Why Ghana?
In 2019, it marked the 400th anniversary of the first documented arrival of slaves from West Africa to the Americas. An initiative called the Year of Return, the President of the country of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo invited all African descendants from the Diaspora to come back home to Ghana. The President assured those visiting or relocting would be welcomed — as 2019 it marked the 400th anniversary of the first documented arrival of slaves from West Africa in America with an initiative called Year of Return.
How to Plan a Trip to Ghana
- You can take an organized tour
- You can go with a group
- You can plan it yourself (as I did)
- You can do a combination of both
- Get help and advice family & friends from Ghana
RESEARCH TRAVEL TO GHANA
Before purchasing our airline tickets; I began researching accommodations and other costs, I quickly realized by African standards Ghana was a bit more expensive than other parts of Africa that I had traveled to. I decided to think about how we could cut back on spending, but not cheat ourselves on the culture. When we travel I knew we usually save a few dollars from our budget by eating local, not in a fancy restaurant, not staying in a western named hotel and other than our first 4 days with our driver – I knew we would be using local transportation called the Tro-Tro mini buses to get around, taxi’s and uber.
MAKE PLANS AROUND YOUR BUDGET
We spent about $100 per day for our driver for 4 days to take us around, which included 2 overnights in hotels. Our driver took us not just around downtown Accra the capital, but we also visited the cities of Yamoransa, Bonwire, Cape Coast & Elmina, And onward to the Ashanti region known as Kumasi for a few days and back to Accra for another week on our own.
FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHT TO GHANA
Getting to Accra Ghana
Flights to Ghana will mainly fly into the Kotoka International Airport in Accra. Most Flights from USA fly out of New York and could have a possible layover. However, due to my budget mindset of our $659 round trip tickets, My kids and I drove to Canada from our home in Ohio (took 5 hours), stayed overnight in our favorite Park ‘N Ride Hotel with a package deal I found on Trip Advisor one night stay and 10 days overnight parking for $120. (in 2020 the Toronto Park & Ridge Airport package for 8 days parking and one overnight is ($199) – So I purchased 2 hotel packages (more on that later) then we flew out early the next morning from the Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada – The drive to Toronto was worth it for myself and my two millennials — as after returning from Ghana, we were spending a few days in Toronto, staying at our favorite hostel a few days (again…more on that later) before driving back home to Ohio.
Normal flights from New York to Accra, Ghana range from around $1,200-$1300. So the three of us saved quite a bit on our flights paying less than $700 per person for our trip from Toronto to Accra. Since we drove to Toronto, we had a cooler in the trunk of our car with prepared snacks and small microwaveable food items, water and drinks and breakfast items from home to hold us over until the we got to the airport the next day. So we spent no money in Toronto the night before our flight.
IF TAKING A TOUR – WHAT IS INCLUDED IN TOUR COSTS?
Keep in mind, many times your round trip airfare is not included in your tour costs.
Before we actually decided on a driver, I wanted to visit Togo after visting Ghana. Due to time constraints we could not visit Togo and Benin, but the Tour Company that we were using was fabulous in helping us make an itinerary. This company Landtours was recommended to me from two previous customers that took a church tour from USA to Ghana using this company.
After doing my own reviews and speaking to those that actually did use Landtours, although a little pricey, I feel comfortable recommending this company on my website. But please do your homework with any tour company, ask questions, let them know if you have any concerns; but keep in mind; you have to leave your western thinking at the door.
I tell my travel friends, when you pay for a service, expect excellence in customer service, but not in a western way, and you will have a memorable time.
DECIDE WHERE WILL YOU STAY IN GHANA
We stayed at the Osda Guest House outside of the downtown area. Before I left home I made reservations for a couple days for our arrival, then we checked out while we were on our 4-day tour; then again made new reservations for our remaining days in Ghana .
Where you choose to stay, check out the reviews online of your Hotel, Guest House, Hostel, Air BnB, etc. Do not just look at the photos of your hotel. Read as many reviews as you can.
Decide how close to downtown Accra you need to be?
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