Due to the spread of COVID-19, many Ameri
cans were forced to put their vacation plans on hold. With travel derailed—flights to many international destinations have restrictions—many have opted for small road trips instead of a remote getaway. One Black woman entrepreneur used her travel company to create a new series of road trip itineraries complete with Black-owned businesses to stop by along the way.Kristin Braswell is the owner of CrushGlobal, a travel company specializing in guides to help travelers plan their dream trips around the world in addition to group trips. Her destinations have ranged from Paris to Tokyo, with different themes to guide you on how to craft your trip. Her new Southern, Northeast, and themed California road trip series focused on regional excursions you can take by car for a short getaway.
“The itineraries are designed with various themes, but all include major points of interest along each route, restaurants, and hotel accommodations. I am an extremely detail-oriented person when it comes to planning, so my biggest aim was to make sure someone gets their road trip guide, opens it, and feels like they are equipped with everything they need to have an incredible travel experience,” says Braswell in an email interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“I designed the road trip guides in an easy-to-read format by day and time. I wanted to make sure that the reader can easily navigate the routes in the guide from point A to point B,” she continued. “People can pick and choose which stops they’d like to make along the way, based on their interests and schedule. There is also information on each stop, like what services they offer, price points, contact information, and Instagram handles. Lastly, which I think is a major plus—the guides note any safety protocols in light of COVID in each location for visitors to keep in mind.”
Braswell’s road trip itineraries also highlight Black-owned businesses in various sectors for travelers to visit on their journeys.
“What I’m most proud of is that every guide includes Black-owned businesses wherever possible, from chefs to wine experts and hiking tour guides,” said Braswell.” For our personalized guides, meaning, we create a road trip based on your interests and budget, travelers will be connected directly to VIP experiences that include activities like private drivers, curated chef, and wine tastings, and so much more.”