What It Means To Travel 'Naked' And Why Samantha Brown Isn't A Huge Fan

A travel trend is growing in popularity among social media influencers that encourages adventurers to travel with just the bare minimum. Fans of "naked traveling" are hopping on board planes and trains with little more than the clothes on their back as they step off into their next great adventure. It can save on costs, but television host and travel expert Samantha Brown has her reservations about this way of traveling.

Typically, a naked traveler heads out on their trip with the clothes they are wearing, the appropriate identification, and perhaps a cell phone and a charger. What they leave behind in bags and accessories they gain in non-existent checked baggage fees and the freedom of settling into a seat without fighting for space in the overhead or under-seat storage space. The idea is that once they reach their destination, any additional necessities can be easily borrowed or purchased.

It's an intriguing idea, for sure, and it could certainly cut down on your list of things to never forget before taking a trip. But Brown isn't convinced that naked traveling reduces anxiety. In fact, she believes it could add to travel stress. She points specifically to the challenges of finding clothing that is the right size, especially in different countries. She also says the need to make an immediate shopping trip upon your arrival at your destination adds to the chaos of travel and can be wasteful, when you could simply bring the necessary toiletries and clothing you already own along for the ride.

While Samantha Brown admits there are plenty of advantages to naked travel, she believes that the unknowns, or "what-ifs," involved in the trend are too unnerving for her taste. Specifically, she wonders how a naked traveler handles essential toiletries like medicines, prescription eyewear, or unforeseen accidents. "I had a mile-long list of 'What if' questions as soon as I saw the rules of naked traveling," she writes on her blog.

And yes, like so many social media trends, there are rules to naked traveling. For starters, there are different levels or kinds of naked traveling. Some travelers only bring along the very basics and don't check any baggage or even bring a carry-on or backpack. They will never have to wonder where all the lost baggage in airports actually goes, since they'll have all their belongings (including documentation, a wallet, a phone, and a charger) on their person.

Then there are the naked travelers who need a few more essentials. They still avoid bags or luggage but fill every pocket they have with their needed items. Shirt pockets, cargo pants, and zipper pockets can hold a lot of essentials like headphones and toiletries for this type of naked traveler. The third group of naked travelers still need a packed bag but typically ship it to their destination ahead of time to avoid baggage claim and any associated fees.

Even though naked travel means fewer fees, less sweat with carting luggage, and avoiding queues at the baggage claim, the travel trend has too many downsides for Samantha Brown. Other than the "what-ifs," Brown says implementing naked travel "beyond Point A to Point B" would be counterproductive. And, when it's time to return home, she asks, "what are you going to do with all the necessities you had to buy?"

As with all fads, it is up to the individual to decide whether to ditch overhyped travel trends to make the most of their adventures. Brown admits that traveling naked has some benefits, such as forcing one to embrace spontaneity. A sense of adventure motivates a lot of travelers, she says, but it's been her experience that she's never had to manufacture it. Adventure just naturally happens when there's travel involved.

In short, naked traveling is not something Brown would recommend to anyone. The advantages are certainly clear, she says, and packing lighter is something she has perfected over the years. But the travel guru believes there are plenty of other ways to accomplish some of the things a traveler gains by using this trend to navigate the globe.