As the first set of Christmas decorations start to appear in shops across South Africa, it is clear - the Festive Season is upon us. To help kick start your holiday planning eBucks travel have put together a quick guide to help ensure you have a stress-free season.

1. Book early - Book as soon as you have decided to go on holiday to avoid facing limited vacancies or overly priced packages. Shop round for flights, so you can get the best deal.  
2. Plan, plan and plan - Make sure that all your travel documentation such as visas is up to date and in a safe place. If you are driving, ensure you have filled your car up with petrol, oil and water, and that you have checked and filled the tyres (including the spare). Also, log onto the AA's website to check out your route for roadworks, potential hazards and updated tolls to ensure you know what to expect.
3. Spending money - Always ensure that you have a backup stash of money - just in case you need it and keep in mind that sometimes when you check into hotels, the clerk may put a block on your credit card as insurance against your bill, often flattening your balance.
4. Tell someone you're going - If you're friendly with your neighbours, or you subscribe to a security company, let them know that you'll be away so that they can keep an eye on your property. Also, make sure that you ask someone to clean out your mail box to avoid the appearance of "nobody home". 
5. Empty the fridge and bins - To avoid coming home to an odour-filled kitchen, make sure you empty out the fridge of any perishable items that could go off while you're away.  The same goes for all your rubbish bins.
6. Save electricity - Turn off your geyser, unplug your TV, switch off unused wall sockets and make sure that any lights you intend keeping on are either on day/night sensors, timers, or are fitted with energy-saving light bulbs.
7. Be contactable - It's a good idea to get the contact details of where you will be staying and give them to the people who matter most to you. Services such as SMS and Skype are affordable and quick ways to communicate with loved ones anywhere in the world while avoiding extortionate roaming costs. .
8. The buddy system - Wherever you travel, your best accessory for a problem-free holiday is common sense. There are places that are safe to travel to alone, and there are places that are not.  So make sure that people always know where you are going, how long you intend on being there and - preferably, have someone with you.
9. Social media is your friend - The Internet is one of the best research tools you can have on holiday. Google Maps is a fantastic tool to help you find your way around as they contain up-to-date information, including landmarks and even a "Street View" - a spot on a map as if you were actually standing there. This takes discovery to a whole new level. If you're lucky enough to have a GPS and navigation software on your mobile device, you can kiss complicated maps and getting lost goodbye.
10. Local knowledge - Some countries have strict rules about things like smoking, littering, and even chewing gum - all of which can land you in hot water if you're not careful.  It's a good idea to research your destination and find out about rules and laws.

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