[Maktab]

Depending on when you're going to be able to take the time off, I can recommend Cape Town, South Africa. By avoiding the traditional tourist traps you should be able to find a place to stay for a reasonable price once the football world cup finishes in early July and there's a lot of choice when it comes to food. Language is not a problem, as pretty much everybody speaks English.

The broadband is decent these days, albeit quite a bit pricier than US or European broadband equivalents, but it should be suitable. Cape Town also has a fairly active start-up community, if thats important to you.

Others may have had a different experience, of course, but I've always found the area around Cape Town to be incredibly relaxing and conducive to good ideas.

[grandalf]

I've heard Cape Town is very dangerous... is it?

[Maktab]

Yes and no. Cape Town does have a high violent crime rate compared to most Western cities, but the key thing to understand is that like the rest of SA the vast majority of that crime is concentrated in specific areas like the townships (slums) on the outskirts of the city. For the parts of the city and areas outside the city that a foreigner would likely stay Cape Town is quite safe and definitely safer than Johannesburg.

Opportunistic crime does exist, but provided you use the same kind of street smarts you would use in most big cities and don't do things like walk alone in unfamiliar areas after dark, don't make yourself an easy target and don't be oblivious to your surroundings, you should be able to avoid being the victim of opportunistic criminals.

[ido]

Might you be confusing Cape Town with Johannesburg?

[pmjordan]

As with any large city there are nicer parts and not-so nice parts in Cape Town, too. But it is a beautiful city, and I've felt safe the couple of times I've been there.