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Cape Town – South Africa’s Coveted Wine Capital

The Wine Culture

One of the first things travelers think of when visiting Cape Town is the famous wine culture. With Cape Town’s extensive history in wine farming, taking a trip to the coveted wine farms is a must-have on your to-do list when visiting the Mother City. There are a number of wine routes and vineyards to choose from, which are considered some of the best in the world, but with such a large variety of routes just a drive away, it can be a bit difficult to choose which to visit. Below are a few things to consider before making your selection.

Wine Tasting With A View

The wine routes in Cape Town offer some of the city’s best views. Apart from the incredible wine, you get the chance to drive through beautiful scenery and sit amongst nature while drinking a glass of your favourite blend. Vineyards are typically surrounded by grand mountainscapes and the more historic farms display classic Cape Dutch architecture. The pristine white of the buildings are a juxtaposition to the lush greenery surrounding them, creating a tranquil setting where you will want to stay submerged for as long as possible.

Source: http://www.kleinhoekkloof.co.za/eye-mountain

 

Wine Tasting With A View

The wine routes in Cape Town offer some of the city’s best views. Apart from the incredible wine, you get the chance to drive through beautiful scenery and sit amongst nature while drinking a glass of your favourite blend. Vineyards are typically surrounded by grand mountainscapes and the more historic farms display classic Cape Dutch architecture. The pristine white of the buildings are a juxtaposition to the lush greenery surrounding them, creating a tranquil setting where you will want to stay submerged for as long as possible.

Vineyards with a view:

http://www.buitenverwachting.com

http://www.kleinhoekkloof.co.za

https://www.laborieestate.co.za

Source: https://www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za/the-estate/the-winery-and-cellars

 

Near the City

If your visit to Cape Town involves a lot of tourist activities and you don’t plan on venturing too far out of the city, then you may want to consider visiting vineyards in Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. All of these destinations are located about an hour’s drive out of Cape Town, allowing you to visit a vineyard, have a great wine-tasting experience and still have time to get back to the city for other activities. One of the great things about these wine routes is that you still feel as if you are out in the country-side, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Source: https://www.benguelacove.co.za

 

Venturing Out

If you are passionate about wine and happy to venture out of the city centre, Hermanus or Robertson both offer exquisite wine routes. These routes are approximately a 2-hour drive out of Cape Town but offer a scenic road trip to your destination. Taking a trip to Robertson, for example, would give you the option of traveling through the Huguenot tunnel, which stretches 3.9km through a mountain and is followed by an incredible drive through the Hawequas mountain range. If you choose one of these destinations, it would be best to dedicate a full day to the trip or book a night’s accommodation in the area.

Source: https://esona.co.za

 

Something Different

When visiting a wine farm in the Western Cape, you might have the opportunity of additional activities other than only wine tasting. You could experience a tasting in an old wine cellar, blend your own wine, or meet the people who are behind the production of the wine. If you want to add a little something to the experience, make sure this is taken into account when making your decision on where to go. Pairing food with wine is quite a popular attraction and allows you to experience the way different food affects the flavour of the wine itself. It can be quite an interesting experience and you may find yourself tasting flavours in the wine that you have never tasted before.

Wine farms with a difference:

https://esona.co.za

https://kleinroosboom.co.za

https://www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za

Ultimately, no matter which wine route you choose, Cape Town will not disappoint. Take your time and enjoy the delicious wine Cape Town has to offer.

 

Sources:

https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/231545/the-most-popular-wine-routes-in-the-western-cape/

https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/wine-estates/default.php

https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-ideas/things-to-do/wine-routes-near-cape-town/

 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

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7 Affordable Ways To Travel Across Europe In 2019

 

Spending in euros can be limiting especially if you’re travelling on a tight budget! Luckily there are ways to cut corners and spend judiciously. Due to the rise of the sharing economy, there has been a surge in new budget airlines and bus options. Now it looks like the new trend is to get around Europe using these efficient transport services.

Here are new 7 affordable ways to travel through the continent:

Megabus

Megabus is the ‘IT’ bus to travel through the United Kingdom as well as Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. The ticket prices can vary from 1-20 pound sterling and is considerably cheap and efficient.

Busabout

Are you familiar with the hop on/hop off bus service? It’s a popular transport among the backpackers who get to meet other people with the same itinerary and can get on and off on any set routes while travelling with Busabout. Their unlimited passes for $1,499 for six months of travel is the best deal for a long-term period.

Flixbus

Here’s another additional bus transport that’s as user-friendly as Megabus but with even better perks (Wifi, electrical outlets, up to three free bags) at a reasonably good price. German-based FlixBus has routes in 20 European countries and thousands of cities, with prices starting as low as 5 euros.

Budget Airline

With budget airlines, you get to travel at ease with trips as cheap as 1 euro! Disclaimer: You might have to read the rules again before booking any ticket. They are known to be very strict about baggage limits or if you forget to print out your boarding pass. You will otherwise have to pay for extra fees. Skyscanner and Momondo are the go-to’s for anyone who wants to save up yet still travel through an airline!

Eurail Pass

If travelling in a plane or on a bus in Europe is not your cup of tea then you can always try the Eurail Pass out. It’s a much more comfortable option, plus the European rail system is known to be the best and most extensive rail system in the world.

If your goal is to travel around Europe across long distances for longer journeys, the Eurail Pass is the more appropriate choice of transport. Your cost per trip will be a lot more economical than if you were to buy the tickets separately.

BlaBlaCar

BlablaCar is the definition of a car-pool, except cooler! It lets you rideshare with people who have extra space in their car with the same destination as yours and who agree to give you a lift. The rides can cost as little as 5 euros. If you’re a fan of the countryside and you don’t mind the social aspect of BlablaCar, then get riding!

Source Article: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/cheap-ways-to-travel-across-europe-2/

 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

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7 Important Things to Know Before Visiting the USA

Here are 7 pointers to keep in mind to maximise your experience when visiting America for work or that long-awaited holiday:

1. The Tipping culture

Tipping your waiter is always required whether you’re in a taxi, at a bar or in a restaurant. It’s regarded as a token of appreciation if the service you received was hospitable.

2. The price on the label is not the final price!

Most things you’ll buy will exclude sales tax which is generally 10% extra in addition to the total cost. When in doubt, just take your phone out to calculate the exact amount you need to pay.  

3. Don’t underestimate the national parks

Forget the concrete jungle that you always see on TV. Make time and go visit the national parks scattered all across America. Some of them such as Yellow Stone National Park, The Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park & Zion National Park are the ones that you cannot miss.

4. Your ESTA Application

Don’t we all love some paperwork! If you’re arriving from a country under the Visa Waiver Program, you are subject to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) and obtain approval before coming to the USA.

5. Not everywhere is safe!

Like every country, there are some places that are unsecured and not guarded at all times. Try and get as much advice as you can from the friendly locals and assess your situation regularly. Wander often but wander safe.

6. Make sure to have your travel and health insurance sorted before you travel.

This is pretty much a step that’s imperative before you go to any country especially where its currency is the American dollar. Invest wisely and keep a printed document of your ID, Health insurance and your plane ticket with you at all times.

7. Turning right on a red light is rule-worthy.

Across the 50 states, drivers can take a right turn on a red light when it’s safe and if there’s no sign that forbids a right turn. So watch out when you’re driving or crossing the road.

Source article: https://www.travelanddestinations.com/things-to-know-before-visiting-the-usa/

 

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

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Take a Card from your Hotel

Take a card from your Hotel in case you get lost.

If you are unfamiliar with a city or perhaps you are  a first time traveller the travel tip is to take a hotel business card from Reception when checking in, which has the address and telephone number of your hotel so in the event you should get lost or forget the name of hotel you are able to get back without too much trouble.

This tip is particularly useful in countries where English is not that widely spoken and communication is often difficult with a cab driver like in places like  Korea or Japan. Just show the hotel card to the cab driver, the card will inevitably have the hotel address printed in English and the local language.

If there are no hotel business cards record the address as a pin on Google Maps and save the hotels telephone number.

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City Sightseeing on a Tourist Bus

Things to think About before Buying the “hop-on hop-off “bus ticket to do your City Sightseeing.

Many major cities offer a hop-on hop-off buses for sightseeing with several different routes however these buses are often hugely popular and there may be a long line at some of the more popular tour stops.   This is particularly true if the bus services a Cruise ship terminal or major tourist hub in a city.

If your group is small enough instead of waiting in the long line for the “hop-on hop-off “our tip is to take a Taxi or Uber to the next stop on the route and inevitably the line will be considerably shorter. Usually the stops between sites is relatively close, traffic is not an issue and there are no surcharges for “jumping the line”.

Buying a ticket online will usually also save you money and time.   The “hop-on hop-off “bus is usually less popular in the afternoons but this naturally leaves less time for stops.  It remains one of the best ways to see most of the sites in the city quickly and affordably within a day.

A great one for South Africa is City Sightseeing offering various routes daily with a main departure point being The Waterfront in Cape Town as well as Gold Reef City in Johannesburg.

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Le Bastille Day

Le Bastille Day

There is never a shortage of fun things to do in Cape Town, whether it’s Summer or Winter. And this weekend is no exception. Experience a little bit of France on July 15-16th at the annual Bastille Day Festival held in Franschoek.

An extravaganza of food and wine the place to be is the Food and Wine Marquee held in the beautiful grounds of the Huguenot Monument. A R280 ticket will buy you a complimentary tasting glass and booklet of 5 tasting coupons to be used on the day. A quick word of advice-the tickets sell out fast and no tickets will be sold on the day once the marquee is full. To avoid disappointment book early.

If you are not a fan of wine or simply want to give it a skip there is Franschhoek’s main road bustling with various eateries and curio shops for you to explore. This year the Porcupine Ridge Barrel-Rolling competition is back as well as the dedicated children’s corner and the Farmer’s Market is sure to be extra vibey with a host of musicians and carnival artistes ready to entertain.

So, dust off your berets and experience one of Cape Town’s hallmark festivals. For more information including accommodation, wineries and activities click here

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

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Tips on Traveling through London

  • If you flying into Heathrow the fastest way into London is the Heathrow Express which runs every 30 minutes to Paddington Station in the heart of London then it is a short cab ride to your hotel. It takes just 15 minutes cost around £27 (undiscounted) , a black cab £60, bus or Tube train £12 but will take considerably longer. Buy your ticket online well in advance and save up to 65% off the standard ticket price. Off peak journeys, weekends and Bank holidays are even cheaper. There is no need for a more expensive First Class ticket the train is comfortable enough and the journey is really short. heathrowexpress.com
  • If you flying from Gatwick Airport just South of London there is the convenient Gatwick Express which leaves from Victoria station every 30 minutes. If you buy the ticket online you save 10% for the first ticket and for two people 35%. So a little preparation pays.  The Gatwick Express is the fastest, cheapest way to get to the airport. A Black Cab will cost you around £110, Uber £55 and Gatwick Express £17.  The train is popular and can get crowded so arrive early.    gatwickexpress.com
  • If you going be traveling extensively in London then consider a one day Travel Card at £12.30 but buy it only after 9am to get the off peak rate, anytime price £17.50. You can use the Travel Card on the bus as well. You can also consider a 7 day Travel card starting at £32.10 for Zone 1-2 (pretty much where all the interesting attraction are located). Kids travel at a discount.  For short journeys, it is often cheaper for three or four people traveling together to take a Black Cab rather than a Tube ride.
  • London city has many one way roads so for a short journey you may find it is quicker to walk than take a cab or even a tube, use Google maps and select the on foot option. London is full of surprises so walking is a great option.
  • Remember always take a Business Card from the hotel with their address just in case you should get lost.
  • London is a city designed for public transport probably better than any other city in the world but it does help to plan your journey. Download the London Tube map Free on Google Play or from the Apple App store.

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

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Our Top Ten Must do’s in Cape Town

Our Top Ten Must do’s in Cape Town

1.      Go up Table Mountain on the Cableway – Table Mountain sits majestically in the heart of the city and gives a panoramic view of The City, Table bay, Clifton and Camps Bay. Bring something warm to wear, the weather can change fast at the top and it is always cooler at the top of the mountain which is just over a 1000m above sea level.

2.      Cape Point – Cape Point is located in the Cape Point Reserve (about 80km from the city)where you will find several species of antelope, Zebra and baboons.  Absolutely worth the walk to the Point with its amazing views of False Bay and the Atlantic. There is a funicular up the hill (The Flying Dutchman) if you do not feel like the short hike.

3.      Robben Island – The prison made famous by Mandela’s incarceration, Trips by boats leave from the Waterfront at the Clock Tower.

4.      Seal Island – Boats leave from Hout Bay Harbour and travel around the Sentinel to the Island which is covered in Cape fur seals.

5.      Penguins at Boulders Beach – In summer enjoy the opportunity to swim safely at Boulders just past Simonstown with a colony Jackass penguins.

6.      Kirstenbosch – The Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch is the best in the world and absolutely worth a visit. In summer book for one of the many open-air concerts on the lawn, it will be unforgettable.

7.      The Castle of Good Hope – located in the centre of the city, one of the oldest buildings in South Africa built by the Dutch settlers.

8.      Visit Groot Constantia wine farm – built in 1685 and the oldest wine producing estate in South Africa.

9.      The Waterfront – South Africa’s top tourist destination with all its restaurants and shops located in a working harbour and also home to Cape Town’s eye a revolving pod letting you see the city and beyond.

10.   Lions Head by night – take a walk up to the top of Lion’s head with a torch on a full moon but expect crowds of people, the reward is a unique 360-degree breathtaking view, so worth it.

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Kite Surfing in Cape Town

Kite Surfing in Cape Town

Cape Town offers the traveling kite surfers everything that they could want for in a destination, and is one of the world’s best locations for kite surfing. It is also the home of the prestigious Red Bull “King of the Air” competition that attracts the world’s best kite boarders to these shores.

Strong prevailing South Easterly winds in summer with good size waves for wave-riding and flat-water areas to practice tricks and turns, are all close to the city.

The Kite surfing season in Cape Town starts as early as September and continues through to April with the peak months being November, December, January and February. During this peak period you are almost guaranteed to get good southeasterly winds at least 3-4 times a week. The swell size in summer is smaller than the winter season, where swells of 6m and larger can be recorded when the winter storms hit.

In summer the swell size averages around 2.5 m and can be a lot of fun on a twin tip or directional board.

Table Bay, with Table Mountain overlooking it, is the prime location and it stretches all the way from Milnerton Beach, through Sunset Beach, Dolphin Beach, Kite Beach, Tableview, Big Bay, Derdesteen, Haakgat, Melkbos and up to Yserfontein Beach.

Sunset Beach, Tableview and Blouberg suburbs are the hub of Kite surfing in Cape Town with great side shore southeasterly winds reaching speeds of up to 40 knots. Affordable accommodation in these areas is readily available and can be accessed on the internet via Airbnb etc.

In the coastal town of Langebaan, which is approximately an hour’s drive up the West Coast, the massive lagoon and main beach are the ideal spots to learn to kite board, or to practice flat-water turns and tricks.

Langebaan is situated in the heart of the West Coast National Park, a reserve area for fauna and flora and it is not uncommon to see an ostrich or a wild antelope on the road trip.

There are many kite boarding schools in the Sunset Beach / Tableview area and they cater for novice beginners right through to advanced riders. In most cases the lesson includes the rental of the necessary equipment.

The area also has many Kite surfing / Windsurfing stores that carry the latest equipment and they are always good for information regarding local knowledge of tides, beaches, safety and repair of your damaged equipment.

Cape Town is truly a kite surfers paradise and on the “off days” there is so much to see and do, there is nothing like kiting in great surf and wind conditions, with Table Mountain as your back drop.

You will not regret booking your trip to Cape Town today. See you soon !

 B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

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10 Top Wi-Fi Hotspots in Cape Town

A selection of Cape Town restaurants and cafés offering free wireless Internet

Everyone searches for a spot offering Wi-fi (also known as Wifi or wireless Internet) at some point or another, whether it’s so that they can quickly check emails, get their daily social media fix or just get some serious work in within a comfy environment. With so many different Wi-fi hotspots in Cape Town’s city centre, all of which differ slightly in their ambience and offering (they range from trendy and bustling to quiet and business-like), it can be quite tricky to find the setting that suits your needs.  Not to mention, the requirements for using a spot’s free Web offering can be difficult to navigate – is it necessary to order a big meal? Is it fine to just grab a coffee? So, to answer such questions and to bring you the lowdown on the Mother City’s wireless Internet scene, we’ve scoured Cape Town to find a variety of top cafés, restaurants and bars offering great food, a relaxed setting and, of course, FREE Wi-fi.

Read the full article here

 B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.