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The Ultimate Travel Guide

By Chidirim Ndeche
19 December 2017   |   10:00 am
In the spirit of the season, people will be travelling either to their hometowns or abroad to celebrate the end of the year holidays. Here is a guide to prepare adequately for your trip this holiday. Research Carry out your research on things like the weather condition at your destination. Will you be in a…

In the spirit of the season, people will be travelling either to their hometowns or abroad to celebrate the end of the year holidays. Here is a guide to prepare adequately for your trip this holiday.

Research
Carry out your research on things like the weather condition at your destination. Will you be in a family house that will be converted to a fattening room? Or will you take tours that involve you hiking and racing to the top of hills with loved ones? How long will you be there and where would you possibly be visiting? This information will guide you towards packing right for your journey.

Organise travel documents
Collect all your important documents together in a document organiser, including your travel visa, passport, ID card, driver’s license, credit card, hotel and tour contact information, transportation tickets, emergency contacts and guidebooks. Email yourself copies of all your documents in case you lose access to them. Double check that everything is up to date and will not expire while you’re travelling. Also, inform your bank that you’re travelling so that they don’t suspect fraudulent activity and block your cards.

Wrinkle-free clothes
You will be folding clothes into boxes and squeezing extra tops into backpacks. This tends to wrinkle clothes easily and you may, for some reason, not be able to launder them properly. So, pack clothes that are well laundered and do not wrinkle easily.

Personal care
During the harmattan season, there is little moisture in the air. This leads to chapped lips and dry skin. Carry a good moisturiser and lip balm so that your skin doesn’t suffer from the dryness. Keep your medication with you all through your journey. Let it be easily accessible and protected from harm, especially temperature-sensitive medication. Ensure that it is legal in the place you are travelling to and try to keep them in their original containers to avoid embarrassment or unnecessary security questions.

Security
Travellers can fall victim to pickpockets and thieves. Make sure your valuables are safe. Put them close to you, away from sight or hide them in the lower sections of your bags so that a quick look inside won’t reveal them. You can get safety travel essentials like a hidden pocket, neck or leg wallet or a luggage travel lock to make sure your valuables are kept properly and close to your body at all times.

Pack light
It’s always good to travel with the smallest amount of luggage possible. Find out what will be available where you’re going, like if the hotel you’ll be staying in will provide robes and toiletries. Carry sample sizes of toiletries to last just the length of the trip. Make a list of all the items you have to carry and cross out as you pack. Select outfits that you can repeat and pair differently. Take a sweater that will match any outfit you wear. Choose looks for each day and every possible occasion. Prevent the urge to pack extra clothes to save you some space in your luggage.

Power bank
A power bank stores battery power for later use and is very useful during electricity cuts, which are very common in Nigeria. You may need one while you’re travelling or when you get to your destination. Solar-powered chargers are even more preferable.

Keep your home in order
If you’ll be away for a long time, you need to make sure that your home is in order before you go. Arrange for your pets to be well taken care of, unplug all appliances, lock all doors and windows properly, store your valuables in a safe place, leave your house key with a trusted friend and other things that will ensure that your return is almost as good as your departure.

At the end of the day, make sure to have a great time wherever you’re headed. Travelling opens our eyes to other cultures around us and makes us view things differently. Truly immerse yourself in the culture of the place you are visiting and have fun while you’re at it.

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