South Africans waiting until the last minute to book can still get a family holiday for under R450 per person per night.
If you’re in this group and want to have fun with your family, this is the cheapest two-week beach holiday for a family of four.
The price includes accommodation and flights from OR Tambo.
The Cheapest Destination for 14 Nights
If you want to enjoy a two-week break with your family, you can get 14 nights and flights for a family of four for R24 600 in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
That works out to R439 per person per night, including flights. Without flights, it’s only R245 per person per night.
For flights, you can travel for as little as R10 859 for two adults and two children from OR Tambo International Airport to Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ).
The ticket prices include one checked bag per passenger.
But the flight can be cheaper. If you only include checked bags for two passengers and share luggage, the flight drops to R9 939.52.
Typically, the difference between checked luggage and no checked luggage is R230, R460 in total for return flights.
You’ll save R920 if two passengers don’t have checked bags.
Then, once in Gqeberha, travellers can get accommodation starting at R13 732 for 14 nights. This will be self-catering accommodation in a holiday home.
Accommodation in Gqeberha is limited. Many affordable bookings have already been taken.
However, if you can’t book the same accommodation for the full 14 nights, split your accommodation dates.
Cheap Flight Dates
The cheapest flight departing from OR Tambo to Gqeberha in December is R1026.44. This excludes a checked bag.
For a checked bag, the price climbs to R1 256.44.
| Departure Dates | With Checked Bags | Without Checked Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 1 December 2026 | R1 256.44 | R1 026.44 |
| 2 – 4 December 2026 | R1 357.44 | R1 127.44 |
| 5 – 9 December 2026 | R1 430.44 | R1 660.44 |
| 29 -31 December 2026 | R1 357.44 | R1 127.44 |
The most expensive return flights in December are between 23 and 27 December.
In January, return flights are most expensive until the Sunday before the start of the school term.
Once the school term starts, prices return to normal.
If you return during peak periods, expect to spend up to R14 900 on flights.
But if you travel after school starts, the cost of flights drops by 27%.
| Return Dates | With Checked Bags | Without Checked Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 14 – 16 December 2026 | R1 357.44 | R1 127.44 |
| 17 -22 December 2026 | R1 559.45 | R1 329.45 |
| 28 – 30 December 2026 | R1 733.44 | R1 963.44 |
| 12 – 15 January 2027 | R1 357.44 | R1 127.44 |
Why is Port Elizabeth Cheapest?
The distance between OR Tambo and Gqeberha is roughly double the distance from OR Tambo to King Shaka International.
Despite this, flights to Gqeberha are 22% cheaper than Durban.
That’s because demand to fly from OR Tambo to King Shaka International Airport is higher than demand to fly from OR Tambo to Gqeberha.
The plane is scheduled to fly anyway.
So, to guarantee the plane reaches capacity, airlines offer cheaper seats.
It’s the same reason flights become cheaper when you book them closer to your travel date. Airlines need to fill up seats.
The price also depends on the days you’re travelling.
Flights to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport drop from their peak by 58% when you travel after Christmas.
The cheapest dates to depart OR Tambo are at the beginning of or the end of December. Then, to depart Gqeberha, it’s cheapest on 14 January 2027.
That’s one day after the first day of term.
| Destination | Return Flights for 4 Passengers |
|---|---|
| Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) | R10 850.52 |
| KuGompo City (East London) | R12 612.76 |
| Durban | R13 924.32 |
| Cape Town | R20 245.52 |