HEAR DIRECTLY FROM OUR TRAVELERS 👇🏾

“Joining the Cape Town BOOKED Trips experience was one of the best things I’ve done this year! Jalisa curated a memorable experience that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the various cultures of Cape Town while providing opportunities for us to connect to our selected book, Intruders by Mohale Mashigo, to better understand the perspective of Black South Africans.

I was able to just immerse myself in the experience because of Jalisa’s thoughtful planning and ability to bring book lovers from all different experiences together. If you are a book lover, and are interested in immersing yourself in the culture of your next travel destination, join the next BOOKED Trips experience!”

- Chalon, @bookedtrips Cape Town Traveler

#CapeTown #SouthAfrica #BOOKEDTrips #TravelThroughBooks #GroupTravel

LAST MINUTE MEXICO CITY TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY! 🇲🇽

Have a flexible schedule? Get $500 off our Mexico City Trip!

We have an exciting (and last-minute) opportunity for one lucky adventurer to join us on our upcoming May 23-28, 2024 trip to Mexico City based on Katie Gutierrez`s book "More Than You`ll Ever Know!"

Due to unforeseen circumstances, one of our travelers recently had to cancel their participation. This is your chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, rich history, and literary magic of Mexico City.

Here`s just a taste of what awaits you on this unforgettable journey:

✔️An intimate welcome dinner at one of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America.
✔️An all-inclusive food tour through Centro Histórico to central spots in our featured book and local restaurants you won`t find through a Google search.
✔️A sunrise hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacán, a UNESCO world heritage site, followed by a 52-ingredient mole made by our guide`s grandmother.
✔️An immersive tour through various traditional neighborhoods around Mexico City including skip-the-line entry into Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul and a trajinera boat ride through Xochimilco.
✔️A private chef-curated closing dinner modeled after key scenes in the book.
Important Details:

💰 Reduced trip price of $2,600 ($500 off!). Full trip cost will be due upon booking. This spot is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Flights and travel insurance are not included in trip costs.

✉️ DM us or Email jalisa@bookedtrips.com with the subject "I`m interested in Mexico City" to grab your spot!

OUR TRAVELERS FAVORITE PART OF THE @bookedtrips
CAPE TOWN EXPERIENCE 🇿🇦

When we surveyed our travelers on their favorite part of the trip multiple people mentioned our closing dinner at @goldrestaurantcapetown

🥘 GOLD was started by Cindy Muller, a Black woman who decided she wanted to showcase Africa to visitors in a sophisticated and unique way. She wanted to do away with the stereotypical image of Africa being a poor and hungry continent by showcasing the cuisine, art, and music of various countries on the continent.

We did the private spice experience which explores the history of spices throughout the world, taking diners on a story telling adventure through the eyes of GOLD`s staff from around Africa. We got to smell, taste, grind, and identify spices as we got a history lesson on the spice route and how they combined to create our 14-dish meal.

The menu is inspired by the home countries of the women who work there including South Africa, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia where the head chef Mavis finds her roots. We got the chance to go behind the scenes in the kitchen to meet the women who make our meals possible. We participated in a hands-on spice blending experience and took home our own masala spice blend.

There was SO much delicious food (including the cardamom ice cream that is still being talked about) so we were happy to learn that instead of throwing out what’s left unused at the end of the night, GOLD donated all our excess food to The Haven Shelter in Napier Street Cape Town.

If you`re ever in Cape Town, South Africa GOLD restaurant is a must visit experience.

#SouthAfrica #CapeTown #spice #BOOKEDTrips #ReadAndTravel #TravelThroughBooks #blackownedbusiness

A JOURNEY THROUGH CAPE TOWN`S BLACK HISTORY

Cape Town is considered the most racially segregated city in South Africa, stemming back to the apartheid era. As noted in Mohale Mashigo`s book Intruders, Black South Africans are treated as outsiders in their own country and are systematically kept from opportunities for economic and landownership.

At @bookedtrips we aimed to learn the Black history of the city and to support the Black owned businesses beating the odds.

🥣We started at @sevencolours_eatery, a Black woman owned restaurant run by Chef Nolu Dube-Cele committed to sharing her passion for South African food and culture. She personally led us through the story of her food and offered us a multi course delicious, nutritious, and rainbow soul food experience.

♀️Seven Colours also highlights other Black woman-owned businesses by offering beverages by local companies such as @herwinecollection @lady.bloom_gin, @tolokazibeer, and more.

🍫After we headed to African woman co-founded @afrikoachocolate for a bean to bar chocolate tasting. AFRIKOA aims to eradicate unfair labor practices throughout the cocoa supply chain and end the persistent cycle of poverty of farmers through direct trade which results in the farmers being paid fairly and directly for their product.

🇿🇦We spent the rest of the day on Black history walking tour with @yang_steezy where he shared over 300 years of history from colonization of the indigenous San and Khoe Khoe tribes through apartheid.

The Dutch slave trade at the Cape colony began in 1658 with the vast majority of enslaved people in the Cape coming from Madagascar, the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia. When they arrived in the port of Cape Town they were given new names to strip them of any connection to their previous `free` identity and the places where they came from.

In 1657 Doman, a Khoisan leader, was sent to Batavia to learn to become an interpreter for the Dutch. But having witnessed first hand the capacity of the Dutch to reduce indigenous people to positions of servitude, he became a staunch opponent of European colonisation. Our tour highlighted the struggle & triumph of BlPOC communities.

#BOOKEDTrips Cape Peninsula Day Trip to see the penguins on Boulder`s Beach!

We enjoyed a foggy but fun day in the Cape Peninsula. Our itinerary included

✔️A visit to Boulder`s Beach to see the African penguins. We got to see ostriches and baboons as an added bonus.

✔️Cape Point the most Southwestern point in Africa

✔️Fish and chips at Fran`s restaurant, a woman of color-owned restaurant in Simon`s town. In the 1960s, Simon’s Town was proclaimed a White Group Area and over the next few years black people, many of whom had family ties dating back to the early settlement of the area, were forced to move out. With this history it was important for us to support a business that`s reclaiming this space to tie to the themes of our featured book "Intruders" by Mohale Mashigo.

✔️Bookstore shopping at Quagga Books and Kalk Bay Books 📚

✔️Muizenberg Beach to see the colorful houses

📷 @khalipha_ntloko_ one of the best to ever do it. She made magic happen with these pics despite the weather.

Partnership cred to @curiocity.africa and @girlstriptours for ensuring we had a smooth day!

Celebrating 30 years of democracy in South Africa! 🇿🇦

April 27th marks the anniversary of the historic 1994 election that ushered in a new era of multiracial democracy in South Africa. This Freedom Day, we`re reflecting on the incredible journey South Africa has taken and honoring the immense sacrifices made in the fight against Apartheid. It`s a day to remember the fight for equality and the heroes who made it possible. ✊🏿

The fight for freedom wasn`t easy. We remember the Soweto Uprising, the Rivonia Trial, and the long walk to reconciliation. Even today Black South Africans struggle to access economic opportunities and land ownership. Yet, through it all, South Africans persevered.  ️

As we look to the future, we celebrate companies like @curiocity.africa that are shaping a more inclusive and vibrant South Africa. During our #BOOKEDTrips Cape Town experience we got to hear from Bheki, the founder of Curiocity, about the journey to creating Curiocity at 21.

Curiocity is a network of Black-owned design-centered hotels and hotels. Growing up under Apartheid`s shadow, Bheki dreamt of a South Africa that embraced its diversity. Today, Curiocity curates travel experiences that showcase the rich tapestry of South African culture, while partnering with local communities to create unique adventures for travelers. They were the perfect on the ground partner to bring travelers from the page to the place.

Just like South Africa itself, Curiocity is all about celebrating diversity and creating a space where everyone feels welcome. 🌈

Here`s to 30 years of freedom, and many more to come! 🥂

#SouthAfrica #FreedomDay #Democracy #Travel

"I found my people 💜"

That`s what one of our travelers said last night during our closing night boat cruise. They had found other women from all different backgrounds and ages who loved to travel, read good books, and deeply connect.

It is such a gift to be able to curate experiences that allow women to be their authentic selves, feel seen, enjoy themselves, and be well taken care of. Our Cape Town travelers began as strangers and left as new friends. They`re already in the group chat planning their next adventure!

#BOOKEDTrips #CapeTown #ReadAndTravel #readtheworld