How To Conveniently Travel Upcountry This December

With Kenyans in a rush to travel upcountry and preferred holiday destinations this December for the Christmas festivities, the bus stations, airlines, and trains could get messy and crowded due to a large number of passengers.

Thousands of Kenyans, especially those living in urban areas often travel in mass to their rural homes for Christmas festivities leading to high demand for transport services.

This is the first Christmas likely to be celebrated without Covid-19 protocols such as curfew and lockdown since the onset of the virus in March 2020.

Last Christmas was described as boring by many Kenyans. Imagine a family Christmas party where every participant is wearing a face mask and is at least a meter away from the next person. No going to church. No family trips to beaches and other recreational spots.

Sounds somber, doesn’t it? This, however, was the idea of a safe Christmas for infectious diseases.

Though some measures have been withdrawn, the pandemic is still here and our responsibility to keep safe still stands.

While families will travel to beaches, game reserves, go to church, and any other place of choice they will be adhering to the Covid-19 safety measures put in place by the Ministry of Health.

Now that everybody is planning to leave the city in the next two or three weeks, how well prepared are you for the festive season? Are you waiting for a last-minute rush to scramble for the few seats? Are all members of your family in unison and ready to hit the road?

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Well, if not then it’s not too late. Here is a list of things to do for a safe and convenient journey to Ushago for the 2021 December holiday:

1. Make a Budget

Before planning for a journey home for the festivities ensure you prepare a manageable budget that will not drag your account dry. From the bus, train, or airline fares, the Christmas gifts, if necessary, go for the most affordable one.

Remember the festive season will end and you’ll have bills to pay come January. School fees, house rent, water bills, electricity bills, and of course the essential food in your house when you return to the city.

Look out for your savings. Spend responsibly.

2. Book Your Travel as early as possible

If you haven’t sorted out your already, do so as early as possible to avoid missing a seat during the rush minutes, especially if you’re going with the kids.

Plan the dates you’ll be traveling (try to avoid peak times as much as possible) and reserve yourself a seat as soon as you have a date in mind.

2. Get as much work done as possible before you leave.

If you know you have deadlines just after the holidays, try to get as much done as possible before you head home.

You don’t want to spend Christmas stressing out about writing essays or revising for exams(students) – and the chances are, when you’re full up on a festive vibe, you won’t be in the mood to work anyway.

3. Don’t over-pack your suitcase

The last thing you need when going home for Christmas is the stress of squeezing a massive case onto the bus, or say five of them; plus, you’ll need space for any presents.

Bear in mind that you’re only heading back for a few weeks or probably days. You don’t need to take half of your wardrobe with you.

4. Make a list of Christmas essentials

Make a list of everything you’re taking home And, of course, check it twice. This will help immensely when it comes to packing your case again before coming back after Christmas.

Essentials such as toiletries, towels, your hairdo products (ladies), etc. should be on your must-carry list.

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When you get home and take everything out of your luggage, everything blends in, making it easy to forget what you need to take back.

5. Confirm the weather

It’s important to make a call and confirm whether your destination has cold, hot, or warm weather to enable you to know the best clothes and shoes to carry for you and other family members.

If it’s raining and it gets muddy you can carry your gumboots for example or carry light clothes if it’s hot.

You can probably  also carry your shades if its too sunny

6. Get the necessary drugs or injections if necessary

The goal of a pre-travel medical evaluation is to help protect you against common diseases that may be mild but that will disrupt your trip or less common diseases that may be serious or even fatal.

According to where you will be  headed, make sure you get the drugs to be safe. For example, Antimalarial drugs when you’re headed for the lakeside region, especially Kisumu.

With these tips in mind and bags all packed and ready to go, sit back, relax, and have a very Merry Christmas!