Introducing Stacey 🫶
Meet Stacey! She is a plus-size travel advisor who believes travel should feel just as open and welcoming to people in bigger bodies as it does to anyone else.
In her Community Spotlight, Stacey shares how her own travel experiences led her to build a business helping other plus-size travelers feel confident, supported, and prepared before they ever leave for a trip. From navigating things like seating and comfort to simply feeling like you belong in travel spaces, her goal is to make travel feel exciting and accessible again.
Hi Stacey! Can you please introduce yourself?
Hi! I’m Stacey Bonds and I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. I’m someone who loves creativity, storytelling, and bringing people together. Theatre has been a big part of my life for many years, and I’ve always been drawn to the way it creates community and shared experiences. There’s something really special about a room full of people connecting through music, storytelling, and performance.
Outside of that, I’m someone who loves exploring the world, discovering new places, and trying amazing food along the way. Travel has always been exciting to me, but as a plus-size woman it has also come with moments of anxiety and uncertainty. Learning how to navigate that has been an important part of my journey.
At home, life is a little quieter but just as joyful. I live with my fiancé and our two very opinionated cats, Bagel and Xylenna, who definitely believe they are in charge of the household.
How did you first get into travel advising?
I was working a 9 to 5 that left me feeling unfulfilled, and my energy and excitement in my day-to-day life just felt low. I knew I needed a change, but I wasn’t sure what that change was going to be.
Around that time I came across a cruise that combined two of my favorite things in the world, travel and theatre. I was so excited about it that I started telling friends about it and inviting people to come with me. Before I knew it, I had multiple cabins of friends joining the trip and I ended up planning the whole experience for everyone. I am a natural planner and always the person who handles all the details.
While I was on that cruise, I ran into an old theatre friend who mentioned that she had become a travel advisor. In that moment it honestly felt like a spotlight hit me in the face. Something just clicked and I immediately thought, “That’s it. That’s what I want to do.”
With the support of my friends, family, and my fiancé, I decided to take the leap and start my own travel business. Since then it has been an incredible journey, and one of the most meaningful moments has been coming full circle.
What experiences led you to say, “I want to help change this for other people”?
A lot of it came from my own experiences traveling as a plus-size woman. Even when I was excited about a trip, there were moments of anxiety that came with it. I remember the first time I flew and had to ask for a seat belt extender. I was so nervous to ask for it, even though it’s something that exists specifically for that reason. I’ve also been in situations where I chose to purchase an additional seat so that I could travel more comfortably. Those are things that many plus-size travelers quietly navigate, but they aren’t talked about very openly.
Over time I realized that I probably wasn’t the only person feeling this way. There are so many people who want to travel and see the world, but the uncertainty around things like seating, comfort, and space can make it feel intimidating.
What I believe in is solutions. Sometimes people are afraid to even ask the questions that would help them feel more prepared. Having someone in your corner who understands what that feels like can make a huge difference. I want my clients to know they have a safe person they can talk to openly, someone who likely has been in the same situation and can guide them honestly.
Everyone deserves the chance to explore the world without feeling like their body is a barrier to the experience.
What kinds of things do you think about when planning trips for plus-size travelers that most travel agents might overlook?
When planning trips for plus-size travelers, I think a lot about comfort, transparency, and helping people feel prepared.
There are details that don’t always get talked about openly but can make a big difference in someone’s experience. Things like airline seating options, excursion weight limits, transportation on tours, or the types of seating available at a resort or cruise ship. These small details can really impact how comfortable someone feels during their trip.
My own travel experiences play a big role in how I guide my clients. For example, my fiancé and I are big fans of Virgin Voyages because of how inclusive the experience feels. I’ve personally paid attention to things like whether the seating around the ship feels comfortable, whether I see performers and entertainers who look like me, and even whether the famous hammock on the balcony is actually comfortable to sit in.
Traveling in a bigger body gives me the opportunity to experience these things firsthand. Because of that, I’m able to give my clients honest insight and real-life knowledge that goes beyond what you might find in a brochure.
For me, it’s about making sure my clients feel informed, comfortable, and confident before they ever step foot on their trip.
What are some ways you help your clients feel more confident before a trip?
One of the ways I support my clients is by being their advocate throughout the entire process. From the moment we start planning, through booking, while they’re traveling, and even after they come home, I’m there for them.
Travel can come with a lot of questions, and instead of my clients spending hours endlessly Googling and hoping they’re finding the right answers, they have a real person they can talk to. I bring both my personal travel experience and my professional relationships in the industry to help guide them through everything that comes with planning a trip.
I like to think of myself as their travel bestie and their biggest cheerleader. I want them to feel excited and supported every step of the way. One of my favorite things is seeing the photos and messages they send while they’re on vacation, living their best life and enjoying the experience we planned together.
And when they get home, I love hearing their feedback. It helps me continue learning and making future trips even better, not just for them but for all of the travelers I work with.
What has travel taught you about yourself?
Travel has taught me a lot about confidence and my relationship with my own body.
As I’ve built my business and become the face of it, I’ve had to look at myself in a different way. I record videos, take full-length photos, and often share pictures of myself traveling, sometimes in bathing suits or in spaces where my body is very visible. That process has really pushed me to continue working on my relationship with my big, beautiful body and learning to truly appreciate it.
Recently I even did a boudoir photoshoot that became part of a book celebrating women and their worthiness. Seeing those images and realizing they were something powerful and beautiful has been an incredibly affirming experience.
Travel has played a big role in that journey. When you’re standing in the ocean, exploring a new city, or experiencing something incredible, you start to appreciate your body for what it allows you to do. Traveling and celebrating my body along the way has helped me grow more confident and reminded me that I deserve to experience joy, adventure, and celebration right now, exactly as I am.
What would you say to someone who wants to travel but feels nervous about doing it in a bigger body?
I would tell them it’s okay to start small.
Traveling in a bigger body can bring up a lot of questions and worries. Maybe it’s flying, maybe it’s seating, maybe it’s wondering how comfortable you’ll feel in a new place. Instead of trying to solve everything all at once, we can take those concerns one at a time and work through them together.
I once worked with a friend who had really intense travel anxiety. The idea of going far from home felt impossible to her, so we started with something simple, just one night at a hotel. That small step helped her build confidence, and from there we slowly worked our way toward bigger travel experiences.
I really believe that most travel concerns have solutions. Sometimes it just takes the time to talk them through and tackle them one step at a time.
Everyone deserves the chance to feel the sun on their skin and the sand between their toes. Travel shouldn’t feel out of reach just because you’re navigating it in a bigger body.
What’s one thing you wish the travel industry understood about plus-size travelers?
One of the biggest things I wish the travel industry understood is how much representation and thoughtful design matter.
When travelers see people who look like them in marketing, entertainment, and guest experiences, it sends a powerful message that they belong there. Feeling represented helps people feel welcome and comfortable before they even arrive at their destination.
I also think the industry could benefit from rethinking how spaces are designed. Providing larger, more comfortable seating and more spacious environments doesn’t just benefit people in bigger bodies. Everyone appreciates having room to relax and enjoy their experience. No one enjoys feeling crammed into a crowded space or squeezed into tiny airplane seats.
Sometimes it feels like the expectation is that people should shrink themselves to fit the space, when really the goal should be designing spaces that work for the people using them.
When travel experiences are designed with a wider range of bodies in mind, it creates a more comfortable and welcoming environment for everyone.
If you could design the ultimate plus-size friendly travel experience, what would it look like?
Do you remember Aidy Bryant’s TV show Shrill? In Season 1 there’s a memorable scene where her character, Annie, attends a body-positive pool party. The party is full of people in bigger bodies celebrating themselves openly. It’s colorful, joyful, and full of laughter. People are wearing swimsuits, dancing, drinking cocktails, and enjoying the moment without apology. The scene beautifully captures themes of joy, liberation, and self-acceptance.
The first time I watched that scene, I cried.
Seeing people who looked like me in bright colors, showing their skin, laughing, dancing, and simply existing in their bodies without shame was incredibly powerful. It wasn’t about hiding or trying to make themselves smaller. It was about community, confidence, and joy.
If I could design the ultimate plus-size friendly travel experience, it would feel just like that scene. A place where people feel comfortable showing up exactly as they are. Where they can wear the swimsuit, take the picture, dance, relax by the pool, and fully enjoy the moment without worrying about being judged.
It would be a space filled with joy, where people in big, beautiful bodies are taking up space, celebrating life, and experiencing the kind of freedom that travel should bring to everyone.
For someone reading this who might want to work with you, what’s the best way to connect or learn more?
The best way to connect with me is through my Linktree, which has all of my travel resources and contact information in one place.
If someone reading this feels nervous about traveling in a bigger body, I want them to know they don’t have to navigate it alone. I’m always happy to answer questions, talk through concerns, and help people plan travel experiences where they can feel comfortable, supported, and excited.