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My Magazine > Editors Archive > Sex Secrets > Traveling with Sex Toys
Traveling with Sex Toys   by Dr. Z

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Question:

My husband is currently in another state on a month long business trip and I want to surprise him with a visit. I plan on bringing along some of our usual toys: vibrators, cuffs, etc. Is there a travel friendly way I can bring my gear in my carry-on and get through security without causing a minor scene?



Martin Downs, M.P.H, answers:

Sorry, no. First off, any bottles of sex lube in excess of 3.4 ounces would be confiscated at security. And while it’s perfectly legal to carry dildos, bondage accoutrement, and vibrators on an airplane, there’s no guarantee that TSA screeners won’t question you about them.

If you would be embarrassed to say, for all to hear, “It’s a butt plug, sir. I put it up my ass for sexual pleasure,” then you probably shouldn’t pack it in your carry-on.

Even your checked bag might be opened and searched, and Homeland Security might have a puerile laugh over its contents, but you’d be browsing the magazine racks while your intimate things were being inspected. You would be none the wiser until you unpacked your bag and found the TSA notice card placed inside.

An electric toy stowed in your checked bag could cause trouble if it accidentally switched on. No one at the airport likes a vibrating suitcase. It’s a good idea to take out the batteries while packing, just in case.



Penthouse Pet Dr. Victoria Zdrok answers:

Like you, I always bring my sex toys along when I travel, even though it is always a nuisance. And, yes, I have had some personal run-ins with airport security, like the time a female officer pulled my mini vibrator out of my purse, twirled it in her hand, and smelled it–which prompted her to drop it back in my purse, run out, and come back with latex gloves on.

You and I are not alone in traveling with our cherished vibrating companions. As many as 23 percent of American women have taken a vibrator with them on vacation, according to one survey.

So what’s the easiest way of getting your rockets, rabbits, and bondage gear through airport security without becoming a suspected sex-obsessed terrorist? Like Martin says, the best thing is to avoid the security check altogether by putting your toys in the luggage you plan to check.

It’s also a good idea to take the batteries out of the toys or put one battery in backward to avoid an accidental buzzing sound. There are websites that sell special travel containers for toys, or you can use a simple cloth drawstring bag, the kind meant for storing shoes or liquor bottles.

If you insist on bringing your toys in your carry-on, be prepared for aggravation. There’s no way to ensure that your rocket will not be pulled out and examined by a cognitively challenged security officer–after all, brain surgeons they are not.

You can try to disguise your toys by putting them in your makeup bag, where they may be camouflaged by brushes and curling irons. Better yet, invest in sex toys that don’t look like sex toys, like I Rub My Duckie; lipstick-, toothbrush-, and pen-shaped vibrators; futuristic-looking anal beads; and bondage ties
that look like silk scarves– most of which you can find at PenthouseStore.com.

If you choose to bring lubricants along in your carry-on, they must be fewer than 3.4 ounces and stored in a quart-size ziplock bag. Anything larger will be confiscated by security, so the best way to carry on personal lubricant is in sample sizes. If you love your economy-size bottle of personal lube, you must put it in your checked baggage–although I strongly advise against it. Liquids often explode from changes in air pressure, and there is nothing worse than having silicone lube spill in your luggage. It will find its way out of any ziplock bag, and you’ll never get rid of the sticky, slippery mess it will create.

Choose your toys carefully and remember–you can always do without them by getting creative with bananas, baby oil, and ultrasonic toothbrushes.