It prompted me to think back on the games that did inspire me, or (more importantly) prepared me, for travel. The games that made me consider what that part of the world really looked and felt like. The games that taught me, through their own immersive storytelling, how to navigate scenarios before I actually got there. Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time, but they were giving me rules to live by in solo travel that helped me feel ready to go out on my own.

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Tomb Raider

For the longest I was afraid to play Tomb Raider on my own. The bears and leopards attacking out of nowhere, while you’re in a dark cave, were more jump scares than I was interested in — I was content to just watch my father play instead. I was still partial to the coziness and friendly competition of Mario Kart or The Sims. When I did play I’d remain in the Croft mansion, pretending I was training and occasionally locking the butler in the meat freezer. I should’ve peeped the introversion, when even in a game I had no desire to leave the house or interact with people.

Shadow and Rise of the Tomb Raider are the first in the series I actually finished. This was around the same time that I’d started traveling with friends, but not as many were making it out the group chat as I wanted — still, I was hesitant to book a trip alone. So the escape into Lara’s comfortability with not just traveling alone, but with adventuring, hit different this time.

The discovery element, learning more about something historical and uncovering the real history — not the one we learned in school — I understood has to come from actually being there and seeing it for yourself. The revelation that happens toward the end was always some kind of ‘ohhh they got it all wrong what was really happening’ moment toward the end of the game (regardless of what country or culture had to be desecrated for you to get to that point).

Note to Self: If I want the truth, I have to go there myself

The Operative : No One Lives Forever

Anytime I thought of what Morocco looks like, it was No One Lives Forever that came into my head. The stealth first-person shooter follows Cate Archer, a British spy with a ‘60s bob and better gadgets than James Bond as far as I was concerned. Her missions take her through several cities and regions - Berlin, the Alpines, Hamburg - but for some reason it was Morocco that always stayed in my mind.

Similar to Tomb Raider (sans the cushy mansion), you start The Operative with a training simulation that gets you ready for the mission. At the time it was my least favorite part of the game - it felt slow and I was the type of gamer to skip the tutorials and just figure it out as I went - but ultimately that mandatory prep made the difference in how much I remembered to use certain gadgets or abilities. When you’re familiar with your surroundings don’t feel the same need to ‘get ready’ as you do when you’re in a new place, or playing a new game.

Note to Self: practice and prep before I go.

Almost every man in the game is crass toward Cate Archer, completely underestimating her abilities and mansplaining her own job to her; even other female characters weren’t usually on her side. It was how she responded to it all that was interesting to me — she never loses it at anyone, she’s not combative about how she’s received, rather she uses it to her benefit.

Her being underestimated meant she always had the element of surprise, and as a spy of course she’d always be reading the room, and the people in it. Not feeling the need to correct them, not rising to their bait, always gave her the upper hand in the situation.

Note to Self: There’s safety in letting them underestimate you. Stay ready anyway.

Considering the similarities, I have a strong feeling this game inspired the creators of the Archer series in some way. Even beyond Miss Archer herself, the Tom Goodman character (her American male counterpart who thinks more of himself than he should) and Dr. Shenker characters all bear striking resemblance to Archer’s main characters. And now that I’ve unlocked this core childhood memory I can’t ever watch Archer the same again.

I’m not sure why this hasn’t been remastered/rebooted by now, but if you know how to access Operative No One Lives Forever please let me know!

MYST

As solo mystery-puzzle game set on a deserted island, I found Myst scarier than it likely was intended to be. I was used to Tomb Raider or Doom where monsters and attackers can jump out at you at any given moment. Despite insisting this wasn’t that type of game (I didn’t believe him), I thought it only made sense I should have something to defend myself with…just in case.

Up until that point I’d never seen gameplay solely based on puzzle/problem-solving and exploration — no fighting, no dying, no racing, no collecting — just you and your choices. Even in The Sims you can get into fights, or Death might pop up in your house randomly. MYST was a level of defenselessness and isolation that prepared me for solo travel before I realized it. I don’t recall there ever being any clear instructions for how to play, no tutorials or walkthroughs to look up how to progress, just the hope that you’ll figure it out as the gamer and clues will reveal themselves when you’re on the right track. MYST isn’t an open-world in the way that we understand them now I think, but it was open enough that it forced me to practice moving around on my own. In particular, without a clear destination.

Note to Self: It’s ok to figure it out along the way

For a newer challenge than MYST, try The Witness. It feels heavily inspired by MYST with an almost identical setup — waking up alone on a deserted island with hundreds of puzzles to solve in order to find your way home — without the competing brother backstory.

Special shoutout to Midnight Rescue! which also Horror has never made sense to me as a form of entertainment, so even though Midnight Rescue! was likely not meant to be scary, for me playing this around 5 years old, it was. You play as a student tasked with saving his school by solving a mystery before midnight. Midnight Rescue! is an educational game, made to help kids develop critical thinking skills - it created a lot of that same isolation and fear that MYST did for me years later. Even with my aunt Kosi sitting next to me (waiting to play herself), she’d still have to push me a bit to turn the dark corners — it’s fine Akua…just go.

Note to Self: Going alone means facing fears

I didn’t realize it then of course, but I’ve been pulling pieces of advice in how to travel from games all my life. Especially, the games that don’t explicitly center exploration are still the ones that prepare us for travel.

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That first year at DragonCon, I hung out with the Gotham cast impromptu and ran into a friend I hadn’t seen since elementary school in Brooklyn. Had a lightsaber battle with a (presumed) 7-year-old at a 3 am rave. I learned the very hard way that con crud is a different kind of sick. I never made it to a single panel, and didn’t find the show floor until the last day of the con. It wasn’t until my 4th year that I found where the food court is, and my 6th that I learned there’s a WWE wrestling ring and secret shibari rooms (somewhere) at DragonCon too.

To help you have less of the bewilderment and even more enjoyment than I had my first year, hold onto this DragonCon survival guide:

Why Dragons?

Where other cons and conferences focus on one specific fandom, shutting down once the show floor closes, and hosts parties and meetups afterward…DragonCon throws all of that out the window. As we’re all multi-faceted beings, this con spreads across 5 hotels and at least 20 fandoms form up like Voltron to become this community-led super con. If you’re a gamer, there’s several floors of tabletop, PC and arcade games to play. If you’re also into fantasy, there’s both a High Fantasy and, separately Urban Fantasy, tracks to follow. That’s where the dragons come in — one element to find across fandoms. One element to bring them all, and in the madness bind them.

The Surroundings

There are about 5 blocks worth of opportunity to get lost, and more than likely, you will. One rule of thumb I was told my first year, helped me remember which hotel I was in at any given moment — If everyone’s at the bar, you’re in the Hyatt. If everyone is there, you’re in the Marriott. If it’s loud, you’re in the Hilton. If it’s dark, you’re in the Westin. And if no one is there…you’re in the Sheraton. You’ll head there to pick up your badge day 1, but beside to go see the mermaids you’re unlikely to return.

DragonCon Culture

• Badges don’t always sell out, but they do get more expensive as con ticks closer. They go on sale just after con ends so the best time to buy is just after then as that’s the least expensive they’ll be.

• Badges also aren’t mailed with this con. You’ll receive a card in the mail to pick up your badge IRL with (don’t forget to pack it!) . If you time it right, you’ll skip the hours long line and be in and out of the Sheraton that one time.

• If only every con had an app as useful as DragonCons. All the panels, vendors, artists and parties are there to add to your schedule ad be reminded of what’s coming up next. You can also add friends you meet along the way

• You’ll notice small items start popping up around the con, in random and obscure places. Little figurines, candies, accessories and the like. People aren’t leaving their things around by accident, it’s a surprise giveaway system called swag and seek. Bring your own giveaways to participate and leave them where they might be randomly found

• Badge ribbons operate in a similar fashion, given out at discretion by the con goers that make them. You’ll notice badge trains getting longer every day, some even a few floors long! There’s ribbon exchange meetups you can join if you have ribbons to swap, otherwise walking around you can luck into receiving some

• The show floor closes, the con doesn’t — you can find something happening at any time of day and night here, and that’s part of the magic of it

• The Googly Eyes — with each passing day you’ll notice more and more of those little sticky googly eyes popping up on random things. Your mind’s not deceiving you, it’s on purpose!

• Carpet Cult — Before the Marriott changed their carpet some years ago, it was a gaudy but beloved pattern that a few of us might’ve been devastated to find out was replaced. Being the crafters and creators we are, that pattern has since been woven into cosplays, clothes and accessories — a cheerful nod that has absolutely no relevance at any other con but this one 🙃

• DragonConTV — staying in a host hotel (or Hotel Indigo), the best way to catch the panels and the parade is the same way New Yorkers watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve — on TV, and in bed. DragonConTV is a 24 hour program that televises everything happening around con for the weekend.

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Where to Stay

Even though it’s a fan run con, DragonCon host hotels sell out just as quickly (if not more so) than bigger cons like San Diego — and by quickly I mean within mere seconds. Snagging a room in a host hotel is the prime goal, but there’s several other hotels and home rentals in walking distance or nearby if you don’t mind leaving the con space. Beside proximity, some host hotels like the Hyatt and Hilton offer legacy programs — this is the magical program that allows us to guarantee we’ll have a room next year, and can skip the hotel hunger games instead.

Once you have a legacy room, no one gives them up without reason but it does happen when the stars align. Keep an eye on the DragonCon Rooms group, especially last minute, for people who can no longer attend that are open to transfers.

Where to Eat

Especially for the neurodivergents, one that’s very easy for us to forget is to eat! The Peachtree Mall Food Court is the primary place to eat as it’s central to everything, and there’s a ton of options as well as places to just sit when you need a minute. When picking up your badge you’ll find a usual smorgasbord of food trucks to choose from.

Nowadays we’ll opt for an Instacart order, but we’ve also taken an off-campus excursion to the grocery + liquor store ourselves. Go on your first day and it gives the badge line some time to wind down during the day (can be 2+ hour wait), and pick up your badge that evening instead.

Finding Your People

As a solo traveling neurospicy introvert I was super nervous my first year. Do I talk to people? Make friends with my roommates I’d never met before the first day? It may not be our go-to social channel anymore, but Facebook Groups can be the goldmine you need. Search for the DragonCon groups to find someone to share or buy a room from, when the parties are, cosplay groups to shoot with and photographers to book. Sync your cosplay days with the group shoot schedule, which you’ll find in this group.

It’s also a great way to find people — Sober partiers | search the con name and you’ll find niche groups

Party Time!

Like everything else, you’ll find a themed party in each hotel, each night there’s a themed party in at each of the host hotels which are put on by the various tracks DragonCon has — you’ll find these in the app under Events. The nearby bars and lounges will also regularly have parties going all weekend

Thursday: Bunny Hutch

As many years as I’ve been going to Dragoncon I’ve never actually attended the Bunny Hutch myself, but it seems like you can still enjoy whether you get in yourself. Competitors must register ahead of the cosplay contest, everyone else just needs to get on line early enough — but both fill up very quickly!

Friday: Wrestling and Mermaids

It wasn’t until several years in that I realised there’s an entire wresting ring in the bowels of the Marriott with themed fights from amateur and even pro wrestlers. If WWE is your thing, you’ll find your people there. The Sheraton pool is basically the only host hotel pool that you can count on being open, so if you’ve ever wanted to see a mermaid IRL that’s where' they’ll be.

Saturday: The Parade + Georgia Aquarium Party

DragonCon’s parade is Atlanta’s largest parade of the year, and brings people from all over the city to watch or join in. If crowds are not your thing, avoid Peachtree altogether (you won’t be able to cross easily anyway) and watch the parade from your room like New Yorkers do the NYE ball drop.

Save your water-based cosplays for the evening aquarium party — Saturday’s second biggest event. It’s hosted in partnership with the Georgia Aquarium about 15 minutes away from DragonCon’s host hotels, and there’s regular free shuttle buses to bring you to there/back. Unlike the hotel parties, this one is ticketed and sells out fairly quickly. If you miss out, there’s usually opportunities to buy a ticket from someone else in the Facebook group and Discord.

Sunday: Photo Shoots

There are shoots happening all day, every day, but the largest are usually Saturday and Sunday for group photo shoots especially. Whether you’re cosplaying or not, the Hilton back steps are the spot to people and cosplay watch. You can also often get lucky and get in with one of the photographers camped outside for a quick free shoot.

Monday: Vendor Hall shopping

If you notice it’s not as crowded as you expected at the vendor hall by Monday, that’s because everyone’s either tired, gone home already or both. There’s more room to move around, but a bit less time to do so as the vendor hall closes earlier at 5pm (not 7pm).

What I Wish I Knew

There’s something about it being 24 hours, for 5 days, forgetting to eat, getting little sleep and being surrounded by thousands of people from all over the world that makes con crud something very different than a regular cold. It can last weeks (even before covid) if you’re not careful. Con crud was a hard earned lesson, but you don’t need to learn it twice — stock up early on your favorite immune boosters and take 1-2 every morning.

A couple more things to keep in mind:

• Take an immune booster every day (Vitamin C, theraflu, emergen-c, etc.)

• Join the cosplay and photography groups for missed photos of your cosplay

• The Marriott is not a legacy hotel

• Avoid being on Peachtree Saturday morning, unless you’re in the parade.

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As an adult, much of my travel began with group trips (Miami, Cancun, Las Vegas, Punta Cana) easy to get to, inexpensive getaways. I traveled with long time friends, new co-workers I vibed with, and even strangers I’d met in Facebook travel groups. We all inherently shared the same intention: leave it all behind. Travel was the release valve for the stresses we’d all been accumulating for months. The escape from everything and everyone — permission to turn off the alarms, check into the all-inclusive, put on the wristbands, and turn up. Waking up at 1pm to get brunch and do it all over again? Call that me getting back to my circadian rhythm.

It took a minute (read: years of trips) to realize that as much as I relished the escape, and always will, travel was not in fact my meditation. It was my band-aid. The kind that falls off as soon as you get back home, and the wound that didn’t fully heal re-opens. My meditation teacher Faviana, at Pure Ritam says “waiting for vacation in order to de-stress is like waiting until your car breaks down to change the oil’. Ritam Meditation isn’t of the “calm your mind” variety, which any neurospicy brain will confirm, is rarely effective. This is a deep-rest practice that releases stress and stored tension, not only releasing your current stress, but also the stress that’s accumulated in your body over your lifetime.

By releasing stress more regularly, I’m allowing myself a deeper rest — which means I can handle the day-to-day stress better. I spend less time de-stressing, and because the practice is so restorative I have a greater capacity to keep going…especially when I’ve overstacked my itinerary. What I didn’t expect was how meditation would affect why I’m traveling, because I now have the headspace to consider the kind of experiences I want to get out of my vacation days.

Hustle culture runs deep in the United States, and vacation days are limited for everyone so time off is a precious commodity. When we do finally arrive, the decision between early-morning tours and finally finishing that book on the beach with unlimited cocktails becomes an easy one — let’s do nothing. Though for me, I realized it came at the expense of wholly experiencing the place I traveled to. For example, in the last 9 years that I’ve been going to DragonCon, I rarely get to explore Atlanta, which is an occurrence that is echoed by many in the con community.

Now that I live abroad, I’m more purposeful and intentional about the trips I take. Holding space to not only party in Ghana for “Detty” December, but also to understand my ancestors journey both there and in the US. When I do return home, I am intentional about spending time with family members and re-connecting with extended family that I haven’t seen in decades.

Geekdom Travel is collaborating with Pure Ritam, and we’re inviting you to travel more intentionally in 2026 (and infinity, and beyond). Let us know how these intentions — Veneration, Connection and Discovery — feel to you and try the accompanying practices while traveling, whether solo or with friends, to get more out of your vacation.

Honoring your community

Creating community is an intentional act

Living abroad, I don’t get to spend time with friends and family as often as I did when we lived in the same city. Staying connected now requires a bit of effort from everyone involved. So when I return home, I’m deliberate about how I spend that time. Going to DragonCon isn’t just a quick flight to Atlanta anymore. It’s a long layover in Detroit to visit family I hadn’t seen in decades, and a stop in NYC to see my parents and friends. We coordinate our individual travel plans so those moments overlap, creating more in-person time and shared experience.

When we travel with others, that coordination becomes part of the experience itself — navigating not just new places but the dynamics of shared space, different energy levels, and varying needs. From a wellness perspective, meaningful connection requires boundaries that protect the quality of togetherness. It’s not about being joined at the hip, it’s about creating containers for real presence with each other.

The best adventures for connection are those you collaborate putting together, so everyone is excited for the trip ahead. Prioritize homes over hotels for a more communal experiences, especially for reunions or family/friends trips. Activities everyone can share in, like theme parks, museums, carnivals and festivals are a safe bet — but if you haven’t been a comic con yet, there’s likely more for everyone to do than meets the eye!

Intentional Practices:

Ground Rules with Heart - Pre-trip decide as a group on 2-3 non-negotiable connection practices. These aren’t rules to restrict anyone; they’re agreements that say “we value each other’s presence.” This allows everyone to actually be present for each other, while connecting to our individual selves too. This is where your personal Ritam Meditation practice becomes a gift to the group — when you’re regulated and rested, you show up better for everyone.

• No phones during shared meals

• At least one group meal every other day where you sit, linger, and talk (not grab-and-go)

• Free time where people can split up without awkwardness (solo napping, exploring journaling

The Pulse Check - Pick a moment in the day (like over morning coffee, or on the way to con) for everyone to briefly share how they’re doing: How’s your energy? What are you’re grateful or happy about today? What do you need? This prevents small frustrations from building up and helps everyone feel seen.

Honoring what came before

Veneration, meaning to show great respect or reverence; pay homage to, or to honor. We’re used to talking about veneration through an ancestral lens, but we can also have cultural and even self-veneration. It can be visiting places that hold ancestral stories from the homelands our great grandparents were either pulled from, or fled. In those spaces we have to allow ourselves the vulnerability to feel everything that arises for us emotionally without it becoming overwhelming. The intentional practices below offer a simple way to help you stay present and grounded during these moments.

Going to Africa always felt like an out of reach dream to me, until I got there — ready for the Afrochella x Afronation turn up we planned for. What I didn’t plan for were the waves of emotions — pride, confusion, grief, solace, relief, happiness — that came from visiting Cape Coast castle, or the simple act of walking along the beach in Accra. It would’ve been a very heavy feeling to bring into the New Year without practicing Ritam Meditation after that experience. This trip also reminded me that ancestral doesn’t only mean the motherland but also where we were forcibly brought to, including the U.S. After years of spending consecutive New Years in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, I hadn’t been to South Carolina, Alabama, or Georgia in decades — those became the next places to prioritize spending time in.

Intentional Practices:

Earth Connection Ritual - Before entering a significant ancestral site, find a quiet spot nearby. Remove your shoes if possible and place your bare feet (or hands) on the earth for 3-5 minutes. Feel the ground beneath you. This simple act tells your nervous system that while you’re connecting to the past, you’re rooted in the present.

Affirmation: I am here. I am safe. I am honoring those who came before me.

Somatic Release After Visiting - After leaving an emotionally heavy site, find a private space and do this: Stand with feet hip-width apart. Gently shake your hands, then your arms, then your whole body for 60-90 seconds. This isn’t exercise; it’s letting your body discharge what it absorbed. Animals do this instinctively after stress. We can too. Then place both hands on your heart and take three slow breaths, acknowledging what you witnessed and what you felt. If you’re still feeling the weight of these experiences in your body, this free somatic technique will help you regulate your nervous system after emotionally charged experiences.

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Honoring what you love

Travel teaches you about yourself in real-time, solo traveling especially. There’s a special kind of freedom in it that makes for the deepest of character building — (re)learning who you are when obligations and responsibilities aren’t a factor? Who were you before the world required you to be someone else? That’s when you indulge in everything that makes you, you. Everything you’ve always loved to play, or make, or read, or do. As a kid I loved books so much I’d read under my blanket (well after I was supposed to be asleep) so often my parents had to hide the flashlights from me. Now I have to carve out that time to solely sit and read.

Sometimes nothing beats direct experience. There are certain things you can’t learn from a textbook, or social media. To go to a place and feel the energy of it, smell it, taste it, and learn directly from the unfiltered source. I liken it to RZA’s Shaolin Temple trip, where he trained and learned from local monks which in turn influenced the music he created for Wu-Tang Clan. It’s the kind of endeavor you pursue when research alone isn’t enough, and real-world immersion becomes the only way to fully experience it. That, to me, is what being a geek is. It spans everything — comics, video games, music, trains, food, knitting, history.

Immersive trips make for great solo adventures, or solo excursions especially when traveling with a group. They’re a chance to learn a different perspective, and gives you something purposeful to plan your trip around. I usually get a weird look when I mention that I went to Nigeria in December alone (esp. because I skipped “Detty”). But that trip wasn’t about the party; it was about cultural immersion. Even though my luggage was lost in South Africa the entire week, that didn’t take away from the experience — though at the time it very much felt like a personal attack 🙃 True immersion isn’t about checking every museum off your list, it’s about letting a place teach you something about yourself. When we travel to learn, we’re not just consuming experiences, we’re creating space for reflection and integration.

Intentional Practices:

The “No Agenda” Nature Hour - Make time to wander, with zero destination in mind. No photo checklist. No “we need to see this landmark.” Just follow what catches your eye. Pick up interesting rocks. Wade in a stream. Lie in the grass and watch clouds. Let yourself be “unproductive” and notice how it feels to just be somewhere without purpose.

Sensory Scavenger Hunt - Give yourself a playful mission: Find five things that delight each sense. Something beautiful to see, something wonderful to smell, something interesting to touch, something soothing to hear, something delicious to taste. This isn’t about collecting Instagram moments, it’s about guiding your attention back to wonder. Do this solo or make it a group game — split up and share what you’ve found later.

Evening Reflection - During your quiet time or after your evening (Ritam) meditation, while you’re still in that settled, spacious state, spend 10 minutes journaling to reflect on your day. Don’t force it, just let your pen move with some of these prompts:

• What did today teach me about who I’m becoming? What does it change about who I am, or thought I was?

• When did I feel most alive today? What can I keep from this experience and do more of in my daily life?

• If this place/experience could give me one piece of advice for my life back home, what would it be?

Travel is not a substitute for a meditation. It’s exploration, connection and learning more about ourselves along the way. If you’re curious about cultivating the kind of regulation and capacity that supports travel like this, the free Ritam Meditation Intro Talk offers a grounded place to begin.

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Everyone has something specific they bring to the group. A natural strength or inclination that influences how they travel, navigate situations or support others. That doesn’t mean you can’t play any other roles, in fact you should. I think that’s why the travel personalities — the documenter, the early riser, the beach bum, etc. — don’t resonate with me. Every trip is a different experience, even with places you’ve been to before. Depending on why you’re there, when you go or who you’re with. Just as every single Overwatch or Apex round is different, no matter how long you’ve been playing.

Thinking of group trips more like an RPG team up, pushes us to come together on expectations and of course the goal. That’s what makes the why so important — why we’re on this trip informs what we do, how we get there or how long we stay. It becomes a common reason group trips fail. On vacation, we’re all here for a purpose — a good time, not a long time. We don’t have to be doing the same things for there to be cohesion. It’s more about understanding everyone’s goal, than forcing everyone into the same one.

So based on my lifelong immersion in geekdom, and all the group + solo trips I’ve experienced, I created this set of travel classes to start rethinking how we travel together — and get more trips out of the group chat successfully.

The Wayfinder

Personality: Mapping the way.

Wayfinders thrive on understanding the plan. Their itineraries are art, and their sense of direction is enviable. They often can be looked at as the captain or leader, pulling everything together for the team…if they don’t, who will? Their draw toward leadership isn’t ego, rather the feeling of safety they find in understanding the plan. Wayfinders are fine with following too, as long as that plan is sound in the end. They work very well with co-leads – not needing to explain why the itinerary and/or wardrobe are color coded. When the group gets lost, it’s their internal GPS (or printed directions) that gets everyone home. They see a prepared plan as safety and space to relax. Spontaneity isn’t always their strong suit, but as they learn some of the best stories are born from spontaneity, they’ll evolve.

Wayfinders in Geekdom: Shikamaru | Mon Mothma | Tony Stark | Professor X | Aragorn | Rocket Raccoon | The Doctor | Ash Ketchum | Jean Luc-Picard

Quote: The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all.

Special Skill: Reroute — Pivoting and re-establishing direction after disruption

Travel Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Mages

Personality: The social traveler.

Their presence is their power – bringing people together and turning strangers into squads comes naturally to them, and they likely did it while documenting the whole thing. Conjuring energy, alluring and contagious, Mages create the vibe everyone else wants to get to. Even if we’re just staying in, it’s their room everyone congregates in. They’re more talented than they really let on, often surprising those around them with random skills and knowledge – exactly what’s needed to get them out of a jam, or into the party. Post later, connect now — have a richer story to tell by the end of the trip.

Mages in Geekdom: Harley Quinn | Legolas | Deadpool | Megan | Starlord | Anakin Skywalker | Riker | Loki

Special Skill: Glamor — easily attains comfortability in social settings and access to special areas

Quote: I am burdened with glorious purpose

Travel Level: ⭐️⭐️

The Savant

Personality: The cultural adept.

For them cultural understanding is strength. Not just the facts you find in the museums, but the customs, food, history, language (even if it’s just the curses). For them earning that understanding is both an accomplishment, and their shield. They know better than to stick out among the crowd in new environments, so they turn on stealth mode and blend in. Savants learn to move respectfully, and their genuine interest in understanding from a personal level helps them earn friends in every culture they visit. As such, they’re likely to be invited to sidequests that result in finding hidden locations, having unexpected conversations and earning extra goodies.

Savants in Geekdom: Gandalf | RZA | Jean-Luc Picard | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Kakashi

Special Skill: Chameleon – Seamlessly blending into their surroundings

Quote: Many are my names in many countries,’ he said. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkûn to the Dwarves; Olórin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incánus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.

Travel Level: ⭐️⭐️

The Keeper

Personality: The nurturer and protector.

They make sure everyone is included, stays together, and gets back safe. Extra snacks, chargers, and anything else you need are in their magical bag. The “we can do this” mentality is strong with them, and they’ll instill it in everyone around them. Their travels might more often be in support of others, than for their own benefit or pleasure. The hardest thing they’ll ever protect is their own joy. They’ll feel guilt in leaving others behind, and worry about who’s off alone.. Make no mistake, Keepers aren’t all soft – their protection can come by force if necessary, with their muscle they’ll burn the world down to protect their people.

Famous Characters: Samwise Gamgee | Gen. Leia | Steve Rogers | Storm | The Mandalorian | Usagi | Xena

Special Skill: Aura Shield — Holds the team together, especially when they’re ready to fall apart

Special Skills: Aura Shield — Holds the team together, especially when they’re ready to fall apart

Lay Hands – Whether open or closed, their hands have the power to affect the situation in their favor

Quote: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this.

Travel Level: ⭐️⭐️

The Wanderer

Personality: The escape artists.

They’re in for a trip just from the mere suggestion of one in the group chat – they just want to go somewhere, and know what it feels like to be in a new place. Their energy will amplify everyone else’s, even before you get there. They’ll go along with whatever the group has planned, with little interest in influencing the itinerary; they’re just happy to be on this adventure with everyone. They notice the magic in small moments — a shared laugh, an unexpected view, the feeling of being somewhere entirely new. Wanderers remind the group that travel isn’t about conquering the itinerary, but exploring strange new places and seeking out whole new experiences with an open mind/heart. Their curiosity and spontaneity can be the literal roll for adventure the team needed…or perhaps didn’t. Wanderers are flexible and open, great at adapting to detours and pivots to the plan – that was just a side quest waiting to be unlocked.

Famous Characters: Merry & Pippen | Peter Parker | Pikachu | Grogu | Ms. Marvel | Loki | Naruto

Special Skill: Dream – Elevates team members with sense of whimsy and wonder

Quote: So, where are we going?

Travel Level: ⭐️

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It wasn’t until I’d finished that build (which was now wider than me and half as tall) that I considered how exactly I’d get it from NY to ATL with no other luggage in my possession, but a carryon. I already knew from traveling to C2E2 how much different packing with cosplay can be from anything else you ight ever pack, but adding props was something new entirely.

For travels that aren’t con-related however, a full cosplay might be a bit much; both to walk around in, and to pack. Luckily, there’s a few geek fashion brands that haven’t failed me in pulling a look together while I’m traveling, and don’t take up too much space in my luggage either.

Multi- wear items that can work with several cosplays come to the front of the packing list. Rue107 isn’t in business anymore, but their green mesh skirt was one of my favorites for its versatility. It worked for my Joker cosplay and Chucky Finster for two separate events, but was plain enough that

Black Milk Clothing

For comfy fandom wear, the Australia-based Black Milk Clothing is always a go-to. They have a few mainstay designs like the reversible skater dress, can be dressed up or down, and the lightweight fabric takes up virtually no space in a carryon when laid flat. The Australian conversion rate also helps justify getting one more thing or expediting shipping ;)

There’s always several official partnerships with gaming brands like Zelda, Super Mario, Pokemon, and Dungeons & Dragons; as well as fantasy IP like Lord of the Rings and Games of Thrones.

The quality of Black Milk’s apparel is also unmatched. I got this dress back in 2015 — before we knew that lady was coo coo for cocopuffs — and it’s still looks and fits the same.

Blackwood Castle

For gothic fantasy wear, Blackwood Castle’ delivers matching sets you can mix & match; and work for multiple casual cosplays or a . like something they’d wear in Frankenstein. 🧟‍♂️

They’re a brand you can feel good about buying from with carbon neutral shipping and all purchases planting 1 tree in Eastern Africa and removing 10 plastic bottles from the ocean in Indonesia (read more here).

Her Universe

Owned by the (animated) voice of Ahsoka Tano, Her Universe partners officially with several IPs for exclusive and seasonal collections so you can always count on finding something for your fandom. Their whimsical designs are perfect for casual cosplays to bring on a themed trip.

Their General Leia cape tied my Star Wars birthday look together, and yes you are allowed to fly with a lightsaber — do not let TSA tell you otherwise!

Classy Rebel Design

Black-woman owned brand based in NY. They produce capsule collections and take commissions as well — some of my favorite pieces have come from working directly with her custom Luke Skywalker dress, ‘90’s Storm, Wilma Flintstone and several others.

Having worked with cosplay commissioners, they can be the difference between all of your collaborative work coming together and none of your cosplay showing up at all…🙃 I’ve been able to trust working with Classy Rebel on several occasions

The more complex the design, the more time-consuming. Coordinate your appointments and travel time accordingly. Having a simpler backup option can save a lot of headache later if it turns out the nail tech is in over their head.

Get a press-on set that matches the real one. On a travel day especially, any number of things can ruin your nails for the rest of the trip. (Take it from someone breaks a nail in almost every city). If you’re going off grid or won’t be near a salon for a fix, having a backup set that’s already sized to you is clutch when breaks happen.

Press-ons area good way to go for comic con travel too — multiple cosplays usually means one mani won’t match with them all. A few sets you can switch between make it easier to pull all of your looks together.

Your emergency is not their emergency. I was always impressed with Studio L’s ability to perfectly time its appointments — when one person is finishing up, the next person is walking in. Wait time never more than 10 minutes. However to maintain that, there’s very limited space for a walk-in or even booking the same week. And no, unless someone cancels they can’t squeeze you in. Between that and their impeccable design skills, even now as an expat I’ll always try to get an appointment when I go back home…well in advance to get on their schedule.

Work with your nail tech, not against them — some of my favorite designs came from me solely giving the parameters of the design and give them the artistic freedom to express it how they like. This way they’re not overpromising a design they aren’t ready to execute, and instead can get excited to try something different than their usual. Though, of you want something super specific, say that and give them visual reference(s); especially if they’re not familiar with the characters. If the design isn’t coming out as you planned, say so as soon as it happens (rather than when they’re all done).

Introverts, I usually say something like “wait sorry that (color/design/etc) doesn’t look how I thought it would on me, mind if we change it?”

Ami V. Nails also introduced me to the 3D designs and recreated a couple iconic scenes that stuck with me from Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens across both hands. Appliqués can be difficult to maintain — 3D paint gives you the same sensory satisfaction without the possibility that they’ll pop off at any given moment; a small comfort when you’re still trying to attach all your armor in the hotel room but the shoot starts in 15 minutes

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With complex designs you have your heart set on, don’t bank on a walk-in in any city. While the demand for nail art has driven most salons to at least have the basic down, not everyone is an expert yet (whether they’ll say so or not). Set an appointment somewhere with organic references or reviews, and examples of similar art. It’s also a good idea to ask what kind of art they’re particularly good at, and not good at — if you want to work with them, adjust your design idea accordingly or send it ahead of your appointment so they can get their minds right on it.

Practice, Practice, Practice — Especially with the non-dominant hand, practice DIY’ing simple nail art designs to freshen up a plain mani when you can’t get an appointment. I’d like to say I’m not bad at a DIY design now, but still leave the complex designs to the experts. Nail art tools are easy to find and inexpensive — I’ve purchased dotters and line brushes from beauty supply stores or online, even used a toothpick in a pinch. If you have a UV light, OOO Polish has pungent colors that pop as it should on darker skin tones.

As press-on’s have gotten an upgrade from days past — COVID lockdown spurred many nail techs to start developing their own for direct sale, and some still offer custom designed sets. Just as with an in-person manicure, stay in communication with them on measurements, design and delivery.

Want to focus on more of the fun part of travel planning?

I offer custom itinerary planning to subscribers so i can handle all of the work and get you to the fun part sooner — deciding what to wear! Get in touch if you’re interested in designing your own adventure, no matter the fandom.

Here’s a few things I’ve learned, traveling around the world for gaming, comics and anime conventions

Getting There:

Packing cosplay can take you from team carryon to checking multiple bags real quick. If you don’t have status with any particular airline, this is the time to look for airlines that offer more generous bag allowances so the fees don’t start cutting into your budget.

For large props it’s sometimes best to ship them ahead of you if you can, especially if they resemble a weapon. Check the hotel rules for accepting packages, as some may charge a mail acceptance fee. For smaller props pack them toward top of your checked bag so they're easy to find by TSA — if it looks like a weapon on the scanner they’re obliged to manually inspect it. Pack those soft things like spandex suits, wigs and accessories inside the curves of your armor and fasten it in place so it keeps its shape in transit. You can also check props on their own, if it can’t fit into a luggage. Securely bubble wrapping it should suffice to check it as an ‘odd-sized baggage’ — that’s how I got my Junkrat tire safely to Dragoncon in 2018

The pain of spending hours on a prop, that one accessory that tied everything together and realising it is not on the plane with you. 🥲 Avoid that by packing all your cosplays as one piece, head to toe, one full set at a time. If you can, body double with someone during so you can talk it out and make absolutely sure you packed all the things. Make a checklist to tick off, and include your con badge!

Planning for Commissions

If you're having a cosplay commissioned, plan these well ahead of the con dates. Any number of mishaps can happen within production time and shipping, even with reliable creators. If this is your first time working with them, get references from within the community if you can — I've personally experienced the disappointment and anger that comes with a commissioned piece not arriving as planned.

If you are having items shipped to the hotel, get clarity on any fees and policies for your accommodations to accept packages on your behalf. Some charge by weight/size of the package, and some have no fees at all. They can also give you any storage room codes or mailroom instructions if you’re staying at a rental. Instacart for in-store pickups is also clutch for small needs while you're finishing the rest of your cosplay in the hotel room (or so I hear).

Protect Your Con Exclusives

Your con-exclusive purchases have to make it all the way back! If you’re buying art, pack poster tubes. A collapsible duffle or overnight bag is a good idea as well if you plan on buying things on the show floor. You can plan to leave space in your luggage for purchases so you’re not playing Tetris with your Funko boxes later.

Prepare For The Worst

Pack extra of everything you can, because what can fail you...usually will. Right before you need to be somewhere. Safety pins, velcro, hot glue, glue sticks, extra worbla should all be in your bag. Whatever is holding your cosplay together — pack extras, and another just in case.

A friend recommended this approach for researching where to visit next in Africa, but when it comes to vacations in the Americas, the same rule of thumb can apply for this sad yet true fact. The colonizer will always make it easy to get back to their colonies (no matter how independent they are now). So when you’re looking for Detty December flights to Ghana or Nigeria, it’s usually less expensive to fly out of the UK than say France. But if you’re going to Senegal or Cameroon, then France will have the cheaper and more direct routes.

Living abroad, finding getaway options in the Americas that I can meet my family on, I use the same principle to research options that’ll be inexpensive for both me and them; coming from different continents. Take these two European flights to Martinique, for example:

And yes, flying out of another country means additional travel time and cost that you have to factor in — an early morning flight might mean spending the night in that city, and thus a hotel cost for example. If you have the time flexibility and plan ahead, it can still save hundreds at the end of the day.

With several European countries being smaller than some US states, getting to and from in a few hours is fairly easy and inexpensive. Planned in advance, bus or train tickets around the Shengen area can be as low as $50-75 (previously it’s been lower than that, but as of late this has been the steal) with the average being about €100-€150 each way.