Long before he ever traveled outside of New York, Aaron Spady had a deep love for the Caribbean.
The 31-year-old travel influencer and health and wellness professional was inspired by cinema at a young age to travel and see the world. Films, like Tarzan and Jurassic Park, gave him a semblance of what the world was like outside of NYC. As a child, he knew the Caribbean was where he was meant to be.
“I saw how my body gravitated towards the water and being in the tropical lifestyle and eating real food and being able to grow my own food,” Spady said. “I was like ‘this is how I’m supposed to be living.’”
Since his first visit to Jamaica at 25, Spady’s love for travel has trickled over into the internet, inspiring thousands of people to experience nature and the world. His Instagram page has over 142 thousand followers and his travels are inspiring young travelers worldwide.
Wellness Is The Vibes
Spady has traveled to 7 countries, mostly within the Caribbean. The hospitality and overall experience on his recent visit to the Dominican Republic topped them all. However, no matter where he goes, Spady makes sure to keep wellness at the forefront.
Although his online content garners thousands of likes and comments, his influence is the by-product of his love for himself. His dedication to his wellness and health spearheads his international excursions. He spends time integrating into the local culture, spending weeks in one destination to become familiar with the customs and indigenous ways.
“I get to learn the ways, eat their foods and adapt to them instead of their country adapting to me and the American lifestyle,” he said.
A love for beauty and for the earth keeps driving Spady to seek out new destinations to explore. He desires to purchase land and live abroad as a Black expat in the Caribbean. However, he hasn’t quite decided on where he will settle down. Spady has fallen in love with the art and beauty of foreign lands. He intends to see as much of it as he can, especially while he doesn’t have children.
One of the main things Spady has learned is that every vacation doesn’t have to be fast paced. No matter where he’s vacationing, wellness is the priority. he doesn’t have to spend every trip doing excursions and nightlife. Instead, Spady practices mindful traveling. That is visiting local herbalists and medicine men to gain fresh knowledge, or spending time journaling and meditating in nature.
“You don’t always have to go on vacation and move the whole time,” he said. “Sit still for a little bit to see how your mind is really moving.”
The “Passport Bro’s” Trend
Spady also said he isn’t following the popular “passport bro’s” trend some American men are following. Passport bro’s, or American men who exclusively date internationally to better their chances of meeting a woman, have grown in popularity amongst millennial men. Spady says the trend isn’t his forte.
He also said some men just have a mindset about American women that leads them to only seek out international prospects. He never tried dating, while on an international trip. Instead, his trips are solely for himself.
“I know plenty of guys who will go across seas to sleep with beautiful women,” he said. “But, it’s not because they can’t get the women in the states. They just feel like they have to do too much work for them, which is sad, but that’s what they do.”
Despite his growing online fame, Spady remains humble and focused. The traveling influencer and wellness aficionado is continuing to expand his brand into merchandise and skincare. Overall, Spady hopes to see more Black men exploring the world sooner than later.
“Traveling is going to help them open up their minds to see there’s something new like ‘ok, I’m out of my comfort zone or same city’ that’s going to keep you limited to what you know around there,” he said.