Point and Click to Stressless Shopping

The one-two punch of terrorism and a sagging economy is keeping many globe-trotters--and those who buy presents for them--closer to home this holiday. Although fewer gift certificates for exotic trips may wind up under the tree, e-commerce experts say concerns about mall security and the hassles of toting packages through newly fortified airports could persuade a record number of travelers to shop online.

No matter how Sept. 11 and its aftermath have influenced your vacation plans, the following sampler of sites offers plenty of timely, travel-related gift ideas:

* The virtual shopping mall of online giant Yahoo (shopping .yahoo.com) includes a travel department with stores that stock items as diverse as personal smoke hoods for hotel or airplane emergencies ($79.97 from Safety Central) to a set of three handcrafted wood ornaments made by women in a Pakistani cooperative ($33 from EZiba). Yahoo’s rating system lets customers evaluate merchants; peak performers earn a “top-rated” designation.

* If you have decided you will drive rather than fly over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house this year, Hit the Road (www.roadtripstore.com) can help rekindle the romance of car travel with its inspired collection of vintage street signs, “Tacky Tourist Trinkets” (a ceramic dashboard hula dancer goes for $9) and “fun stuff to do in the car--besides hitting your sister!”

* Family on Board (www.familyonboard.com) is following through on its sales pitch--”Gear for Safe, Happy Travel”--with such items as an “air turbulence protection vest” for little ones ($29) and a range of children’s music and books on tape. A bargains area features close-outs and overstocks.

* For many families, a close-to-home vacation without Rover would be unthinkable. The folks at TravelDog (www.traveldog.com) can help with a directory of pet-friendly destinations and lodgings, plus gift ideas for the four-legged set. (A “Ruff Rider Roadie” seat belt is $37.95.)

* Many destination and day spas are reporting brisk business from stressed-out customers, says booking service SpaFinder.com (www.spafinder.com). SpaFinder has revamped its site to let prospective clients type in a ZIP Code for the most geographically desirable options; its gift certificates for services can be redeemed at hundreds of spas.

I would take issue with shearling-lined slippers as “top 10 gift picks” for travelers. (Who would sacrifice that much space for a nice but not essential item in an already crammed carry-on bag?) And those who click on a home page invitation to “Ask an Outfitter” about their “pressing travel needs” are merely directed to an e-mail form and a toll-free phone number. Those dubious features notwithstanding, clothing and accessory retailer TravelSmith (www.travelsmith.com) is a solid choice for such classics as men’s wrinkle-free blazers ($179) and a women’s “indispensable black travel dress” ($79). The site includes a large section devoted to overstocked sale items.

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Electronic Explorer appears monthly. Laura Bly can be reached at L[email protected].