Hello Leruo family, what a year 2023 has been. We have survived skyrocketing food prices, high interest rates and fuel prices to name a few. To help us navigate the uncertain times, manage our finances and achieve our goals, Leruo has remained a trusted source for personal finance tips and financial planning hacks.
As the holiday season fast approaches, I want to switch things up and bring excitement and fun to Leruo. I am excited to introduce a travel-inspired series that will share travel tips – from how plan for your next trip, why a travel budget is important, the advantages and disadvantages of travel insurance, how roadside assistance can benefit you and how to take the perfect picture at any of the landmark frames positioned at strategic travel destinations across the country.
My hope is that this series inspires and motivates you to travel and explore our beautiful country, on a budget of course!
Are you ready to plan your next travel adventure?
- Identify the travel destination.
With less than ten weeks remaining of 2023, it is key to allocate time to rest and recharge. Why not spend time travelling and exploring Lesotho?
With so many travel destinations and gems to choose from in Lesotho, it is imperative that we use the next two to three weeks identifying preferred travel destinations and setting things in motion. To help with the planning, below are a few questions to help you start:
- Do you prefer travelling to the highlands or lowlands?
- Are you travelling alone, with family or friends?
- Is it a day visit or stay over?
- Do you need accommodation?
- Is the vehicle suitable for the terrain?
- Do you have a designated driver if you will be consuming alcohol?
- Draw up a travel budget.
While I promote and encourage Basotho to take care of their wellbeing and to go on trips to escape from the stressors of life, failing to plan financially can leave you and your finances in a mess. I cannot emphasize the importance of drawing up a budget enough, because if not well planned or managed, things can quickly spiral out of control. Consider questions like:
- Do you have quotations for travel expenses such as transport, accommodations etc?
- How much do you want to spend on fuel, accommodation, activities and entertainment?
- Is this amount per person? Of the entire family?
- How much time do you need to save for the trip? Two months? Three months?
- How much are the contributions? Per person?
- Do you have contingency savings to cater for unplanned expenses that may arise such as punctures or variances in prices?
- Have you taken care of the regular household expenses such as rent/mortgage, loan instalments, groceries and utilities before spending money for the trip?
- Do not procrastinate, start planning!
Like the saying goes, ‘an adventure awaits you’.
Plan, save and go! There are so many incredible destinations to visit and explore, why waste any more time? Do not forget to ‘snap and tag’ Alliance Insurance and Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) on social media using the following hashtags #LesothoKeLapeng #LeruoTravel #VisitLesotho.
