17 travel-inspired tattoos (that I won’t be getting).

If you’re a fellow traveller consumed by wanderlust, you’ll know the feeling that visiting a new place and experiencing new things brings. It’s a feeling of excitement and adventure, a feeling of being alive. When you’re travelling it’s so easy to get swept up in a moment; it’s easy to fall in love and lose yourself as you encounter new opportunities, meet new people and learn new things about yourself.

As travellers in an age of social media, smartphones and blogs, we want to capture the moments spent on these journeys of discovery. We take pictures, write postcards and buy souvenirs in an attempt to cling on to the way we’re feeling in that particular moment. Sometimes however, it may seem like the best way to prolong the experience is to do something a little more permanent…

Like get a tattoo.

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It’s genuinely a roll of the dice when it comes to travel tattoos, though. You either come home with something you’re 100% happy with which reminds you of the most amazing trip you’ve ever had, or you come home scarred for life, with something you wish you could have left at the boarding gates.

Don’t get me wrong; there are many people who’ve gone under the needle while travelling around the world and have lived to love and show off their ink, including myself. Fellow blogger Kasia recently wrote about her own experience of getting a tat while travelling, as well as the stories for the travel tattoos of some other bloggers. There are no regrets there.

But sometimes what can seem like the best idea in the moment (need I remind you of my rash decision to move to Yorkshire…), can end up being a huge mistake (…and my rapid return to Reading). Of course, this can happen with a tattoo you get anywhere, whether it’s done at the parlour down the road or a parlour down under. But while you’re traveling, the chance to do something lasting to commemorate your trip can be tempting.

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The psychology behind a travel tattoo.

I’ve mentioned a few times on AlwaysCarryOn.com about how I believe things we’d never do at home suddenly become viable options while we’re away – like that time I got semi-naked and let a complete stranger wash me from head to toe, for example. So getting a permanent memento of your travels might seem like the ultimate souvenir of your trip, and something you’d not usually do. There’s something about exploring a new place that makes us want to explore new parts of ourselves. We push our own boundaries, dare ourselves, challenge ourselves to step out of our comfort zone, to try experiences we wouldn’t usually do.

For the most part, wherever you go in the world, you’re sure to find an experience that you can’t do elsewhere. Like bungee jumping in New Zealand, paragliding over the French Alps, crossing the Arenal Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica, waterfall chasing in the Dominican Republic, a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, cliff diving in a Mexican cenote, white water rafting in the Rockies, ziplining in Puerto Rico, hiking the rainbow mountains in Peru, whale watching in Iceland – you get the idea.

What do all these things have in common? Adrenaline. Each of these activities causes a rush, a thrill. And so can getting a tattoo.

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A couple of tattooed people I know actually say the surge of adrenaline they get when the needle goes in and they see their design coming to life on their body is one of their favourite parts of the tattooing process.

Our bodies are wired to respond to pain with both adrenaline and endorphins, so happy, euphoric feelings protect us feeling excruciating pain. That’s why, even though getting a tattoo can mean sitting patiently still for hours on end while being jabbed repeatedly by a sharp needle, and not free-falling from the escape hatch of a tiny plane, for some getting inked is still an adrenaline-producing, adventurous activity.

The pros and cons of a travel tattoo.

So you’ve decided, in the heat of the moment, that you are going to do it – you’re getting a tattoo on your travels – congrats! Like when I got my tattoo in Colombia, you may already have an idea or design you’ve been considering. Or, inspired by your surroundings, you may just pick something on a whim. This is where it can get a bit risky though…

Best case scenario, you end up with something you love. A design that still gives you the same rush of joy you experienced the day you got it. This is how I feel when I look at my tattoo; every day when I look down at my feet to put on my shoes and socks, I am transported back to that tattoo studio in Bogota, showing the guy my Pinterest tattoo board and explaining in very broken Spanish that this was what I wanted.

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But not everyone’s as lucky with their travel tats. There’s a very high chance that once home and back in your daily routine, your new addition may not seem such a good idea anymore. It might cause problems at work or awkward situations with your partner and/or family members. A study by the University of Portsmouth found that among the most regretted designs were tribal tattoos, star constellations and Asian character tattoos (assuming they mean letters and not Pokemon characters).

And if you’re thinking about getting a travel tattoo somewhere far from home – especially somewhere you don’t speak the language – there’s another factor that could lead to tattoo regret: translation issues. We’ve all heard stories about a mate of a mate who thought he was getting “Peace” written in Arabic/Chinese/Thai on his arm, only to later learn that it actually says “Pigs/Peas/Please”, or worse.

If you’re going to do it, take an image with you. A picture says a thousand words in any language. And if you are choosing a word or character that isn’t your native language, always get it verified by someone you trust, so you know exactly what it means. That way you can avoid the potential humiliation of thinking your tat says “Love” when it actually says “Cow pat”.

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The other thing to consider if you want to get a tattoo while travelling, is the health risk. Obviously, the tattoo process involves needles putting dye into the skin. Breaking the skin and introducing foreign chemicals into the body could have complications. Here in the UK there are well-established, enforceable rules and standards of hygiene in tattoo parlours – but don’t assume it’ll be like this everywhere…

Getting tattooed by an unsanitary needle with ink containing toxins could cause infection, allergic reaction, herpes, staph infections, tetanus, tuberculosis, some forms of hepatitis and even HIV. Just to name a few. So choose your parlour wisely and make sure it follows some basic hygiene rules, including the use of gloves and proper needle sterilisation.

Whether or not you decide to mark your travels by marking your body is a personal choice – but it’s one you should think through. Don’t rely on the tattoo removal sessions you see advertised on Groupon, because, yes, while there are procedures available to remove unwanted ink, they can be costly, time consuming and painful.

It may seem exciting and important to you to get a tattoo while traveling on a journey of self discovery. And there’s nothing wrong with that – but be smart, be safe, and above all, be sober if you do decide to get inked.

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What travel tattoo should I get?

While I do want to get another tattoo, and I do want some something travel-related, I want my new ink to be personal, unique and meaningful to me. Like the one I got done in Bogota on my foot, I want it to have a story, a reason. So though I do like many of the designs I’ve seen on Pinterest and Instagram, I’m still working on what exactly I want, and where I want it.

Here is some inspiration for those who are considering a travel tattoo though:

1. Co-ordinates tattoo.

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A post shared by Mikella Blue Anderson (@mikellablue) on

2. Famous landmarks tattoo.

3. Hot air balloon tattoo.


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A post shared by tiger_lily7 (@tiger_lily7) on

 

4. Simple travel quote tattoo.


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A post shared by Flavia Cristino – Uruguaya (@holapersonanormal) on

 

5. Simple skyline tattoo.


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A post shared by Shandré Hendricks (@shandre_hendricks) on

 

6. Waves tattoo.


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A post shared by Sebastian NYC (@sebatattoonyc) on

 

7. Tiny palm tree tattoo.


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A post shared by Katie (@katiebrougher91) on

 

8. Simple world map tattoo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoPquHWhxcz/

9. Simple compass tattoo.

10. Detailed compass tattoo.

11. Tiny plane tattoo.

12. Tiny seashell tattoo.

13. Coloured map and compass tattoo.

14. Mandala tattoo.

15. World map and plane tattoo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0yBy5n1fH/

16. Passport stamp tattoo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BosD65mgHKn/

17. Detailed world map and compass body tattoo.

*****

Have you ever gotten a tattoo on your travels? If so, what did you get, where did you have it done, and most importantly, do you love or regret it? And if you haven’t had a tattoo before, would you (if my blog post hasn’t put you off)? Drop me a comment below and let me know.

108 thoughts on “17 travel-inspired tattoos (that I won’t be getting).”

  10. You bring up some great points, before I got my first tattoo in my hometown I did extensive research on where to go, who is good, who uses sanitary needles, I mean it’s nice to have something to remember the trip, but still a lot of factors may be against if you in getting a tattoo during your travels, but if you do a good research, and know what you want and where you want it then it’s all fair game.

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  11. I don’t think I’d ever get a tattoo when I’m away unless I had it planned and booked beforehand as it’s all about the artist and studio and I’d want to research this before letting them make a permenant mark on my skin. I have a compass style tattoo which I love which is my homeage to travelling x

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  12. I actually do have a “travel tattoo”, but it was made at home and has a custom design that me and my tattoo artist created together. I didn’t want to have something that everyone else does, but I did want something that represents my love for traveling. I wouldn’t get a tattoo whilst traveling though because of all the risks involved and the care you need to take for it, which you can’t really do when you are on the road all the time.

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    1. I agree with everything you’ve said Joanna – when I had mine in Colombia, I didn’t have the foresight to think that I would then be spending the next 2 weeks on the beaches, which was difficult with my foot wrapped in clingfilm LOL x

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  13. I haven’t been brave enough to have a tattoo, but one of my friends that I met when I was living in Munich has several from the places that she has lived. A London Bus, a Seattle Spaee Needle and at the last count a Bavarian Pretzel (amongst others!) 😀 A great souvenir I reckon! 🙂

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  14. Strangely enough, I’ve never heard of a travel tattoo and its so beautiful seeing all the photos and inspiration of it. Totally get it now why someone who is travelling would get a tattoo for themself.

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  18. Hello girl! These tattoo ideas are amazing! So creative. I loved the surfer one and the one who said no all who wander are lost. A quote that describe life as it finest.

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  22. I don’t have any tattoos and probably won’t get any. I think that if you get something permanent it should be done on impulse and should be something unique and special to you. Just my personal opinion though.

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  25. I got a tattoo while in Hong Kong, but only after doing a lot of research and getting recommendations! I never thought I’d get a tattoo on a trip but tattoos studios are illegal in Dubai so I’d definitely consider getting another tattoo on my travels one day.

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  29. I have to say, I won’t be getting a travel tat anytime soon, but I do like some of these designs! I most like the compass on the wrist, mainly because others can see it! I’m not keen on my feet lol so won’t be getting one there anytime soon!

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  30. I was so curious to read your post, while I love traveling I’mnot so fond of the idea of a tattoo. However some of the designs you show here look amazing! If I ever decide to get a travel related tattoo, I think I would get it done near my home 😉

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  34. I really like the little shell tattoo. I have one tattoo myself which I had done when I was 18, and it’s a heart with my husband’s name in it

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  36. I can imagine that getting a tattoo on your travels can be a very deep and meaningful thing, although it can also be a spur of the moment, rash decision. The latter worries me. With any tattoo, you really need to go for quality over ease or price. And it would worry me to just walk in to anywhere in the world and get an inking. So for me, I’d bring a memory back and get it done at home with the person I know. But I think some of these ideas are very lovely, and certainly something to cherish.

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  38. I love the idea of getting a Tattoo whilst away, as long as the place looks and smells clean and seem reputable. My friend has just gone travelling and got herself a bamboo tattoo which looks amazing.

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  39. I love collecting tattoos while I travel. I’ve been tattooed in San Francisco, Chicago, and twice in Seattle. I try to do as much research ahead of time just in case 😉

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  41. I am drawn to the idea of a travel tattoo, but not enough to actually get one. 🙂 Like you, I will not be getting a tattoo. But if I was, I really am drawn to the coordinates idea, except I’d try to keep the size a little smaller than this one.

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  43. There are so many awesome travel tattoos out there! I love the coordinates one and of course the maps 🙂 My concern getting one elsewhere is the language barrier in countries where you don’t speak the same one. What if they don’t understand what you want or there is a misunderstanding on what is should look like? Thank you for mentioning my blog! It was one of my faves!

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  44. I am a middle aged mother of 4 teenagers. My generation didn’t really get tattoos or if you did, you were from the other side of the tracks. I have to say that none of these tattoos are appealing to me. I love to travel, take photos and come away with amazing memories of our travels. I would be horrified if I left any of my trips with a tattoo! lol!

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  46. Though I have no plans to get any more tattoo on me but I was very curious to check the tattoos you showed in your blog post. They indeed look very interesting. I like the idea of a simple world map and maybe refilling the areas where you have already been. That maybe fun. What do you think?

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  48. I have three travel tattoos and love them all. A friend of mine got a plane tattoo on his hand when he was drunk, and it came out bad. It looks like a fat bird.

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  49. I can understand the sudden urge to get a tattoo done while on our travel. I had almost done one when I was at Rishikesh. But I found the tattoo parlour to be quite sleazy and decided against it. I personally do not want to get a tattoo done while travelling. Maybe I would get the idea from a place and then get it done back home.

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  50. I can understand the sudden urge to get a tattoo while traveling but I probably wouldn’t do it on the road. I’ve had the idea several times but some of the places I saw seemed really unsanitary. Even if I do it in my hometown, I would do a lot of research before doing it.

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  51. It is the fear of not liking my tattoo anymore after a few years that kept me from getting one for a long time. And when I did finally get one (although not related to travel in any way), I spent months trying to decide what to get and be sure that I wanted it. I finally got two and I’m thinking of getting a third one (maybe the new one will be travel -related) but one of the reasons why I haven’t gotten bored of any of my existing tattoos is that they’re in places which aren’t visible to me all the time. Like, my back and my ankle! So the lesser I see them, the lesser the possibility that I’ll get bored 😉 Haha!

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  52. Loving these tattoos, it’s definitely cool to get one whilst travelling considering it’s done at the right place 😍 I’ve never got one whilst travelling but have always wanted to get a shimmery iridescent butterfly when I complete my first novel to mark it! ❤️

    Sophie | soinspo xo

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  54. Wow this was a very fascinating read! As someone who doesn’t want any tattoos it never occurred to me how common it is to want to get one as a life long souvenir. Really interesting and it was such a joy to look through such wonderful art!

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  55. I agree, getting a travel tattoo is not a good idea if you are going somewhere international, especially if you dont know the language or if they sanitize their items. But the tattoos you showed as suggestions are too cute and perfect for the modern traveler.

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  57. I adore the seashell tat. I got one when I was finished with my breast cancer treatment. I don’t know if I’d want to do a travel one. Probably would.

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