Travel is back – but it’ s beginning to feel different
Travel is back – but it’ s beginning to feel different
Discovery Bank’ s SpendTrend26 Report shows adventure appetite remains strong, but we’ re travelling smarter.
South Africans are once again chasing experiences across continents and coastlines. But today’ s traveller is more deliberate, strategic, and far more value-conscious.
Travel is up – but so is intention Travel spend surged in 2025, across all income groups. South Africans are engaging more actively with rewards for benefits, with Discovery Bank clients executing 18 % more travel transactions than the average Saffer.
Value for money has overtaken relaxation as the primary trip-planning factor. The modern traveller is now asking:“ What’ s really worth the expense and gives me the best value?”
Two seasons, two moods How to travel smarter in 2026
In SA, travel peaks twice a year:
• Use travel booking tools to search
• December: 21 % of annual trips and plan around peak versus offpeak pricing.( long-haul, tropical, and familydriven – think Mauritius, Thailand, • Try book in shoulder season and the UAE)
( September to November) for
• June: 12 % of breakaways( think better value.
Europe, to escape the winter)
• Aim for flexibility: fly midweek for lower airfares.
Between these peaks lies a“ shoulder • Mix long-haul trips with local season”, where savvy travellers can find getaways. Maximise ALL your better deals. rewards and travel benefits.
The destinations we’ re discovering The UK, USA, UAE, Australia and Mauritius continue to dominate travel choices. But there’ s a shift to exploring farther afield. Trending now is Saudi Arabia(+ 0.9 %); Tanzania(+ 0.7 %); Japan(+ 0.4 %), and Egypt(+ 0.4 %).
Regional travel is thriving: Mozambique; Botswana; Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The rise of the value-savvy traveller This mindset is shaping everything: now flights are booked strategically, and timing of travel remains the best dealmaker.
Smart travel timing
• Cheapest flights: midweek( Tuesday – Wednesday)
• Most expensive: Fridays and Sundays
• Fare difference: up to 55 % between cheapest and priciest days
Shorter, smarter, more meaningful trips Long weekend and local getaway spend increased by 14 %, and local accommodation spend is now 1.3 times higher than international lodging. Travel is becoming more integrated into busy lives, with many choosing shorter, more frequent breaks that fit into real life.
The mindset shift: from splurge to strategy Looking for the best value and adapting spending behaviour in a changing economic and payments environment is where travellers are at. SpendTrend26 found that 40 % of travellers are using
AI weekly to inform purchase decisions. Today’ s traveller is...
• Comparing prices more actively
• Balancing cost with experience
• Planning trips around value windows
• Choosing when and how to travel more carefully
The takeout? South Africans are still chasing sunsets in Santorini, safaris in Botswana, and city breaks in London, but now we’ re doing it with sharper eyes on value, timing, and experience.
For other trends, visit SpendTrend26 at www. discovery. co. za
WINTER 2026 • rovesa. co. za | 59