Flights to South Africa

[bora bora 1]

Hey everyone! I've never posted here before since my husband is Brazilian...but...

My best friend is going to work at internship in Durban, South Africa this summer and I want to and visit her. What can you tell me about this city, flights (they look so expensive!!), the best time to travel, etc....

Thanks!!

[Whippy 0]

Summer (South African winter) is actually the most expensive time to travel due to tourism, unfortunately. Flights only leave out of Washington DC, New York, and Atlanta. The first two via South African Airlines, and Delta out of KATL. I would suggest flying SAA if possible. Their seat arrangement in the Airbus has a little more room than Delta's 767 and each seat in the Airbus has its own personal entertainment center thing so you can watch movies or play games or listen to music if you want to. The SAA flights are usually cheaper than the Delta flights too. Don't forget to sign up for Voyager miles program if you travel with them

Surf the net and search some more for the best prices. I traveled To Port Elizabeth in July for about $2000 USD last year, including my domestic connections in the USA and in SA booked through Orbitz and see they are running about the same price this year. In contrast, I paid $1,300 in November of last year. My friend at work is South African and says that the cheapest time to travel is immediately after Christmas, as the flight prices really take a plunge after the holidays. Do the super search on travelzoo,com and you can get to a bunch of travel websites that way.

Good luck to you, I know its an expensive flight but that's the breaks.

As for Durban, I've never been there tho I have family and friends who stay there, so I can't really tell you anything about the place. My understanding is that its not much different than PE which of course has its good and bad sides. As long as you are hanging out with some locals, you will be fine...just stay streetwise so you don't get ripped off. My mom and step dad had their credit card info stolen when they were down for the wedding. It is a VERY beautiful country and I don't think you would regret visiting.

Edited March 15, 2008 by Whippy

[bora bora 1]

Summer (South African winter) is actually the most expensive time to travel due to tourism, unfortunately. Flights only leave out of Washington DC, New York, and Atlanta. The first two via South African Airlines, and Delta out of KATL. I would suggest flying SAA if possible. Their seat arrangement in the Airbus has a little more room than Delta's 767 and each seat in the Airbus has its own personal entertainment center thing so you can watch movies or play games or listen to music if you want to. The SAA flights are usually cheaper than the Delta flights too. Don't forget to sign up for Voyager miles program if you travel with them

Surf the net and search some more for the best prices. I traveled To Port Elizabeth in July for about $2000 USD last year, including my domestic connections in the USA and in SA booked through Orbitz and see they are running about the same price this year. In contrast, I paid $1,300 in November of last year. My friend at work is South African and says that the cheapest time to travel is immediately after Christmas, as the flight prices really take a plunge after the holidays. Do the super search on travelzoo,com and you can get to a bunch of travel websites that way.

Good luck to you, I know its an expensive flight but that's the breaks.

As for Durban, I've never been there tho I have family and friends who stay there, so I can't really tell you anything about the place. My understanding is that its not much different than PE which of course has its good and bad sides. As long as you are hanging out with some locals, you will be fine...just stay streetwise so you don't get ripped off. My mom and step dad had their credit card info stolen when they were down for the wedding. It is a VERY beautiful country and I don't think you would regret visiting.

Thanks so much! If I go to SA it'll be this summer since that's when my friend will be there and so I'll just be staying w/ her for a week or two. I didn't realize that I'd have to fly to ATL, but that's not that far away.

Well, I have a lot of thinking/planning to do.

Thanks again for the information.

[Whippy 0]

Have FUN! Gimme a shout if I can help you with anything else

[We_Destiny 1]

I paid $1,300 on BA in February of 06 and l stayed in Durban for 5 months. South Africa is great make sure you get to hang out in JoBurg and Cape Town.

Edited March 15, 2008 by We_Destiny

[bora bora 1]

I paid $1,300 on BA in February of 06 and l stayed in Durban for 5 months. South Africa is great make sure you get to hang out in JoBurg and Cape Town.

What was your impression of Durban?

BA is British Airlines, right? I'm concerned that because I'd be travelling in the summer the prices could still be high. For someone that is used to flying to South America, even $1300 is expensive.

[Linguere 0]

I paid $1,300 on BA in February of 06 and l stayed in Durban for 5 months. South Africa is great make sure you get to hang out in JoBurg and Cape Town.

What was your impression of Durban?

BA is British Airlines, right? I'm concerned that because I'd be travelling in the summer the prices could still be high. For someone that is used to flying to South America, even $1300 is expensive.

They just had some great specials ending last month to Durban. I was there twice in 2006 and in Jozi/Joburg for five months in 2006/2007 and then just for a short month last summer/their winter. Personally, the crime is just a bit much for me and people drink more than I have ever seen in my life. I liked Durban more than any other place in the country -both because it reminded me of California and because there is a very tight Senegalese community there who drove me to my interviews (research) and made sure I got safely home each day. It just all depends on what part of Durban you are in. It was getting a bit rougher while I was there (still not like Jozi) and a French para-olympic official was gang raped on the street while taking a walk with her boyfriend right next to where I was staying. Most of the hotels have security guards that will walk you wherever you need to go though. The guards wouldn't even let me walk alone to the corner. In other parts of town you can walk down the street in the daytime without much of a care. I'm no expert but that was my opinion of the place.

I'm including a travel agent that we often use in our department - a lot of us travel to SA frequently. SAA is definitely the best airline to travel, but I've also done Delta. SAA has the best staff, food and movies. Sometimes Delta has a special or lets you get off in various cities along the way with a bit less hassle than SAA. I always get off in Dakar if I can. The travel agent's prices below normally include two internal tickets (somewhere in RSA) as well. www.flymango.com and www.kalula.com are airlines that are cheap for traveling about inside RSA. I love flying Kalula. They are absolutely hilarious. Anyway, you can find the city that's cheapest to fly to (often Johannesburg) and then fly from there for fairly cheap. Take care.

DELTA

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL

[/size]

JFK to CapeTown

or

CapeTown to JFK

Add-ons from US cities available

from $890

plus taxes & service fee

Departure June 3 thru June 30

Maximum stay 3 months

Last day to ticket 15 February

Subject to availability

New bookings only

PREMIER TRAVEL & TOURS

SELLING AFRICA for 25 YEARS

Ask for Carmella, Margo, Lisa or Sophia

800-545-1910, fax 215-893-0357

info@premiertours.com

[bora bora 1]

I paid $1,300 on BA in February of 06 and l stayed in Durban for 5 months. South Africa is great make sure you get to hang out in JoBurg and Cape Town.

What was your impression of Durban?

BA is British Airlines, right? I'm concerned that because I'd be travelling in the summer the prices could still be high. For someone that is used to flying to South America, even $1300 is expensive.

They just had some great specials ending last month to Durban. I was there twice in 2006 and in Jozi/Joburg for five months in 2006/2007 and then just for a short month last summer/their winter. Personally, the crime is just a bit much for me and people drink more than I have ever seen in my life. I liked Durban more than any other place in the country -both because it reminded me of California and because there is a very tight Senegalese community there who drove me to my interviews (research) and made sure I got safely home each day. It just all depends on what part of Durban you are in. It was getting a bit rougher while I was there (still not like Jozi) and a French para-olympic official was gang raped on the street while taking a walk with her boyfriend right next to where I was staying. Most of the hotels have security guards that will walk you wherever you need to go though. The guards wouldn't even let me walk alone to the corner. In other parts of town you can walk down the street in the daytime without much of a care. I'm no expert but that was my opinion of the place.

I'm including a travel agent that we often use in our department - a lot of us travel to SA frequently. SAA is definitely the best airline to travel, but I've also done Delta. SAA has the best staff, food and movies. Sometimes Delta has a special or lets you get off in various cities along the way with a bit less hassle than SAA. I always get off in Dakar if I can. The travel agent's prices below normally include two internal tickets (somewhere in RSA) as well. www.flymango.com and www.kalula.com are airlines that are cheap for traveling about inside RSA. I love flying Kalula. They are absolutely hilarious. Anyway, you can find the city that's cheapest to fly to (often Johannesburg) and then fly from there for fairly cheap. Take care.

[/size]

DELTA

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL

JFK to CapeTown

or

CapeTown to JFK

[/size]

Add-ons from US cities available

from $890

plus taxes & service fee

Departure June 3 thru June 30

Maximum stay 3 months

Last day to ticket 15 February

Subject to availability

New bookings only

PREMIER TRAVEL & TOURS

SELLING AFRICA for 25 YEARS

Ask for Carmella, Margo, Lisa or Sophia

800-545-1910, fax 215-893-0357

info@premiertours.com

Thanks so much!

A co-worker of mine told me that she also has a website since apparently we had a SAn student at my school and he gave it to her. However, I've been thinking this over and think I may take a trip to Brazil with my sister now...

Oh what to do?

But this information is important since my friend is going there for her internship.

I also heard that Durban has the largest population of (south East) Asians outside of India. (My friend is an immigrant from India so could be interesting for her).

[Linguere 0]

I paid $1,300 on BA in February of 06 and l stayed in Durban for 5 months. South Africa is great make sure you get to hang out in JoBurg and Cape Town.

What was your impression of Durban?

BA is British Airlines, right? I'm concerned that because I'd be travelling in the summer the prices could still be high. For someone that is used to flying to South America, even $1300 is expensive.

They just had some great specials ending last month to Durban. I was there twice in 2006 and in Jozi/Joburg for five months in 2006/2007 and then just for a short month last summer/their winter. Personally, the crime is just a bit much for me and people drink more than I have ever seen in my life. I liked Durban more than any other place in the country -both because it reminded me of California and because there is a very tight Senegalese community there who drove me to my interviews (research) and made sure I got safely home each day. It just all depends on what part of Durban you are in. It was getting a bit rougher while I was there (still not like Jozi) and a French para-olympic official was gang raped on the street while taking a walk with her boyfriend right next to where I was staying. Most of the hotels have security guards that will walk you wherever you need to go though. The guards wouldn't even let me walk alone to the corner. In other parts of town you can walk down the street in the daytime without much of a care. I'm no expert but that was my opinion of the place.

I'm including a travel agent that we often use in our department - a lot of us travel to SA frequently. SAA is definitely the best airline to travel, but I've also done Delta. SAA has the best staff, food and movies. Sometimes Delta has a special or lets you get off in various cities along the way with a bit less hassle than SAA. I always get off in Dakar if I can. The travel agent's prices below normally include two internal tickets (somewhere in RSA) as well. www.flymango.com and www.kalula.com are airlines that are cheap for traveling about inside RSA. I love flying Kalula. They are absolutely hilarious. Anyway, you can find the city that's cheapest to fly to (often Johannesburg) and then fly from there for fairly cheap. Take care.

[/size]

DELTA

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL

[/size]

JFK to CapeTown

or

CapeTown to JFK

Add-ons from US cities available

[/size]

from $890

plus taxes & service fee

Departure June 3 thru June 30

Maximum stay 3 months

Last day to ticket 15 February

Subject to availability

New bookings only

PREMIER TRAVEL & TOURS

SELLING AFRICA for 25 YEARS

Ask for Carmella, Margo, Lisa or Sophia

800-545-1910, fax 215-893-0357

info@premiertours.com

Thanks so much!

A co-worker of mine told me that she also has a website since apparently we had a SAn student at my school and he gave it to her. However, I've been thinking this over and think I may take a trip to Brazil with my sister now...

Oh what to do?

But this information is important since my friend is going there for her internship.

I also heard that Durban has the largest population of (south East) Asians outside of India. (My friend is an immigrant from India so could be interesting for her).

Definitely!! Durban is in Kwazulu-Natal and so yes, there is a huge Indian population. They owned most of the buildings around where I was staying. For me, a vegetarian, it meant I could eat wonderful veggie curry everyday. Best!

[debouy 0]

Have FUN! Gimme a shout if I can help you with anything else

Hi..Im travelling to Port elizabeth next month to study for my master's degree..Whats port elizabeth like? is it an expensive city? where are d places to visit? and the locals? Pls anything would be appreciated.

thanks