You voted, and now the winners are in! The 2023 Travel Noire Awards kicked off on July 11 with voting through July 31. This year’s awards recognize and celebrate the best in 16 categories including individuals, destinations, stays and experiences that kept us inspired. After weeks of excitement and anticipation, we’re ready to reveal the winners selected by our Travel Noire audience.
Destinations
Favorite Stateside City Vacay for Black Travelers
Winner: New Orleans, Louisiana
A clear winner among voters, New Orleans took the lead for favorite stateside city. Affectionately known as NOLA, the city’s unique culture, vibrant party scene and delicious food captured the hearts of Travel Noire’s readers.
Favorite International City Vacay for Black Travelers
Winner: Accra, Ghana
Accra is a city rooted in freedom and a newfound hotspot for Black celebrities and travel enthusiasts. Visitors come for its rich history, coastal beaches, beautiful textiles and great food.
Favorite Island City Vacay for Black Travelers
Winner: Montego Bay, Jamaica
A classic vacation spot for Black travelers with easy access from the United States, it’s no surprise that Montego Bay was the number choice for favorite island city vacation.
Favorite Hidden Gem Vacay
Winner: Bazaruto Islands, Mozambique
The Bazaruto Archipelago is a dream destination, boasting crystal blue waters and abundant marine life. It beat out two other hidden gems in this year’s awards.
Favorite Wide Open Spaces Experience
Winner: 4×4 Dune Bashing in Dubai
This wide open space experience was popular among Travel Noire followers on social media. Dubai has been a hot destination for Black travelers and its sand-filled activities, like dune bashing, kept us hitting the “like” button on Instagram all year.
Stays
Favorite Unique Stay
Winner: The Manta Resort, Tanzania
The Manta Resort’s underwater floating room, where visitors can observe the waters of Tanzania from above and below the ocean, led this hotel to the top of our list. Voters couldn’t resist the turquoise blue waters and sandy beaches of Pemba Island.
Favorite Luxe Stay
Winner: The Ritz Carlton Maldives
The Ritz Carlton is a classic name in luxury hotels, and its resort in the Maldives is no exception. Perhaps the location situated in a real-life blue lagoon was the deciding factor for voters.
Favorite All-Inclusive Stay
Winner: Four Seasons Seychelles at Desroches Island
This tucked-away retreat located on Desroches Island with fine dining, world-class amenities and special experiences curated by the hotel staff sealed the deal for Travel Noire readers.
People
Favorite Travel Influencer: Individual
Winner: Ashlee Major Moss (@ashleemajormoss)
Ashlee Major Moss, a travel influencer based in London took us along for the ride to some amazing destinations this year. Her dedicated Instagram followers dominated the polls, placing her at the top spot in this year’s awards.
Favorite Travel Influencers: Family/Couples
Winner: The Hambrick Family (@thetravelingchild)
The Hambrick Family beat out two other popular traveling families in the Travel Noire Awards. The family who travels world-wide with their children, live by the phrase “If kids live there, kids can visit,” which resonated with Travel Noire’s voters.
Favorite Celebrity Travel Experience
Winner: Gabrielle Union in Africa
Gabrielle Union celebrated her 50th birthday with a remarkable trip around Africa, which captured Travel Noire’s readers. Her travels to Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania and Namibia was documented on “My Journey to 50,” which aired on BET.
Favorite Expat
Winner: Carissa Boston (@carissamonyce)
Carissa Boston is known for letting us into her world as an expat living in Mexico and her travels across the world. Her vlog-style videos held the interest of our voters looking for an inside look at her travel experiences.
Experiences
Favorite Black-owned Tour Operator
Winner: Travel Divas (@traveldivas)
Travel Divas took the lead for Favorite Black-owned Tour Operator this year. The highly organized website which displays past and upcoming trips for potential travelers and an Instagram account with over 100,000 followers, edged out the competition.
Favorite Celeb Black-Owned Restaurant
Winner: Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen (Issa Rae)
Hilltop Coffee, now with four locations, owned by Yonnie Hagos, Ajay Relan and Issa Rae has become a popular outpost in L.A. The simple and refreshing menu combined with the community-focused culture took this restaurant to the top spot in our poll.
Favorite Party Destination
Winner: Las Vegas
Las Vegas is synonymous with “party” and Travel Noire’s readers agreed. The endless options for entertainment, hotels, restaurants, pool parties and nightlife made this city our favorite party destination.
Favorite Cruising Experience
Winner: Norwegian Prima – Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Prima’s emphasis on luxury took the cake in this year’s awards. The modern cruise ship, premium amenities and extensive array of dining options were the deciding factors for voters.
