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 Investec Focus Radio SA