| Windhoek travel tips posted by real travelers and Windhoek locals. Windhoek Map |
 | Windhoek Warnings or Dangers | Tips 1 - 8 of 8 |  |
There is a very good chance you are looking at a picture of 2 Bank Card thieves. A guest at my Bed & Breakfast had his card stolen by 2 men right here 30 minutes before. What happened? The tourist had just put his card in and put in his pin code when 2 men standing behind him shouted “Oh, there’s a problem with the machine, hit reject and re-enter your pin code”. He did and while one man distracted him, the other grabbed the card that has just come out. Both men saw the pin code. A telephone call to the bank in the UK confirmed them tourist’s bank card was being charged hundreds of dollars as he spoke to them.
The Standard Bank ATM is on the street. The Bank Windhoek machine is just across the street and inside with an armed guard (also pictured). When in doubt in Windhoek, use a machine that is guarded. There are several of them. Leave a Comment
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I had the most amazing bad service from Hertz in Windhoek. I would avoid them at all costs.
I had a confirmed car reservation (with confirmation number) that I made at least one week before. My flight was 2h late arriving and when I arrived the hertz desk at the airport was closed (this was at 2130). Luckily Avis was open and they got someone from hertz on the phone, hertz said they didn't have any cars and didn't even seem to understand that I had a reservation and expected a car. They said the best they could do was drive me to my hotel and TRY to find a car for me the next day. I waited 45mins at the airport, eventually I found a driver from my hotel collecting someone else and he took me to the hotel since hertz did not turn up during that time.
The next day the fun really started. I had given Hertz the reservation number and they said they'd bring a car to the hotel. I kept phoning them, first every hour and then every 10 minutes. The story changed minute by minute, the car is on it's way, the car is being washed, the driver is filling the car with petrol. Finally someone from Hertz turned up at the hotel, BUT NOT WITH A CAR FOR ME! Despite telling me 20mins before that a car for me was ready and being "filled with fuel", THEY had decided to drive me to my meeting at 11 and deliver the car there after my meeting. So the story of the fuelling and washing were complete lies!
I got to my meeting and a car did arrive at 1230, but not only did they not offer any apology about losing my CONFIRMED reservation (which they did find with the confirmation # I gave them), but they tried to charge me the rental price STARTING AT THE AIRPORT THE NIGHT BEFORE!! This was so outrageous that it was funny !! They also did not offer the rental rate I had booked (company corporate rate), but a general rate.
Finally when I returned the car I tried to get the invoice to confirm how much they would charge and as I expected they charged me the airport surcharge (9%) for renting from the airport, even though I got the car in the city centre. They promised to refund the 9% charge later.
The lost reservation I can accept since those things happen from time to time, but the stream of lies about the car being ready when it wasn't and they'd sent someone to drive me to my meeting instead make Hertz Windhoek totally unreliable and I will never rent from them in Namibia again.
**UPDATED A MONTH LATER**
I happened to check my credit card statement after the trip. Hertz Windhoek did not give the refund for the unnecessary airport tax but also separately charged me another 175euro three days after my rental was charged. After many phone calls to both the windhoek and Hertz south africa offices, I found out they had charged MY credit card for damage done by another renter to another rental car. Nothing to do why my rental at all. They had used my credit card by mistake for that payment !! Even though they admitted this after two phone calls, it took a further THREE WEEKS and four more phone calls before i received credit for the wrong charges!! Leave a Comment
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Safety
Namibia is a peaceful, democratic country and is relatively crime free. However, as in any other place in the world there are undesirable elements.
By following basic advice it is possible to avoid most potential problems. It is advised that you carry a record of the numbers of your passport, airline tickets and travellers cheque's. These should be kept in a safe place. Please note expensive jewellery should not be taken on safari.
Do not flash lots of money, an expensive camera or jewellery. Take note of onlookers and keep your possessions in sight at all times to avoid opportunistic theft. Make use of your hotel safety deposit box for expensive items. Never leave baggage or personal items unattended, especially at airports. It is best not to wander around the streets after dark.
If you are travelling in a car, do not leave your purse or bag lying on the passenger seat in clear view - rather keep them in the car boot. Do not consider picking up hitchhikers
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There are places or neighborhoods that are recommended not to hang out at night if you are not sure where you going to, ask for help before you go and the best is of course to let the local's to show you around, they know their own town. Leave a Comment
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 by euzkadiLeave a Comment
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 by Gili_SLeave a Comment
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I was told by the hotel reception to be careful when I walked in the city. Especially after dark. But I didn't notice anything. No incidents at all. I saw some boards on the wall in front of the residents "Entry at own risk", "Beware of the dog", etc. The private business have good days in Windhoek, and teh company G4S was in majority.
It also seamed to me that the goverment takes the security of its people serious. You could see boards in many streets with "Call our 24 hour crime prevention team on 2902018". Leave a Comment
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Every hotel, bed & breakfast and hostel I saw in Windhoek had secured car parking at night. Make sure you take advantage of this. Parking around Windhoek is not an issue during the day. The whole city has nice bright and wide avenues and the Police do walk and drive around. If you do wish to pay a little more, there are attended car parks during the day in the centre (pictured). In general just take simple precautions like not leaving anything on display at any time. Good advice in any big city really.
(All photos taken in Windhoek). Leave a Comment
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