Top Tips for Traveling in Style (& Without Stress!) from the Traveler Broads

Photographer and fashionista Kerry Maloney is one half of the glamorous, snarky duo behind Traveler Broads, a blog about longtime friends making fun of each other on as many continents as possible. We toured her French Quarter apartment last year. She and her partner, Jessica Fender, have crisscrossed the world—from sprawling markets in Istanbul to beach towns in Bahia, Brazil—taking beautiful photos, plotting their upcoming round-the-world adventure, and collecting tips for traveling in style. Here are their top seven in their own words (as well as their personal recommendations for products they have found that last through traveling!)…

Some lucky so-and-sos emerge from 12-hour flights looking like they’re walking off a photo shoot. Then there’s us Traveler Broads, who resemble swamp monsters at baggage claim if we aren’t careful. That’s why we start trips in a lipstick that can survive a trans-Atlantic flight: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick, which comes in several fabulous, notice-me hues.

A super stylish pair of sunglasses covers many sins. Forget to wear waterproof mascara at the beach? Shades. Puffy-eyed from dancing waaaay too late at some foreign club? Shades! Plus, science has proven sunglasses end up in 90% of travel selfies. We love the tiny but well-curated selection at Neon Heart on Lowerline Street in Uptown, New Orleans.

(Check out the home of Neon Heart’s owners, Ali & Chris and proof that their sunglasses selection is awesome.)

Pharmacies can be scarce; ATMs inoperable. Even large foreign cities experience water outages. Your toiletry game needs to be fierce. Two of our most important must-haves are by Neutrogena: Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes and Wet Skin Kids Suncreen Stick. (Fender, who is prone to accidents, also recommends traveling with a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide.)

At some point, adventurous travelers end up days past their last shower and moments away from their next photo. How to deal? Before traveling, spend time finding a go-to up-do that works for you. (Maloney has dibs on the doo-wop; Fender goes for braids and fabric.) Pack a killer headscarf for the days you just want to hide it all. And invest in some serious dry shampoo like Amika Perk Up, which lasts forever and smells great.

You’ll need your arms free to snap selfies, carry obscene arrays of shopping bags, and shovel weird new snacks from street vendors into your mouth. That’s why we ditch the over-the-shoulder purses in favor of durable and stylish hip bags from Flying Fox, whose new designs are just big enough for your passport, phone, foreign currency, and a few extras.

Every item of clothing in your suitcase should do double time. Fender’s favorite travel piece is an emerald jersey dress from Nordstrom that’s comfy enough for a travel day (with a pair of leggings) and is one longline necklace (and tights) away from being high-end restaurant-worthy. Maloney loves a shorts romper by Velvet Heart that’s great for shopping, dancing, and as a beach cover-up.

If a Traveler Broad looks hot in Playa del Carmen, but none of her friends see it, does she really look hot? We are evangelists for T-Mobile. Voice service in New Orleans can be dicey, but data service in more than 200 countries is free. We say we switched to use maps and in case of emergencies. But our friends all know we did it for Instagram access.