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.

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