Accommodation Preferences Among South African Travelers 2025

For South African travelers in 2025, budget is a principle. 56% opt for budget-friendly lodging, signaling a travel mindset shaped by high inflation, a volatile rand, and deep economic inequality. Premium stays (19%) and deluxe hotels (16%) are not off the radar, but they cater to a smaller, likely urban elite. Villas and vacation homes barely register at 6%, suggesting that Airbnb’s global rise hasn’t hit mass adoption here. South African leisure travel is pragmatic: it prioritizes access over opulence, and value over vanity.