El Totumo Mud Volcano: 10 Tips To Survive Your Mud Bath

October 24, 2018 By Somto Ugwueze 5 Comments

10 Tips To Survive the El Totumo Mud Volcano in Colombia

The El Totumo Mud Volcano (Volcan de Lodo El Totumo) is surprisingly one of the most popular tourist attractions around Cartagena, Colombia. There are dozens of tour companies that take groups there for the famous mud bath. Just a one hour drive from Old Town Cartagena, the attraction is a thick pool of mud inside a man-made volcano in the middle of nowhere. Why would anyone want to take off their clothes and lounge in a 50 feet mud bath while being groped by random men? Well, that’s precisely what I did on my trip to Cartagena, afraid of missing out on a ‘unique’ experience. Visiting this volcano is among the top five dumbest decisions I’ve ever made. It almost cost me my life! I’m writing this post to warn anyone thinking about visiting El Totumo Mud Volcano about the risks. I also want to break down what to expect and how to stay safe if you still decide to go. Here are 10 things to know before you visit the El Totumo Mud Volcano.

The 5 Friendliest Countries in Europe for Black Travelers

October 20, 2018 By Somto Ugwueze 82 Comments

Last updated on April 24, 2023

Traveling while black in Europe over the last seven years, I have experienced far more wow moments and fuzzy feelings than negative experiences. I won’t let incidents like being refused service at a tapas bar in Spain and getting stalked by a middle-aged man in Croatia taint the priceless moments I’ve had. Still, black tourists like myself, unfortunately, have to deal with unpleasant treatment on a continent that touts its progressiveness. But Europe is a vast place with plenty of black-friendly destinations where you can feel right at home. In this post, I’m going to share the 5 friendliest countries in Europe for black travelers. This list is based on my experiences as well as those of other avid travelers who are black.

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7 Day Edinburgh Itinerary for Female Solo Travelers

October 4, 2018 By Somto Ugwueze 6 Comments

7 Day Edinburgh Solo Travel Itinerary

With friendly locals, sprawling castles, and breathtaking landscapes, Scotland is easily one of the best destinations for solo female travelers. If you’ve never traveled solo before, I’d highly recommend you consider Scotland for your first solo trip. You can visit this country for a week and still not scratch the surface of all the amazingness there. I recently went to Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands, discovering an otherworldly kingdom rich in history and tradition. In this post, I’m going to break down how to spend a week in Scotland, with Edinburgh as your base. This 7 day Edinburgh itinerary for female solo travelers will show you the best things to do alone in Edinburgh and beyond. Let’s get started.

3 Underrated Travel Destinations in Australia You’ve Probably Overlooked

September 15, 2018 By Somto Ugwueze Leave a Comment

3 Underrated Cities in Australia You’ve Probably Overlooked

Ready for an Aussie adventure? I’m going to show you 3 underrated travel destinations in Australia you likely haven’t though of. If you read Australia travel guides, you’ll notice that they focus on the most well-known places on the vast continent. Cities like Sydney and Melbourne are hyped as the places to visit. Don’t get me wrong; those are some world class cities that are definitely worth a visit. [Read more…] about 3 Underrated Travel Destinations in Australia You’ve Probably Overlooked

Solo Travel for Black Women: 5 Travel Bloggers Share Their Best Tips

September 9, 2018 By Somto Ugwueze 17 Comments

Black Female Solo Travel: Best Tips from the Pros

Let’s talk about solo travel for black women, a topic that raises concerns and some eyebrows. Is it safe? Does it get lonely? What about racism? While these are legitimate concerns, they often stem from misconceptions and misinformation. Many of us grow up being taught that the world is dangerous and that we as women are especially vulnerable. For black women, the fear of sticking out, facing racism, or being fetishized makes solo travel especially daunting. Today, I want to show you that traveling alone as a black woman is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it can be really empowering.

How To Get From Barcelona Airport to the City Center

August 12, 2018 By Somto Ugwueze 6 Comments

How To Travel From Barcelona Airport to the City Cheaply and Fast

There are tons of transportation options to get from the Barcelona El Prat Airport to your hotel, hostel, or apartment in the city center. In fact, there are so many options that it can be overwhelming! Which one do you choose? The purpose of this post is to break down all the different transportation services in Barcelona to help you choose the best option for you. I’ll share how to take the train, bus, metro, taxi, and private transfer from the airport and how much each option costs. Then I’ll answer some frequently asked questions about Barcelona airport transfers, traveling between terminals, tipping taxi drivers, and more. Here we go – let’s go over how to get from the Barcelona Airport to the city center.