I suppose its never too early to plan, right? For last year's World Cup we booked a hostel about a year in advance, and during the time we stayed there, they were actually charging other travelers double pricing. If you are in the know about where to stay in South Africa, please let us know. I personally have never been there, and while we don't know the groupings until we actually qualify, I would like to pick out a home-base city first. We were looking at staying in Cape Town but it is so far from all other host cities, so maybe Johannesburg? How does that work as far as transportation to the other cities? Host Cities: Cape Town Port Elizabeth Durban Nelspruit Rustenburg Bloemfontein Pretoria Polokwane Johannesburg
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 I'm planning on running an ultra in Durban next June - mostly because I want to run the race, but with the additional purpose of checking the place out before 2010. I don't plan on making any arrangements until I know where the USA is playing, but I will likely do what I did in Germany: find a place that is central to the venues they will be playing in - from the list of cities, my guess is Pretoria or Jo'burg will fit the bill.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Ah I hate these threads, all it does is get me more excited, and we still have three years to go ! I made all my arrangements after the draw was done for germany 06. I might try and do the same thing for south africa, because trying to get back to the city you are staying at in the middle of the night might not be a good idea in South Africa. I will most likely try to book hotels in the center of the city, in the safest location, but near all the action.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 that is so true. not sure how easy/safe it will be to get around in SA after a game. especially when you are drunk and all pumped up about the US victory...
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Luckily, I have a friend who has a house in Cape Town. Yea, it's far from the other host cities, but it's a free house! I was also told by him that flying is the best way to get around SAF, anyways.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Things may change by 2010, but Jo burg is currently one of the most dangerous cities in the world. I have a few friends who lived in SA for a while and cautioned on traveling to Jo burg. I would go with Cape Town or Durban.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Just keep in mind that South Africa is three times the size of Texas, and according to my calculations, about 3.4 times the size of Germany... Some venues are be pretty close to each other, but others aren't. Here's a good map and link: http://www.safarinow.com/cms/2010-fifa-world-cup-/irie.aspx
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Fair point on the size difference, picking a central point may be tough
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Nice, it should arrive at one of their high-tech fax machines just in time for 2014.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 I was in Joburg in 1998, stayed at the Hyatt in Rosebank. The hotel is connected to a small shopping area and short walk to other shops and restaurants, including a fabulous outdoor Sunday market if you're seeking local crafts. That area is considered "safe" for tourists, but do ask for and heed advice from your hotel as far as where to go, when and how. Best piece of advice is to keep your hotel's number handy and call them to send a taxi to you. Not sure if things have changed now, but hailing one on teh street or calling one not sent by the hotel was considered highly dangerous in 98. Despite the dangers, it was still an amazing place to visit.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Just fyi, did some research and a RT flight from J-burg to Cape Town in May of 2008 costs around $167 (R1124)
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Does SA really fill stadiums of that size frequently? Is their league pretty popular?
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 I took My daughter to Germany no second thoughs, she will be 16 by 2010 any think it would be a bad idea to take her this time (SA).
Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Pretoria not sounding so safe either: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7164006.stm
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Ther are gonna have so much security there and the world is gonna be watching, i highly doubt anything is going to happen. They will have security taking care of or they willl not have the tourney there. You think Fifa dosent know this?
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 you guys want to get freaked out before the trip, watch tsotsi. its a movie about south african gangsters. shows what it is like in some south african ghettos. good movie though.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 I have emailed the Hilton Sandton about when they will be taking reseervations. It is sad that we have to actually worry about safety like this. Durban looks great, if you play there, but too far to go if not.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 This might be of some interest... http://www.southafrica.to/people/Quotes/crime/south-africa-crime-map.jpg
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 That crime chart is amazing. It seems logical to have the highest percentage of home invasions ocurring in the same frequency and locations as the differential in the income variances. However, it seems totally atypical to have the highest murder rates in the areas where there is very little income variance. In addition, it looks like those high murder areas are rural areas. Its much different than one would expect in that regard. In any case, going to SA in 2010 will be an adventure and a safari. Lions and tigers and bears... (and yellow cards and red cards and goals)... oh my!
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 It's exactly what you would expect. You should read the slaughter that is going on against the South African farmers and the goverment's indifferent attitude towards protecting them. It's amazing. Very similar to what's going on in rural Zimbabwe
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Bump. If anybody comes across good deals, let the rest of us know. I am working with a guy on finding furnished apartments in Sandton (20 km north of J'burg) - it is supposed to be the more affluent suburb, and on the way to Pretoria.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 It's important to bring up these points about the socio-economic situation in South Africa, but if you are travelling to S. Africa for the WC2010 it will probably only concern you if you are one of those Intrepid Explorer types who insists on going as a individual backpacker traveller intent on seeing the country while you follow the team while trying to stay in private homes or in three star or less accomodation. The rest of the mob should consider hotel packages that follow the team which will have the best opportunties for group buses to the matches and directed sightseeing. I've lived in Kenya (for a few months in late 70s in Masaailand) so Africa I can tell you has plenty of expected and unexpected things to see, most of them in complete safety.
Re: Where to Stay - South Africa 2010 Is anyone planning on going for the Confed Cup in June? I have been looking at some of the Pretoria Hotels here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g312583-Pretoria_Gauteng-Hotels.html Some talk about beautiful hotels in dangerous neighborhoods, which concerns me.