Getting Inked Abroad
Let's talk about how someone who spent 15 years too scared to get a tattoo (hi, it’s me 👋) somehow ended up being the person who coordinates group tattoo appointments in foreign countries.
Life really comes at you fast, doesn't it?
After my first travel tattoo in Colombia in 2022 (an impromptu $40 masterpiece that turned out perfect), I've become what you might call an accidental expert in international group tattoo adventures. On my most recent Cuba trip, SEVEN of my travelers decided to get inked – and honestly? My mom is probably somewhere right now reading this and wondering where she went wrong with my career choices.
There's something special about getting tattooed abroad that just hits different than walking into your local shop back home. And no, it's not just because you've had three mojitos and suddenly feel invincible (though let's be real, that helps).
What makes travel tattoos so magical? Let me break it down:
Showing off my most recent travel tattoo from Mexico City in October.
They're Perfectly Imperfect
Remember how I spent 15 years agonizing over getting my first tattoo because I needed it to be PERFECT? Well, travel tattoos laugh in the face of your perfectionism. Sometimes the best stories come from the "screw it, let's do it" moments.
Was it planned? Absolutely not.
Was it perfect? Also no.
Was it somehow better than anything we could have meticulously planned? 100%.
They Tell a Story That Goes Deeper Than Instagram
Sure, that minimalist wave on your ankle might look cute in photos (and we all want the photos), but the story behind it – getting it done in a tiny Cuban studio while sharing rum and life stories with people who were strangers three days ago – that's the part that matters. Each of these seven tattoos from our Cuba trip represents not just a design, but a moment when someone chose to permanently mark their "f*ck it, I'm doing this" energy. And honestly? That's kind of beautiful.
Our group of travelers in Cuba ready to get inked.
They're Physical Reminders of Your Bravest Self
You know that version of yourself that emerges when you're traveling? The one who says yes to adventures and tries (most) street food without googling the restaurant first? That's the version of you that gets travel tattoos. And unlike those "I'm going to become a morning person" New Year's resolutions we all make (oops), this one sticks around. Literally.
Sinead got the Cuban Royal Palm, which stands as a living monument to national pride and symbolizes resilience and spirituality.
Gail's first tattoo: Cuba's map, forever marking where her love for international travel began.
Kerry’s tattoo—a bird breaking out of a cage symbolic of her escape from a 34-year toxic marriage.
Patty got Cuba's tiny bee hummingbird and white Mariposa flower, marking her freedom after a 46-year marriage. A small but mighty symbol of her new beginning.
Jen embracing her new classic car tattoo.
Shanna thought “Vamos” (meaning “let’s go”) was fun because of the Cuba and motorcycle reference.
Shanna showing off her new bee tattoo that she’d always wanted.
The Real Souvenir
I've now coordinated tattoo appointments for travelers in Colombia, Mexico City, and Cuba, and I have to say – watching people get their first tattoos abroad is way more fun than watching them buy tchotchkes at tourist markets (though we do that too—no judgment). While their friends back home were buying magnets and postcards, these travelers chose to carry their memories in their skin. Metal fridge magnets < permanent skin art, am I right?
Not everyone needs to get a travel tattoo to have a transformative experience abroad (and my mom would definitely appreciate it if fewer of you did – sorry, Mom!).
But there's something beautiful about choosing to mark these moments of growth and connection in such a permanent way. After all, isn't that what travel is really about? Not just visiting a place, but letting it become a permanent part of who you are, even if that means explaining to your grandkids one day why you have a Cuban rooster tattooed on your shoulder. 😬
Want to join the next impromptu international tattoo adventure? Come travel with me! There's a 50/50 chance you'll end up in a foreign tattoo studio with your new best friends getting matching travel tattoos.
