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This post is for regular travelers who enjoy long interstate travel trips. If you have ever traveled a long distance, you can definitely relate to this. If you haven’t and you are planning to sometime—you can book it on intercity.ng 😉 —then you know that a long road trip is more than just a trip; it’s an experience.
For regular travelers from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Abuja to Lagos, Port Harcourt to Ibadan, Ibadan to Abuja, Lagos to Kaduna etc, you will need to digest this to make your next long road trip an enjoyable one. Here are some tips for you the next time you travel:
1. Book your trip on intercity:
First thing first, book cheaper bus tickets on intercity.ng. Who doesn’t like awoof? For regular road users, intercity.ng is the go-to place to book trips. Aside over 1000 available routes, you will surely get discounts on your trips. If you are a new user, you get 1k soft off your trip if you sign up. And you can also compare and select the best price for your next long road trips.
2. Extra Cash
When we say extra, we mean extra. In essence, have enough cash and some more for miscellaneous expenses. Cash always comes in handy for various situations or purposes, especially during a long-distance interstate road trip. Picture that moment when a seller approaches your window and you start craving what they’re selling; this is where the extra cash comes in. Sometimes, you might just come across something you’ve been wanting to buy. I know of a lady who bought a mortar and pestle on the road! (laugh) Now, tell me, how would she have done that without that extra cash?
3. Hold “Chop-Chop”:
Chop-chop” here means snacks or eatables. When traveling long distances, having snacks to munch on is essential. You might get hungry, and there is nowhere to purchase something. It might also be a situation where your fellow passenger starts eating something with a very appetizing aroma, and you don’t want to seem like a “long throat,” which the Yoruba people refer to as “ojukokoro.” So, this is a great time to bring out your chop-chop to munch.
4. Phone Is Your Best Companion.
Your phone is very important while traveling, as it is multifunctional. It serves as a means of communication and is your companion throughout your journey. You can share your live location, and you can check Google Maps to get the distance and estimated arrival time. An added bonus is that you can tell the time because you don’t want to be asking your neighbours “please, what’s the time?” at every interval, and it also sucks not to know the time while traveling.
5. Power Bank
Traveling interstate road trip will put you through trials of boredom. You don’t have to keep an eye on your battery bar or percentage while traveling or endure that unending boredom. In the worst-case scenario, your phone goes off (you don’t want to experience this!). With your power bank, you can enjoy your phone’s battery with minimal worry.
6. Limit Water Intake and Watch What You Eat
This one is called “operation avoid nature’s call at all cost.” Because you don’t want nature to call you at the wrong time, you have to limit your water intake and watch what you eat before you travel. If you can, try to relieve yourself on the morning of your travel day. The bus will be very reluctant to stop in the middle of nowhere, especially for long-distance trips.
7. Prescribed Drugs:
For those with medical health conditions, you know that your drugs/medications should be with you to avoid unexpected situations. If you are not already on a medical prescription and you know you have a health issue, make sure to see the doctor before go on a long road trip.
8. Movie and Music
Having access to movies and music is very important because during your trials of boredom on a long-distance trip, these will be your companions. It is preferable to download them before your travel because there might be no access to the network at some point, and that might be a bummer.
9. Headphones/EarPods/Earpiece:
To not inconvenience others with the volume of your music or movie or so as not to struggle with hearing what you’re listening to, you are going to need one of these. Especially when you’re traveling with loud passengers, and you need some peace, here you can go to your headphones, earpods, or ear pods or earpiece for solace.
10. Wear Comfortable Clothes:
There might be a temptation to buy new clothes for your long trip journey, but it’s advisable to wear tested and trusted (previously worn) comfortable clothes that you have because comfort is a luxury that, in this case, you can afford.
Conclusion
In the grand scheme of things, a long-distance interstate road journey is not just about reaching your destination; it’s a delightful adventure sprinkled with moments of ‘chop-chop’ cravings, power bank rescues, cheap rides, and the strategic avoidance of nature’s unexpected calls.
As you embark on your next long road trip, remember these tips, because they’re your trusty sidekicks for a journey filled with both planned and unexpected twists. So, buckle up, and enjoy.
Do you have your own travel tales and tips to share? We’d love to hear them! Share your experiences in the comments below and let’s make every journey a shared adventure. Safe travels and happy wanderings! 🚗✨
Written By Loveth Walker (Loveth is one of our Campus Ambassadors from UNILAG
She Tweets at @Lovethwalker
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