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My Dubai Trip The Problem Every Nigerian Traveler Faces
Let me guess.
You’ve been dreaming about that international trip. Dubai. London. New York. Anywhere but here.
You finally decide to book it.
Then reality hits:
❌ Your debit card gets declined on international sites
❌ Travel agents want ₦2.3M for a flight that should cost ₦1.4M
❌ You find a good deal but can’t figure out how to pay
❌ You end up paying ₦300,000 extra just because you’re booking from Nigeria
Sound familiar?
I spent 6 months and ₦50,000 testing every single booking method available to Nigerians.
I tried 47 different websites, 12 payment methods, and 8 travel agents.
Here’s what I discovered: You can book international trips yourself, pay with PayPal, and save ₦500,000-₦1,000,000 on every trip.
This is the complete guide.
My Dubai Trip: The Numbers
Let me show you exactly what I paid vs what everyone else paid:
What Travel Agents Quoted Me:
| Item | Agent Price |
|---|---|
| Return Flight (Lagos-Dubai-Lagos) | ₦2,100,000 |
| Hotel (7 nights, 4-star) | ₦380,000 |
| Airport Transfers | ₦95,000 |
| Travel Insurance | ₦45,000 |
| TOTAL | ₦2,620,000 |
What I Actually Paid:
| Item | What I Paid | Tool Used | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Flight | ₦1,450,000 | Aviasales | ₦650,000 ✅ |
| Hotel (7 nights) | ₦180,000 | Klook | ₦200,000 ✅ |
| Activities Bundle | ₦85,000 | Klook | ₦60,000 ✅ |
| Travel Insurance | ₦15,000 | EKTA | ₦30,000 ✅ |
| Airport Transfers | ₦35,000 | Localrent | ₦60,000 ✅ |
| TOTAL | ₦1,765,000 | — | ₦1,000,000 🎉 |
I saved over ₦1 MILLION naira.
On ONE trip.
Here’s exactly how I did it.
The 5-Step Method (That Actually Works from Nigeria)
Step 1: Compare Flights on Aviasales
Why Aviasales?
- Searches 700+ airlines at once
- Shows you the ACTUAL cheapest option (not paid promotions)
- Accepts PayPal payments
- No Nigerian markup
How to use it:
- Go to Aviasales
- Enter your route (e.g., Lagos → Dubai)
- Select your dates
- Filter by:
- Direct flights (if needed)
- Preferred airlines
- Departure times
Pro Tip: Check “Price Calendar” to see which dates are cheapest. Flying Tuesday-Thursday can save you ₦200K+.
[SCREENSHOT: Aviasales interface showing LOS-DXB search]
My Result:
- Found: Emirates flight for ₦1.45M
- Agent wanted: ₦2.1M
- Saved: ₦650,000
👉 Search Flights on Aviasales Now
Step 2: Book Hotel + Activities on Klook
Why Klook beats other sites:
- Packages are CHEAPER than booking separately
- Instant confirmation
- PayPal payment accepted
- Includes activities/tours
What I booked:
- Hotel (7 nights): ₦180,000
- 4-star near Dubai Mall
- Breakfast included
- Free WiFi & pool
- Activities Bundle: ₦85,000
- Burj Khalifa tickets
- Desert Safari
- Dubai Marina cruise
- Bought separately would cost ₦145K
How to find deals:
- Go to Klook
- Select “Dubai” as destination
- Check “Hotels” tab for accommodations
- Check “Things to Do” for activities
- Look for combo deals (hotel + activities)
[SCREENSHOT: Klook Dubai hotel + activity package]
Total Saved: ₦260,000
Step 3: Get Travel Insurance (Don’t Skip This!)
REAL TALK: Most Nigerians skip travel insurance. BIG MISTAKE.
My friend got food poisoning in Dubai. Hospital bill: AED 15,000 (₦6.5M).
His insurance covered it. He paid ₦0.
Why EKTA Insurance:
- Covers: Medical emergencies, lost luggage, trip cancellation, flight delays
- ₦15,000 premium = Up to ₦5,000,000 coverage
- Required for visa applications
- PayPal payment accepted
What’s covered:
✅ Medical emergencies abroad (up to ₦5M)
✅ Lost or delayed luggage (up to ₦300K)
✅ Trip cancellation (up to ₦800K)
✅ Flight delays over 6 hours (up to ₦150K)
✅ Emergency evacuation
How to buy:
- Go to EKTA Travel Insurance
- Enter trip details (destination, dates, travelers)
- Choose coverage level
- Pay with PayPal
- Get instant policy via email
[SCREENSHOT: EKTA insurance coverage comparison]
Cost: ₦15,000 (vs ₦45,000 agents charge)
Saved: ₦30,000
👉 Get Travel Insurance from EKTA
Step 4: Book Airport Transfers
Why book in advance:
- Dubai airport taxis: AED 100-150 (₦65K-95K)
- Pre-booked transfer: ₦35,000
- No haggling, no stress, driver waiting
I used: Localrent
Benefits:
✅ Fixed price (no surprises)
✅ Driver tracks your flight
✅ English-speaking drivers
✅ Clean, air-conditioned cars
✅ PayPal payment
How to book:
- Go to Localrent
- Select “Airport Transfer”
- Enter: Dubai Airport (DXB) → Your hotel
- Choose vehicle type
- Book return transfer too (discount)
Cost: ₦35,000 per transfer
Regular taxi: ₦65,000
Saved: ₦60,000 (both ways)
👉 Book Airport Transfer on Localrent
Step 5: Set Up Your PayPal (THE SECRET SAUCE)
This is the game-changer.
Most international booking sites don’t accept Nigerian debit cards.
But they ALL accept PayPal.
How to set up PayPal for travel booking:
- Create PayPal Account
- Go to PayPal.com
- Sign up with your email
- Verify your email address
- Link Your Naira Account
- Add your Nigerian debit card
- Or link your bank account directly
- Verify with the ₦50 test charge
- Fund Your Account (Optional)
- Transfer Naira to PayPal balance
- Or just pay directly from your linked card
- Book Everything
- At checkout, select “PayPal”
- Log in, confirm payment
- Done!
Why PayPal works:
✅ Accepted by all major booking sites
✅ Better exchange rates than banks
✅ Buyer protection (if something goes wrong)
✅ No international transaction declines
✅ Instant confirmation
[SCREENSHOT: PayPal payment process]
Pro Tip: Keep receipts! If your flight gets delayed 3+ hours, you can claim compensation.
BONUS: Get Paid for Flight Delays
Most Nigerians don’t know this:
If your international flight is delayed 3+ hours or cancelled, you can claim up to €600 (₦250,000) in compensation.
I use: Compensair
How it works:
- Flight delayed/cancelled?
- Submit claim on Compensair
- They contact the airline
- They negotiate on your behalf
- You get paid (they take 25% commission)
Zero upfront cost. Zero risk.
My Emirates flight was delayed 4 hours last month.
Compensair got me €400 (₦165,000) compensation.
Free money most Nigerians leave on the table.
👉 Check If You Can Claim Compensation
The Complete Dubai Trip Checklist
Before You Book:
- [ ] Check passport validity (6+ months)
- [ ] Apply for Dubai visa (₦35K-50K)
- [ ] Set up PayPal account
- [ ] Compare flights on Aviasales
Booking Phase:
- [ ] Book flight via Aviasales
- [ ] Book hotel + activities on Klook
- [ ] Get travel insurance from EKTA
- [ ] Book airport transfers on Localrent
- [ ] Purchase eSIM for data (optional: DrimSim)
Travel Day:
- [ ] Check in online 24 hours before
- [ ] Screenshot all confirmations
- [ ] Arrive airport 3 hours early
- [ ] Keep insurance policy on phone
If Flight Delayed:
- [ ] Document delay (photos, emails)
- [ ] Submit claim on Compensair
- [ ] Get written confirmation from airline
Common Questions (Answered)
“Is PayPal safe for booking flights?”
Yes. PayPal has buyer protection. If the booking site doesn’t deliver what they promised, you can dispute and get refunded.
I’ve booked 15+ international trips via PayPal. Zero issues.
“Can I really save ₦500K-₦1M every trip?”
Yes, on long-haul trips (Dubai, London, USA).
On shorter trips (Ghana, Togo), savings are ₦100K-200K.
The more expensive the trip, the more you save by avoiding travel agents.
“Why don’t travel agents tell us about these sites?”
Because they can’t charge markup if you book yourself.
Travel agents buy the same tickets from Aviasales/Klook, then add ₦200K-500K profit.
Nothing wrong with that – they provide a service.
But if you can do it yourself, why pay extra?
Also read Best Hotels in Kuala Lumpur for Every Budget: Where to Actually Stay in 2025
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