travel

5 Ultimate Packing Tips: Carry On Essentials

23 Jul

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5 Carry On Essentials

Real question, raise your hand if you like to wait? Waiting in line, waiting for people, waiting for God to move on your behalf. Is that something you find pleasure in? If you are anything like me, your answers are, No, No and please come on Jesus! Waiting is just not my thing. This is why whenever possible, I refuse to check a bag when traveling. Listen, I want to maximize all my time and save a coin while doing that. Waiting at a carousel for a bag that I had to pay to check is a hindrance to that. In this post, I will be sharing some tips on how you can pack a carry on to ensure you never have to check a bag ever again.

Carry On Essentials

Roll’em Tight

The tighter you roll your clothes, the more you can fit in the bag. I learned this from my aunt who is a retired flight attendant. I used to stand in amaze at how she could legitimately fit her ENTIRE life in one roller bag.

Additionally, when you are rolling your clothes you MUST be neat. The only way you are going to fit everything in one bag is if you are neat with the way you pack.

Packing Cubes

Now, this is something new to me. I hear they are the bomb, I just haven’t jumped on the bandwagon. @bykriskeys, the creator of a luxury brand that specializes in providing illustrations and travel wear to businesses and people across the world, put us on these. It definitely makes sense that these would work because that same aunt that I mentioned earlier used to pack things in gallon size storage bags. The packing cubes of the 90s. Click here to grab your own packing cubes.

*Update* While scrolling through Youtube, I came across thsese super dope compression packing cubes that allows you to pack even more in your carry on!

All Shoes Don’t Matter

Listen, Sis… and Bro, you don’t need all of them! Pick a couple of pairs and make them work. The maximum number of shoes I will pack for a weekend trip is 3. For a week-long trip, it’s usually 2. Reason being, week-long trips typically require you to pack more than if you were only going for a couple of days. Hear me, if it is a necessity for you to have a different pair of shoes for every outfit, this carry-on ministry is not for you, continue checking, sis.

Repeat Article of Clothing

Additionally, along those same lines, if you must have a different outfit for every day of travel, once again, you’re not about that carry on life. (Totally not judging, do you. I mean that just means more overhead bin space for me!) Utilizing a carry-on only, means having one pair of pants that work with two separate tops. And those tops, they should be lightweight and easy to roll up. You can be about that carry on life you just gotta leave some stuff behind. Everything can’t go with you. THAT WILL PREACH!

Pack Things in Things

Since traveling with a carry-on only, I have discontinued my toiletry bag. Instead, I put things in things. Skincare and toothpaste are typically stored in a shoe. Chill out, they’re my shoes and my feet are clean so I don’t have any problems. If it’s that much of a problem for you, you can always put the items in a storage bag before putting it in your shoes.

Bonus

Because I care about you and want to help to improve your quality of life I have a bonus for you! I limit the number of toiletries I pack when I am operating out of a carry-on only. Depending on how long I’ll be gone, I use the same product for body soap, toothpaste, face wash, and laundry detergent. Yes, I try to do laundry especially if I will be gone for more than a week. You can grab that product here.

And there you have it. I’m confident that if you incorporate these tips in your travel plan, you should never have to check another bag ever again. Do you have any carry-on secrets that are not mentioned above? I want to hear about them. Drop your comments below. And as always, pray fervently, travel often!

Top 5 Fragrances For Traveling

28 Mar

Daylight savings time has come which officially means ~~you tired boss~~ the days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting warmer. Which further means we gotta be mindful of what we’re smelling like while we’re traipsing through these airports and getting on and off these aircraft. Y’all know how I feel about scents and don’t nobody want to sit next to you smelling like you helped Jesus carry the cross up to Calvary *Cues Calvary by Richard Smallwood and Victory*

In this post, I will be sharing the best fragrances to wear while traveling. These results are based on two factors, freshness and staying power. When you’re on a long haul flight, smelling clean for an extended period of time is essential.

Fellas, I didn’t forget about ya’ll. I like fragrances, PERIODT! If it smells good, I’m wearing it no matter who it’s intended for and I’ll tell you about it. too! #allfragrancesmatter

Colonia Pura by Acqua Di Parma

This is one of my favorite colognes to travel in at the moment. I purchased it in a duty-free shop in Italy while looking for something fresh and new!

Colonia Pura opens with intense fresh notes of sunny bergamot, juicy orange, and delicate petit grain. It seduces with a heart sublimated by a harmonious combination of spicy notes of coriander, combined with the sensual floral accent of jasmine sambac absolute and narcissus absolute. Finally, it embraces with a refined duo of woody notes: cedarwood and patchouli, while white musk notes close the composition.

Colonia Pura is a luminous, fresh and transparent fragrance. It embodies the contemporary side of Italian lifestyle.

Chloe by Chloe

#classic

This one you’re probably familiar with if you’ve spent any amount of time exploring fragrances. It’s definitely an oldie but goodie!

Recently, while I was wearing this, someone told me, “You smell like you just took a bath!”

Bathing is essential.

Chloe begins with a combination of floral powdery notes, hints of peony, lychee and springtime freesia. The airy, flirtatious head notes drift away to reveal the richer and more sensational side of the rose. The distinctive character of this unique rose is accompanied by magnolia and lily of the valley, as well as subtle intimations of warm amber and elegant cedarwood.

Well, come on Lily of the valley, Joy!

Amazing Grace by Philosophy

Oh, how sweet the sound!

Amazing Grace is Philosophy’s best selling fragrance. It’s amazingly clean and beautifully feminine. The fragrance features notes of welcoming bergamot to greet the senses, irresistibly soft, clean muguet blossoms, and lasting musk with its classic beauty.

Love In White by Creed

This one gives all types of FLOUS vibes. (And by FLOUS, I mean Michelle Obama. Who else would I be referring to?) It has been reported that Michelle Obama’s signature fragrance is Love in White by Creed.

Whenever I’m walking through the airport wearing Love In White, I’m complimented on how “pretty” I smell.

Love in White is a floral oriental scent that features top notes of orange zest then blends into rice iris white jasmine magnolia daffodils and rose. The scent finishes off with sandalwood vanilla and ambergris.

I know, that sounds like a lot. But seriously, it’s Michelle approved.

Virgin Island Water by Creed

This is another favorite. It’s currently on my ~~sugadaddy~~ wish list because, well, $395. But please believe, every time I got to Nordstrom I get a $free sample. #fakeittilyoumakeit

Virgin Island Water opens with a citrusy cocktail of white bergamot, Jamaican lime, and Sicilian mandarin. The citruses are accompanied by a note of copra, the white inner flesh of a coconut. The heart includes intensive Indian jasmine, sweet hibiscus, exotic ylang-ylang, and cold, spicy ginger. The base of the composition includes sugar cane, musk, and white rum.

Talk about walking around smelling like the beach!

Alright, guys and gals, that’s all for now. But I’m interested to know, what are some of your favorite fragrances to travel in? Drop your recommendations below.

Thanks for reading, and as always, pray fervently and travel often!

Doing It For The Graham: The Best Hotel In Georgetown

14 Jan

The Graham Hotel that is.

2019 was swiftly approaching and I couldn’t make a decision on how I wanted to bring in the new year. Obviously, I would start the celebration at church, because, #blessed. But I wasn’t sure what to follow it with. I wasn’t feeling the game night, ~~overpriced~~ NYE dinner “specials”, or any other celebrations I had been accustomed to in the past.

After running through a list of ideas, I settled on a mini Staycation! I called up one of my friends, we packed our bags and headed to The Graham Hotel, a boutique hotel in the Georgetown area of Washington DC.

Now, before I get into it, let me preface this by saying, since I travel so frequently, I’m usually not overly eager to voluntarily spend the night at a hotel. I’d much rather relax in my own home where the germs are common. However, after reading the reviews for The Graham Hotel, I decided to give it a try.

Here’s a few reasons why I’m glad I did!

The hotel is beautiful, it’s in a great location (walking distance from Baked and Wired, my favorite bakery and coffee shop) and the staff is ah-mazing!

Since we went to the 7 pm Watch Night Service at First Baptist Church of Glenarden we didn’t get a chance to really enjoy the hotel to the fullest, that night, due to our late arrival.

Everybody Eats, B!

The next morning we were able to enjoy a cook to order breakfast at The Alex, located on the lower level of the hotel. I was overjoyed to find out that as a Hilton Diamond member, breakfast was complimentary for myself and my guest.

Late Checkout

One of my favorite things about this hotel, outside of the free Breakfast, is that the standard checkout time is at 12 pm. Combine this with a late checkout and you can get a late, late checkout. We ended up checking out at 2:00 pm! Which gave us more time to enjoy the room!

The Staff

As I mentioned earlier, the staff was amazing! Angel and Islam were extremely accommodating made sure we had everything we needed during our stay. Angel assisted us during check-in and I was surprised to see him the next morning, alert and very attentive to our needs when we went down for breakfast. Gordon, one of our waiters at breakfast, made certain we had everything we requested. My friend ordered chicken sausage with her omelet for breakfast. Once the food arrived and she reviewed her order, she realized they had left off her sausage. As soon as we informed Gordon, he wasted no time questioning or inquiring about the order. Instead, he went straight to the kitchen to request her sausage. That’s the kind of customer service that makes people want to return! I know I will!

If you are ever visiting the DC area and looking for the perfect place to lay your head for a few days, I would totally encourage you to consider The Graham.

Guess what?!? It looks like Hilton is offering a promotion to help you do just that. If you’re a Hilton Honors member, Hilton is currently running their Points Unlimited Promotion until May 5th. Get 2,000 Bonus Points per stay, plus 10,000 bonus points every 5 stays or 10 nights (whichever comes first). If you’re not a Hilton Honor’s member, sounds to me like you need to become one. Sign up here.

As you can see, I had an amazing time bringing in the new year at The Graham Hotel. Now tell me, how did you spend your New Year? Share in the comments below.

Until next time, Pray fervently and travel often!

Budget Airlines Travel Guide: 5 Tips To Survive Your Next Flight

17 Nov

So you’re planning a trip and you’re considering budget airline travel to get you there? I’ll be the first to say, I’m with ya! Listen, I’m all for luxury. But I’m also for saving a coin in the name of travel.

In this budget airlines travel guide, I will share with you 5 tips to survive your next flight in an effort to help you decide if budget airlines are really worth it.

Budget Airline Travel Guide

Let’s start by defining what a budget airline is and understanding why budget airlines are so cheap. Budget Airlines or Low-cost airlines are airlines that offer low fares in exchange for eliminating many traditional passenger services. In exchange for this, in order for the airline to make up for lost revenue from reduced ticket prices, they will charge extra fees for things that are typically standard on traditional airlines.

How to find the best cheap flight

My Tennessee Titans were playing in London and that was something I wanted to experience, but how? Because as much as love luxury, I am not giving these people all my coins. Bring on all the budget travel tips!

Let the search begin! I searched all over… looked high and low… for a ticket that I was willing to pay to see the Tennessee Titans attempt to beat their opponent in a game of football. (Yes, that was shade. All non-titans fans, keep your comments to yourself. )

After checking the prices on nearly every airline in the world, I came across WOW Air. I had heard about WOW before, but I was a bit nervous. WOW has since gone out of business, but the tips in the travel guide apply to flying with any budget airline. I’ve heard horror stories about budget airlines and I didn’t particularly want to be the subject of said “horror”. But, after doing TONS of research on the airline, I took the chance and purchased the tickets.

When selecting the best budget airlines, it is imperative that you take the time to prepare and do your research before your flight to ensure you have an enjoyable experience.

Budget Airlines hidden fee

Reading is fundamental. And it’s essential when preparing to travel on a budget airline. Budget airlines make their money on additional fees that are typically standards on traditional airlines. For example, on international flights on a traditional airline, your meals and beverages are included. However, this is not the case with budget airlines. If you didn’t bring your own shacks, the airline is charging you, shawty.

Fees for snacks

Everything has a fee! So it was important that I had enough snacks for my flight when leaving the US, so I could keep my coin. Also, I chose an overnight flight so there wasn’t much snacking going on. On my way back to the states, I did purchase food but surprisingly, it wasn’t as expensive as I thought it would be. On average, it was about $15 USD for a personal cheese pizza, a mini can of Pringles, and a soda.

Carry-on luggage

Next up is luggage. On most traditional airlines, you are allowed at least one personal item and a carry-on for free. Again, this is not the case with budget airlines. Typically, you are allowed one personal item that fits under the seat. Anything that goes in an overhead bin you will have to pay a carry-on bag fee. It’s best to pay that fee at the time you purchase your airline ticket. If not, the price of the fee usually increases if you wait to pay it at the airport. You can end up paying $100+ USD one way for a carry-on bag if you’re not careful. And ain’t nobody got time for that! In addition to the general carry-on requirements, there is a weight requirement for your carry-on. So once again, do your research in advance.

Selecting your seat

Now, let’s talk about seats. If you have a preference for where you sit while flying, then you might want to pay to choose your seat. There is a wide range of seat options depending on the size of your seat and the amount of legroom provided. However, If you just want to get there and don’t care about where you sit, then go for the free option and allow the airline to choose your seat for you.

Because I was traveling with someone and we wanted to sit together, I paid $12 USD one way to select my seat.

Initially, I ended up paying $100 RT for my carry-on luggage. I said “initially” because… well, we’ll talk about that next.

Checking in and boarding

Let’s get to why I kept saying “initially”. Learn from my mistake, ALWAYS check-in online. Especially when dealing with smaller airlines. When they tell you to check-in at least an hour before the flight is scheduled to leave, usually it’s because the people checking you in are also the people who are at the gate assisting you with boarding. If you arrive at the check-in counter too late, you run the risk of the counter being closed. What does that mean? You miss your flight! How do I know this? Because that’s exactly what happened to me. I missed my flight! Had I checked in online, even if the counter was closed, I still would have had my boarding pass to go through security. I would have had to sprint to the gate, but my chances of making my flight would have been much greater than not having my boarding pass at all.

Because I missed the flight, if I wanted to get back home to America, I had to purchase another airline ticket. When traveling internationally, a missed flight isn’t as forgiving as it is when traveling domestically. There’s no re-booking on the next available flight, Boo. You have to purchase an entirely new ticket. Moral of the story: don’t miss an international flight!

Is budget airline travel worth it?

For this trip, WOW air just made sense. For my ticket, bags, seat, taxes, and fees, I initially spent $472.35 USD for my round trip ticket from Washington DC to London which was purchased a little over 30 days in advance. That’s an awesome price considering we had a stopover in Iceland that allowed us to spend time exploring Iceland without having to pay for a round trip ticket there. I’ll take it!

Even with all the preplanning and additional money spent, I would still choose to fly a budget airline again!

Have you ever flown a budget airline before? Share your experience below.

Until next time, pray fervently and travel often!

Traveling to Europe:

29 Oct

4 Things To Know Before You Go

So you’re traveling to Europe.

It’s your first time.

You’re excited but you don’t know what to expect.

Here are 4 things to be mindful of as take in the European culture.

We Dine Different

In general, things don’t move as quickly as they do in the states. European culture, actually, most cultures outside of America, consider dining an event or social experience. In most European restaurants, London restaurants can be an exception, it is considered rude for the waiter or waitress to bring you the “bill” (not the “check”) without you requesting it. So be mindful of this and careful not to get an attitude when the service isn’t as quick as you would like for it to be. Give yourself ample time to enjoy the dining experience.

Additionally, tipping is not necessary. Unless you are dining at an establishment that is frequented by tourist, most places will have already included the tip in the price of your meal. So you can BMF (blow money fast) in other ways. And Lawd knows money gets blown fast in Europe.

Now, if you are you experiencing exceptional service, run them folks their coin!

Bathing Be Like

Most European hotels and lodging facilities do not offer what we consider, washcloths, in the states. So if you are partial to having a washcloth for bathing, you will need to take your own. Whenever I travel to Europe, I always take with me an exfoliating bath glove. It doesn’t take up a lot of space in your luggage and it has your skin feeling nice… and supple… like a lady!

All Toiletries Matter

Speaking of luggage, as you know when traveling in America, we are free to carry, in our carry on, as many toiletries with us, as long as they 3.4 fl. oz. or less. Well, that’s not the case in Europe. When leaving a European country, you will be instructed to put all of your toiletries in a quart size clear plastic bag. Those bags will be provided at the airport if you don’t have one. All of your liquids, gels, and aerosols must fit in that bag. Everything that doesn’t fit, you will either have to toss or check.

You’re Not In Kansas Anymore

Recognize that things are going to be different. Accept it and be open to exploring those new things. Please don’t be that rude American expecting things to be the way they are at home. Remember, you didn’t travel to Europe to experience America.

Bonus:

Chips are crisps. Fries are chips. And oatmeal is porridge.

Now, you’re ready. Enjoy your trip!

Best Staycation Spot In DC- Holiday Edition

8 Dec

Well, it is officially the Holiday season. *cue the Christmas music and lights*, cause I’m here for it all. Nothing puts me in the mood to spend time with the ones I love quite like Christmas.

Earlier this year, I was blessed with the opportunity to celebrate my Birthday at this cute little Boutique Hotel, at their media rate, in Dupont Circle in Washington DC, Hotel Palomar. I didn’t get a chance to travel like I would have liked to because I wasn’t giving them people all my money! But, while I was there I thought, ” yo, this would be a DOPE spot to have a Staycation with some friends for the Holidays.”

I am slowly recognizing my infatuation with boutique hotels for their style and grace. *Inserts Big Poppa by Notorious B.I.G.* “To all my ladies in the place with style and grace…”

Hotel Palomar is just so CUTE!

While I was waiting for my frans to come and play, I hung out by at the pool in the cabana! Of course, this probably won’t be an option during the winter time, but then again the way this weather has been bipolar, you may just have the chance to look cute in one of their cabanas.

The whole staff is simply amazing and I love their attention to detail. I was greeted with one of my favorites, KRISPY KREME! Shout out to Paris for looking out and being so sensational!

They even have a free bike share program for their guest. Imagine riding around Dupont Circle and Georgetown on a cute December evening with all the Christmas lights and decorations!

I simply love the artwork throughout the entire property. Thanks so much Palomar for showing me such an amazing time. I can’t wait to stay with you all again!

Let me hear it, where is your favorite place to have a Staycation in your area?