Summer is here! To help our readers prepare for summer travel, we interviewed Black & Abroad, a Black-owned, multi-platform travel and lifestyle company. The award-winning platform is transforming travel with these easy travel tips and the newly released first-of-its-kind Black Elevation Map.
The award-winning platform curates and facilitates international, culturally sensitive, luxury and adventurous travel moments for Black travelers. Black communities spent an estimated $101.9 billion on leisure travel prior to the pandemic. With travel numbers predicted to increase during the post-pandemic travel boom, Black & Abroad co-founders Kent Johnson and Eric Martin discuss how to better prepare for vacation and offer resources to guide you through your trip.
Black & Abroad is known for its award-winning “Go Back to Africa” campaign, and now Black Elevation Map is taking it a step further by providing an interactive online guide curated and aggregated from the community, showcasing Black-owned businesses across the country and encouraging further support, discovery, and connection between communities.
Read on for more information on how to prepare for your next vacation.
1. Research and tips on how to plan
Source:Black & Abroad
Eric: There’s only one thing to remember when choosing a travel destination: keep an open mind. I always say that there are five seasons to consider when planning a trip: spring, summer, fall, winter, and last but not least, the shoulder seasons. Shoulder seasons are the time between your destination’s peak and low tourist seasons. During this time, flights and hotel prices are much cheaper than usual, making it perfect for those who want to kick back and relax without the usual crowds. Not to mention, it’s a great way to travel during a pandemic.
Not sure where to start? We won’t say too much. To find great flight deals, visit at least these four sites: theflightdeal.com, faredealalert.com, skyscanner.com, and skiplagged.com. To find great hotel and Airbnb deals, remember that it’s the off-season. Prices usually drop due to lower demand.
2. A destination that champions and celebrates the Black experience and culture
Source:Black & Abroad
Kent: Weekends are perfect for a quick getaway somewhere that beats the summer heat. For example, foodies should head to a city like New Orleans, where restaurants serving Creole and Southern cuisine are ubiquitous. Even more popular destinations like Miami can be a haven for diaspora cuisine. Not far from the shores of Miami Beach, you’ll find Little Haiti, which is packed with restaurants. And because the city has such close ties to the Caribbean, you’ll find Afro-Cuban and island-influenced restaurants all over the city.
For an extended summer trip, you can’t go wrong visiting cities like Cartagena and Cali in Colombia (home to the third largest black population outside of Africa), two cities brimming with cultural experiences that speak to different facets of the black experience.
There are also many islands like Bermuda that have their own carnival in the summer. Bermuda’s carnival is relatively new, but it’s also the fastest growing carnival in the world, so everyone is starting to take notice. Don’t worry, Bermuda’s carnival is a great place for beginners to start their carnival journey. It’s not as intimidating as Trinidad and Tobago’s ultimate experience, but it’s just as fun and inclusive as any other carnival experience. This week-long experience is the perfect way to experience the island, with plenty of opportunities to soak up the island’s black history and relaxed atmosphere.
3. Create your itinerary
Source:Black & Abroad
Eric: The best itineraries have three elements: variety, flexibility, and balance. Whether you’re traveling solo or in a group, an equal mix of these elements will allow you to have more time to enjoy and experience more. Diversity is very important because it introduces you to the crossroads of many cultures. Divide a map of the city into four quadrants and make sure to visit restaurants, museums, historical sites, beaches, and clubs in each quadrant during your trip.
Keep your itinerary loose and flexible on dates and times. Weather, commute times, and most importantly, jet lag can be unpredictable. So, always build time into your itinerary for such occasions, especially if you are traveling with a companion. Speaking of jet lag, it is important to also build a few hours/days of rest into your itinerary. There is nothing worse than sleepwalking through the entire trip and barely remembering it at all. This is where the concept of balance comes into play. You want to come home feeling energized and refreshed, not after running a marathon.
4. Airbnb vs. Hotels
Source:Black & Abroad
Eric: Of course, it depends on the situation, but I’m basically a fan of both. If I’m traveling with close friends or family, [Air]BNBs. They make traveling in a group so much easier. On the other hand, when traveling solo, I prefer hotels for a few reasons. I once rented a BNB on a small European island while traveling solo, and quickly realized from the neighbors’ reactions that I was the only black brother they’d seen in that small town for a long time. I ended up canceling after a few days and booking a hotel a few miles away with a more diverse clientele. I also like that hotels have common areas where you can eat, drink, and socialize with others.
5. Post-arrival resources
Source:Black & Abroad
Kent: If you’ve decided to vacation in the United States, the Black Elevation Map (blackelevationmap.com) can help you identify what to see, eat and experience in a city. The website pulls cultural data like Black population data, historical markers, Black-owned businesses and social media activity, then visualizes points of interest on a searchable elevation map for each U.S. city. The platform allows you to bookmark and save the places you find, and create itineraries that you can send to yourself or anyone joining you on your trip.
Wherever you’re going, a great way to find great places in a city is to search hashtags on social media (e.g. #bestfoodinAtlanta #BlackownedChicago, etc.). We all love sharing our experiences, so social media is a great place to see how others have experienced a city in preparation for your own visit. Platforms like Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram are great for discovering trending spots and local hotspots.
6. Interact with locals and understand their culture
Source:Black & Abroad
Eric: I recommend doing your research beforehand regarding cultural differences. For example, in the US, a firm handshake and eye contact are signs of respect. If you do the same in Japan, you will face big problems as bowing is much more respectful. Also, research the local people’s language beforehand. You don’t have to be fluent, but I’ve found that researching the language is always a great way to spark conversations with locals and learn more. Also, being willing to communicate with them in your own language shows respect for them.
Another thing to always remember is how and when to use your camera, especially with locals. Always ask permission to take their picture or take a picture with them. It may not be a big deal in the US or Europe, but in parts of Africa, I have witnessed people approaching groups of children and using them as props to post on Instagram. Always ask yourself before taking a photo: Would this be okay in Europe or America? It really helps to put things into perspective.
7. Work While Vacation (WFV)
Source:Black & Abroad
Kent: With the massive increase in remote work over the past two years, Black communities have also seen a surge in the number of professionals switching from cubicles to cabanas. Airbnb recently conducted a study on remote work and time off and found that 72% of Black remote professionals surveyed have lived in at least one other location since 2020 and are actively planning to take better advantage of workplace location flexibility in the near future.
When considering where to stay for a “workcation,” Black professionals are most attracted to seaside towns and big cities over mountainous or rural areas, and survey data shows that the Caribbean is the most popular destination for Black professionals looking to work remotely.
