"Dave Patterson" wrote in message
...
Mike Potts wrote:

I was there in March. Cape Town has become a TOTAL RIP OFF. Just one
example: I wanted to buy some South African wine. The price in Cape Town
was
DOUBLE what I pay here in the USA. Seafood prices were mostly HIGHER
than
what I would pay here in the USA yet it costs over there are a fraction
of
what we pay over here.

Americans will find that costs for most everything are much the same
as they are here in the US. Why? The dollar is weak against the rand,
price inflation has affected costs in South Africa, and there is a big
VAT percentage attached to virtually every transaction.

But wine is NOT expensive. Where did you shop? Supermarkets have
extensive wine selections with many good wines priced from $4 to $10
a bottle. The wine estates sell their own wines at normal prices, and
are not expensive - except for the 'marquee' names such as Kanonkop
or Hamilton Russell.

Upmarket seafood restaurants are priced about the same as here.
But the seafood chains (Fishmonger, Ocean Basket) serve big fresh
seafood meals with salad and fries for $6 to $9.. and daily specials
are even less. Neighborhood cafes are even cheaper - and this is
true in Cape Town or anywhere in the country.

South Africa is only a RIP OFF for travelers who expect it to be
some sort of fantasy world where you can have a 5-star life
for 3-star prices.

Dave
I love Cape Town but now I only visit there on business. It has become
much more expensive there than say Jo'burg or Durban. I suppose because
it is full of "touristy" and trendy "places". The Hotel prices are
substantially
higher and well discounted rack rates are just not available unless you have
high level contacts.
Where tourists go the prices become inflated, I see the other great
attraction
"Kruger Park" is going the same way. But now we have the 2010 bid Joey's
will start catering for the lion's share of the business. As we have the
better
infrastructure for soccer and the contractors up here are still prepared to
work
for reasonable profits. We will of course become the nations center of
activity
again, with all the benifits attracted theretoo, muggers, pickpockets,
rapists,
highjackers and all the local informal traders that are attracted to wealth.
Come to think of it please keep the money and tourists down ther it's been
much quieter here for the last couple of years.
Richard