29 Years of life | 10 Years of Independent Travel | 5 Continents | 47 Countries | subscribe

Hey Ajala👋

In the past month I've been working with your fellow travellers, helping secure:

• Last-minute trips - Got flights to Ghana and Nigeria for December with only 6 weeks' notice for a client (£850, convenient route, bags included)

• Work trip extensions - Hacked a relaxing 4* weekend in Qatar for a client in between work trips for only £60

• Career breaks - Optimised a couple's 6-week Asia itinerary and showed them how to save £2,700 and comfortably get total trip to £4k, including flights from the UK

• New Years plans - Helped get a client on a much-anticipated EU break with flights + accommodation under budget

• Weekend escapes - Helped a couple simply escape for a cheap and cheerful weekend

In every project I’ve been reminded of why I love this work! Travelling brings so much joy, perspective and a much needed reset or reason to live more intentionally when you return. But it shouldn't break the bank, and planning shouldn't stress you out or be all time-consuming.

If you're thinking about your next trip and want someone in your corner finding the best deals and routes, send me an email and let's make it happen. ✈️

Flight Drops 📉🤝✈️

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Inspo: Chi’s Side Quest to São Tomé

^{_{There’s been a lot of talk about going to West Africa for Christmas, why not combine it with a side quest to a new nearby country? In Chi’s case it was a beautiful island}} 😍

Hi It’s Chi! I’ve had São Tomé and Príncipe on my to-visit list ever since hearing about the country years ago. Imagine untouched beaches, palm trees everywhere, fresh seafood, and an otherworldly feel - located in the Gulf of Guinea, this is central Africa at its finest. We got some tips and contacts from people who had gone before, and when I found out it was only about 1h 30 mins from Accra, I knew it was time to book the flight!

We managed to get a packed agenda by going on several day trips, but I also had time to sit by the infinity pool and do absolutely nothing at all. It really was a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.

There’s a range of hotels on the island to suit different budgets, but since this was a trip to semi-celebrate, I was happy to splash out a little bit by staying at Pestana São Tomé. The hotel was in an ideal location, making it easy to walk into the centre and try different restaurants for dinner. It also has a spa, infinity pool, private beach access, bar and restaurant so you can stay on-site if you don’t feel like going anywhere. 

If you want to explore the island, there are plenty of options. I had a lot of amazing experiences, but if I had to pick the ones that really stood out, I would recommend a day trip that combines seeing Pico Cão Grande and the equator line.

Surrounded by a lush rainforest “Big Dog” is a needle shaped volcanic plug peak located within the Parque Natural Obô. Notoriously difficult to climb it’s more of a landmark to view from a distance if it’s not foggy. Luckily it was a clear day and we got lots of photos. Standing in the middle of the world on the equator line in Rolas Island is worth the mini trek - doable in sandals! 

Santana Cave is another place that was memorable. It felt like we were entering a secret world in a small boat with turquoise waters, birds flying to and from their nests in the rock ceiling and no other sound but nature in its glory. We were lucky to have even gone because the weather started off sunny but quickly changed and by the time we came back we were drenched and at one point I thought the boat would capsize – not for the faint-hearted!

Combine all this with friendly Portuguese-speaking locals, caipirinhas (I tried both cocoa and passion fruit flavours) and the tan I was after - I’d definitely return to the island. And hopefully I’ll get to visit Príncipe as well next time. 

I’ve got news! I’ve recently been able to join affiliate programmes! If you’d like to support me for free as you plan your trip beyond the flights please use my links before making your booking. It does not affect the cost of your order at all but it gives me a high-five to keep going.

Accommodation: Booking.com / Agoda / Expedia / Activities: Get your Guide / Trip.com / Klook / Staying Connected: Airalo e-sim