Durban - Westville resident Denise Howell said travelling abroad for her family of four has become quite expensive. She said the current exchange rates and airport taxes were big factors when considering a trip overseas.
Their last big holiday abroad was five years ago when the family spent two weeks in Germany, Paris and the United Kingdom.
While her husband and youngest son spent a week in London over December last year, it was for a special occasion.
She and her older son opted to stay at home.
“My husband and youngest son went to London to watch a Chelsea-Liverpool match for his 18th birthday. They spent a week there.
“We haven’t been on a family holiday abroad for three years. Airport taxes are ridiculous. My husband travels abroad for business often and if we had used his Voyager miles to go to the UK for our family of four, airport taxes would have been R30 000.
“With just the two of them going, it was R15 000 in airport taxes. Travelling abroad is becoming costly,” she said.
She said they go on a local family holiday once a year either to Cape Town or a game reserve.
While they have cut back on overseas travel, Howell said one of her friends insisted on travelling abroad every two years, saying you only live once.
“Everyone is different. I personally enjoy local holidays, especially time in the bush. There are still many places I would like to visit but you have to think carefully about where you want to go and weigh it against other important things in your life,” she said. - Sunday Tribune