Five Things Most Nigerians Do on Vacation Abroad

Five Things Most Nigerians Do on Vacation Abroad

When Nigerians travel abroad for vacation, they often engage in various activities to make the most of their time in a new destination. Nigerians travel a lot. That’s a given. However, they all seemingly engage in the same set of activities whenever they find themselves in a foreign land. Here are some things that many Nigerians enjoy doing while on vacation abroad:

Going Shopping

When Nigerians go shopping abroad, they often approach it with excitement and enthusiasm, seeking out unique and high-quality products that may not be readily available in Nigeria. Shopping abroad is not just about acquiring goods; it’s also about the experience of exploring new destinations, discovering unique products, and enjoying the thrill of finding great deals and exclusive items to bring back home Here are some aspects of shopping abroad that many Nigerians enjoy:

• Luxury Shopping: Nigerians often indulge in luxury shopping abroad, particularly in destinations known for their upscale shopping districts such as Paris, London, Dubai, and New York City. They seek out designer clothing, accessories, jewelry, and luxury goods from renowned brands.
• Electronics and Gadgets: Many Nigerians take advantage of lower prices and a wider selection of electronics and gadgets abroad.
• Fashion and Apparel: Nigerians have a keen sense of fashion and enjoy exploring international fashion trends while shopping abroad. They shop for clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories from popular fashion brands and boutique stores, often seeking out unique styles and designer labels.
• Beauty and Cosmetics: Shopping for beauty and cosmetics products is a favorite activity for many Nigerian travelers. They stock up on skincare products, makeup, perfumes, and hair care items from well-known beauty brands and department stores.
• Specialty Food and Beverages: They enjoy exploring diverse culinary offerings and trying new flavors from around the world.
• Souvenirs and Gifts: Nigerians love to buy souvenirs and gifts for family and friends back home. They look for culturally significant items, handicrafts, artwork, and memorabilia that reflect the destination’s heritage and traditions.
• Tax-Free Shopping: Taking advantage of tax-free shopping opportunities is a common practice among Nigerian travelers. They appreciate the opportunity to receive tax refunds on eligible purchases made abroad, especially on high-value items such as luxury goods and electronics.

Visit to the Stadia of Foreign Football Clubs

An average Nigerian is football crazy. Hence while Americans or Europeans often mark out vacation plans which usually include trying out sumptuous foreign foods, visiting iconic sites and letting down their hair in some fantastic entertainment spots or bars, most Nigerians often have a sports club in mind when they visit a country that plays host to their favorite football clubs.

Irrespective of class and background, Nigerians flow quite easily when it comes to discussions on the performance and superiority of their favorite football clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and the rest. The love and passion for these clubs are so great that visiting them is a priority on the vacation plans of most Nigerians when they find themselves in a foreign land.

For most, their trips abroad are incomplete without some pictures in front of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium or Chelsea’s Stamford bridge or the stadia of whichever club they are loyal to. And these outings must be complemented, of course, with orders of customized jerseys and other merchandise of the various clubs.

Perhaps one day someone will work out the figure that is consistently expended by Nigerians on the jerseys of these clubs and conduct a leg-count of those who are making compulsory vacation visits to the clubs. It’s simply amazing.

Foreign Medical

These days, medical checkups feature regularly on the to-do lists of Nigerians who vacation abroad. And it’s a big deal in every sense of the word. After all, very few Nigerians have enough resources not only to vacation in a foreign land but also to undergo a medical checkup in private hospitals in Europe and other parts of the world. So don’t be transfixed when you hear some privileged Nigerians say, you know I just returned from my vacation abroad where I had my medical check-up.

Get this, it doesn’t matter if these fellows are well and fine or if they have received a clean bill of health from the private health services they patronize in Nigeria.

Medical-vacation, as it’s called in some quarters, is a form of status symbol. So most privileged Nigerians do share their medical-vacation treats to demonstrate that it’s a costly experience for those who can afford quality health care. After all, health, they say, is wealth.

Shopping Display

Oftentimes good vacation would include a time to go round and pick some lovely personal effects such as good clothes and fine shoes. But this moment itself is the main and only vacation experience for many Nigerians.
For instance, when most Nigerians discuss Dubai, it’s never about the amazing transformation of a desert into a globally noted tourist destination or other fascinating details about the city. Rather, it’s almost always about where to buy what and brandish it for some splendid pictures around the city malls. That’s why on the back of Nigerians’ shopping prowess, the famous department store in London, Debenhams, added a Nigerian language to its foreign signages to attract more Nigerian customers.

Graduation Ceremonies

Don’t be surprised that attending graduation ceremonies of wards, siblings, relatives and associates abroad constitute a unique vacation experience for some Nigerians. After all, an opportunity to see and feel the atmosphere of the famous academic institutions in America, Europe, Middle-East and some parts of Africa is a beautiful memory worth relishing.

Hence, to don flamboyant wears and flash glowing sets of teeth to a camera during graduation ceremonies in a foreign land is enough bliss for some vacationing Nigerians. Of course, Nigerians have other interests which have not been captured in this piece, but the foregoing constitutes some of the most unique ways Nigerians vacation abroad.

For many Nigerians, a vacation is memorable and great only if they get on the magnificent floors of Harrods or Selfridges in London or that of other upscale stores around the world and walk out with the branded shopping bags of these luxury stores in hand.
Of course pictures of the bags of these stores in hand are very essential. They are fantastic fodder for the followers of these Nigerians on social media channels who must know about the shopping-vacation and luxury lifestyles.

Nigerians have their unique ways of vacationing which is nothing like what other nationals do.