The 'gram will have you out here thinking that everybody hit the lottery, quit their job, and is suddenly kicking it around the world. You know how it is.
You sign in, scroll for a few seconds, and are like, "Is Keisha is on vacation AGAIN?" Did Jay drop his kids off at Chuck E Cheese and never look back? How did Cousin Pookie go from not having a passport to stuntin' on a camel with a bunch of well-dressed strangers?
If you're wondering if Oprah sent out a you-get-a-flight email that you somehow missed, relax. She hasn't (yet), but these days she doesn't need to. Travel groups have made it so much easier for people to see the world, and the internet is simply spreading the good news!
So if you don't have the time to plan your own trip, or your friends have 99 problems when it's time to book (i.e. I don't know if I can make it because my Yorkie needs a sitter with good heat – the trip is in November, right?) – you're in luck. Here are 21 group trips you can join in 2018!
Note: Several trips sold out as I was writing this, but as of today these trips are all still open or have wait lists you can join!
Photo: Sail Noire
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
June 16-23, 2018
Host:Black Travel Movement
Cities: This is a week long sailing event. But brown people. Basically Wakanda Yacht Week.
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up(check frequently for new boats)
Photo: Up in the Air Life
CHILE
February 23 – March 1, 2018
Host:Up in the Air Life
Cities: Santiago, Valparaiso, Algabarro
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: Brooklyn Travel Addict
CUBA
April 26-30, 2018 and May 24 – May 28
Host:Black Travel Movement
Cities: Havana, Veradero
Itinerary & Pricing| Sign Up
May 25 – 30, 2018
Host:Up in the Air Life
Cities: Havana, Matanzas
Itinerary | Pricing | Join the Waitlist
May 26-June 2, 2018
Host: Haiti Got It
Cities: Havana, Matanzas, Varadero
Itinerary, Pricing & Sign Up
Photo: Up In The Air Life
EGYPT
Dates: September 1-9 2018
Host:Black Travel Movement
Cities: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign up
Dates: October 27 – November 4, 2018
Host:Up in the Air Life
Cities: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: Up in the Air Life
FRANCE
Dates: June 6-11, 2018
Host:Black Travel Movement
City: Paris
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
June 29 – July 5, 2018
Host:Haitian Nomad
Cities: Nice, St. Tropez, French Riviera (Cannes, Eze, Monaco, Monte Carlo)
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
October 13 – 20, 2018
Group:Up in the Air Life
Cities: Champage (plus Venice & Bologna, Italy)
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: The Wrap Life
GHANA
July 20-29, 2018
Host:Africa With Us
Cities: Accra, Cape Coast
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
Photo by Haiti Uncut
HAITI
July 4- July 8
Host:Haiti Got It
Cities: Port-au-Prince, La Cote des Arcadins
Itinerary, Pricing & Sign Up
October 6-14, 2018
Host:Haiti Got It
Cities: Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, A Secret Retreat
Itinerary, Pricing & Sign Up
December 27, 2018-January 2, 2019
Host:Haiti Got It
City: Cap-Haitien
Itinerary, Pricing & Sign Up
Photo: Travel Noire
INDONESIA
Option 1: February 26 – March 4, 2018 (1 space available)
Option 2: March 7 – 13, 2018 (1 space available)
Host:Travel Noire
City: Bali
Itinerary & Pricing| Sign Up
Photo: Travel Noire
ITALY
April 10 – 16, 2018
Host: Travel Noire
Region: Amalfi Coast
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
October 13 – 20, 2018
Host: Up in the Air Life
Cities: Bologna & Venice (plus Champagne, Italy)
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up
MEXICO
Photo: OHPsalms Facebook
May 24-29, 2018
Host:OHPsalms
City: Cabo San Lucas
Itinerary & Pricing | Inquire via email
July 12 – 15, 2018
Hosts: Baecations +Up in the Air Life
City: Playa Del Carmen
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up
August 31 – September 3, 2018
Host: Up in the Air Life
City: Playa Del Carmen
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: Travel Noire
MOROCCO
March 5 – 11, 2018
Host:Travel Noire
City: Marrakech
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
May 19 – 26, 2018
Host:Black Travel Movement
Cities: Casablanca, Marrakech
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: Jet Black
SENEGAL
March 23 – 29, 2018
Host: Jet Black
Cities: Dakar, Goree Islands, Saly
Host:Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
SEYCHELLES
November 7-18, 2018
Host: Africa With Us
Islands: Mahe Island, Praslin Island
Host:Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: Africa With Us
SOUTH AFRICA
April 17-23, 2018
Host:Fly Brother
Cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town
Itinerary & Pricing | Email for information
October 17-30, 2018
Host: Africa With Us
Cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: Africa With Us
TANZANIA + KENYA
September 12-25, 2018
Host: Africa With Us
Cities: Nairobi, Kenya; Dar Es Salaam, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Stonetown (Zanzibar) Tanzania
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
Photo: Lonely Planet
THAILAND
April 21 – 28, 2018
Host:Black Travel Movement
Cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phucket
Itinerary & Pricing | Sign Up
December 30, 2018- January 5, 2019
Group:Up in the Air Life
City: Bangkok
Itinerary | Pricing | Sign Up
BARBADOS
May 10-14, 2018
Group: OMNoire.com
City: Bridgetown
Itinerary| Pricing & Sign Up
PENNSYLVANIA
June 22-24, 2018
Group: OMNoire.com
City: Poconos
Itinerary| Pricing & Sign Up
*Article originally published on Brooklyn Travel Addict
Did this list get you excited? Have you traveled with any of these groups? Drop a praise report in the comments below if you had a blast, or comment with any trips I missed so we can add to the list!
RELATED
The seeds for these entrepreneurs were planted during their time as students at schools like Spelman, North Carolina A&T, and more, which is why xoNecole caught up with Look Good Live Well’s Ariane Turner, HBCU Buzz’s Luke Lawal and Morehouse Senior Director of Marketing and Comms and Press Secretary Jasmine Gurley to highlight the role their HBCU roots play in their work as entrepreneurs, the legacy they aim to leave behind through the work that they do, and more as a part of Hyundai’s Best In Class initiative.
On Honoring HBCU Roots To Create Something That Is For Us, By Us
Ariane Turner
Courtesy
When Ariane Turner launched Look Good, Live Well, she created it with Black and brown people in mind, especially those with sensitive skin more prone to dryness and skin conditions like acne and eczema.
The Florida A&M University graduate launched her business to create something that addressed topical skin care needs and was intentional about its approach without negative terminology.
Turner shared that it is important to steer clear of language often adopted by more prominent brands, such as “banishing breakouts” or “correcting the skin,” because, in reality, Turner says there is nothing wrong with the way that our skin and bodies react to various life changes.
“I think what I have taken with me regarding my HBCU experience and translated to my entrepreneurial experience is the importance of not just networking,” Turner, the founder and CEO of Look Good, Live Well, tellls xoNecole.
“We hear that in business all the time, your network is your net worth, but family, there’s a thing at FAMU that we call FAMU-lee instead of family, and it’s very much a thing. What that taught me is the importance of not just making relationships and not just making that connection, but truly working on deepening them, and so being intentional about connecting with people initially, but staying connected and building and deepening those relationships, and that has served me tremendously in business, whether it’s being able to reach back to other classmates who I went to school with, or just networking in general.”
She adds, “I don’t come from a business background. As soon as I finished school, I continued with my entrepreneurial journey, and so there’s a lot of that traditional business act and the networking, those soft skills that I just don’t have, but I will say that just understanding how to leverage and network community and to build intentional relationships is something that has taken me far and I definitely got those roots while attending FAMU.”
On Solving A Very Specific Need For The Community
Luke Lawal Jr.
Courtesy
When Luke Lawal Jr. launched HBCU Buzz, his main focus was to represent his community, using the platform to lift as they climbed by creating an outlet dedicated to celebrating the achievements and positive news affecting the 107 historically HBCUs nationwide.
By spotlighting the wonderful things that come from the HBCU community and coupling it with what he learned during his time at Bowie State University, Lawal used that knowledge to propel himself as an entrepreneur while also providing his people with accurate representation across the internet.
“The specific problem in 2011 when I started HBCU Buzz was more so around the fact that mainstream media always depict HBCUs as negative,” Lawal says. “You would only see HBCUs in the mainstream media when someone died, or the university president or someone was stepping down. It was always bad news, but they never shed light on all the wonderful things from our community."
So, I started HBCU Buzz to ensure the world saw the good things that come from our space. And they knew that HBCUs grew some of the brightest people in the world, and just trying to figure out ways to make sure our platform was a pedestal for all the students that come through our institutions.”
“The biggest goal is to continue to solve problems, continue to create brands that solve the problems of our communities, and make sure that our products, our brands, our companies, and institutions are of value and they’re helping our community,” he continues. “That they’re solving problems that propel our space forward.”
On How Being An HBCU Alum Impacts The Way One Shows Up In The World
Jasmine Gurley
Courtesy
Jasmine Gurley is a proud North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alum. She is even more delighted with her current role, which enables her to give back to current HBCU students as the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communications and official press secretary at Morehouse College.
“It was a formative experience where I really was able to come into my own and say yes to all the opportunities that were presented to me, and because of that, it’s been able to open the doors later in life too,” says Gurley of her experience at North Carolina A&T. “One thing I love about many HBCUs is that we are required to learn way more about African American history than you do in your typical K through 12 or even at the higher ed level."
She adds, “It allowed us to have a better understanding of where we came from, and so for me, because I’m a storyteller, I’m a history person, I’m very sensitive to life in general, being able to listen to the stories and the trials that our ancestors overcame, put the battery pack in my back to say, ‘Oh nothing can stop me. Absolutely nothing can stop me. I know where I came from, so I can overcome something and try anything. And I have an obligation to be my ancestors’ wildest dreams. Simultaneously, I also have a responsibility to help others realize that greatness.
Gurley does not take her position at an HBCU, now as a leader, lightly.
“People think I’m joking when I say I’m living the dream, but I really am,” she notes. “So I wake up every day and know that the work that I do matters, no matter how hard it might be, how frustrating it may be, and challenging it. I know the ripple effect of my work, my team, and what this institution does also matter. The trajectory of Black male experiences, community, history, and then just American advancement just in general.”
On the other hand, through her business, Sankofa Public Relations, Gurley is also on a mission to uplift brands in their quest to help their respective communities. Since its inception in 2017, Sankofa PR has been on a mission to “reach back and reclaim local, national, and global communities by helping those actively working to move” various areas of the world, focusing on pushing things forward for the better.
“Through Sankofa, we’ve worked with all different types of organizational brands and individuals in several different industries, but I would think of them as mission-based,” says Gurley.
“So with that, it’s an opportunity to help people who are trying to do good in the world, and they are passionate about what they’re doing. They just need help with marketing issues, storytelling, and branding, and that’s when my expertise can come into play. Help them get to that moment where they can tell their story through me or another platform, and that’s been super fulfilling.”
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Feature image courtesy
Some folks are saying that October is now “uncuffing season” as partners won’t have to deal with the weight and expectations that come with this time of year. From matching Halloween costumes to voting to Thanksgiving and Christmas, it seems the new cuffing season has moved to January.
In August 2021, Zoë and Channing were first rumored to be romantically involved after being photographed riding together through the streets of New York City on a BMX bike. The following month, they were seen leaving the Met Gala together, and Tatum confirmed their relationship on Halloween by posting a picture of them wearing a couples costume from Martin Scorsese's iconic 1976 film Taxi Driver on Instagram.
Instagram/@channingtatum
After collaborating on Zoë's directorial debut, Blink Twice, where Channing played a starring role, their relationship blossomed into a full-out romance. Approximately a year later, the Step Up star popped the question.
Because the streets are always watching, PEOPLE reported that Channing joined Zoë in seeing a production of a play by Blink Twice costar Levon Hawke in New York City's Red Hook neighborhood on Oct. 6. Most recently, Kravitz has been seen in public without her engagement ring, notably during an outing with her Big Little Lies co-star Shailene Woodley.
So the news of the split kinda comes as a surprise as we were just oozing over the couple’s undeniable chemistry during their Blink Twice press run in August. Channing and Zoë openly discussed their relationship and collaborated on multiple videos that went viral.
Even proud papa Lenny Kravitz gave his approval. During an interview with BBC’s Radio 2, he said, "He was raised well. So, you know, he’s got manners. He’s charming. He’s a soulful human being. And so, he’s become part of the family quite quickly. He fits and they're in love. We’re going to have a wedding next year."
As we mourn this breakup, let’s run back some memorable moments from the possibly uncoupled pair.
"Art is our love language."
When asked about future collaborations with her boo during the premiere of Blink Twice on Aug. 23, Zoë shared, "I think it's what we love, and we love talking about it, and experiencing it, and supporting each other.” Channing chimed in saying, “This is what I'll say about creating with someone that you are with or love: I suggest it. If you are thinking about having a kid or if you're thinking about getting married, go find the hardest possible creative project with your partner.”
“I got you forever.”
Channing took to Instagram to share an adoring photo of him holding Zoë. He captioned the photo, “This little sweet. She So tired bro. Every time I wondered if she’d break…. She just kept going and going and going. Always on the dig for truth. She pour’d every single ounce of her into this film. I’m so proud to stand ten toes down for her, this film and everyone in it. forever. Knowing what it took to make it. No one will ever know.”
The last line took us out: “Thank you for finding me and seeing me. I got you forever. Me and you back to back against it all. I’ll never blink. Let’s go. #blinktwice”
GOAT Talk
On Complex’s GOAT Talk, a show where stars are prompted to reveal their favorites of all time, Channing and Zoë disclosed their go-to song for singing in the shower, their beloved ad-lib line from Blink Twice, and their stance on conspiracy theories and their favorite rapper. The moment Channing challenged Zoë’s answer that Catwoman is the best superhero of all time was just too cute.
“The Lie Detector determined…”
The cast of Blink Twice underwent Vanity Fair's well-known lie detector test, facing a barrage of probing questions. Among the inquiries were: Did Channing Tatum and Naomi Watts ever irritate Zoë Kravitz during the filming of Blink Twice? Did Naomi ever pilfer anything from the set? Did Channing's portrayal of Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine surpass his personal expectations?
Best of all were the moments you saw Zoë and Channing look at each other adoringly and when they would finish each other sentences. “We are equally cool,” Zoë beamed.
Puppy Love
The pair hung out with BuzzFeed and a slew of adorable puppies while chatting about their favorite improvised moment on set, who has the best rizz — which is apparently Channing according to Zoë — and their first impressions of each other. Not only did they binge-watch Love Island together but they also boasted they would win Love Is Blind if they were on the show.
The Pressure
Zoë Kravitz recently sat down with Esquirefor an interview and got real about her thoughts on becoming a parent. She shared that she's always kinda thought motherhood might not be her thing. “For a long time, I felt like there was something wrong with me. I was waiting for this light to go off in my head, and it never did. When you’re younger, you’re like, ‘Well, I can’t have kids. I’m too young! It’d be crazy.’”
Her viewpoint on childbirth and parenthood has evolved as she has matured and witnessed the societal pressure placed on women to reproduce. While she recognizes the immense strength and courage required to carry and raise a child, Kravitz believes that women should not be made to feel obligated to do so.
Zoë continued, “For a lot of people that have children, it is this giant, life-changing event – and I do think there is a certain amount of focus and respect that they should get from their community. There’s a lot of pressure on women to have children, and there’s a feeling that if you don’t, you don’t have purpose here.” The director feels a special connection to her new movie akin to giving birth.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Dave Benett/WireImage