Booking a holiday trip anywhere around South Africa during the early days of December will be tough.
Making this challenge harder is the fact many tourists are expected to arrive in Mzansi if last year is any indication. In December 2023, South Africa had 1,183,035 foreign tourists coming for a summer holiday.
But don’t panic! Follow our easy tips, and you should be able to make a holiday miracle happen.
First, it is time to adopt a strategy.
Best Strategies To Adopt To Booking A Holiday On Short Notice
You’ll have to hustle to book an epic holiday right now. But here are some tips that will hopefully make it easy.
Flexibility Is Key
When planning most holiday escapes, you have a set time for when it needs to happen. But with December here, you have all the time in the world, so be flexible!
As an example, be open to booking into your destination on Tuesday morning. While many smaller towns do close many of their restaurants and craft stores from Sunday to Wednesday, again, it is December.
Weekday getaways are also bound to be cheaper.
If you’re struggling to find any places to book into midweek, use platforms that allow for date searches.
Cancellations Are A Bonus!
As we all know, life can get hectic. This means that sometimes, people need to cancel their plans due to last-minute events.
Make sure to set accommodation alerts that notify you of cancellations. Sometimes, it’s best to call the establishment and ask if there have been any cancellations.
After all, sometimes it is hard to adjust digital platforms to correspond with what is happening in real life at the accommodation destination.
Direct contact with accommodation management is critical to finding an epic spot when time is short.
Do A Staycation!
Sometimes, the best holiday destinations are just near your home. If you’re unsure about visiting any location near your home, why not scroll over some South African maps and find a less popular spot?
After all, there are 257 municipalities in South Africa! While the internet has a mountain of information, sometimes absolute gems are neglected.
Also, if you find a destination you’d love to explore, pick up the phone and call. As mentioned, direct contact is vital to finding a great holiday spot.
We’ve mentioned using a few digital platforms to help you find your short-notice holiday destination. But which one should you use?
Or Two Best Short Notice Accommodation Booking Platforms
When trying to find an epic local holiday spot, you need to use all the tools you can, or in this case, user-friendly accommodation platforms.
Here are our best local booking accommodation platforms:
LekkeSlaap
One of South Africa’s most beloved accommodation platforms, LekkeSlaap, is an excellent tool for finding the perfect holiday destination.
For those worried about that, “Is it only in Afrikaans?” We’re here to say it’s also in English.
Also, since it was established in 2013, the platform has had time to gather over 30,000 accommodation options.
These include:
- Holiday homes,
- Small or large hotels,
- B&Bs, guesthouses,
- Lodges and resorts.
Also, LekkeSlaap provides personal customer service, honest reviews, and special deals.
SafariNow
Established in 1999, SafariNow is one of the original online booking platforms South Africans have come to love and trust.
Whether you’re looking to book a:
- Into a lodge,
- Self-catering units,
- Guesthouse,
- B&Bs,
- Hotel,
- Campsite,
- Or a backpackers
SafariNow is more than just booking a safari destination.
Also, the platform has 21,500 accommodation options in South Africa alone! So, there’s bound to be something to look at.
However, if you are successful and find a destination for that last-minute holiday, check your vehicle’s battery before you run out of the front door.