Welcome to My Blog!
I retired in 2013 after 23 years as an international flight attendant while living and raising two children in Singapore. I became an empty nester in 2018 when my son graduated college, and my daughter started college. I moved back to Singapore in 2018 and once again lived the ex-pat lifestyle, but as it is with ex-pats, most of my ex-pat friends had transitioned. As an empty nester, I didn’t have much in common with the new ex-pat mothers I met. However, whenever I met new people, just as always, conversations evolved around travel once they realized I was a former flight attendant. People often ask me questions and opinions about travel, so in 2020, I decided to blog about it.
I knew my behind-the-scenes view of travel and travel experiences as a woman of color would make my blog different from many other travel blogs. Being a Black woman, my experience as a flight attendant, extensive travel experience, and ex-pat life give me a different perspective. I hope you can learn from these amazing moments in my life and gain insights on how to best prepare for your next domestic and, or international travels.
Please, remember to like and share my blogs with your friends and family!
Your Expert Traveling Coach,
Dr. Donna
What is a Real, and why you will eventually need one to travel.
In 2005, congress passed a Real ID standard which sets minimum security standards for states issuing licenses. This was done to bolster security after 9/11. This requirement was scheduled to take effect as far back as 2008 and has been pushed several times. ...
Don’t always fly to warm locations for winter travel, consider a ski trip.
Happy Holidays! It's Christmas weekend, but there's still plenty of winter left, at least until the end of February. A winter trip is still an option if you've missed the ball on your Christmas gift. I went to Aspen, Colorado, for my first planned winter vacation a...
Why its important to observe local laws when traveling?
If you've been paying any attention to the news lately, you will recall the issues some LGBTQIA members and their supporters have been having while in Doha, Qatar, attending the World Cup. This stark reminder that travelers must be aware of local laws is essential. ...
Is black travel different?
While there will be many different opinions on the topic, I believe that black travel is different. Historically travel brands have excluded black and brown-skinned people in their marketing photos and videos. In recent years, there has been a plethora of travel media...
Is it safe to travel?
One of the most asked questions I get about traveling is whether a destination is safe for travel. Historically it has been asked regarding the safety of traveling to a foreign country. More recently, it was associated with Covid and the safety precautions of...
Travel Programs
If you’re well-traveled, there are a few resources to know that will make your travels more manageable and less problematic. Most people have heard of TSA PreCheck as it is so visible at airport security lines. However, a few other trusted traveler programs are...
Has travel changed?
There’s no doubt in my mind that travel has changed since Covid. It seems people now have a sense of urgency to travel. Covid has reminded many people of their mortality, and many now feel like they need to make up for the past two years of being unable to travel...
Long-distance travel options.
Flying back and forth from Singapore to the US is a true example of long-range flying, and I have been flying this route for over ten years. A non-stop flight can be 17 hours or more, and a stopover is a minimum of 24 hours. So, when flying, I am very thoughtful of...
Travel delays; a flight attendant perspective.
I’ve seen many articles, news stories, and social media posts about travel delays many are enduring since the rebound of the travel industry post-Covid. However, having been a flight attendant and still having friends that are flight attendants, I find it essential...
My travel experience
As a former flight attendant, I look at travel much differently than the average traveler. What taints my view of travel is my knowledge of the behind-the-scenes, the goals behind airline decisions, and the inner understanding of airline personnel and their...
5 tips for international travelers.
In many travel industry news lately, there has been a resurgence of travel, and international travel is part of that recovery. As the world has sprung back from the many restrictions from the Covid pandemic, so has travel. Covid restrictions have relaxed worldwide,...
Race and nationality when traveling.
Travel comes with some inequities in the travel and tourism industry for people of color. Often that impact is also affected by race and nationality. The reality is that traveling while black comes with some individual challenges. In my travels as a black woman, I...