One hotel I contacted in Pretoria is trying to charge more than six times the normal rate, regardless of length of stay.
what is everyone doing about knockout rounds lodging? chances are we will be playing our 1/16th match in Bloemfontein. unless ofcourse we finish first, and than its Rustenberg. neither place has abundance of accommodations.
Here are a couple of options for those still looking for reasonable accommodation in South Africa who are interested in lodging outside, but within driving distance, of Johannesburg/Pretoria. I've done pretty exhaustive research including poring over several different SA websites and sending out dozens of queries. Most were returned with astronomical rates, 4 and 5 times the normal rates, but I've found a few who've kept their prices reasonable. I'll list them in order of my personal recommendation, you're free to do your own research. Riverbend Self-Catering Cottages (http://www.riverbend-cottages.co.za/) 600 Rand ($81) per cottage per night 200 Rand for an additional guest Contact Werner at riverbendcottages@gmail.com Place is centrally located, closer to Rustenburg but very drivable from Jo'burg and Pretoria. Less than an hour to Sun City and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The host, Werner, is running a fairly new operation and doesn't have too much exposure online. However, he has been incredibly responsive and helpful -- he's happy to recommend and even book game drives through nearby private safari lodges, canopy tours, etc. I have several pictures of the accommodations which I'd be happy to forward to you via e-mail if you PM me. He's also arranged for nearby accommodations to be made available since his place only has 3 cottages. The adjacent lodge has a bar/big-screen TV and there are other restaurants/bars in the general vicinity. Some of you may deem it a considerable risk since you won't find any reviews of his place online, but my gut instinct is that he is reliable and I think you'll find the same if you correspond with him. Feel free to drop my name. _______________________________ Sugarbush Hill (http://www.sugarbushhill.co.za/) Was quoted at 7200 Rand ($980)for triple occupancy for 7 nights Contact Gerald at info@sugarbushhill.co.za Gerald has been short and to the point, not elaborating much on price breakdown, nearby attractions, etc. However, the price is right and the few reviews I've found online have been complementary. We'll probably end up staying here for a few nights towards the end of our trip, but Riverbend will be our primary. ______________________________ Wickers Riverside Estate (http://www.wickers.co.za/) 320 Rand ($44) per person per night Contact Lisa at info@wickers.co.za After scouring the internet and uncovering a couple less than complementary reviews, we've decided not to book with Wickers. However, again, the price is right so if you go in with the right expectations, it may work out for you. Hope this helps a few of you out, feel free to contact me with any additional questions. Get after these bookings guys, let's get these places filled with yank supporters!
If you are interested in doing a homestay, I found this place to be available: http://www.homestaybooking.com/home...oQLaNM/15.0.18.0.5.50.7.1.15.9.1.0.0#calendar
More info re: Werner and Riverbend Cottages, he can be contacted at riverbendcottages@gmail.com; please reference "Jared" -- 2010 Special Offer for our Soccer Fans Offer valid till March 30th for confirmed bookings only Riverbend Cottages, Balu Lodge, Am Hang and Pockets Place are working together to offer our International Guests, who book with us, a complete package for their World Cup experience. Our accommodation rates will remain the same at R300.00 per person sharing per night. At an additional cost we will be able to offer a shuttle service to and from the airport as well as to and from the four stadiums within driving distance, namely Rustenburg – Royal Bafokeng, Pretoria – Loftus Versveld, Johannesburg – Ellis Park and Soccer City Stadiums. Should you be interested in other activities which are available in our surrounding area, such as game drives, canopy tours, abseiling, hot air ballooning or a tour at the Cradle of Humankind etc. we would be more then happy to assist you with your bookings. We are pleased to have secured certain activities at a discounted rate should we have enough interested parties. To enable us to utilise the discounts that we have negotiated we would have to do a block booking. We would therefore appreciate receiving your itinerary ie, date and times of arrival and departure, dates and stadiums of matches and/or dates of free time when activities of your choice could be booked. Pockets Place will be providing a Big Screen for any matches that you may not have tickets for to ensure that you do not miss out on any of the excitement of this World Cup We are all self catering facilities, we can however provide certain planned meals depending on the activities of the day. Eg: a good old South African Braai or potjie which could be prepared while guests are watching matches on the big screen. A beautician and masseur will be available at Riverbend Cottages on the 14th, 17th, 21st and 25th of June, early bookings are essential. Please keep in mind that accommodation is at a premium during this time and our offer is for a limited time for a limited number of people. Looking forward to seeing you in June. Regards, The team from Riverbend Cottages, Balu Lodge, Am Hang and Pockets Place
Palermo have you been able to find anywhere that has a 10% deposit? I've spent the last week or so looking but haven't had much luck. Either in the Joburg or Cape Town areas. Even if it's higher than 10% I'd be interested. I, like so many others, want to get my accommodation all lined up so I can concentrate on other parts of my time there. Anyone else had luck?
We had to pay a 50% deposit for our lodge in Jozi, but we are definitely staying there so its not a big deal. Most places on www.hostelworld.com require a 10% deposit through the site, but I think youll find a lot of them have notices that you must book a minimum # of nights, or pay a higher deposit. Still, worth checking out.
Cape Town: Thought I'd share this one, I just booked it for a couple of nights. It's for those looking to stay in City Centre. It's steps from Long Street (main party/restaurant area) and a few streets away from the huge Fan Fest. For me, location is a top priority. Less than $100/night/person. I found this to be cheaper than even the hostels nearby. These are fully furnished apartments/condos. www.cape-lofts.com -(click on "lofts", I booked the Green Market location) ZAR 1375 ($181/night). 1 bedroom, fully furnished. 2 people = $90/person. www.signatureonline.co.za/apartments.html - this place also has units in the same GreenMarket building, and area locations. Finally, this last option above uses Nightsbridge for it's bookings. I've used it for j'burg accomodation as well. It shows real-time availability and has easy search guide with tons of cities. www.nightsbridge.co.za (click "book accomodation" at the top-right). hope this helps.
I'm looking for a recommendation on a condo or apartment for 4 people for the first round. Anywhere in the Rustenburg, Pretoria, Jo'Burg triangle.
Try working with Shirley Hess. She can find you accommodation very centrally to reach all of our group games for a good rate. shirley@west-beach.co.za
Just booked 4 of us at the Traveller's Inn in Rustenburg for the USA v. England match (June 11-13). They said they still have some dorm beds left at a really cheap rate. Also found rooms available here: http://www.roomsforafrica.com/establishment.do?id=1374&rn=yew048gqag9g and here: http://www.roomsforafrica.com/establishment.do?id=6001&rn=m5qbaf8fi3dg I have one night at Africa Footprints Guest House in Joburg the night I fly in. They provide free airport shuttles and are really close to the Airport. These guys also said they had rooms for June 10: http://www.africacentrelodge.co.za/
Glad to hear we won't be the only US fans there. I'm surprised they still have availability...they were given a good review in Lonely Planet. See you there!
For Cape Town, try "The Backpack & Africa Travel Centre." It was rated South Africa's top hostel, and #2 in Africa. Excellent location. Around $66 per person, and great location. 10% deposit. Three-night minimum stay. backpack@backpackers.co.za A cheaper, well rated option is Simon's Town Backpackers. It has a good location on a beach and closer to the Cape of Good Hope, but a distance from central Cape Town. If you're open to Pretoria as your base instead of JNB, try 1322 Backpackers. $52 per person for a private twin room, but full payment due within a few days of booking. bpackers@iafrica.com
Not to get way ahead of things, but is anyone planning for a potential Round of 16 match? I have two conditional tickets from USSF for that round and am trying to plan for all contingencies (1st in group, 2nd in group, no round of 16). Is anyone else in this situation? Given the distance between Rustenburg and Bloemfontein, its not looking feasible to book a single place and commute to either one at the last minute. How are others planning for the possibilities here?
I'll be staying at a B&B in Sandton (wealthy suburb of JoBurg) and am prepared to go to either match. If they play in Bloemfontein, it is just a 5 hour drive from Sandton, so I can get there in plenty of time. I have a rental car. I can watch the 1C vs 2D match in Rustenberg on Saturday night, June 26th at 8:30PM local time, drive back to Sandton and sleep. It is only about 90 minutes from Sandton to Rustenberg each way. I can then get up and drive the 5 hours to Bloemfontein in time for the Sunday, June 27th match at 4:00PM and then drive back! A bit of driving but that is the sacrifice made for rooting on the Stars and Stripes. If the USA doesn't play the Bloemfontein match I might look to sell my ticket if I'm not feeling up for travelling down there, will have to see how things go and who is playing.
I've got tickets through the quarterfinals if we make it. I've only got lodging booked through the 24th, after which time I will just see where things take me. Unlike so many others, I don't think there will be any trouble finding places to stay, particularly after the group stage. For Bloemfontein I would probably head down that way and find a place to stay for a couple nights. Two weeks in the Joburg area might get old and the change of scenery might be nice. After that, I'd like to fly down to Cape Town.
Here is another family that is looking to host someone in their home: http://www.homestaybooking.com/host-family-information-25777347
Fyi- North South Backpackers in the Hatfield area of Pretoria closed down a few weeks ago. I booked/paid for my room already, thank god they emailed me to let me know the place was closed. And are refunding the $$. I emailed 1322 Backpackers and they have beds/rooms available. Email Tim and Monique at reception@1322backpackers.com. Their website is: www.1322backpackers.com. Lonely Planet says good things about them, and they are located just a few streets from Burnett Street and Hatfield Square, where all the bars in Pretoria are next to the stadium.
A friend and I will be staying at 1322 backpackers from 6/13 - 6/20, as we hope to walk to see other non USA games at the stadium in Pretoria. Unfortunately, we will be back in Gurnee/Milwaukee when the Yanks play in Pretoria. but we have confirmed tickets for the England and Slovenia matches, and will be staying up in Rustenburg for the first several days in SA. Staying at the Riverbend Cottages. So for 10 days our total lodging will be under $500 per person. The cheapest we have found as our plan is to see a match a day from the opener till we depart on the 20th. We will find out tomorrow if we have any luck in the lottery draw.
More budget accomodations in Arcadia area of Pretoria (near Hatfield bars and super close to stadium). This is like $45 a night, can't beat that. I'm sure they will waive the 3 night minimum, doesn't hurt to ask. "We have dorm rooms for R350 per person per night, including breakfast. We do request a minimum of 3 nights though. Would you like to make a booking? Thank you Maria Operations Manager Pretoria Backpackers Email: info@pretoriabackpackers.net Webpage: http://www.pretoriabackpackers.net "
my group of 4 just tried our luck with airport B&B in JBurg. it prob will suck but i figure its conveniently located, and as long as we mail blanket ahead of time, and drive down to the embassy for some basic food for the room we should be set, along with a rental car. Im easy to please. as long as i have a warm place to sleep, and i wont get killed in my sleep, im gtg. my question is they charged like 2200 for the room, which included two cots and a queen bed. Im assuming they would not charge us each individually as well, i hope correct? i wonder how big of dicks they would be come to think about it. cant get a refund now anyways.