2010Soccer world cup--what to expect when 0n holiday in South Africa--tips

What to expect during 2010 world cup in S.A

When planning to come to South Africa,remember that you are coming to visit a 3rd world country, therefore expect to find conditions and service like in a 3rd world state.

Things that you normally take for granted , may be the things that you have to specifically ask for.

Therefore, if you do not plan things in advance ---you might be in for a shock if it does not turn out the way you wanted it.

It is therefore imperative that you get some insight beforehand of the conditions and how things operate here. This is by no means a complete tour  guide for every situation that you might get yourself into, but merely highlights some points in considering  how to handle certain situations.

1.The Airport: With a much upgraded international airport and staff that should be well-trained, you should pass through easily.

2. Luggage:Preferably your luggage should be wrapped. Also try and keep your belongings in sight as far as possible and watch out for suspicious-looking persons.
 
3.Taxies Aah! There lies the problem. If the transport sytem is not  upgraded immensely by that time, one could face some serious problems with every operator trying to do his own thing.

Every taxi operator will realize that you are a visitor and will CERTAINLY  try to siphon money from you,  knowing that maybe you cannot speak the language, not knowing where you are going, not knowing the currency and exchange rate and not knowing how much a taxi normally charges per kilometer.

4.Car hire: Should you hire a car, beware of stopping places where smash-and-grab criminals operate. This often happens so do not stop in remote areas. Beggars are everywhere,especially at street corners.Think quickly when someone asks you to stop for some reason or other---it might well be a trick for you to get out of the car.

5.Know where you are going: Make sure you always give clear instructions where you want to go and try to determine in advance how far your destination is from the loading point. This is so you do not get ripped-off.

6. Currency: It is important for you to familiarize yourself with the currency and exchange rate as unscrupulous people could "take you for a ride".

7. Hotel: service should be O.K. but can be slow at times. Demand prompt service.

8.Dont show-off: Do not flaunt your money around, it might just lead to you being a few dollars poorer.

9.Keep your cool: If you are unfortunate to be caught up in an argument, don't let it heat up as chances are that some local people can be very unreasonable.Try and work your way through the debate as quick as possible.

10. Visiting clubs and "grey" areas: Definitely do so in the company of as many visitors as possible.

These 10 tips form only a tip of the ice-berg but serves as an emergency guide when travelling to South Africa. It is not meant to be a scare-off, rather a cautionary guidance in helping you to have an enjoyable stay . More excellent advice can be found in THIS