| The 2010 Soccer World Cup to be held in South | | | | will firstly have their own website or advertise on a |
| Africa is edging ever so much closer to reality. World | | | | website of someone else, relative to 2010 |
| cup accommodation and 2010 accommodation are | | | | accommodation. Secondly, all property owners will ask |
| two phrases that are foremost in peoples' minds, | | | | for an upfront, not refundable deposit, normally 50%. |
| whether you are a South African or a tourist. | | | | This is standard business practice and nobody can |
| No wonder that headlines were made recently in the | | | | blame them for this. |
| media about website fraud regarding world cup | | | | My advice to anyone booking world cup |
| accommodation in South Africa. Alarming as it may | | | | accommodation via a website, is to ensure that when |
| seem, these elements will always go hand in hand with | | | | they are dealing with a private property owner, they |
| such a tournament, irrespective of where in the world | | | | will be able to track down the owner at a later stage, |
| it is held. | | | | should it be necessary. |
| Is there a solution to being absolutely sure you are | | | | The best way to do this is to demand from the |
| dealing with people with integrity and not a false | | | | property owner a certified copy of his/her South |
| website? I believe there is. | | | | African Identification document as well as other proof |
| Unfortunately one or two con-artists can dramatically | | | | of residence, such as a utility bill, before paying over |
| influence the perception of a country and a nation as a | | | | any deposits to the owner. Maybe in addition, call for |
| whole, and that will never change in this world of | | | | proof that the bank account to which the deposit will |
| greed. It must be said immediately that there are | | | | be made is in the owners name. |
| hundreds, if not thousands, of property owners with | | | | The chances of fraud occurring with established guest |
| integrity and honesty who would like to offer 2010 | | | | houses are much smaller, as these are registered |
| accommodation to tourists and probably at a cheaper | | | | businesses and they have nowhere to hide. However, |
| price that can be obtained elsewhere. | | | | one will pay a premium on tariffs as these |
| These owners pride themselves on the standard of | | | | establishments are generally more expensive than that |
| the world cup accommodation they offer and the | | | | of private property owners. |
| lengths they would go to, to satisfy their guests with | | | | Whichever way one looks at it, the extreme majority |
| pure South African hospitality. | | | | of website owners advertising world cup |
| How does one then ensure when arranging world cup | | | | accommodation are pure in their intentions and can be |
| accommodation that one is in fact dealing with | | | | relied upon to deliver the goods. You just need to |
| someone reputable? | | | | ensure that you find the right ones. |
| Well, it is not easy, because all these property owners | | | | |