Getting to the 2010 World Cup within South Africa
World Cup packages are available through reputable travel agents from all parts of the globe. However the early travel packages which include travel, accommodation and sightseeing options on a budget, are all but gone. More expensive packages are still on the market, but you need to act quickly, since the tournament is scheduled to begin on June 11th and last until July 11th.
All nine World Cup host cities have airports nearby, including South African Express which travels to 13 South African domestic destinations, Airlink is a regional carrier that is growing, Kulula is a budget airline and travels to several host cities such as Cape Town and Durban, Mango airlines which flies to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein-all host cities, Venture Air which flies to Johannesburg and Cape Town and 1Time, which is another regional low cost carrier.
Most of the World Cup action will take place in Johannesburg and Cape Town, but in addition to air travel, there is rail or bus service between the host cities. Ask your World Cup travel agent to plan a package that includes local public transportation for you.Renting a car is also an option, but you will need to familiarize yourself with South Africa’s driving regulations and insurance laws. Your travel agent should also include this in your world cup packages because the number of cars available for rent are limited.Licensed taxis, coaches, shuttles and regular buses are all being pressed into service to accommodate the more than 3 million football fans expected to arrive in South Africa during the tournament.
Don’t despair if you don’t have tickets to a match. You can still feel the atmosphere in 10 fan parks to be set up near the stadiums. In fact it is anticipated that more people will watch the matches from the fan parks then will be inside. Ask your World Cup travel agent to provide you with a list of the location of the various fan parks. You will be glad that you did. Enjoy the party, but don’t drink too much as police will deny access to anyone exhibiting bizarre or drunken behavior outside the stadiums or fan parks.
