Travel
8 practical travel tips to make your group trips happen this summer

Make this summer your last summer and also you and your friends can plan your vacation in a group chat. Poor planning and inconvenient timing often leave travelers exhausted before they even start.
Such situations inspired SquadTrip to launch a comprehensive group travel platform. Designed to provide first-time travelers and seasoned explorers alike with the tools for stress-free travel, the free, user-friendly platform has simplified domestic and international travel for groups and solo travelers.
“Being from Brooklyn, my entrepreneurial spirit was ingrained in me and I always saw creators coming up with solutions to everyday problems,” SquadTrip founder Darrien Watson tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“SquadTrip responded to issues I noticed after being added to the Birthday Trip group chat. It started with good intentions, but getting everyone on the same page when planning was a nightmare!”
With useful features similar to fast messaging, questionnaires, pre-planned itineraries, reservations and the customarily dreaded payment collection, SquadTrip offers an entire trip planning experience. These features reveal Watson’s skilled experience working with software vendors and natural passion for travel.

“My co-founder and I knew we wanted to provide Black travelers with a marketplace tailored to their needs,” Watson says. “SquadTrip offers experiences curated by Black-owned tour operators and travel agencies, from luxury and cultural trips abroad to arrivals trips”
“We wanted to eliminate setbacks that can take away from the enjoyment of group travel to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
Launching in Brooklyn, New York in 2022, SquadTrip is a premier travel platform tailored specifically for Black travelers, serving as a platform to discover trips curated by Black tour operators and travel agencies. With a comprehensive software solution, travelers can streamline group travel with features similar to TripBuilder, pre-planned itineraries and automatic monthly payment plans, all accessible through a user-friendly, centralized dashboard.
“Our software is the first online platform that allows you to create booking pages, accept payments, and manage communications and finances in one place,” says Watson.
Additionally, although the corporate was founded in Brooklyn, it has since moved its headquarters to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take part in the Techstar Accelerator Build In Tulsa program for POC founders.
“Now we are part of a growing Black tech sector that is revitalizing Black Wall Street in Tulsa,” Watson says.

Over the past two years, SquadTrip has facilitated lots of of trips in over 50 countries, improving travel experiences and meeting the unique needs of Black travelers all over the world. To help other Black travelers take a group trip this summer or later within the yr, SquadTrip has created an eight-step guide to assist you to organize a successful group trip and create unforgettable memories with your squad.
Rate the group – Find out who you are traveling with, their interests, budgets and travel styles so you’ll be able to effectively guide your planning process.
“Understanding your intentions is crucial for trips outside of specific celebrations, such as weddings or graduations,” Watson says. “To get off to a good start, make sure participants have common interests, whether that’s history in the case of a city tour or musical taste in the case of a festival.”
Democratize decision-making – Involve your group from the start so everyone feels heard. Use SquadTrip to brainstorm destinations, travel dates and budgets.
“SquadTrip empowers users to make decisions by allowing them to create trip-specific questionnaires,” Watson explains. “To ensure that everyone’s preferences are heard and incorporated into the planning process.”
Choose the proper accommodation— Research to find accommodation and transportation convenient for your complete group. Consider flights, trains or automobile rentals when it comes to cost and travel time.
“Consider using room types to accommodate preferences while also checking accurate pricing and floor layouts,” adds Watson. “It’s a good idea to check bed arrangements, occupancy limits and other information in advance to make sure everyone is comfortable.”

Create your travel plan and use “maybe” – Group planning could be difficult and require compromise because preferences vary. SquadTrip helps by creating flexible itineraries that include group activities and free time to ensure everyone enjoys their trip.
“It’s good to go on a journey with a plan, even if it’s not very detailed,” notes Watson. “Having an idea of what each day might look like helps provide structure so you can make the most of your adventures.”
Avoid chasing advances – Avoid awkward conversations by collecting and scheduling payments through SquadTrip and eliminating the necessity for group texting, spreadsheets, or apps like Venmo and PayPal.
“Travel is usually a hindrance when it comes to raising money,” admits Watson. “We have added automatic payments through SquadTrip to avoid uneven amounts and make sure everything is fair.”
“With transparency around individual premiums, total cost and payment progress, there is no need for reconciliation or awkward ‘can you send me one’ conversations when everyone gets home,” he adds.
Update your lineup – Prioritize clear communication when planning. Keep everyone informed about decisions and changes. With SquadTrip you’ll be able to send emails, trip updates and automatic payment reminders to your group.
“There is no such thing as too much communication when planning group trips. But it’s best to keep all critical and core updates
planning in a central location,” says Watson. “By simplifying, everyone will be on the same page without hassle.”

Celebrate differences and acknowledge the inevitable – Group trips bring together diverse personalities. Accept differences to discover hidden interests. Expect the unexpected: flight delays, lost luggage and personality conflicts. Deal with hiccups flexibly and with humor.
“Compromise will be possible in any event that involves many people, especially if group outings do not focus on the celebrant,” Watson explains. “In addition, the flexibility of travel plans allows you to discover new passions, so it is important to keep an open mind.”
Consider a travel agency – For independent group leaders, SquadTrip offers a curated number of travel agencies specializing in group tours Here.
“If your group prefers hands-free planning, don’t hesitate to ask for additional help,” suggests Watson. “SquadTrip travel marketplace features hand-picked Black tour operators and travel agents for seamless management.”
Travel
Newark airport listed as “they are not safe” because the air traffic controller warns leaflets to leave

The air traffic controller warned that Newark airport is “not safe” for travelers because rage is delayed for a lot of days.
An unidentified aviation security employee told the NBC News Tom Costello correspondent that the international airport in Newark Liberty must be avoided “at all costs”. According to the second most busy airport in the New York region suffered many delays and appeal.
“This is not safe. It is not a safe situation for flying audience now,” Costello reminded the worker’s warnings.
Costello added: “A really amazing statement, unimaginated. He just told me and separately:” Don’t lie to Newark. Avoid Newark in any respect costs. “
Newark airport often sees over 40,000 passengers every single day, According to United Airlines. NY and NJ Port Authority Authority Dashboard Reported that the airport is the host of virtually 4 million passengers a yr.
However, the ongoing problems related to employees of the Federal Aviation Administration resulted in the delay of the airport. In addition to construction activities limiting its capabilities, the airport recorded 20% loss in air traffic controllers.
United announced the cancellation of 35 flights from the predominant center of the east coast to alleviate this problem for its passengers. The general director of United, Scott Kirby, has been revealed for years how the company is in favor of higher staff and technology in EWR.
“United is involved in doing absolutely everything in our power to minimize the influence that it will have on customers, which is why we unilaterally cancel 35 flights a day from our Newark schedule from this weekend,” Kirby said in a press release. “Further cuts are disappointing to the already reduced schedule in Newark, but because there is no way to solve the closest problems related to FAA work, we believe that there is no other choice to protect our clients.”
Kirby talked to the secretary for transport Sean Duffy with an urgent need for more air traffic controllers. Duffy also offered $ 5,000 bonuses for brand new employees because the system reaches its breakthrough.
“You start to see cracks in the system,” Duffy explained at a press conference on Thursday. “Our task is to see the horizon what problems are and fix them before the incident occurs, which we seriously regret.”
However, Trump’s administration implemented serious FAA cuts, because frequent leaflets apprehensive greater look after air failures. FAA continues to be delaying in the personnel of the air traffic controller, and airports like EWR are already feeling results.
Travelers in New York should proceed to change travel plans in the event that they include some flights to or from Newark airport.
(Tagstranslat) air traffic control (T) Neviark International Airport (T) Federal Aviation Administration
Travel
Macel tracking “One degree of hot” return of the carnival

It is on Sunday at noon, and the severance pay area on the overcome epic cruise ship CARNIVAL buzzes with energy in front of Carnival after I am searching for a sales to charge my phone. Passengers freshly from the night of Soca Brain Lask and Pinknictt Fetes undergo what Johnny Mack, general director of Epic Carnival Cruise, calls “First Floating All-Inclusive Hotel” “First Floating All-Inclusive Hotel” in Trinidada-Mój for the next few days. When Roxi arrives from the Machel Montano team, the umbrella tilted the gross sun, grabs the napkins that I brought south with the free “shoot is delayed, but we are still on time.” This is Montano’s first album in 4 years, “One Hot State” and its return to the Carnival season – a break spent on carnival studies from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. When I join his team to Maracas Bay Village for the “Fling It Up” video session with Davido, Afrobeats Dynamo, whose rhythms pulsate the global music scene, I’m going to witness the long -awaited return of the Sort of Sort.
A 40-minute ride to the village turns right into a punishment-I experienced the first in the history of the automobile disease after we wind the emerald mountain curves that appear to be an origami. I force myself to sleep against nausea, waking up only when the automobile stops on the baked sun gravel. On my left side, Beachgoers enter the turquoise waves that land on the shoreline in a hypnotic rhythm. On my right, Che-Meneher, with whom I actually have been coordinated since my evening flight, he landed in Port of Spain at 1:30 in the morning on Saturday, when he caught the largest cultural weekend in the city-he refreshes me towards the defeated weather stairs resulting in what appears to be commission.
At Machel Montano, he sits repeatedly on a stool under the striped awning, his LOCs tied rigorously, wearing a hot pink two -piece outfit, which catches brilliant, sunglasses, arranged on his nose, and the multi -colored silk scarf appeared to his arms. The stylist destroys the brow with a cloth, a small gesture someway strengthens, and doesn’t decrease, its aura.
“For the first time in Trinidad?” He asks after we hug his hands, his hand of warmth and hard. “For the first time in Trinidad,” I say. “But I played the masses in Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, St. John, and even Junkanoo in the Bahamas.”
Chichocze, adjusting the scarf with a fragile gesture. “Did you do them all, but you missed Trinidad?”
Under us, the steel band plays the joyful sounds of Calypso, which rise and fall with the sea block. Che warns me with a subtle nod after we reject the stairs, but we are going to meet with a wave of sigh and screams preaching “Machel, Machel” from the crowd – wave of recognition, which quickly becomes a roar. When we move away in our truck, I steal a have a look at beautiful chaos. As soon as we reach the pocket of silence in the automobile, I press the record.
“Have you always imagined spending time on music and a carnival on other classes, or was there a point that you felt limited by your career?” I ask after we slowly slide along the recipient uneven road, which seems to acknowledge under us.
“It has always been a dream since 2010. I have always leveled it,” he explains, throwing the cough into the mouth and removing sunglasses to disclose the eyes crammed with unexpected honesty. “There was a vision plan and I always said that in 2020 I took free and I would really focus on what I want to do, instead of feeling a stroke by what I had to do. I took a break in 2000, 2010, and again in 2020. It happened that Covid came and I was very happy.”
I stop from watching my voice notes to take a look at his expression because … what?
I ask if Pandemia was part of his implementation, which he laughs, denying the wave of his hand. “I throw myself in a wave and I had a vision that in some days you will need some time to withdraw, and it was the perfect time for me.” Montano continues, and his voice fell to a more intimate register: “I built a house in the jungle made of wood, two years earlier. I spent the first few months in the jungle living, going to the beach, eating fruit and planting my own things when everyone was inside. It was really what I always dreamed of, but then I realized that I had to restore and work on the finish line.”
Urgency increases after we reach the next set, and the sky moves from the good blue to a dangerous pepper. Behind the modest home structure, we discover an open field of lush vegetation, unknown to what appears to be this particular session – emerald canvas waiting for its performers. Directors with faded faces, stylists with agile fingers, choreographers have expressed gestially, and the dancers in feathered backpacks and full masses of the masses fill the area, their sequins and beads catch what little light breaks through the clouds. They will gather in formation with practiced precision when the first drops begin to fall.
The director screams when Davido appears and his presence evokes immediate attention. Machel kneels to the ground, and his body has transformed right into a music channel when he performs his song, while the cameras around him fall like mechanical birds. But the creative rush doesn’t last long. As the rain increases from a fragile stamp to the insisting drums, the director screams, and everybody rushes to their vehicles, my shoes slipped against a wet area, after we attempt to avoid increasingly more heavy drops, which seem determined to clean the afternoon plans.
After returning to the vehicle heading towards the Spanish port, I feel relief, considering that I can end a number of questions, but I met with the reality of Megastar, who listens to my body with a monastic discipline. Citrus cutting, falling into drops of coughing, which release the smell of menthol, drinking water from a steel bottle and examining the knee – an injury he suffered in 2015 – Machel combines its bluetooth and turns meditation sounds that fill the automobile with a fragile bell. I do not fight energy, I just ride a ride, watching the landscape blurred in front of the windows related to the rain.
Covenant School for Machel’s is coming to high school Gras Sunday The test around 14.00, and the sun broke through the clouds again, I stick with convincing points to contemplate. Dimanche Gras – often known as an amazing Sunday or Holy Sunday – is the final final competition Kings & Queens Final Final Calypso Monarch, steeped in tradition and prestige. When, in his best return with the latest LP and as an official scholar, it is clear that the immersion in all points of the Trinidad carnival is deeply intending to him – even parts where the Instagram algorithm doesn’t consider visuality worthy of visuality.
“We intend to throw a curve and it will no longer be until we can find a way to understand the real essence and purpose of the Trinidad style carnival,” says Machel, jumping out of the automobile with latest energy to fulfill his dancers, techniques and a bunch of props preparing for his results “Bet Me”, Calypso along with his latest project.

“The carnival was initially based on ritual, religion and resistance,” he explains, and his voice acquires the professor’s precision. “It went and was complicated with food, Frolicking and F – g. It was drawn into the Catholic land, but if we come back and really study it, we will come back to why we will do it. This is escapism. This is catharsis.”
The next 62 hours turn into a blur of technical sensory overload. From the Dimanche Gras competition, through which voices rise over orchestration, to Jouvert at dawn, where mud and painting transform bodies into live art, after Monday, where the revelers create matched body often known as “Monday consumption”, to the official day of the march of the road-in this carnival-where we parade in full masses with magnificent backpaks, which They transform into works of art. The schedule is manic, but transcendent. “They stage of fever” provides what has been missing lately, offering dominant hymns.
“That’s so many layered meanings, but (“One degree hotter) “Is a bridge between everything we have been and everything we want to be,” explains Machel. “One hot degree will show the knowledge I gained by returning to school and my 40 -year experience, but really understanding the origin of the carnival.”
“Pardy”, a particular song of the album, is won by the official march of Trinidad Carnival Road, keeping hundreds in a hug when playing repetition with no hint of fatigue with a crowd. When the carnival transforms the island, Machel wonders about his role: “I am a griot – a voice of voiceless. I choose my work as a saint. So although I am at a party with all drinking, it is serious to me. This is my responsibility.”
(Tagstranslate) CARNIVAL (T) CARRIBBEAN (T) Music (T) Trinidad and Tobago
Travel
St. Thomas Carnival brings Shabba, Beneie, pressure and more

73. Annual St. Thomas Carnival is in full bloom, celebrating the Caribbean food, history, culture and considered one of its most significant elements: music. This 12 months’s entertainment accommodates a multicultural, star composition that gives something for carnivals of all ages.
St. Thomas Carnival’s Village Nights includes six free concert events within the Fort Christian parking zone from April 28 to May 3, 2025. The series of concert events began with the international star Dancehall Shabba Rankins. Other noteworthy artists will soon enter the stage, offering a musical smorgasbord, which incorporates reggae, Soca, Dancehall and Latin sounds. The composition will consist of the American islands of Busspipe, Adam O, Th3D and Star Martin, who’ve recently change into the primary artist from the Virgin Islands designated for the Caribbean music award.
The legendary artist Dancehall, Beneie Man will perform on May 1. The singer “Who I” visited the island firstly of this 12 months for the primary time in a decade after his travel visa within the USA was restored after a 10-year ban on traveling to the USA
The Caribbean musical pot might be Dominican Bouyon Band Triple Kay, artist Merengue El Blachy and Trinidadian Soca Artist Voice.
DJ -E will keep the party between music sets. The DJ team and DJ Avalanche will represent the Virgin Islands, and the native DJ -bronx Whutever might be Bring the musical taste from the continent.
“These annual celebrations are so unique because they show the best Caribbean culture and honor the common heritage and rich traditions that unite us all,” said the director of the USVA Festival, Ian Turnbull in a press release: “Our goal every year is to authentic emphasis on the Caribbean artistry and talent for all experiencing festival.”
Located about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands are the territories of the United States, covering the three important islands: St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. US residents traveling from the American continent or Puerto Rico don’t require a passport. Citizens from outside the USA should Follow the identical travel requirements as people entering the continental United States.
(Tagstranslate) Music (T) Travel
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