Sorry it didn't work out.
I realized a couple of weeks ago that the cost of this trip would be beyond my means. It's really as simple as that. I have given up my dream to visit every host country during each world cup and will instead venture into some lame goal like becoming a millionaire or raising kids.
Hopefully you didn't spend too much time planning for this trip. If so, realize that there are and will be plenty of opportunities to travel throughout your lifetime. South Africa 2010 will just not be one of them. Someone said that genius is knowing when to give up. Although that person may not have succeeded at anything. Don't live by that mantra.
It's been swell.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
This Trip Ain't Cheap - and it's Getting Less Cheap by the Minute
“So that three thousand dollars – that’s for one week only?” The fear in Brad’s eyes when he asked me this was palpable. I had to find a way to answer him without saying – correctly – that he’s correct. A political answer, if you will. So I spun it the way I spin every uneasy answer I have to give clients at work: by not actually giving the hard truth, but instead offering a redirected, hopeful response, such as: “I’m still working on it – I should be able to find our way into a better solution.”
Let me retract that response by saying that this trip will cost serious dough. Not that fake monopoly money – this will require a substantial investment somewhere in the realm of $3K-$4.5K total, depending on how well we research our options and how timely we are in securing a good deal. In short, the less we look and the longer it takes us to secure a deposit with a travel agency, the more we will pay for this trip. This is, of course, not news to anyone who has ever taken a trip. But I figure if I write it down in plain English, it will help me convince myself that I have to take action soon or we will be mortgaging our way to South Africa.
In that effort, on the right side of the page I will continue to post the rates of various packages, including a link to the package’s details, so that we can constantly compare prices in the hopes of finding the most cost effective deal. If you come across any information related to packaged deals to South Africa that you feel we should investigate further, please post it here and I’ll look into it further.
Let me retract that response by saying that this trip will cost serious dough. Not that fake monopoly money – this will require a substantial investment somewhere in the realm of $3K-$4.5K total, depending on how well we research our options and how timely we are in securing a good deal. In short, the less we look and the longer it takes us to secure a deposit with a travel agency, the more we will pay for this trip. This is, of course, not news to anyone who has ever taken a trip. But I figure if I write it down in plain English, it will help me convince myself that I have to take action soon or we will be mortgaging our way to South Africa.
In that effort, on the right side of the page I will continue to post the rates of various packages, including a link to the package’s details, so that we can constantly compare prices in the hopes of finding the most cost effective deal. If you come across any information related to packaged deals to South Africa that you feel we should investigate further, please post it here and I’ll look into it further.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Airfare and Hotels to Cost Money?
It’s crunch time in trip planning and I ducked the responsibility like only I know how to do…meanwhile Michelle’s actively searching for packages and fairs. I feel really bad about that. Maybe it will be the impetus needed to ensure this isn’t a pattern of behavior.
Anyway, one deal Michelle received information on was from Great Atlantic Travel and Tour:
Round trip air from New York or Atlanta – Johannesburg, Seven nights’ accommodations at Premiere Classe Hotel Melrose Arch area of Johannesburg, Category 3 ticket to Team USA first group match, fully supervised and escorted throughout by Great Atlantic Travel and South African staff, . OPTIONS: ground transfers, Domestic Airfare in South Africa, , Hospitality and Sightseeing Additional Matches & optional add-ons will be available after the draw on December 4th, 2009. Please review the travel policies for additional information. Limited offer capacity controlled.
Package Including (prices per person)
One Bedroom Suite: Double $3895
Two Bedroom: Quad $3295
Not too bad, until you realize that it’s only for 7 days. Oh, and that it assumes we are flying out of New York. Yeah…not exactly the cheapest trip out there, but fear not, my fellow stingy travelers. There may be ways for us to save money including purchasing airfare on our own, staying at hostels or staying with friends. Stay tuned for next post, likely titled, "I can't believe we're going to spend this much on a trip"...
Anyway, one deal Michelle received information on was from Great Atlantic Travel and Tour:
Round trip air from New York or Atlanta – Johannesburg, Seven nights’ accommodations at Premiere Classe Hotel Melrose Arch area of Johannesburg, Category 3 ticket to Team USA first group match, fully supervised and escorted throughout by Great Atlantic Travel and South African staff, . OPTIONS: ground transfers, Domestic Airfare in South Africa, , Hospitality and Sightseeing Additional Matches & optional add-ons will be available after the draw on December 4th, 2009. Please review the travel policies for additional information. Limited offer capacity controlled.
Package Including (prices per person)
One Bedroom Suite: Double $3895
Two Bedroom: Quad $3295
Not too bad, until you realize that it’s only for 7 days. Oh, and that it assumes we are flying out of New York. Yeah…not exactly the cheapest trip out there, but fear not, my fellow stingy travelers. There may be ways for us to save money including purchasing airfare on our own, staying at hostels or staying with friends. Stay tuned for next post, likely titled, "I can't believe we're going to spend this much on a trip"...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Bring Your Money Belts
It turns out South Africa can host a soccer tournament without any major problems. The Fifa Confederations Cup came to a close with the US (!) nearly knocking off now #1 ranked Brazil but eventually falling 3-2, and it turns out South Africa as a host was for the most part no different than other host countries of the past. In fact, it turns out much of the stigmatism of a violent and lawless nation turns out to lack a solid basis.
Many South Africa World Cup boosters are getting fed up with the negative publicity the nation is receiving from Western newspapers about violence and racism. Much was made of the mugging of a small group of Australian rugby fans during the recently ended Cup, although the same attention was not paid when South Africans were mugged in Berlin during the 2006 World Cup. I think I speak for Nick and Brad when I say that there was very little that was threatening about Berlin – with the exception of that crazy man-child who threw full 2liters of cola into full crowds, nearly missing an infant – so to hear of a mugging in that tranquil city was eye-opening.
I can only hope that I will be eye-opened the same way when I read about a mugging that happens in South Africa in 2010. I would hope that I think to myself, “My word, I couldn’t imagine something like this happening in South Africa, of all places!” Then my monocle slips from my eye and into my glass. God, I want a monocle.
It might help everyone to feel safer in a country that until 1994 kept blacks separate from whites (accompanied by fewer rights and representation) if we try to put things into perspective. I was robbed in Barcelona and I don’t think of that city as a cesspool of crime. We all live in cities where crimes are committed all the time, yet we get up and go to work (grudgingly) and walk around our blocks with piece of mind. We should not pass judgment on a location until we’ve experienced it for ourselves. With our money belts safely tucked in our pants, of course.
Many South Africa World Cup boosters are getting fed up with the negative publicity the nation is receiving from Western newspapers about violence and racism. Much was made of the mugging of a small group of Australian rugby fans during the recently ended Cup, although the same attention was not paid when South Africans were mugged in Berlin during the 2006 World Cup. I think I speak for Nick and Brad when I say that there was very little that was threatening about Berlin – with the exception of that crazy man-child who threw full 2liters of cola into full crowds, nearly missing an infant – so to hear of a mugging in that tranquil city was eye-opening.
I can only hope that I will be eye-opened the same way when I read about a mugging that happens in South Africa in 2010. I would hope that I think to myself, “My word, I couldn’t imagine something like this happening in South Africa, of all places!” Then my monocle slips from my eye and into my glass. God, I want a monocle.
It might help everyone to feel safer in a country that until 1994 kept blacks separate from whites (accompanied by fewer rights and representation) if we try to put things into perspective. I was robbed in Barcelona and I don’t think of that city as a cesspool of crime. We all live in cities where crimes are committed all the time, yet we get up and go to work (grudgingly) and walk around our blocks with piece of mind. We should not pass judgment on a location until we’ve experienced it for ourselves. With our money belts safely tucked in our pants, of course.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Application Denied!
Bad news sports fans. Michael Jackson has passed AND we were denied tickets for the match we requested:
Further to your application for 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Tickets. We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ second sales phase commenced on 4th May 2009 and concludes on 16th November 2009. If you wish to re-apply during the second sales phase, please visit FIFA.com via the link provided within this communication and submit a new application for tickets. Applications during the second sales phase will be processed, subject to availability, on a first-come-first-served basis (in the order of receipt).
For your information alternative Ticket products are also available in Official Hospitality Packages from MATCH Hospitality and Authorised Travel Packages sold for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ by Participating Tour Operators. Please refer to FIFA.com.
Two things here stand out that we should keep in mind as we continue in our quixotic quest for World Cup Tickets:
(1) At no point in this ‘apology’ from Fifa is there an explanation why we were denied. I fail to see the point in re-applying for tickets through Fifa.com if for all we know it is hopeless. Reapplying via Fifa.com would be like – as is now well recited – insane: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Therefore, it is my estimation that we explore other avenues, which brings me to the second salient item from the apology:
(2) Ticket ‘products’ are available through “MATCH Hospitality” and “Authorised Travel Packages”. This would indicate there is still hope. Additionally, a travel package may mean a better deal overall for our group. No promises, of course, but this is something that should at least be explored. I shall follow up with an update on this option soon…
Further to your application for 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Tickets. We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ second sales phase commenced on 4th May 2009 and concludes on 16th November 2009. If you wish to re-apply during the second sales phase, please visit FIFA.com via the link provided within this communication and submit a new application for tickets. Applications during the second sales phase will be processed, subject to availability, on a first-come-first-served basis (in the order of receipt).
For your information alternative Ticket products are also available in Official Hospitality Packages from MATCH Hospitality and Authorised Travel Packages sold for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ by Participating Tour Operators. Please refer to FIFA.com.
Two things here stand out that we should keep in mind as we continue in our quixotic quest for World Cup Tickets:
(1) At no point in this ‘apology’ from Fifa is there an explanation why we were denied. I fail to see the point in re-applying for tickets through Fifa.com if for all we know it is hopeless. Reapplying via Fifa.com would be like – as is now well recited – insane: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Therefore, it is my estimation that we explore other avenues, which brings me to the second salient item from the apology:
(2) Ticket ‘products’ are available through “MATCH Hospitality” and “Authorised Travel Packages”. This would indicate there is still hope. Additionally, a travel package may mean a better deal overall for our group. No promises, of course, but this is something that should at least be explored. I shall follow up with an update on this option soon…
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Match 23 Applied For! (halfway, at least)
What takes mere mortals minutes to accomplish, it has taken me months to get around to submitting an application for World Cup Tickets. I think a tear ran down my cheeck as I clicked 'submit' at the bottom of that intrusive form.
You see, it wasn't always meant to happen that I should fall so pathetically behind schedule in completing an application process, it just kind of took a back seat to our more timely vacation, the one in Costa Rica in less than a month. As all trained Account Managers well know (Sean can back me up on this), bypassing the most pressing task at hand for something that can be done weeks or months later is not only unwise, it's unethical. Therefore all South Africa planning has sputtered along like a North Korean missile.
No more. This ticket application will be only the jolt I need to get back into the swing of things. Although I should also probably note that I've only applied for Sean, Eric and Michelle, meaning I will have to apply for Nick, Brad, Ryan (?) and myself as soon as I have Brad's and Ryan's passport numbers. Anyway, half of step 1 is done, and it feels pretty damn good.
From the confirmation page at fifa.com, which will hopefully be the impetus needed to keep the planning going:
FIFA would like to remind anyone applying for tickets to bear in mind that South Africa is a long haul destination for most of the teams that will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, and that you should begin planning your travel itinerary including flights, accommodation, ground transportation and attractions for your stay in South Africa as early as possible.
Dear god...
You see, it wasn't always meant to happen that I should fall so pathetically behind schedule in completing an application process, it just kind of took a back seat to our more timely vacation, the one in Costa Rica in less than a month. As all trained Account Managers well know (Sean can back me up on this), bypassing the most pressing task at hand for something that can be done weeks or months later is not only unwise, it's unethical. Therefore all South Africa planning has sputtered along like a North Korean missile.
No more. This ticket application will be only the jolt I need to get back into the swing of things. Although I should also probably note that I've only applied for Sean, Eric and Michelle, meaning I will have to apply for Nick, Brad, Ryan (?) and myself as soon as I have Brad's and Ryan's passport numbers. Anyway, half of step 1 is done, and it feels pretty damn good.
From the confirmation page at fifa.com, which will hopefully be the impetus needed to keep the planning going:
FIFA would like to remind anyone applying for tickets to bear in mind that South Africa is a long haul destination for most of the teams that will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, and that you should begin planning your travel itinerary including flights, accommodation, ground transportation and attractions for your stay in South Africa as early as possible.
Dear god...
Monday, June 1, 2009
Rye Frye too?
Huge announcement...no, not that Fleetwood Mac is playing at Summerfest. Ready for this? Oh wait, you read the title. Shit. Um. Ok, Rye Frye, Ryan...uh, last name? Um, something Polish, I think. A really good guy.
We are now not only stocked with brains but now have the brawn to back it up (check out the guy's guns). The whole concern about violence in South Africa is now an afterthought with the knowledge that Ryan will be with us.
We are now not only stocked with brains but now have the brawn to back it up (check out the guy's guns). The whole concern about violence in South Africa is now an afterthought with the knowledge that Ryan will be with us.
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