Simone Cherí

An annual tradition that marks the end of the holidays and the start of a new year, Carnival in St. Croix has a uniquely festive spirit. Known as the Crucian Christmas Festival, the island's celebrations begin in early December, with official festivities starting the day after Christmas. For nine days, the Crucian Christmas Festival Village becomes the center for residents and Carnival enthusiasts to enjoy the revelry fueled by daily displays of Caribbean pageantry, live calypso and soca performances, food fairs, fetes (parties), and parades.

The Social House Nairobi, an award-winning Black-owned hotel, is redefining luxury with Kenyan culture at its core.

For a few brief yet sleepless days, visitors and residents gather in St. Thomas – Rock City – to witness and revel in the Virgin Islands’ music, food, culture, and distinct Caribbean vibes.

When I landed in Portland, Maine, for MLK Ski Weekend with Black Travel Maine (BTM), I’ll be honest — I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve never visited the state, and as I approach 40, I’m just now warming up to the upside of cold-weather vacations. But with BTM founder and visionary Lisa Jones as our host, I was eager to get back on the slopes, to walk the neighborhoods where our history quietly lives, and to do it among people who understood why it all mattered.

The room is dim in the good kind of way — moody, low-lit, built for long conversations rather than seeing and being seen from across the room.

The Travel Noire Awards are our annual recognition of the destinations, brands, and people redefining Black travel — chosen by editors who research and vet, not by popularity vote.

For many visitors, a weekend in Washington, D.