The Thrifty Travelers

Today is the day we head home. Our flight from Cape Town is around noon arriving 2 hours later in Jo'Burg. We have a 7 hour wait and then an overnight flight to Cairo.

We woke up this morning and were glad to hear that Joseph and Brandi made the flight, arriving here safely around 9:30am. Unfortunately, their luggage didn't. It is good that they keep some extra clothes and toiletries with them. After some rest and relaxation, we decide to take a tour of Johannesburg and Soweto through Themba Tours, part of the Waybury House. We great great overviews of the local area, history, go by the Mandela House, Hector Pierson Museum, Soweto, Soccer City, etc. We were taken to a shanty town to understand how many people live around Soweto. They show you their homes, take you through the streets, introduce you to the local children, etc. You realize how people can be content with living with so little, but make it through their lives with a smile. We bought a box of chocolate bars and Brandi/Joseph bought a multi-pack bag of chips to hand out to the kids, bought a few small items from the local tradesman and took off to visit other areas. There is one t...

It's amazing the price gouging that happens during special events. Where you could rent a hotel for $95 a night is now close to $250 per night with what would be considered a 2-3 star hotel. I had mentioned advanced planning and we were lucky enough to be staying at Waybury House in the Sandton area. If you want to check it out, here is the link: http://www.wayburyhouse.co.za/index.html Originally, I wanted to stay near Sun City and visit Pilanesburg National Park, but it turns out FIFA booked out 97% of the rooms in that area and used companies to repackage them for increased pricing....smart for them, bad for us. So what if you are single or traveling hostel style? An interesting idea popped up by some locals and they come up with a hostel concept in the heart of Johannesburg. Check it out.....poor website, but still has cheap, dorm style availability. http://hostivalonline.com/

Well, after a long battle to get organized, plans are coming together to go to the World Cup in South Africa. In the next couple of weeks, I will be telling you on the preparation for the trip, costs, and the itinerary. If you are going to the World Cup, I would love to hear from you and want you to share your ideas, thoughts, and frustrations as well.