Seen Here: Michelle Munemo, Head of Travel & Lifestyle at Standard Bank, is encouraging South Africans to rethink their festive-season travel strategies as rising costs reshape the way families plan their December holidays. From booking flights early to choosing smarter accommodation and maximising travel rewards, the message is clear: you can protect your budget without sacrificing the joy of Dezemba. Photo Credit: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG, 13 OCTOBER 2026 — South Africans are not giving up on their beloved December holidays despite rising travel costs and mounting pressure on household budgets. Instead, they are becoming more strategic about when they book, where they stay and how they spend their money.
New festive-season insights from Standard Bank and its partners show that travellers are adapting rather than abandoning their December plans, with affordability increasingly shaping everything from flight bookings to accommodation choices and family road trips.
The trend is captured in what could be described as the great “Dezemba squeeze”: the determination to travel, reconnect with family and enjoy a well-earned break, even when the cost of getting away continues to rise.
Standard Bank’s analysis of the December 2025 festive season found that middle- and lower-income households made up to 45% more hotel bookings in December, while spending 6% less per booking. Meanwhile, December airfares averaged more than 20% above those recorded during the rest of the year.
The findings point to a growing preference for value-driven travel, with South Africans changing how they plan their holidays to protect their budgets.
Michelle Munemo, Head of Travel and Lifestyle at Standard Bank, says December remains an important fixture on the country’s calendar.
“December is non-negotiable for most South African families. It’s when people go home, reconnect and finally rest,” says Munemo.
“Our data shows people haven’t cancelled it. They’ve become more strategic, and we want to help their money go further.”
1. The Early Bird: December starts in October
For the Early Bird, the festive season begins long before the first suitcase is packed.
This traveller understands that flights are often among the biggest holiday expenses and that delaying a booking can come at a premium.
According to Standard Bank’s credit card data, almost a third of annual spending on domestic airline bookings occurs between September and November. The average December flight is booked more than six weeks in advance, while spending per flight purchase increased by 39% between September and November in the period analysed.
Mid-December Fridays are among the busiest flying days, while return travel peaks between 2 and 4 January.
For travellers who need to fly, planning ahead can therefore make a meaningful difference to the overall holiday budget.
Qualifying Standard Bank credit card customers can save up to 40% on flights through Standard Bank Travel in the Banking App, for themselves and up to eight family members or friends.
In addition, from 26 to 28 October 2026, all Standard Bank clients can access a 10% discount on LIFT base fares for travel between November 2026 and April 2027 through the same platform, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
For the Early Bird, the lesson is simple: the holiday may begin in December, but the savings can start much earlier.
2. The Homecomer: The journey home requires a plan
For millions of South Africans, December is less about escaping to a holiday resort and more about returning home.
The Homecomer heads towards family in provinces such as Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, often travelling by road and staying with relatives.
Although accommodation costs may be lower, fuel, tolls, food and overnight stops can make a long-distance trip expensive, particularly for households travelling with children or large families.
Standard Bank’s data shows that festive spending at some city hotels and entertainment venues falls by as much as 34% as regular customers leave urban centres for the holidays.
Meanwhile, spending on roadside stopover hotels rises by 52% during the festive period, suggesting that many motorists break up long journeys with overnight stays. Booking these rooms early can help avoid last-minute uncertainty.
Drivers are also being encouraged to compare the full cost of driving with alternative travel options, particularly when travelling alone or as a couple.
UCount Rewards members can earn up to R10 back per litre when filling up at Astron Energy with a qualifying Standard Bank card, subject to the programme’s terms.
Standard Bank clients can also save up to 30% at participating Courtyard Hotels, City Lodge Hotels, Town Lodges and Road Lodges across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique when booking through Standard Bank Travel by 31 January 2027 and paying with a Standard Bank card.
For the Homecomer, careful planning can make the journey more manageable without sacrificing the family reunion at the end of the road.
3. The Coastal Family: More beach time, smarter accommodation
The Coastal Family wants a proper summer break: a beach, a few days away from routine and time together without the demands of everyday life.
December remains a popular month for coastal holidays, with Durban increasingly competing with Cape Town as a destination for South African travellers.
Standard Bank’s data shows that hotel booking spend peaks in December, reaching 45% above the average month. Yet families are finding ways to contain their accommodation and dining costs.
One notable shift is towards apartment-style accommodation, where spending increases by 69% compared with the relevant baseline in the analysis.
The appeal is practical. An apartment with a kitchen allows families to prepare some meals themselves rather than eating out for breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout their stay.
Location and timing also matter. According to the bank’s analysis, accommodation outside a traveller’s home province averages 2.2 times the cost of a stay closer to home, while hotel bookings made in December and January each cost about 9% more than the comparison period.
Families travelling by air can look beyond the flight price when managing the total cost of their trip. Standard Bank clients can access a 15% discount on pre-booked Uber Reserve airport rides, saving up to R100 per ride, subject to the applicable conditions.
For the Coastal Family, the smart holiday is not necessarily a shorter one. It is a holiday where accommodation, meals, transport and activities are planned together.
4. The Road-Tripper: Adventure begins with an early booking
The Road-Tripper values flexibility, whether the plan involves driving along the coast, visiting a game reserve or exploring a destination at the family’s own pace.
But this freedom comes with costs that are often best managed before the holiday begins.
Standard Bank’s analysis indicates that car-hire bookings peak in October, reaching 18% above average. Spending on national parks also peaks in September and October as families secure camps and accommodation well ahead of the festive rush.
During the holidays, bookings with some car-rental companies increased by as much as 44%.
The figures suggest that travellers who leave vehicle hire and popular accommodation until the last minute risk facing limited availability and less favourable options.
Qualifying Standard Bank credit card holders can save up to 35% on car hire with selected partners.
For those planning national parks, road trips or regional holidays, the advice is to secure the essentials early and leave room in the budget for fuel, meals, activities and unexpected expenses.
The Road-Tripper’s biggest advantage is preparation: the earlier the important details are settled, the more freedom there is to enjoy the journey.
The common thread: Plan the whole trip, not just the ticket
Although their destinations and travel styles differ, all four festive traveller types share one important characteristic: they are making deliberate choices to stretch their money further.
Some are booking flights months ahead. Others are staying with family, choosing self-catering accommodation, comparing driving costs or reserving rental vehicles and campsites early.
The broader lesson is that travel savings are not always found in a single discounted booking. They can come from coordinating the entire trip, including transport, accommodation, fuel, airport transfers and activities.
Standard Bank encourages customers to use its Travel platform in the Banking App to plan and book qualifying travel arrangements, with additional offers available on selected flights, accommodation, car hire and other services.
Travellers should compare the final costs, check the terms of individual offers and ensure that discounts suit their actual plans before booking.
Dezemba is still on — just with a different strategy
Rising interest rates, fuel prices and everyday living costs are placing additional pressure on South African households. Yet the desire to travel, return home and spend time with loved ones remains strong.
Standard Bank’s findings suggest that the festive season is evolving rather than disappearing. South Africans are becoming more deliberate about the choices that determine how much a holiday costs.
The Early Bird books before prices climb. The Homecomer plans the journey. The Coastal Family makes accommodation work harder. The Road-Tripper secures the essentials before demand peaks.
Different travellers, different destinations, but the same objective: making December memorable without allowing the cost to overwhelm the budget.
This Dezemba, the smartest travellers may not be those who spend the least or travel the shortest distance. They will be the ones who plan early, compare carefully and make every rand work harder — without giving up the moments that make the festive season worth celebrating.
