With petrol costs putting pressure on travel budgets, South Africans looking to get away may need to rethink not just where they go, but when and how they book their stays.
From choosing accommodation according to the day of the week to exploring destinations closer to home, a few changes to travel plans could help motorists make their money go further without abandoning the idea of a holiday.
Corné Alberts, who is the national marketing manager at ANEW Hotels & Resorts, shares five ways travellers can reduce some of the costs associated with a road trip, including accommodation, traffic and rewards they may already have earned.
1. Book your stay according to the destination
The day you travel can influence the price of a hotel stay, depending on the type of property and its location.
Business hotels often see greater demand during the working week, when corporate travellers fill rooms from Monday to Thursday. This can make weekends a more affordable option at some properties.
Leisure hotels near popular attractions may follow the opposite pattern, with weekend demand pushing rates up and mid-week stays offering better value.
Checking rates across different dates before confirming a booking can help travellers identify potential savings that could be put towards fuel or other holiday expenses.
2. Check the hotel’s website before booking
Third-party booking platforms are a convenient way to compare accommodation, but they are not the only place to look.
Alberts recommends checking a property’s direct website before making a reservation. Hotels may advertise seasonal packages, mid-week deals or direct-booking benefits that are not available through other platforms.
Comparing the final prices and checking what each offer includes can help travellers determine which option provides better value.
3. Find holiday experiences closer to home
A getaway does not necessarily require a long drive or an expensive destination.
Small towns, local markets, museums and historic neighbourhoods can offer opportunities to explore without travelling hundreds of kilometres.
For Cape Town residents, this could mean planning a day trip or a short stay in the surrounding towns rather than committing to a lengthy road trip.
Shorter distances can reduce fuel expenditure, while visiting attractions closer to home may also leave more room in the budget for meals, activities or accommodation.
The key is to calculate the likely driving distance and associated costs before setting off, rather than focusing on the destination alone.
4. Plan around peak travel periods
Long weekends and school holidays often bring heavier traffic on popular routes, particularly as motorists leave major cities for holiday destinations.
Stop-start driving can increase fuel consumption compared with travelling at a steady speed, so departure times are worth considering when planning a trip.
Where schedules allow, leaving before the busiest travel day or returning after the main rush may help reduce time spent in congestion. Travellers should still check road conditions and allow enough time for rest stops, particularly on longer journeys.
5. Use rewards before paying full price
Loyalty points, credit card travel benefits and fuel rewards may offer savings that travellers have accumulated through everyday spending.
Before finalising a trip budget, Alberts suggests checking whether any existing benefits can be used towards accommodation, room upgrades or fuel.
The value of these rewards will depend on the programme’s terms and conditions, including expiry dates and redemption restrictions. Comparing the available benefits with the cost of paying outright can help travellers decide whether using them makes financial sense.
A little planning can change the cost of a getaway
A road trip budget involves more than the price of petrol, as accommodation rates, travel dates, traffic and the benefits available to a traveller can all influence the final bill.
Comparing hotel prices across different days, considering destinations closer to home and checking existing rewards before paying may help South Africans plan a break that better fits their budgets.
Rather than relying on one major saving, travellers can look at several smaller decisions together when working out what a getaway will cost.
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