€399 - Dublin to Johannesburg, South Africa roundtrip

Oscar_Drai

http://www.secretflying.com/posts/dublin-ireland-johannesburg-south-africa-e399-roundtrip/

Del007

420 from Cork

Poor_old_gill

I've been there once- I rarely say anything critical on boards but- you couldnt pay me to go again.
If you like staying in compounds and feeling unsafe literally everywhere then Jo'burg is the place to go

4068ac1elhodqr

Meet a lady from there a few years ago, said that when she was out driving on her own anywhere downtown, she was allowed to run any of the red traffic lights in case of any perceived risk from 'jacking' incidents, which was was fairly common then.

Along with Brussels, Sweden, Sicily and few other places, SA won't feature on my travel list anytime soon.

J.pilkington

Great bargain to get you into a great country and do Cape Town, garden route, safari, vineyards etc. Have spent two Christmas's there and had a great time.

Nobody goes to Johannesburg for a holiday it's a stopping point!

Del007

I was in Cape Town in March and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. I was a bit hesitant in going there at first but I'd go back in a heart beat.

Incredible scenery, unbelievably cheap food and drink. I'd recommend it to anyone

Poor_old_gill

Yeah Cape Town is lovely-I'll agree on that!

I'd nearly get an internal flight from Jo'Burg to there and not bother leaving the airport

Itchyness

Gianluca Rich Larynx wrote: »

Along with Brussels, Sweden, Sicily and few other places, SA won't feature on my travel list anytime soon.

Sweden is a great place to visit! You would be hard pressed to find a BA there though

ted1

Gianluca Rich Larynx wrote: »

Meet a lady from there a few years ago, said that when she was out driving on her own anywhere downtown, she was allowed to run any of the red traffic lights in case of any perceived risk from 'jacking' incidents, which was was fairly common then.

Along with Brussels, Sweden, Sicily and few other places, SA won't feature on my travel list anytime soon.

i really understands Brussels , but Hiw did Sicily make it on your list ?

4068ac1elhodqr

ted1 wrote: »

i really understands Brussels , but Hiw did Sicily make it on your list ?

Was a great and popular jaunt a decade ago, and its probably fine within the confines of a beach front sunny holiday complex.

But once it gets dark, may well discover why this popular gateway to Europe is an annually increasing €1bn dark industry, for the alliances whom can profit from such a situation. i, ii, iii

Charles Babbage

I visited South Africa in August some years ago and had great time, albeit mostly in towards Kruger and in Cape Town. I'd love to go again. It has places not good to visit, I'd suggest not going there.

I visited Sicily a month ago and had a great time, and didn't go near any beach complexes, I will definitely go again and soon.

Pelvis

Gianluca Rich Larynx wrote: »

Was a great and popular jaunt a decade ago, and its probably fine within the confines of a beach front sunny holiday complex.

But once it gets dark, may well discover why this popular gateway to Europe is an annually increasing €1bn dark industry, for the alliances whom can profit from such a situation. i, ii, iii

Referencing the Daily Mail and Breitbart.

I'm out.

ActingDanClark

Charles Babbage wrote: »

I visited South Africa in August some years ago and had great time, albeit mostly in towards Kruger and in Cape Town. I'd love to go again. It has places not good to visit, I'd suggest not going there.

I visited Sicily a month ago and had a great time, and didn't go near any beach complexes, I will definitely go again and soon.

Totally love sicily.id live there except for the temperatures!!

kn

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

I've been there once- I rarely say anything critical on boards but- you couldnt pay me to go again.
If you like staying in compounds and feeling unsafe literally everywhere then Jo'burg is the place to go

Ditto. I was there in May and its like something out of Detroit. If your looking to use this offer to see SA then get out of Joburg ASAP. The Cape Town region is fantastic BTW.

LeChienMefiant

Ignore this offer, it's really dangerous and you won't like it.

It's a bargain for me, but you won't like it.

xpletiv

From SA and I was there in January just gone after 16 years away. Joburg is pretty awful. Cape Town is magic. If you do the deal, then either get out of Joburg by doing Sun City/Kruger/anything else out of Joburg, or get an internal flight to cape Town. It really is one of the nicest cities I have ever been to.

I was there for 3 weeks, no trouble at all.

4068ac1elhodqr

Pelvis wrote: »

Referencing the Daily Mail and Breitbart.

I'm out.

Ignoring all articles from the most read on-line newspaper in the world? The others aren't great sources, but do seem to prop up on google's 1st page also. Plenty of the more lefty media have done reports too if that suits the frame of mind better:

"Sicily was a beautiful gem, now it's going down the tubes," says Salvatore (in the interview with the bbc).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32537541

EU's failure… is feeding organised crime in Italy, warns anti-mafia mayor of Palermo (Sicily)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11788700/Europes-handling-of-migrant-crisis-breeding-new-generation-of-mafia-warns-Sicilian-mayor.html

The Sicilian mafia are making millions from taking advantage of migrants and refugees, organizing their journeys from North Africa to Europe, embezzling funds provided for their welfare in camps in Sicily and then using some of them as prostitutes and drug dealers (police and prosecutors have revealed to TIME).
http://time.com/4134503/mafia-millions-migrants/

The Irish Examiner have a nice map available too:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/remote/media.central.ie/media/images/z/zzzMigrantFeatureForum030715e_large.jpg

antodeco

Genuine question, but is J'burg really that dangerous? Would spending a week there and only there be a crazy idea?

CFC007

Was in SA last October. Flew into Joeburg and got straight out of there. Loved Cape Town so much to do, people very friendly and very cheap. I rented a car and had no problem driving around. Also vistied Durban but that's was a case of getting a car again and driving 4 hours to do a safari. Would go back to SA again in a shot.

kn

antodeco wrote: »

Genuine question, but is J'burg really that dangerous? Would spending a week there and only there be a crazy idea?

I have no idea what you do with a week in Joburg. A couple of days is more than enough to see the 'sites' with the citysightseeing tour bus. My advice is to get out there ASAP and see another part of the country.

Pinch Flat

antodeco wrote: »

Genuine question, but is J'burg really that dangerous? Would spending a week there and only there be a crazy idea?

Wouldn't be hanging around J'Burg. Get out of dodge and head to Port Elizabeth hire a car and do the garden route. Or head on an internal flight to Kruger do the game part. Cape Town is fantastic - would go back in a heart beat

Belt

Gianluca Rich Larynx wrote: »

Meet a lady from there a few years ago, said that when she was out driving on her own anywhere downtown, she was allowed to run any of the red traffic lights in case of any perceived risk from 'jacking' incidents, which was was fairly common then.

Along with Brussels, Sweden, Sicily and few other places, SA won't feature on my travel list anytime soon.

Not meaning to go off topic.....but what put you off Sicily? Heading there myself soonc

Father Hernandez

antodeco wrote: »

Genuine question, but is J'burg really that dangerous? Would spending a week there and only there be a crazy idea?

I agree with the above poster, spend only a couple days in JoBurg, it gets a bit of stick and sometimes it's warranted but it has a couple of nice parts. If travelling there, make sure to download Uber and get them everywhere, the normal taxi's will rip you off. It CAN be dangerous but only if you go off the beaten track and don't use common sense.

Things to do: Take a cycling tour around Soweto, very safe, very raw but it's a fantastic experience a lot of people miss out on and you will get to visit Mandela's house and see how life is for people living here. Constitution Hill is a good tour as is the apartheid museum, v interesting racial history.

Montecasino near Fourways is worth a visit even to go to a nice restaurant/bar, the inside is incredible IMO. If you are in JoBurg on a Saturday, visit the Neighbourgoods market downtown from 12pm onwards, some of the markets are really nice, great cocktails, lovely food and a party atmosphere.

Most of these can be available on the Red Bus Tour, maybe take 2/3 days to check it out and I would recommend staying in accommodation near Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton.

It's a fantastic price for €399 so a couple days exploring the city is worthwhile and venture down to CT for a couple days too, internal flights can be as little as €80 with FlyMango. CT is gorgeous, very scenic, down the Waterfront for cuisine is a must as is Table Mountain & Robben Island.

Kruger goes without saying, one of the best places I've ever been, that alone would be worth the trip to visit, 4 days minimum recommended, Intrepid do really nice tours, bit pricey but once in a lifetime opportunity and staying in safari lodges, the views are amazing.

4068ac1elhodqr

Belt wrote: »

Not meaning to go off topic.....but what put you off Sicily? Heading there myself soonc

Read above notes/articles. Essentially it's the main gateway into Europe for Med crossing, couple that with highly organsied crime elements (trafficking). Probably not noticeable during daylight hours nor anywhere around holiday complexes.

SA seems to appear regularly along only with with South America and few US cities on the worlds most dangerous cities (pop250k+). Interestingly J'burg ranks around #40, whilst CT comes in the top #10!.

CT looks a great place visually, perhaps those stats are misleading and there is more of a segregation between good and bad areas there. Guess winter time would be best time, as obviously that's their summertime.

Chart from the Economist.com: Note, Venezuela has probably gone up a few points so far this year.

kn

Yeah the stats in SA are 'misleading' only in so far as the murders in CT are mainly in the 'Cape Flats' and not in the tourist areas and CBD. You'd still want your wits about you at night and in particular on the Long Street area which is just a gauntlet of prostitutes, beggars and thieves.

bkrangle

Haven't stayed in Jo'burg myself but have gone to Hoedspruit via there 3 times.

If anyone is interested in hitting Kruger park, or other nearby reserves, that's a good option

xpletiv

Never had an ounce of trouble in Cape Town. In fact most were very friendly.

This flight is a definite option though for going to Kruger Park.

Underpaid Mike

Gianluca Rich Larynx wrote: »

Ignoring all articles from the most read on-line newspaper in the world? The others aren't great sources, but do seem to prop up on google's 1st page also. Plenty of the more lefty media have done reports too if that suits the frame of mind better:

"Sicily was a beautiful gem, now it's going down the tubes," says Salvatore (in the interview with the bbc).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32537541

EU's failure… is feeding organised crime in Italy, warns anti-mafia mayor of Palermo (Sicily)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11788700/Europes-handling-of-migrant-crisis-breeding-new-generation-of-mafia-warns-Sicilian-mayor.html

The Sicilian mafia are making millions from taking advantage of migrants and refugees, organizing their journeys from North Africa to Europe, embezzling funds provided for their welfare in camps in Sicily and then using some of them as prostitutes and drug dealers (police and prosecutors have revealed to TIME).
http://time.com/4134503/mafia-millions-migrants/

The Irish Examiner have a nice map available too:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/remote/media.central.ie/media/images/z/zzzMigrantFeatureForum030715e_large.jpg

Ive been to Sicily numerous times, its dangerous and crime ridden in the same way that Dublin is a ghetto town rife with gangland violence, i.e. its not!

Sicily is a beautiful place, with wonderful people, food and scenery. Ive never seen anything untoward there ever and ive backpacked the entire island twice, along with being there for 2x1 week stretches for weddings.

And yes, the Daily mail is a xenophobic rag and has zero credibility.

testicles

This post has been deleted.

ArthurG

Best to stay home and say mass for the poor crathurs in those places.

Honestly.... if you are adverse to broadening your horizons that's fine, but don't spout the Daily bloody Mail as an impartial source to try to convince people not to take opportunities to see the world.

diograis

Slightly off topic but I was lolling at the Sicily comment. Mafia is still a thing there yes but it's well known and hardly a huge concern for tourists? Was there last year and lived to tell the tale anyway

Gorgeous place altogether with the friendliest locals who can't speak a literal word of English not for lack of trying!

On Johannesberg christ will ye be careful lads, rape capital of the world. I read it's mostly the townships that're the problem but still

xpletiv

diograis wrote: »

On Johannesberg christ will ye be careful lads, rape capital of the world. I read it's mostly the townships that're the problem but still

Importantly, don't go to the townships; why would you!? Every city is fine if you keep your head about you and don't go off the beaten track. I had a couple of hours driving around Joburg, no hassle, but if you really are concerned, then just get out of Joburg... theres so much to do in the rest of the country.

MayoSalmon

xpletiv wrote: »

Importantly, don't go to the townships; why would you!? Every city is fine if you keep your head about you and don't go off the beaten track. I had a couple of hours driving around Joburg, no hassle, but if you really are concerned, then just get out of Joburg... theres so much to do in the rest of the country.

Exactly like flying into Detroit and heading off to the hood, to ya know get a feel for the locals and the history of it all

The_Conductor

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

I've been there once- I rarely say anything critical on boards but- you couldnt pay me to go again.
If you like staying in compounds and feeling unsafe literally everywhere then Jo'burg is the place to go

+1 - from someone with 2 sisters who live there.

Its dangerous- period.
You don't stop at traffic lights- and if you're close to home- you keep driving if there is a car behind you, so if someone is following you- they don't know where you live.

One sis is actively trying to encourage her hubby that Ireland is a great place to bring up their children- the other sis, who isn't married- wouldn't be there, if sis no.1 wasn't there already.

Capetown- is a retirement area- akin to Florida- some nice vineyards etc.
Plenty of safari tours- and camping in the Traansval etc
Lots to do- but keep the hell out of Joburg.

nsa0bupkd3948x

Looks like its down to €368 now.

xpletiv

Are Ethiopian ok to fly with? Ive never heard anyone really saying they were great or even decent. Tolerable was the word and the stayover in Addis Ababa is pretty awful. To me though, for something that is at least a 14+ hour trip, tolerable aint good enough...

Seems like this could be a case of spend the bit more money and go on BA/SAA/Emirates/Etihad/KLM/Air France....

christeb

Re Ethiopean - flew with them to CPT via Addis in Jan. I found them fine to be honest. Movie selection was OK, found a couple of watch I hadn't seen. I'm tall and leg room was limited, but it wouldn't deter me from flying with them again. Addis airport is a pretty bleak affair after the initial 2 mins of "Oh cool I'm in Ethipia" has worn off.

Food on both legs was poor from what I recall, bring your own supplies. But overall - I wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Lower your expectations to a suitable level and you'll be fine!