Fearless Flying: Let's Hit The Road!

Last week, I talked about airline tips for the plus size traveler. This week, in the third and final installment of my plus size travel tips series, I will discuss traveling via bus and train.

Me on Amtrak to Pittsburgh

I actually love traveling on the bus and train. I once flew into London and then took the train to Paris and then Amsterdam.  I regularly take the bus to Boston and Washington, DC. The experience on a bus and train is different from a plane. While a plane offers you a faster trip and nice views of the sky and overview of cities, a ride on a bus or train offers you a scenic ride, where you can enjoy seeing the countryside from your window.  And a long bus or train ride is definitely a great way to clear your mind and relax.

First tip: Compare your options. I always compare times, locations and fares between buses and trains.  Believe it or not, sometimes the bus ride is shorter than the train ride (and cheaper)!  I know that sounds weird but it depends on the number of stops each method of transportation makes. In my experience, trains make more stops. Also, keep in mind how many transfers, if any, you will have to make.  If you require more time and assistance to get on and off a bus or a train, please allot yourself enough time and know ahead where your next connection will be (the gate number or track number). The convenience of the trip and your comfort are two important things.  Especially when thinking about seating, bathrooms and etc (which I will go into later).

Greyhound seating

Second tip: Know ahead of time where you want to sit. As I talked about last week, planning and knowing your seating is a science, especially for plus size travelers who want to be comfortable and not end up feeling like a sardine. On a bus, I find everyone likes to sit up front. The upside to this is that you won’t have to walk down the narrow aisle when exiting the bus, which is always a tight fit. The downside is that you will probably have someone sitting next to you since the front is popular.

I usually go for the back and just deal with the aisle walk when exiting. Being comfortable for the length of the trip is more important to me and it is more likely I won’t have someone sitting next to me in the back. The prime seat is the last row next to the bathroom. That row has three seats and you can really stretch out, if the bus is empty. Warning, though, if it’s a long ride, the smell from the bathroom can definitely make the ride a little smelly. If you are daring like me, just bring some Febreze spray, stretch out in the last row and make it work.

NEVER sit in the front rows across from the driver or behind him. The legroom is not great and usually the driver stores their bag there. Not a comfortable spot to sit at all unless you’re a size 4 or a small child.

With buses, the key is to get there early. People usually start lining up at the gate an hour before and that is how the bus boards. So the closer to the front of the line you are, the greater the chance you will have in choosing your ideal seat. If you can’t stand for a long period of time waiting on line, there are options. Some buses like Peter Pan and Greyhound offer either reserved seating or priority boarding. On Greyhound, priority boarding is an extra $5. Not bad for an extra fee and you can skip the line and board the bus first.  If you are traveling on a popular route, I would definitely advise you pay the extra money so you can have your seat pick.

Amtrak coach seats...wonderful!

With trains, my only tip is get there early so you can get a window seat or seat of your preference, unless you have purchased a premium assigned seat. I have found that Amtrak trains have wonderfully wide seats. The tray table comes down with no problem and someone is able to sit next to me comfortably.  It’s just a matter of choice on which direction you want to face, when sitting on the train and looking out the window.

Third tip: Choose your days and times wisely.   Just as you should avoid a full flight like the plague, the same applies to buses. With trains, not so much since the seats are more comfortable. But you still want the ease of travel and when a plane, bus or train is full, there will be some sort of delay or just pure chaos. Plus, with buses, you want to be careful on the days and times you travel to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

You should avoid traveling during rush hour, especially into a major city in the morning from 6am – 9am and out of a major city from 3pm – 7pm. Fridays, Saturday mornings and Sundays tend to be the busiest times as well. Also, during summer vacations and seasonal breaks, you will see more children and college kids traveling. I always look up Spring Break dates and that’s my own blackout time period where I don’t fly or travel at all. Plus, the fares are usually higher during these times as well.

Other great little travel tips:

• Always make sure you use the bathroom before boarding. On trains, the bathrooms tend to be a nice size but on buses, they vary. For instance, on Greyhound, the bathroom is really small whereas on Megabus, the bathroom is huge.  I would suggest that before your trip, look at the stops along the way online and plan a bathroom break for yourself during stops. That way, when you get on the bus and check out the bathroom, if you think you won’t fit, you know you have a back-up option.

• If you require more legroom, look for the seats in the emergency exit aisles.

• Just as I suggested while on the plane, if you need a tray table on the bus or train, just use your backpack, purse or laptop bag across your lap.

And these two last tips are not plus size related but I feel are so important.

• Always take a sweater and a small pillow with you when traveling on long trips. The air-conditioning can be ridiculous sometimes on buses and trains so a sweater will help you not freeze to death. A pillow can work wonders on comfort and help you not get neck pain while traveling.

• Carry baby wipes and anti-bacterial gel with you. Some of the worst germ-infested spots on a plane, bus or train are the arm handles, the little light and fans above you and the handles on the bathroom door. You have a greater chance of getting sick in a confined place so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I hope you enjoyed my travel tips and that it inspires you to go out and see the world. If you ever have any questions about traveling, just email me at marcy@belle-noir.com and I would be more than happy to answer them.

Travel safe! And have fun!

Train station in Amsterdam

Fearless Flying: Tips For The Plus Size Traveler

Me in Paris

Last week, I wrote about how I became the avid traveler I am today and how I don’t let my size stop me from getting out and seeing the world. Along the way, I learned how to travel with ease almost all of the time. Life is never perfect but you make the best out of it. Here’s some tips I follow and keep in mind when traveling:

Pick your airline wisely: When selecting an airline to fly, know what airlines are plus size friendly. I have had great experiences on JetBlue, Air Canada, American, Virgin America and Frontier. To find out more about plus size friendly airlines, check out this great article over at Grandstyle.com here.

Side note:  I avoid Southwest, Air France and Spirit at all costs. I have not had great experiences at all on those airlines.

Plan your travel days and times wisely: Avoid full flights like the plague, when you can. The busiest travel days and times during the week are Thursday evenings, all day Friday, Saturday afternoon, all day Sunday and Monday mornings. I stay away from an airport in general on a Friday. It’s terrible and almost like sitting in LA traffic.

The best days and times to travel are all day Tuesday and Wednesday and very early Saturday morning or late Saturday evening. Honestly, the best flights to take are “red eyes”, which are overnight flights. If you can catch a red eye on a Saturday night, most likely you’ll be on an empty flight. And chances are if you fly at these less popular days and times, you will snag a cheaper fare, too.

Pick your seat wisely: Never EVER sit in the front of the plane or in a bulkhead seat unless the flight is super empty. Bulkhead seats and the front of the plane are the most sought after seats. Chances are if you sit in this area, you will get someone seating in that dreaded middle seat and will not be able to have more room to yourself. I usually sit in the back of the plane. You’re the first one on the plane so you have time to get yourself situated, especially if you need a seat belt extender (which I will go into later).

Yes, you are the last one off the plane but for me, I never try to be in a rush and I always allot enough time for myself to get where I am going so getting out last is usually not an issue for me.  If you’re connecting with another flight, are in the back and are worried that you will miss your connection, just let the flight attendant know and they will make sure you get to your connecting flight (unless there is a delay, which is out of anyone’s control).

A window seat will definitely allow you a little more shoulder room but please note that hip room remains the same on all seats.  A great website to use as a reference on seats is Seatguru.com. Seat Guru has detailed seating maps per airline and comments about seats that have reduced legroom and limited recline.  Their color-coded seat map key is awesome. For instance, a seat that is green means it’s a good seat. Red means a bad seat.

Seat Guru also gives you the seat pitch and width information for seats. For example, the seats for my fave airline JetBlue run from 34” – 38” on pitch and about 18” on seat width whereas Virgin America (another one of my faves) runs about 33” on pitch and almost 20” width in Economy. Side note: sometimes it pays to know the aircraft too. When I flew to China, I flew on a 777 and those seats are narrower than the usual ones. So just keep this in mind when looking at seat pitch and width numbers.

Other great little travel tips:

• If you need a seat belt extender and feel embarrassed asking for one on a flight, just quickly ask the flight attendant, who greets you as soon as you get on the plane, for one. In my experiences, flight attendants have always been discreet about it and accommodating. However, you can always invest in one and carry it with you. There are universal ones that fit most airlines and they run from $20 - $40.

• Try to use the restroom before you board, especially if you feel self-conscious about fitting in the restroom on the plane. But honestly, check out the restroom on board before you automatically think you won’t fit. You might be surprised.

• Take advantage of early boarding so you have time to get yourself comfortably settled in your seat before the rush. Airlines have a pre-boarding period for people who require some assistance or extra time to board.

• At the gate, you can always ask the gate agent to check if there is an empty seat next to you and if not, your seat can be changed at that time if there is room. Once on the flight, if there is space, flight attendants will let you move to another seat.

• If you are unable to use the tray table from the seat next to you and can’t get the tray table in front of your seat fully down, use a pillow or your laptop bag/backpack on your lap as a faux tray table.

Always remember: you have a right to travel and go anywhere your heart pleases. Don't ever let your size stop you nor let any bad travel experiences deter you from seeing the world. You only live once and the world is yours to see. Now if you encounter any issues during your travels, you have a right as a passenger to voice your complaints to the airline. We live in a social media-based world at the moment so you don't have to just write a letter, which may get lost in a sea of mail. You can use Facebook or Twitter to let the airline know how you feel.

So, happy traveling! As host Phil Keoghan from one of my fave TV shows The Amazing Race always says at the start of each new race: "The world is waiting for you. Good luck. Travel safe. GO!"

Fearless Flying: Oh, The Places You'll Go! - Part 1

Growing up, I loved Dr Suess and my favorite book was Oh, The Places You'll Go! I can now see why. I love to travel. I have earned the nickname “Dora” from my friends because of my constant traveling and exploring the world, backpack included. Traveling is good for the soul. It builds your character, opens your mind and teaches you to be more tolerant of the world. Every time I get on a plane, bus or train to head off on one of my adventures, I am breaking stereotypes and defying the odds. I say this because I am a plus size traveler at a size 26/28. People “my size” are not supposed to have pleasant, happy traveling experiences. Well, according to the stereotypes, anyway.


You see all the time on media outlets; how plus size people are blamed for uncomfortable traveling. Southwest Airlines has been known to screen people at the gate and if they deem you too large to fit in a seat, they will ask you to purchase a second seat. They will even remove you from a flight, especially if the flight is full.  I have seen such hateful comments and arguments on traveling with plus size travelers. We have become the scapegoats for an industry that is constantly removing seats or decreasing the size of their seats in order to get more people on a flight.

Me in Hong Kong, China

For me, these negative portrayals of plus size travelers never deterred me from my journey around the world. As a kid, I grew up in a housing project in Queens, New York City, right near the airport. So planes flew overhead frequently. My dad would always look out the window when planes passed our building overhead and he’d tell me how there is such a big world out there to explore. I’d like to think I got my traveling bug from my dad. People in my neighborhood rarely ventured out of the “hood” and used to think that traveling to another borough was a big deal. I wanted to be different. I wanted to see the world I read about so often in books. And I was not about to let anything stop me from doing so.


I started my travels early, at the age of 7. My mom enrolled me in a not-so-known program back then in the 70’s called The Fresh Air Fund. Basically, inner city kids ages 7-11 got the opportunity to stay with a family outside of the city in a rural or suburban area. How my mom let me go, I do not know.  But I am grateful that she did.  I remember being in Penn Station on my way to stay with my host family.  My mom clutched my hand tightly as we walked to the train track. As I let go to get on the train, she told me to let my host family know that if anything happened to me, she was going to show up there quick. I didn’t doubt that – Puerto Rican mothers are no joke. Despite that, I was so excited to be going on what I called “my first adventure”. My first family lived in Hartford, Connecticut. They were rich and lived in a huge sprawling mansion. It was definitely something I had not seen nor experienced ever before. I had my own bedroom, my own maid and they even had their own park and pool in the backyard.

Me in Venice, Italy

The next summer, I stayed with a family in the country in Vermont, where it was so clean that I walked barefoot everywhere.  I picked blueberries from the bushes, spent time reading while sitting on a large rock on a stream that ran on the side of their house and saw a chicken get its head cut off (dinner!). The father was a woodworker and farmer. It amazed me how he supported his family off the land and through the work he did with his hands. I can still close my eyes and smell the freshly baked blueberry pies that his wife would make. Fresh Air Fund was such a great experience for me. It allowed me to see places I would not have seen on my own as a kid and it let me become a part of other families and ways of life.

Me shopping in Rome like a local, lol

I think that every time I travel, I take a little piece of that place and that experience with me. It helps me learn and grow. It forces me to challenge myself because I am not in my comfort zone. This is important especially when you’re plus size. I used to be very sensitive when people stared at me. But over time, I grew accustomed to it. I learned that while I cannot control how others act, I can control how I let it affect me.  Traveling stretches my limits and has made me develop an appreciation for the world and for my comfy bed at home.


And I want that experience for everyone, no matter what their size. I love that feeling I get when I am walking down a street in a foreign land and I think to myself, wow, I’m really here. Traveling has strengthened my soul. It empowers me because I am proving with every trip I take, that I can do it at my size.


Next week in Part 2 of this blog series, I will list tips on traveling as a plus size person so that we can all have that experience and be explorers in our own right.

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Me in Mexico City on a Tequila farm, lol

On The Go: NAAFA Releases New Travel Brochure for People of Size

With the summer travel months approaching, traveling can be an intimidating task, particuarly for people of size who have to fly to their desired destination. Today, the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) released a new brochure entitled "Travel Tips for People of Size". In conjunction with the Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR), a nonprofit organization, founded in 2009, whose mission is to promote fairer customer service and accessibility standards in the airline industry and to improve passenger satisfaction, the brochure includes tips on selecting and booking the best flight for you, packing tips, and suggestions for your airport experience. NAAFA has also included a section especially for travel agents as well as a list of airlines, a brief description of each airline’s policy regarding passengers of size along with a link to their webpage that covers this subject.

You can flip through the brochure, which is posted below, or you can click here to review and download the brochure now. For more information on the NAAFA, please visit http://www.naafa.org/.

Open publication - Free publishing - More aapr