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As South Africans gear up for their holiday travels, travel choices aren’t just about convenience but about budget too.

With festive season vibes in full swing, travellers might want to keep an eye on the costs of popular routes before deciding whether to hit the road, take to the skies, or gooi it with a long-distance bus.

Thank The Citizen for their cost analysis, breaking down what it might cost according to each of the options available to Saffas travelling this season.

Generally, for those counting their pennies, buses are usually the cheapest way to travel, but the long hours on the road can test anyone’s patience.

Flying, on the other hand, is the fastest option but will cost you a pretty penny while driving gives you the freedom to stop and explore—but don’t forget to budget for petrol, wear and tear, and maybe even a sleepover on those long-haul routes.

Driving:

With petrol prices sitting at R20.98 for 93 unleaded and R21.30 for 95 unleaded, hitting the open road this holiday season will require some careful budgeting.

Take the trusty VW Polo Vivo—one of Mzansi’s favourites—as a benchmark for fuel costs. For the popular Joburg to Durban route (574km), you’re looking at about R945 for a full 45-litre tank of 93 unleaded. Heading to Polokwane instead? That shorter 321km journey will set you back roughly R526 in fuel.

Planning the epic trek from Joburg to Cape Town? The 1,399km stretch (2,798km return) isn’t for the faint-hearted—or the light-walleted. With current prices, you’ll need nearly five full tanks, totalling about R4,595 for the round trip. Better make sure your road trip playlist is as ready as your wallet.

Flying:

Festive season flights are in full swing, and airlines are offering a range of fares to suit varying budgets.

Lift Airlines has flights from Joburg to Cape Town priced between R2,185 and R2,605 from 17–20 December. Return flights in January kick off at R2,000. For the Jozi–Durban route, expect prices between R1,325 and R1,795 in December, with January returns ranging from R1,185 to R1,625.

FlySafair is also bringing competitive vibes for the season. A Jozi–Cape Town flight will cost R2,361.45 on 17 and 18 December, increasing to R2,661.43 on 19 and 20 December. For the Jozi–Durban route, flights start at R1,361.44 for 17 and 18 December, climbing to R1,661.44 between 19 and 21 December.

Looking to save on your January return? Durban flights start at a lekker R1,161.44 from 13 January, with steady rates through to the end of the month. For those travelling earlier, from 3 to 12 January, fares range between R1,561.44 and R1,361.44.

Time to book, chommies—those prices aren’t staying put for long!

Busing:

Computicket’s bus service offers a range of prices to suit different budgets, depending on your travel dates.

If you’re heading from Jozi to Durban, ticket prices vary significantly. For departures on 17 or 20 December, you can find fares from R360 to R1,932, while for dates like 17, 19, 21, or 22 December, prices range from R650 to R2,082. Looking ahead to January 2025? You’ll find tickets between R440 and R1,077.

For those taking the longer Joburg to Cape Town route, tickets for departures between 17–20 December are priced between R750 and R2,532. Planning to return in the new year? Between 3 and 6 January, tickets are available from R670 to R2,190.

No matter when you’re travelling, the right price is out there—just make sure to book early to grab the best deals. You know mos how it goes.

[source:citizen]