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Duffelup.com

Are you so intertwined with your computer, BlackBerry and iCal that you don't use Post-it notes anymore? Do you miss them? Duffelup.com brings back the simplicity of travel planning with virtual stickies.

What's hot: Creating a travel itinerary with a corkboard and virtual Post-it notes puts the fun back in online travel planning. (But FYI, create-your-own travel itineraries are not new. NileGuides, TripWolf, TravelMuse and many other Web sites offer similar features.) On this one, you drag and drop your stickies into the different days of your trip itinerary. You can clip ideas from anywhere on the Web with the ``bookmarklet'' tool so you don't you have to retype the info. If you're just starting, don't skip the helpful demo video.

What's not: You can browse other travelers' itineraries for popular cities in ``Duffel Central,'' but they're categorized only by how recent they are. This would be more helpful if Duffel spotlighted a few common trips by length of stay. Why not, for instance, ``a

Bag the belt, grab the snacks: Tips for holiday flying

Flying this holiday season? Here's what you need to know:

Many airlines charge for each checked bag. Check with yours to find out about fees.

Airlines have also become much stricter about the weight of the bags you check and the size of your carry-ons. Weigh or measure your bags before you head to the airport.

SpottedbyLocals.com

Ever wish you knew a local who could offer advice before your European trip? SpottedbyLocals.com has handpicked bloggers on the ground in 20 cities updating its city blogs with their favorite spots around town.

What's hot: We tested it out on Amsterdam ands found five locals (three women and two men) who were the ''spotters.'' The posts were categorized by parts of town -- such as canals or old center -- and by activities. The first-person posts have a personal, trustworthy feel, and they're connected to area maps with details that include hours, cost guidelines and a direct link to a website if there was one.

What's not: If you've never been to a city or you're just doing research for future travel, an overview with notes about what a traveler can expect and descriptions of various neighborhoods would help.

Tripfilms.com

If your travel budget is getting the life squeezed out of it by a big metal vice clamp, it might be time to do a little armchair traveling. Tripfilms.com can take you all over the world, and it doesn't cost more than your Internet connection.

What's hot: The travel videos cover areas as diverse as Antarctica and Vanuatu. Once you click on a location, the videos are organized by sections such as ''Overview,'' ''What to do,'' ''Where to eat'' and ``Where to stay.''

What's not: You have to weed through some promotional clips on your way to the videos you want to watch. I found most of these promos in the hotel sections.

Zoomandgo.com

Don't like your postcard options when you travel? Make and send your own postcards online at www.zoomandgo.com .

What's hot: Sure, there are other travel sites that make e-cards out of your travel photos, but Zoom and Go makes print postcards and sends them for you: $1.99 (U.S. and Canada) or $2.99 (international). Not only is this a fun and personal service, but you can also feel good about using it because 20 cents of every postcard sale is donated to charity. You also can see what others are shooting in the ''Find Places'' tab.

What's not: Do we really need another travel social networking site? If you can't face that, check out Zoom and Go's Facebook application and make postcards from there.