Being a black traveler

Being a black traveler

by | Nov 17, 2021 | 6 comments

It’s 2021, and it still amazes me to see the reactions of people I assume think I don’t belong in a particular space.  Stereotypes are well established, and I still get the microaggressive questions like, where are you from? What do you do? What does your husband do?  Sometimes I also get blunt questions like What brings you here?  I remember the famous Oprah Winfrey shopping experience quite well, and I realize that no matter the status, being a black traveler comes with some unique experiences.  Here are a few recollections from my experiences.

First-class

I’m a luxury traveler, and whenever possible, I indulge myself with that experience.  I can’t count the number of times I have queued for the first /business class travel lane and had fellow passengers step around me like I was invisible.  I often also get the automatic direction to the right from a flight attendant when boarding a plane.  It amuses me to go left, and then I get asked again for my boarding pass for a second verification as if somehow there was a mistake.

Travel lounges

Entering a travel lounge is no different.  I often see people flash their boarding passes and walk into the lounge.  However, I am frequently asked not only for my boarding pass but for identification.  When in the lounge, I see other passengers being asked if they would like a refill or a request if service is needed.  Frequently I am overlooked and must request service.

Customs and immigration

Customs and immigration are no different. I realize that some questions are valid, but I sometimes feel a sense of invasiveness when asked, what brings you here? Where are you staying? How long are you staying?  Although these might be valid questions, I’ve stood in line long enough to see that not everyone is questioned in the same way.  My history of microaggressive behavior makes me question the questioner.

Hotels

As a frequent traveler, I often stay at the same hotel chain for loyalty points.  As a loyal customer and quite knowledgeable about hotel services, I am rarely recognized as a loyal customer.  I know my wants are documented in the system, yet my room is often not as requested.  Again, this may be just assuming the worst, but historical experience tells me I’m not off the mark.

This article is by no means meant to be a  complaint.  It is simply a sharing of my lived experiences.  Have you noticed or experienced similar experiences?  If you haven’t, I invite you to take notice and claim your validity of space.  It’s incredible that even now, in 2021, the spaces I enter question my presence simply because of my hue.

Why choose a bespoke holiday?

Why choose a bespoke holiday?

by | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 comments

A bespoke holiday is one crafted to your needs. In most cases, it is synonymous with luxury travel and excellent service. Because I have traveled for many years, I believe some things or experiences can differentiate between a good trip and a fantastic trip. My recent African safari was one from the Elewana Collection, and here are a few reasons I chose this bespoke holiday.

The Elewana Collection is known for its unique and iconic locations. One of my recent blog posts discussed my stay at the Elewana Treetops, but each place I stayed was equally impressive. My bespoke trip to Tanzania included:

The itinerary of my safari was custom designed and well thought out. Its primary focus was to provide unique experiences in the places visited. Although the itinerary was tailored for me, I could change it at any time. All activities were well organized and timely, and options for bespoke experiences were limitless, including sunset dinners on safari, beach, and other ideal locations.

The trip included all accommodations. Because the trip covered all Elewana properties, the only check-in was on the first day. Every stay after that, we were escorted to the room by our butler. All requests went through the butler, who handled our requests efficiently and timely. It was like having a personal concierge service.

Drinks and meals were all-inclusive. Premium drinks were available for a charge, but the drink selection offered was more than adequate. In addition, the trip included all transportation to and from the lodges and camps, Kilimanjaro airport, and Zanzibar airport. All the scheduled game drives had a personal English-speaking guide for the duration of each destination.

There was no need to overpack as laundry services were available at every destination. The package also included emergency evacuation insurance. However, it did not have travel insurance. Other items not included were gratuities and tips, visas for Tanzania, and flights into Tanzania and from Zanzibar. The resort in Zanzibar provided a driver and guide, but trips to the city were at an additional cost.

If you’ve never had a bespoke travel experience, I would highly suggest one. Not having to worry about different accommodations, making travel arrangements within the country, and sorting out guides and transportation was priceless. It is so worth the expense and can be a most memorable time.

Are you interested in a bespoke travel experience? Check out my trip on Levantr and create your own bespoke travel experience. Let me know.

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