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€399 - Dublin to Johannesburg, South Africa roundtrip

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    #2
    Del007
    Registered Users Posts: 1,586 ✭✭✭Del007


    420 from Cork


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    #3
    Poor_old_gill
    Registered Users Posts: 2,893 ✭✭✭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


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    #4
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭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.


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    #5
    J.pilkington
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 1,331 ✭✭✭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!


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    #6
    Del007
    Registered Users Posts: 1,586 ✭✭✭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


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    #7
    Poor_old_gill
    Registered Users Posts: 2,893 ✭✭✭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


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    #8
    Itchyness
    Registered Users Posts: 64 ✭✭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 :p


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    #9
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,259 ✭✭✭✭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 ?


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    #10
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭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


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    #11
    Charles Babbage
    Registered Users Posts: 5,454 ✭✭✭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.


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    #12
    Pelvis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,758 ✭✭✭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.


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    #13
    ActingDanClark
    Registered Users Posts: 1,895 ✭✭✭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!!


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    #14
    kn
    Registered Users Posts: 3,867 ✭✭✭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.


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    #15
    LeChienMefiant
    Registered Users Posts: 620 ✭✭✭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.


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    #16
    xpletiv
    Registered Users Posts: 1,006 ✭✭✭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.


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    #17
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭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


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    #18
    antodeco
    Registered Users, Subscribers Posts: 13,425 ✭✭✭✭antodeco


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


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    #19
    CFC007
    Registered Users Posts: 825 ✭✭✭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.


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    #20
    kn
    Registered Users Posts: 3,867 ✭✭✭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.


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    #21
    Pinch Flat
    Registered Users Posts: 7,761 ✭✭✭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


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    #22
    Belt
    Registered Users Posts: 146 ✭✭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


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    #23
    Father Hernandez
    Registered Users Posts: 11,201 ✭✭✭✭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.


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    #24
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭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.
    20170401_WOC942_1.png


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    #25
    kn
    Registered Users Posts: 3,867 ✭✭✭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.


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    #26
    bkrangle
    Registered Users Posts: 607 ✭✭✭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


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    #27
    xpletiv
    Registered Users Posts: 1,006 ✭✭✭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.


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    #28
    Underpaid Mike
    Registered Users Posts: 852 ✭✭✭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.


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    #29
    testicles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,198 ✭✭✭testicles


    This post has been deleted.


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    #30
    ArthurG
    Registered Users Posts: 1,306 ✭✭✭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.


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    #31
    diograis
    Registered Users Posts: 435 ✭✭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 :p

    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


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