South Africa has been gearing up for years for it, and finally in June and July 2010 it will happen: the FIFA World Cup South Africa. With the U.S. team qualifying for the tournament last October, demand for packages in the U.S. is expected to be high. It’s the first World Cup event to take place on the continent of Africa, and South Africans are very excited about the prospect of having their country spotlighted in such a major way. The country has gone through an extensive phase of constructing and upgrading hotels and building infrastructure, including roads and a new train system.

For sports fans who have never been to Africa but would like to go some time in their lives, the World Cup provides a dual motivation. The lowered prices throughout the travel industry provide an added incentive.

Match Hospitality has been designated the worldwide exclusive rights holder of Offical Hospitality Packages for the World Cup by the Fédération Internationale de Football (FIFA), the world governing body of football, or soccer, as we Americans call it.

SportsMark is Match’s exclusive agent in the U.S., and it has authorized only three American tour operators to sell packages for the event: Cartan Tours, Destination South Africa and Great Atlantic Travel & Tour. These operators warn that you should be on guard against buying tickets from unauthorized providers, which may turn out to be fraudulent. FIFA’s website, www.fifa.com, is the only source for tickets that are not part of a package. SportMark’s hospitality program is designed to provide a VIP game day experience with stadium suites, match tickets and hospitality venues close to the stadium, with five-star food, beverages, entertainment and close parking.

Cartan Tours

According to Daniel Gamba, Cartan Tours’ sales and marketing program manager, the Los Angeles-based tour operator assembled packages through a careful process of investigation into the available accommodations, transportation and locations in South Africa. Cartan has assembled a variety of packages to suit varying needs, budgets and desires. Anticipating a high demand, Cartan secured space far in advance in a variety of hotels in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Cartan classifies the programs by the quality and location of the hotel and the amenities that are included in the program as Standard, Superior and Deluxe. Because of the demand and the inherent logistical challenges, Gamba says, most hotels are not allowing short stays during the event, and instead are requiring minimum three- to five-day stays.

Cartan will provide onsite concierge service to provide assistance with airport navigation, luggage, transportation, sightseeing and restaurant reservations. The operator is also prepared to arrange sightseeing activities to go with the World Cup, such as safaris at game reserves or Cape Winelands tours. Cartan’s package start at $1,995 per person, land only, including accommodations and a ticket to allow one person to follow Team USA. Packages with round-trip air from New York-JFK included start at $2,499. Arrival and departure transportation is included. The mode of transportation to the matches will be determined after the final draw determines where each team will be playing.

Great Atlantic Travel & Tour

Great Atlantic Travel & Tour, based in Virginia Beach, Va., will partner with Emirates to provide packages for the World Cup. The packages are designed to enable clients to follow their favorite team from its first game through the finals. Clients select the team they want to follow and the preferred hotel, and the package assures they will be flown to South Africa, driven to the hotel, and taken to and from the appropriate World Cup stadiums. The Emirates packages offer the opportunity to follow any one of 20 teams.

Destinations Africa

Tuscon, Ariz.-based Destinations Africa, the third authorized tour operator selling World Cup packages, is offering a series of different kinds of packages, such as a First USA Match Package, for June 9-17, which includes one ticket to the first Team USA group match; a second and third group match package, with one ticket each for the second and third group matches; a Round of 16 package, which includes a ticket to the Round of 16 match; a quarter-final package; a quarter-final and semi-final package; and a semi-final and final package.

The First USA Match Package is priced from $5,760 for the most economical accommodations with Category Three tickets. The top-priced package with Category One tickets and the top level of accommodations is listed at $10,700. The price includes international air from New York or Washington D.C. to Johannesburg or Cape Town; meet and greet upon arrival at the airport; a complete World Cup Soccer digest; eight nights accommodation with daily breakfast; one ticket to Team USA’s First Group Match; and 24-hour travel support during the stay in South Africa.

For more information and to book

the only U.S. tour operators authorized to sell packages for the 2010 World Cup:

Cartan Tours: 310-546-9662, ext 113 | www.cartan.com  or

https://cartan.com/Soccer_Travel_Package.html

Destination South Africa: 800-203-6724 | www.destinationworldcup.com  

Great Atlantic Travel & Tour: 757-422-9001, 800-888-8233 |

www.greatatlantictravel.com