If the rented house is actually comfortable, I'd stick with it. Melkbosstrand will give you a fair idea of South African living. Yes, you'll be doing some driving but if you're going to see Cape Town, that's part of the equation. On match days, you'll have plenty of time before games to explore the Waterfront and other nearby locations of note. The main shopping hubs are not in the centre of Cape Town, anyway. You will be well situated to drive to/from Canal Walk at Century City. The Park and Ride system is D.O.A., by the way. The ad hoc system they are now proposing will only take you as far as Cape Town Station with an iffy shuttle the remaining distance to Cape Town Stadium. But, as I have already pointed out, www.accor.com right now have a fire sale for hotel rooms, with room nights as low as $50 and even fully refundable rates of $85 per night.
Hey BoughtMyPoints! Thank you for your quick reply and great tips. I have already checked out that website. Just a follow up few questions. So what is the best way to get into town on game days or to hang out at FIFA fanfest? Should we drive to Century City/Canal Walk and take the Metro into town, is that correct? What about returing late at night after our game? Is is safe to drive from Melkbos into Cape Town(sorry for a silly question my wife is quite worried!). Again thanks. You and others have helped out a great many people. It is appreciated. I owe you a beverage my friend. J
Very good questions. Getting to Canal Walk for the matches is now a total waste of time. 1. Park at Canal Walk. 2. Look for shuttle to Metrorail station 3. Ride Metrorail ... iffy, at best 4. Arrive at Cape Town Station. You are a very, very long walk to/from the stadium. Promised shuttle service not to stadium but 500m distant - nobody knows whether this will work out. 5. After match, not a pretty picture. 6. Canal Walk will close before the 20:30 kick off matches off. Try parking at Cape Town Convention Center or as close in as you can and walk. Nobody knows how the traffic flows will pan out in Cape Town, nobody. First test : 12 June, France vs Uruguay 20:30 Melkbostrand to Cape Town is a low risk route, except if you take the R27 all the way into Cape Town. Or I should say, you may wish to see a little local colour by taking the R27 all the way in during the daytime but avoid it at night, by taking the N1 motorway to the N7 motorway north, just past Century City and taking the Plattekloof exit for Blouberg/Blauuwberg. The road layout is a mess, as you will see from the map and as you will experience driving this in the daytime with terrible traffic jams at certain times. So my advise is to acquaint yourself with the route to/from the N7 in the daytime so you can negotiate same after dark when it is the preferred route. Once that task is accomplished, feel free to drive the direct R27 Marine Drive into Cape Town during daylight hours. Please do not regard Metrorail as the "Metro". It isn't. It has been bereft of adequate investment for 20+ years. The Powers that be had the perfect opportunity in FIFA 2010 of upgrading parts of the system, building proper Park and Rides and making the short connection to the airport. They didn't. For anyone who is familiar with Melbourne, Australia, it is highly instructive to compare its rail network to Cape Town's.
BMP - I have two sets of accommodation for my time in Cape Town, the first at St Georges Mall and the second in Napier Street. Looking on the map it seems like an easy walk to the stadium!! Is that what you would do?
Not Ysterplaat, its two blocks from Long Street. Would both that and Napier St be ok to walk to stadium?
I'm virtually next door to Napier Street in Loader Street. I'm planning on walking to stadium, V&A waterfront and fan zone from there. If this is not a good idea then someone please shout! (No need to mention all the the usuals about tourist safety - I wont be staggering home alone at midnight with a $500 camera round my neck).
Advice: Do not carry any valuables in a flashy way. Try and make yourself less of a target. Rather have the camera in a rucksack on your back. Be alert when your walking so that no one opens your bag without you knowing it (i have seen professionals in Europe doing this - so be careful here also). Not to scare you by any means, but its worth locking your backpack/any luggage with small post office box locks.
Don't know if anyone has seen these specials yet for accomodation: http://www.1timeholidays.co.za/specific/1time/specialdeals.jsp?destination=WEB_OFFERS,RG,BR Cape Town: http://www.1timeholidays.co.za/serv.../holidayoffer.jsp&destination=WEB_DEAL1,RG,BR,
I am sharing a room with one of the other forum members for a few days in Jo'burg. I need some place from June 8th to June 15. I was thinking maybe staying at the same place. How does this sound? FORMULA 1 Johannesburg north Sandton 1 Maree str. Bramley Park WYNBERG, SOUTH AFRICA Any suggestions are welcome.
uuaawww is staying there - check the Questions about SA thread (I hope it was there) for our comments.
Gronum, you are awesome as usual. I am in fact staying there with uuaawww from June 15 - June 20. I am just trying to figure out what to do from June 8th to July 15. I am in your beautiful country from June 8 to July 15. Thing is I am going to have to work remotely as well and I am just starting to figure out details. I need a place where I can work from the days that I am not out watching games, drinking or sightseeing. A safe area, clean unshared bathroom, wifi and a decent spot to hang out in close proximity to the fan zones, stadiums etc. Also, I need to be able to store my valuables - tickets, laptop, camera and passport. Any help is greatly appreciated. Also, would love to meet everyone when I get down there and I have some extra tix so if you fancy going to an Argentina game let me know. Best, Akshay
The wifi bit will be the most difficult - the rest? Even the formula hotel is fine enough for that. Will scratch around and see what I can find.
Someone make me an offer please... I am prepared to literally give these away for next to nothing - well almost!!! PM me!
akshay, you may want to consider 2 Leafed Doors (http://www.2leafeddoors.co.za/). Not sure what their availability/rates are now, but they do have a full biz conference center.
There are a few businesses in South Africa that offer free wifi but they are thin on the ground. I can only think of 3 places that offer it! Akshay, the easiest answer for a mobile office is for you to hang out at the various Mugg and Beans coffee house/restaurants, located throughout South Africa. http://www.themugg.com/ In fact, one of the nicest locations is right at Montecasino where the MTN fanzone is located. They offer wifi at all of the locations, including 10 non consecutive minutes free each day which can be useful if you use outlook express and log on/off quickly. Their ISP is https://hotspot.alwayson.co.za/hotspot/TRX/DisplayOptions.asp?rb=1 which you will find provides wifi at many other locations, as well. There's no need to buy the "roaming" option. I generally buy 100mB at a time that I use for many months (I use min. 5 gigs per month at home). The best bang fior the buck for WC visitors will be to buy something like 1 gig valid for 30 days.
Sun City Anyone know or recommend any affordable Sun City (Rustenburg) accomodation? I m thinking of going to Sun City on 18 - 20 June for 2 nights, I have no games there, just to visit. Thanks.
Re: Sun City Nope - not in the resort. You might want to google the Sun city vacation club - maybe you will find someone renting out their week but as it is school holidays and they sleep 6 these will be at a premium. Try the caravan park at the Pilanesberg national park or even nearby Rustenburg. www.nature-reserve.co.za/pilanesberg-park-north-west_accommodation.html Sun city hotels - the cheapest are the cabanas, then hotel, then Cascades then the Palace - all pretty expensive. Also try ATKV Buffelspoort - not in Sun city but a real holiday resort http://www.buffelspoort.co.za/
Re: Sun City Is there anything to do in Sun City? These dates (18 - 20) were scheduled for Victoria Falls initially but since there is some visa issues, I can no longer go, so changing alternative to Sun City. I want to stay within Johannesburg vicinity since on the 20th, I have a Brazil vs Ivory Coast game.
Re: Sun City Tennis, golf and game drives. Too cold for swimming, though I think 1 pool is heated. It's an exceptionally beautiful casino resort, relatively light on the gambling aspect.
Re: Sun City Also watersports - paragliding, skiing , jet skiing, mountain biking, scrambling (I think) , animal sanctuary, wild bird sanctuary, extravaganzas or some show on at the entertainment centre , gambling, shopping, put put, go carts, eating, drinking, games arena, 2 golf courses (one hole has a resident crocodile) bird watching, game watching, spa, gym. 2 heated pools as far as I remember, walks - all of this in the resort alone. Then nearby Pilanesberg game reserve has the big five game viewing, sundowner drives etc etc. I think you can amuse yourself for 2 days! You have to leave early on the 20th to attend the soccer friendly at wits!