What`s up online this holiday?

From a consumer`s perspective, local online retailers and services are fast improving their offerings, making it possible for people to take care of most of the hassles of the holiday season - such as shopping and trip planning - from the comfort of an office.

ITWeb rounded up a list of the sites we think will be most useful for gift shopping, browsing or planning travel and entertainment this holiday season.

Some of the sites featured in last year`s ITWeb "best of the holidays" Web site roundup have dropped off the list this year. While the sites had the potential to solidly back up the retailers` offering, they were allowed to slip. Some failed to update their special offers or promotions, while others stopped offering online sales.

However, several of the sites we`ve added to this year`s mix are new or improved, with great functionality.

Choosing the perfect gift can be a headache, especially if you`ve left it until the last minute.

For gift ideas, go to MSN`s gift catalogue section or Woolworths` online shopping site. If you`ve left it too late to send a gift, send an e-card for free via Woolworths` site www.cards.co.za. For a bigger card selection, go to www.hallmark.com.

Another way to get a last-minute gift delivered is to arrange for flowers or seasonal gift hampers to be sent anywhere in SA via Netflorist. The site offers good value and great service with delivery charges starting at R25. Flowers and hampers can also be sent to other countries.

Send local goodies to homesick South Africans abroad via The South African Shop on DigitalMall. Biltong, Mrs Ball`s chutney, Castle Lager and other local treats can be shipped to various countries - but it will cost you. Sending a six-pack of Castle Lager will cost AU$10.99, with shipping starting at around AU$6.95 - a total of around R100.

Pick up a bargain gift, holiday getaway or just about anything at auction site www.bidorbuy.co.za, with great goodies in a wide range of categories.

Send a gift voucher for selected stores and services in major centres throughout SA, via www.streetcar.com. Vouchers are available for a range of treats, from meals to facials, weekend getaways, food, clothing and homeware.

If you`re searching for lingerie, www.blacklace.co.za offers a wide variety of underwear and accessories, such as feather boas, lace gloves and garters, starting at R22. The store is online at DigitalMall, and has standard DigitalMall delivery terms and tariffs. More traditional women might prefer the lingerie available via www.woolworths.co.za.

Select The Red Gift Bag on DigitalMall for assorted flower, toiletry and food hampers.

For outdoor equipment, camping gear, homeware or toys, try Makro. Choose from 5 000 items in various departments to buy online. Makro sells online via DigitalMall.

Still offering low prices and excellent service, Johannesburg`s Ascot Pharmacy offers its thousands of branded perfumes and cosmetics online. Ascot offers next-day delivery anywhere in SA, at a courier charge of R30 per order.

Edgars` online offering provides a limited range of the chain`s goods, including major cosmetics and fragrance brands. One advantage is that goods can be bought from the site using an Edgars` account card.

Woolworths` site has a range of imported and local food gift hampers from boxed wine sets to chocolates, festive cakes and biscuits. Have all your food gifts and the ingredients for festive meals delivered to your home or office. Delivery is offered every day of the week in major centres, at a charge of R25 per delivery.

Avoid the Christmas crowds and do your grocery shopping from home via Pick 'n Pay`s site. Delivery is offered throughout the week in major centres. The offering has been extended to several coastal resorts in time for the festive season.

Exclusive Books online keeps getting better. Browse the thousands of titles in search of gifts or holiday reads; extensive search capability allows you to search by title, author, keyword or category, find books similar to the ones you already know you like, and read reviews of the books before you buy. Door-to-door delivery is charged at R30 per delivery - the same as it cost a year ago.

Another site getting bigger and better all the time is Kalahari.net, which offers books, computerware, DVD/video, music, wine and Verimark products online.

If you don`t want to shop online, but would like to save time by browsing online to source products, have a look at:

Cape Union Mart`s online presence offers an extensive searchable catalogue of products, allowing you to check pricing and availability before venturing in store.

The Reggies toy store Web site has been redesigned and is no longer present on DigitalMall. It now serves only as a limited catalogue of toys available in store, rather than an online shopping facility.

Clicks features its latest special offers and seasonal promotions in its searchable online catalogue.

For travel planning, start at the SA Tourism site. Maps and information are searchable by region, and holiday and activity preferences. Also visit www.tourism.org.za, which offers maps and tourist information, as well as links to the various provincial information sites.

Check flight arrival and departure times at SA`s major airports on the Airports Company South Africa Web site. See the weather forecast and warnings for the next week on the Weather Bureau`s site.

If you`ve neglected to book holiday accommodation, try searching www.mtbeds.co.za or www.lastminute.co.za for listings of holiday specials and accommodation still available.

Book Now SA is an online travel directory highlighting holiday accommodation, adventure holidays, tours, night spots, entertainment and restaurants throughout SA. The site includes links to advertisers` sites and a direct query form for each venue from the main site. There are also limited listings for Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Also go to www.travel.co.za, a travel site that allows for online travel planning and bookings, both locally and internationally.

Book your flight on Kulula.com via British Airways, South African Airways, or Virgin Atlantic. All offer online bookings, flight information and more.

MapMe and the EasyMap option on EasyInfo are handy options for when you need to find your way around. Search for suburbs or street addresses with a zoom function to get a closer look.

The Shell motoring information site enables motorists to plot their trip, finding the most direct route from A to B. The AA Web site offers news, road reports and a limited travel planning facility to non-AA members. AA members can access extensive travel planning facilities, maps, hints and news.

No date for the big New Year`s bash? How about finding your match on one of the online dating agencies? www.IOL.co.za, www.MSN.co.za and www.Ananzi.co.za all have links to well-supported online dating agencies, where the eligible urban professional can browse for his or her ideal partner.

The Computicket site has improved dramatically, and is now highly comprehensive and easily searchable. Book online for upcoming shows or simply search the site to stay up to date with what`s on.

Visit Top 10 for an overview of the current top 10 places to go or things to do.

Find a restaurant in the Eastern or Western Cape, Johannesburg or Durban and book online with www.eating-out.co.za.

Find even more things to do at www.jhblive.co.za, which keeps track of happenings on the Johannesburg music and nightlife front, and www.artslink.co.za, which offers a comprehensive overview of local arts, culture and entertainment.

Parkhurst, Johannesburg, has its own Web site to keep locals up to date with happenings there.

If you`re stuck for things to do in Gauteng this holiday, visit the Crocodile River Ramble site for maps, information on arts and crafts events, accommodation, things to do and places to see. Or go to the Gauteng Tourism Authority site for events listings, places of interest and historical facts about Gauteng. To find out what`s happening in Pretoria, go to www.pretoria.co.za for updates and directories.

For those in the Cape, the Cape Town tourism site offers updates on where to go, what to do and what`s on. Also go to the official Cape Metropolitan Tourism site, which offers maps, news and tourist information.

Student site Get a Life also tracks trends and events, and includes handy functionality like its 'Get a Lift` section for online lift arrangements.

Wine lovers can plan their tours through the Stellenbosch wine route at www.wineroute.co.za.

On holiday in KwaZulu-Natal? Check out www.midlandsmeander.org.za for maps and information on the arts and crafts routes of the Midlands region, while www.durban.org.za gives a comprehensive overview of news, what`s on, where to go and where to stay.

Ananzi has a comprehensive list of entertainment sites, including links to TV programme schedules, movie sites and ticket booking sites. Or go direct to Ster-Kinekor for an update on the latest movie releases, movie schedules and links to the Web sites for each movie.

The Johannesburg Zoo`s new Web site is still under construction, but looks like it will have more to offer than it did in the past. Check in for regularly updated events and school holiday programmes.

The Johannesburg Planetarium site is regularly updated with show schedules and information.

If you`d like to do something to make the festive season better for the less fortunate, the Internet offers scores of ways for you to do so. Unfortunately, most of the Web sites do not have online payment facilities, which makes donating money a little more time-consuming.

Choose from the Salvation Army, which is world-renowned for its work in assisting the sick, helpless and destitute, or Reach For a Dream, the organisation that fulfils the wishes of children with life-threatening illness. Help a desperately ill child by offering services, facilities or a donation. The site does not offer online donation payment facilities or a list of 'dreams` that need fulfilling, so if you`d like to offer help, you will have to contact the organisation for more information.

There is also the Starfish Charity, which works to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and helps those affected by the disease.

Cotlands Baby Sanctuary is famous for its work for terminally ill or abandoned babies. The site offers a facility for money to be donated online.

Help raise money for the Avril Elizabeth home for the mentally handicapped by ordering maps, diaries, first aid kits or car breakdown kits.

Feed SA focuses on feeding underprivileged children. Pledges can be made via the Web site, but you will have to arrange money transfer or a stop order, or click on a logo to make the site`s sponsors contribute to feeding schemes.

Love animals? Find out how to support the Johannesburg SPCA.