Have you guys booked your summer getaways yet? Before you do, check out these super useful travel tips from 6 influential black travel bloggers. Travel bloggers Sydney of Coconut Curl, Jani Gee of Health Geenie, Sylvia Chuku of Chi Chi Caramel and Dee Eke of Dee Diary chimed in on the best ways to budget travel, their most memorable experiences, safety tips and so much more!!! This is a two part series so stayed tuned for tomorrow’s post featuring four more black travel bloggers, Ashlea of Nomadik Nation and Celeste from Celmatique. Don’t forget to comment below telling us how you budget travel, your most memorable experiences, safety tips, and any other travel advice you’d like to give!
What’s the best way to travel on a budget?
Sydney from Coconutcurl.com
Do things the way the locals do. Instead of taking a taxi everywhere, rent a bike or walk the city. Instead of eating at a five-star restaurant, eat at a local favorite where the food is just as good, but at a fraction of the price. If it is more economic, I highly recommend staying in an Airbnb listing instead of a hotel. The likelihood of you staying in a neighborhood where things are priced much cheaper than in a tourist area is higher.
Jani Gee from HealthGeenie.com
Sometimes the flight sale dictates the destination and you have to be okay with that. Bali might’ve been on the top of our travel wish-list, but Fiji is on sale right now – So guess where we are going next: Fiji. Health Geenie does not compromise on the quality of our accommodations. Sleep is vital to a healthy and happy vacation. However, we’ve stayed at the highest quality accommodations by traveling off-season, playing the points game, and/or finding discount codes. Try to connect with a local and they will show you the best eats for local prices. Venture beyond the tourist traps and follow the advice of your favorite bloggers who did the dirty work and ate at the best and worst places. Use Groupon, Living Social, and Expedia for discounts on popular tours. Consider booking outside of your hotel for better rates. Get recommendations for drivers, tours, and experiences from your curated travel network.
Sylvia Chuku from ChiChiCaramel.com
Research, research, research! I remember spending a good two months in advance researching different websites and travel pages before settling on my destination. You also have to take the time to shop around for the best flight deals, hotel accommodation, and fun/tourist activities to do.
Dee Eke from DeeDiary.com
When you travel in groups things tend to be cheaper. You can share houses instead of paying for hotel. You pitch in for transport and food.
What’s your most memorable experience while traveling?
Sydney from Coconutcurl.com
The first time I traveled abroad alone I remembered riding on a double decker bus through the streets of Kowloon in Hong Kong at 21 thinking, “This can’t be real.” I teared up and realized in that moment that I had fallen in love with travel. I got such an intense rush from exploring the city, meeting new people and learning about their culture. My first trip abroad marked the beginning of my love affair with travel.
Jani Gee from HealthGeenie.com
Sylvia Chuku from ChiChiCaramel.com
So, my last and recent trip was to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands and I knew had to go camel riding. That was honestly one of my best experiences. Even negotiating fees with the Camel owners to eventually riding the camels was such an amazing experience.
Dee Eke from DeeDiary.com
It’s hard to say. Travel is really shaped by the places you go and the people you interact with.
What are some of your most adhered to safety tips?
Sydney from Coconutcurl.com
Be aware and be respectful of the culture you are about to be apart of. Just because you are a tourist doesn’t mean you aren’t expected the follow the local customs, this applies especially to women. It is very important that you follow the local dress code. Do your research and be respectful.
Jani Gee from HealthGeenie.com
ALWAYS GET TRAVEL INSURANCE, know how your policy works, and read the fine print. This rule was especially validated after the accident in Cuba, but I have gotten sick in Dubai, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. The only thing that makes you feel better about getting sick in a foreign country is knowing that there is a 24 hour staff somewhere ready to get you what you need. Send your family or someone reliable every detail of your travel itinerary. Someone back home should know where you are staying, what you’ll be doing, and how to contact you. Understand the political climate as it relates to the country’s perception of Americans (or the country you’re from) and allow that understanding to frame your perspective and presence. Apply heightened common sense, stay aware of your surroundings, and follow your instincts. This is especially important for my ladies. I remember I was studying abroad in Spain and while walking home one night, I noticed a man following me. I started changing directions and running and he continued to follow and began running after me. I panicked because I knew that I would not be able to get the outer door unlocked and into my second floor apartment before he would reach me. I had to make a split second decision to run back to a late-night food spot where I had met some Arabs a few hours before. I didn’t know the Arabs any more than I knew the man following me but my instincts told me that they were safe and good and that it was my best and only option. I was right. They walked me home and made sure I got to my apartment safely. Remember that in most places you are a target to the ill-intentioned because you’re a tourist.
Sylvia Chuku from ChiChiCaramel.com
My dad always has these talks with me before I travel, he says to me, “Trust no one.” Sadly we live in a very crazy world where you have to be mindful of every single thing. It’s important to be mindful of people trying to smuggle drugs in your luggage, never leave your drinks unattended, and most importantly be careful of the areas you go into. Always be very attentive and inform someone, family or friends, of your whereabouts and locations.
Dee Eke from DeeDiary.com
Travel in groups when possible. If you have to travel alone then be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you are aware of your luggage and never leave your things around. Even though people may seem “safe”, don’t trust someone you don’t know and never drink or eat anything you haven’t watched being opened or plated.
There’s has been a notion that black people don’t travel abroad much. Have you seen this to be true? If so, what advice can you give that will encourage more people of color to explore the globe?
Sydney from Coconutcurl.com
I have absolutely seen this to be true and that’s one of the main reasons I started my blog. I wanted to encourage other young people to travel, but especially other young african americans. African american travelers need to understand that this world is meant for their eyes as well and they shouldn’t feel discouraged to explore it. Articles like this one helps to educate and encourage novice African American travelers.
Jani Gee from HealthGeenie.com
I really don’t buy into the notion. There are people of every race who love to travel and people of every race who will never leave their hometown and both of those are personal choices that we respect. Just because people hadn’t seen us or didn’t acknowledge black travelers, does not mean that we have not been out here. The notion that black people don’t travel might come from the idea that black people are communal and some black people tend to travel to destinations where there are communities of people like them. This is true in part, but there are also Black people who have been traveling for years. In the last 5 or so years black travel forums have created safe spaces (both online and in the real world) for black travelers and have encouraged and inspired black people to travel more. These forums, using hashtags to promote black travel pride and solidarity, illuminated the hundreds and thousands of black travelers who were already heavily committed to the nomad-life. I would argue that there has been an increase in black travel and definitely an increase in black travel visibility, but black travel is not new. In terms of advice: at HealthGeenie.com we seek to empower and inspire likeminded individuals to explore the world, pursue a healthy life, and find their magic. The best advice I can give you is to explore your world on your own terms: never stop seeking your bliss.
Sylvia Chuku from ChiChiCaramel.com
To some respect this is true, but I feel that it is all changing now. We want to see more and explore more. My greatest advice is that traveling is enlightening and there’s so much to learn from it. Richard Branson has always said that travel is the best education any child can have!
Dee Eke from DeeDiary.com
I think a lot of it has to do with personal preference and priorities, if you don’t have the money to pay your bills, you are not likely to travel. If you find yourself in such a position, I’d say start small. There are so many places to see within the US. Road trips and short inter-country trips are a great way to wet your appetite. If you are a student, consider looking into fully paid programs that will pay for you to study in a different country.
What’s your ultimate traveling advice that you would like to give to future travelers?
Sydney from Coconutcurl.com
Go. Don’t put travel on the back burner. It will be one of the most essential elements in your growth as a human being and a citizen of the world. Your understanding of your purpose will become much clearer. My favorite travel quote reads, “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move”
Jani Gee from HealthGeenie.com
Engage. Get to know the people you meet on a substantial level. The people we’ve met have become my family and their homes have become my home and that’s been invaluable. I can go to the jungles of Costa Rica, the suburbs of Havana, and the dangerous atmosphere of Guatemala City and never worry about where I’ll rest my head. When I travel, I aim to engage and to connect on a substantial level. By engaging I learn more, I feel more, and I honestly love more. Be present. Allow yourself to really be present in the moments and in the experiences. Focus a little less on the amount of passport stamps and Instagram photos and travel bragging/shaming because these moments are gifts and you owe it to yourself to live every moment fully and to allow yourself to expand in the wonders of your adventures. Have you ever seen a sunset or the moon and tried to take a picture and realized the picture did not capture close to half of the magic? That’s kind of how travel is. It’s fun to share and document and be a part of the trend but don’t cheat yourself out of the best moments of your life by being absent during them. Remember, the best things that happen in life are not able to be properly captured by a photo, written down, or told but are lived.
Sylvia Chuku from ChiChiCaramel.com
Plan, plan, plan. Be optimistic to new experiences and cultures!
Dee Eke from DeeDiary.com
Plan ahead, but be open to spontaneously doing things you didn’t consider before you got there. Talk to the locals and find out what they recommend. Sometimes the less known/less touristy places are the most magnificent.
Stay Tuned For Part 2 In The Ultimate Travel Tips From 6 Influential Travel Bloggers
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Now, Jani Gee, who claims to be a lawyer, is a Twitter slut desperately seeking validation and affirmation. Maybe you should be a bit more selective about who you choose to spotlight.