if not, my husband is ready and willing when I get home. Some nights dinner just has to be late.”
Opt For Discretion
Your chances of being outed while traveling with your sex toy drop drastically if you choose from one of the dozens of sex toys that disguise themselves as other things. A few of today’s most discreet vibrators include:

· Lipstick Vibe. Unless the security guard asks to borrow your lipstick, you are safe with this vibrator. It looks exactly like a lipstick case, and even opened up it’d fool you at a glance (since the vibrator is also shaped like lipstick). It reminds me an awful lot of the fake lipstick they have for young girls, so you can always pass it off as your daughter’s if you get caught.

· VibraPen. Executives take note: this looks just like a vintage fountain pen. You can carry it in your shirt pocket, or check it through with your keys, and nobody will think you’re anything other than a respectable business person.

· Natural Contours Vibrators. The “made by a woman” vibes look more like Maxi pads than vibrators (and you know those male guards are not going to question anything that looks like a feminine hygiene product). They come in three sizes and ultra-tasteful designer colors.

· Fukuoku. Given the headache-inspiring ordeal air travel has become, this fingertip vibe will double nicely as a temple-massager. That’s how it’s marketed to the mainstream public, so don’t be surprised if a fellow traveler asks to borrow it!

· Rubber Duckie Vibe. Travel with the ducky vibrator and everyone will assume the toy is for the tots--even if it turns itself on and starts to vibrate. All kids toys have bells and whistles so no one will ever suspect all that gadgetry is designed for your pleasure.

· Technovibes. These are vibrators that pass themselves off as other technological gadgets such as pagers or walkmans. The ingenious Audio-oh looks a little like a walkman whose vibrations are timed to the beat of the music.

Other toys such as dildos, cock rings and bondage toys, don’t let themselves so well to camouflage, but you can choose toys that don’t advertise their intention quite so explicitly. Many dildos, particularly silicone models, come in shapes, colors and sizes that look nothing like a penis. Some stylish cock rings pass quite easily as wrist bands, and blindfolds are practically a staple of airplane travel.

Have A Sense Of Humor
You’re much more likely to navigate any bumps in your trip if you’ve got a good sense of humor. I’ve heard plenty of entertaining stories about people getting caught red-handed with their sex toys. Betty Dodson likes to tell about the time her super-heavy metal vaginal barbell was confiscated by airport security, and she tracked it down and demanded they return it. The owners of Vibratex, a company that imports Japanese vibrators, decided to check a couple cases of dildo-type vibrators on a trip back to the states, only to be queried by a red-faced Japanese customs agent who certainly wasn’t expecting such explicit cargo.
Own It
When it comes right down to it, most of us are simply embarrassed about being ‘caught’ with our sex toys. I’m not alone in hoping the airport security guard doesn’t hold my Hitachi magic wand up for inspection. And yeah, I’d rather my children and relatives don’t come face to face with my sex toys. But all these things have happened to me and I’m no worse for wear. I accept the fact that during a lifetime of sex toy use, a few of these things are bound to happen. I try to extricate myself gracefully from each situation while imparting some small shred of my toy philosophy in the process. I told the security guard it was a vibrator and he blushingly put it back; I told my daughter the dildo she’d found was a ‘grown-up toy,’ and I told my mom the vibrator she found under the bed was great for orgasms and she ought to try one.

By simply traveling with your sex toys you are standing up for what you believe in—namely, the right to experience pleasure wherever, whenever and with whatever you choose. If you get caught, you can seize upon the opportunity to educate someone else. Look that security guard squarely in the eye and say, “It’s my Rabbit Pearl Vibrator and it brings me hours of pleasure.” Just imagine how many other guards and passengers will probably run home and try to find your vibrator on the internet? Plenty!
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Anne Semans is the co-author of The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex
copyright 2003. Anne Semans