Visit the Brothers Sport website for more information and special deals.
If you need to travel to Cape Town in March, we suggest you focus on getting those travel arrangements confirmed sooner rather than later!
We have many years of experience as a sport tour operator – both on athlete and supporter level – and have compiled a list of FAQs which may be useful when making and completing your travel arrangements.
Q: Is it better to book my flight arrangements early or get a last minute deal?
A: Prices for flights with local airlines increase as time goes on. The best time to get the cheapest airfares are when the tickets are first released.
Q: When I book my flights, do I have to pay the full amount to secure my booking?
A: If you purchase your flight directly from the airlines or travel agent you are required to pay the full amount at time of confirmation in order to secure your seat and flight cost. Should you book your flight as part of a travel package from Brothers Sport, you are only required to pay a 25% non-refundable deposit at time of confirmation with the balance due on 25 January 2012.
Q: Are all-inclusive travel packages, booked through a tour operator, cheaper than booking travel arrangements myself?
A: The airlines and hotels tend to “adjust” costs over a high-demand period (e.g. in March during the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Lifecycle Week). This might not always be in your favour when you make your own arrangement, so it’s often better to work through a reputable agency.
As an official travel partner of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, we are able to negotiate and secure special airfares, hotel rates and car hire rates prior to the event in order to provide clients with value for money packages.
Always compare the rates you are offered directly with those we can offer through our travel partners – you might just be pleasantly surprised.
Q: Is the cost of transporting my bicycle on the flight included in the ticket cost?
A: A couple of year ago some of our local airlines tried to charge extra for transporting bicycles over the Cycle Tour period. This seems to have back-fired a bit, and in the last two years local airlines included bicycle transportation at no additional cost over the Cycle Tour period.
Please note that specific instructions for bicycle transportation with local airlines will be made available from mid-February 2012. Your bicycle will not necessarily be transported on the same flight you will be travelling on. Most airlines instruct clients on exactly how to pre-pack your bicycle and also advise when (usually 3 days prior to your departure) and where (map will be provided) to drop- and collect them.
Contact your airline or local booking agent in order to obtain this information, and ALWAYS enquire about any possible hidden costs.
Q: Who would I contact to transport my bicycle to Cape if I choose not to take it on my flight?
A: There are many companies offering the service of transporting you bicycle to Cape Town by road. They also offer additional insurance cover at a nominal fee. This option is very convenient and saves quite a bit of time, as you merely collect your bicycle on the Friday or Saturday from a predetermined location (close to the race finish point). Once you’ve completed your race on the Sunday, you simply drop your bicycle off again.
The organisers of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour are currently finalising their list of preferred Bike Transport Partners and more information will be loaded here soon.
Q: I would like to hire a car on arrival in Cape Town. Can I book this on arrival at Cape Town airport?
A: No, most certainly not. As there is such a big demand for hire vehicles over the Cycle Tour period, most car rental firms are fully booked weeks before the event starts. It is strongly advised to pre-book your rental vehicle in advance.
Q: What vehicle type would I hire in order to fit my bicycle as well as my luggage?
A: It all depends on the size of your travelling party and how many bicycles have to be transported. Most single travellers prefer a small hatch-back vehicle which can be hired at a low cost and easily fit one bicycle, as well as one or two travellers and their luggage (e.g. Hyundai Atos or similar). Larger travel parties prefer medium sized or larger vehicles (e.g. Daihatsu Terrios or VW Combi / Hyundai H1). Certain Van-Rental companies are able to offer even larger vehicles (e.g. Toyota Quantum 14-seaters). Should you be travelling with a group, you are also able to make use of transport services form local coach companies who can offer coaches with designated drivers in the following sizes: 15-seaters, 21-seaters, 28-seater, 44-seaters up to 60-seater coaches. Your local booking agent can assist with such reservations.
Q: I don’t want to hire a car in Cape Town as I am not confident driving in a unfamiliar City. Is there any other reliable means of transport to get to my hotel?
A: Yes, you are able to make use of local taxi / transport services which are frequently available at Cape Town International Airport. Should you need bicycles to be transport with you, it is advisable to pre-book your transfer service to guarantee that the vehicle type used is large enough to accommodate all passengers, baggage and bicycles. Contact your local booking agent to arrange such services prior to arrival.
Q: Where should I stay if I want to cycle to the race start and back to my hotel from the finish?
A: Cape Town is relatively small compared to other major cities, and therefore any location in Cape Town’s CBD, Foreshore, Green Point, V&A Waterfront and Sea Point areas will be within easy cycling distance of both the Cycle Tour’s start and finish points
Q: Do children stay free of charge at the hotel?
A: Most hotels follow a standard rule that children under the age of 12, sharing a room with 2 paying parents, can stay free of charge. Extra bedding will be provided at no additional charge. It naturally depends on the room size and at the discretion of the hotel. Some hotels allow children under the age of 18 years to share a room with parents free at charge. Meals and extra services are chargeable for children sharing with parents. In order to avoid over-crowding in a room, many hotels are able to offer inter-leading bedrooms.
Q: Can I keep my bicycle in my hotel room?
A: Majority of Cape Town hotels offer a “safe-room” or secure area where bicycles can be stored during your stay. Some clients prefer to keep their bicycles in their rooms though. Please check with your hotel, as some hotels – especially those who recently renovated, do not allow this, due to past experience where carpets and walls were stained with chain lubricants etc.
Q: What time is breakfast served at my hotel? Will I be able to eat breakfast before I start the race?
A: We are all aware how important it is to have a good breakfast before the race, and many – if not all – hotels make special arrangements to have breakfast ready from 5am on race day. There is a slight transportation issue to get kitchen staff to the hotel on time on race day, and some staff specially stay over at the hotel the night before in order to accommodate their clients. In cases where this is not possible, hotels go out of their way to have a continental breakfast or “early snack pack” available to cyclists. Please enquire with your hotel or booking agent in order to be prepared for race day.
