If you’ve been keeping up with Beauties Who Travels, you know we’re tapped into the best of the best when it comes to must-visit destinations. All summer long, we’ve been keeping you up-to-date on everything from complete destination guides to thehottest vacation trends of the season. Depending on where you set your vacation sights, the options for luxury accommodations can be downright dizzying. As fashion people, we have a high standard when it comes to where we’ll stay, and not just any hotel will do. We look for tastefully designed interiors, a rich history, unique dining experiences, and, most of all, an A-list guest list.
All year, we’ve been clocking the coolest stays and earmarking the places where celebs and fashion people are checking in. Now that we’ve reached peak travel season, it’s about time we review some of the buzziest and most Pinterest-worthy hotels of 2023 so far. Ahead, you’ll find our edit of eight standout stays that boast guests such as Gigi Hadid, Dua Lipa, and fashion editors at Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Consider this your download on the most exciting new and on-the-rise hotels of the year.
Situated on the immaculate white sand of Seven Mile Beach on the island of Grand Cayman is one of the most glamorous destinations for the style set right now. Palm Heights, a 52-suite hotel and resort, is a magnet for A-listers, and its guest list reads more like the model call sheet for a Proenza Schouler show. Bella Hadid, Chloë Sevigny, and Emily Ratajkowski are all repeat visitors, though you won’t find much evidence among the hotel’s tagged Instagram photos. For its buzzy clientele, Palm Heights is not something to shout about, lest its secluded feel loses its luster. Founded by Gabriella Khalil in 2019, every last detail of the property is tastefully curated, down to the sunny-yellow striped loungers and interiors decorated in the ’60s and ’70s mid-century style. The hotel boasts everything from a world-class spa and wellness programs curated by best-in-business trainers from Nike and Forma Pilates to its on-site boutique, Dolores, featuring collaborations with Christopher John Rodgers, Bode, Tekla, and more, making it a true destination for the fashion set.
New York’s iconic Hotel Chelseais simply brimming with history from every corner. Andy Warhol, Mark Twain, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith are just a few of the artists and musicians who roamed its halls and gleaned inspiration from its Victorian Gothic architecture in the ’60s and ’70s. Despite its status as the city’s cultural landmark, the hotel hadn’t booked a single guest for the past decade. Now, a year after its highly-anticipating reopening by the team behind downtown favorites like The Ludlow and The Bowery, “The Chelsea” as many of its bohemian residents affectionally referred to it, is once again serving as the backdrop to the city’s most fashionable creatives and noteworthy celebrities. Whether you stay in one of its suites lined with rich velvet draping or head to its sprawling lobby bar to sip on a martini, stepping into the space is a confirmation that a certain old New York glamour is alive and well.
Set away from the nonstop nightlife that has earned Mykonos its party-island reputation is the immaculateCali hotel, a serene antithesis to the rest of the island’s bass-thumping beach clubs and already called one of the best new hotels in the world by Travel + Leisureand the best hotel for the fashion crowd byVogue. The property is an assortment of sleek, minimalist suites nestled in an exclusive corner of the island and boasts a private beach just for guests. But perhaps the most photogenic of the hotel’s endlessly Instagrammable corners is the dramatic cliff-top infinity pool and largest on the island.
“I’ve had the privilege of staying in some pretty spectacular accommodations during my editorial career, and it’s not hyperbole when I say that my experience at Cali Mykonos was simply best-in-class” shares Victoria Hoff, a brand strategist and contributing writer. “My room was outfitted with a private pool and outdoor shower that opened up to a jaw-dropping, panoramic view of the Aegean. The property is situated on a quiet cliffside, which was a nice respite from the party atmosphere of Mykonos (which was still accessible by a quick boat ride when the mood struck). Even the toiletries (by Naxos Apothecary) were to die for—I immediately ordered full-size bottles when I returned home.”
The resort that was once home to James Bond author Ian Fleming now boasts a vacation experience fit for Bond himself. This is GoldenEye, a collection of beach huts and villas on a sprawling 25-acre property on Jamaica’s famed north coast. Lipa and The Attico co-founder Gilda Ambrosio are among its star-studded guests already this year.
“Octavia Casa is extremely special,” beams Who What Wear Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen. “It’s a peaceful oasis tucked away in the La Condesa region of Mexico City that has only 7 rooms which make the entire stay feel very intimate. Octavia Casa originates from the Mexican clothing brand OCTAVIA, so the taste is exuding from every corner of this minimally designed space. The hotel serves a stunning small breakfast every day in the lobby and drinks and snacks in the evening. You might be thinking this sounds like a bed and breakfast, but I can assure you the atmosphere here is much more refined and private than what you would expect, especially due to the size of the property. The staff is extremely friendly, the location could not be more idyllic, and your camera rolls will thank you since every corner of this property is wildly photogenic.”
“I recently went to the Dolomites in Northern Italy during the offseason. High season is, of course, during the winter, as it’s a popular ski region, but it’s pretty spectacular to visit in late spring and summer. There are beautiful hikes and tons of scenic lakes, and there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant and a winery at every turn, so you eat and drink exceptionally well. I stayed at the luxuriousForestis Dolomites, which was full of honeymooners (the spa is insane!), so I guess the secret’s out now.” — Monica Mendal, contributing fashion, travel, and lifestyle editor at Vogue
Transformed from the private home of Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé as the final residence of the designer, Villa Mabrouka is undoubtedly one of the most exciting hotel openings of the year. Immersed in one of Tangier’s largest and most enchanting gardens, the intimate 12-room estate is a haven of tranquillity and calm. It’s located in a beautiful 1940s modernist house, offering sweeping views of verdant green, blue sky, and glittering sea from every turn.
Although Sicily is experiencing a spike in international buzz this year, its neighboring island to its south, the volcanic and Tunisian-influenced Pantelleria, has managed to remain an insider destination that stylish Italians keep all to themselves. When they opened the boutique hotel Parco dei Sesi, owners Margot and Massimiliano wanted to imbue the pillars of slow living that define the island into their space which is also home to an organic farm and an artist residency. The result is a 13-bedroom stay that TikTokdescribes as “rugged but luxurious” and where you can easily abandon your grasp on time and reality while you take in the panoramic views of the Mediterranean and North Africa.
30-something Black travelistas that will give you your entire life and then some.
The world is experiencing a major moment of social change right now in the fight against racial injustice, and many industries are realizing that there’s much more work to be done to amplify Black voices. Historically, the travel industry has been dominated by the perspectives of white males. In March 2018, National Geographicissued an apology for the way they had covered people of color in the United States and abroad since the publication’s founding, titled, “For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist. To Rise Above Our Past, We Must Acknowledge It.” But with more people turning to the digital world and away from the printed one, apps like Instagram have given us a platform to share our voices and reflect our travel styles.
Women’s solo travelis one niche that we’ve seen greatly empowered by social media. But while Black travelers generate over $63 billion yearly for the travel industry, their voices are hardly reflected in marketing campaigns, press trips, bylines, or even social feeds. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you love travel content, you should be diversifying your feeds with more Black content creators, and if you’re not sure where to start, here are some brilliant writers, poets, entrepreneurs, marketing gurus, and more who are changing the travel industry one country at a time.
Cabin fever has set in for travelistasand homebodies alike, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that getting fly out is at the top of our post-quarantine to-do list. Just when we thought our wanderlust couldn’t get any worse, our good sister and fashion entrepreneur Teanna Wiley inspired a thread of Black women traveling in luxury that is everything you didn’t know you needed to see today. Hit follow and let these ladies show you the world.
@TWILEYTM was created in 2016 by Teanna Wiley, born & raised in San Diego. Teanna Wiley started designing clothes because shopping was always dreadful for her, being petite & pretty tall, it was hard for her to find clothes that really flattered her shape & height, but could also make Twiley stand out in a crowd. What started off as a hobby, quickly turned into an amazing business opportunity for her. Spoiler alert: her images are beautiful and breathtaking. Her fashion is even more beautiful and well made.
First up is Nneya Richards, the writer of POPSUGAR content. Nneya is a travel writer, influencer, and on-air talent. She started her own blog, ‘N A Perfect World, in 2014 as a curated intersection of travel, food, fashion, and geopolitics inspired by the global-citizen lifestyle of the millennial. Like many of the ladies listed here, Nneya Richards is a cultural exchange advocate of a West Indian-American background. Follow her as she goes off the beaten path around the world giving you hot takes on everything from what it’s like to be Black while traveling to why it’s harder than you’d think to get a good gel manicure in Milan. When Nneya is not on the road, she live between her hometown of New York City and #nydolcevita in Italy.
Bria Celest is a full-time photographer, part-time traveler, author, and all-around foodie. Join Bria Celest on her adventures around the world. Her Instagram will give you serious vacation envy while educating EVERYONE on Black Lives Matter and other serious injustice issues. Bria Celest the Queen of Vacay, turned her ability to capture beautiful moments into a career in photography. Her work as a sought-after photographer afforded her the opportunity to travel the world while doing what she loved. Now, she’s sharing that love for travel and photography in two helpful e-books geared towards making globetrotting easier for others.
Francesca Murray of @onegrloneworld will give you serious vacation envy. This Cali girl has traveled to many countries throughout the world but has extensively focused on the Caribbean in the past few years, with her home base being the island of Martinique. After seeing a lack of Black faces in many Caribbean island promo videos, Francesca and her partner produced and shot their own! Francesca gives you island-living inspiration as well as secrets to her beautiful hair and glowing skin.
Folahan [fuh-lah-huhn] is a YouTuber who catered to helping her supporters flourish with natural hair care, traveling, and fashion. On Fola YouTube channel, her content consists of how-to’s, tips and tricks, hauls, reviews, vlogs, etc. Fola is determined to make sure her viewers all get this good ol’ info about understanding and caring for kinky/curly hair types, budget traveling, study abroad trips, traveling while black, bridging the African Diaspora, all while being….you guessed it, stylish.
Cinelli has traveled to over 40 countries and 10 individual carnivals all over the world, she shares her lifestyle and experiences through vlogs, photographs, and microblogging. Cinelliverse vlogs and blogs will delve into everything from style and beauty, to travel and carnival. Cinelli shares all her amazing travel, carnival, and lifestyle tips while still capturing the natural beauty of every destination.
Explore the world through the beautiful earth-tone-filtered lens of writer, photographer, and podcast host Nneka Julia. Her beautiful portraits of her travels are often accompanied by descriptive prose. Nneka also brings a lot of humor, relationship advice, and the art of reclaiming a woman’s wasted time with her signature “Waste His Time Wednesday” segments.
Marketing in the travel industry is often not size-inclusive, but award-winning writer and body-positive activist Annette Richmond is here to change that. She’s the creator of @fatgirlstraveling, an account that focuses on “Fat Activism through the Travel lens.” Follow Annette for some beautiful travel wanderlust and travel tips.
You may have seen TV host Oneika Raymond on the Travel Channel’s Big City, Little Budget and One Bag, and You’re Out. This multilingual globetrotter can teach you how to explore your favorite places on a shoestring budget and with solely one bag packed. Follow Oneika around the world with her growing family and special appearances by her adorable infant daughter, Kira.
Fashionable attorney Cynthia Andrew manages to find the most colorful backdrops in every place she visits. She also has an enviable wardrobe, and with major home renovations and twin boys on the way, Cynthia is a great follow for how to navigate major life moments while still on the go and looking fabulous!
Houston-based solo female travel blogger Ciara Johnson of @hey_ciara has been collecting stamps in her passport and inspiring other women to travel solo for years. Ciara has a refreshing candidness and shares her vulnerabilities while traveling with her followers. From how to save money for travel to the best apps to use for booking, she makes sure to not just show you where you want to go but also how to get there.
There’s something about the notion of a traveling poet that’s so romantic, and Bri Ari, the award-winning poet of @briyoumetravel, does not disappoint. Sometimes we even get a beautiful calligraphed glimpse into her notebook! Bri is also the creator of @buoyant.travel, a digital homage to Black travel with beautiful photos of Black people jet-setting since the advent of the commercial flight.
Travel writer Imani Bashir is a full-time ex-pat with her husband and adorable toddler son. (She actually lived in Wuhan at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.) A global diversity advocate, Imani shares her perspective on being a Muslim Black woman abroad, pregnancy risk, and other women’s issues. Already teaching the next generation, Imani is also the author of Follow the Takeoff Toddler, a children’s book series that helps cement a love of travel in kids from an early age.
It’s hard to talk Black travel without talking about Travel Noire, the travel site, community, and app that was started by Zim Floresas an Instagram account highlighting Black people traveling. Zim sold Travel Noire in 2017, but you can still follow her adventures around the world and the new phase of her life via Instagram.
TEDx speaker Gabby Beckford took her first solo trip to Iceland at age 17 and never looked back. She mentors young travelers aid them in study-abroad opportunities, and of course, packs light, which, to Gabby, also means not bringing the baggage of your past on your journey ahead!
Lifestyle blogger and photographer Paola Mathé resides in Texas with her husband and child and is a frequent globetrotter. Her ability to see the beauty in every day and wanderlust vibes make her feed a constant source of inspiration for both destinations and decor.
Solo female travel creative and life coach Gloria Atanmo is even on Oprah’s radar! Yes, that’s right, she’s been featured in O magazine and has inspired countless women to make the leap out of their comfort zones, whatever that may be in life. Gloria also graces us with her amazing humor with a regular Nigerian comedy feature on her feed.
As a social strategist for The Creative Collective NYC, an agency that produces impactful multicultural storytelling, Skylar Marshai knows how to tell a memorable story through a photo. Her Instagram feed is a perfect curation of Skylar’s journey around the world that blends her loves of design and travel in a really soothing and visually stunning space.
When creating the blog and agency Black Travel Journey, Sidney Walker set out to make the face of travel more inclusive and diverse by curating some of the most beautiful images of Black travelers on the brand’s Instagram account. Black Travel Journey has expanded, and she’s done just that and more.
Travel breakouts are a real thing, so traveler Bianca Maxwell created the Skinary app, a health-tracking app for your skin that tracks your lifestyle, diet, and cleansing habits with daily selfies to figure out the cause of your breakouts. Bianca is definitely one to watch in the tech and travel spaces, and her skin happens to always look radiant as she shares her adventures.
Are you ever amazed with how perfectly some people can match their outfits to their surroundings? You’ll fall in love with stylist, traveler, and Amsterdam-based mom Maureen Powel’s feed. With frequent appearances from her daughter, you’ll have constant fodder for mom-and-me outfit inspo!
Alicia Tenise creates lifestyle content for the every-girl millennial traveling the world in search of the best food and drink. She also shares colorful fashion finds and her honest struggles with mental health. Wine enthusiasts: Alicia is with you and has recently started her WSET classes to be a certified wine enthusiast and a better wine writer!
After finishing her studies in graphics and marketing, Racheal wanted to make sure everyone had the most amount of information to incorporate travel into everyday life. Check out her feed for vlogs, tips, and simple hacks on packing, booking trips, saving money, and more to make traveling become more of a lifestyle rather than a luxury.
n 2018, Maryjane Byarm challenged herself to visit 100 countries in 365 days. Today, she’s surpassed 100 with no signs of stopping. Her love of travel stems from facing a dark period in her life in the US and wanting to leave. After going to visit her sister, a model living in China, Maryjane hit the road and didn’t stop.
Founder and CEO of Black travel group The Roaming Republic, Cassy Isabella has a knack for beautifully curated group trips that make everyone feel like an Instagram star. Follow her for her adventures with her travel collective and sign up for a trip!
Danasia lets us in on travel through her appreciation for urban landscapes and city architecture. Follow her feed for beautiful city snaps, wonderful restaurant recommendations, and Insta-worthy cafés.
Jessica Ufuoma couldn’t find much of a space for someone like her when googling travel tips, so she created one herself! She creates content for people who look like her, may need visas to travel, and have full-time jobs. She’s helping people travel better and smarter — think responsibly, ethically, sustainably, and with intention.
After leaving the United Kingdom, Angela set her sights on sunnier isles and made her home in Morocco, where she now works as a holistic therapist. She also creates holistic travel experiences for creatives. Follow Angela’s journey as she lives her best life in Morocco with newfound serenity.
Stephanie “She” Ifendu is a traveling photographer and creative director. Her passion for creating timeless images is only matched by her zest for exploring.
After living with lupus for over 15 years, former New Yorker Olivia’s curiosity led her to explore the outdoors and the wellness travel space. Incredibly, travel and her lifestyle brought her lupus into remission. It’s Olivia’s goal to normalize diversity in the outdoor and adventure spaces.
Barely have a budget to travel with? Mally has you covered. A “broke ass girl who loves to travel,” Mally shares with you how to travel and not wind up in debt or drain your savings. And you’ll laugh a lot along the way.
Fitness and nutrition guru Tameika Gentles loved exploring so much she created a separate account for it! On her travel account, she shares tips about eating right while on the road as well as health retreats.
Lọlá is an award-winning Nigerian photographer and travel writer based in Stockholm, Sweden. She’s the editor-in-chief for Slow Travel Stockholm and is a frequent contributor to National Geographic. Lola’s lens is unparalleled, with incredible portraits that render vivid portrayals of her subjects.
Every photo on British-born Onyi Moss’s feed is beautifully curated and editorialized. Follow her for beautiful travel images straight out of the pages of a high-fashion shoot that exude romantic luxurious glamour. And in true English rose form, lots and lots of florals.
Megan Milan captures the world in a elegant memerizing way. Megan is a professional model who is known for her print, commercial, and catalogue work. She has worked with several high profile clients such as Hennessy, Chevy, L’Oréal, Pantene, and WildnOut. She was also featured in Jet Mag. Megan Milan has created her own traveling agency called luxe.travelagency. Prior to moving to New York to pursue modeling, she attended Michigan State University for two years to study business marketing. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She would later split her time between there and New York.
We know at BeautyLeeBar that they are more incredible BLACK TRAVELERS that are doing amazing things in the world. However, the people on this list are the ones we do follow and get inspired by. If you think they are more beautiful black travellers that we should be following for even more black luxury inspiration, please comment down below.
WARNING: FOR THE NONE BLACK PEOPLE, TRY NOT TO GET OFFENDED BY THIS POST OR ANY OTHER POST THAT IS CELEBRATING AND UPLIFTING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ESPECIALLY CELEBRATING BLACK WOMEN.
Hello Beauties, June 29, I had decided last minute to head to the beach and it turned out to be an experience that I cherish close to my heart. That day, my head became a little clearer and my smile became bigger. My smile was real too. Here are couple of reasons why I cherished that moment so much.
I have anxiety which means I have become antisocial over the years. Being around bunch of people, especially people I don’t know can be stressful for me. I’m always in my head and thinking about the worst. But that day, I survived.
I was at peace by MYSELF. I was there from 11:30 am to 4 or 5 -ish pm.
I enjoyed the scene and everything with little money I had. I was happy, like truly happy and learned a lot about myself while getting a nice workout in the process.
Making time for yourself and learning how to enjoy your own space is so important. Never in a million years did I think that I would go to the beach by myself and stay there for longer than 15 minutes. I’m happy I did though and can’t wait to go back. I might even just travel to Orlando or Miami just because. You might be thinking girl, it’s just the beach but for me, its more than that. I proved a lot to myself and didn’t let my anxiety or anything else get in my way. I want to do bigger trips but for now, traveling around Florida will do.If you want to know how I did it with basically no money, What I did, and Where I went then keep on reading…
How Did You Get There?
I took the bus, simple. I got the whole day bus pass which is $5 and took Bus Route 40. I asked a nice man who was hitting on me but it didn’t bother me because he wasn’t disrespectful. He told me what bus to take and gave me directions to get to that bus stop.
Now, if you want to get there quicker without having to wait and make several stops along the way then I suggest you take Lyft. It is going to be pricey depending on where you coming from but you can use my code: CRYSTAL40317 to save $$.
What Places Did You Hangout At?
First, I walked along the beach then I stumbled upon CVS. It wasn’t that far, it was located in Beach Place plaza. I purchased a bottle of coke, I was really thirsty. Mouth felt dry and everything. Thinking back at it, I should had got a water bottle instead especially since when the coke wasn’t cold anymore, it tasted weird. It was warm, not like room temperature, just warm.
Then I went to the beach and dip my toes into the nice cool water. The sun was out but it wasn’t too hot. I wished I had my bathed suit or extra clothing because if I did, I would had became a mermaid for sure lol.
After I finished playing in the water some more, I went up to a family who was tryna take pictures and asked if they needed help. They were so nice, they were traveling from Switzerland. I took some bomb pics for them and said goodbye. Next, I walked some more and saw many parties that was happening at different resorts. I was invited by this lesbian who was cool as fuck. I sat by the pool with them and talked. The music was booming and boobies were out. I spent like 1hr with them before I left. Everyone was just happy and living their best life.
I continued to walk and saw many beautiful resorts, restaurants, hotels, homes, and boats. I decided to turn back around because I was getting hungry and I was a little scared that I might be going too far; I didn’t want to get lost. Since, I wasn’t wearing my glasses, me getting stuck wasn’t the plan and I do sometimes forget things. I just didn’t want to take any chances. Plus, I didn’t have cash on me, so if it had reached 11:59 pm, I would had been screwed because that’s when my bus pass would had expired.
I headed back to Beach Place to rest up. There were many tourists. It wasn’t packed but it was still busy. My back felt better, my body felt better so I got up and continued to see what the prices were looking like for the food. One restaurant had a sale going like buy a burger and get a coke for free and another restaurant Lona had different promotional flyers up. That place was busy, well from what I saw at least. People were eating, drinking and just chilling. Honestly, I wanted a hot dog but the place wasn’t open and there were no other place that was selling hot dogs.
I rode back taking the Bus Route 40 then jumped on Bus Route 22 to get back home. I ended my day with a sweet tea from Dunkin Donuts and 6 pieces of hush browns. They have sweet tea, any size for a $1. I am kinda sad that I missed the Live Music & Entertainment at Fort Lauderdale beach but next time.
Share some of your favorite beach day tips!
Have you traveled to Florida? And if you have, what was your experience like?
When was the last time you explored the town you live in or a neighboring town? That could be a fun journey and an escape from the everyday grind, couldn’t it?
Beauty hacks are probably some of my favorite kind — because who doesn’t love a get-gorgeous pro tip and a time-saving, life-made-easier trick rolled into one? Just in time for summer, I put together some of my favorites to get you going and glowing fast.
5. Use Blotting Paper Keep blotting paper handy for the times when your face is threatening to become an oily mess. Use this to soak up the extra oil by gently dabbing the paper on your face, and follow up with compact powder. Voila! Your face is looking fabulous again.
4. Spray On Facial Mist When it feels like your face is melting, and the sun is being rather harsh, a facial mist could save the day. Spray generously for some instant freshness!
3. Prevent Those Sunglass Marks We love our sunnies, but they are notorious for leaving unflattering marks around the nose. Fret not; apply compact powder on the nose pads of the sunglasses, and a little loose powder on the nose… There! An instant fix. Go on, try it. You can thank me later.
2. Make Your Perfume Last Longer If 10 minutes in the sun has your deodorant giving up, the struggle to smell good gets real. Take some Vaseline, and apply it on your pulse points. Now, spray perfume on these areas to smell good all day.
1. Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam I don’t know about you but in the summer months my hair could seriously do with a daily shampoo what with the grease and the sweat…I know, nice. But if you don’t want to dry your hair out by over-washing, but also hate the feel of regular dry shampoo in your hair, this foam will become your new BFF.
Rather than filling your hair with powder to soak up excess oil, this foam absorbs oil, product build up and other impurities, leaving behind zero residue. Massage it into your roots just like you would a hair mousse and it will leave you with squeaky clean, dry hair.
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