Lots of people ask where to start or how to travel frequently and one of the many ways has to combine work/business travel with a bit of leisure for wanderlust. Of course, not all jobs provide travel opportunities but here is what you can do to unlock some trips
1. Volunteer
Most of these do come with accommodation, meals, and transport covered so you only bring pocket money. Since it’s also nonprofit and for good, if you have to chip in, it won’t dent your pocket that much and you get to do something you are proud of. You can also join clubs like Rotaract or Rotary where you’ll also network, travel, and grow. Or volunteer to plant trees with Miti Alliance.

2. Organize – if you help put it together, you’ll always be in it.
Now we’re all in WhatsApp groups where friends, colleagues, and family talk about holidays or you know let’s meet, etc or have you seen this place, etc. If you help people plan their thing, could be a get-together, celebration etc chances are you are the one in charge and their liaison which means your seat is always covered and bed in the mix. If anything, they cannot leave the master planner out of it and so you get to negotiate with your suppliers that way your friends get a deal and you find your spot there. If your spot ain’t there, you can ask for a commission or a small finder’s fee you go return thanks to the body or keep that credit in your favour bank:-)
3. Mobilize and convene
Most tour operators give offers like book for six people and get one spot for free, Jambojet even has a plan where they fly you for free if you bring a special/ organized group so you see you save your coins. So if you are always the person people come to for a plan or the guy who knows a guy, you can travel for free or at least for cheap and in future, you can even make money off it – every Kenyan has a side hustle.
4. Use your talents, skills and reach/influence
Basically to offer some value in or to the tourism and hospitality industry players so somewhere there you’ll get trips, discounts, or even get paid for it. Of course, this takes time to build your profile, relationships, and reach so give it time but if you’re starting out, approach these companies to collaborate. Say if you give me a discount of X %, I will share some photos with you (you’d either have taken them), over time, they’ll invite for free and soon enough they’ll start paying you and one day you’ll just be getting invitations for these things with a budget.
(And I know exposure isn’t legal tender)
5. Say yes.
Join that committee planning an office function to learn some new skills, no one wants to go represent the company? Say yes. Ah your friend says kuna plan? Changamkia, contribute, and carpool.
6. Find like-minded folks. It could be groups like Wanderlust Diaries, associations, enthusiast groups, and leisure clubs. You’ll make friends who can host you from the network or assist.
Of course, there is nothing like free lunch really so get to ask or figure out the unspoken rules of free travel or hosting so you don’t find yourself in some awkward situations. Ask questions if you need to leave no room for ‘I thought’, ‘I assumed’ and if you’re broke/unavailable, busy, or your instinct feels some type way just excuse yourself and skip, there will always be another one coming up!
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