How to save while travelling locally

There are those who firmly believe in first exploring local sights and attractions before even venturing abroad.

They may be on to something.

Not only does it give you new appreciation for your surroundings, but it is also a cheaper option than international travel if you play your cards right.

Here are a few local travel tips from the experts to keep in mind:

1. Book in advance:  Whether you are planning a cruise, a flight or simply a bus ride, booking in advance is key.

The cheapest seats sell out first and become progressively more expensive as the flights fill up. Therefore the best thing to do is to book as early as possible to get the best deals, says Kirby Gordon, Head of Sales & Distribution at FlySafair.

According to Gordon you can save as much as 11% by booking just even one week before.

2. Plan your dates: Travelling during less popular times could work out better for your pocket.

“The weekends, school and public holidays are popular times to travel. If you can, try to shop for dates that are less popular, and you’ll get a great deal,” Gordon says.

3. Travel light: For some this may be a bigger challenge than others, but the key to not paying more is to pack less.

Gordon says that if you could travel with just your 7kgs of hand-luggage rather than a full-fare ticket that includes “free” checked luggage, you will save.

4. Sign up to newsletters: Airlines and some other providers often offer great deals on inventory that’s not moving as fast as it could. Sign up to their emailed newsletters to make sure that you’re informed of sales and specials.

5. Compare your loyalty scheme fares: Loyalty schemes often offer discounts on flight tickets as part of its benefit structure. However, do not always take it at face value.

“Often it seems like an amazing deal to get 40% off flights, and consumers tend to just blindly book, but they don’t always win. Make sure that you compare it with other airlines not on your loyalty program. Also look out for nasty surprises like booking fees,” Gordon advises.

6. Buy direct: While flight brokers add loads of value to your travel experience in terms of service and convenience, a middle-man usually also adds to additional costs somewhere along the way. Gordon advises that you buy directly from the travel service to get the cheapest price.

7. Look for lounge benefits: Many credit cards or company cards offer access to airport lounges.

Before you travel, check with your bank if there are any airport lounge benefits on your cards. If there are, you could get free access to the lounges. This means that you can save money on meals and snacks at the airport and on the plane, says Gordon.

8. Choose central accommodation:  Often when searching for accommodation you tend to opt for the cheapest offering. But is it closest to where you want to spend most of your time? Sometimes you can find cheap accommodation, but then end up spending a fortune on transport. While staying more central could be slightly more expensive, it could actually save you in the long run.

9.Do your research: “Don’t stop at the first search result, dig deeper. Hyper-local info could provide a wealth of information that could save you some cash,” says Avukile Mabombo, group marketing manager for Protea Hotels by Marriott.

Here’s how:

-Many places of accommodation have seasonal fluctuations in price – a day either way could save you money.

-If there’s not much information available using a traditional Google search, why not explore using social media? Facebook community pages or groups and local Twitter enthusiasts are often posting about meal specials, activities and more that you’d otherwise never hear about.

-In Cape Town and other cities with a broad selection of eateries, mid-week, two-for-one specials are a big deal. That’s a consideration when you’re considering a trip – mid-week hotel stays and two-for-one meal specials at restaurants could significantly lower the price. You won’t have to resort to two-minute noodles and box wine!

-Check websites that offer a variety of daily deals, sometimes at half of the usual cost. This could include experiences such as white water rafting to relaxed stays in self-catering places and luxurious lodges.

-If you’re often travelling for business you may be able to use your accumulated travel benefits to fund your leisure getaway.

10: Step it down and save:  Sometimes you can cut the cost by choosing a cheaper option such as camping or “glamping”.

“Glamping is an alternative that is often cost-effective: a luxury camping experience that seeks to remove the pain points, allowing others to do the things you don’t want to in a fixed camp,” Mabombo says.

Another growing trend is to stay locally. 

“You can take a mini-break in your own city or town, or just up the road – just far away enough to forget about the stresses of weekday life. It saves on travel costs, and you’re also close enough to home that you can sort out any crises that may arise,” Mabombo says.

Staycations are a great antidote. But what if you really can’t get away? Then try a daycation!

“Many hotels allow visitors access to the facilities for the day as if you were an overnight guest. Some charge a nominal fee, but you could be treated like a guest, enjoying a G&T by the pool while accessing free Wi-Fi and a generous buffet breakfast, delicious lunch and then romantic sundowners, all in one place,” Mabombo says.

When are the best times to travel locally?

Typical holiday times signal chaos, whether it’s on the roads or at the airport. With that tickets tend to be more in demand and sometimes more expensive. Holiday accommodation and resorts also tend to push their prices up during season.

For this reason, you should consider taking leave in such a way to create your own holidays and long weekends.

“The last two weeks in January are generally a really cheap time to fly and early November before the schools and universities break up is usually pretty good too. Also, keep an eye out for flights in June and July, but not during the school holidays,” Gordon says.

*Here is a list of the school and public holidays for your reference.

What are three of the biggest considerations when travelling locally?

According to Gordon this is what you need to consider when travelling:

• Value – Customers are always looking for the best experience at a reasonable price. People are prepared to pay a little bit more if they believe that they are getting value for their money.
  
• Ease – Customers want to know that everything is going to work out. The last thing you want to do is book flights with an airline that you know has a reputation for being delayed, which will cut into your time away - or worse, leave you coming home late and tired.

• Comfort – Holidays are supposed to be a time to relax. People want to know that they will be able to relax throughout their journey from good legroom on their airline to comfy beds at their accommodation.