The Traveling Esquire

04/05/2024

Friday night mood. But instead I have to work tomorrow. 🥺

30/04/2024

🔊🔊🔊IT’S TRAVEL PLANNING SEASON!

It’s that time of year. I’m planning and booking my travel stuff.

This year, I’m doing a combination of new countries and spinning the block. I had to cancel my trip from January 😩 so my first *major*international trip includes both one new country and one country I’ve visited before but it’s not until August.

Where are you headed this year? Do you have all of your plans made? Are you already planning 2025?

24/04/2024

I’m back.

I know it’s been a while, so let me explain.

Back even before the panini, around 2019, I started to question my love of blogging. With all of the extra stuff you had to do, it became a chore…another job. And I hated that for myself. All I wanted to do was tell stories and share the world with people. I couldn’t figure out how to do that and still do what I was “supposed” to do with respect to blogging. So I kind of shut down.

Then the panorama hit and travel was, well, nonexistent. I was so relieved, I didn’t have to address the elephant in my room. I started traveling again at the very end of 2021, but not blogging. Barely even posting. Last year I visited 12 new countries and maybe posted 5 times total on social. I was stuck.

This past weekend, I attended and spoke at the Women in Travel Summit in Utah and I got reinvigorated. I remembered why I loved travel blogging and photography and storytelling. I decided that I don’t want to jump ship all together and I want to return to it. I haven’t figured out all of the logistics or how I’m going to do it in a way that doesn’t end me right back up where I was a few years ago, but I’m working through it.

I hope you’ll come along with me. Here’s to the journey.

06/04/2024

✈️ Thrilled to be speaking at the upcoming WITS Travel Creator Summit Beginner Bootcamp next week. ✈️ We'll be discussing building blocks for a successful blog and business. Make sure you say hi if you'll be at the conference. I'd love to connect IRL.

03/04/2024

If your Global Entry is expiring or you’re thinking about getting it, sign up before the fee increase!

ICYMI: Global Entry is about to get more expensive.

Starting on Oct. 1, 2024, the application fee for a five-year membership will increase from $100 to $120, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said yesterday.

That's a 20% jump in the program, which offers vetted travelers a fast track through passport control upon re-entry to the U.S. following an international trip, plus TSA PreCheck access.

Though the fee hike may feel surprising, CBP notes it's the first fee increase the program has seen since the agency launched it in 2008.

And Global Entry isn't the only Trusted Traveler program getting a fee hike. The fee for Nexus, which expedites travelers' crossing from Canada into the U.S., will also cost $120 as of Oct. 1. That's up from $50 currently.

Sentri, which does the same for both Canada and Mexico, already costs $122.

Notably, no fee hike was announced Tuesday for the standalone TSA PreCheck program. The cost for first-time PreCheck applicants actually dropped in 2022, from $85 to $78 for a five-year membership.

If you're a frequent international traveler, the $120 cost is a relatively modest investment over five years for a program that gets you both the expedited experience at customs and at TSA checkpoints.

Plus, several popular travel credit cards currently reimburse the $100 Global Entry application fee. It remains to be seen whether the cards will update their perks to match the increase.

Do you have Global Entry? What do you think of it?
https://bit.ly/4aHNpZV

📸: Caroline Tanner

21/12/2023

*immediately heads to Google Flights to shop for tickets to Accra*

16/09/2023

Have you ever been…underwhelmed… by somwhwre you visited. That was me on that day. It was hot, I was tired and definitely over it. My honest reaction that my friend Christina happened to capture on video. Meh.

24/08/2023

That time I was sobbing alone in the back of a taxi in Italy.

Picture this: Florence. Summer. 2023. I’ve hailed a cab to take me back to my hotel after wine tasting in Tuscany or a farmhouse cooking class or something of the like.

We are zooming through the streets of Florence. Well as much as you can zoom anywhere in Florence. Anyone who has been knows the streets are exceptionally narrow but that doesn’t stop the cab drivers from zipping along.

That is until you’ve got people walking the streets and then it’s the inch along and squeeze game.

I’m in the back of a cab, by my lonesome, trying to take in the sites as they are whirring by. Windows open, summer air offering s nice breeze. Then, all of a sudden, we come to halt. We are moving at a glacial pace to the point that it jolts me out of my own thoughts and back to the moment.

We are inching by a piazza. In the middle of the piazza, under the lights, is a woman, solo, violin in hand. We are creeping along because, on this hot summer night, no less than a couple hundred locals surround this piazza, standing. Simply taking in the violin music into the late hours of the night. Some are focused on their phones, listening in the background. Some are paying close attention. Couples are hugged up on each other taking in the music. Others slow as they are walking by for a moment to take in just some of the performance.

It was literally the most stereotypical and quintessentially Italian thing—in my years of imaginings of Italy— that I have ever seen in my life. And I was witnessing it live. And in person. It was absolutely magical.

Cue the waterworks.

It was at that moment that it actually sunk in that I was actually there. That I finally made it to Italy. 10 long years after I had originally planned this trip. I made it.

When I say I was truly snotting and sobbing in the back of that cab but trying to mask it so the cab driver wouldn’t freak out. Because the language barrier was just too much to explain that I was just in the gravity of a realizing a more-than-10-year dream was in the midst of coming true. Italy can do that to you. Dreams deferred can, as well.

So yeah, that’s me. Your friendly Italian Tourist Tyra. Sobbing in the back of a random cab at 10 pm after pizza making in Tuscany while locals took in a violin performance in a piazza.

E, scena.

P.S. The video does this music or moment absolutely no justice. That’s what happens when you’re silent sobbing in the back of a cab on a hot summer, Tuesday night in Italy while trying to keep it together. Sorry about that.

P.P.S. I still don’t know the name of the song.

28/06/2023

This is why we can’t have nice things! 😡

Tourist filmed carving name into Rome’s Colosseum.

20/06/2023

From Florence with love. 😘😘

15/06/2023

The Last Supper.

One thing I like about Italians is that they don’t try to cover up or run away from their history. The Last Supper is a perfect example of this. Did you know that the famed Leonardo da Vinci painting is actually in a monastery. It was painted on the wall is the dining hall. Just chilling, no big deal.

During WWII, God’s miracle came through. The hall was bombed and only the wall with the Last Supper, the wall with the depiction of the crucifixion (below) and the wall in between the two survived. That’s why we still have da Vinci’s masterpiece. But on the tour they acknowledge that it was actually the Allies (the US and nem) who bombed the building. Why? Because Italy had Mussolini, it was aligned with the Germans and Hi**er. But they don’t cover that part up. They acknowledge it as what happened in the past and move on.

I think some other countries (ahem) could learn from this approach. Just because you don’t like the history now doesn’t mean you can change that it happened. It is what it is. The key is to learn from it so we don’t repeat the same thing. But what do I know?

Fun fact: the reason we don’t see Jesus’ legs and feet is not becuse they weren’t painted, but because at some point someone wanted to make a bigger door. The Italians were really just out here doing whatever. 🤣🤣🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

12/06/2023

Precisely how I feel in Europe right now. It makes no sense. I can just be existing and sweating like a lunatic. Ugh!

11/06/2023

I recently realized why I stopped blogging.

A while back, I stopped blogging. I just couldn’t get the energy to write about my travels or, really, anything. Nothing seemed to inspire me. And I just realized why. It’s easy to blame the pandemmy, but realistically, I had weened off my blogging even before COVID was a thing.

Because it became too much like a job.

Instead of being an outlet for me to express myself, to share with the word, it became all about SEO and keand optimization and maximizing reach. It became so formulaic that I didn’t even want to do it anymore. I began to dread it.

But I miss my favorite thing of all…storytelling. I miss sharing all of my experiences and stories with you. So I’m going to try this again, but a little differently. I’m going to focus on the stories. The photos. The memories. Sure, I’m sure from time to time I’ll get motivated to do an actual blog post and give tips and alladat, but in the meantime I’m easing back into telling stories. Telling my story. Telling the stories of things I encounter. And I’m pretty geeked about that.

16/09/2022

One of the most naturally breathtaking places I’ve ever been. I can’t believe this was 3 years ago today. Grateful my phone reminded me of this moment. And grateful that I’m starting to get out traveling again.

13/06/2022

🎶 Treat me like I treat me. 👸🏾

A vibe.

A mood.

A mantra.

Listen… I am all about normalizing luxury for Black women. Because we deserve it. And yet, we are one of…if not the most taken for granted demographic there is.

X was right when he said that there is no person more neglected or unprotected than a Black woman.

I treat myself well. Real well. But it’s still something I need to work on daily.

I have found myself operating in way too many ebbs and flows. I just got back from vacay I spent most of the time resting. Because the week leading up toy trip I pushed myself past exhaustion. Hours before my departure I was barely functional. Even at the airport I was finishing up work. On my early morning layover I was tying up loose ends.

That sh*t’s gotta stop.

Yes, I treat myself well. But I need to treat myself even better. Prioritize myself. Not let my clients’ lack of planning cause me grief. Put even more systems in place to streamline things. Focus on me. I started walking again but doing it more. Find a companion who treats me better than I treat myself (because if you’re not willing or can’t, why am I bothering???). Live a much softer life.

Because I deserve it.

So many Black women glorify the hustle mentality. And yeah, there’s a time and place for it. But also, it shouldn’t always be a hustle. At some point we have to work smarter, not harder. At some point we deserve to live a soft life, too.

So as I head into this last trip around the sun of my 30s, things are going to be different. They have to be. I’m excited. And I implore others to do the same.

Get ready to watch me work. The glow up is going to be epic. You may not be ready. But that’s cool.

Because I am. 😉

12/01/2022

I love a beautiful property and a view. I expecially love luxe ones like The Luxury Collection properties. This was the balcony view.

Visit Jordan

31/12/2021

As the sun sets on 2021, me looking back on everything…

Actually, nope. I’m not doing some thought-provoking, year-end post. All that ish isn’t necessary. We made it. I made it. I’m still here. That’s what counts. We don’t have to feel like we had to accomplish something else. I/we surviving is enough. Here’s to hoping 2022 comes in, sits quietly, and doesn’t break anything.

(Also, shout out to that one errant braid that had no act right.)

25/12/2021

Merriest of Christmases everyone the world over!

16/12/2021

I couldn’t let because a good is always what the doctor ordered.

I love wine experiences in different countries. And now I can add Jordan to my list. We weren’t able to go to the vineyards due to time of year, but we were able to do the JR The Wine Experience in Amman in their tasting room. The rosé was amazing…shocking for me because there are very few rosés that I like. This is why I’m working on my curated experiences for foodies…experiences like this.

10/12/2021

From Petra with love. 😍

(Click to open to see the full panorama)

07/12/2021

Float, float on! 🎶

07/12/2021

I’m on my first international trip in 2 years due to the pandemmy. And let me tell y’all something…

I forgot how to travel, y’all.

I was more than a little frazzled leading up to this trip. And for good reason. Between work being crazy (hence, the Esquire part) and the new laundry list of things you need to remember now, it was a lot. And I still messed up. This is only my second trip period during the panorama. Even seasoned travelers and travel bloggers make missteps. This was my convo with Roni - The Travel Guru once I got to the lounge and calmed down.

So here are some tips:

🗣🗣 GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY! Don’t make me repeat myself. Give yourself ample time. Because something will go wrong and you want to have time to correct it.

➡️ Check your printer. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve printed out something for a trip the night before then forgot to grab it off my printer. 🤦🏾‍♀️

➡️ Make a checklist. I had one and still forgot some stuff but it minimized how much I forgot.

➡️ Be nice. The agent at the desk printed some stuff for me because he could tell I was frazzled, I warned him ahead of time to please just bear with me, and I was my charming self. People want to help you when they like you.

➡️ Get there early. I said I wasn’t going to say it again… but yeah. Give yourself more than the allotted time. Because lines are long and everyone is screwing things up. This is critical.

Stay tuned for more from my adventure.

04/12/2021

Pretty much me at the airport trying to get my life together this morning. I forgot how to travel y’all! 🤦🏾‍♀️🤣🤣🤣

14/09/2021

Visiting all 50 states is rare, and studies show that out of 50 states, 12 is the average number most Americans have visited. Sadly, many never leave the state in which they were born.

Put a ❤️by all the states you have been to. The average is 12 for Americans. PLEASE PLAY ALONG.

My count is 35. I only counted states I’ve driven through or left the airport. It would have been more but for the panorama.

Alabama ❤
Alaska
Arizona ❤️
Arkansas
California ❤️
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida ❤️
Georgia ❤️
Hawaii ❤️
Idaho
Illinois ❤️
Indiana ❤️
Iowa
Kansas ❤️
Kentucky ❤
Louisiana ❤
Maine ❤️
Maryland ❤️
Massachusetts ❤️
Michigan ❤️
Minnesota ❤️
Mississippi ❤
Missouri ❤️
Montana ❤️
Nebraska
Nevada ❤️
New Hampshire
New Jersey ❤
New Mexico ❤️
New York ❤
North Carolina ❤️
North Dakota ❤️
Ohio ❤️
Oklahoma
Oregon ❤️
Pennsylvania ❤️
Rhode Island
South Carolina ❤️
South Dakota
Tennessee ❤
Texas ❤
Utah
Vermont
Virginia ❤️
Washington ❤️
West Virginia
Wisconsin ❤️
Wyoming ❤️

06/08/2021

I’ve been eating pretty deliciously on my getaway in SoCal. Yesterday I had dinner at Sucker Free, a Black-owned spot in the Gaslamp District in San Diego. They have a Mac n cheese FLIGHT y’all! 😍👅 Everything I had was delicious! Their IG is .

04/06/2021

I am living my best seafood lover’s foodie life in Pismo Beach right now. The best clam chowder I think I’ve had (with crab on top), halibut tacos and shrimp tacos. This life is lovely!

02/05/2021

I’ve missed you guys. Sincerely.

Look, I know I don’t have to remind anyone that this last years had been, well, a year. Everyone’s lives have changed drastically and it looks like we are still in for a long road for recovery.

Honestly, I didn’t really know what to say for the last year. Or if I wanted to say anything at all. Or if it was appropriate. With all that was going on, posting on a travel page seemed trivial, at best.

But now I’m realizing that it was also probably a defense mechanism for myself. I haven’t been on a plane in 15 months. Haven’t been anywhere new in even longer. It’s been a struggle for me. And doing some reflection, I think I just didn’t want the reminder. I got my passport renewed in January 2020...and haven’t even looked at it since. This sucks.

I’m easing back in. I had to travel (locally) a bit for work earlier this year. I did a SoCal staycation and I’ll probably do another for my birthday in a month. I’m thinking about a couple of road trips.

And I’m starting to plan trips for next year. I still don’t trust planes at the moment but later this year I hope to take a short flight. I’m fully vaccinated as of yesterday and I’m itching to go somewhere.

So, hey. How are you? How have you been holding up? Are you traveling again? Where are you headed? I’m back and as travel comes back maybe I’ll see you in these travel streets... in 2022.