If you're anything like me, it can soon seem like it has been decades since you last took a trip with your family. It just so happens that in the Covid times, this is actually the case.

Therefore, with reasons to be optimistic and a vaccine on the horizon, people have started to plan again! Depending on where you live, the prospects of a US road trip are getting more feasible by the day!

With this in mind, it's time to bring back to everyone's attention the vested importance of continuing to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Remember way back in May when we had baked our banana bread and took to the streets for social justice?

Well, it's time to make good on that again. Now we have decisions to make as we allocate our money and resources. This is the time to think outside the box.

By this, I mean taking the time to research more sustainable, non-White, non-Branded alternatives to the basic hotels and chains. It is much easier than you think!

Surprisingly, less than two percent of hotels are represented by or owned by Black people. That goes beyond any discussion about diversity, and we need to do better as consumers.

Here, I'll give you a head start on how to safely support Black-owned hotels in a pandemic.

First up: The Ivy Hotel in Mount Vernon, Baltimore

Eddie and Sylvia Brown own this immaculate luxury hotel, Maryland's eminent Relais & Châteaux building. Don't worry about there not being enough space for you. There are 18 unique guest rooms.

On top of that, there's an amazing spa and Magdalena, a super high-quality bistro. This all contributes towards an incredible and unforgettable experience.

It is described as a 'highly-inclusive oasis'.

What better review than that?

The chef suggests a fillet mignon and truffle hollandaise sauce with a black car service to take you home to round the evening off.

Next up, The Copper Door B&B, Miami, Florida

There are few places more relaxing than Miami, and in this historic Overtown, that's never more true. The 22 rooms, including 3 private double room suites, really takes the biscuit here.

If you don't believe me, trust the culinary amenities and focus on local sustainability. It's the perfect place to be spoiled and feel like a millionaire.

Who wouldn't want to be treated by owners, Jamila Ross and Akino West?

Another great option for your road trip is the Six Acres Bed and Breakfast

In Cincinnati, Ohio, this former safe house makes for a unique and interesting stay on your trip.

How often can you say that you stayed in an underground railway?

That's what I thought. It's the perfect place to make use of the decadent 1850s aesthetic employed by Zebulon Strong. If that name sounds familiar, it's because it is.

The Quaker family grew notorious for their tendency to hide runaways in their wagons! What a history...

Now owned by Kristin Kitchen, you can be assured that this history is protected by travelers around the world. What a better way to be part of the discussion?

Moving around the country now...

How about La Maison Midtown in Houston, Texas

Although its location in the Theatre District may seem incongruous with a quiet and relaxing nightcap, don't worry. I can assure you that its amazing architecture captures the New Orleans spirit, and that's to say nothing of the super three-story property views.

The skyline is really something else, and the parlor and living room are extremely comforting too. It's the perfect place to embrace the Southern aesthetic!

Speaking of the South, we're moving to Nashville, Tennessee

The Urban Cowboy B&B has 8 incredible suites, all figured in a Victorian style. It's everything you could hope for and more from a Southern trip.

Whatever you're picturing, they've got it: claw-foot baths? Check. Stables? Obviously.

Craft cocktails? Reading nooks? The smell of warm cookies?

Yes, yes, and yes. It's really that good.

We're making some headway through the list now:

Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia

Right, despite the name, there's nothing middling about this place. Trust me.

It's a luxury resort and spa spread around 340 acres by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sounds ideal, right?

There are around 168 rooms for you to choose from and an absolutely mammoth 23,000ft spa. In addition, brace yourself now, there's an equestrian centre.

Yes, you heard that right.

Next up is a staple of New York tradition.

Quintessentials Bed and Breakfast Spa

In Long Island, New York, there are few places better located than this. To top it off, it's also the first Black-owned full-service spa and B&B in North Fork.

But it's much more than that, embracing both the Jamaican roots of the owner, Sylvia Daley, while also having amazing farm-to-table meals. You will not be disappointed by this worldly tourist offering.

Finally, to round out the selection, look no further than:

The Cleveland Inn in Spartanburg, South Carolina

This place will give you your fill of stately homes, impressive columns, and blazing hearth fire. Nothing gets me going like a 19th-century porch, and the Inn really commits to the aesthetic.

Furthermore, there is also great intimacy, just four rooms but with large bathrooms, amazing breakfast, and a Roman bath… Who could say no?

At the end of the day, what is the American dream if not to travel to a place where 'everybody knows your name'…

No matter which of these selections you pick, you will be well taken care of.