LILMSAWKWARD
thrills of an awkward adventurer
Hi! I'm Alexa
And I'm face behind Lilmsawkward. I'm a black traveler who's always on the go whether that be with friends or solo.
My wanderlust has brought me to over 45 countries. My mission is to teach people how to travel the world and showcase amazing destinations along the way.
Join me to follow along.
Destinations
Travel Tips
Travel Gear and Packing
Recent Posts
Alexa Renee
- 1 min
Panama City Solo Trip Links
Hostel ( I got an insane deal on Booking.com) Rooftop Airbnb (also insane deal cuz idk why this is $488 a night this winter?) Pretty pool...
Alexa Renee
- 2 min
Traveling Carry-on Only? This Packing Hack Can Save You HUNDREDS of Dollars and Headaches
This past summer could be described as the great travel boom of 2022. Some news outlets even called it the "summer of revenge travel" -a...
Alexa Renee
- 4 min
The Only El Salvador Itinerary You Need
No fillers here, cutting to the chase. I just got back from a 5 day trip to El Salvador and I think we had a near-perfect El Salvador...
Alexa Renee
- 2 min
Read This Before Traveling to El Salvador
I just got back from a life-changing 5 day trip to El Salvador. I thought it would be helpful to do a quick blog post on things to know...
Alexa Renee
- 2 min
Is El Salvador Safe For Travel?
When I first bought my ticket to El Salvador this past January the first and honestly most popular question I was asked was, "Is El...
Alexa Renee
- 2 min
5 Interesting Things to Know About Zanzibar
The island that's not really an island? Let's dive into some cool facts I learned during my recent trip to Zanzibar. 1. The shortest war...
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
First time in Paris? Read this
Ah Paris, the city of love. Here are a few tips to get you prepared for your first trip to one of my favorite bustling cities. Learn some...
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
4 Unique Things to Do in Portsmouth, Virginia
Disclaimer: This post was a paid collaboration with the City of Portsmouth, Virginia Tourism Board Portsmouth, Virginia is the city that...
Alexa Renee
- 2 min
Are you ready for a solo trip? Here are 3 ways to test it out
I recently traveled to Guatemala solo. Guys- I hopped on a plane all by myself and went to my 40th country! I was a bit nervous at first,...
Alexa Renee
- 1 min
Must Try Arlington, VA Brunches
Lets cut to the chase! Here’s where you can find me at brunch in Arlington!
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
Crossing the Border from Senegal to The Gambia
I'm a year late. I'm going to spare you guys the long intro, but the world has changed a lot since I last wrote a travel blog post. But I...
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
We’re Tired
Globally, our black skin speaks before our words do. We aren’t granted the same kind of innocence.
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
I Can't Travel Right Now and That's Okay
Why I’m taking this travel restriction due to COVID-19 as an undercover blessing. On January 1, 2020, I wrote out my news years...
Alexa Renee
- 2 min
Quarantine Bakes: My Ultra-Rich Banana Bread with Bourbon Buttermilk Glaze Recipe
We’re in the middle of a global pandemic and the only thing keeping me sane is baking. As much as I’d love to travel, it’s just not...
Alexa Renee
- 1 min
Beyond the Return- A Poetry Visual
Quick Note: Currently at home catching up on some Ghana content I've been slow to post about! When I was in Ghana, I met the lovely...
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
I Tried (and Failed) to Make Jollof Rice
Well, as you know, we’re kind of in the middle of a pandemic. COVID-19 has definitely jumbled my life around and stopped the one thing I...
Alexa Renee
- 4 min
7 foods you MUST try in Ghana
There are three traits I inherited from my father- my dancing skills, my insane ability to fall asleep anywhere at anytime, and my utter...
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
My Hotel Was Cancelled in Ghana and It Was the Best Thing That Happened to Me...
Accra, Ghana: Week 1 There’s this AfroBeats song that goes, “party after party” that’s really famous. I know why now- Ghana during the...
Alexa Renee
- 1 min
Happy New Year!
Just popping in to say happy new year! 2019 was a year of tremendous growth for me. I’m excited to announce that I’m starting the 2020...
Alexa Renee
- 3 min
#AskAlexa Travel Questions: November 2019
Every month, I ask my Instagram followers what kind of content they want to see on my blog. And as loyal and dedicated followers of this...