COMING AND GOING

Far and Away

We Break for Christmas

Suddenly feeling like you need a holiday getaway, but fear it's too late? Well, it's not, as long as you're either flexible or willing to pay the inflated prices that come with the season. At least you didn't miss huge bargains by waiting till the last minute.

CoGo put the question of whether it's still possible to travel over Christmas to two travel agents. Linda Maxwell, owner of Destinations Inc. in Columbia and a national director of the American Society of Travel Agents, checked Apple Vacations, saying the tour operator is more or less a bellwether of availability and prices. Up popped various seven-night packages in the Caribbean for $1,700 per person double, including air and hotel.

"After Jan. 15 those same packages would drop to about $1,200," said Maxwell, "but the inflation is typical for the holidays, and you'd have paid the same even if you booked months ago."

She then checked Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines and was surprised to find a few deals . Royal Caribbean, for example, had a five-night Caribbean cruise leaving from Tampa on Dec. 26 starting at $359 per person, plus tax. Carnival's "12 Days of Christmas" sale involves a different deal every day through Dec. 16. The deal the day CoGo called: three-night cruises leaving from Miami Dec. 22 or Dec. 23 beginning at $379 or $349 per person, plus tax.

But by and large, it's not a time to look for bargains , warns Mary Peters of Friendly Travel in Alexandria. For example, airfare alone to St. Thomas around Christmas is running about $1,000. Then again, she found seven -night packages to Bermuda , including air and hotel, for $1,555 per person -- or, if you're willing to leave Christmas Day, airfare and seven nights at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun for $1,700 per person.

Not a deal, but still a destination.

Upright and Locked

Oxygen on Board

People whose respiratory illnesses require them to use oxygen are celebrating a liberating new development: Some U.S. carriers are allowing them to bring on board "portable oxygen concentrators" that can filter regular air to create medical-strength oxygen.

Under the old rules, passengers needing special oxygen supplies had to arrange with the airlines to provide it , and paid $100 a leg for the service. Worse, they would have to bring a cumbersome oxygen tank to the airport while awaiting their flight, find some way to get rid of the tank before boarding, and arrange with a medical supplier to have more tanks awaiting them at their destination.

This summer, the Federal Aviation Administration approved for use on board two brands of concentrators, Inogen and AirSep, but left it up to the airlines whether or not to allow them. Airlines have begun to sign on, allowing at least one of the brands. Airlines cooperating so far: Delta, Northwest, US Airways, America West and Midway. Passengers intending to use a concentrator should mention it when making reservations.

TRAVEL TICKER

Smoke-Free at Last

In other respiratory travel news: All of the 77 Westin hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean will become no-smoking zones in January. All guest rooms and indoor spaces will be off limits.

The 2,400 smoking rooms now in Westin hotels are being deep-cleaned, and bedding replaced, in anticipation of the change. Some Westins will be smoke-free by Jan. 1, the rest by mid-January, said corporate spokeswoman Nadine Ayala. An outdoor area for smoking will be designated at each hotel.

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

Southwest has a sale fare of $29 each way on nonstop service between BWI and Long Island Islip. The round-trip fare with taxes is $78. Sale is good for travel through March 31, but may be sold out during holiday periods. Other airlines are charging at least $153 for connecting service. Seven-day advance purchase is required. Book at www.southwest.com by Feb. 13.

Reporting: Cindy Loose

Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.