By: eternitysojourner
3. Local Connections
4. Good Health
Last month, my family and I took a long-awaited and
highly-anticipated journey to Ethiopia, visiting Addis Ababa, Harar, and Negash. While we were riding high on the hype of an
enriching historical journey, we had to come to terms with the poverty we would
face in a developing country. The
tourism industry is booming in Ethiopia and there is a conscientious effort to
move beyond the image of a starving, famine-stricken country, towards a
prosperous and worldly society. As with
progress in most developing countries, change comes with a cost and you more
than likely will feel it in your own pocket.
In spite of the rising cost of living and travel, these are five
invaluable allies that helped us move through the country "with the people".
1. Useful Information
While knowing the population of a city or historical facts
are useful, save some time for researching what’s going to count in your
day-to-day travels. Admission fees, taxi
fares, and tipping customs can be extremely variable in some parts of the
world. If you’re not careful, you can be
paying double, triple, or quadruple of what’s appropriate. Be prepared to talk down prices that are
negotiable and refer to the great bartering tips shared by others here and
here. If you can talk numbers in the
local language, peppered with the lingo and mannerisms of seasoned locals, then
you have yet another advantage in securing a reasonable price for whatever you’re
pursuing.
2. Loose Change
Keeping small bills in your wallet is useful for making
donations to charities or individuals, as well as hand-to-hand business
transactions in your travels. We lost a few bucks here
and there after giving a large currency note to pay a tour guide or a
guesthouse and not receiving any change.
Save the big bills for large establishments and fixed fare
transportation, where you're more likely to have your change returned. Keep the
small bills handy for everything else.
Depending on how much cash you feel comfortable carrying,
try to avoid using your debit or credit card internationally. More than likely you’ll be paying transaction
fees on both ends, so travel with large currency bills (dollars, euros, etc.)
and exchange them after exiting the airport. Airports are notorious for pitiful exchange
rates, so consider using a bank or other exchange services.
Side Note: Don’t
forget to inform your home bank about your travels so they don’t assume your
account is being used fraudulently!
Use your common interests to connect with others. Tap into clubs, groups, and societies, where
you can make authentic connections on topics other than tourism and make plans
to connect while you’re in town. When
researching vegan travel tips, we came across the Ethiopian Vegan Association
and connected with Ethiopians who had a common interest and were keen to answer
our inquiries and give us travel advice, without a fee. One member became more than just our
unofficial guide in Addis Ababa but has become a true friend. He weaved us through the capital on a
shoestring budget, with the added benefit of seeing how others live, work, and
move through the bustling city. We also
found great places for delicious local food that were way off the beaten path
and even further from the pages of a guidebook.
After touring a good bit of Addis Ababa carrying my toddler
daughter in a sling, I was grateful for being in good shape. Long walks and cramped minibuses were bearable
and we spent about a tenth of what it would cost to ride taxis all through
town. Similarly, we took an entertaining
long distance bus which was also about a tenth of the domestic flight
cost. Being able to carry your own bags,
walk comfortably, and withstand a long bus or train ride can save you the expense
of private transport, tipping bellboys, and door-to-door service for your
entire journey. A habit of daily walking
and exercise is not only great preparation for travel but great for healthy
living in general.
5. Good Attitude
Last-minute delays, cancellations, and changes to your
itinerary can be frustrating. If you can
breathe through the irritation, you’ll more than likely find a helpful hand, a
kind word, or a brilliant back-up plan to keep your itinerary moving smoothly,
in spite of the detour. The angry, belligerent
tourist may not be able to move beyond their disappointment, making rash
decisions that spoil a good trip for everyone.
However, the patient, flexible tourist can “go with the flow”, embrace
their circumstances, and ride the waves of whatever travel brings their way. Instead of being fixated on what you “missed”
and trying to buy it back at all costs, you may find a Plan B that is equally
(if not, more) satisfying at a lower cost.
We had our hearts set on visiting a town that sounded great online but,
to Ethiopians, was not as spectacular as we thought. We saved some time and money by changing our
plans and it was the best decision we could’ve made. Be open to the possibilities and travel
safely! J
