With the prospect of spring in the air, everyone is yearning to get away from it all to enjoy a long-overdue break. But the idea of a holiday nowadays is often so foreign to many South Africans, that they simply don’t even consider it due to the perceived cost. Yet, armed with a little insider info, your next getaway could be just around the corner.
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Fortunately for frugal travellers, there is hope on the horizon. With a little tightening of one’s belt, monthly saving and expert planning, you can be en route to your first (or next) family holiday before you know it! By planning your next holiday smartly, you’ll be far more likely to make that dream an affordable reality. For example, shopping around for all your travel essentials to find the best price on travel accessories is a great way to save money while preparing for your upcoming holiday.
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Want more travel-saving tips? Here are 7 top tips to get you moving in the right (holiday) direction:
1. Pick a local destination:
The first step to holidaying on a budget is to choose somewhere close to home. Sure, a cross-country or overseas holiday sounds like a blast, but you can have just as much fun as a family at a holiday destination that is within driving distance.
Choosing a destination that is close to home, will result in a significant saving on fuel. So, don’t be fooled into thinking that you must travel far distances to relax and unwind — sometimes the very best gems are right on our doorstep. If you’re saving big on choosing a lovely local spot, then chances are you will have money left over in your budget for some new travel luggage or even a new digital camera to capture those all-important travel memories.
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2. Book in advance and for a shorter period:
Booking far in advance will not only allow you more time to save for the trip, but will also be significantly cheaper than booking at the last minute (when demand is higher). Choosing to go away for four nights instead of six is savvy — that way, you won’t rack up the cost of a full week, and while this may seem too short, consider that five days away is still better than only a weekend away.
3. Consider off-peak times:
If you have small children or are retired, and you’re not governed about travel during school holidays or weekends, then take advantage of out-of-season/mid-week specials. This way you’ll be assured of stretching your budget even further, as school holidays and weekends are usually charged at peak season/higher rates.
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4. Self-catering:
It is almost always cheaper to book self-catering apartments or cottages rather than hotel rooms. Eating out is also expensive, so save costs by eating in. This needn’t mean hours in the kitchen for mom and dad — pack a picnic for a fun, outdoor adventure, enjoy family braais or make use of ready-made pizzas or meals.
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5. Make a list:
What good is a summer holiday without your favourite swimming costume, sun hat and book that you’ve now forgotten at home? If you don’t make a list to ensure that everything gets packed, you’ll be forced to waste time and money shopping for things you have left behind. So, keep costs down by not having to spend unnecessarily.
Some essentials for a great holiday include sunscreen, swimwear, and sunglasses — if you’re going on a beach holiday – or a dual-purpose hiking backpack, hiking boots, and hiking water bladder — if you’re more of the outdoorsy type.
6. Enjoy free activities:
They say that the best things in life are free, and how much better when you’re on holiday! First Group Hotels & Resorts, for example, have daily planned activities that won’t cost you an extra cent during your stay. In addition, you can go on a hike, go for a bike ride in the mountains, make use of sports facilities such as tennis courts, or spend a day at the beach.
Don’t be pressurised into thinking that you need to jam activities into every minute of the day to enjoy your holiday — this will also be a stressful (and expensive) mistake.
7. Join a Loyalty Programme:
Accommodation is notorious for eating up the largest slice of your holiday budget, and one of the easiest ways to minimise this is to sign up for a loyalty programme.
For example, First Loyalty Plus members, score up to 50% discount on accommodation, meals, etc. The loyalty program offers amazing deals on accommodation for members and is worth checking out.
Another great loyalty programme for travel lovers is Legacy Lifestyle. Legacy Lifestyle allows you to earn and spend reward points at over 200 luxury lifestyle partners around South Africa and abroad using one card. From top-notch restaurants to the best fashion brands, holiday resorts, and beauty spas, and more, Legacy Lifestyle allows you to earn and spend Lifestyle Rands at your favourite spots in South Africa and beyond. With over 200 partners to transact with across multiple categories, including food, health & fitness, beauty, travel, kids, and entertainment, Legacy Lifestyle gives you plenty of opportunities to earn points and spend them. Some of the luxury travel partners available include Europcar and LUX* Resorts.
