Availability Hotels Garden Route During Cricket Matches

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Nov 21st, 2002, 04:19 PM

Sara Becker

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Availability Hotels Garden Route During Cricket Matches

We will spend more then two weeks in Feb. staying in Kruger, Botswana, and Zambia in highly organized environments with lodge and camps reserved. From Zambia, via JNG, we proceed to Capetown, where we also have reservations for four nights. From there, with rental car in tow, I have booked nothing as we prefer to travel this way. Will probably go as far as Port Elizabeth. With these cricket matches going on, will we have a problem? I have an international cell phone and would be able to call ahead. Thank you, Sara Becker

Nov 21st, 2002, 11:49 PM

Sewlyn Davidowitz

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Sara, All I can tell you is that Cape Town is FULL HOUSE accommodation wise from December through to early March already. The Garden Route might not be so full at this stage but as soon as we approach February and March it is definitely going to be very difficult to find decent accommodation on arrival in a town or city. May I mention that I base the above statement on the fact that as a tour operator I am already having great difficulty obtaining bookings for accommodation over the periods that you speak of on the Garden Route . Btw I think that with you being in SA during the World Cup you could well be in for the time of your life whether you are a cricket fan or not. My reason for saying this is that the SA team have a definite chance of winning the World Cup and if they do the euphoria in the country is going to be unbelievable if one has to go by what happened when we won the rugby world cup in 1995. In simple words if this happens you simply WILL become a cricket fan and will have a most incredible time in my country.

) In finality I DEFINITLEY recommend that you do all your bookings ahead of time and do them NOW or you could well land up sleeping on a local cricket pitch somewhere on the Garden Route.

) Hope this helps. Selwyn Davidowitz

Nov 22nd, 2002, 12:22 PM

Karen

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I almost always agree with Selwyn and this time more than ever. Book ahead. I too am running into shortages during the Cricket games. Cricket in South Africa is akin to the baseball series in the States only more so. Do not underestimate the call of the crickets! I repeat - Book ahead and book early. Karen Copeland

Nov 22nd, 2002, 04:39 PM

Sara Becker

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Thank you both for replying and not putting my mind at rest! I really do not know how to handle the hotel situation as we will not know from one moment to the next where we will end up.We arrive Capetown on Feb. 18th and depart Feb. 22nd. ( staying at The Cape Grace and on wait list for The Nellie)Picking the car up at the airport, and we are off, all three of us. Mother, Father, and older child. I have tons of hotel names - good, medium, and not so good. So, I hope that we do not end up in the cricket pitch! This cricket thing must be like the world cup soccer? Everyone goes a bit ga-ga. We may live to regret the no reservation thing, but hopefully all will work out. Our agent here is saying the same as you. After staying at such organized hotels, we hope to see a bit of the real world. Sewlyn, how about a tour of your marvelous city? Other then the usual points of interest, we are very interested in food! What is this I here about Malay or Indian cuisine that is supposed to be so wonderful in Capetown? By the way, providing there is availabiliy, would it help us to have you call for reservations while we are on the road. If I gave you a days notice? Thank you again for all your help. Sara

Nov 23rd, 2002, 05:30 AM

Selwyn Davidowitz

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Hi Sara, >Thank you both for replying and not putting my mind at rest! I really do not >know how to handle the hotel situation as we will not know from one moment >to the next where we will end up.We arrive Capetown on Feb. 18th and depart >Feb. 22nd. ( staying at The Cape Grace and on wait list for The >Nellie) In travel terms we would say that you are going to ¡§wing it¡¨ through the Cape and I cannot, as much as I would like to, change my original advice to you. If you want to ¡§wing it¡¨ then I respect this however be prepared for the possibility of some anxious moments. What I also want to tell you is that even if the Nellie has availability DON¡¦T change from the Cape Grace. The Grace is without a shadow of a doubt the VERY BEST hotel in Cape Town. Its service levels supersede the Nellie by miles. It is also much more central than the Nellie in terms of where things happen. My advice is very strongly STAY AT THE GRACE AND DON¡¦T LEAVE. as it is a wonderful hotel In terms of finding accommodation on the Garden Route may I suggest that you obtain a portfolio collection (available at your hotel or from me when you are in Cape Town) and use it as your bible when it comes to accommodation. http://www.portfoliocollection.co.za/ You will also find that the tourism bureaus in each town on the Garden Route will be able to give you the best immediate advice as to where to find accommodation when you arrive in the town. Please note I am NOT saying that there will be an availability of accommodation. >we hope to see a bit of the real world. I still cannot understand why you cannot plan your journey in such a way that you definitely see the REAL world and book accommodation upfront. >Selwyn, how about a tour of your marvellous city? By the way, >providing there is availability, would it help us to have you call for >reservations while we are on the road. If I gave you a days notice? Thank >you again for all your help Sara, I do not want to use this forum as an advertising function as it is not allowed and I do feel it would be unprofessional to do so. If you write to me on my above email address I would be very happy to help you with all that you ask. What is probably most important is that I CAN help you to organise your journey in such a way that you will ONLY see the real world AND you will be able to pre-book your way through the whole event accommodation wise. I specialise in touring in such a manner that you DON¡¦T see other tour buses. In this way you see the real world and I will advise you with absolutely no commitment from your side all the way as to what you should and should not do so as to experience the REAL South Africa. In terms of touring Cape Town I certainly can help you and if you write to me we can discuss this. What I can however tell you is that there is no way that I can tour you on February 22. You may ask why this is the case and the answer is simple; England are Playing Pakistan at Newlands in Cape Town and guess where I will be on the day. (-ƒº Yes we all, inclusive of me, will be going cricket mad when the World Cup takes place in SA. I look forward to hearing from you per private mail. Selwyn Davidowitz