posted by Links and Tours
I was
listening to a radio show a few days ago as people called in to complain
fiercely about exorbitant airfares. People complained that a round-trip
to the United Kingdom was costing between N300, 000 to N500, 000. “The
airlines are a rip off”, “our government is at fault”, and “taxes make
up one-third of the cost” were some of the reasons sighted. Others
suggest it is the forces of demand and supply at play and summer times
are notoriously expensive for vacation traveling.
Sadly, none of the reasons suggested
above offers a solution to the high cost of vacationing. After
complaining, you still get to spend that money or else you are stuck
vacationing in Nigeria. What about when you eventually travel out? You
still get to spend more and that can be very heavy if care is not taken.
But isn’t there a way out of this, I thought? Certainly there is and
here are some useful tips for spending less while on vacation abroad.
Plan Ahead – This is perhaps the first
thing you should do after deciding to travel on holiday. The problem
however is that most people plan vacation within a short period of time
giving them very little room to maneuver costs. However, if you want a
cheap vacation then you have to plan early. There is no way around it.
Planning ahead should involve booking your airfares, hotels etc on time.
This is very important especially if you have a family you are
traveling with. The trick is that most airlines and hotels offer cheap
tickets and deals during off peak periods and you can lock them in early
and use them during summer. Though, some of the deals are not flexible
in terms of dates it is all part of planning anyway.
Stay with family or friends
For those who find hotels expensive no
matter the price; it is also wise to stay with close family and friends.
Though, this can be quite inconveniencing the trick here is not to stay
too long and too dependent on your host. Nigerians abroad are often
home sick, so the chance of having someone from Nigeria as a guest is
one they don’t like to ignore. You just have to learn to stick to their
rules and remind yourself that you are a restricted guest with very few
privileges unlike back home. The reward for that of course, is that you
get to save an enormous amount of money.
Use coupons during shopping
Coupons are particularly popular in
Europe and the United States. Retail outlets give them to shoppers as a
form of discount on their next purchases. Nigerians abroad have loads of
coupons stashed in their bedrooms or drawers that they use once in a
while. They only remember these coupons when they want to travel abroad.
The first thing you want to do is to ask them for these coupons. Some
coupons can give as much as 30 per cent discount on purchases. Imagine
how much you can save from these.
Use outlet malls
Outlet malls are malls where original
manufacturers of branded items sell their goods. Since the manufacturers
are selling the items themselves, their products are often cheaper than
you will find in regular malls. An item that cost $150 in a regular
mall can be purchased for between fifty and seventy per cent the price
in an outlet mall. It’s massive attraction for frugal shoppers looking
for quality products and the best price.
Look out for discount malls, shops and restaurants
There are many discount product and
services abroad that you utilise quite conveniently. Some of them
operate strictly online while you have to visit some. There is this shop
in the outskirts of the United Kingdom where designer clothes can be
bought for even 25 per cent the regular retail price. There are even
some shops within town whose trade is to sell discounted products. You
can also get good deals with restaurants, cinemas, arcade etc.
Transportation
Transportation cost takes a huge portion
of your vacation cost abroad. Unlike in Nigeria, where taxis are quite
cheap, it is not the same abroad. A black cab in the UK for example can
cost as much as £20 for a two kilometer ride. This is why it is very
important to first understand the transportation system of where you are
travelling to. In the UK for example, it is cheaper to commute using
the rail as they have a well-connected railway system. In the US, it’s
probably cheaper and more convenient to hire a car for the duration of
your stay particularly if you have a large family. The same can be said
for a family trip to Dubai.
Travel with some foodstuff
There was a story in the news the other
day of a Nigeria caught traveling with about 67 snails by the US border
patrol. Most countries restrict the quantity of foodstuffs you can take
into their country but it doesn’t mean you can’t take at all. Imagine
traveling to the US with kids and you don’t have meals that they are
used to. Buying alternatives in a new environment can be quite
expensive. Therefore, travel with some foodstuff particularly the
important ones and make sure they are within the approved limit.
Travel as a group
Travelling as a group also helps share some of the common cost that you would have incurred if you were alone. By: Ugodre Obi-Chukwu
