#TosynTravels By the deserts of Saint Louis...

I went to Senegal in March. It was a quick and brief trip as i had only a few days off work and also had to host #TosynsBuzzLive, well live, on Pulse.

Brief but well worth it.

I think it is interesting that not all Africans travel within Africa, especially around countries where as Nigerians for example, we do not need visas. There are actually a lot of countries, for example, ECOWAS countries, where Nigerians can enter without visas and they are beautiful places.

There is a lot to s.h.a.r.e about my trip to Senegal so expect to see little posts from time to time. Today, i would like to s.h.a.r.e specifically about Saint Louis.

Saint Louis is also known as 'Ndar' in Wolof and is home to the famous Saint Louis Jazz Festival which i unfortunately missed this year but will pencil down for next year by His Grace.

Saint Louis is a simple place, with narrow roads s.h.a.r.ed by cars like the taxi that drove us there, bicycles and horses and carriages. It was fascinating to see horses, not in the randomly grazing on a field or playing polo context, but actually on the road beside me, taking people to work.
On the side of some roads was water water water with canoes and people fishing.

We stayed at the beautiful Hotel Mermoz which really was my favourite of all the hotels i stayed in there. First the rooms were simple, spacious and had a home feel to them, but the real joy was all the sand and sea we were surrounded by.

I loved nothing more than to walk around and take pictures, or sit outside to read in the sand.
If you go to Saint Louis. please do check them out.

They offer guided tours and Aurelien went on one. I will beg him to write about it. I spent the time doing what i love doing most- sleeping, eating, and walking.

We headed back to Dakar by road. But this time, not via the busy intercity roads we came by, but via the desert. And that was when the fun tripled.

Picture this- you, a jeep, water and sand with birds so close by and you driving not just BY the water, but actually IN the water, going past fishing villages and villagers. I loved it!

Then we went to one of the deserts proper and drove round then got back to the fishing villages and then headed into town proper.

(It was not all fun and romance though as we got caught up in the worst traffic ever. I live in Lagos so if i think a traffic situation was bad, you know it was BAD).

So where to go? Saint Louis
When to go? Aim for May to catch the Saint Louis jazz festival
Who to go with? A friend, bridal party, or your partner
What to pack? If you are in your hotel you can do shorts and bikinis but for trips around the town, keep it stylish but modest.
What to try? Definitely the ...

#TravelThursday When a foodie travels...

I love food. One of my dream jobs is to work somewhere where eating (possibly while travelling) is involved.
I eat anything and everything and will try most things at least once. Thankfully, i also have no allergies so there is no need to worry about dairy or other problems.

So i eat. And when i travel, o what joy it is. I am always amused to see people who look out for foods they would normally eat at home when they travel. I mean, i can understand that if you live in another country (LIVE),you will of course crave things from home but when you are there for holiday or a brief work stay, why not enjoy the cuisine there?

That is my first tip or thought- always try out what is indigenous to where you are staying everytime you travel. It will amaze you what you enjoy eating, and you could possibly bring that back with you. For example, i once had whole boiled okro when i went to Dubai and since then, i have seen okro in a new light; as a snack or part or even something enjoyed on its' own  and not just the usual 'swallow' and 'soup' way. I also developed a taste for 'white soup' when i went to Port Harcourt and order it regularly when i can.

Be curious. When you order these meals, find out what it is and how it is cooked.

Note however that not everything you eat will be wonderful. Infact, some may never be your cup of tea (sometimes literally) so please be careful when trying out new things and ensure you eat a lot of what you do know and trust as well. Anything that could potentially make you ill, awaken your allergies or give you the runs should be noted.

Take pictures! What?! This is the instagram generation. We document our food and where we enjoyed it. Just make sure you do not ruin meal times by taking pictures excessively. I advise one quick picture when the food comes and maybe an 'after' picture when you are done. These can be posted individually or with a grid. But please do not snapchat your meal time... at least, not unless you are making money from it.

What is the best food you have ever had from a country or state you do not live in?

#TravelThursday Beware the slump

Travelling is fun but always beware the slump.

That's when you come back and everything just feels 'bleh'.

The holiday helped you forget but now you are back to school / work / search and same ol' same ol' routines.

So how to beat the slump?

1. Come back early.

I find that the difference between when i come back the day my leave ends and a little while before is clear. They both suck (who wants to ever come home from a holiday) but the latter sucks less.

2. Ease into it

When you come back and immediately meet and try to deal with a heavy work load, you run the risk of physical and emotional trauma. Take things slow, especially for the first few days!

3. Bring your trip with you

Souvenirs and other memories from your trip will help keep you 'there' while you are here. Be it something as simple as a seashell or something as big as local art, anything that reminds you of your trip helps beat the slump.

Believe me, i'm taking my own advice!

#TravelThursday Creative ways to save money on your next trip

So the recession is in, but people still have to travel, right? Of course. Like the popular saying goes: "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."

So how to save money in this recession while still traveling? Sign me up! Well, it does involve a little bit of effort, but the amount in savings? Totally worth it!

Let's take the tips step by step shall we?

BEFORE TRAVELING

Best travel deals

Always look out for sweet travel deals, depending on where you are going and when. There are likely to be travel or tourism agencies offering packages that could help you save a chunk of money. Be on the look out.

Best time to travel

Naturally, peak perods mean more expensive everything- flights, accommodation etc. Be a rebel and take trips during off peak periods instead. Added advantage is you also avoid the crowds.

DURING YOUR TRIP

Pro bono and Group tours

Some trips come with your hotel package and you can take advantage of that. Another thing to take advantage of is group tours as this automatically brings the price down. A lot of tour companies in Dubai for example, offer the Desert Safari and similar guided tours. 

In some places, week day tours are cheaper than weekend tours so check for that.

Travel like a local

If you are in a group, you can travel like a locale. This means using the public transportation system and eating at some of the local bars.

Put safety and health first though!

The Joy of Duty Free

I like to save some money for shopping at the airport when coming back home. It's duty free and you can get some great deals.

Got any other tips you would like to share?

#TravelThursday Surviving Long Trips

Long trips are the worst! You just want to get to your village, your honeymoon destination, your friend's birthday getaway or camp site but first you have to sit for hours.
Yuck!

I remember long trips to my granny's house in Ijebu when I was in school, and being with my sister and cousins made it bearable. I've also learnt some tricks for long flights and thanks to my cousin, long journeys via sea as well.

Check out some below!

BEFORE THE TRIP

Dress Comfortably
Avoid tight clothing, heels and other things that might seem like a good idea when you leave home but will leave you slightly ill and very uncomfortable hours later.

My go to is usually a pair of jeans and a top, with a jacket incase it gets cold, and usually flats and socks.
If you are flying, you don't want shoes that you need to lace up, relace, then spend minutes wearing again as you go through scanners!

Watch what you eat and drink
It is advisable to have some water so as to be hydrated but watch what you eat and drink so you are not nauseous during the trip, and so your bathroom breaks are cut to a minimum.

Imagine a long bumpy bus ride?

Check the car
For road trips, please do check all the things you need. Tyre pressure, fuel in the tank, engine oil level etc. Also ensure you have proper documentation for all the stops along the way. This is not the time to ride with someone who does not have a license.

DURING THE TRIP

Get your Entertainment on!
Long trips are a great excuse for catching up on movies you've bheen wanting to see, music you have been wanting to listen to and all those novels you have not had time for.

And hey, if it is really long, get adventurous and see a movie you would usually never go to the cinema for or listen to a random album.

Get Creative!
Budding writer? Write. Artist? Draw? Songwriter? You know what to do.
Long trips are the perfect opportunities for discovering your creative side and letting it shine.

Take Breaks
If you are on a road trip, stop once in a while to just relax a little, especially for the driver.

On a plane, ensure you walk up and down the cabin once in a while as it is recommended by doctors. Do the same for sea travels as well.

Stay Fresh
I know a lot of us worry about staying clean during long flights and trips.
One thing to do is pack small siye versions of hygiene products like your toothbrush and paste, roll on or some kind of eau de toilette, baby wipes etc.

That way, you can freshen up during the trip and once you get to your destination.

#TravelThursday My Seychelles Beauty haul

#TravelTip when you go somewhere, check out their beauty products! Every area has that special thing you can only get there so bring some of that magic with you.

I went to Seychelles a few weeks ago and loved the sand the sun and the sea. So what about Seychelles is harnessed to make skin supple and people happy?

Turns out Seychelles has a lot to offer!

First I stumbled on this line called 'Yikings' which has a range of products for various skin types and needs. I copped the lip balm, some scrubs, face mist, skin rejuvenation lotion and cleanser.

Then at a souvenir shop, I found gems like these cute soaps (some already packaged as souvenirs), and lotions.

The natural products I got were mainly coconuts and lemon grass but there was also the peach one just for the smell.

I should have got some sunscreen though! Lol. So that's another tip- don't forget your sunscreen!

So that's my current haul and I'm enjoying using all of them, especially the facial soaps and body scrubs.

What's the best product you've bought while on holiday? s.h.a.r.e!

#TosynReviews Hilton Northolme- the smallest, but still #winning

By my first night, I was sold- Hilton Northolme is one of the best hotels I've ever been!

It's the morning of Day 3 and that hasn't changed.

We got in sleepy and tired after a long flight and connection so I was happy to start my interaction at Hilton with friendly and helpful staff, and complimentary cold drinks.

The friendly staff (apart from the one chef at breakfast who never smiles) have become a recurring welcome theme during my stay, and believe it can be a shock to then go into town and find not everyone smiles when they see you. Lol.

Another big plus is the design and ambience. The scenery is breathtaking and our room has a great view (and 'sound') of the sea. There's the room and living area (with a tv yay), the bathroom and the 'verandah', so it's ideal for extroverts who just need to dump bags and explore, or introverts who want to read, write and watch television.

Breakfast is served in a picturesque dining room overlooking the sea (everything overlooks the sea here but hey), and there's so much attention to detail that if your cappuccino happens to be no longer foamy, they will replace it for you. How cool is this?! There's the fruit of the month (this month, bananas) reflected in the fruit itself, a cake and a smoothie. There's even sparkling wine!!!

I'm a lover of hotel products and I was happy to see there was no skimping on products here- lotions, sun relief creams, soaps, shampoos, cotton bud, dental hygiene products and more.

Another plus? The gifts!
Complementary massages and little gifts daily. Day one was soap, Day two was tea and I'm hoping Day three will be perfume. Lol.

Their meals are well done and tasty and they have some fabulous specialty drinks like chilli coffee and Northolme coffee. Chilli is my favourite. My friend had a cold and they were kind enough to make us some nice tea with ginger and lemon grass.

It's hard to believe this Hilton hotel is actually the smallest Hilton hotel.

But is there anything I don't like?

Well I wish their menu reflected more creole dishes. I keep having to go to town to get 'local dishes'.

I also don't get their wi-fi policy. Surely in 2016, a Hilton can give you FAST internet access in the resort. Plus, what's with only two devices can connect in a room?
(To be fair, the staff always give me an access code for my extra devices).

In all, I do decree, this is my best hotel ever!

#TBDaily x #OnlyTheBest Day 1 of Tosyn taking Mauritius

Hey guys,

So I'm writing to you from sunny Mauritius. It is such a beautiful place. The resort we are camped in is the Outrigger Beach resort. It was love at first sight especially as they welcomed us with refreshing Lemon Grass tea. (I'm easily pleased).

Before I proceed, let's take this to the very beginning, for as they sang in the 'Sounds of Music', it's a very good place to start.

GoTV invited me down to Mauritius, alongside social media influencers like Olorisupergal, BellaNaija, Pulse NG and 360Nobs, for the annual #MultichoiceContentShowcase, themed, #OnlyTheBest.

Everyday a new adventure as to what to expect on GoTV, and indeed, DSTV.

I'm here with people from Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius (duh), Ethiopia, and more and I'll be uploading pictures and videos to my twitter, instagram and snapchat so heyyyyyy, follow me for great Behind the Scenes stuff.

(P.s, I can currently hear the Mavins doing their soundcheck).

With Olorisupergal (blogger) and  Korede Bello (Nigerian artiste, member of Mavins) on the flight

We flew Emirates (our Host on the Lagos to Dubai arm was a hoot!), and since the flights were looooong (at least six hours each, Lagos to Dubai, Dubai to Mauritius), I was able to watch 'Sounds of Music' (againnnnnnn), 'The Avengers' (again) and 'Cool Hand Luke'.

I also checked out the Ed Sheeran 'X' album and it's so good!!! Also worth checking out are Colbie Caillat's and Sam Smith's new albums.

I'll be heading out for a dinner at 7.30pm and I'm unpacking now so let me catch you guys later. In the meantime, don't forget to follow on instagram, twitter and snapchat for a blow by blow account.

I'm wrapping up with three essential tips for long distance travel

Tosyn's Travel Tips

- Have small tubes or containers for essentials like roll-on, lip gloss, foundation and powder.
You'll want to get off a plane looking like a million bucks!

- Don't skip the meals but be smart with the drinks. I recommend enjoying the complimentary water and asking for a little more, then keeping alcohol to a minimum

- Follow the clock! If you travel during the day, instead of sleeping off immediately (and then risking being awake at night), stay awake, read a book or enjoy an in-flight movie. Then sleep at night.
That way, you don't confuse your body and suffer too much jet-lag.

I hope the tips help!