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Travel Tips

Traveling to South Africa

Editor’s note: Global business, and subsequently, global business travel, continues to expand rapidly. In response, CWT Traveler will provide to readers each month in 2008 insights and tips on traveling from North America to other countries around the world. This month’s installment focuses on South Africa.
In business:
- Be sure to schedule business appointments in advance, and be on time for all business engagements.
- Due to the hot climate in South Africa, the mornings tend to be the most comfortable part of the day. Therefore, it is not unusual for most business people to be in their offices by 8 a.m. However, don’t schedule a meeting over breakfast as these meetings are relatively uncommon. You may have better luck conducting business at an early-morning tee time on a golf course.
- It is important to use professional titles. Only close friends and family members address each other by first names.
- While South African executives are well respected in South Africa, they are not expected to be cut-throat and high pressure. Aggressive behavior has little place in business dealings with South Africans. Most would rather see the deal fall through than be pressured. The ideal business transaction is a “win-win,” with both parties gaining from the situation.
- Avoid discussing South African politics, as South Africans may be sensitive about foreigners interfering in their affairs. If pressured for your comments, be able to offer a well-informed opinion. Good topics of conversation can include food, travel, music, outdoor recreation, and sports—particularly Rugby, as this is the most popular team sport among South Africans.
Good to know:
- There are numerous languages spoken throughout South Africa, eleven of which have been designated as “official.” Almost 25 percent of South Africans speak Zulu as their first language. Fortunately for North American visitors, over 57 percent speak some English.
- Dress in South Africa is fairly casual throughout and may vary from city to city, with Johannesburg being the most formal along with the business district in Cape Town. In general, businessmen in South Africa are expected to wear a coat and tie, and businesswomen may wear anything from business suits to light-colored long-sleeved blouses and skirts. Follow the lead of South African colleagues.
- When shaking hands in South Africa; extend the right hand only as the left hand is considered unclean by many.
- Race and gender continue to play a part in social interactions in parts of South Africa. Among most black ethnic groups, men do not hold open doors to allow a woman to enter first. In this male-dominated society, women may sometimes be addressed as “girls.”
- South Africa’s seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere. Most business people schedule a month-long vacation during the South African summer season. In fact, most may even shut down their business from mid-December to mid-January.
Source: “Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries,” by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway. Published by Adams Media of Avon, Massachusetts.
Travelers can reduce risk of lost luggage

Lost luggage is a major complaint of travelers worldwide. It is interesting to note, however, that the airline industry reports show an average of just over 0.5% of luggage handled as being lost, mishandled, or damaged. Following are a few tips that can help minimize exposure to these mishaps and the inconvenience and stress they cause.
- Display name and phone number inside and outside the bag
- Attach a unique identifier—a band, ribbon, or sticker that distinguishes the bag to avoid confusion for anyone at the baggage carousel
- Help the airline locate you—include an itinerary in your luggage
- Make a list of the bag’s contents before checking it to ensure appropriate compensation in the event the bag is actually lost
- Pack a change of clothes, important documents, and medicines (in original containers) in the carry-on bag
- Remove old bag tags
- Try to schedule connections that have some time between flights
- Arrive early to give handlers more time to process bags
- Consider shipping luggage to the destination if time allows and concerns warrant. It may cost more, but there is an added element of convenience and tracking through shipment.
- Report lost baggage—a photo of the bag might help the airline locate it more easily
Sources: Chicago Tribune, MSNBC, USA TODAY

Recommended Websites to enhance the travel experience

Many travelers are well aware of tried-and-true tips for making their travel experience more efficient, such as taking the earliest possible flight or checking in online before arriving at the airport. However, some lesser-known tips and tricks are now available to travelers, courtesy of the savvy Websites listed below:
- Travelpost.com’s Airport Wireless Internet Access Guide outlines wireless Internet connectivity options at many North American airports. The service provider, hourly/daily/monthly charges, and other details are provided at this Website.
- The Transportation Security Administration publishes historical Security Checkpoint Wait Times to help travelers choose the least-crowded checkpoint at the airport, to get to the gate more quickly.
- Airport lounge access is no longer for VIPs only—companies like Priority Pass provide members with access to 500 worldwide airport lounges for a single annual fee. Lounge access can also be gained by signing up for certain credit cards, such as Diners Club, the Morgan Stanley i24 card, and others.
- All coach class seats are not created equal—Websites such as Seatguru.com and Seatexpert.com specify by type of aircraft which seats offer the most space, which seats do not recline, which seats offer access to power outlets, and more.
Sources: ABC News, Transportation Security Administration

CWT Traveler

Travel Tips

Traveling to South Africa

Travelers can reduce risk of lost luggage

Recommended Websites to enhance the travel experience