I asked Tiffany about prices coming in a day early or staying over in Johannesburg incase any of us needed that for any reason. Just like with a cruise you can book that independently of course and join the package deal at the Cape Grace hotel on April 20.

Here are her responses.

Additional night at Cape Grace Luxury (standard) accommodation: $364 p/p sharing
Single supplement: $336

Transfer from airport: $64 p/p – based on 2 pax, includes meet & greet

Another wonderful property that may be nice for those who want to arrive early is Sante Winelands. It is located near Paarl in the Wine country (about 1 hr from CPT). It is a great place to relax and get over jetlag…I loved it!!!!

It does not have the fun night life that the waterfront has to offer, but is a tranquil retreat…you know your clients well and if this might be something they would like.

$211 p/p sharing – Manor Suite
Single supplement: $104

Transfer from airport: $96 p/p – based on 2 pax, includes meet & greet

Transfer from Sante to Cape Grace: $76 p/p – based on 2 pax, includes meet & greet

Here is the website:
http://www.santewellness.co.za

JOHANNESBURG - ACCOMODATION

I would recommend either the Intercontinental Hotel (if they want to be near the airport) it is very nice.

$188 P/P standard room
$161 single supplement

No transfer needed

SAXON for luxury – beautiful!
$351 p/p Egoli Suite

Transfer $65 p/p – based on 2 pax – includes meet & greet

http://www.thesaxon.com/default.asp

Is that US dollars? Cape Grace would be over $700, plus another $130 for a couple to get from the airport? Wow! I know we are booking an expensive trip, but for some reason, that made my eyes pop.

WOW from me, too. I guess I just looked at the bottom line for the rest of the trip, as we had mentally geared ourselves for a pretty hefty price tag.

If you go to Cape Grace website, you can see current rates. The four days for price of three shows availability it seems all the time. I took the rates of the Cape Grace, train, Singita, and Singita's air (as an example of our charter) and then converted to USD. Of course, I have no idea on cost of transfers or Cape Town tours. You all put together a great package and have a wonderful rate. Of course, anything more that could be negotiated lower would just be gravy.

However, I don't think I will extend Cape Grace another night at that rate. Paris is looking awfully good for pre-safari stay.

I'm not even going to try to think about that right now; we are still dizzy from considering/discarding all those safari camps. If we do anything pre or post, it will depend on flights and connections. I'm not totally sure I can spend more time away from family.

I think this is like RSSC. When you do the Safari "package" or "the cruise" you get a price that is the value. We also have a nice sized group here so that has helped.

Then when you add on hotels etc onto that package as just one or two couples you find them higher than we are getting in the group - just like the RSSC hotels usually are. In these cases you can often do the hotels cheaper on an independent basis. It just depends you just have to check pricing.

However, with the pre and posts "trips" it may be more reasonable if we have a "group" of people going. Just one or two couples the rates are going to be higher. That is why I suggest throwing things around and then as a group come up with one or two ideas that the majority are interested in then we price these. We have lots of time to come up with these ideas. Then if there are not enough interested we just stick with the basic safari and that is fine.

I think the Victoria falls option sounds fine.

Botswana Leslie mentions on another post so I am editing. Botswana is supposed to be great for animals and scenery - not as luxurious accommodations as South AFrica but the Delta is supposed to be fantastic. I researched it a little bit - mostly tented camps. Not a lot of research from me this is new terriority I dont know alot about any of this. So all of you who like to research people check it out.

Re: Cape Grace
Their hotel website says their 2005 double is starting at 4200R ( girls of the jungle- do your conversions)..

Yes, ma'am, Ms Claudia.

4,200 South African Rand(s) = 636.307 US Dollar(s)

Oh, and the chart that was on that currency converter shows that the rand isn't on the upswing any longer. That might make things better for us.

Ngaire,

Your economy of scale recommendation is a good one. I am game for the group pre/post plans--price will be right and more importantly, so will the company.

Roar Team,

There is a super deal for three nights at Capetown's Twelve Apostles (includes champagne, flowers, bkfst daily, one dinner, and more) on Luxury Link for min bid of $895 (just little more than one night at the Cape Grace) Maybe they will have this offer in late 2005 early 2006. Worth taking a mental note.

Wes, I really love Luxury Link (heard about it from my daughter's friend and look all the time). Only thing is, Ngaire as a professional would be sticking her neck out not to reserve the number of rooms we need at the same hotel on the same days in the hopes that Luxury Link would offer availability in the future at the same exact days we need them. Luxury Link does not book this far ahead that I know of. I've heard on the Fodor's Board that Twelve Apostles is great. When we were in the research phase, we had to come up with a "package deal bid request" and offer it out to different companies with specific properties we had chosen. This is where Ngaire came in. So in essence, because they are getting the whole "land cruise" they come up with a price, but we are committed to those properties we asked for in the beginning. Ngaire, not us, is the one who negotiates with Ker& Downey. While she would rather negotiate with the properties direct, this is not possible, because that would "splinter" our trip so to speak. Ngaire, if I am totally off base, please come on and blow my theory of how it works.

JHP that explanation is absolutely spot on.

Actually I am not familiar with Luxury Link but it sounds like a place that you bid or simply hope space will be available at a date close to travel. Like Priceline I assume.

That cant work when you need a bunch of rooms. Ker and Downey are like Radisson cruise line. They package a product (custom to what the planning group wanted) and price it for a group rate. You are committed to the package - you can add on but the basic package remains.

These types of options are what you can do individually if you are coming in early. You would have to change hotels to Cape Grace of course.

Everyone I have talked to about this said Cape Grace is the perfect place to stay. I think we will be very happy with this choice.

Olivia, Ngaire, thanks, I was only suggesting
the Twelve Apostles as an option if a ROAR Team
member wanted to get to Capetown early or after ROAR; not as a replacement for the beautiful Cape Grace..thx

Absolutely Wes, this is a great suggestion for coming in early and doing something independently. Capetown is a city so there may have many great possibilities for coming in early and doing your own pre-trip and be pretty easy to get around.

In fact before or after the package anyone can and do many things independently. I am not an expert on Africa to know if this would be difficult or not if you are trying to do things such as Nambia or other camps.

The key thing is the ability to get from A to B, organize flights (particularly the charter flights)transfers and accommodations etc. Also not sure how safe it would be if just two people were running around independently. Capetown is supposed to be fine but Johannesburg is not a good place at all. You note we are flying in and flying out of Johannesburg only.

I know I would never consider doing things independently in Kenya. Nairobi was a scary city and there were no private transfers available around the game parks, everything was organized by safari outfitters.

Sometimes it is just easier to go with the complete package, organized by people like Ker and Downey who are experts in the area, sometimes you can do things independently. Everyone's choice.

Sounds great Ngaire. I know hubby doesn't want me running around on my own, so I'm in for whatever the group chooses.

From our r
12 Apostles Hotel got some pretty bad reviews ..
from our research..you might try this one called the Ellerman House ..if you are looking for lux digs for a few days
http://www.ellerman.co.za/

Claudia,

Good FYRI..thanks.

Until we have a pre/group package identified, i did find the Radisson (imagine that) 5-Star Waterfront for $375 double, includes full breakfast and I was quoted $42 to include dinner for two..on my short list anyway.

Wes