Investec Investec Focus Radio SA

Everything Counts | Ep 29: Smart travel planning: how to get the most out of your holiday budget

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Planning a dream trip but feeling overwhelmed by flights, hotels and travel budgets?

This episode of Everything Counts is your essential guide to smart travel planning. It covers how to get the best value, avoid common pitfalls, and create authentic experiences without breaking the bank.

702’s Motheo Khoaripe is joined by Paolo Giuricich (Head of Investec Travel) and Liezl Gericke (Head of International - Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific) at Virgin Atlantic to share how industry insiders get more value when they travel: from when to book flights, how loyalty programmes can boost your journey, to using technology and trusted advisors to maximise every rand spent.

Whether you’re a first-time traveller or a seasoned explorer, this conversation will help you plan smarter, travel better and make every trip truly count.

00:00 Introduction
02:00 Investment in travel: How expectations have changed
03:00 How a travel advisor can help you get the most out of your holiday budget
04:30 Out-of-season holidays and affordable family vacations
06:00 When to best book flights
07:45 Don’t bank on last-minute holiday deals
08:50 Avoid peak season travel if possible
10:00 Travel is part of the holiday
12:45 Are airline loyalty programmes worth it?
13:15 Virgin Atlantic loyalty programme
14:50 How bank and airline rewards work together
15:30 Investec Travel benefits
19:45 How to avoid going over your holiday budget
20:00 Best travel apps
20:30 Using AI for travel planning
21:30 Conclusion
24 Aug 2025 English South Africa Business · Investing

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