Meet Philistine Amenaki Wembo, a U.K.-based 25-year-old nurse originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Working in a field as physically and mentally draining as healthcare, she spends a great deal of her time looking after others. When she’s not working, Philistine finds traveling and enjoying luxury to be therapeutic and a welcomed change from her usual routine.
Visiting some of the most glamorous locations around the world, she creates luxury travel content to inspire Black women to live their best and most fabulous lives.
One of Philistine’s top locations for an unforgettable luxurious experience is Santorini, Greece, a location she says offers incredible, breathtaking views with everything top quality and luxe.
“A private airport transfer was ready to pick me up and take me to my hotel, and the hotel itself was very beautiful and lush. A tour of one of Santorini’s most well-known wineries was a unique experience that I really enjoyed, as well as a private boat tour of the incredible islands nearby.”
“Another memorable experience was the Maldives, with its iconic overwater bungalows and private full-course dinner on the beach. It was definitely the most relaxing and luxurious trip I’ve ever taken.”
When planning a luxury getaway, Philistine says she looks for places that can provide the ultimate comfort, quality, stress-free, and hassle-free accommodations.
“I enjoy staying in luxurious hotels that provide amazing 24-hour service with incredible spa treatments. I also enjoy relaxing in private pools with a glass of champagne and admiring an amazing view. Fancy restaurants with delicious food are a must, as well as boat tours where I can enjoy the beauty of the sea and sunset.”
Philistine admits everyone has not always been 100% supportive of her travel lifestyle. Some believe she spends too much and goes overboard. But Philistine doesn’t bother entertaining the negativity.
“To be honest, I never really cared what people thought, because I know I have earned it and worked hard for it. To all the Black women who have been shamed for wanting luxury and comfort, keep spoiling yourself and live your best life! Block the outside noise and negativity, and remember that you are queen and deserve the soft life.”
Philistine believes this negativity comes from people historically perpetuating misconceptions about Black women and adopting a one-dimensional view of them.
“Black women are known to be the most hard-working group of women, and we tend to see that as an honorable title to hold. I think it’s amazing, however, working hard should not be the only thing we are known for. We deserve to spoil ourselves with luxury and enjoy the finer things in life. We should not be ashamed to want extra comfort and quality when traveling or in life in general.”
“Luxury is being able to do the things that you love and want to do, and no one should ever make you feel like you don’t deserve to live life on your own terms. Enjoying luxury in whichever shape or form you want is a great way to pamper yourself with love and self-care. Overworking and struggling is not a reward, and as Black women, we need to understand that it is okay to splurge and spend on ourselves.”
With varying jobs and responsibilities, it is only natural that some women may lack the funds to splurge frequently. However, Philistine has some tips to help women save and be able to afford to treat themselves once in a while.
“What I tend to do is put a certain amount of money on the side every month and set a goal of how much I want to save, depending on what I want to spoil myself with.”
“A good tip I learned regarding luxury travel is to fly with one particular airline as much as I can. This allows me to gain loyalty points which I can then use to fly for free or upgrade to business or first class. Sometimes I look around for sales on business class.”
Philistine also recommends traveling on less popular days and months when the prices are lower. In regards to booking stay at luxury hotels, she says booking with new hotels that are building their clientele can be very beneficial, as their prices tend to be on the lower side.
Once the U.K. lockdown ends, Philistine hopes to book travels for sometime this year. You can follow her at @philistine_wembo.
Related: First Black-Owned Luxury Travel And Airport Lounge Pass Set To Launch In May
