Another year has passed without that dream trip. Your leave is near, you feel overworked, yet unprepared for a getaway. If this sounds familiar, this guide is for you, a roadmap to overcoming financial hurdles and making leisure travel possible for salary earners and small business owners, ARINZE NWAFOR writes.
It is another year, and you haven’t gone on that enjoyable trip you want. Your paid leave is around the corner, and although you feel overworked, you don’t seem ready to pack for a vacation. If I am getting warmer, then I wrote this article for you to recognise the monetary obstacles that could hinder one from taking leisure trips.
We have an innate desire to interact with regions different from our own. Many Nigerians want to meet people who speak other local languages, eat different foods, or cook the same foods but with varied recipes.
Like most people, you may have longed to travel to see the world but have hit a financial snag. A distressed economy, such as in Nigeria, may be a major setback to your fun trips, but you can overcome these obstacles by learning from the travel guide tips. This comprehensive guide is for salaried workers and small business owners.
How domestic tourism helps Nigeria
Before the guide, let’s explore what makes travelling in Nigeria an interesting venture. The country’s natural landmarks and wildlife reserves, diverse cultures and lively cities attract visitors. Records show that domestic tourism is a cornerstone, with Nigerians travelling more within the country than abroad for leisure, business, culture, and religion. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Economic Impact Research for 2023, tourism in Nigeria contributed less than four per cent to the Gross Domestic Product, with a projected rise to N11.2tn in 2025.
Nigeria has tourist destinations that attract travellers and support millions of jobs across the hospitality, transportation, food services, and creative economy. Lagos State and Abuja are notable for business, events, nightlife, and shopping. Sites such as Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State, Olumo Rock in Ogun State, and Yankari National Park in Bauchi State showcase natural and cultural heritage. Other attractions include Ikogosi Warm Springs in Ekiti, Zuma Rock in Niger, and the Nike Art Gallery in Lagos and Abuja. These locations highlight Nigeria’s diversity in art, history, and ecotourism.
Religion and festivals also drive domestic tourism in the country. Millions visit the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s camp in Ogun State and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.
You’ve probably wondered, “Can a salary earner or a small business owner afford to take fun trips in Nigeria?” The short answer is yes, people in these categories can travel, and with informed planning, they can make the most of their trips.
Get motivated and plan your trip
Planning a fun trip as a salary earner in Nigeria requires strategy, discipline, and creativity. “Someone earning around N150,000 or a small business owner can take fun trips within Nigeria. It just takes some planning and being intentional about your choices,” travel, fashion and lifestyle creator Jennifer Okagbue said. “There are a lot of beautiful and affordable places like Ibadan, Badagry, Osogbo, and some parts of Ogun State that are perfect for short getaways. As they say, anyone who wants to start travelling should start from their backyard.”
Committing to travel tackles the first obstacle of resolution. Travel enthusiast Mildred Onyenyionwu advised, “You have to be someone who loves travelling, whose mind, body and soul are in travel. Because when you are not that person, you will find excuses for why you can’t go. If travel is something you love doing and you want to see places, then trust me, you can do it.”
A successful trip starts with defining the purpose; is the goal to relax, explore, connect with family, or gain new cultural exposure?
Travel content creator Odenike Oresanya extolled the virtue of learning as a major purpose to motivate a person to travel, stating, “The desire to travel should be born out of the interest in expanding one’s knowledge, expanding one’s horizons, and realising there is more to life than just working.”
Oresanya stated that taking a break from the stressful routine is also a good motivation.
“It’s important for you to keep your sanity. I don’t think there’s anybody that’s not interested in taking a break once a year or twice,” she added.
Create a vacation fund
Set aside some money to fund your travel. Creating a target helps build a treasure chest from the start of the year until it is vacation time.
Onyenyionwu and Okagbue emphasised financial prudence.
“You have to be good with your finances, someone who says, ‘Okay, this month I’m going to put out a certain amount, and it’s for travels,’ and you’re not going to touch it,” Onyenyionwu, the travel enthusiast, said.
Okagbue urged budgeting, adding that “even saving N5,000 or N10,000 every month can make a difference.” She advised intending travellers to decide where and when they want to travel, and they can plan their budget around it.”
Oresanya confirmed that there is a budget for everyone.
“There’s always something for every budget. If you are earning N50,000, there’s something for you,” she noted.
The travel expert encouraged travellers to consider taking day trips, evolving from staycations to more extensive vacations. Oresanya pointed to Badagry and Abeokuta as examples of affordable day trips. According to her, the average cost to visit the historical Lagos and Ogun towns in a day is roughly around N20,000 to N30,000.
Here is a realistic budget for a two-night staycation, from Oresanya:“A good budget for a location in, say, Oyo State, will require transportation for N20,000 and accommodation for N50,000, and you can share lodging with someone to split the cost. And in a lodging that comes with complimentary meals, a sum of N70,000 can cover the basics. The same goes for some locations in Lagos.”
Travel with a group
Travelling with a group helps reduce costs on transportation, accommodation, and meals. Some platforms, such as NaijaNomads, Social Prefect Tours, and Irinajo, curate affordable trips within Nigeria and across Africa, pooling people together for shared experiences.
Group trips offer safety, local knowledge, and discounted access to tourist attractions. It also means you’re less likely to overspend.
Onyenyionwu noted that in her experience, taking a trip as a solo traveller costs more because the traveller has to bear their entire accommodation, feeding and other expenses.
“It will cost more when you’re going alone, especially in a place where you don’t know anybody. I believe that group travelling helps you save costs, she said, advising travellers who have no friends to lodge with in their vacation cities to take single-day trips to the tourist sites and return home or stay in a hotel.
The travel enthusiast noted that non-business groups can save more money than travel companies, which tend to be a bit more expensive because it is their business.
She explained, “Because it’s a business, travel companies have to make a gain, and their services are pricier. But when you join a group of like-minded tourists/travellers from your state or vicinity, you can explore places on a budget.”
Onyenyionwu noted that a group can pick up tasks, including handling accommodation and feeding.
Use automated savings
Travellers should use fintech apps like Cowrywise, PiggyVest, and Risevest, which allow users to create ‘travel targets’ with automated deductions. These apps can help you save consistently.
“One beautiful thing about these platforms is that they give a percentage when you save,” Onyenyionwu said. “These apps help people, especially anyone who may not be disciplined with money, to save their money toward a cause. We can even name it travel money.”
Travel content creator Okagbue advised that travelling in a group also meant “planning so everyone is on the same page.”
Research budget-friendly destinations and off-peak dates
Travel costs fluctuate based on timing and location. Research helps in planning trips to stay ahead of the curve. On timing, it is wise to avoid popular travel periods such as Christmas and Easter if you’re seeking affordability.
Okagbue advised salary earners and small business owners to save money by booking early, travelling during off-peak seasons, and choosing less popular but still beautiful places.
Travel expert Oresanya advised that travellers ought to research their locations and compare prices of places: “Even if you see a group trip, compare different group trips, and look at the value that is being offered from each. And then, in a case where they are expensive, as most creative trips tend to be more expensive, you may consider taking the trip by yourself.”
Research also helps in staying ahead of forex fluctuations. Always monitor the naira-dollar rate weeks in advance.
Research can help travellers to leverage travel deals, loyalty points, and early booking discounts. Airlines, hotels, and tour companies offer flash sales or discounts for bookings. Platforms like Wakanow, Travelbeta, and Airbnb occasionally drop prices during off-peak periods. Subscribe to their newsletters or install apps to receive deal alerts.
Practise safety tips
Travelling bears safety risks, and you ought to leverage safety tips and technology to have hitch-free trips. Use ride-hailing apps instead of airport taxis. Use Google Maps to avoid scams and track routes. Compare hotel prices on Booking.com and TripAdvisor. Download budget planners like Trail Wallet or TravelSpend.
You need to insure your trip, even locally. Insurance seems excessive to many Nigerians, but travel insurance protects you from cancelled flights, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. It is especially critical for international trips.
Some Nigerian insurers now offer affordable domestic travel coverage for less than N5,000. Platforms like Leadway and AIICO provide short-term policies that can save thousands if things go wrong.
Miscellaneous tips
Carry some snackable foods. Travel enthusiast Onyenyionwu advised: “You might have to travel with your own food. I don’t mean perishable food, but preserved food, including milk, biscuits, cornflakes, and Caprison, just in case you arrive at a location with no food or don’t really like their food. Always set out money for provisions.”
Take some medicine and a flashlight. Travel expert Oresanya advised, “Take a small kit of meds with you, containing painkillers, allergy meds and the Metronidazole brand Flagyl.”
Take that trip
You have to act now and not postpone your fun trip. Nigerian states have something to offer, according to Oresanya. Many African countries have beautiful locations waiting to be discovered: “The key is to maximise wherever you are because there are places to go and things to enjoy there.”
