BUSINESS NEWS - Travelling on a budget has become increasingly important for South Africans, particularly when fuel and accommodation costs can quickly add up.
For Corné Alberts, National Marketing Manager at ANEW Hotels & Resorts, spending much of her working life on the road has provided plenty of experience in making every kilometre and rand count.
She shares five practical ways travellers can stretch their budgets when planning their next trip.
1. Choose the right accommodation for the right day
The day you stay can have a significant impact on what you pay for accommodation.
Business hotels that are busy from Monday to Thursday may offer better value over weekends when demand is lower. Leisure properties, meanwhile, can work in the opposite way, with mid-week stays often offering better rates than peak weekend periods.
Understanding the type of property you are booking and comparing rates across different days could result in meaningful savings that can instead be put towards fuel or other travel expenses.
2. Check the property's direct rates
Before booking through a third-party platform, travellers should check the accommodation property's own website.
Hotels and resorts may offer mid-week specials, seasonal promotions or incentives for guests who book directly that are not necessarily available through booking platforms.
Comparing the direct rate with third-party prices before confirming a reservation could help reduce the overall cost of a trip.
3. Explore closer to home
Travellers do not always need to drive hundreds of kilometres to enjoy a break.
Many South Africans live within easy reach of smaller towns, markets, museums, heritage attractions and other local destinations that they may never have taken the time to explore.
Choosing a destination closer to home can reduce fuel costs while still providing an opportunity to take a break and discover something new.
4. Beat the holiday traffic
Timing a road trip can make a difference to both travel time and fuel consumption.
Heavy traffic during school holidays and long weekends can result in extended periods of stop-start driving, which can use more fuel than travelling on an open road.
Where possible, leaving a day before peak traffic begins and returning after the busiest period can help travellers avoid congestion and potentially reduce fuel costs.
5. Use the rewards you have already earned
Before calculating the full cost of a trip, travellers should check whether they have accumulated rewards that can be used towards their travel expenses.
Hotel loyalty points, credit card rewards and fuel programme benefits can sometimes be redeemed for accommodation, upgrades or fuel-related savings.
Using existing rewards can make a significant difference to the final cost of a trip and may allow travellers to put money they have already earned towards their next getaway.
With careful planning, travellers can make their budgets go further without necessarily giving up the opportunity to explore.
From choosing less expensive travel dates to exploring destinations closer to home and making use of existing rewards, small decisions can add up to meaningful savings on the road.
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