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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:

1. Go to Aviasales
2. Enter your route (e.g., Lagos → Dubai)
3. Select your dates
4. 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:

1. Hotel (7 nights): ₦180,000

• 4-star near Dubai Mall
• Breakfast included
• Free WiFi & pool

1. Activities Bundle: ₦85,000

• Burj Khalifa tickets
• Desert Safari
• Dubai Marina cruise
• Bought separately would cost ₦145K

How to find deals:

1. Go to Klook
2. Select “Dubai” as destination
3. Check “Hotels” tab for accommodations
4. Check “Things to Do” for activities
5. Look for combo deals (hotel + activities)

[SCREENSHOT: Klook Dubai hotel + activity package]

Total Saved: ₦260,000

👉 Browse Dubai Deals on Klook

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:

1. Go to EKTA Travel Insurance
2. Enter trip details (destination, dates, travelers)
3. Choose coverage level
4. Pay with PayPal
5. 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:

1. Go to Localrent
2. Select “Airport Transfer”
3. Enter: Dubai Airport (DXB) → Your hotel
4. Choose vehicle type
5. 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:

1. Create PayPal Account

• Go to PayPal.com
• Sign up with your email
• Verify your email address

1. Link Your Naira Account

• Add your Nigerian debit card
• Or link your bank account directly
• Verify with the ₦50 test charge

1. Fund Your Account (Optional)

• Transfer Naira to PayPal balance
• Or just pay directly from your linked card

1. 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:

1. Flight delayed/cancelled?
2. Submit claim on Compensair
3. They contact the airline
4. They negotiate on your behalf
5. 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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