The year in holidays

Although the year is still as fresh as flowers, chances are sentiments at work are wilting fast. So what better way to get over the office blues than starting the plans for your next getaway? Whether you're thinking a weekend retreat or a week long sojourn, dreaming up your holiday is fun but the planning and logistics aren't always. To help you get over the "when-to-go" hurdle is this little holiday calendar, complete with public and school holidays, you know, so that the blushing parents can include their kids or those lucky childless souls can avoid the youngens altogether.

March to May - The big E weekend

Image by ifoodtv.com

School Holidays: 23 March to 10 April for inland provinces and 30 March to 10 April for coastal provinces. Monday the 30th of April, the day before worker's day is also a special school holiday.

Public holidays and Long Weekends:

Wednesday 21 March - Human Rights Day
Friday 6 April - Good Friday
Monday 9 April - Easter Monday/ Family Day
Friday 27 April - Freedom Day
Tuesday 1 May - Worker's Day

Our suggestions:

When the green of summer fades to the reds and browns of autumn, it's time to get your Easter egging on. Although we don't all celebrate the Christian holiday, it is a great time for moments with those near and dear. What sucks a little though is that the Easter weekend is like a mini December break with all of the traffic bells and crowd whistles associated with it. So we might suggest enjoying a quiet Easter weekend at home, instead of rushing down to the coast, and rather booking one day of leave on the 30th of April so you can enjoy a super weekend from Friday the 27th of April to Tuesday the 1st of May.

Easter - Durban Style

Easter weekend in Cape Town

June to August - The wonderful winter escape

shotleft.co.za

School Holidays: 23 June to 15 July for all provinces. Friday the 10th of August, the day after Women's day, is also a special school holiday.

Public holidays and long weekends:

Saturday 16 June - Youth Day
Thursday 9 August - Women's day

Our suggestions:

For a large part of us, winter is our least favourite time of the year. Public holidays are few and far in between, or fall on a Saturday for crying out loud, and with little to do outside snuggling and cuddling might become old after a few weeks. Forget that attitude! Winter is prime time for fishing, going to see snow in the mountains or with our coastal climate, even getting some sun without the crowds or rain clouds. Once again one day of leave on the 10th of August will get you an extended Women's day long weekend to treat the special ladies in your life.

Quick Guide: Mauritius

Quick Guide: Mozambique

September to November - The early summer breakaway

Image by louisey.wordpress.com

School holidays: 29 September to 7 October for all provinces.

Public Holiday and long weekends:

Monday 24 September - Heritage day.

Our Suggestions:

Heritage day weekend is excellent for exploring your country, which is finally shaking of its winter cold. September is also World Tourism Month, so Sho't Left will be running tons of affordable specials for you to get in touch with your South African roots. It's still early season, so those spots that will be crawling with tourists later on will still be relatively quiet - and cheap. We know you are probably saving up your leave for the festive time ahead, but we would suggest spending a few days in this time as there is a ton happening. What about the Hermanus Whale Festival, the Cape Town Air show, Aardklop or Rocking the Daisies? Go on, you deserve it!

A dozen gems on the Whale coast route

The most-scenic South African Roadtrip

December - You have made it!

School Holidays: 8 December 2012 to 8 January 2013 for all inland provinces and 8 December 2012 to 15 January 2013 for all coastal provinces.

Public Holidays and long weekends:

Sunday 16 December - Reconciliation day
Monday 17 December - Public Holiday
Tuesday 25 December - Christmas Day
Wednesday 26 December - Day of goodwill

Our suggestions:

So as to not get you into the festive freak out just yet, it's only February after all, we thought we would just list the days so that you could file it in the bottom drawer of your mind. Maybe because we can't bring ourselves to think of it yet ourselves! Use it, don't use it, but don't say you weren't warned.

And then finally, if you are looking for any excuse to celebrate, remember these:

Image by life123.com

St Valentine's Day - Tuesday 14 February
St Patrick's Day - Saturday 17 March
Mother's Day - Sunday 13 May
Father's Day - Sunday 17 June
Secretary's Day - Wednesday 5 September
Bosses Day - Tuesday 16 October
Halloween - Wednesday 31 October
Guy Fawkes Night - Monday 5 November

May 2012 have many special travel memories and happy holiday snapshots in store for you. Where are spending your public holidays this year? Tell us in the comment section below!