Let’s be real for a second. If you’re a Black traveler, your pre-trip checklist looks a little different than everyone else's. You aren’t just looking for the best brunch spot or the cheapest flight. You’re asking: "Will I be safe here? Will I see people who look like me? If I go to this boutique hotel, am I going to get that look at the front desk?"
It's a heavy way to travel.
Back in the 1930s, Victor Hugo Green created the original Negro Motorist Green Book because, quite literally, knowing where to stop for gas or a bed was a matter of life and death. Fast forward to 2026, and while the stakes have shifted, the anxiety hasn't totally evaporated. Enter Martinique Lewis. She didn't just want to reminisce about history; she wanted to digitize the solution. The martinique lewis abc travel green book app isn't just a directory—it’s a massive, global middle finger to the idea that Black travelers are an afterthought in the tourism industry.
What is the Martinique Lewis ABC Travel Green Book App anyway?
Kinda think of it as the ultimate "connector." Martinique Lewis—who is basically the MVP of the Black Travel Alliance and a consultant for big names like National Geographic—first dropped the ABC Travel Green Book as a physical guide in 2020. It was a smash hit. But let’s be honest, carrying a physical book while backpacking through Thailand or navigating the streets of Lisbon is a bit much.
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The app version, which really hit its stride recently, takes that research and puts it into a searchable, live database. We’re talking about Black-owned businesses, safe neighborhoods, and cultural landmarks across six out of seven continents. (Sorry, Antarctica, maybe next year).
It’s built for the person who wants to find a Black-owned hostel in Amsterdam or a hair braider in South Korea. Honestly, those are the things you can't just "Google." If you search for "braids in Seoul" on a standard search engine, you’re going to get a lot of results that aren't actually what you’re looking for. This app fixes that.
More than just a list of restaurants
The martinique lewis abc travel green book app features stuff that standard travel apps miss:
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- Safety Scores: Real talk about how destinations treat Black travelers.
- The "Cousin K.I.N." AI: An AI chatbot (Kinfolk Information Network) that answers travel questions in a way that feels like talking to family.
- Itinerary Builders: You can literally map out a "Black-owned" day in a city.
- Networking: You can mark yourself "available for meetup" if you're traveling solo and want to find community on the ground.
Why people are actually obsessed with this
I’ve seen a lot of travel apps come and go. Most of them are just wrappers for TripAdvisor data. But the martinique lewis abc travel green book app hits different because it addresses the "Black travel dollar."
Did you know Black travelers in the U.S. alone spent over $145 billion recently? That is a wild amount of money. Yet, so many tourism boards still use the same three stock photos of white families on a beach. Lewis is using this app to prove that we are here, we are spending, and we want to spend our money where it’s celebrated, not just tolerated.
One of the coolest features is the ability to find Black professionals for hire. Need a photographer for your solo trip to Paris? A makeup artist in Johannesburg? The app lists them. It’s a full-circle ecosystem that keeps money circulating within the African Diaspora.
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Is it worth the download?
Look, no app is perfect. Sometimes the data for smaller cities can be a bit thin, and the tech side of things—like any independent app—has its occasional glitchy moments. But if you care about "traveling with a purpose," it’s a no-brainer.
It’s also surprisingly affordable. There’s a free tier, but the premium features (like the full global database and the AI assistant) usually run a few bucks a month or a one-time lifetime fee. It’s basically the price of one overpriced latte to ensure you’re supporting a Black-owned business instead of a massive corporate chain.
How to actually use the Martinique Lewis ABC Travel Green Book app like a pro
If you’re just opening it and searching "London," you’re doing it wrong. To get the most out of it, you’ve gotta lean into the community side.
- Use the Filters: Don't just look for "food." Filter for "history" or "nightlife" to see the neighborhoods that actually have soul.
- Leave Reviews: The app lives and breathes on user feedback. If a shop in Rome was incredibly welcoming, say so. If a place made you feel uneasy, let the community know.
- The Meetup Feature: If you’re a digital nomad, this is gold. Use the "available for meetup" toggle to find other travelers. It takes the "lonely" out of solo travel.
- Support the Pros: If you’re a creator yourself, get your business listed. Whether you’re a driver, a chef, or a videographer, this is how you get found by people who actually want to hire you.
The bigger picture
Ultimately, the martinique lewis abc travel green book app is about agency. It’s about not having to wait for a mainstream magazine to tell you that a destination is "cool." It’s about defining cool for ourselves. Martinique Lewis has basically built a digital bridge between the various parts of the African Diaspora, and whether you're in the U.S., Brazil, or Ghana, that bridge is open 24/7.
The "Green Book" name carries weight. It’s a heavy legacy to carry, but by turning it into a living, breathing digital tool, it’s no longer just a reminder of where we couldn't go. It’s a map of everywhere we can go.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Download the app before your next international flight—don't wait until you're struggling with airport Wi-Fi.
- Research one "Black-owned" day for your itinerary. Even if the rest of your trip is pre-planned, dedicate 24 hours to businesses found in the app.
- Check the "Traveling While Black" safety scores for any new country you’re eyeing. It might change your mind about which neighborhood to stay in.
- Contribute one review. The ecosystem only grows if we actually feed it.