Explore Internationally

Choose a destination to read guides, see photo journals, and plan your trip.

International travel has become one of the most grounding parts of my life. It’s not just because I want to go far, although maybe it is partly to do with the dreamy pisces in me that likes to wander. I love international travel because of how much it shifts my perspective every time. Landing in a new country, hearing a different language, and learning how people live outside of what I’ve always known makes me pay attention. It urges me to be considerate, grateful, and curious all at once.

I travel to understand place through the food, everyday life, the architecture, the conversations, and all of the spontaneous moments where I get to see or experience something I may not at home. I’m interested in destinations where parts of my culture, as a Black woman especially, is felt and seen, where I’m connected to history and where I can acknowledge something much bigger than myself. That might look like local markets, long walks through neighborhoods, and storied design and color.

This page is a collection of the countries I’ve explored so far, each of them shaping how I navigate the next destination and how I show up when I travel.

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Planning an International Trip

  • Before anything else, make sure your passport is valid. Most countries require at least 6 months of validity beyond your travel dates. Some destinations may also require visas, but many places are visa-free or offer visas on arrival for U.S. travelers. Always check entry requirements before booking.

  • International flights are usually most affordable when booked 1–3 months in advance for nearby destinations and 2–6 months for longer-haul trips. If your schedule allows, try to fly midweek (Tuesday) to help reduce costs. I also look for flights that arrive during the day when possible. Lastly, I would say to always consider the season of the country you’re traveling to. You don’t want to arrive somewhere without the right clothing or realizing it will be raining for your entire trip.

  • Your budget is going to vary depending on the destination, but a few things will always be a part of that budget, including flights, accommodations, food, transportation, and experiences. I usually prioritize booking my stay first, then my flight, experiences next, and finally food reservations whenever and wherever I can. I try to make it so that most everything except food is paid for before I arrive.

  • Make sure you know how you’ll move around before you arrive. You don’t want to arrive somewhere that isn’t walkable with no plans for a driver or car rental.

    In some places, rideshare apps work seamlessly. In others, you may need to consider taxis or even public transportation.

    I always check how far things are from each other because what looks close on a map may not translate that way in real life.

  • If you’re traveling solo, choose destinations that are easy to navigate and have strong tourism infrastructure, especially for your first few trips.

    Stay aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, and share your itinerary with someone back home.

  • Even in places where English is widely spoken, I try to learn a few basic phrases. It goes a long way in showing respect. Downloading offline maps and having access to translation apps can also make things easier if you really get in a bind.

You don’t have to plan everything perfectly. Some of the best parts of traveling come from the moments you didn’t schedule.

What I’m Drawn To

  • African Diaspora Connections

    I’m always paying attention to how culture travels, especially across the African diaspora. As a Black American, I’m enamored with our music, food, language and way of being. I know all of that comes from somewhere, and I’m interested in visiting places where I can find those connections being preserved just by living.

  • Local Markets + Food + Daily Life

    Some of the most honest experiences happen in local markets, small restaurants, street food, grocery stores—these are the places where you get a real sense of how people live.

  • Conversations

    Travel feels different when you actually engage and connect with people. I always greet people wherever I am and that made lead to a quick exchange or a longer conversation. Either way, it’s a matter of being present in a shared space and being open to all the ways you can come to understand a place.

  • Design + Texture + Color

    I was an artist once upon a time, and still I’m drawn to color and texture. So I pay attention to the buildings, the materials, the patterns, and the way the light hits everything. Design tells a story about what resources are available to people wherever I am and how they’ve made the most of them.

A Sense of Wander

International travel is more meaningful when you allow yourself to wander. You don’t have to be aimless, but you should challenge yourself to be curious. Paying attention to what pulls you in and then follow it (safely, of course). I try not to arrive with a fixed idea of what a place should be or even how the people or how the food should be. Instead, I let the experience unfold, and in doing that, I usually find something better than what I imagined.