We all love to travel for different reasons – for Sydney Powell, her love for travel came from the opportunities to explore other passions in her life like food, art, music and learning. Through family vacations and school trips, Sydney decided to weave travel into her career by combining it with her love of design. Now, Sydney is a Junior Designer on KAYAK’s North American Brand Marketing team.
In celebration of Black History Month and to amplify diverse voices within our community, we invited Sydney to share her experiences in a discussion to learn about her perspectives on traveling as a 20-something Black woman, what led her to KAYAK, and the travel tips she’s discovered along the way.
When did you learn that you loved to travel? Was it always something that interested you?
I grew up taking family summer trips up and down the east coast to Florida, Maine, North Carolina and upstate New York. We would also visit Montego Bay, Jamaica to see my grandmother – she is a huge inspiration for me. She lived in New York City for some time and had traveled to Egypt, China, Peru, and parts of Europe to name a few. She always had this sense of limit-lessness and she is such a cool person in general, so I definitely looked up to her and the fact that she was big on travel.
Tell us more about your travels, where are some of the places you’ve traveled to? Do you have a favorite place that you’ve visited?
Domestically, I’ve been to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sarasota and Lake Placid. Internationally, I’ve traveled to Jamaica, Canada, China, Korea and Japan. My favorite place that I’ve visited is Seoul, Korea. I went back in 2019 for three weeks with my cousin and a college friend, and I loved every minute of being there. This trip was unique because we were able to meet up with friends who lived in Seoul, who showed us around the city like we were locals. We were also able to spend time with my college friend’s family who lived there and treated us to home-cooked meals. Spending time with people who lived in Seoul made the experience feel so much more personal.
During your travels, were you ever treated differently due to any of the facets of your identity (race, gender, nationality, age, etc.)? If so, did that ever make you feel vulnerable or unsafe?
Yes, definitely. Though in my own experience, I’ve never felt unsafe – I’ve mainly traveled with friends and family, so being in a group has made me feel more secure.
When I was in China and Japan, I noticed that people would stare because I tend to stand out. Which I understand, I look very different and I don’t speak the language, it’s not something that can be helped. When this has happened, people have approached me and have asked me about myself or my hair. This was tricky to navigate in a foreign country because there’s often a language barrier, too. But all things considered, I did enjoy the attention. I’m a Leo… I was happy to tell people about myself and take pictures, no one was ever disrespectful towards me. I’ve never felt denied of any experiences because of who I am, but I am hyper-aware of my existence while traveling.
In Korea, I felt kind of the same. However, when I was there, I was traveling with my cousin (who is also a young, Black woman), who might not have felt as open to the attention we received. This might have made her feel vulnerable in an unwanted way – everyone has different experiences and varying levels of comfort.
Did you ever encounter obstacles while traveling because you’re Black? If so, would you mind sharing what they were?
A big obstacle I’ve encountered is when strangers have preconceived ideas about you, based on stereotypes or the media. As I mentioned before, I like to get to know people and share who I am – making new connections and getting to know people on a personal level can be powerful in overcoming these initial difficulties. On the other hand, I think it’s also perfectly okay to distance yourself from prejudiced situations if possible. It’s not your job to educate everybody, your safety and mental health need to come first.
Something I didn’t realize before I traveled abroad was that it might be a challenge to find beauty items that work for your skin tone or hair type – these products can be hard to come by, so I would suggest packing extra before traveling. For example, before I went to Korea in 2019, I brought an extra bottle of foundation in my shade with me because I knew something close to that color wouldn’t be readily available.
What are some changes you believe the travel industry can make to be more inclusive of Black travelers such as yourself?
The travel industry should be transparent about the statistics that might affect members of the Black community. I want more information about where I plan to travel so that I can make informed decisions. I want to feel good about going somewhere where I know that I will be safe. For example, the Alphabetical Map of Sundown Towns by State helps identify towns and counties that may be unsafe for Black travelers. This data provides a great resource for Black travelers planning domestic travel or a road trip. Where more of this information could help is with international destinations. An example of this is that I have friends who’ve been to Italy and didn’t feel comfortable during their trip – I have also seen other creators share similar feelings in their content. Though Italy is still a place I would like to visit, it’s nice to be aware of these perspectives from Black travelers so I can be prepared or do further research about which cities I might enjoy more.
Speaking of Black creators, I also think the industry should constantly promote diverse travelers who share their experiences. Representation helps others in the community make smart travel decisions.
When did you discover that you wanted to work in the travel industry? What has your experience been like working in the travel industry and at KAYAK?
Working in the travel industry just made sense to me. I always wanted a career that allowed for creative freedom to make interesting work. It has become a way to explore my self-growth in a sector of life I’m passionate about. It’s also a space where people are always discussing travel plans and I love that, it makes me excited to plan my own trips.
My experience at KAYAK has been such an important part of my career and personal journey. You get to try new things while keeping up with data, trends, current events and content that’s genuinely interesting. Everybody works hard and welcomes new perspectives. I joined the company back in November 2020, one year into the pandemic and the team remained positive as we learned how to adjust content and policies to promote travel, safely.
What sort of advice would you give to other Black 20-something travelers?
Overall, I’ve learned that I think it’s helpful to be open and friendly to new people and cultural experiences. Don’t deny yourself opportunities based on your identity and what you think will happen. At the end of the day, this is your travel journey and it’s always important to take full advantage of that opportunity.
As for more specific travel advice, here are some things I’ve learned from my travels:
- Safety first.
I always have my location shared with family and friends. If you’re like me and meet new people, (this might go without saying) don’t overshare your travel plans with them or any strangers, for that matter. I would also be mindful of where you keep your documents and important travel items while out and about. - Bring the right tools.
When traveling internationally, make sure you have a portable charger on hand, it’s super important. Locks can be useful, too, if you plan to be in a shared space or have important documents/items with you. - Pack extras and plan ahead.
As I mentioned before, I make sure to bring my makeup base (foundation, concealer, etc.) just in case I can’t find the right shade while traveling. I also like to plan my hairstyle for trips because I know it can be hard to find products or a stylist while abroad. These protective styles can vary depending on the climate and length of the trip. - Download helpful apps.
Since I have my phone I usually try to download all important apps for my new location, this includes translating, communication, transit and events. For example, I’ve used KakaoTalk, Line, WeChat and WhatsApp.
What advice would you give to other members of the Black community who aspire to work in the travel industry?
Be confident in knowing that your perspective matters and is valued in this industry. Be open to new ideas and experiences- be curious and find out what you like, then find the people or opportunities that are in line with these preferences. Lastly, follow and find black travelers that interest you. It’s very helpful to have people you like for inspiration, mentors, or just give you direction on your journey.
Ok last question: Do you have any trips planned for next year? What trip are you most looking forward to?
I want to do some solo travel in Portugal and Spain. If I can, I would like to add Greece to this list. I also would like to visit Austin, Texas, or New Orleans, Louisiana.
