S. Africa/World Cup 2010 Q's
May 22, 2009, 8:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1
S. Africa/World Cup 2010 Q's
Hi All -- New to the boards. Just wanting to start a conversation or two about expectations for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
Two, of many, things on my mind right now...
- Any opinions on air fare costs next June? I'll be travelling from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. I've been using prices for June, 2009 as a rough guide for budgeting purposes. I can get a R/T to JNB for about $1300. Not bad, if you ask me. But I'm expecting a healthy bump in that price for June, 2010. Although I'm assuming many airlines will be adding capacity so I'm not sure how that impacts fares.
- I'm also looking for advice on booking hotel reservations for the trip. The drama here is that we don't know until December where our team (Go Yanks!) will be playing, so it's tough to pull the trigger beforehand. I'm looking for hotels similar to Holiday Inn Express here in the US.
Any advice on hotel brands? City Lodge? Sun? Any tips on beating out the million other people looking to book rooms?
Thanks!
Two, of many, things on my mind right now...
- Any opinions on air fare costs next June? I'll be travelling from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. I've been using prices for June, 2009 as a rough guide for budgeting purposes. I can get a R/T to JNB for about $1300. Not bad, if you ask me. But I'm expecting a healthy bump in that price for June, 2010. Although I'm assuming many airlines will be adding capacity so I'm not sure how that impacts fares.
- I'm also looking for advice on booking hotel reservations for the trip. The drama here is that we don't know until December where our team (Go Yanks!) will be playing, so it's tough to pull the trigger beforehand. I'm looking for hotels similar to Holiday Inn Express here in the US.
Any advice on hotel brands? City Lodge? Sun? Any tips on beating out the million other people looking to book rooms?
Thanks!
May 25, 2009, 12:40 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Not exactly the scoop of the year, but I thought I would point out 2 local chains that you are unlikely to be familiar with: Protea Hotels and City Lodge. Protea is a bit more upmarket (think maybe Fourpoints by Sheraton) while City Lodge has a number of brands ranging from basic (think maybe Ibis) to aparthotels.
As for airfares, I guess the problem will be that cheap buckets will sell out well in advance leaving only the more expensive fares by the time the matches are announced. Not sure there's a viable strategy to avoid that except maybe to keep track of the less popular routings, e.g. via the Middle East.
As for airfares, I guess the problem will be that cheap buckets will sell out well in advance leaving only the more expensive fares by the time the matches are announced. Not sure there's a viable strategy to avoid that except maybe to keep track of the less popular routings, e.g. via the Middle East.
May 27, 2009, 2:26 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Reading, UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 666
I normally use the SouthernSun chain while on business down here - they range from 3* to 5* - so there's a choice there.
You'll find all the normal brands down here too - such as Hilton, SAS Radisson, IC - and at western prices too :@
You'll find all the normal brands down here too - such as Hilton, SAS Radisson, IC - and at western prices too :@
Jun 18, 2009, 12:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The World!!!
Programs: Some of them not all ...
Posts: 1,532
I have follow your team with my country "Spain" all the way to the QF. So as I have tickets and still don´t know where Spain will be playing, I only need to get air fare to South Africa. Will try to get mileage tickets first and if that doesn´t work, then I ll look for paid tickets.
Jun 27, 2009, 1:24 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MDZ,Argentina
Programs: AA,Millemiglia,Smiles,AR Plus,Distancia,LanPass
Posts: 111
Match 52-R16-June 27th JNB
Match 53-R16-June 28th DURBAN
That's what I got. Hopefully my team Argentina will be in there. Couldn't get the follow your team series ticket.
Jun 30, 2009, 1:44 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Booking for Kruger & other SA National Parks now open for June/July 2010
For those of you planning to add some game viewing to your soccer trip...
SANParks wishes to inform you that bookings for accommodation in all its National Parks including Kruger National Park for both June and July 2010 will open on the 1st July 2009.
This decision was taken to facilitate a smooth booking process across all SANParks accommodation facilities during the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup period. The FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup takes place from 11 June to 11 July 2010.
The opening of reservations for two months at a time will be a once off strategy for this period and reservations for August 2010 and onwards will revert back to the usual 11 months in advance and one month at a time.
To make your booking for this period please contact SANParks Central Reservations on phone +27-(0)12-428-9111 or contact your travel agent.
NB: The rules governing the reservations made directly through our website remains the same and are not affected by this arrangement.
This decision was taken to facilitate a smooth booking process across all SANParks accommodation facilities during the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup period. The FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup takes place from 11 June to 11 July 2010.
The opening of reservations for two months at a time will be a once off strategy for this period and reservations for August 2010 and onwards will revert back to the usual 11 months in advance and one month at a time.
To make your booking for this period please contact SANParks Central Reservations on phone +27-(0)12-428-9111 or contact your travel agent.
NB: The rules governing the reservations made directly through our website remains the same and are not affected by this arrangement.
Jul 9, 2009, 9:38 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Den Haag
Programs: AA PLT, 1MM, Global Entry, UA GLD, TSA PRE
Posts: 572
I have the match in CPT on June 11th (opening day) and a match in CPT on the 14th. Could care less about the countries, so hopefully that will make my chances of award tickets a bit higher.
Jul 10, 2009, 9:15 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Oceanside
Programs: AS MVP, UA, AA
Posts: 28
Durban doldrums
We have tickets for 2 matches including a June 28 match in Durban. Can't seem to land a place to stay in town. Have tried FIFA's accomodations link and hotel chain websites (i.e. Hilton). Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated!
Jul 13, 2009, 2:57 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I was just in Durban a few days ago. There are a lot of hotels along the water including 3 or 4 Holiday Inns and many non-chain hotels. I stayed at the Hilton, but I imagine it will be hard and very expensive to get rooms at these hotels. If it were me I would arrive on a morning flight and just walk the strip and ask at each hotel if they have a last minute cancellation that I might take advantage of. Or someones home operating as a B&B.
Durban is a real fun place to visit and reasonably warm this time of year. I'm sure you will have fun.
Durban is a real fun place to visit and reasonably warm this time of year. I'm sure you will have fun.
Jul 13, 2009, 3:05 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routières, PCR
Posts: 13,609
No Holiday Inns in Durban for quite a while now since the franchise held by Southern Sun ended. Of course, the hotels are still there, operated as Southern Sun and Garden Court (not HIGC) hotels.