Accommodation in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup

Price and availability of accommodations in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup are quickly moving in opposite directions. Demand is putting prices at a premium in all the cities that are hosting matches and vacant rooms are quickly becoming less common. Booking as far ahead of time as possible is highly recommended. For those that have already obtained tickets this is obviously much easier. For those that have not as yet, a referral to the FIFA site for hotels or for packages that include tickets and accommodations.

Because of the distant and various locations using the concept of one hotel as a “base camp” may be the path to pursue. Rather than moving from city to city for the matches, packing and unpacking, it will likely be easier to stay in one place and fly or drive to other areas for the games.

All types of accommodations are being promoted throughout the cities hosting matches. Everything from five star hotels to short term apartment rentals to hostels are already booking up. Unfortunately, just as there are fraudulent tickets sales luring in unsuspecting fans, there are also some unsavory “hoteliers” offering accommodation. Make sure to book all your accommodations through known and trusted sites. In addition to the FIFA site listings, all of the major online travel sites are offering flight and hotel packages.

In order to find the best prices and the best accommodations, booking as soon as tickets are confirmed is essential and will make the experience that much more memorable. If planning to drive to either matches in nearby cities or to enjoy activities such as wild game parks, wine tasting or sports, booking a rental car at the same time is a great idea.