For 97% of South African travellers, stretching every rand as far as possible is the number one priority when planning a trip, according to Flight Centre’s Global PR survey.
Why simply visit a destination when you can actually experience it – culture, flavour, insider secrets and all – while getting more bang for your buck?
“Forget postcard photos and tick-box attractions. Today’s travellers want real value and a holiday that feels personal from start to finish,” says Antoinette Turner, General Manager of Flight Centre South Africa.
Can you relate? Then this is your nudge to ditch ‘tourist mode’ and unlock your chosen destination the way local residents do. Here’s how living like a local can change your whole travel equation… and save you more than a few rands along the way.
What does “living like a local” really mean?
According to Flight Centre’s survey, 61% of South African travellers put ‘experiencing new cultures’ at the very top of their holiday wish list – and ‘living like a local’ is the best way to get this right. But what does that actually mean?
“It means putting your finger on the real pulse of a city or country. It’s sampling snacks from a buzzing neighbourhood market, using local buses to explore hidden corners, and filling your itinerary with moments that don’t come with a ticket price or a queue,” Turner explains.
When it comes to value, this approach pays off in more ways than one. Not only do you save on those classic tourist markups (which can see you spending double on things like food and experiences), but you’ll also discover the kind of priceless adventure that no money can buy.
Flight Centre’s top tips:
- Eat what (and where) the locals eat: Skip the main tourist drags and find restaurants and markets bustling with locals. Look out for “meal of the day” blackboard specials, and eclectic food stalls at night markets.
- Master local transport: Download the city’s primary transport app before you land and buy a daily or weekly transport pass for best value.
- Prioritise free and community events: Check local event calendars online or ask your accommodation host about what’s on: art walks, festivals, open-air concerts, markets, and sporting events are often either free or a fraction of the cost of major attractions.
- Stay in unique, locally-run places: Book accommodation in locally-owned guesthouses, boutique hostels, or self-catering apartments in creative neighbourhoods – where you’ll usually get both colourful local recommendations and world-class hospitality.
- Shop and learn like a resident: Browse community markets and small independent stores instead of the big tourist malls. Join a local cooking class or art workshop for an interactive souvenir that lasts a lifetime.
- Ask for (and follow) insider advice: Ask waiters, shop owners, hotel staff, or your Flight Centre Travel Expert for their top hidden recommendations (“Where would you take your best friend for dinner?” is always a winner).
Around the world: What “living like a local” truly looks like*
Here are a few on-the-ground snapshots of how you can stretch your money further (and live deeper) when you swap tourist habits for local know-how.
- London**
Tourist mode:
- Full English breakfast near the big sights: £6–£9 (R140–R210)
- Taxi from Heathrow to central London: £90–£110 (R2,090–R2,550)
- “Skip-the-line” attraction pass: £59–£89 (R1,370–R2,065)
Living local:
- Coffee and pastry at a local café: £3–£6 (R70–R140)
- Oyster Card unlimited daily transport: from £8.90 (R205)
- Free lunchtime concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields: £0
- Bangkok
Tourist mode:
- Rooftop bar cocktail with city view: ฿450 (R240)
- Taxi across town (traffic and all): ฿40 (R21) for the first kilometre and then ฿8 (R4) per kilometre thereafter (R200)
- Packaged ‘floating market’ day trip: ฿2,000 (R1,065)
Living local:
- Legendary street pad Thai: ฿50 (R26)
- Skytrain/MRT single journey: ฿16–฿42 (R8–R75)
- Weekend local market with live music, art, and snacks: Free entry
- Cape Town
Tourist mode:
- V&A Waterfront seafood lunch: R400+ per person
- Hop-on/Hop-off bus: R350 for a 1-day pass
- Cableway up Table Mountain: R380
Living local:
- Legendary gatsby sandwich in Athlone: R100
- MyCiTi bus day pass: R90
- Art walk at First Thursdays in the city centre: Free
How Flight Centre turns local living into real value
It’s one thing to want to travel like a local, but it’s quite another to actually do it. That’s where Flight Centre’s Travel Experts come in. With more than 38,000 years of collective travel know-how under our belts, we’ve learned that – rather than pinching pennies – local living is about opening doors to enticing adventures, all while enjoying maximum peace of mind.
“Yes, we’ll help get you from A to B, but it’s also our job to make the journey in between memorable and affordable,” says Turner. “We’ll sort your flights and accommodation, all while sharing the kind of local secrets and time-saving tricks you wouldn’t be able to find in a standard guidebook.”
Wherever your next adventure leads, let us help you turn every moment into the kind of journey you’ll remember for years to come. Chat to a Flight Centre Travel Expert today… and let’s open up a world of value and possibility together. Visit www.flightcentre.co.za.
*All costs provided are averages and were correct at the time of writing.
**Exchange rates were correct at the time of writing (03/10/2025)
