It needs to be said!
What began as a virtually nonexistent market has grown into an entire industry. There are more opportunities for Black women to travel internationally than ever before, and I think that’s wonderful.
But somewhere along the way, much of the conversation shifted.
Everything has become about luxury. Luxury and even more luxury.
Five-star hotels, extravagant accommodations, and increasingly expensive travel packages.
No disrespect to the luxury girlies, but there’s something about this direction that genuinely concerns me.
The industry and I lost sight of the “why” and the very women who inspired me to start BlackGirlTravel 20 years ago.
There are still women who simply want to get away or desire the personal enrichment that comes with travel. Women who want the safety of community and someone who understands what it’s like to travel internationally as a person of color. Someone to guide them through cultural differences and take care of the details, without being required to pay luxury prices.
And there are women whose priorities simply don’t include spending thousands of additional dollars on luxury accommodations. They are investing elsewhere. As a matter of fact, we have many wealthy women as members. They, too, love beautiful things but have moved beyond spending to validate their worth.
When I started this journey, it wasn’t about luxury. It was about living my life internationally and taking other Black women with me. Showing you the world and possibilities. It wasn’t about seizing an opportunity to capitalize on your hopes and dreams. Some say that is one of my biggest flaws.
WHO WE ARE NOT!
We are not a travel agency or luxury travel club and do not compete with those that are.
We may have dabbled in luxury and inadvertently inspired others to do the same. In our efforts to adapt and still offer reasonable pricing, we set expectations of extravagant five-star hotels at four-star pricing.
We created a disconnect and lost our authentic voice.
Some focus on marketing hotel rooms. We create “Girl, you should have been there” and life changing moments.
Don’t get it twisted! I love beautiful things. I can appreciate a five-star hotel and all the trappings. I have lived that life. But what I love more is helping people, and I don’t believe expensive accommodations should determine the value of a person or the travel experience they get to enjoy with us.
Fourteen years of living around the world has taught me to more fully embrace the saying, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”
Does spending more inherently mean better?
BOUGIE ON A BUDGET
Budgeting isn’t about having less to spend. It’s about planning and spending strategically.
You’re savvy, self-assured, and you don’t feel that overpaying is a floss. For you, it’s about:
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Great experiences without paying inflated prices just because you can afford to spend more
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Splurging when YOU choose, not because it’s required
People often ask why we don’t charge what luxury brands charge. Simple: they sell perceived value. We offer real value, because you deserve your best life at a reasonable price.
Ask yourself, with hotel-led packages, if you take away the five-star hotel, which you can book on your own, and let the concierge arrange your activities, what’s left? What justifies the additional pricing?
We are experiences-led. Luxury upgrades are OPTIONAL, not the price of admission. It’s not whether you have the money; it’s how you choose to invest it.
More heartfelt itineraries
More individual discoveries
More of the world you came to see
Some women prefer arranged citywide transportation, while others enjoy the spontaneity that comes with exploring on foot and learning local rail systems.
Some of the best discoveries happen when exploring on foot, discovering little shops, conversations with locals, or simply stopping and letting life unfold in front of you.
With today’s fuel prices, transportation can get extremely expensive.
IF you prefer the expense of arranged transportation, it’s OPTIONAL, but not obligational. Your life, your way.
What we offer, some call “smart luxury.” The good life at a fair price, with the freedom to splurge whenever you choose, never because it’s mandatory.
Empowering Black women is still our primary mission. That will never change.
As Donna Summer said, she works hard for her money.
We want to ensure that she’s treated right!
To those who sell luxury and follow us closely for ideas, us pricing differently isn’t sabotage or pulling the industry down. Our focus is just different. There’s room for all of us.
So, if you are Bougie on a Budget and occasionally feel like splurging on something more, you have fond your people..
You might just discover that you could enjoy two fabulous experiences with us for the cost of one elsewhere.
For those of you who are looking for luxury, there’s a lot out there for you to choose from.
That’s not us! (Well, not all the time!) ;-)
