How to Meet Your Travel Goals in 2017

Pick a place.
Sometimes the problem is we are waiting to be rich enough to travel to the most exotic places all at once, or we have this fantasy of round the world trips all at once. In reality, it doesn’t really work that way. Just pick a place, a state you have never been to. Or a nearby country within the continent you have never been to. Start with the ones your country shares a border with. Once you have your mind set on where you want to go that is close and affordable, you are one step closer to meeting your 2017 travel goals.

Get a travel Buddy.
Traveling solo has its perks. But for a first-time adventurer, you might want to have someone to tag along with. This move has safety and economic advantages. You get to split the bills with someone as well as have someone look out for you as well on your adventure. A travel buddy also makes the trip twice the fun.

Research your destination.It is important for you to research your destination as the first part of planning your trip. Know what transportation options are available, know what the weather is like. Find out what the currency is and where to change if going outside the country. Know about points of interests that deserve a visit.

Use Social Media to find new friends in your destination.
As part of researching your destination, you could also use Social Media to look out for friends who are at your destination. Looking forward to meeting new people in your destination can be a motivation for traveling. Be careful though and make sure that these aren’t new persons you are only beginning to talk to, the older and more verified these people are the better. Also, do not meet them alone. Ever. Public places serve a good meeting point for meet ups.

Cheap HotelsSome of the heaviest cost for travelers are incurred on hotels and accommodation. Skip this barrier by searching for cheap hotels in Abuja, cheap hotels in Lagos, cheap hotels in Kaduna or wherever your destination is. As expensive as some of these cities could be, there are really decent hotels for the budget travel with top services that would give you a comfortable stay. Use the filter on the hotel booking portal to select cheapest first. You would be amazed by the results you would find.

Packages.
Hotel booking portals like Jumia Travel have designed and created Nigeria Vacation Packages for different purposes that you can take advantage of. From Easter Family Holiday Packages to Couples Retreat, Resort Packages to Honeymoon Packages, from Weekend Getaways to Safari Packages. There is something you can take advantage of. Simply book, pack your bags and hop on your flight. Travel in 2017 can be amazing. I am excited by all the prospects.

Discount. Vouchers. Promos.
Look out for hotel and flight promos, hotels discounts codes and vouchers. This would help reduce cost and get you great deals on luxury services you may otherwise not have been able to afford.

Travel off Peak Period.
Peak period in Nigeria for travel is the 2^nd week of December through the 1^st week of January, the weekend of Easter, between July and September, as well as, every other weekend all year round really. To avoid the hike in prices on bus tickets, flight tickets, hotel rooms and food, it is best to travel during the periods out of the window listed above.

Travel Light
One of the biggest deterrents for many on making the trip they have always wanted to make is that they do not know how to travel light. And when faced with packing for a trip and not going at all, they would rather not go. If you want to achieve your 2017 travel goals, learn to travel light. Have a small bag that is a dedicated travel bag and endeavor not to pack anything beyond that and a small handbag for personal effects. He who travels light travels far. Some wise person said that.

Collaborate
Another way to achieve your travel goals is to collaborate with individuals and corporate bodies. Have an idea, look for people who are willing to work on it with you. From photographers to writers to environmentalists and NGO’s if there is something you can offer to these people on your trip, they would be no doubt willing to work with you and offset some of your bills as long as you are bringing something of value to them in return.

Travel with Expedition and Tour Groups.
There is a lot of travel and tourism small businesses organizing trips for Nigerians and foreigners within and outside the country. These groups visit some of the exotic tourist locations in Nigeria and around Africa from time to time. Among them are Social Prefect, The Village Pot Adventures, The DARE Experience, Irinajo, Naija Nomads, Unravelling Nigeria, Globe Jaunters and a couple of others. Trips are planned all year round for exciting places like Bauchi and its amazing Forest Reserve and natural green landscape, Kajuru Castle in Kaduna, Obudu Moutain Resort in Calabar, the ancient Olumo Rock, The epic Erin Ijesha Waterfall and so many similar places around the country. Going with a group helps you past the barrier of having to plan the trip and take care of the finer details of your adventure.

Career Opportunities in the Hotel Industry

The hotel industry offers an amazing array of exciting job opportunities. What do you need to work in the Hotel Industry? Like every other industry. The Hospitality industry is vast and takes on people in different career paths, offering job opportunities to top level managers and low level support staff. So what do you really need to make it in the Hotel Industry? Here I would try to highlight the different skill sets that you may need to possess. What is amazing is that you can work from home in some of these job descriptions. The basic skills you need in the industry is a people skills. The hospitality industry is about taking care of the needs of others. People pay good money to be attended to in an efficient, respectful and amiable manner. If you do not have the skills to respond to people in this way, you may not even bother. Also, the biggest cities are where the hotel chains are mostly concentrated. Hotels in Lagos and Hotels in Abuja get the biggest patronage than anywhere else in the country. If you want to get in on a fulfilling career, 5 Star Hotels in Lagos would be a good place to start.

Tour Operators
As a tour operator you would be involved in taking people on sightseeing trips to the interesting places within your reach, and if possible you can organize trips out of your country and continent even. This comes with knowing the places people want to visit, where they want to go to have fun, designing different tour packages for families, couples, and solo travelers. Your destination would range from wildlife safaris to theme parks, hiking and camping to honeymoons and family vacations. Whatever the destination, you and your travelling vacationers need a place to stay. Some of the ways to make extra money is to take advantage of hotel deals. Get into partnerships with hotel booking portals or with the hotels directly.

Digital Marketers
The world is all in the mobile nowadays. Digital Markers can work in virtually any industry and the hotel and tourism industry is well one of them. From airlines to hotels, from hotel booking sites to destinations and theme parks, businesses are trying to get their brand out to the people who need them and are constantly engaging with one screen or the other, either via mobile phones, tablets or desktop computers.

Travel Agents
Travel agents are a special breed. They have been around for so long and new technology has seen them adapt to the growing demands of the industry. You can run your travel agency from the corner of your room, all you need is an active phone line and internet. You can book hotels and flights for thousands of people in a year, they just need to know you are out there and call on you to sort out their travelling and accommodation issues.

Customer Service
Customer service is a culture and while it emanates from everyone in the business it particular rests on the shoulders of the men and women tasked with dealing with the issues and enquiries of customers who call to understand what is going on with a service they have paid for, or are interested in paying for. Customer service people must know everything about the business, they cannot give false information out, and they cannot promise what the company cannot give. They are responsible for assuaging the fears of customers and clients, knowing what the issue is with their hotel room booking. Why their flight is being delayed, why they do not have the complimentary champagne the vacation package promised. Customer care people are the human linkage that the company has with their customers and they have to get it right all the time.

Fitness Instructor

Many hotels are eager to have facilities within their establishment that satisfies a broad range of clientele needs. From Spa and Wellness Rooms, to Business centers, to Gym and Fitness rooms. As a spa and body wellness expert, yoga instructor, gym and personal fitness trainer, you can build a career working for a hotel by managing these facilities for them. Of course this might mean that you would have already built your reputation as an expert in that field before a big hotel brand.

Casino Operator
Like gyms and spas, some hotels recognize the need to service a special clientele base who are looking to spend on chips and the dice. One of the ways you can make an entry into the hotel industry is as a Casino Manager, or operator of a table or machine.

Spas and Body Wellness Operator
Like already referred to above, hotels hosts some of the best know spa houses, providing luxurious treatment and hospitality to guests on a vacation, honeymoon, or those who just want to relax from long periods of work. The advantage of attaching yourself to a hotel is, they spare no expense on the best machines, soaps, perfumes and body spices that you may need to treat your customers.

Event Management
From wedding receptions to business seminars and conferences, hotels provide halls and conference venues for hosting a variety of events. As an event planner or an event management company you would be working with hotels to secure top notch venues for your events, in the long run, where the relationship builds you may find yourself getting more involved with other businesses with the hotels such as bringing over guests for a fee or a commission, or even a reduction of rates when you book a hall for an event.

Chef
What is a luxury hotel without great dining? Some of the greatest attractions to 5 star hotels in cities and destinations like Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt is the dining facilities and world class rated chefs that they keep in their kitchen, serving guests and treating their palates to exciting experiences. Chefs who work with world class hotels have the opportunity to feed celebrities, rock stars, politicians and statesmen, and all sorts of famous people, giving them a taste of their signature dishes.

10 Norms you should know if you are traveling around Nigeria

Are you a business traveler or an adventurer, it can be pretty awkward being in a new place and finding yourself at odds with their customs and norms. No matter how modern and forward thinking you are, it is important to familiarize yourself with the basic dos and don’ts of the new place you are visiting. It is a great way to integrate, get accepted and become one with the community, the people and their lifestyle. If you’ve got your travel itinerary sorted, as well as accommodation to your destination, a great way to do that is to check a list of hotels in Nigeria to help you with that. Now you may want to now familiarize yourself with some of the way of life of the people.

1.       In Hausaland, where Shara law is practiced, which covers most of Northern Nigeria, you can’t lodge in a hotel with a female companion that is not your legal wife. No business of theirs if she is your fiancée. As this disclaimer in a hotel in Kano clearly says, sadly single female guests are frowned at and tough luck if you are a female traveling solo and need a place for the night.

2.       Among the Ikwerre people of Eastern Nigeria who find themselves in Owerri, Imo State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers state it is forbidden to have sex on the floor especially with an Ikewerre woman. So if you find yourself in these parts don’t let the excitement get the better of you. If it must be done on the floor, lay a blanket or something, the ground should not be bare.

3.       If you are visiting the Yemoji River in Ijebu as many tourists tend to do, please do not eat Yellow yam the day before and on the morning of your visit. It is said to incur the wrath of an ancient dwelling snake in the river and anyone who has consumed the yam would be bitten by the snake.

4.       In Igbeti Oyo State, it is forbidden to climb the Iyamopo Mountain on the day after the Igbeti Market Day. Climb all you want on other days but not on this day. The mountain is especially used for religious tourism with church groups going up for prayers on the mountain. Visits to the mountain on the day after Igbeti Day are however not allowed. Hikers and Adventurers take note.

5.       As much as you may love the local cuisine of Pounded Yam, you cannot pound Yam in Yoruba land when it is nightfall. Pounded yam is usually eaten all at once with no leftovers, and so you may want to refrain from asking your hosts or the hotel room service for pounded yam at night. No one will pound yam for you at night.

6.       Nigerian’s generally perceive the left-hand in a negative light. So whether giving or receiving gifts, paying for items, giving food, handshakes, or whatever, the use of the left hand is considered a taboo. People would outrightly reject money handed over with the left hand, no matter how large it is.

7.       It is also considered rude reject food offered to you by your host. If you are a visitor, you are welcomed with food, across the diverse Nigerian cultures and places. Rejecting food, no matter how polite you do it is considered rude and unfriendly. If you cannot finish the food, as Nigerians are avowed to serving big heaps on plates for visitors, invite your hosts to eat with you.

8.       When greeting, in Yoruba land genuflection is used by younger ones to elders when greeting. The Hausa's practice this too. The Igbo's, however, do not genuflect or prostrate when greeting. Men shake hands and women hug when they greet each other among the Igbos. Same can be said for the rest of the Niger-Delta regions as well.

9.       Among the Fulanis, a group found across other countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of Cattle a man has is a sign of his wealth. Also, a young female may also have sexual relations before marriage with as many men as possible. Chastity isn't a social construct among the Fulanis.

10.   Also, while ‘bush meat’ is a popular delicacy in most parts of Nigeria, and could mean any of several animals hunted down by skilled hunters, Okete is generally not eaten among the Ondo people of Yorubaland. Okete is also called Bush Rat but is also known by its English name of Pouch Rat. A variety of bush meat includes deer, antelopes, grasscutters, hares, wild hogs among several others

5 Things to do for Valentine this Year

Sniff Sniff. Love is in the air. And so are romantic gestures. Shopping for gifts to make that special someone feel really special. Dressing for the occasion. And a general ambience of mellow and mosh. Even single people can hardly escape it. If you have no one to spend the day with your network provider is likely to send you an unsolicited text. Last last our network is bae.

But for those of us that are really doing this, here are some great ideas on how to spend this love celebrating day.

Runaway with your lover. Seriously, take a trip to a different city entirely, travel and enjoy the scenery of beautiful landscapes across the country. Meet new people, when they ask about you tell them you are running away with a princess whose father won’t allow you marry her and you want a place to build her a castle so she can continue to be the baby girl princess that she is. Let wanderlust drive you and your lover into the arms of new experiences.

Book a hotel room. But that’s not the catch. Have a small band of Violinists play at the lobby for her. Or in front of your room. If your room is on the ground floor, this band could play behind your room window while you pop open a bottle of wine and feed her chocolates. Just like in the movies. Really, just like in the movies. On the side Jumia Travel is giving 50% off on hotel deals this Valentine Season, don’t dull. 

Propose. But only in public if she doesn’t mind. And if you are more than certain she would say yes. By now you would have already chosen a beautiful ring, hint at her getting a manicure and getting her nails done. Prepared a little speech. And rehearsed getting down on one knee while fireworks lit the skyline behind her.

Rent a Limo for the Night. If you think restaurants and hotels are two mainstream, an idea is to rent a Limo for the night. Stock it with your favorite drinks, order Chinese or sea food or something fancy. Get a great romantic movie you know she would love, and her favorite songs on a playlist. Map out a route and let the chauffeur take you both out for a ride through the city. 

Curl Up with the LOYL and watch Champions League Football. Sometimes simple can be amazing too. A great idea is to curl up with the love of your life in your hotel room, feeding each other seedless grapes, or chocolates, or guguru and epa and watching the Champions League football on TV.

What are your own ideas? Share with us, won’t you?