Most great experiences cost something and with so many travel
magazines and commercials highlighting expensive tours and exotic locations it
is no surprise that the idea of travel has become over hyped and seemingly a
luxury.
However the world has evolved and technology has brought
affordable travel to your doorstep. With savvy websites, tools and apps like
Air BnB, couchsurfing and even Nigeria’s own gomyway.com travel has become much
easier.
But why travel? I can’t even begin to tell you the plethora of
benefits travel brings to the table. It renews and expands your mind and in
essence makes us more open and adaptable. The knowledge gained can be
worthwhile and even the part about learning new things about yourself can be
extraordinary.
For me, there was a time decades ago when, whenever I heard
travel, it automatically meant shopping but I have learnt that travel need not
be all about that. So, if you are thinking of how to start exploring the world
here are some tips to help you get you going!
Embrace travel and keep your needs to the
minimum
It’s about the joy of a new experience and the memories, many of these are free
– like exploring a new city on foot, bonding with the locals, experiencing the
local cuisine and street foods and markets, climbing to the top of a hill. You
can see the city from a different perspective, see historic sites and watch the
sunset from the beach.
Learning different cultures and experiencing it yourself makes life
really interesting. For instance visiting the famous Mount Kilimanjaro most of
us learnt about in school or eating the sumptuous delicacy Ugba in a local
joint in the east! It’s all about the experiences.
Aim to visit a new place every year and save up
Yes, it may be a visit to Abuja or Paris but with the right planning you can
make it happen. Having a target helps you plan and saving up makes a huge
difference. The great Dalai Lama said “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never
been before” for a reason! And for those Dubai, London and USA frequenters, go
somewhere else this year! Explore wonderful Thailand, see the Calanques in
Cassis, South of France or the natural caves in Palma, Spain, see mount
Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, go on a Safari in Kenya or do some local tourism,
visit the suspended lake in Osun state or the Gurara falls in Niger state, just
somewhere other than Dubai!
Start planning early and be flexible
Be flexible with your holiday plans. Planning some of your holidays during off
peak times or booking in advance, sometimes this can make a huge difference and
with so many budget airlines around now your hard earned money can go a long
way. Alternatively, you can just go somewhere with the cheapest flight
available. With Emirates, most times you can get the same price for a ticket to
one of their destinations even if you choose to stop over in Dubai for a few
days first, because you always have to stop over in Dubai no matter where you
are going when you fly with Emirates. Nigeria’s very own GoMyWay also allows you to travel across the
country for cheap by sharing a ride with a verified member who has spare seats
in their car.
Travel with a friend or Visit a friend
If you travel with friends, hotel costs can be shared and you can save by
staying in a serviced apartment with sites like Air BnB and couchsurfing.
Travel accommodation has become more affordable in these times.
Travel to Visa free countries
Visa procedures can sometimes be daunting so why not start with a visa free
country. Did you know that with a Nigerian passport you can travel to about 44
countries (Visa on Arrival for some).
If you have lots of time on your hands and would like to travel
long term there are teaching opportunities around the world or summer camps
where you work when you arrive but you travel for free, you can find some on Workaway website. Are you thinking of
exploring a new city soon?
Credit: Lola Ekugo
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