Whether it’s a long travel day, a missed layover in a foreign country, or something unexpected like flooded roadways blocking the normal way to the airport (thanks climate change!), getting to where you’re going can be rough. Regardless of your size, age, or level of experience, I think the stress associated with traveling is pretty universal.

Being a short girl has its perks and drawbacks on a normal day, but since I started traveling more regularly I’ve discovered some more pros/cons that I never really thought about before! Sitting down for dinner? Unlike a lot of women I know, I actually prefer the chair side of the table instead of the booth because I can adjust to reach the table. Not a whole lot of space on a packed train? No problem! I can usually squeeze myself in somewhere. I will say that all things considered, I’m pretty lucky that most of the cons I’ve come up with below are often just slight inconveniences.

Short Girl Travel: Pros vs. Cons

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Pro

Being short tends to make people think I’m either: a) younger than I am or, b) that I’m helpless and/or delicate. So I’m offered help quite often!

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Con

Putting my bags into the overhead compartments on planes and trains can be a struggle because half the time I can’t reach.

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Pro

My clothes tend to take up less space, which means lighter bags and more room for all kinds of souvenirs.

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Con

I don’t take up a lot of real estate, so people like to invade my personal space thinking I must not need as much elbow room.

Have some unique travel challenges/perks, or other short girl travel pros and cons you’ve experienced yourself? Leave them in the comments below!