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Culture on Demand: Going Global
How to mix business and pleasure in today's New Economy
By STAN STALNAKER
September
25, 2000
Web posted at 12:50 p.m. Hong Kong time, 12:50 a.m. EDT
I know this isn't totally relevant to the masses, but the fact remains that business travel is an art, and for people who love travel, it becomes a test of will. Imagine for a moment that you have an impending business trip destined to take you to one or even two cities. Assuming you've got a couple of extra days here and there--and at least a shadow of an interest in exotic ports of call--how do you extend your itinerary without breaking your budget to mix a little business and pleasure in the ultimate New Economy style?
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Herewith, an anecdote on going global, with a recommended hotel for each city of your stay. Believe it or not, you can get around the world on the same money that a two-week vacation at reasonable resort would cost you.
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The key to sticking to the jet-set budget is short travel and a flexible ticket. Some would say that this is because when you only average 48 hours in each city, there's much less time to waste at Barney's and Harvey Nichols. True enough, but the real savings are in multicity passes that are often cheaper than a regular round-trip ticket. For instance, the quoted Business Class fare from Hong Kong to New York, return, can vary between $2,500 to $6,000--standard fare for any multinational company--versus $1,500 to $4,000 for a same class fare on a combined round-the-world ticket.
Have your travel agent start with a round-the-world ticket from One World or Star Alliance. The cost of these multi-stop, multicity tickets has plummeted as the alliances have grown, and today they offer a multitude of cities to traverse. Next, upgrade to business class any way you can and arrange your flight times for night travel, which saves on hotel costs while allowing you to arrive at your destination ready to roll.
Hong Kong to Singapore: 4 hours flying time, 48 hours on the ground. Take the morning flight and be in the city by noon. It's efficient, so you'll have time for a modern dinner at Marmalade after your meetings and a quick rest at the Four Seasons--now discounting rates as low as $125 on promotion--before moving on to the airport the next evening with your taxi driver on full alert. Cost of air ticket: $160.
Singapore to Bali: 2 hours flying time, 48 hours on the ground. Bali is cheap, so you won't spend much here. Check The Villas for luxury villa accommodation in Legian at prices that won't give you seizures. Groovy new restaurants include Aqua at 25 Seminyak Street, but you're better off at the local places that dot the road, offering good value and decent food. Cost: $110
Bali to Sydney: night flight, 72 hours. Bring your Melatonin for this one, and try to avoid the Perth/Darwin 5am connection--unless you enjoy sitting on an airport transit bus at the crack of dawn listening to rural Australians whistle "Sweet Home Alabama" in tune with the radio. In Sydney, the fabulous new Westin Hotel is the place to stay--but also check out the L'Otel in Darlinghurst if you want something a bit more intimate. Cost: $270
Sydney to New York: 20 hours flying time, 48 hours on the ground. Upon arrival at JFK, the one thing that will keep your sanity is a car pickup at the airport. Most people don't realize that it's nearly the same price as a taxi (about $50) and it speeds up your arrival into the city by up to an hour, depending on how long the taxi lines are outside the new international terminal. Once there, the Tides Hotel and the Royalton offer big amounts of style without a lot of fuss. On the other hand, you can get air miles when you stay with the larger chains like Crown Plaza and the W. (If you go, make sure you catch Miss Saigon before its last scheduled Broadway performance at the end of year.) Cost: $440
New York to London: 6.5 hours flying time, 48 hours on the ground. British Airway's Club World is the way to go--the new reverse seating structure on their transatlantic flights, coupled with a spot of tea before bedtime, will have you ready to tackle London upon your arrival. The night flight again saves an expensive New York hotel bill and makes the travel time seem inconsequential. In London, splurge--there are so many gorgeous hotels, including The Hempel, an understated design classic that's at least worth a visit to check out the lobby aesthetics alone. But stay at the Sanderson or another boutique hotel at half the cost. Cost: $360
London to Hong Kong: 12 hours flying time. You're on the home stretch--once you arrive, it's just $10 into the city on the Airport Express train, a small price to pay and twice as fast as a car.
The best thing about the round-the-world gig is the new flexibility the alliances offer. The idea of seamless travel among airlines is becoming a reality, all the way down to reduced flying times and good connections to major hubs.
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