The FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa kicks off in just seven days, and First Car Rental is on hand with some handy travel advice.

With thousands of soccer fans from across the globe descending, their handy reference guide is a must for any traveller – not just those looking to rent vehicles. The rental provider, which recently signed a new agreement to protect children from sexual exploitation in the republic, answers some of the most common, and leftfield queries on its website.

Safety concerns, as with any country, come down to common sense. Don’t go wandering dimly lit streets at night and take the usual precautions. Some of the bigger cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria have a long history of crime, so keep car and hotel room doors locked as a safeguard.

Drinking tap water is perfectly fine, with all major cities featuring high-quality faucet water to rival anything in a bottle. Of the beaten track though, bottled water is still recommended.

Smoking is prohibited in nearly all public places, especially railway stations and airports. Bars and restaurants usually have dedicated areas for smoking.

There is no daylight savings, and therefore no differing time zones in South Africa. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is two hours behind the South African clock, which is seven hours ahead of US Eastern Time.

Tipping is commonplace for most services, including security guards and petrol pump attendants. Standard restaurant tips are for 10 per cent of the total bill, though some places impose a service charge.