How to make your family holiday time more rewarding
Life moves at a fast pace and quality family time has become rare and priceless. Whether planning a weekend getaway, a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday or simply making the most of everyday moments, spending wisely and planning ahead ensures that family time remains stress-free and financially responsible.
Here’s how to maximise every experience while keeping your finances in check.
Travel responsibly
Responsible travel is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Supporting local businesses, respecting cultural traditions, and minimising your environmental footprint helps preserve the places we visit. Engaging with conservation efforts or volunteering with local organisations can further enrich your travel experience. Several conservation organisations are dedicated to protecting natural spaces through innovative ecotourism initiatives. When woven into each journey, small actions can create lasting change and add a more profound sense of purpose to travel.
Travel is not just about getting away — it’s about enriching your life while staying financially savvy. By planning with intention, staying flexible, and leveraging the right tools, you can turn every journey into an investment in both memories and financial well-being.
First, ask why
Before you book your holiday, think about the why behind your trip. Is it an opportunity to reconnect and recharge for a weekend? Is it a culture tour to learn more and broaden your horizons? Maybe it’s an adventure holiday to ignite passions, switch off devices and experience a richer connection with friends and family. Just like a financial plan guides your wealth journey, intentional travel planning helps maximise your experiences without unnecessary financial strain. It means setting a realistic budget aligned with your financial goals. Your Private Banker can assist with integrating travel spending into your overall financial plan, ensuring your adventures complement, rather than compromise, your long-term objectives.
Be flexible, and plan ahead
Adjusting your travel dates to take advantage of special offers or off-peak deals and promotions can change your travel experience. You’ll have more money to spend on an extra activity or dining experience. You’ll find better value for money, and as an added benefit, you’ll probably avoid the peak-season crowds. Choose your dates and destinations wisely, and book flights and accommodation ahead of time if you can. Keep an open mind and allow yourself the flexibility to consider a destination you didn’t initially plan on.
Do your research
Short-term rental and home-exchange sites can help you find affordable non-hotel accommodation. Group-buying sites can also be used to source excellent deals on premium bush breaks and unique experiences. Many of these deals often happen within a short timeframe, so it’s best to be prepared when the right one comes along. Before you travel to your destination, find out the best way to travel and the most efficient way to shop. In many countries, there is a particular way of shopping to get the most value. It won’t hurt to learn what works best for you. For example, is cash the preferred payment method, or are credit cards widely accepted? Are there any hidden charges, and can you claim back VAT?
Maximise the public holidays in 2025
If you’ve done your research and planning, you’ll probably realise you can gain some extended time off with only a few leave days taken. Here are some key long weekends and public holidays to plan around.
Easter Weekend: Good Friday on 18 April and Family Day on 21 April provides a four-day break.
Freedom Day: Sunday, 27 April, means Monday, 28 April, is a public holiday, creating a long weekend.
Workers’ Day: Thursday, 1 May; taking leave on Friday, 2 May, extends the weekend.
Youth Day: Monday, 16 June, offers a long weekend.
Heritage Day: Wednesday, 24 September; taking leave on 25 and 26 September creates a five-day break.
Day of Reconciliation: Tuesday, 16 December; taking leave on Monday, 15 December, provides a four-day weekend.
Leverage technology as a travel companion
Technology is embedded in every aspect of our daily lives. There is no reason why tech can’t help you travel smarter and safer. Travel apps can compare prices, find deals, and manage your itinerary. You can download offline maps and translation apps to navigate unfamiliar surroundings with ease. With the Shyft app’s Global Wallet, you can create virtual cards for secure shopping and get the best forex rates. Our banking app also allows you to make payments and monitor your spending in real time, no matter where you are. Our app’s state-of-the-art security features, like two-factor authentication and encrypted data transfers, ensure your money is safe anywhere in the world. If you’re travelling by road locally, you can also track your mileage and fuel consumption with apps like Fuelio and TripLog.
Book experiences, not trips
A family holiday doesn’t have to set you back and stifle your finances. Making memories is not dependent on how much money you spend. Instead, focus on capturing moments by booking adventures or experiences – even if it’s on home soil. Nearly 60% of South African tourists embark on one to two trips annually, with an average expenditure of R7 181 per trip, according to trade.gov. And remember, with your Credit Card and Evolve Card, you can earn from three* times more UCount Rewards Points even as you travel to remote places. For example, you can unlock some disposable income by earning up to R10 back in Rewards Points per litre of fuel when you fill up at Caltex or Astron Energy stations, as well as redeem your points to fill up your car.
Maximise value, not volume
You don’t have to cut corners to spend smartly. Focus on maximising value. Consider boutique hotels, luxury lodges, or private villas offering personalised service and unique amenities rather than generic chain hotels. These options often provide better value for money overall. Go in search of local markets, farm-to-table restaurants, and little-known spots when eating out. This way, you have an authentic experience at a fraction of the price while supporting local businesses. Using your Standard Bank Credit Card strategically for travel bookings and expenses can also mean significant savings and added perks, such as free basic travel insurance. You can also use UCount Rewards Points to offset travel costs and free up additional cash flow.