"Do you even work?" - the comments which fill my social platforms, everytime we post a picture which shows we are globetrotting again over the weekend; rather than tucking into a boisterous brunch. Yes, we do - and often clock up 12hr days. Which comes with it's fair share of reward and exhaustion. Adam and I are firm believers of 'experiences over things' and since the world has stepped out in its party dress post-pandemic; a sense of normality now clouds over us. Travel is more popular and cheaper than ever before and below we explain how we travel and get to tick off so many destinations in the space of 12 months...
Trekkup Dubai
This meet-up organization for like-minded wanderlusters has been running since 2014 and is pioneered by globetrotting guru and good friend, Piotr Bural. Trekkup organises a steady stream of weekend and week-long trips all year round; offering great options for budget friendly adventure based travel. Trekkup has taken travelers to Indonesia, Kenya, South America, Uzbekistan and more recently, Japan - just to name a few. What we love most, is it strips the holiday planning presure off any individual. Trips are full board - which means you pay one set fee for airline tickets, transfers, accomodation, meals and tours. A dedicated team leader and local guide looks after the group from start to finish and it's a great opportunity to throw yourself out of your comfort zone and make some lifelong friends.
Trekkup offers a traveling experience which most companies can't. Piotr will often reccee trips in advance; finding local guides and experts in their field along the way who will take you off the beaten path, where you get a taste of native life. The majority of the trip's itineraries will allow you to give back to those less fortunate communities - which is a great feeling in itself. We have had the opportunity to meet with indigenous tribes and donated key hygiene packs and educational supplies to a run-down orphange - something which many toursists wouldn't even consider.
Trekkup's mantra is all about 'switching your Louboutins for hiking boots'. On their expansive callibre of trips, locations and genres; you will always find an activity dedicated to hiking - especially on trips which are 5+ days in duration. Some trips will be purely dedicated to hiking - such as their signature Albanian Alps trip, or cycling through Sri Lanka. But the trip's description will always offer a wealth of information and state the difficulty level, and whether it is suitable for hardcore trekkers, newbies and even kids.
How do I even book a trip?
Booking a Trekkup trip is as easy as 1,2,3 - it's selecting your final destination which is the hard part...
Simply log onto Trekkup's Meetup page and scroll through a plethorea of dates and destinations. There are the classics, which showcase weekend trips to Kerala, Petra, Socotra etc. or their famous lengthy trips, which take place over long public holiday weekends.
Read through the vacation description and see if it fits you and your needs. This is the only travel agency I have come across, which gives day-by-day itineraries on this level of detail, as well as informing you flight times in advance; so you can accurately plan booking leave from work. If you can survive on minimal sleep (or easily catch some zzz's on planes) you can opt for a weekend trip which leaves Friday evening after work and arrives early hours Monday morning. You get to experience jam-packed adventure without having to beg your boss for holiday = bonus!
Once having found your dream trip; simply sign-up and express your interest through the meetup link. You will then be added to the trip's dedicated whatsapp group and be emailed instructions on how to make payment and complete waiver forms. Once having successfully received payment; you will be sent your flight tickets, a detailed day-by-day itinerary and a kit/equipment list of things to pack. Depending on the location and trip length; some treks will only allow for hand luggage - so you really need to know how to maximize on space. We got you covered with that, in our packing tips and tricks blog post.
Is Trekkup affordable?
Trekkup's budget-friendly and honest (no hidden charges) price list is the main reason why we travel so often. A weekend trip on average can cost approx. AED3000 all-in. Not forgetting that it's highly unlikely you'll need to apply for any leave with work. Trekkup is also honest about which nationalies require pre-approved visas, vaccination certificates, PCRs and the associated costs surrounding those.
Trekkup is predominantly a group-travel agency and that also aids in bringing costs down, as tour operator and transportation charges are split across 10+ people. As mentioned earlier, Piotr and the team will always try and reccee a destination before a trip takes place. They establish a relationship with local guides and ensure you will see places which most tourists don't. If you were to plan half of these activities yourself; it would cost you an utter fortune!
What if I want to plan my own trip?
That of course is absolutely fine - Trekkup is simply an easier and cost-effective option for holiday planning. I personally love planning holidays, surfing the web for deals and building a tailored vacation that suits our needs. And of course, Trekkup isn't for everyone. It's adventure based, fast paced and relaxing beach vacations or Caribbean cruises, just aren't really their thing. If you are going to book your own vacation (and not take us up on holiday planning and providing a full itinerary and rates for you) then I would suggest you follow these helpful hints and tips below:
Research, research, research - you may have a dream destination in mind, but you'll need to check the weather vs their tourist peak season. Remember, if travelling in peak season; things will be much pricier and no doubt busier! I always advise researching Trip Advisor and Google Reviews, asking friends/family if they have been - getting recommendations from reliable resources. Also check out instagram...try searching through popular hashtags surrounding that location and you'll be surprised on what type of things you will find: Honest reviews, influencers' take on 'insta vs reality' - it's very cliche, but also very helpful, as we all know the power of marketing and that travel agents often lie.
If you are trying to save money; those midnight, red-eye, connecting flights are always cheaper on various budget airlines, but they usually offer little to no baggage allowance - so you'll really have to understand how to maximise on space with a big backpack and cabin luggage.
Talking about travel agents lying - you must always read the small print! If you are going for a package deal, make sure you read the finer detail from start to finish. Too often than not; holiday makers will select anti-social flight times, not provide free tranfers, not include alcoholic beverages in all-inclusive packages or auto add-on optional gratutities and service charges. Whilst these package deals look and sound appealing (especially with the likes of Emirates Holidays), they aren't always a sweet deal and come with minimal notice.
Price compare - people often assume that booking via a third-party comparison site (such as Skyscanner or Trivago) can save you money; but sometimes it can be the opposite. Plus, you don't have the flexibility and damages coverage with a third-party supplier if things go wrong. It will be much harder to claim for a refund, compensation or date changes if you haven't booked with the provider directly. I face this issue on a daily basis with my workplace, where many visitors have purchased fradulent tickets from companies claiming to be certified official resellers.
Always check your passport, visa requirements and your desired desination's vaccination status. Whilst most global borders are completely open; there are still some with strict regulations - depending on your nationality and vaccination status. We have experienced this a few times, where we have had to fully cancel our vacation, as they imposed strict entry rules and Adam's vaccine series wasn't recognized in that destination. Remember, passports need at least 6 month's validity to travel anywhere - this also applies for most resident visas too. You passport dates might be valid, but your visa is due to expire...don't run the risk and plan accordingly!
Plan how you will get around - will you rely on local taxis, hire a vehicle or use public transport? These are all considerations you will need to make, along with associated costs when planning a trip. If you are hiring a vehicle, how easy is it to fill up on fuel and what are the associated prices like. The UK heavily affected tourists recently with the sky-high fuel prices and lack of availability. You will also need to consider spending money full stop! Does your accomodation provide free meals? Are you staying at a self-catering resort? Have you paid for your tours upfront? If you are opting for self-guided tours, you need to understand how to navigate through the likes of Google maps. Therefore you probably need a mobile roaming data package. Research into whether your local telephone operator provides good rates, or if you are better off in getting a local sim card to save some money.
When planning and booking tours - if you don't know the area and need some inspiration; I recommend scrolling through Viator or Get Your Guide - these are helpful sites to discover local tour operators with associated reviews. Viator usually offer a 10% discount for first time app users and Get Your Guide typically offer Emirates Skywards Miles when making bookings. However, as these are paid to promote platforms; you are sometimes better to do some extra research, find out the name of the tour operator and try booking with them directly to avoid comission costs.
If you have booked your trip further in advance; continually keep your eye on the local exchange rates and monitor the market. There's a big ongoing debate whether it's cheaper to convert cash in your home country, or your final destination - it simply depends on what the exchange rate is like at that time. However, more and more places are commission free these days. I will always recommend having a currency card, cash passport or a Monzo card which can all be used as a debit card with a chip and pin to pay for anything across the globe - then you simply only need to withdraw cash for tips etc. That is another big thing to note: Tipping! Is your destination a big tipping culture or not? I always recommend carrying local currency on you - whether it's spare change or enough to pay your taxi fare. Even though the world is predominantly cashless, following on from the pandemic and the tapping of plastic is easier than ever; it's always good to carry cash.
Understand the do's and don'ts of your final destination. Is it safe to drink the water? Are there areas to avoid if you're a tourist? What is the crime rate like? How easy is it to find good healhcare failities if I fall sick? It is culturally respectful to extend your hand when greeting someone? Cultural sensitivity and basic etiquette play such an important factor with travel. What might be relatively acceptable in your home-town and culture could be illegal in others. Do some research, understand basic laws, your right as a tourist etc. and ensure you don't get caught out. It's also important to note that some countries will charge city and tourist taxes - be wise, do your research in advance and find out a) if this tax is a mandatory fee and b) what the extent of this taxation rate covers. Some destinations heavily rely on tourism, where it is their main pillar; and ensure tourists are heavily protected (especially in developing countries). When we travelled around Kathmandu, our driver had to ensure he displayed signage in the dashboard which stated he was carrying tourists. There are also many dedicated 'Tourist Police' vehicles which are there for your safety.
Finally, don't be a dummy - do take out travel insurance! It's so important, yet so easy to forget. We actually have a great annual gloabl coverage with AXA, which also covers loses due to COVID-19. However, you can easily take out a short-term cover just for the duration of your international trip. Take it from someone who has sadly suffered from second-degree burns and dysentary (luckily not at the same time) - it's better to have that peace of mind knowing that you're covered; especially if you are accident prone (like me)!
And there you have it...a very simple guide and some quick tips in a nutshell! Of course, if you need anything, or have further questions relating to Trekkup or planning your own trip; we are available for your assistance at any time. Just reach out to us via the contact us page.
That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by and having a read. Until next time, keep on adventuring and keep on discovering! Ciao for now.
Danie & Adam
xxx
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