BCF BLOG

Planning a trip from start to finish can be an ordeal and overwhelming, especially when you are doing it alone. you have to put into consideration a whole lot ranging from; how many people will be making that trip; specific city (destination), accommodation, what and where to eat, places to visit, what to do, and the estimated budget for the trip. 

So in order to make your travel plans easy and not overwhelming like we picture it to be, here are some tips/steps on how to plan your trip.

• Decide where you are going: before this decision is made you need to ask yourself the simple question of what’s the reason am traveling, is it a business trip, visiting someone, going for a vacation/holiday, family occasions such as wedding ceremonies or thanksgiving, or you just want to change your environment and explore new places, cultural diversities, type of food,etc as a tourist. What you intend to achieve on the trip would also help you decide where to go.
• Check for travel advice and advisories: visit government sites to read and get first hand information on health conditions, learning about the mandatory and recommended vaccinations, entry and exit requirements, security, climate,culture and local laws. Checking travel advice and advisories should be done immediately after you’ve decided where you’re going.
• Make your flight booking: research and ask questions about the various airlines and how they operate, how good is their aircraft, are they time conscious, how is the customer service, are they nice and friendly towards their clients. All this information can be gotten by researching online or better still use a travel agent to book your flight and ask questions, trust me you will not be disappointed. Also read about luggage included in the price so you know the amount of luggage allowed per person.
• Pack your luggage: what items/stuff will you be needing for the trip. This is where you consider the things you want to pack, ranging from toiletries, to clothes, shoes, etc. you have to pack only the essentials that you will be needing for the duration you will be gone. This will help in reducing the stress of dragging excess luggage at the airport.
• Research about your destination: it is important that you find out about your destination before your departure date. You can read about it on pinterest and travel blogs, if you are going on a tour, you can make a list of places you would like to visit, see and explore. Using a travel guidebook is another option in trying to research and find out more about your destination.
• Take care of your health: it is very necessary that you visit a travel clinic to get your vaccines and general antibiotics, and anti-malaria if needed. Spending money on hospital bills during a trip can cost a lot, so it is advisable that you get travel insurance, and make absolutely sure that you are in perfect health before you travel.
• Book your accommodation: this can be done before departure date or even after you have landed your destination. If for some reason you did not make reservations ahead of time, be sure to check if there is any special event going on in the city you are going to. It is important to search for which accommodation and how much it will cost before deciding on the very accommodation you would like to book that’s conducive, comfortable and affordable.
• Make your to do list: what activities would you like to engage in while on your trip. Get a list of things that make you excited, things that arouse your curiosity, and enthusiasm. Make sure to choose places that when you visit make you feel alive, it not not necessarily be the most attractive sight to behold for others but leave a lasting impression on you.
• Plan your transportation (itinerary): when planning to travel one of the few important tips to not overlook is your itinerary(transportation). How do you intend to get to your final destination, when moving around for activities, how long do you need, how much time will you be spending when you go out, would you want to travel by car, bus, or train. Don’t plan too many things so as to create time for creative and unplanned situations. And always remember to refer back to your list, add some more activities while you streamline some as well.

I hope we all are super excited to have made it this far in the year 2022. Last year (2021) was a wonderful year with all the challenges, hurdles, and advancements/achievements that came with it. Despite the pandemic and new discovery of the omicron, a new variant of the covic19 virus, a lot of people still made it through being successful in various areas respectively.

Now let’s welcome ourselves officially back to the office (work) environment, I am sure we are all resuming with so much enthusiasm and new ideologies that will help improve your workforce and boost/speed up the pace in order to cover more grounds and reach out to a wider range of audience. Before resuming back to the office, what are the things you have at the back of your mind, if you were to ask me, I will advise that these ideas be written down because if it’s just in your head without you putting them down most of the ideas you had at a particular time that would have been very useful, you might end up losing such vital information.

Are you an employer or an employee, everyone needs new ideas that will help further and improve your work, adding more value to your work? As a boss what have you come to the table with this year 2022 that will help improve and add more value to not just your company but also the team that’s working with you? And as an employee, what are those great ideas you stumbled upon while on break that you would like to share with your boss and colleagues that will actually boost productivity or make the company stand out among its competitors. If you have not been taught about it before, trust me it’s not too late to do that now, take a few minutes of your time and think deeply as regards your work. For every organization, growth is paramount and in the minds of every individual, so in the year 2022, it’s important that we all think outside the box.

For someone that works with a travel agency, I think brainstorming on ideas and researching on stuff that would actually make your travel agency more efficient and more accessible to a wider audience, for example, what is your travel agency offering the audience that is more efficient, convenient and very effective that other travel agencies do not have access to or have not discovered yet.

Considering the rapid global technological advancements, climate change, and lots of other dynamics, travelers most definitely like new experiences and I will urge those travel agencies should maximize these opportunities of travelers wanting new experiences by improving their websites to enable their users and more potential clients easy access. 

Making mobile booking more efficient and effective can increase the number of potential clients that will make their flight bookings using your platform and at their convenience. 

Making new sets of new year resolutions every year isn’t a bad idea, however, making sure that the initial resolutions you have written down the previous year have all been actualized is also very important. There is no rule that says each year has to get a new set of rules, and the fact that all the things that were written down the previous year weren’t all realized doesn’t make you a failure. If I were, I would bring forward those that I was not able to achieve last year, putting them first on the scale of preference and making sure there’s a target.

This year 2022, all we need to do is to have a positive mindset, list out the things we intend to achieve, set goals (target) when we want to achieve these things, and work on them. Put your mind into whatever you’re doing, remain focused, and develop an interest in writing. Writing down the steps from the start and your progress so far will help you to know what you’ve achieved and what you still need to work on.

Welcome once again to the year 2022, I wish you all the best in this year. Even as we scale through challenges, jumping the hurdles and emerging victorious. I love you all.

Have you ever traveled by train before or wondered how traveling on a train would be? Are you thinking of traveling by train because you think it’s cheaper or because it’s going to be a forehand experience for you? If any of the above questions is what’s on your mind right now, think no more and take a step of exploring a different type of land transportation (railways) by train.

Traveling by train is actually great, it’s an experience that waws you and is way more comfortable, faster and safer than traveling on roads with cars and buses.

I had an amazing experience taking a trip using the train, having some amazing and not-so-amazing fun. So considering the fact that the railway tracks have not yet been extended to Abuja, we have to travel by car first to Itakpe in Kogi state where tickets were bought manually from the counter. 

The train moves twice a day, in the morning by 8:00am and noon which is by 2:00pm. When the train leaves Itakpe by 8:00am it’s expected to arrive Udjevwu Warri Delta state before 2:00pm and to leave Udjevwu by 2:00pm respectively heading back to Itakpe.

So after you have been welcomed onboard the train and seated in your respective coaches according to seat numbers, the journey by train has begun. The train is big, the ACs are working and you can also watch tv programs while on your trip. There is also a small shop situated inside where snacks and drinks are sold to travelers and the convenience is neat because there were janitors on board who were frequently checking and cleaning after it had been used.

So persons who boarded the train from Itakpe in Kogi state to Udjevwu in Warri Delta state, and have been sitting for a long period of time can actually take a troll to other coaches of the train exercising their legs and also use the opportunity to explore the rest sectors of the train how they look.

Just like the airlines, the train has a first-class section where you and your family can relax and feel more comfortable, with different compartments for luggage above. And they have train stations in various communities along the way. Some of these train stations include: Agbaro, Abraka, Agbor, Agenebode, etc. there are the exciting views you see through the window watching nature.

As exciting and fascinating as the trip was, there were a few flaws that needed to be pointed out for improvement. They are:

• Lack of enough coaches: the coaches in the available train are not enough thereby resulting in some passengers standing during their journey, if additional coaches are added to the trains it will convey more people and there will be more seats for passengers during their trips.
• Small train stations: the train stations that were built are just too small with very few chairs or no chairs at all for people to sit down during transit resulting in sitting on the grounds for those that cannot stand for a long period of time. Building new spaces or expansion of the previous ones will be of importance and chairs should also be provided.
• Selling tickets manually: standing in a queue waiting to purchase a ticket sometimes is very frustrating. I would rather suggest the introduction of e-ticketing. Making your trip bookings and getting your tickets online will help reduce the long queues drastically.
• The train station not getting not getting to Abuja is also a major challenge for many people who would have loved to travel by train. An extension or construction of the railway tracks to Abuja and its environs will greatly boost the activities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

Wondering when is the best time to buy flight tickets, or what time of the year or season is best appropriate to make a flight booking or buy tickets at a cheaper rate for either (domestic or international) flights? Whether it’s to visit a family member, for vacations, or plans for relocating, there is a wide range of options that have been brought to your fingertips, thanks to online travel agencies (OTAs), the internet, and discount providers.

When buying a flight ticket (Domestic or International), there are certain things you put into consideration such as your current residence, your destination, preferred date, time, and choice of airline. This is because prices differ with location, time, and date either locally or internationally. If you as an individual or as a family are planning a vacation trip during the holidays, or festive season, it is advisable that you buy your ticket ahead of time.

---

Sometimes, buying a flight ticket (domestic or international) close to your departure date tends to be more expensive than when we buy ahead of time. So the best time to buy your tickets is two months or three weeks before the departure date. Some believe that on a particular day of the week if you buy a ticket on those particular days, say Mondays or Thursdays, the prices will be cheaper. The day of the week you buy your tickets does not determine or affect the price.

 The best time to buy your tickets will actually depend on what time of the year you are traveling and your destination also matters. Let’s consider a scenario where a family wants to take a holiday trip during the festive seasons such as Christmas, booking your ticket and that of your family three or two months ahead of departure date is the best option. It will be cheaper and you get to pick your seats all in one booking, but if you buy your tickets during this period a week or a few days before the departure date the prices will have increased and most seats sold out.

Factors to consider when determining the best time to buy your tickets are as follows: 

• Do not buy your tickets too early or too late: buying too early might be cheap at the particular time of purchase, if the airlines decides to offer a discount on their airlines to clients, you end up buying at a higher price. Buying your tickets late as well is at a disadvantage because it’s always rush hour for all those traveling on the same date and time because most of these airlines would have been sold out.
• Check prices of other airlines: make sure to always compare airfare of other airlines. A lot of people that buy tickets for (Domestic and International) flights actually have airline preference and as such they just buy tickets without comparing the airfares of other airlines. It is very important to always compare airfares before you buy your tickets, this will help you to determine which of the airlines you should settle for.
• Fly cheapest route: the truth is flying non-stops are more convenient and faster than connecting flights. However, the thing here is that connecting flights once in a while, especially on long flights, can actually give you a 50% cheaper rate most of the time. This helps to reduce the amount that would have been spent booking a non-stop flight.
• One ticket at a time: although this does not work all the time, nevertheless booking group travel and buying one ticket is less expensive than buying single tickets for individuals. Let’s consider a scenario where a group of persons are going for a business trip, conference, school excursions, or a planned family reunion. Rather than make individual bookings, resulting in spending more, purchasing one ticket for all is strongly recommended because you get to spend less than when it is a ticket per individual.
• Cheapest day to flight: as stated above, the days of the week does not really determine or affect the price of tickets. Although prices vary on particular days of the week, even on the same airlines. So when considering the best time to buy your ticket, you can actually go through other days of the week to check for airfares for different days. It will help you decide on what day you would like to fly and at what cost.

So this is a continuation of the fun places in Nigeria, the country is actually blessed with lots of natural attractions. These places/centers when visited by an individual or families will be worth it. 

Coconut Beach: is one of the most popular beaches in Badagry Lagos State. If what you desire is a quiet and relaxing place, then coconut beach is the place for you. Different types of music are played on the beach and you get to enjoy a drink of fresh coconut juice.

Chappai Waddi: a visit to the highest point (mountain) in Nigeria also referred to as the mountain of death, Is an amazing site to behold and it is located in Taraba state near the border of Cameroon

Falcorp Mangrove Park: was established to promote eco and leisure tourism situated in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Among others, the park has a royal museum (with the rich and cultural heritage of various nationalities), mini zoo, Apiary (Bee center), mangrove trail for hiking, an entrepreneurial center, canoeing, football, table tennis, hall of fame, leisure fishing, tree climbing and also an excellent venue for birthdays, wedding ceremonies, film making, etc. The Falcorp Mangrove Park is located in Warri, Delta state.

Aso Rock: is located on the outskirts of Abuja. The Presidential Complex (Aso Villa), Nigerian Supreme Court, and the Nigerian National Assembly are all located around it.

Gurara Waterfall:  are big waterfalls that lie on the Gurara river along the Suleja-Minna road, Niger state.

Agodi Gardens: also known as the Agodi Botanical Gardens is a tourist attraction center located in Ibadan, Oyo state. It has a lot of fun features such as picnic sports, mini zoo, water park, rides, swimming pool, etc.

Idanre Hills: is a beautiful hill with 682 steps from the ground located in Idanre Ondo state. The Idanre hill is a wide variety of cultural sites which includes: Agbooogun footprint, thunder water, Owa’s palace shrine and burial grounds.

Tarkwa Bay Beach: is popular with swimmers and water sports enthusiasts and is only accessible by boat. It is an island of peace and freedom located near Lagos harbor.

Zuma Rock: is one of the major attractions in Abuja, Nigeria. It is located in Niger state and often described by many as a getaway from Suleja to Abuja, and the rock has beautiful natural contours which project the image of a human face with visible mouth, nose and eyes. The top of zuma rock catches fire during the rainy season (April – October) and the sight is magnificent.

Lekki Conservation Center: has the longest canopy walkway in Africa and in order to avoid extinction of some species of animals, efforts are being made to save different types of animals. The center is endowed with lots of plants and animal life set aside for wildlife viewing and is located in Lekki peninsula Lagos state.

Oguta Lake: is the largest natural lake found in the southeastern part of Nigeria, originating from a natural depression. It is one of the oldest trade centers in Nigeria due to its agricultural products,  natural resources, palm produce, oil and gas, waterways, etc. it is located in Imo state.

Ogbunike Caves: is located in Ogbunike, Anambra state. The caves are situated in a valley with tropical rain forest, and occupied by a large colony of bats.descending into the valleys where the caves are is a lengthy walkway of about 317 steps, which at the end of this walkway is an open space (reception point) where visitors by tradition remove their shoes. 

Either as a citizen of Nigeria or a tourist visiting Nigeria for the first time, There are lots of fun places to visit and explore in Nigeria.

pai Waddi: a visit to the highest point (mountain) in Nigeria also referred to as the mountain of death, Is an amazing site to behold and it is located in Taraba state near the border of Cameroon

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa blessed with lots of landmarks and natural reserves. It also has lots of fun places that can be visited with families, friends or alone, either as a citizen of the country or a tourist and you will be glad you visited those places.

Some of the fun places to visit in Nigeria include:
Almat Farms and Resort: is located in Kuje, Abuja. is a place to visit with family and friends and you’ll be glad you did. More than what you will find on the average farm are sports and activities like polo, horse riding, volleyball, hiking, board games, picnics, camping, bike riding, which are some of the activities of the fun place that will keep you preoccupied and rejuvenated while on the farm. A collection of wild animals is kept in their petting zoo. Experience African hospitality in their traditional building with modern comfort huts, for tourists and those on vacation.

Erin Ijesha Waterfall: also known as Olumirin waterfall is located in Oriade local government of Osun state and it is 2km away from the town. The waterfall is like a collection of seven cascades that pour over a cliff. Any lover of nature will definitely love the Erin Ijesha Waterfall.

Yankari Game Reserve: is an important refuge for over 50 mammal species including olive baboon, roan antelope, hippopotamus, West African lion, African buffalo, African bush elephant, and over 300 species of birds are found in the park, outdoor and indoor sports facilities with suitable accommodation. Yankari Game Reserve is located in the South-central of Bauchi state and it is home to several natural warm water springs.

Ngwo Pine Forest: is used as a recreational center for picnics and hosts a limestone cave sculpted with a waterfall that forms a shallow pool at the bed of the cave. Ngwo Pine Forest is found in Enugu.

Obudu Mountain Resort: also known as Obudu Cattle ranch is located in Calabar and is one of Africa’s finest and most spectacular tourist attractions. It’s a mix of adventure and tranquility, gives you the opportunity to explore nature, bond with friends and family while hiking through the forest and mountain watching birds. It features a golf course, night-time bonfire, horseback riding, cable cars, and lots more.

Millennium Park: offers visitors the opportunity to savor the freedom and freshness that nature brings and is one the best spots for picnics. It is the largest park situated in Abuja and is children-friendly, with activities such as swinging, bouncing castles, little horse rides, and puzzles.

Abraka River Resort: located in Abraka along agbor-sapela road in Delta state has its own sandy beach with tables and parasols for visitors to relax. A couple of activities at the resort include a quad bike, speedboat riding, telescope gazing, rainforest trek, clay pigeon shooting, squash, etc.

Olumo Rock: is a mountain located in the ancient city of Abeokuta in Ogun state.it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Nigeria.

Whispering palm: is one of the most sought-after destinations for vacations, honeymoons, and getaways. The environment provides stunning views surrounded by beautiful green scenery, comfortable hotel rooms, restaurants, beach sports such as volleyball, football, tennis, boat ride, mini-museum, gym, and traditional halls. It is located in Badagry, Lagos state.

La campagne Tropicana Beach Resort: located in Lagos is a quiet and serene place for those who wish to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The resort combines African-themed hospitality with modern-day luxury and the views are iconic.

Ikogosi Warm Springs: this is nature’s gift to mankind, a tourist attraction centre located in Ekiti state. Flowing abreast the warm spring is another cold spring that meets the water at a confluence each maintaining its terminal.

Abraka Turf and Country Club: provides recreational activities to keep adults and children happy during holiday retreats. It offers great savannah adventure, natural reserves, and a clear emerald green river. It usually hosts an international polo tournament annually during Easter weekends with outdoor activities ranging from canoeing, fishing, swimming, barbecue, etc. The Abraka Turf and Country Club are beautifully surrounded by rich tropical rainforest that borders the river Ethiope in Delta state.

Ever wondered if Health and Wellness are two words with the same meaning (synonym). A Lot of people often use these words without actually knowing the difference, but trust me they are two different terms that compliment each other. While one of the terms means “good health or full bloom, the other is the process in which you can attain the first”. We shall be talking about all the components or aspects of individuals that are related to their health.

In order for us to understand thoroughly what these terms (Health and Wellness) are; we have to know the meaning. To enable us to forge ahead, Let’s first and foremost get a brief definition of these terms (Health and Wellness).

So we’ll be considering the definition of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and according to (WHO):

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of sickness and diseases. While 

Wellness is a positive approach to living. An active and dynamic process of change and growth to reach one’s full potential.

Having gotten the meaning of health or Wellness, I am sure we can tell the difference between the words now. I would like to cite a scenario to differentiate Health and Wellness.

Health: A case of early age diagnosis of type 1 diabetes or a predisposition of heart disease

Wellness: Deliberate decision/choice to schedule regular doctor’s visits, eat a balanced diet, and exercise more.

Now let’s talk about the complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being of individuals. We are going to be discussing them one after the other, staying positive approaches to reach one’s goal is related to Health and Wellness. 

Physical Health refers to the state of your physical body and how well it is functioning, physical health is one aspect of the total well-being of an individual, and physical health impacts or affects the other aspects of Health. In order for this dimension of health which is our physical body to operate well, you must choose to:

• Eat a healthy diet and drink lots of water.
• Practise proper hygiene by keeping your body clean and free disease by brushing your teeth, bathing twice daily and doing your laundry (washing dirty clothes).
• Exercise daily by intentionally strengthening your physical body through workouts.
• Sleep at least eight (8) hours every night.

Social Health is an individual’s overall well being which determines the ability of an individual to form and maintain interpersonal relationships. Ways to improve on social health includes intentionally:

• Meet people everyday.
• Try out new things and visit new places .
• Be approachable, open and easily accessed for questions and discussion.
• Nurture your already existing relationships.
• Stop judging and blaming others.

Mental Health comprises our emotional, psychological and social well-being, it affects the way we feel, act and think. Mental health helps determine how we make choices related to one another and how we handle stress as individuals. It affects one’s behavior, mood, and thinking, some factors that contribute to mental health include:

• Life experiences such as abuse
• Family history of mental health
• Biological factors like genes

Some signs of mental illness are as follows:

• Social withdrawal
• Long lasting sadness
• Extreme changes in mood
• Excessive anxiety or worry
• Dramatic change in eating and sleeping habit

Approaches to improve one’s mental health:

• Love and value yourself, treat yourself with kindness and avoid self criticism
• Surround yourself with good people
• Get help when needed
• Stay clear of alcohol and drugs 
• Set goals for yourself, what you want to achieve academically, personally and professionally
• Take care of yourself by eating healthy and drinking lots of water
• Learn how to deal with stress.

So here we have been able to differentiate between health and wellness, and talked about the three dimensions of health such as physical, mental, and social health and the various positive approaches or processes in which one can take to reach its full potential.