5 helpful tips for planning your December vacation

While there may be less than 7 weeks to get to Christmas, stores around the country are already showing off their festive season stock and pumping Christmas carols over their sound systems – signals that you need to start thinking about the December holidays.

To ensure that your holiday allows you to recuperate from the stresses and strains that the year has thrown your way (and doesn’t create any additional stress), Grandeur travels and tours have decided give roll out a few tips on how this festive season can offer you the best of fun and refreshing memories.

 

We offer the following tips to help take some of the pressure out of your holiday planning:

Lovely Destination

South Africa offers a number of extraordinary destinations to explore – from beaches to bush. Some areas, like the Eastern Cape, offer you the best of both.

If you want to avoid the masses this year, why not opt for lesser-frequented areas. For instance, if you’re looking for a beach holiday, instead of Cape Town, Durban, and Umhlanga you could choose a spot like Richard’s Bay that offers great value for money. Or a hotel in Mpumalanga that is within close proximity to the Kruger National Park, providing a base from which to explore all that the province has to offer. One may even consider the tranquillity of Pretoria and explore the Union Buildings and Cradle of Humankind.

 

Accommodation affordability

Keep a lookout for hotels that offer rates per room rather than per person as well as free boarding for kids sharing. This will save on accommodation costs, especially when you’re traveling as a family.

 

Seek out specials

At this time of the year, a number of hotel groups will be offering discounted rates not only at their properties but also with their partners like car rental services. Look out for discount offers that can accommodate your family and give you the comfort you truly deserve.

 

Research ratings

Once you have some ideas of where you would like to stay, check out popular websites to find out what other guests have said about the hotels. Reading their reviews and looking at their photos will enable you to get a balanced view of what a hotel is like. Be sure to do cost comparisons in order to make the best choice for your budget.

 

Don’t miss the deadline

To ensure that you get the accommodation you’re after, it’s advisable that you book as early as possible. The December school holiday is a peak travel time, so be sure to secure your preferred hotel before the rush.

Once your booking is done, you can start packing your things and shopping for all the needed items to make your vacation a memorable one.