Destination: Dubai

On a Breakfast Yacht cruise with the Burj Khalifa in the background

I went to Dubai with my family for Eid holiday, and I have learnt first hand that travelling with children is not a joke.

When the family was  thinking of where to go for this vacation, we considered a ton of cities but settled on Dubai because it was one of the countries that did not need us to take Covid-19 tests if we had been fully vaccinated, and the visa process was relatively simple since we chose to fly with Emirates airlines.

It is important to note that Dubai's working hours are shortened during the month of Ramadan and also that they have 5 days of holiday for Eid. 

Yes I said FIVE.

I'm still not over it.

We flew directly from Lagos to Dubai via Emirates and the tickets cost roughly N400,000 per adult. Infant tickets cost about N35,000. All the tickets were booked via the website and payments made through my banking app. Very seamless process.

Even though the UAE is not visa free for Nigerian passport holders, the airline assisted with the Visa in that, all the forms were filled in their office and they sent it off to VFS. Visa cost approx N40,000 per person.

I understand if you are flying other airlines, the visa can cost up to N120,000. 

So while Emirates is more expensive than most of the other airlines that ply that route, the ease of processing the visa more than makes up for this difference.

Travel insurance is mandatory, and someone at the airline office sorted that out as well, it cost N4,500 per person.

In Dubai they spend Dirham and the exchange rate is 3.65- 3.7 AED to USD. Before we left, we made sure to get some money from the bank via PTA, and the struggle was real.

I did not get my dollars until the morning I was leaving, but it was still better than someone in my travel party who bought from GTbank and they gave them money in a prepaid card that did not work all the time.

That being said, I observed a few changes since I was last there, but the most glaring remains the fact that Dubai is no longer as conservative as it used to be, I saw a lot of people dressed in scanty outfits and no one accosted them.  Like literally women in hot pants and everyone going about their business.

I have never travelled with children before so this was a real eye opener for how much time it takes to get a child ready, and how much stuff you have to take with you. EVERY. SINGLE.TIME.

Anyway because we went with children, the activities we selected were family related, we visited miracle garden, Global Village( a theme park) went to the mall, watched the fountain show and did a desert safari.

My mum, Sister & niece at Miracle Garden

Installation that reminded me of my salon in Lagos

Because my mother is Nigerian, we went to the Gold souk and spent hours there.

Five to be precise.

Entrance to the Gold souk in Dubai

Gold on display at one of the many stores we went into

Since we were a large party of 9 people, we got two 2-bedroom apartments at the Hyatt Place in 

Al-Rigga and it made so much sense since it came with a fully functional kitchen( ideal for making baby food); a washing machine ( you have no idea how many time babies change clothes- or maybe you do, I didn't. :) ) and lots of space for running around.

The hotel was under-going renovation but the pool was open, it was very close to a metro ( 5 minutes walk) and had a 24 hour supermarket next door. It also had breakfast included. I think I went twice since I was out late a lot and slept in most mornings.

We were very pleased with it. It room prices vary but it cost roughly 600AED per night for each apartment.

Me at Global Village- which was the absolute best time!

Minor detail, that I wish someone had told me before I got to the airport to return to Lagos,

Emirates Airlines checks in Nigerian bound flights in a makeshift terminal opposite the entrance of the departure terminal at the airport.

Also every time you are flying into Nigeria, you are required to fill This Form with all your covid information to enable you enter the country. Currently, fully vaccinated persons do not need to book a day 2 test or isolate etc. but the laws change regularly so please confirm before you arrive.

In the desert on the Safari- 

We used Rayna Tours for this and booked online.

Came to half the price we had been seeing everywhere else.

I can not recommend them enough.

But all in all, it was a great trip, not as restful as I'd have liked, but anytime I leave Lagos, I rest on a subconscious level so it was worth it to get away.

As always if you want further details, you can send me an email and I'll be happy to assist!

Destination: Jamaica

 

Random Photo on a night after Dinner

I went to Jamaica or Jamrock, as the locals call it last month for some well needed R&R, and also because I had been feeling cooped up in Lagos. 

There are no direct flights to Jamaica – but it worked out perfectly for me because I had a month left on my US visa and I had not yet used in because covid.

 So I decided to go to Atlanta and THEN fly to Jamaica from Atlanta for a few days.

To be honest a ton of my travel choices were forced by covid, for one, I’d have preferred to fly BA to accumulate some miles and swing by London because of family and friends, but the US has banned flights that come from the EU & UK. This meant I had to fly DIRECT to the US or endure a 30/32 hour flight via Qatar. The Delta flight cost twice as much roughly $1,500 but C’est La vie.

The flight from Atlanta to Montego Bay in Jamaica cost approx. $500.

Jamaica was a dream come true. For one I did not go with my laptop which means I actually had enough time to rest and read the Alchemist which I read every time I go on vacation.

Secondly, it was so so so beautiful. 

Third and surprisingly, considering all the things I read on the internet- It was PRETTY safe for me, a female solo traveller.

Now the Visa process.

The Visa costs $20 and the embassy is located in Abuja. Because a return flight to Abuja costs roughly N55,000 and the uber to and fro both airports would come to approx N15,000- I opted to use a travel agency that charged me N60,000.

And I’m glad I did because they fucked up my application so badly and I did not get my passport till the day before I left for Atlanta. It was a very traumatic experience for me, BUT I’d still recommend them if you live in Lagos because flying to abuja for visa application is really THE GHETTO. 

But please when you go ahead to use them- STAY ON TOP OF THE APPLICATION, follow up every 2-3 days.

There was an issue with the information I provided, I apparently omitted my LOS-ATL ticket and the agent's visa officer didn’t catch that as well, since the agency provides a travel itinerary for you anyway.

This is bit was really important since there are no direct flights to Jamaica there needs to be proof to the consulate that you’d return and basically a return ticket that originates and ends in LOS.

Now the embassy had emailed me, but spelt my email address wrongly so I did not get the email- ALL this while I had been liaising with the VO who had been LYING about working on it. If he had bothered to reach out to the embassy, he’d have been informed on time. Which is what eventually happened and when the embassy sent them they screen shot of the email to me, I was like- THIS IS NOT MY EMAIL ADDRESS.

In their defence, they were super sorry, but it left a terrible taste in my mouth, however they managed to get the visa to me, which was the service I paid for. Irrespective of all this, I’ll still advice to go ahead with them because na so the thing go.

These are their details Here on their website and this is their Instagram IG

The application needed all the usual stuff:

First you need a passport. With more than 6 months validity on it.

Second you need to collate ALL the requested documentation which include:

Letter of introduction from your employer on their letter head

Bank statements ( 3 months with balance showing N1.5m)

Past payslips (3 months)

Flight bookings ( temporary, I suggest you find an agent to do it or ask someone in your office logistics team to sort it out for you)

Hotel bookings ( also temporary, I used bookings.com with the options for free cancellations AND pay at the venue)

Copies of your data page, coloured passport photographs white back ground and two copies of filled out forms

Third, you fill out two copies the visa form which can be found here: Here

And finally, your visa fee which is $20. The form also includes all the payment options.

As I earlier mentioned, It cost me N60k with the agent and I  physically hand delivered all the documents to the agency in Lagos.

Asides the very stressful visa process, Jamaica was a dream come true.

Me Rafting on Rio Grande, the largest river in Jamaica

I flew in & out of  MontegoBay- which in hindsight was a poor choice because I decided to stay at GeeJam which was in Portland and closer to Kingston, but worth every penny and the 4 hour drive from MoBay.

If anyone wants advice on building their itinerary for Jamaica, I’d say at least 7 days.

 I’d suggest you fly into Mobay on a Thursday evening or Friday morning and go straight to Negril. It has the most beautiful beaches in the world. After partying all weekend on Sunday night move to MontegoBay and spend 2 nights doing all the tourist stuff. 

Then on Wednesday go to Portland AND REST. I’d suggest GeeJam but it is not cheap, but it is very worth it. Plus you might sight a few celebrities while you are there.

After two days in Portland- go to Kingston town, and do all the Bob Marley stuff, take the tours and go to trench town. And finally fly out of Kingston town.

To get into Jamaica you need a negative Covid-19 test either a rapid antigen or the PCR, that is not older than 72 hours.

You also need to get clearance from the Jamaican Government – but its not a big deal just fill out a form here and attest that you will stay on the resilient corridor. The resilient corridor are basically resorts/hotels/accommodations that have been certified by the government with heightened covid-19 safety protocols.

ONE LAST THING, if you think Nigerian immigration is bad, Mobay Immigration process is times 1000 bad, so I suggest if you are trying to catch a bus/connecting chopper or anything like that, look into Club Mo-bay.

I did not link it because you should do your googles. LOL

Let me know if you need any more details on Jamaica travel with a Nigerian passport and I’d be happy to give you answers!

My hotel had the most beautiful cabins that were built into nature and waking up to this view was a dream come true

Ps: Jamaica has a huge tipping culture so take some $1 & $5 bills.

Pss: Jamaicans are VERY very kind. So keep an open mind when random strangers offer you things- they are not trying to Jazz you!

 

 

 

 

 

Destination : Trinidad and Tobago

So after I missed the carnival in Brazil and looked up carnivals around the world, I realized that the greatest show on earth was in Trinidad and decided to make sure I got myself to Trinidad in one piece to experience this first hand.

Well to be honest, I was scrolling Instagram one day and my flatmate from university posted the most delicious photo of her in a contraption- which I later learnt was a “mas costume”- looking so badass and I messaged her to ask what it was about  and she was all like  “OMG YOU SHOULD COME to carnival etc etc”.

But I am Nigerian, and I know what I really mean when I tell people to come and join me when I want to eat. So, you know I was like, yeah sure.

Fast forward to maybe two months later, someone else I went to secondary school with posted a photo of her a similar contraption- less cute but still cute- and I hit her up like, Is this thing a vibe like this?

Beloved, it IS a vibe like that.

That's my absolutely stunning flat mate
from Uni, and my defacto host in Trinidad

Seeing as my flat mate in Uni was Trinidadian, while the person from secondary school had moved to America and is married and lives there so she probably has an American Passport, none of them were going to be able to help me with that Nigerian passport visa stress.

But I have gone through it, so no one else has to go through it.

And I swear, just like the brazilian visa process, this one was pretty seamless and I was given an E-visa.

 all things being equal the steps below should get you the same, except the Caribbean  embassies change the process post covid19 to include a health clearance.**

This is the welcome banner at Picaro.

Anyway, here is all you need to know AND do to get yourself a visa if you are interested in visiting Trinidad & Tobago. ( and you should be)

First you need a passport. With more than 6 months validity on it.

Second you need to collate ALL the requested documentation which include:

Letter of introduction from your employer on their letter head

Bank statements ( 3 months)

Past payslips (3 months)

Flight bookings ( temporary, I suggest you find an agent to do it or ask someone in your office logistics team to sort it out for you)

Hotel bookings ( also temporary, I used expedia with the options for free cancellations AND pay at the venue)

Copies of your data page, Colored passport photographs white back ground and two copies of filled out forms

Third, you fill out two copies the visa form which can be found here: here.

And finally, your visa fee which is ₦4,000. They only take cash.

 I know I was very surprised at the cost.

And the fact that I couldn’t use my card to pay, but hey it was ₦4k so.

Other important details to note the consulate is located in Abuja and the applications are done in person ONLY, so if you live in Lagos you’d have to fly to Abuja and drop of the application in person.

Also, the consulate only receives visa applications on Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm. Obviously excluding public holidays.

Now there is a visa requirement sheet on the site which mentions a ₦560,000 security bond deposit payable physically via diamond bank .

Please note that as a tourist it does not apply to you.

(And God knows I am tired of repeating this to everyone who asks me)

 I actually called the consulate to confirm this before I started the process and I did not have to pay any thing else asides the ₦4000 visa fee.

Another important bit to add is that while most countries (Trinidad inclusive) asks that you apply 3 months to your arrival date- I applied 6 months ahead and explained to the consular officer that anything later than my application date and I’d have a harder time getting flight tickets AND accommodation in Trinidad.

My visa arrived in three days and this is what it looked like;

And this is what I looked like 6 months and a little over a million Nigerian Naira later:

Me in my Mas Costume, with two
Nigerian flags

I know I say this after every trip I make, including the ones I never get around to writing about but this trip and attending carnival might just be one of the best trips I have ever taken. Coupled with the current pandemic these memories are even more precious to me, and honestly they probably helped me to survive cancelling my Cape Verde holiday.

** Some countries such as Austria currently request health clearance certificates not older than 4 days on the day on arrival. More details on that here