Travel is an investment into experiences. You cannot attach monetary value to the smiles you get after visiting a stunning place. You cannot attach any monetary value to the joy that comes with being in a breathtaking place. It’s true that some things cannot be counted, they are just meant to be felt. Just like any other investment; travel requires that you plan ahead and save for expenses so that you get a rewarding experience. In this post, we share with you a few tips on planning and saving for travels.

Planning Matters.

The first stage of any travel experience is planning. This is where you identify where you would want to go, when you would want to go, what you would want to do, how you will get there and what you will need when you are there. Planning answers the basics of your travel experience, and gives you a visual impression of what the experience will be like.

We did a survey, and from 100 respondents, only 27 were confident that they plan for their travel experience a month before they travel. Fewer (12) were confident that they plan 3 months ahead of the travel date. The majority (61) of respondents would not plan ahead, but would still expect everything to be in place. The majority are impulsive, they come across an advert for a travel package then sign up for it, or they just think they need to go somewhere and start look around for immediate options. 

Whilst there is beauty in serendipity, our advice is that you must give yourself enough time to plan, and research about what you want to achieve as you travel. Planning makes a lot of things more certain, your experience smoother and interesting. It also gives you peace of mind as you travel, because everything would be organized, unlike leaving it to the last minute, where you could spoil everything due to panic. Traveling without planning is just like traveling to a new place without a map, it’s a recipe for disaster.

Some of the things to consider in your planning include:

1. Destination. There are lots of places to go in Zimbabwe, lots of things to experience, so you must be certain about where you want to go. Destinations offer various experiences, so you must be aware of the experience you want to get, and use that knowledge to find out which place to visit.
2. Accommodation. If you will be sleeping over, you must plan for your accommodation options in advance. Find out the options which the destination offers, the type of accommodation you would want and make your selection. Remember accommodation can be finite, the earlier you secure it, the better.
3. Transport. You must plan on how you will get to the destination. Will you fly? Will you drive? Will you hire a transport service provider? Be sure you are certain on how you will get there. Sometimes you need special vehicles to reach certain destinations, for instance you need a 4X4 to be able to enjoy Gonarezhou. 
4. Activities. Like we mentioned earlier, various destinations have various offerings. What Nyanga offers, is not the same as what Kariba offers, each destination has its activities which are particular to it. Make sure you can find the activities you would like to do at the destination you choose to visit. Remember, accommodation isn’t just sleeping in a hotel, you can explore many options, timeshares, lodges, camping and other options.
5. Meals. No one enjoys being hungry, the food part is important to any travel experience. Plan on the meals you will have, how they will be prepared, and the setting so that you can enjoy your fill. 
6. Money. This is the most important part. Money is what makes everything make sense. Your plans must be match your ability to fund them. A common saying is “You cannot live a champagne life on a freezit budget.” Make sure everything you choose goes along with your financial capacity. Plan for what’s within your financial reach, some have grand plans but shy wallets and that leads to disappointment.

An important part of planning is information. Make sure you find accurate information, so that you plan accurately. If you need help with planning for your travels, we are there to assist based on our vast experience and can recommend other people and agencies which can assist you.

Budget with the plan in mind.

After you plan, next thing is to budget your costs. 

Look, we are living in the same country, but we have different realities. In this Zimbabwe, some have money to spare, and can afford the exquisite things, the top luxuries, and premium stuff. At the same time, some cannot afford the same, but can still have good experiences. Know your financial lane, and stay there, it will guide you to your destination. There is no point getting into debt so that you can travel, but you end up not being able to travel because you are worrying about how you will pay up what you owe. It’s important to live within your means, and to travel within your means.

So as you budget for costs, do not be shy to go for cost saving options if that’s what works for you. And do not withhold yourself for going for the big things if you feel like you can afford to spend big. 

Find out the payment terms for the services you will need on your travel. It could be accommodation, transport, catering, activities or anything else. Some service providers give flexible payment terms, some don’t. If you can find those who allow you to pay over installments, it would be great. If you do not find them, that shouldn’t stop you, you can pay a deposit and save until the time you would have agreed to make your payment, then pay at once. 

We can help you structure financial arrangements for your travels. 

Saving works, we must normalize it. Since many people don’t plan in advance, then it’s true that many people don’t save for their travels. Interestingly, we did a survey in Victoria Falls, where a lot of foreign arrivals are experienced. We learnt that on average, people from Europe would have saved for almost 3 years for them to come to Zimbabwe and enjoy its beauty. Some would be using credit cards, which they would later pay for with monthly deductions from their salaries. 

The difference with us is that we are in a cash economy, we pay for everything instantly. There are some things which may be priced in a way which makes it less likely for us to be able to pay instantly, but that doesn’t mean we cannot afford, we can save for a period of time until we can be able to pay for them. It takes an attitude shift to be able to do that. We must make saving cool, we must find the discipline within us to keep our hands away from that which we would have committed to fund our future travel experiences. 

The financial management class for travel enthusiasts ends here. 

Let’s plan, budget, save and travel together. 

tinashe@travelzimbabwe.co.zw