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World Cup Tickets


hutch
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Yep, just got two for Slovenia game.

 

Which is annoying as had applied for all the group games to do a tour but at worst had hoped to get Capetown as have a mate there with transport & free accomodation. Ho hum

 

Now got to start working out how to get to Port Elizabeth from here, and of course the mate on the ticket application now doesn't want to go. So tough choice, do I take a mate, the GF or get someone to cover the cost of the trip so to speak?

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There are several "unorthodox" routes from the UK to South Africa. The Middle East airlines (Emirates, Etihad, Qatar). They're popular with people from here travelling to Europe on a budget.

 

Or a couple of African Airlines spring to mind (Kenya Airways or Ethiopian). Egyptair, too, but they're usually pretty full. And the Libyan airline has recently started up Tripoli to Jo'burg.

 

Don't know what availablility is like, though. Might be worth a try.

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There are several "unorthodox" routes from the UK to South Africa. The Middle East airlines (Emirates, Etihad, Qatar). They're popular with people from here travelling to Europe on a budget.

 

Or a couple of African Airlines spring to mind (Kenya Airways or Ethiopian). Egyptair, too, but they're usually pretty full. And the Libyan airline has recently started up Tripoli to Jo'burg.

 

Don't know what availablility is like, though. Might be worth a try.

 

Interestingly was checking today, SAA have a code share with Emirates and have seats from Dubai to JoBurg on Emirates flights which are full...

 

The word is that Emirates simply blocked seats on the flights at full price so they can sell packages not sure if true but will do some digging

 

Hutch - any ideas on the best way to get to Port Elizabeth or where to stay? I'll have around 4 or 5 days down there IF can get the travel sorted & the GF gets her vacation request approved

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Not unusual to find seats with codeshare partners. Used to happen often when Air Senegal (before they went belly-up) codeshared with SAA between Jo'burg and Dakar.

 

There are plenty of internal flights to PE, both from Jo'burg and from Cape Town. But they won't be cheap during the WC, and you should probably book early. Some of the LoCos aren't with IATA, so you need to book direct on their websites.

 

The airlines to look out for are:

 

SAA

BA (Comair franchise)

Kulula.com (BA Comair's LoCo)

1Time

Mango (SAA's LoCo)

 

If you're going to use the SAA codeshare on Emirates, probably best to book right through on SAA.

 

You'll need a car wherever you stay. Public transport's not up to much here.

 

PE is around 1,000Km from Jo'burg. The roads are good, but I wouldn't drive it unless I had to, and then I wouldn't do it in one go. I'd stopover. It's 770Km from Cape Town - about 8 hours drive. Do-able in a day, but not both ways if you stay in CT.

 

There are internal long distance coaches. I haven't used them, but they look OK. About the same standard as the UK.

 

There are a few hotels in PE. I know it quite well. There's a Holiday Inn. And several Protea hotels. I usually stay at the Summerstrand Inn when I'm there. It's not bad, but sadly a bit run-down over the past few years, and needs a bit of a refurb. There's also a brand new Radisson, but I haven't been there since it opened. Or Brookes Hill apartments/suites.

 

There were a few rumours that they were going to sail the QE2 down to CT, to use as a floating hotel during the WC. Is she still moored up in Dubai? I saw her in CT in 2008 during the farewell cruise, and again last year in Dubai. Sad. She seems to haunt me. I was there when she was launched by the Queen in Glasgow. We all got the day off school.

 

There are a lot of guest houses in the Humewood/Summerstrand area, and the general standard of those is good. We went there for a long weekend last year and stayed in one. I'll ask Mrs. Hutch for the name if you want it.

 

Personally I like PE. One of my favourite cities in SA. I spent a couple of years living there 40 years ago, when I was a kid.

 

HTH

Edited by hutch
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thanks for the info Mr Hutch

lets hope we can fly the saints colours in your homeland this summer. Must find a flight , must find a flight ,...

 

Emirates now showing flight prices to Capetown & JoBurg which although pricey compared to normal show there is availability.

 

Gulf Air Qatar & Eithad all fly to JNB via here and may be cheaper than direct point to point out of Europe

 

All I have to do now is decide which mate that wants to go adds the best value to the trip (ie designated driver on the Wine Route tour) etc

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  • 3 weeks later...

hi again...

now ive just booked my flight tickets, with Qatar airlines.....South Africa here I come...

 

will be based in Cape Town for a week , with a few days in Port Elizabeth.

 

Thanks to Mrs hutch for the hotel websites-there were a few vacancies in there somewhere!

Any tips for hiring a car? its meant to be a nice coast journey between these towns or is it best/easier to take the coach?

 

See you guys down there.

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All the major hire companies are here. Personally, I usually use Avis. The rates are pretty affordable, but maybe not so during the WC. It's advisable to book up well in advance. There are usually thousands of hire cars in the lots at Cape Town airport, but it's not unusual for them to turn casual hirers away.

 

It's a nice drive, between Cape Town & PE. But the highway (N2) is away from the coast for large parts of the route, and you have to make detours. But well worth it. It's known locally as the "Garden Route", but I've got absolutely no idea why. You'll find all the details on the 'web.

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  • 4 weeks later...

well , this trip took some planning. Its all getting booked up down there...what a surprise!

Eventually got my flights to Cape Town , got my lodgings in the Cape and Port Eliz , planning a day in Plett/Storms River inbetwwen , return flight to Cape , car rental . Bus journeys still left to book.

 

Hope to see all you Saints down there...

 

PS got 2 tickets going for Englands second round game for sale (match 1C in Rustenberg-as they will win their group).

 

any bidders£?

 

cheers svetig

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  • 1 month later...

Hutch , Dubai Phil and any other southward bound saints....TICKETS!

 

They released more tickets yesterday for nearly all the games. So there are tickets to the other England matches that you were after.

Get in there and us saints can have a beer in Cape Town.

Makes you wonder how many empty seats there are going to be there this summer.

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