SA`s best armchair shopping

Why waste time standing in queues while Christmas shopping? Get online to make your holiday season planning and shopping hassle-free.

It doesn`t get simpler than clicking on an image and having your chosen gift delivered to the door of your loved one. Offering a wide range of gift goodies and countrywide delivery, the sites of trusted retailers Woolworths and Pick 'n Pay are a good place to start your holiday season online shopping spree.

If you`re looking for books, music, DVDs, games and other gifts, go to Kalahari.net. This site is understandably one of SA`s favourite e-tailers and a must for the last-minute Christmas shopper.

For music, look at Musica or CD Warehouse for some great South African and international music offers.

Gaming and gadget freaks will find practically everything they want at Take 2, which offers a wide range of hi-tech fun available for sale online.

For all things digital, go to Incredible Connection for online shopping and nationwide deliveries.

Reading addicts should visit Exclusive Books, where a wide variety of reading material is available at your fingertips.

Put some romance into your partner`s day and look at NetFlorist. Renowned for its quick delivery and good service, this is a must for flower and gift hampers.

Discount fragrance firm Ascot Direct is offering his and hers Christmas specials in their fragrance and cosmetic department. With good prices and nationwide deliveries, gift shopping via this site is a pleasure.

Also offering online sales of discount perfume, Springbok Pharmacy now delivers its range of cut-price medicines, supplements and health care products almost anywhere in Gauteng at no charge.

To browse or buy clothing, go to www.lingerie.co.za for a selection of lingerie, or try Foschiniclub or Markham.

If you daydream about shopping overseas, but time and money stand in your way, then go to The Simplest Way for more than 300 shops in the USA, UK and Europe. Amazon.com is also becoming a firm favourite among South Africa`s online shoppers. Depending on the exchange rate, the site offers exceptional prices and always delivers reliably. Sadly, there are restrictions on importing certain goods (such as toys) from the US, so you can`t take advantage of all the bargains on the site. Don`t forget to check the exchange rate first, at www.southafrica.co.za/forex.

While they don`t offer online shopping, Reggie`s and Toys-R-Us Web sites provide extensive catalogues of the best toys around, making browsing for gift ideas easy. Sadly, neither site reflects the prices of the toys on offer.

Makro`s Web site has a more limited list of toys available, but does indicate the prices. In addition to toys, Makro`s sports gear, electronics, appliances and other great gift ideas are available for sale online.

Let the children live their fantasies by visiting Santa and his elves at claus.com where they can visit his workshop in the North Pole, or they can send a Christmas wish list at www.emailsanta.com.

For a wide range of cards for this Christmas, Cardies is a great site to visit. You can even send an e-card if your time is limited.

If you have been shopping the traditional way and have no means of delivering the goods then why not get couriers Sun or DHL to give you a helping hand?

If you`ve got places to go, but no way of getting there, Budget, Hertz or Avis will help you in hiring a car. Some offers extend to a chauffeur service if you`re license-less.

If you`re planning to fly to your destination, check seat availability and book your ticket online at Nationwide, Kulula.com or SAA.

Check flight departures and arrivals at all the major South African airports at the Airports Company.

If travel funds are in short supply, you could always get there by bus, booking online at GreyHound.

If you`re driving to your holiday destination, go to Shellgeostar to help you plan your route and get information about everything from where to eat to the news.

Don`t forget the AA (www.aa.co.za), they supply road information, maps and preferred routes, unfortunately most information is restricted to members, but online subscription is an option.

And because South African roads are at there busiest over the Christmas season, Arrive Alive offers some vital safety hints, road and weather conditions.

For regional tourism information visit Midlands Meander for a comprehensive mix of 160 places to eat, drink, sleep and have fun in the Zulu Kingdom. For the Johannesburg enthusiasts try www.joburg.co.za. Visiting Cape Town then www.capetown.org.za and www.capetownevents.co.za will keep you updated with what the in`s and out`s of the Mother City.

Before you leave be sure to see what Mother Nature has in store for you and visit www.weathersa.co.za for forecasts of the weather for the next two days anywhere in the country.

Looking for places to stay then be sure to keep company with Guestnet, Places or Wheretostay for a full range of accommodation in South Africa.

If you enjoy wining and dining, plan your eating out at www.eating-out.co.za. The site is searchable and includes a long list of places to go as well as their full menus. If a romantic dinner at home is more your scene, but you`re not sure what to cook, visit www.food24.co.za for some tips. The site also provides recipes for special functions and Christmas treats.

You can also plan your entertainment and make all bookings online. Log onto Computicket, www.highveld.co.za, www.tonight.co.za, www.jhblive.co.za or www.clubbersguide.co.za for upcoming theatre and live events.

If rainy days are keeping you prisoner in your own home, then let www.miniclip.com, www.fhm.com or www.shockwave.com provide you with some of the greatest online games available, and www.queendom.com offers hours of diverting puzzles and quizzes to 'test your personality`.

The kids can visit www.kidsolr.com, www.gal.co.za and www.sateenz.co.za for some fun, fashion, music and connecting with other teens over the holiday.

Little ones can get into the Christmas spirit at www.claus.com, www.northpole.com and http://www.emailsanta.com/, with lots of games and activities and the opportunity to e-mail Santa. They can even track global Santa sightings at http://www.noradsanta.org/english/ or check on what he`s up to via Web cam at http://www.santaclauslive.com/ (this option is very slow, but worth it when you catch Santa at work in his office. His office hours are available on the site.)

More retail content and browsing can be found on Megashopper and Rainbow Nation.