South Africa 2010: Catch all preparation thread

Discussion in 'World Cup 2010: Fans & Travel' started by 2010wcfans, Jul 23, 2007.

  1. jcvf90

    jcvf90 Member

    Dec 12, 2006
    Boca Raton, FL
    Oh ok, Thanks, If Honduras makes it to the semi finals I dont think I will be alive from the partying and crying haha.
     
  2. wcbound

    wcbound New Member

    Apr 24, 2009
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Hello,

    This is a general lodging question for the board. Appreciate if I can get some insights into the problem.

    We have a group of 5 people that are going to the world cup and will be there for the entire month. We were trying to find an apartment for the whole month and are in contact with a guy in Pretoria who is willing to rent to us for the month. Can anyone give us some info on how best to go about doing this deal? They guy is asking for 30 percent of the entire payment upfront (which isn't too bad) but we also want some assurance from our side. Has anyone done this before and if so how? What are some of the ways we can protect ourselves. The 30 percent isnt really the issue, as the bigger concern is what if we get there and find out it's a total scam, then we won't have a place to stay. Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
     
  3. shaunsindelman

    Apr 23, 2009
    New York, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Can you put the 30% in an escrow account to be released the day you get the keys?
     
  4. samconnie

    samconnie Member

    Feb 22, 2006
    toronto
    Club:
    AS Roma
    If you found this guy from craiglist and demand money order for payment be very careful
     
  5. samconnie

    samconnie Member

    Feb 22, 2006
    toronto
    Club:
    AS Roma
    check out istopover.com
     
  6. shaunsindelman

    Apr 23, 2009
    New York, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    I must say the prices are pretty good on istopover.com. What's the catch? =)
     
  7. mex_lup

    mex_lup New Member

    Dec 5, 2009
    Club:
    Wigan Athletic FC
    I know there was a lot of people trading tickets during the last world cup but did anyone trade accommodation as well?

    I've got a TST7 for Paraguay and I'm gambling on them finishing 2nd in their group and booking accommodation accordingly.

    The problem is, if they don't finish second then I'm stuck with no accommodation in the cities I'll be travelling to and will also lose all my deposits on the accommodation booked.

    Is anyone else in a similar predicament? Or is there someone with an Italy TST that would like to swap accommodation if they end up finishing second?
     
  8. Ric_Braz

    Ric_Braz Member+

    May 13, 2009
    Wiltshire, UK.
    Club:
    AFC Wimbledon
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Not much help I am afraid but this is the big flaw of FIFA selling TSTs in a country without the necessary transport available. I really feel for people who do not know if they can even book accommodation ina city that they do not know they are even going to. However I think it is very likely paraguay will come second especially as the normally do. I'll certainly being cheering them on in Cape Town against Italy.
     
  9. emmex

    emmex New Member

    Feb 23, 2009
    Club:
    --other--
    one of the most positive american posts ive read in a while :eek: :p
     
  10. Ric_Braz

    Ric_Braz Member+

    May 13, 2009
    Wiltshire, UK.
    Club:
    AFC Wimbledon
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Yes but he was clearly on something when he wrote it.
     
  11. mex_lup

    mex_lup New Member

    Dec 5, 2009
    Club:
    Wigan Athletic FC
    Yep, it's gonna be strange...I'm gonna be cheering Paraguay on, hoping they do well but not TOO well so as to finish top!
     
  12. emmex

    emmex New Member

    Feb 23, 2009
    Club:
    --other--
    I dunno....i agree with anything he said, and i dont do drugs :p

    Just say no :p
     
  13. BoughtMyPoints

    BoughtMyPoints New Member

    Mar 27, 2009
    Club:
    Queens Park Rangers FC
    http://www.theherald.co.za/article.aspx?id=509945

    This article speaks volumes about South Africa and South Africans.

    It is about a world class rugby tournament held this past weekend in the normally quite organised city of George. It seems that certain people wanted the organisers to fall flat on their faces which they duly did.
     
  14. Ric_Braz

    Ric_Braz Member+

    May 13, 2009
    Wiltshire, UK.
    Club:
    AFC Wimbledon
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Though from what I read they only hated everything because the Springboks did not win. I hope the World Cup is different otherwise they are really going to loathe that.
     
  15. BoughtMyPoints

    BoughtMyPoints New Member

    Mar 27, 2009
    Club:
    Queens Park Rangers FC
    I went to Mossel Bay yesterday. This is absolutely the peak summer season now, probably hundreds of thousands of caravans are on the roads bein pulled all over South Africa, most of them of them headed for the beaches, among which Mossel Bay is a favorite destination.

    We went to Diaz Beach now looking like a mini Miami Beach. I wanted to check out the top hotel there, see if I could "crash" their facilities. Not really necessary as I found the waterpark adjacent is open to all comers for R 40 a session which includes baggage check and water tubes. $5. Crowded but fantastic atmosphere, absolutely no hint of pushing or jostling that one might find at a crowded US facility.

    What was incredible for me was the parking. The Boere (South African tourists) just won't pay for parking, so the hotel's parking structure was half empty. The charge :
    R 20 for all day. $2.50 won't even get you half an hour at a lot of beaches in other countries.

    A bit of price gouging on drinks. $1 for an iced cold drink.

    There's a local casino that offers a daily buffet. I called about their Christmas Day buffet, R 250 per person, over $30. Screw them.

    Paraguay will be based in Mossel Bay. There's at least 2 heated indoor pools that I know of, so it could be fun there if some chicas come for the trip!
     
  16. Crop Circles Maria

    Aug 1, 2005
    Valencia, California
    Club:
    Universitario de Deportes
    Nat'l Team:
    Peru
    Too bad the Cup will be in the winter.
     
  17. BoughtMyPoints

    BoughtMyPoints New Member

    Mar 27, 2009
    Club:
    Queens Park Rangers FC

    I know am breaking the rules of etiquette by responding to my own message!

    It now appears that Paraguay are not using Mossel Bay as a base camp.
    After all, only their first group match is at sea level.

    So much for the much vaunted Spanish language lessons being offered in the townships to prepare Mossel Bay for a fiesta.

    Kudos to the reporter for digging a bit beneath the pr.

    http://www.theherald.co.za/article.aspx?id=514954

    And, yes, they are talking nonsense about the Russians coming.
    Who cares about the might have been?
     
  18. BoughtMyPoints

    BoughtMyPoints New Member

    Mar 27, 2009
    Club:
    Queens Park Rangers FC
  19. chiva_guero

    chiva_guero BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 4, 2007
    Mexico NSR
    That's too bad ... I was only in PE for a night, but it seemed like a chill place. I stayed at really clean backpackers, cleanest of my trip.

    When I was considering going, I considered PE as a potetntial base.

    And that Ivory Coast - Portugal match sounds intriguing.
     
  20. Reignking

    Reignking Member

    Feb 16, 2005
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, this is pleasant.

    Fears that World Cup could increase spread of HIV

    (CNN) -- Advocates for sex workers in South Africa have warned that this summer's World Cup could be a public health disaster.

    With up to half a million football fans expected to visit South Africa for the World Cup, and up to half of South Africa's prostitutes carrying the HIV virus, there have been calls for the country to decriminalize prostitution to help tackle the spread of HIV.
     
  21. Ric_Braz

    Ric_Braz Member+

    May 13, 2009
    Wiltshire, UK.
    Club:
    AFC Wimbledon
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Quelle Surprise.
     
  22. popularside

    popularside Member+

    Dec 14, 2009
    dublin
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    I know loads of people not travelling.

    There are 2 reasons

    1) cost of accommodation 300% minimum hikes and concerns re hikes in other areas eg retaurants, taxis etc.

    2) cost of flights (mainly internal).

    The numbers travelling will be way down on estimates. However the reasons given will be

    1) Ignorant foreign press reports on crime

    2) Global recession.

    While the above 2 will have an effect the real reason imo is the view that they will be ripped off. One of our group not now travelling loves the country. He was at the Confederations Cup but won't be going back in June but will in the future.
     

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