Tracee Ellis Ross in Morocco, Mexico & Spain: complete fun for a solo traveller

There’s something deliciously disarming about watching someone who is famous for playing other people and wearing other people’s clothes deliberately choose to be herself. Tracee Ellis Ross, through her new series and interviews, has made solo travel a practice, a ritual of wardrobe, curiosity, self-care, and wandering with curiosity. She started solo travel in her twenties, not as a rebellious act, but to learn how to hold space for herself, to experience joy, and to build emotional resilience when things go awry.

In the following paragraphs, I will weave together three of her travels into one of those, no-plans-at-all adventures, ready and waiting for anyone–especially women–who has been even slightly thinking about taking yourself out into the world.

Tracee Ellis Ross Morocco

Tracee Ellis Ross arrives in Marrakesh wide-eyed and purposeful: the dust-rose walls of the city, jewel-toned rugs, and relief of souk life all contribute to her sense of awe. She describes packing as preparation and as armor and expression; a way to carry not only earbuds in case she wants to be prepared but also beautiful clothes that feel like her. She unpacks carefully, puts her dresses away, as if simply placing them into a temporary home, and enjoys one small luxury of a bath after sitting on a plane for hours.

In the medina, you really experience Morocco—the spicy smells, the quiet steam of the hammam, and the handmade designs on Berber rugs. Tracee likes to check out the shops. She learned what the Hand of Fatima means, let a seller tell her the story of his woven wall hanging, and really listened. She thinks listening is key to her travels. She likes hearing everything—the wind in the trees, sellers calling out, each city’s own beat. Being alone in these places almost feels like having company, thanks to the location itself.

A helpful tip from Marrakesh: pack smart. Tracee has three packing tips that are worth keeping in mind: be ready (compression socks, meds, clothes for all weather), bring comfy things (snacks and routines), and pack clothes that express who you are without bringing your whole closet. Tracee also thinks eating dinner alone early is a good way to get used to being social by yourself.

This Marrakesh story is pretty honest: a night with fries, pajamas, and a little sadness. Tracee Ellis Ross allows herself to feel sad without feeling sorry about it. She explains that being alone can be anything from amazing to a little sad, and that’s okay.

Tracee Ellis Ross in Mexico

Morocco is vibrant and full of market energy, while Mexico feels like sun-kissed skin, the gentle sound of rain, and relaxing resort days. Tracee chose a Rosewood resort for her unplugged trip. She enjoyed spas, pools, tacos, and even a margarita class – a nice break from everyday life. The resort felt safe and carefree, where everything was handled, and she felt both free and protected which is important for feeling good. For Tracee, having lots of sunlight and a nice bathtub where she was staying was great, along with the staff who made it easy to just relax and enjoy the peace while the world kept turning.

Tracee is also showing that you can be productive and still enjoy your vacation. A demanding schedule does not always equate to worklessness, she will perceive messages slower than normal, do a little editing in chunks of time between swims, and then turn off the laptop. And when Mexico rains, she will show us how to pivot, a pair of puddle boots, a pricey taco, a steam-treatment that feels like a hug. The solo vacation becomes a practice in being gentle with yourself: ordering the food you love, learning a cocktail technique, and allowing the weather (and your mood) to rewrite the day’s plan.

Tracee Ellis Ross gave a Practical tip from Mexico: let your routine be flexible. Plan a few “musts” like one restaurant, one museum, one class, and leave the rest open. Bring small comforts that make an unfamiliar room feel like yours (favorite snack, a travel-sized skincare ritual, a small lavender sachet), and don’t be afraid to let the staff be your local research team.

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Tracee Ellis Ross in Spain

Spain, with its olive oil tastings and tiny, old streets, is where Tracee Ellis Ross goes to chill and enjoy simple pleasures. A bout of food poisoning makes her rethink things. In quiet, everyday ways, she shows us how traveling alone can really help you focus on taking care of yourself: grab what you need from your bag, call someone who keeps you grounded, rest, and then – when you feel up to it – put on that outfit you really wanted to wear and go explore. Feeling a bit exposed when traveling isn’t a bad thing; it’s just part of the experience.

She pops into small shops and pharmacies for olive oil, enjoys the strong, sharp taste of fresh olive oil, and buys lots of bottles to ship back home. She notices that she’s really into trees, believing that if a place has trees, it means humanity has a future there. This gentle side exists alongside her glamorous side: the woman who loves a sleek hairstyle and the woman who sits under a tree to breathe, somehow both rolled into one.

Here’s a tip from her time in Spain: listen to your body. Traveling solo lets you slow down big time. Change your plans, eat quietly in your room, spend a day by a pool that feels like a little paradise—basically, take it easy. And yeah, a small first-aid kit with stuff for an upset stomach might not seem very exciting, but that’s just how travel is.

Threads that tie these journeys together

Tracee Ellis Ross has a travel style that mixes common sense with a bit of drama; she packs for both looking good and for when things go wrong. When she just wants to relax, she usually picks safe options like resorts, places she knows well. But she also looks for tips from locals, small shops, and real-life experiences in markets, bars, and on beaches. She suggests getting comfortable with traveling alone by first enjoying a meal by yourself. Then, try small new things that evening to build your confidence.

In her role of honest, unpolished language, loneliness may not mean something is broken you have to question in order to feel non-lonely. We can feel lonely and not see it as an invitation to feel differently. To have this anti-capitalist honesty is radical. For many women, particularly Black women, who must often understand safety differently, Tracee encourages doing thoughtful research to understand places where identity may contribute to vulnerability, and choosing fun spaces that let you be you, by yourself.

Tiny rituals you can borrow from Tracee Ellis Ross’s travel

• Unpack when you arrive. Even for a few nights, making your space feel like home transforms the trip.
  
• Create a carry-on “one-week” kit. Everything you need to live if luggage goes missing: a change of clothes, essential skincare, underwear, and meds.
  
• Practice dining alone first. Start with a quiet opening-night dinner and graduate to busier nights.
  
• Bring a small comfort. A favorite snack, a travel candle (if allowed), or a playlist that brings instant calm.
  
• Honor mood shifts. Recognize the fluctuations of mood. When you feel lonely, accept it, and when you want to change rooms or plans, do that.  Your trip is for you.
  

Why do Tracee’s trips feel like instruction and invitation?

Permission and Agency:

Be joyful, unglamorous. Overpack and own it. Feel lonely and do not flee from that feeling. Her trips are more about agency, allowing her to choose how to spend her time, how to soothe herself, and how to be curious even in small moments.

Blending Luxury and Everyday:

Tracee’s trips blend the luxury of pretty clothes and palatial hotels with the everyday experiences, such as buying rice cakes when she’s under the weather, learning to make a margarita, and purchasing an olive oil that smells like summer from a market.

Emphasis on Experience over Prestige:

It is less about prestige but more about the experience. It is not that Tracee does not want to engage in moments that err on prestige, but is it about her travel experiences specifically. The focus is on your personal journey and the small but significant moments, not on presenting an elite or prestigious travel experience.

Invitation to the Audience:

It seems like Tracee wants her audience to have the same experience that she did when she traveled. She shows that it is okay for someone to be their authentic self, to take off their masks, and to enjoy the experience in the context of travel.

Final takeaway: how to travel with Tracee Ellis Ross’ spirit

Tracee’s travel diary teaches one big thing: traveling alone is not a stage you perform on, it’s a place you practice showing up for yourself. Start small. Pack one outfit that makes you feel instantly visible. Book a hotel room with a bathtub. Take the afternoon to meander without direction. When the loneliness shows up, be aware, name it, be gentle with it, and keep wondering. In those unedited hours at the market, the spa, or the tree, you’ll discover the unexpected company of your own preferences, curiosities, and courage. And that, more than any postcard moment, is the souvenir that lasts.

Ready to take your first solo dinner? Try a quiet Tuesday night, then see what the airplane ticket brings next. 

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