Raut recommends small, minimal motifs that relate to the most memorable aspects of your holiday. If you’re starved for ideas, he suggests sticking to aeroplanes, waves or even a compass. “I believe that tattoos become cooler once they have a special meaning attached to them. For example, if you’re taking a trip to the mountains, you can describe the elements that comprise your journey in your tattoo — the mountains, the scenic beauty of nature and yourself as a small character can be incorporated into a neat design. Stick to minimal tattoos that don’t require too many sittings to not interfere with the rest of your travel itinerary,” suggests Ujjwal Judge, a tattoo artist and founder of Portal Tattoo, Bhayandar. Although it may seem exciting to get yourself inked in a foreign language or with exotic religious symbols, the artists advise against it. “Unless you’ve done your research about the culture and language, and are very sure about what your tattoo means and represents, steer clear of these designs. The biggest reason why travel tattoos are often the ones that we receive cover-up requests for is because they often don’t mean or portray what the clients think they do and, even worse, are culturally offensive or insensitive,” says Raut.

The flip side

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“I would advise against travel tattoos,” cautions J’son D’souza, owner of Tatau Tattoo & Piercing Studio, Malad. He adds that since tattoos are a lifelong commitment and require careful aftercare; they shouldn’t be undertaken on a whim. “It’s very important to do your research about the tattoo studio and artist to make sure their style and standards meet your expectations. Tattoos also require a lot of careful aftercare, which is nearly impossible to do while on vacation,” he elaborates. Raut adds, “In India, people love to get inked in Goa because of the low costs and, often, because they’re acting on an alcohol-fuelled impulse [remember what happened to Ed Helms’ character Stu in The Hangover Part II?]. The tattoos don’t heal properly as they neglect the aftercare and also because of the poor standards of the studios. If you don’t have the time to research your options, it’s best to skip the tattoo and enjoy the rest of your vacation instead,” he advises.

Plan right 

Dos
. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight and excessive sweat. Don’t swim until the tattoo has healed
. Hydrate before and during the session. Ensure you’ve eaten before, so you have enough energy to sit through the session
. Make sure your artist understands your idea to create the ideal design

Don’ts
. Drunk tattoos don’t heal well and can be a cause of instant regret
. Research the artist’s work and check hygiene standards at the studio

- Ronit Raut, Ujjwal Judge