Colby Holiday

From the azure waters of Mexico to the golden beaches of the Maldives, there’s plenty of excellent surf destinations around the world for both budding surfers and experienced daredevils. For vacationers looking to balance their time on the water with a little pampering in paradise, luxury surf hotels and resorts are plentiful to provide just that. These lavish lodges offers unrivaled comfort, world-class dining, utmost seclusion, and access to some of the world’s best beach breaks. So, whethe...

Gone are the days of “roughing it” in the bush in meager tented camps. Safari expeditions have evolved and so have the accompanying accommodations. Now you can enjoy the spoils of modern luxury in exclusive Safari Lodges, while relishing in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. These luxe accommodations make the perfect destination for a family adventure or romantic couples retreat. Below we’ve rounded up our 10 best safari lodges and resorts, ranging from tented camps with an opulent twist to uni...

A hotel is not just the place you retreat to after a long day to kick your feet up and relax. On the contraire, a hotel can sometimes be the destination itself, affording you an unforgettable experience, especially when it’s providing stunning views and Instagram-worthy backdrops. Trust us, you will definitely remember the panoramic views from your luxurious accommodation far better than what you found in the mini bar. From the cliffs of Greece, to the valleys of Utah and even the depths of t...

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Spanish for “windows to paradise” is a beachfront hideaway in Los Cabos that lives up to the very meaning of its name. This five-star resort is in a class of its own, offering impeccable luxury, innovative services, and meticulous attention to detail. With 350 days of sunny weather, Las Ventanas al Paraiso is worth the visit, no matter the time of year. Its privacy and top-notch service makes it a go-to destination for Hollywood A-listers, however, it’s also the perfe...

Get a taste of the future as water mirrors the prominent Mexican architecture designed by Miguel Ángel Aragonés that underlines the stunning beachside location at the Sea of Cortez in a remarkable way. This all-white retreat poses the perfect place to bask away in the Cabo sun by day and enjoy Margaritas and Mariachi bands by night as the sun sets behind the endless ocean horizons. As you fall asleep to the calming sound of whistling wind twirling about the terraces, get ready for a new day o...

Welcome to Chablé Yucatán, where centuries of culture, traditions, nature and luxury all intersect to create an indelible experience that will linger with guests for years to come. Immersed in the majestic Mayan jungle, this jungle chic, 18th-century, hacienda pays homage to Mayan heritage and the soul of the past, while exemplifying exceptional modernity of today. The hacienda was originally a cattle ranch and in 1850 it was transformed to a henequen production hacienda. Merida was once the ...

Where will 2022 take you? Below, you’ll find 39 destinations—from Abu Dhabi to Alberta, Canada—where your visit will really count. Locals tell us what’s new, exciting, and worth the trip in the coming year.

Where to Go Next. It feels good to write those words. After a long pause, travel is returning. Borders are reopening, families are reuniting, and deferred dreams are becoming realities. As 2022 approaches, are you eagerly and excitedly plotting out your next 12 months of trips? Or maybe yo...

Want to go somewhere in Mexico other than the typical touristy destinations? Try these underrated vacation spots instead.
Been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt that reads: “One tequila. Two tequila. Three tequila. Floor.” Even if you haven’t actually been to some of Mexico’s most popular destinations, perhaps you’ve heard and/or seen them enough on social media to feel like you have. Vacation hot spots in Mexico like Tulum, Cancun, and Cabo are some travel favorites, but you’re missin...

I feel safer living in Mexico because, between mass shootings and hate crimes in the U.S, chances of survival in Mexico seem far greater.
“Safest place to live in Mexico.” Those were the exact words I Googled before uprooting my life and planting myself in Mérida, Mexico, 10 days later. That same, “Wait, WHAT?!” look of shock that perhaps just flashed across your face is the same exact reaction I received from all of my family and friends. After they’d somewhat digested the news bomb I’d drop...

Forget Tulum, this beach town is better! The caveat? There's no beach.
You know those places you want to selfishly keep hidden and all to yourself? You know the ones with cerulean waters that put picture-perfect postcards to shame and overwater bungalows giving off dreamy Maldivian vibes, but with far fewer zeros in the price tag? Yep, those ones. This is Bacalar—the off-the-grid local hotspot and sleepy-town people are slowly waking up to. Word’s getting out about the “Maldives of Mexico” an...

Long before Beyoncé brought Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to center stage at Coachella, experiences alike were cultivated by trailblazers centuries before and continue toward a more equitable future.
HBCUs were created out of necessity at a time when Blacks in America were prohibited from attending higher education institutions that were predominantly white. Today, there are now 107 HBCUs that provide education for students from all socio-economic backgrounds while cont...

“Who made the potato salad?” As summertime kicks off, this is the universal question that, without fail, will be asked at every barbeque and backyard kickback over the coming months. With the Fourth of July also nearing, summertime celebrations and cookouts will be in full force. However, as the tide begins to turn in this new day and age, more Black Americans are celebrating Juneteenth, instead of the Fourth of July, because, after all, there were still over 250,000 Black Americans enslaved ...

How We Met is a series where xoNecole talks love and relationships with real-life couples. We learn how they met, how like turned into love, and how they make their love work.
When Colby Holiday, 37, met Khaliah O. Guillory, 42, neither of them knew the start of a life together was staring them in the face. What brought the couple together was a chance encounter during a press trip in Houston where travel writer and content creator Colby was on assignment. The story was about Black-owned Hous...

“Reclaiming my time” isn’t just a catchphrase coined by our beloved ‘Auntie’ Maxine Waters. It is an assertion that Black Americans have been striving to obtain for centuries. Pillaged and plucked from our Motherland, stripped of our culture, and robbed of our freedom, Black Americans have fought vigorously to not only reclaim our time but to reclaim our identity for centuries. While the foundation was laid by those that came before us, the world saw an undeniable shift in 2020. George Floyd,...