You have been thinking about it since September. A proper December break. Maybe the coast, maybe the Drakensberg, or maybe just a few days away from the city with the people you love. You have saved the Instagram posts, checked the accommodation options, and done the mental maths on what it would cost.

Then you look at the your bank balance and the dream starts to shrink. Flights are expensive. Accommodation prices spike in December. Car hire costs more than you expected. Add food, activities and the little extras, and suddenly the trip you wanted feels out of reach.

So, you start compromising. A shorter trip. A cheaper destination. Maybe just stay home this year.

But here is the thing: the holiday you want might be more affordable than you think if you know where to look.

The earlier you book, the more you save

Everyone knows you should book flights early, but most people still leave it until the last minute. By then, the cheap seats are gone and you are paying peak pries for whatever is left.

Right now, if you book domestic or international flights through Standard Bank Travel, you can save up to 40%* on routes you are already looking at, for up to eight people in the booking. That is not a small discount. That is the difference between staying home and actually going.

The same principle applies to accommodation. If you book through Standard Bank Travel, you can get up to 20%* off weekend stays at City Lodge Hotels, Town Lodges, Courtyard Hotels and Road Lodges until 11 December 2026, increasing to up to 30% off any night from 12 December 2026 to 31 January 2027. Offer is valid in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana.

Read the full article on News24 here.