SAVE ON YOUR TRAVELS WITH THESE CLEVER TIPS

#HelloLifestyle

by Renate Engelbrecht Images: Supplied

JustMoney’s Shafeeka Anthony says: “It’s essential to do your homework before parting with your hard-earned cash for the holidays,” and we couldn’t agree more. Before booking your flight, you need to calculate what the entire trip will cost you. Only then can you check that all your plans fall within your budget and start searching for the best possible deals (while also keeping in mind the hidden costs).

FIGHT THE FIERCE FLIGHT FARES With South Africa’s current predicament when it comes to available flights, you might struggle to find tickets, let alone appropriately priced options. Linden Birns, owner and managing director at Plane Talking, says airlines are currently operating in an inflationary environment.

The situation has been exacerbated by the war between Russia and Ukraine and the escalating oil and fuel prices. Not to mention the impact of the Durban floods earlier this year, as well as the high interest rates and more.

According to Birns, your best bet to get better-priced flight tickets, is to book well in advance. Those last-minute bookings and standby discount tickets which benefited flexible travellers in the past may no longer be available. WHAT GOES UP, MUST COME DOWN Unfortunately, the rule of what goes up, must come down does not apply to the travel industry and its economic recovery. In fact, Stephan Ekbergh, Travelstart’s founder says: “As demand for travel goes up, unfortunately prices follow.” Luckily, Travelstart and Mastercard have recently partnered to offer discounted travel to Mastercard holders in Africa, mitigating the soaring costs of travel. If you’re a Mastercard holder, you can save up to 30% on base international and domestic airfares and hotel costs, with the discounts available to all Gold, Platinum, World and World Elite Mastercard cardholders, as well as debit, credit, prepaid and commercial Mastercard cardholders. These discounts are currently available to Mastercard holders in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. H 1 www.travelstart.co.za/lp/mastercard TIPS FOR BOOKING A FLIGHT • Use flight deal search websites to compare prices and stay incognito while searching to prevent cookies from accruing and blocking the lowest pricing. • Be flexible and consider flying on off-peak days or times. • Make the most of rewards programmes. Use points built up via your bank or gym membership.

Credit card payments should ensure built-in insurance, which can earn you more points. • Travelling overseas? Look at alternative airports close to your destination. • Domestic flights are often cheaper than international flights that cover the same distance. Consider crossing borders by rail or bus and then using domestic flights. • Travel light. Hand luggage is usually free. If you do need extra luggage, book online when buying your ticket. It’s cheaper than paying at the airport. • Flights with layovers and stopovers are often cheaper. Plus, if you extend your stopover by a few days, you can even visit an additional country!

Scan here to check out five award-winning travel experiences at early bird prices.