With the festive season approaching, it’s time to start planning that holiday getaway. Researching, budgeting and booking early will ensure you have a great time on your holiday and after you get back – nothing kills that holiday feeling like finding out you spent way too much money.

Knowing exactly how much you have to spend every day and planning which activities you want to do ahead of time will give you the stress-free, fun Ke Dezemba you deserve.

Research

• Subscribe to newsletters. Many businesses reward their loyal clients with deals and specials in weekly newsletters. You might even find new budget holiday destinations you had never considered before.
• Compare flights. Flight costs can vary depending on when you book and which carrier you go with. So use a flight comparator like Travelstart, Cheapflights or Skyscanner to find deals.
• Choose your destinations wisely. Do some research and find out if your ideal destination is actually overpriced and if there are similar and more affordable vacation destinations.
• Look at all-inclusive package tours. If you don’t want to worry about finances once you’re on holiday and want to pay everything upfront, then do some research on all-inclusive trips.

Budget

• Start with the big-ticket items. Before you start looking at your day-to-day spending, you need to know how much your flights/car rental and accommodation are going to cost. Get assistance from vacation budget planner apps like Tripcoin, TravelSpend or Trip Mate.
• Set limits upfront. For day-to-day expenses like activities and entertainment, you need to set realistic limits – this also helps you to know how long a holiday you can afford. Maybe your budget is better suited to a closer-to-home and shorter getaway.
• Look at off-peak travelling. While local getaways may be hotspots during summer, consider international destinations in the off-peak season, which is from November to February. Enjoy affordable holiday getaways to places like Morocco, Botswana or anywhere in Europe.
• Map out every tourist attraction. Use Google Street View to map out every tourist attraction you want to see and budget accordingly.

Prepare

• Book accommodation early and save more. This doesn’t just give you something to look forward to, but also gives you more time to save up. You also end up getting a better price and have the option to spread out the payments.
• Get early-bird tickets. Make sure you get early-bird specials for events you want to attend. Most tourists will be looking at the same deals and you need to get your foot in the door before prices skyrocket.
• Beware of booking flights. While there’s a misconception that the earlier you book a flight the cheaper it is, this isn’t always the case. When fuel prices increase, there can be a sudden rise in airline ticket costs.

Small saving tips

• Don’t pay extra if you don’t need to. Especially with airlines, there may be some unforeseen ‘extras’ like priority seating, paying for overweight luggage or purchasing marked up meals on your flight. Rather keep your baggage light (and weigh it at home) and pack your own snacks, and keep that extra cash for your holiday.
• Spend your money on experiences, not souvenirs. It can be easy to fall into the trap of bringing back gifts for family and friends or even souvenirs for yourself. But your trip should be about enjoying yourself, so spend that extra money on experiences instead.
• Walk as much as you can. The best way to save money on a holiday is to make Google Maps your bestie. Avoid spending unnecessarily on that eight-minute Uber drive and use the opportunity to take in the sights on foot.