The Black Girl’s Guide To Travel: Limited On Time? Try A ‘Ditch Day’ Trip

It began with a canceled flight.

I used to be speculated to be on my technique to New Orleans to attend what journey advisor Meako Payne of Stay Gone Travel calls a “Ditch Day.” A same-day or 24-hour getaway meant to assist girls press pause and reset with out burning by means of paid time without work or overspending on journey. Instead, I discovered myself unpacking my suitcase at dwelling, scrolling by means of pictures of the ladies who did make it to the Big Easy.

Their posts had been of pure pleasure: sipping cocktails at Headquarters, having fun with grilled oysters from Katie’s, listening to reside music on Bourbon Street, and even taking in historical past at Whitney Plantation. Even from my lounge, I may really feel the full of life power of group.

When Payne first created Ditch Day, she wasn’t making an attempt to chase a pattern. Instead, she was simply reaching out to others who needed to affix her on her escapades. 

“I posted on Facebook and was like, ‘Hey, who wants to go hang out with me for a day in New York? And it blew up overnight. I ended up with 75 people booking,” she says.

Based in Chicago, Payne focuses on locations which can be only some hours away with inexpensive flights, usually below $200. Having began Ditch Day journeys in April, Payne has already hosted travels to Louisville, Nashville, Austin, New York City, Orlando, and most just lately, New Orleans. The idea is easy: e-book a flight within the morning, spend the day exploring a close-by metropolis, and are available dwelling that evening with a digital camera roll stuffed with reminiscences.

The notion of “micro-cations” — fast escapes of some days or much less — has gained traction. Travelers are choosing shorter getaways this 12 months with 34% saying their first trip will final simply two nights or much less, a four-point improve from 2024, in line with Allianz Partners USA’s annual Vacation Confidence Index.

“A lot of them are just tired of waiting on other people to plan a trip with,” Payne says. “They would come to me, and they were like, ‘This was the therapy I needed. This was the escape I needed from real life.’ So I just kept going,” she says.

Payne emphasizes that Ditch Day isn’t nearly journey; it’s about cultural experiences and supporting Black-owned companies.

“We go in and we just take over a whole Black-owned restaurant and, you know, feed back into that business. Bringing that revenue to them versus going to a regular commercial place that we can go to in our own personal state,” she says.

Michelle Bailey, 52, from Chicago, joined one in all Payne’s first Ditch Days, a same-day journey to New York City.

“My husband had just had surgery. My mom had a panic attack. I was just constantly doting on everybody else. I just needed a breather, and I just happened to see it, like, it was meant to be, and I bought my ticket and booked my hotel and was ready to go,” Bailey says.

They caught a 6 a.m. flight, grabbed breakfast, wandered by means of Times Square, noticed a present, and had been again dwelling by 11 p.m.

“I say I’m living my second childhood right now. It was just great to be carefree and safe. You’re with a group of people who were going to have your back and look out for you,” Bailey says.

That sentiment echoed by means of the tales of different individuals. Some talked concerning the freedom of packing gentle as a infamous overpacker and leaving obligations behind, even when only for a day. Others famous how the condensed time-frame made each second really feel intentional.

Toshina Thames, 46, a childcare middle proprietor residing in Phoenix, says Ditch Day allowed her to discover issues she didn’t know even existed.

“My favorite part is always trying new restaurants that I may not have heard of or be familiar with, as well as activities that I may not have thought of on my own,” says Thames. “In New Orleans, we did a tour of the Whitney Plantation. This was my fourth time in New Orleans. I’ve never even looked up a plantation to visit.”

She’s joined a number of journeys, and says each seems like coming dwelling to sisterhood.

“I was going through a divorce, and I met someone who had gone through it. To be able to be close enough with people to share your story and then give you wisdom-based advice is something that I couldn’t have asked for or even thought I was gonna get from the Ditch Days,” Thames says.

Travel turned a type of self-care and one thing to look ahead to in the midst of the week. The journey is likely to be quick, however it’s a jam-packed itinerary curated by Payne to benefit from the day.

“When we hit the ground, there is something booked until we head to the airport,” Payne says. 

It’s not concerning the vacation spot, it’s concerning the reminder that pleasure doesn’t have to attend. Sometimes, all it takes is a day.

When my flight acquired canceled, I assumed I’d missed my likelihood to expertise that feeling. But watching these girls on-line, I felt it proper alongside them.