Airplane Mode Podcast | Chloe Mitchell on Seeing the World as an LGBTQ+ Traveler
Chloe Mitchell gets real about queer joy, rainbow Vans, and how group travel helped her show up as her most authentic self.
Travel has a way of shaking things up in the best possible way. It pulls you out of your routine, plops you into a new place, and suddenly—boom—you’re seeing the world (and yourself) a little differently. That’s what happened for content creator and all-around ray of sunshine Chloe Mitchell, who joined us on Airplane Mode to talk about coming out, finding community, and how travel helped her show up as her most authentic self.
Group travel, but make it transformative
For Chloe, traveling with Ultimate Break wasn’t just about ticking destinations off a bucket list. It was about becoming more Chloe. “When I’m able to show up as fully Chloe, I’m able to be the best version of myself,” she told us.
Group travel creates a space where strangers turn into soulmates over shared snacks, wonky Wi-Fi, and “wait-where’s-the-bus?” moments. It fast-tracks connection, vulnerability, and sometimes even lifelong friendships.
But Chloe also knows that being queer while traveling isn’t always simple. Safety matters. Research matters. “Let’s be smart humans and wander wisely,” she says. “If I’m going somewhere where my pride shoes might start a fight, I leave them at home.” Authenticity looks different in every country, but the goal stays the same: stay safe, stay curious, stay you.
Your people are out there (probably on your group trip)
When you’re traveling with a group, you don’t have to go it alone. Chloe shared how traveling with Ultimate Break matched her with a built-in crew of open-minded adventurers.
“You all get to ask those questions together,” she said. “You’ll find your people.” Whether it's other queer travelers, allies, or folks just figuring things out, there’s room for everyone at the group-trip table.
Sometimes it’s subtle—like a pair of earrings, a book left out on the bus, a little wink of queerness that lets you know: you’re not alone. Chloe calls these “Easter eggs.”
Pride around the world hits different
Chloe hasn’t made it to an international pride parade yet—but it’s high on her list. (Reykjavik, Bangkok, and São Paulo: she’s looking at you.) Still, even without floats and rainbow confetti, she’s found community in unexpected places.
Like that time she and her best friend Ernesto stumbled into a gay bar in Split, Croatia. “It was the most lovely experience,” she said. “We met all kinds of queer people, and the allies were just as amazing.”
Traveling while queer comes with layers: some beautiful, some challenging. Chloe reflected on the privilege of “going undercover” when needed and choosing when to be visible. “Being able to feel it out and then go full ‘Happy Pride!’ is a beautiful thing.”
TL;DR: Be yourself. Find your people. Go see the world.
Chloe’s story is proof that travel isn’t just about where you go, it’s about who you are when you get there. Whether you’re out and proud, figuring it out, or just showing up with an open heart, there’s a place for you in this big, wild world.
As Chloe says: “Find your people. Wander wisely. Be your authentic self.”
