My Favorite Black-Owned Hotels and Resorts Around the World

Beach Resort with Lounger overlooking the crystal ocean — Image Courtesy of Spice Island Beach Resort

Whatever type of travel you're craving — be it a weekend away at a charming bed and breakfast, or an elaborate tropical vacation — you're in luck. Below, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite Black-owned hotels and resorts, from Nashville to Cartagena. There’s something here for every travel style (funky, sophisticated, bohemian). Who's ready?

Salamander Resort & Spa, Middleburg, VA

Sprawling estate with lawn in Virginia — Image Courtesy of Salamander Resort & Spa, Middleburg, Virginia

This charming, sophisticated five-star resort in the Washington DC area is perched on 340 acres of manicured grounds, which serve as the backdrop for numerous activities, including lawn games, putting practice, archery, horseback riding lessons and more. Sheila Johnson, a hotelier and all-around tour de force in the hospitality industry, is the reason Salamander Resort & Spa is what it is today.

Here, guests can relax at the property’s holistic spa, and indulge in locally-sourced cuisine at one of its several restaurants (Johnson is serious about gastronomy). Or, opt for a delightful excursion to the lovely town of Middleburg before touring one of the nearby wineries.

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Spice Island Beach Resort, Grand Anse, Grenada

Beach with Clear crystal water — Image Courtesy of Spice Island Beach Resort

Think of a tropical postcard, and you’ll envision Grenada, a 21-mile stretch of gorgeous beaches, rainforests and vibrant villages and towns. This all-inclusive resort — founded by Sir Royston Hopkin, whose family owns and operates the resort to this day — on the white-sand Grand Anse Beach features 64 luxe villas. Guests can paddleboard, kayak and snorkel in crystal-clear waters, play tennis or go for a round of golf, enjoy beachside yoga and so much more. The resort is also a great home base from which to explore the island’s extensive natural beauty.

*This Hotel Offers Perks, Connect with me to Find out more!

Jnane Tamsna, Marrakech, Morocco

For a 21-and-over, eclectic and unabashedly fun experience, travel to Nashville’s Urban Cowboy. Jersey Banks co-founded the first Urban Cowboy, in Brooklyn, before opening up what seemed like an inevitable additional location: Nashville, of course. The brand's beloved Tennessee property is a funky, delightful retreat housed in a Victorian mansion. Mingle with other guests over expertly-crafted cocktails and fabulous pizza in the stylish Public House Bar & Restaurant. Then, soak in a clawfoot tub in one of the individually-designed, handsome suites.

The Ivy Hotel, Baltimore, MD

exterior view of the Ivy Hotel in Baltimore — Image Courtesy of the Ivy Hotel, Baltimore

A historic mansion in Baltimore's handsome Mount Vernon neighborhood serves as the setting for this elegant, 17-room boutique hotel (Maryland's only Relais & Châteaux property), founded by Eddie and Sylvia Brown, a veritable power couple. The service is impeccable. Guests feel as though they are welcomed into a home (and indeed, they are). Grab a book from the house’s lovely library, enjoy breakfast in the courtyard, book a personalized treatment at the serene spa and don’t miss a spectacular, locally-sourced dinner at The Ivy’s sophisticated, welcoming and award-winning restaurant, Magdalena.

Ashley Hilton

I am the owner of Refined Travel by Ashley and a seasoned hospitality professional from Salt Lake CIty. I have a passion for travel, literature, jazz, and culinary delights. I have extensive experience in Luxury Travel, Solo Travel, All-Inclusive Travel, Couples Travel

Birthdays ,& Food & Wine.