Hotels FAQ

Question:

Any info on subject appreciated. Also on transport from Capetown and Durban airports into the cities and moderate hotels in each city. Thanks

Response:

>Any info on subject appreciated. Also on transport from Capetown and >Durban airports into the cities and moderate hotels in each city. >Thanks

Hi Dick. I’m no expert on the train services so I waited a few days to see if anybody else replied. As far as I know the train routes are e.g. between Johannesburg & Durban on the one hand and Johannesburg & Cape Town on the other. This implies you’ll have to climb over on one of these routes. Whether there’s a pasenger train service directly from Cape Town to Durban I doubt very much. E.g. the passenger service between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (which is less than halfway up the east coast towards Durban) has long been discontinued. The bus companies however have routes that cover much of the country. Try the following: http://www.translux.co.za/ http://www.intercape.co.za/ http://www.greyhound.co.za/ http://www.bazbus.co.za/ Translux, Intercape and Greyhound operate luxury buses. Baz Bus is a "hop on, hop off" service for backpackers. Otherwise consider flying. SAA has flights between all mayor cities. http://www.flysaa.com/ Flight information: http://www.airports.co.za/ The airports all have taxi services and/or bus shuttle services into town. Can’t help you as far as accomodation is concerned. Cheers, Danie. Danie Palm – South Africa Disability is not inability but a challenge http://www.lando.co.za/pdp

Response:

>Any info on subject appreciated. Also on transport from Capetown and >Durban airports into the cities and moderate hotels in each city.

Hi! Spornet runs trains to a whole bunch of places. See http://www.spoornet.co.za and go to "Shosholoza Meyl" They must be one of the only state run rail services to have hot showers! I just called their booking number to confirm since I don’t _entirely_ trust their web site. Here’s the info: The Capetown-Durban trip only runs once a week as follows: dep CPT 18h50 every Monday, arrive Durban 07h15 Wednesday and backagain: dep DBN 17h30 every Wednesday, arr CPT Friday 06h05 A long journey but very comfy. Take some good books! Fares: 1st class R615.00, 2nd R420.00 There’s loads more info on the Spoornet web site under Shosholoza Meyl including pretty good if badly translated route descriptions. If you fancy more luxury see http://www.destination-sa.com and look at their luxury trains section. By the way, Spoornet has a "secret" train from Cape Town to East London. I say secret ‘cos it’s not listed as being available, you have to ask for it specifically. Details: Depart Cape Town every Sunday 10h25, arr East London 14h30 Monday Dep East London 10h00 every Tuesday, arrive Cape Town Wednesday 15h15. No dining car here though – just a sandwich and burger bar with drinks. Fares: 1st class R490.00, 2nd R340.00 — Irvine Short Sys Admin SANBI, University of the Western Cape, South Africa http://www.sanbi.ac.za tel: +27-21-959 3645 cel: +27-82-494 3828

Response:

As an alternative to the train consider the Baz Bus.  My daughter took that service in 2002 from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.  I think it runs all the way to Durban. This service picks you up at one Hostel and delivers you to another one on a flexible route.  My daughter stayed at hostels her whole trip and really enjoyed the trip.  It was a good way to meet people and seemed to be a secure way of travelling.  She made reservations at Jefferies Bay where she wanted to learn to surf but booked the rest of her trip on a day to day basis as she travelled. I believe the Baz Bus is affiiated in some way with the International Hostel Association.  It was a fun and economical way for her to travel.  She prepaid Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, but had complete control over what stops she made on the way.  Since she was delivered right to the next Hostel’s door she didn’t have to worry about finding her way.  Once there the Hostel’s helped her plan side trips and other activities. Scott Elliot http://www3.telus.net/selliot/

Response:

>As an alternative to the train consider the Baz Bus.  My daughter took that >service in 2002 from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.  I think it runs all the >way to Durban.

I’ve also taken the Baz bus – it really was great but it’s best for jumping on and off. You’d not want to travel too far at once though as it’s very slow due to stopping at all the hostels in each place. Now if I didn’t have kids I could leave Cape Town by train for Durban and come back by Baz Bus! Irvine

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