11 women. 10 Days. 8 hour time difference. 9 bowls of rice. 7 hotels. 6 flights. 5 airports. 4 currencies. 3 continents. 2 suitcases. 1 incredible trip of a lifetime. Sounds like a lot of money right? Wrong. As much as I love this sound, money does not have this kind of relationship with me...yet. So here’s how I hacked it: - Round trip ticket from BWI to JFK on Delta: $130 (complimentary upgrade to first class thanks to my medallion status). - Economy class ticket from New York to Jordan on @emirates: $400 - Upgrade to business class at checkin: $1,000 - Stay at @residenceinnaljaddaf Dubai for 23 hour layover: $0 (17,500 @marriott bonvoy points). - Ticket to Dubai 2020 Expo: $0 (complimentary with Emirates ticket). - Entrance to @5ive beach club: $40 (goes towards food and drink spend). - 7 days in Jordan courtesy of @gojolley: $1,750 (paid over 12 months and includes visa fee, airport transfer, five luxury hotel stays, meals, and entry into all tourist sites and activities). - Economy class flight from Jordan to New York on @turkishairlines: $500 - Stay @sheratonatakoy in Istanbul for 23 hour layover: $0 (17,500 @marriott bonvoy points) - Shopping at the Grand Bazaar + private tour of Hagia Sophia, including pick up and drop off: $200 - Dinner on Bosphorous Cruise: $60 Grand total comes up to just under $4,000. What I lack in funds I make up for in planning and patience. This trip was a year in the making and I’m proud to say that after 12 months of budgeting, researching and prioritizing myself, I was able to take on the Middle East in true World Wide Vae fashion. • • • • • • • #luxurytravel #blackwomentravel #travelwithme #richauntievibes #blackwomeninluxury #budgettravel #blackwomenwhoblog #travelblog #middleasttravel #dubai2020 #jordan2020 #istanbul2020