NEWSLETTER How much does your holiday really cost? It s close to Christmas, you ve had a tough year and the only thing on your mind is that end-of-year break. And while that seven-day trip away may sound like a bargain, there are always additional travel expenses to consider before truly understanding how much your entire trip is going to cost. Flights, transport, meals, accommodation these things add up and can give you quite a shock once you ve crunched all the numbers. Don t worry there are so many convenient and effective ways to help you save on some of these expenses. And the best thing about it all? You can invest the money you save on your holiday, have a great time, and set yourself up for great investment returns in the New Year.
Holiday option one: Jet setting overseas With its alluring capital, world-renowned wine and elegant café culture, France attracts approximately 81.4 million visitors annually. You ve decided to jet off with your partner to experience Paris over Christmas and feel the love in the air. But remember that a week abroad for two can be quite pricey, so remember to carefully look at where you re spending your money and you can easily find ways to save while also having a great time away. Have plane ticket, will travel Return flights to Paris can cost up to R10 000 per person. If you want to save a bit of money, consider a flight via Dubai it costs almost R1 000 less per ticket than a direct flight. As an added benefit, you can cash in on Discovery Vitality s partnership with Emirates for reduced ticket prices based on your Vitality status. When booking your flight, also remember to consider the costs of a cancellation and refund policy as well as an airline liquidation policy. These can easily add another R388 to your ticket. Once you ve landed in the city of love, you will need to pay about R300 per person for a single taxi transfer to your hotel. For accommodation, look at budgeting around R1 300 per person per night in a three-star hotel. You can also expect to pay about R500 per person per day for meals. Budget travel tip An inexpensive meal idea is to buy a baguette and pastries from a patisserie, cheese from a fromagerie and some pate from a traiteur. At R100 a head, you can have a magical picnic in the park for two. Swiping your plastic abroad When making purchases abroad, consider using your credit card. As a DiscoveryCard holder, you can swipe your card pretty much anywhere, draw money from most ATMs, earn Discovery Miles and enjoy various other travel benefits. Carrying a big wad of cash is definitely a no-no when travelling, and the beauty of a credit card is that it offers protection from theft and fraud. Typically, if your card is stolen and reported right away, you won t be responsible for any expenses the perpetrator charges to your card. Budget travel tip If you re planning on travelling internationally, call DiscoveryCard on 0860 11 2273 before you leave to adjust your limits and help get your card affairs in order. Remember to ask about your free, non-medical travel insurance! Sightseeing on a budget Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like climbing to the top of the Eiffel tower can easily cost R300 per person, and you will ultimately need to budget for these exciting activities. For a less expensive French experience, take a slow amble through Montmartre and gaze at the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur. Alternatively, take in the magnificent architecture of the Arc De Triomphe or stroll along the most famous street in Paris the Champs-Élysées. Marché de Porte de Vanves This is a weekend flea market with a large variety of vendors. The best time to pop by is before noon on weekends entrance is free and you re bound to find some inexpensive goodies!
Meals will cost about R500 per person per day. About R100 per gift. A direct flight to Paris will cost R10 000. Expect to pay R400 for airline liquidation and flight cancellation protection on your ticket. Transfers to and from your hotel are approximately R600. Accommodation will cost about R1 334 per person per night. Budget R700 per Visa application. Expect to pay about R400 for a new passport if yours is expired. TRAVEL INSURANCE Between R300 and R600 per trip. Sightseeing can cost between R150 and R200 per person per day. Expect to pay a 2% currency conversion surcharge on every credit card transaction. Expect to pay R6 when someone calls you from SA. Budget between R100 - R200 per day for someone to care for your home and pets. Total cost: approximately R50 000 Total saving: almost R10 000
Holiday option two: A family road trip to Cape Town You realise that money doesn t stretch as far as it used to and decide to save some cash by taking the family on a road trip to Cape Town. Although you re travelling locally, the costs you incur on your trip can quickly rack up. You can easily save here and there, while still thoroughly enjoying a great family trip to the coast. Before you do anything, check your car It s very important to check your car before a long trip. Breaking down on the side of the road when it s 30 degrees outside can dampen an otherwise exciting trip to the Mother City. If you re not as clued up about cars as those three guys on Top Gear, some dealers will do a pre-trip check for under R300. If your car needs a service, labour can cost anything between R300 and R600 per hour. And if certain car parts need replacing, you can typically add another R1 000 to your final bill. Don t forget about your furry friends! Your home and animals might need care while you are away. If you don t have anyone to look after your pets and keep the house in order, consider a house sitting service. Road tripping comes at a cost Driving from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back on the N1 highway will cost approximately R3 640 in petrol and R300 in toll fees. Although it sounds like a lot, it still beats the R3 000 you would pay per plane ticket if you were going to fly! Your family will definitely require some sustenance during the trip. Each takeaway meal can cost about R40, and don t forget about those notorious caffeine fixes a cup of coffee can easily cost R30 per cup! A more affordable option is to make your own padkos in true South African style. A dozen wholegrain bread rolls, some yummy lean biltong, fresh fruit and vegetables, water and snacks will cost much less than buying those takeaway meals. And if you buy these foods from Pick n Pay or Woolworths using Discovery Vitality s HealthyFood benefit, you can save up to 25% more. Once you have arrived at your destination, expect to pay between R500 and R3 000 per unit per night for a self-catering cabin. Camping is an affordable alternative and Cape Town s scenic countryside makes that extra bit of roughing it all the more worthwhile. If camping isn t your style, why not check out the range of Discovery Vitality Tsogo Sun hotel options, which are also an affordable option. In fact, depending on your Vitality status, these costs can be reduced by up to half. And if you book with your DiscoveryCard, you will earn Discovery Miles too! When it comes to meals and you are staying at a self-catering venue, set aside approximately R50 per person per meal. If you plan on going out for lunch and dinner, food may cost more. Also remember to factor in 10% gratuity for your friendly waiter! Sightseeing in true Capetonian style While Cape Town is considered to be the cultural hub of South Africa and some attractions are quite pricey, not all your activities should cost a fortune. You can take a slow stroll up Table Mountain (half price entrance after 6pm), a family hike up Lion s Head or a trip to the Biscuit Mill s weekend market all three options are fun for the whole family and won t burn a hole in your pocket. Parking costs money too Don t forget about parking costs. You can expect to pay upward of R7 per hour. It s typically cheaper to park in the uncovered parking section, so opt for these areas whenever you can. GM_24536DI_27/11/2013_V1
A car service will cost about R2 500 and a pre-trip check up can cost about R300 Don t forget about the extra small change for your helpful petrol attendant Petrol and toll fees can cost about R3 940 per trip Parking will cost about R7 per hour Remember to add 10% gratuity for your waiter Expect to pay R40 per meal per person from a fast food restaurant while you re on the road Sightseeing can cost about R200 per person per day Budget for between R100 - R200 per day for someone to care for your home and pets CAPE TOWN Affordable gifts can cost as little as R100. After all, it s your time together that counts! Meals will cost upward of R400 per day for each family member Accommodation can cost between R500 and R3 000 per unit per night Total cost: approximately R26 000 Total saving: approximately R5 000
Get more bang for your saved holiday buck In the end, a trip anywhere is going to cost money. Being clever with your cash and enjoying your end-of-year break should always go hand in hand. It s up to you to recognise where those sneaky hidden costs are and to save where you can. The festive season is a great time to reward yourself for a year of hard work and long hours, but trying to save money is also very important. And if you get into the habit of investing that extra bit of cash in a proper investment portfolio every year, over time your investment will grow. By spending your money wisely, you can have a great holiday and still set yourself up for good returns year after year. For more information on Discovery Invest, contact your financial adviser. This material is provided for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell investment funds. GM_24536DI_06/12/2013_V3