Portland was truly a great experience that I never expected. Not only were the people very kind, but the air was crisp, the food was fresh and there was so much food to choose from. I would recommend trying Gross Confection Bar, Yosaku, CENTRAL PROVISIONS!!!!, Yardie Ting, and The HIGHROLLER! The Lobster everywhere is great but I like the flavors and lobster options they offer more at Highroller. Overall, I really enjoyed the breadth of activities offered there from swimming, kayaking, cooking, and more.

Honestly, Oslo was not all that to me… but we didn’t visit the right area. We stayed in the city center that was very crowded, noisy, and not pleasant on the eyes. The opera house was nice, a bit of a steep walk, but after we saw and were underwhelmed with the experience, we knew we didn’t want to stay in Oslo (at least the city center). So we booked the only AirBnB available and it was INCREDIBLE! The AirBnB was a small, cozy guest house on an ALPACA farm. Truly it was an incredible experience waking up in the morning to sun and greenery all around us, then walking outside to go feed some alpacas and take a nice walk in the forest. I highly recommend staying here if you want to relax because it’s outside of the city but still not too far from it (with a car) https://www.airbnb.com/l/i5FpzuOv

Took a day trip to Tallinn from Helsinki and it was the best decision we made on that trip! Tallinn is an incredible little city with a lot of undeniably beautiful architecture, hole in the wall spots, and is great for walking. Traveling while Black was a great experience and I remember feeling very comfortable there. I do remember a few instances of stares, but less than 5 including the peeping lady in the picture, and I think they were from tourists themselves. I visited many cute shops and even had a great conversation with the owner of a chocolate shop about how people from Tallinn are usually very kind and welcoming. So I highly recommend you visit this city. Tallinn truly a gem of a city and a MUST VISIT. Taking a ferry from Helsinki was affordable and a great choice if you have limited time.

Helsinki is one of those places you either love or heavily dislike. I feel like it’s one of the most “devoid of life cities” I have ever been to but it’s pretty in its own dull way. I think it was very relaxing more than anything only because it felt like the only things to do were eat and walk around. As soon as we left the airport, our Ghanaian taxi driver told us the best thing to do in Helsinki was “get out of it”. And we took his advice and took a ferry to Tallin, Estonia which I highly recommend. Although we only stayed in Helsinki for a few days, we did find that the beer scenery was pretty nice and there are some good restaurants around. There’s also a nice little market where you can go and get interesting food in Market Square. Ultimately, out of a lot of European cities, I would say that this was my most dull experience only because there wasn’t a lot to do or see. But the Uspenki Cathedral was very pretty!

Puerto Escondido really does have many environments to offer. From relaxing at the quiet but lively beach at Club de Playa Villasol, to crazy scary waves and great nightlife at Playa Zicatela, to active wave pool and chaos at Playa Carizalillo, and shopping and great food at Punta Zicatela, there is no shortage of things to do. My favorite meal was at Playa Carrizalillo, El Buzo with the red umbrellas (one you reach the sand, the far rightmost restaurant on the beach). It had thee BEST and most fresh coconut shrimp and catch of the day. I wanted to go back every day for that meal! It tasted best right after a massage on the beach. My favorite thing in Puerto Escondido was going on a sunset Dolphin and Whale Watching tour. Although it was early, it was so serene and the guides took so much effort to show us all the ocean life they could. We saw hundreds of dolphins, 5 whales, and 3 huge turtles. Here’s a link to book my favorite activity there: https://gyg.me/SwbevQNc

I loved this city so much that I moved here. Was back and forth for 8 months before I got my residency from visiting before 2022. A few things, staying in the touristy areas is not going to give you a great experience, especially if you want to be immersed, the best restaurants are hole in the walls, and speaking Spanish will get you very far. I feel like as a Black woman in Mexico City, I do get stared at sometimes in a way that annoys me on bad days, but usually it’s fine and in more local areas. With safety, I have definitely felt safe during my time there but I use regular caution and don’t venture out alone after 10pm. I also don’t take the subway, but I do take the city buses. I primarily get around with Didi and Uber because it is affordable and convenient. I live between Coyoacán , which I would highly recommend you visit because it has great food especially ceviche and tostadas, and Roma Norte.

My ultimate recommendation is my favorite breakfast place: Ø12! The city is busy and entertaining with so much to do! The subway system is extremely accessible and affordable so I would recommend taking that and walking to have an immersive experience. It also helps you to come across little eateries and stores. The famous picturesque part, Nyhavn, was a bit underwhelming but the city itself is nice. I felt a good amount of diversity as well, didn’t feel that I stuck out and was comfortable everywhere I went. Would recommend!

Zionsville is a wealthy, suburban town outside of Indianapolis. I grew up here and it is a primarily white town. It is not very welcoming, most people are Republicans and TR*MP supporters, but it does have a lot of beauty and greenery to it. There is not much to do in Zionsville outside of walking down Main street before things close at 4pm or LEAVING Zionsville completely to find things to do.

Xi'an or 西安 is a much more laid back city in China than it's Beijing and Shanghai counterparts. It attracts the crowds because of the Terracotta Warriors (https://www.getyourguide.com/xi-an-l270/xi-an-terracotta-warriors-museum-tour-t207342/?partner_id=SVNU3W4&currency=USD&travel_agent=1&cmp=share_to_earn). They are iconic to see but there is so much more here than that! The Muslim Quarter was one of my favorite things to experience in Xi'an (https://www.getyourguide.com/xi-an-l270/xi-an-muslim-quarter-small-group-food-mosque-tour-t207312/?partner_id=SVNU3W4&currency=USD&travel_agent=1&cmp=share_to_earn) from the interesting sights like snakes or scorpions on a stick, to the best hand pulled noodles you will ever have. There is so much to eat and experience. A couple more of my favorite activities are the Pagoda and walking the city wall. Xi'an is a must visit especially if you are visiting multiple cities throughout China.

West Palm Beach specifically is in the middle of two diverse hubs, Boynton Beach and Riviera Beach. If you’re looking for the diversity, I would head to these cities! If you’re Caribbean, a great spot to get some Jamaican Pattie’s is Island Style Bakery. Prices are right. Assortment is good unless you go after 2pm, and the items are fresh! It’s right off 45th street. If you want to stay in West Palm Beach, you can find a lot of diversity in downtown West Palm around Rosemary Square and Clematis St (bars and nightlife are around here too!). However, I wouldn’t say that Palm Beach island is diverse other than the beach! Overall, a relaxing city, but if you’re looking for lots of things to do and fun, I’d head outside of West Palm to the other areas of Palm Beach.

Link to book a Bimini Day trip from Fort Lauderdale Day Trip to Bimini My full day-trip itinerary for the explorers: -As soon as you get off the ferry, you will walk through customs to the FREE Hilton Shuttle (do NOT walk) -Ask the shuttle driver to take you to the golf cart lot OR walk from the Hilton to the golf cart lot (you pass it on the way to the Hilton) -Rent a golf cart (barter for under $100! I got mine for $80), check that it has GAS, and then remember the driving rules of LEFT HAND DRIVING I DON'T RECOMMEND TRYING TO WALK OR TAXI AROUND THE ISLAND DURING A DAY TRIP BECAUSE YOU WILL WASTE TIME DARLING!!! AND TIME THERE IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE 5-6 HOURS!!! -Head to Stuart's Conch Shack for a conch salad on the water ($10) -Drive down to Radio Beach and enjoy the crystal blue water -Take a break from having your Ariel moment and get a spiked coconut smoothie on the beach ($20) -Get hungry and head to Nate's Bimini Bread for some delicious Sweet Coconut Rolls ($10) -Get HUNGRIER and go for an actual meal and head to This is It for Haitian Food or LJ's for Jamaican -Head towards Bimini Bay and stop at Joe's Conch Shack for conch fritters -Stop at 360 Beach Club, Resorts World Bimini Beach, and enjoy the pool, bar, and aesthetic environment (if you're into that because it's also ~$40 for a day pass) -Kiss the island goodbye, return your golf cart and wait for the shuttle to pick you up before you depart back to Fort Lauderdale! My recommendations: Bring cash (USD and Bahamian Dollar have same value but BHD is prettier)! I brought $180 and only spent $125. Don't depend on taxi's because they can be far and wide. CHECK the weather because a sunny day is better than a rainy day. Try local spots (don't just spend the day at a resort because you will miss out!) It was a bit pricey for certain things, especially the coconut, but overall an amazing experience!

There is so much to boast about when it comes to New Orleans but NEYOWS???? The grilled oysters are so delicious, the drinks are large and got some lick to them, and overall the atmosphere is enjoyable. The wait can, however, be very long. In terms of all the food I had while in the city for Essence Fest, this was 100% the most worth it. A nice walk along Magazine street will also land you at Rum House (across from lush) where you can get more delicious drinks! My favorite was the blueberry mojito. The food was really good and the drinks were even better. Although I would not recommend Justine for anything, if EVERYTHING around is packed and the lines are long and you are FORCED to end up here, try their bread pudding french toast sticks. We tried one and immediately ordered 3 more orders of them. These were 2 highlights (Justine ain't one of them) from my trip and I definitely recommend giving them a try if you're visiting anytime soon.

Black Owned Food in Scottsdale: Sugar Jam and Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles! I didn't get to visit either food spot, but I really wanted to! The good thing about Scottsdale is there are a lot of places to choose from because other cities, Mesa, Phoenix, are all very close? So finding good food is easy! Finding other Black people? Not so much. I was in Scottsdale for a bridesmaid/birthday trip and for 1, I DO NOT recommend going during the summer months where temperatures are over 110 because everyone just stays inside during the day and even the nighttime is hot. For 2, it's still a very... non-diverse area but Phoenix is very close so you can venture there to find some spots such as the Boom Boom spot and more here. https://urbanmatter.com/phoenix/9-black-owned-bars-where-you-can-grab-a-cold-one-near-phoenix/ I think Scottsdale is great if you simply want to relax, but that was about it because I went during the summer (again I DO NOT RECOMMEND if you love yourself and care about your skin). There is a lot of hiking, wellness activities, day trips to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and the other popular destinations, and group experiences like wine tasting/guided tours, but not many BIG things to do around Scottsdale.

Don't plan to spend all of your time in downtown LA! The only thing you may want to visit around there is Grand Central Market for all of the delicious food stalls, but other than that, it feels rather desolate and sad. A must do if you enjoy nature and serenity is Huntington Library and Botanical garden! If you really want to get a bang for your buck, I highly suggest this pass that allows you to see a lot of excursions for one set price. This is mostly for touristy activities, but it can still give you a good feel of LA if you want to get everything you can packed into a weekend trip! https://www.getyourguide.com/carlsbad-l514/12357-day-go-los-angeles-card-t5625/?partner_id=SVNU3W4&currency=USD&travel_agent=1

Zippy Tours in Communa 13 was the highlight of my trip! Not only is it a free tour (tip is encouraged!) but the staff all live in Communa 13 and are telling their own stories. It is a very special history lesson while also being a beautiful and insightful tour. I highly recommend it! There are lots of tours to get through Get Your Guide with local tour guides and I highly recommend booking Guatape through them. Overall, Medellin... pronounced MedeJin not MedeYin was everything I expected and more. Most memorable, many people, especially the tour guides, often stressed how they want people to see Colombia for what it is, a beautiful country filled with vibrant, kind people , and not a country that is substance ridden and forever tied to Pablo (as many Americans unfortunately see it as). I cannot wait to go back!

The island has so much adventure! It's really useful to have a motorbike here Grab doesn't work EXTREMELY well here... it's very hit or miss. It also means that traveling the island is easier because there are very hilly areas, especially if you want to see waterfalls, that having a motorbike are useful for. Go see the many waterfalls, the viewpoints, some hiking, or explore the beach areas and see a temple!

I went to Miami in July for a day trip and we tried to stay on as much of a budget as we could. First, we got an AirBnB in Brickell. BIG MISTAKE!!! Please be cautious with AirBnB's in and around Miami because, especially as two young women staying & traveling alone in Miami, some parts do not feel safe especially at night. Someone ended up squatting at our AirBnB and trying to break in while we were in the process of getting our money back. So be very cautious with AirBnB's. We got a nice hotel in Brickell though, Atwell Suites. It was relatively new and paid for by AirBnB. It was in a great location to not only enjoy Brickell, but also get to South Beach an Uber that wasn't insanely expensive. We could walk to SexyFish, a popular spot in Miami now, from our hotel and it only took 5 minutes! I recommend this stay!

You will find ALL the history in Atlanta. Came in 2019 on a trip with BLUEprint, a club focused on uplifting Black and POC students, and we saw so much! We saw MLK's house that he grew up in, we went to Morehouse College, the Black History Museum (loved this), but the highlight was the National Center for Human & Civil Rights. Atlanta is known as BLACK-Lanta for a reason and getting to know the history of your Blackness is an incredible thing that you can do here. The food is also amazing. Slutty Vegan started here and has made WAVES since. I highly recommend visiting them at one of their ATL locations.

Visited Pittsburgh once for a Convention and most recently for a visit to see a friend! Pittsburgh is not comparable, in my opinion, to Philly but it definitely has some charm outside of the yellow bridges. We went to the riverwalk, the Phipps Conservatory, a drive in movie, the Warhol Museum, and more. We ended the night at Foxtail on Carson St, a great place to go if you're looking for a night out.

When I say Bangkok changed my life!!!! I love this city so much. Not only is there so much to do at an affordable price, but there’s so much beauty and excitement. You can go to Soi 11 for nightlife, Nana Plaza (if you’re into that), Khao San Road, Soi Cowboy, and so much more! And during the day, you can find markets with fresh fruit and more food than you care to see and eat, and beautiful temples that will captivate you for days! I also think this city doesn’t sleep because you can find something to do until at least 4am or sunrise! Black travelers, I think it’s exciting for us because not only are we invited and can feel right at home. Bangkok is also a hub to travel to other cities in SE Asia for cheap prices, especially on Air Asia! I have felt right at home in Bangkok and all of Thailand so I highly recommend Thailand to everyone that wants to go and can handle that 21 hour flight!

Come for the full moon party and stay for the views, the activities, the island parties and more! I came in November for the full moon party, the biggest beach party in the world, and was NOT disappointed. Get a hostel or hotel EARLY because they get booked up too fast! And they get expensive. Also, the tuktuks are annoying in that they wait to fill up to take you to the other side of the island as the pier is about 40 minutes from Haadrin, where the full moon party is. Highly recommend a trip here for the full moon party and the island itself!

Cairo is overwhelming. Immediately after touchdown, you are being asked for “tips money” after any task such as lifting your bags onto the security belt, anything! It can be annoying and anxiety inducing. I wouldn’t associate relaxation with Cairo, but our stay at Marriott Mena House Cairo was relaxing!

Phi Phi, at least around Moo 7, is quite literally a party center. It’s small, surrounded on two sides by beautiful beach, and always bustling whether with people, carts with imported goods, or stray cats lol. There is a lot to do, especially in regards to island tours by long tail boat, but the island also has much more to offer. It is quite expensive unfortunately as not only does everything have to be imported to the island, but it is purely tourists there as well. If you want to party, it’s a great place to go to do so and be surrounded by people but if you want to relax, try another part of the island!

Phuket is not JUST Patong Beach! Patong is where the nightlife resides, Bangla Road, the LGBTQ street, things like that. However there is also Rawai, Phuket Old Town, Karon, and more. If you’re looking to get away from the constant crowds, go further south to Rawai or stay near Old Town and you will get more of a Thai experience that isn’t fully tainted by tourists. If you want to constantly be around people and parties, then Patong Beach is where you should stay. But Phuket is so much more than a party place! The Big Buddha is a must see, some of the ethical sanctuaries are truly ethical and very beautiful, Phromthep Cape is breathtaking at sunset, and Monkey Hill is a scary yet exciting experience to see monkeys in their true form.

Had a 21 hour layover in Manila and decided to leave the airport! Pro tip, if you’re getting to the airport later, after 11pm, Grab may not be available and there may be a traffic jam! The airport taxis charge insane amounts, 1700+ pisos to Makati, so use the metered taxis. It should be about 200-400 pisos depending on how far you’re going! My BLACK Experience was initially meh. I got stared at at a local mall a LOT, but not nasty stares, just curious?? I also wasn’t in a touristy area, not to mention I saw no tourists even when I went to the SM Mall of Asia. However when I went into Manila, I was greeted with a lot of smiles, hellos, good afternoon ma’am, allat! It was a great experience, I even found out Filipino men are interested in me which I did not expect lol! But people were so nice, so many people also speak English so the language barrier shouldn’t scare you if you want to go. Highly recommend for the beautiful views, the kind people, the amazing food, and more (that I didn’t get to experience but will when I go back)!

Dubai is known for the luxury which, it definitely should be as there are flashy cars, luxury stores, and well-known names and celebrities frequenting the city. However, it can truly match anyone's budget (if you aren't like.. Mr. Krabs cheap). I went during college in 2019 with a friend and, by listing I was in college you should know what that means. But we were able to do so much! I spent about $1600 total including flights and everything else and we went to Abu Dhabi, desert tours, and so much more. We did not do yachts and Atlantis and parties like that, we were also there during Ramadan which was beautiful in itself, so that made our budget easier to work with, but that's also not something we were personally interested in.

Vietnam easily rose to my favorite country I have traveled to thus far. I have only been to Hanoi, but with everything to do, touristy and non-touristy, I can already see how much Vietnam has to offer. In Hanoi, you can take short, <5 hours, adventures to places like Ninh Bin, Cat Ba Island, and Halong Bay. But you can also take longer adventures to places like Ha Giang and other northern regions. While in Hanoi, I met only one Black American from Baltimore, so I would not say there are many Black travelers, especially from America (I try to say hi to every Black traveler and person I come across!). Also, while traveling here I did not get many stares, only a couple of curious looks from people but as soon as I smiled, I would be greeted with a smile and we'd continue on with our days. Overall, I love Vietnam for its culture, its beauty, the VIBRANCE, you can definitely find something going on at late hours of the day.

Have you heard of Arraial do Cabo and Buzios? Take day trips from Rio to these beautiful blue beaches! We did a full day private boat tour with lunch and drinks (https://www.getyourguide.com/rio-de-janeiro-l9/from-rio-arraial-do-cabo-day-trip-with-boat-tour-and-lunch-t323118/?partner_id=SVNU3W4&currency=USD&travel_agent=1&cmp=share_to_earn) in Buzios and a scuba diving excursion in Arraial. A great tour service is Rio4Fun, they are on Instagram and YouTube. They have a lot of tours available, are affordable, and are very communicative! Our guide was Alex when I went in Fall 2019, so I highly recommend them!

If you're looking to go out in Jaco, be ready to dance. Orange Pub is where it's at! There are many clubs and, if you are in Jaco when it's bustling, bouncers and staff will probably try and drag you into their clubs. Some of these clubs are XTC, Republik, Black Marlin Beach Club, and the Back Room. Republik was nice because there is a pool in the center and the club is inside, but there is much more space here than other clubs. To get the night started, I recommend starting at Jaco Bar, Mono Verde for $2 margaritas, or somewhere else along the strip because there is so much along the strip. PS: if you're out late, you will most likely see s workers. It is legal and there are many of them.

My trip to Costa Rica during rainy season (great time to go because less busy and cheaper stays)! San Jose -> Manuel Antonio/Quepos -> Jaco USD is just as accepted as colones, the local currency, if not more preferred here. We stayed at Hotel Presidente, it was nice and comfortable. Note, they add $25 per person to your rate if you have 4 instead of 3 people in the room. Then, we took a Tracopa but to Manuel Antonio where we saw the rainforest and waterfalls. Most taxi's here go for 6,000 colones but always try to ask for the meter because it's kind of a ripoff. Our AirBnB here was great, but there was construction that blocked our direct access to the beach so that was inconvenient (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/40470923?source_impression_id=p3_1662506297_DDhhuUalnc6UPRA2). That didn't damper our trip though. We did a Waterfall Tour with Paddle 9 and it was AMAZING! Only thing we wished we would have done was white-water rafting (https://www.getyourguide.com/quepos-l32284/from-quepos-white-water-rafting-savegre-river-t80001/?partner_id=SVNU3W4&currency=USD&travel_agent=1&cmp=share_to_earn). Lastly, we took a private shuttle for $60 to Jaco (pronounced Haco), and stayed at Selina. Perfect, amazing experience. We absolutely loved the hostel vibe with the seclusion of a hotel. I highly recommend if you're trying to be social. Also, do not be alarmed in Jaco if you see a lot of prostitutes. It is LEGAL so beware. My friend has his wallet stolen on our last night out, so be mindful especially if you are male.

Many people, including myself, that visit Venice stay on the most popular island of San Marco where many of the tourist attractions are. However, I recommend going there for a day or less and then venturing to other islands! The food on San Marco is a lot of the same and not cheap, but other sestieris offer so much more of a local feel. Try Cannaregio for a laid-back and budget-friendly choice with less tourists. Get there and the other sestieri by Vaporetto (boats!). Also try Castello. Definitely try to visit more than one to get different experiences of Venice.

Spend a Day in Le Marais!! I wrote an article in Get Your Guide documenting a full day of things to do and I highly recommend this for Black travelers. https://www.getyourguide.com/travel-guides/paris-a-day-in-le-marais/ Food at the Marché des Enfants Rouges is absolutely amazing and there is so much to do along the walk from there to Central Pompidou and the Opera House. You must check it out, even go to the Louvre and shopping at Samaritan along the way.

Went on a study abroad to Vienna also called Wien, the city of music, to learn about its music history! I stayed at Mercure Hotel Wien City across Salztorbrücke, a bridge, and it was very meh. I would not recommend. Breakfast was okay and it seemed like it was cheap. But I enjoyed my time in Vienna! Although not necessarily free, they just don't check the tickets, the public transport gets you where you need to go all over the city and it's clean and safe! I highly recommend getting this pass that allows you to do many attractions free with transport included. Buy pass here: https://www.getyourguide.com/vienna-l7/vienna-pass-all-of-vienna-on-one-card-t50028/?partner_id=SVNU3W4&currency=USD&travel_agent=1&cmp=share_to_earn Some things I did that I recommend you do are below: Check out the Resting Place of Beethoven at Central Cemetery In the Summer, Toboggan on the country side Visit the Belvedere or Schonbrunn Palace Visit the Freud Museum to see Vienna's overlapping history with Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis Try Wiener Schnitzel of COURSE! Go to Volksoper for the Opera Haus Der Musik is the best place if you enjoy music and an interactive museum experience Check out the street art at the Danube Canal Vienna doesn't have too many people of color, but the most I got from people were stares! Definitely a laid back part of Europe... I recommend it if you love music and history but want a more small city-feel destination.

My family is from Westmoreland so we like to visit Negril once in a while when we want to have some freedom! We stayed at the Royalton Negril the first time we went to Negril and it had just opened! We had a walk out pool, a hot tub bath in the room, and so much more. There are many offerings from the resort, all-inclusive by the way, which includes paddle boarding, cliff jumping at Hard Rock, and more. If that's not enough, try this unique activity... Kayaking in a Bioluminescent bay in Negril! https://www.getyourguide.com/montego-bay-l238/luminous-lagoon-night-cruise-t48159/?partner_id=SVNU3W4&currency=USD&travel_agent=1&cmp=share_to_earn

How you and friends can spend an amazing Friday night in Houston! Hit Pappadeaux on Westheimer for some amazing seafood and drinks. Happy hour is the best time to start the day and runs sometime 3pm-6:30pm. I love anything frozen to get the drinking started. Then, take an Uber or walk a calm 13 minutes to Prospect Park. 9pm or 10pm is a good time, 8pm if you like to be early). Hookah a little bit, get a fish bowl for you and a friend, and get the drink flowing! If you're really lit, get a section outside with a hookah and a couple bottle. It'll be bread, but it'll be worth it! Finally, finish off your night at Onyx. Cover can be a little up there, certainly, we paid $20 each, but it was worth it for the vibes in there. It also closed at 6am instead of 4am so we were out until the sun came up. Houston has a little something for everyone! Also, check out these Black owned nightlife spots https://blackgirlswhobrunch.com/2021/05/30/black-owned-houston-nightlife/

My trip to Barcelona was during the pandemic, August 2021. I only spent a couple of days there, but we mostly relaxed during our time. We first stayed at Hotel Colon and then Le Meridien when we got back from our $66 RT excursion to Venice. Seriously, take some time to relax in Barcelona. For breakfast, go to a little cafe you find in an alley and sit outside, take in the sun and the leisurely life of many Spanish people. For lunch, go to Honest Greens for a healthy and delicious fast food experience. Then, chill by the beach or take a walk in a local park. The architecture is so beautiful in lesser-known places like Poble Espanyol, so check it out! End the night with a great viewpoint, Búnquers del Carmel. There is a lot to see and experience in the bustling city of Barcelona, but don't forget to take it slow as well!

RT flights for 2 my mother and I were $153 via Nile Air. Be advised, print tickets were required for us and you couldn't get to the airport too early! We stayed at the Steigenberger Alcazar and let me tell YOUUUU!!!!! It was luxe. We booked one night all inclusive for $280, got upgraded for free because of the amazing staff, and had an amazing experience. First, our own chauffeur from the airport, a fresh welcome drink, and golf cart service all throughout the large estate. However, the downside of this experience was that we were quite literally the ONLY Black people in that hotel. Like, stares from every direction, not only because we were eating the girlies up, but also because all of the resort was filled with Europeans. It was a mix of couples, some families, and singles, but what was great was that there were separate areas and pools for each designation. I still highly recommend it because the food was delicious and there were a couple restaurants to choose from, all included and all delicious. There are a couple bars as well, yes bottomless liquor, and the best part about the resort was the staff most DEFINITELY! I do want to go back one day and do more of the activities like dolphin watching, hiking Mt. Sinai, and more.

Tulum has amazing daylife and nightlife, especially for us! When I went in May 2021, I spent a nights out at Taboo, Batey Mojito, MAMBO, and Ilios. There is a lot more and most of them are a good penny, but Mambo Hookah Lounge was really our spot. We stumbled upon it because of the music.. R&B, Hiphop, the good stuff. There were also a lot of Black people there so it was a great environment. Taboo was cool and for the fashion, but at night we were placed at a table kind of far from the action. It was expensive, but the vibes were great because they brought a violinist, gave us all sparklers, and had good music. Batey Mojito was a mix of box spots because its a bar, but they have cheap and delicious drinks. They have sugarcane margaritas and them thangs BANGGGGG. I took 3 of them to go when we chilled at our AirBnB. Try all of them out! There are a lot more spots but of all of them, Mambo was absolutely for the culture so hit that spot!

First, if you're debating on traveling to Beijing, I ask you to open your mind past what others have told you, what you've seen/heard on socials and in the media, rid your mind of allat. Alright great now lets get into my 3rd favorite destination in the world!! In this review you'll find: -My experience as a Black woman living in China -Perks you could get being Black in China >>> and perks of knowing the language 中文 (Mandarin） -How to find more Black travelers in China and more! -Let's be real, go in with an open mind and your life may just change for the better! -Try these things! -PS, words that sounds like the n word in Mandarin are actually 那个 (na/nei ge-that)， 你一个 (ni yi ge) I lived in China for about a year after graduating high school early (I was 17-18). I have been learning Mandarin since I was about 11 and would say I was intermediate when I arrived in Beijing and fluent when I left! Having some knowledge of the language definitely helps you get around and talk to people because mainly, they are interested in YOU and that is a common misconception that a lot of Black travelers have. Yes, people took pictures of me without my consent, yes people would touch my braids in fascination, a 5 year old even tried to rub the color off my skin when I went to the countryside to visit my host family. But people did the same thing to my friend from Amsterdam that had blonde hair and blue eyes. So before that makes you cross China off your list, know that it happens to many, if not most, people that look like they are not from China! Also, China is so much more than the people, who are honestly amazing and inviting from what I have found. There is so much beauty, rich history, culture, FOOD!!!, and things to do. Now onto Beijing, I lived directly in the city and took the metro daily to get everywhere. It is CHEAP! Convenient, CLEAN, and safe. I HAD SO MANY AMAZING EXPERIENCES SOLELY BECAUSE I AM BLACK!!!!!!! I got into the nightclubs, which are absolutely bomb by the way, for FREE.99 (Check out Sanlitun (三里屯) Many of the promoters are Black or going to university from some country in Africa, mine was from Nigeria, and that should tell you everything you need to know. Also, because I speak Mandarin, people were constantly inviting me for dinner with their families, trying to get to know me, showing me new places, etc. It was such a beautiful experience! You may not see many Black people but when you do it will most likely be in touristy areas or frequented areas such as the mall. However, there are Facebook groups you can join to find more people or check the hashtag, #blackinchina. I highly recommend learning some Mandarin, if possible, because it will allow you to feel more secure, navigating different spaces will be easier, and people will be SOOOOOO impressed let me tell ya. But I'm not going to lie to you, being Black in China can break or make you. If you go in with annoyance for the stares, thinking the stares are the same stares (of disgust sometimes) you get in America, annoyance with people taking pictures of you, or if you don't like close proximity to others (Beijing is a huge city and it's crowded sometimes), Beijing may not be for you. But if you embrace the pictures, get in with some and let them show their appreciation, go in looking to meet new people and try new things, you will meet some amazing people and leave with changed perspectives and maybe, a new top favorite destination! If you are worried about trying new food and the... ahem... consequences, bring along some Pepto Bismol or ask your doctor to prescribe you some Azithromycin before you travel. If you get the chance, try going to a local park around 6-8pm to find locals dancing, getting active, and doing communal activities after dinner! Visit some local hutongs, Siheyuan for example, and see the beauty! See the sunrise at the Great Wall and basque in the beauty (if you're scared of heights you might want to sit this one out). Check out TaiKooLi for everything nightlife, entertainment, foreigners! Also, the street food is the one of the best things about eating so make sure to try it! If you hear something that sounds like the n word, it is most likely NOT :) In Mandarin, na ge or nei ge actually means that or that one. Do not be alarmed! If you hear 黑 (hei-black) or 黑人(hei ren-Black person) though, that may be in reference to you but it may just be because of the shock of actually SEEING you.

You cannot leave Chiang Mai without trying Khao Soi, a curry dish very well known in Northern Thailand. I had Khao Soi at the Siripanna Villa Resort & Spa which, even though it isn't a restaurant, it buss down and it buss DIFFERENT. It's creamy, its umami with a bit of sweetness, and it can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (trust me because you'll want to eat it all day!). We also tried out one of the best spots to get it, Khao Soi Wulai and let me tell you!!! Delectable, delicious, don't miss out! Here is a great list of restaurants to try khao soi at: https://achefstour.com/blog/the-5-best-khao-soi-joints-in-chiang-mai