Shake Stir and Mingle Black Luxury Travel, Thoughtfully Curated Around You
We curate travel for your unique needs, pairing expert planning with our media and insights so you can book with confidence.
Luxury Travel Advisor | Hospitality Media Creator | Co-Founder
Meet Sonya
I'm Sonya Crew, a Certified Luxury Travel Advisor with Fora Travel and co-founder of Shake Stir & Mingle™, a 100% Black-owned, women-led luxury travel advisory and hospitality media brand.
Alongside my daughter and co-founder, Ashli Crew Rodriguez, we've built Shake Stir & Mingle around two things we care deeply about: experiencing the world and understanding the hospitality that shapes those experiences.
Our work extends beyond travel planning. Through original editorial storytelling, interviews with hospitality professionals, luxury hotel and cruise coverage, and explorations of zero-proof beverage culture, we examine the people, places and experiences defining modern hospitality. Shake Stir & Mingle has served as an Official Media Partner for Tales of the Cocktail and Bar Convent Brooklyn.
My own travels have taken me from the Amalfi Coast and Monte Carlo to London, Lisbon, Iceland, Greenland and beyond, including a solo journey across the North Atlantic aboard EXPLORA III.
Those experiences have shaped how I approach luxury travel. I know that an exceptional hotel, beautiful destination or extraordinary ocean voyage is only part of the story. What matters just as much is how welcomed, comfortable and considered you feel along the way.
As a travel advisor, I specialize in Black luxury travel, solo journeys for Black women, milestone celebrations, luxury hotels and cruises, with thoughtful attention to individual preferences, including alcohol-free experiences, food allergy considerations and wellness-conscious travel.
Whether you're celebrating a milestone birthday, taking your first luxury solo journey or planning a meaningful getaway, my approach begins with listening to what matters to you.
Because luxury isn't about fitting into someone else's idea of the perfect vacation.
It's about creating a journey that feels like yours.
Black Luxury Travel, Reimagined.
Beyond the destination. Beyond the expected. Luxury that feels like you.
Luxury travel is evolving. For today's discerning Black traveler, the experience is no longer defined solely by five-star accommodations, exclusive destinations, or extravagant amenities. It's about intention, cultural connection, personal well-being, and the freedom to experience the world on your own terms.
At Shake Stir & Mingle™, we believe exceptional travel should offer more than beautiful surroundings. It should create space for discovery, restoration, meaningful experiences, and a genuine sense of belonging.
As a Black-owned luxury travel advisory and hospitality media brand, we explore the intersection of luxury travel, culture, wellness, and thoughtful hospitality.
From intimate boutique hotels and extraordinary resorts to luxury ocean journeys, culturally immersive escapes, and restorative wellness retreats, we curate experiences that reflect the individuality of the people who travel.
Our perspective is informed by firsthand exploration, independent hospitality storytelling, and a commitment to asking questions that go beyond the brochure.
Because true luxury isn't simply about where you go. It's about how you feel when you're there.
Travel Thoughtfully. Experience Exceptionally.
Through our affiliation with Fora Travel, a member of the Virtuoso® luxury travel network, we help travelers discover and plan exceptional journeys with personalized attention to their preferences and priorities.
Whether you're embarking on your first solo luxury escape, celebrating a milestone, reconnecting with your cultural heritage, or simply seeking a place to exhale, we're here to help you travel with greater intention.
We also bring a distinctive perspective to luxury hospitality through our coverage of zero-proof experiences, wellness-conscious travel, food allergy considerations, and sensory-aware hospitality.
Luxury should never require you to leave your needs, preferences, or identity at the door.
Explore the world beautifully. Experience it authentically. Make it yours.
Travel Specialties
Black Luxury Travel
Personalized luxury travel planning for Black travelers seeking exceptional hotels, resorts, cruises, cultural experiences and meaningful journeys. I consider the details that can shape the experience, from location and hospitality to dining, transportation and opportunities for cultural connection.
Black Women Solo Travel
Luxury solo travel is especially meaningful to me. Having traveled independently across international destinations and aboard luxury ocean voyages, I bring firsthand perspective to planning solo vacations for Black women who value independence, comfort, discovery and thoughtful preparation.
Luxury Solo Travel & Milestone Celebrations
From a first international solo adventure to a 50th birthday escape, restorative getaway or new chapter in life, I help travelers explore destinations and experiences that reflect their personal interests and travel goals.
Zero-Proof & Alcohol-Free Luxury Travel
Luxury travel without the expectation of alcohol. Discover cruises, hotels and dining experiences where non-alcoholic beverage options can be explored and requested, whether you're alcohol-free, sober-curious or simply prefer a different kind of hospitality experience.
Luxury Cruises & Yacht Journeys
Explore luxury ocean travel with brands including Explora Journeys and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. From suite selection and itineraries to dining and destination experiences, I help you consider the details that make an ocean journey feel personal.
Wellness, Food Allergy & Sensory-Conscious Travel
Thoughtful planning that considers individual wellness priorities, dietary needs, food allergies and sensory preferences. I help communicate relevant requests and explore suitable options while recognizing that accommodations and allergen safety cannot be guaranteed.
Shake Stir & Mingle
Shake Stir & Mingle™ combines the expertise of a Luxury Travel Advisor with the firsthand perspective as travel and hospitality media creators. We experience hotels, cruises and destinations through a thoughtful lens—considering the details that can shape how travel actually feels, from zero-proof and alcohol-free options to food allergies, wellness, sensory considerations and personalized hospitality.
We don't simply ask, “Is it luxurious?” We ask, “How will you feel when you're there?”
