Aerlingus - Dublin to San Francisco

So I flew to San Francisco for work and there were a few things about this trip that were different from any other trip I have done.

USA Pre-Clearance

In order to arrive in San Francisco and not have to do Border Security, you do it before in Dublin, Ireland.   It's just like going through it in the states, as you know when you arrive in Dublin and go through security you have to send all your bags through the x-ray machine, take off your shoes, belts etc. well in the USA Pre-Clearance you do it all gain, and then you produce yourself in front of a US police office and he checks your passport, does the eye retna scan, asks you loads of questions, they took a few people off to a private room who were in front of me, and the girl directly in front of me was kept there for 20 minutes, but luckily for me I was probably only there for 5 minutes and then let through.

I was so early for my flight but it was fine and I bumped into a few colleagues I knew as well.   They don't tell you until you are on the plane that you cannot buy anything duty Free on the flight as you have already gone through border control, and of course you can't go back into the Duty Free area once you have done the US pre-clearance.

FOOD

If you haven't pre-ordered your vegetarian or halal meal then you get the mandatory Chicken or Beef.  I had the Beef which was Beef Stroganoff, it wasn't too bad actually, it came with a tiny noodle salad and btw there was not a lot of Beef either, a tiny chocolate mousse a piece of bread with butter and water.   After that you do not get anything else for at least 10 hours, so remember to order a few drinks or bottles of water to see you through the loooooooooooong flight!!!!  I had to go hunting for water during the flight.

Some time during the flight we were given some Mullins ice-cream which was very nice, and then about an hour before landing a pre-packed tiny chicken wrap.  I think you can buy drinks and food during the flight!   Also there is NO FREE alcohol.     Which perhaps is a good thing!  However €6.00 for a miniature???   Total rip-off

AIR HOSTESSES

Mainly very rude, you are not allowed to congregate near the toilets so if you can't get up and exercise we will all end up with DVT!

LUGGAGE COLLECTION

The great thing about the US pre-clearance is there is no security when you get off the flight, you walk straight through to Baggage collection ..... and then wait and wait and wait, wow I thought Johannesburg was bad, San Francisco was terrible.

BART

Thank goodness a colleague was picking us up from the airport as the airbus to the BART was cancelled - NIGHTMARE for travellers.

However a wonderful City .... Welcome to SAN FRANCISCO
 

deStijl Hotel - Gariep, Karoo, South Africa

In December 2014, we spent 3 weeks in South Africa visiting friends and family and having a holiday too.  Our trip started in Jo'burg and we drove down to Kimberly, Outshoorn, the wilderness and Cape Town, and then on the way back we stopped just outside Colesburg and back to Jo'burg.

While I was looking for accommodation for the way back, most of the really nice hotels and B&B's were just so expensive especially as all you really want is a bed to lay your head on. 

I found the deStijl Hotel in the Karoo - Gariep, most of the time I don't read the review and go on instincts but this time I did a bit of research, some people liked it some people didn't but I thought we would give it a try.   We arrived late in the evening in December just before Christmas and the hotel was packed.  Some idiot in a big SUV had parked over 2 parking spaces and of course one of them was ours, however the hotel soon found the person and got them to park properly.

All I can say about this hotel is WOW it's like a 5 star haven in the middle of the desert, the cost for one night accommodation for 3 of us was R1,370 about €100 bed only.   For this we got a clean apartment type room, with a "mini" kitchen, two super king size beds and a beautiful bathroom with a rain shower, a humungous balcony that overlooked the Dam.

Not since our holiday in Zimbabwe have I seen so many Stars, there was nothing I could fault this hotel on, the food in the Restaurant was outstanding, the rooms so comfortable and the view just breath taking, I wish I could have stayed longer, I wish I could live there in this quiet peaceful haven.  I will go back and when I go back I will stay for longer. 

So if you are looking for somewhere to stay between Cape Town and Johannesburg, my recommendation is The deStijl Hotel, Gariep - but don't just stay for one night, stay for 2 or more and discover what the Karoo has to offer.