Cape Town - Gone are the days when bored business travellers sat in their hotel, scrolling through TV stations in foreign languages and ordering room service.
These days, people are combining business and leisure travel, with “blesiure” travel being one of the biggest travel trends this year.
Businesses are starting to see the integration between work and leisure time as a way to avoid their employees from professional burnout and provide an opportunity for the employee to take the stress out of business travel. And business travellers are using their work travel time to explore the local areas, with the mindset of coming back again with family or friends.
For those travelling for business around South Africa, Cheapflights.co.za have pulled together some ideas and deals to make the destination at the end of the red-eye commuter flights more enticing.
Experience a part of the Johannesburg hip culture
Johannesburg is the most common pit stop for local business travellers and there’s plenty of reasons for people to visit the City of Gold, other than a quick hop on the Gautrain to their next meeting.
Several years ago many corporates moved from the old city centres to (then) trendy Sandon. But in recent years, the city centre has seen much urban regeneration, with these areas having the hippest and most happening areas to hangout.
Vibey food and drinks spots not to miss out on include 44 Stanley Beer Yard, Braamfontein’s famous Neighbourgoods Market for an early morning flat white and croissant, or for the edgier types, Hell’s Kitchen in Melville is the hippest place to be.
Apart from socialising, Johannesburg also exudes culture – visit the Apartheid Museum or Constitution Hill to gain some more perspective on South African’s history.
The city that’s got more than just a mountain
Other than the imposing Table Mountain and sweeping views of the city, Cape Town has many hidden gems.
Business travellers staying in the CBD are spoilt for choice, with hundreds of food and drinks spots popping up everywhere, especially around trendy Bree street. Colourful Bo Kaap is just a short walk away, and those looking for a real cultural experience can try cooking classes offered by the locals in their homes.
With a high concentration of hotels and conference facilities around the V&A Waterfront, travellers staying there have a wide choice of entertainment on their doorstop. Give the touristy restaurants a miss and instead follow the locals to the Oranjezicht City Farm Market at the LookOut on Saturday mornings to get a fix of fresh vegetables or decadent sweet treats.
Lastly, with many head offices now basing themselves in or around Century City in the northern suburbs, it may feel at first a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the Mother City. However, the Canal Walk shopping centre has endless shops and restaurants to browse through, and the African Pride Crystal Towers hotel has a great spa. It’s also as short drive from the world renowned Paarl and Franschhoek wine routes, which are a must visit for those who have a day to spare.
Beat the heat in Durban
No matter what time of year it is, those visiting Durban will face the unanticipated wave of heat and humidity along the shores.
With many businesses moving out of the old city centre to Umhlanga and beyond, business travellers are able to enjoy the pristine beaches that used to be the haunts of locals only. Leading beach spots include North and South Beach, Bay of Plenty, and Umhlanga Beach, or explore some of the lesser visited locations which make up the seemingly endless stretches of sandy beaches.
Business travellers situated in or around the older city centre can still find loads to do. Those looking for indoor activities can go to one of the world’s largest aquariums, uShaka Marine World, or take a stroll around KwaMuhle Museum learning about Durban’s past and present, located in the former headquarters of the city’s Home Affairs Department.
For travel deals to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, visit www.cheapflights.co.za
Adapted from a press release for IOL