Travel websites and apps have changed the way we view traveling. Now more than ever, scoring a flight deal to your dream destination is only a click or tap away. While these new travel resources are useful, many of us are still hesitant to book the flight and explore new areas once we finally vacation. That’s why we caught up with Zim Ugochukwu, the founder and CEO of Travel Noire, a digital publishing brand that creates compelling tools, resources and experiences to help Black travelers discover new international destinations. Here, she gives the biggest tips in making your travel dreams come true in 2016.
“I am challenging people in 2016 to fall in love with one place,” she says. “To dig a little bit deeper. To take things a little bit slower and to adopt a mindset that you will be back. You don’t have to visit all the destinations on your travel hit list in one fell swoop. Once you switch from a mindset of travel is a luxury to travel as a part of who you are it becomes easier for you to dive deeper and explore.”
“Also, think differently about your start and end destinations,” she says. “You don’t have to start from your home destination and you don’t have to end in your desired destination. If you find a deal that’s at the halfway mark to your desired destination, book it! You’re that much closer to where you want to be. You have to get creative with your start and end points. Thinking this way can be helpful in terms of saving time as well.