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 make 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?
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