Competition prep is stressful itself, but when you add traveling on top of that, it requires a whole new level of organization and prep! Last week I flew and traveled to Pittsburgh, PA for the North Americans (National Level Bikini Competition). This was the very first time that I was traveling long distance, flying, and staying at a hotel for multiple nights for a competition. I learned a ton and wanted to share with you all!
Food
PROTEIN- I made, measured, and froze all my protein sources the night before in individual freezer ziplock bags. Store everything in ziplock bags, because they don’t take up as much space as Tupperware!
CARBS- I made sweet potatoes, quinoa, and white rice in bulk and froze them the night before. I also packed raw sweet potatoes, raw oatmeal, and raw quinoa in my suitcase since these can all be cooked in a microwave.
FAT- I kept nuts on hand in my carry on.
VEGGIES- I cooked enough asparagus for my day of traveling and kept that in my cooler. I packed 2-3 days worth of raw asparagus in my suitcase. I cooked the asparagus in my hotel microwave.
Everything that was frozen, I carried on board in my Six Pack bag. I had over 20 meals packed it in!
Don’t forget to pack 1-2 pieces of Tupperware, a spoon or plastic fork (metal forks aren’t allowed on board), a measuring cup, and hot sauce!
Post competition place of dining 🙂
Transportation
I opted to not rent a car. I took a Super Shuttle from the airport to the hotel in Pittsburgh and then from the hotel to the airport when departing. It was easy to book, cheap, and very convenient. They even send you text messages on how far the driver is and when he reaches!
Also, the hotel that I stayed at offered a free car service every hour if you’re traveling within 5 miles of the hotel. This definitely came in handy.
Don’t rely on taxis in Pittsburgh…they don’t exist!
Lodging
The host hotel completely sold out 10 weeks before the show so I stayed at a nearby hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn. It was only a 5 minute drive from venue and the staff here was incredibly nice.
I highly recommend staying at the host hotel because of convenience, but if it sells out, this is a great option.
Packing List
Suitcase
- Raw carb sources that can be made in a microwave (oatmeal, potatoes, quinoa)
- Raw veggies that can be made in a microwave (asparagus)
- Stage make-up
- Curling iron, hair pins, hairspray, hair brush
- Shampoo, conditioner, exfoliator (don’t forget this! You need to heavily exfoliate before tanning), toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash (This is great to have since your mouth might get dry from lack of water), towels (bring your own towels for your post competition shower. If you get the hotel’s towels dirty with tanner, you have to pay for them.), dish soap and a sponge to clean your Tupperware
- Dark sheets (If you get the hotel’s sheets dirty with tanner, you have to pay for them!)
- Backstage bag which included my robe, face mirror, band to pump up with, necessary touch up make up, curling iron, shower cap to cover hair while tanning, baby wipes, cups to pee in (if you’re a competitor you know what I mean!) etc.
- Clothes- PJs, an outfit to wear and sleep in after tanning (loosely fitted), a post competition outfit to go out to dinner in, an outfit to wear on the plane back home, a few extra outfits just in case, and a jacket/sweatshirt.
Carry On
- Cooler
- Headphones
- Wallet
- Competition suit and heels (just incase your luggage gets lost!)
Being overly prepared and organized will help keep your trip less stressful and much more fun.
Is there anything that I forgot? Feel free to add it to the comments below!
Two Beginners Journeys Through Contest Prep 