10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Traveling as a Black Woman
Asha, CO
Traveler Details: Age Range: Late 20s | Food Preferences: Cautious eater, prefers familiar food but willing to try local favorites | Mid-budget | Emotional and intuitive traveler | Protective of safety and self-care while abroad } Black American woman | Protective style wearer (twists)
I thought I was ready. I had the flight booked, the outfits planned, the Pinterest board full of aesthetic cafés. What I didn’t prepare for—couldn’t prepare for—was how seen and unseen I would feel at the same time. Traveling as a Black woman is freeing, beautiful, powerful…But let’s be honest—it’s not the same journey everyone else gets. So whether it’s your first passport stamp or your fifth country this year, here are 10 things I wish I knew before I started traveling as a Black woman.
1. You’ll Pack Your Luggage—and Your Identity
You don’t get to leave your Blackness at home. Not in airports. Not in immigration lines. Not at check-in desks where they assume you’re not the guest. It’s exhausting, sometimes. But it’s also affirming. You learn how strong, how graceful, how soft you’re allowed to be—on your terms.
2. People Will Stare. And You’ll Get Used to It.
Especially if you’re the only one. If you wear your hair out. If you’re tall, curvy, confident. It’s not always negative. Sometimes it’s admiration. Curiosity. But you learn how to clock a stare—and keep walking.
Travel Tip: I always carry a small foldable mirror in my bag for a quick confidence reset. It helps center me, especially in places where you feel hyper-visible. Here’s the one I use.
3. Your Hair Will Be a Conversation Starter (Or a Target)
Box braids. Bantu knots. Afros. Your crown will travel with you. And sometimes, people won’t understand it. They’ll want to touch it. Ask about it. Photograph it. You don’t owe anyone access to your body. Set the boundary. Smile if you feel like it. Say “no” if you don’t.
Pack must-haves: travel-size leave-in conditioner, silk pillowcase, and a wide-tooth comb. I like the Mielle travel kit (affiliate).
4. You’ll Crave Representation
In restaurants. On billboards. In museums. You’ll notice when we’re missing. You’ll smile when you hear an accent that sounds like home. That’s when you learn: Sometimes YOU are the representation. And that’s beautiful, too.
5. Some Places Feel Safe—Until They Don’t
You read blogs that say it’s “fine.” But fine for who? Trust your gut over Google. If something feels off, remove yourself. You’re not being dramatic. You’re being alive.
Safety gear I swear by:
• Personal safety app (like Noonlight)
6. Your Passport is Powerful. Use It Like One.
You don’t need permission to explore the world. You don’t have to explain why you’re there. You have the right to peace, rest, and joy.
Travel Tip: I use a neutral-tone RFID-blocking passport holder to stay under the radar in unfamiliar places. Here’s the one I use—it’s simple, chic, and secure.
7. Local Culture Isn’t Always Inclusive
You’ll walk into spaces that don’t expect you. That’s real. Sometimes you’ll be ignored. Other times, overly engaged. Learn how to read energy—and how to retreat when needed. And give yourself grace. Every moment doesn’t have to be a lesson.
8. You’ll Find Sisterhood in Unexpected Places
The knowing nod from another Black woman in the airport. The compliment from a local who sees your magic. The hug from a stranger who understands what you’re carrying.
Bonus Tip: Join Black travel communities before you go. I’ve met lifelong friends that way.
9. You Deserve Softness, Too
Not every trip has to be about proving something. You don’t have to be “strong” all the time. Book the massage. Take the extra day. Say no to the tour. Say yes to rest.
10. You’re Not Alone in This
Even when you’re walking a foreign city by yourself. Even when no one around you looks like you. Even when it feels heavy—you’re not alone. This is a growing, global community. And we’re right here with you.
Final Thought
Travel has taught me things I couldn’t have learned any other way—but the biggest lesson? My Blackness isn’t something I carry—it’s something that carries me. You’re not just traveling—you’re reclaiming space. So go boldly, go prepared, go with softness—and come back and tell your story. We’re listening.
